Monthly Archives: July 2014

Muskegon Center for the Arts Relocates to Century Block Building in Downtown Muskegon

The Muskegon Center for the Arts has a new creative space to call home! Now located in the lower level of the Century Block Building at 356 W. Western Avenue in downtown Muskegon, the new space allows for MCA’s plans for expansion.

“The Century Block Building is a historic building that is over 100-years-old,” said MCA Board Member Michael Schaafsma. “It is the perfect location for the MCA to promote its members artwork and offer the community creative opportunities.”

Future plans include an on-site photo studio available to members and groups for rent as well as space for MCA to host more classes and workshops, intimate stage and music events, and other events to engage the local community in participating in various creative events. MCA will continue to have their Red Lotus Gallery to promote member’s artwork.

Upcoming MCA events include a September show in the Red Lotus Gallery, which will be dedicated to an ‘all MCA members’ art show of new works. In October, the gallery will host the 2nd annual ‘The Muskegon Lake Project’ with a portion of the proceeds going to the Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership.

For more information, please contact Michael Schaafsma at info@muskegonca.org or 231.206.0426. For event details, please visit www.muskegonca.org or the MCA and Red Lotus Gallery Facebook pages.

WMKG: Local Television Station

After being on the air for over 24 years, WMKG TV is still not on the Fruitport, Spring Lake, Grand Haven and Whitehall cable system.

WMKG TV started broadcasting 24 years ago from a location just a few miles from Fruitport at 4237 Airline Road. It started out as W40AK, a low power television station with 100 watts and a 65 foot tower. Soon they switched from channel 40 to channel 38 and the call letters changed to WMKG. After being approved by the FCC, WMKG was changed to WMKG-CA. The CA stands for Class A, which is the highest class for a low power station. Now, changing from analog to digital and broadcasting from a 200 foot tower with 15,000 watts erp. WMKG-CA is on channel 49 and broadcasts over 45 miles with 3 additional channels. Broadcasting on channels 49, 49.2, 49.3 and 49.4. Channel 49 has the original AMGTV Network, 49.2 is broadcasting the Launch Network, 49.3 is an advertisement for 49 with local and children’s programming coming from 49. Also channel 49.4 broadcasts local and children’s as well as a stationary weather program. The additional channels will become more local in the near future with one of them hopefully being local music.

Comcast cable did put WMKG on it’s cable lineup and although the channel has changed from channel 4 to channel 16 to channel 295 to it’s present channel of 397, it has been on the lineup for over 20 years. The Charter cable that is servicing Fruitport, Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Whitehall has never offered any channel regardless of the many inquires.

We are the only real, over the air broadcast television station in the Muskegon area. The other over the air broadcast stations are 40 miles away in Grand Rapids, and we here at WMKG don’t consider them local Muskegon broadcasting.

The switch over to digital was a very big move for the station. We have plans in the future to expand our localism with more local churches, local sports and local talents such as music. We have been broadcasting the Fruitport Memorial Day Parade for over 20 years and plan to continue, along with plans for more holiday events.

We get very little national advertising and have relied on local businesses to support us. We are always looking for more local programming such as talk shows, sports, music, church/school events, and are thinking of starting another news program. We are your “hometown” local television station and hope to continue to be.

Fenton Kelley
WMKG-CA

ARETHA FRANKLIN Chooses the L C WALKER for Tour Stop in August

The “Queen of Soul”, Aretha Franklin chose Muskegon’s L C Walker Arena for a August 16th West Michigan Stop on her 12-date US Tour.

“We are going to have a rockin’, sockin’ good time,” Franklin promises. “God is good.”  “My doctor said I was free to go back into concerts, and I’m feeling absolutely fabulous,”

She’s taking classes to overcome a paralyzing fear of flying that struck suddenly in 1984 and kept her off planes for 30 years.  “I’ll be flying before September,”  “Flying would make my life a lot easier.”

