WE WORK ON MORE HEARTS THAN A FIRST-GRADE ART CLASS IN FEBRUARY. Our cardiac specialists perform more high-risk heart surgeries and offer more types of cardiology procedures than any area hospital. Find out how a McLaren cardiologist can do what’s best for you.
DOING WHAT’S BEST.
mclaren.org/flint 877-MCLAREN
O
ur focus this issue is on our community’s seniors and the local services that support them and their loved ones. A rapidly growing population, folks 60 and over stand 80,420 strong in Genesee County, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
As people age, health issues come to the forefront. That’s why this issue includes information on document services offered by Sapphire Blue Investment Partners, Transamerica’s living benefits, Hurley’s Senior Center of Excellence, Michigan Vascular Center and Hamilton Community Health Network as it celebrates 35 years of helping the community. Senior living ought to make the years spent there the golden ones, and that is the aim of Flint Township’s Woodhaven Senior Community, tucked away in a verdant area just outside the city. The upscale planned community offers low-maintenance detached homes, activities, socializing and independent living. It’s like a relaxed little village, with an amenity-rich clubhouse, a library and a salon, among other perks. Another great senior community is Bella Vita in Grand Blanc. Four room plans are available in this resort-like assisted-living facility, some offering double occupancy for couples. It’s not just classy but homelike as well. For those people just entering this stage of life who have no intention of slowing down, the concept of protirement might replace retirement, which used to mean being put out to pasture. But as our aging population enjoys an unprecedented amount of healthy years due to the wonders of medical science, retirement can sound boring for some. Check out life coach Christi Marshall’s article. On the more somber side, one of the most tragic complications of aging is the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease. Two of our regular writers, Martha Hamp and Lisa Szukhent, have mothers who have suffered with this condition. If a loved one has Alzheimer’s, know that you are not alone. Reading their moving first-person accounts reinforces that true love is unconditional. Some great things are happening to support another vulnerable group of people in our community, those who have disabilities. In this issue, we tell you about the Down Syndrome Guild of Southeastern Michigan and its annual fundraising walk in September. Also, find out how the Miracle League is planning an accessible sports park for people at all levels of ability.
MICHELLE BLAISDELL
Beyond health and aging issues, we’re bringing you a smorgasbord of interesting information about the goings-on in our community. Our beloved Behind Your Design, started by onthetown contributor and designer Chelsea Mills, celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. Gerry and Kay Willey of Fenton Home Furnishings have donated funds for a beautiful stainless steel butterfly sculpture by renowned artist James Havens to grace downtown Fenton’s Gazebo Park. We also bring you the heartwarming story of the Grand Blanc Township Police Department’s K-9 force with Sgt. Matthew Simpson and his partner, a German shepherd named Jimi. And just for fun, we give you a look back into Flint’s past with the story of Oak Grove Sanitarium, an elegant mental hospital that stood where the Cultural Center is today. We hope as always to be informative, eclectic and intriguing...and hope that you’ll be seen…be heard… be onthetown!
onthetown 1
WWW.BEONTHETOWN.COM E S T. 1 9 7 4
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michelle Blaisdell SENIOR EDITOR Michael G. Thodoroff CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Meredith McGhan COPY EDITOR Darla Nagel LEAD DESIGNER Julie Erdman - jedesigns DESIGN & LAYOUT Chelsea Mills, Macie Keller - Behind Your Design ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Debby Molina, Chelsea Mills, Lesley Howe
A
K I M B E R L Y G R AY
s I gear up to get the kids back to school, I realize it’s time to think about fall already! We at onthetown hope that your autumn will be awesome. And we’d like you to know that we’re still, after 43 years, intent on bringing you the best information on happenings and resources in our community. To that end, we feature some of our best local businesses in this issue. Peabody Insurance graces our cover, and this agency has been helping area families for 98 years now! Peabody keeps up with the times by using the most streamlined technology to make services easy for clients to access. As a family business, bringing the next generation into the fold with cousins Grace and Brandon Peabody, Peabody has a vested interest in making life easier for other families. Securing a home is another important aspect of life, and in a brief article we tell you about what lenders look for in clients – and what you should be looking for in a lender. This information is courtesy of Cason Home Loans. If you’re about to move, read the tips from Stanley’s Moving first. Need roofing? Maxim Roofing, another family firm, celebrates 11 years in business this year and continues to reach for the skies. Finally, we’re proud to present to you the Fireside Coffee Company. It started with homemade mocha mixes by local mom Carol Davis. Now, nearly 30 years later, the family business has its own location in Swartz Creek. Davis and her daughter and son-in-law are excited about the continued revitalization of Flint and its surrounding communities, as are we in the onthetown family. Happy fall, and happy reading! 2 onthetown
CONTRIBUTORS Martha Hamp, Ilse Lujan-Hayes, Fred Hensler, Andrea Kehoe, Christi Marshall, Kellie McCarty-Stack, Meredith McGhan, Chelsea Mills, Debby Molina, Rich Reed, Paul Rozycki, Lisa Szukhent COVER ART Jessica Hatter Photography PHOTOGRAPHY Jessica Hatter Photography J. Johns Studios Marc Anderson Photography Michael Gleason Photography PUBLISHER Kimberly Gray Global Network Publishers, producers of onthetown Magazine P.O. Box 121 | Grand Blanc, MI 48480 SEND INQUIRIES TO info@beonthetown.com | 810.584.7006 onthetown Magazine 8469 S. Saginaw Street, Suite 3 | Grand Blanc, MI 48439 beonthetown.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Mail check or money order for $24.99 to Global Network Publishers P.O. Box 121 | Grand Blanc, MI 48480 CORRECTION The editors apologize to Lisa Szukhent for their overediting, without consultation with her, of her story “Fashion forward to the Great Outdoors,” which caused the published version not to reflect her ideas or voice. The story as it should have appeared is online at beonthetown.com. We regret our failure to communicate. Copyright © 2017 onthetown Magazine – beonthetown.com. No part of this publication may be produced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission in writing from the publisher. The views expressed in this publication are those of the respective contributors and are not necessarily shared by the publication or its staff. Acceptance of content or advertisements by Global Network Publishers, LLC does not indicate or imply endorsement.
onthetown 3
CONTENT
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 4 F EATU R E 06 / The Competitive Edge: Peabody Insurance: A Family Footprint of Success B U SI N ESS 12 / 10 Years of Being Behind Your Design 16 / Living Benefits Ease Financial Strain of Critical Illnesses 18 / Maxim Roofing Celebrates 11 Years in Business 20 / Mortgage 101: What Lenders Look for and What to Look for in Lenders 30 / Fireside Coffee Company: This Gem Is Flint Strong! 45 / Are Your Documents in Order? Myaʼs Story 53 / Unpacking Stanleyʼs Moving M EDI CA L 22 / Michigan Vascular Center: Whatʼs the Status of Your Pipes? 24 / Hamilton Community Health Network:
S E NI O R L I V I N G
Successfully Driven by Demand
50 / Youʼre the Happiest when Youʼre Home 52 / Retirement versus Protirement 54 / Woodhaven Allows for Aging and Living among Friends
46 / Hurley Senior Center of Excellence COM M U N I TY 40 / ʻStainless Steel Butterflyʼ: New Landmark in Fenton
B E SEEN 14 / McLaren Cancer Event 26 / Flint Institute of Artsʼ The PARTY
42 / Grand Blanc Township Police Calls in K-9s
28 / Genesys Charity Classic Party
48 / Living...and Dying...with Alzheimerʼs Disease
34 / Downtown Throwdown 36 / ELGA Credit Union Grand Opening 38 / Buckham Alley Festival 64 / Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club Celebrates 60 Years
O N T HE C O VE R
4 onthetown
HU M A N I N TER EST
56 / Stealing Mom: A Daughterʼs Story of Alzheimerʼs 58 / Down Syndrome Guild of Southeastern Michigan 60 / Oak Grove Hospital: Combining Nature and Amusement to Heal 62 / Ball for All: Miracle League of Greater Flint
Grace Peabody from Peabody Insurance // Photo By // Jessica Hatter Photography Hair & Makeup // By Lisa Hawley // Owner of Lisa Lynn Beauty
THE
FEATURE
COMPETITIVE
Peabody Insurance: A Family Footprint of Success
// BY CHELSEA MILLS // PHOTOS BY // MARC ANDERSON PHOTOGRAPHY
6 onthetown
Each family business is unique in its makeup, its culture...each has its own vision, goals and perception of success. – Fredda Herz-Brown –
From left to right: Jerry Stiles, Brandon Peabody, Jim Peabody, Grace Peabody, Dave Lucas, Patty Peabody
onthetown 7
T
oday family businesses have a
competitive edge that could hardly be anticipated. As millennials continue to take up over one third of the workforce, many of these individuals are looking for more out of a career than a paycheck. In this new arena, family businesses have an edge in building a sustainable footprint because of the personal connection between the family and the community they serve. A textbook example of this is
Peabody Insurance Agency, a company with a history of serving the community since 1919. In the last year Peabody Insurance has grown the team to include two new family hires, Grace and Brandon, and has completely remodeled its office. “In
order
to
thrive
Jim believes that many of Peabody Insurance’s
capabilities
can
be
attributed to his daughter, Grace Peabody, and his nephew, Brandon Peabody. “Grace has worked at the agency since she was a kid,” Jim says. “We had her pulling weeds, washing windows
and
stuffing
envelopes
from an early age. Both Grace and Brandon have seen the way we put our customers first and how our employees are part of our family.” “Some of the people I work with have known me since I was a baby!” Grace says. Grace recently moved back to Fenton after working for a Fortune 500 company in Chicago and earning her MBA from the University of Notre Dame earlier this year.
in
today’s
competitive environment, I believe it’s important for businesses to give the next generation a voice in how we should work and serve our customers,” explains Jim Peabody, partner of Peabody Insurance in Fenton. “Our team has developed a culture of collaboration,
where
insurance
knowledge is fused with new ideas, processes and tools.” Peabody Insurance is now one of the most capable independent agencies in the state, with the development of an interactive safety app, DocuSign, virtual meetings and a client portal. “Many of our features have the goal of saving our clients time and money. Customers have the ability to choose how they want to do business with us,” Jo Schofield, account executive, explains, “and our customers enjoy supporting local businesses because they know those dollars are going right back into their hometown.”
8 onthetown
New family hires // Grace Peabody, Brandon Peabody
Brandon most recently worked for Al Serra Auto Plaza in Grand Blanc, another
family-owned
business.
“Working at the Al Serra Corporation was a valuable experience,” he says. “They are a world-class organization. I learned a lot from the Serra family, and their values are helping me to grow the Peabody Insurance family business.” Dave Lucas, agency partner and childhood friend of Jim Peabody, has worked with Jim in the insurance industry most of his life. “I have made a career out of serving local businesses. We have to bring new people into the industry, and who would take the needs of our clients more seriously than someone who shares the same name as our company?” Lucas says. “Besides, Grace and Brandon are hardworking and fun people to work with!” The
evolution
of
Peabody
Insurance Agency hasn’t always been
Friends & agency partners // Dave Lucas, Jim Peabody
straightforward. Growth in any business can be messy, but family businesses can get messier than most. However,
Big-name companies and sexy job
this also means that a business run by a
titles sound better on paper than they
family team tends to be more resilient
do in real life,” Grace says. “For me, I
and more likely to succeed. There are
like the challenge of working at a family
aspects of a family business that other
company; it requires creative problem
businesses just can’t replicate; studies
solving, and everyone is passionately
report that this is because family
involved.
business leaders think into “the next
corporate ladder structure is a little
generation, not the next quarter” (from
outdated.”
I
think
the
traditional
“Leadership Lessons from Great Family
Brandon says, “Part of the reason
Businesses” by Claudio Fernández-
I was excited to come to work for
Aráoz, Sonny Iqbal and Jörg Ritter).
