Paul and Layne McKinley’s wedding vows included more than sticking together in sickness, health, poverty and wealth. They vowed also to travel together. Paul works for the Michigan Department of Transportation while Layne works as a hospice nurse for Sparrow Hospital. They both put in many hours of work. But, since 1988 when they tied the knot, the couple has stuck to their vow of seeing the world together.

Cancer survivor Jackie Featherly’s motto saved her life: “A positive attitude is a healing attitude.” This way of thinking guided the 67-year-old Vestaburg woman from near death to complete recovery. Today, she uses her personal experience and her training as a naturopathic physician to empower others to get healthy and make a fresh start in their lives — emotionally, physically and spiritually.

A new year often brings intentions for a better quality of life. Some of the most popular New Year’s resolutions include losing weight, quitting smoking or drinking, and managing debt. Here at S.H.E, we were curious about what the local female leaders in our community have planned for 2012. So we asked!

Tickets for the annual Taste of Home Cooking School will go on sale Tuesday. Taste of Home will take place at 6:30 p.m. March 8 at the Greenville High School Performing Arts Center. Taste of Home will feature Culinary Specialist Eric Villegas, an award-winning chef, restaurateur, cookbook author and television personality.

Winter will be celebrated in the Panhandle this weekend as Winterfest returns to downtown Howard City.

The third annual event features a variety of old and new family-friendly activities Friday and Saturday. Panhandle Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Marianne VanBennekom said one of the new events is a snow treasure dig at 1 p.m. Saturday near the Timothy C. Hauenstein Reynolds Township Library. The event is for three age groups of children and features hidden treasures buried in mounds of snow.

So you’ve decided to stick to your 2012 resolution and get into shape or lose weight. Great! But now you actually have to show up to the fitness center and work out. As you work up the nerve to prepare yourself — and your gym bag — to head to the fitness center or local [...]

Many people in this country are literally eating themselves to death. Today’s obesity epidemic puts adults and children at risk to develop many life-threatening conditions, which can place financial burden on the state’s medical care system. “Michigan is one of the fattest states in the nation,” said Angela Minicuci, Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) [...]

Dear Santa, I hope you talk to my cat.  Enjoy he cookies and milk. Annie Dear Santa, For Christmas I would like a princess toddler Ariel with a tail.  I would also like a pink robot Polly Pocket set and a doll that’s up to my neck, two bottles of silly strings and surprises. Thank [...]

Santa Claus is coming to town — including just about each and every town in Montcalm County and surrounding areas. Many local Christmas-themed events will be taking place in December. All festivities are community-oriented and free.

Some people go all out for the holidays — decorating their homes from floor to ceiling, putting time, money, hard work and more into creating the perfect holiday atmosphere. Some people may be discouraged when it comes to decking their halls and not know how to begin, however.