Registration for Angel Tree recipients for Christmas 2018 will continue Monday through Thursday, November 5th ,6th, 7th, and 8th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at The Salvation Army Corps Offices, located at 325 Linden Street in Big Rapids. Registration is also available on November 8th from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at this location.
In addition, an off-site registration will take place at Barryton Church of Christ, located at 18221 30th Ave, in Barryton on Wednesday, November 7th from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Required documents for registration include:
Picture ID with current local address
Proof of all household income
ID for each child being registered that shows their date of birth
If not the biological parent, custody or guardianship papers
Parent/guardian – Must know last 4 digits of social security number
The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program, in partnership with the community, provides free Christmas gifts to children in Mecosta, Osceola, Lake, and Newaygo Counties. Anyone interested in supporting the Angel Tree Program should look for collection boxes and Angel Tree Tags in the community. Toys can then be purchased and donated to the program.
If you have a question or would like to volunteer to help with The Angel Tree Program, call (231) 796-5597 or visit sabigrapids.org for more information.
2018 Big Rapids Garden Club will host a Greens Workshop, Monday, December 10, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church, located at 304 Elm St in Big Rapids.
Club members will be on hand to assist attendees as they make their own centerpiece, kissing ball, swag, wreath, porch pot, mailbox cover, tree, or decorated picture frame. Other items will be available as well. Prices start at $15.00 per item. Fresh greens and kits are included. Extra trims and containers are also available. Please bring old gloves and scissors or small pruners.
Tables can be reserved for pre-paid groups of six or more. Walk-ins are welcome.
Doors will open promptly at 6:00 p.m.
Pre-pay options are available on December 10th from 9:00 a.m.—12 noon or 5:30—6:00 p.m. at the church (304 Elm Street, Big Rapids). Attendees can pre-pay, so they can be ready to start when the doors open.
For questions, or to make reservations, email TLMKozak53@gmail.com or call Terry at 231-796-2365.
The Painted Turtle Gift Shop and Gallery is excited about the transformation starting in the store. It is that time of year when the Holiday Market starts, and the store will be offering gifts made by Artworks own Michigan Artists! As the store transforms into a Winter Wonderland, current and new artists will be stocking the gift shop with the most unique and special gifts for your Holiday shopping wish lists. Sunday, November 18 The Painted Turtle will be hosting a Holiday Open House to kick off the Annual Holiday Market. Snacks and refreshments will be available to shoppers while they shop. The Holiday Market will also be extending the store’s hours to Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from November 19th to December 22nd.
As an added treat, Santa will be at the Gift Shop on December 8th 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Remus Area Historical Society (RAHS) plans to recognize Vietnam war veterans and their families from Remus and the surrounding areas on Saturday, November 10, 1-4 p.m. at the Wheatland Township Hall in Remus. There is no cost to attend.
Photo by Snapwire on Pexels.com
The event, being held in cooperation with the Vietnam War 50th Commemoration, includes a presentation by Michigan author and Vietnam veteran Tim Keenan, sharing his personal healing journey following his experience. The reception will also include tributes, refreshments, a roundtable discussion, and displays. If you are a Remus area Vietnam Veteran, or have a loved one that you would like recognized, please send your contact info and Vietnam veteran name, service years, photos, maps, clippings, letters home, memorabilia, etc. by mail to: RAHS, PO Box 71, Remus, MI 49340, or call Ken Todd 989.967.8249 or Char Lenon 989.560.2431, stop by the Remus Museum (324 S. Sheridan) or email: kentodd@cmsinter.net or RemusMuseum@gmail.com.
The project is funded in part by a grant from Mecosta County Community Foundation, an affiliate of Fremont Area Community Foundation, and gifts of support by area veteran groups and families.
RAHS is still welcoming donations and small donated items for event gift bags, such as business discount coupons. A special Vietnam Veteran display will be created at the Remus Museum.
We all need to learn more about Vietnam. Did you know: The U.S. was involved in Vietnam for 25 years. Over 9 million U.S. men and women served active duty during Vietnam era and of these, 25% were draftees. The Vietnam draft lottery occurred from December 1969 to January 1973. American troops were withdrawn March 27, 1973 and Saigon fell April 30, 1975. The Vietnam war touched the lives of many Mecosta County area families. In 2016, more than 50% (1,299) of all living Mecosta County veterans were Vietnam Veterans. (Sources: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), U.S. Census via Data USA.)
Big Rapids Downtown Business Association once again will host the Festival of Lights parade on Nov. 17.
