Members of the Friendship Senior Center enjoyed a trip to Hidden Lake Gardens, an oasis tucked
away in the scenic Irish Hills of southeastern Michigan, on Tuesday, August 12.
The gardens feature a visitor’s center, hosta hillside garden, woodland drive, picnic grounds, dwarf
and rare conifers plantation, conservatory, demonstration garden and gazebo and arboretum.

ProMedica to unveil its first environmentally-friendly facility at Flower Hospital
ProMedica Health System (PHS) is joining companies across the nation that are investing in environmentally-friendly facilities. On the campus of Flower Hospital, construction is nearly complete on a new hospice facility that has been nationally recognized as a green building by the U.S. Green Building Council. The 13,000-square-foot Ebeid Hospice Residence will be unveiled next month. It will provide a healthier environment for patients and employees, and offer a significant cost savings over the next 20 years by conserving energy and water.
The Ebeid Hospice Residence is a LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building. LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. To qualify for LEED-certification, a building must meet requirements in five key areas, which include sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Metroparks approves construction change orders for the Lathrop House
More that $26,000 in construction change orders for the Lathrop House were approved by the Metroparks Board of Commissioners at the August 20 meeting.
James Speck, director of planning and construction, said that during reconstruction of the historic home’s exterior, several unexpected conditions were encountered.
Mosser Construction workers discovered that the south chimney was improperly supported. A block wall was installed below the chimney to support the entire weight of the brick fireplace, he explained.
Crews also discovered termite damage beneath a portion of the existing roof, he said, adding that the damaged area was removed and a new oak roof deck installed.
During reconstruction, workers also discovered that some roof rafters had burned and were no longer structurally sound. “Additional rafters were added,” Mr. Speck said.
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Red Cross offers emergency preparedness kit information
Chapter of the American Red Cross offers the following information about being prepared for emergencies.
If you have a child in your life, it’s likely you recently attended a “back to school” sale, joining the throngs of parents and children scrambling for deals on folders, notebooks and erasers.
This annual ritual of gathering new supplies somehow makes it easier to say goodbye to summer vacations and return to homework, deadlines and schedules. We feel ready. We feel prepared.
By the same token, gathering emergency supplies ahead of time can help us feel better able to face whatever the year brings.
By taking some time now to make an emergency preparedness kit and family communication plan, you will make it much easier on yourself and your loved ones if a disaster or other emergency were to happen, whether it is an earthquake, hurricane or even a power outage caused by a storm. Not only will you be better able to respond, but you may experience less physical, financial and emotional strain caused by the emergency.

Local NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick competition to be held at Friendship Park on Saturday, Sept. 6
The sixth annual NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick competition will be held at Friendship Park on Saturday, September 6. The contest allows youngsters to showcase their talents in punting, passing and kicking, with scores based on distance and accuracy.
The free event is open to boys and girls, ages 8-15. It will be held rain or shine, at the north end of the park. Registration will be at 9:15 a.m., with competition beginning at 10 a.m. Participants may practice at any time before their events.
Each participant must show proof of age. A plain copy (not the original) of their birth certificate or baptismal record works best. Age classification is as of December 31, 2008.
All participants also must submit a signed parental waiver form.
Only gym shoes are permitted. Participants will not be allowed to wear football shoes.