Community Economic Development Association of Michigan is hosting the event "Show Me The Money Day Muskegon" - an event designed to promote our community’s free and low-cost financial services, resources for financial literacy, and provides workshops on methods to better save and spend money with the intent of financially empowering the community as a whole.

I recently visited with my dear friend Kris Collee, Executive Director of Age Well Services of West Michigan with Meals on Wheels. We sat in their newly renovated Driftwood Cafe at Tanglewood Park Senior Service Center in Norton Shores which is truly beautiful and the food is amazing! We chatted about the wonderful Holiday Meal that the Agewell Service’s Chefs are busily preparing for this Thursday, December 19th DTE Energy Foundation FREE Holiday Meal.

Seven and a half years ago the pool at Muskegon Heights Academy was ordered to be closed due to budget. Lots of effort put into place in the recent years and now the pool is officially re-opened.

Carmel McKentry is a long-time friend of mine, but we lost touch. Busy lives, growing kids, but when we get a chance to connect, the conversation is easy. Her smile lights up a room. She recently posted on social media that she was working at The Hideout, a bar and grill in downtown Muskegon Heights. I was intrigued.

 The Old Newsies and Goodfellows of Muskegon County have been around for 83 years. Their purpose has always been the same for all these years, that is to make sure “Let no child be forgotten” in Muskegon around Christmas time.

After much research by both the Principal and Vice Principal they felt that having a therapy dog at the school was indeed something that they wanted to pursue. This leads us to Buddy the little bundle in the middle of the story. Karyn the Vice Principle set off to the Humane Society and Animal Rescue of Muskegon County where she met and fell in love with Buddy. Follow the Petco Foundation on Facebook

It was an incredible day to be a part of such a great company giving back to Muskegon. We captured the entire event as well, the best we could anyway with a room full of excaited kids and teachers and a very anticipation filled crowd as the presentation got closer.  You are welcome to click below and enjoy the whole program.  Our many thanks to Petco and Skechers for this incredible opportunity to be a part of something so magnificent.

We're always very excited to welcome a new partner on with the Muskegon Channel and Positively Muskegon.  We work very hard to provide Muskegon with news that reflects our community for what we really are.  We don't claim perfection and we know that what we do is just a tiny bit of the incredible things we are seeing happen in and around town.  Our message will always stand though...we're proud of our people, our community and we always believe that our best day is yet to come.  When a business sees all of that in us and sees the value we offer as well, it's an honor of the highest magnitude.  Follow Smitter Pest Control on Facebook

Smitter Pest Control reached out to us and said "We're in!"  We were very excited and proud at the same time.  Family run for 3 generations.  Smitter Pest Control is now run by John Koval of Muskegon and while the business is based in Grand Rapids, their service area is pretty much anywhere on the west side of the state.  John didn't waste any time getting involved in Muskegon when he moved his family here either.  He gave a lot of time and energy to the Sandy Corely Memorial Run during it's 30 years.  He's also a huge proponent of area athletics with Koval Softball.  He helps out a lot at Ross Park and Softball World.  If you follow John on Facebook too, while he's out working in his pest control business, he finds time to make life easier by posting traffic snarls he finds, and while he might no ever say it out loud, he's been known to reach in and give his last couple of bucks in his pocket to help someone out.  John, is truly "that guy" and we even did a little story on him in 2017 on Positively Muskegon when a little league had all it's equipment stolen, and he led the drive to get it all replaced.  

Now, on to the business!  Smitter pest control takes care of it all.  From catch and release of larger critters like raccoons, squirrels, skunks and more to ants, termites, mice, spiders....anything creepy crawly and especially bed bugs....Smitter handles it all.  They also use environmentally friendly products that are safe for kids and pets.  Pests can happen to anyone John explains in our video below and it's not about cleanliness or lifestyle, it's just a matter of bad luck in some cases or in others, pests find an "in" and in they come.  The cure?  Quick, affordable and efficient handling of the problem with friendly service that you'll want to recommend to others!  No better form of advertising in the world, and they know that at Smitter Pest Control.

