Health & Wellness

All the begging and pleading is over and it was all well worth it. Westlake's Relay for Life on July 13 was a great success and many were there to share in the moment. Now that the tents are down, the games packed up and the money totaled, we reached our goal. With the help of our teams, volunteers and many visitors we were able to raise $15,692.97 that evening. When added to our earlier fundraising efforts during the year, we hit the American Red Cross goal of $30,000.

This year's teams had great ideas to raise money with a raffle, silent auction, photo booth, popcorn machine, concession stand and many fun games. The track was lit by overhead rented lights and the Westlake Police were in full force to make sure the safety of our participants was always most important.

Bay Village and Westlake residents celebrated World Tai Chi and Qigong Day 2011 on Saturday, April 30, at Huntington Park and at the Friendship Center in Bay Village. At 10 a.m. in every time zone around the world, tens of thousands in hundreds of cities, in over 70 nations came together... to breathe together... to provide the world a healing image of our planet and our people.

Many of the Tai Chi enthusiasts regularly gather for practice on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m. in Bay Way Youth Cabin in the colder months; but from June through September they gather at Huntington Park, facing the lake. These sessions are free and open to all and are led by Bay resident Patricia Heinke. These exercises are for people of all ages and are highly recommended by many physicians for maintenance of balance and muscle coordination.

Attention all adults: Based on national studies, parents have the greatest influence on their child’s decision as to whether or not they experiment with chemical substances. Studies also indicate that parent drug education has a direct impact on lowering the percentages of teen alcohol and other drug use, especially in the middle school years.

Since there is a direct correlation between parent drug education and lowering the drug rates of teen use, doesn’t it make sense for parents to do all they can to learn about it? Here’s your chance!

Led by a panel of our own community leaders, a community-wide forum on Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. in the Bay High School auditorium will provide you the latest information about youth chemical substance experimentation, abuse and addiction, how this issue affects us all, and what each of us can do as concerned citizens to help our kids stay drug free.

Parents, here’s an opportunity to bring your child to an eye-opening, educational play called “Legally Addicted” to learn about the realities and consequences of adolescent prescription drug use, and use this as a great springboard to talk to your children openly and honestly. Sponsored by Recovery Resources with support from the Westshore Youth Leaders and BAY Matters, the play will be performed on May 8, 7 p.m., at the Bay High School auditorium. The program is geared for parents and students in seventh through 12th grades.

The Compeer Program at Far West Center held our 21st Annual Winter Party on Thursday, Dec. 9, at Bay Lodge. Compeer was honored that Mayor Dennis Clough of Westlake and his wife made it a priority to add our Winter Party to their busy schedule.  

Mayor Clough said he had many events on his schedule but wanted to make sure he came to thank the Compeer volunteers and members. Upon arriving, Mayor Clough and his wife went to each table and personally thanked volunteers and members. He also made a warm public thank you to all guests. We truly appreciate Mayor Clough’s ongoing support of Compeer.

[Editor’s note: In order to protect the privacy of their son, the names of the “NOT MY CHILD” presenters have been kept confidential.]

Last month on Thursday, October 22nd at Bay Middle School and Wednesday, October 28th at St. Raphael School, a Bay couple presented the program “NOT MY CHILD” to share with parents practical and helpful information they believe every parent should know about adolescent alcohol and other drug experimentation, abuse and addiction. 

The couple, parents of three children, speak from experience “because we lived it.” They created the program to share the knowledge and understanding they gained after helping their son through the recovery process.  

The presentation included PowerPoint slides with video clips, music, a voice-over and audience participation segments, as well as a panel of experts.

Are you curious about alternatives to traditional medicine in your quest to become or remain healthy? Many people have read articles or seen episodes of "Dr. Oz" presenting alternative possibilities. If your curiosity has been piqued, Centered Wellness, an affiliation of transformative practitioners in the healing arts, offers an opportunity for a hands-on, personal discovery into wellness.  

