Traverse City Record-Eagle

Body & Soul

March 24, 2012

Body&Soul in brief: 03/24/2012

FROM STAFF REPORTS ----

Purple Day supports epilepsy awareness

Gaylord — Becky Bigelow, of Gaylord, is urging area residents to wear purple on Monday, March 26, to support epilepsy awareness.

Purple Day is an international grassroots effort started in 2008 by 9-year-old Cassidy Megan, of Nova Scotia, Canada, who was motivated by her own struggles with epilepsy. The goal is to increase awareness about the disease.

Bigelow's son, Eli, was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 4 months old. He now is 3 years old and his mom has joined Megan in the effort to promote Purple Day. For details about the local effort, visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/ThinkPurple/183939221677404. For information about Purple Day, visit www.purpleday.org.

Sight screenings to children offered

Honor — Benzie Area Christian Neighbors and the Honor Lions Club will offer sight screenings for children ages 1 to 5.

Free screenings will be available 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, March 28. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. For details or appointments, call 325-4407.

Zumba fitness demo class in Grayling

Grayling — A Zumba demonstration class will be held Wednesday, March 28, to determine the amount of interest in offering a class for area senior citizens.

The free class is open to men and women. It will start at 6 p.m. at the Grayling Senior Center, 308 Lawndale. Registration is required. For details or to register, call (989) 348-7123.

Otsego Memorial holds free program

Gaylord — Individuals interested in making changes that may lead to improved health and quality of life are invited to a free program on Thursday, March 29.

"Take Charge of Your Health" will start at 4 p.m. at Otsego Memorial Hospital, 825 N. Center Ave. Kevin Smith, DO, from OMH Medical Group Family Practice, is the guest speaker and will answer questions following the program.

For details, call (989) 731-2100, or visit www.myomh.org or Facebook.com/MyOMH.

Two chances to see 'Living Last Supper'

Traverse City — The community will have two opportunities to view the "Living Last Supper" this Lenten season.

The dramatization is based on Leonardo da Vinci's painting "The Last Supper," commissioned in 1494 for the dining room of a convent church. The artist chose what he considered the most dramatic moment of the Last Supper, when Jesus announces that someone will betray him. The "Living Last Supper" performance focuses on those few seconds as each apostle relives his history with Jesus, reviews his faith and agonizes that he may be the traitor.

The dramatization will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 29, at St. Francis Catholic Church, 1025 S. Union St., and at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 1, at St. Patrick Church, 630 W. Silver Lake Road. Donations will be accepted for the Father Fred Foundation and the St. Patrick food pantry.

Lenten Luncheon series closes

Traverse City — The last Community Lenten Luncheon will feature a message by the Rev. Tom John from Kewadin Indian Mission and music by The Salvation Army.

The meal will be served at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 29, at The Presbyterian Church of Traverse City, 701 Westminster, followed by music at noon and the message at 12:30 p.m.

A $3 donation is suggested for the meal. Proceeds support local missions.

Lenten fish dinners wind down Friday

Traverse City — The Immaculate Conception Men's Club will serve its last fish dinner of the Lenten season on Friday, March 30.

The meal, featuring cod and tilapia, will be held 5-7 p.m. in the church's Centennial Hall, 720 Second St. Prices are $10 for adults, $7 for students and free for children ages 4 and younger.

Church holds buffet-style fish dinner

Acme — Christ the King Parish will close its series of Lenten fish dinners on Friday, March 30.

The buffet-style meal features deep-fried wild pollock or baked fish with a secret sauce. It will be served 5-7 p.m. at the church, 3801 Shore Road. Donations will be accepted. For details, call 342-9985.

Benefit for Benzie Habitat for Humanity

Thompsonville — Thompsonville First Congregational Church will hold a chili dinner and silent auction fundraiser Saturday, March 31.

The event will be held 4-7 p.m. at the church on Lincoln Road and will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Benzie County. The dinner is supported by Thrivent Financial.

Dinner for Women's Cancer Fund

Traverse City — The Eagles Aerie 383 Ladies' Auxiliary invites the public to a benefit dinner for the Munson Women's Cancer Fund.