Peabody Insurance is because of the
While in the MBA program at
family values they are committed to
Notre Dame, Grace went through
upholding. These values put clients first
the recruitment process with several
and hold us, as a staff, to provide the
companies. “In the end I knew I wanted
highest quality of products, service and
to come back to Peabody Insurance.
standards of integrity for our clients.”
onthetown 9
RISK REDUCTION PROCESS The Peabody Insurance team believes that superior service is the result of a superior process, so the agency developed a program called the risk reduction process. “We use this approach to learn more about our customers, and reduce their total cost of risk. A key component of this methodology is safety, when our clients build a culture of safety they become more attractive to the insurance carrier which ultimately results in lower costs.” – Jim Peabody
16%
THE TEAM AT PEABODY INSURANCE AGENCY WORKED WITH A CLIENT TO IMPLEMENT A WORKERS’ COMPENSATION SAFETY PROGRAM. “THIS RESULTED IN 16% SAVINGS OF THE ANNUAL INSURANCE PREMIUM.”
SAVINGS OF ANNUAL INSURANCE PREMIUM
DISCOVER 10 onthetown
DESIGN
IMPLEMENT
CONTINUE
FAMILY MATTERS:
Q&A
WHAT IS THE COOLEST THING ABOUT WORKING IN A FAMILY BUSINESS?
with Grace & Brandon Peabody
DO YOU EVER GET INTO FIGHTS? G: I wouldn’t say we get into fights but
we
definitely
disagree
more
BRANDON, WOULD YOU WANT YOUR DAUGHTER TO CHANGE HER NAME?
GRACE: We are always focused on the
passionately than I would if I was
B: Well, she is only five, but if I have
business and our clients but we have a
working at a different company.
anything to do with it, my daughter will
lot of fun too! By nature we enjoy our
B: Not yet, but we get into emotionally
never date or get married!
time together. I am working with my family; we laugh a lot, especially with Dave [Lucas]!
charged conversations. And, I have to be careful because I know the buttons to push to get a reaction.
OFFICE FEEL ABOUT WORKING
BRANDON: We are working for a
WITH SO MANY PEABODYS?
different purpose. It is not just about me; it’s about working for this generation and the next. We are not just selling insurance; we are communicating our family and our values.
WHAT IS THE STRANGEST THING
ABOUT WORKING IN A FAMILY
DO
YOU
OPINIONS?
SUGARCOAT
YOUR
G: I don’t sugarcoat but I try to be
G: That’s funny you should ask; we were just talking about that the other day. I think our team and our clients
tactful.
feel good about it because we have a
B: Yes, to a certain point you are always
of our business.
sugarcoating. But even with family you have to mind your manners.
BUSINESS?
perpetuation plan, a plan for the future B: I think most people in our office feel that it’s not any different than working with anyone else. Plus, most have
G: Going into meetings together and saying our last name. Peabody, Peabody,
HOW DO OTHER PEOPLE AT YOUR
Peabody
at
Peabody
Insurance. It is a little redundant!
GRACE, IF YOU GET MARRIED, WILL YOU CHANGE YOUR NAME?
more experience than me; I need their expertise!
G: I’ll let you know!
B: People imagine that working for a
MICHIGAN OR MICHIGAN STATE?
family business is easier. But in reality it
G: Go Green. Our family is six for six at
is harder because we never leave work at the office.
Michigan State! B: Go Blue. My wife received her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan. onthetown 11
BUSINESS
Standing left to right: Patty Affrica, Matt Mills, Chelsea Mills // Seated left to right: Ashley Mikulenas, Macie Keller
Behind Your Design Is behind Clients’ Success: Celebrating 10 Years of Building Relationships // BY ANDREA KEHOE // PHOTOS BY // DANEN WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY
T
en years ago, Chelsea Mills had a problem. She turned that problem into a marketing, graphic design and web design agency serving hundreds of clients. In 2007, Mills left her role as marketing/event coordinator for the Fenton Regional Chamber of Commerce to work for another small company before she decided to stay home with her kids while they were young. She realized she missed the work world, which provoked the launch of Behind Your Design as a home-based business. Her concept for Behind Your Design was using her ability to illustrate what a client is trying to articulate to create cohesive, consistent branding for businesses across all media. While behind the scenes, Mills would create strategically designed communications to promote or revitalize a client’s brand. Behind Your Design’s first client was Jim Peabody, then owner of Smith Peabody & Stiles Insurance Agency. Familiar with Mills’ work, Peabody trusted she could handle the needs of his growing company. “Chelsea has a great design sense but more than that, she’s wicked smart,” he says. “She rarely mentions it, but she has an economics degree from the Gerstacker program at
12 onthetown
Albion College. Many people are talented on the artistic side of graphic design and advertising, but Chelsea really gets the business side too. With her business mind and artistic eye, she has a unique ability to see the whole picture.” Peabody was not the only person to recognize Mills’ talents. Behind Your Design was exceeding the expectations of clients, and word-of-mouth referrals sent more and more clients her way. Mills hired an assistant in 2011 to help with the workload. The business continued to grow, demanding additional workers. In February 2014, Chelsea’s husband, Matt, left his position in school administration to work alongside Chelsea. When the office building that originally housed the insurance agency started by
Peabody’s father-in-law, Jim Smith, became available, Chelsea and Matt knew it was meant to be. They purchased the building at 100 S. Adelaide St. in Fenton in September 2014. Now in its tenth year, Behind Your Design employs a team of five. “We offer a team structure to our clients which can meet the graphic design, social media and promotional needs of a business,” Chelsea says. “Big or small, they share their goals with us, we create a vision and make it happen. Some clients may only need business cards and letterhead. Others may need a full ongoing campaign with print and digital media, event promotion, website design, trade show display and marketing consultation.” Chelsea and Matt value their client relationships. “Regardless of the scope of the project, the relationship comes first,” she says. While they have many avenues through which to promote, they are careful to utilize those that make the most sense for each individual client. “Local businesses have a challenge to stay prominent and build by word of mouth, while in competition with national chains that have a lot of advertising pull. We aren’t going to sell them something they don’t need. We’re going to focus on what is best for them, not what puts the most money in our pocket.”
The majority of their new business has been referrals from satisfied clients. Behind Your Design has a client base of close to 300 businesses, ranging from a single pottery artist and a local bank to several multimillion-dollar corporations. The diverse clientele gives Behind Your Design the opportunity to research best marketing practices and innovative ideas across many industries. Such exposure allows the company to implement and cross-promote cutting-edge ideas to benefit clients and enables it to adapt to the changing needs of each business.
If a business needs a strategic partnership, Chelsea and Matt are well known for bringing clients together for collaborative projects. “If our clients are successful, they’re happy,” she says. “If our clients are happy, we’re happy, but that doesn’t mean we rest. We continue to work with them, creating innovative ideas that will appeal to their existing and future customers.”
Community is also important to Matt and Chelsea. They continue to be active in the Fenton Regional Chamber of Commerce, volunteering on several Chamber committees, and sit on several boards, including Linden, Argentine, Fenton and Lake Fenton (LAFF) Pathways; YMCA Camp Copneconic and La Forza Soccer Club. Matt also enjoys coaching for La Forza Soccer Club. Energy arises within a team meeting.
MANY PEOPLE ARE TALENTED ON THE ARTISTIC SIDE OF GRAPHIC DESIGN AND ADVERTISING, BUT CHELSEA REALLY GETS THE BUSINESS SIDE TOO. – JIM PEABODY –
“Chelsea’s commitment to the community, and the many ways that she gets involved, is really an asset to her clients. It allows her to be proactive with ideas to help us grow,” Matt explains. Outside of work and community involvement, the Mills family enjoys traveling, especially to England to visit Matt’s family. Chelsea and Matt have two children, Ian and Addison. Visit Behind Your Designs at 100 S. Adelaide St., Fenton, or online at www. behindyourdesign.com. The Mills Family: Matt, Chelsea, Addison & Ian
onthetown 13
O OU U TT O ON N TT H H EE TTO OW WN N
McLaren Event Cancer NameEvent Goes Here H O LI D AY I NN GATE WAY
CE NTR E BALLR O O M CI TY, M I CH I GAN JUNE 7, 2017 M O NTH 00, 0000 Cancer survivors gathered to celebrate life Description here. Inn Description go on June 7 atwill thego Holiday Gateway will Centre here. UsingHosted justified by withthe last line aligned Cancer center. Ballroom. Karmanos Description will go here. go Institute at McLaren Flint, Description the theme will of the here. Using line aligned center. evening wasjustified Chart with Your last Course. This fun and Description go here. Description will gocancer here. festive eventwill honors those who have faced Using justified treatment with last line aligned center. and received at McLaren Flint. Names Ava Coffey, of people Naijhago Friend here.
Names Ray &ofElaine people Wascher go here.
Ron & Donna Plamondon Names of people go here.
NamesGrewal, of people here. Singh Dr. Sandeep Dr. go T. Trevor
Patricia Names McKenzie, of people Debbie go here. Dinnan
Dr. Jack Nettleton, Dr. Tolutope Names of people go here.Oyasiji Dr. Smit Singla
Names of people go here. Ellen Peter, Chad Grant, Laurie Prochazka
Cheryl Names McMahon, of people Sandra go Chapman here. Loretta Reddish
Michael, Dana & Michaela Hitchcock
Penny McCormick, Ginny Livingston Kathy Carrithers
Valarie Jackson, Della Tucker, Gloria Jenkins
14 onthetown
onthetown 15
BUSINESS
Special Promotional Section
Living Benefits Ease Financial Strain of Critical Illnesses
Insurance // Investments // Retirement
// BY KELLIE MCCARTY-STACK // PHOTO BY // FOREVER BELLA PHOTOGRAPHY
A
s breast cancer awareness month approaches, it brings to our attention the severe impact of facing the reality of being diagnosed with a major illness. But what about receiving the diagnosis before the age of 50? Or even 40? What if you are battling cancer in your 30s, and the treatments make it hard for you to continue working at your job each day? Will your family stay afloat without your income? If you survive the cancer, can you survive the financial loss brought on by the medical expenses or lost work time? No one can predict the future, but the right life insurance policy can go a long way to help eliminate the financial burden. Just be sure you know whom to turn to and the correct questions to ask when sizing up all the options for life insurance. Shannon Severn is a managing representative with Transamerica Agency Network and says a product called a living benefit will help ease your mind of some of that financial stress and worry. “At Transamerica, we have two products with living benefits, a term policy and an indexed universal life policy. The term policy can go up to 30 years, which is a more affordable option,” Severn says. “With most life insurance policies, you pass away and leave the death benefit to a beneficiary, but not with this policy.
Live Well Today. Worry Less Tomorrow. Helping people to be healthy and build wealth. We’re people just like you. And we want to help you take the small steps today that have a big impact tomorrow.
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“Let’s say you experience a qualifying chronic, critical or terminal illness. Transamerica may advance you a portion of your death benefit up to 90 percent. If you have a $250,000 death benefit term policy with a living benefit, and are advanced $50,000, you would have the peace of mind in knowing that the death benefit of $200,000 still remains.” According to the American Cancer Society’s data published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, the number of cancer diagnoses in 2017 is projected to be over 4,600 per day. However, knowing your loved ones are covered may improve recovery, as research such as the survey the Association of Oncology Social Work conducted in 2009 shows. Schedule your appointment by calling 810-515-5855 or emailing Shannon.Severn@transamericanetwork.com, and Severn can educate you on the current options and analyze your current situation. Her office is at 4444 W. Bristol Road, Suite 330, Flint. 16 onthetown
SHANNON SEVERN
Managing Representative
4444 W. Bristol Rd., Ste. 330 Flint, MI 48507
810-515-5855 F: 810-732-5982
TransamericaAgencyNetwork.com
f o r e w o P e th e c n ie r e p Ex
20
17
Pink 10.5.17
H O L IDAY INTENR
GAT EWAY C EN
o za .c o m FO R V IS IT P in kN ig ht P al o HANDISE & MORE!
