Category Archives: Citizen Journalism

Do you know the risk factors for breast cancer?

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By Diana Bitner, MD, Spectrum Health Beat


Many women come into the ER with chest pain, and they never thought they would be in that situation. But most heart attacks are preventable, and we need to be more active in telling women what they can do to avoid a heart attack.


The same is true with breast cancer—the more we know about preventing breast cancer, the more women we can help avoid being diagnosed with the disease.


Although breast cancer is far too common, breast cancer survival is improving due to more advanced treatments and early screening for women at high risk.


Do you know your risk, and do you have a plan for when you should be screened? If I asked you if you want to get breast cancer, of course you would answer with an emphatic, “No!” If you don’t want cancer, then you must know your risks, live a lifestyle that decreases your risk, and take your checkups seriously.


Several years ago, I read a story about a young woman who had metastatic breast cancer, and the article described her situation in detail.


There was a picture that showed her being comforted by her sister, who also had breast cancer five years earlier. Both women talked about their mother who had died of the same disease in her mid-40s.


As I read the story, I felt both sad and mad at the same time. Of course, I felt sad for them for all they had gone through, but I was also mad to think their cancer could have been prevented, or at least detected before it spread.


Here’s what I wish they would have known about the genetics of breast cancer:

  • Ten percent of breast cancer is associated with family history.
  • The risk of getting breast cancer increases two times if one first-degree relative has/had breast cancer.
  • The risk of getting breast cancer increases three times if two first-degree relatives have/had breast cancer.

In addition, 50 percent of breast cancer diagnoses are associated with known risk factors.


A patient I’ll call Kelly came to see me for a routine visit recently. In taking her history, several factors caught my attention: she was 48 years old and had never been pregnant; her mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer at 49; and she had regular mammograms that were always negative, but her breasts were very dense, decreasing the likelihood of diagnosis of a small cancer.


I recommended advanced screening with a special mammogram and ultrasound by a breast surgeon.


When she had the testing done, they detected several suspicious areas, and a biopsy showed pre-cancer. Kelly decided to have definitive surgery, and when she had a bilateral mastectomy, they detected early, almost-invasive cancer.


We were able to avoid invasive cancer by doing three things: 1) being proactive; 2) knowing her individual risk factors; and 3) acting early to save her from worrying about recurrence, and having to go through chemotherapy or radiation.


The lifetime risk of breast cancer for most women is 1 in 8. The risk at age 30 is 1 in 250 and increases as you get older. Other risk factors include being female, white and obese (having a BMI over 30). The risk is even greater if the weight is gained after the age of 40 and is in the form of belly fat (especially after menopause). In addition, your risk is greatest if you are diabetic and overweight.


So, what can you do to lower your risk of breast cancer? For starters, lifestyle matters:

  • Women who consume 10 or more alcoholic drinks per week have a higher risk for cancer of the colon and breast.
  • Women who started smoking early and have smoked for a long time are at higher risk.
  • Women who breastfed their children and are physically active have a lower risk.

Two other risk factors that may not be in your control include the following:

  • Women who work the night shift seem to experience more cancer, according to several large studies.
  • Women who received radiation for Hodgkins Lymphoma as a child have an increased risk of breast cancer.

If you have any of these high risk factors, get screening early and talk to your doctor about special screening with a Tomo mammogram or adding an ultrasound to your routine mammogram.


I had a patient who put off her mammogram because she had small breasts and thought she would easily be able to see any lumps, plus she had no family history of breast cancer. When her friend finally convinced her to get a mammogram, it showed she had breast cancer.


I’ve given you plenty of statistics and information about breast cancer in this blog, but there are a few takeaway points I want to make sure you remember:

  • Know your individual risk factors.
  • If you are at higher risk, talk to your doctor about special testing.
  • Be active! Exercise a minimum of 150 minutes per week.
  • Do not gain weight over 40—stay off the sugar.
  • Don’t drink more than ten drinks a week.
  • Don’t be afraid of mammograms—get tested!

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



Holland Home is first in state to achieve coveted accreditation for memory care services

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By Holland Home

Holland Home, one of Michigan’s largest nonprofit senior services providers, has been recognized as the first agency in the state, and only third nationally, to achieve the coveted “Designated Organization” accreditation from Positive Approach to Care (PAC), the preeminent dementia education organization founded in 2005 by Teepa Snow, one of the world’s leading educators on dementia care.

As an Aware Designated Organization (Aware is the specific level that Holland Home achieved), PAC attests that Holland Home’s memory care services are considered to be offered and measured at some of the highest levels among all senior memory care services programs. Most notable to patients and families is that the PAC designation means that every Holland Home team member has specific dementia-care training and all team members participate in regular dementia training. 

The designation is so rare that organizations need to be invited by PAC to apply for the credentialing. Snow, who has visited and lectured at Holland Home several times, invited Holland Home to apply earlier this year. After a site visit by PAC team investigators, and additional review, Holland Home was informed in late November that it had achieved Aware status.

 

“Holland Home is incredibly honored to be recognized by the world’s leading dementia education organization as being one of the highest-performing dementia care providers in the nation,” said Troy Vugteveen, executive vice president, operations, Holland Home. “We’ve invested a tremendous amount of resources in the last several years to advancing our memory care services, so the PAC Aware Designation validates our innovative and passionate approach to providing the best possible care to our senior residents.”

Holland Home’s Memory Care Services department has three PAC-credentialed trainers: Rosemary Apol-Hoezee, RN, MPH, CPHRM, director of Quality and Education; Lynn Bolt, RN; and Lois Thomas, RN, coordinator of Memory Care Services. 

Under their leadership, Holland Home has created several offerings catering to advancing its dementia services, including:

  • Creating a Dementia Coalition Team comprised of staff from various departments to ensure universal training.
  • Developing a PAC training program.
  • Developing the Dementia Journey, an interactive simulation that allows staff to experience the effects dementia has on everyday tasks.
  • Authoring the Dementia Handbook.
  • Creating Memory Care Boxes, Table Top Woodworking Stations, Weighted Blankets, Fidget Aprons
  • Developing the Honor Care Program



Every Holland Home employee who regularly interacts with dementia residents receives the PAC training within the first 90 days of hire and then every two years thereafter.  Similarly, all Holland Home employees (regardless of their role) go through the Dementia Journey, which is a great way for staff to develop an understanding of what it is like to live with Dementia.

Snow, an occupational therapist with 40 years of clinical practice experience, is one of the world’s leading educators on dementia and the care that accompanies it. In 2005, she founded Positive Approach® to Care (PAC), a company that provides dementia care training, services and products around the world. A core principle of PAC is that, in order to obtain the relationships and outcomes that are desired, the first and most important shift must originate with each person’s own willingness and ability to change.

About Holland Home


Founded in 1892, Holland Home of Grand Rapids is Michigan’s largest nonprofit provider of senior services and was the first Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in the state.  Holland Home offers the full continuum of care and is one of the largest nonprofit CCRC in the nation (source: Ziegler 150).  Under the Holland Home brand are two residential campuses:  Breton Woods and Raybrook.  Community services include Atrio Home Care, Faith Hospice and its Trillium Woods hospice inpatient facility, Reliance Community Care Partners, Care Resources and the Trillium Institute.  Holland Home employs over 1,400 people and serves more than 4,000 daily.  Holland Home’s mission is to serve with love and compassion, commit to excellence, and follow Christ’s teachings and examples in all that we do.  For more information about Holland Home, please visit hollandhome.org.

How to determine a ripe melon

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Photo 1. Winter watermelon showing the yellow ground spot indicating a mature, ready-to-eat fruit. Photo by Ron Goldy, MSU Extension.

By Ronald Goldy, Michigan State University Extension


A sure sign of summer in Michigan is the number of locally grown, vine-ripened melons available at farm stands and farmers markets. However, with modern transportation, watermelon, cantaloupe and other melons are available year around. So how does a buyer in the dead of winter determine a flavorful melon?


It is important to understand that not all melons behave the same when it comes to ripening. Some, like watermelon, do not continue to ripen once harvested. Therefore, flavor will not improve nor will they become sweeter—it is what it is at harvest. However, cantaloupe and similar fruit will continue to ripen after harvest. Once into the ripening process, fruit will gain sugar, flavor will improve and flesh soften. For the consumer, this means watermelon and similar fruit can be eaten as soon as you bring it home no matter what time of the year it is. However, cantaloupe and similar melons bought in winter probably need to be held at room temperature for a few days or more to allow it to improve.

Photo 2. Summer cantaloupe showing typical golden color and the “dimpled” stem end where the stem has pulled free from the fruit. CC0 Public Domain.

The most reliable way to determine if a watermelon is mature is to observe it while it is still on the plant. Since that is not possible in winter, consumers have to use the next step and that is looking at the “ground spot” (Photo 1). The ground spot is where fruit was in contact with the soil. It is easy to recognize since it will not have the same stripes and color of the rest of the fruit—it will have a more solid color. A mature watermelon will have a yellow ground spot (Photo 1). If it is light yellow or even white, make another selection.


Honeydew melons are the hardest to know when they are mature. Being light colored, the ground spot technique does not work and they do not “self-pick” like cantaloupe. However, like cantaloupe, they continue to ripen off the plant. To eat a honeydew early is not a bad experience, but you do not want to wait so long that it goes bad. The fruit does not provide the signals watermelon and cantaloupe do. For honeydew, you have to rely on the grower picking it at a good time no matter the season since once you cut it open you have to eat it or refrigerate it.


Left on the plant, cantaloupe fruit begin to disconnect when mature and the fruit will essentially pick itself and be ready to eat right away. Summer melons have a noticeable dimple at the stem end and generally have a golden color (Photo 2). Since ripe cantaloupe are quite soft, they have to be harvested in winter production areas when they are less than fully mature so they are able to survive the transport process in good shape. Instead of allowing them to self-pick, they are cut from the plant.

Photo 3. Winter cantaloupe with the stem still attached. Look for cantaloupe where the stem end has begun to crack (arrow), thus indicating the melon is approaching maturity but will improve in flavor if allowed to sit at room temperature for a few days. Photo by Ron Goldy, MSU Extension.

For winter-grown melons, the stem attachment is still evident on the fruit—no dimple (Photo 3). As the fruit matures, you will be able to see the abscission zone form as a slight crack that gets larger over time and will eventually form a circle around the stem (Photo 3). When selecting a winter cantaloupe, look for one where the remaining stem has started to crack and break away from the melon. When you can see that crack starting to form, that means the fruit was harvested mature enough that the ripening process will continue. It probably still needs to sit at room temperature for a few days as it continues to mature. Be patient and let that happen. It will not attain the golden color of a summer-grown melon, so do not expect it to be quite the same, but neither is the weather outside.


This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).


How climate change, millennials and tainted donors are impacting philanthropy

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By Nate Hoekstra
Grand Valley State University

Climate change, millennials becoming a majority of the workforce, and increasing critiques of tainted donors are changing the nonprofit sector in profound new ways, according to experts and thought leaders at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University.

Those concepts are just a sampling of emerging trends in the philanthropic sector identified in the Johnson Center’s annual 11 Trends in Philanthropy report, which analyzes upcoming and developing issues in the nonprofit industry.

A significant change to the nonprofit sector in 2020 will be the people working in it. This year, millennials will make up more than half of the workforce in the United States, and the generation’s desire for greater flexibility, transparency and meaning in their work is reshaping how nonprofit workplaces function. Those wants, coupled with the lure of social enterprise companies, may be presenting new opportunities for professional impact.

Nonprofits will also be on the front lines of a global issue: climate change. As the impacts of climate change become more apparent, nonprofit organizations and those who fund them will play critical roles in disaster response, policy change, applying a sustainable and climate-focused lens to existing strategies and advancing new ideas for mitigating and reversing ecological damage.

Another major trend that continues to develop is the increasing number and frequency of so-called tainted money and tainted donors. Common examples of this trend include the philanthropy of the late Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender, and the giving of the Sackler family, the owners of Purdue Pharma, which is linked to the opioid crisis. Some experts in the field even argue that the “cleanliness” of any money gained through capitalist practices should be considered suspect. But all of this concern puts the nonprofits who depend, to varying degrees, on private donations in an ethically complicated spot.

Other trends, which are also analyzed in-depth in the report, include:

— Increasing critiques of “Big Philanthropy”

— Data and mapping tools come together to empower community decision making

— Collaboration and consolidation in philanthropy’s infrastructure

— Data science for social impact

— Increased attention to sustainable development goals

— Alternatives to strategic philanthropy are emerging

— Corporate social responsibility employs many models to align business and philanthropy

— Inclusive growth requires urgent collaboration and deliberate patience



“The philanthropic sector is undeniably sharing in this time of marked upheaval and uncertainty,” said Teri Behrens, executive director of the Johnson Center. “Yet, we still see philanthropy as being best positioned to help unite us, domestically and internationally, to address some of the global challenges we face. We are a sector that focuses on solving problems.”

