Petoskey News-Review from Petoskey, Michigan • 6

PAGE A6 Petoskey News PEOPLE COMMUNITY Friday, April 30, 1999 TAKE TIME OUT A healthy pregnancy will give your baby the best possible start April is at time of celebrating "The Month of the Young Child." If you are planning to become pregnant, what better way to celebrate a young life than to give your baby the best possible start by preparing for a healthy pregnancy. There are several practical things a woman can do before pregnancy occurs to ensure that she and her new baby are healthy. Any woman considering becoming pregnant should see her health care provider for a preconception physical. This is a time to talk about your medical history, your relationships and what tests are recommended. This is also a time to ask questions and discuss your concerns.

It is best to achieve a normal weight before attempting to become pregnant. Don't diet during pregnancy, however, or while you are trying to become pregnant. Eating a healthy diet is very important to any woman attempting to become pregnant. The key to good nutrition is balance. Try to include something from each of the main food groups, milk and milk products, meat and alternatives, fruit and vegetables, bread and cereals.

Use caution in eating Michigan fish. The Michigan Fishing Guide, issued by the DNR, can provide information on the safety of eating Great Lakes fish and fish from inland lakes while pregnant. Since many women are slightly anemic during pregnancy, you may want to fortify your iron levels even before becoming pregnant with such foods as meats, raisins and prunes, or beans, soy products, spinach and cream of wheat. Your body is better able to absorb iron when consumed with foods rich in vitamin such as citrus fruits, is strawberries and broccoli. Research suggests that folic acid supplementation during the weeks leading up to and following conception may help prevent neural tube defects.

These are birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. Good natural sources of folic acid include orange juice, green leafy vegetables, beans, peas, liver and fortified breakfast cereals. The surest way to get enough folic acid and iron daily is to eat a healthy diet and take a prescribed prenatal vitamin every day. If you take non-prescription vitamins, you may unknowing be taking mega-doses which could cause harm to your developing baby. Be sure to discuss any vitamins and medications, either prescription or over the counter, that you are currently taking with your health care professional at your preconception visit.

Smoking, drinking alcohol, drinking caffeine to excess, or taking street drugs should be avoided during pregnancy or when planning to become pregnant. Regular gentle exercise such as walking or swimming, is generally considered safe during pregnancy. It will also keep you fit and prepare you for childbirth. Two viral infections that can cause serious birth defects are rubella (German measles) and varicella (chicken pox). Women should make sure they have been vaccinated against the rubella virus.

Another infection, toxoplasmosis, is caused by a parasite that is transmitted through cat feces and undercooked and raw meat. To avoid infection, women shouldn't handle litter chores nor eat raw or undercooked meat when planning to conceive. Also, wash hands, utensils, cutting boards and anything else that comes in contact with raw meat. Elevated body temperature can be harmful to a developing baby, so women should also avoid hot tubs, tanning booths and saunas when pregnant or trying to conceive. Having a baby is an important event in a woman's life.

Taking these simple steps can assure that you and your baby will remain as healthy as possible. Today's "Take Time Out" column was submitted by Linda Sheppard, R.N., childbirth educator. The "Take Time Out" column appears on the fifth Friday or fifth Monday of each month. The next column will be published on Friday, July 30. Because the authors want this column to be of use to parents, there are now two ways you can comment about a column or request a topic.

Write to Northwest Michigan Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, P.O. Box 414, Petoskey, Mich. 49770, or call and leave a message at Char-Em Intermediate School District, 547-9947, at voice mailbox 414. Local artist juror of upcoming show Fine arts and crafts exhibition opens May 21 in Petoskey By BETH ANNE PIEHL News- Review staff writer AST JORDAN Peggy canvas and create a beautiful, intricate work of art. Or she can use an old cigar box, some plastic toy pieces, parts of broken jewelry and old tea bags and create a similar masterpiece equally as eye-catching.

