Latest News On Health & Happiness!

I’m very happy to share with you the latest news on Health & Happiness U.P Magazine!

Our current issue prints today, and features great articles on preventing colds and flus, relieving stress, music’s healing power, healthy holiday side dishes, winter hikes, family history, infant vision development, treats to bake your furry friends, creative inspiration, and much more, plus find out why we chose Marquette Adult Day Services as our Elder Care donation receipient!

You can get a sneak preview from the posts below, as well as pick up additional tips on cold and flu prevention, how to learn more about your family history, find hot Green Living links, view beautiful winter photos of Dead River Falls by Kevin McGrath, as well as locations where you can pick up our hard copy publication, (distribution completed by 11/21/12.), Great Savings, Events, and a list of services offered by our advertisers.

We’ve also added 2 new pages! Learn more about our regular column writers on our Writers page, and check out our Featured Website of a non-profit promoting the health and happiness of others!

And, please “Like Us” on our new Facebook page as we continue to update you on all the latest!

Where Should the Money Go?

In honor of our 5th Aniversary, Health & Happiness U.P. Magazine has made a 5-year commitment to additional support for a particular area of community life each year, beginning this year with Elder Care. As part of this commitment, we will be contributing money to a local Elder Care non-profit agency or project. There are many worthy candidates to choose from, so we need your help! Please tell us where you think the money should go and why by using the comment box below or emailing hhupmag@charter.net by November 1st, 2012. And please ask your friends and neighbors to weigh in too!

With thanks & best wishes,

Roslyn Elena McGrath, Publisher

Celebrating Our Fifth Anniversary!

by Roslyn McGrath

Anniversaries can be a great opportunity to reflect upon and celebrate what got you there, as well as what is and what can be, and refine and recommit to your vision of what you’re celebrating as you move forward.

Five years ago, I recognized the need for a truly local wellness publication, one where community members share their expertise and insight with us, increasing our understanding of the many ways we can increase our health and happiness and the many wellness resources available locally to support us in this

A big thank you to each of our writers –regular column writers Barb Dupras, Victoria Jungwirth, Jenny Magli, Miriam Moeller, Jessica Nagelkirk, Heidi Stevenson, Steve Waller and Val Wilson, as well as all those who’ve contributed articles and photographs along the way, (see full list on p.3), who so impress me with the quality and care they bring to each article. I and our many readers get to learn so much every time!

A big thank you to all our advertisers, whose passion and purpose are a big part of what makes our community tick, and who help make presenting this wealth of wellness information possible. I think you’ll enjoy discovering more about what their big hearts and expertise gift our community on pages 10 and 11 of this issue! And please consider letting them know how much you appreciate all they do.

A big thank you to proofreader Tyler Tichelaaar for his expert eyes and mind, kind heart and helpfulness, Curtis Kyllonen for his years of cheerfully and faithfully getting over a quarter of our many copies to where they need to go, to Tom O’Connell for making our early covers beautiful, to the various photographers whose eyes for local scenes have also helped create beautiful covers, to all our print shop helpers who’ve assisted me in getting the job done right, the many businesses and organizations who’ve made a place for Health & Happiness to be easily picked up, and to my husband, Kevin McGrath, for always pitching in with whatever’s needed, whether it’s a warm hug and smile, sound advice, listening ears, great ideas, timely deliveries, inspiring, light-hearted articles or encouraging words.

And a big thank you to YOU, our readers, for all your support and appreciation. You make it all worthwhile!

It’s the support of all of you that has made it possible to cover topics ranging from cooking with rutabaga to traditional Chinese medicine, child rearing tips to overcoming writer’s block, mortgage and energy-saving advice to mindfulness practices, pet treat recipes to U.P. kayaking, long distance elder care to wild crafting and so much more; increase our distribution to 7,500 copies at over 250 locations, five times where we started five years ago, (and there are still places where we run out of copies!); and further invest in our community with donations to the Beaumier Upper Peninsula Heritage Center, Devos Art Museum, Great Lakes Recovery Centers, Hiawatha Music Festival, Huron Mountain Club Gallery, Lake Superior Hospice, Marquette Arts & Culture Center, Marquette County Health Department, Marquette Maritime Museum, Marquette Regional History Center, Medical Care Access Coalition, Northern Initiatives, Oasis Gallery, UPAWS, Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum, and Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition’s Celebrate the U.P.