“I needed to lose a lot of weight,” says the slimmed-down diva, who dropped 85 pounds.  “It happens after an energetic concert. You’re hungry, you eat, you don’t sit up and let it digest. I was not disciplined about my eating habits.”

Aretha hired a trainer, switched to low-calorie, nutritious foods and followed Natalie Cole’s advice to not eat after 6 p.m. Her diabetes improved and she rewarded herself with a new wardrobe.  “It’s fun buying new clothes”, she says.  “I couldn’t stay out of the mirror, just turning every way.  This is my natural weight.”  And those closets of plus-size gowns?  “I’m thinking of giving them to a resale shop,” Franklin says.

You can witness this living legend belt out all of the hits that have catapulted her to first name superstardom.  Everyone fortunate enough to have seen her in concert say that it’s one of the all-time great musical experiences.  Aretha Franklin concert tickets, whether for you or given as a gift, provides the opportunity to experience this one-of-a-… more kind voice live, so don’t miss out.  By mid-week tickets will be on sale from all Ticket systems on line.  All of the Walker’s seats have excellent viewing.  Friends and colleagues can be catered together with special services in private group seating boxes.

-Rolling Stone listed Aretha Franklin as the No. 1 Greatest Singer of    All Time.
-Aretha Franklin became the first woman inducted into the Rock and  Roll Hall of Fame.
-Aretha is one of the most influential voices in American music.
-For nearly five decades, Aretha Franklin has dominated the music  charts.
-Aretha has performed to millions of people.
-Aretha’s repertoire spans pop, soul, jazz, rock, blues and gospel.
-She first hit the scene more than 40 years ago, she is a legend.
-Franklin’s soul and gospel roots came from a childhood spent singing  in her father’s church.
-By the time she was 18, she was singing for Columbia Records.
-In 1967 she hit the charts with “Respect,” “Natural Woman” and  “Think”.
-By the 1970s she was dubbed “The Queen of Soul”.
-Franklin has scores of #1 hits and a veritable cabinet full of Grammy  Awards.
-Aretha won Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for eight  consecutive years.
-Aretha has a Grammy® Legend Award & a Grammy®  Lifetime  Achievement Award.
-Aretha has five American Music Awards; four NAACP Image Award
and a Kennedy Center Honor.

ARETHA FRANKLIN
L C WALKER ARENA
MUSKEGON, MI – ON THE WATERFRONT
AUGUST 16 – SATURDAY, DOORS OPEN AT 7:30 PM
TICKETS AT STAR & ALL ON LINE SYSTEMS –
Tickets on sale this week
Visit MICHIGAN ADVENTURE PARK and
LAKE MICHIGAN BEACHES – COUNTED IN THE WORLD’S TOP 10
Hotels: SHORELINE INN, HOLIDAY INN

Parkinson’s Power Support Group

The Parkinson’s Power Support Group meets on the first Wednesday of each month, at 11 a.m. in the Community Room of the Muskegon Area District Library, Norton Shores Branch, 705 Seminole Rd. All persons with Parkinson’s Disease, their caregivers, and families are invited to this free event. For more information, call 231-737-4374 or go to www.generationcare.org

 

 

Secretary of State’s Shining Star Award recognizes Muskegon County Medical Examiner

Dr. Joyce deJong honored for supporting tissue and eye donation

Lansing, Mich. – Secretary of State Ruth Johnson awarded Muskegon County Medical Examiner Dr. Joyce deJong with a Shining Star Award for her support of organ, tissue and eye donation.

“Every year, Dr. deJong’s office makes dozens of referrals for tissue and eye donation, contacting Gift of Life Michigan or the Michigan Eye-Bank to find out if someone was a registered donor or seeking authorization from their families so that they may help others,” Johnson said. “A quarter of all referrals to the Sparrow Medical Group originated from the County Medical Examiner’s office. Because of this, Gift of Life Michigan and the Michigan Eye-Bank regard Dr. deJong as their top champion in the medical examiner field statewide.”

