D’Angelo Green will graduate from Muskegon Heights High School Academy with a very bright future. But the outlook hasn’t always been so positive.
A bleak future
At the start of his senior year, D’Angelo lacked the essentials needed for graduation and success beyond high school: credits, motivation, maturity and basic employability skills. He was ready to drop the very program that would help him turn his life around—Jobs for Michigan Graduates (JMG).
Jobs for Michigan Graduates
The JMG program helps youth at risk of dropping out of high school get the skills they need to graduate, find a job and contribute to their communities. The program, which includes classroom instruction, adult mentoring and leadership development, has helped 98% of its participants graduate and 91% move on to employment, continuing education or both.
A fresh perspective
Fortunately, D’Angelo didn’t drop the program and after further engagement and several class assignments, his perspective changed. D’Angelo began to see opportunities for a brighter future. After his product presentation for the “Shark Tank” program activity—a virtual reality headset—one of the “Sharks” offered him a job and the mayor of Muskegon Heights offered free space to run his business!
D’Angelo is happy he decided to stay with the JMG program; he has made considerable improvements in areas where he once struggled and he is focused on his plans for the future. He recently accepted a position at AB Electrical Wires in Muskegon Heights and plans to attend Muskegon Community College to study engineering.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunities that have opened up as a result of the JMG program,” D’Angelo said.
Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.
Multiple opportunities exist to engage with malting barley research in Michigan in June. Photo by Ashley McFarland
Malting barley research has reached all corners of the state and researchers from the Michigan State University (MSUE) malting barley research program have developed a series of field days to showcase the research and to provide networking opportunities for those engaged with the industry. Three separate events will feature different programs targeting the stakeholders in the respective region. Those interested in malting barley and malt production in Michigan are encouraged to check out one or all three programs!
Luckhardt Field Day | June 19, 6 – 8 pm | Saline, MI Event features a winter barley collaborative project in Southeast Michigan, featuring farmer Ryan Luckhardt, a junior at Saline High School and active FFA member. Other partners include local food system consultant, New Growth Associaties; Fermenta, a women’s craft beverage trade organization; and Michigan State University. The showcased research trial is examining the performance of various winter malting barley varieties and their suitability for the local craft malt and craft beer market. Free dinner and refreshments provided. Event address – 5125 Braun Rd., Saline, MI 48176
MSU W.K. Kellogg Biological Station Field Day | June 20, 8 am – 1 pm | Hickory Corners, MI Event features winter and spring performance and management trials and will include speakers from the seed industry and MSU researcher, Dr. Brook Wilke, who will present on research ventures underway to explore double-cropping options within malting barley production. Guided tours of the research plots will conclude the program. Free lunch provided to registered attendees. Event address – 9702 N 40th St., Hickory Corners, MI 49060
Thumb Field Day | June 25, 5 – 7 pm | Kawkawlin, MI Event features the winter malting barley trial, a performance trial evaluating over 30 varieties at the Don Shelagowski Farm. Speakers will include MSU Crop Educator, Martin Nagelkirk, and will discuss local farming opportunities for the local craft malt and beer industries. Dinner sponsored by Schmidt Farms of Auburn. Event address – 804 Wetters Road, Kawkawlin, MI 48631
Registration is live and strongly encouraged for all three events, which are free of charge. Registration for each of the events can be accessed here. For questions about the event or for sponsorship opportunities, contact Sarah Hanks at lovettsa@msu.edu.
While society has taken great strides toward acceptance of LGBT citizens, what remains invisible are the issues and challenges that LGBT adults face as they begin to age. Too often, LGBT seniors have felt the need to go back ‘into the closet’ in order to receive services or deny themselves much need care in order to avoid having to do so. The LGBT Initiative, funded by the Michigan Health Endowment grant, is seeking to change that for LGBT seniors throughout the state of Michigan, by creating safe channels for LGBT older adults to seek services.
West Michigan is one of the three regions where this effort is taking place. Kendrick Heinlein, AAAWM Contract Administrator, is heading up this project for Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan.
“Right now, the LGBT initiative is looking at different outreach strategies to reach members of the LGBT community” Heinlein states. Working with the other two regions: the Upper Peninsula and the Bay City/Saginaw region of the state, committee members recognize what works for Grand Rapids doesn’t necessarily work for the U.P., so finding the best methods for each region is the current focus.
Heinlein says, “We want to provide resources and reduce isolation for LGBT seniors and we’re working on the best strategies to go about that.”
There are currently about 1.5 million people age 65+ who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual. There are also many aging LGBT people who live alone, without family to help with the aging process. This puts many LGBT seniors in the position of requiring income-based aging services available in their communities. Needing to ask for help though is often a difficult experience for these seniors.
Older adults who are LGBT don’t often find a warm welcome when they begin to participate in aging services. Sometimes this is due to the discrimination they encounter when seeking services; most times though, it is not hostility but cultural assumptions that can cause LGBT seniors to be reluctant to ask for help. An intake form might ask questions about marriage and children, but not about same-sex partnerships. A senior might be asked about their racial identification or religion, but not gender or sexual orientation.
Many older LGBT seniors carry with them memories of a time when they lost jobs, homes and family for being gay and could be jailed or committed to an asylum for being different. Because many seniors don’t want to “go back into the closet” but fear discrimination, they will avoid asking for help, which can result in a health crisis. This is what the LGBT initiative is working to alleviate. Through outreach to community service providers, AAAWM in partnership with the Grand Rapids Pride Center is in the process of creating a resource guide of senior service providers in West Michigan who are LGBT-friendly.
Anyone can call themselves LGBT-friendly, but what this means in terms of the LGBT initiative is that each provider in the LGBT Senior Resource Guide will be vetted to insure they will provide equal services to LGBT older adults that they would to any other seniors,
“A majority of providers are open to serving LGBT clients,” Heinlein highlights. “A lot of providers have been serving the LGBT community and consider being part of the guide recognition for services they have been providing all along.” By creating this resource guide, the committee hopes to provide safe avenues for LGBT older adults to find the services they need to age gracefully like their peers.
The debut of the LGBT Senior Resource Guide will occur at the Grand Rapids Pride Festival on June 16, 2018, beginning at 12 pm. AAAWM will have the guides available at their vendor table and they encourage people to stop by and take a look.
If you’d like to learn more about this project, contact Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan at (888) 456-5664 or email aaainfo@aaawm.org. To learn about their services, you can visit their website: http://www.aaawm.org.
Fifteen inmates in the inaugural Calvin Prison Initiative class earned their associate’s degrees at Handlon Correctional Facility in Ionia, Michigan. (Photo courtesy Calvin College)
A gymnasium filled with moms and dads, sisters and brothers, administrators and teachers. Men seated in a couple of rows, dressed in black caps and gowns. Their smiles only contained by their ears. The room filled with jubilation, and hope.
It’s a familiar scene this time of year. But, not here. At least, not yet.
Peer out a small rectangular window and you quickly realize why. Twenty yards from the podium stands a 20-foot tall fence, wrapped in barbed wire.
Open doors
“We’ve embarked on a lot of firsts these past few years, we know it, those who work here know it, you guys certainly know it,” said Heidi Washington, the director of the Michigan Department of Corrections.
This first? A commencement ceremony inside Handlon Correctional Facility in Ionia, Michigan. And it’s part of another first – the Calvin Prison Initiative—a program that offers 20 inmates each year an opportunity to begin pursuing a bachelor’s degree in ministry leadership. It’s the type of program not happening anywhere else in the state, and in few places across the country. On Monday, 15 students from the first cohort earned their associate’s degrees.
“This first group behind me, literally took the stonings and they made the sacrifices to get this program up and running,” said DeWayne Burton, warden at Handlon Correctional Facility, during Monday’s Commencement ceremony. “Remember, when we started this program there was no manual to refer to. Basically you [graduates] helped us develop a blueprint for how to run a college program inside a prison.”
A blueprint, and a vision
That blueprint was developed through collaboration among Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary faculty and staff, students at Handlon, and leaders in the Michigan Department of Corrections.
That blueprint has unleashed a powerful vision, replacing despair with hope … radical hope.
“We humans are sustained by hope. It is the link between our past and our future, and when there is no future, there is no hope,” said Cheryl Brandsen, provost of Calvin College during the 2018 Commencement Address at Handlon.
“The book of Jeremiah tells the story about a despairing people who had lost hope,” said Brandsen. “Jeremiah wrote them a hard letter: Look, you are going to be here for a long time. 70 years, in fact. Don’t listen to false prophets who are trying to make you feel good by promising a speedy release. It’s not going to happen. So, what should you do? Settle down. Build houses. Plant gardens. Make a life. You will die in captivity but your children will not. Yes, you will weep when you remember your former lives, but don’t weep as those who have no hope. In fact, pray for this strange country, and seek the welfare of this city. I do have a plan for your future that will give you hope. But the plan is not one of going home right now. It is to stay put and prosper. If you know the rest of the story, the exiles did that, they formed new lives in strange places, grasping onto the radical hope that God had in mind: a future for their nation and their children.”
Promoting the welfare of the city
Brandsen then shared a poignant line from Calvin’s new vision statement, approved by the board of trustees earlier this month, which intentionally echoes the Jeremiah passage: “Calvin University will be animated by a Reformed Christian faith that seeks understanding and promotes the welfare of the city and the healing of the world.”
The inmates in the Calvin Prison Initiative program—many of whom are serving life sentences—have now found purpose through a Christ-centered education; they’ve found hope as the antidote to despair.
“I was arrested eight months after graduating from high school,” said Michael Duthler, who provided the student reflection at the ceremony. “I had an idea of what education was but I didn’t connect it to vocation, this idea of being a prime citizen. The two ideas were as far apart as heaven was from earth, but now are very much a part of how I understand my role on earth on my way to heaven. “
And when students like Duthler understand that God’s Kingdom is not confined by anything, that all square inches of creation are in play, it opens doors that aren’t limited by physical space.
“What began for me with an acceptance letter to CPI has formed me into the man who I am today and is inextricably bound with how I see myself in the future, someone who desires to break in God’s Kingdom, be that agent of renewal, to restore shalom, by sharing my education with others, by living out my vocation in a way that glorifies and magnifies God and allows his presence to be known in whatever sphere I touch,” said Duthler.
Living as prime citizens
Living as prime citizens takes courage, and as Duthler says, it is understood and developed within community. He cites examples of professors volunteering to teach two classes (instead of the required one) to allow for more interaction with students, or one professor driving up to Handlon on Christmas Eve to deliver semester grades; he recalls tutors patiently pouring over papers and providing correction or simply words of encouragement; and fellow peers who organize study groups and make themselves available to answer questions and have deep conversations.