The full 2020 11 Trends in Philanthropy report is available online at johnsoncenter.org

Michigan fresh: Maple syrup

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Courtesy Michigan State University Extension

By Kendra Wills, Michigan State University Extension


Maple syrup is among the first locally harvested food products available in Michigan farmers markets each spring. According to the Michigan Maple Syrup Association (n.d.), Michigan ranks fifth nationally in maple syrup production at about 90,000 gallons annually. It takes approximately 40 gallons of maple sap to make one gallon of maple syrup.


One-hundred-percent pure maple syrup tastes very different from the pancake syrups found in most grocery stores. These pancake syrups consist mostly of corn syrup or cane sugar. They may contain either no pure maple syrup or pure maple syrup in very small amounts. Be sure to read the label of ingredients if you are looking for pure maple syrup.

Nutrition

One tablespoon of maple syrup has about 50 calories. Maple syrup is approximately 67 percent sugar and 33 percent water. The sugar in maple syrup is sucrose (88 to 89 percent) with small amounts of glucose and fructose sugar (11 to 12 percent). White sugar is also sucrose. According to the Ohio State University Extension (2009), there is no direct scientific evidence that maple syrup is healthier than white sugar. Diabetics and others who are limiting their sugar intake need to treat maple syrup as they do other sugar products.

Storage

Store pure maple syrup in the refrigerator — even if the bottle has not been opened. Pure maple syrup in glass or tin containers may be stored in the refrigerator for up to one year. Use syrup stored in plastic containers within three to six months. Plastic breathes causing a change to syrup color and flavor (Ohio State University Extension, 2009).


You may freeze maple syrup. To freeze, pour it into freezable glass jars, making sure to leave a one-inch space at the top. Frozen syrup maintains quality and flavor for an indefinite period.

Selection

The characteristic flavor of maple syrup includes sweetness from the sugars, a slight tartness from the acids, and a range of aromas that includes vanilla, coffee and chocolate. The longer the syrup is boiled, the darker the color (University of Vermont, n.d.).

Click to download pdf

All states must use the U.S. Department of Agriculture color standards to grade, or classify, maple syrup based on color, flavor and sugar content. However, states may use their own words to describe color. Grade A refers to the lighter, more delicately flavored, sometimes less concentrated syrups, which people pour directly on food. Grade B, more often used for cooking, is stronger in caramel flavor. Maple syrup grading kits are available at specialty stores or through online retailers. Maple producers use them to help classify their syrup for quality control. (University of Vermont, n.d.). 2


Michigan maple syrup has four grades: Grade A Light Amber, Grade A Medium Amber, Grade A Dark Amber, and Grade B. The Michigan Maple Syrup Association (2005) says Grade A Light Amber has a delicate maple taste and extra light amber color; Grade A Medium Amber has a mild maple taste and light amber color; Grade A Dark Amber has a hearty maple taste and a medium amber color; and Grade B, good for cooking, has a robust maple taste and dark amber color.

Production

Maple syrup is typically harvested from sugar maple and black maple trees. Even though other tree varieties can produce sap for syrup production, these two varieties typically provide the sweetest sap. A maple tree needs to be about 40 years old and at least 32 inches in circumference at 4.5 feet off the ground before tapping.


Maple sap is harvested as a slightly sweet, colorless liquid. Sap is boiled so the water in the sap evaporates and the sugars become concentrated. Sap harvesting can start as early as February in southern Michigan and go until April in the north. The Michigan Maple Syrup Association (n.d.) estimates that only about 1 percent of Michigan’s maple forest resources are utilized for syrup production.


To learn how to tap maple trees and produce your own syrup, read the Michigan State University (MSU) Extension Bulletin Homemade Maple Syrup. Obtain it from http://shop.msu.edu/ Search the MSU Extension Bookstore section for “E2617.”

Recipes

Spring Greens with Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette

Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette

– 1 cup Grade A pure maple syrup (light, medium or dark — your preference)
– 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
– 3/4 cup canola oil

Whisk or use immersion blender until blended and stable.

Salad

– 1 large bunch of mixed greens and/or arugula (or enough for the number of servings you require)
– 1/2 cup gorgonzola cheese
– 1/2 cup pecans
– 1/2 cup craisins

Toss 1/2 cup vinaigrette with greens, top with cheese, nuts, fruit and serve. Produces 6-8 servings depending on serving size.

Adapted with permission from UVM Libraries Maple Research Website: http://library.uvm.edu/maple/recipes/?cat=17

(University of Vermont. (2010). Spring greens with maple balsamic vinaigrette.)

Maple Baked Beans

4-6 servings

Ingredients:

– 2 cups dried navy beans (you may want to look for Michigan navy beans)
– 6 strips bacon
– 1 onion, chopped
– 1 teaspoon dried mustard
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 1/2 cup pure maple syrup (Grade A or Grade B — your choice)
– 1 pork hock, fresh or smoked
– 2 tablespoons butter
– 2 tablespoons brown sugar

Preheat over to 325 °F. Simmer navy beans in water until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain beans and reserve liquid for cooking. Line bean pot with strips of bacon. In a large bowl, toss together onion and beans. In another bowl, combine 2 cups bean cooking liquid, mustard, salt and maple syrup. Place half the bean mixture on bacon strips in pot. Place pork hock on beans, top with rest of bean onion mixture, then pour over reserved cooking liquid/ syrup mixture. Cover with lid and place in oven for 3 hours, or until pork hock is fully cooked and pulling away from the bone. If beans begin to look dry, add more cooking liquid.

Once pork hock is cooked, remove beans from oven and remove lid. Mash together butter and brown sugar into a paste, scatter sugar paste over beans and place back in the oven, uncovered, for an additional 30 minutes. Remove from oven and serve.

Adapted with permission from a recipe from Sydney Oland, food writer, posted on seriouseats.com. Retrieved from http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/12/maple-baked-bean-stew-pork-recipe.html.

References

Michigan Maple Syrup Association. (n.d.). Maple facts. Retrieved from http://www.mi-maplesyrup.com/ education/maple-facts/.


Michigan Maple Syrup Association. (2005, Spring). Grading!!! Should our current system be changed? Michigan Maple Syrup Association Members Newsletter.


Ohio State University Extension. (2009). Selecting, storing, and serving Ohio maple syrup. (HYG-5522-09). Retrieved from http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/pdf/5522.pdf.


Oland, S. (2011, Dec. 17). Maple baked beans. Retrieved from http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/12/ maple-baked-bean-stew-pork-recipe.html.


University of Vermont. (n.d.). Maple syrup. Retrieved from http://library.uvm.edu/maple/nutrition/index.php.


University of Vermont. (2010). Spring greens with maple balsamic vinaigrette. Retrieved from http://library.uvm. edu/maple/recipes/?cat=17.

Resources

Michigan Maple Syrup Association


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Practical ways seniors can save money

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Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

By Vista Springs Assisted Living


Saving money is important no matter your age or income level, but seniors often find themselves needing a few extra dollars here and there to make retirement work. Fortunately, there are practical ways to stretch a dollar, without breaking the bank.


Downsizing to a smaller home, getting rid of cable television, sharing expenses with friends and taking advantage of senior discounts are all effective ways to save money in retirement.

Downsizing

Larger homes cost more to heat, cool, furnish and repair, which is why downsizing the square footage makes a lot of sense for seniors. Moving to an assisted living community can amplify the cost savings, depending on the circumstances. Specifically, downsizing can reduce gas, electric, insurance, property taxes, and water bills, while minimizing upkeep costs like new carpet and landscaping.

Cut back on cable

Cable television isn’t cheap, especially when you factor in premium channels such as HBO, Showtime, and Cinemax. While it’s fun to have all of the sports and specialty channels, they aren’t always necessary, and they can cost more than $100 a month. Netflix and Hulu are much more cost-effective, allowing seniors to stream content via the Internet on their televisions. Both services combined allow retirees to watch movies and television shows at a fraction of the cost of cable.

Share expenses

Whether it’s carpooling to bingo, the movies or to the store to get groceries, ride sharing among seniors is an effective way to cut down on fuel costs. Transportation isn’t cheap, especially in areas of the country where cities are decentralized, or in the countryside where it takes some time to get back to more populated areas. Thus, lower fuel costs can help seniors. Ride sharing also cuts down on the wear and tear to older adults’ vehicles, extending a car or truck’s useful life and reducing maintenance costs.


Moving into an assisted living facility like Vista Springs can also help seniors spread the cost of entertainment, activities, and medical care among fellow residents, enhancing the quality of life for everyone involved. The costs of independent medical attention, food preparation, and daily entertainment is often-times cost-prohibitive for seniors living alone. Finding ways to share expenses among a group provides new and exciting possibilities for aging adults.

Senior discounts

Movie theaters, fast-food restaurants, fine-dining restaurants and similar establishments typically offer senior discounts at particular times, or on specific days of the week. Taking advantage of these opportunities can yield cost-savings and an active retirement, which is beneficial on multiple levels. The goal of retirement is not to stop spending money, but to enjoy the fruits of one’s labor of many years of working. Senior discounts allow seniors to get out and do more for less, which is positive for everyone in the community.


Seniors living off of a fixed income usually need to be cost-conscious to ensure a comfortable and rewarding retirement. But when you find ways to save money in an efficient, practical and common sense way, older adults can live a fun and enjoyable retirement.


Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.


Build better balance at any age

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A simple one-legged stand can help strengthen your lower body, ultimately improving your balance and reducing the risk of falls. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Len Canter, HealthDay


Bad balance is a common cause of dangerous falls, especially among older adults.


Falls send more than 2 million adults to the emergency room every year and often result in lengthy rehab stays.


Preventing falls is a priority for staying healthy and preventing painful broken bones as you age. Easy strength and balance exercises that you can do anytime, anywhere, such as tai chi and yoga, can help you stay steady on your feet.


But first it’s important to know how good (or lacking) your balance is.


Grab a friend or loved one, a sturdy chair and a stopwatch to check your balance with a quick test called the single leg stance. It basically involves standing on one leg. Doctors use it to predict who might be at risk of falling.


Stand barefoot in front of the chair but don’t touch it. Cross your arms. Lift one leg up off the floor and start the timer. As you feel yourself start to sway, immediately steady yourself with the chair and stop the timer.

Here are the average times that indicate good balance when you stand on one leg based on age:

  • Ages 18-39: 43 seconds for men and women
  • Ages 40-49: 40 seconds for men and women
  • Ages 50-59: 36 seconds for women, 38 for men
  • Ages 60-69: 25 seconds for women, 28 for men
  • Ages 70-79: 11 seconds for women, 18 for men
  • Ages 80-99: 7 seconds for women, 5 seconds for men

If you become unsteady before your specific time, talk to your doctor. Illness, medication and even footwear can throw you off balance. Together, you and your doctor can find solutions.


You can improve your balance by practicing the one-leg stance, but as a training exercise, hold onto a chair and don’t let go.


Lift one leg for 15 seconds, rest and repeat three times, then switch legs.


The stronger your lower body, the steadier you’ll be on your feet.


For safety reasons, always have someone with you when trying a balance exercise for the first time. Or consider a group balance class.


Many community centers offer fun fitness programs to help adults prevent falls.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.




Photo of the Week: Catching a Show

Citizen Journalism

This week’s photo comes from the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. When the house lights came up for a dress rehearsal of Civic’s “A Streetcar Named Desire,” the cast discovered they had literally been playing to the dogs. Ten service dogs in training and their handlers attended one of the final rehearsals for the show, which opened Jan. 10. The event was coordinated with Paws With A Cause, which trains assistance dogs to help a person with a disability to complete essential tasks. “We want to prepare our dogs to work in environments of multiple varying distractions so that they are comfortable doing their job for their clients in everyday life,” said a member of the PAWS Training Team.

Civic’s production of “A Streetcar Named Desire” runs through Jan. 26 at the theater, 30 N. Division Ave. Tickets for the show are available at grct.org or call 616-222-6650.

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

Ford Airport to Surprise ‘GRRand Passengers’ After Record-Breaking Year

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Sue Diehl, Ford airport’s three millionth passenger in 2019, was met with a surprise of balloons, airline vouchers, gifts, free parking, and more. (Supplied)



By Tara Hernandez
Gerald R. Ford International Airport

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) will be surprising two special “GRRand Passengers” on Tuesday, Jan. 21, to commemorate another record-setting year.

Official passenger totals will be released on Tuesday, and Ford Airport calculations show 2019 as the best year in GFIA history. November 2019 was the busiest November in Airport history with 283,895 passengers served, putting the total numbers for the year at 3,276,656 – already surpassing 2018’s total of 3,265,242 with one month left.

