It’s routine for ITC.

However, residents in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties may not know that ITC will be conducting aerial patrols of high-voltage transmission structures and lines in areas across Michigan throughout the fall.

According to ITC, the helicopter patrols are conducted to provide an overall status of the overhead transmission system that is operated by ITC’s Michigan operating entities including ITCTransmission and Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC (METC).

The aerial inspections will cover most of the Lower Peninsula and its surrounding counties including Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne and Livingston counties Oct. 1-4, weather permitting.

Other patrols will be held:

• Sept. 9-12: Antrim, Arenac, Bay, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Iosco, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Midland, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Wexford.  Alcona, Alpena,

• Sept. 13-17: Allegan, Clinton, Gratiot, Ionia, Isabella, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana and Ottawa.

• Sept. 18-20: Allegan, Barry,  Branch, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lenawee, Monroe, Ottawa, Shiawassee, St. Joseph, Van Buren and Washtenaw.

• Sept. 23-30: Bay, Genesee,  Gratiot, Huron, Ingham, Isabella, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Midland, Montcalm, Oakland, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair and Tuscola.

These patrols are required by North American Electrical Reliability Corporation (NERC) for ITC’s vegetation management program, support proactive maintenance objectives, and are in line with the company’s model for operational excellence, according to ITC. They include inspections of all transmission structures and equipment including, but not limited to, monopoles, steel towers, wood poles, conductors (wires), insulators and other equipment.

During the flights crews check for damaged or worn equipment and vegetation hazards. The inspection flights are often conducted at low altitudes to allow accurate visual inspection of equipment  for lightning damage, wear or other potential problems.

ITC said it’s normal procedure, so there is no cause for alarm if a low-flying helicopter is sighted near transmission lines.

Everett LaBrash is a Children’s Miracle Child.

The son of Alex and Marianne LaBrash of Sterling Heights, he is now a year old who is continuing to reach milestones and exemplifies the healthy outcomes that are made possible through the support of the annual Feldman Automotive Children’s Miracle Celebrity Invitational presented by Corewell Health Foundation of Southeast Michigan and the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation.

This year’s golf outing raised $1.5 million.

All of the money garnered through sponsorship support, on site-donations and a live auction, which included an electric guitar signed by Taylor Swift, benefit Children’s Miracle Network programming at Corewell Health Children’s and patients like Everett.

Everett  came early at 24 weeks.

Being a preemie, he faced a plethora of challenges, especially lung development, which required a C-pap at birth, and a ventilator after developing pneumothorax, to regulate his oxygen and help with breathing.

During his stay at Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital a team of health care professionals at Corewell Health Children’s Child Life Services provided Everett and his parents with care and compassion. Panda Warmers, Giraffe Omni Beds, and fold-out furniture for long stays were just some of the benefits that they received with the help of donations made to Corewell Health Children’s through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

“Our team at Troy, honestly, they were life-changing,” Marianne LaBrash said in a video released by the hospital. “They helped us through… so much. I definitely have a couple of lifelong friends with them.”

Alex concurred.

“Everyone’s easy going,” he said. “They’d lend an ear if you needed to vent to them. Thank you doesn’t wrap it up enough.”

The Feldman Automotive Children’s Miracle Celebrity Invitational is the largest celebrity golf event in the Detroit area, where every foursome enjoys an up-close and personal celebrity pairing.

This year’s event featured more than 50 national and local celebrities, including actors Donnie Wahlberg (last year it was Mark Wahlberg), Kevin Chapman, Jamie Denton, Marion “Pooch” Hall, Jamie Hector, and Jesse Spencer. From the world of sports, Kenny Anderson, Joique Bell, Lomas Brown, Johnny Damon, Braylon Edwards, Calvin Johnson, Pepper Johnson, Frank Zombo, and dozens of others took part in the day’s activities. It’s one of those events that everyone looks forward to, players and donors alike.

The morning began with Wahlberg accepting a “putting challenge” from three Corewell Health Children’s “Miracle” children selected to represent the more than 200,000 children treated at Corewell Health Children’s each year.

“We are delighted with the incredible success of this event”, said Lamong Yoder, a registered nurse and president of Corewell Health in Southeast Michigan. “Our gratitude goes out to the many sponsors and celebrities that are the backbone of this one-of-a kind invitational. Funds raised will be used to help the children in our communities when they need it the most.”

After golf, a spirited live auction and course contests raised about $300,000 from bids on items like Taylor’s guitar donated by Bob and Connie Skandalaris, which went for $31,000, a private tour of Rick Hendrick’s Automotive Heritage Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina, hosted and donated by Jay Feldman and Rick Hendrick, a 2025 Formula 1, Monaco package donated by Nino Cutraro; an Italian villa vacation, donated by the Rugiero Family and dinner in the Celani Wine Cellar, donated by Tom and Vicki Celani.

