Getting copies of important records can help people rebuild their lives

From the IRS

Picking up the pieces after a natural disaster can be challenging. Fire or flood may have destroyed personal and financial records, including records needed to recover disaster-related losses. People may need documentation for tax purposes, federal assistance programs or insurance claims.

While personal or business property may have been destroyed, all hope is not lost. Here are some steps that can help people reconstruct important records.

Tax records

Get free tax return transcripts immediately using Get Transcript on IRS.gov. Order transcripts by calling 800-908-9946 and following the prompts.

Financial statements

People can gather past statements from their credit card company or bank. These records may be available online. People can also contact their bank to get paper copies of these statements.

Property records

To get documents related to property, homeowners can contact the title company, escrow company or bank that handled the purchase of their home or other property.

Taxpayers who made home improvements can get in touch with the contractors who did the work and ask for statements to verify the work and cost. They can also get written descriptions from friends and relatives who saw the house before and after any improvements.

For inherited property, taxpayers can check court records for probate values. If a trust or estate existed, taxpayers can contact the attorney who handled the trust.

When no other records are available, people should check the county assessor’s office for old records that might address the value of the property.

Car owners can research the current fair-market value for most vehicles. Resources are available online and at most libraries. These include Kelley’s Blue Book, the National Automobile Dealers Association and Edmunds.

More information:

Publication 547, Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts

Publication 584, Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Loss Workbook

Publication 584-B, Business Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Loss Workbook

Publication 976, Disaster Relief

Small Business Administration

DisasterAssistance.gov

Healthgrades award recognizes superior clinical outcomes in heart bypass surgery and heart valve surgery

Grand Rapids, Mich., Aug. 17, 2022 – Healthgrades has recognized Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital for the third year in a row as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery™ and has named it the #1 hospital for cardiac surgery in the state of Michigan.

Healthgrades is an independent organization that analyzes health care data and ranks heart surgery programs on a state and national level. The award recognizes superior clinical outcomes in heart bypass surgery and heart valve surgery.

“We are very proud of our long track record of providing high quality cardiac surgery care to the community of West Michigan,” said John Heiser, MD, Spectrum Health Medical Group division chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery. “This award is especially meaningful because it is independent recognition of our exceptional outcomes when compared to other programs in the state and the nation.”

Most of the hospitals evaluated by Healthgrades fall into the category of community heart surgery programs. Butterworth Hospital and the Spectrum Health Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center offer a quaternary program, including all the care available at a community program in addition to specific diagnostic and therapeutic services for comprehensive heart care. These include heart and lung transplantation, robotic heart surgery, catheter-based valve replacement, artificial heart pumps and cardiothoracic critical care.

“Our team is delighted to offer comprehensive cardiac surgery so that the heart patients of our community do not have to leave West Michigan to receive care elsewhere,” said Edward Murphy, MD, Spectrum Health Hospitals division chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

In 2021 Spectrum Health’s cardiothoracic surgery team performed a total of 1,625 cardiac surgery cases. This includes 661 isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgeries, the highest volume in the state of Michigan. Transcatheter aortic valve replacements accounted for 324 of these procedures. Open operations on cardiac valves without CABG concurrent constituted 204 cases. Coronary artery bypass graft valve combination procedures resulted in 103 surgeries along with other cardiac surgeries accounting for 323 procedures.

In addition to this Healthgrades accolade, the Society of Thoracic Surgery also has recognized Spectrum Health cardiac surgery with a 3-star quality rating (the highest star rating) for CABG and CABG/Aortic Valve Replacement.

For more information, call 616-459-7258 or visit: https://www.spectrumhealth.org/services/heart-and-vascular-care

If you are looking for a more holistic approach to your health and a naturopathic doctor who takes the time to get to know you, you will want to check out Hazelnut Naturopathic Health at 4655 14 Mile Rd, Suite B, in Rockford.

Established by Amanda Blandford ND LMT, in 2020, Hazelnut Naturopathic Health provides Naturopathic health consultation, homeopathy, nutrition consultations, massage therapy including craniosacral therapy and visceral manipulation, IASTM, hydrotherapy, herbal therapies, and more.

Dr. Blandford received her Naturopathic Medicine Doctorate degree from Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA, in 2019, returning home to Michigan after a 15-year absence.

“I feel the hard-working people of West Michigan deserve more holistic health choices in order to get the health care experience they want,” Dr. Blandford stated.

What makes her business unique is that Hazelnut Naturopathic Health is founded on the principle of knowing the human body has the capacity to heal itself if we can find and remove obstacles to optimal health. This allows the body to restore itself to balanced wellness according to Dr. Blandford.

