MyNorth Inspired Life with Estate & Financial Services, Fall 2022 by MyNorth

LIVING BETTER AFTER 55 IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN FALL | 2022 INSIDE:ESTATE FINANCIAL&SERVICES A SUPPLEMENT TO FIND FITNESS, COMMUNITY AND FUN IN AN OUTRIGGER CANOE Hit the water! 4 DESIGN TIPS FOR AGING IN PLACE GIVE BACK AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER PROGRAMRECYCLE-A-BICYCLERIDESON BETTER LIGHTING FOR A BETTER MOOD

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MyNorth INSPIRED LIFE | FALL 2022 1 MyNorth Inspired Life is produced by MyNorth Media. Advertising and editorial offices at: 415 Cass St., Traverse City, MI 49684. 231.941.8174, MyNorth.com. All rights reserved. Copyright 2022, Heritage Broadcasting Company of Michigan. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. 2 4 DESIGN TIPS FOR AGING IN PLACE What you need to consider when building or remodeling your forever home. 8 THERE'S A NEW BOAT IN TOWN The aim of the Traverse Bay Outrigger Canoe Club is twofold: promote the sport of outrigger canoe paddling in the Great Lakes area, and have the most fun while doing it. We join them on the water. 13 ESTATE & FINANCIAL SERVICES: PLAYING WITH FIRE What can we learn from the Financial Independence, Retire Early movement? 14 ESTATE & FINANCIAL SERVICES: PROTECTING YOUR PROPERTY Whether you’re renting out your cottage or buying property with family, creating an LLC could help. 27 SECOND SUBSTITUTECAREER:TEACHER Changing young lives a few days a week is the perfect way to give back to the community. 28 LET THERE BE LIGHT Tap into natural light at home to brighten your mood. 31 WHEELS AND IDEALS Don Cunkle has spent the last 16 years fixing bikes and changing lives, one gear at a time. CONTENTS WELCOME TO INSPIRED LIFE. At the heart of this magazine is the idea that at every age, we share a common love of this place we call home. Meet new neighbors embracing adventures— both big and small. Find real advice for taking good care of the assets and places we hold dear. Tap into a true joy for the outdoors that keeps our inner lives vibrant and our bodies well. Connect. Join in. Find smart and new ways to inspire your life Up North. —the Editors COVER PHOTO BY ALLISON JARRELL 8 27 WeidnerDavebyphotoinset//JarrellAllisonbyphototop

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MyNorth INSPIRED LIFE | FALL 2022 3 by HEATHER JOHNSON DUROCHER WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN REMODELING OR BUILDING YOUR FOREVER HOME FOR AGING IN PLACE4 DESIGN TIPS

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Limit the number of material transitions. If a high-traffic hallway in your home is carpeted but leads into other rooms with hardwood, vinyl or tile flooring, you’ll want to make sure the floor transition is low enough to the ground to accommo date a walker or wheelchair. Make sure the threshold is as flush as pos sible so there isn’t a lip to navigate. Ensuring area rugs on hard surfaces are secure is also important, so as to prevent slipping or tripping. If your home has a sunken living room and you’re remodeling, you’ll likely want to remove that feature, which can be a barrier to mobility in the future. Let there be light—plenty of it.

Consider using automatic lighting controls. For example, as you enter your house and move from one room to the next, a sequence of automatic lighting will illuminate your path. Lowlevel lighting, at ankle height, is helpful and can be set on a timed schedule. Don’t forget adjustable task lighting under countertops where you prepare food. Flexibility in lighting is key as our eyesight diminishes.

Consider your kitchen’s functionality for today—and tomorrow. Think about the items you use most often and whether they’re located in the cabinets and spaces that make the most sense. If you have a walk-in pantry that’s easily ac cessible, for example, would it be better to create a work space in the pantry and house everyday items like a toaster or blender there, rather than lugging them out and placing them on the kitchen counter? If your remodel calls for a kitchen island, consider placing it on wheels so it can be moved in the future if needed.

He also emphasizes the importance of planning today for what may come tomorrow. “Designing things that are within reach makes life more accessible, allowing you to stay where you are much longer,” says Butcher. Design plans can be ad justed for just about any budget, he adds. “We want to make the house as useable as possible. If costs prohibit aging-in-place design on the inside, how can we do it on the outside? It might mean adding a sidewalk to the lower-level walkout.”

W ider doorways, curbless entries, barrier-free showers, reinforced walls for someday-grab bars—these are just a few of the features to consider when building your forever home or remodeling a house you want to be in for years to come.

Heather Johnson Durocher writes from Traverse City. She is the founder of MichiganRunnerGirl.com and also hosts a weekly podcast.

