Features

From furniture store to hotel

The two buildings on 116 and 118 N Clinton Avenue were built at different times. If you examine the front you can notice slight color differences in the brick and limestone lintels. At some time the two buildings were modified, each floor added stairs between the buildings to combine them into one. The floors in the two buildings are slightly different heights. The 116/118 building served many decades as a furniture store before falling into disuse and disrepair.

The buildings were totally gutted to the brick structure and new electrical, plumbing, roofing, and fire sprinklers added. The team refurbished the buildings and transformed it into Heritage Place. The original stairway was preserved but had to be altered to meet new building codes.


Second annual Muster at the Mill at Uncle Johns’s – an album


Letters – An update on the rail car

We now have the trucks (wheels) and track needed to place the Sault Ste Marie in her place at the depot. We’re still going, thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers.

Please continue to donate to the GoFundMe page.

Marti Cooper

Features

Sparrow Health Fair recap

by Maralyn Fink

On Saturday I decided to check out the Sparrow Health Fair at AgroLiquid. There was a great turn out for this event with lots of information and free testing done.

It was a very warm day but that didn’t seem to bother anyone. There was also a medication disposal from Sparrow Clinton Hospital and I arrived without mine. Don’t figure .. .

This event benefits a lot of people, and we look forward to it every year.


Librarians share history with Grace Haven residents

Brett Harger and Marie Geller from Briggs District Library recently shared a variety of historical documents with Grace Haven residents.


CRV visits Air Zoo

Community Resource Volunteers took 7 students and 6 adult volunteers on a trip to the Air Zoo in Portage, MI
on August 22.

Community Resource Volunteers is a nonprofit working with middle school students in Science. We welcome all
students and adults to our programs. We work with astronomy, Aerospace, robots, chemistry and many more
science related programs. Check out and register for upcoming programs at www.crvonline.org or call
517-672-4226 to register or answer any questions.

CRV’s next event will be Build A Blimp, a trip to the University of Michigan on October 7 where students will
learn to build and fly their own blimps. October 28 will be Mars Rover at the CRV Office where students will guide RC rovers over the “Martian” landscape to rescue stranded astronauts.


Portland McDonalds offers new features

On Tuesday, Sept. 26, the Portland McDonald’s restaurant located at 1432 E. Grand River Ave., invited guests to experience updates to the restaurant in an effort to showcase a new level of choice, engagement and service.

McDonald’s owner/operators and restaurant teams in Portland are placing a higher emphasis on hospitality by focusing on greeting customers, assisting with new technology and ensuring a clean, welcoming environment. This new restaurant model has been successfully rolled out in more than 2,600 restaurants globally and, as of May 2017, 1,000 McDonald’s restaurants nationally.

McDonald’s is putting more choice and control in the hands of guests by improving how they order, what they order, how they pay and how they are served.

Beginning on Thursday you can be among the first to experience new in-restaurant features, including:

• New digital self-order kiosks

• Table service

• New payment options including Apple/Android Pay

• New Signature Crafted recipe menu items with premium ingredients


Benny and Jessie’s Pet Info – Dog Hiccups: What You Need to Know

Let’s be honest: It’s pretty adorable when our dogs get the hiccups. And when the hiccups happen to puppies? Don’t even get us started.

But could hiccups ever be a problem for pets? And do they bother our dogs as much as they bother us?

Our vet experts explain what causes the hiccups, how to help your dog, and when to call the veterinarian to make sure the hiccups aren’t a symptom of a more serious medical condition.

What Causes Hiccups in Dogs?

Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm, says Dr. Audrey J. Wystrach, co-founder and chief operating officer of ZippiVet veterinary practice in Austin, Texas.

The diaphragm is a dome-shaped sheet of internal skeletal muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen, she says. It’s the primary muscle involved in respiration. When a dog breathes in, the diaphragm contracts and moves downward, making more room in the chest cavity for the lungs to expand. When a dog breathes out, the diaphragm relaxes and moves up into the chest cavity. Normally, the movements of the diaphragm are smooth and regular, but when the muscle suddenly spasms, we call it a hiccup.

Involuntary diaphragmatic tics also cause hiccups in humans, says Dr. Stephanie Liff, a veterinarian and owner of Pure Paws Veterinary Care in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Hiccups can be brought on by eating or drinking too fast and swallowing too much air, she says.

