GoodLife January-February

Good lifeYour l ife up north

January/February 2011

New routine10 habits to make this year

Health’s best friendWhy having a pet could improve your quality of life

Which WILL work?Living trust, living will & will

2 Your life up north

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GOODlife 3

Contents

2227

12

16features

6 Good Stuff Good To Go: Shoulder Press

Good Humor: Katie MacInnis

Grandparenting: Valentine’s Day

9 nod to nostalgia 1948, the year of the Frisbee

10 Good Taste Pulled pork

12 Good escape The Inn at Bay Harbor

14 a Good Word Anne Kelly

16 Good Health Prescription: pets

20 Good Idea Painting sanctuary

22 Cover story 10 habits to make this year

27 Good Cents The difference between living trust, living will and will

29 Good Samaritan Big Brothers, Big Sisters

on the cover: Maggie Daniels is director at the north Central Michigan College Student and Community resource Center in petoskey.


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© Goodlife, all rights reserved, 2011. reproduction in any form, in whole or in

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Goodlife is published bi-monthly by northern Michigan review, Inc.

goodlife Magazine 319 State St., petoskey, Mich. 49770

Good life


Good StuffGood StuffGood to Go Good humor

Maintaining and increasing joint mobility is important for maturing bodies.

“People over 50 need to start increasing resistance exercise. What builds bones is resistance exercise and weight-bearing exercise,” said Dean Tahtinen, physical therapist with First Choice Physical Therapy in Petoskey.

The resist shoulder overhead press serves to efficiently move your shoulders through a full range of motion, Tahtinen said. Additionally, building muscle and bone helps fight against osteoporosis.

Here are the steps:

resist Shoulder overhead Press

Are we appy?If it seems difficult to embrace new technology,

you are not alone.All throughout history humans have struggled

with change.If you had been in the horse-and-buggy busi-

ness in the late 1800s, it would be hard to be happy about the internal combustion engine. You might even tell others how horses were better.

So if you are bewildered by the new phones, Twitter, MySpace, GPS, all of it, you have lots of company.

One hundred years after the horse was put back in the barn, we are confronted with things like apps on iPhones.

For less than $5 you can obtain a program (that would be an app, short for application, as no one seems to have time for entire words anymore) that shows, on the phone face, a glass of beer. When you tip it, the “beer” will empty in the same way it does when you drink beer. Now there’s an im-provement!

Of course, WE come from the paradigm (I knew I could get that word in) of John Belushi, wearing a toga, crushing beer cans against his forehead at a fraternity party in the memorable movie, Animal House. That was beer drinking! And if memory serves me, $5 would have bought a case back then.

You can easily see how far we’ve come.So when your children speak to you conde-

scendingly if you can’t understand almost every-thing they say, when you ask a friend a simple question on the phone, like “what time is the get-together” and they say, “Just look at the e-mail I sent you,” when people no longer have eye con-tact with you, but you frequently have complete conversations while they are Twittering someone/thing and you are left to view the top of their head ... try to remember how far we have come.

— Katie MacInnis

1. holding a pound of weight — a 16-ounce bottle of water or can of soup in each hand — sit or stand with your arms at your sides and your elbows slightly bent.

2. Lift weights up and over your head.

3. return to start position and repeat.

Do as many repetitions as you are comfortable with. The next day, do 80 percent of the first day’s set to avoid overworking your body, Tahtinen said. For example, if you lifted a total of 30 times, try for 24.

Maintain the 80 percent until you become more comfortable with the exercise, then increase the weight and repetitions.

“I like to tell people, begin with Campbell’s Soup and move to navy beans,” Tahtinen said.

— Morgan SherburneKatie MacInnis is a retired nurse living in Harbor Springs with her husband, Charlie, and Fred and Amelia, her cat and dog. She keeps busy doing volunteer work, collecting her Social Security checks and getting senior coffee, even from the drive-in window. She loves to write, and finds lots of humor in the changes that aging brings.

Jim Wade of Petoskey does a resist shoulder overhead press.

GOODlife 7

Good StuffGrAndPArentinG

Good thouGht

Good to KnoW

GrAndPArentinG

Good thouGhtS

Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to gather the grand-kids and get out the glue,

glitter, crayons and construction paper to make cards for your loved ones.

“To create a lovely valentine, as well as a heartwarming memo-ry,” noted Nicki Matelski of Ben Franklin in Petoskey, “gather some or all of the following supplies.”

— Assorted colored and decora-tive papers

— Rubber or acrylic stamps with an ink pad

— Colored pencils or markers, stickers, ribbon, glitter and ad-hesive

— A paper trimmer or scissorsYou can add your own touch

with photos or a from-the-heart poem, she said.

“Be creative. You can collect items from around the house: buttons, silk flowers, etc.,” Matel-ski added.

Cut a card in the outline of your grandchild’s hand to create a personalized touch. For a unique shape, cut a card out of paper as you would a paper snowflake, but use red paper. Fold the paper into quarters or sixteenths, and in-stead of cutting angular snowflake shapes, cut heart shapes instead.

— Morgan Sherburne

when grace is joined with wrinkles, it is adorable. there is an unspeakable dawn in happy old age. — Victor hugo

When I was 40, my doctor advised me that a man in his 40s shouldn’t play tennis. I heeded his advice carefully and could hardly wait until I reached 50 to start again. — Hugo l. Black

You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old. — george Burns

Valentines Day


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Music

In the news

Movie

The way it was

nod to noStALGiA - 1948

Nat King Cole

“Easter Parade”

TheFrisbee

For eight weeks during 1948, Nat King Cole’s “Nature Boy” held the No. 1 spot in the Billboard Top 10.

Hits such as “Mona Lisa,” “Too Young” and, of course, “Unforgettable,” followed in the same period. Because of his popularity, Cole was the first African American to host a network variety program. “The Nat King Cole Show” debuted in 1956 on NBC, but lasted only one season because of lack of sponsorship.

Cole passed away in 1965 from lung cancer. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Early Influences category that honors artists who performed before the rise of rock ‘n’ roll, but impacted it regardless.

— Harry S. Truman is elected president, beating Thomas Dewey, Strom Thurmond and Henry Wallace.

— Mahatma Gandhi is assassinated by a Hindu extremist.

— NASCAR has its first modified stock car race in Daytona Beach.

— Ferdinand Porsche develops the first roadster to bear the famous Porsche name.

— Gas to fuel your Porsche would cost you only 16 cents a gallon.

— But, on average, you’d be making only about $2,950 per year.

