Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application passed away peacefully at home on October 1 1959 in Lockport to Lois (Wilson) Demmin and the late Howard Demmin He graduated from Roy-Hart Central Schools in 1978 and joined the Marine Corps proudly served for 6 years before being honorably discharged Jeep was active throughout the Gasport community as a member of the Gasport Lions Club and various Billiards leagues Jeep really loved his local community and was very fond of the work that the Gasport Beautification Committee has done over the years he was predeceased by his twin brother James "Jimmy" Demmin The family will receive friends at the Terry's Corners Fire Company 7801 Chestnut Ridge Rd His funeral service will be held at the fire company on Friday at 11:00am with Interment and military honors held at Acacia Park Cemetery in Pendleton Memorial contributions in Jeep's name may be made to the Gasport Beautification Committee 8776 Rochester Rd Arrangements have been entrusted to the Sherrie Bream Funeral Home of Gasport To share a special memory of Jeep, please visit www.mitchellfamilyfuneralhomes.com.  Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Volume 16 - 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2022.847301 This article is part of the Research TopicExercise to Enhance Mental HealthView all 8 articles Teachers face significant stressors in relation to their work placing them at increased risk for burnout and attrition The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about additional challenges strategies for reducing stress that can be delivered virtually are likely to benefit this population Mental and Physical (MAP) Training combines meditation with aerobic exercise and has resulted in positive mental and physical health outcomes in both clinical and subclinical populations The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and potential effectiveness of virtual MAP Training on reducing stress and improving mood and well-being in teachers Participants (n = 104) were from recruited online from kindergarten to grade twelve (K-12) schools in the Northeastern region of the United States and randomly assigned to a 6-week program of virtual MAP Training (n = 58) or no training (n = 13) Primary outcomes included pre-intervention and post-intervention ratings on self-report measures of social and emotional health Changes in cognitive functioning and physical health were also examined in secondary analyses participants in the MAP Training group reported less anxiety and work-related stress compared to those who received no training (ds = −0.75 to −0.78) MAP Training participants reported improvements in depressive symptoms and self-compassion (ds = 0.38 to −0.82) whereas no changes were observed in the no training group Participants also reported increased subjective ratings of executive functioning and fewer sleep disturbances (ds = −0.41 to −0.74) these results suggest that the combination of meditation and aerobic exercise is an effective virtual intervention for improving mental health and well-being among K-12 teachers and may enhance resilience to stressful life events such as occurred during the coronavirus pandemic the COVID-19 outbreak placed teachers in critical need of mental health support mindfulness training through meditation may be an effective tool for reducing stress and improving health and well-being among teachers especially while living through a stressful life event as occurred during the coronavirus pandemic together with substantial evidence of mental and physical health benefits suggest that exercise interventions may promote positive outcomes in teachers there was increased need for interventions and exercise programs that could be delivered and practiced online through virtual mechanisms such as Zoom we evaluated the feasibility of virtual MAP Training on reducing stress and improving psychological and health outcomes in primary and secondary school teachers who were living through the COVID-19 pandemic Participants included K-12 (kindergarten through grade 12) educators in schools in the states of New York given that the impact of COVID-19 was similar among these regions (i.e. Subjects were recruited in three waves (from June 2020 to July 2020) through flyers distributed to area school administration (e.g. assistant principals) and social media (i.e. Interested individuals with a physical health condition that may contraindicate vigorous exercise (e.g. severe joint problems) were excluded from study participation A computer-generated randomization sequence was used to assign participants to intervention (MAP Training) and waitlist control (No Training) groups using a ratio of 4:1 to obtain a sufficient sample size to test for treatment effects in the MAP Training group One subject who expressed interest in participating in the study but was unable to attend the MAP Training sessions was thus assigned to the No Training group The protocol was approved by the Rutgers IRB (Pro2020001365) and electronic informed consent was obtained for each subject prior to participation and reaffirmed at each assessment timepoint Participants began the exercise component with a 5-min warm-up they were led through a choreographed aerobic exercise routine to popular music Each session incorporated 9–10 tracks which were rotated in and out each week The session concluded with a 5-min cool down One session of MAP Training begins with 20-min of silent focused attention meditation (SIT) followed by 10-min of silent slow-walking meditation (WALK) and ending with 30-min of aerobic exercise (SWEAT) participants were instructed to take their own heart rate by pressing their finger against the side of their neck and then asked in all sessions that exercise was performed at a moderate level of intensity Approximately 20 min into the physical exercise component of each MAP Training session subjects were directed to count their pulse over a 10 s period The aerobic range is generally defined as lying between 60 and 80% of participants’ maximum which is calculated by subtracting their age from 220 their aerobic range was greater than 90 beats per minute but less than 140 Subjective evaluations of stress have been associated with severity of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and experiences of stressful life events (Cohen et al., 1983; Otto et al., 1997). The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10; Cohen et al., 1983) was administered to examine the effects of MAP Training on teachers’ experience of stress The PSS consists of 10 items that assess the degree to which an individual perceives their life to be unpredictable and uncontrollable Participants were asked to report on their thoughts and