Goal is reducing court involvement among at-risk youth
NEWAYGO, MI – Arbor Circle celebrates a recent grant from the Fremont Area Community Foundation in support of prevention education services for high risk youth and their families aimed at reducing court system involvement and building a strong future for the county’s most at risk youth. According to the 2022 Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth, 63% of 9th grade students and 47% of 11th grade students indicated they had used alcohol in the past 30 days. In Newaygo County, high rates of early use of alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs have a significant impact on youth post-secondary success, mental health, and risk for addiction in adulthood. “We are proud to support Arbor Circle’s prevention education programming,” said Shelly Kasprzycki, President and CEO of Fremont Area Community Foundation. “Arbor Circle has a long history in Newaygo County, and they are doing important work to help local young people and their families build healthier, stronger futures.” Arbor Circle has provided substance use disorder prevention programs in Newaygo County since 2011, with the goal of building life skills for youth to empower them to make healthy choices and achieve their full potential. Building and sustaining early success for youth increases the likelihood they complete high school and engage in post-secondary education; both traditional college or skilled labor. “We are so grateful for the Fremont Area Community Foundation’s support of this important work,” shared Leigh Moerdyke, Arbor Circle’s Director of Prevention and Advocacy. “These funds will strengthen our ability to effectively collaborate with our community partners in guiding youth towards healthy choices.” These funds will support Arbor Circle in working with Newaygo County Juvenile Justice and other partners to develop and implement enhanced prevention education services for high risk, underserved youth and their families aimed at reducing youth recidivism in the court system and encouraging youth in making healthy decisions for their future.
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We are proud to acknowledge the district level spellers. (Front row: L to R) Lily Yonker, Fremont Daisy Brook; Lisa Murawa, Newaygo Elementary; Kenzi Colantuno,Newaygo Elementary; Liam Grundel, Grant Elementary (Back row: L to R) Greyson Stiegman, Newaygo Middle; Brandon Hesse, White Cloud Elementary; Mavis Basso, Fremont Daisy Brook; Emerson Ashcraft, Newaygo Middle; Jake Christoffersen, Fremont Middle; Zenith Hollinger, Grant Middle; Georgianna Vanpopering, Grant Middle; Kennedy Clements, Grant Elementary; Jax Stariha, Fremont Middle; Landon Fankhauser, Big Jackson Not pictured: Leon Burns, Big Jackson; Phoenix Cox, White Cloud Elementary Spelling Bee Champ, District Winners announced Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency (NC RESA) hosted the 2024 County Spelling Bee on February 29 with 16 district-level winners and runners-up (grades 4 through 8) competing at the county level. Congratulations to Emerson Ashcraft from Newaygo Middle School, who was the overall winner by correctly spelling the word vicarious in Round 26. Emerson will now advance to The Greater Grand Rapids Spelling Bee on March 20 in Grand Rapids. We also extend congratulations to Greyson Stiegman who was the runner-up. Greyson also attends Newaygo Middle School. These students are commended for their determination in preparing for the different levels of competition at their local school District Bee, Newaygo County RESA County Bee, and The Greater Grand Rapids Bee. The winner from The Greater Grand Rapids Bee will have the opportunity to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. For a detailed national competition schedule, please visit Scripps National Spelling Bee website at www.spellingbee.com. District Health Department #10 Highlights Student Satisfaction with School-based Health Centers
February is National School-Based Healthcare Awareness Month! District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) wants to take this time to recognize the impact of school-based health centers on the delivery of healthcare in the United States. DHD#10 works with 15 school districts to operate 17 school-based health centers. School-based health centers provide essential services to students like medical and behavioral health care right in the school building. This improves access to care for youth in our communities. Hear what clinic Youth Advisory Councils had to say when asked “Why is having a school-based health center important to you?”
