Health & Wellness

One thousand days of positivity

Is the glass half empty or half full? If you ask me, I’ll tell you that it’s all the way full – half with water and half with air. I’ve always considered myself to be an optimist, and I really believe that positive thinking is a powerful skill. Like any other skill, it’s important to practice it.

At the end of my freshman year of high school, I started a positivity journal. After each day, I would fill one line in the book with my favorite things about that day. Now, over two-and-a-half years later, I’m still continuing this tradition. On Dec. 14, I filled 1,000 lines in my journal for 1,000 days of positive thinking.

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Volume 10, Issue 24, Posted 10:05 AM, 12.18.2018

Plucking weed by its roots: The high school marijuana epidemic

Sidney comes home from a rainy lacrosse game. It’s their fourth loss this season. Damp, dispirited and discouraged, he edges around the landfill of dirty laundry on the floor of his room. Sitting at his desk, he leans back in the chair, and opens a pack of “toffee” which he got from a dispensary in Michigan. He prefers edibles for their prolonged effect. After half an hour, he looks around the room and, this time, no longer sees the squalor. He’s relaxed, as if in a “meadow of wildflowers.”

Sidney is a senior in high school. To combat his stress and anxiety, he is prescribed 10mg of Lexapro daily. And for the past two years, Sidney has been using marijuana “when I really feel stressed or depressed because it makes me calmer. Things taste better, feel better. Music sounds better … Lexapro calms me down long term, weed [is] a short high.”

Like Sidney, 2 million US teenagers experience depression, and 6.3 million teenagers experience anxiety, reports the Department of Health and Human Services. Joan Jerome, a guidance counselor at Westlake High School, sees it daily. “There’s a lot of depression, stress and anxiety that drowns students. Sometimes, they self-medicate by using marijuana.”

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Volume 10, Issue 22, Posted 9:29 AM, 11.20.2018

Khouri family gives $3 million to UH St. John Medical Center

Mary and Dr. Rustom Khouri, longtime supporters of University Hospitals St. John Medical Center, have committed $3 million to support renovations at the hospital’s emergency department which, in recognition of their gift, will be renamed the Khouri Center for Emergency Medicine. This is the largest gift to the hospital in its nearly 40-year history.

“The Khouris’ gift is truly transformative,” said Thomas F. Zenty III, UH Chief Executive Officer. “It will help us advance UH’s strategy for delivering highly specialized emergency care on Cleveland’s Westside for the more than 35,000 annual visitors to the UH St. John emergency department.”

Renovations to the Khouri Center for Emergency Medicine will include state-of-the-art technology and diagnostic equipment, a modern and open layout, and standardized exam and treatment rooms to reduce the possibility of an error during the care process.

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Volume 10, Issue 19, Posted 9:51 AM, 10.02.2018

Discover a healthier you at the Tri-C Wellness Fair

Take a step toward a healthier lifestyle with Cuyahoga Community College by attending a Wellness Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, at Corporate College West.

The free event opens with an hourlong discussion on brain health with Krystal Culler, director of the Center 4 Brain Health at Menorah Park in Beachwood. The lecture is part of the Learning for Life lecture series offered through Tri-C’s Westshore Campus.

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Volume 10, Issue 19, Posted 9:56 AM, 10.02.2018

West Shore Family YMCA to offer new adult sports leagues this fall

This fall, the West Shore Family YMCA will introduce new soccer and flag football leagues for adults in the community, in addition to current adult basketball leagues. 

Adult soccer and flag football leagues will run from Oct. 8 through Nov. 27. Soccer games will be held on Mondays and Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m.; flag football games will be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. Adult basketball will run from Sept. 24 through early December. Basketball games will be held on Mondays and Tuesdays between 7:00 and 10:00 p.m.