In the 1948 film “Easter Parade,” Don Hewes (Fred Astaire) and Nadine Hale (Ann Miller) are a successful dancing team, until Hale decides to begin her own career. Hewes vows to teach a chorus girl, Hannah Brown (Judy Garland), to dance better than Hale. Brown learns how to dance — but not before falling in love with Hewes. But Hewes still has feelings for Hale, who loves Hewes’ best friend, Jonathan Harrow (Peter Lawford). Harrow falls in love with Brown, completing the romantic rectangle.

“Easter Parade” won an Oscar for Best Music and Scoring of a Musical Picture, and a Writers Guild of America award for Best Written American Musical.

Walter Frederick Morris had been flinging cake pans for fun for 11 years before reinventing them as the Flyin-Saucer in 1948.

He sold them at local parks and beaches in Los Angeles. After another 11 years, Morrison sold his invention, renamed the Pluto Platter, to the California-based company Wham-O.

Wham-O found young people on the East Coast had been throwing the Frisbie Pie Co.’s tins, calling them “Frisbies.” Company executives renamed the discs “Frisbees” in 1958, and have since sold more than 200 million.

Music

In the news

Movie

The way it was


J.M. HIRSCH AP Food Editor

This dish started as a three-ingre-dient slow cooker recipe. And I completely messed it up.

I’d read another recipe that called for combining pork butt, a bottle of cola and a bottle of barbecue sauce in the slow cooker, then walking away. Seemed interesting, though the cola idea made me want to gag (and yes, I know lots of people cook with cola).

I tried it, substituting a bottle of hard cider for the cola. It was great, except that after six hours in the slow cooker the sauce was still way too liquidy. I ended up dumping the whole thing into a saucepan and boiling it until the sauce was reduced and thick.

That made me wonder why I bothered with the slow cooker at all. Why not just do the whole thing on

the stovetop? It would be much fast-er, there would be less cleanup and it would solve my liquid issues.

To make this new approach work, I needed to change the cut of pork, but boneless (country-style) ribs worked just fine. And to make a meal of it, I tried the resulting quick-cook cider-barbecue pulled pork over mashed potatoes. It was amazing. Best yet, it was incredibly simple.

Though this recipe calls for hard cider (sold alongside beer), sweet ci-der could be substituted. And while it isn’t as quick as most weeknight recipes, it is almost entirely hands off.

CIDer-barbeCue PuLLeD POrK OVer MaSHeD POTaTOeSStart to finish: 1 hour 15 minutes (20 minutes active) Servings: 6— 2 pounds boneless

(country-style) pork ribs

— 1 pint hard cider

— 18 1/2-ounce bottle barbecue sauce

— 2 1/2 pounds russet pota-toes, peeled and quartered

— 6 tablespoons butter

— 1/2 cup whole milk

— 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

— Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

In a large saucepan over medium-high, combine the ribs, cider and barbecue sauce. Stir well, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a steady simmer. Cook for 1 hour to 1 1/4 hours, or until the pork is very tender and the liquid is reduced and thick.

After 45 minutes, place the po-tatoes in a medium saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover, then bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until the potatoes are tender. Drain the potatoes and re-turn to the pot. Add the butter and milk, then mash. Mix in the parsley, then season with salt and pepper. Cover and set aside.

Use two forks to shred and pull apart the pork, mixing it with the sauce. Serve the pork over the mashed potatoes.

nutrition information per serving (values are rounded

to the nearest whole number): 536 calories; 185 calories from

fat (35 percent of total calories); 21 g fat (11 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 144 mg cholesterol; 46 g carbohydrate; 37 g protein; 2

g fiber; 1,051 mg sodium.

Pulled porkA dinner that screams cold weather comfort food

Good tASte

GOODlife 11

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Good eScAPe

By Kristin Bates • Photos by G. Randall Goss

For many residents of Northern Michigan, the thought of brav-ing the snow-covered roads for

a winter getaway is overwhelming and daunting.

But the nearby Inn at Bay Harbor — A Renaissance Golf Resort is just around the bend and full of exciting possibilities.

With 134 rooms ranging from the guest room to the penthouse suite, 24 lakeside cottages or 15 cottages at Crooked Tree, there are accommo-dations to complement everyone’s taste.

“We like to emphasize the lake-side luxury of the inn, with provid-ing our guests with high-end ser-vices, dining and entertainment. It is the perfect romantic getaway with

everything you need for a relaxing weekend without having to leave the premises,” said general manager Ron Braniecki.

Sagamore’s, the South Ameri-can Grille and Wine Bar, and the Inn Café offer guests a selection of contemporary gourmet fare and spa cuisine.

“We have nightly theme din-ing options in the South American, with formal weekend dining in Saga-more’s, while the café is designed for quick snacks and light meals,” added Braniecki.

From 6-9 p.m. every Wednesday, there will be sushi night at the South American featuring live music by Sean Bielby and Adam Engelman. There is a Friday night fish fry from 5:30-11 p.m. in Sagamore’s, which costs $14.95 per person.

To add to a relaxing visit, there is a full-service day spa and sa-lon offering massages, a variety of body treatments and facials, as well as manicures and pedicures. Throughout the winter, beginning on Wednesday, Jan. 12, the spa will introduce special date night pack-ages. There is a choice between the

“Evening Getaway” and “Romantic Rendezvous” packages. Both pack-ages offer a couple the choice of one 50-minute spa treatment, while the Romantic Rendezvous package in-cludes two salon treatments. Res-ervations are required. During the evening, the South American Grille and Wine Bar will offer two appetiz-ers, two entrees and two desserts for the cost of $80. For those looking for overnight accommodations, the Ro-mance Package is a night’s stay in the

Lakeside luxuryThe Inn at Bay Harbor offers exciting possibilities

One of two penthouse suites at the Inn at Bay Harbor

GOODlife 13

Master Suite, a split of champagne, chocolate dipped strawberries, rose petal turndown services and break-fast for two.

Also, with a focus on better health and well-being, a new addition to the spa is the Therapeutic Treat-ment Plans. Camryn Handler, spa director for the past three and a half years, explained that there isn’t any cost in advance for these plans, which include a choice of four, eight or 12 massages throughout the year. With a verbal commitment, a client can choose a 25-, 50- or 80-min-ute massage package with special discounted rates, which they can schedule at their convenience. A cli-ent may claim the cost of the plan as a flexible spending account, health savings account or medical savings account expense, too.

“Experts estimate that upwards of 90 percent of disease is stress related. Perhaps nothing ages us faster, inter-nally and externally, than high stress. Getting a massage can do you a world of good, and getting a massage frequently can do even more. This is the beauty of bodywork. Massage can, without a doubt, reduce stress,” said Handler.