Interested in getting involved? Follow your school clinic on Facebook or consider joining a Community Advisory Council (CAC). Each CAC meets twice a year and helps oversee each clinic’s goals and provides feedback. CACs are made of parents, school staff, community members, and students – calling your school clinic is the best way to join a CAC. For a full list and more information about our school-based health centers, check out our website at https://www.dhd10.org/schools/adolescent-health-centers/. An opportunity for Newaygo County residents with autism to develop water safety through swimming instruction
Join us Saturday, March 16, 10:00 a.m to noon Fremont Community Rec Center for FREE OPEN SWIM/ASSESSMENT DAY The swim time on March 16 will allow our instructor to evaluate the needs of our ASD community and their families in the area of water safety. After the assessment day, the level of instruction will be determined for each individual and offer an opportunity for lessons beginning in June. Our focus for this summer program will be on water safety skills and improving swimming confidence. Roughly half of children on the autism spectrum attempt to elope from a safe environment. The leading cause of death for children with ASD is drowning. Accidental drowning accounts for 91% of deaths reported in children with ASD who are 14 years old and younger. Dana Hansen Simon will be the swim instructor. She has been teaching swim lessons for 23 years, has a master’s degree in adapted physical education, has taught physical education for numerous years, and is currently a special education teacher. She is a certified Alaska Marine Safety Education Association instructor (AMSEA), which focused on survival in both land and water. While teaching in Alaska, she coordinated and implemented Red Cross' water safety swim program and AMSEA's survival program. Her program was designed for all elementary children, grades K-5 (200 students). Dana is also an Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) instructor and an aquatic behavior expert. We are very fortunate to have her experience and expertise. MORE... The Newaygo County Autism Community is very excited to announce the return of our Safe Swim Academy this summer. This is open to all people with ASD who reside or go to school in Newaygo County. The first step in getting signed up for the swimming lessons is to attend the assessment day on March 16 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Fremont Rec Center. This is basically an open swim time where our instructor will be in the pool with all participants, accessing their needs and skill level. You do not have to stay the entire time, but a parent must accompany the child for the duration of the time the child is there. After this assessment our instructor will set up a schedule for lessons which will begin in June, after the school year is finished. Please let us know if you plan to attend the assessment day on March 16. You can find us on Facebook at Newaygo County Autism Community. This opportunity is made possible through a grant from the Fremont Area Community Foundation. “It renewed ny hope and deepened my faith in Christ” Deep grief sometimes is almost like a specific location, a coordinate on a map of time. When you are standing in that forest of sorrow, you cannot imagine that you could ever find your way to a better place. But if someone can assure you that they themselves have stood in that same place, and now have moved on, sometimes this will bring hope”-Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love Few things are as painful to the human experience as grief over the loss of a loved one. It engulfs our lives and colors our world. Because grief is a personal path there is no timetable for its process nor is it possible to totally avoid the emotional pain attached to it. In 2011 a group from First CRC of Fremont started a GriefShare ministry for the community, a 13 week course involving a video series titled ““Your Journey from Mourning to Joy”, providing a Christ-centered perspective on grieving. Since then the twice yearly series of meetings have provided much needed support to community members who are navigating the stormy waters of the grief process. One participant said: “Thank you for being the host church for the GriefShare program. This program has helped me so much. It has been 5 months since my husband’s death and with these classes and great facilitators, I feel God is leading me on a path of understanding and maybe even a little joy.” Another one said: “After my husband passed in August, I did not have a hopeful future. I did not know how to move forward without him. Then I participated in your GriefShare class. It renewed my hope and deepened my faith in Christ. My life focus has shifted. I will forever be grateful for the help I got through GriefShare!” On March 5th a new series begins. For more information on GriefShare please follow this link https://www.griefshare.org/groups/179542 Free seminar provides info, safety tips
