Community Christian Church delivers treats to First Responders
The Community Christian Church of St. Johns youth group delivered baked goods that they and members of the church prepared for first responders.
Those enjoying special teats included St. Johns Police Department, Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, and Clinton Area Ambulance Service.
They are pictured with Lt. Verlinde, Sheriff Larry Jerue, and Director Lynn Webber. Thank you for being there for us and God bless our first responders.
CCRESA students hold cardboard boat challenge
Students in the CCRESA CAD & Design Technology class recently participated in the first annual cardboard boat challenge.
The students first had to individually complete research and then sketch up four boat designs. From there, each student had to pick one of their sketches and draw it up on CAD. They then built scaled down prototype boats from card stock and tested them in a water tank with golf balls as the weight.
After this the students were placed into teams of four and they had to decide as a team which boat was the best to build full scale. The teams made any needed design changes, created the drawings on CAD and then built the full-scale vessel to be raced with two people in the boat from each team.
There was a lot of tension on race day as the students feared their vessels were not going to float with two people in them!
The race was held in the St. Johns High School pool, and the vessels had to be paddled down and back the length of the pool. The first team back was the winner. All the boats made it down and back easily with the exception of one boat that only made it down but sunk on the turn!
The winning team made a late charge to the finish line to pass the vessel that was currently in first and touched the finish line about one second ahead of the second place boat. The winning team consisted of Heidi Wilson, Jake Andrews, Jake Crowell, and Justin Schmitz. A fun learning experience was had by all involved.
Remember when? – The J C Penny Store
by Maralyn Fink
J C Penny Company was located in the first block of Main Street back in my day. Ah, this was a staple store at that time.
Downtown was full of businesses back then going from all three blocks on both sides of the street.
I remember shopping there when I was younger with my mother; and when we went to pay for our purchase, the clerk would pull a cord and a container would run down a corded line from the balcony where the store manager sat at his desk. The clerk would put the money in and pull the cord and send the container back to him. He in return would send it back to the clerk with change if needed and a receipt. I couldn’t wait to see that work and remember watching it in awe.
The store was well stocked with whatever you needed and busy for back to school time, of course you might see your outfit an a schoolmate but that was okay. We were always thankful for what we could get and happy with it.
This is just another example of simple times and we were always grateful for what we could have. Back then a shirt might have cost $3.00, but that was a lot of money for that time.
Letters – Readers remember Pierce Bakery
I can’t resist saying how much that article was on the Pierce Bakery was enjoyed here in Ithaca (NYS, that is). The historical details were exquisite, and the archival pictures were fabulous. It stimulated memories of many fine pastries. It got so bad that I couldn’t go back to work until I stepped across the quad for a cup of coffee and a couple of long johns.
I hope that everything is ship-shape with you and yours back home. Over here, Cornell will empty its campus at spring break, and we will lecture by teleconference thereafter. We did quite a bit of that back during the H1N1 outbreak, so it should be fine. Things will be difficult, though, for our foreign students, who are often here year-round.
All the best,
Chuck Brainerd
******
Want to Thank You for these articles that you posted this month. especially the one on Pierce Bakery.
I know Walt and Barb very well. I was a neighbor to them for 25 yrs. Great write up about them.
Thanks, Jim Price
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – 5 Signs You Should Get Your Cat’s Thyroid or Dog’s Thyroid Checked
courtesy of Rebecca Desfosse
The thyroid is a small but important gland in the neck. A cat’s thyroid or dog’s thyroid consists of two segments, one on each side of the windpipe. This gland produces the hormone thyroxine, along with several other important thyroid hormones. In a healthy pet, these hormones automatically work together to coordinate your pet’s energy levels, growth, body temperature and heart rate.
Cat thyroid problems and thyroid problems in dogs occur when the hormone levels become too high or low. According to Dr. Rachel Barrack, DVM, CVA, CVCH and founder of Animal Acupuncture in New York City, signs of a thyroid problem in dogs or cats occur gradually and can be easy to miss. “Symptoms are often subtle at first but become more overt with progression of the disease,” she says.