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Aging-in-place principles are supported by what’s known as universal design—the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, with out the need for adaptation or specialized design, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Universal design allows people who have different needs to all enjoy the same home, even when their needs change. As the number of older adults con tinues to increase—this population is projected to grow 69 percent, from 56 million to 94.7 million between 2020 and 2060—universal design features will keep growing in demand, accord ing to the NAHB. Even a majority of young buyers (less than 35 years in age) rate these features as essential or desirable, indicating that accessibility features will generally add value to a home for most buyers, according to NAHB survey reports.

"We want to make the house as useable possible."as

With a few tweaks to your current home, or some pre-plan ning with your new-build design, you can set yourself up for successful aging in place, Butcher says. “In the long-term, you are trying to make the most of this house that is so important to you and using it as long as you can no matter your mobility issues.”

Even if your health is optimal and mobility issues aren’t yet a concern, thinking about future needs now is wise. Subtle ad justments and plans today can prove especially meaningful and impactful down the line; studies have shown that aging in place is strongly linked to greater health and happiness.

Bradley J. Butcher, a Northern Michigan architect, says his work is heavily influenced by universal design, and he incorporates aging-in-place concepts into his new-build and renovation projects whenever possible. Butcher is a part of Sidock Group, offering custom designs for residential, commercial and other clients throughout the Great Lakes region. “We still present it more often than people ask for it,” he says. “But as soon as it gets brought up, they’ll say, ‘Oh, yes, I didn’t think about that.’ It becomes just as important in the design as where the windows go.”

Here are some of Butcher’s best tips for designing a home where you can stay comfortably and safely for years to come: Main-floor living is ideal. Keeping living spaces that are supported by utility spaces on a single level makes life activities more accessible. For example, have your laundry on the main floor, and within that room, make sure there’s ample space to accommodate a walker or wheelchair. Also keep items you use every day on the main living level, rather than downstairs in the basement or spare bedroom. But you can plan for multiple-level living. An in-home eleva tor is out of most people’s budgets—these cost in the tens of thousands of dollars typically—but you should plan today for an eventual electric chairlift. This involves reinforcing the stair wall so that it can support the necessary equipment.

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There's a New Boat in Town by KANDACE CHAPPLE | photos by ALLISON JARRELL CANOES MADE FOR THE MIGHTY PACIFIC OCEAN HAVE COME TO GRAND TRAVERSE BAY.

After years of C2 racing, she was invited to go to California and Hawaii to compete in an all-women’s outrigger team—racing in the big OC6s. And while she was competing in the Pacific Ocean, she realized that Grand Traverse Bay had the potential for the same sport.

“There’s nothing else like it on the bay,” says Amy Solak, vice president of the TBOCC board. “They are so fun and powerful, and all levels can do this sport because you’ve got a team of six to count on.”

Solak is a part of a small group of local water lovers working to bring the sport to the area. She fell in love with outrigger canoes after competing in races—like Grayling’s AuSable River Canoe Marathon, which she’s completed 15 times. In that event, racers use small, narrow two-person canoes, called C2 boats.

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These two outrigger canoes are the burgeoning fleet of the new Traverse Bay Outrigger Canoe Club (TBOCC), a non profit organization in Northern Michigan.

The two OC6s were purchased about five years ago, but with Covid shutdowns and the long process of getting a nonprofit started, Solak says this feels like their first real season, as things are finally in place, including adequate storage for the massive 400-pound boats that take five people to launch. The group meets on Monday nights at the Senior Center beach in Traverse City (at the end of Barlow Street), weather permitting, May through September. TBOCC is open to the public and pro vides paddles and life jackets (just bring something to drink). Each boat carries six. If more than 12 people attend, Solak says they rotate and come back to shore to trade out seats.

Speaking of the seats—that’s another intriguing part of the sport. Not just anyone can paddle in any spot. Each po sition has a certain job. Crew members paddle on opposite sides, every other seat. So they must match each other as a team, as well as the three paddlers on their side of the boat.

In general, the two teams paddle about an hour or so each Monday night, often going straight out into the big water of Grand Traverse Bay. These rigs are built for waves and wind, and OC6 boats can strike out in rougher weather without any“Theproblems.outrigger makes it extremely stable,” Solak says. “Once they get in the boat, most people say, ‘I can’t believe how this thing just cuts through the water!’ We can hit 2- to 3-foot swells and it rides through the water easily. These are Hawaiian boats made to withstand travel across the Pacific Ocean. Our little bay is nothing compared to what they were built for.” Solak also enjoys sharing the history of these special boats with newcomers. The outrigger canoe was key to the success and development of Hawaiian culture. They were built to traverse the ocean to neighboring islands and crafted with ritual and respect, to honor the life of the trees that were used. TBOCC uses the traditional names for each boat part: the “ama” is the “floaty thing,” Solak says with a laugh, otherwise known as the outrigger. An “iako” is the arm holding the outrigger. And she says they do everything to avoid a “huli”—a tip over. “We make sure to honor the boats’ heritage and teach a little history,” Solak says. “For example, it’s considered disrespectful

“We have kayaks and SUP rentals taking the city by storm, yet this canoe is actually made for our big water,” she says. “On smaller vessels, you can’t train out in the bay or go to Power Island without ideal conditions. You have to stay on rivers or close to shore to be safe. In these boats, you can get out there and not feel threatened like you are in a kayak. It opens up a whole new way to experience the bay.”