What can you expect on your visit? “My first office visit for naturopathic consultations is 90 minutes long, allowing me to start to get to know the person sitting in front of me. I work with them to help craft specific health recommendations to first address the foundations of health including proper nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, getting fresh air and sunshine, etc. Then we build up from there to help each person achieve the health and wellness they desire. I firmly believe everyone deserves the chance to find their own inner vitality and heal themselves from the inside out.”

Hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday by appointment. Call 616-884-0645 for more information or visit https://hazelnutnaturopathic.com.

This is a paid advertisement. 

From Take Charge America

Steps for renters struggling with payments, facing eviction

PHOENIX – (June 14, 2022) – As housing costs keep climbing across the country, more than 11 million Americans report being behind on rent payments, according to Surgo Ventures. Add in inflation and other economic uncertainties, and millions more are on the brink of falling behind or facing eviction.

“Housing instability remains a critical issue for millions of renters, many of whom are only one missed check or lost job away from possibly losing their home,” said Michael Sullivan, a personal financial consultant with Take Charge America, a nonprofit credit and housing counseling agency. “If you’ve fallen behind on your rent — or soon will — there are several steps you should take to protect yourself and limit your chances of eviction.”

If you’re struggling to pay rent, Sullivan suggests the following actions:

Contact your landlord. First, try talking with your landlord. Be up front and honest about your situation, asking about potential options or temporary accommodations they’re willing to make. They may be willing to work with you, especially if you have a history of paying on time and maintaining the property. Whatever arrangement you come to, be sure to get it in writing.

Explore rental assistance. Nonprofit and government agencies such as the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities USA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offer a range of programs to help people struggling with rent. Your local housing authority is another good resource. Renters can find additional rental assistance programs near them at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau website.

Manage other expenses. You may be able to free up cash for rent by adjusting other expenses or financial obligations. For example, most credit card companies offer hardship programs that lower monthly payments. You can also slash subscriptions, hidden entertainment costs, auto-delivery services and other non-essential purchases. 

Ask to help. Offer your skills and time to friends or family to earn extra cash to make rent. Do they have some yard work you can do? What about babysitting for a few hours? Also explore the gig economy with services like TaskRabbit, DoorDash or Rover to help with various tasks, delivery or dog-walking.

Seek nonprofit rental counseling. Nonprofit rental housing counselors, like those with Take Charge America, can provide you with one-on-one rental guidance and tailored resources to help you determine the best path forward.

For additional housing resources and assistance, explore housing counseling services from Take Charge America. To learn more, visit takechargeamerica.org or call (888) 822-9193.

Lake Life Farms, a new family-owned cannabis company located at 4116 17 Mile Rd, in Cedar Springs, recently held their grand opening.

This new deli-styledispensary allows you to smell and inspect your flower before purchasing. They feel that makes for a better shopping experience for the customer because customers will know what they are getting.

Lake Lakes Farms said what makes their dispensary different is that they are involved with the product from the beginning, through their cultivation, processing, and finally retail operation. 

You can find flower, pre-rolls, concentrates, vape pens, edibles, and gear at their new location in Cedar Springs. They also have a retail store in Big Rapids.

You can shop either in the store or online at https://lakelifefarms.com/. Business hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.     

From the IRS

When people go through a legal separation or divorce, the change in their relationship status also affects their tax situation. The IRS considers a couple married for filing purposes until they get a final decree of divorce or separate maintenance.

Update withholding

When someone becomes divorced or separated, they usually need to file a new Form W-4 with their employer to claim the proper withholding. If they receive alimony, they may have to make estimated tax payments. The Tax Withholding Estimator tool on IRS.gov can help people figure out if they’re withholding the correct amount.

Understand the tax treatment of alimony and separate maintenance

Amounts paid to a spouse or a former spouse under a divorce decree, a separate maintenance decree, or a written separation agreement may be alimony or separate maintenance payments for federal tax purposes. Certain alimony or separate maintenance payments are deductible by the payer spouse, and the recipient spouse must include it in income.

However, individuals can’t deduct alimony or separate maintenance payments made under a divorce or separation agreement executed after 2018 or executed before 2019 but later modified if the modification expressly states the repeal of the deduction for alimony payments applies to the modification. Alimony and separate maintenance payments received under such an agreement are not included in the income the recipient spouse.

Determine who will claim a dependent child if filing separate returns

Generally, the parent with custody of a child can claim that child on their tax return. If parents split custody fifty-fifty and aren’t filing a joint return, they’ll have to decide which parent gets to claim the child. There are tie-breaker rules if the parents can’t agree. Child support payments aren’t deductible by the payer and aren’t taxable to the payee.