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Volume 10, Issue 18, Posted 10:06 AM, 09.18.2018

Arden Courts of Westlake employee chosen divisional 'Champion of Caring'

In her nearly eight years with Arden Courts of Westlake, Michele Dietrich is described as a team player like no other. She is upbeat, kind and compassionate, and a wonderful representative of the HCR ManorCare values.

While making residents’ rooms and the entire memory care center sparkle, she goes beyond with her versatility to assist residents with their meals, assist with programming, help with restocking and calm residents in need. Michele amazes with what she accomplishes and is the epitome of being helpful, caring and responsive in every way, every day.

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Volume 10, Issue 10, Posted 9:41 AM, 05.15.2018

Far West Center's May exhibit at Porter Library showcases how art helps and heals

Far West Center invites you to come share our inspirational art exhibit on display during the month of May at Westlake Porter Public Library. This community exhibit will showcase the artwork created by individuals in recovery from mental illness. These unique works of emotional expression are captivating and demonstrate how artistic opportunities provide tools for recovery and healing. 

Far West Center is a nonprofit community behavioral health services agency located on the West Shore Health Campus. The Art Helps and Heals (AHH!) Open Art Studio program helps adults managing severe mental illness, and teaches ways to identify and express emotion using artistic tools. Creating artwork offers persons new feelings of success and accomplishment. 

AHH! Art Helps and Heals Open Art Studio is supported by the ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County and also supported by the Cuyahoga Arts and Culture Council. We also appreciate support from the Bay Village-Westlake Rotary Club to offer this unique program.

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Volume 10, Issue 8, Posted 9:52 AM, 04.17.2018

MS Awareness Month

There’s a good chance you may know someone with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). There’s also a chance you may know someone with MS that doesn’t know she or he has it since its symptoms are shared with other illnesses.

People have been treated for these illnesses, sometimes for years, before finally being correctly diagnosed with MS. Fortunately, with improved diagnostic methods such as MRIs, MS is now recognized much sooner and treated correctly. The quicker it is treated, the better. That’s what this month, dedicated to getting the word out on MS, is all about – recognizing its symptoms, seeing the right doctor and then getting treatment as soon as possible.

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Volume 10, Issue 6, Posted 10:16 AM, 03.20.2018

Feast on something bigger than a fad

January is when the rubber hits the road on New Year’s resolutions. Many people are trying to improve their health but have a difficult time sustaining the change necessary to make it happen. The Daniel Plan is a groundbreaking healthy lifestyle program focused on five essentials that cover the body-mind-soul connection: Faith, Food, Fitness, Focus and Friends. The five essentials make the difference in helping people achieve their wellness goals.  

The free, six-week Daniel Plan is open to the community and being hosted by Westlake United Methodist Church with the support of the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Functional Medicine. The program equips you with practical tools and resources to bring health into every area of your life. Participants receive a confidential pre and post biometric assessment completed with Cleveland Clinic nurses, a Daniel Plan workbook along with a resource folder. The program will run in February and March where you meet weekly with a small group to learn the principles … just 40 days to a healthier you!

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Volume 10, Issue 1, Posted 9:32 AM, 01.09.2018

No new you in 2018!

"2018 will be the same."

This is a thought that many people dread in their minds and yet a truth that many secretly try to ignore. Let’s be honest, after each new year or every birthday, you still feel the same.

What really changes?

You don’t become a new person. You are still you. That smile, laugh, personality or voice? It is all you. Circumstances in your life change; you might find yourself single or married or now divorced. You might be making more money or making less. You might have clarity or be near insanity. The truth of the matter is: You are you!

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Volume 10, Issue 1, Posted 9:36 AM, 01.09.2018

'Triple Threat' discussion on heroin to include Westlake Police panelist

The Cleveland Clinic series “Heroin, Fentanyl and Carfentanil: The Triple Threat on Our Doorstep” is coming to Westlake Porter Public Library on Thursday, Jan. 11, to bring together residents, community partners and local experts, including the Westlake Police Department, in an open conversation about the opioid epidemic.