On April 28, come and explore them for free at a Sunday afternoon showcase of healing for the mind, body and soul offered by Centered Wellness, on the campus of Unity Spiritual Center. Centered Wellness will provide a way to open your mind to new possibilities with an open house from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Centered Wellness is a separate entity from Unity with its own website at www.centeredwellness.org.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 a.m. from May through October, Tai Chi enthusiasts meet at the Huntington Metropark in Bay Village. Facing beautiful Lake Erie, 15 to 25 local residents are led by volunteer Tai Chi instructor and Bay Village resident Pat Heinke.

For over 15 years Pat has been offering her expertise in this ancient art of gentle, flowing movements to all who want to look into or to practice Tai Chi exercises and form. Pat was surrounded by many admirers during a recent session as she welcomed the celebration of her 80th year of life in good health, "thanks to Tai Chi," she said.

As the new year began, many people made resolutions to improve their physical fitness. Often we hear in news reports that the attendance at gyms and fitness clubs is highest in January and February. Paying attention to our ability to move and our muscle tone are important priorities. 

It is equally important to remember that our brains are muscles and can benefit from strengthening exercises, too. A great form of brain exercise is to explore new places and meet new people. Now that kind of exercise sounds fun, right?

Research supports that new experiences do stimulate “neurogenesis,” meaning the growth of new neurons in the brain.  Neurons are the pathways by which our brains communicate and function. This means that each time you go to a place you have not been before you are activating and strengthening your brain.

Many parents "don’t know what they don’t know" about teen alcohol and other drug use. In other words, what parents don’t know could hurt their child because of their lack of knowledge regarding substance abuse.  

This is why it’s important for parents to educate themselves about what teen drug use means and how to respond to it. 

“Looking back, I know there were subtle signs of early drug use that our daughter displayed," said a parent of a teen in recovery from alcoholism. "If we had known what the signs were at the time, I know we could have responded much sooner.”

Dr. Peter V. Rabins, co-author of "The 36-Hour Day," will speak at the Westlake Performing Arts Center at Westlake High School on Friday, September 10 at 7 p.m. 

Dr. Rabins is the Richman Family Professor for Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is Co-Director of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

"The 36-Hour Day" is an essential resource for those caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s Disease and other types of dementia.

The first 100 attendees to arrive for the event will receive a copy of the book and an additional resource kit provided by the Kiwanis Club.

Each baby born is a blessing—a tiny new life filled with hope and promise. So sweet and helpless, a parent attends day and night to his/her infant’s every need. Parents become accustomed to sleep being seasoned; parents, however, never become accustomed to being woken from a deep sleep by a child’s life threatening seizure.

In the blink of an eye, a parent must be fully alert and capable of making life or death medical decisions. For a parent of a child with Dravet Syndrome, these decisions must be made not just one but hundreds or thousands of times during their child’s life.

Always on guard, a parent must vigilantly monitor illness, internal and external temperature fluctuations in the air, bath tubs, lakes and swimming pools, as these simple things can bring on status seizures. Exercise, the excitement of a holiday celebration or birthday party, stress, changes in the weather, computer screens, televisions, video games, and certain lighting in schools, libraries, medical and office buildings can trigger seizures.

 

The city of Westlake, the Cleveland Clinic, St. John West Shore Hospital and Crocker Park have joined forces to sponsor the first citywide weight loss challenge, “Westlake Weighs Down.” Designed around the popular TV show “The Biggest Loser,” the 13 week program will track the participant's percentage of weight loss against others in the competition. 

The program will run from Feb. 1 – May 2, 2010. The competition will have several divisions consisting of males, females, corporations and local celebrities. Throughout the competition, a variety of events will take place including a health fair, presentations by doctors and dietitians and weekly exercise classes. Healthy recipes and other interesting tidbits will be shared with the participants throughout the duration of the program.

It is important for everyone on a path of recovery from mental illness to know that they do not need to do this alone. The healing power of friendship and evidence on how friendship promotes wellness can be found in numerous health studies. Each of us can reflect and identify ways friends have helped us along life’s journey. The Compeer Program at Far West Center finds compassionate men and women that can offer mentoring and supportive friendship to adults managing mental illness.

