Drama Club to present Cinderella – with an album by Maralyn Fink
I decided to visit the Drama Club at St Johns High School to get the scoop on their upcoming play “Cinderella.”
I met up with the group in the auditorium along with their Director Mr. Barry Palmer. Rehearsal was in full swing so I sat a spell with Mr. Palmer.
I asked a few questions and here is what I learned.
Cinderella will be held on November 13th at 7 pm, November 14th at 7 pm and November 15th at 2pm.
The club starts plans and picks their play in June.
There are 46 cast members plus the Pit Orchestra. The Pit Orchestra is led by Mr. Justin Villa, and the Vocal Instructor is led by Nichole Eller.
After watching a few minutes, I learned we have some very talented students, especially the singers and the Orchestra.
I was in a few plays back in the day, and we did Huckleberry Finn for one at Rodney B. Wilson High School.
The costume director is Dawn Flynn, and I learned that some costumes are made or rented. Others come from thrift shops and donations.
Try outs for the play were held in early September. Rehearsals are held every day from 3:30-5:30 pm. Music rehearsals are held from 3-6 pm every day all the way to the opening.
To recap:
Cinderella will be presented on November 13, 14, 15.
Tickets go on sale November 2nd and a cost of $10.00 for the public. The Box Office phone number is 227-4112.
I inquired about Cinderella’s carriage, and Mr. Palmer said that it had come from Endicott and that he had driven to New York to bring it to St. Johns. That’s a call of duty and beyond.
The student director this year is Isobella Medina.
Please folks, for all the hard work of the club and the many talented people they have, you cannot go wrong in attending one of the performances of Cinderella. So get your tickets early for an enjoyable time.
Thank you Mr. Palmer for your interview and time and to the cast for the pictures.
https://picasaweb.google.com/110845930262453987007/151020?authuser=0&feat=directlink
This week’s Mystery Photo
Where is this?
Can you tell us where this is located? Drop us a line at mail@sjindy.com.
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505 S. Oakland St.
Jan Upton writes: This darling house is at 505 S. Oakland St., and belongs to Don and Julie VeCasey.
In 1950 the house belonged to J E Bartholomew.
A Look Back – Interim City Manager in 1974
by Barry Bauer
Randy Humphrey, St Johns City Clerk, has been appointed interim city manager by the City Commission to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Harvey Weatherwax.
Weatherwax, City Manager for 6 years, resigned to accept the manager’s position in Roseville.
Humphrey has served as City Clerk for the past 13 months, previously serving as the assistant City Manager for 3½ years. During that time, he was also zoning administrator and code enforcement officer. A graduate of Central Michigan University, Humphrey, his wife, Melanie, and 3 children, reside at 805 W Park, St Johns.
Random Notes – Clem Sohn – Fowler’s “Batman” feted at Michigan Historical Center
By Rhonda Dedyne
A recent weekend visit by the Charlevoix grandkids included a trip to the Michigan Historical Museum in downtown Lansing. Joe, a second-grader at St. Mary School in Charlevoix, and his classmates are studying Michigan history, and there’s plenty to see and do at the Museum. Plus there’s no admission charge on Sundays and parking is free – a value and a deal.
The main entrance into the Museum features a single, stand-alone exhibit that immediately drew my attention. There he was, “Michigan’s Batman,” Clem Sohn, via a life-size photo of the Fowler native who drew international attention in the 1930s for his daring jumps from airplanes wearing his “batwings” that are also part of the display.
Needless to say, Joe was impressed.
Grandma provided some additional information on our famous Clinton County resident, recalling stories written in years past about Batman and the fatal jump in France that took his life at age 26. Perhaps the most interesting article (Read it here) was provided by Barry Bauer. We hope you enjoy reading it again – or for the first time.