In fact, for Midener, the phrase "one man's trash is another man's treasure" is embraced. Midener is an accomplished painter and artist who has turned her talents to creating treasures she calls "fantasy boxes" variously shaped and sized pieces, boxes and knick-knacks which, when painted and affixed to one-another, transform into curious and inviting pieces of art. "I take the items that other people would throw away and I save and use them," said Midener, in her East Jordan home. In her back studio, future fantasybox components like vases, figurines and more cigar boxes literally fill bookshelves from floor to ceiling. Midener is well-known through the state, as her paintings have been exhibited at the Michigan Artists Show and the Detroit Institute of Arts.

And her work is well-known in Northern Michigan. She will be the judge of this year's Crooked Tree Arts Council annual Juried Fine Arts and Crafts Show (see related story). "We have loads of talent up here," she said. "And a large portion of it is not professionally trained." Midener continues to paint, but she began crafting her fantasy boxes more since the death of her husband, Walter, in October. Walter was himself a talented sculptor, and it's no wonder their daughter, Wendy Midener Froud, is an acclaimed dollmaker who worked on the with Jim Henson.

The fantasy boxes take about a week to craft, each with a theme developed through items that had no connection to one another before Midener's careful coaxing. For instance, one of her humorous boxes is "Pike Dream." Fish, depicted by lures, dangle inside the box from fishing line and Midener can take brush to Jordan: In her home art studio, Peggy Midener displays one of her 50 fantasy one of her paintings. (NEWS-REVIEW photo by Beth Anne Piehl) East by Entries in juried May 12-17 at The 19th annual Crooked Tree Arts Council's Juried Fine Arts and Crafts Exhibition in Petoskey will be judged by Peggy Midener of East Jordan. The show will be on display at the McCune Arts Center and opens to the public at 5 p.m. Friday, May 21, with awards for the show's winners and a reception.

Artists may bring entries to the arts cen- show accepted McCune Arts Center picked up at the arts center. Awards will be broken into two categories, fine arts and crafts. First place in each division will receive $500, secondplace will win $150 and third place will take home $100. Honorable mentions will be awarded at Midener's discretion. Artwork chosen will be exhibited from May 21 through Friday, July 2.

ter for judging Wednesday through Satur- For more information on the show or day, May 12-15, and Monday, May 17, how to enter, contact the arts center at during regular hours. Entry forms may be 347-4337. in the mouths of each one are tiny people, with hooks in them. She admits that animals always win in her artistic creations. Most, if not all, of her 50 boxes relate a message or symbolism that isn't always obvious.

"I don't mind explaining them, if people Little Traverse Civic Theatre cast of "Sylvia" includes (back, from left) Betsy Willis and Bob Munn; and (front, from left) Cassandra George and Steve Floto. (Photo courtesy of Little Traverse Civic Theatre) Civic theatre comedy opens May 13 The cast of the Little Traverse Civic Theatre's upcoming comedy "Sylvia" is putting the final touches on their characters. With six weeks of rehearsals behind them and opening night only two weeks away, the actors are eager to bring this story of a man and his dog to the stage. Cassandra George plays the role of Sylvia, a dog found in the park by Greg. Cassandra is a junior at Concord Academy, and fits rehearsals for "Sylvia" between her studies and school theater productions.

This is her third appearance in a Little Traverse Civic Theatre production. Playing the role of Greg, Steve Floto is making his debut with the Little Traverse Civic Theatre. However, he is no stranger to the stage or television. Floto has performed in an Off Broadway production, as well as appeared on daytime television in "All My Children" and "As The World Turns" and in a number of national television commercials. Betsy Willis is cast as Greg's wife, Kate.

Willis is a long-time active member of the Little Traverse Civic Theatre. Her boxes, and she's flanked on the other side known as the Center for Creative Studies. Her teaching career in Detroit spanned 25 years as a painting and drawing instructor. Her prizes are many, including first place at the Wayne County Art Show, second prize at the Michigan State Fair and three times a winner in the Petoskey arts center shows. Her work can be found in collections at the Detroit Institute of Art and in private collections in New York City, San Francisco, England and Germany.