More than 4,000 people in Ohio died from drug overdoses in 2016. Although the state reports that both the prescribing of and unintentional deaths from painkillers is falling and heroin-related deaths are leveling off, powerful combinations of drugs that include fentanyl and carfentanil, a fentanyl-related drug that emerged in 2016, continue to claim lives in urban, suburban and rural communities.

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Volume 9, Issue 24, Posted 9:57 AM, 12.19.2017

Active aging benefits the mind, body

Studies have long supported the benefits of exercising as we age. The physical benefits range from improving strength and balance to reducing risks of heart disease and depression. More recently research has broadened its scope to encompass the effects of physical activity on cognitive functioning and structural integrity of the brain.

Given the growth of the aging population as well as the increase in longevity, physical activity is a main component in maintaining health, independence and quality of life. Benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle are not limited to physical health but include psychological and social aspects as well. We are proud to play a vital role in encouraging and supporting a healthy, active lifestyle at the Westlake Recreation Center.

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Volume 9, Issue 20, Posted 9:54 AM, 10.17.2017

Free fitness club for men builds health, friendships

F3Westshore, which stands for "fitness, fellowship, faith," offers workouts that are open to men of all fitness levels and are organized to keep the entire group together while ensuring a thorough workout for all members. It's not a competition, the members can make any adjustments to the workout based on their fitness level.

The person running each workout changes each day so you can expect new and interesting ways to get into shape. While every workout is different, they all end the same way – with a "circle of trust." The circle of trust gives our group the opportunity to discuss anything that is on their mind or call attention to something going on in their lives.

The workouts are always free, always in the morning and always outside. They are held Monday, Wednesday and Friday at different locations in Bay Village (rain or shine).

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Volume 9, Issue 20, Posted 9:59 AM, 10.17.2017

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center opens in Westlake

The Cleveland Rape Crisis Center recently opened a new office in Westlake, one of 11 satellite offices in Greater Cleveland. The new office at 27887 Clemens Road will serve rape and sexual abuse survivors in western Cuyahoga County. They offer a variety of counseling services for adults, children and entire families.

“Survivors of rape and sexual abuse live in every community in Northeast Ohio, and with the opening of the new westside office, our goal is to help survivors in western Cuyahoga County access our premier services close to home,” said Sondra Miller, President and CEO of Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. "Many of our clients come to us months, years, or even decades later. We want all survivors to know: You are not alone, and you can recover and lead a healthy and happy life."

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Volume 9, Issue 13, Posted 9:32 AM, 07.05.2017

Blessing of the Hands ceremony celebrates caregivers

Each year, in June, we acknowledge the contributions made by those individuals who have chosen to make the nursing assistants profession their life’s work. These dedicated and compassionate individuals are quite literally the heart and soul, not to mention the “hands,” of our community. In celebration of Nursing Assistants week O’Neill Healthcare Bay Village held a “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony on June 26.

Staff from all departments came out to join in the celebration performed by Dr. Rev. Marcettes Cunningham, pastor of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Our hands express the function of caring, whether in administrating medication, providing rehabilitation, preparing a meal or helping a resident’s family.  We are privileged to work for a profession where we have the opportunity to care for others and make a difference in their lives.

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Volume 9, Issue 13, Posted 9:25 AM, 07.05.2017

Dwyer Center hosts free spa day

O’Neill Healthcare Bay Village partnered with the staff of Dwyer Center and Mary Kay Cosmetics to offer Bay residents a free spa day filled with mini facials, make up demonstrations, manicures, tasty treats and more. More than 40 residents attended the special event on June 27.

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Volume 9, Issue 13, Posted 9:25 AM, 07.05.2017

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center to provide speech-language services to preschoolers

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is excited to announce its partnership with Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center (CHSC). This fall, a variety of speech and language services will be offered at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center to help young children develop the communication skills that are essential to academic success.