TIT LE SPO NS O R
KE TS • ME RC SP ON SO RS HI PS • TIC
NK NIGHT PALOOZA PROCEEDS FROM PI ITING: STAY LO CA L, BENEF
IENT BREAST CANCER PAT
M NAVIGATION PROGRA
BUSINESS
Special Promotional Section
Maxim Roofing
Celebrates 11 Years in Roofing Business // BY RICH REED //
WHO
Matt Conley, 42, owner.
WHAT Maxim does commercial and residential roofing, specializing in commercial flat roofs using the DuroLast system, and in residential roofs using shingles.
WHERE
5321 Hill 23 Drive, off Hill Road near U.S. 23, next to Skaff Carpet and Furniture.
WHY
To provide quality roofing solutions to any commercial or residential roof.
HOW Call Maxim Roofing at 810-768-ROOF (7663). Fax 810-768-7664 or visit online at www.Maximroofs.com.
18 onthetown
WHEN
Maxim was founded in 2006.
Create. Collaborate. Grow. Start Your Food Business in The Flint Farmers’ Market Commercial Kitchens
TAV ERN
GREAT
BREAKFAST
PIZZAS SALADS
(IN HOUSE ONLY) HOURS MONDAY – SATURDAY 7 AM – 2 AM SUNDAYS 9:30 AM – 2 AM
BURGERS
300 E. First Street | Flint, Michigan | flintfoodworks.com
(810) 234-3811
TILL 1 AM EVERYDAY SATURDAY & SUNDAY
1/2 OFF PIZZA
| 621 W Court St | Flint
ON T H E WES T S IDE OF DOWNT OWN WH ERE C OU R T S T REET S P LIT S
C U L I N A R Y
B U S I N E S S
@whitehorsetavernflint
I N C U B A T O R
C O N G R AT S Behind Your Design
CONGRATS
BEHIND YOUR DESIGN ON 10 YEARS OF SERVICE
for 10 Years in Business
SPREADING
THE JOY OF COOKING We are a C R E AT I V E S PA C E s pecial izing in cust om project s using: Glass | Wood | Wat ercolor | Acr y l ic paint
TO EVERYONE
Ou r hands on W O R K S H O P S are designed t o : Encour age | Exper iment | Guide M at er ials and suppl ies are included.
CHECK OUT THE CALENDAR ON OUR WEBSITE To see w hat ’s happening in t he st ud io AND TO BOOK YOUR H o l i d ay par t y / Bacheloret t e par t y / Bir t hday pa r t y
blackdoordesign.com 110 E. Main Street | Flushing | 810-659-6557
GOURMET KITCHEN SHOP | COOKING CLASSES
810.373.2199 495 N. FENWAY DR. | FENTON, MI | FEASTCOOKINGSCHOOL.COM
BUSINESS
Special Promotional Section
Mortgage 101:
What Lenders Look for and What to Look for in Lenders
M
FULL-SERVICE MORTGAGE LENDER
OPEN THE DOOR TO YOUR DREAMS!
ost have not seen a sellers’ revolution in the housing industry such as what mid-Michigan is experiencing. Inventory is at a record low, and buyers are finding themselves in multiple-offer battles.
The best advice for potential buyers is to be approved with a reputable lender and have a backup plan. Be prepared to pay at least asking price if not a few thousand more. The concept of a sellers’ market is a rude awakening to most buyers, who over the last 10 years have become used to getting seller concessions to help pay their closing costs or negotiate a lower-than-asking-price offer. More than ever, potential buyers need to be prepared months ahead of time. This requires being preapproved with a lender and putting an offer in immediately after the showing of a home. Real estate agents will not show buyers homes without a preapproval letter in hand informing them of the buyer’s maximum purchase price and loan program. Being preapproved can be a quick and easy process. The first step is pulling credit reports. Do not rely on free sites, such as Credit Karma, to give accurate scores. Mortgage lenders require a tri-merge credit report directly from the three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. The middle score of the bureaus is then used for qualification purposes. All loan programs have minimum credit score requirements. Even though most lenders will go down to a 620 middle score, this doesn’t guarantee an approval. The Department of Housing and Urban Development now looks at a two-year credit report history to determine if the borrower has demonstrated the ability to pay creditors on time. By obtaining the two-year history early enough, the lender can prepare a credit repair plan that will increase the chances of preapproval for a borrower with a low credit score. A high credit score means a lower interest rate and eligibility for multiple loan programs. This is the first and most basic step to make the home-buying experience less intimidating: Find a mortgage lender whom you feel comfortable with and who will take the time to educate you throughout the lending process. The mortgage guidelines are endless and are constantly changing. Having a knowledgeable and qualified lender is the most important aspect in completing a smooth transaction from start to finish. Learn more by calling 810-732-9660. Cason Home Loans is located at G3404 Miller Road, Flint. 20 onthetown
At Cason, it’s a new day in home loans! In an industry that can be so misleading, we pledge to be honest and upfront so that your mortgage needs can be met and you walk away telling others about Cason Home Loans.
CALL TODAY! AMBER L. SABO-CARPENTER Senior Loan Officer // Purchase Specialist The Jeff Stephenson Team
810.964.9700 F: 866.838.0489
asabo@casonhl.com NMLS# 1216443 Cason Home Loans // NMLS# 162651
The next generation of service. Jennifer Tremaine Wyatt Tremaine Wilson
Rides worth taking! MTA has added two new specialty routes; Ride to Wellness and Ride to Groceries. Rides to Wellness route provides residents and their families with accessible transportation to medical facilities outside the normal fixed route bus service. Ride to Groceries services Flint Eastside residents through a call-in service and a limited access bus route.
Ride to Wellness
At the service of those who support us.
Ride to Groceries
Customer Service (810) 767-0100 •
www.mtaflint.org
MEDICAL
Network of blood vessels
What’s the Status of Your Pipes? September Is National Vascular Awareness Month
IMAGES COURTESY OF // MICHIGAN VASCULAR CENTER
J
ust as our community has an infrastructure of pipes, designed to carry life-sustaining water to our homes and businesses, our bodies have an infrastructure of pipes called blood vessels that function similarly. Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to all the tissues of the body, while veins carry the deoxygenated blood back to the lungs to repeat the process. This massive network of arteries, veins and capillaries (estimated to reach 100,000 miles if laid end to end) also allows for the transportation of nutrients, immune cells and waste products, while helping protect the body from heat, cold and infection. Unfortunately, this beautifully designed infrastructure can get out of balance, and systems can begin to deteriorate or even fail. Trauma, disease, lifestyle and genetics can all play a role. The question we have to ask ourselves is, Do I or does a loved one have some form of vascular disease?
INSIDIOUS DISEASE
MICHIGAN VASCULAR CENTER CAN HELP
The fact is that vascular disease is insidious and often stays in the shadows, destroying the foundation of our circulatory system until devastating complications occur. Vascular disease has many faces, including hardening or blockage of arteries that support and supply vital organs and extremities, weakened arteries called aneurysms that risk rupture and can lead to premature death and venous disease that can lead to significant leg discomfort and in extreme cases, severe swelling, non-healing ulcers and possible limb loss.
Established in 1963 and entering its 55th year of practice, Michigan Vascular Center (MVC), headquartered in Flint Township, has become a nationally recognized center of excellence for the diagnosis, management and treatment of all components of vascular disease. MVC is involved with cutting-edge technology and clinical research that is offered in few other places in the Midwest. Using stem cell research, bioengineered vascular bypass options and the most sophisticated minimally invasive methods for severe vascular disease, MVC has enabled members of this community to receive the highest level of vascular care available anywhere.
Blockage of an artery
22 onthetown
Vascular surgeons are the only specialty physicians trained to treat all aspects of peripheral vascular disease. According to Robert G. Molnar, M.D., at MVC, “Our vascular surgeons have devoted our lives and careers to identifying, treating and correcting vascular disease processes. Nothing in our profession is more difficult than being asked to participate in a patient’s care after a stroke, after a ruptured aneurysm or after a limbthreatening event has already occurred.”
SSESS YOUR RISK FOR:
TROKE
NEURYSM
ERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE
FREE ASAP SCREENING This stands for Assess your risk for Stroke, Aneurysm and Peripheral Arterial Disease. For over 10 years, MVC has offered free vascular screening to the community. To date, over 4,300 patients have received MVC’s free screening. Other organizations, including national groups, have offered these three screening exams at a cost of over $100 per patient. If you are over 50 years of age and have a history of smoking, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes or renal failure or a family history of vascular disease, you are eligible for the free ASAP screening program. Simply call the office at 810-720-ASAP (810-7202727). If diagnosed early, serious complications may be avoided by modifying risk factors, through medical therapy or through appropriate vascular specialist intervention. PROTECTING PERSONAL INFRASTRUCTURE Nearly 20 million people in the United States harbor some form of vascular disease, and about 70 percent do not have symptoms, according to 2014 research by THE SAGE GROUP. Certainly, almost everyone knows that he or she should eat a healthy diet, maintain a proper weight and exercise regularly. But those with significant or advanced disease need to be monitored, helped to aggressively manage their risk factors and assisted in their care to avoid the loss of life and limb. In addition, the high financial costs associated with advanced vascular disease are significant. As stewards of our health care system, physicians need to do a better job of disease prevention, disease management and minimally invasive therapies to correct these conditions. MVC continues to offer free screening to those at risk and is happy to provide the expertise and care needed to prevent a crisis in your personal pipeline infrastructure.
NOTHING IN OUR PROFESSION IS MORE DIFFICULT THAN BEING ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN A PATIENT’S CARE AFTER A STROKE, AFTER A RUPTURED ANEURYSM OR AFTER A LIMB-THREATENING EVENT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED. – ROBERT G. MOLNAR, M.D. –
Robert G. Molnar, M.D., one of 10 MVC vascular surgeons
onthetown 23
MEDICAL
Clarence Pierce // Chief Executive Officer
Hamilton Community Health Network:
L
Successfully Driven by Demand // BY MICHAEL G. THODOROFF // PHOTOS BY // MICHAEL GLEASON PHOTOGRAPHY
ook around our city – there is a definite tangible momentum happening in the greater Flint area. Not only aesthetically, as witnessed by all the construction and renovation activities, but economically, socially and culturally as well. Most longtime residents can vividly recall when this spirit of renaissance was not always prevalent, when businesses and organizations tried to survive the hard times. However, the local establishments that persevered are now an element of our community’s revitalization. A prime example of this energy to endure is the locally based Hamilton Community Health Network (HCHN). Celebrating its 35th year of operation in 2017, this venerable concern is, and always has been, consistently addressing the most critical of community’s needs, and that is of the health care of all people. According to HCHN’s website, HCHN is “part of a national network of primary care centers aimed at improving health services for inner city populations.” Locally, it is on a mission “to be the leader in providing comprehensive, quality, communityoriented health care for the underserved of Genesee, Lapeer and the surrounding areas.”
24 onthetown
Chief executive officer of HCHN Clarence Pierce is well aware of the organization’s challenges in his 12-year tenure. Even so, he realizes its focus on the significant health care needs of the underserved has functioned as not only the impetus for continuous operation but the expansion of facilities, programs and accessible services as well over the years. He is very astute in HCHN’s roots but more often is immersed in the tasks of today with an eye looking forward to addressing critical health care needs wherever the demand is present.