“It was inspiring to see so many people lending their support and contributing to our cause. We are helping so many children and families with the money raised. We are already planning for next year’s event and aiming to raise even more money to continue to provide support for those families in need,” said Jay Feldman, chairman and CEO of the Feldman Automotive Group.

Supporting the fundraising event this year was its title sponsor, the Feldman Automotive Group; lead presenting sponsor Quantum Ventures of Michigan; presenting sponsors Shift Digital and Vesco Oil Corporation; and supporting sponsors including the Celani Family Foundation, CIBC, Corewell Health, The Fourth Tri Sanctuary, Aaron and Carolynn Frankel Family Foundation, Mechanical Services, NativeWahl, and Terra Capital Industries and more than 50 other generous sponsors.

Also praising the generosity shown during the invitational was Ryan Daly, president of the Corewell Health Foundation Southeast Michigan.

“Corewell Health Children’s will receive support to provide life-saving services, vital pediatric equipment, and funds for patient scholarships for families unable to afford needed care,” Daly said, while the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation will utilize its funds to improve the quality of life for youth across the country by providing financial resources and community support to youth services.

Organizers of the event included a dedicated committee of community members — Tom Celani, Nino Cutraro, Jay Feldman, Ken Noonan, Bob Skandalaris, and Sam Yamin.

For more information visit corewellhealth.org/childrens  or call 855-480-KIDS (5437). Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada.

All of the donations and money raised is used locally, to help Miracle families in nine counties throughout Southeast Michigan including Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.

For more information visit CMNHospitals.org.

For many women experiencing symptoms caused by uterine fibroids the only option for relief was a hysterectomy and that created its own kind of pain for women still wanting to have children.

Now there’s another way.

Through laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (Lap-RFA) women have a viable and considerably less invasive option, for the treatment of uterine fibroids should they choose to seek a diagnosis and treatment.

But will they?

Dr. Jay Fisher, a Corewell Health obstetrician-gynecologist pioneering the treatment in Southeast Michigan, also known as the Acessa procedure, said up to 75 million women in the United States may experience symptoms caused by uterine fibroids, but only 1.4 million will seek care for it.

“Most of them just live with it,” Fisher said.

Once a month these women suffer a variety of symptoms such as excessive menstrual bleeding, cramping and anemia and, while a laparoscopic hysterectomy is less invasive, it still requires the surgical removal of the uterus, or womb, from a woman’s body. Plus, a lot of women are unable to take the medication (estrogen) that was typically prescribed afterwards.

Laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (Lap-RFA) was  first used in the treatment of liver tumors uses radiofrequency energy to treat uterine fibroids.

“It’s really remarkable technology because it’s very precise, delivering (the radiofrequency) directly to the fibroid itself while not damaging any tissue around it.”

Among those who were trying to live with the symptoms caused by uterine fibroids was Balsam Goriel, 47, of Warren.

“Every other month I would be in the emergency room,” said Goriel, whose condition got so bad it required blood transfusions.

“It was exhausting,” she said. “I wouldn’t go anywhere. I barely ate. I was like a car without lights.”

Her doctor tried a procedure that has had some success but it didn’t work for her and it appeared that her only option would be a hysterectomy, which she was not ready to accept.

“I don’t like getting my periods but I think it’s like a detox for a woman,” Goriel said. “It wasn’t about having children.”

It’s then she was told about laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (Lap-RFA), which at one time was not covered by many health insurance plans. However, in recent years data has shown that it’s not only an effective treatment medically, but also financially more cost effective.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. Dr. Fisher was amazing. He worked hard to identify the right solution for me,” she said.

The renewed energy she experienced after the outpatient procedure enabled her to return to a normal life.

“I have not gone to the ER since,” she said, adding she has not had to call in sick to work as well. She is socializing, happy and robustly practicing the tenets of self-care such as walking and exercise, journaling, prioritizing water intake, a solid sleep routine and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” said Goriel. “I still get cramps but it’s nothing like it used to be. Now, I just have the same discomfort as everyone else.”

For more information visit beaumont.org/services/doctors.

Deborah Vankin | Los Angeles Times (TNS)

LOS ANGELES — She was 63.

I was 33.

We shared cocktails at a rooftop bar overlooking Sunset Boulevard during golden hour. And the connection was palpable.

No, this isn’t the start to an “L.A. Affairs” romance column. But it is about a love affair of sorts. My best girlfriend of the last two decades is 30 years older than me.