John and Andy go back a few years, so...he just swung by the house to say hi and chat about Smitter Pest Control.  Take a listen!

Great local company, great stweards of the communities they serve.  We are very proud to welcome Smitter Pest Control.  We highly recommend giving them a call if you've got an issue.  Take the number and put it on your fridge!  616-245-7215.  Click on the image below and save Smitter Pest Control in your favorites so when you need them, you've got immediate access to the help you need!

Alison is known locally for her portrait and fashion photography, most recently with Wildflower Studios. The cooperative project began as several professional portrait photographers combined forces to provide a more dynamic offering. The studio has been highly successful over its six years in operation and continues to be a top recommendation for families looking to capture their most important and intimate moments. So I had to ask - why would Alison choose now to step away from the business? Click Here for the Pound Buddies Website

You can click on the photo below to visit Minty Vintage online!

Muskegon County has so many hidden gems. With the downtown hub becoming the place to be these little-known places are becoming more popular. One of those places are the Greater Women’s Club.

We were given the great honor to be invited to help out on Veterans Day of being asked to accompany The Director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, Zaneta Adams on a tour of West Michigan to meet Veterans and find out from them first hand what their needs are and how her office can assist them. Making sure that what's in place to help those who were willing to protect our great freedoms are being used to their full potential and that every benefit they are entitled to, they are aware of and that they know that if they are not aware of them... there is someone there to help them understand how to access the help they have coming.  

Follow The MVAA on Facebook

  During a recent interview, Mary Suarez of The Hope Project has revealed that Sex Trafficking is a very real problem in Muskegon County. The Hope project is currently helping 68 women & young girl that had been the victim of trafficking in the county, with three new 'clients' just this week.

It was a great event to be a part of last year as Padnos Muskegon (formerly Shoreline Recycling) came to us to ask if we'd be be willing to partner with them on helping out the Muskegon County Department of Veterans Affairs with some of the things that they do that go so far above and beyond what's required of their services.  It was an even greater day when Kurt Aldreink got a hold of us again this year and asked if we'd return to help the push and spread the word so that Padnos Muskegon could again give a hand to some remarkably deserving folks the Vet's Affairs takes care of, as well as their customers who donate a little something who will be given a little incentive for their participation. 

Like last year, the Padnos customers are the key to this.  If you're bringing in a load of recyclable material that Padnos handles, bring in a canned good or two, up to 10 and for every canned good you'll get an extra $1 per ton on your pay out.  This also applies to personal care items too, like soap, toothpaste, deodorant etc.  The do have to cap it off at 10 items per ton, but don't let that slow down your generosity if you are able to give more.  Padnos will also be looking for a Veteran here in town who can use a night out and gifting them some tickets to a hockey game, dinner out and an overall relief from the day to day. 

Padnos as you may remember back to a couple months ago is undergoing some major renovations on their property.  They are located on Ottawa Street in Muskegon and they are one of the first places many see as they come in to town from the North.  With their long time presence here in Muskegon, and long standing building, the time had come for a major face lift and it's just now getting under way.  Don't let that stop you though.  As the work gets underway, watch it happen!  See the renewal happen first hand and help support a company deeply rooted in Muskegon and who places so much stewardship in it's people.  Business as usual for the customers of Padnos outside of a new spot for the scales and a temporary new spot to collect the cash for your recyclables.  

Kurt Aldreink and I sat down to go over this years canned goods drive and talk a little about the renovation again.  It might very well be the last piece of video ever filmed in the old building... take a listen.

Love what Padnos does for our community.  Padnos helps reclaim finite resources, keeps the level of junk down in Muskegon and all surrounding areas while providing top dollar to their customers for doing what needs to be done anyway.  Add to that their commitment to making sure that our Veterans are taken care of in return for being willing to pay the ultimate price for all we know and love.... Padnos Muskegon is exactly the kind of company Muskegon should be proud of!  Make sure when you stop there in November you get that added bonus and even if you're not in the scrap world, stop in to Padnos and help the effort.  You can learn more about their renovation project if you click on the photo below!  It will take you to our story from a couple months ago when Kurt joined us for the announcement. 