“Since you guys have taken the lead, others have followed and guess what, others will continue to follow,” said Burton. “You graduates have also displayed the ethics that support the values that Calvin College has. People look at what you do and not what you say. Values are words, ethics are actions. As you continue to demonstrate values through your actions, the ethical culture at this facility will continue to change. One of the other things you gentleman are displaying is a solid reputation for Calvin College and the Michigan Department of Corrections … If you guys continue with this not only will this program be the best in the country, you guys will be successful and will be the best versions that you can be of yourselves.”
Reimagining what’s possible
While the program was started inside one correctional facility, with one group of men, the vision for its impact goes well beyond the fences of Handlon.
“I was listening to the provost and that wonderful speech,” said Washington. “She talked about how Calvin changed its vision statement and talks about the welfare of the city … and I thought how as the director of the department of corrections I should be concerned about the welfare of the department, the welfare of that city, the big department of corrections. And I’m here to tell you that this department of corrections and this administration is very concerned about that. So, whether it’s the Calvin initiative or the vocational village or the second vocational village or the third one or the many of the other things that we are doing to help people be successful, to help give people hope that there is a future for themselves when they leave here and even if they aren’t leaving here to help make this city a better place, we are committed to doing that, and we are committed to doing that with our partners.”
As the 15 graduates move their tassles from right to left, hear their names read from the podium, shake hands and receive their diplomas, those barbed-wire fences sitting 20 yards to their left are no longer barriers to hope.
“When I think of radical hope I think of you students, perhaps thinking at one time that your current status limited what you hoped for, until now, when the unimaginable is proving itself imaginable,” said Brandsen.
“When I think of radical hope, I think of Warden Burton and other administrators here who had the courage to imagine a different kind of future. ‘Unimaginable, until it isn’t.’”
Most of us are aware that many birds claim territory with songs and calls. Robins and cardinals might top the list for the most frequently recognized spring migrants. However, as the frogs and toads emerge from their overwintering habitats, their voices are among the favorites. The woodland frogs begin the annual serenade.
Chorus frogs (Pseudacris triceriata), spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) and wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) can be heard in those crepuscular times (dawn and dusk).
Nearly as soon as the ground surface thaws and even when there is still snow on the ground, the chorus frogs make a call that’s reminiscent of running a fingernail along a stiff comb. Often the first to make itself heard in the spring, they can be easily distinguished from the louder spring peepers and wood frogs.
The peepers, particularly, can make a cacophony of sound heard from the inside of speeding cars, even with music playing! Passing through those wetlands might seem a bit like a visitation from an alien world. They might be the best-known northern frog.
Wood frogs are also among the first debuts of spring. Their calls can be distinguished by a rapid thrup-thrup-thrup that sounds a bit like rubber slipping across rubber. Populations of wood frogs are known to sound like a large of group of people, all talking at once.
Soon to follow the chorus frogs, peepers and woodies are the American toads (Bufo americanus). These marvelous sounds are high-pitched trills that last around 15-20 seconds. A neighboring toad will sing at a slightly different pitch. Many toads will sound like a choir of sopranos or like science fiction laser guns!
Gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor) can be heard from springtime and into the fall. Their sound is often mistaken for that of a bird. It’s a bubbly sound, sort of like blowing a straw into a glass of water, only a much higher pitch. These are also the frogs that can appear on window sills during the summer. They can be colored gray, brown or green.
Northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) make a rapid clicking sound as well as a rubber-stretching sound or, maybe, a slow, creaky rocking chair. Sometimes, they sound like the rapid taps of a sapsucker on hollow wood. The pickerel frog (Rana palustris) has a similar call, a bit more like a giant zipper.
Later into the spring and into the summer, green frogs (Rana clamitans) announce themselves with a flat note that is a bit like a single strum on a loose banjo string. Green frogs, bullfrogs, and leopard frogs are generally associated with ponds.
Bullfrogs (Rana catesbiana) are aptly named for their calls, which, indeed, resemble the moaning of bulls in the field. It’s a low-pitched, short moo that is usually repeated several times in sequence.
Of course, all of these northern frogs and toads, including some not mentioned here, are associated with water and begin as tadpoles. Many of them, especially the woodland frogs, are associated with vernal pools. These pools are essentially ephemeral spring puddles in the woods. Besides frogs, vernal pools sport many other interesting critters, such as salamanders and fairy shrimp.
Learning the various sounds of frogs and toads is fairly easy with the numerous audio clips found on the internet. Without much practice, identifying species and population sizes can be fun spring activities. The Michigan DNR has some fun information about our frogs and toads including audio clips.
By Tracy Gierada, Curator, Heritage Museum & Cultural Center
Do you know why the current lights were built of steel in 1907? Or why there are two lighthouses on the pier instead of one?
Public Tours of the St. Joseph North Pier Lighthouses will be offered Memorial Day through Labor Day in 2018, organized by the Heritage Museum & Cultural Center. Following the major restoration completed in 2016, St. Joseph now has the only lighthouses located on a Lake Michigan pier which are regularly open to the public. The North Pier range lighthouses, along with their preserved “catwalks” or elevated walkways, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Visit to learn more as a new interpretive exhibition debuts inside the lighthouse this season. Explore historic photos, maps, and reproductions. Catch a photo opportunity with St. Joseph’s longtime Lighthouse Keeper, Captain Ollhoff! This exhibit on the pier was made possible by a grant from the Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, a grant from the Berrien Community Foundation and a gift from Entergy-Palisades Power Plant.
2018 Schedule of St. Joe Lighthouse Tours
“The St. Joseph North Pier Lighthouses are iconic, beloved in our community, and known around the region — but stepping inside gives you an incredible new perspective,” said Lighthouse Tour Manager Alex Milnikel. “Our visitors can literally walk in the footsteps of the lighthouse keepers, up the spiral stairs and ladder, all the way up to the lantern deck for an incredible view of the lake and harbor.”
Photo supplied
The most comprehensive way to experience the lighthouse is to attend an hour-long guided walking tour of the North Pier, which culminates in an optional climb up to the lantern room inside the Inner Lighthouse. North Pier Walking Tours are scheduled for every Friday and Saturday, June 1 through September 1, departing from the beach at 10am. To register, please purchase your tickets online at StJoeLighthouseTours.org or call the Heritage Museum at (269) 983-1191. (Anyone climbing the tower must be the minimum height of 48 inches tall.)
Following the Friday and Saturday Walking Tours, free Open Hours are scheduled at the Inner Lighthouse & Fog Signal Building from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Volunteer guides and the new exhibit will help connect visitors to the Keepers who once maintained the lights and the many vessels who relied on them to safely make port.
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day 2018
Every Friday and Saturday (June 1 through Sept. 1):
North Pier Walking Tour leaves from Tiscornia Beach at 10:00am
On this hour-long walking tour, trek the length of the North Pier with a guide, covering 180 years of lighthouse history. Includes climb to the lantern room of the Inner Light for a bird’s-eye view!
Inner Lighthouse Open Hours 11am-2pm
First floor open to public visitors, free of charge.
Tickets to climb upstairs for Lantern Tour: $5
(Pay by cash or card, first-come/ first-served)
Explore the Inner Lighthouse at your own pace and learn about the Twin Cities’ rich maritime heritage! Tower Climb Tickets are sold on the first level of the lighthouse.
2018 Select Days with Special Open Hours:
Thursday, June 21, Open 7-10pm (Solstice Sunset)
Friday, July 13, Open 7-10pm (Krasl Art Fair Weekend Sunset)
Sunday, Sept. 2, Open 8-11am (Tri-State Regatta)
Private lighthouse tours are also available to groups for a non-refundable fee of $350. The Heritage Museum also offers speakers for short beach programs or PowerPoint presentations on the history of St. Joseph’s Lighthouses for $150. For more information, please call the Heritage Museum or e-mail StJoeLighthouseTours@theheritagemcc.org.
Important St. Joe Lighthouse Tour Information
Safety Notice: If the weather or lake conditions become hazardous, scheduled tours and open hours may be canceled for safety reasons. Signage at Tiscornia Park will display the status of the current day’s Lighthouse Tours; please be advised that cancellation decisions typically occur at the last minute. Thank you for your understanding!
Parking at Tiscornia Park: The daily parking fee set by the City of St. Joseph is not included in the tour price. Please pay by cash or card at the parking lot’s self-serve kiosk.
Liability Release: All walking tour participants or the parent/guardian of minor participants will be required to sign a general liability waiver prior to the tour. The North Pier has many uneven walking surfaces and is subject to weather conditions including waves. There is a tall ladder and spiral stairs for those wishing to climb up to the lantern.
Ladder Height/Age Requirement: Height of 48 inches is required to climb the ladder up to the lantern. Adults who are responsible for youth under age 18 should use their knowledge of the young person’s ability to climb and descend the ladder alone, to determine if the youth should be allowed to ascend.
Photo supplied
Recommended Attire: Comfortable closed-toe walking shoes are strongly recommended. No thong-type sandals will be allowed on the ladder. Please dress for the weather; tours may be held in the rain. Sunscreen and sunglasses are advised; skirts and dresses are not advised.
Refund Policy: If your pre-paid walking tour is canceled due to conditions, please contact the Heritage Museum to reschedule your tour or request a refund. Contact the Heritage Museum at (269) 983-1191 or StJoeLighthouseTours@theheritagemcc.org.
For More Information
For more information, please visit StJoeLighthouseTours.org. Follow our Facebook Page St. Joe Lighthouse Tours to connect with lighthouse information, event reminders, and updates about the current weather and status of scheduled tours and open hours. Contact us at the Heritage Museum by phone, (269) 983-1191, or by e-mail at StJoeLighthouseTours@theheritagemcc.org.
It is not safe to smoke cigarettes around children and, more importantly, it is not safe to smoke at all. But if adults determine they want to smoke, then they can consider this information for keeping their children safe and healthy.
Smoking cigarettes or using smokeless tobacco is detrimental to your health. Smoking can be addicting, which makes it difficult to quit. Tobacco products damage many organs in your body and can cause heart disease and cancer.
Why is smoking bad for your health?
Tobacco contains a chemical called “nicotine” that gives smokers a pleasant feeling. People get addicted to that good feeling. Electronic cigarettes and “vapes” also deliver nicotine. Just because these products are popular does not mean they are safe. In addition to the nicotine, tobacco products have other poisonous chemicals in them. These toxic substances can poison your body over time, especially your heart and lungs.
Now that we have reviewed the chemicals found in cigarettes, would you drink any of them? Would you give your baby or child any of these chemicals in a bottle or cup? That is essentially what you are doing when you smoke around them. It may not be as potent as the exact chemical, but over time smoking will have adverse effects from secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is smoke inhaled involuntarily from tobacco being smoked by another.