feelings over the previous 2 weeks using a five-point Likert scale with scores ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (very often) Participants rated the frequency of each experience over the past 2 weeks using a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (very often) The Self-Compassion Scale Short Form (SCS-SF; Raes et al., 2011) was administered to evaluate the effects of a MAP Training on teachers subjective ratings of self-compassion, which is conceptualized as an openness and non-judgmental understanding of one’s own pain, inadequacies, and failures (Neff, 2003) Participants responded to 12 items assessing frequency of self-compassion over the previous 2 weeks on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (almost never) to 5 (almost always) The DTS is 15-item self-report questionnaire assessing an individual’s perceived ability to tolerate emotions Participants evaluated their present abilities to tolerate distress using a five-point Likert scale from 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (strongly disagree) Executive functions are a category of mental skill processes that include working memory, cognitive flexibility and self-control of behavior. The Adult Executive Functioning Inventory (ADEXI; Holst and Thorell, 2018) was used to assess perceived changes in these skills The ADEXI consists of 14 items that comprise subjective estimates of working memory and inhibition Participants rated their level of agreement with each item over the previous 2 weeks using a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Definitely not true) to 5 (Definitely true) The impact of MAP Training on subjective estimates of cognitive flexibility was assessed using the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI; Dennis and Vander Wal, 2010) The CFI is a 20-item self-report instrument consisting of two factors The Control factor evaluates the extent to which an individual perceives a difficult situation as controllable and the Alternatives factor measures an individual’s ability to generate multiple explanations and solutions for difficult situations Participants reported on their cognitive flexibility over the previous 2 weeks using a seven-point Likert scale from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 7 (Strongly agree) The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-15; Kroenke et al., 2002) is a self-administered scale for evaluating somatic symptom severity. The PHQ-15 assesses 15 of the most commonly reported somatic complaints in primary care settings (Kroenke, 2003) Participants rated the degree to which they were bothered by each symptom over the previous 2 weeks using a three-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 2 (Bothered a lot) Total scores can be classified as low (0–5) and high (11–15) levels of symptom severity The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI; Buysse et al., 1989) is a commonly used and well-validated research tool for assessing sleep quality (Mollayeva et al., 2016). An abbreviated version of the full scale, the short PSQI (sPSQI), containing 13 of the original 19 items has been developed in an effort to reduce participant burden and increase research utility (Famodu et al., 2018) The sPSQI assesses five components of sleep quality sleep efficiency scores are based on reported bedtime and rise time in the past 2 weeks while sleep disturbances and daytime dysfunction components are rated from 0 (Not in the past 2 weeks) to 3 (Three or more times a week) in terms of frequency participants were asked to select categorical responses for each of the 13 items All participants completed the initial (pre-intervention) assessment within 1 week prior to the start of the MAP Training sessions Surveys were administered electronically (i.e. A unique link was generated for each subject ID and distributed to participants via email The pre-intervention assessment included a sociodemographic and health questionnaire and battery of self-report measures After completion of the pre-intervention assessment subjects received a $20 Amazon e-gift card as compensation for their time and participation Live MAP Training sessions were delivered virtually through the Zoom platform Recorded MAP Training sessions were accessible with a private YouTube link Participants in the MAP Training group were asked to engage in one live MAP Training session and one recorded session each week for 6 weeks the MAP Training program consisted of two 1-h sessions per week over 6 weeks (12 sessions total) who developed the MAP Training program (described above) Prior to the initial live session participants were provided with a 30-min video introduction to MAP Training videos) was disabled during the Zoom sessions At the conclusion of each live MAP Training session participants were asked to complete a brief Qualtrics survey to assess adherence which included a multiple-choice question about the content of the live session We also asked them to report their maximal heart rate during the aerobic exercise component and indicate their level of engagement (i.e. The survey also asked them whether and if so how long they had engaged in similar activities during the week and outside of live MAP Training sessions The survey also asked whether they had completed the weekly recorded session Participants allocated to the No Training group did not partake in MAP Training sessions over the course of the study but were asked each week to report their engagement in meditation and physical activity each week in a Qualtrics survey They were provided with unlimited access to six recordings of MAP Training sessions at the end of the study participants in both groups completed the post-intervention assessment consisting of the same set of self-report measures as the pre-intervention assessment (described above) Surveys were distributed electronically and accessed via a unique Qualtrics link Analyses were conducted using SPSS Version 27 (IBM Corp, 2020) No Training) differences on baseline characteristics (i.e. and exercise activities) were examined with independent samples t-tests and Pearson’s Chi-square tests for independence An a priori power analysis indicated that a total sample size of 99 was necessary to detect large (f = 0.50) within-between interaction effects with 90% power (α = 0.05) the target sample size was 80 for the MAP Training group and 20 for No Training group (4:1 ratio) The effects of MAP Training on primary and secondary outcomes were tested with repeated-measures MANOVAs Significant univariate and multivariate interactions were followed up with independent and paired samples t-tests with an FDR correction applied Data were further explored with pairwise comparisons The person mean imputation