Below are a few excerpts of the congratulations I’ve received on our fifth anniversary. Thank you so much to all those who’ve made a point of expressing their appreciation, whether in person or in writing!

I look forward to continuing to serve our community’s wellness information needs with high quality and creativity, as well as launching our five year commitment to supporting a different area of community life each year through increased coverage and donations, starting this year with the increasingly important issue of elder care.

So fittingly, this issue of Health & Happiness U.P. Magazine is dedicated to the topics of celebration, age and “fives” – enjoy!

Roslyn Elena McGrath, Publisher, Health & Happiness U.P. Magazine

I want to congratulate you on your fifth anniversary of Health & Happiness. Every cover has been beautiful and the wide array of articles has provided a wealth of information and insight to readers. Your vision of a need and your willingness and excitement to fill that need has been remarkable. Here’s to many more issues! – Gareth Zellmer

Congratulations on the 5th anniversary of Health and Happiness! It’s some of the best reading to come out of our “far northern outpost” community. May the coming year be the best yet; here’s to five more! – Sue Schenk Drobny

Congratulations from Natural Connections! We celebrate you for your commitment and passion in providing a wonderfully effective information connection between our holistic community and U.P. residents through your beautiful magazine, Health & Happiness!

Happy 5th Anniversary from Lake Superior Holistic Connection! Your magazine is a bright light in our community! It’s a beacon illuminating paths of possibility to those seeking natural ways to align their body, mind, spirit! Congrats! – Diana Oman

It’s a joy, truly an inspiration to witness this evolution of Health & Happiness, how you have brought this brilliant idea, an idea that lit you up and lit us up as well, into manifestation. I look forward to receiving this uplifting publication with its focus on our possibilities and potential, and the labor of love that you as creator, as bridge-maker, as editor, as publisher, as marketer have put into each and every issue. It is a template for all of us, the way that you have taken a dream and made it reality, learning the next step and the next step as you’ve walked this creative path. And look how we all benefit, what you have brought to all of us! – Helen Haskell Remien

Health & Happiness’s Contributing Writers & Photographers, 2007 – 2012:

Leslie Allen, Linda Andriacchi, Stuart Baker, Leslie Bek, Gina Brown, Audra Campbell, Lisa Cerasoli, Joan Chadde, Pam Christenson, Amy Clickner, Stuart Cooper, Patty Cornish, Martha Crenshaw, Kim Danielson, Sarah Dean, Chuck Delpier, Sara DeFrancesco, Melinda Dollhopf, Barb Dupras, Cindy Engle, Sydney Giovenco, Lee Goodwin, Genean Granger, Kathy Harsch, Victoria Jungwirth, Kristen Karls, Kim Kee, Mick Kiaros, Virginia Kleaver, Amanda Klein, Tammy Krassick, Lucy LaFaive, Jamie LaFreniere, Betsy Little, Jeaneen Luokkala, Alanna Luttenton, Dawn Lundin, Jenny Magli, Karen Mallinger, Amy Mattson, Kevin McGrath, Roslyn McGrath, Lisa McKenzie, Brian McMillan, Kristine McPeak, Miriam Moeller, Neil Moran, Mohey Mowafy, Jessica Nagelkirk, Kim Nixon, Colleen O’Hara, Valerie Olson, Diana Oman, Marissa Palomaki, Kris Harris Pfaffle, Phil Poutinen, Gretchen Preston, Diane Raven, Robert Regis, Helen Haskell Remien, Carol Rose, Sherri Rule, Christine Saari, Jon Saari, Diane Sautter, Deb Sergey, Dar Shepherd, Mary Soper, Jennifer Stelly, Heidi Stevenson, Tyler Tichelaar, Lynn Vanwelsenaers, Cassandra Vore, Steve Waller, Nicole Walton, Fran Walters, Cynthia Whitehouse, Val Wilson, Gareth Zellmer, & Joseph Zyble.

The Gifts of Aging by Barb Dupras

The definition of aging is “the process of growing old or maturing.” A synonym for aging is “obsolescence” (becoming obsolete). Of course, no one wants to become obsolete. We are constantly bombarded by the media with messages telling us we should not look old but instead try any product we can to regain our youthful appearance. It’s as if aging is a terrible malady we should avoid at all costs. Our youth-oriented culture has lost touch with the deep meanings that can collect around being old, as if it would be better to eliminate autumn and winter from the four seasons. “Let’s get rid of the hideous autumn foliage and withered leaves so everything can be green all the time.” But then the world would miss out on the true spirit of elders.