I met Loraine in 2001. I was newly married and working as an associate arts editor at L.A. Weekly, where I was writing book reviews and covering the arts. A friend introduced us at a literary salon one evening. It was a brief business exchange. We were sitting on the floor of the now-shuttered French-Vietnamese restaurant Le Colonial, cross-legged on silk pillows awaiting the start of the readings. Loraine leaned over and gave me her card, mentioning she had just published a debut novel.

“It’s about marriage, adultery and regular church attendance,” she whispered, clearly pleased with her pithy elevator pitch. I stuffed the card in my purse.

A few weeks later Loraine convinced me to meet her for apple martinis at a rooftop restaurant on Sunset Boulevard. I had been hesitant to spend a free evening with a relative stranger who was a generation-plus older than I and with whom I assumed I had little in common. My friends at the time were all raucous creative types in their 20s and early 30s. Clichés raced through my head: Would she be stuffy or old-fashioned? Would we have anything to talk about? I’d have to watch my manners.

“I’ll be home within the hour,” I told my husband, determined to keep the meeting quick and cordial, a professional nicety.

But our conversation stretched on and on. I learned Loraine had grown up in a small town just north of New Orleans, one of the only Jewish families there at the time. She’d studied art in Paris during college — and she regaled me with stories of ill-fated romances she’d had there — before breaking into Hollywood as a TV writer in the 1970s. She penned what many consider the single most iconic TV show in pop culture history in 1980, the “Who Shot J.R.?” episode of “Dallas.”

“Then I made a pivotal mistake in my career,” she told me.

“What?!” I was rapt.

“I turned 50. That was it. Hollywood stopped calling,” she said, shrugging matter-of-factly. “So I turned to writing novels instead.”

“The Scandalous Summer of Sissy LeBlanc” would go on to become a national bestseller.

It was one of those mysterious, pivotal nights. Seemingly benign at the time, it proved to be life-changing in hindsight. Loraine’s resilience and joie de vivre was inspiring. I didn’t for a minute notice the age gap — and haven’t to this day.

Sure, Loraine has curly, silver hair and oversized glasses and, at 86, now walks a tad more gingerly than she used to. But I don’t see an older woman when I look at her; I see the essence of a person, timeless and ageless, housed in a corporeal shell (one that’s in pretty darn good shape, I should add). I see a teenage girl, still ever-curious about the world around her. I see a 20-something women, still evolving through new creative pursuits, most recently poetry writing. I see an accomplished power player in midlife at the peak of a highly successful TV writing career, self-satisfied and oozing with agency. I see a woman, late in life, struggling to unearth new pathways toward creative and intellectual relevance — and succeeding.

Suffice to say: My editor ended up passing on the book review, but Loraine got me instead.

As our friendship blossomed I learned that Loraine was all kinds of fabulous. She was part New York intellectual, part West Coast hippie, part Hollywood elite. Her closet was stuffed with expensive designer clothes, which she often passed over for unassuming yogawear. She drank Prosecco and swam naked in her cobalt-tiled pool. She once convinced me to spend the entire afternoon lying on our backs, in the dirt, beneath an old and glorious oak tree in Franklin Canyon Park, the sun glimmering through the leaves.

She knew so much about art, an interest we bonded over and which would become a throughline of our friendship. When I began covering art for The Times, she became one of my go-to plus-ones for museum and gallery openings. We’ve taken that interest abroad too, touring art studios in Cuba, visiting museums in Vienna and, most recently, journeying to Japan’s art island, Naoshima.

I suppose this is where I relay how the three-decade age gap has provided illuminating pearls of wisdom during divorce, career changes and aging woes. But honestly? That’s not been the case. Loraine is there for me in an emergency, but she isn’t the motherly, advice-dispensing type.

Rather, Loraine teaches by example. She’s living proof that fabulousness is about attitude, not age. And that vitality has less to do with hip mobility than it does a sustaining lust for life and unrelenting curiosity about the world. I wonder: Had I not met Loraine, would I be aging, now, with as much ease and universality? Would I be more susceptible to the rigid and relentless stereotypes with which society brands women of a certain age? Loraine is, above all else, a writer. And the narrative she’s crafted for herself — a feminist art scholar turned advertising copywriter and single mother turned happily remarried TV writer turned novelist turned poet — bucks society’s expectations. I hope to continue writing it.

“Oh, it’s so nice you have a surrogate mother in L.A.,” my own mother would often say of Loraine when she visited from the East Coast. Loraine is older than my mom and the fact that I had a “kind of aunt-like person” living nearby brought her comfort.

