onthetown Magazine Volume 3 Issue 1

Vol. III No. I

Danis Russell

CEO Genesee County Community Mental Health

2 on the town

on the town

8469 s. saginaw st. ste. 3 grand blanc, mi 48439 o: 810-344-9692 f: 810-344-9756

VOLUME III

NO. I

PUBLISHED BY: Global Network Publishers LLC Publisher: Karen Smith DIRECTOR: Michelle Blaisdell OFFICE MANAGER: Laura Ulman SALES ASSOCIATES: Karen Smith Debby Molina EDITOR: Marcia McGee CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Irene Cantor Cindy Ficorelli Dale Keipart Therese Leyton Marcia McGee Laurie Prochazka Yvonne Sova Michael Thodoroff Vagios Young DESIGNED BY: The Office Place PHOTOGRAPHY: Debby Molina & Zackary Scott MISSION STATEMENT

“on the town” Magazine captures the positive way our community lives and breathes. Dynamic in scope and editorially eclectic, it reflects the people, community and lifestyle of Genesee County and its’ surrounding areas on a grand scale. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without expressed written consent of the publisher.

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CALL:

810-344-9692 or 810-407-0305 globalnetworkpublishers@gmail.com

Editor's Letter

Dear on the town Reader: As I write this, I am looking out at our beautiful Michigan winter wonderland. While I am a summer girl, I still appreciate the beauty of our Michigan winters. I don’t ski anymore (not good at it – broken bones) I do like to snowmobile and go to some really fun winter festivals, like Fire and Ice in downtown Flint. I hope you were able to attend.

Our issue this month focuses on health with our cover story on the Genesee County Community Health Agency. Also included are stories from Hurley, McLaren and Genesys, and an intriguing look at the health benefits of cradle yoga (not for babies). Dr. Gary Wease introduces our readers to incision-less surgery that relieves Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

Other features include an article on the Winfred Rembert exhibit at the Flint Institute of Arts.

It is fascinating. I saw it and can’t get some of the stories that go along with the works out of my mind. It’s appropriate for both adults and children. We also feature Macksood’s and the fun they offer.

We are also introducing you to a relative newcomer in town: Fabiano Brothers distributors of wine and beer in Michigan. They bought Tom Ryan Distributing. The Fabiano family echoes the family values espoused by Tom and Mim Ryan and have already made their mark on the community with their support of various charitable endeavors.

I had the pleasure of interviewing the handsome Eddie Barbieri at Da Eduardo’s and writing a review of their beautiful and elegant restaurant. And be sure to read the article on becoming a snowbird from the irrepressible Vagios Young. Of course, we have included our regular columns from Therese Leyton on nutrition, Dale Keipert on social media marketing and Lucy Ham on real estate.

Tommy’s Heart is a story I want to highlight. It is about a wonderful organization formed by Mary, Jonathan, and Jacob Smith out of the grief of losing their son and brother to undetected heart disease.

Continuing with my theme of how generous the folks of Genesee County are, look forward next month to a story about the esteemed Phil Shaltz and the Diaper Bank he started. The purpose of the diaper bank is to ensure families living in the Greater Genesee County area living in poverty, have an adequate supply of diapers for their infants and toddlers. You can buy candy with food stamps, but diapers are classified with cigarettes, alcohol and pet food as disallowed purchases. Diapers are as essential as food and shelter, yet our government does not recognize diapers as a basic need. Stay tuned for more.

Once again, we welcome suggestions on stories about people and companies in the area that are doing unique and great things. Thanks for reading.

Stay warm and don’t let the winter blues get you down,

Marcia McGee, editor

To subscribe to “on the town” Magazine: Mail a check or money order for $24.99 for eight issues to 8469 S. Saginaw St. Ste. 3 Grand Blanc, MI 48439. Make checks payable to Global Network Publishers.

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Bring On Childhood

Your kids. They’re bold. They’re brave. They’re silly. And when they’re sick or hurt, they need to be cared for like the little champions they are. The new Pediatric Emergency Services Unit and Pediatric Urgent Care Center at Genesys offer specially-trained physicians and nurses, immediate triaging, private child-friendly rooms and treatment plans designed around your child’s comfort. Genesys is leading the way for better care for superheroes, fairy princesses, cowboys, movie stars and every kid in-between. 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We say…bring on childhood.

on the town Volume III No. I

34.

6.

28.

18.

Articles 6. Cover - A Mindful Perception 9. Fabiano Brothers: The Fourth Generation 10. Flint's Favorite Family of Fun

24.

13. When You Have To Think Fast, Think Hurley:

The Region's Only Level I Trauma Center

14. There's No "Cutting Edge" To This Technology 16. Genesys Opens Pediatric Urgent Care Center 20. Living Without Diabetes is Better Living for McLaren Patient 24. Winfred Rembert: Amazing Grace 28. Da Edoardo: An Elegant Dining Experience 31. Yoga in a Cradle 34. How a Michigander Evolves into a Snowbird 37. The Wearin' O' the Green 39. Tommy's Heart 42. Real Estate Now by Lucy Ham 47. Social Marketing: Road Trip!

Event Spreads 18. World's Greatest Office Party 23. Buckham Alley Fest Fundraiser 26. FIA Gala Introducing Winfred Rembert 40. McLaren's Club 401 to Benefit the Child Evaluation Clinic 48. Seeing Stars! Benefit at the FIM 52. Tiffany Flynn's Retirement Party 56. Affair of the Heart

51. Guardian Mortgage 60. Mushroom Madness on the town

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Cover Story

A Mindful Perception By: Michael G. Thodoroff

For over 40 years, the people of the Greater Flint area have been fortunate to have one of the premier public service providers for individuals with serious mental illness, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders. From spearheading the creation of a Recovery Oriented System of Care to emphasizing the physical wellbeing of local consumers, Genesee County Community Mental Health (GCCMH) has grown to serve well over 15,000 people every year while working with countless businesses and organizations in the area. Their commitment to those consumers is driven by their approach to incorporate the best standards of care from around the

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It is an issue that is typically not openly discussed. It is an issue that is not well understood by the masses. It is an issue that for years had a misguided perception. Yet it is an issue that potentially could hold the key in addressing some of the social problems that affect our society today.

It is the issue of mental and behavioral health.

country, using evidence-based practices in a culture of gentleness.

The GCCMH organization can trace its roots back to the landmark Community Mental Health Center Act enacted in 1963. Interestingly, it was the last official legislation signed by President John F. Kennedy.

By 1968, Genesee County officials passed a resolution that basically consolidated the Children’s Guidance Clinic and Flint Adult Mental Health Clinic to form Genesee County Community Mental Health.

Through the years, through continuous innovation and expansion of their programs, they are making a positive impact on the community and are braced to “fit” well into the future.

Obviously, leading such a dynamic and influential organization takes an equally dynamic and special person. For the past 14 years, CEO Danis (Dan) Russell has been at the helm of this $150 million budgeted enterprise. Certainly not an easy task for any person, but his background and credentials thoroughly support his business nature.

A native of Salem, Ohio, he went to prestigious Cornell University on a track and field scholarship with hopes of becoming a veterinarian.

Although he excelled in the Ivy League field events – he still looks like he could heave a shot put or javelin to age-record lengths today – he struggled with the heavy science classes. After a couple of semesters

there, he transferred to Youngstown State University (YSU) pursuing a biology major.

Although YSU did not have a track team, Dan stayed active in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) track and field events along with his personal weight training regimen.

During his time at YSU, he volunteered his time by working at the local county jail which was an honor to his parents who always encouraged the family to get involved within the community.

Due to his athletic build, it was suggested that Dan counsel the inmates.

“I actually got interested in that type of interaction,” he recalled. “I

decided then to take some psychology courses and eventually realized those classes came naturally to me.” He eventually decided to switch majors to Psychology and Criminal Justice which coincidently spawned his interest in the judicial system. That led to a summer internship at a juvenile detention facility in Pennsylvania working directly with staff physiologists and getting a better understanding of clinical psychology.

After earning a double major degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology from YSU in 1975, Russell went on to study at the University of Dayton (Ohio) in a master’s program in clinical psychology. For the following seven years, he worked at a rehabilitation facility in Dayton for people coming out of prison, which was his first exposure to a community based mental health organization.

After earning his Master’s degree in clinical psychology in 1978, he came to the honest realization that he was more apt at the organizational and supervision side of the operations.

As a result, instead of going for a doctoral degree in psychology, he went for a MBA in finance.

After his graduation in 1983, he moved north to Miami County’s (Ohio) Dettmer Hospital to run their community mental health center as their executive vice president administrator.

Pundits will recall this was a time of change within the health care industry and for the next several years, was a humbling yet admittedly challenging time for Dan Russell. In late 1986 his position was eliminated.

In due time, he was recruited to serve as executive director for the community mental health center at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in Piscataway, New Jersey which was known at the time as one of the largest health sciences institutions in the country. Once again, in early 1999, this position too was a victim of consolidation as another “pink slip” was served. Having already established a formable reputation, he landed a director’s berth with the St. Barnabus Health System in Newark. As fate would have it, this position ended too.

Undaunted and once again active in a job market search, he became aware of a CEO search at GCCMH in early 1999. Although Russell had never been to Flint, he was aware of the city’s national perception. “Even though the perception of Flint was well known, I saw great opportunities there. This type of community really needs this type of organization. And I take great satisfaction in being able to develop programs in under-served communities. That’s what I find challenging and rewarding,” he emphasized.

In July of 1999, Dan Russell hit the ground running as GCCMH’s CEO. His first thought was to take a level-set on the organization as the state of Michigan was moving towards a managed care approach. He and his team looked at programming currently in place but knew changes were inevitable. Dan mentioned as the state was incorporating their changes, GCCMH became responsible for all the Medicaid dollars, which basically shifted operations to more of a health plus system as opposed to a provider.

He said “We started developing our abilities in areas such as utilization management, managing Medicaid money and changing programs. Definitely, many difficult decisions were made, but we did take appropriate action to address the changes.”

Russell speaks proudly of the strides they have taken over the years. He mentioned they have refined many of their programs and continue to develop more efficient programs for better care at less cost. “We watch our dollars very closely but take opportunities to grow when we can,” he said.

An example is a unique program initiated in 2008 titled the Mental Health Court. It was developed as an alternative for individuals who commit less serious offenses mostly due to a mental health issue. Instead of going into the legal system which is costly and noted for not so great care for the individual, they get an opportunity to turn their situation around. They can stay out of jail as long as they keep up with treatment and adhere to other mandated requirements.

“This was the first court of its kind,” Russell pointed out. “And now there are about five of these types of courts across the state. We served as the model. Thanks to the cooperation of Flint’s Judge Barkey, this court was launched and is going stronger than ever today.”