Media and the public are welcome to join airport officials as they surprise two lucky “GRRand Passengers” around 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

“We have another tremendous year to celebrate and we thought this would be a fun way to engage with our guests and also brighten the days for two very lucky people,” said Tory Richardson, Gerald R. Ford International Airport President & CEO. “We are thankful to live in a community where we have such wonderful support of our Airport, and this is just a small way for us to say thank you to West Michigan for the loyalty throughout the past year.”

The “GRRand Passengers” will each be receiving two $350 travel vouchers and three free days of parking from the Airport Authority, a gift basket of travel accessories valued over $300, and much more.

Airport staff will also be passing out cupcakes, airport trinkets, and registering people to win a $350 flight vouchers from 10 a.m. – 2p.m. that day.

GVSU Economist: Local economy remains soft

Citizen Journalism
Brian Long is a local business forecaster. Credit: GVSU

By Dottie Barnes
Grand Valley State University

Remnants of the General Motors strike are holding down the West Michigan economy, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.

Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of December.

The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) edged up to -7, from -9. The production index also rose to -7 from -9. The index of purchases was marginally better at -17 from -18, and the employment index rose to -2 from -9.

Long said response from the business community to the partial U.S./China tariff agreement has been lukewarm. 

“Some of the tariffs on imported materials may be reduced or eliminated, which will help with the reduction in the purchase price for some commodities and materials,” said Long. “Except for aircraft and some miscellaneous construction equipment, we sell China almost no finished products. Our main exports to China are farm commodities, which have gained about 10 percent in price since the news leaked out about the so-called Phase I trade agreement.”

Long added that bigger issues, such as China’s governmental subsidies for certain firms, will need to wait for a possible second agreement later in the year. 

The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”

Black beans and rice history and fun facts

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Courtesy Michigan State University Extension

By Dixie Sandborn, Michigan State University Extension


Dry beans, including black beans, are a staple in many Latin American cultures and many cultures around the world. If you have spent any time traveling in Latin America or the Caribbean, you know beans in some form are served at almost every meal. Beans are a great source of inexpensive protein and dry beans store well for a long period of time.


Just as a point of interest, rice and beans and beans and rice are two very different dishes, with the latter being more preferred. Rice and beans are a one pot dish, usually white rice and kidney beans cooked together with onions, garlic, maybe a few other spices and a little coconut oil. Beans and rice, on the other hand, are beans that are slowly stewed with onions, garlic and other spices, maybe even a pork hock for flavor. I like to add cumin, bay leaves and some Marie Sharp’s Habanero Pepper Sauce. This combination creates a delicious sauce to be eaten over a bed of rice.


I have been experimenting with several bean recipes as my son prefers beans to meat and will eat beans and rice every day if I let him. Black beans are by far our household favorite.

Fun facts about black beans

  • Black beans are botanically known as Phaseolus vulgaris.
  • Beans and legumes are the fruits or seeds of a family of plants called Fabaceae (also called Leguminosae).
  • Black beans have several common names including turtle beans, caviar criollo and frijoles negros.
  • These beans were and still are a staple food in the diets of Central and South Americans, dating back at least 7,000 years.
  • Black beans have a satiny black skin (technically dark purple) and a white center.
  • When cooked, the beans have a creamy texture and slightly sweet flavor.
  • Black beans are an excellent low-calorie, low-fat source of energy and fiber.
  • One half-cup serving of black beans gives you 8 grams of protein. Aside from meat products, dry beans are the highest source of protein available.
  • Dry beans have more fiber than any other unprocessed food at 15 grams per cup.
  • One cup of cooked black beans contains less than 1 gram of fat and only 227 calories.
  • Black beans are also a great source of folic acid, magnesium, potassium and iron.
  • Adding black beans to your breakfast food will also help your mood because it helps to stabilize your blood sugar. This means that including beans in your breakfast or lunch can help prevent that mid-afternoon slump.
  • Michigan is the leading producer of black beans, with 58% of the nation’s total production.
  • Michigan’s Thumb counties, known for its rich farmland, produces more beans than any other place in the state.
  • Huron County is one of the top dry bean-producing counties in the nation.
  • Mexico is Michigan’s largest export market for dry beans, especially black beans.

Recipe for Black Beans and Rice

I was recently at a Cuban restaurant in Key West. They serve black beans and rice called Moros y Cristianos, translated literally to Moors and Christians. It is presumed the dish gets its name from the time when the Moors occupied the Iberian Peninsula. The black beans represent the Moors and the white rice represents the Christians.


This flavorful bean and rice dish, representative of Spanish occupation, is popular in Cuba. Every Cuban cook has their own version of the recipe. I’m not Cuban, but here is my version.

Ingredients

  • ½ pound dry black beans cooked with 6 cups of water for 6 minutes in pressure cooker. One option is to use 3 cups water and 3 cups chicken broth.
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 large green bell pepper, cut into ½ inch pieces
  • 4 large garlic cloves, chopped (or 1½ teaspoons garlic powder)
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup or tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Marie Sharp’s Habanero Pepper Sauce (now readily available in the U.S.)

Directions

Heat oil in heavy, large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic and sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add 1 cup of beans to pan. Using back of fork, mash beans coarsely.


In a crock pot, add bean and vegetable mixture along with remaining beans, the water/broth from cooking, cumin, bay leaves, tomato paste and pepper sauce. I leave the cover off or slightly ajar as the beans thicken and flavors blend, stirring occasionally.


Season beans to taste with salt and pepper. Serve over white rice and enjoy.


Enjoy.

Black beans and the science behind them

Michigan is the nation’s second largest producer of all dry beans, and first in the production of black beans. READ MORE

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).




The bottom line on blood pressure

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By understanding the implications of both numbers in a blood pressure reading, you may gain more understanding of your risk for heart disease and stroke. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Amy Norton, HealthDay


When it comes to blood pressure readings, the “top” number seems to grab all the attention.


But a large, new study confirms that both numbers are, in fact, critical in determining the risk of heart attack and stroke.


Blood pressure measurements are given as a “top” and “bottom” number. The first reflects systolic blood pressure, the amount of pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts. The second reflects diastolic blood pressure, the pressure in the arteries between heart muscle contractions.


For years, systolic blood pressure has been seen as the one that really matters. That’s based on studies—including the famous Framingham Heart Study—showing that high systolic blood pressure is a stronger predictor of heart disease and stroke.


At the same time, though, doctors measure both systolic and diastolic blood pressure—and treatment guidelines are based on both. So just how important is that diastolic number?


“The idea behind this new study was to address the confusion,” said lead researcher Dr. Alexander Flint, an investigator with Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s division of research.


Using medical records from 1.3 million patients, his team confirmed that, yes, high systolic blood pressure was a stronger risk factor for heart attack and stroke.


But those risks also climbed in tandem with diastolic pressure. And people with normal systolic readings were still at risk if their diastolic pressure was high.


“There’s been a common belief that systolic blood pressure is the only one that matters,” Flint said. “But diastolic definitely matters.”


He and his colleagues reported the findings in a recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.


The definition of high blood pressure has gotten a revamp in recent years. Guidelines issued in 2017 by the American College of Cardiology and other heart groups lowered the threshold for diagnosing the condition—from the traditional 140/90 mm Hg to 130/80.


The fact that treatment guidelines include a diastolic pressure threshold implies that it’s important.


And indeed it is, said Dr. Karol Watson, a member of the ACC’s prevention section and leadership council.


In fact, she said, doctors once thought that diastolic blood pressure was the more important one, based on research at the time. Then came the studies showing that systolic pressure was generally a better predictor of people’s risk of heart disease and stroke.


In addition, Watson said, high systolic blood pressure is more prevalent, because of natural changes in blood pressure as people age.


“As we get older, systolic blood pressure keeps marching up,” she explained. Diastolic blood pressure, on the other hand, generally peaks when people are in their 40s to 60s—and then it declines.


But it’s clear, Watson said, that while systolic and diastolic blood pressure are different they both deserve attention.


In the latest study, cardiovascular risks rose with each “unit increase” in systolic pressure above 140, by about 18% on average. Meanwhile, each increase in diastolic blood pressure above 90 was tied to a 6% increase in heart disease and stroke risk.


The researchers saw a similar pattern when they looked at blood pressure increases above the 130/80 threshold. That, Flint said, supports the 2017 guideline shift.


The findings are based on over 1.3 million patients in the Kaiser Permanente health system who had roughly 36.8 million blood pressure readings taken from 2007 through 2016. Over eight years, more than 44,000 patients had a heart attack or stroke.


According to Flint, it’s the largest study of its kind to date.


The bottom line for patients, Watson said, is that they should care about both blood pressure numbers.


In her experience, she noted, patients often point to the number that’s in the normal range and say, “But look how good this is.”


Flint agreed, saying that no one should “ignore” the diastolic number.


“It’s important not only in blood pressure treatment, but on the side of diagnosis, too,” he said.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



GR Symphony Picnic welcomes Hanson, Kittel & Co., Doo Wop, Lady Black Mambazo in July

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment


By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk
Grand Rapids Symphony

In 1995, the Grand Rapids Symphony stepped on stage beneath a new outdoor band shell at Cannonsburg Ski Area, and a new West Michigan summer tradition of great music in the great outdoors was born. The sizzling sounds of the 1990s returns to the 2020 D&W Fresh Market Picnic Pops in July with the pop sensation, Hanson.

The Grand Rapids Pops’ 26th annual summer season features the extraordinary fiddle, mandolin and hammer dulcimer virtuosity of Kittel & Co.; the suave and sophisticated, close-harmony vocals of The Doo Wop Project; and the joyously uplifting world music sounds of Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Sponsored by SpartanNash, the 2020 Picnic Pops, led by Principal Pops Conductor Bob Bernhardt and Associate Conductor John Varineau, opens with Grammy nominees Kittel & Co., fronted by Michigan’s own Jeremy Kittel from Ann Arbor, on July 22. Brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson, whose smash hit “MMMBop” was the summer anthem of 1997, join the Grand Rapids Pops at Cannonsburg Ski Area on July 24.

“Symphony Under the Sky” continues with stars of Broadway’s “Jersey Boys” and “Motown: The Musical” singing songs made famous by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and more in The Doo Wop Project on July 29. The 2020 Picnic Pops wraps up on July 30 with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, featured prominently on Paul Simon’s 1986 album “Graceland,” which won the Grammy for Album of the Year.

Season ticket sales for renewing subscribers are now underway.  Season tickets for new subscribers, offering substantial discounts as well as access to the special event presale for Hanson, will go on sale on Feb. 3. 

Single tickets to see Hanson for subscribers go on sale Feb. 24. All remaining single tickets for Hanson go on sale March 2. Single tickets for the rest of the 2020 D&W Fresh Market Picnic Pops go on sale March 9. Call the Grand Rapids Symphony at 616-454-9451 ext. 4 or go online to PicnicPops.org.

Kittel & Co. – July 22

Switching from Bach to Bluegrass at the drop of a hat, Grammy-nominated violinist and fiddler Jeremy Kittel’s goal is “just to make honest music.” The Michigan-born musician has shared stages with artists including Bela Flack, Yo-Yo Ma, Paquito D’Rivera and My Morning Jacket, performed at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and at Berklee College of Music, and on TV’s “Late Night with Stephen Colbert” and radio’s “A Prairie Home Companion.”

 

Growing up near Ann Arbor, Kittel recalled “Playing different styles was kind of a dream of mine.” Today, the  U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion, graduate of the University of Michigan and former member of the Grammy-winning Turtle Island Quartet, plays music drawing from traditional roots, jazz, Celtic, Classical, electronic and more with his all-string band, Kittel & Co., which recently appeared at Interlochen Center for the Arts, at The Ark in Ann Arbor and at Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey.

Hanson – July 24

In 2017, the trio of brothers who make up pop-rock trio Hanson celebrated 25 years of playing music together, selling millions of albums and reaching fans from Tulsa to Tokyo. After five years and two independent albums, Hanson released their major label debut in 1997 and saw a meteoric rise with the international smash single “Mmmbop” from the album Middle Of Nowhere, which garnered multiple Grammy nominations and five consecutive top 40 singles, including “Where’s The Love,” “I Will Come To You” “Weird.”

HANSON | String Theory brings together an exciting collaboration of song craftsmanship and symphonic spectacle framing the established Grammy nominated multiplatinum pop-rock trio’s music with symphonic arrangements.