approach was applied in cases of missing responses to questionnaire items Reverse-scored items were recoded as needed Imputed values were then calculated using the mean of the observed item responses for each participant Mean scores were imputed only for cases in which less than 10% of questionnaire data were missing (i.e. Of the 104 teachers recruited, 71 completed the initial baseline assessment and were included in the data analyses. Of these participants, 58 were randomly assigned to the MAP Training group and the remaining participants to the No Training group. One participant was not randomly assigned because they could not attend the live sessions (Figure 2) Treatment-adherent and non-adherent participants did not differ on most baseline characteristics although a greater proportion of teachers in the treatment-adherent group reported no previous experience with mindfulness programs [χ2(2 Sample characteristics: treatment-adherent MAP training group vs A one-way repeated measures MANOVA tested for significant differences between treatment adherent MAP training participants and those who received no training The multivariate group × timepoint interaction was not significant (p = 0.06) The sample size in the No Training group (n = 11) was less than the number of dependent variables in the analysis (n = 12) and thus the analysis may have been underpowered a series of one-way ANOVA’s on these variables revealed a significant group x timepoint interaction on multiple variables indicating that the MAP group demonstrated greater change than the No Training group on each of the following outcomes: overall mood and well-being [MAP Health Questionnaire; F(1,43) = 5.40 depressive symptoms [PHQ-9; F(1,43) = 6.34 secondary traumatic stress related to profession [ProQoL-Secondary Traumatic Stress; F(1,43) = 7.74 and perceived stress [PSS-10; F(1,43) = 7.97 A series of independent samples t-tests compared groups on psychosocial outcomes at each timepoint with no significant differences at baseline (ps > 0.05) Post-intervention scores were significantly different between groups with respect to anxiety [GAD-7; t(46) = −2.40 d = −0.78] and professional quality of life related to experiences of secondary traumatic stress [ProQoL-Secondary Traumatic Stress; t(46) = −2.31 with participants in the MAP Training group reporting lower levels of anxiety and less work-related stress than the No Training group although between-group differences were not signficant after adjusting for multiple comparisons Participants in the No Training group reported an increase in anxiety symptoms [GAD-7; t(12) = −2.50 p = 0.03] from pre-intervention to post-intervention although the change was not significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons post-intervention scores were significantly improved from pre-intervention scores on measures of trauma and mood [(A) MAP Health Questionnaire] There were no differences between pre-intervention and post-intervention scores on these same measures in the No Training group and no differences between groups at either timepoint Asterisks indicate significant adjusted p-values Scores range from 20 to 80 on the MAP Health Questionnaire post-intervention scores were significantly improved from pre-intervention scores on measures of rumination [(A) RRS] including depressive rumination [(B) RRS-Depression] and brooding [(C) RRS-Brooding] but not reflective rumination [(D) RRS-Reflection] There were no significant differences between pre-intervention and post-intervention scores on these same measures in the No Training group There were also no significant differences between groups at either timepoint Total scores on the RRS range from 22 to 88 RRS-Depression subscores range from 12 to 48 and RRS-Reflection subscores range from 5 to 20 post-intervention scores were significantly improved from pre-intervention scores on measures of self-compassion [(A) SCS-SF] and secondary traumatic stress related to profession [(B) ProQoL-Secondary Traumatic Stress] while there were no significant differences between pre-intervention and post-intervention scores on these same measures in the No Training group There were no significant within-group differences in distress tolerance [(C) DTS] There were no significant differences between groups at either timepoint There were no significant changes across time for teachers assigned to the No Training group post-intervention scores on measures of executive functioning [(A) ADEXI] and working memory [(B) ADEXI-WM] and cognitive control [(F) CFI-Control] were significantly improved from baseline Participants in the MAP group did not report improvements in inhibition [(C) ADEXI-Inhibition] or ability to generative alternatives [(E) CFI-Alternatives] There were no significant changes in self-reported cognitive functioning reported by participants in the No Training group There were also no significant between-group differences in these domains at either timepoint Total scores on the ADEXI range from 14 to 70 and ADEXI-Inhibition subscores range from 5 to 20 In general, subjective assessments of physical health did not change as a result of the intervention, although participants in the MAP Training group reported significantly fewer sleep disturbances [sPSQI-Sleep Disturbances; t(34) = 3.36, p = 0.01, d = 0.57] at intervention end (Figure 7) MAP participants reported a significant reduction in sleep disturbances post-intervention [(B) sPSQI-Sleep Disturbances] MAP participants did not report any significant changes in other aspects of sleep quality including sleep latency [(A) sPSQI-Latency] and daytime dysfunction [(D) sPSQI-Daytime Dysfunction] There were no significant differences between pre-intervention and post-intervention scores on health measures in the No Training group There were also no significant differences between groups on these measures at either timepoint The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effects of an online version of MAP Training on teacher stress and related mental health outcomes experienced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic The findings suggest that MAP Training was beneficial as delivered during the first summer of the pandemic when most teachers were out of the classroom for the school year but were preparing to either go back into the classroom in the fall semester or teach virtually Teachers who participated in the MAP Training program reported sizeable improvements (i.e. and more self-compassion by intervention end those who participated reported less work-related (secondary) traumatic stress when compared to those who did not participate These positive results stand in contrast to those reported by teachers who did not participate and were instead assigned