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling and unpredictable disease of the central nervous system with no known cause or cure.

In 1968, my friend Dick told me of the problems his wife was having with pain and even some numbness in her legs. He said she had been seen by several doctors and had been treated for various illnesses. Everything he told me was all too familiar.

My wife had been through a similar process for almost three years before being seen by the right doctor who correctly diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis. Dick knew my wife had MS but was not aware of its symptoms. After I told him what they were, we both knew his wife may also have MS. He and his wife then made an appointment with my wife’s doctor – a neurologist – who did diagnose her with the disease.

No one believes it could happen to their child! Unfortunately, over half of our young, innocent children are experimenting with alcohol and other drugs beginning in middle school.

•  Parents, what do you really know about adolescent drug use? Do you know the signs to look for or what to do if you suspect that your child is using? Or how to respond or where to turn for help?
• To find out more, please attend an informative and interactive alcohol and other drug abuse program – presented by parents who know because they lived it!

Unity Spiritual Center hosted an open house on May 1 to showcase its new 6,000-square-foot multi-purpose event and wedding facilities. Activities included guided meditations; labyrinth walking; Tibetan singing bowls; drumming circles; discussions on spiritual topics; demonstrations in Reiki, yoga, and cranial sacral healing practices. The center welcomes people of all faiths, races  and levels of social structure whose common quest  is spiritual unity with God.

Here's a scenario – you're in your teenage daughter's room gathering clothes for your weekly laundry loads and come across a container of bath salts buried underneath a pile of dirty clothes. You think, “I didn't know she was into taking baths," but with teenagers, who can tell what they're into at any given time.

As you think about it though, it gives you pause, because you don't remember her taking any baths recently and yet the container is half empty. You look again at the bottle of salts and it is labeled Vanilla Sky. How calming, you think. The fact is that these bath salts may not for a soothing, relaxing bath but may be a tell-tale sign that your teen is experimenting with an illicit and dangerous drug.

Friends from the Start Foundation is a non-profit organization created to provide a support system to West Shore residents and their loved ones diagnosed with cancer by connecting them to in-home services, day-to-day assistance, educational resources and cancer-related information via web-based links. The foundation is pleased to announce our new website, created by Professor Zeller and his students at Lorain County Community College.

It is a consolidated website and will continually evolve to better serve as a one-stop shop for those undergoing this arduous journey.

Even during treatment, bills must be paid, homes and lives maintained, meals prepared, chores completed, children cared for and appointments kept. Simply put, life goes on!

Welcome House Inc. has relocated its headquarters to 802 Sharon Dr., Westlake. A community open house will take place on Tuesday, March 27, from 2-6 p.m. The organization extends an open invitation to all West Shore residents to stop by to become acquainted with their new neighbors.

Welcomes House provides services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The not-for-profit agency employs 265 staff members and provides care for over 140 clients.

Compeer is the program at Far West Center that encourages hands-on activities, social activities, and building friendships to promote the wellness goals of mental health recovery. Summertime is especially fun for members and volunteers in the Compeer Program. 

July has been jumping! Taking good care of our vegetable garden at the Bay Village Community Garden has resulted in large green plants! We broke ground, literally with shovels, in our second plot donated to Compeer by the Bay Village Green Team. Compeer’s “Club West Garden Club” meets formally on two Monday afternoons per month at 3 p.m. Our next meeting is scheduled for August 8. If you are an adult gardener, please call to join us at 440-835-6212, ext. 242, and give us a hand!

On Friday, July 29, hopefully the fish will be jumping, too! Compeer has added a “Fishing Day” each month while weather permits. Many people enjoy fishing. If you are one of them, consider getting out your gear and giving Compeer a call.

Is all my writing worth it?

I recognize that seeing the same message every two weeks can be boring. I am sure it gets brushed over at times, considering everyone is tired of people asking for help, money, volunteers, etc. So I reflect this week on whether it is worth the time at my computer trying to be clever and make each article funny, informative, truthful and short.  