Report property transfers, if needed

Usually, there is no recognized gain or loss on the transfer of property between spouses, or between former spouses if the transfer is because of a divorce. People may have to report the transaction on a gift tax return.

Consider filing status

Divorcing couples who are still married as of the end of the year are treated as married for the year and must determine their filing status. The What Is My Filing Status tool on IRS.gov can help people figure out what status makes sense for their situation.

Here the statuses separating or recently divorced people should consider:

*Married filing jointly. On a joint return, married people report their combined income and deduct their combined allowable expenses. For many couples, filing jointly results in a lower tax than filing separately.

*Married filing separately. If spouses file separate tax returns, they each report only their own income, deductions, and credits on their individual return. Each spouse is responsible only for the tax due on their own return. People should consider whether filing separately or jointly is better for them.

*Head of household. Some separated people may be eligible to file as head of household if all of these apply.

o Their spouse didn’t live in their home for the last six months of the year.

o They paid more than half the cost of keeping up their home for the year.

o Their home was the main home of their dependent child for more than half the year.

*Single. Once the final decree of divorce or separate maintenance is issued, a taxpayer will file as single starting for the year it was issued, unless they are eligible to file as head of household or they remarry by the end of the year.

More information:

Publication 504, Divorced or Separated Individuals

Topic No. 452 Alimony and Separate Maintenance

Cedar Springs Cannabis, a new adult use cannabis provisioning center here in the City of Cedar Springs, held its grand opening on April 28. The store is owned by Tom Mabie, and is located at 10 S. Main, where Framed Images used to be, just south of the big blue building, south of Cherry St.

“At Cedar Springs Cannabis, we are focused on creating a unique, welcoming environment geared towards giving back to our community and being a part of the neighborhood which we have called home for over 50 years,” said Mabie. “In our hearts and minds, neighborhoods are the places where life occurs. They shape us and create us. Neighborhoods create the background for our life stories and leave lasting impressions for generations to come.”

The business provides flower, pre-rolls, edibles, extract, vape cartridges, and more—and all locally grown.

“At Cedar Springs Cannabis, we are locally owned, and our products are locally grown and sourced. Our team is passionate about providing an exceptional experience for all those seeking assistance and are committed to educating our clients to achieve a healthier and happier life,” said Mabie.

Mabie likens his business to an “apothecary.” 

“Historically, the term ‘apothecary’ referred to both the person who manufactured and dispensed medicines (lowercase ‘a’), and the shop in which those medicines were sold (capitalized ‘A’). Apothecaries were not mystical, magical beings or peddlers of expensive oils, but highly valued and esteemed medical professionals,” he explained. “We are excited to bring our Apothecary to Main Street.”

He also said they will soon offer delivery for all products in their store.

If you’d like to check them out, shop their website at cedarspringscannabis.com, or drop in during regular business hours from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. For more information, call 515-263-9279.

Every business, it seems, cites people as being its most important resource. Why? Because any business, regardless of size, is only as good as the people who work there, from the owner and managers to the newest entry-level staffer.

As an employer, you want to hire and retain employees most qualified for the positions within your company. To do this, you need to define who you are looking for, and what is expected of them once they are on board.

Policy standards are a must. Begin with a personnel manual that explains your policy for hours, overtime, fringe benefits, sick leave, annual leave, training, dress code, personnel reviews, grievances, termination, and retirement. Every employee should have his or her own copy of this manual. In addition, consider giving every job applicant a copy for review.

Each position within the company, including your own, should have a job description that outlines the responsibilities and duties of such position. This job description should also include a list of the objectives of such position with specific and measurable goals. Each description should also include reporting relationships. The job description provides you and the employee a clear road map for the expectations of the position, from the standpoint of both workload and expertise required to accomplish the job.

Job application forms for your company should be simple and focus on relevant employment history, including names of supervisors and references you can contact. Provide space for the applicant to summarize career accomplishments.

At the interview stage, you want to learn as much as possible about the person’s job skills, work ethic and personality. Ask specific questions that require more than a yes or no answer. The more dialogue you have, the more you learn about the applicant. More information will help you make an informed decision.

Always check references.  Competent and friendly employees make a positive statement about your business to customers. An applicant who interviews well and has a sterling resume may be the ideal fit for the job. References will validate your impressions and expand on areas not covered in the interview. This is also a way to learn more about potential weaknesses as well. What a reference says or does not say gives you clues as to the character and skill of your candidates. Take all this information into account before you form your final opinion of a given candidate.