Serving over 6,000 children and adults each year, Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center is the nation's oldest hearing and speech center and the only nonprofit organization dedicated solely to serving those with special communication needs.

"We are thrilled to partner with Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center this year. Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is dedicated to connecting parents with the best community resources possible for their children to flourish," said Darci Sanders, Director of Education. "We're all about happy, healthy children and we strive to offer beneficial programs for the whole family."

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Volume 9, Issue 12, Posted 9:21 AM, 06.20.2017

Drug collection drive a huge success

The Westshore Enforcement Bureau (WEB) Drug Task Force gratefully acknowledges the citizens of our six western suburbs for actively participating in the semi-annual collection event on April 29 with 290 pounds of outdated and unwanted medications collected for safe disposal.

In addition, our WEB communities' citizens were responsible for properly disposing of medications via the use of the 365/24/7 drop boxes located within each of the six police departments lobbies to the tune of 2,719 pounds for the calendar year 2016.

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Volume 9, Issue 11, Posted 10:16 AM, 06.06.2017

Parents are the anti-drug: Westlake program focuses on prevention

Research shows that parents are the number one anti-drug. The Westlake Council of PTAs will host a presentation by a local expert on what to say to your kids, preschool to high school.

Nancy Pommerening, founder of the non-profit organization Drug Awareness and Prevention Inc. (DAP), will be coming to the Westlake High School Performing Arts Center, 27830 Hilliard Blvd., on Wednesday, May 10, at 6:30 p.m. This program is free for parents with children of all ages.

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Volume 9, Issue 9, Posted 9:59 AM, 05.02.2017

Far West Center offers help for new moms

Happy Mother’s Day from Far West Center! It is a day to celebrate the joy and happiness of a mom’s role in family life.

Far West Center in Westlake is proud to celebrate over 15 years of offering Help for Mom, a mental health program for new moms experiencing postpartum depression. We help new mothers cope with their own reactions, fears and anxieties in caring for a newborn life. For many mothers, the “baby blues” are temporary moments of stress and sadness, but for the new mother with postpartum depression, the emotional struggle is severe and overwhelming. “This is not what I expected” is often the call for help from these moms.

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Volume 9, Issue 9, Posted 10:02 AM, 05.02.2017

MS symptoms can mirror other diseases

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that attacks a person’s nerve fibers leading to the destruction of the myelin that insulates the fibers in the brain and spinal cord. It’s the myelin that facilitates electromechanical transmissions between the brain, the spinal cord and the rest of the body. In over-simplified layman’s terms – MS causes short circuits in the nervous system, disrupting whatever function is controlled by the affected nerves.

March is MS Awareness Month. It’s designated to help make aware those who may be enduring symptoms of the disease without knowing what they may have. There is no cure for MS but there are treatments for it that can slow its progress, making early detection essential for its victims.

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Volume 9, Issue 6, Posted 10:19 AM, 03.21.2017

Mental health presentation features Cleveland-based photographer Marc Golub

"In one study, 92 percent of depressed patients who had attempted suicide were also plagued by severe anxiety," says Cleveland-based photographer Marc Golub. "Like alcohol and barbiturates, depression and anxiety can be a deadly combination when taken together."

Golub knows first-hand. He experienced a harrowing, life-threatening journey through 22 months of treatment-resistant clinical depression along with a co-occurring major anxiety disorder. A world-class professional photographer and computer geek, Golub has photographed every U.S. president from George H.W. Bush to Donald Trump. With an extensive and diverse body of work, Golub’s photos have appeared in every major publication in the United States and around the world. He is also an entrepreneur, owning ClikSEO – a search engine optimization and social media company.

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Volume 9, Issue 6, Posted 10:18 AM, 03.21.2017

Learning to take it slow and steady

Staying active as a senior can be tough. Achy joints that don’t work as well as they used to make it hard to do exercises. My greatest fear as I age is falling. Too many times I have seen lives change dramatically after a fall. 