Loraine would bite her lip whenever my mom said that; but afterward, we’d marvel at the mischaracterization of our friendship. Our conversations are devoid of motherly energy; instead they range from our romantic lives to clothes to books and contemporary art. Our recent Japan trip included several nights at a yurt camp by the sea (which we abandoned due to mold).

Last July Fourth we climbed atop an Echo Park hillside, took edibles and watched the fireworks melting across the sky.

“Really, where do you think we go when we die?” I asked in a haze.

“Beats me,” she said, chuckling. “Pass the nuts, will you?”

Then we burst out laughing.

The beginning of the 2020 pandemic was the first time I ever felt our age gap. Our experiences sheltering in place were very different. I was batch-cooking soup and binge-watching FX’s “Better Things,” relishing what felt like a rare solitude. Loraine became low-level depressed and, as the months of the pandemic turned to years, tinged with bitterness. It was a rare mood for the typically happy-go-lucky Loraine.

“It’s like being robbed of the last years you have left,” she’d say on the phone. “I’m withering here at home.”

Recently, Loraine’s taken to repeating herself, as is the case with almost anyone her age.

“So what are you up to this weekend?” she’ll ask me on the phone, minutes after I answered the question already.

I just politely repeat myself, resigned to a sort of linguistic meditation, learning to enjoy the same conversation threads over and over again.

When we broached the issue recently, she told me, sighing: “I suffer from CRS.”

I braced myself for what that meant.

“Can’t Remember Shit,” she said, laughing — one of her long, loose chuckles that trails off with a cheery whine, as if she were a flapper wielding a cigarette holder in the air, head tossed back in the wind. “It is what it is.”

I’ve found myself using that phrase a lot lately: It is what it is. Loraine may not overtly mentor me in life, but her open embrace of whatever life offers reminds me to be present, to live in the moment.

Thinking about our friendship, I see a supercut of us: the time Loraine and I danced on a cafe rooftop in Cuba to live music; when we sailed through the air on trampolines on my 45th birthday with ’80s music playing over the loudspeaker; the New Year’s Eve we posed for selfies in wigs at a friend’s house; Loraine chasing a flying cockroach around our Miami hotel room as I squealed from atop the bed; her pure, unabashed joy when we rounded a corner in a Naoshima museum recently and she found a Cy Twombly work on display.

We were, in all those moments, 16 and 35 and 86. We meet somewhere in the middle, in the universal mind meld that is true friendship. And I’m grateful for every year of it.

©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — On a bench near the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market in July, Peggy Cheng recalled the time a television writer pitched her a wacky sitcom centered around the unlikely scenario of a young woman who had befriended her elderly neighbors.

Cheng, who was working in TV development at the time, wasn’t impressed.

“She thought it was so unique and I was like, ‘Hmm,’ ” said the 40-year-old Brentwood resident, laughing.

After all, the writer could have been describing Cheng’s life. Her best friend, Karen Letzkian, lives in the unit above hers and is 24 years her senior. They even had a meet-cute: A leaky toilet brought them together. But their difference in age has not stopped the two from being active participants in each other’s lives. Cheng spent months helping Letzkian plan her wedding. Letzkian picked Cheng up from the hospital after surgery. And they’re both always up for a last-minute trip to the local Ralph’s.

“I share everything with her,” Cheng said. “She’s one of the few friends who knows every facet of my life.”

Letzkian, a retired IT consultant, says the feeling is mutual. “Life is more fun when we’re together. I think that sums it up.”

As it turns out, age-gap friendships like Cheng and Letzkian’s may be more common than many of us think. A 2019 AARP survey found that nearly four in 10 adults have a close friend who is at least 15 years older or younger than they are. Even more are interested in cultivating these types of friendships. Nearly eight in 10 adults want to spend more time with people outside their age groups, according to a report from the Washington, D.C.-based organization Generations United.

Although research on the benefits of intergenerational friendships is nascent, several studies suggest that older adults who regularly interact with younger people experience less anxiety, depression and reduced cognitive decline than their more age-siloed peers. For younger folks, having friends outside their generation may help reduce both internal and external ageism, and address feelings of isolation and loneliness.

“From both sides there are individual level benefits that have the potential to improve health and well-being,” said Lauren Dunning, director of future of aging at the Milken Institute.

But ask those who are in age-gap friendships what they like about it, and chances are they’ll simply tell you they are in it for the enjoyment and pleasure of spending time with someone who “gets” them.

“There’s this exchange of ideas and knowledge, and this recognition that having fun is just as much a part of later life as it is for younger life,” said Catherine Elliott O’Dare, a professor in social policy at Trinity College in Dublin who studies the benefits of intergenerational friendships.