Get the scoop on harmful algal blooms (HABs) during Michigan Sea Grant’s upcoming HABs 101 webinar. Tune in on March 6, 2024, at 6-7:30 pm ET, to bust some myths, get tips for keeping your family and pets safe, and learn how you can take action to support healthy water quality on your property and in your community. Register for the webinar here. The webinar will be recorded and made available to registrants after the event. A free Vernal Pools Monitor Training will take place on Tuesday, February 6 from 4pm-6pm at Brooks Township Hall: 490 Quarterline St, Newaygo, 49337. This will be Part 1, the indoor session of the two session class. Part 2 will be the hands-on field work, complete with vernal pools monitoring, to be held on April 4, 4pm – 6pm, at the North Country Trail – Trailhead on 40th Street, White Cloud. The Newaygo County Environmental Coalition invites community members to become “Citizen Scientists” to help identify and monitor these elusive short lived ponds that are vital to the health of our diverse environment. Although the class is geared toward older youth and adults, vernal pool monitoring can be a family activity. Attendees of this class will be prepared to join the Newaygo Vernal Pool Patrol for outdoor fieldwork when the spring thaws begin. Vernal pools, also known as ephemeral pools or temporary woodland ponds, are small wetlands that fill with water during the autumn or winter due to rainfall and rising groundwater. These isolated pools lack continuous connections with larger bodies of water, making them ideal breeding grounds for a variety of amphibians and invertebrates that would be prey for lake and stream fish. Often referred to as the coral reefs of the forest, vernal pools are home to indicator species such as Fairy shrimp, Wood frogs, Spotted salamanders, and Blue-spotted salamanders. “Newaygo County’s vernal pools are waiting to be discovered and protected,” states Katie Clark of NCEC, and the Newaygo Region’s Vernal Pool Patrol Coordinator. “Many people have vernal pools on their property, or near where they live. We often do not think much of them. But by joining the Vernal Pool Patrol you will become a guardian of these unique habitats. “Monitoring vernal pools is a great activity for families, even with young children. What kid doesn’t like putting on their boots and walking in the water?” added Katie. “Together, we can support the beauty and sustainability of our environment and ensure that future generations can enjoy the wonders of Newaygo County. Join us at this training and make a difference!” The Vernal Pool Patrol, organized by the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, is one of the pioneering statewide vernal pool monitoring programs in the country. This program owes its success to the dedicated community scientists who are passionate about nature and committed to preserving Michigan’s unique ecosystems. As part of the larger Michigan Vernal Pools Partnership, the Vernal Pool Patrol aims to advance vernal pool research and conservation across the state. The Vernal Pool Patrol Training on February 6 is free and open to the public. Registration is required by clicking here: Vernal Pool Patrol Training. To learn about the Vernal Pools Patrol visit: MI Vernal Pools. Qutstions? Contact Katie at NCEC: buzz@nc-ec.org, or visit the website at www.nc-ec.org. I still have that feeling the first time we met every time I see you.”-Jayson Edgay So, where did you two meet? Years ago I co-facilitated a couples therapy group and as a bit of introduction this was the question that generally got asked. Is it important? Who knows. But generally it makes a good story. We all know those who met in high school with some who stayed together until marriage and some who kind of knew each other but ended up together years later. Couples I have known over the years have met at college, in bars, grocery stores and workplaces as well as at parties and book stores. Some met while attending concerts or ballgames or weddings of friends.. There are set ups from friends, online services designed to match folks up and and speed dating has apparently made a comeback in some circles. The couples listed below have recently decided to sign on for the delightful duration known as marriage. Each has a story of how they met. Call it Chapter One In some kind of way that meeting led to showing up at the clerk's office. And the opportunity to add many more chapters to the story of their relationship. James Richard Halliwell III, Grant & Makenzie Rayne Morrin, Grant Eric Fowler, Grant & Brittany Puckett, Grant Jack Kober, Cedar Springs & Sarina Foster, Evart Andrew Klampferer, Grant & Danielle tenHaaf , Grant Artists sought for Porcupine Mountains Artist-in-Residence Program