This mysterious process called aging has been part of the greater rhythm of life since life began. For me, one of the gifts of this later phase of life, as a result of all my life experiences, is the opportunity to be more inner-directed. As we come closer to the realm of the spirit, we have the opportunity to look back at our life and glean the lessons that we may or may not have learned earlier. We can learn to be more conscious, as we are no longer so distracted with children, the roller-coaster ride of hormones, or the outer challenges inherent in making a living. And we have the wisdom to look at it all. We may identify patterns in our life reoccurring time and again. It’s as if the original situation, (which may have occurred in childhood or when we were younger), keeps repeating itself throughout our lives in a futile attempt to resolve itself. Now we have the opportunity to identify unhealed issues and look to whatever means we are drawn to to heal or integrate them. I believe everything that happens in our lives is for our growth, and that we can come to a sense of peace about challenging experiences. One book that really helped me with this is The Presence Process by Michael Brown.

As we grow older, many of us focus on the physical changes. At sixty-two, I do notice the changes in my body. More and more, my body seems to have a mind of its own! It will no longer tolerate my pushing it to the limit and has announced to me in various ways that the pace is different now. And I am more focused on maintaining my health. I know that the “golden years” can be fraught with pain and disease. But I invite you to take a different perspective about your body. It has served you well for many, many years. And the natural state of our bodies is one of perfect health. No matter what state your body is in, it is always trying to rebalance or heal itself, (even if it means compromising other systems). For example, one day my lower back was giving me great discomfort. I sat and meditated for a while and totally relaxed. When I got up, the pain was completely gone. When you relax, your body has the opportunity to address the issues at hand. There are probably some reading this who have severe health issues thinking, “Sure, you are younger and in good health – easy for you to say!” But I do invite you to take some time every day to relax completely and think positive loving thoughts about your body. Your body does respond to the thoughts you think about it. Experiment and see what happens!

A friend in her sixties shared with me that she feels more like herself than she has since she was a child. I also feel that way. She explained that she is not dealing with midlife responsibilities so now she can pursue her passions.

I remember my life loving adventures – camping, solo canoe camping, backpacking, etc. Now I don’t feel the push to do those things. It was almost like I needed to prove something to myself. Now I feel peaceful and more grounded, with the opportunity to put things in a healthier perspective. A friend in her seventies said she did not start feeling old until her friends started dying. Then she started thinking about her age and her body started giving her challenges. She also said she no longer does things to mark them off her list; instead, she only does things she finds fun.

Historically, cultures have turned to the elders for answers to life’s deepest problems. Unfortunately, in this modern age the reins of power and leadership often go to individuals who have not yet gained the experience and wisdom necessary to make good decisions. There is a new philanthropic effort acknowledging that we once again need to access the wisdom of the elders to solve problems. “The Elders,” an international non-governmental organization of twelve elder public figures – peace activists, noted statesmen and human rights advocates, was brought together by Nelson Mandala in 2007. Its goal is to use the “almost 1000 years of collective experience” to work on solutions for seemingly insurmountable world problems such as poverty, human rights abuses, environmental issues, peace, and climate change. Some of the elders are: Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan, Jimmy Carter and Mary Robinson. You can learn more about this organization at http://www.theelders.org.

With all the years that we seniors have lived, how wonderful it is that we can guide the next generation toward making good choices! There is groundedness and power in that. This phase brings the opportunity to explore life in a whole new way. Let’s embrace all the qualities in us that have served us well and share our innate wisdom. Let’s nourish our precious relationships And above all, let’s honor each other and be supportive of one another’s life journeys. There are more opportunities for us to explore than ever before. Let’s not waste time!

Barbara Dupras is a retired Senior Center Social Worker and practices Energy Medicine. She loves gardening, hiking, and kayaking in the Chocolay River, on which she lives.

Exercise Your Age? by M. Moeller

When speaking with women in their 40s, 50s and 60s about what it takes to stay fit while getting older, these three qualities were mentioned across the age groups – recognition, acceptance and adjustment.

Recognition: Deanna Koscielny, 41, of Marquette had children at a very young age, was always on the heavy side, smoked and besides hiking and an occasional aerobics class, never exercised until she was in a serious car accident in her mid-thirties. Luckily, her injuries were minor, but the accident confronted her with the reality that she only had one life to live. “You can’t take your health for granted,” Deanna said. “If I had not changed, I know I would now be on high blood pressure meds and probably have diabetes.”