Effects of secondhand smoke
Children are most affected by secondhand smoke and least able to avoid it (because they have no control over their parents or caretakers actions). The secondhand smoke can come from adults smoking at home or in the car. Children who have parents who smoke are more likely to have the following health issues:
Asthma and asthma attacks
Lung infections
Ear infections
Colds including increased coughing and wheezing
Tooth decay
Many people think their children will not be affected by secondhand smoke if they smoke outside, in a different room in the house or in the car with the window open. All of these scenarios are false. Children can still be affected by secondhand smoke in the above-mentioned situations. Smoke can get in the parents’ clothes, hair, skin and in the areas where children are sitting or sleeping. If you can smell the smoke, then the chemicals are entering into your body and causing harm.
Did you know there is also something called “thirdhand smoke?” According to the American Cancer Society, thirdhand smoke is when the harmful toxins remain in places where people have smoked. Thirdhand smoke can be found in walls and upholstery.
Many times, children and teens watch and mimic what they see adults doing. Research from the American Cancer Society has shown that teen tobacco users are more likely to use alcohol and illegal drugs than are non-users. Cigarette smokers are also more likely to get into fights, carry weapons, attempt suicide, suffer from mental health problems such as depression, and engage in high-risk sexual behaviors. This doesn’t necessarily mean tobacco use caused these behaviors, but they’re more common in teens that use tobacco.
The American Cancer Society says if you smoke, one of the most important things you can do for your own health and the health of your children is to stop smoking. Quitting is the best way to prevent your children from being exposed to secondhand smoke. It may be hard to quit, but you can talk to your doctor or your child’s pediatrician if you need help.
Sportsmanship is a way of life. What type of role model are you?
We usually think of sports as a way to teach kids various physical skills, but youth sports can offer many more learning experiences. There is a lot of research and writing concerning performance but there is very little on the impact around the social, emotional, intellectual, and moral impact of participants according to the Josephson Institute of Ethics. Children learn behavior from the adults most important to them. Those important people could be the parent, a teacher, coaches or a good friend. Regardless, it is important that adults model appropriate ways of being a good competitor and spectator.
Sports are a major social forces that shape the quality and character of American culture. It is an opportunity to teach kids how to handle themselves positively in difficult situations. Below are examples of how grownups can teach a child (and maybe some adults) to be a generous competitor, a good loser, and a graceful winner.
Teach sportsmanship — Require participants to demonstrate sportsmanship before, during and after a competitive event. This can be accomplished by following rules, being honest and fair, showing respect, being well-mannered, and accepting outcomes gracefully.
Applaud your children — Be sure to express your appreciation to the children, the other club/group, officials and others you wish to show respect. Examples of this are to accept the ruling of the officials, congratulate all participants, remain positive at all times, and be cheerful and friendly.
Show respect to others — Don’t heckle, boo, make rude and sarcastic comments or insult other spectators, competitors, coaches or officials. Try to keep emotions under control and give others the benefit of the doubt. Again show respect and please refrain from public arguments.
Be a polite participant — Listen, act interested, and remain quiet when participants are introduced or when announcements are made. Stay until the end of the event, even if your child is finished competing. By doing this you are being a positive role model and showing integrity. Be objective and accept the nature of competition.
Show Courtesy to others — Do not block the view of others when taking pictures or videos, standing in aisles, or by jumping and standing up in moments of excitement. Always leave the viewing area clean by throwing away any litter.
By practicing the above examples, any event can be a pleasurable activity for all involved. Most importantly you will become a positive role model for the youth around you!
Michigan State University Extension offers a multitude of classes and resources on stress and anger manage, parenting, conflict resolution and violence prevention.
Some things to consider when your type 1 diabetic child is ready to start sleeping away from home.
By Erin Carter, Michigan State University Extension
As children gain more independence and have a stronger need to be away from home to spend time with friends, sleepovers become a customary part of children’s experiences. Sleepovers can cause concern among parents with the worry of not monitoring every moment of their child’s day and night. It takes parental adjustment to allow children to begin to have this freedom.
A parent’s job is to have their child eventually leave the nest making healthy life choices for themselves and the people they come into contact with. Sleepovers offer time away from the watchful eyes of parents to begin to practice decision-making skills important to the development of individuality. Many parents have personal guidelines they follow to allow a sleepover at another family’s home.
The typical personal guidelines or rules families have regarding a sleepover are more complicated when the child considering a sleepover is type 1 diabetic (T1D). It is possible for T1D children to have the same experiences children without the illness experience. There are considerations to be in place when a sleepover is in the works between T1D children and their friends.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is a reliable resource for T1D families for the concerns of working through a chronic disease such as diabetes. Starting with the host family being aware of the issues associated with diabetes is a good place to start. A conversation and training session may be of great importance so all feel at ease. It is best to keep routines consistent when away from home and blood sugars can change (hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia) with the excitement and activity of being with friends overnight. There are signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia for an adult in charge of a sleepover with a T1D child in the mix to be aware. A discussion of these signs and symptoms should happen prior to the party. It will be easier to recognize changes and the need for a blood glucose reading. Along with a discussion, a print out of these signs and symptoms can be given to the host family for their review and to carry with them.
The ADA gives guidance about the demonstration training of the adult in charge prior to the sleep over:
Checking blood glucose levels
Counting carbs or stick with the food plan
Checking and giving insulin
Treating highs and lows
Responding to an emergency- especially when it requires glucagon
Helping the adult in charge to know what your child can eat and how that relates to his diabetes care. If possible, create a menu with your child so that you all can agree on meals, snacks and insulin doses ahead of time.
You may want to request a text or phone call for an update during the evening to know how things are going with the diabetes management.
As the day of the sleepover gets closer, and it is time to pack your child’s diabetic supply bag the ADA has some advice of things to remember. First, pack twice the amount of diabetes supplies you think your child will need.
Glucose tablets or fast-acting sugar to treat low blood glucose
A medical ID card (your child should always wear a medical ID bracelet)
Day and night phone numbers for your D-team
All your contact numbers
Batteries
Snacks like peanut butter and crackers
First aid kit
Anti-diarrhea pills
Anti-nausea drugs
There are many concerns when parenting a child with diabetes, but it is important to have diabetic children have the experiences letting them try to have diabetes be at the forefront of their thoughts. It is hard enough to deal with having a chronic disease when you are the adult, but when children are trying to fit in and make friends, diabetes can be even tougher. Michigan State University Extension has many programs to help people diagnosed chronic disease and the prevention of disease. Find a program fitting your health needs at the website or Facebook page.
Got fish? You will if you join one of our fisheries-themed cruises this summer! Photo: Steve Stewart, Michigan Sea Grant
BySteve Stewart, Michigan Sea Grant, Michigan State University Extension
The 2018 season of educational Summer Discovery Cruises begins June 14 as the education vessel Clinton sets sail from Lake Erie Metropark for the upper reaches of the Detroit River. This first cruise is a special 5-hour “Journey through the Straits” cruise, sailing north from Lake Erie through the entire length of the Detroit River. Starting within the boundary of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, we’ll pass Grosse Ile and Fighting Island, get a close look at the steel industry in River Rouge, see Historic Fort Wayne, cruise under the Ambassador Bridge, view Detroit’s incredible downtown waterfront up close, and pass to the west of Belle Isle before docking.
Following the Journey through the Straits, the Clinton will sail on Lake St. Clair for two weeks in late June and July, operating out of the Lake St. Clair Metropark marina. The second half of the summer is spent on Lake Erie and the lower Detroit River.
Join us on the water for our 17th year of learning about the magnificent Great Lakes! There are more than 20 cruise themes to choose from this summer. Topics range from lighthouses, wildlife, shipwrecks, bootleggers and history, to fisheries, ecology, wetlands, habitat restoration and weather.
A new cruise added this year coincides with Macomb County’s bicentennial. This cruise – “200 Years Around Lake St. Clair” – will look back at what life was like around Lake St. Clair long ago. From the first people of the region to the European fur traders, explorers, and settlers, participants will learn how the natural history of Lake St. Clair influenced the human history and use of this magnificent lake.
The 2018 Summer Discovery Cruises season begins June 14, with the final cruise offered Sept. 15. Registration is now open for both individuals (ages six and above) and for groups. For more information or to register, go to www.discoverycruises.org.
Not only does a good night’s rest feel great, it also plays a vital role in our health.
By Christi Demitz, Michigan State University Extension; Colleen Kokx, MSU Dietetic Intern
Over 37 percent of Michigan adults get less than 7 hours of sleep a night, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), compared to the recommended 7-9 hours. Sleep deprivation impacts nearly all aspects of human functioning. A person’s memory, communication skills, reaction time, situational awareness and ability to make decisions are decreased when sleep is insufficient. In addition to impaired cognition, one’s physical health is impaired as well.
Not getting enough sleep can increase your risk for a number of chronic conditions. Type 2 diabetes and weight gain are two common consequences of not getting enough shut eye. Inadequate sleep affects your judgment, causing you to be more likely to choose unhealthy foods. It also affects our hormone levels that regulate hunger. The body will not be able to signal when it is full versus when it is hungry as efficiently, causing you to eat more than you need. A Northwestern University study showed that night owls consumed 248 more calories a day than those who went to bed at a reasonable time. This can add up to a weight gain of over 25 pounds per year! Extra weight is associated with many diseases such as heart disease, cancer and arthritis. Additionally, too little sleep causes you to be fatigued, likely decreasing physical activity, which contributes to an unhealthy lifestyle.
In today’s fast-paced world, it may seem impossible to add an extra hour or two of sleep into your daily routine. The CDC provides tips to help improve your sleep health:
Be consistent and go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning; even on the weekends.
Be sure to sleep in a dark, quiet and cool room.
Avoid eating a large meal and drinking alcohol and caffeine before bedtime.
Leave electronics out of the bedroom, including TVs, smart phones and computers.
Exercise during the day; it can help you fall asleep more easily at night.
While you may think that guzzling coffee in the morning replaces any sleep you may have missed, it is not so. The only way to truly recharge your body is to get enough sleep. Challenge yourself to get at least 7 hours of sleep at night. Your mind and body will thank you.
Calvin College placed second at the 7th Annual Disaster Shelter Design Competition, sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse International, April 19-21, and hosted on John Brown University’s (JBU) Siloam Springs campus. Nine teams from eight universities designed and constructed a rapidly-deployable emergency and disaster shelter, which a panel of judges with expertise in emergency management, engineering, logistics, and manufacturing, evaluated for possible implementation in relief efforts worldwide.
“It was a lot of fun. We got to test our prototype against other schools and other designs, simulate a lot of scenarios, and ultimately we got to see how well our process and ideas came to light in physical form,” said Kyle Sutton, a senior civil-environmental engineering major at Calvin.
Sutton, along with fellow senior civil-environmental engineering majors, Kyra Black, Cameron Carley, and Nate Veldboom, made the 13-hour drive south for the competition. The group, known as Team Dwell, brought with them their handiwork–a project they’ve been working on for their senior design project this year.
The competition scenario they participated in was based on the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2015 that affected more than a million people in Nepal. The shelters were required to address the local climate in Nepal, as well as their mountainous terrain, by retaining heat and transporting easily as well as by being water resistant, cost effective and culturally appropriate. The shelters were also required to be able to house a family of four.