Rotary in any community has a simple creed.  Service above self.  The idea from their website is that Rotary is where neighbors, friends  and problem solvers, join leaders to take action to create lasting change.  Not a bad set of standards at all in a world where we are increasingly drawn into our own little silos more and more.  There are currently about 1.2 million Rotarians in 35,000 clubs who actively work to improve their communities and the people in them.  From working to end Polio, to helping provide clean water, Rotary digs into some heavy tasks all to make the world a better place. Get Tickets to Matt Williams

The White Lake Rotary is made up of members from Whitehall and Montague.  They have worked tirelessly to make improvements around the area.  New band shell to name one, and of course other areas that need a hand from community minded people who want to see better things happen.  Their meetings are held in a picturesque setting and like a lot of other Rotaries...they are a great place to connect.  To meet others who'd like to do the same you do when it comes to something good. 

There is a great night of fun coming up to benefit the group.  It's going to be November 2nd at the newly renovated Playhouse at White Lake and it's got two levels of fun!  Country artist Matt Williams is coming from Nashville to play.  If you really want to do it up, you can get the $100 ticket that includes food, a silent auction a concert and more.  If you're just in for the concert, you can get a ticket for the show only for $25.  For the premium ticket...talk to a member of the Rotary or maybe stop in to the White Lake Chamber.  If a ticket for the concert will suit ya you can find a link for that in the picture to the right!

Amy VanLoon and Jeff Johnson are members of White Lake Rotary and they joined Andy O to talk about the event, the White Lake Rotary Group itself and how you can be a part.  Take a listen.

A great night out and a great chance to see the newly renovated Playhouse!  It really is remarkable inside and an awesome venue to see something in.  Head up to Whitehall for a fun night with some purpose behind it on November 2nd and maybe find a spot for yourself among the Rotary bunch.  It's a great way to get involved and make a difference.  To learn more about White Lake Rotary, click on the photo below to visit their Facebook page.

It's a tradition 10 years strong in Muskeogn.  A living history lesson provided to the community about some of our more prominent members over the years in Muskegon.  The names who made us who we are and got us to where we are!  Stand out names like Hackley, come to mind immediately, as do names like Walker, Torrent and or Hume.  But there are also names like MIllie Peck, Nelly Torrent, Emily Easton and Alberta Catherine Vandervwerf.  They all have a story to be told and it happens this weekend at the Evergreen Cemetery as the cast of the City of the Dead Muskegon bring their annual living history lesson to life! 

What a call to get!  "Something awesome is happening at Edgewood Elementary tomorrow, can you be there?"  The call came from the United Way of the Lakeshore and Dominique Bunker was on the other end of the line, and when that call comes in, arrangements get made to be there, because it's no April Fools joke.  Upon our arrival at the school bright and early the sights and sounds of the kids, faculty and guests echoed the excitement because a gift had been given to all of the students there!

Mission for Area People of Muskegon County is gearing up for a Fall fundraiser that will help with their incredible outreach for those in our community who need a hand with the essentials that are sometimes just not able to be met because of one reason or another. 

In November, voters in the White Lake area are being asked to approve a millage for a 5 year period where they are asking for 1.65 mills for some incredibly necessary upgrades and improvements.  It's not an indefinite period of time and it's being asked by those who daily, put their life on the line to protect the rest of us.  We at the Muskegon Channel have always sided with those in public service and what's needed at the White Lake Fire Authority, you'll see is truly a small ask for what's provided. Citizens Supporting WLFA on Facebook

Let's go back a bit.  The current main station in Downtown Whitehall has been there since the 50's.  It's unable to hold the equipment and tools needed in today's line of first response work.  What was once a "fire barn" with a dalmatian out front in the classic minds eye has become a central spot for fire trucks, EMT's, water rescue, life saving supplies, implements to extricate people from crashed vehicles and more.  The current building isn't even properly vented for the exhaust the trucks put out when started so, when a call comes in and the vehicles roll out...the lingering cloud lasts a while.  The administrative area of the fire department is smaller than a single axle travel trailer  and as the need for services has increased space has gotten so tight, even holding a department meeting requires the moving of all the vehicles out of the bays and the garage becomes a makeshift conference room.  There's one essential vehicle that can't even fit inside the old facility.