The Doo Wop Project – July 29

Stars of “Jersey Boys,” “Motown: The Musical” come to town with the classic doo wop sounds of The Drifters, The Del-Vikings and The Temptations. On Broadway, they sang as Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. With the Grand Rapids Symphony, The Doo Wop Project spans the gamut of tight-harmony vocals from The Crests (“16 Candles”), The Belmonts (“A Teenager in Love”) and The Flamingos (“I Only Have Eyes for You”) and the early days of all-male vocal groups to doowopified arrangements of later songs by Michael Jackson, Jason Mraz and Maroon 5.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo – July 30

In the mines of South Africa, impoverished black miners, living far from their homes and families, created their own genre of vocal music to entertain themselves.  In the town of Ladysmith in the African province of kwaZulu Natal, singers honed their craft where Ladysmith Black Mambazo were discovered by Paul Simon who featured them on his 1986 recording “Graceland,” which went on to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

Proclaimed “South Africa’s Cultural Ambassadors to the World” by Nelson Mandela, the multiple Grammy Award winners have shared stages with Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Josh Groban, and the group has been heard on the soundtrack for such films as Disney’s “The Lion King, Part II,” “Eddie Murphy’s “Coming To America,” and Clint Eastwood’s “Invictus.” Benefactor sponsor for the concert is Inclusive Performance Strategies.

Tickets

Series tickets will be available to new subscribers beginning Feb. 3. There is a 3-Concert Series subscription for the Kittel & Co., The Dot Top Project, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Subscriptions for lawn seats are $45 for adults or $15 for children ages 2 – 18. Children under age 2 are free. Subscriptions for general admission chair seating are $81 and tickets for individual reserved table seat are $156 or $1,200 to reserve an entire table for eight.

The Flexpass 6-pack offers lawn tickets that can be used in any combination, on any concert night, for Kittel & Co., The DooWop Project, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Flexpasses are $114 for adults. Flexpasses cannot be used for the special event Hanson.

Single tickets will be available for Hanson first for Picnic Pops series and Flexpass subscribers beginning Feb. 24 and then for the general public March 2. All remain gin single tickets for the D&W Fresh Market Picnic Pops go on sale on March 9. Lawn tickets for Kittle & Co, The DooWop Project, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo are $22 for adults or $5 for ages 2 -18. Other tickets are $33 for reserved chairs, $55 for individual table seats, and $440 for a full table of eight.

Lawn tickets for the special event Hanson are $45. Other tickets are $67 for reserved chairs, $112 for individual table seats, and $896 for a full table of eight. 

School News Network: Two teachers, one big class

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First grade teacher Sara Beld reads to the class while they enjoy an afternoon snack. (School News Network)

By Erin Albanese
School News Network

You could compare the compatibility of first-grade teachers Julie Dykstra and Sarah Beld to a popular combination: peanut butter and jelly.

“Welcome to the PB and J Suite,” said Dykstra, who with Beld is bringing team teaching to a new level at Gladiola Elementary by combining their classrooms into one super-sized group.

Sandwiched between their two rooms is a connecting space — a former coat closet transformed into a mini-library. Through it, students walk back and forth before settling into reading on one side or math on the other, depending on the time of day.

But the PB and J reference goes beyond teachers working in sync. One first grader defined how students refer to the rooms: “This is peanut butter,” he said referring to the classroom where he stood. “That’s jelly,” he said pointing into the connected classroom.

Together, Dykstra and Beld are teaching 38 students — dubbed Peanut Butter Kids or Jelly Kids, depending on whose student they are on the class roster and because they split up for art, music and gym. All students spend most of the day together, with one teacher leading and the other assisting students individually or in small groups. 

When it’s time for quiet reading and writing, students find a spot on either side. 

The combined classroom allows for more individualized instruction, including in groups

You Do This; I Do That

The longtime colleagues pitched the idea of joining forces last year. They were both seeing losses in instruction time due to behavior management and found it difficult to meet individual needs of students at different academic levels. Principal Cheryl Corpus agreed to pilot the idea, combining the group of 52 students. There also is a third, traditional first grade classroom.

“By the end of last year, we learned it was powerful collaboration of students and staff alike. Students were able to build relationships across groups and teachers were collaborating every day to meet the needs of their students,” Corpus said. “By maximizing instructional time, supporting one another, and differentiating for the students, we saw impact behaviorally and academically.”

Because of its success at the first grade level, second grade teachers Jennifer Blackburn and Charon Leal also joined their classes this year, sharing 56 students. Their space is different than the first grade teachers; it’s all one big room. 


Blackburn said Dykstra and Beld realized some of their students thrived under the combined model, and “sold us the idea.”

For more stories on local schools, visit School News Network at schoolnewsnetwork.org.

Report: 22M cancer survivors by 2030

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As caregivers and clinicians navigate the various phases of cancer survivorship, it spotlights the ever-present need for resources that optimize care. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay


More Americans are surviving cancer and their numbers could top 22 million in another decade, the American Cancer Society says.


Currently, thanks to better screening and treatment, more than 17 million Americans who had cancer remain alive, the society said in a report.


While this is good news, it comes with a cautionary note.


Cancer survivors often have long-term difficulties. Many must also overcome barriers to get the treatments they need, the researchers said.


“People with a history of cancer have unique medical, psychosocial and economic needs that require proactive assessment and management by health care providers,” said report co-author Robin Yabroff. She’s senior scientific director of health services research for the cancer society.


“Although there are growing numbers of tools that can assist patients, caregivers and clinicians in navigating the various phases of cancer survivorship, further evidence-based resources are needed to optimize care,” Yabroff said in a society news release.


The report estimated that 8 million men and nearly 9 million women have a history of cancer.


Among the survivors, 68% had their cancer diagnosed five or more years ago and 18% at least 20 years ago.


Also, while nearly two-thirds of survivors are 65 or older, nearly 66,000 survivors are 14 and younger. Close to 48,000 are 15 to 19 years old.


Because of the growing and aging population, survivorship is increasing even though the number of women who develop cancer remains stable and the number of men with cancer declines, the researchers found.


The most common cancers among men are prostate, colon cancer and melanoma. Among women they are breast, uterine and colon cancer.


The report was published in the journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



Youth can build credit history through positive use of credit cards

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, How-To's, ,
Courtesy Michigan State University Extension

By Laurie Rivetto, Michigan State University Extension
Updated from an original article written by Sienna Suszek.


Today’s young adults are a major contributor to the economy and are poised to be the nation’s next biggest spenders. It seems logical to help them use their spending in a way that will positively impact their future and help them build a solid credit history. While there are a variety of ways to establish a solid credit history, one useful and effective method can be through credit cards. 


EVERFI and AIG Retirement Services recently surveyed more than 30,000 college students about their financial behaviors and knowledge. According to the 2019 research, the percentage of students using credit cards in college has increased from 28% in 2012 to 46% in 2019. The percentage of students with more than one card has also increased from 25% of college students to 45%. While using credit cards can help build positive credit, the research also found that the percentage of those students who never paid a credit card bill late decreased from 91% in 2012 to 78% today.


In addition, for students with credit cards, 36% already have more than $1,000 in credit card debt. While percentage changes could be influenced by a variety of factors, it does demonstrate the importance of education around the proper use of credit.


First, it is important that young people recognize good credit is a privilege to be earned. It takes time to build a good credit history that can then benefit them for years to come. They must also understand that debt is easy to get into, hard to get out of and if not managed, can result in a poor credit rating that will negatively affect them for 10 years or more. As indicated by the research, unfortunately, many young people do not understand the implications of spending beyond their means with credit cards.


A credit card is a form of borrowing money. When a young person signs a credit card application, it is binding. It represents an agreement to repay dollars borrowed through the privilege of using a card to pay for something instead of cash. If payments are made prior to due dates on bills received, over time the youth creates a history of consistent, timely repayments and a good credit score is built. A higher credit score will make it easier in the future for students to rent an apartment, take out a home mortgage and command better interest rates on insurance policies or loans. It may even help them to secure a job. 

Michigan State University Extension recommends a few steps to help youth on the right path to positive credit: 

  • Help youth research credit cards and choose one that is right for their needs and situation.
  • Establish a system with youth for tracking their charged monthly expenses. This provides a visible picture of how much debt they are incurring.
  • Have youth be accountable for paying their bill each month out of their personal checking account. By doing this, they will become accustomed to bill paying procedures and track any remaining account balance.
  • Teach youth how to pull a credit report through the agencies of TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. One report is available free of charge from each of these agencies on an annual basis. Youth and adults should access their credit report using AnnualCreditReport.com, a federally authorized website that provides free access to a credit report every 12 months.

Michigan State University Extension and Michigan 4-H Youth Development help to prepare young people for successful futures. As a result of career exploration and workforce preparation activities, thousands of Michigan youth are better equipped to make important decisions about their professional future, ready to contribute to the workforce and able to take fiscal responsibility in their personal lives. For more information or resources on career exploration, workforce preparation, financial education, or entrepreneurship, contact 4-HCareerPrep@anr.msu.edu.


This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).




Low-fat diet—a tool in breast cancer fight?

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Food, Health, How-To's, Senior Living, ,
Researchers found that women following a low-fat diet reduced their overall calories, changed their cooking methods and reduced portion sizes of meat and dairy products. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Serena Gordon, HealthDay


Health experts have long touted the benefits of a low-fat diet for preventing heart disease, but now a large study suggests it might do the same against breast cancer.


Researchers found that eating low-fat foods reduced a woman’s risk of dying from breast cancer by 21%. What’s more, the women on low-fat diets also cut their risk of dying from any cause by 15%.


“This is the only study providing randomized controlled trial evidence that a dietary intervention can reduce women’s risk of death from breast cancer,” said study author Dr. Rowan Chlebowski.


He is from the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, Calif.


Diet has long been suspected to be a factor in cancer.


Obesity has been linked to 12 different types of cancers, including postmenopausal breast cancer, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research. And, a diet full of healthy foods, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes is thought to help protect against cancer.


Chlebowski noted that previous studies have shown a higher cancer incidence in countries where people tend to eat more fat.


The latest study looked at the effect a low-fat diet might have on the incidence of breast cancer and death.


Nearly 49,000 postmenopausal women from 40 centers across the United States were included in the study. The women were between the ages of 50 and 79 and had no history of previous breast cancer.


Eighty percent of the women were white, which Chlebowski said matched the population when the study began.


Between 1993 and 1998, the women were randomly assigned to one of two dietary groups. One group was assigned to a normal diet. This diet had about 32% of their calories from fat. The low-fat group had a target of 20% or less of calories from fat.


Chlebowski said the low-fat diet was close in content to the Dietary Approaches to Stopping Hypertension diet, or DASH diet. This emphasizes eating vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains, while avoiding high-fat meats and dairy products, according to the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.


The low-fat group lost a modest amount of weight. Chlebowski said there was about a 3% difference in weight between the groups. He said the researchers factored the weight difference into their calculations and that weight alone didn’t affect the risk of death.


Women in the low-fat group adhered to the diet for about 8.5 years and both groups were followed for an average of nearly 20 years.


The women in the low-fat group weren’t able to achieve the 20%-or-less target for fat, but they did manage around 25%, according to the researchers. And they did increase their intake of fruits, vegetables and grains.


“The diet was more moderate than originally planned. But we saw a diet of 25% to 27% fat is largely achievable,” Chlebowski said.


He said the researchers don’t know if any individual components of the diet were more important than others, but they hope further study will tease that out.


In the meantime, Chlebowski said he thinks the message should be one of dietary moderation rather than looking for any one particular food or food group.


He said the women in the low-fat study group reduced their overall calories, changed their cooking methods and reduced their portions of meat and dairy products.


The findings are to be presented soon at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago. Findings presented at meetings are typically viewed as preliminary until they’ve been published in a peer-reviewed journal.


ASCO breast cancer expert Dr. Lidia Schapira, from Stanford University, noted that this study shows “what we put on the plate matters. It’s worth coaching and pushing patients to put more fruits and vegetables on their plates.”


She added that even when women didn’t reach the more stringent dietary fat goal of 20%, they still showed a health advantage from trying to reduce the fat in their diets.


Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, president of ASCO, said these findings were “really, really striking.”


She noted, “This was not an incredibly restrictive diet. People were able to adhere to it pretty well.”


And yet, the incidence of breast cancer went down by 8% in the women on low-fat diets.


“They were getting fewer breast cancers and even when they did get breast cancer, their death rate was reduced,” Bertagnolli said.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.


Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you ought to know

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, , , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“If you were born without wings, do nothing to prevent them from growing.”

— Coco Chanel

Hooray for Hollywood!

Photo by Sam Howzit

OK, so you’ll have to wait until May or June, but time doth fly, doth it not? (And so can you.) Check out Allegiant Airlines’s new nonstop destinations! (Hint: The list includes LA.) Go here for the scoop. Gerald R. Ford International Airport is excited about this, and you should be, too.