Pierce humbly reflects on HCHN’s origins in the early 1980s, when many communities across the country, including Flint and its suburbs, were facing growing health care dilemmas. Immersed in the quandaries was the Flint General Hospital (later named Family Hospital), which primarily served the AfricanAmerican population and actually needed more primary care. Because of this, low occupancy and financial problems eventually prompted the system’s board of trustees to close and sell Family Hospital in 1982. It then became known as the Hamilton Family Health Center operated
MOST COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ARE TYPICALLY A MEDICAL OR A DENTAL SITE, BUT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND INTO A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM WHEREBY WE DEAL WITH A NUMBER OF HEALTHRELATED ISSUES IS A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT. – CLARENCE PIERCE –
by the St. Joseph Health System. The name was chosen due to its longtime location on Hamilton Avenue. After three years HCHN acquired and completely remodeled a vacant United Auto Workers Credit Union building on Saginaw Street just north of Hamilton Avenue and ever since has been justifiably expanding its facilities and access to health care (see sidebar). “Most community health centers are typically a medical or a dental site,” Pierce explains, “but for us to be able to expand into a comprehensive program whereby we deal with a number of health-related issues is a big accomplishment.” He adds that one of HCHN’s goals is to be able to address any issue a patient presents. Pierce cites an example where HCHN provides some specialty care in collaboration with the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor for individuals who otherwise might not have the means to travel for that specialty care. He also points out, although HCHN’s target audience is the underserved population, everybody is invited to come to its facilities. They provide quality, comprehensive services for all while most insurance plans are accepted.
Cynthia West Edwards, HCHN’s director of marketing and communication, clarifies it is considered a full-service medical care clinic. “When you think of HCHN, think of a doctor’s office,” she says. “We provide the same quality of care that anyone’s doctor’s office provides including specialty care. Furthermore, we have a designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center. Our 340B prescription discount program allows us to offer a discounted pharmacy program along with an in-house prescription assistance program. And we do not turn any patient away because of financial concerns.” While Pierce is proud of HCHN’s mission success, he is very aware of its challenges moving forward. He wants to emphasize increasing the health status of the community. “It is surprising to me that Flint and Genesee County rank at the bottom of health condition indicators,” he says. “We are statistically unhealthy in just about every category but we rank high in access. When you look at the survey, it is disturbing.” He stresses HCHN will diligently work with other partners in the community as he foresees doing a better job of reaching out to homes and finding out what needs to be addressed. “We will impact those numbers,” he says. As HCHN celebrates 35 years of providing a vital resource to our community, both Edwards and Pierce truly appreciate the impact of the organization’s contribution to our community. Edwards, a longtime Flint resident, sees the growth and the need to have Hamilton in all communities providing quality care. “I can remember when Hamilton Family was created and realize just how much it has grown and how far reaching they are,” she reflects. “It means a lot to me to be a part of this organization and seeing the work that has been done is very impressive.” Pierce adds, “That HCHN has been able to survive all these years has been quite a feat in itself. When I came into this position, I knew we needed to work on a lot of things to get the organization on
HAMILTON COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK LOCATIONS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES 225 E. Fifth St., Suite 300 Flint, MI 48502 810-406-4246 MAIN CLINIC 2900 N. Saginaw St. Flint, MI 48505 810-789-9222 BURTON CLINIC G-3375 S. Saginaw St. Flint, MI 48505 810-743-7086 CLIO HEALTH CLINIC 4154 W. Vienna Road Clio, MI 48420 810-687-1951 DENTAL NORTH CLINIC 5399 N. Saginaw St. Flint, MI 48505 810-785-0865 LAPEER HEALTH CLINIC 1570 Suncrest Drive Lapeer, MI 48446 810-237-6008 NORTH POINTE CLINIC 5710 Clio Road Flint, MI 48504 810-787-4491
the right track to address the health care needs of our community. It certainly has been challenging but very rewarding to see it all come together. And let’s remember each member of our staff of 230 people and board of directors contribute every day to the overall success of Hamilton Community Health Network!” For more information on Hamilton Community Health Network, visit http:// www.hamiltonchn.org/. onthetown 25
O OU U TT O ON N TT H H EE TTO OW WN N
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O OU U TT O ON N TT H H EE TTO OW WN N
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Saturday, September 30, 2017 6:30-11:00 pm Join us for a fun Enchanted Forest themed evening of entertainment, raising funds to support youth and educational programs at Sloan Museum and Longway Planetarium. 1221 E. Kearsley St. Flint, MI 48503 810-237-3450 | SloanMuseum.org
BUSINESS
This Gem Is Flint Strong! // BY MICHAEL G. THODOROFF // PHOTOS BY // MICHAEL GLEASON PHOTOGRAPHY
30 onthetown
I
t seems every town has one. It is that hidden gem of a quaint shop specializing in some unique product or service that breeds high demand with diminutive commercial advertising. Soon, word quickly spreads throughout the community, and the gem morphs into a shining star. This excitement is happening in the greater Flint area with the sustained development and public emergence of Fireside Coffee Company. Since 1988 it has quietly developed into a nationally recognized coffee company that always has been genuinely proud to be a part of greater Flint. Angie Root, Fireside Coffee’s vice president of sales and marketing, says, “We look at all the great positive things going on in Flint such as bringing back a revitalized Capitol Theatre for example, as such great progress and we hope to get involved in some way too!” According to Root, Fireside Coffee started out of her family’s home as her mother, Carol Davis, created mocha mixes to give as gifts around the Christmas season. Her homemade mixes became so well received that friends encouraged her to take samples to local craft fairs. Word of Davis’ mixes spread, and soon local stores approached her, asking to carry her products in their stores. By 1990, she had moved her fledgling business into its current location at 3239 Elms Road in Swartz Creek and Fireside Coffee Company was launched.
Angie Root
THE CREW Davis and her crew started traveling to craft shows around the country, selling her coffees and mixes. “We still do about 20 shows a year throughout the country,” Root adds. “We like the face-to-face aspect those shows provide.” Root recalls she and her three siblings were always active in the growing business, but she officially came on board in 2004 after her graduation from Western Michigan University with a degree in food marketing. A true family business, Davis, Root and Root’s husband, Rob, all run the company with the help of their rocking crew of fellow coffee nerds. Through the years they worked with local roasters, but in 2015 the roasting bar was raised as master roaster Darwin Pavon became Fireside Coffee’s exclusive roaster. Originally from Honduras, Pavon settled in the Flint area a few years ago and has been applying his coffee expertise ever since.
Carol Davis
“He has a degree in agricultural engineering and knows so much about coffee, from growing, to roasting to brewing,” Root says. According to Root, Pavon started in the coffee world back in his homeland on the agriculture side, helping farmers with soil and fertilization. Because of this, he has long working relationships with farmers that Fireside has been able to continue. “We bring in beans from many countries,” Root points out, “but our beans from Honduras are our flagship and we are most proud due to the fact that we personally know the farmers and are able to buy them as Direct Trade.” Pavon visits the farmers twice a year, which allows him to be more in touch with the crops and much more selective. Root hopes to join Pavon on an upcoming trip to Honduras and looks forward to hands-on harvesting and working directly with the farmers. Rob Root
onthetown 31
Fireside Coffee Company – Swartz Creek
THE BREW Root admits their offices and coffee shop are considered tucked away off Elms Road, but this gem started to shine when they converted part of their offices to a quaint coffee shop in September of 2016. This charming, colorful bistro hosts Fireside Coffee’s eight core coffee roasts, seasonally adjusted to accommodate any taste. Root’s current personal favorite is the Finca Quetanquira Farm-to-Cup Coffee, a light roast with hints of spices, chocolate and sweet berries, grown by farmer Olvin Rodriguez near the Misoco Mountain reserve in Honduras. Their coffee line also includes unique barrel-aged coffees, in which green coffee beans are actually aged in dry whiskey barrels before roasting. The beans age for about a month, infusing the coffee with light, smooth whiskey notes and hints of oak from the barrel – an exceptional coffee experience. Adding to their menu is the increasingly popular cold brew coffee. She clarifies, though, iced coffee is brewed hot, then poured over ice; cold brew, on the other hand, is brewed cold, which takes 18-24 hours for a batch. It is refreshing and lower in acidity, so people with sensitivities can enjoy it too.
Special thanks to: Merle Norman of Flushing // Lisa Bennetts-O'Leary for makeup // Tracy Sheets for hair Cathy Hammond of Club Vintage Fashions in Clio for wardrobe
32 onthetown
WE REALLY WANTED TO FIND A WAY TO HIGHLIGHT FLINT AND ALL THE GOOD THINGS GOING ON BECAUSE WE ARE SUPER PROUD OF BEING IN THE GREATER FLINT AREA. – ANGIE ROOT –
THE LOCAL VIEW Working with local companies is important to Fireside. Accompanying the fresh pouredover coffees in the coffee shop are baked goods from Fenton’s Crust. There are coffee mugs personally crafted by Guy Adamec, master potter at the Flint Institute of Arts, for sale in the shop and online. “We buy as many supplies as we can locally, from Michigan sugar, to Michigan honey to our cardboard boxes that are made in Genesee County,” Root says. In addition, the business is expanding to supply local restaurants, coffee shops and cafes with Fireside coffee, cocoa and tea – and brewing equipment and service. Root heartily talks about Fireside Coffee’s Flint Strong Coffee, which is dedicated to the city of Flint. “We really wanted to find a way to highlight Flint and all the good things going on because we are super proud of being in the greater Flint area.” She says their Flint Strong Coffee is like the city of Flint, where the beans are strong and bold, inspired by the generations of Flint men and women who have always risen early, worked hard and stayed till the job was done. To honor this devotion, a portion of the sales benefit an organization doing positive things for the Vehicle City. While the Fireside Coffee Shop is its only store, Fireside wholesales its coffee, as well
as house-made cocoa, chai tea and mocha mixes to other independent businesses, as Root believes it is a best practice to work together. To that end, she is planning a coffee tour where a ticketholder gets to appreciate the coffee culture of Flint while enjoying shops’ featured coffee blends. In the meantime, check out Fireside Coffee’s coffee classes conducted in the coffee shop after normal business hours. The upcoming two-hour class Cold Brew: So Hot Right Now will discuss everything to know about cold brew, from the origins and history to trends like nitrogen-infused cold brew. Furthermore, the entire Fireside team looks forward to its annual open house, where tents are set up for serving coffees
and baked goods with warehouse tours conducted too. Named after the shop’s signature drink, the Orange You Glad Fest will be on September 30, in recognition of National Coffee Day, September 29. You’ll find the company’s motto, “Choose Happy!” in tucked-away areas – like the back of its business cards and carved into the coffee shop’s concrete countertop. Root says the phrase means a lot to her and Fireside Coffee. She explains, “Happiness comes from being part of something bigger – from a sense of accomplishment. At the end of the day, we want to feel like we accomplished something and made someone’s day a little brighter. We want to be a place where people love coming to work, and where people love coming to get a cup of coffee.” For more information on Fireside Coffee, visit https://firesidecoffee.com/, www. facebook.com/firesidecoffeeco or https:// www.instagram.com/firesidecoffeeco/, or call 810-635-9196.