We spoke to six intergenerational friend groups in L.A. about how they met, what they do together and the benefits of their age difference.

Justin Beverly, 26, student. Jose Bautista, 73, retail worker. Nicholas Baraban, 33, retail worker

How did you meet?

Bautista: “We all used to work at the Hobby Lobby and these guys used to have beers after work. One day I invited myself along, but on one condition — we have to play [music].”

Favorite activities:

Playing music, going to the batting cage, open mic nights, barbecues.

What makes the friendship special?

Baraban: “I had a best friend who passed away — a bandmate. Jose helped me start playing with other people again. He was the first person I opened up to about playing out again.”

Bautista: “We’ve become best friends. I can rely on these guys for anything and I know they’ll come through. And me too. They can count on me for anything.”

Best part of being in an age-gap friendship?

Beverly: “Getting everyone’s perspective and point of view. People have more stories to tell from different times. It gives an interesting dynamic.”

Bautista: “I don’t feel an age difference with them. I don’t know how a 73-year-old is supposed to act.”

Baraban: “I don’t feel an age difference so much.”

Jeannine Bell, 69, retired high school teacher. Antoine Cason, 38, former NFL quarterback for the San Diego Chargers, recent college football referee

How did you meet?

Bell: “My son Josh was a waterboy for the football team at Los Alamitos High. Antoine walked past us before school one morning and says, ‘Hey J-Dub. How are you doing?’ I said, ‘Who was that?’ and he said, ‘That’s the nicest guy on the football team.”

Cason: “Then I took your photography class senior year and after I went to college I’d come back and see everyone and it just grew from there.”

Favorite activities:

Football activities, going to dinner, and spending time with mutual friends and each other’s families.

What makes the friendship special?

Bell: “He inspires me every time I see him. He lifts up people around him, his personality obviously, but also he cares about people. He gives back.”

Cason: “Every time I’m around her I feel the genuine love and care. She really cares. Sometimes you don’t feel that way around people. And my family loves her too.”

Best part of being in an age-gap friendship?

Bell: “I want to stay relevant for every day of my life. He helps me do that. And it’s not just the age difference. He is a different color than I am, a different culture. I love understanding that better. I can’t say I understand it totally but hopefully it makes me communicate better with everyone as a result of that.”

Cason: “For me — especially where I’ve been, what I’ve done — I feel safe with her. I like to stay as private as I can because everything I’ve done has been in the public. And I just feel safe. That’s very important.”

Flora Grewe, 4 ½, student. Mary Ota, 105, retired medical office worker

How did you meet?

Ota: “Flora and her family lived at the end of the street where I used to go for a walk. I would sit on my walker and rest before turning around and she would come and bring me flowers. Then she started coming over and we just became friends. Now we get together a lot.”

Favorite activities:

Doing puzzles, getting matching manicures, giving presents.

What makes the friendship special?

Ota: “She is a sweet little girl, always smiling and just adorable. At first she was quite shy, but what was adorable is she would write notes and bring them to me. She would always smile when she brought me things, and even if they were just weeds, I would put them in water.”

Grewe: “I don’t even know! I just like her!”

Best part of being in an age-gap friendship?

Ota: “A friend like Flora keeps things lively. Young people are so full of life. And connecting with young people makes you recall when you were young and your children were young.”

Grewe: “She let me have two cupcakes at her birthday party. She’s nice.”

patricia smith 73, retired faculty support at UCLA, yoga teacher. Adam Fowler, 43, consultant

How did you meet?

Fowler: “I took a position in Global Economics and Management at UCLA while I was applying to PhD programs. The first day the person I was replacing warned me about the woman down the hall. I hadn’t been in Los Angeles terribly long and I was like, ‘Oh, God, I hope this isn’t a nightmare.’ But we just hit it off.”

smith: “He endeared me to him with the ‘Yes, ma’am.’ It reminded me of the way I was brought up. And his Southern accent was the cutest thing in the world.”

Favorite activities:

Picnics at the Hollywood Bowl, movie nights at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, talking on the phone, fixing up smith’s apartment.

What makes the friendship special?

Fowler: “She made it comfortable to grow as a human. I was from the boonies of Arkansas, trying to figure out who I was in terms of coming out as gay, pursuing a PhD from a family where I was already the first generation of college students, and this was a person who was so secure in who she was and kind and generous.”

smith: “He was always so freaking smart, but he was smart without being arrogant. That was one of the more endearing qualities I recognized in him right away.”

Best part of being in an age-gap friendship?

smith: “He helps me to stay young. He turns me onto stuff. When I don’t know what’s going on, I just call him and he sets me straight. He helps me to pay attention — not to mention that he does [stuff] for me. That’s priceless.”

