Coffman’s graphic novel is here
Bound copies of Sam Coffman’s Japanese/English rough demo graphic novel are here. He and collaborator Travis Brainerd worked extremely hard on this for over three years.
“A huge thank you to our Emmy-earner Travis Brainerd for turning my laughable pencil sketches into rough digital sketches for the extremely cool literary artifact we created with our crack translation team” Coffman says. “We produced a few bound copies of my version of the graphic novel I originally created with those pencil sketches, too. You can see that that one, with the black and red cover, has our story’s old name The Great Mystery.
“Travis’s graphic novel, with the red and white cover, contains a new name we’re experimenting with which is A Million Horzons. The Origins part of the title refers to how the story in that graphic novel now serves as a limited series-length back-story providing context for our new feature film-length version of the story we’ve produced.
“After our film is a global hit, we plan to produce the limited series version of the story. The process of distilling our story’s message into an easy-to-follow graphic novel was exactly what our team needed to get us to where we are now. Our characters’ personalities and motivations are fully developed, and our world has been built. You can’t make a film with a shallow ensemble and generic background environments if you want to do things right – and evidently, that takes a lot of time and thoughtful effort.”
For more information email AIOKMediaLLC@Gmail.com.
How they’re doing during the pandemic
Even amid the chaos of a pandemic staffers at Mid Michigan Health Department carried on with their annual customer satisfaction survey. This year they received comments from 754 respondents.
The rollout for vaccine distribution was a little rocky back in January.
– We are 94 years old and are eligible for the vaccine but how do we sign up?
– We need clear information about when we can expect to receive vaccinations and where. It is
very frustrating to hear other people are accessing vaccination in our group, not not Clinton
County. Why?
– Update your system and do your jobs
By the end of January things were running more smoothly
– Everyone was great and the covid clinic was ran great. Thank you for all you do.
– Be more clear on how to get into the building. Otherwise, everyone was very friendly and helpful on getting my vaccine!
– Not necessarily your fault but there whole “phase” process is confusing
– Out reach to community other then just online . A high percentage of seniors don’t have a clue
on how to sign up
– I received the Covid vaccine and was totally impressed how efficient and organized things
were.
– It was all about the COVID vaccine. I was panicked about my husband being able to be
vaccinated and called twice during a time you all were getting thousands of calls. The lady I
spoke to was so kind. I talked to the same one twice. I don’t know her name but she called me
“sweetie” if that tells you anything. She was really kind to me, I was in the verge of a
breakdown and was so fortunate to have her answer my call. The only thing negative is there
is not enough vaccine and I feel guilty we received ours before others.
– You guys are heroes administering Covid vaccines. You deserve bonus, and capes!
– Coffee and cookies? Just kidding. The experience was great. I was very impressed.
– it was an easy method, but I feel for elderly that don’t have internet/technology access. Huge problem for my older relatives
– We left the office building feeling welcomed at a time when everyone is so on edge. Thank you!
– on-site greeting and interaction was well done, 2) vaccination was well done, 3) call system
and appointment arrangement was not user friendly.
By early February suggestions were getting more specific
– Have some type of TV or radio in the wait room afterwards. Sitting in silence is odd with a
bunch of strangers.
– Music while waiting, though it might be difficult to find something that all might enjoy
– Play a ten minute repeating video in the waiting room. It can be informative and last up to 15
minutes long. Then you will know it is time to go home.
– Politely remind other clients of proper face mask use- when I was in the waiting room after
receiving my vaccine, there were two adults wearing their masks below their nose/chin.
– Change vaccination line up so folks don’t have to stand in line outside- maybe a number
system where folks can wait in their car until they are permitted in bldg
Later in February problems continued to be ironed out
– I was more than happy with the services I received You can pass this along to your workers
– I really don’t know what you could do any better. Everyone was very kind and helpful and
upbeat. the nurses giving the shots were very good. We hardly felt the prick of the needle
– Considering how the building is laid out, your set up works great. Congratulations on a. Easy
and friendly experience.
– Well, husband and I will agree…. you were perfect!! And others praise all involved with
courtesy , timing and professionalism. Thank you!
– Thanks for the great service. Clinton County is the greatest place to live & receive services.
Thank you for your dedication to our community health. Not only in pandemic emergency but
year in year out. I’m proud of our rural county offering so many vital services.
And finally this.
– Stop asking clients to complete surveys. America is weary of surveys. Perhaps just a bumper
sticker on the front door that says ” how’s my vaccining? Call 1-800-555-5555″ : )
Remember When – St. Joe students raise money for Haiti relief in 2010
St Joseph Catholic School students asked the St. Johns , Knights of Columbus council #3281 to assist with their Haiti relief fund.
The Knights authorized Grand Knight Michael Trebesh to present a check in the amount of $300.
Through the efforts of students like the four pictured, the St. Joseph students generated over $1,600 for Haiti relief.
Tresesh said, “Our community should be very proud of the generous efforts and helping hand these young adults demonstrated.”
Letters – Thanks for special fish fry
A big thank you to Dana Swanson for the sheets cakes she donated to my fish fry benefit. It was a huge success. Such a great community we live in.
Thank you to all my classmates that showed their support by purchasing a dinner or sending a card. Your words and support lift my spirits.
Kim Huguelet
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – How to Stop a Dog From Shedding So Much
courtesy of David F. Kramer
Although shedding is usually normal, you’re probably looking for ways to reduce your dog’s shedding so you don’t have to constantly rid your clothes, car, and home of all the hair.
