A look back at the Wheel Inn
The Wheel Inn remembered
Posted in 1999 by Jean Martin
For teens in the late 1950s and early ‘60s patronizing the Wheel Inn was not so much a choice as it was a necessity. Friday night football and basketball games were followed by school dances. These dances lasted until 11:30; and at that time of night the only way to keep the party going was to go to someone’s house — or the Wheel.
Burgers and pizza could be ordered at any time after the group was seated. If anyone at the table could not eat meat until after midnight, the food would not arrive until it could be enjoyed by everyone. This left plenty of time to continue the mild flirting that had begun at the dance. (Is he looking this way? He’s not! Is he really?)
In later years former classmates who could barely find their way around St. Johns anymore could still meet for breakfast at the Wheel. For others it had become a part of the warp and woof of their lives.
Families would make the Wheel Inn their unofficial headquarters. A standing invitation might be open to anyone within driving distance to meet every Sunday evening for supper at the Wheel. Toddlers straining to get out of high chairs would smile gleefully as they watched an aunt with her walker moving slowly past old friends in the booths.
The front door of the Wheel was always open. Sundaes after piano recitals may have become a family ritual. Later the Wheel became a good spot to take a break from the vigil at the hospital. Between the afternoon and evening visitations at the funeral home, there was a chance to grab a quiet bite to eat. Juanita and the girls knew exactly what was going on, and everyone knew that they knew. Patrons were free to talk about it or not as they pleased. After the funeral, sometimes the Wheel was the perfect place to entertain those few special guests the family really wanted to spend more time with.
Even occasional visitors from the St. Johns area would be hard-pressed to find a time when they could slip into the Wheel Inn unnoticed or unrecognized. If you are excited about something new and different, there will be someone on a stool who will grin along with you. If you are a little lonely and blue, someone in a booth will slide over and suggest that you need a cup of coffee and maybe one of those big cookies.
Are you on your way out of town? You probably should fortify yourself with a nice hot meal first. Do you need to network with a few people? Get a table at the Wheel; they’ll meet you there. Had a rough day at work? You’ll probably run into a few co-workers who would love to spend a few more minutes analyzing middle management’s utter failure, once again, to comprehend the obvious.
Over the years the Wheel Inn has become the place where, day or night, at least one or two people will probably know your name. And both you and they will always be glad you came.
O’Leary legacy lives on in Student Scholarship
Posted in 2010
Throughout the 44 years that Juanita O’Leary operated the Wheel Inn restaurant in St. Johns, she was more than just an employer to hundreds of young people. She was in charge to be sure, but beyond the discipline of managing a business, her style exposed those young charges to lessons that paved their future as valuable employees and sound citizens.
Many who passed through her employment are well along with their lives as successful employees or managers in varied pursuits, comfortable in acknowledging the important influence that was absorbed while working at the Wheel.
Juanita has not been at the Wheel since 1999 but her spirit and legacy will live on through a scholarship she established before her death June 9. “It was her hope,” explained Denise Starck, one of three daughters and a son, “that she could provide assistance to young people interested in restaurant or hospitality occupations. While the fund has been established and open to anyone interested in memorials to Juanita, details of administration and awarding of grants must yet be completed. We’ll announce full details when the scholarship becomes fully active.”
Currently the scholarship fund is under the direction of Citizens Bank in St. Johns. Memorials may be sent to the Juanita O’Leary Restaurant Management Hospitality Scholarship c/o Citizens Bank.
Mrs. O’Leary came to St. Johns in 1955 and began operating a small ice cream stand which evolved into the Wheel Inn. The latter in turn became a regular stop for people across Michigan and travelers from many other states. The mention of St. Johns outside the area often prompted a quick response identifying the Wheel Inn as a regular part of the travel agenda.
Juanita was preceded in death by her husband John and two brothers. She is survived by three daughters, Nancy Moore and Denise Starck of St. Johns, Patti (Doug) Lehman of St. Louis, MO and a son, John (Susan) O’Leary of Greensboro, NC.
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – Why Do Dogs Twitch in Their Sleep?