Time to thrive

Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

Maybe you’re not quite there, yet, but it’s always wise to know what you’re up against. Aging adults can thrive in assisted living communities versus aging in place and living alone at home. Even seniors who live alone in a new home face the same issues with isolation, security issues, and in some cases driving restrictions apply due to medical, or vision problems. Go here to learn more.

Stella!

Paws With A Cause dogs-in-training visit the cast of Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s ‘A Street Car Named Desire’ (Supplied)

Blanche is the quintessential tragic figure, and Stanley is just a brute. There’s still time to catch the famous Tennessee Williams play, A Streetcar Named Desire, which runs through Jan. 26 at Civic Theatre. Streetcar follows the story of Blanche du Bois who goes to live with her sister (Stella) and brother-in-law (Stanley) in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Go here for the details.

Fun fact:

80 is the new 65

It’s true! American Senior Communities reports that with innovations in healthcare and a focus on prevention, seniors today are living “longer, more active and healthier lives.” In fact, by the year 2040, the population of older seniors — people aged 85 years and above — is expected to triple from the 5.7 million there were in 2011 to 14.1 million.

Dates—nature’s sweetness

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Food, Health, Senior Living,
Dates are a great way to add sweetness to a recipe—without adding refined sugars. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Alyssa Allen, Spectrum Health Beat


Craving something sweet? It may be tempting to gobble up old favorites like candy, chocolate, cookies and cupcakes.


But where does that get you? Lots of calories. Refined sugar. Virtually no nutritional value.


As an alternative, it may be time for you to consider one of nature’s sweet treats: dates.


Along with its caramel-like sweetness, this delectable fruit delivers a healthy dose of antioxidants, fiber, potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6, plant-based iron and an array of other vitamins and minerals.


And it’s hard to go wrong with a natural food.


“There are a multitude of naturally delicious fresh and dried fruits, such as dates, that provide sweetness with fiber, lowering the glycemic load impact,” Spectrum Health dietitian Caren Dobreff said.


Dates vary by size and weight, so the nutrient information can vary widely. Larger dates can weigh up to 24 grams—and pack about half a gram of protein and just under 1.6 grams of fiber. Smaller dates can weigh about 8 grams and provide 6 grams of carbohydrate, 5 grams of natural sugars and less than 1 gram of fiber.


Dobreff said those smaller dates may be a better fit for those needing to watch their daily total sugar intake, even if it is natural sugar.

Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat


Dates work as a sweet treat on their own, but there are many ways to incorporate them into your cooking and baking, Dobreff said.


It’s one of the tricks she teaches in the Spectrum Health Culinary Medicine program.


“We take a recipe and we give it some interest and a little bit of sweetness, but not off the charts,” she said.


Eliminating refined sugars and replacing them with natural sugar, as found in dates, can help you recalibrate your taste buds to what nature intended for sweetness.


“I want people to have a real idea of what sweet is supposed to taste like,” Dobreff said. “All the added sugars, syrups and artificial sweeteners have given us an unrealistic idea of what sweet is supposed to be like.”


When using dates, Dobreff recommends using the whole date as opposed to products such as date sugar, which is made from dehydrated dates ground into a granulated sugar, or date syrup, which is made by boiling the dates and reducing the liquid to a honey-like consistency.


“The whole food is going to have higher fiber content, which is incredibly important when it comes to regulating your blood sugar level,” Dobreff said. “Added sugars and syrups have virtually no fiber, which has a stronger impact on our blood glucose level.


“And, as we all know, what goes up must come down—and then we have a sugar crash.”


Here are Dobreff’s tips for incorporating dates into your diet:

  1. Use them in baking to replace chocolate chips or candies. If you’re making homemade protein bars or energy bites, add dates for something different.
  2. Add dates to a leafy green salad or to a whole grain salad, such as farro or quinoa.
  3. For a finger-food snack, cut the date open butterfly-style and put peanut butter or almond butter inside. Kids love this one.
  4. Chop them and add them to roasted vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, tossed in balsamic vinegar. “It makes for a wonderful, healthy comfort food,” Dobreff said.
  5. Instead of raisins, add chopped dates to your hot cereal or oatmeal. Go a step further and add apples and cinnamon.
  6. Try these recipes from Spectrum Health’s culinary medicine classes: coconut pecan date rolls and roasted cauliflower salad with dates and golden raisins.
Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat

When shopping in the grocery store, you’ll find dates in the baking or produce section near the dried fruits and nuts. They’re usually offered as organic, too, if you desire.


Remember to remove the pits when you prepare them, Dobreff said.


Dates are a great way we can add nature’s sweetness to our cooking, all while avoiding refined sugars.


“I am hoping that people will think more about, ‘How can I make this dish taste good and use more of a whole food natural ingredient?’” Dobreff said.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.




Why assisted living beats living alone

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Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

By Vista Springs Assisted Living


As people age, things change in many aspects of their lives. It might be the loss of social interaction with dear friends and relatives who move to other states for a lower cost of living and warmer climates. Friends and family may move, and it is important to be supportive, but it’s still painful emotionally. When other friends or relatives pass away, this creates new painful feelings of loss.

The importance of connection

Most aging adults benefit greatly from being in diverse and exciting social communities that offer a variety of social gatherings and physical activities such as low and medium impact exercise classes, swimming activities, as well as a range of motion chair exercises to upbeat music. And according to exciting research from AARP and Harvard Health Publications, regular exercise changes the brain to improve memory and thinking skills. 

Groundbreaking brain research

This exciting research highlights one of the many positive reasons why this happens with seniors. Researchers found that regular aerobic exercise that increases your heart rate and stimulates your sweat glands appears to boost the size of the hippocampus, which is the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning. The lead research mentioned another interesting point involving brain fog that affects many aging adults. With these types of exercises, the brain fog goes away. That is amazing.


Unfortunately, resistance training, balance and muscle toning exercises did not have the same results, but they are still important forms of exercise for other reasons such as an increase in strength, firmness, and stability with balance affecting your legs and feet.


In assisted living communities, you will not be on your own to attempt to figure out and structure a workout plan. That is taken care of since the community has professional trainers there to guide, train, and supervise your activities. They are highly skilled and experienced in dealing with seniors, by keeping a watchful eye on your activities, it will help to keep you from overdoing things. Also, this certainly beats the fees charged by fitness centers and gyms. 


Aging adults can thrive in assisted living communities versus aging in place and living alone at home. Even seniors who live alone in a new home face the same issues with isolation, security issues, and in some cases driving restrictions apply due to medical, or vision problems.

Seemingly endless possibilities

In assisted living communities like Vista Springs, there are plenty of opportunities to meet new and vibrant people who share your interests and tastes whether it’s playing pool, poker, movies, jazz, dancing, or even learning a new computer language.


Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.


Prevent human papilloma virus—get vaccinated

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Children should get the HPV vaccine between the ages of 11 and 12, to ensure it is most effective. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Diana Bitner, MD, Spectrum Health Beat


School is back in session, and if your child has had his or her annual checkup, their doctor might have talked to you about the importance of kids and adults obtaining the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.


The HPV vaccine can prevent genital warts and penile cancer in men; cancer of the cervix, vagina and vulva in women; and anal and throat cancer in both men and women.


The HPV vaccine keeps the body from becoming a carrier even if a person is exposed to the virus through sexual contact.


A patient of mine I’ll call Deb recently went through some fairly intense testing to rule out cervical cancer, and it was very stressful for her.


She came to see me for her annual exam and Pap smear, and she had experienced abnormal Paps in the past. She even had to have a colposcopy to make sure she didn’t have cervical cancer. Fortunately, Deb did not have cancer, but she wanted to make sure her kids wouldn’t have to endure the same procedures and worries she endured.


I recommended the HPV vaccine to give her some reassurance for her children.


The HPV vaccine is available in three different brands, each covering two, four or nine different types of the virus. The vaccine is given in three doses within a 24-week period. It can be given to both boys and girls and it has been shown to be safe and effective for females and males between the ages of 11 and 29.


The vaccine can also be given even if the person already has the HPV virus, because it can protect against other types of viruses as well. The optimal range for girls and boys to receive the first shot is between the ages of 11 and 12, because the immune response is better the earlier it is given. In addition, whether or not we like to think about it, kids often have sex before we suspect they do.


In countries where vaccines are more mandated, the HPV vaccine rate is approximately 80 percent. In the U.S. the rate is 54 percent for the first shot and only 33 percent for all three shots. The higher the rate of vaccination, the fewer the women who will develop cervical cancer.


Bottom line: Get your kids vaccinated.


So, why is our vaccination rate so low compared to other countries? In a survey, parents gave the following reasons for choosing not to get their kids vaccinated against HPV:

  • They think the vaccine is unnecessary.
  • They think the vaccine is ineffective.
  • They think the vaccine is unsafe.
  • They don’t understand the details of the HPV vaccine.
  • They don’t think their children would have sex that young.

Health care providers know the vaccine is safe, effective and necessary—and they know that parents need to learn more about the vaccine and appreciate the reality that some children will have sex at a young age. There is excellent information available to support the decision to vaccinate kids early.


I am happy that Deb trusted me and was willing to consider the vaccine to reduce her daughter’s chance of having abnormal Pap smears in the future.


Even if the shot has been given, it is still important to screen for HPV and abnormal cells on the cervix. Pap smears should be started at age 21 and performed every three years after that.


I follow the recommended guidelines to start co-testing of the Pap and HPV at age 30; if the results are negative, repeat the test every three years. If there are abnormal cells present, the next step is to do a colposcopy, where we look at the cervix with a telescope and take a biopsy of the cervix.


Of course, there are several other ways to prevent the HPV virus, and I told Deb to give the following advice to her children:

  • Do not smoke.
  • Use a condom every time.
  • Delay sex until after age 15.

Deb appreciated the information I shared with her and scheduled appointments for her kids to get their vaccines during their checkups.


As a gynecologist who has had to perform hysterectomies on many women because of cervical cancer, I’m very happy that Deb made the choice to have her kids vaccinated.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



Working well with other generations can serve as a win in the workplace

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Courtesy Michigan State University Extension

By Frank Cox, Michigan State University Extension


Today we find a more casual workplace in both time and place. We have also seen a change in the dynamics of who we are working with. It can be challenging to meet the needs of the customers and the people with whom we work alongside. However, equipped with a greater understanding and improved communication skills, an employee can serve all generations and win for themselves and their establishment.


Millennials (Generation Y), Gen Xers and baby boomers make up the bulk of the workforce today, giving it a look like a mixed-up doubles tennis tournament.


How do we work effectively with other generations? What type of needs, goals and values do the different generations have? Reacting to teammates or coworkers in the workplace is somewhat like playing doubles in tennis. Who plays the net? Who runs the baseline? When do you come up and when do you stay back? You must understand not only your own strengths and weaknesses, but also how to react to the movements of your partner and how to handle what is coming over the net. Communication, openness and understanding can be the best approach for working with other generations. If you want to succeed in this new workplace, you’ll have to work as a team.


In this three-part series from Michigan State University Extension, these articles will look at the younger generations — Gen Y and millennials — and older generations — Gen X and baby boomers. Just as the demarcation lines of these generations can be debated as discussed in The Atlantic article “Here is When Each Generation Begins and Ends, According to Facts,” these articles will use some generalities and refer to these groups as older or younger generations.


It is not just the cutoff between years that can be in debate. Please be aware of stereotypes as it is discussed by Rebecca Hastings from the Society for Human Resource Management in “Generational Differences Exist, But Beware Stereotypes.” Sometimes the data and surveys don’t match with the charts or expectations. We are all still individuals and we still need to get to know each other, but we will be using these generational differences charts and this current information to gain a greater perspective and improve on our managing styles and how we better work with each other.


This series of articles will discuss how each generation can succeed in the multigenerational workplace of today. Also covered in this series will be how different generations can gain from each other the skills they may lack and how each generation can enrich the work experience. It is what each generation brings to the “court” that makes it that much more enjoyable and exciting. Working with someone of another generation can benefit your career and enrich your life.


The upcoming series will start off with communication, a key to any successful business or workplace. As the series continues, it will then cover the values that each of these generations possess and how to take advantage of those assets. It will touch on how to reward and give feedback to each generation. Finally, it will the address the learning aspect. Gaining from each generation an understanding of the skills they possess, and then passing that information on to others. All of which will make for better employees and a better workplace environment.


Michigan State University Extension and Michigan 4-H Youth Development help to prepare young people for successful futures. As a result of career exploration and workforce preparation activities, thousands of Michigan youth are better equipped to make important decisions about their professional future, ready to contribute to the workforce and able to take fiscal responsibility in their personal lives. For more information or resources on career exploration, workforce preparation, financial education, or entrepreneurship, contact 4-HCareerPrep@anr.msu.edu.


