George James

Brain Awareness Week is March 16-22, and the Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Michigan Chapter (GMC) is raising awareness of its programs and offerings to support St. Clair County residents living with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, their caregivers and Communities. More than 5 million Americans – including more than 190,000 in Michigan – are living with Alzheimer’s disease, a number that is projected to nearly triple by 2050 to nearly 14 million.

St. Clair County residents can take advantage of a number of programs and opportunities offered throughout the year by the Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Michigan Chapter. These resources include educational programs offered for families and individuals facing Alzheimer’s, as well as community members and health care professionals throughout the year. Support groups are regularly scheduled in-person or over the phone meetings of people with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, family, friends or caregivers who interact around issues relating to dementia. Some groups meet monthly, others weekly, and they are free and open to anyone.

Events such as The Longest Day or the 2020 Walk to End Alzheimer’s are great ways to show support and raise funds to help work toward the Association’s vision of a world without Alzheimer’s or other dementia.

Upcoming St. Clair County support group dates include the fourth Tuesday of the month from 2-3:30 p.m. at Marwood Nursing and Rehab and First Congregational Church St. Clair.

For more information, visit alz.org/gmc.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is warning residents to beware of businesses engaging in potential price-gouging, and to report those suspected offenses to her office immediately. The advice follows the state’s emergency declaration last week due to the discovery of Michigan’s first positive cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The Michigan Department of Attorney General is aware of businesses selling face masks, hand sanitizers and cleaning supplies at exceptionally high prices – likely in violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. Other products that consumers might seek to purchase due to the threat of COVID-19 may also be at risk of price-gouging practices.

Nessel has stated that, “Supply and demand might be a familiar saying for retailers, but price-gouging is against the law and protecting consumers against unfair business practices is a service my office provides to residents.” 

The Attorney General’s office last week contacted a west Michigan retailer for reportedly selling individual face masks at outrageous prices. A discussion with the business owner took place, followed by a letter requiring the business to provide specific information to avoid formal action or investigation.

The Attorney General’s office is actively tracking consumer complaints related to COVID-19 and is evaluating the reports to determine what actions to take.

Michigan residents are urged to report any violation of the Consumer Protection Act online or by calling 877-765-8388.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available online at a state website, and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For local information, visit our website.

Telemedicine has been expanded in Michigan. Medicaid beneficiaries will immediately be allowed to receive services in their homes. This effort is in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Private insurance plans will also cover and encourage the use of virtual care and telemedicine, according to a press release from the Governor’s office. Those plans include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Care Network of Michigan, Priority Health, Meridian, CVS Health, McLaren, and Health Alliance Plan. 

Telemedicine uses technology such as webcams, Skype and similar apps and programs to connect patients with doctors without making an actual physical visit to the doctor’s office. The private insurance companies also agreed to waive cost-sharing for COVID-19 testing. Michigan Department of Health and Human services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon said that by doing this, it “can help reduce the number of Michiganders who need to visit their health care provider in person, which will help slow the spread of disease and ensure our health facilities have adequate staff and resources to care for those who are sick.”

The Blue Water Area would have been well-represented at the State Mock Trial Competition with four teams qualifying for the State Finals that were scheduled to be held in Kalamazoo on March 21. 

The COVID-19 mitigation plan has cancelled all school events. Yale, St. Clair Blue, Cardinal Mooney’s A Team, and Anchor Bay Green all won trips to states at Regional Competitions. Cardinal Mooney’s B Team and Anchor Bay Orange both received Honorable Mentions. Anchor Bay would have been headed to states for the fourth time in ten years. Anchor Bay’s Teacher Coach Denise O’Hearn said she is “so proud of the hard work, dedication and teamwork displayed by the students.”

This is Cardinal Mooney’s fifth year in a row (qualifying for) states. Teacher Coach James Kelley of Cardinal Mooney said he is also “proud of the effort these students have put in this year,” as it was “a tough case and the way the students have handled it has been nothing short of amazing.”

Mock Trial is a courtroom simulation competition where students argue a case and are judged on a variety of factors.

(BPT) – Careers in the video game industry are highly desirable, and for good reason. Working for a video game company can be rewarding, and equally important, turns a favorite pastime into an exciting career. However, for tween and teen girl gamers, the prospect of one day working in the video game industry may seem daunting. While 46% of the U.S. gamer population is female, women account for only 22% of video game developers.

Women are taking the reins developing, designing and marketing video games. Lisa Wackenhuth Svanström, a 3D Artist at Star Stable Entertainment, a multiplayer game featuring horses, magic and adventure, offers career advice to young women who may want a career in the video game industry:

1. What inspired you to build a career in the video game industry?

“I am a lifelong gamer, artist and digital creator and now, my official title at Star Stable is 3D Artist. Working for a company like this allows me to unite my interests and skills to create magic for girl gamers around the world. The artistic process of designing the 3D horses inspires me the most. It is so rewarding to have an idea in my mind, sketch out a new design and work with all the visuals such as 3D models, characters, textures, environments, props and ultimately release the final product for horse-loving girls who play our game every day.”

2. What are the types of jobs for women in the development studio?

“To build a game, artists (3D, 2D, VFX and animators), designers and programmers need to work closely together from start to finish. Artists work on the overall creative vision. Designers work with the mechanics and features. Then, programmers use their coding knowledge to bring it all to life. We work with producers to make sure that all tasks associated with the development process are completed on time and tracking with the overall vision of the project. As the industry continues to grow and evolve, developers focused on mobile and virtual/mixed reality are in high demand, as are tech animators, who use a combination of creative and animation skills to solve issues related to art production.”

3. What other types of jobs do women have in the industry outside the development studio?

“It takes dozens of people with specific skillsets for a video game company to succeed. Community managers interact with players daily to ensure they are having a positive experience with the game and make sure fan feedback is implemented. We also have women running the business at the executive level and as product managers and business developers. There are multiple opportunities, inside and out of the development studio, so you must embrace your skills and interests to find which career path you would enjoy most.”

4. What are the most important skills needed to succeed?

“Budding video game developers need to network, to get to know different game engines, become familiar with 2D and 3D software, and try new games all the time. Then, become a specialist in the aspect that interests you the most. Developing specific skills is important but developing into a well-rounded person with a broad view of the world is equally important. It is also good to dive into sports, learn the arts, take a computer class or explore theater. Never stop learning and challenging yourself.”

5. What advice do you have for young girls who want a career in video games?

“A career in the video game industry, perhaps born out of a hobby or passion, is legitimate and can be profitable too. Today, there are dedicated game developing programs at universities. And, finding a role model is key. Seek opinions from colleagues or bosses who have different work than yours – find a marketer, back-end programmer or member of the executive team and learn from them.

“It’s also important to find a company that embraces women in all roles and embodies a culture of inclusivity and accessibility – the Star Stable team is more than 50% women. Finally, give back. If every woman who is part of the 22% proactively mentors other young women, imagine the next generation who will one day grow up to become our colleagues!”