When asked about future plans,

Braniecki said, “We have seen an in-crease in conferences and the popu-larity of the destination wedding trade, which has been exciting. For future plans, we hope to include an added phase to our spa facility and implement an indoor pool.”

For more information, visit www.innatbayharbor.com or call (231) 439-4000.

A standard bedroom at the Inn at Bay Harbor

The fitness room overlooks the lobby.

A room at the Inn

room offeringsDescribed as “cottage-style elegance,”

guest room accommodations have two queen beds and a balcony.

There are several suites available equipped with a fireplace and kitchen-ette that offer a relaxed and casual atmo-sphere.

The master suite has one bedroom and bath, and can sleep up to four guests with additional sleeping arrangements in the living room.

The specialty suite accommodates four guests. It has a view of Lake Michi-gan, two bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a cov-ered porch.

For up to six guests, the quarry suite has two bedrooms, two baths and a hot tub.

For those with up to 10 people, the penthouse suite offers four bedrooms, five baths and two private balconies. There are laundry facilities, too.

More suite options include the grand and tower suites.

Set on the shores of Lake Michigan, the lakeside cottages have two- and three-bedroom units, which can accom-modate up to eight guests. Each cottage has a full kitchen and dining area, living room, fireplace and deck or patio. There is a washer and dryer, too.

The cottages at Crooked Tree are three-bedroom accommodations that overlook Lake Michigan and the Crooked Tree Golf Club, a short drive from the inn. Equipped with a selection of king, queen and twin beds, each cottage has a sleeper sofa for added convenience. In each mas-ter bedroom, there is a Whirlpool bath. These cottages offer a living and dining room, full kitchen, fireplace and covered patio.


Good Word

Perhaps single senior women are not really so different from their younger counter-parts.

It’s true that the number of restorative products needed to achieve a pleasing presence when it comes to attracting the opposite sex increases in proportion to one’s age, and that the pool of natural selection is also in proportional re-duction for the older woman (this is sometimes referred to as “slim pickins”).

However, a desire for compan-ionship beyond the “circle of sisters” beats deep in the heart of practi-cally every woman. Take my late mother-in-law, for example. At 98, she was cruising the nursing home in her walker looking for a likely boyfriend.

Where does a respectable, avail-able lady actually find a suitor these days? If one finds herself divorced or widowed, or is single in a new place, she might employ the high tech services of a reputable dating site online. Yes, she might. It’s really one step up from the well meant but usually disastrous fix-up.

Curious to see what all the hype was about, I recently joined the millions of subscribers to an on-line dating site. It was either this or head downtown and sit on a bar-stool, which is not cool in my small town ... at my age ... at any age. The first time I signed up was several

months ago for $29.95, the price of one month of endless possibilities.

I received 89 looks, 25 winks and 10 e-mails to which I responded “no thanks,” and contact from one gen-tleman who was into texting lingo. I got tired of consulting the diction-ary of LOLs, OMGs and BTWs. So I passed up his winks and grins and initiated a new tack: visualization.

Close my eyes. As I enter the world of cyberspace dating, I’ll pretend that I’m going to a fancy cocktail party. I am wearing what my mom would have called a “little black dress” (every girl needs one) and am feeling attractive. I have put my best face forward (three acceptable photos that were taken far enough away so as not to play up the lines around my eyes), and my profile presents me as a mature woman looking for someone with

“Substance, Salt and Pepper and a Dash of Fun.”

Let’s start with the appetizer table. I scroll down the Daily Dose. It’s hard to find a profile picture of

men this age who still have hair. (Not that hair is essential — teeth would be nice, however.)

“May-December Kinda Guy,” the headline reads. Should I read it or delete? I decide to read:

“Healthy, virile 35-year-old man looking for an older woman 50 + please who wants a little adventure ... loves travel (right ... on whose re-tirement money?), gives great mas-sages (so does my chiropractor and my insurance covers it), and loves to cuddle. (Hmmm. I’ll bet.)”

I delete. “Condo4U2.” (Now we’re talk-

ing!)“70-year-old gentleman would

love to spend my golden years shar-ing my condo in Barcelona with you ... must speak Spanish, have dark hair and be able to make paella ... I am 5’5”, but I would be 10’ tall when I’m with you ... ”

I delete. I need a glass of wine. What has brought me to this? I take a sip and continue on to the salad bar.

“Teddy Bear Looking For His Honey;” He has hair, so I continue.

“I have a house on a lake, a six pack in the fridge (not on my tor-so, sorry) and like jazz. So that you know I’m an up front kind of guy, you need to know that I lost my job as a result of this tough economic recession but do not need financial support as I do very well on food stamps. I feel the tide could turn

Seize the day by

Anne Kelly

GOODlife 15

any day now. Maybe you’re the inspiration I need. If you think so, send me an e-mail.”

You’ve got to be kidding! The next one comes up with no picture. De-lete. Do they think I’m crazy enough to write someone I can’t see?

Obviously, nothing today. I return to my matches from other log-ins, those I put in the “Maybe” column. These candidates for my affection all have one thing in common: a nice smile. I figure that if they don’t look sinister, dark or toothless, they are worth a second look. I also like the ones that are not only smiling, but are pictured holding their little grandkids ... domestic security?

The hot dishes may be more pal-atable. I move to the main course.

These are the ones who sort of in-timidate me, only in a good way. I WANT to be impressed. Impress me! The film directors, the authors, the Ph.D.s, the men who claim to make more than $100,000 a year, the ones who live in hubs like NYC or Chicago and read books. But why are they out there in cyberspace looking for love? (Why am I?!)

The poets always reel me in for dessert:

“Vacancy ... Looking for Some-one to Fill the Rooms of my Heart,”

“Come Dance With Me,” “Seize the Day,” “Let’s Sail Away ... ”

I admit to having sent icebreak-ers. I have been known to have weak moments. However, I can still hear my mother’s voice: “In social

situations, the man should make the first move, dear.” I have ignored this voice; I am too old to wait for an overture. I’m not going to be on-line dating when I’m 90 for heaven’s sake. There’s no time to waste!

I have tasted the fare on this buf-fet table and sign out for tonight. Perhaps an aperitif will present himself while I sleep. Tomorrow morning there will be a secure e-mail responding to the profile ti-tled: “Unclaimed Treasure Waiting to Be Discovered.” (That would be me!) Gl

Anne Kelly is a freelance writer for several local publications. She resides in Charlevoix.


Good heALth

Pets provide the perfect prescriptionBy Kristin Bates

There is a prescription on the market that will help relieve stress, improve your mood

and lower your blood pressure all in one.