Wandering through the Museum’s two floors really does bring Michigan history to life, and the hands-on, interactive displays make learning fun – for kids and adults. There’s something for everyone from every time period: the fur trade that helped generate interest in what would become the Great Lakes State; mining and lumber industries that followed; the importance of Michigan agriculture which still remains as a dominant driver of our state’s economy; and, of course, the automobile – the rise of the Motor City and manufacturing.
Grandma thoroughly enjoyed herself, and so did Ella, Jack and Joe and their mom, Karrie, a Yooper from Lanse – and proud of it!
There is a limited amount of time – now through Dec. 6 – to view the exhibit on Clem Sohn. For detailed information on the Michigan Historical Museum that’s part of the Michigan Library and Historical Center visit http://www.michigan.gov/mhc/
Benny and Jessie’s Pet Info
Staying Safe While Walking with Your Dog at Night
Nighttime walks with your dog are fun — and necessary — but they can also be hazardous. Visibility is diminished, meaning that not only will you not see all of the obstacles and ground level hazards (e.g., sharp objects like rocks and glass), you will also not be as visible to motorists and other pedestrians, such as bikers and joggers, who may unintentionally invade your dog’s personal space. There are also the nighttime critters to take into account — the raccoons, the opossums, even the neighborhood cats that prowl at night, all can be distractions for your dog.
Improving Visibility
There are so many useful and easy to find products for night walking that we only need to list them to get you started. Of course, the easiest and thriftiest solution is to get a roll of reflective tape and attach it to your dog’s collar, leash and harness. But if you want a product that has been specifically designed for nighttime visibility whether light is shining directly on you and your dog or not, there are plenty to choose from.
The most no-nonsense are the blinking light collars, leashes and attachable collar lights (similar in size to a typical collar tag), the latter which can be found in long lasting, far reaching lights — as strong as a standard flashlight in some cases. Look for the products that have easy battery replacement to guarantee that you always have what you need.
Collars and leashes with reflective strips and lights, so that even when a light is not shining on your dog, the lights will illuminate your dog in the dark — blinking lights and steady lights are both available
– Clip-on blinking lights, to attach to your clothing and to your dog’s leash
– Collar tags with reflective coating
– Brightly colored and reflective vests for you and your dog
– Reflective leg bands for your dog
– Flashlights that attach to your dog’s collar, or onto your own head (e.g., the type used by mushers, climbers and miners)
– Lighted pooper scooper or combination flashlight waste bag holder/dispenser
– High pitched whistle
Using Caution
Even if you have outfitted your dog with the best lights and reflective gear, it is still best to carry your own flashlight to be sure that you are in control of your own field of vision. We recommend a headlight, the style worn by mushers and miners, so that your hands are free to hold onto your dog and clean up.
Other precautions to take at night are to walk against traffic if you must walk on the roadside (you should stick to the sidewalk otherwise). While walking toward traffic might seem counter-intuitive, it enables you to see what it coming so that you can get out of the way quickly, if need be. Always stay aware of the sounds and movements around you, and be prepared to move quickly.
We are not advising an attitude of fear, just an attitude of awareness. There may be loose dogs, nocturnal wild animals, roaming cats, and in some places, troublesome people. There are also joggers and bicyclists who may not be paying attention and come up on your and your dog too quickly, startling your dog. And with these things in mind, always keep your dog on a leash, and always keep a firm hold on the leash. Nighttime is an especially bad time to lose your dog.
Don’t forget about what you are wearing
If you are wearing dark clothing, you will basically be invisible in the darkness. At the very least, you should have a light colored jacket to wear at night. Better is to have reflective clothing for your night walks. A reflective jacket and sneakers will improve your visibility tremendously, and if you reinforce the outfit with a couple of blinking clip-on lights and a head light, you can be sure not to be missed in the dark. Remember, you can always make your own reflective gear using a roll of reflective tape. Last but not least, make sure you have your cell phone tucked securely into your pocket.
Maralyn’s Did You Know?