My doctor suggested recently that I increase my exercise, so I signed up for senior Tai Chi classes at the Bay community room. One of Tai Chi's biggest benefits is its capacity to improve balance and prevent falls. At first glance my impression was that it was too slow, unlike any exercise class, but I found out quickly how wrong I was. It’s amazing how tiring it can be to move slowly for an hour. On doctor’s orders, I join 30 men and women each Friday for an hour of slow, deliberate, focused movement.

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Volume 9, Issue 5, Posted 9:34 AM, 03.07.2017

Opioid forum Nov. 9

The Westlake Police Department encourages people to attend an upcoming public forum on heroin presented by the Greater Cleveland Drug Court and Rocky River Municipal Court. The community discussion, called “Parking the Ambulance at the Top of the Cliff,” will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 5:30-7 p.m., at the Rocky River Memorial Hall, 21016 Hilliard Blvd. It is free and open to all.

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Volume 8, Issue 21, Posted 9:59 AM, 11.01.2016

Tri-C focuses on fitness strategies for seniors

The Westshore Campus of Cuyahoga Community College will examine fitness training strategies for seniors as part of its free “Learning for Life” lecture series at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19.

The program – “Never Grow Old Fitness” features Paul O’Donoghue, a personal trainer and certified Functional Aging Specialist. He and his wife, Mary, will discuss the Functional Aging Training model.

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Volume 8, Issue 20, Posted 10:26 AM, 10.18.2016

Why it is important to organize and declutter

Organizing. Decluttering. For some people these words can be motivating and lead to a sense of peace and better functioning day to day, due to things being easy to find and use. But these words may also bring a feeling of being overwhelmed, not knowing where to start, not having time to do it, and not having the motivation to do it for various reasons.

Most people can identify with at least one or more of these feelings, and to some people, these feelings can spill into other aspects of their lives. Sometimes it may be hard to function and complete everyday tasks due to having too much clutter and just not knowing where to start.

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Volume 8, Issue 20, Posted 10:23 AM, 10.18.2016

Hand-blessing ceremony honors nurses

Each year, the second week of June is set aside to acknowledge the contributions made by those individuals who have chosen to make the nursing assistant profession their life’s work. These dedicated and compassionate individuals are, quite literally, the heart and soul, not to mention the “hands” of the facility.

In celebration of Nursing Assistants week, O’Neill Healthcare Bay Village held a “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony.

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Volume 8, Issue 12, Posted 9:31 AM, 06.21.2016

Far West Center social worker recognized for outstanding mental health care

Longtime employee Denise Ayres of Far West Center was awarded the prestigious Mental Health Provider Award at NAMI Greater Cleveland’s May 22 annual meeting. In her 20-year career at Far West Center, Denise, a licensed social worker, has always stayed true in her dedication to the well-being of the most severely ill clients. Denise’s tireless work for the Compeer friendship program, and the AHH! art therapy program, are now recognized broadly in the Greater Cleveland community. 

Many providers, consumers, volunteers and community leaders know Denise by name and admire her lively spirit and the “can-do” energy she shares with those around her. Denise will say that she is honored to do the work she loves for her entire career.

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Volume 8, Issue 11, Posted 9:49 AM, 06.07.2016

Bay students pedal 23,000 miles during Bike To School Challenge

Bay Middle School's front fence packed with bicycles was only one sign of the huge success and impact of the ninth annual Bay Bike to School Challenge. This year, the program continues to help transform Bay Village into a bicycling hub.

While the kids won prizes for biking and had fun riding, they also racked up some serious numbers. From May 2 through May 20, Bay Middle School and Westerly Elementary School students:

  • Biked 23,775 miles;
  • Took 8,552 round-tip bicycle rides to school;
  • Burned 608,033 calories – or the equivalent of 3,340 cans of Coca-Cola;
  • Prevented 18,274 pounds of heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions from entering the environment;
  • Saved their parents $2,098 on gasoline.
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Volume 8, Issue 11, Posted 9:44 AM, 06.07.2016

Grant helps low-income persons receive mental health care

Far West Center was recently awarded a grant from The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation to assist persons without insurance receive mental health care and recovery services. The Center is extremely grateful to the Foundation for its longstanding show of support for mental health treatment and wellness.