He also noted GCCMH is only one of five mental health systems in country to get a health center planning grant that surveys the community regarding the development of a primary care clinic from the federal government. They were awarded the grant and as a result, started a primary care clinic dedicated to serve the homeless and the underinsured population of the area. It opened in a building directly across the street from their main offices on Fifth Avenue nt in October of last year and is now at capacity. u Co to help address the human Russell believes the GCCMH organization is in a strong e eposition s e n side of the recent tragedies the country has endured.

While he believes the issue of firearms e Years f providing Gpart can be done with more mental health control is very complex, theonon-controversial funding. He noted when budgets get tight, one of the first things that gets eliminated is the prevention programs. But if there were more prevention dollars they could get more involved with schools along with creating widespread prevention measures such as mental health

“

Even though the perception of

Flint was well known, I saw great opportunities there. This type of community really needs this type of organization. And I take great satisfaction in being able to develop programs in under-served communities. That’s what I find

”

challenging and rewarding...

teams and threat assessment teams. Obviously there would be many questions and extensive training to be set-up but it would be a beginning.

Currently however, GCCMH has a program called Mental Health First Aid - in simple terms, a mental health “101” for lay people - an awareness program that is offered free of charge to community groups.

Dan Russell underlines what they have done with budget and programming, is to make sure the community has access to everything GCCMH has and at this point there are no roadblocks. Even though there is a major initiative to reduce the state’s Community Mental Health Clinic regions to 10 from 18 in 2014, he will keep going forward working on the physical health as well as the mental health of their consumers.

“We have the funding to provide for all the services of what people need and above all, we will find a way.

And whatever changes are coming from the state and health care reform, we are poised to meet them and will continue to provide the services for the community.”

Note: To learn more about GCCMH, go to their web site at www.gencmh.org.

th

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420 W. Fifth Avenue Flint, Michigan 48503

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50

pub lic s ervi ces

Behavioral health is essential to health.

Prevention works.

Treatment is effective.

People recover.

Help is just a phone call away Toll Free: (877) 346-3648 / TTY: (810) 232-6310 (810)257-3740

Substance Use Disorder Services

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T h e R e g i o n ’ s o n ly l e v e l i T R a u m a c e n T e R

seconds counT. minuTes maTTeR.

A

s the area’s only Level I Adult Trauma Center and the region’s only Level II Pediatric Trauma Center (Genesee, Lapeer and Shiawassee Counties), Hurley Medical Center provides the highest level of emergency care to adults and children.

Our Paul F. Reinhart Emergency Trauma Center features state-of-the-art technology and a highly specialized in-house team of trauma professionals around the clock. So when you have to think fast, think Hurley.

hurleymc.com 888.611.4462

Business

Fabiano Brothers The Fourth Generation

By Marcia McGee

Fabiano Brothers, Inc. was established in 1885 by Gennaro Fabiano when he opened a cantina in San Ippolito, Italy. He sold fruit, vegetables and his own homemade wine. The cantina is still being operated by distant relatives.

In 1899, Gennaro immigrated to the United States and worked on the railroad in St. Louis, Missouri to earn enough money to bring is family to America.

After twelve years, he was able to bring his wife, Maria, and their family to the United States through Ellis Island. They settled in Eaton Rapids and opened a fruit market. In 1919, they moved to Mount Pleasant where Gennaro and his two sons, Frank and Joseph, established the Fabiano Fruit Market as a retail and wholesale store.

The beginnings of their involvement with beer began in 1923 with an agreement to distribute Stroh Near Beer. When Prohibition was repealed in 1933, they began to sell regular beer.

Almost 128 years after Gennaro opened the cantina, the family is still selling wine (not homemade). They have since added beer and spirits to the mix. I doubt Gennaro could have imagined four locations, including a 300,000 square foot distribution center serving 22 counties in Michigan and six counties in Wisconsin.

The four locations are in Bay City, Saginaw, Petoskey and Wausau, Wisconsin. The corporate offices and main warehouse are located in Bay City.

Jim Fabiano II, great grandson of Gennaro is president and co-CEO with his brother Joe. James, grandson of Gennaro is chairman of the board.

According to Jim, “In the latter part of 2009, we began to see a need for consolidation in the industry.

We knew we had to get big or get out. Since that time we have acquired four distributors, including Tom Ryan Distributing in Flint, and more than doubled the size of our business by the end of 2012.”

He explained: “We make every effort to retain as many employees as possible when we buy a company.

When we bought Ryan, there were 85 employees.

Some opted for early retirement and some chose to stay closer to Flint." Paul Staroba, former Ryan executive, remains employed by Fabiano Brothers based in Flint, doing community and political relations for the company.

Jim notes that community involvement is a core value of Fabiano Brothers. In Flint, for example, they are supporters of the FIA, the 100 Club, and other nonprofits, as well as the 100th Anniversary of Chevrolet party.

The company also keeps up with every-changing technology that helps them be more efficient. Jim explained that each driver is equipped with handheld

units, the sales department utilizes laptops, and the picking system in the warehouse is voice activated.

“We also make an attempt to be as environmentally responsible as well,” Jim noted. “Each year, we recycle two-and-a-half million pounds of aluminum, 12 million pounds of glass, and one million pounds of cardboard and plastic. We installed energy efficient lighting and a white roof on our building. Rainwater is collected in retention ponds and used for watering our grounds. In our truck washing station, the wash water is filtered and is reused to wash trucks and equipment.”

By the numbers: Fabiano Brothers employs 440 in Michigan, and 60 in Wisconsin. They work with more than 150 beer suppliers and 200 plus wine suppliers. Liquor is only distributed in Wisconsin. Each day, there are more than 60 trucks on the road Jim and his brother are the fourth generation in this business. Will there be a fifth? Jim (the father of six children) says, “We hope so, but no one is going to be pressured to enter the business.”

“Joe and I inherited a strong work ethic. Our great grandfather, grandfather and father worked very hard to provide a foundation for us. We want to give our employees safe, sound, good paying jobs and a nice place to work, and we want to be good corporate citizens in the communities we serve,” Jim concluded.

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Business

Flint’s Favorite Family of Fun By: Michael G. Thodoroff Although Flint has been historically branded as the birthplace of General Motors Corporation, fundamentally it has been the entrepreneurial families of the area that have nurtured, cultivated and sustained the intricate fabric of this community. Their legacy is steep with pride and accomplishment. One of these special families is the Macksood family.

When you think of Macksood’s, fireplaces, hot tubs and pools naturally come to mind.

And that’s the way Tom Macksood Jr. appreciates it. “We sometimes get categorized as a big business,” he mentioned, “but there’s still such a great family feel here. We are all from this area, we really value our customers, we have unsurpassed customer service and we know this town. These things were always important to my dad and are certainly a part of me.” As the second generation proprietor of the family’s business, he speaks in almost reverent tones of how his father and mother persevered to make their establishment viable while always prioritizing the values of family.

Tom Sr. was a Flint school teacher back in the 60’s and was one of the pioneers of physical education for special needs children. Like most teachers raising a family in that era, he always had one or two part-time jobs. In late 1979, he started conversations with a family friend in Cincinnati, Ohio who operated a big specialty store retailing wood stoves, fireplaces and hot tubs (sounds familiar!) named Watson’s. It was great timing as Tom was looking to get into something different and Watson’s was looking to open another store. So they agreed on a business deal and opened a Watson’s store near Corunna and Dye roads in an old Robert Hall building.

“I was 12 years old at the time and thought it was real cool that dad and mom had their own business,” Tom Jr. fondly recalled. “I always did small jobs around the building but I remember sweeping up wood scraps from the logs of the 15 plus wood stoves burning all

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the time!”

After almost two years, the name of the store was changed to Macksood’s as Tom Sr. banked on their family’s name being well known throughout the community. By 1983, he became sole owner of the company. According to Tom Jr, this was a calculated gamble due to limited funding and typical start-up debt. But he pressed on by working fervently with vendors in purchasing more products and by increasing advertising. In 1987 he decided to purchase five acres of land at 5212 W. Pierson Road This was perceived as “against the grain” at that time, as it was the dawn of the Miller and Linden road area commerce explosion. But Tom believed it was still a good location due to easy access to I-75 and promising marketing penetration to the northern communities. By 1988, a 10,000 square foot showroom along with one warehouse opened as the Macksood legacy nurtured.

Today they continue to specialize in merchandizing above ground pools, hot tubs and spas, casual furniture, pool tables and billiards, home theater seating, fireplaces, bar stools, bars, games, poker tables and their recently expanded line of the most comfortable quality leather seating arrangements in the area. And thanks to their wellstructured product buying group, they are able to keep pricing very competitive.

Tom Jr. mentioned even though they try to provide products that bring families together for fun, relaxation and simply a break from the daily stress of life, they will get out of a category if it’s “just not working” for them. As an example, Macksood’s dove into the fitness craze on two different timeframes and both times, appropriately bowed out. Tom pointed out when they jump into a category they are not quite known for and if it doesn’t fit well with their customers, they will quickly get better product or merely get out of that product line. “With the fitness equipment,” he frankly said, “we realized we couldn’t compete at the ‘big-box’

stores’ price points and since we never sacrifice quality for a better price, we had to change direction. We try to stay up on trends but we also have to change with the times.”

Tom went on to say their heritage is building long-term relationships with their customers, employees, suppliers and installers by delivering quality leisure home products and services. He also knows their products are really what families purchase with disposable income left at the end of the month.

Back in 2008 during the genesis of the nation’s economic downturn, all income levels were challenged as Macksood’s realized it was crunch time too. Tom reasoned they still needed to bring quality products to their market but had to secure better pricing along with making those tough internal changes. As a result, they worked hard with their vendors to get good pricing and better warranty processing to further enhance customer service. “Through all of that, we still felt good about the quality of product,” he said.

Along with their full-line of quality home products, Macksood's built their reputation on their stellar service after the sale. They can accomplish this because of the low turnover of their 20 plus employees. “We are really fortunate to have the people we have. Even our customers have been buying from us for years,” Tom stated with pride.

Macksood’s, in response to their customers’ feedback, opened an accessory store about two years ago at the Burton Corners on Center Rd.. It’s an effort to service customers who bought a pool or spa so they wouldn’t need to drive so far just to get chemicals and other accessories from their main store as Tom admits they are looking at other locations for additional stores.

In the meantime, Macksood’s will continue to highlight their recently expanded line of beautiful leather sectionals, sofas, and loveseats along with their “core” products that have served the area well for over 30 years. Visiting their dynamic showroom on Pierson Road is an entertaining experience in itself as it is constantly changing per the Michigan seasons.

“People want to be comfortable when they buy as long as the pricing isn’t out of control,” Tom asserted. “And they know it’s a local family run business with a good reputation of taking care of his customers. Plus, we’re going to be here in this community for many years to come.”