Line-up starts at 4:00 pm along Michigan Avenue (South of Oak Street) and Cedar Street. Floats and participants should be COMPLETELY set-up by 5:30 p.m. The parade will start at 6 p.m. Walkers enter the parade at the Public Library (corner of Oak Street & Michigan Avenue).
Only Christmas music shall be played on floats. Participants should not throw candy from the floats but should instead hand it to onlookers. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE LIGHTED! $10 entry fee.
The Pioneer Group is a diverse media company that provides advertising solutions to area businesses to help them grow and prosper, while producing a variety of products that keep readers entertained and informed about local happenings.
In addition to its flagship daily newspaper, the Big Rapids Pioneer, the company has newspapers in Manistee, Benzie, Osceola and Lake Counties as well as shopping guides and niche publications throughout the region.
Headquartered in Big Rapids, the Pioneer Group is part of Hearst Newspapers. In addition to newspaper publishing, the Pioneer Group also publishes telephone directories under the Phone Directory Services (PDS) brand, and provides web printing services to clients throughout the state of Michigan.
A new product introduced this year is Latitude 43, a monthly lifestyle magazine mailed to homeowners in the greater Canadian Lakes area. “It hits a demographic our advertisers desire, and reader feedback has been very positive,” said Advertising Manager Danette Doyle.
Offering much more than print solutions, the Pioneer Group also has a suite of digital products that help advertisers get their message to their target audience. Using social media, SEO, SEM, digital display, retargeting, web site development and more, there’s a digital solution available to businesses large and small.
The Pioneer Group is also a leader in community involvement, as it promotes and partners with various organizations to foster a vibrant and healthy region in which to work and play.
For advertising information, call Danette Doyle at (231) 592-8359.
Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. has not filed for bankruptcy and is not part of today’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by Sears Holdings Corporation. Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. is a publicly owned company traded on Nasdaq (Symbol: SHOS) that separated from Sears Holdings in 2012. It remains business as usual at all of our locations, which include more than 750 retail stores in 49 states across the nation, which are operated by us, our dealer owners and franchisees. We currently operate stores under various brand names including Sears Hometown, Sears Appliance & Hardware, Sears Home Appliance Showroom, Sears Outlet and Buddy’s Home Furnishings franchise.
The Big Rapids Sears Appliance & Hardware Store at 14305 Northland Drive, is owned by the Weavers: Scott, Tammy & Michael. They have owned this location for almost 12 years and appreciate the support of the community.
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Artworks Education Center
Where does water come from and where does it go? Water is an essential part of life on this planet, covering more than three-fourths of the Earth’s surface. Water is constantly on the move: flowing in the oceans, lakes and streams, condensing or vaporizing in the atmosphere, used by plants, humans or animals, falling to earth as rain or snow or flowing underground in the form of groundwater. In this free, fast-paced, hands-on learning activity, children will become “water molecules” and work their way through the various stages of the water cycle. This learning activity takes approximately 30 minutes to complete and is geared towards upper elementary to middle school children, but all ages are welcome!
As an added bonus, anyone that stops into The Panted Turtle Gift Shop on October 27th will receive a complementary gift bag (while supplies last).
Registration is not necessary.
The Muskegon: Majesty and Tragedy–October 30, 2018
6:00 p.m. Big Rapids Community Library
Join award winning environmental journalist, Jeff Alexander, as he discusses his book, The Muskegon: The Majesty and Tragedy of Michigan’s Rarest River. Jeff Alexander examines the creation, uses of, devastation, and restoration of Michigan’s historic and beautiful Muskegon River. Part history, part environmental scrutiny, part wake-up call to the Muskegon River’s vital role in both the environment and to local communities that have relied on it for fisheries, tourism, and recreation. You can pick up books for the community read after October 1st at the Library in preparation for his presentation.
Wood Duck Houses–November 3, 2018
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Big L Lumber
In this three–hour workshop we will be discussing wood duck biology, habitat, and will conclude with the construction of wood duck houses. The session is limited to 25 participants, so registration must be done in advance. Please call ArtWorks to register at (231) 796–2420. This will be a great opportunity to connect with members of Ducks Unlimited and learn more about DU’s efforts in preserving and cultivating local wetlands.
BRMS Water and You–November 2, 2018
12 pm-1 pm Artworks Lower Gallery
Join BRMS students as they explore their relationship with water and create art, write stories, and present them in a brown bag format.
