Be a part of the Goodwill Mission to Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Michigan has a sister state in Japan, Shiga Prefecture, and many other communities in Michigan, like St. Johns, have sister cities in Shiga Prefecture. St. Johns’ sister city is Konan City.
Every year the Michigan-Shiga Sister State Organization coordinates goodwill trips between Michigan and Shiga to pro-mote cultural understanding between the U.S. and Japan. A recent guest speaker to the Exchange Club, Ven Lengkeek, was part a group of 32 Michigan citizens who made a 10-day trip to Shiga in September, 2017 as part of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the sister-state relationship.
Shiga Prefecture is located in the southern part of Japan between Nagoya and Kyoto. The center of the Prefecture is dominated by Lake Biwa. Shiga was not bombed during WWII so there are a lot of historical buildings and sites preserved there. Some popular attrac-tions included visiting the Koka Ninja House, called the last true Nin-ja house in Japan, and Ishiyam-Dera Temple, a Shingon Buddhist temple built in 747 CE. Shiga Prefecture is also a large producer of green tea and the group was able to visit a tea grower and producer to see the fields and production facilities.
Ven and his fellow visitors had the privilege of staying for four days and nights with host families. Ven’s host family took him to see a local Buddhist temple and took him on a hike on Mt. Iboki. They even took him to a local public bath house. They also taught Ven how to make sushi and introduced him to Funazushi, a dish made from fish aged in salt for 3 years.
Michigan’s next goodwill trip will be 2019. Michigan will host visitors from Shiga Prefecture in 2018. More information about the Michigan-Shiga Sister Organization, and the goodwill missions, can be found at http://www.mishiga.org.
Meanwhile Michigan high school students can experience two weeks of life and study through an exchange program coordinated by the Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU). In the Michigan-Shiga High School Exchange Program, high school students from Michigan spend two weeks in Japan attending high school classes and participating in community cultural events with their student partner and host family. In exchange, the Michigan family hosts the partner Japanese exchange student and introduces them to high school student life in the U.S.
In the summer of 2018, 15 American students will travel to Japan and live with a host family. During the program, hosted in Shiga prefecture since 1990, students will also experience a bunkasai, a Japanese high school cultural festival where Japanese students organize activities like dances, games, sports, and music. In September, the Japanese student partners visit their American counterparts’ homes, attending high school and living with families in Michigan for two weeks.
The cultural experiences in this program are often life-changing for students. The immersive nature provides participants an enriching experience and exposure to Japanese culture which fosters competencies that are useful during the college application process and in future career paths. Several fundraising and scholarship opportunities are available to prospective students.
Students travel together with chaperones that help them during their time in Japan. No Japanese language skills are required. Students interested in this program can receive more information and download the application packet on the JCMU website, jcmu.isp.msu.edu. The application deadline for the program is March 9, 2018. For inquiries or more information, contact the JCMU office in East Lansing at 517-355-4654 or by email at hs@jcmu.org.
Rotary speaker oulines mission of St. Vincent DePaul
Recently the St. Johns Rotary Club hosted John Thelen, the Director of St. Vincent DePaul here in St. Johns.
John told them about the different ways that the organization has helped people in our community. He also described the history of the local store.
St. Vincent DePaul has been helping people in our community since the 1940’s. The store didn’t open until 1996, and has been in four different locations. They have been in their current location since 2012, and they went from about 2,300 square feet to over 8,000 square feet. Now they are getting ready to add on another 4,000 square feet. The store has made it a lot easier for them to be able to help people who need it.
A Look Back – Bruno’s Confectionary Shop
by Barry Clark Bauer
This photo was presented to us by Cindy Knight, and she says it was taken of the interior at Bruno’s Confectionary Shop located at 226 N. Clinton Ave. That’s Bruno Mazzolini standing on the left side of this photo, and the two guys on the right are unidentified.
This was the second business Bruno owned and operated in St. Johns. His first was the restaurant he had at 100 N. Clinton Ave. or the “Head of Main” as it was called.
The Confectionary Shop location would later serve the public as Bruno’s Wonder Bar. It’s now owned and operated by his grandson, Dean Mazzolini.
Bennie and Jessie’s Pet Info – Helping Your Dog Understand the Loss of Their Canine Companion
courtesy of Naomi Strollo
For people, losing a pet is an inconsolable pain. It is hard to continue life without my dog, Wynne. I look around at her food bowls, bed, toys and favorite spot on the couch.