Deanna quit smoking and started biking with a women’s bicycling group called Women Shifting Gears. She not only very much enjoyed her first mountain bike ride, she also connected with many other women in the group. Soon she had exercise routines and new friends. Over the years, Deanna became very fit, competing in races and challenging herself with different types of activities, including running a marathon this spring. Her job also changed – she now teaches others how to maintain a healthy and fit lifestyle as part of a Marquette General Hospital program.

Acceptance: Marion Johnson, 53, of Ishpeming, was just entering high school when Title IX was introduced, and consequently ,women’s sports. As a result, Marion participated in track and field and quickly became a successful sprinter. With her priority of raising children, Marion remained active throughout her 20s and 30s by introducing her children to outdoor activities like skiing, hiking and swimming. As she entered her mid-40s with her children grown, Marion was able to shift her priorities back to her own activities with health and longevity now her primary goals for exercise: “As you age, you want to be fit to enjoy life.” So Marion stepped it up with road riding, mountain biking, running, and intense Cross Fit training. She not only enjoyed the results of the training but thrived on the workouts as an important part of her daily routine. Now in her 50s, Marion recently experienced a setback, tearing her meniscus while running. She is still working through her recovery following surgery and realizing she may have to rethink her workout routines and perhaps scale the intensity back a bit. “It’s a reality check.” Marion has accepted that the unexpected injury requires she make some adjustments in her active lifestyle. Rather than quit, she will learn new ways to stay active and injury free.

Adjustment: Janet Koistenen, 61, of Gwinn has been an athlete all her life. As a child, her father encouraged her to be active outside, and as she grew older, she became a competitive runner and cross-country skier. Nowadays, Janet sees her sports as a way to have fun and to enjoy nature, so she is still very active in her 60s. However, over the years she did have to adjust some of her routines. For instance, after running on pavement for many years, knee pain prompted her to switch to trail running. Although trail running is often much more irregular than running on pavement, Janet said the softer surface makes it easier on her body. She also began adding bicycling and swimming to her routines. Mixing up activities, Janet said, contributes to her staying healthy enough to still run, swim, bike and ski regularly to this day. She even competes here and there, including the Copper Harbor triathlon, the Copperman, this August.

Adjusting to change, especially adjusting her mindset, has not been the easiest thing for Janet. About five years ago, during a cross country ski race, she realized it was time to change the way she was going about the sport. She said during the race she felt very competitive, thinking about beating the others. “I wanted that attention,” she explained. “I was doing it for all the wrong reasons.” Janet recognized she had forgotten to have fun with it, so she stepped away from racing and instead focused on teaching others. Teaching prompted further insight. Janet began surrounding herself with younger generations, whom she helped improve at sports and whom in turn motivated her to stay active, a win-win situation. Now Janet encourages folks her age and older to stay fit by being active with younger people. The Marquette area offers endless opportunities for generations to mix and exercise. A good introduction might be to start a sport with a grandchild or join a local sports club.

All the women agreed that no matter one’s age, fitness and a healthy lifestyle is achievable. It may take a bit of a leap for some, but very often that first step leads to not only a happier but also a longer life.

Miriam Moeller is a former journalist and creative writer. She currently works at Northern Michigan University in the International Programs Office. She loves biking, skiing and her dog Marla.

WHAT ARE THE TOP 12 LOCAL ATTRACTIONS?

Tell us what places you think are Marquette & Alger County’s best! They just might be featured in the Summer 2012 Issue of Health & Happiness U.P. Magazine!

Categories to consider:

– Architecture

– Art

-Canoeing

– Dining Area

– Family Fun

– Fishing

– Handicapped Friendly

– Historical

– Kayaking

– Outdoor Recreation

– Shopping Area

– Swimming

– Great Views

Keeping Elder Holidays Special

By Barb Dupras

The holidays are a special time for celebrating family, renewing your connections with loved ones and being together. But families, like life, go through change, especially with older loved ones. Keeping the spirit of the holiday alive despite these changes keeps the fabric of family strong.

