The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce members held their monthly meeting this week. The meeting was themed "Your Business Resource. Tapping into the business resources of the University of Minnesota for your success." and featured speaker Matt Kramer, Director of the Office of Business Relations at the University of Minnesota. The objective of the speech was to emphasize the resource the university and it's student can be for communities, companies, and employers alike - even here in rural Northern Minnesota. If you like to know more about what makes the state of Minnesota Gopher Country, this is the show for you.

Paula Dearholt-Winckler and Colleen Swanson

The theme for Health Views this month is menopause. Host Colleen Swanson will be talking to Paula Dearhol-Winkler, a Woman's Health Nurse Practitioner, about this passage of life. Menopause is the permanent cessation of reproductive fertility occurring some time before the end of the natural lifespan. The term was originally coined to describe this reproductive change in human females, where the end of fertility is traditionally indicated by the permanent stopping of monthly menstruation or "menses". The word "menopause" literally means the "end of monthly cycles" from the Greek words pausis (cessation) and the word root men from mensis meaning (month). In humans, menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her reproductive cycles end. It is part of a biological process that for most women is first noticed in their mid-forties. During this transition, the ovaries start producing lower levels of natural sex hormones—estrogen and progesterone.  read more »

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The month of February is dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and increasing knowledge about prevention. Heart disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of different diseases affecting the heart. As of 2007, it is the leading cause of death in the United States, killing one person every 34 seconds. Obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol can increase the risk of developing heart disease. However, fully half the amount of heart attacks occur in people with normal cholesterol levels. Of course one must also consider other factors such as lifestyle, for instance the amount of exercise one undertakes and their diet, as well as their overall health.

For more information contact the American Heart Association.

Betty Brandt and Peg Christensen doing Valentine Crafts

Preparing for Valentine's Day it is easy to overlook the value of handcrafted gifts. In this month's episode of Hobbies, Inc. host Betty Brandt and guest Peg Christensen will explore creative crafts to share your heart with those you love. It does not have to be expensive to make an impression. All it takes is some items around the house, some glue, and preparation with love. Valentine visors, cards and treasure boxes are all on the to-do list for this show. So pull up a table, get those scissors and some of that sticky stuff and get ready for Valentine Crafts...