T hey’re causing a stir in Grand Traverse Bay every Monday night—a pair of “OC6” canoes out cruising the lake with six paddlers on board: Standouts at 42 feet long and only 16 inches wide, they’re behemoths among the kayaks and SUP boards.

The “stroker” is in seat 1—the person setting the pace of each stroke. Seat 2 must match the stroke and set the pace for their side of the boat. Seats 3, 4 and 5 are the “engine” and help produce the power. Seat 3 also calls the “hups”—when paddlers switch sides of the boat to paddle on. Seat 6 is the captain and steersman. “They hold all the re sponsibility of the crew on their shoulders, so this is always an experienced paddler and they use different strokes, like throwing a rudder, to steer,” Solak says. In addition, the boat needs to be balanced overall. Height, weight and experience are all a part of the crew’s success, but Solak says this shouldn’t intimidate newcomers. “We go over things like this before we start, and everyone seems to do just fine,” she says. “If you miss a stroke, it’s OK. Just start paddling when you get the rhythm again. And you know what, it’s not unheard of for the crew to get the giggles if something goes wrong.”

Mary Schlimmer-Willoughby from Traverse City often joins the club with her husband Weston. They’re also experienced

competitors of the AuSable River Canoe Marathon.

To get involved, visit tbocc.org, and watch their Facebook page for events. Kandace Chapple is a freelance writer and runs Michigan Girl, a group for women’s adventures. Visit mi-girl.com.

MyNorth INSPIRED LIFE | FALL 2022 11 to step over the canoes. There is so much rich history and so many stories that come with these.”

In all seriousness, Willoughby says she loves the chance to do something that isn’t about training and competition.

“My husband and I sometimes struggle to get along in our two-person marathon canoe because we both want to be the boss,” Willoughby says with a laugh. “With the club’s six-per son canoes, you can get in with a group of other people of all different skill levels and personalities and work as a team. Plus, you can stick a few people in between you and your husband if you need to!”

“What I love about the club is how genuinely patient and caring everyone is, from the experienced paddlers who show up every week to the newcomers who’ve never held a paddle before. When someone is struggling, no one hesitates to take a pause and help,” she says. “Everyone’s always in a good mood, has a smile on their face and good-natured laughs are plentiful.”

“A lot of people have been on power boats out in the middle of the bay, but there’s something about being out there, the water right down below you, without an engine, and no noise,” she says. “You look and can’t believe how deep and clear the water is, and you’re moving this big canoe through the water— with your own power. I can’t even explain it. It’s like medicine for your soul—calming and soothing.”

John Robert Williams, a regular paddler with the club, provides storage for the vessels on his property. “It’s a whole different view out there,” he says, “and you really appreciate the water and our town from that point of view.”

"It's a whole different view out there, and you really appreciate the water and our town from that point of view."

And, of course, at the end of the day, it’s about the serenity of being on the water.

-John Robert Williams

And while Williams has always been into water sports, he says there’s something different about the OC6s: “The syn chronization of the six paddlers is like dancing—all sets of feet moving together so you don’t kick each other.”

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“My acquaintances in the FIRE movement have had a goal in common: They don’t want to become their parents,” says Craig, who authored “Piece by Piece™ A Commonsense Approach to a Secure Retirement.” “They have seen their parents working and struggling into their golden years without any gold.”

ESTATE & FINANCIAL SERVICES

Are You FIRE Material? Does the idea of tossing the conventional retirement age of 65 out the window—or at least trimming a few years off— sound appealing? Join the slew of millennials embracing the extreme-saving lifestyle. Begin with holding onto 70 percent of your yearly income and when you reach approximately 25 times your yearly expenses, the FIRE method says you can quit your day job. Investing some of this money in equities or real estate is a common way to finance a comfortable lifestyle over the next 30 years.

WHAT

The takeaway: Balanced thinking when viewing debt and equity and finding your personal definition of a rewarding life may just be the ticket to building your own FIRE.

ebbie Craig has encountered a few staunch devo tees of the FIRE movement in her career. The Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) method is an aggressive route of saving nearly everything during your early working years in order to stop working full-time in your 30s or 40s.