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Medical

When You Have To Think Fast, Think Hurley The Region’s Only Level I Trauma Center

By Ilene Cantor

The Paul F. Reinhart Emergency Trauma Center at Hurley Medical Center provides the highest level of specialized care for some of the most complex trauma cases imaginable. As a premier public teaching hospital, Hurley delivers safe, quality, world-class patient care when moments count. Our trauma surgeons are available in house around the clock, with University of Michigan-Ann Arbor affiliated ER physicians. Hurley is the region’s only adult Level I Trauma Center and the only Pediatric Level II Trauma Center in the region comprising Genesee, Lapeer, and Shiawassee Counties Hurley is a recognized leader in clinical care, education and research, and utilizes state-of-the-art technology, providing care for more than 100,000 patients annually. They are ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week with Genesee County’s only Level I Trauma Center, Level II Pediatric Trauma Center, Burn Center, Children’s Hospital, Pediatric Children’s ER (with access to key specialists), Highest Level (III) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), on-site MRI, and Vascular Center.

Hurley continues to be at the forefront of breakthrough pediatric emergency medicine. Their in-house pediatric intensivists, trauma and burn surgeons are always available and will keep you informed of the care, admission and discharge process. Hurley has Genesee County’s only physician board certified in child abuse. Pediatric specialists are available in all key specialties, and Hurley is home to Genesee County’s only Child

The Joint Commission, in conjunction with The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, recently recognized Hurley Medical Center with Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. Achievement of Primary Stroke Center Certification signifies an organization’s dedication to fostering better outcomes for patients. Hurley Medical Center’s Primary Stroke Center Certification has demonstrated that their program meets critical elements of performance to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes for stroke patients. Hurley Medical Center is thoroughly committed to providing our patients the highest quality stroke care centered on current scientific research to ensure continued improvement in treatment.

Life Services team, dedicated to providing psychosocial support for the child and family, along with Genesee County’s highest Level III NICU, providing exceptional and experienced neonatologists on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Paul F. Reinhart Emergency Trauma Center is also home to state-ofthe-art technology (x-ray, ultrasound, 64-slice CT scan, MRI), exceptional patient- and family-centered care, and staff trained in senior care programs (geriatric emergency nursing education and Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders, or, NICHE).

Hurley’s Center for Comprehensive Surgery provides the latest state of the art technology available today, including the daVinci®Si™ Surgical Robot system which can be utilized for a multitude of minimally invasive procedures in gynecology, urology and cardiac surgery procedures.

This cutting edge system expands our comprehensive scope of surgical services for the patients of Genesee County and beyond. The procedure results in a more precise removal, lower complication rate, less pain and less discomfort, improving the entire patient and family centered care experience” adds Michael McCann, DO, FACOS, FACS, Chief of Trauma Surgery and Critical Care at Hurley Medical Center.

For more, information visit hurleymc.com. To find a Hurley physician, call 1-888-611-4HMC (4462).

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Medical

There’s No “Cutting Edge” To This Technology By: Michael G. Thodoroff The Flint area has always been noted for a birthplace of creative and forward thinking individuals: from Billy Durant to Charles S. Mott to Buick’s Lloyd Reuss and more recently, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy’s Phil Hagerman. All were and are progressive citizens who thrived on challenges and embraced new technologies. Although Flint’s image has taken perceptual hits over the years, that innovative and resourceful spirit is alive and well, albeit rather quiet and not well-publicized.

Take for example the Greater Flint area based surgeon Dr. Gary L. Wease, M.D., F.A.C.S., P.C. While this claim could be an item for discussion, don’t suggest that to the many patients whose quality of life has been drastically restored thanks to the hands of Dr. Wease. He not only conducted the first Bariatric surgery in Flint but is also responsible for bringing in the incisionless surgery to relieve the chronic reflux condition known as Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or commonly experienced and referred to as heartburn. Like most innovative seeking people, Wease’s path to a surgeon’s world was not traveled according to the textbooks.

Raised on farmland in northwest Indiana, Gary Wease wanted to pursue an engineering field so after high school enrolled in the renowned Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute. After serving a summer internship with the Marathon Oil Corporation, he realized that the structured, corporate way of working wasn’t what he was looking for as a life-long career.

After graduating in 1987, he took his engineering acquired knowledge and applied it to the field of medicine by enrolling in Indiana University’s School of Medicine. “I decided to be a doctor,” he said matter-of-factly. “That direction was easy because I really wanted to be surgeon.”

Upon graduation from medical school, he served his residency in Detroit’s Beaumont Hospital system from 1991 to 1997. During this time, he heard there was a doctor in Flint looking to add another surgeon to his practice. Wease laid out a one year plan to practice with Dr. Don Reed working out of McLaren Hospital, then move on to another challenge.

That was in June of 1997. Fifteen years later he is still thriving in Flint and has no immediate plans to move on! “When I first started there, I liked meeting people,” he recalled. “I wanted them to get to know me and my work which ultimately would help to grow our practice.”

By 1998, Wease picked up an interest in weight loss surgeries and a year later, established McLaren’s weight loss programs and performed the area’s first gastric by-pass surgery. He further explained, “I’ve always been a person interested new technology and I like to go hands-on with it to see for myself what it’s about. Like the “da Vinci” surgical robot. I actually worked on this equipment and am looking for new applications for the technology.”

Obviously this desire was due in part to his inherent engineering curiosity. Circumstances haven’t yet exposed opportunities to use this specialized equipment, but he took advantage of an opportunity presented by a medical devices sales rep acquaintance with Endogastric Solutions.

He discussed with Gary a new technology that corrects the pain and discomfort from acid reflux.

Amazingly, this condition impacts over 23 million people in this country two or more times per week and is the most common gastrointestinal-related diagnosis given by physicians during clinical visits. If left untreated it can evolve into a condition acknowledged as Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Although GERD is not a life-threatening disease, serious complications from GERD can have an impact on a patient’s life. Wease explained, “Virtually all the people who have chronic heartburn reflex have serious symptoms that required much medication to control.

Basically, they have an anatomic defect in the valve that connects the esophagus to the upper part of stomach.”

According to Wease, another variable has surfaced over the years: after long-term use of the chronic heartburn drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter types, side effects like liver damages and an increase in broken bones have appeared.

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Off he went to Endogastric Solution’s main headquarters in Redmond, Washington and upon his return, immediately went to work to get Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF) procedure in place.

He also pointed out that for over 40 plus years, there have been a number of surgical procedures (referred to as Nissen Fundoplication NF) in various forms to fix this condition but it took a large incision.

Obviously, this procedure produced a multitude of complications and side effects.

He added “Recently some people came up with a medical concept titled NOTES or more simply known as “natural orifice surgery.” The TIF procedure, which is FDA approved, allows the surgeon to reconstruct the valve between the esophagus and stomach with no incisions.

Wease is very proud of the results of the more than 200 patients he’s served since 2008. The major complications of the NF are eliminated and he can correspondingly predict quite accurately how good the results will be prior to surgery. Statistics bear this out as 85 percent of the people have complete resolution and are off all medications with overall patient satisfaction rated as outstanding.

“When a patient makes an appointment, we mail them out an informational packet on their chronic reflux condition and our corrective TIF procedure,” he said.

This distinctive “surgical stapler” technique is done in a normal operating room under general anesthetic with a disposable, one-time use, high-tech device with a trade name of EsophyX. Wease notes that Endogastric Solutions is continuing to modify the design of the device to make it easier to use and to make the actual procedure more repeatable. It’s currently in its third generation but says the fourth generation equipment is rapidly approaching trial status.

Always looking towards advances in technology, Wease sees equipment eventually becoming so advanced that it could be implemented

as outpatient treatment at a surgery center along with other applications such as weight loss surgeries where a by-pass band could be installed from the inside. “We’re not there yet but this equipment is quite a marvel in engineering,” he mentioned with enthusiasm.

Currently, Gary is the only physician in Flint doing this procedure. He also travels throughout the Midwest training other surgeons in the use of this equipment and its methods.

When he’s not in the operating room, the Grand Blanc resident is very active in the community. He’s been on the Flint Institute of Music’s Board of Directors for ten years, chairing many of their fundraising auction events and is involved with Flint’s Old Newsboys organization and Fenton’s Adopt-a-Pet program. “I remember my parents being involved with various charities when I was growing up,” he recalled, “and I always believed in giving back to the communities where you make a living”.

While it’s obvious Dr. Gary L. Wease will continue to feed his passion for new surgeries and technologies, the Greater Flint area’s legacy standing of breeding innovation is still forming impacts on our future.

Contact Dr. Wease at surgfun1@aol.com or 810-733-9760.

For a dynamic animated depiction of Dr. Wease’s TIF procedure using the EsophyX device, go to: http://www.gerdhelp.com/AboutTIF.aspx

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Medical

Genesys Opens Pediatric Urgent Care Center

By Cindy FiCorelli We know accidents and illnesses happen when you least expect them, and often, when your doctor’s office is closed. When your children are sick or hurt, you want them feeling better quickly; you don’t want them waiting until tomorrow. And you want them cared for in a warm, nurturing, comforting environment just like home.

That’s why Genesys opened a Pediatric Urgent Care Center, the only one in Genesee County!

A board certified pediatrician will see your children in a kid-friendly place that is quiet, welcoming, fast and efficient.

Our team of pediatricians only treats kids, and will get your children feeling better in no time so they can get back to the fun of being a kid.

“We opened Genesys Pediatric Urgent Care because we know your children can’t wait when they are sick or injured. They want to feel better fast and get back home quickly, with parents knowing their children were treated the way they would want them to be treated – with kindness, gentleness and compassion,” reports Sara Pendleton, MD, Medical Director, Pediatric Services at Genesys.

“That is why our staff is comprised exclusively of board certified pediatricians with many years of experience caring for children of all ages.

Parents expect the best care by the best specialists, and that is what we are offering.”

“Parents have the comfort of knowing our pediatricians work as partners with the family’s physician. We provide follow-up reports to the child’s physician within 24 business hours,” adds George Zureikat, MD, Medical Director, Pediatric Hospital Services at Genesys.

In addition to Pediatric Urgent Care, Genesys also offers Pediatric Emergency Services – 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Specially designed rooms dedicated to kids contain many home-like amenities to help ensure your child feels comfortable and safe.

Genesys Pediatric Urgent Care Center now open Hours:

Monday through Friday: 5:30 pm to 11:00 pm Weekends and holidays: 1:30 pm to 7:00 pm Most insurance providers are accepted. Genesys accepts walk-ins only.

Home of the Torch Burger

810-232-0626 16 on the town

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420 W. Fifth Avenue Flint, Michigan 48503

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Behavioral health is essential to health.

Prevention works.

Treatment is effective.

People recover.

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Help is just a phone call away Toll Free: (877) 346-3648 / TTY: (810) 232-6310 (810)257-3740

Substance Use Disorder Services Genesee County Community Mental Health ( GCCMH) provides both prevention and treatment services.Those seeking treatment for substance use disorders can access a number of providers and services with and near Genesee County.

Mental Health Services Support for adults, children, and families. Helping people live a full life in the community.

Crisis and Access Services People sometimes need a little extra assistance. Genesee County Community Mental Health has trained, professional staff available to assist individuals and families with understanding their treatment options, and to help during a mental health, substance abuse, or family crisis.