Other articles in this series

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).




Sweet tooth? It grows from the get-go

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In studies, about 98% of toddlers had added sugar in their daily diet. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay


Bad eating habits begin at a young age in American children, a new study finds.


Researchers analyzed data from more than 1,200 babies (aged 6 to 11 months) and toddlers (12 to 23 months) between 2011 and 2016.


They found that 61% of babies and 98% of toddlers consumed added sugars in their typical daily diet, mainly in flavored yogurt and fruit drinks.


Infants consumed about 1 teaspoon of added sugars daily (about 2% of their daily calorie intake) and toddlers consumed about 6 teaspoons (about 8% of their daily calories).


The main sources of added sugar for infants were yogurt, snacks and sweet bakery products. For toddlers, the top sources were fruit drinks, sweet baked products and candy.


Asian toddlers consumed the fewest added sugars (3.7 teaspoons) and blacks the most (8.2 teaspoons).


The study was published online recently in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.


“This has important public health implications since previous research has shown that eating patterns established early in life shape later eating patterns,” lead investigator Kirsten Herrick said in a journal news release. She’s a researcher with the Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


The findings did bring some good news: The percentage of babies and toddlers whose daily diets include added sugars declined, as did the amounts they consumed.


But consumption of added sugars remains high among young children.


Herrick noted that a previous study found that 6-year-olds who had consumed any sugar-sweetened drink before their first birthday were more than twice as likely to drink such beverages every day than those who had not.


“Previous research into the diets of children over 2 years old associated sugar consumption with the development of cavities, asthma, obesity, elevated blood pressure and altered lipid profiles,” Herrick said.


Only one U.S. health organization—the American Heart Association—offers guidelines on sugar consumption for children under age 2, researchers noted.


“Our study’s findings about infant and toddler diets should raise awareness among health organizations and practitioners and inform future guidelines and recommendations,” Herrick said.


She advised parents to be cautious about added sugars in the foods they give babies when weaning them.


Parents should talk to a health care provider about which solid foods to introduce, and check the nutrition information on food labels.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.




Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood weekend news you ought to know

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I would really be doing something right, perhaps even important, if I was bringing even a little more compassion into the world through Big Bird. 

Caroll Spinney, the man who brought Big Bird to life



By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

The Weekend List

The Grand Rapids Symphony’s first 2020 concert of the year is Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10 and 11, at DeVos Performance Hall. (Supplied)

There is s storm coming? Well strap on those chains because there is lots to do this weekend! The Grand Rapids Symphony performs a classical concert Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10 and 11, at DeVos Performance Hall. Also the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre has opened its latest production, “A Streetcar Named Desire,” which runs through Jan. 26 at the theater, 30 N. Division Ave. And LowellArts opened its exhibition “The Art of Change,” at its gallery, 223 E. Main St., Lowell. Click here for more information and tickets.

Now Hiring

If you are interested in working for the U.S. Census Bureau for the 2020 Census, well you only have a few more weeks to apply. Since the bureau has not received enough applicants for census positions, it has increased the pay for Michigan, which is now between $14 – $25. In Kent County, it is $25 per hour. For more information about how to apply and the positions available, click here.

For Free?

The holidays are over and so is the excitement of the new family pet you got. Well before you decide to get rid of Fido or Felicity for free, there are a few things you should know, such as do not give any animal away for free and investigate the person who is interest in taking your pet. For more information, click here.

Fun Fact: All Buttoned Up

So if you have every ventured down to Ah-Nab-Awen- Park (you know the park next to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum), you might have noticed a large red button with parents either encouraging or discouraging their children to play on it. Well, “Lorie’s Button,” as it is called, was part of a design competition to celebrate the nation’s bicentennial year. It was designed by Hy Zelkowitz and installed during the 1976 Festival of the Arts. The piece is one of the most expensive artworks for the city to maintain because, yes, it was designed for form and function, meaning children can play on it and families are encouraged to take photos. Glad we finally were able to settle that debate.

Can food timing prevent diabetes?

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Putting off meals for an extended period of time can lead some to over-indulge when it comes time to eat. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Sarah Mahoney, Spectrum Health Beat


Intermittent fasting—the fancy term for going up to 14 or 16 hours without eating anything—is all the rage these days.


Dietitians and their celebrity clients are touting it as the latest and greatest weight-loss tool.


And there’s been some promising evidence that the approach may even lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, one of the most serious chronic illnesses in the world.


Researchers who have linked intermittent fasting to improved sensitivity to insulin also recently discovered it might lower pancreatic fat in rats. And that may reduce the odds of developing diabetes.


In a small study of humans with pre-diabetes, participants who ate from the hours of 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. saw significant improvements in their insulin sensitivity and blood pressure.


But don’t approach intermittent fasting without some measure of caution.


Kristi Veltkamp, MS, RD, outpatient dietitian at Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital, said it makes sense to take intermittent fasting with a healthy sprinkling of skepticism, especially when it comes to its relationship to diabetes prevention.


“Some people do lose weight when they try this style of eating,” she said. “And the No. 1 way we know to prevent diabetes is by losing weight.”


Even shedding as little as 5 to 10% of your body weight can reduce the risk of diabetes by 58%.


“So this type of eating may be helpful because people are losing weight,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean intermittent fasting gets the credit. From that perspective, any weight-loss method can be said to lower diabetes risk.”


The strict timing of meals can have a significant downside for some people.


“Often, they get so hungry that they overeat during their eight-hour window, sometimes making poor food choices,” Veltkamp said.


For others, it’s just not convenient, especially if they are trying to eat meals as a family.


Most people consume the last meal of the day in the evening, not by 3 p.m.


“By all means, experiment,” she said. “For example, often people are surprised to discover that they feel better eating breakfast later in the day.”


But until more conclusive data emerges, pay close attention to the guidelines already proven to prevent diabetes.

5 proven ways to keep diabetes at bay:

1. Eat the Mediterranean way

If you haven’t already experimented with a Mediterranean diet, now’s the time. Eating meals with plenty of fish, vegetables, whole grains and olive oil has been linked to an 83% lower chance of developing diabetes.

2. Nix the nighttime snacks

Even if you never try intermittent fasting, those evening snacks—often scarfed down in front of the TV—can sabotage any healthy diet. Once you’ve left the dinner table, try to stop eating for the evening.

3. Pay attention to protein

Veltkamp recommends including some protein in every meal and snack. This includes dairy, nuts or cheese. “It keeps people full longer and helps with cravings,” she said.

4. Quit bashing carbs

While processed foods, soft drinks and white sugar cause rapid ups and downs in glucose levels, Veltkamp worries that too many people vilify all carbohydrates.


Whole grains and fruits are a healthy part of every diet, she said.


“Sugar isn’t all bad,” Veltkamp said. “I’ve yet to have to tell a patient that they’re eating too many apples.”

5. Strive for flexibility

Finally, when you’re looking for a lifetime approach to healthy eating, it’s smart to be gentle with yourself.


While all-or-nothing diets may be the craze—from the Keto plan to Whole 30—she advocates a much more forgiving approach, with an 80/20 rule.


Strive for solid, sensible meals 80% of the time, then relax with the remaining 20% of meals.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.




Should you stay in your state for retirement?

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Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

By Vista Springs Assisted Living


We’ve all seen, heard, or perhaps even dreamed about the picture-perfect retirement: sunny skies, warm nights, brunch in the morning, cocktails in the evening. For retirement-aged adults after World War II, relocation to destination retirements was made possible by the additional savings that Medicare allowed on top of Social Security a few decades earlier. Add on the pensions from employer loyalty, and it’s easy to see why “the good life” picture of retirement was popular. Nowadays, aging adults may not have the means for the retirement life that existed in the ’60s, but staying in your state doesn’t mean settling for second best. Here’s why:

Memories keep you sharp and happy

A study from the University of Pennsylvania in 2013 reported that being in a place associated with a particular memory allows people to recall that memory more clearly. For example, think about how you might feel around your old neighborhood, or at an orchard that your family went to every year. This relationship between spatial and episodic memory means that being in a place with rich memory associations exercises your hippocampus, strengthening the brain’s ability to remember more for longer. While making new memories in a new place can be fun and exciting, there’s more to staying in your state for retirement than comfort and nostalgia. If you’re worried about memory loss as you age, familiar places can help you stay sharp.

Family, friends, networks, support

While life can carry us and our families and friends anywhere, chances are that wherever you are, you have a network of loved ones, work relationships, acquaintances, and connections. The benefits of having established relationships with the people around us are pretty obvious, as staying social in retirement can aid memory, keep you active, and entertain, but there are other ways that keeping your network into retirement can make your life easier.


More and more retirees are choosing to continue working in some capacity for longer. While the idea of working past retirement may make you cringe, part-time work, consultancy, and even entrepreneurship can help give life focus and increase self-sufficiency for aging adults. And even after you’ve retired from your career, your network of friends, business contacts, and coworkers can help you find the right gig in a market where half of all available jobs are never posted.


Staying near family and friends also means having support, no matter what. Your network can help with little, everyday things, like getting a ride to the doctor’s office, or watering your plants when you take a vacation. It’s possible to make new connections after a move for retirement, but nurturing existing relationships is usually easier, more fun, and more relaxing.

Smaller moves, less stress

We’ve explored before how choosing assisted living Michigan communities can enrich retirement life, and when the community is close to home, it’s so much easier. A short distance move is more affordable and less stressful than packing up and moving to a different state. Not only is moving easier, but staying in your state means no difficulty making arrangements for cars, personal IDs, insurance, and more. You may ask yourself, “Why relocate to assisted living near me when I can just stay in my home?” Aging in place is becoming a popular option for many retirees, and it may be right for you, but there are many considerations to take into account: check out our comparison here.


As another cold winter approaches, you may be dreaming of a warm-weather retirement, but there’s so much more to staying in Michigan than meets the eye. Like a cozy blanket and a hot drink on a snowy night, there’s comfort and joy in staying in your state for retirement.


Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.


‘First Bloem’: One festive celebration, many art forms

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Upcoming Events,

By Morgan DeVries, Tulip Time


Tulip Time Festival’s many art forms are now featured in one fabulous celebration.

Photo supplied

Creativity abounds at First Bloem, and you can be among the first to see it all at this prestigious cultural event on Thursday, Feb. 6, beginning at 6pm at the Holland Civic Place, 150 W 8th St, Holland, MI 49423 .


A preview of Tulip Time’s new Visual Arts Series, the First Bloem reception will unveil the winning 2020 poster from the 10th Annual Festival Artwork competition, this year’s winning Klompen Garden pick, a sneak peek into the new Dutch Dance Exhibit, and the 2020 Raffle Quilt. Guests will also find opportunities to support Tulip Time, its Join the Dance Fund, and other local organizations.

10th Annual Festival Artwork Poster Competition

Meet the Top 20 artists and share in the excitement as the winner is announced during the event. Like what you see? Guests may purchase any of the original Top 20 pieces at this event.

Public Art Project: Klompen Garden

See the top Juror pick for the 2020 Klompen Garden Public Art Project and be among the first to know which pair takes the top prize. All 20 pairs will be available for purchase – perfect for decorating your home and garden!

Dutch Dance Costume Exhibit

Enjoy a preview of the handmade costumes to be featured in the new Dutch Dance Costume Exhibit premiering in 2020 as we celebrate 50 years of Alumni Dutch Dance. Guests will have the opportunity to support the Join the Dance fund, removing barriers to participate in Dutch Dance by providing costumes for local high school students.

Quilt Show – Celebrating 20 Years

Take in the amazing pieces from the 2019 Quilt Show and witness the unveiling of the 2020 Raffle Quilt, with raffle proceeds benefiting two very special organizations – Living Threads Ministry and Love Sews Ministry.

2019 Quilt Show (photo supplied)

The fun, exciting evening will be filled with creative splendor, special announcements, wine grabs, raffles, cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres. Tickets for First Bloem are $70/person ($130/couple) and can be purchased online at www.tuliptime.com/events/first-bloem, in person at the Tulip Time Festival Box Office located at 42 West 8th Street, Holland, Michigan, or by phone at 800-822-2270.


Holland Tulip Time Festival Inc operates as a 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization. Your contribution and participation in this event will help further our mission of celebrating tulips, Dutch heritage, and our community today.

About the Visual Arts Series

The Visual Arts Series is a creative collection of various art forms presented in cooperation with the Holland Area Arts Council from May 2 through 10. The Series comprises the Festival Artwork Exhibit, the Public Art Project winning Klompen, the Quilt Show and the premier of the new Dutch Dance Exhibit.