Something amazing happened recently to confirm that it is all worth it. It was a random phone call from a gentleman stating that he was not calling for the reasons that I originally hoped – helping, donating or volunteering – he simply wanted a few minutes of my time to explain his situation. Immediately I called back, intrigued.

On the fourth Friday of every month, a group of caregivers and family members meets at the Dwyer Senior Center for support and information on Alzheimer's Disease and other memory loss disorders. Living with and caring for a person who experiences memory loss can be quite challenging. A spouse or close relative is often the primary caregiver. As the disease progresses, the need for care intensifies.

One major problem is caregiver burnout. The caregiver must often function as nurse, housekeeper, accountant, etc., and still provide a stable environment. When caring for a loved one, it is sometimes difficult to remain objective. Feelings can be overwhelming at times, as witnessing the progression of Alzheimer's Disease can be heartbreaking. Many times the person with memory loss can't be left alone. Finding someone to fill in for respite purposes can be difficult.

On Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 6:00 p.m., Compeer will present the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) “Hearts and Minds” group at Far West Center. Hearts and Minds is a program to educate and promote positive “mind and body” health practices. Group topics will include nutrition, exercise and stress reduction.

The same evening, from 7-8:30 p.m., Far West Center will also host the monthly NAMI “Family Support Group,” which provides assistance to the family members of persons in recovery, including parents, spouses, siblings, and adult-age children.

Scheduling both programs on the same evening provides an opportunity in which adults in recovery can attend Hearts and Minds, while family members join the Family Support Group. Both groups are free. Individuals are welcome to attend even if family will not be attending.

For anyone whose loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, the greatest gift of all is often the joy felt in creating a moment of happiness or comfort in that person’s life. However, planning for and creating those special moments during the holidays can be especially challenging.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, a national organization that provides support and information about the disease, the person with Alzheimer’s may feel a special sense of loss during the holidays, as a result of the changes he or she has experienced.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think my child would engage in alcohol or other drugs, let alone develop a drug problem.” We hear this time and time again from parents whose children become chemically dependent.  

Whether it’s drug abuse or experimentation, parents need to know that their children are putting themselves at risk every time they decide to engage in alcohol and other drugs. This is why parents need to educate themselves by learning what the drug trends are, that experimentation can lead to addiction, that some kids are at a higher risk than others, what the signs are and how to respond if they discover their child has a problem.

University Hospitals extended its fertility services to Cleveland’s west side families in a comfortable and conveniently located facility adjacent to Crocker Park. UH Fertility Center West opened Aug. 15 and features a full range of advanced fertility services as well as the complementary services of maternal fetal medicine specialists, OB imaging and genetic counseling.

The UH Fertility Center West is an extension of the UH Fertility Center at UH Ahuja Medical Center. “We are very pleased to open this facility for our patients on the west side,” says Bryan R. Hecht, MD, a fertility specialist at UH Fertility Center West. “Fertility treatment often involves a large number of relatively frequent but low-tech visits. For that reason, we believe that developing satellite practices closer to home for our patients helps eliminate at least one of the barriers to care that many fertility patients face.”

The Compeer Program at Far West Center is located in Westlake on the St. John Medical Center Health Campus. This Compeer Program serves adults throughout Cuyahoga County who are in recovery from mental illness. In addition to being a longstanding Westlake and county-wide organization, our program is part of Compeer Inc., an international organization with headquarters in New York state. Every branch of Compeer Inc. recruits outstanding volunteers to encourage and support individuals as they are coming out of depression and isolation. 

We believe there are outstanding people among the Westlake | Bay Village Observer readers that would enhance our program’s team of supportive volunteers. If you are an adult that has four hours per month to spend giving back and socializing with others then you are someone we would like to recruit!

The Far West Center is offering a FREE workshop to anyone in the community interested in gaining more information or having any questions answered about our Help for Mom and Help for Parents programs!