to a waitlist some of whom reported increases in stress-related symptoms over the same time period the present results suggest that the combination of FA meditation training and aerobic exercise may prevent or at least mitigate some of the mental health symptoms that arose during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic Reported levels of anxiety tended to increase among teachers who did not participate in MAP Training over the 6 weeks these changes were not significant after applying statistical correction perhaps due in part to a less than desirable sample size in the control (No Training) group the purpose of this study was to test whether an online intervention would support teacher mental health and well-being during the height of the pandemic we could not continue to enroll participants beyond the summer months as the impact of COVID-19 was evolving (due to vaccines a large proportion of subjects were randomized to the MAP Training group intervention participants also reported fewer symptoms of depression the effects of MAP Training on more detrimental aspects of rumination (i.e. brooding and depressive rumination) may be in part responsible for alleviating some of the depression reported by the teachers during the pandemic It is also conceivable that this type of intervention may help prevent some increases in depression that can arise during stressful life events Perhaps these later networks are becoming more engaged because of training this would be consistent with the increase in executive function and cognitive flexibility reported here by those who engaged in MAP Training Functional imaging studies are underway to test this hypothesis these data suggest that MAP Training may be effective in improving one’s current experience of distress as opposed to their perceived ability to relate to symptoms (i.e. aerobic exercise) training coupled with enhanced mood may produce cognitive change in humans through mechanisms of hippocampal plasticity the current participants were relatively young high-functioning adults It is likely that individual differences in physical health prior to training are important (i.e. the potential range for change) as well as the length of the intervention which is relatively short per session (1 h) and over its course (6 weeks) Because the conditions of the pandemic were constantly changing we could not continue to recruit once they had returned in the fall to the classroom we observed significant and positive effects of MAP Training on subjective estimates of mental health and well-being we recruited teachers within the local tri-state area because of similarities in the impact of COVID-19 in this region COVID-19 cases were among the highest in the country and residents were facing statewide travel restrictions we cannot be certain that our findings would generalize to other populations of teachers within or outside of the United States The present results highlight the potential benefit of combining these activities together in one intervention to alleviate stress and promote well-being in teachers They further suggest that the virtual delivery of interventions such as MAP Training are effective in improving mental health and mitigating the impact of stressful life events such as occurred during the coronavirus pandemic The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Rutgers University Institutional Review Board The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study contributed to interpretation of results and writing of the manuscript Our sincerest gratitude to the teachers who participated in this research We would also like to thank Dana Steinberg and Dina Doctoroff for their assistance with data collection MAP Training My Brain™ is a brain fitness program developed by TS that was utilized in this research study The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher Improving teachers’ work-related outcomes through a group-based physical activity intervention during leisure-time Relationship between burnout and depressive symptoms: a study using the person-centred approach CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar MAP training: combining meditation and aerobic exercise reduces depression and rumination 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This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Docia L. Demmin, ZG9jaWEuZGVtbWluQHJ1dGdlcnMuZWR1 Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish Even though I no longer work in a professional kitchen my training at the Culinary Institute of America never fails me My background as a chef means I have an eye for quality and versatility when it comes to ingredients Costco typically has the high-quality items I'm looking for Though I only shop for two people, I love shopping in bulk at Costco, which is a leading retailer in customer satisfaction In addition to the staples we rely on Here are 11 gourmet-feeling foods I add to my cart when I go to Costco fat has flavor — and this butter is more flavorful than many other brands I've tried Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter is quite reasonable at Costco, as a package of four 8-ounce bars costs $14.50 at my store. I find this butter also freezes well These chicken breasts are often quite large so we freeze them individually and halve them before cooking to keep portion sizes under control These versatile chicken breasts are a great value at about $3 per pound at my Costco There's an old story about how the ripples on a chef's toque represent the 100 ways a proper chef can cook an egg I'm fairly certain there are many more ways Each package of eggs is about $7.60 at my Costco Expectations are high when your friends and family know you're a proper chef I get this pack of smoked-salmon slices — it comes with pepper and chopped dill on rye or pumpernickel for a delicious I'd also suggest pairing smoked salmon with rosé and a frittata — but you might have some trouble getting your guests to go back home A 12-ounce package of smoked salmon is $13.50 at my local Costco.  