Water Wellness Class–November 5, 2018
5:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Artworks Lower Gallery
In 1994 Dr. Masaru Emoto had the idea to freeze and observe water under a microscope, with this method he was able to observe something like snow crystals in the frozen solution. In this class we will be exploring how all this information affects us, as humans, our health, our disease states, and how this type of information can be a very powerful tool
Forest Invaders–November 8, 2018
12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Artworks Lower Gallery
This event provides a look at the current insects/diseases in Michigan forests and an introduction to the high priority plant species that are an issue in our ecosystems. Grab your lunch, and join us for this Brown Bag discussion!
Water/Ways Grand Finale–November 10, 2018
2:00 p.m. Paris Park
Join us at Paris Park as we close our Water/Ways exhibit and celebrate our river with a special water blessing. 10,000 trout will also be released into the Muskegon River.
Spectrum Health Big Rapids and Reed City Hospitals have both received 5-star ratings for services in a new nationwide study released today by Healthgrades, a leading online consumer information resource about physicians and hospitals.
Spectrum Health Big Rapids Hospital is 5-star rated for Pneumonia, Sepsis and Respiratory Failure outcomes according to the latest annual Healthgrades study. Reed City Hospital is also 5-star rated for Sepsis outcomes. A 5-star rating indicates that clinical outcomes are statistically significantly better than expected when treating the condition or performing the procedure being evaluated.
“Clinical quality varies significantly between hospitals, so it’s important for consumers to use information about outcomes to assess where to receive care,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Healthgrades. “These 5-star ratings for Treatment of Pneumonia, Sepsis and Respiratory Failure showcases the expertise and commitment of Spectrum Health Big Rapids and Reed City Hospitals to their patients.”
These results are among the new findings and data featured in the Healthgrades 2019 Report to the Nation. Healthgrades says the new report demonstrates how clinical performance continues to differ dramatically between hospitals regionally and nationally.
“Above all this is a recognition of the quality focus of our medical providers and clinical
Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital
staff,” said Caroline Ring, chief nursing officer for Spectrum Health Big Rapids and Reed City Hospitals. “Quality of care is a constant focus for our clinical teams and it’s paying off with consistently excellent outcomes for our patients.”
Spectrum Health’s Big Rapids Hospital has received 5-star distinctions in its treament of Sepsis for six consecutive years (2014-2019) and its Treatment of Respiratory Failure for two years in a row (2018-2019). Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital has received the 5-Star Distinction for Treatment of Sepsis for a second consecutive year (2018-2019).
Variation in care has a significant impact on health outcomes, according to the Healthgrades report. For example, from 2015 through 2017, if all hospitals performed similarly to hospitals receiving five stars, then on average 222,210 lives could potentially have been saved and 157,210 in-hospital complications could potentially have been avoided.* A 5-star rating indicates that a hospital’s clinical outcomes are statistically significantly better than expected when treating the condition or performing the procedure being evaluated.
Additionally, from 2015 through 2017, patients treated for Sepsis in hospitals with five stars for in-hospital mortality have, on average, a 40.2 percent lower risk of dying than if they were treated in hospitals with one star for in-house mortality.* Similarly, patients treated for respiratory failure in hospitals with one star for in-hospital mortality have, on average, a 50.7 percent lower risk of dying than if they were treated in hospitals with one star for in-house mortality.*
Spectrum Health Big Rapids and Reed City Hospitals have both received 5-star ratings for services in a new nationwide study released today by Healthgrades, a leading online consumer information resource about physicians and hospitals.
Spectrum Health Big Rapids Hospital is 5-star rated for Pneumonia, Sepsis and Respiratory Failure outcomes according to the latest annual Healthgrades study. Reed City Hospital is also 5-star rated for Sepsis outcomes. A 5-star rating indicates that clinical outcomes are statistically significantly better than expected when treating the condition or performing the procedure being evaluated.
“Clinical quality varies significantly between hospitals, so it’s important for consumers to use information about outcomes to assess where to receive care,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Healthgrades. “These 5-star ratings for Treatment of Pneumonia, Sepsis and Respiratory Failure showcases the expertise and commitment of Spectrum Health Big Rapids and Reed City Hospitals to their patients.”
These results are among the new findings and data featured in the Healthgrades 2019 Report to the Nation. Healthgrades says the new report demonstrates how clinical performance continues to differ dramatically between hospitals regionally and nationally.
“Above all this is a recognition of the quality focus of our medical providers and clinical staff,” said Caroline Ring, chief nursing officer for Spectrum Health Big Rapids and Reed City Hospitals. “Quality of care is a constant focus for our clinical teams and it’s paying off with consistently excellent outcomes for our patients.”