I vocalize my pain and look through photographs to remember how much Wynne has been in my life. Then, I look at my other dog, Remy, studying my face with a confused look. He watches me clenching the toys Wynne played with. I had to make the decision to let her suffering end, and even if my head knows I did what was best, my heart will always question it. Now I’m left to question how Remy and Indy, my other dog, will handle the loss. How do I tell them she’s not coming home? Am I humanizing my emotions on them? How do I know if they are grieving?
I have seen a lot of sadness in my 16 years as a registered veterinary technician. I have been there for clients that put their beloved family member to rest. I have also been there to see the surviving members grieve, even the furry ones. Some pet parents have brought the other dog to say “goodbye,” but the other dog never seems to really understand what is going on. I don’t think the concept of dying is something that dogs really know or understand, but they do understand the lack of the presence of the now deceased dog in a familiar space that is at home.
How My Dogs Processed Loss
Dogs may not be able to talk or cry but they show sadness in their own way. Indy became very clingy. She followed me around and didn’t know how to make me happy, which upset her. She tried to play with Remy, but he would walk away. She became the court jester trying to please me and doing tricks to get Remy to play. When nothing worked, she was sad she failed and went off sulking.
Remy, however, became truly sad because he wanted his friend to return. One day Wynne was there, and now she isn’t anywhere to be found. I found him wandering the house, waiting by doors and going to strange locations. He was isolating himself and not sleeping in his normal spots. He lost interest in playing with his toys and didn’t have much energy at all. Dogs don’t have the ability to reason or understand so I couldn’t sit down and explain what happened. I couldn’t read him a book or take him to therapy.
I didn’t know what to do to help him so I researched and tested multiple different theories. The day after Wynne passed, I collected anything that reminded me of Wynne and put it in a box in the basement. I thought that, if dogs have short term memory, they might forget her. I realized after a few days of Remy looking for her and acting depressed that idea didn’t work. One day, I came home from work and found Remy in the basement (an off-limits spot for the dogs) sniffing the box of Wynne’s belongings. His desire to get Wynne’s scent was stronger that obeying the rules. I brought up her favorite blanket and bed they used to share. I let the dogs have access them, if they wanted to. The next morning, Remy pulled down the blanket and snuggled with it. He took the dog bed to the bedroom where it originally was. The scent was comforting him. He stopped wandering and looking.
How to Move Forward
Returning to work after losing Wynne made me more aware of the surviving dogs, and I began offering advice to other pet parents on how to help their dogs cope and knowing the signs of dog grieving. Many determined which type of grief their pet was having, based on hearing about Indy and Remy’s reactions. The “Indy grief plan” needed owners to stick to a routine and try to stay active with them. The “Remy grief plan” required a scent from the deceased pet and grieving time. Both of my dogs did better after I forced myself to get more active. More walks, car rides and pet store visits.
So, what can we do to help our pets deal with the loss of a canine companion? Don’t rush to throw out items that belonged to the deceased pet. Keep a blanket or other reminder that belonged to the pet that died. Pay extra attention to your grieving pet, but don’t go overboard and create a larger problem. Try and stick to regular routines, if possible. Give your dog some time to adjust before making a decision about bringing another dog into your family. If you bring another pet home while they are still missing their friend, they will resent the new family member. Behavior problems and fighting will develop.
The pain and sadness we feel may be displayed differently in our pet family members, but it does exist. Being able to see the signs and determine how we can help them cope may help us too. You can develop additional hobbies and friendships by taking your dog to the dog park or on outings. They should have other fun things in their life they can still enjoy after their “Wynne” is gone.
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – The Difference Between FeLV and FIV
Of all infectious diseases in cats, few are as feared as FeLV and FIV—and with good reason.
Between 2-4% of feline population in the U.S. harbors one or both of these potentially fatal viruses. Many clinics use an in-house test that checks for both viruses at the same time, and most wellness conversations about infectious disease covers both topics, so it’s easy to see why owners might confuse the two. But while they are similar, there are some important differences in both transmission and how the virus works in the body.
What Are FeLV and FIV?
Both feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are retroviruses. Unlike some forms of virus that infect cells and then kill them, retroviruses actually alter the genetic material of the infected cell and turn cells into little virus factories. This process takes time, so in both cases cats may be infected for many years before becoming clinically ill.