Fowler: “It’s such a source of context and wisdom. Whenever you get spun up on something small in your own life, patricia can either help you laugh about it or put it in some broader context. And just everything she’s done, moving here from Chicago, things she’s been through, all of that is so very interesting. I’d say it’s the resilience for me.”

Marlo Wamsganz, 54, designer. Norma Hench, 83, retired teacher

How did you meet?

Wamsganz: “We were both living in Vermont and I was dating her partner Glenn’s son. The first time we met we were already walking around her gardens. Then I moved on from that relationship and Glenn passed away. We lost touch, not because we didn’t love each other, but because life goes on. “

Hench: “It took me a full year to get my act together after Glenn died and move to L.A. where my son lives. I flew from Vermont to JFK and, lo and behold, there’s Marlo!”

Wamsganz: “We were both relocating to L.A. and when we got on the plane I believe we were in the same row. I thought, ‘This is wild.’ “

Favorite activities:

Visiting botanic gardens, trying new foods, hiking in Malibu, visiting museums and swapping books.

What makes the friendship special?

Wamsganz: “Norma loves to learn new things, she’s up for anything, she’ll taste anything, and she also likes to dig deep into things. I love how positive she is and she speaks her mind. She’s very fair and believes in rights for all people. And she’s a great conversationalist.”

Hench: “I want to tell a story: We were crossing Ventura Boulevard — this big multi lane street, and right in the middle of the crosswalk there was a praying mantis. And without missing a beat, didn’t Marlo reach down and pick up this praying mantis and carry it with her across to the other side of the street and put it on the lawn? Now, doesn’t that speak volumes?”

Best part of being in an age-gap friendship?

Hench: “I never think about an age difference. I’m not even aware of that. Maybe I’m in denial.”

Wamsganz: “I don’t either. Although I do ask her some things. Like, how long do hot flashes go on?”

Peggy Cheng, 40, entrepreneur. Karen Lektzian, 64, retired IT consultant

How did you meet?

Cheng: “Her master toilet flooded my unit, and it was easier to go through my unit to fix it. I was working really long hours at that time, so I was just like, ‘Yup! OK! Bye!’ She was like, ‘Can I get you any gift cards or a dinner?’ and I was just like, ‘No! I don’t really expect to interact with you.’ “

Lektzian: “The remediation took three weeks, and over the course of those three weeks we had quite a few interactions, so we got to know each other a little bit. I invited her to dinner and with the proximity we started to run into each other more often and it was so easy to just say, ‘Want to pop up for a drink? Or, do you want to cook dinner tonight?’ “

Favorite activities?

Traveling, cooking, eating out, running errands.

What makes the friendship special?

Lektzian: “We just have so much fun together. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing. And we have so many common interests. It’s just so natural. Life is more fun with her.”

Cheng: “I like that I can share everything with her. She’s one of the few friends who knows every facet of my life. I can go to her for advice and if it’s serious she will just switch into that mode and then immediately we will have the giggles.”

What is the best part of being in an age-gap friendship?

Lektzian: “I don’t really notice when I’m with my friends my own age versus Peggy.”

Cheng: “I don’t feel it either. She’s equally energetic and way more fit than I am!”

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©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Michelle Price Associated Press

As 12:30 p.m. approached, people trickled into the park, carrying foldable chairs, water bottles and – surprising in this day and age – books. Over the next hour, the nearly 20 participants quietly enjoyed their own books in companionable silence. Many of the participants had never met, and they read ebooks and paperbacks, some with heavy themes and others graphic novels.

This unusual setting is typical of the Silent Book Club, founded by two friends in a San Francisco Bar. Guinevere de la Mare and Laura Gluhanich had no idea what they were starting that night. Initially, it was just the two of them reading in companionable silence for an hour, but friends and strangers quickly saw the appeal and asked to join.

“In 2012, everything was about the hustle and grind of startup culture. We wanted to give ourselves permission to unplug from the demands of work and technology and recapture that single-minded focus and satisfaction you get from sustained silent reading,” said de la Mare. “We imagined a different kind of book club that didn’t ask for more labor – reading an assigned book, preparing discussion topics, building a charcuterie board – but welcomed anyone who wanted to just show up, order a drink, and read among friends.”

Being a member of a book club has a certain cache. But it takes time, energy and dedication, things that put them out of reach for too many people. This movement has exploded to encompass over 1,300 registered chapters in over 50 countries.