The Good, the Bad, the Wealthy Even if you’re not all in with FIRE, Craig says, it is possible to achieve a secure retirement. Adopting some of the move ment’s basic principles can help. “The biggest benefit is that they [FIRE devotees] are becoming more aware of their fi nances and how money is a tool for their life choices,” she says. When you focus on money management and budgeting, money tends to flow in your direction.

So, What Exactly is FIRE? The acronym FIRE is a term from the book “Your Money or Your Life” by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez, which was first published in 1992 and updated in 2008 and 2018. The bestseller shows readers how to live well while consuming much less by setting aside up to 70 percent of their annual income. Experts break FIRE down into three tiers: Fat FIRE is retir ing early and in continued comfortable style with a cushy nest egg. Lean FIRE means minimalist living and extreme savings, living on as little as $25,000 per year. Barista FIRE is saving up enough to quit a corporate job, but still needing to continue some type of less stressful work. The route you follow depends upon the lifestyle you’re willing and able to maintain.

by LISA BLAKE photo by MAE STIER withPlayingFIRE

FROM THE FINANCIAL

“To be successful in the FIRE mentality takes D-I-S-C-I-PL-I-N-E. Lots of it,” says Craig, branch manager and certified financial planner at Craig Wealth Advisors in Traverse City. She points to the relentless perseverance of saying “no” today for a bigger “yes” tomorrow and says oftentimes it’s difficult to stay on track when bigger future financial freedom is so far away.

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One key to FIRE method success is having a partner to keep you motivated. Making a budget and sticking to it while earning as much money as possible is crucial. This may require a job promotion, adding a second one, or creating additional revenue streams through side hustles. A final major component is investing a larger portion of retirement savings than the aver age person is comfortable with. Basically, go big and do it early.

The one drawback Craig has noted is a solitary focus on debt. “It’s good to understand the perils in not paying off credit cards,” she says. “However, some debt can be a positive part of the entirety of a person’s financial plan. Utilizing the recent historical low interest rates to one’s advantage can be an equally powerful tool.”

Lisa Blake is a as a freelance writer and editor based in Breckenridge, Colorado. lisablakecreative.com CAN LEARN INDEPENDENCE, RETIRE EARLY MOVEMENT?

“We did a lot of research before we bought our first property,” says Kara, a former ER nurse who now practices real estate full time. “Everything we were reading said it was the best route to go … an LLC potentially saves you a lot of money.”

Greg Tasker is a Traverse City-based freelance writer.

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RENTING OUT YOUR COTTAGE, OR BUYING PROPERTY WITH FAMILY? CREATING AN LLC COULD HELP. by GREG TASKER | photo by ANGELA BROWN

Fees. If there’s a downside, it can be the setup costs associ ated with creating an LLC. Those costs can reach as much as $500 in some states. There are also annual administrative and regulatory fees required to maintain LLC records. In Michigan, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs handles LLC filings—for a fee of $50. The Gelvens used LegalZoom to file for their LLC. Fees start at $79. Administrative costs also will occur with making sure the LLC operates as a separate entity, with leases and contracts always in the LLC name, and maintaining an accounting system separate from the owner’s or owners’ personal expenses.

One final word of advice: If your family plans to own more than one rental property, the Gelvens say it’s beneficial to cre ate a subsidiary LLC for each one—something they have done for their own properties. The reason? All assets of an LLC are at stake in the event of a lawsuit. If an LLC consists of several properties, all those rentals are at stake in the lawsuit. In the event a single property was at stake for whatever reason, only that property would be involved in a lawsuit.

ProtectingYourProperty

Taxation. Another benefit of an LLC, Derek says, is passthrough taxation. As an LLC, the business does not have to file a separate tax return. Instead, any profits and losses are reported on the owner’s or owners’ separate personal income taxes. An LLC is treated like a sole proprietorship or partnership, and corporate taxes and regulations do not apply.

In addition to establishing a “parent” LLC, the couple cre ated a subsidiary LLC for another recent property purchase. They now own rental properties in Suttons Bay and Traverse City, and Kara manages rentals in the region—under a separate LLC—for other property owners.

These days, Kara, who became a licensed real estate agent about 18 months ago and is a part of the team at Live Local Realty in Traverse City, finds herself offering advice on LLCs to prospective buyers looking for short-term rental properties in Northern Michigan. Here are some of the Gelven’s LLC tips: Personal liability protection. The most obvious and big gest benefit is that creating an LLC for a family-owned rental property will insulate each family member from personal li ability—in the event of a lawsuit because of an injury or some other mishap. If your family property is owned by an LLC, your personal assets and those of your family members are protected. Renters cannot sue the owner or owners personally. An LLC protects your personal assets and income from the liability of the property.

