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LOCAL NEWS
Observer & Eccentric | Thursday, January 27, 2011
Health fair meets church’s, hospital’s goals BY KAREN SMITH OBSERVER STAFF WRITER
Lighthouse Worship Center in Livonia and Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills teamed up Jan. 19 to provide free health screenings and health information to members of the community. The church hosted a health fair presented by Botsford health professionals. It was a first-time joint venture that served both of their purposes — one they expect to repeat later this year. The 80-member church, located on Middlebelt Road near Clarenceville High School, wants to reach out to community members and connect them with services they might not otherwise have access to, Bishop Roger Fleming said. Other recent programs have included help with finding employment. Meanwhile, Botsford Hospital wants to get health information to a younger audience. “It’s a way of catching people early in the disease process,” said Caroline Schairer, a registered nurse and program coordinator at Botsford. The fair at Lighthouse Worship Center did just that. “Two or three families found out they have high blood pressure or high cholesterol,” Fleming said. Typically, Botsford conducts health fairs at senior centers. But Lighthouse Worship Center is one of about three churches in the past year that have invited Botsford in for health fairs. Those fairs attract a wide range of ages from families and young adults to seniors, she said. The fairs are free to the churches — and the attending public, Schairer said. In addition to catching diseases earlier, health fairs at churches give Botsford a chance to showcase its cancer and fitness centers, Schairer said: “It’s a way of getting out in the community.” Botsford also offers a free speakers bureau. At the fair at Lighthouse Worship Center, Botsford offered free blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, an ask the pharmacist booth, an interactive cancer center booth that taught participants how to conduct breast self-exams and recognize the early warning signs of prostate cancer and a joint replacement center booth where participants could see models of joint replacements. In addition, Botsford gave
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FROM PAGE A1 sure his presence will be missed at the market.” “It was a painful decision,” said Rock. “He was the face of the market.”
‘A LABOR OF LOVE’
Stevenson also found the decision a tough — and surprising — one. “Having made the goals set for me and actually turning a profit for the first time, I thought things would be different, but they weren’t,” he said Wednesday. Stevenson has managed the market since its move to the Walter E. Sundquist Pavilion prior to the 2006 season. A Farmington resident of over 30 years, he said he enjoyed the community aspect of the market. “It’s been a labor of love for me,” he said. “I got involved as a volunteer and put in hundreds of hours for free, but it’s been a great investment of my time.” Stevenson said he will not apply for the new position but will look for other opportunities, which could include managing PHOTOS BY JOHN STORMZAND | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER another farmer’s market. Bishop Roger Fleming’s church hosted the fair with Botsford health professionals including registered nurse Lisa Modzel of Farmington. “I have been approached by other cities, asking if I could replicate the Farmington model,” he said. Nicholle Knowles said that the DDA Mehr, board will look for a volunteer to director be on site at the Farmer’s Market of the on Saturdays and have oversight, Botsford while the management will be Cancer handled by DDA staff. Center, Knowles told the DDA board and Chuck at its meeting Monday that one LaParr were of the points made to them by among the the Oakland County Main Street presenters. program to which it belongs is that the Farmington DDA should have more volunteers to actually take the helm of events. But the elimination of the Stevenson’s job to be replaced with a volunteer handling onsite duties on Saturdays is “a coincidence,” she said. A job description for the new Marie Wirwille of Botsford gets a blood sample from Betty Glatfetter of position is being finalized and a Livonia for cholesterol testing. posting is forthcoming, she said. out free trial passes to its fitness center. Also, Nicholle Mehr, director of the Botsford Cancer Center, spoke on “Breast, Prostate and Head and Neck Cancers: Risk Factors, Diagnosis and Treatment.” Fleming said attendance was lower than church members had hoped for because it was so cold out. He expects to have Botsford back for another health fair when the weather is warmer. The health fair fits in with the church’s mission to be a resource to community members in a way that benefits
them, Fleming said: “We’re not trying to proselytize, or get them to join our church. We want to share God’s love with the community.” For more information about Lighthouse Worship Center, call (248) 476-7933. For more information about hosting a health fair or lining up a speaker from Botsford, call (248) 442-1661 or e-mail cschairer@botsford.com. A list of speakers is available on the hospital’s website, www.botsford.org. ksmith@hometownlife.com | (313) 222-2098
ssteinmueller@hometownlife.com (313)222-2241
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