When there have been changes in a senior’s life— a new debilitating medical condition, loss of some independence, loss of a loved one, or even a change in the environment, the holidays can bring depression. This can be exhibited by loss of interest in things previously enjoyed, slowed thinking or response, decreased level of hygiene, inability to focus or concentrate, change in sleep patterns, loss of appetite and/or increased forgetfulness. If you have a feeling something is just not right, it might be good to talk to your loved one— it may be he or she is experiencing a simple fear that that can be remedied with reassurance. Communication is always important. Just knowing that you care gives your loved one that emotional support. During the holidays, continue to give your loved one a feeling of being needed (lack of this can also be a fear). Have him/her assist with holiday preparations such as decorating or cooking. Take a drive to see the holiday lights. Encourage him/her to tell stories of the past. Have the youngest serve the eldest first at meal time. All these things will help your senior feel loved no matter what changes have taken place. But if your loved one continues to exhibit symptoms of depression after two weeks, it may be a good idea to consult your doctor. The doctor would know if it could be a side effect from a medication or interaction between the meds and can give you information on how it could be treated. Also be aware that the senior’s generation did not recognize depression. The senior’s reaction may be one of not understanding, feeling that this shows weakness of character or is a mental illness. Some people have the mistaken belief that depression is a part of aging. Depression in the elderly results from losses and changes that are not caused by the physical aspects of aging. A strong deterrent to depression is having a strong network of support from family and/or friends.

Another big change can be a medical condition resulting in loss of physical functioning – stroke, severe arthritis, etc. Be mindful of your senior’s new physical needs. Are there steps in the house that would be difficult? Does the senior now need help getting up the porch steps? If the holiday is at the family home, does the senior need an elevated toilet seat? Can it be brought from the senior’s home? Also, with any new condition, one’s energy level would certainly change. Be aware that your senior may tire easily and need to rest. Also, he/she may not tolerate the stimulation of being with a lot of people as well as before but may not want to say anything. Also be aware that there may be new dietary needs. Locating an Elder Care online site could prove to be an invaluable resource for information.

One of the biggest challenges in celebrating holidays is with a loved one who has dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. If you are the caregiver and the festivities are at your house, it may be a good idea to send a letter to the family who are coming explaining the changes in your loved one so they will not be surprised or offended. It is important to let them know that the senior cannot process information as he/she did before. It helps to be specific. Also, if you are the caregiver it may help to make things simpler to give yourself a break. Asking for a holiday potluck may be a nice variation.

In terms of the senior, it would be helpful to have a special room where he or she could rest or be out of the fray of people. The person with the dementia cannot tolerate much stimulation. Helping your loved one maintain the usual routine as much as possible does help, as it gives the senior a feeling of stability. Even though the dementia slows down functioning, it is still important to include the senior in the festivities as much as possible, though at a later stage of Alzheimer’s, this could be a challenge to consider carefully.

If your loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s is in a nursing facility, you can still celebrate together with a visit. People with dementia often cannot remember what they ate five minutes ago but do remember in detail the history of topics important to them. To help make a connection with your loved one, you could bring in pictures or an old photo album and talk about the past. You may be surprised how much will be shared. Another idea is to bring in old recordings of songs of his or her era. Or even sing them with him or her. There always is a thread of remembrance of favorite songs no matter what the severity of dementia. You can also start a project in which he/she puts together old pictures in an album. Be creative – the results will be a lasting memory which you will cherish. For more information regarding dealing with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s disease, the local Alzheimer’s Association in Marquette has a library filled with information. Phone calls with questions are also welcomed.

One of the most common challenges in these times is the distance between families. We all know that it is important to stay connected. In this high tech age there are some opportunities that may help. For those who have a computer, having a regular meeting using a video conferencing program such as Skype program can help. Family members can see each other on the screen and actually talk with one another. Another idea is to give your grandparents webcams. Then make a date every week to connect. Obtain a free conference line on your phone that you can send to all family members. Celebrate with your seniors long distance by signing up at FreeConferenceCall.com or Mr.Conference.com. Charges are the same as long distance calls for each person.

We can make the holidays the special time they’ve always been meant to be, regardless of the changes. Our elders are a rich source of wisdom, history and love that can help bind a family together in precious ways. Let’s always value them and make them as much a part of our lives as we are able.

Barbara Dupras is a newly retired Senior Center Social Worker. She is also an energy practitioner and is on the board of Natural Connections. Barbara lives in a wonderful home on the Chocolay River with her cat Vido.

Reprinted with permission from Health & Happiness U.P. Magazine, Winter 2011 – 2012

Health and Happiness Reader’s Choice Results

The results of the Health & Happiness Reader’s Choice Awards are in!

