Annual Health Fair continues to grow
by Maralyn Fink
On Saturday I attended the Health Fair at Agro Liquid on Dewitt Rd. This is a very nice Health Fair with many health participants from various fields of medicine and other areas in that field.
The event was held from 8:30 – 12 noon. Flu shots were available, and used or expired medications could be turned in. Physicians were in attendance as well.
If you have not attended this event before, plan on attending next year to see all that is offered.
City Commission approves F.C. Mason site plan
On Monday evening the City Commission approved the site plan and the OPHRA abatement for the old F.C. Mason site. The next step will be approval from MEDC to assist in funding this project.
Developers are hoping to begin demolition in November. Now it becomes a race against winter; and as we all know, winter can come on quickly in Michigan.
Michelle Wiseman to receive Kiwanis award
St. Johns resident Michelle Wiseman will receive the Terry Cornwell Human and Spiritual Values award given each year by the St Johns Kiwanis 707 Club at a banquet to be held Thursday, October 11, at 6-8 p.m. at the Emerald Golf Course north of St. Johns.
“Michelle, with a small group of others, spearheaded the first intentional end of life care in Clinton County,” said Laura Mullaney, co-chair of the St. Johns Kiwanis Human and Spiritual Values committee. “After that strong hospice system was planted in Clinton County, Michelle’s work extended to the entire Sparrow Health System where she served as Administrative Head of the Sparrow Hospice and Palliative Services.”
Terry Cornwell, for whom that award is named, was a member of the St. Johns Kiwanis 707 Club for many years. He was a beloved teacher and then counselor at St. Johns High School. Cornwell died in 2005, at the age of 58, after battling diabetes for many years. Cornwell was known for his selfless giving to others. The recipients of the award are recognized for their “dedication to God and for outstanding contributions to the spiritual life and welfare of the community.
The roots of hospice for the entire region date back to the late 1970s. Wiseman was a a young nurse, wife and mother, when she first researched and developed a special care unit at Clinton Memorial Hospital (now Sparrow Clinton Hospital) for cardiac and critically ill patients. It became her passion and set her trajectory in life. From 1980-1998 Wiseman led multi-site hospice care for Clinton Memorial Hospital. Wiseman, with a small group of others who cared deeply about hospice, had brought something entirely new to that facility.
The stories of Wiseman are legendary, said Saralee Howard, co-chair of the Kiwanis Human and Spiritual Values Committee. “Michelle drove out on dark country roads to help dying patients and their families. If someone was dying alone, Michelle became their family and brought hospice alongside. Her compassion was unflagging, and she communicated the intensity of her mission to others.”
Through her career Wiseman has grappled with the question: how can hospice walk alongside a person in their final months of life and help with severe pain, spiritual agony, functional needs, family concerns and the often complex nursing needed. From 1998-2018 Wiseman served as the administrative director of Sparrow Hospice and Palliative Services. As Administrative Director she was responsible for 90 staff and 125 volunteers. Her research and dedication led to the creation of in-patient hospice service at the the beautiful and unique Hospice House of Mid Michigan, the first of its kind in Michigan.
Wiseman was in charge of developing all the policies and operating procedures for three home hospice sites (Sparrow, Clinton and Carson Home Hospice) and contracted with nine nursing homes through an eight-county area to provide hospice care.
Theresa Fedewa-Wells, Terry’s sister and a longtime member of Kiwanis, says she is deeply moved by this year’s award recipient. “Myself, Terry, and our family have known Michelle for a long time and have always been touched by the work she did in the community.”
The hospice that Michelle started and built up and infused with her caring spirit is the hospice that took care of Terry when he was dying.
Wiseman retired from hospice earlier this year and is enjoying special time with her husband Tom Wiseman. They have three adult children–Ryan, Plant Superintendent for Clover Technologies Group; Chad, Head Coach for Western Michigan University’s Men’s Soccer Program; and Abby, Kenowa Hills Middle School Principal, who was recently inducted into the St. Johns High School Athletic Hall of Fame. The Wisemans also have three grandchildren.
The banquet is featuring a menu by Crave Inc. In addition to the highlight of the award for Wiseman, new Kiwanis officers will be sworn in for 2018-19. The St. Johns Kiwanian of the Year, an award that members vote on, will also be announced. All events are held at the Emerald Golf Course, north of downtown St. Johns, on Maple Rapids Road off US 27.
Interested people may obtain dinner tickets for $20 by calling or texting the current Kiwanis president, Katie Eccleton, at 517-930-1306.
Clinton-Gratiot Habitat for Humanity names Volunteer of the Year
Bob Redman is Clinton-Gratiot Habitat for Humanity’s Volunteer of the Year. He is pictured here with his lovely wife, Janet.
Habitat for Humanity was started by 30-year-old multi-millionaire, Millard Fuller in 1976. He wanted to share his good fortune and approached his minister, Clarence Jordan, to see how he could put his fortune to good use. Pastor Jordan and Millard talked about the large number of people lacking in house security. He wanted to find a way to provide affordable housing to these people, meeting their housing need so they could concentrate on meeting other needs. He enlisted the help of his Sunday School teacher to help spread the word and help in other ways. President Jimmy Carter was happy to lend Millard a hand.
Habitat partners with low-to-moderate income families to help them secure a decent home with an affordable mortgage. The partner homeowners must work 150 hours towards the construction of the home. The mortgages are provided through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture through its 502 program. This program not only provides a low-cost mortgage but also provides a 1 to 3 match for a down-payment. The USDA will also adjust the homeowner’s payment if they lose their source of income.
Habitat doesn’t just build houses. They also help homeowners who can’t afford it make critical re-pairs, install wheelchair ramps, and spruce up neighborhoods through their Rock-The-block program.
L.Quinn Lincoln-Keon is the Executive Director of the Clinton-Gratiot Habitat for Humanity. Habitat functions because we have great volunteers in our community. Please call Dawn for more information on how you can be a difference maker in this community: 989-227-1771 #4.
East Olive Community Center to celebrate Grand Opening – Saturday, November 3
It’s Official! Join organizers for the Grand Opening Celebration of the new East Olive Community Center on Saturday, November 3 for an afternoon of fun and games.
There will be various carnival games, arts and Crafts, pumpkin painting, hay rides, Story time, indoor big screen movie and many other activities for families.
The idea for the East Olive Community Center emerged as area residents grieved the loss of their beloved little school. As they faced the doors closing for the last time, they realized the power of the building wasn’t just in educating the children. The power was in bringing the community together, so they decided not to say goodbye to the community, to the friends and neighbors brought together by the school. Using the school as an anchor, organizers formed a nonprofit organization to provide educational and recreational events and programming as well as services that benefit and improve the health and well-being of the broader Olive and Victor Township communities.
The Center is located in the former East Olive Elementary School building located at 2583 Green Road east of St. Johns.
The Fred Meijer Clinton Ionia Shiawassee Trail advisory
Bow hunting season is here. It is that time of the year when you are advised to wear bright fluorescent clothing while walking, running or biking the trail.
We might even suggest that your favorite four-legged companions wear something of bright fluorescent colors for their safety also.