It is called owning a pet.“I think the real prescription

for good health lies in four paws, a purr or bark, and licks from a furry face. Researchers say pets, from the traditional dogs and cats

to birds, small animals, reptiles and fish, improve their owner’s health by providing companion-ship, decreasing depression and relieving stress,” said Jane Balmer, a pet therapist and vet technician with the Little Traverse Bay Hu-mane Society in Harbor Springs.

For the past 15 years, Balmer has been taking animals to area care facilities for the purpose of offering residents the chance to interact and socialize with ani-

mals.“I started out as a volunteer. In

2003, the ANGEL Program was created at the shelter through grant money collected,” Balmer said.

The ANGEL Program stands for Animals Need to Give Every-body Love. Recently, the Little Traverse Bay Humane Society received a $3,600 grant from the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation to help

Barking up the right tree

GOODlife 17

support this program. Through continued support, Balmer visits local care facilities on a weekly basis with a collection of puppies, kittens, dogs and cats.

“Since I am a certified pet ther-apist that specializes in geriatrics, the dog doesn’t have to be a ther-apy dog. This allows me to take responsibility for the animal and to make sure it has the right tem-perament for visits,” Balmer said.

The benefits, explained Balmer, are twofold. By using shelter ani-mals, the pets receive special care in preparation for the visit, which includes special treats and a bath. And, both the residents and the animals are getting socialization.

“People who love pets do so for a lifetime. They don’t stop just be-cause they are getting older. Our visits are something out of their daily routine and a distraction. When you put a kitten in their arms, you can watch their smiles grow,” Balmer stated.

It’s also a benefit for the ani-mals.

“Shelter dogs and cats benefit from getting out and visiting. Car rides, socialization and lots of af-fection make them happier, calmer and more adoptable,” Balmer said.

Every week, Balmer picks out the animals to make the rounds. When she arrives, there are up to 15 resi-dents waiting in the lobby for their visit. She travels to the Petoskey locations of Hiland Cottage, In-dependence Village, Lockwood-MacDonald, Vital Care Adult Day Center and Bortz Health Care, and Bay Bluffs and Perry Farm Village, both in Harbor Springs.

Each Tuesday afternoon, Prin-gle Pfiefer and her miniature poodle, Molly, join Balmer on her trip to Bay Bluffs, the Emmet County medical care facility.

“So many of the residents had pets at some point in their life or had to leave their pets when they moved to Bay Bluffs. Petting Molly brings back good memo-ries that they enjoy sharing with me. I hear just wonderful stories about their animals and their lives. It is a good thing for all of us and something Molly and I hope to continue for many years,” said Pfiefer, 65, a resident of Har-bor Springs.

Both women agree that owning a pet is beneficial for your health while offering companionship, which prevents loneliness or a feeling of isolation.

“Pets can keep you motivated, active and alert. Dogs always

need exercise. They lift your spir-its. If you exercise with your pet, you’re also likely to reduce your risk of heart disease, control your weight and gain energy,” Balmer said.

Pfiefer added, “The advantage to me of having a pet after age 50 is that we both love walking to-gether and cover many miles of trails and sidewalks each week. Molly walks while I snowshoe in the winter, too. I love her com-pany and it is fun knowing that we are both getting our exercise for the day.”

For more information on the ANGEL Program, visit www.lt-bhs.com or e-mail [email protected]. Gl


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Good ideA

By Melanie Leaver

In an art form the world’s greatest masters have called unpredict-able, unexpected and spontaneous,

Walloon Lake watercolor artist Joan Duval Tebo has found sanctuary.

“It surprises you as you work — things happen — you aren’t painting alone,” Tebo said. “You are a conduit for a greater force.”

Watching Tebo, 64, brush the can-vas with an ease of grace, creating a harmonious symmetry on canvas with the environment she’s seeing, is in itself a soothing experience.

“It’s what it does. It takes your mind off all of your other problems because you’re focused,” Tebo said. “If you’re in the sun, you might get burned. If you’re in the rain, you might get wet.”

Her eyes rarely glancing down to see her work, Tebo’s left hand swirls and blends color with a life of its own. Wet colors run, mix and flow. She said this is why she rarely chooses to use an easel when creating and pre-fers to paint on flat surfaces.

“It’s like doing a puzzle where you’re putting shapes on a page and you really don’t know until you’re done if those shapes make sense or if you’ve observed them correctly,” she said.

In watercolor, improvisation is ev-erything and seems to record an art-ist’s fleeting thoughts on paper.

“When I’m painting, it’s always a surprise. I don’t have control. I’m let-ting go of that side of the brain, that controlling side,” she said. “You’re creating something even you hadn’t really thought about. I start without a vision of what it will look like in the end.

“It’s thrilling and surprising what happens. You can be fascinated by the colors and how they work them-

selves out of a piece of pa-per if you are willing to let it happen.”

With her home poised on the highest point over-looking Walloon Lake’s shore, Tebo has a bounty of four-season beauty and a treetop view to inspire her.

“This area is so full of beauty, and stunning,” she said. “I’m overwhelmed by nature’s unbelievable dis-play. It’s always different, it’s always wonderful and amazing. I don’t know if I would be painting like this if I lived in the city.”

A native of Lansing, Te-bo’s desire to create began early with the help of art teachers who inspired, en-couraged and supported.

Tebo said of all the experiences she has had while creating pottery and painting for more than 20 years, a quote from a middle school art teacher has continued to fuel her passion for creating art and encour-aging others to take the plunge.

“An artist is not a special kind of person; every person is a special kind of artist,” she remembers him saying.

“You were born to create and to solve problems, and if it’s not a paint-brush, it’s something else. Your out-let is your creative artistry, and we all need that outlet,” Tebo said.

Tebo began her art career at Michigan State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in ceramics and went into a career in interior design, where she got her first lessons in watercolor.

Tebo then went back to Michigan State to earn a master’s degree with

an emphasis in education.She became an elementary art

teacher in the Gaylord Community Schools. On a skiing respite from teaching art, she met her husband, Art, at Boyne Mountain. He man-aged Boyne Highlands and eventual-ly became the chief operating officer of Boyne USA.

Tebo left her teaching career to ac-company her husband in his work at Boyne USA.

“I was a potter,” Tebo said, “and I was a potter until my children were born.”

A fellow artist and friend intro-duced Tebo to the Walloon Art Club, and that was where she made her first forays into watercolor nearly 20 years ago. She also participates in the Kitchen Painters group at Crooked

Painting sanctuary

Joan Tebo paints at home

GOODlife 21

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At first, Tebo noted she was hesi-tant to set aside her pottery and pick up a paintbrush.

“I would tell my friends that I hadn’t made pottery in over a year,” she said. “And my friends said ‘Give it up — you aren’t a potter anymore, you’re a painter.’”

