Course on balance to be offered

MARQUETTE — Are you interested in working with the 55+ population or others who have concerns about falling? Michigan State University Extension has an opportunity to support the training of MSU Extension staff, community members, and partners in an evidence based falls prevention program, A Matter of Balance.

Matter of Balance Coach Training will be offered in Marquette. Matter of Balance is a 16-hour evidence-based falls prevention course (usually offered in eight 2-hour segments). It is a program designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels among older adults. Participants learn to view falls and fear of falling as controllable, set realistic goals to increase activity, change their environment to reduce fall risk factors, and exercise to increase strength and balance.

The location of the training will be the Physical Education and Instructional Facility, Room 140 at Northern Michigan University. The time/date is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 27

The training is free with approved commitment letter or $150 for self-pay. Anyone interested in being a part of this training can select from the commitment options in the registration link https://msu.samaritan.com/custom/502 and either email the signed letter of commitment to Dawn Contreras at contrer7@msu.edu OR upload the signed letter of commitment into the registration form.

A volunteer screening will be required to take the training which include a background check and reference requests. See registration for more details about the volunteer screening. The volunteer screening process must begin prior to March 27.

Questions? Contact Carlee at 906-315-2664.

Reading group to discuss book

MARQUETTE — The Transition Marquette County Reading Group will meet to discuss the book “Falter — Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?” by Bill McKibben at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Dandelion Cottage Room at Peter White Public Library in Marquette.

Thirty years ago McKibben offered one of the earliest warnings about climate change in the groundbreaking book “The End of Nature.”

Now McKibben questions whether “the human game has begun to play itself out” as climate change shrinks the space where our civilization can exist, and new technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and germline genetic engineering threaten to bleach away the variety of human experience. “Falter” tells the story of these converging trends and of the ideological fervor that keeps us from bringing them under control.

Everyone is welcome to share in the conversation — it would help to have at least started to read the book. For more information, call Charlie at 360-9216 or email mqchaz@gmail.com.