“In 2016, a Facebook event for our monthly meetup at the Palace Hotel went viral and ended up getting something like 2,000 RSVPs. At the time, a typical meetup was usually a dozen or so attendees. We knew that only a fraction of people would show, but we had to scramble to find overflow locations. In the end, we filled three different bars in downtown San Francisco with nearly 100 readers. Since then, we’ve had a few viral moments, and a number of our chapters bring hundreds of readers together regularly. But that was the first time we realized that Silent Book Club had the potential to be much bigger than we had imagined,” said de la Mare.

What is Silent Book Club?

These gatherings offer a refreshing alternative to traditional book clubs. There’s no pressure to have a book finished on a deadline, no requirement to read the same book, no agonizing over what to say in response to prescribed reading discussion questions and no need to talk to anyone if you don’t choose to. The Silent Book Club prioritizes individual reading and reflection over group discussion, though many chapters offer an optional conversation time after the hour of quiet reading.

Hosts also don’t need to clean their homes and provide food and drink for attendees. The public locations remove the stress of organizing food and drink that a standard book club generally entails which essentially involves party planning each month.

De la Mare is also a member of a traditional book club that meets once a month and recognizes the appeal of both styles. “Seeing the same group of women each month was a great way to build new adult friendships beyond the few people I still knew from high school. But I don’t always like the book choices. I much prefer Silent Book Club’s BYO book philosophy. There are too many good books to waste time finishing a dud. Luckily, it’s a forgiving group,” shared de la Mare.

What is the appeal of Silent Book Club?

While the concept of reading alone in public might seem counterintuitive, the Silent Book Club has its roots in historical reading rooms and libraries. These spaces were traditionally places of quiet contemplation and individual study. The modern silent book club is a revival of this tradition, adapted for contemporary life that allows low-stress socialization and interaction at the right level for introverts.

“I have social anxiety and at every meeting, I get nervous because there are new people and I’m the one leading. But everyone there is in the same boat, they just want to enjoy their books and share them with like-minded people. Everyone I have encountered, in my chapter, on social media and in our moderator group, is so kind and welcoming,” explained Ariana Squires, Chapter Host for the Silent Book Club in Barrington, Illinois.

The appeal of silent book clubs lies in their ability to cater to introverts and others who are overwhelmed by traditional book clubs or dislike their regimented nature. Unlike traditional book clubs, where discussions can sometimes be dominated by a few vocal members, Silent Book Club offers a truly inclusive environment. People can choose any book they like, without fear of judgment or pressure to participate in conversations.

Perhaps more importantly, the shared experience of reading in silence can create a sense of camaraderie and belonging in an age where people feel more isolated than ever and interactions often happen more via phone than face to face. It’s an opportunity to connect with others who share a love of books without the obligation to engage in small talk.

“Silent Book Club creates a welcoming space to bring people together over a shared love of books. We don’t charge admission fees to read like some other groups are now doing. We empower local organizers to build community at the neighborhood level, supporting local businesses and tailoring their chapters to meet the needs of their members,” said de la Mare.

Squires became the host of the Barrington, Illinois chapter after seeing an Instagram reel sharing a content creator’s experience with Silent Book Club and inviting others to join her. Squires researched, only to find that her local area did not have an existing chapter and quickly organized her own.

“I scheduled our first meeting at the Barrington Area Library in October of 2023. I had to bring my family and friends to that first meeting, but now we have RSVP links for our weeknight dinner meetings because the restaurants can only hold so many people,” explained Squires.

“it’s incredible. I have made a lot of great friends and connections through SBC, and I’m so glad I started my chapter. I have been a part of other traditional groups and it seemed that everyone tried to find ways to say the same thing about the book, with different words, or it got competitive about who could analyze the book better. Thankfully, we don’t have that,” she continued.

Silent Book Club now has its own website and newsletter where potential members can find a chapter nearby. The founders also provide an easy template to start a new chapter, and over 750 new chapters have registered so far in 2024.

Don’t think, just go

The silent book club movement is a testament to the enduring power of reading. By providing a space for individuals to connect with books and each other, these gatherings offer a unique and valuable experience for book lovers of all ages and backgrounds. Attendees can even listen to an audiobook for an hour instead of reading a physical book or an ebook.

“Don’t think. Just grab your book and go. You don’t need to coordinate plans with friends or bring a date or a wingwoman. You can come solo. You can talk to people or just read by yourself. ‘All readers welcome’ is literally written into our business DNA,” encouraged de la Mare.

Michelle Price is a food and travel writer who loves books and book clubs of all kinds, especially now that her two children are both in college. She provides tips and resources for other parents who have loved ones far from home with Care Package Love, a website designed to provide both the inspiration and the confidence needed to send joy to college students and more.

