Applications are Being Accepted for 2016 Spring CASA Advocate Training
What better way is there to make a difference in this new year than by serving as a CASA Volunteer Advocate?
CASA Advocates are the voice for children who are involved in court proceedings due to no fault of their own. Advocates visit their appointed child every 7 to 10 days–during the visits, they play games, draw, help with homework, and listen. Through this consistent relationship, Advocates are able to learn about the child and report to the court how the child is doing throughout the court process.
For more information on how you can make a difference, please visit the CASA website or contact our office 517-599-7145. You can make a difference in the life of a child who has experienced abuse or neglect.
Carrie Morrison Hartenburg invited CASA Executive Director Kelly Schafer to speak to the St. Johns Lioness Club. These supporters of CASA originally made the first financial gift to the program.
Protect your family against radon; test your home
The old saying, “what you don’t know can’t hurt you” certainly doesn’t apply when it comes to the presence of radon in your home. According to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), radon invades nearly one in eight Michigan homes; could yours be the one?
This naturally occurring radioactive gas is found in almost any kind of soil or rock. It travels through the ground to the air above, and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation, floor or walls. Any home – old or new – may have a radon problem.
Radon has no warning signs; it can’t be seen, smelled or tasted, and contrary to what some might think, it does not cause headache, nausea, or fatigue.
What it can cause, however, is lung cancer. The Surgeon General has warned that breathing air containing radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
“There is only one way to know for sure if your home has an unsafe level of radon,” said Bob Gouin, Environmental Health Division Director for the Mid-Michigan District Health Department (MMDHD), “and that is to test, and now is the ideal time.”
Winter is the best time to test for radon because doors and windows are typically kept shut so the radon level isn’t diluted by the introduction of fresh air. It is recommended that every residence be tested for radon by taking a short-term test first. Short-term test kits may be obtained at MMDHD free-of-charge and take only a few minutes to administer. If the result is four picocuries per liter of air (4 pCi/l) or higher, you should follow up with a long-term test to measure the year-round average. Long-term kits may be purchased at most hardware stores and are also available at MMDHD for $25.00.
If unsafe radon levels are found in your home, it is very important that you take immediate action using a trained and certified radon mitigation (reduction) contractor who will guarantee results below 4 pCi/l.
To obtain a radon test kit, or request a list of local certified radon remediation contractors, contact MMDHD at:
Clinton County Branch Office: 1307 E Townsend Road, St. Johns – Phone: 989-227-3107.
Gratiot County Branch Office: 151 Commerce Drive, Ithaca – Phone: 989-875-1020.
Montcalm County Branch Office: 615 N State Street, Stanton – Phone: 989-831-3607.
For additional information, visit MMDHDs website at www.mmdhd.org or the MDEQs website at www.michigan.gov/deq.
A friendly reminder from the City – Keep Sidewalks Clean of Snow and Ice
Just a friendly reminder: Please Keep Sidewalks Clean of Snow and Ice.
The removal of snow and ice on public sidewalks is the responsibility of the property owner in accordance with Section 4.70 of the City Code. The Police Department enforces the ordinance.
Do not throw snow, slush or ice in the street. This is against state statute and a citation may be issued for individuals whom violate this code (Motor Vehicle Code P.A. 82 of 1978, 257.677a).
Grief Share seminar – starting January 25
Grief Share is a 13 week seminar/support group for people grieving the death of someone close. Each weekly meeting centers around a topic important to the grief recovery process.
The weekly meetings will be built around three components: 1) Video Seminar 2) Support group discussion and 3) personal study and Reflection. It’s a place where you can be around people who understand how you feel and the pain of your loss. At Grief Share, you’ll learn valuable information that will help you through this difficult time in your life. There is an optional workbook available that follows the Video seminars.
This Grief Share group will meet every Monday starting January 25, 2016 at 7 pm at Pilgrim UMC in the chapel. Please feel free to contact Belinda Walker at 989.436.3475 or Tami Nelson at 989.224.9295 with any questions.
Friends of The Maple River to meet January 20
On Wednesday, January 20th, the Friends of the Maple River (FOMR) will hold its bi-monthly meeting at the Maple Rapids Community center, located at 209 Maple street in Maple Rapids. The meeting will start at 7:00 PM.
The guest speaker will be Dr. David Lusch from Michigan State University. His topic will be the glacial history of central Michigan and it’s impact on the formation of the Maple River watershed. Anyone interested in the Maple River or its glacial historyis invited to attend the meeting.
There will also be a short business session to discuss FOMR activities for 2016. One important item is participation in the March Quiet Waters Symposium at Michigan State University.
The others are planning for the annual Maple River River clean-up in April, and assisting the Friends of the Looking Glass River with their log jam removal program that is part of their preparation for their upcoming 2016 Looking Glass River Expedition scheduled for June.
The mission of FOMR is to help preserve, improve and promote the wise use of the Maple River and its watershed. And to work with units of Government, municipalities, organizations, businesses and individuals to help resolve resource and conservation issues.
For additional information about the Friends of the Maple River or the upcoming meeting in Maple Rapids, check out the organization and Like Us on Facebook at “Friends of the Maple River”.
Baker College selected Top School in Military Guide to Higher Education
Baker College has been designated a Top School by Military Advanced Education & Transition (MAE&T) in its 2016 Guide to Colleges & Universities. MAE&T is a journal of higher education for service members and veterans making the transition from military to the civilian sector.
The guide provides the foundational information a prospective student would use to frame his or her educational needs. Rankings are the result of a questionnaire completed by more than 600 institutions of higher learning that measures best practices in military and veteran education.
The schools are ranked on six measures:
· military culture
· financial aid
· flexibility
· general support
· on-campus support
· online support services
Assisting MAE&T in developing the measures and questionnaire was an advisory board of educational and government experts along with criteria based on recommendations from the Department of Veterans Affairs and other military services.
“This is another significant designation by veteran-focused media that identifies Baker College as a top choice for active and veteran members of the military,” said Christy Brasfield, MBA, Baker College advisor and military education officer and U.S. Air Force veteran. “Our military services team is focused on helping military-connected students obtain quality higher education degrees. Some of the benefits offered to those with military experience include comprehensive educational counseling, waived fees, reduced tuition and lifetime career services.”
The Baker College military services team assists military-connected students in identifying educational benefits and other needed services, such medical claims and emergency needs. This assistance is provided at on-ground campuses and virtually for those enrolled in online programs. Outside agency representatives also visit campus monthly as additional resources.
In addition to individual services, Baker College has a student veteran organization and quarterly events for military-connected students.
MAE&T Editor Kelly Fodel said, “Our goal is to be a dynamic resource for active service members and those who have moved from the military to their civilian careers, helping them find the school that best fits their plans for the future. This year’s guide is our most comprehensive to date, thanks to our newly established advisory board. The board evaluated the drafts of the questionnaire, made pages of notes and suggestions and helped to redefine questions for clarity.”
The guide is available at www.mae-kmi.com.
For more information about Baker College military services, contact Brasfield at 810.766.2212 or military@baker.edu, or visit www.baker.edu.