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The American Red Cross' origins and how you can help

Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer
Friday, April 26th, 2013, 1:59pm
The American Red Cross' origins and how you can help

 

World Red Cross Day is May 8, and the organization is encouraging you to celebrate its founder’s birthday by donating blood.

Henry Dunant founded the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement after witnessing a bloody battle in Solferino, Italy in 1859. Dunant, a Swiss businessman, organized local people to come to the aid of the injured soldiers.  When he returned to Geneva, he called for the creation of a national volunteer relief society to help during wartime.  Today, more than 180 Red Cross and Red Crescent societies exist worldwide.

If you’d like to donate blood, these are the scheduled drives through May 29: 

CITY

DATE

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Vets home gets $25k spruce up

Submitted by Bob Brenzing, Web Producer
Friday, April 26th, 2013, 1:11pm

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - The Grand Rapids Home for Veterans got spruced up Friday morning thanks to their win in a Facebook contest.

The Home Depot contest gave the veterans home a $25,000 grant for winning the contest in February.  Local Home Depot employees spent the morning landscaping the grounds and also breaking ground on a new patio and greenhouse.

The veterans home is now in the running for a $250,000 grant from Home Depot which will be decided by voters on Facebook starting on May 1st. 

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Premiere choral group performing in Grand Rapids May 3

Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer
Friday, April 26th, 2013, 9:00am
Premiere choral group performing in Grand Rapids May 3

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.— One of the most awarded choral groups in the world is coming to Grand Rapids.

MADZ is teaming up with the Philippine Madrigal Singers from Manila for a May 3 benefit concert hosted by the West Michigan Asian American Association.  The performance is in honor of Asian Pacific Heritage Month.

MADZ’s repertoire includes Renaissance and classical music, international folk songs, and even opera.

The concert will take place at the Basilica of St. Adalbert, located at 701 Fourth Street NW in Grand Rapids at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20.  For more information, contact Minnie Morey at (616) 481-6194 or email info@wm-aaa.org .

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Grand River now below flood stage at Grand Rapids

Submitted by Chris Zoladz, Multi-Media Producer, WZZM 13
Thursday, April 25th, 2013, 10:17pm

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) -- The National Weather Service says the Grand River has receded within its banks in Grand Rapids, where the effects of flooding are still keeping hundreds of people out of their homes.

The weather service says the river at Grand Rapids was 0.1 feet below flood stage at 7 p.m. Thursday. Flood stage is 18 feet, and the river crested about 3.9 feet over that earlier this week.

The river remains 2.7 feet above flood stage upstream at Comstock Park in Kent County's Plainfield Township. Flood stage there is 12 feet.

Officials say about 1,700 people were evacuated in Kent County, including about 1,000 residents of downtown Grand Rapids' Plaza Towers. At least 150 have returned home.

The county commission voted Thursday to extend a state of emergency for 30 days.

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Grand River tested for high E. coli levels

Submitted by Valerie Lego, Health Reporter
Thursday, April 25th, 2013, 5:20pm

LOWELL, Mich. (WZZM) -- A no contact order remains in effect for the Grand River, which means coming in contact with the river can make you sick.

Thursday morning the Kent County Health Department tested the river near the fairgrounds in Lowell to measure the level of E. coli bacteria. High levels of E. coli are an indicator there are other harmful pathogens in the river like listeria and shigellosis all of which cause severe vomiting and diarrhea.

"With flood waters you get an elevated level of E. coli counts because of septic tanks overflowing as well as waste water treatment plants that have been stressed discharging into the river," says Sara Simmonds, head sanitarian with the Kent County Health Department.

Two other sites of the Grand River were also tested; the area where the Rogue River meets the Grand River in Plainfield Township, and Johnson Park in Walker.

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Running with an injury

Submitted by WZZM13, News Staff
Thursday, April 25th, 2013, 2:34pm

WZZM - You've been training for the Fifth Third River Bank Run four months through one of the coldest, snowiest, wettest winter and spring's we've ever had.

Now, you have a foot injury. Can you still run? Should you still run?

To answer those questions and offer some advice for race day is Dr. Martin Hoffmeister with Northfield Podiatry in Grand Rapids.

To watch the segment, click on the video link.

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New facility dedicated for aging Dominican Sisters

Submitted by Chris Zoladz, Multi-Media Producer, WZZM 13
Wednesday, April 24th, 2013, 9:46pm

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- They've been in Grand Rapids for nearly 135 years, now the Dominican Sisters have a new place to stay as they age.

Wednesday evening, Bishop Walter Hurley led the blessing and rededication of Aquinata Hall. The facility, which started as an infirmary, has been transformed into an assisted living facility, complete with 45 bedrooms, a common space, and a chapel.

The Wege Foundation donated $1 million toward the renovations in honor of the women who taught and supported Peter Wege.

"It really is a win-win for us because we're about community support and development and we're about Catholic education," said Ellen Satterlee, CEO of the Wege Foundation.

"We are family to each another, we are sisters, and so this is a life-long commitment and simply this building lets us serve our elder sisters a bit better," said Sister Maureen Geary.

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