The first step is determining whether the amount of hair that your dog is shedding is normal, or if they are shedding excessively due to a health problem. Here’s what to look for, plus tips for how you can reduce shedding in your dog.
Is Your Dog Shedding Too Much?
What’s considered a normal amount of fur for dogs to shed? In many cases, this will depend upon the breed.
Breed-Related Shedding
“Some breeds shed year-round, as in Boxers or most short-coated dogs, while others, such as Huskies or Akitas, usually shed most [of their hair] twice a year.
Many people think that long-coated dogs shed more often, but that is not usually true. Most long-coated dogs have shedding seasons when the weather changes,” says Dr. Adam Denish of Rhawnhurst Animal Hospital in Pennsylvania.
Once you have an idea of your dog’s usual amount of shedding, then you can monitor your dog for changes. Are they shedding more or less, or at different times than usual? If your dog is shedding more than they usually do, there might be an underlying health condition.
Shedding Due to Health Issues
According to Dr. Jennifer Coates, a veterinarian in Fort Collins, Colorado, you should be concerned if you see an increase in shedding, particularly when it’s accompanied by:
– Itchiness
– Patchy hair loss
– Skin lesions
– Signs of generalized illness
If you see these signs, your dog needs to see a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
“If shedding is abnormal, such as with thyroid disorders, diabetes, or poor nutrition, it can be helped by improving the health of your pet,” says Dr. Denish. “Animals that have dry skin, dandruff, or skin diseases will tend to have more shedding problems as well.”
How to Reduce Shedding
If you’ve determined that your dog is healthy but just sheds a lot, then follow these tips to help reduce your dog’s shedding.
How to Control Dog Shedding With Diet
Whether your dog leaves a light coating of fur in their wake or clumps the size of small mammals, here are some things you can do to help control their shedding.
According to Dr. Coates, once health problems have been ruled out, a well-balanced and healthy diet can go a long way towards keeping shedding at an acceptable level.
“A poor diet will not supply all the nutrients a pet needs to grow and maintain a healthy coat. Adequate amounts of high-quality protein and fat, particularly essential fatty acids, are needed to reduce excessive shedding,” says Dr. Coates.
When it comes to choosing a dog food, it’s best not to skimp, says Dr. Denish. “The quality of food that your pet eats greatly influences the degree of shedding and the quality of the coat,” says Dr. Denish.
How to Control Shedding With Grooming
A dog groomer is your best resource for controlling your dog’s shedding through grooming.
Mari Rozanski of Plush Pups Boutique and Grooming in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, has been grooming pets for more than 25 years and believes that you’ve got to help keep your pet groomed at home. But how often?
“In a perfect world, I would say [to] brush your dog on a daily basis. It’s good for their coat and skin, and it can serve as quality time with your dog,” says Rozanski. “More realistically, brushing your dog at least once or twice a week should help keep shedding to a minimum.”
The Best Grooming Tools for Controlling Shedding
A few basic (and inexpensive) items are all that you’ll need to manage your dog’s shedding.
“I personally prefer a slicker brush and a metal comb,” says Rozanski. “A hand-mitt, although I have never tried one, is good for a very short-haired dog such as a Doberman or a Dalmatian.”
She continues, “There’s a wide assortment of tools available, but some instruction on choosing the right one is necessary. Usually a groomer or breeder can help with this.”
When to See a Professional Groomer
When it comes to grooming, sometimes it’s best to leave it to the pros.
“Professional grooming every 4-6 weeks is a good way to keep shedding at a minimum and to avoid a mess at home; groomers have all the proper tools and specialty shampoos for shedding dogs,” says Rozanski.
“Bathing at home can be fun, but if the dog is not rinsed or dried properly, or if the wrong shampoo is used, a skin condition can occur. Also, the pH balance for a dog is different than a person, so only dog shampoos should be used,” adds Rozanski.
You’ll still want to brush your dog at least a few times a week in between professional grooming sessions, however.
Keeping Your Home Clean of Pet Hair
If you’re looking to keep pet hair out of your home, you can either pick up cast-off dog hair or keep it from becoming a problem in the first place.
According to Rozanski, it’s always a good idea to keep furniture and other spots that are heavily used by your dog covered with a throw or sheet to make those surfaces easier to clean.
Also, vacuuming is your best weapon in the fight against dog hair. While a conventional vacuum can be used, there are special vacuums with devices and attachments that are designed to deal with pet fur, which can make the job easier.
For quick pickups of dog hair from clothes and furniture, Rozanski is partial to hair rollers (like those for your clothes) from companies such as 3M.
Again, none of these actions will completely eliminate the hair from your home, but they will help you fight it.
Using Air Filters to Control Pet Hair in the Home
Pet hair and dander in the air can exacerbate allergies, asthma, and other conditions. Often, the conventional filtering that comes with heating and air conditioning systems won’t be robust enough to create an easy breathing environment.
There are many standalone air filters you can purchase, but Rozanski says she has had particular success with Aprilaire products.
Be Consistent About Changing Filters
Obviously, frequent filter changes are a must, and for heavily shedding dogs, you might even want to change filters more often than the company recommends.
Perhaps the most important thing you can do to stay ahead of shedding is to think ahead.
“My suggestion for most owners is to learn about your dog and the breed before making a decision on adopting the pet. You need to understand the requirements for that pet in terms of veterinary care, nutrition, and maintenance,” says Dr. Denish.