Besides just looking good in a bowl on the counter If a meal doesn't taste exactly as you hoped consider adding a bit of acid — just a little squeeze of lemon can lift and brighten even the most stubborn meal nothing says summer quite like fresh-squeezed lemonade as I crave more lemonade once I make a fresh batch this fruit is also tasty as a sweet bite after dinner Three or four cherries can often satisfy my taste for dessert without adding many calories or extra effort to my meal elevated lemonade (it's a messy but fun project) I use a chopstick to poke out the pits and add the fruit to a blender with simple syrup and lemon juice I pour the beverage through a strainer and serve it over ice or mix it with sparkling water I pick up a 2-pound box for $6 at my store This exceptional wine is well-balanced It's also pleasantly dry with a long finish (a fruity aftertaste) This mouthwatering wine is a delightful addition to a summertime picnic or a get-together with friends on the porch These bottles are a few dollars cheaper than those I've seen at other stores near me I often try to cook a meal that feels a bit fancier One way to hit that note is to serve lamb — just be careful not to overcook this delicate meat and serve three pieces with greens and potatoes as a flavorful I also like to coat my lamb in a mustard crust when I'm feeling adventurous Costco keeps my fancy dinner parties affordable this Kirkland Signature Parmigiano-Reggiano is just as good as the stuff you can find at a fancy cheesemonger Though the size of the blocks can seem overwhelming they can last quite a while in the refrigerator.  We love shaving some with a vegetable peeler over a salad or grating some to serve with pasta or in a frittata It adds a wonderful depth of flavor to almost any dish My store sells a block for $11.30 per pound this isn't Brie de Meaux — a fancy French form of Brie — but it's dependable and flavorful It's a wonderful crudité (appetizer) or addition to a fancy cheese spread Your guests probably wouldn't guess you bought it at Costco It's summertime, and, in my book, that means grilling outdoors an easy and nearly labor-free take on the standard hot dog is delectable and inexpensive These chicken-and-apple sausages are especially tasty and a lightly smoky flavor that becomes more pronounced the longer you leave them on the grill I like to serve them on standard hot-dog buns and you're good to go. A 3-pound package of these sausages is $10.70 at my location Click to keep reading Costco diaries like this one '#' : location.hash;window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery = location.search === '' && location.href.slice(0 location.href.length - window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash.length).indexOf('?') !== -1 '?' : location.search;if (window.history && window.history.replaceState) {var ogU = location.pathname + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash;history.replaceState(null "\/standing-against-rising-antisemitism\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=3JR4Tr0MpjHwjGOwb1HEvKXvRw9qJ_N2Mby67XJrq4k-1746535832-1.0.1.1-Xxk0VegKOYyswhXHHDIp_Nsb.7T.rD8UGCIEePlEVLg" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null ogU);}}document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(cpo);}()); This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page (WKBW) — The Niagara County Sheriff's Office says a teacher's aide at the Niagara Academy is facing sex crime charges Deputies said Wednesday 33-year-old Melissa Demmin was arrested after the school resource officer received reports earlier this year that Demmin allegedly had unwanted sexual contact with two male students She's charged with one felony criminal sexual act count and a misdemeanor count of sexual abuse EDITOR'S NOTE: 7 News has chosen to use Demmin's mugshot in accordance with our station mugshot policy. You can read our full mugshot policy here Demmin is being held in the Niagara County jail pending her arraignment Orleans Niagara BOCES says it is cooperating with the investigation We want to hear what’s going on in your community Share your voice and hear from your neighbors "\/art-torah-the-place-of-all-possibility\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=Tsc8qFgkuZVEO5unHyFJtKXG2CFpQA.gBxx6uSX8TQ8-1746535851-1.0.1.1-SKde.i3wkz24eD5sCV3EqHEBPNCHltn55fk0FqTp.ak" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null It’s a simple gesture that’s barely noticeable as Warren Demmin talks about his post-traumatic stress disorder.  Nothing more than a paw stepping on his tennis shoe but the Gulf War veteran feels it and finds comfort in it “He’s grounding me right now,” Demmin said of the handsome 4-year-old German shepherd and chocolate Labrador mix at his feet and the weight of that paw is his way of saying Dog and dog lover have been inseparable since they found each other three months ago through White Paws German Shepherd Rescue Loki has changed Demmin’s life.  Navy from 1988 to 1999 and served multiple deployments to the Persian Gulf so much so that he and his wife had to schedule their grocery shopping for early in the morning or late at night when stores were quiet “The situations I was in overseas dealt with crowds It’s hard for me to maintain situational awareness when there’s too much going on and I get overwhelmed with it,” Demmin said “There’s been situations where we’ve gone shopping and we barely made it in the door and it was time to go because she can shop and doesn’t have to worry about what’s going on with me which never would’ve happened before.” RELATED:  Sturgeon Bay school reading dog is rock star to students RELATED:  How to treat service dogs when they're out in public Sometimes it’s nothing more than butting his head up against his leg and looking up at him to interrupt the anxiety Sometimes it’s deep pressure therapy not unlike how weighted blankets are used as a therapeutic aid for children with autism “He’ll pick up when I’m starting to get a little twitchy and I can sit down by the dressing room benches (in a store) and he will hop up on my lap,” Demmin said It’s a little hard for him to get all the way up there his front paws and most of his weight is right on my lap Then I just pet him and he calms me right down because you can tell he’s getting relaxed It was Demmin’s therapist at Power for Change in Green Bay who recommended he consider a psychiatric service dog to help him with his PTSD He’s always had a soft spot for big dogs especially for breeds that don’t always win the popular vote — “Rotts His therapist pointed him in the direction of White Paws German Shepherd Rescue a Green Bay-based nonprofit that takes in German shepherds that have been abandoned where people are not always as dedicated to their dogs as Wisconsin pet owners A network of volunteers across the state foster the animals in their homes get them the medical attention they need and work on any behavioral issues with training before they’re adopted Loki is one of about a half-dozen White Paws alums who have gone on to become a PTSD dog before it comes across one with the right temperament trainability and compatibility to fit the job requirements as a service dog it comes down to the dog picking its person “It can’t just be ‘Here’s your dog,’” Crevcoure said “It’s got to be a mutual understanding or else it doesn’t work.” Loki came to White Paws from a farm and spent nearly a year with a foster family in Oconto Falls He and Demmin made their introductions at a meeting in Manitowoc that was literally face to face because you’re always taught never to get down face to face with a dog and that’s the first thing they wanted me to do with him so he could smell around the mouth area,” Demmin said “We clicked right from the beginning.” Their first three weeks together required Loki to be tethered to Demmin and that he fed him by hand He didn’t get to go outside unless I let him outside He was under the understanding that everything he needs to live “I’m a combat vet and I’m used to my quiet time It was definitely a learning adjustment for both of us all other family members were prohibited from having physical contact with Loki Not so much as even acknowledging him.  