Mozart, Tennessee Williams just a couple of options for the weekend

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

The Grand Rapids Symphony performs Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10 and 11, at DeVos Performance Hall. (Supplied)

Let’s face it, it is the first full week of January that most people are not dealing with the holidays — unless you are still working on taking those decorations down. While the sounds of the season are officially passed, there are lots of music, and theater, to be seen and heard.

Pianist Jeffrey Kahane performs with the Grand Rapids Symphony. (Supplied)

Going Classical

The Grand Rapids Symphony kicks off 2020 with award winning pianist Jeffrey Kahane in a concert featuring the music of Mozart and Shostakovich, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10 and 11, at DeVos Performance Hall, 301 Monroe Ave. NW.

The evening’s program will feature Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 11 in G minor, Op. 103, “The Year 1905” lead by guest conductor Peter Qundjian and Kahane will be featured on Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 22. Richard Stauss’ Serenade for Winds, Op. 7, will round out the concert.

The concerts start at 8 p.m each evening. Inside the Music, a free, pre-concert, multi-media presentation, will be held before each performance at 7 p.m. in the DeVos Place Recital Hall.

Tickets start at $18 and are available by calling GRS ticket office, 616-454-9451, ext. 4 or at the GRS ticket office, 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100. Office hours are 9 a.m – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets are available at the DeVos Place box office weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on the day of the concert beginning two hours prior to the performance. Tickets may be purchased online at GRSymhony.org. Full-time students of any age can purchase tickets for $5 on day of the concert by enrolling in the GRS Student Tickets program.

Paws With A Cause dogs-in-training visit the cast of Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s “A Street Car Named Desire.” (Supplied)

Stella!

The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre kicks off 2020 by opening its production of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” which runs through Jan. 26.

The famous Tennessee Williams play follows the story of Blanche du Bois who goes to live with her sister and brother-in-law Stella and Stanley Kowalski in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Blanche arrives under the pretense that she needed a break from her teaching position. Blanche finds happiness with one of Stanley’s friends but her present is difficult for Stanley to handle. He discovers Blanche’s secret for leaving her hometown, which in the end could unravel Blanche’s imaginary happiness.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $18 -$29 for adults and $16 for students. Ticket are available from the Civic box office, 30 N. Division Ave. or online at grct.org. The show is recommended for adults due to sensitive material and strong language.


Making a Change

The LowellArt Gallery opened its “The Art of Change” exhibition this week. The exhibition is of art that raises awareness of current global issues of our time in an effort to provoke positive change. Artists from Michigan were eligible to submit artwork in any media that address themes such as human rights, social justice, gender equality, an environmental stewardship.

The exhibit will be up through Feb. 15 at the LowellArts Gallery, 223 Main St., Lowell. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday – Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

‘This is an epidemic’

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Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

By Sue Thoms, Spectrum Health Beat


Rob Buitendorp didn’t worry much about the little lump he found on his neck, behind his right ear.


It didn’t hurt, didn’t get in the way. He had no problems swallowing or speaking.


But he had a doctor’s appointment in three weeks, so he decided to ask about it then.


He is so glad he did.


Buitendorp, a 73-year-old retired insurance adjuster, is one of the growing number of people diagnosed with HPV-related throat cancer. And thanks to his quick reaction, he benefited from early detection and treatment.


“If the cancer is detected early, then patients are more likely to have a choice of effective cancer treatments,” said Thomas O’Toole, MD, a Spectrum Health head and neck surgical oncologist.

Danger often goes unrecognized

Oropharyngeal cancer—cancer in the back of the throat—strikes more than 18,000 Americans a year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


It is the most common HPV-associated cancer in the U.S.—more common even than cervical cancer. But the lack of awareness about the disease hampers efforts to combat it.


“This is an epidemic,” Dr. O’Toole said. “It can happen to basically anybody and it’s the scariest thing. It really strikes middle-aged healthy people out of the blue.”

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

Early detection is key to surviving—or suffering fewer physical effects. But the earliest signs often go unrecognized by patients and, sometimes, even by doctors, Dr. O’Toole said.


The most common early symptom patients notice is a painless bump on the neck. A sore throat is the second most common sign. Too often, people wait months, hoping the problem will go away, before they seek medical care.


“If you have a bump on your neck and it’s been there for more than two weeks, you should go to your doctor, even if you don’t feel any other symptoms,” Dr. O’Toole said. “The quicker we get a diagnosis, the quicker you can get treatment, which is important in terms of improving patients’ survival.”


He recommends the HPV vaccine to prevent the cancer from occurring.


The Food and Drug Administration initially approved the vaccine for youths age 9 to 26 years. But in October 2018, it expanded the approved use of the vaccine to include men and women age 27 to 45 years.


“Because HPV-related cancers may develop decades after exposure to the virus, it may be a while before we see the impact of the vaccine on the incidence of oropharynx cancer,” Dr. O’Toole said.

Cancer rates on the rise

In the 1980s, the medical community began identifying problems with throat cancers related to the human papillomavirus, or HPV.


As smoking became less popular, the incidence of most head and neck cancers declined, as expected. But one form began to show up more often—cancer of the oropharynx.


If you open your mouth and look in a mirror, you see much of oropharynx at the back of your throat. It includes the tonsils, the base of the tongue, soft palate and the back wall of the swallowing passage.


Long before Buitendorp’s diagnosis, lab analysis of oropharynx cancers began to find evidence of a virus in the tumors. They identified HPV in 15 to 20 percent of tumors in the 1980s, and in 80 percent of tumors by 2004.

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

HPV viruses, which can be sexually transmitted, are common and doctors believe many people have been exposed to them.


“It’s only rare that people end up with cancer from it. It’s something we don’t fully understand—who’s going to develop cancer,” Dr. O’Toole said.


Treatments for cancer of the oropharynx include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.


“We try to identify what we think is going to be the most effective treatment for the patient with the fewest side effects,” Dr. O’Toole said.


To reduce delays in diagnosis of throat cancer, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery has developed a clinical practice guideline for evaluation of adult patients with a neck mass, Dr. O’Toole said.


“They recommend that when adult patients have a neck mass for more than two weeks or of uncertain duration without signs of infection, there should be an examination of the upper aerodigestive tract, including the oropharynx and larynx,” he said. “This usually will require referral to an otolaryngologist.

“Dr. O’Toole’s office called and said this is something that should be seen immediately.”

Bob Buitendorp

When Buitendorp’s internist looked at the lump on his neck in February 2018, he recommended seeing an otolaryngologist. He gave him the phone number for Dr. O’Toole.


When he arrived home, Buitendorp discussed it with his wife, Ruth. He figured he would follow up on the advice—eventually—but he wasn’t worried. The bump was painless.


“In my family, we have a problem with procrastination,” he added.


Fifteen minutes later, a phone call surprised him.


“Dr. O’Toole’s office called and said this is something that should be seen immediately,” he said.

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

At the first appointment, Dr. O’Toole examined Buitendorp’s throat and showed pictures of a suspicious area on the right tonsil.


“He showed me a growth on the inside that was directly related to the external growth,” Buitendorp said.


Dr. O’Toole performed a fine needle aspiration biopsy in the office. Later, in an operating room, he performed a biopsy of the tonsil, which confirmed an HPV-related cancer.


In March, Buitendorp underwent surgery at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital.


Dr. O’Toole performed the operation with the use of the da Vinci robot. The minimally invasive procedure is performed through the mouth. He made only one incision a few inches long in the neck to remove lymph nodes.


The minimally invasive approach makes recovery easier, he said.


A more traditional approach could involve cutting the jaw in half and opening the face like a book. Or a surgeon might make an incision across the neck and take apart the muscles that attach the voice box to the jaw.


“All those things disrupt the muscular attachments,” he said.


He advises patients considering surgery to get an evaluation by a surgeon who can perform a minimally invasive operation.


Dr. O’Toole removed the tumor, which affected the back of the tongue, tonsil and throat. And he removed 66 lymph nodes.


Buitendorp spent five days in the hospital recovering.


“Everything went better than I ever expected,” he said. “I was talking the first day.”

Caught at an early stage

The pathology report showed he had a stage 1 tumor. But because cancer was found in two lymph nodes, he also underwent 30 sessions of radiation therapy at the Spectrum Health Cancer Center at Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion.


After the surgery, Buitendorp didn’t eat for a week. He lost 25 pounds.

Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

In the year since then, he has worked with speech therapists to regain the ability to eat a variety of foods. He takes small bites and eats slowly.


“I’m also getting my taste buds back slowly,” he said.


The post-surgery weight loss is common, Dr. O’Toole said.


“Most people can expect to lose 10 to 20 percent of their body weight,” he said.


Buitendorp knows the cancer or the treatment could have taken a far greater toll without quick treatment.


“This could have been serious if I had not said something to (my doctor),” he said. “That is the key. If you see something wrong, talk to your doctor.”


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.




The high price of ‘free pets’

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The thrill is gone, and Bowser’s about to be kicked to the curb

By Victoria Mullen, WKTV

victoria@wktv.org


The holidays are over. The tree has been dragged outside for pick-up, the ornaments packed up and stored in the attic until next year, and that surprise pup you gave the kids for Christmas?


About to be kicked to the curb.


Alas, Bowser’s novelty has worn off, and the kids have moved on to the next new, shiny thing. Pup is growing fast, eating you out of house and home, and because no one makes time to train or exercise him, behavioral problems arise—chewing is a biggie; so, too, is possessiveness. If Bowser hasn’t been neutered, well, you can look forward to other ‘problems’.

He knows he’s been bad—just train him

So, you’re probably at your wits’ end, amiright? You’re thinking about rehoming the critter. Maybe take him to a shelter and let someone else deal with the behavioral issues.


Or possibly you’re taking another tack. Maybe you’re thinking of posting Bowser on Craig’s List and other social media sites. Something like this, perhaps: ‘Cute puppy FREE to a good home’.


First off:

Always charge a rehoming fee. Always.

We get it. Sometimes life circumstances precipitate the need for rehoming. Holiday gift disaster aside, maybe you’re moving overseas, or perhaps there is a severe illness or death in the family.

Animal testing

Anyway you slice it, rehoming can be a challenge: On the one hand, you want to be open-minded to different ways of life, yet you don’t want Bowser to fall into nefarious hands. 


“The danger with free pets is that people are devious,” said Ginny Mikita, animal advocate and attorney in Rockford, Michigan. “Some acquire free animals to supply to medical testing facilities.”


Unfortunately, there is no foolproof way to discern the true motivation for potential adopters wanting a free animal, Mikita said. Dog fight trainers acquire animals in myriad ways. Live bait animals come from shelters or from ‘free to good home’ ads. Some animals are stolen out of yards.


Maybe someone responding to your ad shows up on your doorstep looking clean-cut and respectable. It’s a common ruse. In Florida, a young man and a woman purporting to be his grandmother led a family to believe that their pet would be a companion animal for the elder. The family waived their rehoming fee. Once home, however, the two tossed the pup into a cage with a fighting dog; things did not end well.


Maybe you’re not all that fond of Bowser, but would you really want something like that to happen to him?

Puppy mills—the reality

Other atrocities abound. Aside from cats and submissive canines becoming bait for fighting dogs, smaller animals become food for snakes or star in crush videos—and we’re not talking Hollywood. (We’ll wait here while you look it up.)


Some people want free animals so that they can breed them—un-neutered Bowser could end up neglected in a puppy mill, producing scores of unsocialized, ill pups, and living in a small cage without vet care or affection.


And then there are the hoarders, people with a compulsion to collect free animals. We’ve all read stories about how that ends up.

The best way to ensure that your pet is going to a bonafide good home is to post a rehoming fee and to vet prospective adopters carefully. Here are some tips:

• Visit the home. Speak with other members of the family and ask questions—are there other pets in the household? Where will Bowser live? Who will care for him? Does anyone have allergies? Are all family members aware that Bowser is being adopted?
• If you can’t visit, ask someone to visit the home for you. Perhaps the interested party lives far away from you. Ask a rescue in the town to perform a home visit for you. Some rescues have volunteers that will help facilitate long-distance adoptions.
• Ask for personal references. And call the references—ask if the interested party takes good care of their current or former pets. See if you can find out what happened to their past pets. Did they die of natural causes?
• Ask for a vet reference. Call their present or former veterinarian about the party’s other pets and how well they were cared for. At the very least, the vet can confirm that the party has a relationship with the vet. Ask if the vet recommends the party as a good guardian.
• Check animal abuser registries. Michigan doesn’t have one set up yet, but other states might. In response to pressure from the public, registries are becoming more commonplace.
• Google the potential adopter. Google is an amazing resource. A search may turn up past crimes.
• Be prepared to take Bowser back. Sometimes even the best intentions don’t work out—maybe Bowser can’t stand the new family’s other pet. Maybe a family member discovers a previously unknown allergy. Keep Bowser safe by being ready to take him back; let the adopter know that you are willing to do so if things don’t work out.
• Have the adopter sign an adoption contract. Here’s a boilerplate pet adoption contract that can be downloaded and printed out.
• Beware of Craigslist. There are reputable animal databases like Petfinder, breed-specific rescue sites, and local shelters. Most people sourcing animals on Craigslist are looking for free cats and dogs; these people can come off as charming and are confident that they can get you to waive the re-homing fee. Don’t risk it.
• Check out breed rescues. If your pet is a purebred, contact a breed-specific rescue, which will perform a thorough vetting of any potential adopter.