She moved to East Jordan in 1979 and has since taught summer classes for children and adults. Aside from her artistic acclaim, Midener has juried art shows for 30 years experience she'll bring next to the arts council show. Midener said she examines each piece three or four times before choosing winners, adding that she is not fond of work that is a copy or reproduction. An artist's responsibility, she said, is to translate what he or she sees into an artistic piece. "If it's an obvious copy of anything, then it's out," Midener said.

want to know," said Midener. "But I make them for myself." Midener, born and raised in Detroit, attended Western College in Oxford, Ohio, with majors in art and theater. She later graduated from the Art School of the Society of Arts and Crafts in Detroit, now Humane society continues raising funds for building expansion, improvements Appreciation Day planned May 5 at The Pier has reached efforts to raise and improvements ship shelter. In February, announced they ed to match lenge grant, building fund to $100,000. Some $30,000 of that amount came from net proceeds the organization's "Howl at the Moon" event held October at Bay Harbor Equestrian Center.

Little Traverse Bay Humane Soci- The Little Traverse Bay Humane Society a significant milestone in its funds for building expansion at its Bear Creek Town- organization officials have raised the money needan anonymous $50,000 chalbringing the total in the new friendships," which pay for the costs of temporarily housing animals and keeping the shelter a "no-kill" facility. Being a shelter means that no animal will be destroyed because of overpopulation. To help raise money, both for operation and the new building, the society has the following fund-raisers planned. Stafford's Pier Restaurant in Harbor Springs will host the Little Traverse Bay Humane Society Appreciation Day beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 5.

Stafford's will donate 20 percent of all sales on that day to the organization. Hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be available at the For-Pets Party at 5 p.m. A drawing will also be held for a ride for up to 10 people on the boat "The Pointer." Information will also be available about the organization's buy-abrick program. For more information on this fund-raiser for RENOVATION the new shelter, contact Dave Balok at 526- 8859. most recent contribution was as director of last year's "Woman in Black." Bob Munn showcases his talent in the three separate roles of Tom, Phyllis and Leslie.

A veteran of many Little Traverse Civic Theatre and Bay View productions, Munn was last seen on stage in "The Elephant Man." "Sylvia" premiers at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 13. All seats for premier night are $5, with no advance ticket sales that night. The play continues at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 14-15; 2 p.m.

Sunday, May 16; and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 21-22. A reception with the cast and crew will immediately follow the opening night performance on May 14. Tickets are $10 for the Friday and Saturday shows and $6 for the Sunday matinee. All performances will be held in the Ross Stoakes Theatre at the McCune Arts Center in downtown Petoskey.

For ticket information, call the Little Traverse Civic Theatre box office at 348-1850. Production of "Sylvia" is made possible through the support of Mackinaw Crossings. SHELTER, ADDITTON RENOVATION ety spokesper- Above is an artist's rendition son Cynthia and additions at the Little Haynes said Society shelter might look agency officials were pleasantly surprised and thankful for the support the community demonstrated for the first-time event. While neither final cost estimates nor a groundbreaking date has yet been set for the new building, design and architecture work continues with local architect Rick Neumann, Haynes said. In addition to the building project, the organization still needs help in its day-to-day operations.

Those wishing to donate to a specific item may wish to consider a "kitty condo" cat cage for $400, or a "doggie recess" a section of playground fence where dogs can exercise, play and interact with people- for $216. Animal guardianships, and "shelter of what improvements The Little Traverse Bay Humane Traverse Bay like. (Courtesy graphic) Humane Society annual Spring Fashion Show and Luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 27, at Birchwood Golf and Country Club. A bazaar and silent auction will be held from 11 a.m. to noon.

Many door prizes will be offered and local radio personality BJ. Mogg will serve as master of ceremonies and commentator for the event. The Little Traverse Bay Humane Society is a non- organization funded solely from donations. The shelter's hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday: and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday and Monday. All donations to the organization are tax deductible. For more information about donations, services offered, or becoming involved with the organization, call Theresa Donigan at 347-2396..