The Far West Center is an award-winning community mental health center providing behavioral health services for residents of western Cuyahoga County and Lorain County.

We serve adults and young adults experiencing major mental health problems that interfere with daily living, or persons at risk of developing serious problems as a result of stressful or overwhelming life circumstances. Problems such as mood or thought disorders are often treated with a combination of services designed to do one thing well: help persons achieve their highest level of health and well-being.

Countless authors and experts have shown how powerful it can be to actually write down your goals. A “vision board” is sort of a visual representation of these goals. The more clearly you can imagine what you want, the more likely you are to pursue it!  The Vision Board workshop at Unity Hall is an event that will allow you to create a poster full of images and words that symbolize what you want in life, in any area.

Whether your goals, dreams or desires are about work, finances, relationships or expressing your creativity, creating a vision board to serve as a constant reminder to take small steps toward them daily will put you on the fast track to making them real.  

Join in the fun and creativity on Saturday, Nov. 6, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Unity Hall, a new venue at Unity Spiritual Center, 23855 Detroit Road in Westlake.

 

Due to the large turnout and positive response to Unity’s presentation of “Forks Over Knives” in September, a second showing has been scheduled. This groundbreaking film will be screened again on Friday, Nov. 18, at Unity Spiritual Center in Westlake.

If you missed this film last time or simply wish to see it again, plan to be there! A special attraction this time will be a drawing for two $20 gift certificates to Nature’s Bin, which will be providing snacks after the film. To be entered in the drawing you must be one of the first forty people to buy advance tickets. Tickets are $5 and can be ordered online through unityhallpresents.com or by calling Unity at 440-835-0400. Tickets will also be sold at the door for the same price.

The opening of the new University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center at St. John Medical Center will be celebrated with a community open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 7.

The cancer center open house will feature tours, free PSA and skin cancer screenings (screenings will be from noon-2 p.m. only), a Teddy Bear Clinic, free refreshments and an opportunity to meet the center’s physicians and staff. The cancer center is located on the St. John Medical Center campus at 29325 Health Campus Dr. (near Crocker Road), which is also the site of the hospital’s Family Medicine Center.

The open house will coincide with the 19th Festival of the Arts taking place on the SJMC campus July 6-8. Free shuttle buses will take visitors from nearby parking lots to the cancer center open house and Festival of the Arts locations.

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. The organization Mental Health America states on their website that May became know as Mental Health Awareness Month in 1949 “to raise awareness of mental health conditions and mental wellness for all.” Compeer at Far West Center in Westlake would like to give you six good reasons why you should gain awareness of your own mental health:

1. GOOD HEALTH: Your brain is an organ and brain health is vital for all other parts of the body. It is important that your brain receive correct amounts of nutrients, hydration, circulation, exercise and rest. Your brain is the “command center” and processes all incoming sensory stimuli and all the outgoing reaction and decisions. Neurotransmitters – natural brain chemicals – operate brain function and need to maintain a healthy balance.

The Partnership at Drugfree.org tells us that children who learn from their parents about the risks of drug and alcohol use are up to 50% less likely to use than those who don’t. So, let’s talk about it!

The 2010 Cuyahoga County Youth Risk Behavioral Study, conducted on our Bay Middle School students by Case Western Reserve University, indicates that some specific drug use is down. Why? Is it because of the new Bay Family Services and the programs they offer? Is it due to the new approach of the D.A.R.E program? Is it because of the drug awareness and education programs offered at Bay Middle School or the teachers who support these programs? Or is it because these support systems and programs have inspired parents to talk to their children about drug and alcohol? Perhaps it’s a combination of them all.

However, the study also indicates that nearly 25% of our middle school students have tried prescription medication one or more times without a doctor’s prescription. That is an area of concern, so... let’s talk about it!

A special program, designed for parents and seventh/eighth grade Bay Middle School and St Raphael students (and open to all middle school students and their parents, as well) will be held on Monday, May 2, at 7 p.m. at Bay Middle School, 27725 Wolf Rd.