From Lin, Doris. (2019, October 24). Why You Should Never Give Pets Away ‘Free to a Good Home’. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/dont-give-pets-away-free-127759

This… is how it should be

Pets are a huge part of our lives; they’re family. Companion animals give emotional support and help reduce stress levels. They ease the pain of loneliness and encourage us to get involved in social activities. They offer unconditional love and can boost a child’s self-esteem.


In return, as responsible pet owners we have a duty to ensure that our animal friends are kept healthy and fit, are exercised regularly, consume nutritious food, and are provided with love and affection, as well as proper housing and care. And if you absolutely cannot keep him, make sure that the home he is going to will be safe and that the family will give him love and affection.

On Nov. 25, 2019, the president signed the bipartisan Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act into law, making it federally illegal to engage in cruelty to animals. The bill immediately went into effect, meaning those found violating the act could be federally prosecuted, fined, and jailed for up to seven years.



Sticks and stones and … social media?

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Facebook and social media have exacerbated the problems associated with bullying and mental health. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Health Beat staff


Everyone hates you. You’re a freak. You’re a loser.


Did you react viscerally to these hurtful words? Did the phrases make you cringe or recoil, maybe make your stomach uneasy or your muscles tense?


If so, you just experienced—ever so slightly—the pain, fear and hurt that victims of bullying experience on a daily basis.


Bullying happens every day, in every school building, in every neighborhood throughout the country. But changes in society and technology have brought us to a place where bullying has become especially rampant and particularly vicious.


“There has always been bullying at school,” said Lisa Lowery, MD, section chief of adolescent medicine at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. “And it’s gotten worse. What we see behind the change is social media. Now kids can bully incessantly and inflict pain that can literally go around the world.”


Dr. Lowery regularly works with young people who are bullied on a daily basis. While such professionals see firsthand the harm that it causes, it doesn’t mean the rest of us should be blind to it.


The same mechanisms that allow bullying to become widespread—the Internet, social media, instant communication, smartphones—are also tools that inform us about bullying. We’ve all seen stories in the news, or on Facebook, about families and children who have left communities to escape bullying. We’ve read stories about adolescents driven to suicide because of relentless bullying online or at school.


What’s going on and how can we stop it?

Who’s at risk?

Bullies pick targets who are perceived as vulnerable and less likely to fight back or tattle, Dr. Lowery said.


A New England Journal of Medicine report found that gender issues also play a major role in identifying children most at risk of bullying. The study interviewed about 4,270 fifth-graders, following up with them in seventh and 10th grades. Across all grades, the children identifying or perceived as gay, lesbian or bisexual were 91 percent more likely to be bullied.


Many other children are also targeted every day, for different reasons.


A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, stopbullying.gov, reports that children at risk of bullying are generally associated with one or more of these factors:

  • They’re perceived as different from peers—overweight or underweight; wearing glasses or different clothing; new to school; unable to afford items other kids consider “cool.”
  • They’re perceived as weak or unable to defend themselves.
  • They’re depressed or anxious, or they have low self esteem.
  • They’re less popular than others and they have few friends.
  • They don’t get along well with others, they’re seen as annoying or provoking, or they antagonize others for attention.

Effective school programs, awareness campaigns and legislative protection can help protect children, Dr. Lowery said, but such measures can’t completely erase the harmful behaviors.


Dr. Lowery screens for bullying risk with her patients by asking questions during any exam. She noted a few trouble signs to watch for:

  • Depression and anxiety
  • Isolation
  • Mood changes, especially after time on social media
  • School avoidance

Such symptoms can be attributed to many different causes, but bullying is high on the list. It’s important for parents and teachers to intervene early and get help, she said.

The great agitator: social media

Social media and addiction to technology have without a doubt escalated the problems associated with bullying, Dr. Lowery said.


Bullying is potent in itself. Add social media and instant communication, and it takes on a vicious life of its own.


Children today feel tremendous pressure because the bullying doesn’t stop when they get home from school; there are now no limits to how far bullying can spread.


If you’re a bullied child, there is no escape.


“Because kids are so attached to their technology, it can appear as if they are even going along with it, watching their own abuse play out,” Dr. Lowery said, recalling a patient who was being bullied on Facebook. “When I suggested she simply stop looking at her phone, she said, ‘This phone is my life. Social media is all I’ve got.’”


It’s dangerously counterproductive. “It’s a Catch 22 where they don’t have social relationships or social acceptance, but they can’t look away from the social media,” Dr. Lowery said.

Parents need to help their children set proper values on things like smartphones and social media.


“I had a young lady who was suffering and miserable from bullying,” Dr. Lowery said. “I said to her, ‘No more Facebook. You don’t need social media to survive.’ You have to convince them to take steps.”


One of the key differences in children who are equipped to respond appropriately to a threat and those who aren’t: Support.


Support at home, support at school, support in their life.


Dr. Lowery said she’s seen children perform better when they’re linked to someone who can provide guidance and support: An in-school advocate, a teacher, counselor, a bus driver, or any mentor who can help that student regularly while at school.


“Bullying is not easy to stop,” Dr. Lowery said. “If a child comes to us for an assessment—particularly if they are reluctant to open up at home—we can at least become more informed and take steps before serious damage happens.”


At home, families need to encourage open communication, especially when it involves technology and social media.


“You’ve got to know what is happening on social media with your kids, regularly,” she said. “Ask about it, check in and tackle it together. Set limits. Get off the social media regularly, so that life without it feels normal, too. Brainstorm for activities to replace social media during those breaks.”


Parents need to help their children understand that social media “checkups” aren’t a form of punishment; they’re simply an added layer of protection that lets kids know “you have their backs,” Dr. Lowery said.

Proactive

When bullying happens, it comes down to helping kids know they’re connected and they have options.


Dr. Lowery’s team at the adolescent medicine clinic can serve as an advocate for families.


“If we can help with counseling resources, assessments or even medication, sometimes we can help navigate the administrative pathways with parents and the teens,” she said.


While Dr. Lowery believes a traditional school setting has great value, it must sometimes be set aside for the health of a child. When a bullying situation has become too traumatic or has spiraled out of control, Michigan offers other alternatives, such as homeschooling or an online curriculum.


“Whether it allows a student to take a step back or becomes the permanent solution, (it) depends on the school’s resources and the family,” Dr. Lowery said. “But it’s better than letting a young life spiral out of control. Suicide is a real risk related to bullying.”


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



Low unemployment has U.S. Census looking for applicants

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The U.S. Census Bureau is currently taking applications for 2020 census positions. (Supplied)



By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

In 1790, it took about 650 U.S. marshals to complete the first decennial census. Two-hundred thirty years later, the U.S. Census will need a lot more than 650 people to complete the 2020 Census. 

And like many employers, the U.S. Census is finding it difficult to find qualified candidates. The Bureau has fallen short of its goal of more than two million applicants to fill the estimated 500,000 temporary, part-time census positions needed to complete this year’s census.  In fact, the only place in the United States not looking for census workers is the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, according to a recent press release from the U.S. Census Bureau. 

“With low unemployment, the Census Bureau is taking extraordinary efforts to attract enough applicants to fill nearly 500,000 positions this spring,” said Timothy Olson, Census Bureau associate for Field Operations.

Michigan is one of the states were census workers are most needed. Kent County has reached about 48.2 percent of its applicant goal while Ottawa County has done a little better, filling a little more than half of its applicant goal.

“Our aim is to reach interested applicants right now, inform them of updated pay rates in their area, and get them into the applicant pool to be considered for these critical jobs,” Olson said. “The hiring process occurs in stages, and we are encouraging everyone to apply right now before selections being in January and February.”


To learn more about or to apply for a position with the U.S. Census Bureau, go to 2020census.gov/jobs.



According to a press release from the U.S. Census Bureau, the positions, — many are enumerators, people hired to take the census of the population — offer competitive pay, flexible hours, paid trainings, and weekly paychecks. Pay rates for census takers in Michigan have increased, with a range from $14 to $25. Currently the rates for Kent County is $20 per hour and in Ottawa County, it is $18.50 per hour. Visit 2020census.gov/jobs to confirm or check on pay rates in other communities.

The positions are open to anyone who is 18 or older. Census takers will be hired to work in their communities and go door-to-door to collect responses from those who did not fill out their census questionnaire. The selection process starts this month with paid training taking place in March and April. After paid training, most positions will work between May and early July by going door-to-door to collect responses from households who have not responded online, by phone, or by mail. 

The U.S. Census is important not just because it counts the number of people living in a city, state or the country, but the results can have an impact on how billions of dollars in federal funds are allocated to local communities every year for the next 10 years. Some of the federally funded programs that use the census in determining allocations are community block grants, road funding, and school lunch programs. 

The U.S. Census also determines the number of seats a state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2010, the census showed the number of Michigan residents fell by .6 percent since 2000 with Michigan’s number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives being reduced from 15 to 14. The census also determines the number of Michigan House of Representative seats as well. 


For more information about the 2020 Census, visit 2020census.gov



By April 1, all U.S. households will receive an invitation to participate in the census. Residents will be able to respond one of three ways, online, by phone, or by mail. 

Starting in April, census workers will begin visiting college students who live on campus, people living in senior centers, and others who live among large groups of people. Census takers also begin conducting quality check interviews to help ensure an accurate count.

Starting in May, census workers will begin visiting homes that have not responded to the 2020 Census to make sure everyone is counted. 

The U.S. Constitution mandates that a census of the population be conducted every 10 years. By law, the U.S. Census Bureau must deliver apportionment counts to the President and the U.S. Congress in December. Redistricting counts will be sent to the states by March 31, 2021.

Feel Like You Belong: Sergio Cira Reyes–Movimiento Cosecha

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Faces, ,

By Alan Headbloom, Feel Like You Belong


An estimated 11 million residents of the United States do not have formal authorization to live there. Some overstayed visas. Others crossed the border illegally in search of work, safety, or family members.


Over the years, they have become contributing members of their respective communities: from Savannah to Spokane, from Albany to Albuquerque. They clean our hotel rooms, pick our produce, construct buildings, and even start businesses in their adopted cities.


Born of the farmworker movement, Cosecha (Spanish for “harvest”) is advocating for life with dignity for all immigrants. Sergio Cira Reyes explains how.


Reprinted with permission from Feel Like You Belong.


Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you need to know

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

Life is going to give you a bad turn. It’s a test. It’s just a test. And look at all the tests you passed to get here.

Cyndi Lauper, musician



By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

One Final Look at 2019

As we head into the first full week of 2020, Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma compiled the top WKTV Journal stories of 2019. Those vying for the number one spot were all stories about raising awareness on a variety of subjects, child abuse and neglect, autism, Multiple Sclerosis, and helping those in need. We salute all who have worked to make the world a better place.

Are You Ready for Some Basketball!

School is back in session which means many high schoolers will be taking to the courts…and the rinks and pools…for high school sports. WKTV Volunteer Sports Director Mike Moll brings everyone up-to-date on the latest high school sport action and where WKTV to will be broadcasting in the coming weeks.

And Two Become One

Mel Trotter Ministries hosts its annual Thanksgiving event. (Supplied)

As of Jan. 1, Heartside Ministry and Mel Trotter Ministries have merged. Reducing operating costs, eliminating potential duplication of services, and creating a greater impact for the populations the agencies both serve were the driving forces for the merger, according to organization officials. Services will not be immediately impacted as officials said the two organizations will need most of 2020 to work through the details of the merger.

Fun Fact: Pie Fight

Once, a long time ago, a northern Michigan city decided it needed a “claim to fame” so the residents of Charlevoix made the world’s largest pie at 17,420 pounds. Well, Charlevoix’s city to the south, Traverse City, was not to be outdone. In 1987, the city made a pie weighing in at 28,350 pounds and to prove it was the world’s largest pie, had officials form the Guinness Book of World’s Records certify it. Of course, that called for a “Who can make the biggest pie” challenge with a town in Canada — Oliver — taking over the title in 1998 with a pie that weighed 39,386 pounds. A monument to the pie wars still remains in Traverse City at 3424 Cass Road where the original cherry pie tin stands along with a marker as the World’s Largest Pie…in 1987 that is.