You only need to look at that face to understand what a test of willpower that must have been she was just smothering him,” Demmin said Their first outings together were at dog-friendly places like Petco and PetSmart Once Loki proved himself ready for public access Now there’s nowhere they don’t go together “We’ve never been apart since day one,” Demmin said I left the house for about an hour and my wife said ‘You are never doing that again.’ He started whining and then he was searching throughout the entire house looking for me Loki has nearly completed the 100 hours of public access required before he can take his 90-minute test for certification Loki and Demmin will need to spend 90 minutes in a busy environment so Loki can show off what he can do Cover commands like a check-six in which he watches Demmin’s back and helps establish a comfortable space that keeps people from crowding around or rushing up behind him in public places and go to the next aisle.' He loves to eyeball people Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee was suggested as a possible testing site but Demmin said his anxiety level went up just thinking about that ‘Why don’t we just go to Walmart on Mason (Street) Loki will get a photo ID that clips to his vest that makes him instantly identifiable as a certified service dog because it lets strangers know to never pet a service dog when they’re working Service dogs will often back up if someone approaches them Demmin gets many questions when he and Loki are out together Demmin shows off a patch on Loki’s vest that makes him laugh: “PTSD does not mean Pet the Service Dog.” He has a no-pet policy when Loki has his vest on He went to see his nieces perform at a concert in the Southern Door County School District and began to feel anxious so he and Loki were walking the halls when they came across a seventh-grader in a wheelchair Demmin gave Loki the OK to be the “social butterfly” that he is “He walked right up to her and started licking her face He’s got a sense when it comes to people who are severely handicapped or mentally challenged He’s got a very different temperament when he’s around them Loki is loyal and wants to earn everything he gets He likes to sing along to a video on the TV of huskies howling an 11-year-old Boston terrier at Demmin’s mother’s house It’s no coincidence that he shares a name with the Norse god of mischief.  “He’s got to have his nose in everything ‘Whatchya got in there?’”  Demmin can’t imagine life without him Loki has had such an impact that he and his wife have decided they want to be a foster family for White Paws down the road Demmin can help train other veterans who receive a PTSD dog “Then I can pay it forward,” he said the nonprofit group has rescued more than 1,000 abandoned neglected and injured German shepherds of all ages from 22 states.  White Paws is based out of Green Bay but does not have a physical shelter 110 volunteers across the state and into Michigan and Illinois foster the dogs in their homes providing them with the care and behavioral training they need until they are adopted Some are paired with veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and trained to become service dogs The White Paws network springs into action to transport the dogs with volunteers each taking a leg of the trip When a pregnant German shepherd in Texas fractured her hip and pelvis after she was hit by a car A volunteer donated the use of a private plane to fly the mom and pups to Wisconsin White Paws spends nearly $100,000 a year on medical costs money that is raised through donations and fundraisers One of the group’s biggest fundraisers took a significant hit this year when two of the three days of the WBAY Pet Expo were canceled last month due to the blizzard To donate, foster a dog or see dogs available for adoption, visit wpgsr.com. Checks made to White Paws German Shepherd Rescue can also be mailed to: 1331 Bellevue St., #299, Green Bay, WI, 54302. White Paws is on facebook.com/whitepawsgsr the country music duo of Motongator Joe and Monica Giles Tickets: $30 at ticketstaronline.com (800) 895-0071 and Resch Center box office Wish to submit an obituary? Click the button below:Submit Your Obituary at Door County Medical Center Emergency Room after suffering an apparent heart attack      Donald was born October 3 the son of the late William and Alice (Arndt) Rae He graduated from Menasha High School in 1953 This is how Don came to be called “Digger” for the rest of his life Digger served his country in the United States Army on Border Patrol in Germany Digger was a loyal employee of Menasha Corporation for 37 years he married Kerrin Demmin from Sturgeon Bay they loved adventure and driving to different venues and sights spending as much time on the road as that adventure would lead to He enjoyed hunting with his nephews and brothers A highlight to every year and something Digger looked forward to was the 4th of July parties with family and friends      He is survived by his wife David Rae (they had a father/son relationship); sisters Nancy Demmin; many dear nephews and nieces; and his two dogs      Preceding him in death were his parents; and brothers      Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m 2021 at Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay Military honors by the United States Army and the Weber-Tess AMVETS Post #51 will follow Burial will be in Schumacher Cemetery on the Demmin family lot      Friends may call at Huehns Funeral Home from 4:00 p.m      Expressions of sympathy and photos of Digger may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com Sign up for our Daily Electronic Newspaper Obituaries and more delivered to your inbox View Results Click Here for more Obituaries If you need help accessing the online public files due to a disability, please contact us Built on Envisionwise Technology Trevor Griggs-Demmin and Jack Boydell will address Class of ’19 at June 7 graduation Trevor Griggs-Demmin is the valedictorian