• In crisis now? Trained professional staff available to assist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

•Access Center can help you with questions, referrals to community resources, and routine screenings.

Wellness Services We believe in treating the whole person. That means the mind and the body. Our focus is to bring individuals total wellness.

• How to take control of your life •Test your health knowledge •InSHAPE Program •Community Gardens

Visit our website to see all of our services • www.gencmh.org

Fundraiser for Whaley Children’s Center

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Holiday Inn Gateway December 6th

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1. Steve & Lindsey Racine 2. Jodie Hendrickson, Debi Raymond, Julie Licata 3. Amanda Braithwaite, Serena Mercer 4. Michelle Plunkett, Dan Crannie, George Blaha, Gordy Taylor, Kevin Roach 5. Entertainment from Brady Events

6. Jennifer, Mary Ann, & John Tremaine 7. Uko Oshina, Hannah Arion, Liz Wenstrom, Ron

Williams, Kitty Vomvolakis 8. Areen Bathish, Salvadore Valdez, Said Farah, Maria Vomvolakis 9. Tom & Lucinda Kirk, Mr. & Mrs. Carrasco 10. DeAndra McCain, Katrina Khouri 11. Scott & Rebecca Miller 12. Lorene Randall, Cindy Cromwell, Linda Campbell, Katie & Andrea Krane

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Medical

Living Without Diabetes is Better Living for McLaren Patient Metabolic program provides local woman with tools needed to resolve type 2 diabetes

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Megan Wentz counts riding her Harley Davidson motorcycle as a major benefit of her newfound lifestyle after metabolic surgery at McLaren Flint.

By Laurie Prochazka For Megan Wentz, life got better at 40. A multitude of health problems had plagued her throughout her twenties and thirties, the greatest of which was type 2 diabetes. Megan knew many of these health problems stemmed from her lifelong struggle with obesity, yet poor health and extra weight left her with little energy, making it difficult for her to make a lasting change.

“I knew I needed to be more physically active,” stated Wentz. “But by the time I finished work, I was in a lot of pain and my legs were so swollen, it felt like they would burst.”

For most of her adult life Megan struggled with her health. Conditions including obesity, asthma, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, polycystic ovarian syndrome, water retention and joint pain were all taking a harmful toll on her body and quality of life. Her body had stopped responding to oral medication for her diabetes, and she was prescribed an insulin pump.

This is a device that monitors the body’s glucose levels and administers insulin as needed into the bloodstream. She worried about her health and feared what lay ahead.

Megan was sent to the McLaren Wound Care Clinic for treatment of a non-healing wound, a common complication of diabetes. Here she picked up a brochure for the McLaren Bariatric and Metabolic Institute, a program offering surgical solutions for obesity and type 2 diabetes. At over 350 pounds,

"Since my surgery, my doctors have been astounded at how well I am now. My gynecologist showed me a list two pages long of all the medications I used to take. I don’t need any of them anymore!" she knew she had a serious weight problem and wanted a solution. She talked to the clinic’s nurse practitioner, Kristie Kocenasz, and decided this might be the help she was looking for. Megan attended an informational session given by one of the institute’s surgeons and was excited about the possibility of changing the course of her health and her future. She scheduled an appointment with Dr. Michael Kia, DO, one of the institute’s surgeons.

“During my consultation with Dr. Kia, he stated that for the results I wanted, mainly to get off insulin, the best option for me was the gastric bypass surgery,” she said.

Gastric bypass surgery, also known as Roux-en-Y, is one of three surgical procedures available through McLaren to treat obesity and the most successful at resolving type 2 diabetes because of the metabolic change that occurs as a result of the procedure. In a gastric bypass, the surgeon creates a small stomach pouch and then constructs a "bypass" for food. The bypass allows food to skip parts of the small intestine.

By skipping a large part of the small intestine, the body cannot absorb as many calories or nutrients. As many as 90 percent of patients have improved glucose control following bariatric surgery.

On December 6, 2010, three months before turning 40, Megan received gastric bypass surgery at McLaren Flint. The medical center has a specially equipped surgical recovery floor and staff trained to care for the specific needs of bariatric patients. During her recovery, she was surprised at how quickly she noticed the effects of the surgery. After two nights in the hospital, Megan went home without being attached to the insulin pump.

“At my discharge visit with Dr. Kia, he told me he didn’t want me to take any insulin or other medications,” she recalled. “I actually held on to my insulin pump and supplies for a long time, not quite believing I wouldn’t need them anymore. Since my surgery, my doctors have been astounded at how well I am now. My gynecologist showed me a list two pages long of all the medications I used to take. I don’t need any of them anymore! My endocrinologist told me my cholesterol levels are now normal. That was the first good cholesterol reading I have had since I was in high school! I’ve now lost 184 pounds and am no longer considered a diabetic. I feel great!”

She noticed a dramatic increase in her energy level as well. Megan is now able to do things she was afraid to do before or not able to do, like riding her new Harley Davidson motorcycle, and flying to Myrtle Beach for a vacation with friends. She attends the bariatric support group meetings monthly and has joined a gym.

“I now have a second chance at life and am not going back,” Megan says. “It is a lot of hard work and dedication, but it is worth it.”

The McLaren Bariatric and Metabolic Institute has a team of specially trained medical specialists ready to assist people in their journey to lose weight and realize a more active, healthy life. Since its inception in 2006, McLaren Bariatric and Metabolic Institute has helped over 1,200 people with their health goals through medical management, bariatric and metabolic surgery, nutritional counseling and bariatric support groups. The full continuum of care increases the likelihood for long term success. The Institute has office locations in Flint and Clarkston. For more information, call (810) 342-5470.

The number of Americans with diabetes is growing at an alarming rate. In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control estimated that there were 25.8 million Americans with diabetes, representing an increase of 8.5% in three years.

Type 2 diabetes, also called adult onset diabetes, is the most common form of the disease. It is the condition where either the body does not produce enough insulin, or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to use glucose for energy. When food is eaten, the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body. Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into the cells, it can lead to diabetic complications.

Complications of diabetes are: heart attack, stroke, loss of vision, kidney failure and nerve damage.

“I now have a second chance at life and am not going back,” Megan says. “It is a lot of hard work and dedication, but it is worth it.” on the town

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Buckham Alley Fest FundrAiser november 30th | durant Hotell

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1. Jamie Kendall, Peggy Cooper, Tracey Whelpley 2. Carl Harchick, Jasmin Everson, Eric Armstrong 3. Terry Wisner, Drs. Bobby & Nita Mukkamala 4. Daniel & Raeda Adoni 5. Bob & Carol Garrison, Tonya Lane, Pam Zemore

6. Rita Vater Darnton, Robert Darnton, Susan Berry 7. Michelle & Rob Bennett 8. Michelle Schook,

Lisa Szukhent 9. Andrew Gauthier, Eric Wiltse, Amy Keley, Tony Burnash 10. Gunnar Erickson, Annie Visanko

11. Tony Turner, Stephanie Jones, Ericka Jackson, Kirkland Rodgers 12. Buckham Alley Festival Committee on the town

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Amazing G Winfred Rembert

By Marcia McGee

The Flint Institute of Arts has a wonderful new exhibition: Winfred Rembert: Amazing Grace. It is of the naïve, or folk art, genre.

Winfred Rembert is an African American artist who hand-tools and paints on leather canvases.

This is his first major museum exhibition. The more than 40 works shown emphasizes the overtly biographical nature of Rembert’s work, documenting some of the most tumultuous moments of the Civil rights era history.

Rembert’s history is important in understanding his art. The product of an affair, he was born in 1945 and given to an aunt to raise. He started working in the cotton fields in Cuthbert Georgia when he was six years old. He was able to go to school only two days a week. He dropped out of school completely by age 14.

As a young man, Winfred attended a civil rights demonstration.

As the event ended, he was chased into an alley by two white men. They threatened

24 on the town

to castrate him, but he managed to escape. He stole a car and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

In prison he worked on a chain gang building roads and bridges.

He learned to read, and to hand tool leather. He also became a surveyor.

When he was released, he met Patsy, who became his wife. They moved to Connecticut and worked as a longshoreman in Bridgeport.

Except for making the occasional belt for one of his children or a purse for Patsy, he didn’t work in leather until almost 25 years after he learned the skill. About 20 years ago when he was injured, Patsy encouraged him to tell the stories of his life: picking cotton, joining civil rights rallies as a follower of Martin Luther King, Jr; then his arrest and near lynching; seven years in jail; and brutal labor on a chain gang. His memories are often joyful as well: friendship, camaraderie, dance bands and pool halls, and bustling activities in Cuthbert, Georgia.

He begins his works by sketching

an image on paper, which he then traces onto a piece of leather. He then uses a swivel knife to cut the image into the leather about halfway through the hide. He uses about 100 different tools to create shading, textures, patterns, and other three dimensional impressions.

Rembert paints his scenes with brightly colored commercial leather dye. Unlike acrylic paint, dye penetrates the leather and will not crack or flake if the leather is bent, rolled, or folded. Because it is absorbent, dye also allows the natural grain of the leather to show through. Once dry, he uses a clear acrylic fixative to create a protective sheen. Works intended for display are framed but never glazed since off-gasses from the leather could be trapped behind the glass, creating an ideal environment for mold growth.

A joyful and passionate man, Rembert believes that spiritual intervention changed his life. “All good things are gifts,” he says. He

intersperses his talk with snippets of gospel music he learned in the cotton fields.

During his weekend at the FIA, he spoke to groups of at risk precollege kids, groups of students, held a workshop for educators.

Kathryn Sharbaugh, FIA’s assistant director of development said his interaction with the kids was wonderful. He signed and personalized the autographs, she said. She also noted that Rembert believes that it is important for a community to have an open dialogue and art provides a foundation for that dialogue. He said, “Art can be a way for that to happen or to tell the story of humanity.

Please go see this wonderful exhibition. It is both fascinating and visually stunning. Next to many of his paintings is Rembert’s personal narrative about what you are seeing.

The exhibit organized by the Hudson River Museum will be at the FIA until March 17.