Pet owners can sometimes fail to recognize a cat or dog thyroid issue until their pet is at risk for more serious complications. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the subtle signs and symptoms. If you know what to look for, you can bring it up to your vet and possibly catch the disease in its early stages.
Thyroid Disease in Dogs and Cats
Thyroid problems are extremely common in pets. However, dogs and cats aren’t typically affected the same the way. Dogs are most commonly afflicted with hypothyroidism, or low thyroid hormone levels. According to Lori Pasternak, DVM and co-founder of Helping Hands Affordable Veterinary Surgery and Dental Care, hypothyroidism usually affects dogs around the age of 2 to 7 years old.
Hyperthyroidism, or high thyroid hormone levels, is more common in cats. While dogs and cats can be diagnosed with hyperthyroidism at any age, cats generally don’t show signs of hyperthyroidism until they are at least 7 years old. While either disease can occur in both species, it is rare.
Here are the key symptoms of cat and dog thyroid problems to look out for:
1. Changes in Behavior or Activity Level
According to Dr. Pasternak, the biggest sign of a thyroid problem is changes in your pet’s behavior or activity level. “Generally, when pets exhibit behavior changes, it is usually their way of telling us something is wrong,” she says.
Since the thyroid hormone helps regulate your pet’s energy level, a common sign of hypothyroidism in dogs (low thyroid) is that they tend to be less active or lethargic. Your dog may seem less playful at the dog park, or doesn’t want to play fetch, or just won’t walk as far as he used to. He might also be sleeping more than usual or won’t get up with you in the morning.
Cat hyperthyroidism (high thyroid levels) is the opposite problem—they tend to have more energy than usual. According to Dr. Pasternak, this can sometimes be tricky to pinpoint. “Most people think it is a good thing when their older cat starts becoming more active,” she says. “They don’t realize it’s a thyroid issue until the levels are so high that the cat starts to show more serious signs.” While increased energy might be a good sign in your older cat, it’s always best to run it by your vet to rule out a cat thyroid problem. Other symptoms commonly seen with hyperthyroidism in cats include increased thirst, urination, hunger and vocalization as well as intermittent vomiting.
2. Weight Gain or Loss
Another sign of thyroid problems in dogs is weight gain that’s not caused by overeating. Instead, your pet slowly packs on a few pounds despite you feeding him a normal diet. According to Dr. Barrack, this weight gain can even lead to obesity in your pet if the thyroid problem isn’t corrected.
Conversely, cats with thyroid problems often experience weight loss, despite having a ravenous appetite. As with increased energy, Dr. Pasternak cautions owners against mistaking increased appetite in an older cat for a good thing. When paired with weight loss, it’s always something you should bring up to your vet.
3. Skin or Coat Problems
Skin and coat issues are also a sign of thyroid problems in dogs. Hypothyroidism typically causes dull hair, hair loss or a dry coat, according to Dr. Pasternak. You might notice that your pet’s skin flakes off more than usual when you’re brushing him. Or, he might start to experience patches of thinning hair.
Hyperthyroidism in cats causes the opposite problem. According to Dr. Barrack, your cat’s coat may start to look greasy and matted. Cats will sometimes stop grooming themselves and develop an unkempt appearance.
4. Intolerance to Cold
According to Dr. Barrack, aversion to cold can indicate hypothyroidism in dogs. You might notice your pet shivering in the cold or turning back toward the house to cut potty breaks short on cold days. He might also sit close to the heat vent, burrow under blankets or be reluctant to leave his warm bed.
5. Vomiting or Diarrhea
Over time, hyperthyroidism in cats can progress to a more serious symptoms, such as vomiting. “Left untreated, cats with thyroid problems can also develop secondary problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease,” warns Dr. Barrack.
If your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms, talk to your veterinarian. If your dog or cat does have thyroid problems, they can typically be treated with prescription pet medication. However, when left untreated, these problems can greatly affect the quality of your pet’s life.