and Jack Boydell is the salutatorian for the Sonoma Valley High School Class of 2019 Friends since their days at Prestwood Elementary School they are thrilled that they will each have a turn at the podium at the graduation ceremony on June 7 Griggs-Demmin earned a 4.38 grade point average with his buddy Boydell just a tad behind him at 4.33 Griggs-Demmin was a standout on the tennis team and Boydell And they were both on the staff of the school newspaper 'I kind of had an idea we'd be number one and two,' Boydell said with a huge smile In all 12 years of school he has earned only A's with the exception of a single B-plus one semester in AP English But he took one more advanced placement class than Boydell 'I visited last summer and really liked the campus Ever since then it has been my first choice,' he said He plans to major in either chemistry or computer science UCLA is a popular choice for SVHS's top students also chosen by the valedictorians and salutatorians in 2017 and 2018 Two 2019 graduates will be attending the school next year Boydell will be attending Willamette University in Oregon lured by the promise that he will be playing on its basketball team 'I got to spend time there and work out with the team and stay with one of the players in the dorms,' he said explaining that was what helped him make his decision He will major in either economics or business He was also accepted at the University of Michigan UC Santa Barbara and Bentley University in Massachusetts 'Because I heard it is the hardest college in the country to get in to,' which is apparently true – they turned him down This summer Griggs-Demmin will be working at Ramekins who was his coach freshman year and then volunteered to be his personal trainer working on his basketball skills with him before school at SVHS.) including a trip to San Diego along with some other friends to 'hang out' right after graduation Griggs-Demmin is also going to Spain and Portugal with his family They try to get a Europe trip in every other year 'Travel has been a huge part of my upbringing,' he said Boydell will be going with his family to a cabin in Michigan an annual trip where they spend time with extended family He is the son of David and Kelly Boydell and has one brother who will be a freshman at the high school next year I'm a little sad but we have been super-supportive of him choosing wherever he wanted to go 'This is a small town and it is time for him to go see the big world out there.' This is the first time since 2013 that boys have held the top spots at SVHS That was the year that Griggs-Demmin's brother his sister Angelica was the number one student They may be testimony to the phrase 'good genes' as their father was salutatorian when they graduated from their high schools (Jeff went on to Princeton and Vikki to Stanford.) He also has another sister It is a thousand times more important to me that they are committed and tenacious than what number they end up being.' 'There was no direct pressure,' Trevor said I wanted to follow in my siblings and family footsteps.' Griggs-Demmin had his speech written and memorized two weeks in advance he will focus on three subjects – ambition 'I think these are the characteristics we will need to succeed,' he said 'And I will remember to thank our parents.' Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Aiden Griggs-Demmin is the valedictorian and Aubrie Utnehmer is the salutatorian at Sonoma Valley High School While navigating through school during the pandemic was a major challenge for them and all other students Aiden Griggs-Demmin and Aubrie Utnehmer managed to thrive both in their schoolwork and extracurricular activities as in valedictorian and salutatorian as well as athletic distinctions and more at Sonoma Valley High School “I was able to succeed so well despite the pandemic because I had the support and guidance of my parents and siblings and I was also forced to be adaptable and embrace the new learning style during the year of distance learning,” said Griggs-Demmin “I believed that the reward of academic success would exceed the reward of maybe taking less rigorous courses or prioritizing self-care—which I understand is necessary for some people,” Utnehmer said I would like to recognize my privilege; during the pandemic I had my own room for Zoom classes and my parents were able to comfortably work from home while I know many of my peers had other significant responsibilities like taking care of siblings or trying to focus on school in a crowded Griggs-Demmin discovered that following in the footsteps of three siblings who were valedictorians at your high school can be somewhat intimating But he lived up to his legacy as the top student for the class of 2022 “I felt honored and proud when I found out I was valedictorian and also a little bit relieved because there was definitely a little bit of expectation on me considering three of my older siblings [Trevor “It means a lot to me to make my parents proud and continue the tradition of academic excellence in my family.” Griggs-Demmin always received good grades while attending Prestwood Elementary School “A lot of that is due to having great role models in my exemplary four older siblings and supportive parents,” he said “I would really like to thank my parents for instilling a love for curiosity and reading from an early age as that gave me the tools necessary to be so successful in high school.” but has lived in Sonoma for all of his life except for a two-year stint in northern Virginia works in the engineering and tech industries for Keysight Technologies Griggs-Demmin has particularly enjoyed his English and history classes He also has served as the co-head editor of the school newspaper was president of the SVHS chapter of the California Scholarship Federation and was captain of the boys varsity soccer team he was selected to enter the Dragon Athletic Hall of Fame “Receiving the most prestigious award the school offers to a student athletically and academically is an achievement I am most proud of.” Griggs-Demmin next will attend Haverford College a private liberal arts college in Pennsylvania where he plans to major in biochemistry and play NCAA soccer but I am leaning toward something in the medical field,” he added is currently in medical school and is a great role model and source of information and guidance as I think about my future.” he enjoys hiking and spending time with his family and friends has been a relentless drive to get admitted to New York University (NYU) “I have always been a straight-A student because it’s always been my dream to go to NYU,” Utnehmer said “I wanted to be sure I did everything I could to be accepted.” and views the salutatorian status as a reflection of a