There is also a very large need to replace 2 of their trucks.  The average life span of an emergency service vehicle according to Pete McCarthy who you'll hear from in a little bit, is 20 years and White Lake Fire has one that's 25 and one that's 29.  Their life span has passed and and replacements are needed for the safety of their expansive community.  With the size of their service area, knowing what it's going to cost the average homeowner is best answered by calling your local municipality or consulting your taxable value of your home by .00165.  So, for an example if your house has a taxable value of $100,000 it will cost you $165 dollars.  No one wants to pay more taxes, but imagine if in your time of need the services are not there.  Makes $165 bucks seem pretty paltry.

As we mentioned, Pete McCarthy is a Captain with the White Lake Fire Authority and I caught up with him as he was setting up for the WLFA Open House held Friday night at the station.  We took a few minutes to talk about the growth of their services as well as the cramped space they have grown past and what's to come should the voters agree this is a necessary improvement for the booming White Lake Area.  Take a listen.  

We stand with our first responders.  We have yet to come across any ask from a public safety organization that's not been thoroughly researched and proven needed.  The White Lake Fire Authority is just that.  The White Lake area is filled with everything from multi family to huge stately mansions.  The calls for service range from dirt roads to one of the busiest highways in the state.  Showing up with a pumper truck is still a service, but so are calls for drug over doses and other modern social plagues.  A request like this is why society is set up.  Community is built on combined resources to take care of each other in time of need and supporting those who take the job.  Please know the facts and vote November 5th and help the White Lake Fire Authority serve their beautiful part of Muskegon County.

To break character a little is a way to draw a little attention to something that can often be a difficult subject to address.  When that difficult topic happens to be the abuse of women, it takes a little more of an effort.  For years now, in Muskegon, the men of the community have broken character, away from their day jobs and their normal demeanor to strut the runway in front of the community with designer purses that come in from donors all over the area and are combined with some incredible opportunities.  Is it a night of silly fun?  Yep.  Is it an effort on the part of all to raise a few bucks and a lot of awareness about domestic violence and the organization in Muskegon that's been at the forefront of the cause since 1975, Every Woman's Place.  Click here for Tickets to Power of the Purse

The work of Every Woman's Place goes so far in Muskegon.  They work to offer safe shelter, counselling, advocacy and supportive services to women and children surviving sexual and domestic violence.  Services also include parenting education, sexual assault crisis intervention, information and referrals and and a 24 hour crisis line.  And all of this is free to those who need the services.  Over the course of the year, the program relies on some fundraiser events like Power of the Purse, Cheers and Chocolate and more.  They also work to secure grants and donations in other ways to continue the essential and vital work they do for all they serve.

This year, the fun is set to take place at the Fricano Event Center on Muskegon Lake on October 10th.  300 plus guests will be in attendance...15 or more purse models will be competing for top bids and the food and drink will be second to none as always at a Fricano's event!  There will be silent auctions going on as well as music and more.  The highlight though....the runway.  Some guys embrace it....some nervously stroll up and down it, others....well others think they are on a Broadway stage and go all out!  Women leave with top notch designer handbags and the guys leave knowing that while they let their guard down, hey did their part to help women in crisis.

This year, Subaru of Muskegon, part of the My Auto Family has stepped up to be the headline sponsor of the event.  Elisa Hopper of Every Woman's Place and Maria Secord of My Subaru joined Andy O....who by the way....continues to show up Norton Shores Mayor Gary Nelund in the battle of U of M vs. MSU purses year after year...to talk about this years event.  Take a listen.  