“The bottom line is that it’s to protect me if anything hap pens. It also protects employees and people who may work for me, such as my cleaner,” Kara says. “At the end of the day, it boils down to having liability coverage.”

hether you’re buying a vacation home with your extended family to enjoy for genera tions, or you want to rent out your lakeside cottage, one of the most important consider ations is Formingliability.afamily limited liability com pany provides not only a practical solution to intergenerational ownership of a vacation home, but, in all cases, it also protects personal liability. Even before Derek and Kara Gelven bought their first short-term rental property in Traverse City as a side business, the couple created a limited liability company, or LLC.

A bright tomorrow starts here. Financial security from generation to generation. At Greenleaf Trust, we are here to help make the special moments happen. Our team is exclusively dedicated to providing the highest level of comprehensive wealth management services, trust administration, and retirement plan services. Client relationships begin at $2 million.

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TRAVERSE CITY | BAY HARBOR

Many people support the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy because they know the best way to ensure our region remains vibrant, healthy and beautiful is to protect the critical places we all love - forever. Planning for a conservation legacy offers the satisfaction of supporting a vital cause, the excitement of knowing your gift will make a positive impact and–in many cases–substantial financial benefits to you and/ or another beneficiary through tax advantages or life income. Many arrange planned gifts to ensure their vision and annual support can last well into the future. We can work with your financial advisor to design a gift planning option that will meet your personal, financial and charitable goals, all while safeguarding the region’s most special places for future generations.

For more information contact: Barb Heflin, Charitable Giving Specialist p: 231-929-7911 | e: GTRLC.ORGbheflin@gtrlc.org

The Jonkhoff family and caring staff are the ones you can trust and depend on... today and tomorrow.

Like your will, funeral pre-arrangements are a guide for your survivors and a gift of love. Call us today for an appointment as our preneed consultants, Nicole or Brooke, would be happy to meet at your home or ours.

MyNorth INSPIRED LIFE | FALL 2022 17 ESTATE & FINANCIAL SERVICES agency inc. 2018LeelanauCountyBusinessoftheYear Integrity • Relationships • Since 1934 Why choose Bonek? For 85 years, Bonek Insurance has provided personal and commercial insurance protection. We form strong relationships with our clients – keeping their best interests in mind. Let us customize your coverage. agency inc. agency inc. Call us today! (231) 271-3623 | www.bonek.com Integrity • Relationships • Since 1934 BEST AGENCYINSURANCELOCAL2020 commercialhasstrongclientsmind.coverage. agency inc. agency inc. today! (231) 271-3623 | www.bonek.com BusinessLeelanauCountyoftheYear Integrity • Relationships • Since 1934 BEST AGENCYINSURANCELOCAL2020 Why choose Bonek? For 85 years, Bonek Insurance has provided personal and commercial insurance protection. We form strong relationships with our clients keeping their best interests in mind. Let us customize your coverage. agency inc. agency inc. Call us today! (231) 271-3623 | www.bonek.com

Pictured from left to right: Dan and Peg Jonkhoff, Christy Jonkhoff-Hater and Lindsey (Jonkhoff) Rogers

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Most importantly, we will begin to guide & empower you on your financial journey, helping to offer clarity and financial independence.

We take the time to evaluate your financial picture and understand your values.

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Most importantly, we will begin to guide & empower you on your financial journey, helping to offer clarity and financial independence.

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with the discovery of what has brought you here and where you want to go. We take the time to evaluate your financial picture and understand your values.

With ongoing advice to help adjust your road map when your needs change

Most importantly, we will begin to guide & empower you on your financial journey, helping to offer clarity and financial independence.

Dawn Hemming, MBA Autumn C. Soltysiak, CFP 600 E. Front Street. Traverse City, MI 49686 231.922.2900 I www.hemmingwm.comempower@hemmingwm.com hemming& Wealth Management, Inc. (”hemming& Wealth Managment”) is a Registered Investment Advisor (”RIA”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (”SEC”).

Welcome HomeIt is called by many names - oasis, sanctuary, shelter, pad, humble abode. It is our place to eat, work, recharge, and relax. It is where we spend our lives, raise our families, welcome friends, and care for our loved ones. It is our starting point for our adventures, and where we ﬁnish them. It is home. Two Michigan based companies are working together to protect your most important asset. Fischer Insurance Agency and Auto-Owners Insurance have the exclusive coverages you need to protect your home or home-away-from-home. “Auto-Owners Insurance has partnered with us since my grandfather opened the agency in 1969. This offers a unique relationship that not only beneﬁts Fischer Insurance but more importantly our clients.” says Joe Fischer of Fischer Insurance.