You may have noticed sudden, brief twitching at some point while your dog was sleeping and wondered if they were dreaming or even expressing some type of discomfort.
These involuntary movements—where a dog is twitching in their sleep—only occur during dream states and usually don’t last long. Twitching can happen anywhere in your dog’s body but commonly occurs in the legs, tail, or head. It may be accompanied by small vocalizations.
So is twitching just a normal part of dreaming, or are there times when you should worry?
Why Do Dogs Twitch in Their Sleep?
Dogs sleep an average of 12-14 hours each day. While they sleep, a dog’s brain processes information and experiences from the day through dreams. Twitching is often related to active dream cycles in the brain.
According to research by psychologist Stanley Coren, an average-size dog will dream about every 20 minutes, and these dreams will last about a minute. Larger breeds have fewer dreams that last longer—about every 45 minutes for 4 minutes. The opposite is true for smaller breed dogs; they will dream about every 10 minutes for up to 30 seconds.
Dogs experience the same dream stages as humans, including non-rapid eye movement (NREM), short-wave sleep (SWS), and rapid eye movement (REM). During the REM state, a dog’s eyes move around behind their closed eyelids, and the large body muscles are turned off so the dream is not physically acted out.
The part of the brain that contains these off switches is called the pons, which is part of the brain stem. In younger dogs, the pons may still be developing, while in older dogs it may be weakening from age. This is why twitching while sleeping occurs most commonly in younger and older dogs and less often in adult dogs.
The amount of twitching depends on how much these off switches inhibit muscle movement. Puppies spend more time in dream sleep than adult dogs because they need to process more information.
Dogs that sleep in a curled position will keep their muscles tensed and are less relaxed, which may cause them to twitch less than a dog that sleeps in a stretched-out position. Any outside stimulation from loud noises such as thunder, fireworks, or strange voices may partially awaken a sleeping dog and result in twitching as well.
Should You Wake Your Dog Up If They Twitch in Their Sleep?
If your dog sleeps next to you, they may unintentionally disturb your sleep with their sudden body movements. However, it is often advised to not awaken a dog that is twitching in their sleep unless they are clearly in distress.
A nightmare or night terror could be the cause of these involuntary movements, and they may wake up frightened. Try to avoid touching them so they don’t bite or scratch you as a result of being startled.
Instead, gently call your dog’s name until they respond. Speak calmly and reassure them that they are safe and secure after they wake up. While they appear to be pretty active in their sleep, dreaming dogs may be slow to awaken.
When Should You Be Concerned About a Dog Twitching in Their Sleep?
You should be concerned when the twitching interferes with your dog’s sleep. They may be unable to fall sleep or constantly awakened during sleep.
Another cause for concern is when the twitching becomes a full-body tremor, causing the body to go rigid or lasting longer than a brief spasm. In this case, there may be another explanation for the twitching, such as:
– Seizure or other neurologic condition
– Infection with parasites, bacteria, or viruses
– Malnutrition
– Diabetes
– Low blood sugar
– Low body temperature
– Kidney and liver issues
– Certain heart conditions
– Anxiety
– Arthritis
– Poison ingestion
Ingesting topical or environmental pesticides or toxic foods may also cause twitches or tremors in dogs. If you suspect that your dog has had exposure to a toxin or has any other underlying medical condition, then an immediate veterinary exam is necessary for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
What’s the Difference Between Twitching and a Seizure When a Dog is Sleeping?
During normal sleep, a dog’s body will be flexible and relaxed, and they will be breathing normally, with their eyes partially or completely closed. They should awaken easily and respond to voices.
Normal twitching usually occurs when a dog is lying on their side, paddling their paws, and possibly making little noises. You may notice irregular breathing when your dog starts twitching.
Seizures usually occur while dogs are awake. To determine whether twitching during sleep is due to a seizure, look for the following signs:
– A stiffening of the body
– Labored breathing
– Eyes wide open but not reacting
– Loss of consciousness with no response to your voice
– Loss of control of urine and bowel movements
– Foaming at the mouth
– Vomiting
Dogs may temporarily act confused, disoriented, or dazed, and they may drool or pant after the seizure activity has ended.