Spectrum Health’s Big Rapids Hospital has received 5-star distinctions in its treament of Sepsis for six consecutive years (2014-2019) and its Treatment of Respiratory Failure for two years in a row (2018-2019). Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital has received the 5-Star Distinction for Treatment of Sepsis for a second consecutive year (2018-2019).
Variation in care has a significant impact on health outcomes, according to the Healthgrades report. For example, from 2015 through 2017, if all hospitals performed similarly to hospitals receiving five stars, then on average 222,210 lives could potentially have been saved and 157,210 in-hospital complications could potentially have been avoided.* A 5-star rating indicates that a hospital’s clinical outcomes are statistically significantly better than expected when treating the condition or performing the procedure being evaluated.
Additionally, from 2015 through 2017, patients treated for Sepsis in hospitals with five stars for in-hospital mortality have, on average, a 40.2 percent lower risk of dying than if they were treated in hospitals with one star for in-house mortality.* Similarly, patients treated for respiratory failure in hospitals with one star for in-hospital mortality have, on average, a 50.7 percent lower risk of dying than if they were treated in hospitals with one star for in-house mortality.*
Other Spectrum Health hospitals throughout West Michigan also received 5-star ratings in a variety of categories.
About Healthgrades
For its annual analysis, Healthgrades evaluated approximately 45 million Medicare inpatient records for almost 4,500 short-term acute care hospitals nationwide to assess hospital performance in 32 common conditions and procedures, and evaluated outcomes in appendectomy and bariatric surgery using all-payer data provided by 15 states and the District of Columbia. Healthgrades recognizes a hospital’s quality achievements for cohort-specific performance, specialty area performance, and overall clinical quality. Individual procedure or condition cohorts are designated as 5-star (statistically significantly better than expected), 3-star (not statistically different from expected) and 1-star (statistically significantly worse than expected) categories. The complete Healthgrades 2019 Report to the Nation and detailed study methodology can be found at http://www.healthgrades.com/quality/.
About Spectrum Health
Spectrum Health, a not-for-profit, integrated health system, is committed to improving the health and wellness of our communities. We live our mission every day with 30,000 compassionate professionals, 4,100 medical staff experts, 3,200 committed volunteers and a health plan serving 1 million members. Our talented physicians and caregivers are privileged to offer a full continuum of care and wellness services to our communities through 14 hospitals, including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, 225 ambulatory sites and telehealth offerings. We pursue health care solutions for today and tomorrow that diversify our offerings. Locally-governed and based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, our health system provided $457 million in community benefit in the last fiscal year. Thanks to the generosity of our communities, we received $30 million in philanthropy in the most recent fiscal year to support research, academics, innovation and clinical care. Spectrum Health has been recognized as one of the nation’s 15 Top Health Systems by Truven Health Analytics®, part of IBM Watson HealthTM.
Please Join us in our latest webinar: How to Submit a Winning Nomination!
Thursday, November 05, 2018 10:00a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
SBA’s Michigan District Office is now accepting nominations for its 2018 Small Business Awards. Winners will be honored at the Michigan Celebrates Small Business event on May 8, 2018 (https://www.michigancelebrates.biz/). The Michigan Small Business Person of the Year and the Michigan Exporter of the Year will be in contention for the national awards.
SBA will discuss the nomination process and how to complete a winning nomination package.
The award categories are:
Small Business Person of the Year
Small Business Exporter of the Year
Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year
Women Owned Small Business of the Year
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
District Director Award
Computer Access for the webinar:
From your computer: Join Skype Meeting
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Join by phone
+12027651264 (Dial-in Number English United States)
Thursday, November 5th ,6th, 7th, and 8th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at The Salvation Army Corps Offices, located at 325 Linden Street in Big Rapids. Registration is also available on November 8th from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at this location.
The Painted Turtle Gift Shop and Gallery is excited about the transformation starting in the store. It is that time of year when the Holiday Market starts, and the store will be offering gifts made by Artworks own Michigan Artists! As the store transforms into a Winter Wonderland, current and new artists will be stocking the gift shop with the most unique and special gifts for your Holiday shopping wish lists. Sunday, November 18 The Painted Turtle will be hosting a Holiday Open House to kick off the Annual Holiday Market. Snacks and refreshments will be available to shoppers while they shop. The Holiday Market will also be extending the store’s hours to Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from November 19th to December 22nd.
The Pioneer Group is a diverse media company that provides advertising solutions to area businesses to help them grow and prosper, while producing a variety of products that keep readers entertained and informed about local happenings.
Greetings from the SBA Michigan District Office!