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MyNorth INSPIRED LIFE | FALL 2022 23 ESTATE & FINANCIAL SERVICES 13872 S. COMPASS ROSE DRIVE • TRAVERSE CITY (231) 947-6800 • WWW.SWOGGERANDBRUCE.COM ESTATE PLANNING,ADMINISTRATIONTRUST/PROBATE Estate PlanningHere forHere for you!you! ^Non-deposit investment products and services are offered through CUSO Financial Services, L.P. (“CFS”), a registered broker-dealer (Member FINRA/SIPC) and SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Products offered through CFS: are not NCUA/NCUSIF or otherwise federally insured, are not guarantees or obligations of the credit union, and may involve investment risk including possible loss of principal. Investment Representatives are registered through CFS. TBA Credit Union has contracted with CFS to make non-deposit investment products and services available to credit union members. Financial PortfolioStrategiesRetirementInvestmentPlanningManagementIncomeReviews Visit tbacu.com to schedule a consultationno-obligationtoday!AndrewManiaci,CFSFinancialAdvisor G REAT L AKES Specializing in recreational and rural land development since 1990 L AND C O . SPONSOR:OFFICIAL FEATURED SPONSORSLAUNCHES October 28th with 8 new tours! Get tickets here:link.mynorth.com/tour22

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by HEATHER JOHNSON DUROCHER WeidnerDavebyphoto second

• Virtual training, as well as on-the-job development and resources

As a new school year begins, TCAPS continues to provide opportunities for guest teachers and substitute assistants/ aides. Along with supporting your local school district during a critical time of need, these positions offer flexible schedules and pay rates start ing at $18/hour and up to $29.04 for some assignments. A bonus program offers up to an additional $15 per day.

“It is very flexible. TCAPS uses an app called WillSub that alerts you of a job opening and allows you to choose jobs that work for your schedule—some shifts are just a few hours and others are all day,” Jen explains. “Anyone who is looking for a way to give back to the community, this is a great opportunity. We have found the more often you substitute teach, the easier it gets. Subbing has truly been a special experience.”

“Sometimes the world’s problems can seem overwhelming, but you just have to start somewhere,” she adds. “This felt like a good place for us to start.”

For more information, visit www.tcaps.net/jobs/guest-teaching/ or call the TCAPS guest teacher office at 231.933.1714.

ealthcare workers Jen and Drew Trusman make meaningful connections with others each day, and earlier this year their commit ment to serving led to an entirely new way of supporting their community.

• Opportunities to develop valuable skills, impact students and build meaning ful relationships

Jen and Drew, who plan to continue serving as substitute teachers this year, encourage others to give it a try.

Jen and Drew, who are parents of three children ages 16, 14 and 12, decided to substitute teach for Traverse City Area Public Schools during the 2021-22 school year after hearing about staff shortages. “We wanted to keep kids in school because we value the im portance of face-to-face learning as well as the social interaction that is so important to the development of kids,” Jen says. “We also wanted to support the hard-working teachers and staff at TCAPS. It felt like a way to give back to our community that would have a real impact.”

MyNorth INSPIRED LIFE | FALL 2022 27

Guest teachers and substitute assistants/aides receive:

The Trusmans, who picked up teaching shifts on days off, say the TCAPS staff always welcomed them, at whatever school they“Fortaught.us,the most meaningful moments were the hugs we’d get from the kids, especially the elementary students,” says Drew, a pediatrician at Grand Traverse Children’s Clinic.

Jen, who works part time as a physician assistant in urology at Munson Healthcare, also enjoyed her time subbing at the middle school level and the connections she made with students there. “Just a few kind words can let kids know you care and you believe in them,” she says. “Plus, we have gained a tremendous respect for the amount of work our teachers do after experienc ing it first-hand.”

Just a few kind words can let kids know you care and you believe in them. YOUNG LIVES DAYS A WEEK IS THE PERFECT WAY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. career Substitute Teacher

CHANGING

A FEW

• A flexible work schedule—choose where and when you work through the district’s online substitute scheduling system

28 MyNorth.com LET THERE

USE LED LIGHTS OR ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHT BULBS

veryone knows sunlight has natural healing powers. Opening your house up to natural light or stepping out side for a dose of Vitamin D does wonders for your mental well-being. Natural light can improve your mood and help combat seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression caused by a change in the seasons, usually from fall into winter.

LED lights are the most efficient, long-lasting and most suitable for home lighting, according to the American Lighting Association. In addition, LED lights mimic the effects of natural light, which can help decrease levels of anxiety and stress. They cost a little more upfront, but are more cost-efficient in the long run. Try it: Put LEDs in a table lamp. If it’s a living room fixture, choose a bulb of about 2,700 to 3,000 K (for Kelvin, which measures color temperature). That’ll give the room warm light.