“This competition gives Samaritan’s Purse access to some of the region’s most innovative engineers, construction management and architects, as students provide practical solutions to real-world problems,” said Mark Terrill, associate professor of construction management at John Brown University, and competition coordinator. “Not only does the competition combine classroom learning and real-world application, but it’s also really fun to watch.”
Team Dwell (Courtesy Calvin College)
Each team’s disaster shelter prototypes endured durability testing – including earthquake sustainability, heat retention, overnight habitability, wind turbulence, and water resistance. In addition, teams competed in an emergency shelter construction test, where they were evaluated on their ability to quickly design and construct emergency shelters from given materials.
Teams were scored based on their shelter’s performance in individual events and on their presentations detailing their shelter’s schematics, design, and materials. In addition to Team Dwell’s second place overall finish, they also took top honors in the Best Camp Plan, Best Report/Presentation, and Lightest Shelter categories.
A team from LeTourneau University took first place overall and John Brown University took third place. Other universities who participated this year include: Dordt College, Pittsburg State University, Gyeongsang National University, Murray State University, and University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
By Andy Hayes, Michigan State University Extension
Starting a new business or taking your business to the next level can come with many questions and loose ends to tie up before launching. In today’s world there are many places to go to find your answer. You can ask a family member or friend or you give it the good ol’ college Google search, but for new businesses that wants to start out on the strongest foot possible, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Michigan is a great place to go for guidance.
The SBDC of Michigan is a powerhouse, headquartered out of Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids. They have 11 regional offices and over 20 satellite offices around the state, making it easy for you to meet with a business counselor for a session or training. The SBDC offers many avenues of assistance for each stage of business: business plan development, raising capital and export strategies. In conjunction with the Sideman College of Business out of Grand Valley State University, the SBDC also produces market research in order for you to make the best decisions for your business.
Starting a business is costly, so it is always helpful to receive guidance from a credible source. The SBDC offers seminars and training sessions, at little to no cost, on various topics from writing a business plan to navigating social media. As your business develops its sea legs, it will be time to start thinking about the next step on where your business will or should go from here.
Strategic planning is important for businesses of all stages and sizes. SBDC business counselors aid in the development of growth strategies by helping businesses select their goals and generating the best steps to reach those goals. Their business planning services help optimize performance and pave the way to the next level.
Michigan State University Extension partner Northern Lakes Economic Alliance matches companies and communities within their four county service area with resources to begin the early stages of developing their business. NLEA hosts three Pitch Night programs for entrepreneurs at any age to pitch their business plan for chances to win startup seed dollars. NLEA works alongside companies, once a business plan is in place, with funding assistance and to settle in an area that’s right for them.
Michigan State University Extension has had a unique relationship with the regional economic development organization Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA) for more than 20 years. Recognizing the strength of combining resources, this partnership focuses on economic development, entrepreneurship growth and community infrastructure throughout a four-county region in the northwest Lower Peninsula, specifically Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Emmet counties. As a result, the NLEA utilizes resources offered through MSU Extension as it provides leadership to statewide programs sponsored by MSU Extension.
On Thursday, May 3, Calvin College’s board of trustees unanimously approved Calvin College becoming Calvin University. The move is part of Vision 2030, a statement which provides vision for the college as it fulfills its mission over the next decade.
The shift to university, which was approved during the board’s spring meeting, will happen in 2020 during the 100th-anniversary year of Calvin becoming a four-year college. The board’s decision follows the unanimous endorsement of the college’s faculty senate in late April, marking the culmination of more than nine months of collaborative strategic work taken on by the Calvin community.
“This direction enables us to live into what has already been true about Calvin, and it will better position us for the innovative work that is necessary for the future,” said Michael Le Roy, president of Calvin College. “We see this move providing a great opportunity to introduce more people to Calvin’s distinctive Christian mission.”
Le Roy says the rationale for Calvin becoming a university is strong, including Calvin’s strength, breadth, and depth of its academic programs; new opportunities for academic innovation; and the college’s increasing influence with students and higher education partners around the globe. The college also has a large international student population for whom “university” is more visible and better understood than “college.”
Calvin leaders also see the university structure combined with increased collaboration as creating a more prominent platform for the institution to express its mission through opportunities and innovation within and across disciplines, professional programs, and centers and institutes.
“A move to a university with a liberal arts foundation both names what we already do and liberates us to do that work better,” said Kevin den Dulk, political science professor at Calvin College and executive director of the Henry Institute. “I’m especially enthusiastic about using the university structure to expand our global reach, which is already considerable yet has a lot of room to grow.”
About Calvin College
Founded in 1876, Calvin College is a top-ranked, liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that equips its more than 3,800 students from 45 U.S. states, 60 countries and five Canadian provinces to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. Calvin is proud to offer 100+ majors and programs, including graduate-level offerings in accounting, education, and speech pathology and audiology. Calvin students engage in intensive internships, community-based service learning, and significant research that results in publishing and presenting alongside world-class faculty. Discover more at www.calvin.edu
Memorial Day ceremonies planned for both Kentwood, Wyoming
Many communities will be honoring those who have given their lives to serve this Memorial Day, set for May 28, including the communities of Wyoming and Kentwood. More details here.
Woodland Mall’s ongoing redevelopment includes viewing wall, relocations
The redevelopment of Woodland Mall is in full swing, and shoppers will soon be able to get a front-row seat to the construction at a new viewing wall. Read all about it here.
West Michigan Tourist Association offers up a few unique summer camps
Some families probably already have their children’s summer camps selected, but in case you do not, West Michigan Tourist Association Marketing Manager Jeremy Witt offered a few suggestions during a recent visit visit to the WKTV Journal. Learn more here.
Museum school students create new exhibit ‘Revolution: The Story of America’
Check out the new exhibit created by GRPS Museum School students, titled Revolution: The Story of America, at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM). It opened May 23. (The Museum is closed Monday, May 28th.) More here.
Register now for June 4 Sibling Class at Metro Health
Have kids and expecting a new addition to your family? Register for this class. Children practice caring for a baby using dolls, make a card for their new baby, and have fun with a short tour, which includes a visit to a mom with her real newborn baby. Next class is coming up fast: June 4th. Go here to learn more and where to register.
Well-being involves finding a state of balance and being well both physically and mentally.
By Tracie Abram, Michigan State University Extension
What does “well-being” mean? As I ponder this question, I chuckle because I hardly ever hear people talking about how “well” they are. They usually talk about their problems, their aches and pains or stressors whether we want to hear about them or not. In other words, how “unwell” they are. When someone says they are concerned for your well-being, it typically means they are concerned about your overall health; your mental and physical health.
Well-being can be defined as having:
Positive relationships with yourself and others
Personal mastery — having feelings of accomplishment or self-worth
Autonomy — being able to make your own choices
A feeling of purpose and meaning in life
Personal growth and development
Our mental health relates to how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected.
One path to well-being is finding a state of balance that works for you. (Courtesy MSU Extension)
Experiencing a mental health issue or problem does not necessarily mean you have a diagnosable mental illness or disorder. Being able to talk freely about mental health issues is important in breaking the stigma that surrounds mental health. Mental health problems are much more common than many people realize, for example, more than 43 million Americans experience some form of mental illness in a given year. Help is available for anyone experiencing problems related to their mental health.
Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:
Biological environmental factors
Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
Family history of mental health problems
Finding your state of balance
One approach to well-being is through achieving a “state of balance” affected by both challenging and rewarding life events. This state of balance is the ultimate goal, but a subjective one — meaning that you are the only one who can judge whether you have reached it. A state of balance can look different for each of us.
Author of the Nurturing Parenting Programs, Dr. Stephen Bavelek, states that there are specific needs that help us remain balanced or build resiliency. To remember them, he developed an acronym called the “Spices of Life.” Bavelek states that the more “spices” you have, the more resilient you become.
Dr. Stephen Bavelek’s “Spices of Life” acronym:
Social
Physical
Intellectual
Creativity
Emotional
Spiritual
Perhaps you are drawn to one or two spices that help you maintain a feeling of balance? My go-to spices when feeling stressed are talking to a friend (social), going for a walk or run (physical) and praying (spiritual), but I am grateful that I have the capability to access any and all of them when and if I am in need.
When you approach health with well-being in mind there are a wide variety of ways to maintain, improve and most importantly, enjoy your health!
A national report outlines economic and social capital losses from “brain waste”.
By Andy Northrop, Michigan State University Extension
A national report titled “Untapped Talent: The Costs of Brain Waste Among Highly Skilled Immigrants in the United States” (UTBW) highlights the challenges college-educated immigrants face living in the United States. The report written by the Migration Policy Institute, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank in Washington D.C. and New American Economy, a coalition designed to support immigration reforms that will help create jobs for Americans, estimates that nearly 2 million college-educated immigrants are “either working in low-skilled jobs or unemployed in the U.S. labor market.”
This is what is referred to as “brain waste”, under-utilized skills or, more clearly, when college graduates cannot fully use their high skills and education in the workplace. For example, some may have a familiarity with a scenario such as a college-educated individual driving taxis for employment when they are qualified to be a doctor or working in the service/restaurant industry when they are qualified for a corporate/technical position. Either example demonstrates “brain waste”, something that isn’t a new phenomenon to the U.S.A., but the estimated impacts on the economy have not been measured until now.
Results from UTBW estimate that due to the underutilization of immigrant college graduates “results in tens of billions of dollars in forgone earnings and taxes annually”, resulting in a tremendous loss to the American economy. UTBW goes on to say that those same immigrants are “less likely to earn family-sustaining wages and achieve financial stability for themselves and families.”
UTBW also points out that nearly half of adult immigrants entering the USA between 2011-2015 were graduates with college degrees compared to the 33 percent that entered before the Great Recession.
UTBW findings highlight national statistics, as well as figures specifically for seven destination states attracting immigrants: California, Florida, New York, Texas, Washington, Michigan and Ohio. The latter two states, Michigan and Ohio, have according to UTBW, recently sought to attract skilled immigrants. Michigan as of 2015, established Michigan Office for New American (MONA) to attract global talent and provide resources for skilled, college-educated immigrants, thus intending to reduce brain waste across Michigan.
During the Commencement ceremony, President Michael Le Roy recognized the students who received their associate’s degrees. (Courtesy: Arrae Photography)
On Monday, May 21, 2018, 15 inmates from Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility (1728 Bluewater Hwy) in Ionia, Michigan, received an associate’s degree from Calvin College. The students are the first in the Calvin Prison Initiative (CPI) program to earn a degree behind bars.
The program, launched in 2015, provides up to 20 inmates each year with an opportunity to begin pursuing a bachelor’s degree in ministry leadership. The partnership between Calvin College, Calvin Theological Seminary, and the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) provides inmates with their only bachelor’s-degree option behind bars in the state. The program, funded entirely by private donations and grants, seeks to improve prison culture and curb recidivism rates by equipping prisoners with an education.