Winfred Rembert American, b. 1945 Homer Clyde’s Cafe Dye on carved and tooled leather , 2008 23 3/4 x 34 1/2 inches Collection of the artist

Grace

Winfred Rembert American, b. 1945 All Me II Dye on carved and tooled leather , 2002 31 1/2 x 37 3/4 inches Collection of artist

Winfred Rembert American, b. 1945 Cotton Field Rows Dye on carved and tooled leather , 2009 38 1/2 x 30 1/2 inches Collection of Jan and Warren Adelson

Winfred Rembert

American, b. 1945 Egg: Jazz Dancing

Dye on carved and tooled leather , 2008

29 1/4 x 35 1/4 inches Courtesy of Adelson Galleries, NY

Winfred Rembert American, b. 1945 Flour Bread Dye on carved and tooled leather , 2003 25 5/8 x 34 3/4 inches Courtesy of Adelson Galleries, NY

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FIA Community Gala Introducing

WInFred rembert Flint Institute of Art | January 26

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1. Community Gala presentation in FIA Theater 2. Community Gala attendees 3. Winfred Rembert and Phil Shaltz 4. Winfred Rembert and Community Gala attendees 5. Winfred Rembert: Amazing Grace exhibition

6. Community Gala attendees 7. Winfred Rembert and Community Gala attendee 8. Winfred Rembert and Community Gala attendee 9. Winfred Rembert and Community Gala attendees 10. Winfred Rembert, Louise Parham, and Janine Parham 11. Lueida Grady and Winfred Rembert 12. Winfred Rembert and University of Michigan-Flint volunteers

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baker.edu

Restaurant

An e l e ga nt d i n i n g e x p e r i e n c e

By Marcia McGee

“We want everyone to feel like family.” ~E d Bar b i e r i

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Many years ago, Michael Kelly wrote a wonderful review of DaEdoardo. What he wrote still stands. In the 13 years since it opened in Grand Blanc, it remains the most elegant and beautiful dining room in the area. Understated and warm, its wall of windows overlooks woods and a small lake. In good weather, the patio is open to the view. Inside, the walls are a pale wood and the tables and chairs are a darker wood. After this many years, the restaurant is as fresh as the day it opened.

Family-owned and operated, there are four restaurants in the family's business: Grand Blanc, Grosse Pointe Woods, DaEdoardo Foxtown Grille and Café Nini.

The menu is Northern Italian and heavily influenced by the Emilia-Romagna regional cuisine. This style of cuisine makes more use of cream sauces than the tomato sauces of southern Italy. Ed Barbieri, III, operator of Grand Blanc location, noted, “It is really closer to French cooking.” While the menu, of course, is heavily Italian, steak, chops, seafood and salads are also available.

Some of their family recipes are the cannelloni, clam sauce and Bolognese sauce. All of the filled pastas, like the tortellini and cannelloni, are made from scratch. Customer favorites are the chicken marsala and the sautéed calamari. After a family trip to Italy, they added Tortelli Di Zucca Emilia Romagna – pasta pockets filled with acorn squash – which quickly became a favorite. They also sell a lot of salmon and swordfish, which you don’t see on a lot of menus.

One of the many special things about Da Edoardo is the fact that diners can come in and have a fine dining experience while spending a little or a lot. A couple can come in and have a romantic dinner for two, or a large family can dine and feel comfortable and welcome. A particular bargain is the “Grab and Go.” It is takeout and includes penne pasta with Bolognese or Napoletana sauce, a Da Edoardo house salad, a quart of minestrone and bread -- all for only $32.95 and it feeds four to six people.

There is also an extensive and impressive wine list, all California and Italian (with one German Reisling). The list is heavy on the reds and does include some champagnes and sparkling wines. There are a variety of price points. Not on the formal list, but available are the DaEdoardo label wines, a pinot grigio, merlot, cabernet and Chianti.

The business was started by Edoardo Barbieri more than 50 years ago. Edoardo had been a soldier in the Italian army during World War II. He was captured and held prisoner at various prisoner of war camps ending up at Fort Wayne in Detroit.

Assigned to the mess hall, he became a cook.

While at the camp, he met Ann Moceri, a Red Cross nurse, who would later become his wife. After the war, they married and returned to Italy to Edoardo’s home in the Emilia-Romagna region for a short time. Edoardo wanted to return to the U.S. because he was so impressed by the kindness shown to the Italian prisoners at Fort Wayne. Eventually, he became a loyal

and patriotic U.S. citizen.

After working and owning a few restaurants, Edoardo and his son, Ed, opened the original Da Edoardo in Grosse Pointe Woods. The second and third generations of the family run all four of the businesses.

Ed Barbieri III not only operates the Grand Blanc location, he is also the chef. “We have tried hiring trained chefs but it doesn’t work. They always want to put their own spin on our family recipes and that just can’t happen,” he said. “We have been very lucky to hire some really good cooks and they have stayed with us. Turnover with the kitchen staff and our wait staff is very low.” He emphasized that “…without my family and our great staff, we would not be nearly as successful. The staff is like family to me.”

A wide range of clientele frequent Da Edoardo. “They range from 18 to 80,” Ed said.

Many families have made the restaurant a favorite for marking special occasions.

The restaurant hosts some special events, like wine dinners. “For the wine dinners, I do all the cooking myself,” Ed emphasized. “I want them to be very special.”

Ed Barbieri says “We want everyone to feel like family. Some of our regular customers call it ‘Eddie’s Place.”

The 411 Da Edoardo North 8185 Holly Road Grand Blanc, M I 48439 Phone: 810.694.1300 Fax: 810.694.1495 Hours Mon-Thu: 11:30am-10:00pm Fri: 11:30am-11:00pm Sat: 4:00pm-11:00pm (kitchen) Bar stays open if business is warranted

Sun: 3:00pm-8pm

on the town

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30 on the town

©2013 A-B, Budweiser® Black Crown Lager, St. Louis, MO

Wellness

Yo g

a in

a Cr adle

By yvonne Sova Yoga means union of mind, body and spirit. Cradle Yoga means having a blast doing it! Also known as hammock or aerial yoga, Cradle Yoga is performed in a long, wide piece of stretchy silk-like fabric used in aerial acrobats. It’s like being in a swing, a pouch…or a cradle!

Cradle Yoga is the first and only aerial yoga studio in Genesee County.

The two other closest places offering this unique yoga experience are in Detroit and cost nearly twice as much for a class.

Cradle Yoga student’s comments: “Thank you so much for Cradle Yoga! I have never felt so relaxed, without pain, invigorated and full of life as I do after class...” “I slept better that night than I have in years.”

“Everyone wants to return to this state of bliss.” “I want to do this every day, and I want every woman in Genesee County to experience it.”

At a recent Flint Expo, hundreds of women – and men! -- experienced Cradle Yoga for the first time. Many were immediately hooked and have been taking classes regularly, stretching and strengthening their bodies while returning to that state of bliss we all long for and deserve!

So where can you go for a class? Right here in Flint Township in a cozy little haven of a studio, with soothing music, warm ambience, soft star lights twinkling overhead and long, beautifully colored cradles suspended from the sky…er…ceiling. The cradles resemble colorful clouds welcoming you to jump into them. So of course, I did! And it was one fun and adventurous workout for my body and soul.

Meet Cradle Yoga Studio owner, Julietta Chevalier. A lettering artist and hand engraver for over 30 years, Julietta began practicing yoga in 1993 and experienced a life changing healing in her body and soul. She is forever grateful to yoga and the teachers who guided her.

Suffering from chronic pain, which some doctors called arthritis, others fibromyalgia, and still others were totally baffled by her “condition” that seemed to have no physical cause. All she knew was that she hurt…all over. She sensed it went deeper than just her physical body, or even her emotions. It was her spirit that needed healing. And yoga did it, along with loving sessions of physical massage from a close friend.

“Massage is a beautiful blessing, but it requires another person to do it for you. Yoga was the one thing I was able to do by myself, for myself. It empowered me physically, mentally, emotionally and most of all spiritually. It continues to do so and will for others who practice it.”

Chevalier dedicated herself to a daily practice of yoga, often three times a day. For months it was the only hour (or two or three) in her day when she wasn’t in pain. As the pain slowly subsided for longer periods, she became certified and started teaching traditional mat yoga for several

years. When her lower back began aching again, she knew it stemmed from standing poses that didn’t support her back. Though she didn’t stop practicing and even for a short time pushed herself to work harder, she finally realized she was no longer able to perform certain stretches that were harming her body.

She discovered wall yoga, which is lying on your back with legs propped up on the wall and is designed to safely support and protect the back. She still offers wall yoga in her studio and at the Grand Blanc Senior Center. But Cradle Yoga is what brings her the most joy, peace and healing.

Students have experienced weight loss, decreased depression and anxiety, increased energy, improved sleep, proper posture, stress reduction, greater self-awareness, renewed self-confidence, healthy new habits and friends. Most of all, a healthier, happier life!

Adds Julietta, “Today not only do I stand taller. But I am taller… literally! I actually grew ½ inch in height over the past seven months from doing Cradle Yoga daily, and I even have doctor records to prove it!”

Besides the fabulous feeling of deep, gentle stretches, elongating the spine and strengthening the core, legs and arms, with just the weight of your own body against or inside the fabric, Chevalier focuses on the spiritual aspect of yoga. She creates a sense of community in each class, encouraging laughter, childlike playfulness and mutual respect, ending each session with mirror work, using positive affirmations as students look deeply into their eyes and speak to their Inner Child. Might sound a bit hokey, but it works!

Whatever it is you need when you come to a class, you leave with a little bit of it, sometimes a lot, which Julietta suggests you share with others. She explains, “Just as yoga means union, we are each spiritually united, so sharing what we learn about ourselves in class spreads more joy, love, peace, compassion, understanding and healing in the world.“ Now Chevalier is offering Couples Cradle, a fun way to get fit with your partner. This offers a nurturing atmosphere and safe approach to building trust, respect and greater intimacy. Playful poses promote relaxation and rejuvenation of mind, body and spirit.

One of Julietta’s favorite quotes: “When is the last time you did something for the first time in your life?”Make Cradle Yoga the answer to this question, at least once. It’s a wonderful gift to give yourself and the world.

Contact information: (810) 232-1628 www.Juliettasplace.com Facebook: Julietta Chevalier

on the town

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Your life could change with one stroke.

It only takes one stroke to change your life forever. And if it occurs, you have to make the right choice, right away. McLaren Flint, a certified Primary Stroke Center, is your best option.

We offer the area’s first and only neuro interventional program treating stroke and related brain disorders. Plus, we’re among a select group of hospitals nationwide providing lifesaving neuro interventional services. You can always depend on McLaren’s stroke team for top-rate comprehensive care. Our experienced physician specialists work to reverse the impact of stroke, so you can recover faster and get back to an active life.

When it comes to stroke, keeping your options open isn’t an option. Your best choice—your one choice—is clear. McLaren Flint.

For more information, visit mclaren.org/flint.

One choice..

401 S. Ballenger Highway, Flint, MI 48532

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(810) 342-2000

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mclaren.org/flint

Travel

How a Michigander Evolves into a Snowbird

By Vagios young

My early years were spent innocently as a Michigander frolicking in our winter wonderland with periodic glimpses into nature’s glories: the seasons. In my adolescence I was struck by wanderlust (emphasis on the lust): spring break. Ah, where do the years go? I am now retired, but still a Michigander in flight, aka a snowbird.

I'm sure everyone who partook remembers their first spring break. I remember the initial view: the combination of the green palm tree-lined avenues running into the shimmering azure of the Atlantic Ocean lapping onto the sandy beach covered with scantily clad coeds. The numinous vision was emotionally exhausting. Nature can take your breath away in so many ways.