commitment to actualize it being salutatorian represents my hard work at the prospect of attending NYU but it doesn’t define my intelligence nor does it for those who are not valedictorian or salutatorian,” Utnehmer said like having parents who were able to support me that allowed me to put so much effort into academics.” Utnehmer was born in Marin County and their family soon moved to Santa Monica The family then lived in Berlin for a year before settling in Sonoma in 2010 Utnehmer attended Crescent Montessori School Utnehmer identifies their favorite subject as English “I love reading and analyzing literature within various contexts.” swim and track teams and was involved with several clubs—Political Awareness (which they founded) Utnehmer received other academic distinctions at SVHS including lifetime membership in the California Scholarship Federation and an award for digital portraits in a school art show and would like to then serve as a writer and creative director for Paper a New York City-based independent magazine focusing on fashion so I love directing photo shoots and short films with dramatic hair and makeup,” Utnehmer said other-worldliness and camp philosophy through my art I’m looking forward to incorporating art in my academics and work life.” The pair will be featured at the high school’s graduation ceremony on Friday at 6 p.m Reach the reporter, Dan Johnson, at daniel.johnson@sonomanews.com Seniors Dom Girish and Aidan Griggs-Demmin will be continuing their athletic careers in collegiate sports Sonoma Valley High School hosted its signing day for two of its biggest star athletes who will continue their athletic careers in college sports And while their talent certainly helped them forge a path to the next level of competitive sports Athletic Director Michael Boles said the character of Griggs-Demmin and Girish is what separates them from the pack “The easy answer would be talent,” Boles wrote in an email “Aidan is a high-character student-athlete with soccer skills.” Boles added that he had the opportunity over the past four years to coach Girish and watch him develop into a mature player and leader at Sonoma Valley High School Finally got my account back… so a little late but I am extremely excited and thankful for this opportunity! Thank you Coach Orser and Coach Schick as well as my friends and family for your support! Go Orediggers⚪️🔵 @minesmbb pic.twitter.com/fvINqL3gm2 “I have had the good fortune of coaching Dom for the past for years coachable and understands the value of his teammates.” About 95% of high school students will never play competitive sports beyond high school but these two are an exception in a small athletic program While each recruitment process of athletes is different most students reach out to the colleges they’re interested in playing for sending game films and visiting the campuses of potential college matches But the barriers to reaching the next level of competition in sports grew even taller over the past two years “Add in the pandemic and the NCAA recruiting health and safety protocols recruiting student-athletes was much different since March 2020,” Boles said Girish and Griggs-Demmin certainly overcame the odds against them in addition to the many teams they defeated on their on their way to signing day “It is rare that a student-athlete from Sonoma earns the opportunity to compete in college,” Boles said “It says a lot about the talents and characteristics of Dom and Aidan.” Contact Chase Hunter at chase.hunter@sonomanews.com and follow @Chase_HunterB on Twitter Angelica Griggs-Demmin and Elizabeth Eagles are best friends – and the best students in the Sonoma Valley High School Class of 2015 at least according to their valedictorian and salutatorian honors Angelica earned the valedictorian spot with a 4.36 grade point average and Elizabeth is the salutatorian with a 4.33 GPA in advanced placement biology sophomore year Both girls are smile factories as they sit in Angelica’s flower-filled garden “It was never an active competition,” Elizabeth said clearly comfortable with the salutatorian role “I always wanted to be valedictorian since second grade but I was never trying to beat Liz.” In her entire 12 years of school Angelica has seen only As with one exception Angelica and Elizabeth first met as youngsters at the Sonoma Conservatory of Dance Angelica went to Prestwood and Adele Harrison and Elizabeth attended Dunbar and Altimira and their friendship really took off freshman year at SVHS They are part of a group of friends referred to as the “nerd herd” because of their lofty grades “but it’s a term of endearment,” Angelica said In the fall Angelica will be attending Georgetown University and Elizabeth has chosen Wesleyan They traveled the East Coast looking at schools that had said yes to them last spring before making their decisions Elizabeth checked out William and Mary and they both visited Boston College Angelica was also accepted to UC Berkeley and Elizabeth to UCLA but “the West Coast schools got kicked out after we went to the East Coast,” Elizabeth said and her close-knit family is moving to Arlington where she is pursuing her passion for equestrian show jumping “Angelica has always been very driven,” her mother Vikki “All my husband and I did was give her books and travel and curiosity about the world Elizabeth is the daughter of Kate and Phillip Eagles and the family lives in Glen Ellen and her family returns often for visits with her father’s relatives Her mother is a Bay Area native and her parents met on an African safari along with two other girls and four guys from the Class of 2015 Then they will return to summer jobs before heading off to college probably majoring in biology with a focus on international health “Right now I want to be an orthopedic surgeon I hope to have a career I’m passionate about so I love going to work everyday.” Elizabeth is leaning toward biology as a major but she doesn’t want to narrow her focus too much just yet “I definitely want to have a job where I travel a lot when I’m young Both girls are excited about going off to college “I’m looking forward to taking classes that I’m interested in and living in D.C. but I’m not looking forward to meeting new people,” Angelica said who describes herself as a little bit reserved “I’m excited about meeting new friends because I am a naturally social person an exploration of the sciences and classes like psychology and philosophy.” after being serious students and avid ballet dancers all through school “The only stress now is the speeches,” Angelica said about the remarks each of them will be making in front of their class and the huge crowd at the graduation ceremonies No doubt the thoughts they share will be A-plus performances.