Hiccups may also happen when dogs are excited or stressed, or when they inhale an irritant, Wystrach says. Energetic play and rapid breathing can also bring them on.

Reverse sneezes may sometimes be confused for hiccups, she says. But this is different. Reverse sneezes happen when a dog vigorously sucks in air through her nose.

How Common Are Dog Hiccups?

The condition is much more common in puppies than adult dogs, Liff says. Most dogs experience them at least once when they’re young, she adds.

Puppies are more prone to hiccups than adult dogs because of their high energy and excitement levels, Wystrach says. They’re more likely to eat or drink too fast, and are more prone to rapid bursts of energy, which may impact their breathing.

Their internal organs and systems are also less mature than those of adult dogs, Liff says, which may contribute to an increased chance of hiccups.

How Can You Help a Dog with Hiccups?

Most hiccup spells only last a few minutes, Liff says. In her experience, dogs don’t appear as agitated by the hiccups as they do by other symptoms, like vomiting or coughing.

Still, after getting over the adorableness of their dog’s hiccups, most owners want to do something to help their pets. “Many cures for dogs are quite similar to those used by their owners when hiccups strike,” Wystrach says.

These may include giving dogs something sweet or adding syrup, honey, or sugar to their water, she says. The sweetness can help distract your dog, which can change and hopefully relax her breathing pattern, Wystrach says. “You might want to try a little bit of honey, maple syrup, Karo syrup, or anything sweet in a liquid form.”

Since hiccups are involuntary and can be violent at times, you don’t want to give the dog anything solid that requires a lot of chewing, as this could lead to choking, she says. Make sure to also avoid anything sugar-free, because those products often contain xylitol which can be very dangerous for dogs.

You may try massaging your dog’s chest to help relax the diaphragm, or even gently startling your pet. Encouraging light exercise can also help change your dog’s breathing patterns, Wystrach says.

But don’t let the hiccups stop you from playing with your pup, Liff says. “You can still treat them like a normal dog.”

When Should You Call a Doctor?

Liff says she gets a lot of calls from pet owners concerned about a doggie hiccup attack. For the most part, she tells them it’s nothing to worry about.

But in very rare cases, hiccups could be a sign of a more serious underlying problem, such as respiratory defects, pneumonia, asthma, pericarditis, or heat stroke, Wystrach says. If the condition persists for more than a few hours, it’s time to call your veterinarian.


Letters – Street millage and Sam Coffman’s update

In 2013 the St. Johns community voted to pay 4 mills over 4 years to repair some of the streets in St. Johns. That foresight has resulted in 12 miles of streets that are much improved. Now it’s time to step up to the plate again to pass another street-repair millage on November 7 for the repairs needed on ten more miles of streets.

This next request is for 3 mills (in place of the previous 4 mills) over 5 years. Funds can be spent only on street improvement, including: remove and replace old asphalt, improve and upgrade sidewalk ramps, replace curb & gutter as needed and improve surface drainage. Repairs will be done spring 2018 through fall 2022. The City will minimize future street disruptions in your neighborhood by addressing underground repairs prior to placing new asphalt on the streets: Consumers Energy will upgrade gas services and transmission mains as needed and City Staff will replace old water main valves that have deteriorated.

Unfortunately, in recent years as state legislators have needed to make budget cuts they have cut money that is given back to local communities from tax dollars taken in by the state. This has resulted in cities having tighter budgets for their own expenses such as road repairs.

To see a map of where the 12 miles of roads were repaired and where the next 10 miles will be, go to the web site for the City of St. Johns, or stop at the City offices.

Jenny McCampbell
St. Johns

******

I attached two pics from the September 19 presentation.


One is of Mr. Tennant, and has me in it.

Both have the main image that is being used to represent the film on the projector screen in the background.

I’ll keep you posted about the film’s progress, of course

Sam Coffman


Maralyn’s Pet Corner – How to Treat Cat Scratches at Home

Getting scratched by a cat can be more than just painful—the wounds can bleed, sting, swell, become infected, and, in some cases, make us sick. Minor cat scratches usually can be treated at home, but certain wounds may require special care and attention.

Like many animal doctors, Los Angeles-based holistic veterinarian Dr. Patrick Mahaney has dealt with his share of aggressive cats and is well acquainted with the damage they can cause with a swipe of the paw. A cat’s claws are generally sharper than those of a dog and are more likely to cause significant trauma, Mahaney explains. The greater the trauma, the greater the potential for swelling, exposure to the blood supply, and chance of infection, he adds.