My first migration to Florida in the spring of 1964 was unforgettable for many reasons. I was with three legends of Flint fun: Charlie Hense, Jerry Durkee aka J Balls and Duke Durkee. Charlie could fool you. He looked like the boy next door who spent his time helping old ladies cross the street. In reality, he was a social satirist with a wry wit and an eye for irony. His observations could bring a smile or a belly laugh. I wish I could remember some of his witticisms, but all I remember is how my cheeks hurt from laughing when we reached Daytona Beach.

What can I say about J. Balls, except to know him was to love him. He was a combination of Dobie Gillis, Maynard G. Krebs and Baby Huey.

Duke is the only guy I knew that wintered in Florida and summered in Charlevoix. I know that’s not unusual but try it on zero income, the way the Duke did. The Duke, in order to do this, had “scholarship” help from

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the Middletons, Kerns, Piersons, Bradlys, Vieus, Youngs, Manvilles and Abbotts. He also solicited loans that he immediately warned you he had no intention of paying back. We sure could have used that curious morality on Wall Street in the 90's and beyond.

The trip down was in Charlie’s' Buick Special convertible. It was uneventful except for the laughs. As I said, we were on our way to Daytona Beach, where friends of ours gathered every spring break. They were members of a popular Flint Jr. College Fraternity Delta Sigma Nu. We arrived in the afternoon and checked into our motel with no trouble.

It was right on the ocean with sliding French doors that opened onto the beach. I was excited and wanted to hit the water right away. I asked if beer was allowed out on the beach. Duke and Charlie assured me there was no problem. Fantastic! I took no more than three steps before being accosted by a cop. He said "Whattsa matta with you kid, youse stupid or something? Where'd youse get the idea you could drink on the beach?"

Where indeed?

I was arrested and put in a paddy wagon immediately. I was forlornly staring out the back window of the paddy wagon when I noticed Jerry and Charlie were following me. Why were they crying? It seems they had laughed so hard they had cried.

I spent about two hours in jail before they bailed me out. While in there, I saw scratched on the wall “Kilroy and Lambros were here.” Lambros was my brother. Dad would have been proud.

The rest of the trip was full of good cheer and beer.

I probably should mention that the ever resourceful Duke had arranged for our meals. He had bribed the busboy in the motel restaurant to bring us any untouched leftovers.

In later migrations I stuck to the east coast of Florida. I liked the New York and Jersey flavor. Ft. Lauderdale and Greg’s Elbow Room were a rite of passage every Midwesterner should experience. Miami with the volatile Wayne Cochrane screaming "Going Back to Miami" and punching holes in the ceiling of the Barn was certainly a necessary stamp in my Florida passport.

Unfortunately, all things Jersey and New York have a short shelf life and Miami soon changed into the Republic of Miami and I outgrew them.

I was no longer a loony bird but had matured into a Snowbird What is a Snowbird, you ask? The old-timers say it was originally a term for Canadians who would winter in Florida to escape the harsh weather of the north. They bought inexpensive land and built modest homes.

The Americans, the wealthy ones at least, came in the early 1900's when the railroads connected Jacksonville with Key West, and made points south easy to reach.

The more middle income people started coming after World War II when they started to buy winter homes in Florida. Then came a real surge in the '60's, when Social Security was tied to inflation and the advent of Medicare.

A University of Florida study, done almost ten years ago, showed that during that period nearly 1,000,000 Snowbirds became temporary

Floridians. Old- timers complained that the Snowbirds caused traffic jams and crowded doctor's offices.

I was sitting with an old-timer at the bar of the Old Cigar Store in Ft. Myers when he snorted in derision and said, “You can tell a Snowbird, because they are always sunburned.” He claims we look like a tomato with a camera around our neck and a white streak of sunscreen down our nose. He also is tired of hearing about how everything is different, better, faster, or cheaper up north.

My first trip as a Snowbird was to Tampa to visit Mike Nolley, who had opened a grilled chicken business. The chicken was great, but Tampa wasn't. Traffic is horrible, and its ambiance is blue-collar south. I tried Naples, but found it expensive and pretentious. Ft. Myers is a good mixture of ambiance and weather. It has everything a major metropolis would need, as far as shopping, culture and entertainment, yet still maintains a small town feel. You can avail yourself of numerous venues for big time entertainment and art galleries. There are varied malls with all the major retailer and outlets, as well. There is a charming downtown geared to pedestrians with an assortment of eclectic and locally-owned shops and the bars and restaurants are conveniently placed.

Although most Floridians aren't crazy about us, we do boost the economy and energize the lifestyle. So get used to it Floridians, because here we come again.

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Culture

The Wearin’ O’ the Green

By Marcia McGee This St. Patrick’s Day will mark the 32nd Annual celebration by the Flint Ancient Order of Hibernians. March 17 – a Sunday this year – is the big day. The day begins with Mass at 12:03 p.m. at St. Michael’s Church at the corner of Fifth and Saginaw Streets. Why 12:03 and not noon? According to this year’s Grand Marshall Patrick O’Reilly, “It is a well-known fact that the Irish are always late.” The Mass will be performed by Bishop Earl Boyea, Diocese of Lansing.

Immediately following Mass, there will be an Irish Family Walk down Saginaw Street to McFarlane Park in front of the Durant Hotel where a wreath will be placed at the eternal flame. Beginning at 2:00 p.m. and lasting until about 10:00 p.m. there will be a party at the Catholic Charities Reception Hall at the old St. Michael’s gym. At the party, there will be Karaoke and a DJ until 6:00 p.m, Irish dancing, food and spirits.

Admission is $5. An Irish dinner will be served.

There used to be a great St. Patrick’s Day parade, thus the term Grand Marshall.

However, since the cost of a parade permit is so high, it has become a “Family Walk” on the sidewalk.

For those who like to run (or walk), at 5:00 there will be a Pot O’Gold Four Mile Run and Walk in downtown Flint. Get the details at the Complete Runner.

Each year, the organization selects a Miss Hibernia. This year’s queen is Aubrey Routowicz. She and her two runners-up will receive scholarships. To be considered for nomination, a young lady must be between the ages of 16-22, never married and be of some Irish descent. The queen was announced at a preparty and benefit auction on February 9. The money raised at the various fundraisers throughout the year pays for those scholarships.

Also part of the celebration is the naming of the Irish Mother and Father of the Year. This year, that honor goes to Jim and Pat Sullivan.

Grand Marshall Patrick O’Reilly grew up on S. Franklin in Flint. He is a retired coach and teacher having spent 35 years teaching at Beecher and Kearsley High Schools.

For almost that many years, he has been officiating at football and track and field meets at the high school or lower levels. He did his undergraduate work at Eastern Michigan and his graduate work at Central Michigan and the University of Michigan-Flint.

Patrick and his wife, Loretta, are avid power boaters and spend most weekends on their boat on Lake Huron, when he isn’t officiating.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians is a Catholic, IrishAmerican Fraternal Organization founded in New York City in 1836. The Flint division is called Sullivan-O’Sullivan. In addition to the St. Patrick’s activities, the group sponsors a golf outing – the Shillelagh Swing.

St. Patrick (c.389-461) is the patron Saint of Ireland. At age 16, he was captured by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave. He tended sheep for six years before he escaped and returned to Europe.

Filled with the love of God, he became a priest and tried to return to Ireland. He even wrote about his dreams in which he heard “the voice of the Irish” calling him. At last, he was made a Bishop and was sent to preach the Gospel in Ireland. Although he was met with strong opposition from pagan priests who tried several times to have him killed, he finally converted some of the local kings. With their help and protection he was able to preach to the Irish people and baptized thousands of them for Christ. His feast is celebrated in Ireland and throughout the world on March 17, the day he died.

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Thursday, April 11th 6:00 PM

$15.00 In Advance $20.00 At The Door Hors d’oeuvres

find us on facebook

The Jewel of Grand Blanc 5270 Perry Rd.

BENEFIT

Tickets Available at Grand Blanc Chamber of Commerce 512 E. Grand Blanc Rd. • (810) 695-4222

Presented by Local Chambers of Commerce

Community

Tommy’s Heart

Thomas Smith Memorial Foundation

By Marcia McGee

Thomas Noah Smith, 17 years old, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest shortly after arriving home in Flushing in January 2011. Despite the efforts of his parents and paramedics, he never regained consciousness.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the condition in which the electrical system to the heart malfunctions, resulting in a disruption of the heart’s rhythm and the loss of its ability to deliver blood to the body. SCA occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood through the body owing to a glitch in the heart’s electric system. The heart enters an abnormal rhythm, know as ventricular fibrillation, in which the heart muscles twitch or quiver but do not beat.

The patient will collapse without warning and is unresponsive. What his parents didn’t know is that Tommy had an undetected heart condition known as cardiomegaly (enlarged heart).

Another condition causes thickening of the heart muscles (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or HCM) which can be associated with strenuous physical activity. Prevalent among young athletes, the American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that 2,000 people under the age of 25 die from SCA in the United States every year. An article in the New York Times espouses that sudden cardiac death is far more prevalent among young athletes than previously believed, recent research has shown.

While it can strike anyone, the risk is up to three times greater in competitive athletes.

According to some experts, a high school student dies of cardiac arrest as often as every three days. In the last 12 years, 56 known Michigan school students have died from SCA. Tommy was a great athlete. In his elementary years he played soccer and basketball. He was on the Flushing High School Track & Field team, Power Lifting team (where he took third place for the State of Michigan in his weight division) and he played football for eight years. No heart problems had ever been detected in any of his sports physicals or any other tests he had as a result of sports-related injuries. As a matter of fact, he had been to the doctor five times in the year before he died with no hint of heart problems.

His parents, Mary and Jonathan, and brother Jacob, are determined to protect as many student athletes as possible. They started a foundation, the Thomas Smith Memorial Foundation (www.TommysHeart.org), to make sure all middle and high school students – athlete or not – have access to free heart screenings by raising funds to provide local hospitals with mobile cardiac equipment. Working with Hurley Hospital and Dr. James Weber, the foundation helps provide the needed EKG/ECG and Echocardiogram machines and Hurley provides the medical staff.

Tommy’s mother Mary said “Insurance companies will not pay for EKGs for teenagers unless there is some indication of a heart ailment. In Tommy’s case, and many others, the first indication is death.”

She explained that everyone involved in the Teen Heart Screenings is a volunteer – doctors, nurses, technicians and everyone associated with the Thomas Smith Memorial Foundation.

The last screening was held at Flushing Middle in November. Over $750,000 in free medical tests was given that day by 90 volunteers: 367 teens were screened and 31 were in need of further cardiac follow-up.

The foundation was honored by the Flushing Area Chamber of Commerce, naming them the 2012 Community Group of the Year.

Studies of the causes of sudden death in athletes and their relative frequencies suggest that at least 70 percent of those individuals at risk because of a pre-existing disorder can be identified or suspected by findings on a screening EKG/ECG. According to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, if every high school athlete was given an EKG/ECG this year, 250 more children would be alive.