Collaborating for success
“When I did my masters, I did thesis work on how education reduces recidivism. That’s what made me actually pursue trying to get Calvin to be here at the Handlon facility,” said DeWayne Burton, warden of the Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility.
“Those partnerships are absolutely essential, critical to our success as a department and to our ability to help create successful people,” said Heidi Washington, director of MDOC.
While the practical examples of success are significant, leaders of the program see the impact being far greater, and in missional alignment with both the college and seminary.
Restoring hope, human dignity
“It fits with the mission. Like every square inch, a prison is certainly a space where God’s light needs to shine,” said Chris DeGroot, co-director of CPI. “We take with us the understanding that everyone is created in the image of God, he wants all people to flourish, and wants justice to happen. So making education possible for the least of these absolutely fits with our Christian calling.”
“This is what we believe Christ calls us to do. It’s a living illustration of our own lives. In our sin, we are without a hope, and yet God out of his abundant grace and love comes to us anyway,” said Todd Cioffi, co-director of CPI.
“There aren’t parts of creation we give up on, that’s not the God we serve,” said David Rylaarsdam, professor of historical theology at Calvin Theological Seminary. “We believe all people are made in the image of God. We believe when God’s light shines in the darkest places of life, renewal is possible.”
The Calvin Prison Initiative currently enrolls 55 students. Inmates from any of the 30 men’s prisons in the Michigan Department of Corrections system can apply to the program, and each August about 20 admitted students are transferred to Handlon. To date, more than 30 faculty members and dozens of students from Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary have served in the CPI program. A few professors from other area colleges and universities have also taught courses in the program.
Grateful students
“This program has changed my life. It’s given me an opportunity to be the person I feel like I was always meant to be. College in prison is something that’s becoming almost non-existent. For an institution to come in here and offer a fully accredited bachelor’s degree is unbelievable.” – Dustin
“Everyone wants their humanity affirmed, nobody wants to be judged for the worst of life. We have PhD profs coming in and they’re tutoring us. Only in God’s kingdom.” – Michael
“Every person has the potential to affect, as Kuyper calls it, God or Christ’s every square inch. So we might not be able to change a lot of things, but there’s a sphere of influence that each one of us has.” – Raymond
“Calvin College coming into the Handlon campus, bringing in the CPI program, has been such a tremendous blessing in my life, one that I will be forever grateful for, one that I will be paying forward for the rest of my life.” – Dustin
More than 1,700 students set to graduate from schools in Wyoming, Kentwood
More than 1,700 students will be graduating from high schools in Kentwood and Wyoming during the next couple of weeks. Go here for a breakdown of when some of the local graduation ceremonies are taking place.
Ford Airport leader welcomes Sen. Peters’ introduction of bill to fund airport security
The bill allows airports to use Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds on state of the art surveillance cameras in public areas such as baggage claims or pick up and drop off areas. Go here for the complete story.
Glue-in, souvlaki: Festival of the Arts is all about making memories
The VOICES vintage Airstream trailer, which is a a local and regional oral history project that collects, preserves and shares stories form everyday residents of West Michigan, will be at this year’s 49th Festival of the Arts, set for June 1, 2, and 3. The trailer will be there to collect stories from Festival volunteers and participants. Go here to read the story.
Evolution of Meijer Gardens summer concert series a bit of a surprising success
The venue and the mix of musical genres and audiences has not only been a success, the summer concert series has benefited Meijer Gardens on several levels: promotional, financial and patron inclusiveness. Click here to read the story.
Wyoming High School presents its spring Alpha Wolf 11 awards
Started in 2016, the Alpha Wolf 11 Champion of Character award recognizes six students each semester and one teacher each year for character and treating others by “being kind, compassionate, and gracious”. Read more here.
By Gretchen Voyle, Michigan State University Extension
One of the areas in the home landscape that can use a tremendous amount of water is the lawn.
Part of being a smart gardener is using resources wisely. With the number of hot summers Michigan has had lately, smart water use is certainly at the top of the list. One of the areas in the home landscape that can use a tremendous amount of water is the lawn.
Lawns need a certain amount of water to look good and stay healthy, but using too much or too little water can create problems that could be avoided. Using too much water can be expensive whether using a municipal water system or running a well pump into failure.
The first thing every lawn caretaker must decide is what quality of lawn they want. That includes the “no care, abandoned property lawn” to the “all the bells and whistles show lawn.” Most lawn caretakers fall somewhere between the two extremes. A frequent question that Michigan State University Extension horticulture educators are asked is how to have a decent lawn without spending a lot of money and time.
Several ways to save your lawn
Courtesy Michigan State University Extension
Set your mower at the highest setting to mow your grass to 3.5 to 4 inches finished height; the longer the blade, the larger the root system. The larger root mass will support a robust, more drought-tolerant plant. This can be done by gradually raising the mower deck with each mowing in the spring. MSU research has shown that grub damage can be eliminated simply by adopting this practice.
Get a soil test. Determine what nutrients need to be added to your lawn to improve its growth. A soil test will give you a recommendation of what fertilizers to use. Lawn grass does not require high amounts of phosphorus, so lawn fertilizers do not contain them. Order the Home Lawn and Garden Soil Test Mailer from the MSU Extension Bookstore for $25 and receive a recommendation for your lawn.
Water correctly. A lawn usually requires 1 inch of water per week. It doesn’t make a difference whether it falls from the sky or comes out of a hose. Buy a rain gauge; it measures how much rain has fallen. It is easier to replace any missing rain when you know what has fallen. During the summer months, lawn roots are typically about 3 to 4 inches deep. In the late spring and early fall, the roots go a bit more deeply, so heavy soakings are not necessary.
Watering should be divided into several applications per week. On sandy soils, it may be every other day. On heavier soils, it may be every third day. Lawns do not require multiple water applications a day.
It is best to water during daylight hours. Watering in the evening creates wet grass and with warm nights can enable certain lawn fungal diseases to become active.
Courtesy Michigan State University Extension
Lawn watering equipment can be simple or complicated. Lawn sprinklers are used by many lawn owners. They are attached to a hose and moved around. Lawn irrigation systems are the permanently installed systems that can be set to water automatically. More advanced systems have a built-in rain gauge and will adjust automatically to rain amounts. If water usage is important, consider upgrading your system.
Whichever kind of lawn irrigation system you have, staying with the 1 inch a week total may change what you are currently doing. Your lawn and your wallet will thank you.
May is when the baseball and softball schedule is reaching their season peaks, and (weather permitting) the WKTV feature coverage team will be at two key baseball games this week, one at Zion Christian High School and another at East Kentwood High School.
The tentative schedule for this week follows below but show your support of the athletes and catch a game or two in-person, and then watch the replay.
Tuesday, May 22 — Boys Baseball West Michigan Aviation vs Zion Christian
Wednesday, May 23 — Boys Baseball Grandville vs East Kentwood
These and other sports events are cable broadcast either live, immediately after the event and/or in rebroadcast, on Comcast WKTV Channel 25 and on AT&T U-Verse Community 99.
This week, WKTV’s featured Tuesday game will be aired that night at 11 p.m. and repeat Wednesdays at5 p.m. The Wednesday game will be broadcast Friday at 11 p.m. and Saturday starting at 11 a.m., followed by another showing of the Tuesday game, at about 12:30 p.m. See WKTVjournal.org/sports weekly for complete feature broadcast schedules.
WKTV’s coverage of high school sports and community events are also available on-demand within a week of the event at wktvondemand.com.
The complete local high school sports schedule through the end of the month is as follows:
Monday, May 21
Boys Baseball
FH Eastern @ South Christian (DH)
West Michigan Aviation @ Wyoming Lee
Middleville T-K @ Wyoming (DH)
Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian
East Kentwood @ Grandville (DH)
Godwin Heights @ Belding
Boys Golf
South Christian @ Christian – OK Gold Conference Tournament @ Thornapple Pointe
Wyoming @ Christian – OK Gold Conference Tournament @ Thornapple Pointe
Kelloggsville @ Ottawa Hills
East Kentwood @ Muskegon Mona Shores
Girls Softball
FH Eastern @ South Christian (DH)
Wyoming @ Middleville T-K (DH)
Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian (DH)
East Kentwood @ Grandville (DH)
Godwin Heights @ Belding
Girls Soccer
Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee
Christian @ Wyoming
Kelloggsville @ Hopkins
East Kentwood @ Rockford
Grand River Prep @ Fruitport Calvary Christian
Tuesday, May 22
Girls Soccer
South Christian @ Christian
East Kentwood @ Grandville
Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights
Zion Christian @ West Michigan Aviation
Girls Softball
South Christian @ South Haven (DH)
Belding @ Godwin Heights
Boys Baseball
Belding @ Godwin Heights
West Michigan Aviation @ Zion Christian (DH) – WKTV Featured Game
Boys Golf
Tri-Unity Christian @ Fruitport Calvary Christian
Wednesday, May 23
Boys Baseball
Saugatuck @ Wyoming Lee
Middleville T-K @ Wyoming
NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville
Grandville @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Gam
Girls Softball
Saugatuck @ Wyoming Lee
NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville
Girls Soccer
Middleville T-K @ Wyoming
Muskegon Catholic Central @ Grand River Prep
Boys Golf
Wyoming @ Muskegon Catholic Central
Boys/Girls Track
East Kentwood @ Comstock Park
Thursday, May 24
Boys Baseball
South Christian @ FH Eastern
Boys Golf
South Christian @ Holland Christian
Grand River Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian
Girls Soccer
South Christian @ FH Eastern
Grand River Prep @ Kelloggsville
Zion Christian @ Holland Black River
West Michigan Aviation @ Barry County Christian
Girls Softball
Ottawa Hills @ Godwin Heights
Friday, May 25
Boys Baseball
Wyoming Lee @ Union
Wyoming @ Zeeland West (DH)
Godwin Heights @ Union
Crossroads Charter Academy @ Zion Christian (DH)
West Michigan Aviation @ Belding (DH)
Girls Soccer
Wyoming @ West Ottawa
Zion Christian @ Ravenna
Hudsonville Hornets @ West Michigan Aviation
Saturday, May 26
Boys/Girls Track
East Kentwood @ Wyandotte – MITCA State Meet
Monday, May 28
MEMORIAL DAY
Tuesday, May 29
Girls Soccer
Comstock Park @ Wyoming Lee – MHSAA Districts
TBA @ East Kentwood – MHSAA Districts
Tri-Unity Christian @ NorthPointe Christian – MHSAA Districts
Zion Christian @ Calvin Christian – MHSAA Districts
Boys Baseball
West Ottawa @ Wyoming – MHSAA State Districts
Zion Christian @ Fowler
Girls Softball
TBA @ Wyoming – MHSAA State Pre-Districts
Wednesday, May 30
Boys Golf
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville – MHSAA State Regionals
Thursday, May 31
Boys Golf
Kelloggsville @ South Haven – MHSAA State Regionals
Tri-Unity Christian @ Muskegon Catholic Central – MHSAA State Regionals
By Beth Clawson, Michigan State University Extension
Plants in your pond balance your pond’s ecosystem. Aquatic plants offer food, shelter and environment for fish in ponds.