Fruitport Adult Education Graduates

Here is a list of our Fruitport Adult High School graduates. We celebrated the graduation of their High School Diploma and GED students on Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the Middle School Auditorium.

Jerry All
Cassandra Allen
Jessica Barajas
Ashley Brooks
Jessica Curtis
Brandon Dalton
Darius Dalton
Felicia Fairbairn
Jesse Ferrell
Austin Fitzhenry
Jarred Hill
Brittany Hoagland
Nathan Holy
Anthony Jennings
Kristy Ketchum
Brandon Kolc
Alexander Korolewicz
Jennifer Krbez
Tabitha Krehn
Liliana Krol
Ashley LaFoy
NaKayla Lara
Alexander Leisure
Arielle Lilley
Heather Luke
Daryl Lusk-Stevens
Brian McFadyen
Dakota Mitchell
Vincent Morse
Donna Payne
Shelby Praay
Michael Proctor
Myrtle Reed
Ursula Schippers
Tevin Scott
Desera Sheffer
Satyrah Skubick
Zackary Stuhan
Michael Sutton
Cody Whiteman
Hallie Wilkerson
Ryan Williams
Mark Wiseman
Jasmine Young

Resurrection Ecology Revives Ancient Organism

By Dr. E. Kirsten Peters

The Michael Crichton book “Jurassic Park” and the movie based on the best-seller presented what might happen if scientists were able to clone extinct dinosaurs, bringing them back to life. While nothing like that is possible at this time — a good thing when you recall the mayhem the dinos caused in the world Crichton conjured up — sometimes scientists surprise themselves in breathing new life into old organisms.

One example of some success in what’s sometimes called “resurrection ecology” comes from a small island that lies off Antarctica. The place is called Signy Island. It’s one of the South Orkney Islands. Signy experiences short summers (during our northern hemisphere winters), but long winters during much of the year characterize the place.  The local environment is too harsh to support trees: instead, the land is carpeted by thick beds of moss.

Peter Convey, a scientist with the British Antarctic Survey, has worked on the island for some 25 years. He recently described the carpet of moss to The New York Times.

“It’s just like a big, green, spongy expanse,” he said.

But only the top layer of the moss is a growing mass of vegetation. The deeper layers don’t get sunlight, so they turn brown. In time, they freeze and join the permafrost that is the core of the island. That frozen moss has been building up in place for thousands of years.

In their short summer field seasons, Convey and colleagues have drilled down through the carpet of moss and into the permafrost. In the cores they removed, they found shoots of moss within the permafrost and even down in gravel layers. Generally, plants break down when they become permafrost, but something different seemed to be happening with the moss shoots.

Convey and his co-workers wondered if the ancient moss might be able to grow again.

“It was just kite-flying,” he said of his idea to a reporter from The New York Times.

The researchers took a core of the permafrost and put it near a lamp in a laboratory. They also misted it with water. In just a few weeks, they were rewarded with moss that was generating new, green growth, even from the zone three and a half feet below the surface.

As they have now reported in the journal Current Biology, they analyzed the moss for carbon-14, the radioactive or “hot” form of carbon that decays naturally over time at predictable rate. This gave the researchers a well-established method to test for how old the buried moss was. The moss they revived in the lab was more than 1,500 years old. In other words, it’s been dormant since around the year 500, but was able to spring back to active life when conditions were favorable. A pretty good trick!

But, obviously, it’s a far cry from reviving old moss to reviving animals like dinosaurs. Still, science yields some surprises now and then. Let’s not rule out anything when it comes to resurrection.

Dr. E. Kirsten Peters, a native of the rural Northwest, was trained as a geologist at Princeton and Harvard. This column is a service of the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences at Washington State University.

I Have Water in My Basement!

A response by the Muskegon County Drain Commissioner, Brenda M. Moore

We have had numerous calls from throughout the county from people with water in their basements. Unfortunately, many of them are outside a formal drainage district, so this office is unable to provide immediate assistance. Even so, because groundwater can span over miles, there is only so much that can be done to address it seeping into basements.