Tommy had just finished mid-terms in his senior year in high school. He was on the honor roll and had been accepted to every college he applied to. His goal was to be a physical therapist so he could heal sports related injuries. His mother said, “Thomas put passion into everything he did, from his love of God to his love of friends and family. He made people smile every day of his 17 years and is missed more than words can say.”

Like the Thomas Smith Memorial Foundation on Facebook to receive notice of the next FREE Teen Heart Screening in Genesee County.

A student heart screening consists of:

• a medical history review • a physical examination by a cardiologist • a blood pressure check • an electrocardiogram/ EKG/ECG • an echocardiogram/ ultrasound of the heart, if needed www.tommysheart.org

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McLaren’s Club 401

To benefiT The ChiLd evaLuaTion CLiniC Holiday inn Gateway Center

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1. Dave Dixner, Patti Ballentine, Walt & Beth Griffen 2. George Peterman, Joy Martinbianco, 3. Bob and Cathy Stacey 4. Don Kooy, Lisa and Mike Ash 5. Ronnee & JD Weingarden 6. Randy and Carol Haney 7. Don Kooy, Gloria and Dr. Erick VanDuyne 8. Dr. Mischa and Brian Pollard 9. Patti Balentine, Patti Kooy, Lauren Kooy, Pat Reynolds 10. Tom and Pat Reynolds 11. David Gaines, Sara Gellings 12. Denise & Gary Paavola

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Mclaren’s Club 401 Charity Gala on january 26, 2013 raised more than $70,000 net profit to benefit the Child evaluation Clinic. Founded 20 years ago, the Child evaluation Clinic is operated

by Mclaren Flint and housed within the weiss advocacy Center. the Clinic serves a multi-county region and is the area’s only such clinic designed to provide medical and psychosocial evaluations for suspected victims of child sexual abuse.

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13.Roxanne Caine, Mona Sahouri 14. Leo and Rhonda Carey, Dan Kildee, Jodi and Andy Kruse 15.Tim Herman, Craig Stefanko 16. Tim and Joanne Herman, Hark Fracalossi, Helen Philpott 17. Anessa Kertesz, Dr. Michael Mueller 18. Ann and Dr. Paul Brown 19. Beth Griffin, Barbara Worrell, Roxanne Caine, Lori Stauffacher, Joy Martinbianco, Cathy Stacey, Laurie Prochazka, Nanette Beer, Nancy Walsh-Clifford, Patti Ballentine, Mona Sahouri, Patti Kooy 20. Laurie Prochazka

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Real Estate Now by lucy ham

Advertorial

The Year Starts Off With a Bang As I suspected, this year is starting off very fast. A writer for one of the local newspapers called me this morning to discuss the real estate market. Of course, he can only review the past numbers reports. What he cannot review is how many buyer calls, internet visitors or showings that are currently taking place in the market.

Here is a FACT: We are getting more showings on our active listings then we have in a long time. This is resulting in more offers and negotiated contracts.

Many of you have thought of selling this year so here are some thoughts that need to be discussed…

“I won’t give my property away, I can afford to keep it, I will wait and see what happens.”

I hear these statements everyday from property owners as they describe their future strategy for their real estate. Those feelings are a natural response when comparing the values that were “normal” just six or seven years ago to the values that are “normal” now. It’s painful to imagine how we ended up here at this point with our investments.

Hopefully, most of you have completed your own real estate analysis.

You have studied the numbers, you have analyzed the value of the property and you are making decisions based on the options you have in front of you.

Of course, most sellers in our market are selling “regretfully” compared to the price they paid. In this case, they have determined that holding the property is actually going to cost more over the long run or there is too much risk involved in waiting on the market.

If you have analyzed your position and you feel that selling makes the most sense for you; there are three critical pitfalls to be aware of from this point forward. I have shared them below. Those who were unaware of these challenges have failed to sell over the years and have suffered more losses than they should have.

Do NOT wait to list your property

This downturn was not an “instant crash.” If you look at the last six years in six month intervals there were NO surprises. Those who waited to see what the next month, next season, next year would look like were not surprised. Quick turnarounds sending the market in the other direction are not expected, and a slow gradual turnaround may not create relief for those with significant holding costs.

Do NOT give up

There are always options. In the past, many owners dismissed selling as an option because it didn’t make sense to them to sell at a loss. In reality, selling could have been the very action that would have saved them significant losses in the future. Owners can fall into a trap of believing that selling is not a good option if that strategy is being compared to an option that is unlikely to happen.

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Do NOT be one of those uninformed property owners

Lack of information is usually the cause of many mistakes. Knowing the status of your investment is an important first step to making the right decisions moving forward. Being honest with the property’s financial status and calculating how much it needs to appreciate in order for you to sell must be done. Too often, owners calculate that a property needs to increase by 100 percent in order to sell. We all know that type of appreciation is nowhere in sight so waiting only adds to the financial disaster.

For those who own a home, you need to monitor the prices of homes where you plan to move. It is likely that waiting for your home’s value to increase will only cause you to pay significantly more for the home you move into. It is nice to know that you waited and recovered $20,000 of your losses yet how does that help when you have to pay an extra $40,000 for the new home or, paying 3-4 percent mortgage interest now versus 7-8 percent later?

Over the years, I have never attempted to talk clients into selling their property and I am not going to start now. At this time, I do urge you to take a good look at your situation and ask yourself if you are really making the right financial decisions. Doing nothing is the easy decision that often causes the most pain later on.

If you are going to consider selling your property this year there are a few additional strategies that I have identified in the last 45 days that are putting my clients at an advantage in this competitive market. Because I know that my competition reads this too.

Call or email me today and we can discuss.

810-659-6569 Lucy@LucyHam.com

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Community

Blessings for Becky

by Marcia McGee Rebekha Dykes is a 29 year old single mother. During the past three years, she has been affected by many ailments, including a rash of unknown source that covered every inch of her body. After seeing many doctors and trying many different treatments, the rash remained. Around Christmas a year ago, flu-like symptoms took over. She was in bed for months with the extreme fatigue.

Finally, last May yet another doctor ordered a chest x-ray to check for pneumonia. They found enlarged lymph nodes. CT and PET scans confirmed there was cancer in her entire lymph system, including her spleen and liver. A lymph node biopsy determined that Becky had Stage 4 Histiocytic Sarcoma (HS).

Histiocytic Sarcoma is very rare. Only a few hundred cases are reported in literature. She is literally one in a billion. Imaging studies revealed that the cancer in her lymph nodes was compressing her airways and heart.

She received 13 radiation treatments which shrank the lymph nodes in her chest, allowing her breathing to return to normal.

After almost two months in the hospital, she is growing stronger every day. The doctors have found an experimental chemotherapy that seems to working well. The next step is bone marrow transplant. None of her siblings are a match, however, a match was found through the National Bone Marrow Registry. She received her transplant on February 1, 2013 at the University of Michigan Cancer Center.

She will remain in the hospital until the stem cells she received begin to make new white blood cells.

Becky has a wonderful support system in her family. Her parents can visit, but her eight year old daughter Vanessa cannot because of the fear of germs.

When asked about her prognosis, she said, “There is no prognosis because my case is so rare. I am just lucky to be still alive at this point.�

For information on how you can help Becky, go to www. blessings4becky.org.

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Your business isn’t just a job — it’s a passion. You get to know your customers, treat them fairly, and build relationships. Don’t you deserve that same kind of treatment from your bank? With Citizens Bank, you’ll get the right solutions and products from people with the experience to know what’s right. After all, we’ve been around over 140 years, helping businesses just like yours grow. So if you want a bank that shares your passion, call us. because with us, it’s personal.

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CRB0006_7.5x10.indd 1

9/17/12 1:51 PM

Social Marketing

Road Trip!

By Dale Keipart Those two words always meant trouble when we were in school. Remember Animal House? Generally a road trip began with a couple of guys who weren’t thinking particularly clearly, talking other guys into piling into a car, generally not their car, and taking off for parts unknown without a plan in sight.

In the online marketing world the vast majority of people are taking their customers and prospective customers on this same type of a road trip. Think about it this way: more often than not the entire focus of online marketing is on driving more traffic. More traffic from email marketing, more traffic from search marketing and more traffic from social marketing. But we seldom think about where we are taking the people that click on the links in our email messages, social media posts or our search engine results.

Consider for a moment, that on average email marketing converts recipients between 5.67 percent to 11.31 percent. In other words these are the people that follow the link in your email back to your website. Of these people that convert, well over 50 percent of them

will leave the page that they land on in under six seconds!

With just a little more planning you can dramatically reduce the number of these people from leaving and help them to better engage with your company. Here are some tips on how to accomplish this.

Don't send these people to the home page of your website. The landing page that you link to has to be highly relevant to the link that they clicked on.

Don’t have major differences between the appearance of your email message, Facebook page or your blog and the landing page where people end up. It will just spook them into thinking they are in the wrong place and they’ll leave.

Don’t bloviate! Make sure that the length of the copy on your landing page is short, concise and to the point. If at all possible don’t make the user scroll to read your content.

When a person clicks on a link they are essentially raising their hand and saying I’m interested in your company, your products or your services and I want to learn more. Once that person takes the action of clicking on your link, the process has to unfold easily and with a minimal amount of thought.

3Sixty Interactive is a professional online marketing agency with over ten years of experience in the digital world. They offer a variety of digital marketing solutions that include search engine optimization, digital advertising, email marketing, social media, customized strategy reports, analytics and maintenance of your marketing plan. Learn more about 3Sixty Interactive at www.3sixtyinteractive.com or by calling us at 1-877-43Sixty.

WINFrED rEMBErT

AMAZING GRACE

An exhibition of tooled leather works depicting the artist’s memories of the Civil Rights Movement and growing up in the South.

This exhibition is organized by the Hudson River Museum.

through March 17 Cotton Field Rows

dye on carved and tooled leather, 2009

38.5 x 30.5 inches

Collection of Jan and Warren Adelson

Flint Institute of Arts 1120 E Kearsley St

Flint, MI 48503

TARGET FREE SATURDAYS

810.234.1695

flintarts.org

Sponsored By

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Seeing Stars! benefit at the flint institue of music

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1. Michael & Kay Kelly 2. Kim & Kevin Immink 3. Robert & Debbie Atkinson Gracie & Sam Harris 4. Patty Fuller Tim Harris 5. Dr. Samuel Dismond & family 6. Mary Margret St. John, Wendell Johnson, Alesia Byrd 7. Shelia Zorn, Kevin Shaw 8. Karen & Natasha Rezloff 9. Dallas Dort, Al Koegel 10. Sue and William Shaheen, Halen Millhouse 11. Beverly Shomsky, Sixto Olivio

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12. Rosann & Steve Heddy, Gloria & Dr. Erick VanDuyne 13. Katherine Martin, Marge Murphy 14. Alex Jovanovski, Michelle Blaisdell, Chris Jacob 15. Sixto Olivio, Paul Torre, Bobby Mukkumala 16. Scott Schultz 17. Kevin Richmond, Shane Flesher 18. Terence Broussard, Mark Williams 19. Corbin Holt, Mike Grochola 20. Jackie & Michael Jablonski

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Save Tens of Thousands with a Conventional Loan (Surprise!)