According to Dr. Matthew Levy, an associate professor of emergency medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, there are factors to consider immediately following a cat scratch. “Some things to consider include wound location, wound depth, considerations regarding the cat itself, and medical factors about the person who was scratched,” he advises.

Treating Cat Scratches

When treating superficial scratches, it’s reasonable to wash the wound with soap and water, Levy says. “If the wound is bleeding, apply pressure with a clean, dry gauze pad,” he says. “If the bleeding doesn’t stop despite holding pressure, then medical attention should be sought.”

Wounds to the hands and feet can be more prone to infection, Levy warns, and scratches to the face or other areas of the body can cause cosmetic damage in the form of scarring. A scratch to the eye needs immediate care. The risk for infection is higher for people with weakened or compromised immune systems, Levy says.

An over-the-counter antibiotic cream can be applied and the wound covered with a dry, sterile dressing until it heals, Levy says. It’s crucial to keep an eye on the progression of the wound, he adds, and watch out for warning signs that it’s time to call your doctor.

According to Levy, signs of an infected wound include changes around the wound site, increased redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness, pain with movement, or pus drainage. Signs of a generalized body infection include fever, chills, body aches, fatigue, and swollen glands. Swollen glands (lymph nodes) that develop within a week involving an area of the body that was scratched can be an indication of a bacterial infection.

If an unknown or feral cat scratches you, Levy recommends using the same first aid treatment, but also enlisting the help of animal control or your local health department. Depending on the severity of the scratch and whether it was accompanied by a bite, the animal may need to be identified and quarantined or tested for signs of disease, such as rabies. If the animal can’t be captured, your treating physician might recommend a round of rabies prophylaxis (antibody and vaccine injections) as a preventative measure. If you haven’t had a tetanus update in more than 10 years, your doctor might also opt give you a booster shot, Levy says.

Other Risks Associated With Cat Scratches

According to Mahaney, one of the most serious risks associated with cat scratches is cat-scratch disease (CSD), also referred to as cat-scratch fever. “Cat-scratch disease is caused by a type of bacteria called Bartonella,” Mahaney describes. “The bacteria is transmitted to cats from the bite of an infected flea [or through flea feces]. Humans can contract CSD from the bite or scratch of a Bartonella-infected cat” or if the cat licks a person’s wounds.

Flea feces containing Bartonella can end up under a cat’s nails, Mahaney explains, and be transmitted when a scratch occurs. Once Bartonella infects a cat, it will circulate throughout the body via the bloodstream and end up in the saliva, and can be transmitted via a bite as well.

The symptoms of cat-scratch disease can manifest about three to 14 days after an infected cat bites or scratches a person hard enough to break the skin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to showing signs of infection at the site of the wound, a person with cat-scratch disease may also experience fever, fatigue, and decreased appetite.

“In humans, CSD can cause pain and redness at the scratch site, [bumps around the wound], local lymph node swelling, and fever,” Mahaney says.

An estimated 12,000 people are diagnosed with cat-scratch each year, and 500 are hospitalized, the CDC reports. According to Mahaney, if untreated, CSD can cause enlargement of the spleen, thickening of the heart valve, encephalitis (inflammation of the membranes that surrounding the brain), and other ailments.

To prevent cat scratches from turning into a potentially serious medical issue, there are some simple steps you can take at home, Mahaney says. “Using veterinarian-recommended flea and tick control (topical or oral medications), along with good housekeeping habits (vacuuming carpeting, upholstery, and washing human bedding every seven days), can help to keep down flea populations, and reduce the likelihood that Bartonella bacteria will transmit into your cats.”

Features

Arts Night Out: Chalk It Up Winners

The fall Arts Night Out: Chalk It Up event presented by the Clinton County Arts Council was a remarkable success.

The event was held downtown St. Johns on Friday, September 15th. Sixteen businesses participated by hosting either an artist or a Chalk It Up contestant. The community came together, strolling the downtown streets, meeting artists and voting on the Chalk It Up works.

We have amazing talent amongst our community. Artists’ ages ranged from eight years old to 45 years old.

First prize of $150 was awarded to Felicia Sheldon for her Three Legged Dog sketching in front of the Three Legged Dog Antique businesses.

Second prize of $50 went to Garrett Smith and Georgia Fromson for their dragon sketch in front of Studio Retreat. The community certainly had a difficult voting decision. All contestants did a super job!