Michigan has thousands of natural ponds, vernal pools and wetlands where plants perform a specific role in those ecosystems. Understanding the important role of pond plants in Michigan before seeking plant removal management makes dealing with problems situations easier. Plants are a problem when they interfere with the intended use of the pond. This is particularly true with ponds constructed for a specific purpose such as ponds for sport fishing. Plants play a key part in the natural pond and the constructed pond.
The presence of aquatic plants in ponds are vital to maintaining a balanced ecosystem. Aquatic plants come in a four specialized types in the pond. Forming the base of the food chain for almost all life in the pond, they produce dissolved oxygen in the water and serve as protection for small fish and invertebrates. Their roots hold the soil in place.
Submerged: Plants that thrive under water that have roots in the soil at the bottom (pond weed and bladderwort)
Floating: Plants that float at or near the water surface and have either floating roots or roots in the soil at the bottom (duckweed and lily pads)
Emergent: Plants that is rooted in the soil under water, but the larger part of the plant is above water (arrowhead, rushes and cattails)
Shoreline: plants that prefer the shore, but can take being moist and flooded seasonally. (blue flag iris, some shrubs and trees)
Aquatic plants benefits include:
Algae control. Plants absorb nutrients in the water from fish waste and reduces nutrient availability slowing algae blooms.
Shade and protection for fish. Plants can provide a hiding place for fish from predators both above and below the water. Additionally, plants shade the water reducing the amount of sunlight entering the water helping to slow algae blooms.
Food for fish and other wildlife. Fish, turtles, insects, ducks and geese and some mammals feed on aquatic plants.
Improved water quality. Many water plants not only absorb nutrients from the water, they also absorb pollutants and heavy metals too.
Erosion control. Emergent and shoreline plants often have very large root structures. This enables them to reduce wave action and stabilize the shore creating the most effective erosion control you can get in a pond.
Aquatic plants in the pond improves its aesthetics. Many emergent and Shoreland plants offer four seasons of interest at the pond providing attractive flowers, interesting structure, color and depth.
There are many native plants that offer a great variety of choices for managing your natural pond. They range from grasses, rushes and reeds; to lily pads, iris, pickerel plant and arrowhead; to shoreline shrubs and trees. Careful planning of your pond management including planting will go a long way to ensuring a balanced natural pond system. Avoid introducing non-native and invasive plants into your pond. When managing the plants in your pond, consider the role of the plant before considering its removal. If you have excessive plant growth, there may be a nutrient overloading issue that must be addressed first.
For more information about the aquatic plants and invasive species contact Beth Clawson, MSU Extension Educator. To learn more about invasive organisms and invasive aquatic plants contact Michigan State University Extension Natural Resources educators who are working across Michigan to provide aquatic invasive species educational programming and assistance. You can contact an educator through MSU Extension’s “Find an Expert” search tool using the keywords “Natural Resources Water Quality.”
By Kara Lynch, Michigan State University Extension and Alisa Sponseller, CMU Public Health Intern
Canned goods can often fall under the “shelf stable” food category. This means that they can be safely stored at room temperature and are considered non-perishable food products. This can include canned tuna, pasta, jerky, spices, canned vegetables, fruit and an assortment of others. These foods do not have to be refrigerated until after opening. It is a common misconception that all canned foods will last forever.
There are multiple reasons canned goods do not last forever. Corrosion can happen after several years of the food being in the can. This happens to all canned food, but especially in ones with high acidic content like tomatoes. Can corrosion will change the taste, color, consistency and eventually lower the nutritional value. Temperature can also affect the quality of the canned good. It is harmful to the can when temperatures reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. There are special cans designed for sale in the tropical areas because of this.
It is important to store your canned goods and other shelf-stable products somewhere where it is cool and dry. Canned goods are sold with “Sell by” or ‘Use by” dates, but this is actually a quality date. In other words, the contents may decrease in quality, nutritional value or appearance, but it may still be safe to eat well beyond the date. If you have a sealed can in your pantry for 2 years or more, is it safe to eat?
Possibly — if it was stored in proper conditions and is not damaged. However, if the can looks dirty or rusty, is bulging, or the seal looks like it could be leaking — do not take the chance, as bacteria could be present. It is important to rotate your shelf stable food, and if you are questioning something due to a visible irregularity of the can or is notably beyond the due date, Michigan State University Extension recommends playing it safe and throw it out.
Foot golf is one of the new sports at the Meijer State Games. (by CKGolf)
The Meijer State Games of Michigan kicks off Saturday, June 16, for it’s 8th annual Olympics- style games in the greater Grand Rapids Area. The opening ceremony for the games will be held at East Kentwood High School on Friday, June 22.
Three new games have been introduced into the lineup this year which include footgolf, archery tag and three shooting events: bb gun, air rifle and air pistol.
“I think this will be appealing to people who want to get in the shooting range, be competitive and have some fun,” Ron Carr, the organizer of this year’s shooting events, said in supplied materials.
Footgolf director for the games, Mirza Causevic, described footgolf as “a twist of golf and soccer.” She expects an interest from all age groups with the addition of this new sport.
Events for the opening ceremony will include Skydivers dropping into the football stadium with the American flag, an athlete parade and the lighting of the cauldron. Overall, the events run from June 16 to Aug. 19.
With registration now open for most of the sporting events, an estimated 8,000 athletes of all ages are expected to compete in this years summer games. Visit here to register.
Godfrey-Lee Public School’s newest Board of Education member, Josephine (Jo-C) Coleman was sworn in May 14. (Supplied)
By Godfrey-Lee Public Schools
On Monday, May 14, the Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Board of Education appointed Josephine Coleman as Trustee to the Board of Education.
Board President, Eric Mockerman, said that Mrs. Coleman was selected because of her “dedication and commitment to the students and families of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools over a long period of time.”
Superintendent Kevin Polston praised “Coleman’s selfless service to the district, and her commitment to the community. She is an excellent choice, who will represent our school district with pride.”
Josephine and her husband Donald are the parents of two children, Donald and Chance, both graduates of Lee High School. Josephine and her husband are also veterans of the United States Army, where she rose to the rank of Specialist. She is currently employed at Tower International as an IT Business Analyst.
She has served as Secretary for the Parent Teacher Committee (2002-2004), Band Boosters (2007-2015), and Athletic Boosters (2010-2016). She currently serves as Co-Treasurer for the Lee Soccer Alumni Association.
When asked why she wanted to run for the position, she said she wants “to serve the community and our students. Our students appreciate the quality education from the caring adults at Godfrey-Lee, and it’s rewarding to serve them.”
Coleman will serve on the Board for the remainder of 2018. The seat was held by Rebecca Kibbe, who had to give up the position due to her family moving out of the district. The seat, with a six year term, will be up for election in November.
Spanish language version
Junta de Educación de las Escuelas Públicas de Godfrey-Lee nombra nuevo miembro
El lunes 14 de mayo de, 2018, la Junta de Educación GLPS designó a Josephine Coleman como Fideicomisario a la Junta de Educación. El Presidente de la Junta Eric Mockerman comentó que la señora Coleman fue seleccionado debido a su “dedicación y el compromiso hacia estudiantes y las familias de las Escuelas Públicas de Godfrey-Lee durante un largo período de tiempo.”
Josefina y su esposo Donald son los orgullosos padres de dos hijos, Donald y Chance, ambos graduados de la Escuela Preparatoria Lee. Josephine y su marido también son orgullosos veteranos del ejército de Estados Unidos, donde alcanzó el grado de Especialista. Actualmente ella trabaja en la Torre Internacional como analista de negocios de IT.
Ella sirvió como Secretaria de la Comisión de Padres y Maestros (2002-2004), Band Boosters (2007-2015), y Athletics Boosters (2010-2016). Actualmente se desempeña como Co-Tesorera de la Asociación de Graduados de fútbol Lee. Cuando se le preguntó por qué quería correr para el cargo, dijo que quiere “servir a nuestra comunidad y estudiantes. Nuestros estudiantes aprecian la calidad de la educación de los adultos interesados en Godfrey-Lee, y es gratificante servirles.”
La señora Coleman servirá en la Junta el resto del 2018. El puesto lo tenía Rebecca Kibbe, que tuvo que renunciar a la posición debido a que su familia se mueve fuera del distrito. El Puesto con un mandato de 6 años será puesto para elección en noviembre, 2018.
Wyoming: City hires Scott Smith as new city attorney
Scott G. Smith
The Wyoming City Council has hired Scott Smith as its city attorney. Smith will serve as the city’s chief legal advisor, responsible for providing legal services to the City Council, city manager, all departments, and city boards and commissions. He will render legal opinions, prepare contracts, ordinances, resolutions, leases and other documents, and assist in drafting proposed legislation on matters of interest to the City.
Kentwood: The Vibe parks and rec gala coming this week
Katelyn Bush
Community members and friends are invited to attend The Vibe, a Parks and Recreation gala benefiting Kentwood’s Adaptive Sports programs, which provide recreation opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The celebration will take place on Friday, May 18 from 6-10 p.m. at Stonewater Country Club, located at 7177 Kalamazoo Avenue SE in Caledonia.
Government Matters: Ballot measures are headed to a voting booth near you, maybe
Possible Michigan legislative action driven by probable fall ballot measures on prevailing wage and recreational marijuana use was a key part of the discussion Monday, May 14, as part of the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Government Matters meeting held at Kentwood City Hall.
WKTV programs: WKTV Journal offers Newscast and in-depth interviews
WKTV Journal is not only online/print but video programs as well. On the latest episode of WKTV Journal’s newscast, voters for Godfrey-Lee Public Schools pass a sinking millage for the district and the 28th Street Metro Cruise Dust-Off took place. The local farmers markets are preparing to open with Metro Health Farm Market underway and the Kentwood Farmers Market set to start in June.
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus is Dr. Rob Davidson, Democratic candidate for Michigan’s District 2 U.S. House seat currently held by Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga. That district includes both the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood.
West Michigan: Meijer Gardens Tuesday evening concerts plays it local
Kathy Lamar and Robin Connell, taken at J D Reardon’s. (Supplied)
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has announced a nine-show lineup for the Tuesday Evening Music Club with a diverse two-month program of live bands ranging from jazz to indie, rock to folk. Taking place on the Gardens’ 1,900-seat amphitheater stage, the Tuesday concerts are free to Meijer Gardens members and include admission throughout July and August.