Halo Recalls Select Bags of Cat Food
Halo, Purely for Pets, a Tampa, FL based pet food manufacturer, has issued a recall for select bags of its Spot’s Stew Sensitive Cat Turkey kibble due to reports of mold.
The products involved in this recall include:
Spot’s Stew Wholesome Turkey Recipe Sensitive Formula for Cats
UPCs: 745158350231 and 745158340232
Sizes: 6 lb. and 3 lb. bags
Best By date: 09/04/2016
No other Halo products are currently affected by this recall.
Halo is advising consumers who have packages of Spot’s Stew Sensitive Cat Turkey stamped “Best By 09/04/2016” to discontinue feeding it to their cats and return the remaining portion to any Halo retailer for a full refund or replacement.
According to the press release issued by Halo, Purely for Pets, “While some pets can ingest mold without incident, others may experience digestive issues.”
Should your cat experience digestives issues after consuming food involved in the recall, consult a veterinarian.
For more information, contact Halo Customer Care at 800-426-4256 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST. Consumers can also e-mail customers@halopets.com or visit www.halopets.com.
Letters – Help us find pumpkin winner and Veterans Day
This pumpkin won in the pre-school category of pumpkin decorating and was done by Tyler, as can be seen on it. By the time of the judging, Tyler had left so we don’t know how to give him his prize, especially since we don’t have a last name.
Maybe somebody out there will recognize who Tyler is when you put up your album. That would be really nice.
Email us if you know how to contact Tyler and his family.
Jenny McCampbell
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We are fast approaching a special holiday, Veterans Day, to honor the men and women who have worn the uniform and helped to protect our country, whether abroad or at home. Our staff at the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center and Healthcare Annex in Saginaw, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) in Alpena, Bad Axe, Cadillac, Cheboygan County, Clare, Gaylord, Grayling, Oscoda, and Traverse City, take great pride in serving Veterans and their families.
I personally am proud to serve Veterans. I received my post college training at the Hines VA Medical Center in Chicago and have served Veterans for over 32 years. My father served in the Air Force in WW II, my husband served as a Navy Corpsman, and a niece and nephew were deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. We have no greater mission in the Federal Government than to care for those who have served.
November 11 has been set aside each year to pause and remember the many sacrifices made by Veterans. Those who experienced extreme combat or other active duty conditions, those who were injured or became ill because of those experiences, many who still struggle with transitioning within their communities, others who won’t seek medical or mental health care because they may feel someone deserves it more than them, or they just do not want to seek help.
I want to personally take this opportunity to reach out to Veterans and their families and welcome them to any one of our VA facilities. Although eligibility for care and services vary from Veteran to Veteran, it never hurts to pay us a visit and learn more about how you may be eligible for care, prescriptions, and more. We encourage individuals to visit www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-406-5143, extension 13120 or 13121 to ask for an enrollment packet. We also welcome you to visit our website at www.saginaw.va.gov to learn more about your hometown VA.
We provided care to 34,716 Veterans in a 35-county catchment area, contributing to 414,250 Outpatient Visits and 999 Admissions during our Fiscal Year 2015 (October 1, 2014 – September 30, 2015), and have experienced many amazing accomplishments during that timeframe:
· We continue to improve upon clinic access and are gaining momentum on hiring clinical providers necessary to fill health care positions.
· We have engaged in Systems Redesign utilizing LEAN Six Sigma practices to improve medical record document scanning processes, timeliness of consults to specialty care, communications for primary care, and much more.
· Our patient satisfaction scores told a story that we are working hard and doing the right thing for Veterans. Inpatient scores exceeded national averages for all targeted indicators for the period October 2014 – June 2015.
· We received full accreditation from The Joint Commission after an April 2015 survey for Behavioral Health, Hospital Care, Long-Term Care, and Home Care.
· A successful survey by the Long-Term Institute occurred in September 2015.
