Paksi to compete in American Ninja Warrior
St. Johns High School Graduate Zane Paksi was selected to compete in American Ninja Warrior. The competition was in November.
The show will be airing on July 8 on NBC at 8:00 p.m. At that time we will find out how he did in November. We will have it on our TVs cheering him on. Good Luck Z-Man.
https://www.nbc.com/american-ninja-warrior
Nelson recounts recent history of July 4 celebrations
Alan Nelson has been organizing the fireworks for St. Johns for the past eight years or so, and basically it all comes down to money, he says.
“The Rotary Club of St. Johns has been doing the fireworks since back in the 1950’s. They used to have our own fire department shoot off the fireworks, but nowadays we have to hire a professional fireworks company. We use Night Magic, the same company that does the fireworks for the Lugnuts,” he says.
“We also hire a band that plays at the Performance Shell. This year we have Kathy Ford and the Power Three.
“To put this evening of family fun and fireworks together cost us about $14,000. We do not charge any admission, so we have to get local businesses to sponsor the fireworks.
“We have considered bringing back the carnival, but there is a big financial risk in carnivals, and its hard enough just to cover the cost of the fireworks and band.
“There have been many years since the 1950s that Rotary has lost money providing this service to the community. But we do feel it is worthwhile doing this. For many families this is the highlight of their summer.
“We are considering partnering with other service clubs in the future. Maybe with more help we can look into the carnival again. The sad part about the carnivals though is they just aren’t the same as when we were kids. Many of them are very small and very expensive.”
Pre-register for the 2019 Abrams Foundation Family History Seminar
Space is still available at the 2019 Abrams Foundation Family History Seminar. This year’s seminar takes place on Friday, July 12 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Michigan History Center in Downtown Lansing.
Whether you are a beginner or an expert family researcher, this seminar has something for you! It kicks off on Friday with a behind-the-scenes look at the archives and then continues with a variety of speakers and family history topics.
The fee for the seminar is $70, and includes full attendance for the seminar, a boxed lunch on Saturday and a downloadable seminar syllabus. Pre-registration is available online through Wednesday, July 10. Alternatively, you can download the paper registration form and mail it to the Archives of Michigan. Onsite registration will be available both Friday, July 12 and Saturday, July 13, but a boxed lunch is not guaranteed.
Visit the 2019 Abrams Foundation Family History Seminar website for the full schedule, including descriptions of the sessions.
For more information about the seminar or the Archives of Michigan, contact Kris Rzepczynski at RzepczynskiK@Michigan.gov or 517-313-9191.
A Look Back – City of St. Johns Christmas Ornaments
by Barry Clark Bauer
In 1968 about a dozen St. Johns businessmen assembled at the city garage last Thursday evening to clean and prepare Christmas decorations for hanging in the downtown area.
Floyd Parmalee directs a cleansing spray on one of the pieces while Jim Leon stands ready to take over. The “cleaning bee” was headed by Bernie Feldpausch. Leon is general chairman of the 1968 Christmas program for St. Johns which includes Santa’s arrival, the annual tree lighting ceremonies, lunches with Santa, kiddie’s movies and several other events.
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – Is it Safe to Use Essential Oils for Fleas and Ticks on Pets?
Courtesy of Dr. Natalie Stilwell
Essential oils are advertised for a variety of uses, including aromatherapy, beauty care and natural medicine. Because essential oils are naturally derived, people often mistakenly think they are safer alternatives to standard medicines such as antibiotics and antiseptics.
Some essential oil manufacturers even claim that their products are effective pesticides, so you may be wondering if essential oils are safe to use on your pets for flea and tick control.
The truth is that essential oils are extremely potent and can actually be very harmful to cats and dogs, especially if used in the undiluted form. Here’s what you should know about essential oils and your pet’s safety.
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are concentrated liquids containing volatile constituents that are extracted from plants.
They are called volatile because the molecules that they are composed of can quickly transform from a liquid or solid state into a gas or aroma form. These oils are typically diluted for various uses.
Can You Use Essential Oils for Flea Control?
Essential oils have not yet been scientifically tested to determine their safety for use on or around dogs and cats.
They have also not been properly tested to determine their effectiveness in dealing with flea and tick infestations.
Essential oils vary widely in their quality and concentration of ingredients because they aren’t regulated.
An undiluted essential oil can be extremely potent, so it should never be used on or around your pets. But even diluted oils can be dangerous, and neither option has been confirmed to be safe.
Many of the essential oils most frequently advertised in flea and tick products—eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, lemongrass, tea tree oil, etc.—are already known to be toxic to dogs and/or cats.
Essential Oil Toxicity to Cats and Dogs
It’s important to understand that dogs and cats are much more sensitive to essential oils than humans are.
Essential oils are rapidly absorbed into the body through the skin, gastrointestinal tract and mucous membranes. Therefore, undiluted essential oils are much too potent for direct use and should never be applied to the body or given orally.
Also, using any essential oil on or around cats is discouraged. Unlike dogs and humans, cats lack glucuronosyltransferase enzymes, which are liver enzymes that are needed to safely metabolize the chemicals found in most essential oils.
These oils have mechanisms similar to those found in certain drugs that are toxic to cats, such as acetaminophen and aspirin.
How Essential Oil Can Affect Dogs and Cats
A wide range of symptoms has been documented with essential oil toxicity in pets.
Contact can cause mild to severe irritation of the skin, including itching, burning and sloughing.
Dogs and cats have a very sensitive sense of smell, and essential oils can be overwhelming to their respiratory tract. Inhalation can cause panting, coughing and wheezing and can also exacerbate underlying respiratory conditions, such as asthma or airborne allergies. Severe reactions have even caused aspiration pneumonia.
Essential oils ingested through grooming or in food can irritate the GI tract and cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Once absorbed into the bloodstream, the oils can cause liver and kidney damage.
Neurologic symptoms may include depression, seizures, tremors, excessive drooling and ataxia (uncoordinated movement). Pets may also experience decreased heart rate and low blood pressure.
How to Effectively Control Fleas and Ticks
Fleas and ticks can be reliably controlled using approved products with documented safety and efficacy profiles.
In the US, approved flea and tick medications must be thoroughly reviewed for safety and efficacy through either the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
These approval processes ensure that when products are administered in the appropriate dosage, they are safe for your pet and the environment, while also meeting product claims.
Fleas and ticks aren’t just a nuisance. They can carry serious diseases, including some that affect humans as well as pets. That’s why effective control is important for the health of all family members.