BY KATHY ZENGERLE

Are you considering refinancing or buying a new home to take advantage of historically low lending rates? You may be surprised to find out that a conventional loan can save you tens of thousands of dollars over an FHA loan – even if you have a less-than perfect credit score.

huge for first-time homeowners who often had to get an FHA loan in the past simply because they needed help with the down payment.

the conventional loan, the differThe chart below shows what it might look like for someone with a ence is $43,995. typical $220,000 home.

“I put nearly all my customers Money Down

“Many homeowners or poten3.5% down tial homeowners don’t look into (FHA – 3.75% rate) their lending or refinance options because they think their credit score 5% down is too bad,” said Kathy Zengerle, (FHA – 3.75% rate) loan officer of Grand Blanc-based Here are recent changes that may Guardian Mortgage Company. make conventional financing a 5% down “Borrowers with scores as low as better choice for many: (Conventional – 3.75% rate) 660 will, in most situations, find 1. New 1.75% Upfront FHA MIP conventional lending to be cheaper. (mortgage insurance policy) rate is Mid-credit-score borrowers of 720 Zengerle notes, “The person with up from 1% - big difference when the traditional FHA loan with 3.5% or greater will save quite a bit.” you are talking about a typical down ends up paying the most and For example, a recent customer $200,000 home loan. the Conventional loan the least.” considered both a conventional and 2. Annual FHA MIP is now 1.2% FHA loan with 5% and 3.5% down In the two highlighted examples, for 30-year fixed (assumes 5% respectively. He saved approximate- the difference between the FHA down payment). and the Conventional loan with ly $3,500 from the upfront FHA 3. Gifts allowed – Conventional MIP, and $109 a month, or $39,240 the same 5% down payment is loan guidelines now allow gifts over the course of his 30-year loan approximately $37,800 over the from family members for 100% of from not having to pay the Annual course of the loan. When you compare the traditional FHA loan to down payment. This is especially FHA MIP.

Est Mthly Pymt

$6,394

$1,735

$9,670

$1,708

$9,919

$1,603

into conventional loans now,” said Zengerle. “Many are amazed to find out they qualify. With the ability to include cash gifts for the down payment, a 5% down payment is much more attainable for new homebuyers.”

Guardian Mortgage Company (www.guardianmortgageonline.com) has served the Genesee County/Flint area for more than 45 years.

Generations.

Serving generations of homebuyers one-on-one for over 47 years.

Since 1965 Guardian Mortgage has valued our customer relationships. Customer service with personal attention is important at Guardian.

That’s why we prefer to do every step of the loan process personally and retain your loan relationship for the life of the loan.

Our loan specialists are dedicated to helping people find the home financing solutions that best complement their financial needs today and their goals for the future. All under one roof.

Once you’re a Guardian customer, you’ll always be a Guardian customer.

Guardian Mortgage Grand Blanc 8283 Office Park Drive Grand Blanc, MI 48439 (810) 694-8610 e-mail: grandblanc@gmc-inc.com www.GuardianMortgageOnline.com

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Tiffany Flynn’s

ReTiRemenT PaRTy ChurChhills

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Sheryl Champine

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13.Aaron Hamp, Don Crannie, Michelle Blaisdell 14. Laurie Prochazka, Sherry Tompkins 15.Ilona Curry, Tiffany Flynn 16. Jane O’Dell, Rob & Michelle Bennett 17. Tiffany & Steve Flynn 18. Scott & Lynn Henry, Kathy McAttee 19. Holly Rosser, Ryan Gonder, Ellen Ellenburg, Kevin Keane 20. Todd & Lori Alchin 21. Michelle Richardson, Jerrry Johnson 22. Nayyirah Shariff, Dan Reyes, Linda Heiney, Art Reyes 23. Tiffany Flynn, Suzett Trent, Jenny Dowdell ,Leigh Smith,Debi Taylor 24. Linda Heiney, Jeannie Winter, Ed Fletcher, Mark Lemon, Jennifer Tremaine

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SOLD IN 9 DAYS!

hills oF tyrone, Fenton

$649,000

4 Bed, 4 Bath, Richard Harris custom design, 10 mile panoramic view, 3498 sq ft, finished walkout includes stage and media system

SOLD IN 26 DAYS!

seyMour rd., sWartz creek

$299,900

5 Bed, 6 Bath, 7.6 wooded acres, 3630 sq ft.

SOLD IN 77 DAYS!

southWyck hills, Fenton

$294,900

3 Bed. 3 Bath. 2000+ sq ft, corner lot, wooded backyard, Custom ranch

krystal creek, Flushing

$399,000

3 Bed, 4 Bath, Executive quality, Remarkable brick ranch, 3200 sq ft.,

SOLD IN 26 DAYS!

n. Mckinley, Montrose

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4 Bed, 4 Bath, 42 wooded acres on the river, 43 x 20 indoor pool, 3600+ sq ft, Covered bridge, wildlife galore, Your northern lodge!

indian reservation Montrose

$249,900

3 Bed, 3 Bath, 4700 sq ft, 28 acres on the river, woods, wildlife, 16 x 28 indoor pool incl hot tub. Feels like you are up north!

silver shore estates, Fenton

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4 Bed, 3 Bath, Fabulous!

Western MeadoWs, Flushing

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4 Bed. 6 Bath, Exquisite Harris Design, with can’t be beat amenities, 3958 sq ft, indoor pool, private pond, 12.4 acres

affair of the heart

to benefit the Genesys heart institute Wa r W i c k H i l l s

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1. Joyce Bolo, Nick & Kim Evans, Nan Hamilla 2. Tom & Kay Lillie, Bob & Betty Palmer, Linda & Rocky Roll 3. Betsy & Ron Sears 4. Zouheir & Nina Fares 5. Karsten Fliegner, JoAnne Herman 6. Chris & Lisa Pilazzolo, Nancy Haywood, Betsy & Ron Sears 7. Curtis Wapchai, Wendy Weber, Sanford & Sarah Ross 8. Carole & Dan Stross, Brian & Debbie Nicholson 9. Jim & Kathy Boles, Clarance & Gloria Pierce, Dr. Lawrence & Jacquinne Reynolds 10. Matt & Lynn Ebinger, Kamala & Karl Ilg 11. Norm Abdella, Tim Bograkos 12. Ken & Linda Steibel 56 on the town

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13. Sara & Kraig Pendleton 14. Robert & Laura Schaffer 15. Julia Black, Tadd Harburn 16. Rick & Corinne Warmbold 17. Carol & Bruce Bagdady 18. Gerry & Marti Myers 19. Cass & Michelle Wisniewski, Steve & Joyce Cook 20. Tim Herman, Teresa & Michael Witt 21. Karsten Fleigner, Matt Ebinger, Thomas VanHecke, Frank Tilli, Karl Ilg, Sunil Rao, Marc Silver, Abed Osman 22. Corrine & Rick Warmbold, George & Condy Zureikat, Zouheir & Nina Fares

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Celebrating 50 Years of Quality and Service

~ Jewelry Repair on Premises ~ 810-230-2727 | G-3310 Beecher Rd. | Flint (Next to Diplomat Pharmacy)

www.GainesJewelry.com

There’s No Place Like The Neighborhoodsm

All the taste.

None of the trade-offs.

Try the Unbelievable Great Tasting & Under 550 Calories Menu!

TM

Nutrition

Mushroom Madness PORTABELLA BOLOGNESE

By Theresa LeyToN Mushrooms add zest to any dish. They pair well with pasta and make minestrone soup taste so good. Grilled, broiled, baked, sautéed, or fried, mushrooms are delicious. I love them on my pizza. Wikipedia describes mushrooms as a “fleshy spore bearing fruiting body of a fungus.” While that doesn’t sound very appealing, they really are delicious.

Mushrooms are so healthy and provide nutrition without the fat. I add white mushrooms to my salads for nutrition and they are easily found in most grocery stores. Mushrooms also taste good baked in olive oil and a bit of butter. Porcini, shitake, white, enoke, and portabella are common forms. Another variety, morel, is a distinct variety found in woodlands where the soil is moist. They must be cooked for approximately 10-15 minutes. You cannot eat them raw.

Morel mushroom picking has become popular. But there are species that are poisonous so no one should go mushroom hunting unless they are very knowledgeable.

Morel mushrooms have many health benefits such as copper, vitamin E, potassium and have high levels of selenium, and niacin. They are low in fat and calories and are high in antioxidants. Also morel mushrooms can lower blood sugars and are good for diabetics.

Prepared many ways mushrooms are delicious and morels and portabellas often a substitute for meat because of their thickness.

Many farmers are growing mushrooms and mushroom farms are more popular. Chinese, Korean, European, Japanese, and Americans use mushrooms in many recipes. Several varieties are grown commercially. China is the world’s largest producer. I read that in southwest France, mushroom picking is popular in the autumn and that the best mushrooms are called cepes. Some of these mushrooms are as big as plates. In France, mushrooms are prepared with butter and are served as a compliment to steak and potatoes.

Dried mushrooms freeze well and can be used as needed. Dried mushrooms can be boiled for 10 minutes. After the mushrooms cool they can be chopped and added to any dish. Added to pasta, mushrooms provide extra nutrients and fiber and are a great alternative to a meat dish. Creating pasta dishes with mushrooms is tasty, fun and easy.

Here is a basic standard tomato sauce with added dried mushrooms that can make the cold days more fun. Plus, tomato sauce can be frozen for extra meals.

People magazine featured a pasta sauce from Rachael Ray, “PORTABELLA BOLOGNESE.” Ray uses a bit of grated nutmeg, red wine, and milk but it’s a basic recipe.

I have prepared this sauce without these ingredients and it tastes good either way. Sometimes I add a can of tomato sauce instead of the milk.

60 on the town

Serves 4

1. Boil 1 oz. dried mushrooms such as porcini in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes. Let cool.

Drain the mushrooms and chop them.

Reserve the liquid.

2. In a sauce pot, heat 3 tbsp. of butter and 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil over a medium heat.

3. Add 4 Portabella mushrooms (chopped) and 1 medium onion (chopped) 1 small carrot (chopped) and 1 stalk of celery (chopped), 2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped, 1 bay leaf, if desired and salt and pepper.

4. Stir in a can of chopped tomatoes and 2 tbsp. tomato paste. Add 1 cup of dry red wine. Add chopped dried mushrooms and the reserved mushroom liquid and a cup of milk or a cup of tomato sauce. Simmer until thick for 30 minutes.

5. Pour on your favorite pasta and enjoy!

Chop flat leaf parsley and grated cheese for a garnish.

In 2013, enjoy mushrooms, get creative and add them to your recipes for an extra bit of nutrition.

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