In 2016, Far West Center will serve over 1,700 individuals with serious mental health problems; 75 percent receive public assistance that only partially covers their care. Far West Center relies on support from partners like the Prentiss Foundation to fill the gap in funding mental health recovery services.

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Volume 8, Issue 10, Posted 9:56 AM, 05.17.2016

Annual Bay Bike To School Challenge underway

May is National Bicycle Month. For over 1,200 middle school and elementary school students in Bay Village, that means Bike To School Month as the annual Bay Bike To School Challenge returns for the ninth year. The Bay Bike To School Challenge began in 2008 at Bay High School and Bay Middle School, following on the heels of an informal student-organized protest at Bay High School in 2007 that saw students biking to school to beat the high price of gasoline. This year, the Bike To School Challenge returns to Bay Middle School and Westerly Elementary School.

During May, students are encouraged to ride their bikes to school to help the environment, get more physical activity to improve their health, have fun, and win prizes. The Bike To School Challenge for Bay Middle School began on Monday, May 2, and ends on Friday, May 20. The one-week Bike To School Challenge for Westerly Elementary School begins on Monday, May 16, and ends on Friday, May 20.

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Volume 8, Issue 9, Posted 9:48 AM, 05.03.2016

Get ready to ride at Bay Village Bicycle Safety Fair on April 28

Get your bicycle ready to roll at the Bay Village Bicycle Fair on Thursday, April 28, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Bay Middle School, 27725 Wolf Road. Residents are invited to bring their bicycles for a free safety inspection and have the chance to win a bicycle helmet, get a free bike license, learn about the benefits of bicycling, and kick off National Bike Month in May. It is free and open to the public.

At the Bay Village Bicycle Safety Fair on April 28:

  • Professional bicycle mechanics from Century Cycles bicycle store in Rocky River will provide free bicycle safety inspections, display essential bicycle commuting accessories and information, and make smoothies on the Century Cycles blender bike.
  • Century Cycles and Raleigh Bicycles are teaming up to give away 20 bicycle helmets to the first 20 families who attend (limit one helmet per family).
  • Bay Bike to School Challenge organizers will be available to answer questions about the program.
  • The Bay Village Police Department is providing free bike licenses.
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Volume 8, Issue 8, Posted 9:48 AM, 04.19.2016

Arden Courts earns "deficiency free" finding from state survey

One of the highest recognitions of quality service for a health care facility to receive is a Deficiency-Free State Survey from the State Department of Public Health. The Ohio Department of Health conducts unannounced annual on-site inspections of all Ohio health care facilities to ensure compliance with state and federal rules and regulations.

This survey process is a detailed inspection where the facility is expected to adhere to an extensive list of rules and regulations designed to ensure the safety, well-being and dignity of each resident. Citations for not meeting a regulation are called deficiencies. Because of the intensity of the survey process, a facility must truly excel to receive a Deficiency-Free State Survey outcome.

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Volume 8, Issue 8, Posted 9:48 AM, 04.19.2016

Ambulance Chase event celebrates fun, fitness, shared community spirit

The start of spring is a welcome reminder that it’s time once again to gather our teams for the annual “Ambulance Chase 5K/1 Mile” event. This year’s race will take place on Sunday, May 1, at Lakewood Park and celebrates 15 years of running, walking, wellness and community spirit.

The Ambulance Chase is always met with enthusiasm by our family and friends. In fact, last year “Team Pfahl” had over 60 runners/walkers that registered for the race including our toddler granddaughter who eagerly joined the younger kids for her first Children’s Chase. I think it’s safe to say that we are very passionate about the Ambulance Chase and proud to be part of its legacy.