Let’s say you are an artist (budding or otherwise) and sometimes find yourself in need of a place where you can better channel your creativity. Have you ever wanted to just stay in a cabin out in the woods and be left alone to practice your particular artistic genre? Well then, here is a golden opportunity to create while exploring and experiencing life in the pristine Porcupine Mountains of Michigan. Applications are now being accepted for the Porcupine Mountains Artist-in-Residence Program for 2024 spring, summer and fall and winter 2025 residencies. The program is open to artists and artisans whose work can be influenced by the unique northern wilderness setting of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park – also known as "the Porkies." Located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the park encompasses 25 miles of wave-washed shores, four inland lakes, entire river systems, countless waterfalls, enchanted wooded peaks and an escarpment that rises slowly from the edge of Lake Superior until it plummets abruptly into the Carp River valley. Still, the park's most impressive feature – and the reason for its creation – is its virgin forest of eastern hemlock and northern hardwoods and the variety of flora and fauna that it supports. Because of these attributes, the park is an ideal location to inspire creativity. The Artist-in-Residence Program offers writers, composers and all visual and performing artists an opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the Porkies and to express it through their art form. Each year, artists are selected for residencies lasting a minimum of two weeks. They are given the use of a rustic cabin located on the Little Union River and, if requested, a three-night backcountry permit so that each may live in and explore the park’s 60,000 acres of natural beauty, ranging from stunning vistas to 90 miles of rugged backcountry trails. The program is open to all art forms except those that may be inconsistent with the mission of the park. Selection is based on artistic integrity, ability to reside in a wilderness environment, the artist’s ability to relate to and interpret the park through their art medium and a willingness to donate an original, finished piece of art inspired by their stay in the Porkies. Artists will also be asked to share their experiences with the public through a demonstration or talk during their residencies. Application materials for the Porcupine Mountains Artist-in-Residence Program can be found at the Friends of the Porkies webpage at Porkies.org/Artist-in-Residence. Applications for the 2024-25 season must be received by Feb. 14, 2024. Selected artists will be notified by phone in mid-April, and by will be posted by the end of April on the Friends webpage and on Facebook at Friends of the Porkies. UPDATE!!!
Mother Nature did it again! Due to Her decision to finally make winter, we have rescheduled this 2 for 1 Event. Winter Native Plant Seed Sowing & Wild Ones! Our Inaugural Chapter Meeting! Now Saturday, January 27, 11am - 1pm Brooks Township Hall, 490 Quarterline St, Newaygo, 49337 The Newaygo County Environmental Coalition (NCEC) will host a native plant event on Saturday, January 13 at 11am. The winter seed sowing and Wild Ones Chapter will be held at Brooks Township Hall, 490 Quarterline St, Newaygo, 49337. Winter is the best time to sow native plant seeds, and Katie Clark of NCEC will demonstrate how to turn common household containers into mini-greenhouses for the future plants. “The containers, with the planted seeds, are placed outside now so they can go through periods of cold and warm during the winter,” explained Katie. “Many types of native plant seeds need this, a process called stratification. As spring arrives, the seeds open and new plants begin to emerge. Then you plant them where you want them to grow as the weather warms.” The first Wild Ones Chapter of the Newaygo Region will also be meeting at this event. Wild Ones Native Plants & Natural Landscapes is a national organization that promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity. “A Wild Ones Chapter in our area will help promote the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities,” states Sally Wagoner of NCEC. “The organization aligns with the NCEC focus area of Healthy Habitats. A local Wild Ones Chapter will bring native plant enthusiasts and the curious together from around West Michigan for resources, education and camaraderie.” The first Wild Ones meeting will explain the requirements of becoming a Chapter which includes starting a membership roster, creating a coordination team, and coming up with a description chapter name. The National Wild Ones organization will help the local Chapter get off the ground with a starter kit of brochures and resources, as well as a chapter advisor. “We are thrilled with the enthusiasm and dedication so many of our community members have about native plants,” added Sally. ”The turn-out at our native plant sales and demonstration programs has been great. We are so happy that our community knows the benefits of native plants. They are essential for supporting our struggling pollinators. And they are key to healthy native biodiversity that is so important for Newaygo County’s unique and endangered habitats.” The public is invited to this free event. Registration for the Winter Seed Sowing and Wild Ones Chapter is recommended. Click here to register: Winter Seed & Wild Ones. Sign up for Newaygo County Environmental Coalition Enews: NCEC Enews. You can follow NCEC Facebook, or visit the website at www.nc-ec.org. |
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