If you are interested in developing staffing guidelines, policies, and application and interview procedures, contact SCORE a nonprofit organization of volunteer business counselors who provide free and confidential to advice to present and future entrepreneurs.  To reach the Grand Rapids SCORE chapter, call 1-616/771-0305, or go online at www.grandrapids.score.org.

These ASK SCORE articles are submitted by the Grand Rapids Chapter of SCORE where there are 40 SCORE counselors ready to serve you and your business needs. To reach the Grand Rapids office call 1-616/771-0305, or find a counselor online at www.grandrapids.score.org

(BPT) – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported receiving 5.7 million fraud reports in 2021, with consumers losing more than $5.9 billion to fraud, up from $3.3 billion the year prior. Furthermore, the coronavirus pandemic and rise in digital and online technologies have only exacerbated the rise in overall consumer fraud, as criminals sought to take advantage of the fears of the public by exploiting public health issues, spreading misinformation and creating confusion.

Both public and private sectors are working together to respond to consumer complaints and enhance protections by helping consumers become more vigilant and aware of the signs of fraud.

As part of these efforts, The U.S. Postal Inspection Service – the law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing federal statutes involving crimes against the Postal Service, its employees and customers – along with the FTC, other federal agencies, private sector companies and consumer protection organizations, make it their mission to educate and inform consumers of their rights and share fraud prevention tips.

The security of the U.S. Mail and its employees is the top priority of the Postal Inspection Service. For nearly 250 years, Postal Inspectors have worked to protect Americans from financial fraud and scams.

“Anyone can be a victim of a scam, with the right pitch,” said Gary R. Barksdale, Chief Postal Inspector. That’s why prevention is one of our most important pillars in the mission to protect consumers and bring fraudsters to justice.”

Postal Inspectors provide helpful tips for consumers to protect themselves from fraud, including issues related to:

• Veterans Scams
• Elder Fraud
• Cybercrime
• Election Mail Security
• Coronavirus-related Scams
• Identity Theft
• Mail Fraud
• Mail & Package Theft
• Suspicious and Dangerous Mail

So how do you guard yourself from potential fraud?

• * Never provide personal information over the phone or Internet unless you initiated the contact and you are sure the company/individual is legitimate
• * Never send money to unknown individuals
• * Do not respond to spam or unsolicited emails
• * Monitor credit card expiration dates and contact the issuer if you don’t receive a replacement prior to the expiration date
• * Review your credit reports annually
• * Read everything given or mailed to you by the person or company soliciting your money – including the “fine print.”
• * Do your due diligence. Check out the company with the Better Business Bureau, your state’s Office of the Attorney General, or AARP’s Fraud Fighter Call Center at 800-646-2283, and ask for help determining if an offer is legitimate or not.
• * Do an online search, to see others’ experiences with the business.
• * Reduce unwanted telemarketing calls. Take advantage of call blocking services, some of which are free, or purchase a call-blocking device.

For more fraud prevention tips, visit uspis.gov/tips-prevention. If you are a victim, or have witnessed a mail-related crime, alert Postal Inspectors by calling 877-876-2455.

(StatePoint) Those graduating in the spring of 2022 and other job seekers should take note — industry experts say that not only are home healthcare caregivers needed more now than ever before, but this industry offers many rewarding career paths.

“A growing number of families and medical professionals are discovering that home healthcare is a great option — and not just for seniors. Home healthcare can be used to treat medical needs across a full continuum of care,” says Jennifer Sheets, president and chief executive officer of Interim Healthcare Inc., which is actively recruiting caregivers nationwide.

According to Sheets, here are three of the top reasons home healthcare caregivers are in such high demand today:

1. It’s a safe alternative: The pandemic shifted the spotlight to home healthcare as a means to keep loved ones safe. What’s more, at-home caregivers are supporting hospital burnout by keeping acute care patients at home, allowing hospital staff to focus on the most critical patients.

2. The role of home caregivers has expanded: The scope of care and services that can be delivered at home has greatly expanded. There are more diverse care needs today, requiring a diverse set of caregivers to fill those needs, including ventilator care, speech therapy, palliative care and more.

3. It can fill a necessary gap: The physical, mental and emotional demands of caring for family members can be overwhelming, and with the healthcare worker shortage, family caregivers need additional help at home.

Why Home Healthcare?

