George James

Holiday moviegoers will likely catch a message from Michigan’s student safety initiative, OK2SAY. 

Three different OK2SAY messages began airing on 372 screens in 48 different movie theaters throughout Michigan this month and are expected to be seen by more than 1.1 million students and their families. A 30-second animated message is running in G, PG, and PG-13 movies, and two 15-second spots are running in R-rated movies.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says the reason is to reach “students outside the classroom” because the hope is for students to “step up and speak up when they see or hear something – whether it’s a bully or a friend contemplating self-harm.”

The state Legislature established the program, which launched in 2014. OK2SAY encourages students to submit confidential tips on criminal activities or potential harm directed at students, school employees, and schools 24/7 to trained technicians regarding potential harm or threats. 

To date, more than 22,000 tips have been received – more than 5,500 in 2019 alone. Top tip categories include suicide threats, bullying, drugs, self-harm, anxiety, stress, depression and harassment. OK2SAY tips can be submitted through a call, text or email and also through the OK2SAY website or mobile phone app.

A local woman has been recognized with a lifetime achievement award after serving the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) for more than 40 years. Liz Norris has been a fixture with the organization since starting with VNA under the direction of founder Bess MacCulloch, in 1955, just three years after the organization formed. 

Though she took some time off to continue her education and care for her aging parents, Norris has worked continuously with the VNA since 1980, when she began working in the home health care division. Several years later, Liz moved out of the field and into the office. It was here that her ability to understand the health care needs of the community, with a keen eye for budget and business development, were needed.

In her role, Liz oversaw the flu clinics throughout the Blue Water Area for 15 years. At the time, no one was doing anything like it. In addition to flu shot clinics, Liz also lead blood pressure clinics at senior living facilities in the area.

While Liz may be retiring, the organization says she will still be present at Visiting Nurse Association and Blue Water Hospice (VNA/BWH). She plans to volunteer for the hospice service division, focusing on patients under hospice care who choose to remain in their homes. She will continue administering flu shots to staff at the annual VNA/BWH skills fair. Liz also plans to stay busy volunteering with her church, Woman’s Life group, and a local adult day program, where she currently assists with music exercise.

Angela DeLaere, president and CEO of Visiting Nurse Association Health Services said “Liz has been a true asset to this organization.” In her honor, the VNA board room has been renamed the Liz Norris Board Room.

With the new year quickly approaching, many people set resolutions for themselves often including having a healthier lifestyle. Whether you plan to work out, change your diet, or both, a new fasting trend has made its way out of Silicon Valley and it may be one to consider for 2020. 

Some people have probably heard of intermittent fasting by now and have maybe even tried this new dietary trend. However, this new trend is a completely different kind of fasting called “dopamine fasting.” Followers believe that depriving themselves of anything stimulating, such as electronic devices, light, or even other people, dopamine levels can be altered and reset their brains. Essentially, by avoiding things that you enjoy, you are confronting things that would keep you sensitized to the world. 

The chemical, dopamine, is often associated with happiness but what some may not know is that it is actually much more complex as it exists throughout other parts of your body. Experts say that the trends name is an oversimplification of what is actually going on in your brain chemistry, but admit that what fasteners are truly getting after is a great idea. 

Taking a break from stimulation and being more mindful is a healthy practice as Dr. Amit Sood, former professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic, says that it is not about emptying the mind, it is more about filling it with the right things. Although dopamine fasting does not alter your brain chemistry, it may be something to try this coming new year as taking a break from technology can have a positive impact.

Adapted from the Today Show’s “’Dopamine fasting’ is how some people are trying to reset their brains” by Meghan Holohan.

A free opportunity for families and friends to get together and ice skate is under construction at Lincoln park, located at the south end of Port Huron. A 100 by 100 foot ice rink is being built by the Blue Water Recovery and Outreach Center’s Positive Impact team. ebw.tv got to see the beginning stages of the rink and talk with Patrick Patterson, Center Manager at BW Roc, about how it all got started. 

Patrick Patterson explained in the interview that the Positive Impact team was put in place, “In an effort to do good deeds for the community, good deeds for the city of Port Huron, and help restore our lives when we are struggling with addiction.” After waiting for two weeks to get approval from the city, identifying a location, and finally being able to pick a day to start, volunteers came to action to make this rink come to life. 

Patterson also told ebw.tv in the interview that there is a stigma around those in recovery. In order to overcome the stigma, the Positive Impact team partnered with the community, like construction workers and other organizations such as DHHS, Chemical Bank, SMR, Blue Water Transit, and D&M Dumpster for support. Volunteer at BW Roc, Ryan Brown, said that the more he is able to give back, the more he is able to stay sober. 

Thanks to the Blue Water Recovery and Outreach Center, some free fun will be underway when the weather gets cold enough. Check out the progress of the new ice rink and learn more in this feature.

The holiday season is not over yet, but you may be thinking about what to do with all the leftover “stuff” from the festivities. With the new year approaching, many make the resolution to be more environmentally conscious or to adopt a more minimalistic approach. There are ways to recycle or reuse those used Christmas items to get your resolutions off to a good start. 

Did you know that Christmas lights can be recycled, as they have a decent amount of copper and glass? Goodwill also accepts working lights, and big box home improvement stores will accept them periodically throughout the year if you are upgrading to LED lights. You can also look online for organizations that will accept old lights.

Wrapping paper can also be recycled if it does not have glitter or tape on it. Add real Christmas trees to the list of items that can be recycled or reused. You can cut them up and use them as mulch, or backyard birds will enjoy your used Christmas Tree all winter. Once spring arrives, you can place it in the yard waste collection to keep it out of the landfill. Fake Christmas trees are not recyclable, but you can donate it for resale if you want to put off it’s inevitable landfill fate.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

The American College of Surgeons Trauma Verification Review Committee determines the trauma levels for Michigan hospitals. The group recently visited McLaren Port Huron and has re-certified the local hospital as a Level III trauma center by the ACS, along with their certification by the State of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The Level III designation demonstrates an ability to provide 24-hour coverage from emergency medicine physicians and prompt availability of specialized surgeons and anesthesiologists. It also recognizes comprehensive quality improvement programs and ongoing education of staff. 

Level III centers provide back-up treatment for rural and community hospitals that have lower levels of trauma certification and also have transfer agreements with hospitals that have higher levels of trauma certification. Lake Huron Medical Center is certified as a Level III trauma center by the state of Michigan, and Ascension River District is a Level IV. The nearest Level I and II hospitals, for more serious trauma, are in Detroit and Flint. Certifications are an ongoing process for hospitals and take serious commitment to quality health care.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.