USE BRIGHT LIGHTING Rooms with dull lighting are just that: dull. Your eyes have to work harder in a dull room to see words and images, which can prompt headaches. In a home office, dim lights can cause sleepiness and lead to a lack of focus, which affects motivation and performance. Bright lights are just the opposite— they keep you energized and alert. Try it: Use an adjustable desk lamp. A flexible desk lamp will provide movable lighting that will help you focus on the task at hand in your office. Some even have a convenient charging port built right into the base.

Studies have shown that intense lighting prompts positive and negative emotions. Bright lights can make people feel uncomfortable; dimmed lighting helps people relax. Improving the lighting in your house can help boost your quality of your life, stabilize moods, im prove sleep and, yes, combat the symptoms of SAD, which typically includes fatigue, depression and social withdrawal. Here are five tips for optimizing the light inside your home to improve your health:

EMBRACE NATURAL LIGHT

BE LIGHT

Greg askeris a Traverse City-based freelance writer. by GREG TASKER HOW TO USE LIGHT AT HOME T O BRIGHTEN YOUR MOOD.

DISTRIBUTE LIGHT EVENLY Going back and forth between rooms with different types of lighting is not easy on your eyes; they need time to adjust. That’s why it’s important to ensure there’s a relatively even distribution of light through out various rooms. Use larger light fixtures to light up the ceiling and help with even illumination. Play around with different wall lights to mimic natural light in rooms without a lot of windows.

It might seem obvious, but incorporate natural light into your living spaces. It can be as easy as opening long-closed blinds or curtains, keeping your windows clean or installing lighter window treatments. Or, in a home office, position your desk close to a window. According to Architectural Lighting Magazine, natural light provides the stimulation needed to regulate your internal body clock, improving moods and increasing productivity.

Try it: Add a tunnel skylight in your home. These tubular lights are small and an inexpensive way to channel daylight down into your living spaces with minimal construction or modification.

USE DIMMER FUNCTIONS As the day fades, your brain’s pineal gland begins to help your body prepare for darkness, releas ing serotonin to promote sleep and regulate your body’s sleep cycle. As you might have guessed, bright lights hinder that natural cycle and inter rupt your sleep. Installing dimmer lights to adjust and control the light at night will benefit your sleep cycle, helping your body and brain adjust to the transition to night. Try it: Upgrade to a Lutron Maestro LED+ dim mer. This dimmer works with a variety of lighting types (like LED), includes a “fade-to-off” feature, and easily replaces an existing light switch.

Try it: Choose a floor lamp. You can find one to suit any decor in your home; their larger size means they hold multiple light bulbs and really help brighten a room.

MyNorth INSPIRED LIFE | FALL 2022 29 E

30 MyNorth.com agency inc. 2018LeelanauCountyBusinessoftheYear Integrity • Relationships Why choose Bonek? For 85 years, Bonek Insurance has provided personal and commercial insurance protection. We form strong relationships with our clients – keeping their best interests in mind. Let us customize your coverage. agency inc. agency inc. Call us today! (231) 271-3623 | www.bonek.com Integrity • Relationships • Since 1934 BEST AGENCYINSURANCELOCAL2020 insurance protection. We form strong – keeping their best interests in mind. agency inc. agency inc. Call us today! (231) 271-3623 | www.bonek.com 2018LeelanauCountyBusinessoftheYear Integrity • Relationships • Since 1934 BEST AGENCYINSURANCELOCAL2020 Why choose Bonek? For 85 years, Bonek Insurance has provided personal and commercial insurance protection. We form strong relationships with our clients – keeping their best interests in mind. Let us customize your coverage. agency inc. agency inc. Call us today! (231) 271-3623 | www.bonek.com 231-499-1430 • realtorjamieg@gmail.com Let HometownYourGalsGuideYouHome Explore Recent articles about life up north, trip planning information, upcoming Northern Michigan events, and more!

DON CUNKLE HAS SPENT THE LAST 16 YEARS FIXING BIKES AND CHANGING LIVES, ONE GEAR AT A TIME. by KANDACE CHAPPLE | photos by ALLISON JARRELL

WHEELSANDIDEALS

The WRC also told him that they had about 20 bikes in storage, all in disrepair.

It wasn’t until later, when he got a call from the WRC, that he realized the impact one bike could make. “They told me she was in awe and in tears,” Cunkle says. “This lady said it changed her life, because she could get around and it boosted her morale. That affected me quite a bit—I knew I was helping people then.”