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Volume 8, Issue 8, Posted 9:50 AM, 04.19.2016

North Coast Health receives grant to improve patient outcomes

North Coast Health has received a grant from the CVS Health Foundation in partnership with the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics. The grant will provide more access to health care and improve patient outcomes in the Greater Western Cleveland community. North Coast Health is one of only 34 clinics nationwide to receive CVS Health Foundation funding this year.

The $35,000 grant has been awarded as part of the CVS Health Foundation’s commitment to address the need for more accessible, coordinated health care in our local communities. The grant will help North Coast Health support Improving Outcomes for Patients with Diabetes, Hypertension and Depression.

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Volume 8, Issue 8, Posted 9:49 AM, 04.19.2016

MS Awareness Month

March is MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Awareness Month in Ohio. Appropriately so, since our state has a higher incidence of this cruel chronic illness than almost any other state. Why this is so, is one of the many mysteries of MS. Other mysteries include why it usually strikes people between the ages of 20 to 50 and why two to three times the number of women have it than men.

MS may be described briefly as a very unpredictable disease of the central nervous system which interrupts signals within the brain and between the brain and the body. No nerve in the body is safe from MS and the damage it does. While there is at present no cure for it, a number of drugs/treatments exist to address its symptoms, relieve them and/or slow the progress of its attacks. The earlier the symptoms are treated the better the results – the sooner MS is diagnosed the better for the patient. That's why awareness of MS and its many, varied symptoms is so important as we try to make them known with a special month of information.

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Volume 8, Issue 6, Posted 10:05 AM, 03.15.2016

UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s brings new kids running series to Westlake

If you are looking for a way to get the kids up and moving and out from behind a screen this spring, the Healthy Kids Running Series may be the answer. The Healthy Kids Running Series is a five-week running program in the spring and fall for kids from Pre-K to eighth grade. Each Race Series takes place once a week and offers age appropriate running events including the 50-yard dash and the 1/4-mile, 1/2-mile and one-mile run.

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Volume 8, Issue 6, Posted 10:01 AM, 03.15.2016

North Coast Health earns national recognition for patient-centered care

The National Committee for Quality Assurance has recognized North Coast Health as a NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH), Level 3 for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long‐term relationships. By enhancing patient engagement and improving outcomes, North Coast Health earned the highest level of recognition.

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Volume 8, Issue 6, Posted 10:08 AM, 03.15.2016

Youth said to be key to heroin-free county

On Jan. 29, 70 youths from 15 different schools gathered together in the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office to discuss one of the most concerning and deadly influenzas hitting the county, and the rest of the nation – the heroin crisis.

Five strong presences were in the center of the circle the students formed: county medical examiner Dr. Tom Gilson; Katie Bolan from the Lorain ADAMHS Board (Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services); Jaclyn Brandt, whose brother died of an overdose; Monica Robins, who is the health reporter for WKYC-TV and has experienced heroin deaths within her own family; and Aaron Marks, who has been in recovery from heroin and sober for 11 years.

“The goal today is to get you to engage. This is one of our last chances to impact a group who will face this problem," Dr. Gilson told the students in his opening remarks.

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Volume 8, Issue 5, Posted 9:37 AM, 03.01.2016

Flu Prevention Tips

With the relatively warm weather we haven’t seen much flu this year, but it is important to remember that there is a lot of winter left and it is not too late to take precautions. Flu is a serious, contagious disease resulting in over 200,000 hospitalizations per year. Flu-like symptoms include fever (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches and sore throat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued the following recommendations on flu prevention:

Take time to get vaccinated

  • Get your annual seasonal flu vaccine – recommended for everyone 6 months and older. This is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions and people 65 years and older.
  • Vaccination is important for health care workers and others who live with or care for high-risk individuals to prevent giving the flu to those at high risk.
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Volume 8, Issue 3, Posted 9:52 AM, 02.02.2016