This was a high water year in the county– we had a large amount of snowfall coupled with heavy spring rains. Muskegon County received over 131 inches in snowfall this winter— nearly 11 feet. That is about 39 inches above average. Average rainfall for the area March-May was over 11 inches—much of that was record rainfall in April. Granted, the facts don’t offer much comfort to the homeowner with water in their basement, but it does put things in perspective. Although there is very little we can do to control groundwater, we can share how people from across the county have protected their basements in different ways:

  • Using sump pumps, with a back-up pump, pump alarm, and generator (in case of pump or power failure) to pump water out of the basement (generally from sub-surface tiles). There is a danger if water is pumped too fast that soil can flush from under the footing and floor causing structural failure.
  • Where walk-out basements allow surface water intrusion; removing the slider or door; adding a couple of blocks at floor level, then replacing the exit with a window. This slows the intrusion of surface water, but a sump pump is still generally needed.
  • Waterproofing the footing or area below the groundwater level if water intrusion is in smaller amounts (a few inches). Dampness, mold, and mildew may still be a factor. See also: http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.html

    Caution: If water is an issue at higher volumes,
    hydrostatic pressure of the groundwater pushing on a foundation that has been waterproofed can pop the floor, causing new leaks or structural damage to the home.
  • Where there is room; some owners have filled basements and crawl spaces with sand, above the groundwater level, then capped the area with cement. This can solve the water problem but it does cost living space.
  • If a full basement is desired it is possible to physically raise the home and add several blocks to the basement. This is the most expensive option, but it can give you a usable basement. As with the previous option the areas between the high groundwater mark and the bottom of the new basement area is filled with sand and capped with cement.

Regardless of your situation, it may help to speak with reputable engineers, contractors, house movers, or your local building inspector to choose the option best for your situation. It may be best to speak with a few people so you can feel comfortable you are getting consistent information.

Muskegon’s Century Club Welcomes Red Lotus Gallery & Art in Our City Event

The historic Century Club Shops on Western welcomes their newest boutique, The Red Lotus Gallery to the lower level of the shops. Their goal is to provide West Michigan with a cultural refuge, a location that provides artists of various genres a place to create, display, perform and explore their art form. Regular classes and exhibitions also take place at the gallery. In addition, 669 Gemstone Jewelry opened in May. Owner Cindy Darcy has a wide collection of custom-made gemstone jewelry pieces that are unique, fun and fashionable.

The Century Block also includes the Muskegon Savings Bank building, which is the home to the Muskegon Winter Market. This summer, it is now home to the Love Muskegon Shoppes, an eclectic mix of items, food items and gifts. The shops include: Sugar & Spice Cake Design, Under the Pines (herbs and gifts), Y-Knot Embroidery, Light Up Muskegon, and more. Love Muskegon logo wear is available for purchase as well.

With summer’s increased activity, the Century Club will be open on Mondays through August: Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

For a complete list of shops, boutiques and events at the Century Block, visit their website at www.centuryblockmuskegon.com. Century Club Ballroom occupies the 2nd floor of the Century Club and is a unique urban venue for meetings, weddings and other events.

Seize The Day: Visit a Park

By Dr. E. Kirsten Peters

This is the time of year to get outdoors and observe Mother Nature in all her glory. With a simple field guide to trees or birds and a Sunday afternoon trip to a local park, you can play amateur scientist and immerse yourself in forces larger than those we humans create.

A friend and I are making plans for an extended road trip to two national parks in southwest Utah. We will spend two or three days in Bryce Canyon National Park and a day touring Zion. We won’t go until the end of September, though, after the heat of summer in Utah has passed. The days will be shorter then, of course, but, in some ways, the sunlight is all the more sweet as the evenings draw in closer and earlier.