I t was the idea that almost didn’t last. In 2006, Don Cunkle, an avid mountain biker, had the idea of fixing up older bikes to donate to the Good will Inn in Traverse City. He asked the Cherry Capital Cycling Club to fund the idea, and they granted him $300. At the same time, a friend in Lansing who owned a bike shop wanted to get rid of some abandoned bikes. Cunkle took those in—13 in all—and repaired those, too. He started spending Saturdays going to garage sales and asking people to donate their bikes to his program. His idea was taking shape—but there was a problem. “I really didn’t feel like the program was making a differ ence,” he says. “It was time consuming, and I wasn’t getting much feedback. I actually dropped the idea for a while.”

Then one day, Cunkle was riding his bike to work and passed a woman sitting on a bench along the TART. Later in the day, Cunkle was returning home and the same woman was sitting on the ground further up the trail.

Cunkle promised her he would fix one up and deliver it to the Women’s Resource Center (WRC).

“I spent a couple weekends in their parking lot getting those ready to go next,” he says.

MyNorth INSPIRED LIFE | FALL 2022 31

In that first year, Cunkle repaired or donated 100 bikes in all, working out of his home shop. “My second year, I repeated with another 100 bikes, and my backyard was looking like a bicycle scrapyard with two sheds filled with bike parts. My fence was lined with used bikes, and my garage was almost impassable,” Cunkle says. “I realized I needed to raise more funding as I needed special tools and real work stands, plus transportation funding.”

“I asked her if a bicycle would be helpful, and she excitedly told me it would be very helpful.”

“I asked, ‘Are you alright? Is there anything I can help you with?’ and she said, ‘I'm fine but I have a class today and I have to be back at the Transition House where I live at a certain time, and anyplace else I need to go seems too far away to walk to.’”

32 MyNorth.com

Stories like this often start with old bikes just hanging in a garage collecting dust. “Most bikes we get donated to us are because people no longer ride them or their children have outgrown them,” he says. “People like to know that their bikes are going to do some good, rather than going to a dumpster or rotting in the garage.”

While the program itself has gone smoothly, Cunkle had to overcome a se vere accident on a mountain bike three years ago. He broke his neck and suffered a traumatic brain injury.

“I’m going to be aging out in a couple of years,” he says. “I hope somebody picks this up and continues with it. It’s a good program and worthwhile.”

In 2010, Goodwill helped Cunkle write his first grant to help fund the program. Then, in 2011, he connected with the people at TART Trails. “They told me they had been talking about my program, and invited me to come under TART, a nonprofit, so I would be able to write grants to keep it going.” It was an instant yes.

R-A-B, after starting in Cunkle’s workshop, is now on Woodmere Avenue in Traverse City, where volunteers do re pairs. They also sell 60 to 80 used bikes a year, and the money is used to fund the program and the overhead of the building. R-A-B hosts a Bike Swap every June, where anyone can sell their bikes, and R-A-B receives 25 per cent of the profits. The 2022 swap was a huge success: 50 volunteers logged 270plus hours, selling more than 150 bikes and raising $12,000 for the program.

“It’s our biggest fundraiser and a great way to find a good used bike,” he says.

DONATE: Have a bike collecting dust in your garage? Bring it in to the Woodmere shop and donate it. Bikes are repaired or parted out to fix other bikes.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

traversetrails.org

VOLUNTEER: Go online and fill out a volunteer form. Volunteers help with repairs, cleaning, organizing, sorting, recycling, fundraising, bike pick-ups, graphic design and more.

WORKSHOP LOCATION: 1220 Woodmere Ave., Traverse City WORKSHOP HOURS: Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 1–5 p.m. The shop is open April through December.

The Recycle-a-Bicycle Program (R-A-B) now gives away about 150 bikes and does approximately 50 free repairs a year. Bikes are donated to those in need based on a referral process.

“Any agency, organization, school, church, case manager or social agency can fill out a referral form for them,” Cunkle says. “If we have a bike available that works for them, they can come and pick it up.”

One client was referred because her car needed too many repairs. “We fitted her with a nice road bike that she really liked,” Cunkle says. When she called several weeks later to say her bike had a flat tire, Cunkle drove out to retrieve it and bring it in for repair. She told him that she was more upset to be without her bike than her car. “She said her car was a money pit with repairs and oil and gas costs, but the bicycle was pure joy and freedom and fun to ride.”

“I was in a ‘halo’ for three months and then a neck brace for the rest of the year, and I was really glad to get back on my bike after such a long recuperation,” he says. “I’m 71 and my fitness isn’t what it used to be, but I still ride in the woods, always with friends for safety reasons. My wife Yvonne and I also enjoy riding bikes together.”Cunkle says he continues to work on bikes both at home and at the Woodmere shop most days, but he hopes to pass on the program to someone else eventually.

Kandace Chapple is a freelance writer and owns Michigan Girl, a company that hosts outdoor events and trips for women in the Grand Traverse region. mi-girl.com

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