Fun huh?  Does it have a bit of the "town follies" feel?  It sure does, and it's such an incredible thing to be a part of.  When we hear about domestic violence or sexual trauma...we all stand there, shaking our heads and asking "What can I do?"  Well, here's your sign.  You can be a part of an event like this.  You can make a small donation to Every Woman's Place.  You can learn the signs of domestic violence and you can advocate for those who are victims.  We hope to see you at the Fricano Event Center October 10th for Power of the Purse.  You an learn more about Every Woman's Place by clicking on the image below.

  For the 25th year, The International Buster Keaton Society’s will host their Buster Keaton Convention in Muskegon, Michigan, the summer home of Buster Keaton and his family in Bluffton / the Actors Colony, during many of their years on the Vaudeville circuit. Members of the society, who call themselves The Damfinos, will come to town from all over the world and participate in this three days event.

  For the regular fans, one of the main events is set on Oct 5, 2019 at 8PM -  the the showing of the double feature: One Week (1920) and The Camera Man (1928) at the Majestic Frauenthal Theater with LIVE organ accompaniment by Dennis Scott on the mighty Barton Organ. This event is open to public with tickets for $8 in advance and $10 at the door.

Orchard View Adult Education is an AMAZING resource for those who would be considered "non traditional' students.  For some, the setting of a school wasn't ideal, or maybe it was a learning disability that was unknown and discouraged them from completing their diploma.  Maybe it was a life circumstance like the need to go to work or raise a child that took someone away from the ability to complete their education.  There are any number of things that can get in the way, and in days gone by, those who couldn't complete the K-12 process the way others do...well, we all know how that worked out.  It was generally a hill often hard to climb for anyone.  Follow Orchard View Adult Ed on Facebook

Today, the approach to education has changed and the shame and stigma of that classic mold not being completed as it should be isn't seen as it was.  Hey, sometimes life is hard and the path has to make some twists and turns.  That doesn't mean that when things are back to a little more normal that anyone should be denied a diploma or GED.  That's where Orchard View Adult Education Comes in.

Offering specialized focus on the student and customizing a learning experience for them is the key to their success.  No matter where the students are on their educational path, OV Adult Ed will access there needs and custom tailor a program with the support they need to get past the hard parts and give them the self confidence along with the paperwork that says that they did it!  Their campus out off Apple Avenue is still open and embracing students, but not long ago their Downtown Muskegon location had some changes and that left their students in the area in a bit of a lurch.

To the rescue came Muskegon Community College in the beautiful new Strurrus Center right across for Hackley Park which not only had the room to welcome the teachers and students, but they also have the technology in place to make the move in quick and above all....the students working on getting those basics done, they get a first hand look daily at just what the future can hold for them if they choose to continue on to a certificate or degree program with MCC.  This is an amazing win for all involved and getting the word out about the new Downtown Muskegon location is what spurred the call from Stephanie Agard to come down and learn a little more.

We did just that.  We met with Stephanie, Elizabeth DiRitio and Amber Silvis who are teachers with OV Adult Ed and Ashley Battle from Muskegon Community College and we talked about this amazing meet up of educational opportunity....take a listen.

Don't let the stigma of "what was" stand in your way.  Orchard View Adult Education is right there to help you every step of the way!  So, no matter the circumstance that kept you from completing high school or how long it's been, now is the time to grab life by the tail and finish it up.  There is help every step of the way and you will not find a better opportunity anywhere from people.  Click on the image below to get started.

I was back at the GVSU-Annis Water Resources Institute last week for a chat with Dr. Rick Rediske, scientist and professor of water resources. I have known Rick for decades. His work and assistance have been absolutely essential to cleaning up White Lake, as well as advancing Muskegon Lake’s restoration. Rick was always available to meet with me and other citizens to help us understand pollution issues, and he was the lead scientist on many important studies that helped to define environmental problems in the two lakes, as well as solutions. State of Michigan Pfas Site

My guess is that many in Muskegon County may not know that he helped citizens in Rockford, Michigan raise the issue of PFAS to the attention of state environmental regulators and public health officials and he is one of the state’s top experts on the subject. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, are a group of chemicals used in the industrial, food, textile, and even firefighting industries. They break down very slowly in the environment and are highly soluble, easily transferring through soil to groundwater.