Her art is now featured in a line of note cards with her favorite sum-mer scene paintings, and Christmas cards with whimsical woodland ani-mals celebrating the holidays in win-ter settings.

Tebo continues to paint with the art club, which has been around for more than two generations.

As she has honed her eye for wa-tercolor, she added she has embraced the en plein air style of painting, which is a French expression that means ‘in the open air,’ and is used to describe the act of painting outdoors.

“It doesn’t take a lot of tools or space.

You set up and you can paint in just a few minutes,” she said, “It’s easy and not like making pottery, where you need weeks and many steps.”

The hardest part of watercolor, ac-cording to Tebo, is figuring where on the palette to start.

“As a watercolor painter, it’s hard to look at the sunset and decide what color to start with — and there are never any two clouds that look alike,” she noted.

For those who would like to pick up a paintbrush, Tebo goes back to the wisdom of her middle school art teacher and reiterated that everyone is a special kind of artist.

She also recommended beginners not try to skimp on quality supplies.

“When you start out you might try to start with inexpensive paper and inexpensive brushes,” she said, “but it really does make a difference.”

Her unique experience as an ele-mentary art teacher has also allowed her to see where many children lose faith in their creativity, Tebo said.

“Everyone is born with an urge,

a need to be creative. It’s natural for a child to go through stages of awareness. When they come to the stage of realization around third or fourth grade, they’ll stop drawing when they think what they drew didn’t look like a real person,” she said. “Everyone can draw. It’s play-ing the game of looking at spacing and not reality, a matter of practice and focus.”

Tebo added she has plans to ex-plore working with another medium in the coming winter.

“I have my oils at the ready, and like the painters of old, I thought I would start putting my favorite paintings into oil,” she said.

Like at the beginning of a new painting, Tebo noted she cannot see where her art explorations may take her. But she can easily say that she has no regrets for the path her cre-ative nature has taken her.

“I’ve been blessed my whole life. All my dreams have come true and things are much better than I ever planned,” Tebo said. Gl

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10 habits to make this year

1. Embrace a positive attitude.For Dr. James J. Beno with Beno

Clinic Chiropractic Center P.C. in Petoskey, employing a positive at-titude is the single most important factor to health and life.

“Whatever you do in life, all be-gins with a thought, and thoughts make up your feelings. And nega-tive feelings can make you sick, and positive feelings can make you healthy,” he noted.

It all starts the moment you wake up, he added, when you can set the tone for the day. Starting with the thought that it is going to be a good day is an easy first step.

Beno noted people often know what they don’t want, but are less clear on what they do want. But focusing on what’s not wanted is highlighting the negative, he added.

“If you don’t like your job or you don’t like your weight, your finan-cial position or your health, you have to know what you want,” he said.

Beno added that in his own life, he’s learned what he thinks is what he gets.

“When you have an attitude of gratitude, more good things are go-ing to come into your life,” he said.

Related to this is the concept

of mindfulness, noted Dr. Carin Nielsen, medical director of The Center for Optimal Health, newly-opened by Northern Michigan Re-gional Health System in Petoskey. The Center of Optimal Health is an integrative medicine and wellness center focused on integrating com-plementary therapies with Western medicine, and providing tools for lifestyle change.

“Mindfulness focuses on being aware in the present moment. Un-conscious thoughts, feelings and behaviors can significantly impact our emotional, physical and spiri-tual health,” Nielsen noted.

A six-week course, “An Introduc-tion to Mindfulness — A Method for Stress reduction,” will be offered 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Jan. 18 at the community Health educa-tion center located on the northern Michigan regional Hospital campus in Petoskey.

The classes are offered through The center for Optimal Health at northern Michigan regional Health System, and led by instructor chris Frasz, MSW.

“Through a mindfullness-based stress reduction class, participants have the opportunity to become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, and gain a greater aware-ness of the mind-body connection,” noted Dr. carin nielsen, medical director of The center for Optimal Health.

The course introduces various topics, such as examining the role stress and worry plays in one’s life, and using mindfulness-based techniques to reduce stress by re-focusing one’s perceptions and expectations. Various breathing and stretching exercises will also be in-corporated into each one and a half hour session.

The fee for the course is $100. Space is limited. To learn more or register, call The center for Optimal Health at (231) 487-5700 or e-mail [email protected].

By Maggie Peterson

2011 is here, and with it a new year of possibilities. Here’s a look at 10 habits to make this year.

Dr. Carin Nielsen

GOODlife 23

2. Get moving.“You have to move your body. The human body was just not designed to

be sedentary and many things go wrong if you don’t move,” noted Maggie Daniels, R.N., director of North Central Michigan College Student and Community Resource Center in Petoskey, certified medical exercise spe-cialist and certified personal trainer.

Lack of exercise can lead to any number of health problems, including range of motion loss in joints, muscle atrophy, poor circulation and poor mood, Daniels noted.

“The big thing now is for people to find something that they like and can sustain every day,” she said.

She suggested walking, starting with 10 minutes every day. If there’s a nearby stairway, walk up and down 10 times. If the weather is too severe to be outside, travel to a warm, safe environment.

“If you can walk, you can snowshoe. And if you can snowshoe, you can get outside and reap the benefits of vitamin D when there’s sun, fresh air which refreshes your mood, and you won’t be afraid of slipping on ice be-cause snowshoes have spikes,” Daniels said, adding to start by going once a week, and work gradually up to three times a week.

3. Eat whole foods; watch portion sizes.Charlevoix Area Hospital regis-

tered dietitian Amanda Evans said eating whole foods and watching portion sizes go hand in hand.

There are several theories out there about what it means to eat whole foods, ranging from only eat-ing foods with five ingredients or less, and on to eating only foods that would be recognized by your grandmother or great-grandmother. No matter the axiom, the idea is the same — eat foods that resemble their natural state, Evans noted.

An example is apples versus apple juice. With an apple, your body is getting all of the fiber and vitamins in the fruit. Apple juice, through its processing, is stripped of its fiber and some of those vitamins. It also gener-ally has increased sugar.

Evans noted there is currently a huge focus on fat-free foods and arti-ficial sweeteners, but that often leads to portion issues.

“When people switch to fat free or low fat, they tend to eat more,” she noted. This is can mean a higher cal-orie count with that increased con-sumption.

Fat is also flavor, so “when you

take something out like the fat, you have to replace it,” Evans added. This addition is often sugar, which poses its own problems.

To help prevent over-serving, Ev-ans suggested reading the labels and sticking with suggested portion sizes. Also, a good rule of thumb is actually a rule of hand — the size of a balled fist is roughly a cup, while what can be held in an open palm is roughly a half-cup. A portion the size of a deck of cards is about 3 ounces, which is a suggested serving of protein.