The baked chicken dinner will be served 5-7 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at the Eagles Aerie, 409 W. 14th St. The cost is $7 per person. Music will follow from 7 to 11 p.m. There also will be a raffle and a 50/50 drawing.

Crock pot contest helps area student

Traverse City — "Crock pot creationists" will prepare and serve their best recipes for a chance to win trophies and help Glen Lake student Cody Hayes.

Hayes is 15 years old and was recently diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He currently is undergoing treatment at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids.

This is the third year that Left Foot Charley Winery and NMC Maritime Academy cadets have hosted the "Crock Pot Showdown." It will start at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at the winery, 806 Red Dr. A $5 cover charge is suggested and $1 from every drink poured will benefit Hayes. There also will be a raffle and a chance to "fill the hat," will all proceeds going to Hayes.

Yoga for Health offers free classes

Traverse City — Yoga for Health Education will free yoga, tai chi and pilates classes on Sunday, April 1.

Classes will be offered from 11 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at Yoga for Health on the grounds of the Grand Traverse Commons. A spring session of classes starts Monday, April 2.

For details or to register, call 922-9642, email relax@yogaforhealthtc.com or visit www.yogaforhealthtc.com.

Ramsey class offers 'financial peace'

Traverse City — Bay Pointe Community Church will offer Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University.

The 13-week class is designed to give participants a common-sense plan to free themselves from debt and build lasting wealth. It will meet at 6:30 p.m. Mondays starting April 2 at the church, 6880 Secor Road.

Kits are required and can be purchased through the church, at www.daveramsey.com, or by calling (888) 227-3223. For details or to register, call Marc Mentley, 922-9882.

Lupus support group hosts guest speaker

Traverse City — Linda Cronk will give an introduction to the PATH program at the Wednesday, April 4, meeting of the Lupus Warriors Education and Support Group.

The program will be held 6:30-8 p.m. at Munson Community Health Center, room A, 550 Munson Ave. Cronk will discuss the self-management program that teaches techniques to help participants take an active role in health management.

For details, call Lakeview Counseling, 929-0300, ext. 106.

Donations for Easter baskets needed

Grawn — Grawn United Methodist Church is asking for help filling Easter baskets to be distributed to area children and families in need.

Donations needed include baskets, stuffed animals, toothbrushes, wrapped Easter candy, small tubes of toothpaste, books, crayons and coloring books. Baskets will be packed by volunteers on Saturday, April 7, and distributed to the public from noon to 3 p.m. the same day at the church, 1260 W, Silver Lake Road, while supplies last. The baskets are for children ages 2 to 10.

Donations can be dropped off at Books-a-Million on South Airport Road, or at any Family Video location. Monetary donations may be sent to Grawn United Methodist Church, 1260 W. Silver Lake Road South, Traverse City, MI 49684. For details, call 357-4506.

Suicide intervention training to be held

Traverse City — The registration deadline is Wednesday, April 18, for an "Applied Suicide Intervention Skills" workshop.

The workshop will be held 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. April 26-27 at Northwestern Michigan College's University Center. It is open to mental health professionals, social workers and anyone else interested in learning the skills to competently and confidently intervene with a person at risk of suicide.

The $100 cost includes materials, lunch and refreshments; $75 for social work/counseling students and agencies with three or more attendees. Financial assistance also is available. For details or to register, visit the Third Level Crisis Intervention Center website, www.thirdlevel.org. More information also is available by calling 922-4800 or (800) 442-7315.

Scavenger Hunt for Autism to be held

Traverse City — An inaugural Traverse Traveler Scavenger Hunt for Autism will take place Saturday, April 14, in Traverse City.

The fundraiser was organized by Brandy Wheeler, creator of the Traverse Traveler app, to increase awareness about autism. The disorder affects one in 110 children including Wheeler's 9-year-old son.

Teams of up to five people will use the Traverse Traveler smartphone app to conduct a scavenger hunt from 1 to 3 p.m. in downtown Traverse City. They will travel to participating businesses using the app to "check in," complete tasks and collect prize tickets. At the end of the event, teams will cross the finish line at the City Opera House to celebrate with refreshments and prizes.

The event will raise money to purchase iPads for Traverse City Area Public Schools students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. For details or to register, visit http://TraverseTraveler.com/Autism.

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