Rockford citizens became concerned about pollution in their community almost 10 years ago. They were frustrated by the lack of attention by city and state government and asked Rick to help. What they uncovered was a massive pollution problem, extending throughout 25-square miles, and contaminating drinking water for almost a thousand households. The offending pollutants were PFAS-related chemicals in Scotchgard, the product used to waterproof shoes made by Wolverine. The state is now studying the pollution at sites across the state, as PFAS-type compounds are used in firefighting foam, and other products. Rick notes that they are also in many everyday products such as fast food wrappers, dental floss, and Teflon cookware.

PFAS compounds have numerous harmful health effects. They can affect the growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children, lower a woman’s chance of getting pregnant, affect the immune system, and increase the risk of certain types of cancer. And to make matters worse, the federal guidelines are considered inadequate by many scientists. Fortunately, Michigan is developing its own guideline, which will lower the amount allowable for safe exposure to people.

To find out more, you can check out the state’s website, which provides all of the testing done to date on public water supplies. Muskegon County’s health department also provides information on this topic. A Great Lakes environmental group, Freshwater Future, is offering affordable tests for private drinking water wells.

Have you heard about these little things called the Little Free Library? Well let me tell you.. The Little Free Library is a non-profit focused to put books into hands that may not otherwise have had the access to them. These Little Free Library’s are meant to inspire the love of reading in all ages. When you visit a location you are able to pick a book out to take home, you can choose to keep it, bring it back or exchange it for another.  Visit the Lazy Oak Little Library on Facebook

I know that we have a few of these amazing library's around Muskegon county. Orchard View has one at the OVEE, OVE and OVM schools. You can also find one on Palmer Ave downtown Muskegon. Today I had the pleasure of meeting with Lindsay who is the one behind the newest Lazy Oak Little Free Library here is Muskegon located at the end on Lazy Oak Trail. on the turnaround in the cul-de-sac. Lindsay had said that she loves the idea and knew that she wanted to add one in her neighborhood. With the help of her husband and a filing cabinet from Ikea the Lazy Oak Little Tree Little Free Library was formed. Lindsay says that she wanted everyone of all ages to feel welcome to come and visit. You are able to take/leave a book, donate a bookmark or even leave a note of thanks or an uplifting message for the next person.

If you are able please go and visit one of these amazing fixtures in our community. Below is a short video that I took of the chat that I had with Lindsay. You can also click on the photo to the right to see some of the books that you can find at this location.

If you would like to have more information about Little Free Library’s, where they are or maybe how you can add one into your community you can find that information by clicking below!

So...you learn the family business, you get to know all the in's and outs of it, you grow a little on your own and then you spread your wings because you realize you can "fix anything that creates a stitch" and you've quietly built yourself a little empire in Muskegon providing a service that is essential, but most don't realize they need until it's the very last second and they are in a pinch.  Over the years, you grow to not only have a shop in a quiet little unsuspecting area, but you're travelling the region and country doing what you do and keeping sewing machines...all kinds of them, from home use to industrial applications up and running.  

This is the story of Wildig Services of Muskegon.  Family owned and operated, Wildig services is located out on Apple Ave. by the corner of Maple Island and while they have spent their time fixing up what failed for those who like to use a sewing machine for business or pleasure, they have also been incredibly resourceful in their business by building up their own stock of sewing machines.  Some came in on trade, some came in broken past repair....some were just let go because of an upgrade but all of them have very specialized parts that you can't just run into a store and get, so...the smart thing to do was to hang on to what you have to help with what you need!  Not everything in society today is disposable like we all think. Visit SoWild Custom Interiors on Facebook

So, with their years in business... the Willdig's have piled up over 1500 sewing machines.  All makes and models.  Some antique, some fairly new.  Some still in good working order and some are even ready to be run with a foot pedal should the right customer come along and want that option.  Their shop is quaint and they have also expanded in recent years to offer custom upholstering for cars and boats at their Apple Ave. location with their SoWild Custom Interiors, along with some more current sewing machines for sale...but the real story is what you find at their storage facility. 