Favorite Type of Winter Exercise – Cross Country Skiing
Favorite Marquette or Alger Co., MI Establishment for Soup – Huron Earth Deli
Favorite Activity to Share with Summer Visitors – Go Up Sugarloaf Mountain

Congratulations to Huron Earth Deli & Thank You to All Those Who Participated!

What’s your opinion? Please respond to the following questions:

What’s your favorite place in the U.P. to view the fall colors?
What’s your favorite Marquette or Alger County establishment for pie?

How To Cheat the Gas Pump

by Steve Waller

If I hear one more person complain about gas prices I’ll scream! Oil company shareholders are too busy cashing big dividends to be sympathetic. Complaining just says you’re grumpy when you fill your tank, but you filled up anyway, didn’t you? Demanding lower prices just says you desperately want to use gas as you always have, you don’t want to change your gas habits and you don’t want to pay so much – you will (but you don’t have to).

Low gas prices don’t make gas more abundant, (it just uses it up faster), doesn’t reduce demand, (so you willingly pay more), and doesn’t encourage renewables. If you really want to teach those gouging you at the pump a lesson, don’t complain, don’t try to lower prices, do what smart consumers do – buy LESS of their darn product! It’s simple math: Buy less = spend less. And don’t say “But I can’t!” because, for many of you, Yes, you can! Here’s how – Go into your garage, basement, shed or storage area. Take a strong flashlight. Look way, way in the back. See that bit of dusty old chrome? Good. Now move all that other stuff out of the way. Grab that shiny metal and drag that old bicycle out into the light of day. Get a few rags and an oil can, (or take it to your local bike shop for a tune up). Find a helmet, a lock and, for considerably less than the price of just one tank of gas, you’ve resurrected your wheels! It’s summer… RIDE!

Get very familiar with the Marquette Police Bicycle Safety Information (mqtcty.org/police_bike.html). Then be absolutely sure to read “What Every MI Bicyclist Should Know” from the League of Michigan Bicyclists (www.lmb.org/index.php/Education/michigan-vehicle-code-pertaining-to-bicyclists.html). Remember, you are responsible for your safety.

Start riding around the neighborhood. Grab your kid’s backpack and bring some supplies home from the grocery store. Log onto the “Marquette Bicycle Collective” on Facebook. The Collective seeks to enhance biking culture in the Marquette area and assist the development of a thriving, diverse bike community. They exist to provide bicycles for rent and purchase, provide bike workshop space, promote bicycle awareness, and provide practical bicycle education.

YES, many of you CAN commute to work. No, you won’t be all sweaty and disgusting unless you make your commute an Olympic event. Actually, you’ll be airing yourself out the whole way! You’ll be an inspiration to your fellow workers. No weather excuses; it only rains occasionally. Consider the wind a challenge. Ride to school, work, to run errands, or just for fun. Whenever you can, ride past the gas station. Then do it again. It feels sooo good! Your gas money stays in your pocket and you lose weight!

An average 150-pound person will burn about 500 calories riding a bike at a leisurely pace, 30 minutes to work and 30 minutes home. You’ll shed 5-10 pounds in about two or three months. By riding your bike or walking to work you no longer need to make time to head to the gym. Just 3 hours of riding per week can slash your risk of heart disease and stroke in half.

Who knows? If you’re already in moderately good shape, ride the Superior Bike Fest, June 24-26 (www.superiorbikefest.com). If you need to get back in shape, maybe by August 13^th you’ll feel spunky enough to ride the Ore to Shore (www.oretoshore.com). Keep yourself and your bicycle in good condition and ride within your limits. In any case, when the gas shareholders come after your money, just smile and ride away!

Steve Waller’s family lives in a wind and solar powered home. He has been involved with conservation and energy issues since the 1970s and frequently teaches about energy. He and a partner own a U.P. wind/solar business called Lean Clean Energy. He can be reached at Steve@UPWallers.net.

Marquette Bicycle Collective on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marquette-Bicycle-Collective/129688747067191#!/pages/Marquette-Bicycle-Collective/129688747067191?sk=info

Reprinted from Health & Happiness U.P. Magazine, Summer 2011 issue.

Health and Happiness Reader’s Choice Awards

The results of the Health & Happiness Reader’s Choice Awards to the following questions will be announced this Wed., May 25th!

What’s your favorite type of winter exercise?
What’s your favorite Marquette or Alger Co., MI establishment for soup?
What’s your favorite activity to share with summer visitors?

Please join us for the results and participate in our new Reader’s Choice Poll!