By Hunter Boyce, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Clammy skin, confusion, extreme pain, a cold sweat, shortened breath, death — sepsis is the life threatening progression of an infection. FDA research has discovered tattoo ink — which can be found on 32% of Americans — may contain dangerous bacteria that can put people at risk.

“In light of our study results, we want to emphasize the importance of continuously monitoring these products to ensure the microbial safety of tattoo inks,” study author and U.S. Food and Drug Administration microbiologist staff fellow Seong-Jae Kim said.

Helmed by researchers from the FDA’s Division of Microbiology and National Center for Toxicological Research the study showed contaminated ink can be dangerous because of how deep it is injected into areas of the skin vulnerable to bacteria.

“Pathogens or other harmful substances in these inks can travel from the injection site through the blood and lymphatic systems to other parts of the body,” study co-author Linda Katz, director of the FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors, told CNN in an email.

Although sepsis is considered one of the most drastic effects of ink contamination, more commonly reported conditions include rashes and contagious infections such as impetigo, erysipelas and cellulitis.

According to an assistant professor of chemistry from Binghamton University, the study’s results were not surprising.

“We know that contamination in tattoo inks is a common occurrence,” assistant professor John Swierk told CNN in an email. “Part of the problem is that there is no agreed upon, industry-standard method for sterilizing inks. Our work and the current study really highlight the need for good, standardized manufacturing processes across the tattoo ink industry.”

A 2023 survey from the Pew Research Center discovered that a “large majority” of U.S. adults feel society has become increasingly more accepting of tattoos over the recent decades. Around 32% of adults reported having tattoos, with 22% of respondents having more than one.

The study was published earlier this month in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

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©2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

They were designed to be practical, not pretty.

However, the cement pillars supporting the pedestrian bridge over Groesbeck Highway will soon feature works of art created by Tatum Lorway and one of four summer projects underway for the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) Partners In Public Art (PIPA) mural program.

“I think it’s amazing,” said Robin Lorway.

“She has brought art into my life, having no experience previously, and now she’s bringing art into the community,” added Tatum’s mother and assistant on the project underway in Clinton Township.

“This is great recognition for an artist,” said Tatum Lorway, a graduate of Chippewa Valley High School, who followed the advice of her art teacher telling her to go for it, because she can earn  a living as an artist.

“I always knew this was what I wanted to do,” said Lorway, who finished high school and went on to attend the College for Creative Studies, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in art education and illustration.

Now she’s the art teacher encouraging ninth-graders at Romeo High School to pursue their dreams, while working on her portfolio which includes; murals for the Michigan Renaissance Festival, Family Youth Intervention Center in Mount Clemens and the softball field at her former high school. She also has a niece, whose nursery now features a work of art created by her Aunt Tatum.

Lorway’s latest mural, commissioned by the DIA for Clinton Township, features the Clinton River and the diverse group of people who shape where the river flows.

“We have a big melting pot of people. The stones in the river like the people in the community are all different,” said Lorway, who will be painting the pillars on both sides of Groesbeck Highway. “They’ll be similar designs.”

As with other works by the young artist and teacher, Lorway has hidden a few treasures within the big picture that encourage viewers to look a little closer. Hint: they have something to do with Clinton Township’s Native American heritage.

Lorway’s mural is one of several being done this year. The DIA also partnered with Center Line, Harrison Township, and Hazel Park. The projects are currently underway and are expected to be completed over the summer.

The murals being done next year will be determined this fall. Communities that are interested in the program can submit an application for the 2025 PIPA program now, with a deadline of Sept. 1. Interested communities can apply at dia.org/PIPA.

The Partners in Public Art mural program allows communities, organizations, and municipalities in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties to partner with the DIA to create community-driven murals on publicly owned buildings. Once a community is identified for a public mural, the local partners distribute a survey to gather input from residents to identify interests and preferences for a mural in their community. The survey results are then incorporated into the artist’s final design.

“The Partners in Public Art program is about more than just creating murals; it is about fostering community through a collaborative public art project,” Julie McFarland, director of community engagement at the DIA said, in a news release. “Each project is a unique opportunity to reflect the values and stories of our partner communities”

Past partner communities include:

Macomb County: Bruce Township, Eastpointe, Warren, Utica, Sterling Heights, Macomb Township, Mount Clemens City, St. Clair Shores City, and Lenox Twp.

Oakland County: Berkley, Clarkston, Clawson, Lake Orion, and Rochester.

Wayne County: Wyandotte, the Avenue of Fashion in Detroit.

The Partners in Public Art program is made possible by the tri-county millage. Residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties always receive free general admission to the DIA.

For more information, visit dia.org/PIPA.