Carol Davis, Rob & Angie Root
onthetown 33
O OU U TT O ON N TT H H EE TTO OW WN N
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COMMUNITY
Proposed butterfly garden
‘Stainless Steel Butterfly’ Has Permanent Home in Fenton, Thanks to Donation
A
// BY CHELSEA MILLS //
new art piece was installed in downtown Fenton at the top of Gazebo Park this year. Residents Gerry and Kay Willey, owners of Fenton Home Furnishings, donated the funds to the city to acquire the sculpture called “Stainless Steel Butterfly,” according to Michael Hart, assistant city manager and Downtown Development Authority director. “The ‘Stainless Steel Butterfly’ sculpture will serve as a unique and aesthetically pleasing landmark that signals motorists’ arrival to the heart of Fenton,” Hart says. The 100 percent stainless steel butterfly, which stands 9½ feet high and just over 9 feet wide and weighs around 700 pounds, was created by Ohio native and internationally known artist James Havens. “We are thrilled that Gerry and Kay Willey have generously donated the funds to acquire the beautiful butterfly sculpture for our wonderful city. This donation will be an anchor in the proposed butterfly garden the city is looking to develop. The people of Fenton thank the Willeys for their investment and dedication to this great city we all call home!” Mayor Sue Osborn says. 40 onthetown
John Strayer, chairman of the Sculpture Selection Committee and Downtown Development Authority board member, explains that over the years, Havens’ works have been some of the most complimented. “James Havens is a retired steel union worker from Toledo and he explained to me that he really enjoyed working with steel for several reasons. The main one is because stainless steel reflects light at different times of the day, causing the sculpture to look different colors. Even at night the headlights and streetlights reflect off the metal, creating a unique look.” Havens’ other sculptures in Fenton are located in front of Fenton-Winegarden Library, “The Librarian,” and in front of the Fenton Community and Cultural Center, “The Phoenix.”
"The Phoenix"
"The Librarian"
STAINLESS STEEL REFLECTS LIGHT AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY, CAUSING THE SCULPTURE TO LOOK DIFFERENT COLORS. – JOHN STRAYER –
onthetown 41
HUMAN INTEREST
:
Grand Blanc Township Police Calls in K-9s
I
// BY PAUL ROZYCKI //
f the Grand Blanc Township Police Department is going to the dogs, that’s just fine with Sgt. Matthew Simpson – and his K-9 partner, Jimi. In fact, Simpson thinks it’s good for both the department and the township. As a way of reaching out to the public and solving crimes, Simpson feels that Jimi and the other dogs that have been a part of the township department are a great asset. Simpson has been with the department since 1997 and has been working with the K-9s since 2001. He recalls Kase, a previous K-9 member of the department who helped bring a gang of Chicago jewel thieves to justice in the Grand Blanc area. The department normally has two dogs and is currently adding a second K-9. Jimi has been with the department since 2013.
42 onthetown
When it comes to community relations, Simpson says that “everyone loves dogs,” and they play a great role in reaching out to the public at a time when the police have faced increased pressure from many. He tells the story of a young girl who was dealing with major emotional issues but warmed up as soon as she met Jimi. The dogs are also a great tool for the officers to introduce themselves to the public at parades, schools and public safety events. Jimi even has his own trading cards to share with the public, telling some of his history and warning kids to stay away from drugs. At the police department offices, when Jimi is around, everyone who works there seems to feel more relaxed and comfortable, and his presence makes the day better, Simpson says. Simpson explains that there has been a generational change in how people perceive police dogs. “In the 1960s all too often, the image was of police dogs attacking people” during demonstrations and protests, he says. Those images have faded, and the new generation sees police dogs in a much more favorable light. But police dogs aren’t simply a means for reaching out to the public. They are also a major tool to help with the law enforcement work of the township’s police officers. Dogs can now be trained to do a wide variety of tasks, such as bomb detection, search and rescue, serving as companion dogs, aiding traumatized courthouse witnesses and even detecting cancer or other medical issues. Though Jimi is certified and trained in several important aspects of police work, when it comes to fighting crime, the department’s dogs bring two major skills – tracking and drug detection. Simpson demonstrated Jimi’s skills at both. Out of sight of Jimi, I took a small object, rubbed my hands on it and threw it a good distance from the patrol car. Within moments Jimi located the object and guarded it until the officer approached. Simpson demonstrated Jimi’s drug-finding ability by hiding a small quantity of drugs in the gas cap cover of my car, while Jimi was in the patrol car. In less than 30
Sgt. Matthew Simpson and his K-9 partner, Jimi
seconds Jimi found the hiding place and alerted officers. Those skills are the result of intense, diligent training for the dogs, Simpson explains. Many of today’s police dogs are bred and trained in Europe. Jimi was brought to Grand Blanc from Czechoslovakia, and as a result, he responds to commands in Czech. If you want him to sit, don’t use the English word sit. He will respond to the Czech word, which is sedni (pronounced said-nee). If you’d like him to heel, the word is knoze (no-zay). To tell him he’s done a good job, the word is hodny (hoht-nee). While on duty K-9s are well taken care of. Officers are keenly aware of the dangers of leaving animals in a hot car if the officers are out of the vehicle for an emergency. To make sure dogs are safe, the K-9 police cruiser has a temperature sensor that will tell the officers, via a phone app, when the car is getting too warm and they need to roll down a window to keep the dogs comfortable.
Behind the township police department offices is an agility course, where dogs are trained to go through tight openings, over barriers, through tunnels and into car windows (for rescue situations). That course was created by a Boy Scout working on an Eagle Scout award and reflects the community’s commitment to K-9s, Simpson says. The funds to acquire and support the dogs are normally raised through the township and the police budget. However, since the dogs are such a popular attraction, there are times when the community has come forward with fundraisers to help with the K-9 program. Over the years, funds have been raised to provide equipment like bulletproof vests for the K-9s. By most estimates, the cost for each dog is about $20,000, though some expenses might go beyond that. When Simpson speaks to township taxpayers, he reminds them that they are the dog’s real owners. He feels that the investment is a wise one for both the department and the township. onthetown 43
PRESENTS
T H E OST RICH S Y N DROM E : How to get your head out of the sand and take control of YOUR financial future!
By Fred Hensler CEO, Sapphire Blue Investment Partners.
810.714.9456 12272 N. FENTON ROAD
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SUITE 7
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FENTON, MICHIGAN
S A P P H I R E B L U E I P. C O M
Sapphire Blue Investment Partners, Inc. is an independent firm with securities offered through Summit Brokerage Services, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC, Advisory services offered through Summit Financial Group Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Hensler and Associates Wealth Management, Hensler Aviation and Physicians Wealth Management are all divisions of Sapphire Blue Investment Partners, Inc. Each division of Sapphire Blue Investment Partners, Inc. is also independent of Summit Brokerage Services, Inc., and all of its affiliates. *The Oeschli Institute Study dated 1/2016
BUSINESS
Special Promotional Section
Are Your Documents in Order?
M
Mya’s Story
// BY FRED HENSLER //
y mind is racing as I draft this article. Initially, it was going to be directed at estate planning for seniors, but a tragic event occurred in our midst here at Sapphire Blue Investment Partners that caused me to change course. On July 3, 2017, our service director, Jen Kniivila, received a horrific call. Her sister, Mya, had just been found dead from a drug overdose. She was 26 and had lost the battle she fought for many years, her young life snuffed out far too early. Humbly we move forward and hopefully Mya’s tragic death teaches a life lesson, a lesson I would like to share with you today. You see, Mya’s documents were not in order. At age 26, the last things she would’ve thought about were death or estate planning or transferring assets. Why would she have? She was too young – life had too much to offer. When Mya’s parents went to the banks to retrieve what Mya had accumulated in checking and savings accounts, they were met with a stern “I’m sorry, you don’t have all the appropriate documents to allow you access to her accounts or be informed if she even had an account here.” So now, Mya’s family was forced to enter what could prove to be a costly endeavor of going to probate, simply to find out what, if any, assets she may have had and where they could possibly be. A simple will, a trust or a Transfer on Death registration on her accounts would have eased some of the burden of this catastrophic event. At Sapphire Blue Investment Partners, we meet frequently with our clients and work diligently to ensure that when their last day is lived, the last breath is taken and the last card is punched, their documents allow the survivors and beneficiaries to receive the inheritance intended for them with the least amount of added stress and anxiety. You see, the prognosis is this – no matter how well you do or don’t eat, no matter how much you do or don’t exercise, no one gets out of this world alive. So I ask you – if you are 18 or 80: ARE YOUR DOCUMENTS IN ORDER? Hopefully out of the tragic end of Mya’s life, you the reader learn and act on two things: 1. Heroin will kill you! Never think to yourself, “Oh, just this one time,” because it won’t be just that one time.
2. No matter how young or old you are, make sure your documents are in order.
and die with. Let’s get started today! We can be reached at 810-714-9456. Please share this article with everyone:
If you are unsure of where to start or the next steps to take, I invite you to call our office
your kids, parents, grandkids, neighbors,
to schedule a complimentary meeting with one of our expert estate planning specialists.
coworkers, relatives and friends. It may
They will guide you through the complexities to help create a plan that you can live with
save a life!
Opinions expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the named broker dealer or its affiliates. The information in this article is not intended as tax or legal advice. For a comprehensive review of your personal situation, always consult your legal advisor. Neither Summit Financial Group nor any of its representatives may give legal advice. Sapphire Blue Investment Partners, Inc. is an independent firm. Hensler and Associates Wealth Management, Hensler Aviation and Physicians Wealth Management are all divisions of Sapphire Blue Investment Partners, Inc. Each division of Sapphire Blue Investment Partners, Inc. is also independent of Summit Brokerage Services, Inc., and all of its affiliates.
Sapphire Blue Investment Partners, Inc. is continuing to grow its presence as one of the highly recognized and trusted firms with a commitment to contact, service and transparency. A frequent contributor to numerous media outlets, we believe our attention to detail is the differentiator that separates us from the pack, creating a significant inflow of new clientele.
onthetown 45
MEDICAL
Hurley Senior Center of Excellence:
H
FROM THE SERVICE AT
The Safest Place for Seniors
THE PATIENT ADMISSIONS
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY // HURLEY MEDICAL CENTER
OFFICE TO LAB WORK
urley is committed to providing the most exceptional clinical care and compassion for our region’s seniors. Over the course of the last several years, Hurley has done much to distinguish itself as a leader in the care provided for seniors by being the only hospital in the region offering:
AND SURGERY AND THE RECOVERY PROCESS, EVERYTHING HURLEY HAS IN PLACE IS THERE TO CARE FOR SENIORS AND GIVE THEM THE SAFEST, MOST COMPREHENSIVE
• A no waiting/Fast Track emergency department with immediate emergency rooming for patients 65 and older
EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE, AND
• An Acute Care for the Elderly nursing unit designed specifically to meet the needs of seniors
WITH THEIR NEEDS IN MIND.
• An osteoporosis program and clinic for fragility fracture patients
– NELLY WARDA –
• A Geriatric Fracture Program that specializes in treating and rehabilitating patients with hip fractures • Geriatric resource nurses and geriatric nurse specialists • NICHE Exemplar Hospital status (the highest level of the Nursing Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders program) The services also include a progressive mobility program, delirium screening and prevention interventions and care transitions. Hurley is monitoring and navigating the entire continuum of care for older people. “From the service at the patient admissions office to lab work and surgery and the recovery process, everything Hurley has in place is there to care for seniors and give them the safest, most comprehensive experience possible, and with their needs in mind,” says Nelly Warda, Hurley Senior Services patient. “I experienced outstanding care and compassion while receiving rehabilitation services, and cannot imagine receiving this type of experience anywhere else. During every step of my journey, Hurley’s entire Senior Services staff 46 onthetown
collaborated on my entire care plan, and I always knew that my needs came first.” “Providing a setting with all the tools, technology and resources to succeed in providing exceptional senior care really sets the stage for optimized outreach as we continue to support our mission of ‘Clinical excellence. Service to people.’ Hurley truly is the safest place for seniors,” adds Cathy Metz, Geriatric Service Line administrator.
