Published: October 29, 2009 07:25 am      

Well-Being In Brief: 10/29/2009

Grayling hospital restricts visitors

GRAYLING -- Mercy Hospital Grayling is not letting visitors 18 and under into the hospital, Mercy Manor or outpatient clinics until further notice.

The restrictions are due to the flu and began Tuesday.

Registration for women's conference

TRAVERSE CITY -- Early bird registration closes Friday for a one-day conference for women.

"Reinventing the Rest Of Your Life" will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 13 at Northwestern Michigan College. It will feature guided reflection, resource booths, networking, food and more. Life coaches Nancy Ballinger and Megan Raphael will guide the conference. Rabbi Chava Bahle will be the guest speaker.

The cost is $110 through Friday; $125 starting Saturday. The price includes lunch and materials. For details or to register, call 995-1700 or visit www.nmc.edu/ees.

Benefit for heart surgery patient

Maple City -- The Cedar/Maple City Lions Club will host a benefit dinner for 24-year-old Caleb Mikus, who requires open heart surgery.

The meal will be served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Lions Community Building, County Road 616. The menu includes roast pork, baked potato, cole slaw, rolls, dessert and beverage. A $5 minimum donation is suggested.

Support program for grandparents

GRAYLING -- The Grayling Senior Center is offering a weekly support program for grandparents in the unique role of primary caregivers for their grandchildren.

"Grandparents Raising Grandchildren ... Back on Duty" is co-sponsored by Crawford County MSU Extension, Crawford County Commission on Aging and the Area Agency on Aging. The group meets from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays through Nov. 23 at the senior center, 308 Lawndale. Upcoming topics are "Chemical Dependency in the Family: Co-dependency" on Monday; "Stress Management" Nov. 9; and "Positive Parenting: Parenting Skills and Discipline in Today's World" Nov. 16 and 23.

Enrollment is required and can be done by calling the Crawford County Commission on Aging, (989) 348-7123.

Take an hour to 'simply relax'

TRAVERSE CITY -- Sound meditations are being offered on the first and second Tuesday of each month at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation.

Anne Hughes, nurse practitioner and hypnotherapist, and the Rev. Kevin Tarsa, minister of music, will combine music and guided imagery for an hour of "sympathetic resonance" that starts at 7:30 p.m. at the UUC, 6726 Center Road. The meditations are free and open to the public. Participants are welcome to bring a pillow and blanket or use the chairs provided.

The next scheduled meditations are Tuesday and Nov. 10. They will be offered through December. For details, contact Anne Hughes, 645-0911 or anne@thenursesofficetc.com, or the Rev. Tarsa, 947-3117.

Creative workshops for senior citizens

NORTHPORT -- Northport Highlands, a new rental retirement community, will offer a series of "Expressive Therapy" workshops.

"Collages: Memories" will meet Nov. 3, 10 and 17. Participants will create collages using their own photos.

"Greeting/Christmas Cards" will be held Dec. 1 and 8. Participants will create greeting and holiday cards with personalized messages.

"Christmas Ornaments" will meet Dec. 3 and 10. Participants will design holiday ornaments including sculpting dough figures to dry and paint.

All sessions will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the retirement community, 215 S. High St. The cost is $5 per session for materials. For details or to register, call 386-9900.

ER Lions offer free hearing tests

ELK RAPIDS -- The Elk Rapids Lions Club is bringing the Munson Mobile Hearing-Screening Van to the Elk Rapids Community Bazaar on Nov. 7.

The van will be at Elk Rapids High School, Meguzee Point Road, and will conduct free hearing assessments from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are recommended. The service is provided by the Lions Club in cooperation with the William and Leni Carls Speech and Hearing Clinic of Munson Medical Center.

For an appointment, call Melanie White, 631-1836. Individuals without an appointment will be seen as time and space permits.

Dental center will buy back candy

SUTTONS BAY -- The Suttons Bay Dental Center will buy back Halloween candy Monday from noon to 5 p.m. for $1 a pound.

The candy will then be sent to troops via Operaion Gratitude, a nonprofit organization that has sent more than 360,000 care packages around the world.

For more information, call 271-6700 or go to www.suttonsbaydental.com. Learn more about Operation Gratitude at www.opgratitude.com.

WRC reschedules free divorce clinic

TRAVERSE CITY -- Because of a conflict with the attorneys who volunteer their time, the Women's Resource Center has rescheduled its free divorce clinic.

The clinic, originally scheduled for Nov. 12, will meet at 7 p.m. on Nov. 10 at the WRC office, 720 S. Elmwood Ave. For details, call the WRC, 941-1210.

Fundraiser helps homeless youth

TRAVERSE CITY -- As a kick-off to Homeless Awareness Week, Third Level Crisis Intervention Center will sponsor a Scavenger Hunt for the Homeless Youth Initiative.

The event will be held outdoors on Nov. 14 and will begin and end at Studio 7 Arts, 225 W. 14th St. Registration is from 8 to 9 a.m., the hunt is from 9 a.m. to noon, followed by lunch, judging and awards from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to the team with the most points and to the team and individual that raise the most money for the Homeless Youth Initiative.

The registration fee is $25 per person or $100 for a team of four to six participants. For details, registration and pledge forms, visit www.thirdlevel.org.

Community Action Agency seeks help

TRAVERSE CITY -- The Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency is looking for volunteers.

The agency provides foreclosure counseling, emergency utility assistance, budget counseling, homelessness prevention counseling and services, food programs, home repairs and weatherization, Meals on Wheels, and educational programs for struggling families.

Volunteers are needed to answer phones and help welcome and guide those seeking help. Potential volunteers should have basic phone operating skills, basic computer and e-mail knowledge and a desire to work with the public.

To volunteer, contact Latitia Garthe-Shiner, 947-3780 or lgshiner@nmcaa.net, by Nov. 6.

Women's retreat at Black Star Farms

SUTTONS BAY -- "Live The Life You Love" is the title of a retreat for women that will be held Nov. 14 at Black Star Farms Winery.

The retreat will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will include time to unwind, reflect, appreciate life and focus on dreams and aspirations. Also included is a yoga class, lunch, wine tasting, gifts and prizes.

The registration fee is $109. For details or to register, call 715-0021 or visit www.create-yourlife.com.

Third Level seeking used cell phones

TRAVERSE CITY -- Unwanted cell phones can be donated to Third Level Crisis Intervention Center.

Chargers and accessories are not needed; just phones and batteries. The phones will be sent to a recycler in Oklahoma that pays for them; Third Level gets to keep the money.

Phone drop-off locations in Traverse City are Third Level, 1022 E. Front St.; Cartridge World, 3311 W. South Airport Road; Sprint, 2506 Crossing Circle, Ste. C; Bay Hill Apartments, 600 Bay Hill Drive (off Veterans Drive); and the Wireless Zone, 2770 Silver Lake Road, Francisco Plaza, Traverse City.

For more information call 922-4802.