The last time I was in rural Utah and Nevada I was driving by myself and towing a 1972 travel trailer that was as small as it was ratty. The trip is seared in my mind in part because I had trouble with tires blowing out when I was in the middle of nowhere. When the first one blew, I wasn’t too distressed about it. I just put on my spare and loaded the shredded tire into my aging vehicle. But I well remember the stress of losing the second tire before I had reached a town big enough to have a supply of tires to fit my vehicle. It took some doing and the help of strangers to get me back to civilization where I could buy what I needed to continue the trip.

This time around I have new tires on my vehicle (what a concept!) and two spares. One is the little “donut” that came with my car when I bought it and the second is a real spare on a wheel I purchased. I have tied that spare to the top of the vehicle, “safari” style.

Planning a road trip can be half the fun, and my friend and I are well into that part of the experience. I called a tourist bureau in Utah and got some maps and materials about Bryce and Zion. Another friend gave us a book full of glossy pictures about the national parks of Utah.  The book discusses both the geologic history of the area and early human history, too.

Us geologists are fond of the southwest because it’s easy to see the rocks of the area. In wetter parts of the country, soil and plants obscure the view of the local geology, but in places like southwest Utah you can see rocks in all directions.

But you don’t need to go to a famous national park to immerse yourself in what Mother Nature shows us. A simple pair of binoculars and a field guide to birds could add a rich dimension to your summer. Seize the day sometime this week and take a trip to a local park. You’ll be glad for the break from your ordinary routine and concerns.

Dr. E. Kirsten Peters, a native of the rural Northwest, was trained as a geologist at Princeton and Harvard. This column is a service of the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences at Washington State University.

Governor Signs Price Legislation To Make Michigan More Nursing-Mom Friendly

Legislation to make Michigan a more nursing-mom friendly state was signed into law recently by Gov. Rick Snyder, announced state Rep. Amanda Price.

Public Act 198 of 2014, authored by Price, protects nursing mothers by helping them feel as comfortable as possible when feeding their child in a public place. Together with PA 199’14, the measures ensure moms who are breastfeeding in public cannot be charged with indecent exposure or disorderly conduct for an act seen as natural and beneficial to many.

“Moms across our state need to know that they can — and should — nurse their child wherever and whenever they need to, without worrying about repercussions,” said Price, R-Park Township. “This is a common-sense measure to help Michigan mothers feel as comfortable as possible when breastfeeding, and I am glad it received such overwhelming support.”

The governor also signed PA 197’14, which creates the Breastfeeding Antidiscrimination Act so that business owners cannot deny service to nursing mothers. Michigan joins 25 other states with similar laws protecting nursing mothers.

Governor signs legislation

State Rep. Amanda Price, third from right, joins Gov. Rick Snyder as he signs Public Act 198 of 2014 into law. The law, authored by Price, R-Park Township, makes Michigan a more nursing-mom friendly state.

Senate Majority PAC ad misrepresents Terri Lynn Land

The Senate Majority PAC has produced an ad which misrepresents Michigan’s U.S. Senate candidate Terri Lynn Land by deceitfully citing Right to Life of Michigan. The ad falsely states that Terri Lynn Land wants to outlaw common forms of birth control.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, “I want to set the record straight. Right to Life of Michigan does not have a position on contraception. It is reprehensible to cite Right to Life of Michigan in a deceptive political ad as the source of Terri Lynn Land’s position on an issue in which we are not involved.”

Right to Life of Michigan was never contacted by the Senate Majority PAC regarding our endorsement criteria or our policies as an organization.

The Right to Life of Michigan PAC, which has endorsed Terri Lynn Land for the U.S. Senate, does not consider the issue of birth control when making endorsements of candidates. Right to Life of Michigan is focused on abortion, infanticide and assisted suicide.

Terri Lynn Land’s opponent, Rep. Gary Peters and his allies, cannot defend Peters’ radical pro-abortion position which includes support for partial-birth abortion, sex-selection abortions and tax funded abortions. Because of Gary Peters’ extreme position in support of abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, he has tried to attack Terri Lynn Land by misrepresenting her.

Listing said, “For those looking for the truth about candidates, consider the source. It is clear the Senate Majority PAC cannot be trusted.”