What comes to mind when you hear preparing for post-secondary education? Other than filling out applications for colleges, trade schools, financial aid or scholarships, you may think of working hard to get good grades, studying to make high scores for the SAT or the ACT, or, for student athletes, improving skills to get a scholarship. What about preparing students to manage their money while they are in post-secondary education
According to a study on college students and personal finance by LendEDU, statistics show this can be an important topic to teach to students entering into post-secondary education. For example:
58% of students reported they were not saving money each month.
43% of students stated they don’t track monthly spending.
29% of students stated they saved 0 percent of their monthly income each month.
81% of students stated they do not have an emergency fund.
What can parents, schools or community organizations teach or emphasize to students as they enter post-secondary education? First, for the statistics above: budgeting and saving. Other than paying for the costs of college like tuition, room and board, and other academic expenses, other expenses such as the costs of hanging out with friends, going to restaurants or sporting events can affect the budgets of students (please see “1. Don’t deposit and dash” in “4 Steps to Financially Prepare Your Student for College” by U.S. News).
Also, Michigan 4-H Youth Development through Michigan State University Extension has resources for youth money management. Parents and caring adults can use resources such as National Endowment for Financial Education High School Financial Planning Program and Michigan 4-H Youth Money Management to build personal finance skills that will help youth not only in college but also through adulthood.
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. To learn about the positive impact of Michigan 4-H youth career preparation, money management and entrepreneurship programs, read the 2016 Impact Report: “Preparing Michigan Youth for Future Careers and Employment.”
May is when the baseball and softball schedule is reaching their season peaks, and (weather permitting) the WKTV feature coverage team will be at two key softball games this week, one at Kelloggsville High School and another at South Christian High School.
The tentative schedule for this week and next is below but show your support of the athletes and catch a game or two in-person, and then watch the replay.
Monday, May 14 — Girls Softball Belding vs Kelloggsville
Tuesday, May 15 — Girls Softball Unity Christian vs South Christian
Tuesday, May 22 — Boys Baseball West Michigan Aviation vs Zion Christian
Wednesday, May 23 — Boys Baseball Grandville vs East Kentwood
These and other sports events are cable broadcast either live, immediately after the event and/or in rebroadcast, on Comcast WKTV Channel 25 and on AT&T U-Verse Community 99.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports. (WKTV)
Typically, WKTV’s featured Monday games will be broadcast that night starting at 11 p.m. and following Wednesday starting at 5 p.m. The Tuesday games will be aired that night at 11 p.m. and repeat Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.; Both games will often be rebroadcast back-to-back on Saturdays starting at 11 a.m. See WKTVjournal.org/sports weekly for complete feature broadcast schedules.
WKTV’s coverage of high school sports and community events are also available on-demand within a week of the event at wktvondemand.com.
Monday, May 14
Girls Soccer
East Grand Rapids @ South Christian
Wayland @ Wyoming
Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian
Godwin Heights @ Belding
West Michigan Aviation @ Tri-Unity Christian
Fruitport Calvary Christian @ Grand River Prep
Girls Tennis
North Muskegon @ South Christian
Boys Baseball
Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian
Belding @ Kelloggsville
Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian
Girls Softball
Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian (DH)
Christian @ Wyoming (DH)
Belding @ Kelloggsville (DH) – WKTV Featured Game
Muskegon Orchard View @ East Kentwood
NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights (DH)
Tuesday, May 15
Boys Baseball
Unity Christian @ South Christian (DH)
Christian @ Wyoming (DH)
Tri-Unity Christian @ Holland Black River (DH)
Girls Softball
Unity Christian @ South Christian (DH) – WKTV Featured Game
Girls Soccer
Wyoming @ FH Eastern
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa
Zion Christian @ West Michigan Aviation
Girls Tennis
Muskegon Catholic Central @ Kelloggsville
Boys Golf
East Kentwood – OK Red Jamboree
Tri-Unity Christian @ Wellsprings Prep
Wednesday, May 16
Boys Golf
South Christian @ FH Eastern
Wyoming @ FH Eastern
Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian – OK Silver Conference Tournament
Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian
Boys Baseball
Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee
Kelloggsville @ Belding
East Kentwood @ Loy Norrix (DH)
NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights
Potter’s House @ West Michigan Aviation
Girls Softball
Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee
Kelloggsville @ Belding
Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian
Girls Soccer
Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins
Belding @ Kelloggsville
NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights
Holland Black River @ Tri-Unity Christian
Girls Tennis
Tri-Unity Christian @ Comstock Park
Thursday, May 17
Boys Baseball
South Christian @ Calvin Christian
Wyoming @ Christian
Godwin Heights @ Tri-Unity Christian
West Michigan Aviation @ Potter’s House
Girls Soccer
Middleville T-K @ South Christian
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville
Tri-Unity Christian @ Grand River Prep
Girls Softball
South Christian @ Calvin Christian (DH)
Wyoming @ Hamilton (DH)
Grand Haven @ East Kentwood
Hopkins @ Godwin Heights
Boys Golf
Holland @ Wyoming
East Kentwood @ Caledonia
Girls Tennis
Kelloggsville @ Christian – MHSAA State Regionals
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville – MHSAA State Regionals
Friday, May 18
Boys Baseball
South Christian vs FH Central @ Cornerstone University (DH)
Potter’s House @ Kelloggsville
Zion Christian @ Fennville (DH)
West Michigan Aviation @ NorthPointe Christian
Boys Golf
Unity Christian @ South Christian
Girls Soccer
Holland Christian @ South Christian
Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian
Wyoming @ Godwin Heights
Potter’s House @ West Michigan Aviation
Boys/Girls Track
South Christian – MHSAA State Regionals @ Houseman Field
Kelloggsville – MHSAA State Regionals @ Houseman Field
Godwin Heights – MHSAA State Regionals @ Houseman Field
West Michigan Aviation – MHSAA State Regionals @ Houseman Field
East Kentwood @ Lansing Waverly – MHSAA State Regionals
Wyoming – MHSAA State Regionals @ Grand Haven
Girls Softball
East Grand Rapids @ Wyoming Lee
Wyoming @ FH Central
Ottawa Hills @ Kelloggsville (DH)
West Ottawa @ East Kentwood
Comstock Park @ Godwin Heights
Girls Tennis
Wyoming @ Grand Haven – MHSAA State Regionals
Girls Water Polo
@ East Kentwood – MHSAA State Regionals
Saturday, May 19
Girls Softball
South Christian @ Otsego
Wyoming Lee @ Saranac
Boys/Girls Track
Wyoming Lee – MHSAA State Regionals @ TBD
East Kentwood @ Lansing Waverly – MHSAA State Regionals
Boys Baseball
Wyoming Lee @ Saranac
Calvin Christian @ Wyoming (DH)
Lakeview @ East Kentwood (DH)
West Michigan Aviation @ Barry County Christian
Girls Water Polo
@ East Kentwood – MHSAA State Regionals
Monday, May 21
Boys Baseball
FH Eastern @ South Christian (DH)
West Michigan Aviation @ Wyoming Lee
Middleville T-K @ Wyoming (DH)
Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian
East Kentwood @ Grandville (DH)
Godwin Heights @ Belding
Boys Golf
South Christian @ Christian – OK Gold Conference Tournament @ Thornapple Pointe
Wyoming @ Christian – OK Gold Conference Tournament @ Thornapple Pointe
By Karen Fifield, Michigan State University Extension
Drinking enough water each day to stay hydrated can often feel like a chore, but, we know water is very important to keep our body working properly. According to United States Geological Service (USGS) water school, the human body on average is made of 60 percent water. The benefits to our body when consuming water each day are numerous.
Staying hydrated helps us:
Have healthier skin
Stay alert
Digest food
Maintain a healthy weight
Drinking enough water can be a challenge, but there are ways to make it easier. One popular way is to make fruit infused water and create a “water bar” — an area in your office or home set aside as a place where fresh drinking water can be found regularly. Adding fresh fruit to water can be a fun alternative to drinking plain water.
To make infused water, simply add washed fruit of your choice to a container of water and put it in the fridge to chill. Soon the flavor of the fruit will infuse the water. This drink can be a cool summer beverage or a little spice could be added to make a fall or holiday drink. Try adding a few sticks of cinnamon to an apple infused water and experiment with creating your own combinations.
Besides hydration, fresh fruit infused water has other benefits:
There is no food waste when all of the fruit is used.
It can be low-cost flavored drink option when seasonal fruit is used.
It contains no added sugar.
It is eye-catching.
Michigan State University Extension recommends you try infusing your drinking water with fresh fruit to help increase the amount of water you drink and stay hydrated.
The Lee High School girls soccer team, on Saturday, May 12, will host its first Copa Rebelde — Rebel Cup, for those of you not bilingual, which most of coach Gabriel Snyder’s team is.
And while the event should feature some great tournament soccer action, it will also be a community celebration of sorts.
“We are lucky to have a team and community that can embrace their cultural heritage as much as they do,” coach Snyder said to WKTV. “Copa is ultimately just a word but that word represents more than a tournament cup. It represents our small community’s strong ties with Latin America.
“This event also brings in a community of athletes and their families because baseball and softball are playing tournaments on the same day. It will be a great day to be a Rebel.”
The Copa Rebelde field will feature the Lee varsity team hosting teams from West Michigan Aviation Academy and Wyoming Potter’s House Christian High School.
The schedule has Potter’s House vs Lee at 10 a.m., WMAA vs Potter’s House at 11:30 a.m., and Lee vs WMAA at 1 p.m.
Each contest will be 60-minute games, 30-minute halves with a 10 minute halftime. There will be no overtime, with tie games decided by penalty shoot out. The tournament champion will be determined by record, then point differential/shoot out victory.
The tournament counts as one game date against each team’s schedule per MHSAA guidelines.
This is not the first time Lee has hosted the Copa Rebelde, but the first time it was not a boys team tournament.
“We have hosted a boys tournament in the fall the last several years and decided it was high time we held one for our girls as well,” said John Cain, assistant athletic director at Lee.
“To the girls, it is an opportunity to play competitive soccer in a different format,” Snyder said. “This year’s team has not found a lot of success on the field but has shown a ton of leadership on and off the field. For them it is just another opportunity to showcase that leadership. I am excited to finally give them an opportunity for tourney play at our home field.”
While the Lee varsity team has a “rely on everyone approach. We do have a couple of surprising standouts this year,” Snyder said. “Kristy Medina is our primary forward; she is fast and can make you miss. She is a calm leader.
“Our entire starting defense — Jazmin Pena, Karina Lopez, Yesenia Santos, and Vanessa Camargo — have played the hardest on our team this year. Long games of multiple shots, these four are bruised up and still tough.
“Lastly, our keeper, Jennifer Hernandez. She moved up from JV in the beginning of the year and has really improved as the season has moved along.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends physical activity to help control type 2 diabetes. This does not mean you have to endure more workouts, but incorporating activities into your daily routine will help. As always, talk to your health care provider before you change any daily routine that may affect your diabetes.