BEING A SENIOR, DOESN’T MEAN YOU HAVE TO SETTLE
DON’T SETTLE. Choose the Region’s ONLY Hospital with a Senior Center of Excellence • Region’s Only Nursing Unit Dedicated in Design for Seniors – ACE Unit • Region’s Only Geriatric Fracture Center with Qualified Level 1 Trauma Team • Region’s Only No-Wait Immediate Room Experience in the Emergency Room – Senior Fast Track
Take a virtual tour of Hurley online at www.hurleymc.com
HUMAN INTEREST
I
Living…and Dying… with Alzheimer’s Disease // BY MARTHA HAMP //
walk through my mother’s place – five minutes from my house – where I go each day to care for her. She can no longer cope with or carry out everyday tasks, such as making meals, bathing, dressing herself or keeping house. As I move slowly from room to room, I take in all the large and small reminders that offer testament to the person she used to be. That is, I see the paintings she created, the Victorian dollhouse she made and furnished, as well as the many books she collected over the years (and “catalogued,” for she was, until retirement, a U of M librarian). Standing on her deck, I notice the plants she lovingly brought from her house when she moved to her condo...prized iris, lilies now pathetically choked off by weeds. The master gardener in her would be horrified if she understood this travesty, and I never quite succeed in taming the vegetation. In fact, I sense I’m forever losing the battle to maintain things as she had them, and I feel guilty because I can’t preserve either her or the space that represents her. It often feels to me as if she has died, that the person she once was has gone forever, and as she lies on the couch in her den – the television tuned to a program she can no longer understand – I live with a sort of rolling grief, performing for her the only simple services left to me, short of those we carry out after someone’s death. For my mother is suffering from dementia and its handmaiden, Alzheimer’s, a disease that takes away the person before the life…so that the creative, intelligent and talented person she used to be has vanished, only to be replaced by someone who still looks like her but whom I hardly seem to know.
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My mother’s descent into the stark and relentless realms of dementia proved subtle at the onset…a circumstance more common than expected. According to a paper titled “The Seven Stages of Dementia” issued by a home health care company called Professional Nursing Services, Inc., in stages one and two, an individual might exhibit no cognitive impairment or a very mild level of cognitive decline with attendant memory lapses that we all live with as we age and that no health care professional would detect. But stages three, four and five show mild, moderate and moderately severe cognitive decline, respectively. It was somewhere in the midst of these three stages that I became concerned by my mother’s behavior and consulted a doctor. At first, she could grocery shop, clean house, garden a bit and
tend to her personal needs, but her memory difficulties increased exponentially as time passed. Slowly, I had to assume more and more of her life functions, making some of her meals, paying her bills and helping her dress. She became fearful and suspicious of people, objecting to a cleaning service coming to do thorough housecleaning, and an aide I hired to help with her care twice a week. She is now entering stage six, which is characterized by severe cognitive decline, and she no longer knows my name or what my relationship is to her…other than caregiver. Her decline has reached the point where more professional care is necessary – either in-home or in a facility before she reaches the seventh and final stage of this ravaging disease, that of very severe cognitive decline. I can no longer care for her on my own. Before she loses the ability to walk or sit up, to speak or to respond and, in fact, to even swallow, I must find a memory care facility, find a nursing home or, as I am doing now, get home care for her, offered by Medicare but time limited. She’s had a small stroke and an MRI to confirm it, so she can get some physical or occupational therapy, help with her personal needs care and perhaps even some nursing, if required. But this is a stopgap measure to making a change
e S z r i e Satt
that will protect her until the end. Either she needs in-home care around the clock, or she must move to a place where the care of patients is appropriate for the disease she has or she can come and live with me. What is the best solution? I sit with my mother after having finished her care today – bathing, dressing her in clean clothes, washing her hair and brushing her teeth. She has eaten a good meal and seems content… especially after we finish things off with some ice cream. Often she is hostile to me because I am the dictatorial one who insists on doing chores she dislikes, and she protests days like today. But still, she’s happier after she is all cleaned up.
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I tell her I need to get home to fix dinner at my house, and she frowns at me, attempting to understand. I gaze into her still blue eyes, pondering the distant, sometimes vacant look they have acquired as we try to make sense of each other’s mysterious realm. When I kiss her goodbye, as I do each day, she makes no response at first, staring at me, searching for an answer there, some explanation of the strange mental and emotional landscape in which she dwells. As I rise to leave, she reaches out to touch my cheek, and for “one, brief shining moment,” she is my mother again. I smile in appreciation and hold her hand as I sense the presence, albeit however briefly, of the first person I ever loved…and I know that what I do for her, no matter how difficult or how much it may get me down, is the right thing to do.
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SENIOR LIVING
‘You’re the Happiest when You’re Home’:
State-of-the-Art Senior-Living Facility Opening Late 2017
A
// BY CHELSEA MILLS //
t Bella Vita, exceeding the expectations of the residents is simply the beginning. Having a quality life in our later years is the least we all should expect. Bella Vita is committed to providing an environment that allows one to feel independent, with the assistance of its highly trained care group. “The opening of Bella Vita is a critical step towards planning for the ever-growing needs of our senior community,” Chuck SeKrenes, developer and owner, explains. The new all-inclusive facility, which is opening in Grand Blanc on Hill Road just east of I-475, is set to keep its residents active through a variety of offerings, such as art and horticulture. SeKrenes explains that it’s important for the residents to keep active doing what they enjoy. “We want our residents to be active in indoor and outdoor activities. There is even a salon on site where residents can go for their hair appointments.” A grand opening celebration for the public is planned for late 2017. “The building is exceptionally well constructed,” SeKrenes says. “Our 61-unit community has four different room plans, double-occupancy rooms for couples and each with unique attributes because we
50 onthetown
understand that every senior is unique who chooses to call Bella Vita home.” The Bella Vita care group is highly trained to recognize the different needs of the residents and is aware of specific needs, which may change over time. The care residents receive when living at Bella Vita is what sets this facility apart from others. Bella Vita provides frequent training and education for its care group to allow for continuous growth. “Our goal is for this to be [seniors’] last move,” SeKrenes explains. “We want this to be their home for the rest of their lives. We want their families to know that their loved ones are well cared for.” “At Bella Vita, we believe you’re the happiest when you’re home. Bella Vita creates an upscale resort feel, with a home personality, in a family environment. Our passion and mission are the same…to be the best, provide the best and give the best to our residents,” SeKrenes explains.
BELLA VITA CREATES AN UPSCALE RESORT FEEL, WITH A HOME PERSONALITY, IN A FAMILY ENVIRONMENT. – CHUCK SEKRENES –
onthetown 51
SENIOR LIVING
Retirement versus Protirement: The Decision That Sets the Midlife Stage
R
// BY CHRISTI MARSHALL //
etirement versus protirement: What is the difference anyway? We all know what retirement is, or at least what society defines it as. In essence it is the ending of a career, a time when one moves into the golden years to enjoy the quieter, less hectic times, or the ending of something. Many people are choosing something different these days and for a multitude of reasons. Protirement is defined according to Dictionary.com as “early retirement from one’s professional work with a plan to pursue something more fulfilling.” Vivian VanLier writes in “Careers: Think Protirement, Not Retirement,” “The term ‘protirement’ was coined by Frederic M. Hudson in the early 90’s [sic] to define this new desire to ‘begin anew’ – to not be limited to the traditional options of retirement but to embrace ‘an increased drive toward living life to its fullest on a day-to-day basis.’” Many people in their midlife are choosing protirement as an option, which makes sense because midlife is when many of us are faced with what most call a crisis. I prefer to call it a midlife evaluation. Protirement is a concept that, as a life coach, excites me. It excites me because I believe in the thriving human spirit and the idea of feeling empowered to live a life that inspires our very soul. I believe that we all know deep down inside us what feels right for us, what choices reflect our desires and passions and ultimately what gives us a fulfilling life.
I have worked with clients in their 50s who are thinking ahead to their coming years, and many of them question what the next chapter will bring. Some of them are wanting to switch careers now to pursue something more aligned with their passions and hobbies. In doing so, at this stage, they have an opportunity to make money doing what they love, coupled with the advantage that in doing so they may work longer because it won’t feel like work. For many it is important to keep active and involved, and what that means may look different to each person. Many thoughts weigh on people’s minds as they approach the next chapter of life, some of which may include: What is the legacy I want to leave behind? Are there relationships that I want to mend, enhance or create? How will I fill my time? Do I have enough money to live on, and will I be able to do the things I enjoy? What would I like to commit my time to now? Whether the choice is to protire or retire, it is a time of transition, of starting anew, and a major life change. Any life change can be uncomfortable and can bring on a multitude of emotions. The key
is to allow those emotions, process them and give yourself compassion during that time. Remind yourself you’ve never been in this place before, and therefore you have the opportunity to stay open to what it may bring. It is a time of opportunity to create the rest of your life in harmony with how you have lived or create a different path…the choice is yours. Protirement is a positive, empowering concept that helps create a different mindset that allows for individuals to decide what their next chapter looks like, even if it contradicts what they believe others expect them to do.
Christi Marshall is a certified life coach and specializes in helping clients gain clarity, move through life changes and build confidence. She received extensive training through the Fearless Living Institute and believes that when we uncover our emotional fears, we can live with more understanding, compassion and alignment with our soul. She is fully committed to helping clients achieve their goals, discover a deeper sense of self and enhance their lives. Visit Soul Intentions Life Coaching Christi Marshall on Facebook for more information.
I BELIEVE THAT WE ALL KNOW DEEP DOWN INSIDE US WHAT FEELS RIGHT FOR US, WHAT CHOICES REFLECT OUR DESIRES AND PASSIONS AND ULTIMATELY WHAT GIVES US A FULFILLING LIFE. 52 onthetown
Stanley’s Moving
BEST MOVE
THE
Unpacking
BUSINESS
Special Promotional Section
YOU WILL EVER MAKE!
Should we wrap our furniture in plastic prior to moving? No. Stanley’s Moving will cover your belongings in cotton moving pads during transport. If items are going into storage, plastic traps moisture and can ruin your furnishings. Although we cannot leave our pads, we always suggest that customers set aside sheets, blankets, etc. or purchase cotton moving blankets if storage will be long term.
Do we have to empty dresser drawers? Clothing can be kept in drawers. Just remove anything that can break or spill.
Does Stanley’s Moving handle all aspects of a move: packing, unpacking and disassembling and reassembling of furniture? Yes, we have an excellent team of packers, can unpack and organize your new home and have all tools needed for furniture that needs taking apart and putting back together. Household Moves | Office Moves
Are you experienced in moving antiques, pianos, grandfather clocks...? Yes! Our third-generation family owned and operated business got its start delivering pianos. Our team has decades of experience handling specialty items.
Pianos | Organs | Antiques | Appliances | Safes Store Deliveries | Packing Services
CAL L F O R Y O UR F RE E Q UOT E 8 1 0 -2 3 8 -8 8 8 1 StanleysMoving.com | /Stanleys-Moving StanleysMovingAndDelivery@gmail.com
onthetown 53
SENIOR LIVING
Woodhaven Allows for Aging and Living among Friends
M
// BY ILSE LUJAN-HAYES //
PHOTOS BY // J. JOHNS STUDIOS
any people think that if you’ve seen one senior community, you’ve seen them all. This couldn’t be farther from the truth when visiting the all-inclusive Woodhaven Senior Community nestled in a secluded area in Flint Township. It all began in 1989 when Kenneth Dixner, who already owned 136 apartments in Lapeer, had the vision to create Genesee County’s first independent 55-and-older residential community. The first phase included building 73 oneand two-bedroom apartments and offering three daily meals, housekeeping and other activities – all in an independent-living setting. Between 1992 and 2000, 60 private villas were built, along with a barrier-free building with an additional 50 apartments. But Dixner and his two sons saw the need to build more in a setting that promoted wellness and allowed their residents to gather and socialize in a more resort-style environment. “We’ve been blessed with land,” says David Dixner, one of Kenneth’s sons.