Community: Local Organizations Work Together To Improve Public Awareness Of The Dangers Of Unattended Children Being Left In Vehicles

Safe Kids West Michigan, Fruitport Lions Club, Fraternal Order of Police #99, the GM Foundation, and local law enforcement agencies are working together to increase public awareness of the dangers of leaving infants and young children unattended in vehicles.

Certainly, one of the most prevalent risks to a child left in a vehicle is heatstroke. Information from Safe Kids indicates, “Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children. On average, every 10 days a child dies from heatstroke in a vehicle.”

“Many people are shocked to learn how hot the inside of a car can actually get,” said Keith Johnson, president of the Fruitport Lions. “On an 80 degree day, the temperature inside of a car can rise 20 degrees in as little as 10 minutes and keep getting hotter with each passing minute. And cracking the window doesn’t help.”

So far this year, at least 12 children have died from heatstroke, while unattended in vehicles in states across the country, according to Safe Kids.

“We don’t want to see this happen to any family,” said Detective Lieutenant Bruce Morningstar, Fruitport Police Department. “That’s why we’re asking everyone to help protect kids from this very preventable tragedy by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute.”

“Heatstroke sets in when the body isn’t able to cool itself quickly enough,” said Holly Alway, Safe Kids West Michigan coordinator. “A child’s body heats up three to five times faster than adult’s, making them more susceptible to heatstroke. When a child’s internal temperature reaches 104 degrees, major organs begin to shut down, and when that temperature reaches 107 degrees, the child can die.”

Safe Kids offers the following information and child safety tips regarding child heatstroke prevention:

http://www.safekids.org/safetytips/field_risks/heatstroke

To reduce the number of deaths and near misses, Alway suggests remembering to ACT:
• A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not in it so kids don’t get in on their own.

• C: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. This is especially important if you’re not following your normal routine.

• T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.

To highlight the dangers of leaving a child in a car in a parking lot, funds were raised to purchase a vehicle temperature display unit. The unit demonstrates the difference between outside temperature and temperature inside a vehicle. The unit is depicted in the attached images. The unit has been displayed at various businesses since the first day of summer. Police departments throughout the area are working together with Safe Kids to spread the word. The temperature display unit is scheduled to be displayed at several locations in West Michigan throughout the summer.

In addition to heatstroke, there are certainly other risks of leaving a child unattended – such as abduction, the child ingesting and choking on food or a foreign object, or a child being injured by getting stuck in a power window.

We appreciate the generous contributions of Safe Kids West Michigan, Fruitport Lions Club, the GM Foundation, and Fraternal Order of Police #99 for their support of this public awareness program. It is our hope, through this collaborative effort, we can prevent one of these tragedies from happening in the West Michigan area.

Michigan law regarding leaving an unattended child in a vehicle is found at MCL 750.135a.

750.135a Leaving child unattended in vehicle; prohibition; violation; definitions.
Sec. 135a.
(1) A person who is responsible for the care or welfare of a child shall not leave that child unattended in a vehicle for a period of time that poses an unreasonable risk of harm or injury to the child or under circumstances that pose an unreasonable risk of harm or injury to the child.
(2) A person who violates this section is guilty of a crime as follows:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivisions (b) to (d), the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.
(b) If the violation results in physical harm other than serious physical harm to the child, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both.
(c) If the violation results in serious physical harm to the child, the person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 10 years or a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both.
(d) If the violation results in the death of the child, the person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 15 years or a fine of not more than $10,000.00, or both.
(3) As used in this section:
(a) “Child” means an individual less than 6 years of age.
(b) “Physical harm” and “serious physical harm” mean those terms as defined in section 136b.
(c) “Unattended” means alone or without the supervision of an individual 13 years of age or older who is not legally incapacitated.
(d) “Vehicle” means that term as defined in section 79 of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.79.