It is an employees’ market when it comes to working in the home healthcare industry and these positions are very desirable for a number of other reasons, especially for new graduates. Here are just a few:

• With on-the-job training available, a helping career such as a home care aide is emotionally rewarding, and home healthcare provides that same opportunity to make a difference in other people’s lives, albeit in a less hectic, more personal environment. Even for current licensed medical professionals, 74% say they have considered a career shift to home healthcare at one point in their medical career, according to an Interim Healthcare study. The COVID-19 pandemic only intensified these considerations for professionals, many of whom in the same survey say home healthcare would be a way to reconnect with why they got into healthcare in the first place.
• Clients depend on caregivers to manage their health and achieve the best results. They appreciate the help, support, care and connection that comes with home care. Caregivers get one-on-one time with clients so they’re able to focus on the care of one individual at a time, and in many cases, they become part of the family.
• The healthcare industry is changing rapidly, which means that home caregivers have continual opportunities to learn new professional skills based on their interests that will help them meet the needs of the industry.
• Careers in home healthcare are dynamic, interesting and meaningful. They’re also flexible, giving those in the industry the choice of part-time or full-time work, as well as flexibility in location and availability.

Major providers of home healthcare are actively hiring for those with healthcare experience and those without, including Interim HealthCare which has locally owned and operated franchises nationwide. To learn more about home care careers, visit ihcmadeforthis.com.

“At a time when families are struggling to find at-home care, you can answer that call for help,” says Sheets.

SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business

Every business, it seems, cites people as being its most important resource. Why? Because any business, regardless of size, is only as good as the people who work there, from the owner and managers to the newest entry-level staffer.

As an employer, you want to hire and retain employees most qualified for the positions within your company. To do this, you need to define who you are looking for, and what is expected of them once they are on board.

Policy standards are a must. Begin with a personnel manual that explains your policy for hours, overtime, fringe benefits, sick leave, annual leave, training, dress code, personnel reviews, grievances, termination, and retirement. Every employee should have his or her own copy of this manual. In addition, consider giving every job applicant a copy for review.

Each position within the company, including your own, should have a job description that outlines the responsibilities and duties of such position. This job description should also include a list of the objectives of such position with specific and measurable goals. Each description should also include reporting relationships. The job description provides you and the employee a clear road map for the expectations of the position, from the standpoint of both workload and expertise required to accomplish the job.

Job application forms for your company should be simple and focus on relevant employment history, including names of supervisors and references you can contact. Provide space for the applicant to summarize career accomplishments.

At the interview stage, you want to learn as much as possible about the person’s job skills, work ethic and personality. Ask specific questions that require more than a yes or no answer. The more dialogue you have, the more you learn about the applicant. More information will help you make an informed decision.

Always check references.  Competent and friendly employees make a positive statement about your business to customers. An applicant who interviews well and has a sterling resume may be the ideal fit for the job. References will validate your impressions and expand on areas not covered in the interview. This is also a way to learn more about potential weaknesses as well. What a reference says or does not say gives you clues as to the character and skill of your candidates. Take all this information into account before you form your final opinion of a given candidate.

If you are interested in developing staffing guidelines, policies, and application and interview procedures, contact SCORE a nonprofit organization of volunteer business counselors who provide free and confidential to advice to present and future entrepreneurs.  To reach the Grand Rapids SCORE chapter, call 1-616/771-0305, or go online at https://grandrapids.score.org/

Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy, the leading locally owned physical therapy company in West Michigan, just opened its newest location on February 7 at 14111 White Creek Ave NE, Suite J, Cedar Springs, MI 49319. The opening of the Cedar Springs clinic marks 20 convenient locations in the Greater Grand Rapids area. 

Center manager and physical therapist, Alex Macken, brings with him over seven years of experience and passion for serving his Cedar Springs community. Over the past seven years, Macken has treated individuals with musculoskeletal injuries across the age spectrum. He is passionate about using a hands-on approach to help patients achieve their full potential. His philosophy for patient care is not to fit a patient into a certain therapy approach but to customize his approach to fit the patient best. 

“I am so excited to have Hulst Jepsen be a part of the Cedar Springs community,” said Macken. “My wife has been a teacher with Cedar Springs Public Schools for over 10 years, so for me to also be a part of a community we both love couldn’t excite me more. I look forward to serving the Cedar Springs community for years to come.” 

The Cedar Springs clinic offers a variety of treatment specialties, including dry needling, concussion management, Graston Technique, headache and TMD treatment, balance training and fall prevention, sports medicine, chronic pain, cardiopulmonary and vestibular rehabilitation, kinesiotaping, and cupping. 

Are you in pain but not sure how to manage it? Call 616-256-8664 to schedule your FREE consultation today and learn how physical therapy could help you. For more information please visit any of their Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy locations or check out our website at www.hjphysicaltherapy.com.