54 onthetown
In 2015, the newest expansion, the Woodlands, was started, and today it includes a state-of-the-art 12,000-squarefoot clubhouse and wellness center surrounded by 28 new club homes. Each ranch-style club home features: • 1,600 square feet of living space • Two bedrooms and two baths • A two-car garage • A fully equipped kitchen • Abundant walk-in closet space • A laundry room
• A private screened-in patio with a view of the woods • A large bay window in the dining area • 9-foot ceilings
Currently, 10 of these club homes are under construction. Woodhaven is now accepting deposits for them, and they will be completed and ready to be leased between early September and the first of November. This month, construction will begin on a new 4,000-square-foot indoor aquatic center that will include a pool, spa and dry
sauna and allow for additional year-round wellness and enrichment activities. The Woodlands addition to Woodhaven’s 40acre campus will bring the total number of villas and club homes to 88 along with 123 apartments. “Most people wait too long to enjoy a life like this,” says 80-year-old Dayron Jones, who moved into a 1,500-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bath villa with his wife, Norma, in 2015. “I had lots and lots of flowers, a big yard and we just didn’t want to do that anymore,” Norma adds. “We travel a lot and this is a time in our lives when we want to enjoy it. We really like it when we come home and our lawn is mowed.” Norma and Dayron laugh. “And I still have space for my flowers.” Norma and Dayron, who have two grown sons and four grandchildren, made the decision to rent the villa with an attached garage after their former home was broken into twice while they were away. They say the 24-hour security included in the amenities at Woodhaven has given them peace of mind. “We don’t have to worry about that anymore, we know our home will be just as we left it when we return,” Norma says. Security isn’t the only reason the Joneses made the decision to resume an active life at Woodhaven. “The social life is what we enjoy here,” Dayron says. “The men meet here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for coffee and I come every time. The stories are getting old so we have to embellish them a little.” Dayron laughs. “We enjoy concerts, monthly birthday bashes, dinner galas, happy hour and bingo, there’s so much to do,” Norma adds. “I even teach a jewelry-making class on Mondays.” In addition to a variety of social activities, residents have access to educational events.
for residents to get from their villa or apartment to any of the events we have on campus,” says Mark Hawkins, executive director. “Recently we had an attorney come in and talk about estate matters. Everything we do is to benefit the residents’ life. Every resident that moves in here, we really do want to take care of them as if they were our parent.” Although Woodhaven offers comfort amenities, including beauty/barber salons and optional meal plans, residents who prefer privacy have that too. “We were both raised in this community and didn’t know about this place because it’s so secluded,” Norma says. “You have your option of total privacy if you want it or you can socialize forever!” Dayron adds. And the vision keeps on growing. A new pub that will open soon will allow residents to come in for lunch and eventually dinner, in addition to the three meals already provided to some of the residents. “When you arrive at a community like Woodhaven, you’ve taken a step toward a new culture,” David Dixner says. “We’ve been family owned and operated since inception. We’ve kept that commitment to our residents, Flint Township and Genesee County. Together with providing security, exceptional value and guest services, it is an excellent footprint to lead our residents to a very enjoyable and comfortable lifestyle. The end result when our expansion is completed, is to have a campus that redefines the experience of retiring.” “We moved in here at the right time for us to enjoy these amenities,” Dayron says. “It’s a shame when people wait too long to live like this, independently.” For more information on Woodhaven Senior Community, located at 5201 Woodhaven Court, Flint, please call 810230-1070 or visit www.woodhavensenior. com.
WOODLANDS CLUBHOUSE FEATURES Grand hall Private dining room Pub Card room Wellness center Shower room Massage therapy room Complimentary computer station and coffee bar Covered patio Putting green
WOODHAVEN’S COMFORT AMENITIES Beauty/Barber salons Library On-site health care agency Themed social galas High tea Complimentary scheduled transportation Off-site trips Housekeeping and laundry Emergency call system 24-hour security
“We have health talks where physicians come in and we provide transportation
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HUMAN INTEREST
Stealing Mom:
A Daughter’s Story of Alzheimer’s
F
// BY LISA SZUKHENT // PHOTOS PROVIDED BY // LISA SZUKHENT
or about a year, the best way I could describe the hell my father and I were experiencing was to say my mom was gone, but my mother was still living. I sat helplessly by as Alzheimer’s stole my mom and left the shell of a once vibrant woman behind. There was no cure, no treatment, just a vicious disease stealing my mom from me. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that more than 5 million Americans are affected by Alzheimer’s, and the disease is now ranked in the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States. Although research is underway and a vaccine is a future goal, there is no cure. Food and Drug Administration–approved drugs slow the disease process, but for families like mine the diagnosis is a sentence to heartache. DIAGNOSING THE DISEASE For my mother, the diagnosis and downfall came quickly. As a daughter I could see little changes that I dismissed as simply my mom getting a bit older. She would joke and laugh about losing her head if it wasn’t attached to her body as explanations for lost keys and forgetfulness. My father knew differently. After 50 years of marriage, he just knew. Changes in behavior began to surface, and denial seemed to be our best defense. It couldn’t happen to her. Not my mom. She was incredible in every way. Stunning, creative, kind, loving and my rock. My father’s soul mate and my inspiration. There was no chance that anything would change that. She was healthy and active. These things just didn’t happen to our family. We were wrong. Alzheimer’s chooses its victims without consideration of race, gender, religion or social standing. It takes from everywhere and everyone. And it was about to take my mom. Symptoms presented themselves about three years ago, and my father decided to relocate back to Pittsburgh, where the majority of our family resided. Then 56 onthetown
things started to change. Simply at first as most Alzheimer’s families will tell you: She forgot directions, had repetitive conversations, and even forgot names of people she encountered every day. We knew what was happening, but until we heard it for ourselves, we existed in this fantasy world that allowed us the right not to accept a diagnosis. In a medical office at the University of Pittsburgh, the reality hit. Alzheimer’s… and already moving toward advanced stages. It was as if the life had been sucked out of the room. My father’s face told the whole story. Now what? How long? How fast? A million questions without answers. There is not a definitive time frame for a disease that steals a person’s soul right before your eyes. Medical professionals could only educate and guide us through the stages to expect. The feeling of helplessness was like nothing I have ever experienced. My father did what most loved ones and caregivers do and kept my mother close and at home as long as possible. Living here in Michigan and away from the dayto-day activities, I was unaware just how tasking it was to give 24 hours of care. Her
days and nights had no rhyme or reason. She needed to be on the go continually. He would find himself driving for hours at a time just to keep her content, as if she were a child soothed by the motion. The continual stress was becoming too much and he couldn’t go on. He needed help, and that was a choice he also needed to make for himself. As a caregiver and especially as a spouse, you never want to fail. It was important that my dad knew he had done everything he could on his own, and now it was time to find specialized care. To him it was letting go of a part of himself. CONTINUING TO CARE Finding the perfect memory care facility became a blessing for our family. As many know, the process can be intense. You’re choosing a place that will become home to your loved one who cannot be
his or her own advocate and most likely cannot communicate positive or negative experiences. Considering multiple qualities, from care to cost, the decision becomes one of the most important and emotional decisions for an Alzheimer’s family. Finding the right fit for my mom would hopefully give my father a break from the constant care…but sometimes the perfect love story changes the plan. He would find himself there every single day, most of the day. For meals, for walks and even to sit quietly as she slept. It was as if the movie The Notebook were playing out for all to see in real life. As she began to fade, and “thief of thoughts” grew stronger, he became more committed to his time with her. It’s been questioned how much Alzheimer’s patients truly know or remember. At some moments they “come back,” as many have stated. My mom had those times…and it was then she told him that she loved him, that she knew she was dying but didn’t want to leave him alone. Those moments tore at my heart. I too was lucky to experience my mom’s lucid moments that gave me the strength to keep going.
AT TIMES I EVEN FOUND
LEARNING FROM LOSS
MYSELF ASKING GOD TO
I found through this journey that almost everyone I know has been attacked by this soulless disease in some form or another. I have watched caregivers both medical and personal struggle to keep normalcy and some form of dignity for these patients. And I’ve watched families in pain as they see their loved ones slowly slip away.
MAKE IT STOP, TO END THIS CYCLE THAT WAS SLOWLY STEALING HER DIGNITY AND SPIRIT BEFORE OUR EYES.
I found myself talking with other daughters and sons of Alzheimer’s patients and found our common bond was the anger. Not at our loved ones, but at the disease itself, at the cruel reality of what was happening. At times I even found myself asking God to make it stop, to end this cycle that was slowly stealing her dignity and spirit before our eyes. Taking her ability to remember who I was. Her ability to walk, eat and communicate. As if someone was turning off her body one switch at a time.
Through it all I’ve learned two very important lessons. One, on a personal note, is that true love does exist. The love that has you consumed with caring for someone else. The love that finds you sitting by the bed and holding your spouse’s hand just to cherish every second you have left. The love that has you committed to the very end. And second, more must be done to find a cure for this disease. Research is of the utmost importance. A cure is out there. I hope that someday others won’t have to mourn the loss of someone who is still with them, that the pain of watching a loved one slip away will disappear and that Alzheimer’s will no longer steal hearts and lives.
My mom entered the memory care facility in September of 2016 weighing 140 pounds. She passed away on July 31 weighing about 83 pounds. She was 73. Alzheimer’s had taken her that fast.
For more information on how you can help or get involved in a local Walk to End Alzheimer’s, please contact the Alzheimer’s Association at 1-800-272-3900 or go to www.alz.org.
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HUMAN INTEREST
Down Syndrome Guild of Southeastern Michigan: Lifting up Families Affected by Down Syndrome
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// BY MEREDITH MCGHAN //
ecoming a parent (especially if it’s for the first time) can be an overwhelming and unsteadying experience, and new moms and dads need support, wisdom and empathy. And that’s even truer when your child is born with special needs. Parents of kids born with Down syndrome might panic, wondering how best to nurture and support their new little one from birth forward. Kim Gilmore, mother of 4-year-old Sophie, joined the Down Syndrome Guild of Southeastern Michigan (DSGSEMI) when her only child was born in 2012. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving a community of hundreds of families affected by Down syndrome in the area. It is funded solely by donations and sponsorships.
Parent Packets, parent support networks, informational resources and social events for people with Down syndrome. The walk raises not just funds but community awareness as well. That in turn helps promote acceptance in the community and visibility of people with Down syndrome when it comes to public policy, according to the event website.
DSGSEMI sponsors the annual Step UP for Down Syndrome Walk. This year, it will take place on September 23 at the Detroit Zoo. This is a familyfriendly event and the fund pledges will go toward making and distributing New
“We are a group whose main goal is to spread awareness to local businesses, the medical field, schools and more,” Gilmore says. “We aren’t just for moms and dads. We’re also trying to get the public to see that it’s okay to have a disability. You are
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not alone. We serve everyone from before birth to old age who are affected by Down syndrome and all family members are included in what we do.” After Sophie’s birth, Gilmore contacted Paulette Duggins, executive director of the organization, who visited Gilmore and provided a list of resources and an information packet. “As Sophie has grown I’ve become more involved as a volunteer,” Gilmore says. “Now I reach out whenever I can to new parents sharing my experiences, and letting them know it’s okay to be scared and worried but they are not alone.” She says this is
WE AREN’T JUST FOR MOMS AND DADS. WE’RE ALSO TRYING TO GET THE PUBLIC TO SEE THAT IT’S OKAY TO HAVE A DISABILITY. – KIM GILMORE –
one of the most fulfilling things she does as a volunteer. “A Down syndrome diagnosis is scary because no one knows what to expect with things like the health and education of their child,” she says. “I take Sophie with me when I meet new parents and let them see how she is thriving.” Gilmore says that individuals with Down syndrome can do anything that their peers can do, but they may just need more time to get there. With resources like the ones DSGSEMI offers, they can go far.
