Fluffy Butt Farm, 25 acres in Bedford Township, is home to a lot of fluffy butts (100 chickens, 30 goats, seven cows, four breeding pigs, dogs, cats, and kittens). Owned by pilot Chris Wolters and his flight attendant wife Tawney who sell their meat and produce at local farmers' markets, the couple is enjoying this growing chapter of their adventurous lives.
Reconstruction and renovation work on the second- through fourth-floors of the 266 E. Michigan Ave. building, best known for the Coney Island Kalamazoo hot dog restaurant on its street level, is set to begin soon. The space, which has been unused for many years, will house 12 new loft-style apartments, including four affordable units.
Linda Cobe spent one year as a five-year-old at Holy Childhood School of Jesus in Harbor Springs. The impact of that year, along with the pervasive and systematic stripping away of her identity, culture, and language as an Ojibwe, continue to affect her. She's written a book, "Red, White and Blue" to share her story with others.
“I think the making money part is a great incentive for youth entrepreneurs," says Dr. Kandace Lavender, Read and Write Kalamazoo Executive Director. "However, I also believe that the greater piece is giving them a real-life experience of what it means to put effort behind your vision, and the positive outcomes it can have on their life."
When is enough and when is too much? More than three hours a day on social media doubles a youth's chance of depression or anxiety, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. How to set boundaries and handle overexposure? Voices of Youth Alex Velo talks to peers and adults to find out.
When the federal public health emergency for COVID-19 expired in May 2023, over 500,000 Michiganders stood to lose their Medicaid health insurance coverage. But the state is working to help residents maintain coverage.
Through a focus on advocacy, community leadership, and parent engagement, Detroit Champions for HOPE works to better the lives of Detroit’s children by empowering parents and caregivers to be their child’s first champions.
Across the state, more than 40 suicide prevention coalitions work to help Michiganders who are thinking about ending their lives.
The Land Conservancy of West Michigan worked closely with Disability Network West Michigan to develop an accessible trail system that gives visitors like Jeffrey VanDyke access to the health benefits of being in nature.
“Westernized culture increases the fear of death,” says Debbie Eisenbise, a Kalamazoo death doula. “We outsource death. Doulas are trying to make a change in that culture by bringing about an acceptance of death. Death is natural. My goal is to keep people living until they die. This is about quality of life.”
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