Daniels said that eating breakfast is important for fueling the body, as overnight the body has essentially fasted for 10 to 12 hours. She added that it’s important to keep breakfast foods and carbohydrates whole, such as whole grain cereal or toast, oat-meal and fruit.

“Every move that you make and thought you think is fueled by carbo-hydrates,” she said.

4. Eat more fiber.The benefits of increased fiber

extend to just about all aspects of health.

Evans said most people consume only 11 to 15 grams of fiber daily. “I always tell people to aim for 25 to 35

grams (of fiber each day),” she noted.Advantages of fiber-rich diets in-

clude:— Better gastrointestinal function— Reduced constipation— Decreased risk of disease, such

as diverticulitis and cancers, in-cluding colon cancer

— Healthy weight, as fiber is filling

The best way to determine fiber content is to read labels, and the easi-est way to boost fiber consumption is to swap out processed foods for those with whole grain.

“If you’re increasing your fiber, you’re going to want to increase wa-ter (consumption). Otherwise, you’re going to be pretty constipated or gas-sy,” Evans said, which brings up the next habit to make this year.

In addition to exercise, it’s important to move your body throughout the work day.Maggie Daniels with north central Michigan college Student and commu-nity resource center in Petoskey said it’s key to move in opposition to what you do at work, every hour. When you’re constantly sitting or standing, it takes a toll on joint function and effects range of motion.For desk jobs:

— Get up and walk around.— Swing your arms in a figure eight.— lean your head back.For standing jobs:

— Do comfortable knee bends to aid circulation.

— Bend forward and backward from the hips, then side to side.

Amanda Evans, Charlevoix Area Hospital registered dietitian


5. Drink more water.The majority of the population should be aiming to

drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily.If you’re one of the many who don’t hydrate that

much, take a gradual approach to increase water con-sumption, Evans noted. Stepping up water intake slow-ly will allow your body to adjust.

The benefits of drinking more water include:— Enhanced immune system— Reduced dry skin— Reduced constipation— Decreased chance of dehydration— Healthy weight, as water can be filling“Our hunger and our thirst mechanisms are pretty

similar,” Evans noted. “ ... You could be thirsty instead (of hungry). Grab 8 ounces of water first, wait 15 min-utes and see how you feel.”

She added that to make those eight 8 ounces count, they need to be pure water, not just beverages.

For example, a cup of regular coffee has the oppo-site effect of water, as caffeine is actually a diuretic. For those who don’t like to drink water, Evans suggested adding a slice of lemon, lime or orange to give it a little more flavor.

Daniels added that a glass of water should be drunk before coffee or tea in the morning, as the body has been deprived of hydration for many hours. Dehydra-tion can lead to fatigue.

6. Establish a sleep routine.“Sleep is one of the most important factors you can

do for your health,” Beno said. “It’s important to go to sleep at the same time and get up at the same time sev-en days a week.”

Nielsen added that lack of sleep or lack of adequate sleep is a significant contributor to overall health prob-lems. Adequate sleep makes for a healthier immune system, as well as allows you to more easily cope with and manage stress.

“Sleep hygiene” is a term used in the medical profes-sion to address sleeping habits, Nielsen said.

Tips for good sleep hygiene are:— Avoid television an hour or two before going to

bed. Substitute reading or listening to soft music.— Limit caffeine intake after noon.— Limit alcohol intake, which causes less restful

sleep and early waking.— Get regular exercise.

10 habitsContinued from 23

Easy substitutions THe PrODucT On THe lABel White bread up to 1 gram of fiber per serving

(one slice of bread); flours on the ingredient list will be enriched and refined, with substitutions for removed vitamins and minerals

THe PrODucT On THe lABelApple juice 0 grams of fiber; some vitamins and

minerals; added sugars

THe PrODucT On THe lABelred meat 0 grams of fiber; high in protein; can

be high in fat

THe PrODucT On THe lABelWhite rice up to 1 gram of fiber per serving

THe PrODucT On THe lABelTraditional pasta up to 3 grams of fiber per serving

THe SubSTITuTIOn On THe LabeLWhole grain bread Seek out 3 grams of fiber per serving

(one slice of bread); look for “100 percent whole grain” or “100 percent whole wheat” on the package; the word “whole” will be listed on the ingredient list

THe SubSTITuTIOn On THe LabeLApple 3 grams of fiber in an average apple;

all vitamins and minerals

THe SubSTITuTIOn On THe LabeLBeans 6 to 8 grams of fiber per half-cup

serving; high in protein; low fat or fat free

THe SubSTITuTIOn On THe LabeL Brown rice up to 4 grams of fiber per serving

THe SubSTITuTIOn On THe LabeL Whole wheat pasta up to 6 grams of fiber per serving

*Fiber counts are averages, and may not ref lect all nutrition labels.

GOODlife 25

7. Eat more fruits and vegetables.“Americans on the whole do not eat enough fruits

and vegetables,” Nielsen said. “I instruct patients to aim for six to 10 servings a day.”

Benefits to increased fruit and vegetable consump-tion include decreased risk of illness and disease. Also, filling up on produce means there is less room for pro-cessed and unhealthy foods.

Nielsen noted general serving sizes are 1 cup of raw vegetables, 1/2 cup of cooked vegetables, or about the size of a medium apple.

One suggestion for upping the count is to prepare vegetables ahead of time. Nielsen said it’s often hard to take the time to wash then slice up carrots and peppers when you’re looking for a snack, immediately.

“If you don’t have a healthy alternative planned, you’re going to reach for potato chips,” she noted.

Another tip is to just not buy the chips in the first place. When they’re not on hand, they’re not going into your body.

8. Avoid isolation; stay connected.Social connections and relationships can impact

overall health; studies show when relationships are loving and strong, people live longer.

“(Health is) not just about whether we have diseases or not, it’s about you as a whole person,” which goes beyond physical health into emotional and spiritual health, Nielsen said.

She added that the importance of personal rela-tionships and love to overall health and well-being are often overlooked in society. Daniels suggested telling those you love that you love them, and often.

One way to avoid isolation and stay connected to others is to join in group activities. Citing just a few local sources, Nielsen suggested bowling leagues, church groups, knitting or bridge clubs, fitness class-es, dance classes or Friendship Center gatherings.

Or, to maintain connections already established, start a group of your own, such as a book club.