“Sophie was in a special education preschool, but wasn’t really getting anything out of it,” she says. “Now she’s in a regular classroom and she has learned the alphabet, can spell her name and can count to 10 on her own. She can do pretty much anything if she is given time.” Down syndrome was named after the doctor who discovered it, 19th-century British physician John Langdon Down, and is also known as trisomy 21. According to the National Down Syndrome Society website (ndss.org), it occurs when someone is born with an extra copy of the 21st chromosome. This is what leads to the short stature and almond-shaped eyes characteristic of most people with the syndrome, as well as a spectrum of generally mild to moderate developmental differences. It is the most common of the chromosomal syndromes, with about one in 800 babies per year affected. “It’s just random, not from anything the parents did or didn’t do,” Gilmore says. “And our kids can do anything. The guild has such great organization for resources because if you look online for information, you’re going to find a lot of negative and scary things. You must set those aside and go with the positive.”
STEP UP FOR DOWN SYNDROME on Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Detroit Zoo! The Down Syndrome Guild of Southeast Michigan hosts the largest annual fundraising and awareness event in southeast Michigan, the Step UP Walk. This family-friendly event is open to people of all ages with Down syndrome and anyone supportive of the organization’s mission.
The Step UP Walk has three main goals: • To promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome • To raise funds locally for education, research and advocacy programs • To enhance the position of the Down syndrome community, enabling us to positively influence local and national policy and practice You can find brochures and sponsorship forms on the organization’s website, http:// www.dsgsemi.org/sudswalk.html. onthetown 59
HUMAN INTEREST
Oak Grove Hospital:
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Combining Nature and Amusement to Heal // BY MEREDITH MCGHAN //
e’ve all seen those movies featuring a creepy old asylum with turrets, balconies and ivy-covered, crumbling walls. Such institutions were quite common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and some have survived, abandoned or repurposed. But you might not know that there used to be a sanitarium in Flint’s current Cultural Center – and rather than being one of the stereotyped prison-like facilities, it was considered a pleasant place. The movie The Road to Wellville shows the type of upper-crust, resort-like sanitarium that was Oak Grove. (In fact, the movie was based on another Michigan sanitarium that was active at the same time as Oak Grove – the Battle Creek Sanitarium run by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg. Yes, that Kellogg. Oak Grove was much more sedate than the Hollywood portrayal.) According to the Journal of the Michigan State Medical Society, vol. 12, Oak Grove Sanitarium was founded by James A. Remick of the board of trustees of the Pontiac asylum. The sanitarium sat on what is now the parking lot between the Flint Public Library and the former Flint Central High School. The site was named after a 65-acre grove of native oak trees that graced the area where the first four buildings of the sanitarium opened in 1891. It was said to be the last remaining oak grove in Michigan. The property belonged to Gov. Henry H. Crapo and was purchased after his death from his estate, and the sanitarium’s planners wanted to avoid the institutional bleakness that characterized such places. Detroit architecture firm Scott, Kamper and Scott designed a luxurious campus to serve the wealthy unwell.
THE CONSTRUCTION AND PATIENTS The head of the firm, John Scott, had come from England to Michigan, and his style reflected the redbrick institutions of his own country. There were Queen Anne features to Oak Grove as well, with its turrets and asymmetry. Unlike most sanitariums of the period, it was not based on the famous Kirkbride model, which has
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a bit of a menacing look. Oak Grove was meant to be welcoming. One of onthetown’s predecessors, Headlight Flashes: Along the Grand Trunk Railroad System, stated in its August 1896 issue, “In its construction, organization and Oak Grove Sanitarium // Flint, Michigan equipment, attempts have been successfully made to depart from conventional ideas of building, opium-derived laudanum, as well as people to avoid features purely institutional, and with mental illnesses. provide house-like surroundings for people Laws governing asylum commitment of refined tastes, accustomed to the luxuries were much more lax. Oftentimes, families and conveniences of life.” would have members committed to keep Oak Grove’s architects also knew the them away from an inheritance or for value of nature in recovery. The grounds a problem like an unmarried woman’s of the complex were well maintained, pregnancy. These mentally healthy people with “secluded and private walks...natural dwelled alongside those with schizophrenia, beauties of the grounds...motor and carriage depression, alcoholism and other illnesses. service...croquet plats, tennis courts and Regardless of the reason they were at the golf links.” asylum, according to writings of their time, The buildings and site cost about they enjoyed an existence akin to living $135,000. That was over $3.2 million in year-round at a vacation spa. today’s dollars. Oak Grove Sanitarium was renamed Oak Grove Hospital a few years THE LUXURIOUS AMENITIES after it was built and became one of the The Headlight Flashes article describes country’s foremost medical centers by the a beautifully landscaped campus where early part of the 20th century. It functioned “departments for patients are located on as an early rehab facility, treating people each side of a Central Administration addicted to substances like alcohol and the Building, and connected with it by means
of semi-circular corridors, which serve the purposes of solaria, conservatories, music rooms for the Women’s Department and smoking rooms for the Department for Men. Rooms for patients are large, sunny and attractive. They are heated by
indirect radiation, and ventilated by flues... furnished in a manner suited to meet the requirements of those of fastidious and cultivated tastes.” The American Journal of Insanity, vol. 53, published in 1897, extols the luxury of the fifth building, the then-new Noyes Hall, named after benefactor Dr. James F. Noyes. The redbrick Noyes Hall was behind the sanitarium’s main buildings. It was two stories tall, with dimensions of 40 by 50 feet, and was connected to the hallway that ran between the men’s building and dining room. This amusement hall was equipped with “beautiful recreation rooms...new facilities for curative treatment in the form of electrical apparatus...Turkish and Russian baths...[a] bowling alley, billiard room, and barbershop.” Headlight Flashes says the baths consisted of a cooling room, two heated rooms,
a Russian room, a shampoo room and plenty of “appliances” to treat patients with hydrotherapy, which was a bit like a session in a hot tub. There were also devices for something called “electrical treatment.” “The electrical department is equipped with a static machine of the most approved pattern, with Galvanic and Faradic Apparatus and electric bath,” the publication recounted. Such treatments were used for various forms of paralysis. Yes, they were sending voltage throughout the body, sometimes accompanied by immersion in water. This is not to be confused with the “shock treatment” made famous by movies like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest but was more like a sauna or whirlpool. Leisure activities were considered part of treatment. “This corridor is provided with a highly polished floor and is used for dancing,” said the report from the aforementioned insanity journal. There were, in addition to the other amenities, a ladies’ sitting room, a lounge and a gym. The baths were open to the public but restricted to same-gender occupation. Growth continued, and by 1913, according to the Journal of the Michigan State Medical Society, there were “seven [buildings], exclusive of cottages, out-buildings [sic], stables and garage.” Each building was devoted to a particular use, such as administration, women’s housing and men’s housing. Each of the buildings had large verandas and scenic views to soothe the spirits of those in crisis.
THE END OF OAK GROVE For all its grandeur, Oak Grove Hospital closed in 1919 after the Flint Board of Education made the institution an offer it couldn’t refuse: “The retirement of Oak Grove from the field of psychiatry has been necessitated by the purchase of the Oak Grove property…as a site for the proposed
IN ITS CONSTRUCTION, ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT, ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY MADE TO DEPART FROM CONVENTIONAL IDEAS OF BUILDING, TO AVOID FEATURES PURELY INSTITUTIONAL, AND PROVIDE HOUSE-LIKE SURROUNDINGS FOR PEOPLE OF REFINED TASTES, ACCUSTOMED TO THE LUXURIES AND CONVENIENCES OF LIFE. – HEADLIGHT FLASHES, 1896 –
$2,000,000 high school. It has long been felt by the directors that the magnificent tract of land covered with ancient forest trees, so carefully conserved during the years of the hospital’s ownership and practically maintained as a city park in private hands, should be in the possession of the public.” At that point the president of Oak Grove, Dr. C. B. Burr, retired (from the January 1920 edition of the publication The Modern Hospital). Oak Grove’s magnificent buildings were torn down in the early 1920s to make way for the Flint Central High School building. Over time the land was repurposed for the buildings that now comprise the Flint Cultural Center. But it is said that at least one of the original oak trees of the old grove survives.
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HUMAN INTEREST
Ball for All: Miracle League of Greater Flint Plans Accessible Sports Park // BY KELLIE MCCARTY-STACK // PHOTOS BY // J. JOHNS STUDIOS
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aseball, hot dogs, apple pie and…but only for some? The extremely popular summer pastime of baseball will soon be available, both to watch and to participate in, to all residents of the greater Flint area, no matter their abilities or disabilities, thanks in part to a few overachievers who have a shared dream. That dream is of a Miracle League field in Mundy Township with the help of the newly formed Miracle League of Greater Flint (MLGF). Never heard of a Miracle League field? It will be the first fully accessible sports field in Genesee County. The Miracle League, based in Atlanta, GA, works with communities around the country to provide children with disabilities safe baseball/softball facilities to engage in active recreational programming.
Now, let’s introduce the starting lineup for this team, who are actively spreading the word, drumming up support and accumulating revenue to break ground on this park. The modified baseball field is just the first part in this multilevel park that will encourage everyone, from young to old, regardless of limitations, to come out and enjoy sports. First up to bat is MLGF director Brian Caine, an incoming senior at Grand
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Blanc High School who is leading this effort. With plans to go into business after graduation next spring, he applied for a license through the Miracle League to bring a park to his hometown. “I was at my aunt’s house, who is a league director in DeWitt, and I heard her talking about it,” Caine says. “It sparked my interest because I work with kids with special needs and I play baseball. I just felt this was something that needs to happen here.”
OUR COMMUNITY HAS AN ADULT POPULATION WITH DISABILITIES AND THOSE ADULTS MAY BE PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS. THE PARK WILL ALLOW THEM TO PLAY WITH THEIR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN ALSO. – SOPHIA BONG –
So Caine reached out to the national headquarters and learned all about how to set up the field, including options to individualize it. “Each league is unique to its area and has its own features from several to choose from.” Next up is Sophia Bong, owner and CEO of Strength Training and Recovery (STAR Rehab), who also sits on the board of the MLGF. Bong has worked in Grand Blanc for 14 years at STAR Rehab, which offers physical therapy among other services. STAR Rehab specializes in working with individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities. “My rehabilitation program pushes reintegration and encourages our clients to use their new physical gains to live active lives. But many times, these desires are limited by accessibility. So, about a year ago, I went to the board members of my own nonprofit, the Guiding Star Foundation, to research the process of building an accessible park and raise funding,” Bong says. “Brian Caine had
Brian Caine
already filed paperwork with the National Miracle League, to build a park and brought us all together.” To round out the top three, Kay Doerr, trustee on the Mundy Township board, connected with Caine and his group to help the project. “I have a son with autism, so this project is very meaningful to me,” Doerr says. “The Mundy Township Board worked with the MLGF and Rowe Professional Services to create a park plan that would meet the needs of all residents, not just athletes, not just people with disabilities but all people.” Doerr referenced a large piece of land, almost 74 acres along Hill Road, where work on the park is projected to begin in 2018. The planned park will include soccer fields, baseball diamonds, walking trails and the Miracle League field, which will be started first. “Township Supervisor David Guigear’s vision and his strong support of partnering
Sophia Bong
with Miracle League to help achieve the goal of a healthy inclusive environment is a win for the community,” Doerr says. “I’m proud to be part of this exciting project.” Bong sees the new Miracle League field as a game-changer for all ages because the park isn’t only for children with disabilities. “Realize that those little children grow up and still need to stay active. And not all people with disabilities are born with them. Some are acquired as adults. Our community has an adult population with disabilities and those adults may be parents or grandparents. The park will allow them to play with their children or grandchildren also.” For Caine, the chance to start a new charitable organization while in high school has been a great life lesson. “I am learning so much through this process, and I can’t wait for the day when we open the park and kids of all abilities get to play ball.”
Kay Doerr
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