How Do Cats Get FeLV and FIV?
Both FeLV and FIV can be transmitted through bite wounds. In the case of FIV, saliva from an infected cat is the primary mode of transmission. The FeLV virus is shed through saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces, and milk; it may be transmitted through mutual grooming, from queen (mother) to kitten, bite wounds, or rarely, through shared litterboxes and feeding dishes.
These differences in transmission mean different populations of cats are at higher risk of infection. In the case of FIV, although both males and females get infected, intact outdoor males are at the highest risk of infection because they are usually the ones getting in fights. An FIV-positive cat that lives with other cats and interacts with them in a casual, non-aggressive manner is unlikely to infect them. Unlike FeLV, grooming is not thought to play a significant role in transmission of FIV.
With FeLV, the fact that casual cat-to-cat contact can result in infection means it is easier for cats to become infected, especially cats in the same household that spend a lot of time together. While cats of any age can become infected, kittens are much more susceptible to FeLV infection. The greater the virus exposure, the greater the risk of infection.
In both cases, the virus is very fragile in the environment and does not persist for a significant length of time outside of the body. Neither virus is infectious to humans.
What Happens When a Cat is Infected with FeLV or FIV?
In the early stages of both diseases, cats often show no symptoms at all. It is common for the cat to become mildly ill several weeks after infection only to return to an asymptomatic state for weeks, months, or even years. While it is believed the occasional fortunate cat can fight off an FeLV infection, there is no evidence this happens with the FIV virus. Progression of both diseases is unpredictable; cats may become progressively ill over time or experience bouts of illness interspersed with healthy periods.
In the case of FeLV, during this apparently healthy period the virus may be completely dormant or may still be present in excretions and a potential source of infection for other cats. In the later stages, FeLV causes a variety of symptoms based on the cells targeted by the virus. Diseases associated with FeLV can include:
– Anemia
– Intestinal disease
– Cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia
– Reproductive problems
– Secondary infections due to immunosuppression
– Poor healing
– Chronic respiratory infections
– Inflammation of gums
FIV causes a progressive destruction of the cat’s immune system through suppression of the white blood cells, so over time cats begin to show a variety of symptoms related to that immunosuppression. In addition to the low white blood cell count, symptoms often include:
– Inflammation of gums
– Diarrhea
– Skin infections
– Upper respiratory infections and pneumonia
– Weight loss
– Poor coat condition
– Seizures or behavior changes
How Are FeLV and FIV Treated?
As you can see from the list above, both FeLV and FIV cause a wide variety of symptoms in the cat; no two cases follow the same course. Veterinarians routinely recommend FeLV/FIV testing in cats because it is often an underlying contributing factor to a variety of diseases that appear unrelated, but because there is no cure for the virus, treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms of disease in the individual.
Despite this dire list of outcomes, it’s important to remember that many of these cats experience long and happy periods of health after the initial infection. A diagnosis of either FeLV or FIV should not be considered an automatic death sentence. Cats that have a confirmed diagnosis of either disease should be evaluated by a veterinarian twice a year, since they are so susceptible to a variety of diseases. In addition, the following is also recommended to owners to reduce risk to their cats, as well as to other cats:
– Schedule yearly bloodwork
– Spay or neuter your cat
– Keep your cats indoors, infected or not
– Do not feed a raw food diet to your infected cat
Are FeLV and FIV Preventable with Vaccines?
Vaccination against FeLV is recommended for all cats due to the prevalence of the virus and the efficacy of the vaccine. This is particularly important for young cats, which are at the highest risk of infection. As a cat ages, the decision on how often to boost the vaccine should be discussed with your veterinarian as the recommendations vary depending on the individual cat’s circumstances. FeLV vaccination does not interfere with the results FeLV testing.
An FIV vaccination exists but is considered more controversial, as its efficacy is less predictable. In addition, cats that have received the FIV vaccination may test positive for FIV during routine blood tests, even when they have not been infected. Certain at-risk populations may benefit from the FIV vaccine, but it is not routinely recommended for household cats.
While FeLV and FIV are dangerous and scary diseases, we know more than we ever have, not only in regards to prevention, but also the management of infected cats. With proper attention and care, we can minimize risk to other cats while giving FeLV or FIV positive felines the best chance at good health and a happy life.