Focus on Movement: Forget the term exercise and replace it with movement. Thirty minutes of movement in 10-minute blocks is great. So, how can you do this?
Stroll With a friend: Time passes quickly as you strike up a conversation while walking.
Clean Your Home: To boost your calorie burn, dust, vacuum or scrub floors, to music: this will make you move faster and enjoy the chores more.
Walk Your Pet: Pets love to go outdoors, even on miserable weather days. Many times, they will take you on a nature adventure!
Gardening: You will use muscles you are surprised you have with all the digging, watering and stretching. Keep using them and as time goes by the muscles will not hurt.
Parking: If safe, park in the space furthest from the building. Those extra steps definitely add up!
Track Your Steps: Many phones have “FIT” apps on them or find a pedometer. You will feel more motivated as those steps add up and you will find you have a little completion with yourself.
TV Time Movement: During every commercial break get up and move. Stretch, dance or walk around the house. Do jumping jacks or march in place while watching the commercial. In one hour of TV you can accomplish 20 minutes of movement!
Everyone wants to be healthier. “Exercise and controlling your weight will help. If you have a goal to lose 5 percent of your body weight, this 5 percent will reduce health risks that are factors with diabetes such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and the action of insulin.” According to the CDC, you not only will have the above health benefits, but also the energy to do more activities.
With the onset of spring, try new activities. The fresh air, walking, visiting with friends and spring-cleaning will give you a new positive attitude and help control your diabetes.
The month of May brings the end of the school year for seniors, graduations, and the start of the MHSAA state tournaments for the spring sports season as the last full month of the high school seasons is here.WKTV will bring a variety of baseball and softball games throughout the month to also close out their broadcasting portion of the school year,
The tentative schedule is below but show your support of the athletes and catch a game or two in-person, and then watch the replay.Check the weekly schedule to see when the games will be replayed.
Monday, May 14 — Girls Softball Belding vs Kelloggsville
Tuesday, May 15 — Girls Softball Unity Christian vs South Christian
Tuesday, May 22 — Boys Baseball West Michigan Aviation vs Zion Christian
Wednesday, May 23 — Boys Baseball Grandville vs East Kentwood
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
These and other sports events are cable broadcast either live, immediately after the event and/or in rebroadcast, on Comcast WKTV Channel 25 and on AT&T U-Verse Community 99. Typically, WKTV’s featured Monday games will be broadcast that night starting at 11 p.m. and following Wednesday starting at 5 p.m. The Tuesday games will be aired that night at 11 p.m. and repeat Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.; Both games will often be rebroadcast back-to-back on Saturdays starting at 11 a.m. See WKTVjournal.org/sports weekly for complete feature broadcast schedules.
WKTV’s coverage of high school sports and community events are also available on-demand within a week of the event at wktvondemand.com.
Here is your complete weekly schedule for local teams:
Tuesday May 8
Boys Baseball
South Christian @ Middleville T-K (DH)
Wyoming @ FH Central
Hudsonville @ East Kentwood (DH)
West Michigan Aviation @ Tri-Unity Christian
Boys Lacrosse
South Christian @ Muskegon Mona Shores
Boys/Girls Track
South Christian @ Wyoming
West Michigan Aviation @ Fruitport Calvary Christian
Girls Tennis
East Kentwood @ Wyoming
Ottawa Hills @ Kelloggsville
Girls Softball
Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian
Hudsonville @ East Kentwood (DH)
Boys Golf
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville
Girls Soccer
East Kentwood @ Caledonia
Tri-Unity Christian @ Fruitport Calvary
Grand River Prep @ Wellsprings Prep
West Michigan Aviation @ Algoma Christian
Wednesday, May 9
Boys Golf
Christian @ South Christian
Wyoming @ Christian
Boys Lacrosse
South Christian @ Kenowa Hills
Girls Tennis
South Christian @ Grant
Girls Softball
South Christian @ Holland Christian
Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins
Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights
Boys Baseball
Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins
Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville
Potter’s House @ Zion Christian
Bloomingdale @ West Michigan Aviation
Girls Soccer
Belding @ Wyoming Lee
Calvin Christian @ Kelloggsville
FH Eastern @ Wyoming
Godwin Heights @ Covenant Christian
Zion Christian @ Potter’s House
Boys/Girls Track
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville
Thursday, May 10
Boys Baseball
Middleville T-K @ South Christian
GR Crusaders @ Wyoming Lee
Kenowa Hills @ Wyoming (DH)
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville
Girls Soccer
Christian @ South Christian
Holland Calvary @ Tri-Unity Christian
Grand River Prep @ West Michigan Aviation
Potter’s House @ Kalamazoo Heritage
Girls Tennis
South Christian @ NorthPointe Christian
Comstock Park @ Kelloggsville
East Kentwood @ Kenowa Hills
Girls Softball
Kenowa Hills @ Wyoming (DH)
East Kentwood @ Rockford
Plainwell @ Godwin Heights (DH)
Boys Golf
East Kentwood @ Grand Haven
Grand River Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian
Friday, May 11
Boys Lacrosse
Kenowa Hills @ South Christian
Girls Softball
South Christian @ Rockford (DH)
Godwin Heights @ Coopersville
Boys/Girls Track
Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian – OK Silver Conference Meet
Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian – OK Silver Conference Meet
Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa – OK Red Conference Meet
Boys Baseball
Hopkins @ Wyoming
Tri-Unity Christian @ Holland Calvary (DH)
Boys Golf
Hopkins @ Kelloggsville
Girls Soccer
Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville
East Kentwood @ FH Northern
Saturday, May 12
Boys Baseball
South Christian @ Zeeland East
Potter’s House @ Wyoming Lee –Rebel Invite
West Michigan Aviation @ Kelloggsville – Liz Jensen Memorial
East Kentwood @ Jenison (DH)
Zion Christian vs Michigan Lutheran @ Holland Calvary
Girls Soccer
South Christian @ Catholic Central
@ Wyoming Lee – Copa Rebelde
Wayland @ Wyoming
Wellsprings Prep @ Zion Christian
West Michigan Aviation @ Wyoming Lee
Boys Golf
South Christian @ Wyoming
Kelloggsville @ Hamilton
Boys/Girls Track
South Christian @ Wyoming – OK Gold Conference Meet @ Houseman Field
Girls Tennis
South Christian @ Wyoming – OK Gold Conference Tournament
Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian – OK Silver Conference Tournament
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa – OK Red Conference Tournament
Girls Softball
South Christian @ Hudsonville
@ Wyoming Lee – Rebel Invite
Allegan @ Kelloggsville – Liz Jensen Memorial
Godwin Heights @ Ottawa Hills
Girls Water Polo
East Kentwood @ East Grand Rapids – MHSAA State Districts
According to the Department of Talent and Economic Development, professional trades will account for more than 500,000 jobs in Michigan’s economy—approximately 15,000 new job openings annually—between now and 2024. But, there aren’t enough trained workers to fill these jobs.
How will those jobs get filled?
Employers are looking to apprenticeships to meet the critical demand for a skilled workforce. For job seekers, apprenticeships provide an excellent opportunity to earn a wage while learning the skills for a career.
If you are interested in preparing for a successful apprenticeship experience, the Going PRO Apprenticeship Readiness program can help you build the literacy, math and work-readiness skills needed to enter a U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship program. The summer program (May – September) offers:
a paid work experience with a local manufacturing company.
course credits and certificates at no cost to you!
a pathway to a registered apprenticeship, a nationally recognized credential and a great career.
With the skills you develop through a professional trade apprenticeship, you can earn a good wage and benefits sooner than you imagined. And be on the path to a successful career. Did you know the median salary of a professional trade is $51,000?
If you are 18 years of age (by June 4, 2018) and live in Allegan, Kent, Muskegon or Ottawa county, apply at westmiworks.org/goingpro or contact Wendi Shinn at wshinn@westmiworks.org for more information. Registration is open until May 14, 2018.
Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.
By Joseph Bixler, Michigan State University Extension
The broad topic of food insecurity has come to the public forefront over the last decade. Food insecurity can be identified by an individual’s access to limited quality, variety or desirability of diet. Generally speaking, it is the lack of access to affordable, healthy, nutrient-rich, fresh foods and it may help one understand the link between hunger and food security. You may have heard the term “food deserts”. Food deserts can be found anywhere that lacks consistent access to quality fresh food; be it in urban or rural settings. Access can be affected by many different variables. According to the USDA website regarding access, these variables include, but are not limited to access to transportation, family income and distance from stores or the number of stores in a given neighborhood.
The purpose of this article is to familiarize with the concept of food insecurity and the potential options communities may have to address the broader issue. Future articles will describe some efforts to address food insecurity in more detail. First, some of the potential initiatives currently being used in communities to combat food insecurity.
Mobile farm market trucks — Vehicles loaded with fresh fruits and vegetable from a local source and setup in areas where consistent access to fresh produce is not available due to transportation issues or other obstacles. In St. Clair County, the Community Foundation is sponsoring a mobile food truck project.
Food rescue programs divert food that would otherwise be thrown away to people who can make use of it. According to the USDA report on the Emergency Food Assistance System, “The food rescue organizations specialize in perishable food including gleanings from farmers’ fields and leftovers from food service operations.
Food Waste Programs — It is estimated that 40 percent of our uneaten food ends up in landfills as reported by the First Food organization. That proportion rises to 50 percent when fresh produce is included. Efforts to combat this waste has become important in some communities.
Food Giveaways — Organizations and institutions in communities have been relying on large scale food giveaways for many years. One such ministry in Cass City, Michigan called Revive Ministries offers a monthly giveaway.
Farm to Table Programs — Fresh produce and other items accessed by those who are food insecure. These programs take the form of community or school gardens where individual can work in and glean food to meet their needs.
Summer Feeding Programs — USDA program that feeds children at various community locations where children are during the non-school summer months.
Future articles will explore some of these programs and projects in more detail. In the meantime, please consider educating yourself about what is going on in your community to assist with the food insecurity problem and how you may get involved.
The newly established Michigan Small Farm Newsletter is a monthly newsletter aimed at providing small-scale farmers the opportunity to network and learn from other growers around the state. Each month, field reports from Michigan growers are submitted, compiled and distributed to subscribers around the state. These field reports are designed to provide context of what is happening on small farms around Michigan, better connecting growers and providing support through shared knowledge and insight. Participants are able to submit a field report as frequently as they would like (submissions are not mandatory) and have the option to be anonymous.
In addition to field reports, the newsletters contain links to Michigan State University Extension articles, upcoming events and other information relevant to small-scale farmers. The goal of the newsletter is to create a network of small-scale producers that can provide each other support through increased communication and transparency. As one subscriber put it after reading the first newsletter, “It was great to read the reports… I have already gotten some useful information and it has only just begun!”