Shelves....stacks and and square feet of floor covered in sewing machines.  It's such a site to see that when there was a Facebook post with a snapshot of one small area of the sewing machines...we reached out to see if we could come tell the story.  Sarah Wildig graciously agreed to let us show up with the camera and show you what's going on.  Take a look, and listen.

Wow!  It's a bit of a quirky story, sure...who would think of such a collection?  Smart, resourceful and practical when it comes to having what you need for your business!  As Sarah said though...they are looking to liquidate the collection and are deciding on how.  An open house maybe or possibly one buyer?  Time will tell, but our thanks for now go out to the Wildigs for a fun story...a very unique business in Muskegon and for keeping us "in stitches" of all kinds for years!  You can call their shop if you like.  231-788-6127 and if you need a sewing machine looked at, think of a local, family run small business that would be happy to see ya!  

Last week I met up with Dr. Steinman, Al, as I have known him for many years, to talk about the Institute’s important role in Muskegon County and a few of the top environmental issues of the day.

Here we are.  It's the final segment of our conversations with Kelly DeVos.  Kelly is an Event Chair with the Walk to End Alzheimer's which is coming up September 21st at Heritage Landing.  It's an event to raise awareness and some funding for the fight against this horrible disease.  It's also a time for those who suffer and those who care for them a chance to get together and find some support and comfort in knowing they are not alone.  Click Here for the Muskegon Walk to End Alzheimer's

Kelly has been absolutely incredible in sharing her story.  Her father has Alzheimer's Disease and as we've heard her story from the first signs and diagnosis, we're now at the point where the disease has progressed to the point where home care for her dad is no longer an option.  It was 5 years of her dad living with her as a single mother, career woman and advocate for the fight.  The tension of agitation from Alzheimer's is building...memory loss is getting worse and physical limitations are growing.  It was time for some professional, monitored care, which means it was time for Kelly to let go a little. 

In our final talk, hear from Kelly the struggles of letting go as well as her feelings of relief to a degree.  How do you process the feelings of having to give up some care for the best her dad, but getting a little of your own life back?  We also talk about where her dad is now and how the constant care is helping her dad.  We also talk a little about her feelings of the possibility of the disease and it's generational tendencies.  Yes, we confront Kelly's own fears about Alzheimer's.

Take a listen to our final installment of Tuesday's with Kelly.  We've also added the first three below this weeks final chapter in case you've not seen what we've talked about so far.  These are intimate, honest conversations.  There are some moments of laughter, some of tears and the whole thing is a deeper conversation about Alzheimer's Disease than you'll probably hear anywhere else.  Kelly is a remarkable story teller.  Take a listen.

Powerful words and emotion.  It's been an incredible journey to share with Kelly, to share this story of an all consuming disease without many answers, no cure and an increasing number of those afflicted.  There will be a time, in the very near future, that much like cancer...we will all know someone who's been touched by Alzheimer's Disease.  While there might not be an answer yet, the hope is the first survivor of Alzheimer's has already been born, and the work will continue and intensify until the day it's eradicated.  

Our most sincere thanks to Kelly for her willingness to share so openly and honestly.  What would be the impossible for some, Kelly faced with the attitude that if she reaches one person who's dealing with the circumstances she is and has, she's made a difference.  This all stemmed from Andy O being asked to be the Spokesmen for the Alzheimer's Association in Muskegon and for the Walk to End Alzheimer's, but it's pretty clear to see....Kelly is the real spokesmen....or spokeswoman if you will, and the power to make a difference in the lives of people doesn't come from the loudest voice or the face most recognized, it comes from those who can share their experience, strength and hope from living it and healing is a gift anyone holds, if only they are willing to share. 

You can see the rest of Kelly's story by clicking on the first three segments which you'll find below. 

Part 3

Part 2

Part 1

To visit the Alzheimer's Association's website, please...click on the photo below.