History: Add. 2008, Act 519, Eff. Apr. 1, 2009

For more information on preventing child heatstroke deaths, contact 231.672.4910 or please visit www.safekids.org/heatstroke.
About Safe Kids West Michigan
Safe Kids West Michigan works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the number one cause of death for children in the United States. Safe Kids West Michigan is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing unintentional injury. Safe Kids West Michigan was founded in 2001 and is led by Mercy Health. For more information, visit safekids.org or www.facebook.com/safekidswestmichigan

Mercy Health
Mercy Health is a multi-campus health care system dedicated to providing highly personalized care, excellent access to primary care providers and specialists and a more informed patient experience. Mercy Health serves West Michigan and the lakeshore with five hospital campuses, 58 physician offices, more than 1,300 medical staff physicians, more than 800 hospital beds and 7,200 associates, and hospice, home health and long term care service offerings. Mercy Health Physician Partners, our multi-specialty physician network, employs a total of 491 Physicians and Advanced Practice Professionals in Grand Rapids, Muskegon and the lakeshore. The system includes leading teaching hospitals, and renowned clinical leadership in oncology, cardiology, orthopedics, and neurology. Mercy Health Saint Mary’s is a Magnet®-recognized hospital. Mercy Health was named in West Michigan’s 2013 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For™ by The Michigan Business & Professional Association (MBPA).

Mercy Health is a regional health ministry of Livonia, Mich.-based CHE Trinity Health, one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation. It serves people and communities in 21 states from coast to coast with 82 hospitals, 89 continuing care facilities and home health and hospice programs that provide nearly 2.8 million visits annually. Visit us at www.MercyHealth.com and www.MercyHealthPhysicianPartners.com and find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/WeAreMercyHealth .

About the General Motors Foundation and Safe Kids Buckle Up
Beginning in 1997, General Motors and the GM Foundation have served as Safe Kids Worldwide’s exclusive funding source for its Buckle Up program, a multifaceted national initiative, bringing motor vehicle safety messages to children and families through community and dealer partnerships. To date, more than 22.5 million people have been exposed to Safe Kids Worldwide events and community outreach efforts. Certified child passenger safety technicians working through Safe Kids coalitions have examined over 1.65 million child safety seats at over 85,000 events, and the program has donated over 600,000 seats to families in need.

Faith, Conscience and Common Sense Win the Day

In response to the United States Supreme Court ruling in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby, the following statement may be attributed to Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing.

“Today’s ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties is a critical victory in protecting the right of conscience and religious liberty against government overreach. This case was much more about the proper role of government than about contraception and abortion-causing drugs. No one should be fined for following their faith; and employees should not be unwillingly complicit in participating in health insurance which destroys members of the human family. The U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed that the core principles on which this country was founded are enshrined in the Constitution for the protection of individuals, businesses, and religious organizations.
 
“At issue are business owners who object on religious grounds to providing certain chemicals or devices which may cause an abortion and are mandated by the Department of Health and Human Services. It should be noted that this decision is not about all contraception; this decision makes the needed distinction between contraception and chemicals or devises which have been labeled as ‘contraceptives’ by the Food and Drug Administration but may have abortifacient effects.

“We are studying the opinion carefully in light of the case Right to Life of Michigan filed against the Obama administration on many of the same grounds as Hobby Lobby. Though RLM takes a neutral stance on true contraceptive drugs and devices, we have always objected to those which can cause an early abortion. As an organization formed specifically to promote the uniqueness and sanctity of each human life, RLM has a right to provide health insurance to its employees without violating its very basis for existence.”

Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby DECISION

Water Safety

 (Muskegon County Public Health)

As of June 24, Muskegon County has had 4 drowning incidents. In an effort to prevent more incidents like this, the Muskegon Community Water Safety Task Force is asking us to inform the community with water safety messages. The Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN) has developed an application for android smart phones so that potential beach-goers can check out weather conditions before they decide to venture out. While the site does not address all of the potential water hazards in our community, it is a good start. Be prepared for the beach and beyond. Download the myBeachcast application for weather forecasts and alerts: http://glin.net/beachcast/

www.muskegonhealth.net