· We received a three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in October 2014 for our Blind Rehab, Compensated Work Therapy, and Veteran Homeless Programs.
· Accreditation was received by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), also in October 2014.
We are also embracing new care concepts which include:
· Relationship Based Care – Relationship Based Care enhances the care delivery by nursing and other clinical staff to improve the relationships between caregiver and Veteran, and their family members, as well as relationships between caregivers and with themselves. It promotes true caring of the Veteran as a human and not a case or diagnosis.
· Integrative Therapies – A number of therapies are now introduced to Veterans to help with pain management, comfort, and healing. They include massage therapy, auricular acupuncture, aromatherapy, healing touch, and drum mantra repetition. Additional therapies are studied, trialed, and implemented when proven successful.
· Whole Health Coaching – Provides a team approach which places the Veteran in the center of their care and encourages self-healing, promotes therapeutic approaches, and enhances collaboration of healthcare professionals to optimize the Veterans’ health outcomes.
· Telemedicine – A number of new clinics were introduced through the telemedicine delivery of care program. Some of the clinics implemented this year included:
o Pulmonology expanded to every CBOC from Saginaw.
o Pre and post-operative Thoracic Surgery with Ann Arbor being offered at all CBOCs.
o Tele-Audiology from Saginaw to Gaylord and expanded to Grayling and Alpena CBOCs.
o Interpersonal Psychotherapy being offered at all CBOC’s.
o Genetic Counseling with Salt Lake City Utah being offered at all CBOC’s.
o Transplant Evaluation Clinics with Iowa City.
o We are bringing Telemedicine to Beaver Island, Michigan as well.
Although much work has been completed within the walls of our VA and Community Based Outpatient Clinics as described above, we have also completed several construction projects which have included improvements to parking lots, laboratory renovation, expansion of some of our Community Based Outpatient Clinics, and the building of a new pavilion for Veteran and staff use.
This year, we have collaborated more in our communities than in any other year. On record, we have participated in community events, meetings, or speaking engagements to the tune of 119 events. We have developed new partnerships with the Department of Michigan Veterans Affairs through their establishment of Veterans Community Action Teams, and have a number of VA staff engaging in Veteran groups and coalitions throughout our state.
We held Veteran Community Town Halls in Traverse City, Clare, Grayling, and Mackinaw City this past year and heard first hand from Veterans, their family members, and others the good and the bad. We formulated action plans and committed to helping those with specific care needs, as well as looked for process improvement opportunities voiced at those meetings. We plan to hold quarterly Town Halls in additional cities in our primary service area this year as well.
Mental Health Summits were held in Traverse City and Bay City this year. These are opportunities for members of our community to come together for the betterment of Veterans who are in need of mental health care or support. They both proved to be very successful collaborative events.
Homeless Veteran Program Staff coordinated multiple Veteran Stand Downs in Alpena, Bad Axe, Gaylord, and Traverse City. Stand Downs provide a commonplace setting for Veterans in need to receive services and items, with the ultimate goal of enrolling them for care and services, as well as assisting them with their housing needs.
Each month we meet with Veteran County Service Officers and Veteran Service Officers on a variety of VA and Veteran issues, as well as meeting quarterly with Congressional and Senatorial Representatives whom support our VA and the Community Based Outpatient Clinics throughout our primary service area.
Our Voluntary Service Program at the VA is 459 volunteers strong. They contributed a total of 39,038 volunteer hours to assist Veterans and staff. Through community contributions, our VA has received $313,991.11 in donations this year, which support a variety of needs and activities for Veterans.
In closing, I want to thank each and every VA employee. You do amazing work each and every day. Without your Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence, we would not be the proud VA health care organization we are today.
Happy Veterans Day to Each and Every Veteran and if you receive your care with us, thank you!!! We are proud to serve those who have served.
With My Gratitude,
Peggy W. Kearns, MS, FACHE
Medical Center Director, Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center, Saginaw, MI