The program will cover:

From a variety of yoga classes to book clubs, to workshops, to drumming circles, to weekend retreats, to cultural events at the new Unity Hall, Unity Spiritual Center offers a vast array of intriguing programs. Although hundreds drive by the large granite circular Unity sign near the corner of Clague and Detroit roads daily, people are often surprised to find the campus hidden from view at the top of the hill.

Classes, events and activities occur nearly every night at Unity. Unity is a movement, not a religion, and welcomes people of widely diverse backgrounds. With the opening of the expansive Unity Hall facility last year, Unity is now well on its way to becoming a regional spiritual center. For more information, visit unityspiritualcenter.com and www.unityhallpresents.com.
Here are some of the activities on tap for February and March:

As a parent, I want to always keep my son safe – from bee stings, strangers and everything in between! For me, drug and alcohol abuse is the “in between.” As a substance abuse professional residing in Bay Village, I am acutely aware of how drug addiction and alcoholism can impact an individual’s life. 

Every day I see the struggles of people faced with addiction. Most of them started using marijuana and alcohol when they were teenagers and none of them intended to become addicted.

What starts out as fun and experimental often turns deadly serious. Most of the clients I work with grew up in “normal” towns, just like ours. They had good neighbors and excellent school systems but still fell prey to this disease because addiction knows no boundaries. I know I can’t shelter my son from all of life’s adversities or ensure he always makes good choices, but I can arm myself with as much information as possible, to provide him guidance.

I want to invite you as members of my community to combat addiction through knowledge and improve the health of our children within our community.  Here are two ways to make a difference:

On March 8, Michael Baskin, Executive Director of the Greater Cleveland chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, announced that the Compeer Program has won its “Peer Support Program of the Year” award. The awards ceremony will take place Wednesday, April 13, 11:30 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown. 

The special guest speaker at the event will be Tracy Plouck, the newly-appointed Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health. Anyone interested in attending can receive details at the NAMI Greater Cleveland website: www.namigreatercleveland.org.

The Far West Center and Compeer staff, members and volunteers are very honored to receive this award from NAMI Greater Cleveland. A peer support program is one in which the philosophy and goals are to get adults in recovery from mental illness involved in planning and participating in program activities. 

A primary goal of the Compeer Program at Far West Center is to provide friendship to adults in recovery from mental illness. Compeer has a “Match” program in which adult volunteers from our communities are trained and matched, one to one, same gender, to  Compeer members. The volunteers provide friendship and communication to adults trying to stop isolating and to reconnect to their communities. 

Compeer would like to extend a warm welcome to our two new volunteers, Krystal and Carol! We also want to give a big “thank you” to our present and ongoing volunteers. Their friendship and time are truly a gift. Our Compeer Program is in need of many more men and women to become volunteers. We would love to have some Westlake and Bay Village residents inquire about Compeer volunteering. If you can find four hours a month to be a friend, please call 440-835-6212, ext. 242.

On Friday, August 27, 2010, The Compeer Program held its Annual Summer Picnic at Clague Park in Westlake. On that beautiful summer day many of our Members, Volunteers, and Staff enjoyed a celebration of friendship. Members and Volunteers worked together in the planning, setting up, grilling, cooking and game schedule for the picnic. Our picnic included hot dogs, hamburgers, salsa made from home grown vegetables, refreshing sherbet punch, and many homemade desserts! There was so much to enjoy. Along with good food there were horseshoe games, a large volleyball game, and lively conversation in the sun!

Unity Spiritual Center is kicking off the new year with many inspirational programs, presented through Centered Wellness at Unity and EMPOWER Excellence with Jan Litterst.  

Following last year's successful Inspired Success Circle, Jan. 7 will bring the beginning of a four-week program, Taking Your Flying Leap of Faith. Inspired by Tama Kieves' book, "Inspired & Unstoppable," this is a continuing support program for those seeking wild success in their life's work. The cost for the program is $30 prepaid, or $10 per week.