9. Step out of the comfort zone.Everyone has a bubble of comfort around them,

comfort found in routine.But picking up a new habit is a way to challenge

yourself, your mind and your horizons.“I think of January through March as a really hard

time to be here,” Nielsen said. Jack Frank, of Harbor Springs, works out at the North Central Michigan College fitness center in Petoskey.


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To help fight the doldrums, get out of the house. This is also a great time of year to try an activity you’ve not yet managed to cross off the to do list.

10. Reduce stress.Stress seems to be a fact of life, but decreasing

it can lead to many health benefits.Nielsen said when bodies and minds are bom-

barded with stress, “It changes your body’s chem-istry.”

By decreasing stress, it allows for the body to have a healthier foundation, which in turn allows you to better cope with and manage stressful situations.

Nielsen said when it comes to reducing stress, there are several avenues to explore.

Suggestions include:— Meditation— Turning off the television— Limiting news exposure, especially

if you worry a lot— Regular exercise— Eating well Gl

Tom Deagostino, of Petoskey, stretches out at the North Central Michigan College fitness center in Petoskey.

10 habitsContinued from 25

GOODlife 27

Good centS

By Mark Lindsay

We all do our best to try to be prepared for our future and the future of our loved ones.

There are two main vehicles for protecting your assets and providing for your loved ones after your death: wills and trusts.

The first step in determining what is right for your particular needs is to visit with a professional. It’s likely you’ll find several in your local phone book or online, but be sure you con-tact one skilled in estate planning in particular.

There are also ways to establish wills and trusts yourself, but if pre-pared incorrectly they can be worse

than having none at all.An experienced lawyer will explain

the various types of trusts available to you and help you choose the best way to provide for your care and protect your assets.

In Northern Michigan there are several, one being Petoskey-based at-torney John Ternes. Ternes suggests you seek out an attorney, like himself, who is certified through the state’s bar program for estate planners.

The first and most important step in estate planning is to establish a

“designation of patient advocate,” ac-cording to Ternes. This will allow someone you designate to make de-cisions for you should you no longer be able to.

“Having this in place will ensure that the person you choose will be there to consult and decide impor-tant things for your future care or the care of your family should you die,” he added. “Having this advocate eliminates the need for a living will in most cases, and is the proper founda-tion for your personal and financial future plan.”

Michigan requires two doctors and your designated patient advocate to jointly declare you unfit to make decisions for yourself.

“Additionally, you’ll want to pre-pare a financial power of attorney,” said Ternes. “This will allow for your financial matters to be cared for should you suffer from impaired

Which WILL work?


mind function.”Many people who are victims

of a stroke or diseases such as Al-zheimer’s or Parkinson’s will benefit from having this in place.

“This power of attorney is the second building block in a strong estate plan,” Ternes stated.

The state of Michigan recognizes the term “personal representative” rather then “executor” for the pur-poses of wills and trusts; this will likely be the person you designate your power of attorney to.

“Once you have these two things established through your attorney, you can decide how best to estab-lish your will and trust,” Ternes said.

“Having the proper foundation will assure that you’ll incur the least amount of fees and time needed to settle your estate.”

According to Ternes, there are many different types of wills and trusts, and the effectiveness of each varies from state to state depending on their individual laws. The state of Michigan has very different laws re-garding wills and trusts than many other states, and it is important that you take this into consideration when establishing your plan.

“If you should own assets in a state other then Michigan, you’ll want to be aware of that state’s laws concerning your property and allow for that in your planning,” Ternes said.

Even if you have a will, it is im-portant to understand that your estate will still go through probate. Probate is the legal process an es-tate passes through to make sure property is distributed in accor-dance with a will or according to the laws of the state if there is no will. The probate process usually takes about a year or two to complete as the validity of the will must be established; all heirs, creditors and those who have a vested interest in

the deceased’s property must be alerted of the decedent’s passing; and any disputes over the will must be re-solved in pro-bate court.

“Having only a will is very rare these days; however, everyone that we estab-lish a trust for will also have a sim-ple will,” Ternes noted.

A pour-over will is a type of will that will work with a trust after your death, essentially stating that anything not provided for in your trust will fall into your trust in the event of your death. This avoids anything not specifically named in your trust accidentally from having to go through the probate process.

“Most commonly we establish a living trust with a pour-over will,” said Ternes, adding, “This plan al-lows for complete control of your assets during your lifetime and ef-fectively distributes them upon death.”

A living trust is also revocable and confidential, whereas many other types can be irrevocable and made public by law. Another great reason to have a living trust is that you will avoid up to one-third of the normal fees associated with the probate process.

“Many people don’t realize that the gift they’ve established in a will can be greatly diminished by costs and fees after their death,” Ternes noted. “An estate of $100,000 can be diminished by up to $10,000 (10 percent) or more depending on the time taken to settle it and the dif-ficulty associated with it.

“Having established a living trust, you can expect your fees and costs to be approximately 2 percent over-all, a savings of up to 8 percent.”

There are many other types of trusts available for specific needs, such as an especially large estate

(multi-million dollar) or the need for disabled dependent care after your death. Your attorney can as-sist you in choosing what will work best for you in special cases such as these. The important thing to re-member is that it is far easier to es-tablish a will and trust now than it will be when you actually need it, or for your family to settle your estate without them after your death.

Ternes said, “We can establish a typical trust in approximately one to two weeks with little difficulty.”

Having the trust in place will de-crease the time to settle your estate after your death from two years of probate to eight months or less through your trust, according to Ternes.

Each of us will have very differ-ent needs in planning for our future care, and the distribution of our as-sets upon our death. While it may seem overwhelming, the task is far less daunting when consulting with a skilled professional. Gl

To put it simply:a will is a form of document used to dispose of one’s belongings fol-lowing your death.

a living will is much different and is used to make medical decisions on your behalf should you become incapacitated.

a basic trust is established to al-low others to manage your property on your behalf and for your benefit, really having nothing to do with age, medical condition or death benefit.

a living trust is established during one’s lifetime to allow for the care of one’s property while you’re alive, with specific instructions for the dis-posal of property upon one’s death, primarily in order to avoid probate, fees and taxes.

each of these basic documents has many different variations and uses depending on the attorney, state of residence and individual goals. Most commonly in Michigan, a liv-ing trust with a pour-over will is es-tablished because they simply work the best within the law structure.

Which WILL work?Continued from 27

John Ternes

GOODlife 29

By Melissa Frugé

For the last 50 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been providing hope and guidance for children

who could be considered at risk in the community.

But after so many years, volun-teers are still needed to help make a difference in Charlevoix and Emmet counties.

“We need to raise awareness,” ex-plained program director Gary Swaney. “We are a donor-driven orga-nization; we receive no money from the state or federal governments.”

Swaney said they rely heavily on the United Way, private donations and Petoskey’s Arts and Crafts Fair for funding.

Nearly 80 children have been matched with a mentor through the program this year in the Petoskey area, but many more are in need of a Big Brother or Big Sister.

Since the organization places an adult in a child’s life to promote posi-tive changes, the application process for potential mentors is very in depth and requires a lot of time and effort by case managers.

“The case managers are critical. They are the support piece,” said Swaney.

After filling out an application,

prospective Bigs will undergo a rig-orous background check and lengthy interview with a Big Brothers Big Sis-ters case manager. The case manager carefully screens the applicants and then determines which child they would be best matched with. Before the Big meets his or her Little, they meet with the case manager and child’s parent or guardian to make sure everyone has the same goals and expectations. If the parent feels comfortable with the match, the Big finally meets their Little. The case manager will follow up periodically with everyone involved to make sure the match is beneficial and progress-ing.

On average it costs $1,000 for a child to be matched with a mentor for one year and according to Swaney they operate well under that number. Right now there are only four case managers serving the eight counties covered by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Michigan. Swaney said the case manager is critical in ensur-ing the success of a Big and Little match.

The program started in Petoskey in 1960 and eventually grew to in-clude Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau and Manistee counties. For budget-ary reasons, general operations were

consolidated in the 1980s and now operate from Traverse City.

Executive director Cecilia Chesney said they are very interest-ed in creating a Char-Em Resource and Advocacy Committee in order to help more children and become a greater presence in the community. The committee of four to 10 people would meet once a month and dis-cuss ways to support fundraisers in the area, identify potential mentors and act as a resource for the board of directors.

Usually a concerned parent will contact the organization about their child. Then the Big Brothers Big Sis-ters program begins looking for a mentor.

“They are consciously making the decision to better their child,” said Swaney.

Another way Big Brothers Big Sisters has been able to reach out is through their school-based program. The organization works with school districts to provide time during the school year when mentors can come to the school and spend time with the children.

Swaney said it’s a more economic option for Big Brothers Big Sisters be-cause during school hours there are more resources, teachers and aides available to help monitor and

Good SAmAritAn

Become a mentor

Denise Schlitt of Charlevoix (right) with her Little Sister


facilitate the connections between Bigs and Littles. Case managers can manage more relationships without overextending themselves.

Swaney said the school-based pro-gram also works well for people who want to help but don’t have lots of free time because the program only takes place when school is in session. There is a set time during the month when Bigs and Littles get together and take part in more structured ac-tivities. Plus some businesses find it’s an easy way to participate. Swaney said some give their employees time during the work week to go to the schools and take part in the program in addition to helping financially.

Teachers recommend students they think would benefit from hav-ing a mentor. The application pro-cess for potential Bigs remains the same, but high school students can participate if they choose (the home based program requires volunteers to be at least 18 years old and have reliable transportation).

“It’s a great way to get teens in-volved and they can learn as well about giving back to the community,” said Swaney.

“There is a ripple effect,” added Chesney.

Currently only Shay Elementary School in Harbor Springs participates in the Big Brothers Big Sisters school program. Swaney and Chesney said they are very interested in reaching out to other schools in the area, es-pecially Charlevoix.

If you are interested in becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister or starting a Char-Em Resource and Advocacy Committee contact Cecilia Chesney at (231) 946-2447. More information can also be found at www.bigsup-north.com.

A MenTOr’S PerSPecTIVeSometimes the biggest impact

comes from the smallest action.Think about throwing a pebble in

the water and the ripples it creates.

Mentoring a child can be like that.

“You can’t be afraid to get involved,” said Denise Schlitt, 57, of Charlevoix. Schlitt has been volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters since August 2008.

“It’s a commitment you take very seriously,” she said.

Schlitt applied to the program in June 2008 but had to wait several months for the perfect match to be made. A case manager interviewed her and conducted a home inspec-tion. Once Schlitt was accepted, she was given a 36-page manual from Big Brothers Big Sisters and peri-odically meets with a case manager to discuss her relationship with her Little and the improvements she has seen in her.

Gary Swaney, program director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of North-west Michigan, said it’s so important to know someone other than a par-ent cares about the child’s well-being. Think about a coach or neighbor who took an interest in your life and just listened or opened you up to new experiences.

“It’s not about a mentor trying to fix things. It’s about enhancing (the child’s life),” he said.

“It’s really important to be a posi-tive role model,” said Schlitt. “A men-tor is an individual who provides guidance and support without criti-cism and judgment to promote the importance of positive values and self-worth.”

Schlitt meets with her Little Sister, who is now 12, about twice a month and the things they do vary. She said sometimes they go to the movies, play board games, take the dogs for a walk, and in the summer they spend time at the lake. But Schlitt says its not just about having fun, it’s sup-port for a better life. Sometimes they talk about school and homework and what the future could hold for her Little Sister. She keeps pictures of her Little around the house so when she visits she knows Schlitt is always thinking about her and she is a part of her life.

“The desire to give back, it’s self-ish, but it makes you feel good,” said

Schlitt. “You made someone happy today.”

Schlitt also has a good relation-ship with her Little’s mother, who contacted the program when her daughter was 9.

“It makes her feel like there is someone else she can rely on. It’s been very beneficial and a positive experience,” the girl’s mother said.

Swaney says there are 40 key as-sets everyone needs to be successful in life. The Big Brothers Big Sisters program has focused on about 21 they know Bigs can help their Littles achieve and can measure, such as self-confidence, classroom behavior and trust. Each year parents, teach-ers and mentors are polled about improvements they have seen in the children participating with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Swaney said lo-cally, they were able to see an 83 per-cent improvement in self-confidence among the Littles, relationships with other adults improved by 69 percent and their attitudes toward school improved by 60 percent. Nationally the program outcomes show chil-dren who participate in the program are 46 percent less likely to use illegal drugs and all show improvements academically.

The time commitment for a Big Brother or Big Sister is relatively small, just a few hours a month for at least six months. According to Swaney, most relationships between a Big and Little last between three to five years.

“A lot of people wonder ‘What do I have to offer?’” said executive direc-tor Cecilia Chesney. “The answer is a lot. You don’t have to be a superstar to change someone’s life.”

The effects of having a mentor can last a lifetime. Years after her experi-ence with Big Brothers Big Sisters, a young Petoskey woman wrote that her mentor was her hero. Her refusal to give up, encouragement and sup-port were exactly what she needed to succeed in life.

“I think if anyone is looking for a way to enrich their lives, then be-coming a volunteer for Big Broth-ers Big Sisters is a great way to start,” said Schlitt. Gl

Big Brothers Big SistersContinued from 29

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