The weather was perfect and allowed for food vendors and giant Chalk n Play games to be enjoyed by all!

The Clinton County Arts Council would like to sincerely thank all participating businesses, artists and the community for coming together in fellowship. We look forward to future Arts Night Out events that will continue to promote, encourage and support the arts and cultural heritage of Clinton County.

Clinton County Arts Council receives a portion of its operating funds from Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.


Letters – Reader enjoyed seeing the Oliver tractor

The Oliver tractor in the photo is either a model 2455 (produced in 1969-1970) or a 2655 (produced in 1971-1972). Source of information: www.tractordata.com

This would date the picture to the early 1970s. Not many of these tractors were built, so this might have been the only one sold by Phillips. I can remember Dad commenting that Bob Lange ran that tractor hard and had trouble with the engine.

Our entire family used Oliver tractors, so we often did business with Harold Phillips. I still have a Oliver 770 that Dad bought new in the spring of 1965. I was quite thrilled with the new tractor because it steered easier than the Massey Harris 33 it replaced. I was 15 years old at the time. I started running the Massey when I was 12.

Glenn Schultz
St Johns.


Maralyn’s Pet Corner – Top 10 Holistic Tips For Managing Your Pet’s Fall Allergies

Regardless of location, the elemental tumult of fall (dying plant life, dryness, moisture, cooler temperatures, wind, etc.) stirs up environmental allergens and irritants that can affect the eyes, nose, skin, and other body systems of both people and animals.

Common clinical signs of allergies include:

– Nasal and eye discharge
– Sneezing
– Coughing
– Pruritis (itching/scratching, licking/chewing at body parts)
– Fur loss or color change (tears and saliva contain porphyrins, which stain light colored fur pink to brown)

The competent immune systems of most companion canines and felines will ultimately adapt to the seasonal changes, leading to the resolution of clinical signs. With animals that are not quite able to self-adjust, we pet owners must intervene with baths, conditioning rinses, eye/ear drops, oral or injectable medications (antihistamines, antibiotics, steroids, etc.), nutraceuticals (omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidant, etc.), or other treatments.

A pet’s ability to acclimate to environmental allergens is based on a variety of factors, including:

– Overall state of health (i.e., healthy vs. sick)
– Underlying diseases that compromise immune system function (cancer, immune mediated [i.e., autoimmune] diseases, Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, etc.)
– Immunomodulating medications (chemotherapy, steroids, etc.)
– Diet (whole versus processed food, protein and carbohydrate allergies, etc.)
– Degree of exposure (occasional vs. frequent)

Since so many factors can affect immune system health, the management of allergies can potentially be very complicated.

Top tips for holistically managing your pet’s seasonal allergies addresses both whole-body health and environment factors:

1. Keep your home low in allergenic potential. Vacuum all carpeting and upholstery and wash all pet and human bedding at least every seven days. After vacuuming, dispose of the vacuum bag or canister in a sealed away from your home.

2. Keep windows closed, use air conditioning during the warmer times, and run an air filtration system on a year-round basis.

3. Change filters on both heating and cooling systems as per manufacturer guidelines.

4. Bathe your pets every 7 to 30 days (once weekly to once monthly) or as per your veterinarian’s guidelines based on your pet’s skin and coat needs. Besides removing allergens and irritants from the skin and coat, bathing can have a variety of other effects including killing and removing bacteria and yeast, removing fleas and their saliva and feces (free dirt), and lifting off flaking skin.

5. Use an over-the-counter eye irrigating solution to rinse your pet’s eyes on an as needed basis.

6. Schedule a physical examination with your veterinarian and pursue recommended diagnostics at least every 12 months.

7. Commit to readily resolving or managing disease conditions, as inflammation associated with illness negatively impacts immune system health.

8. Use topical and oral anti-parasite (flea, tick, etc.) treatments as per the guidance of your veterinarian. My general recommendation is to lessen the need for these products by keeping your shared environment thoroughly and regularly cleaned.

9. Provide a moist, freshly prepared, whole food-based diet having human-grade protein, vegetables, fruits, fat, and fiber. Avoid ingredients that are lacking in protein and grain “meals and by-products,” artificial colors and flavors, moistening agents (propylene glycol, carageenan, etc.), sugar, rendered fat, and other feed-grade components (as typically go into commercially available dog and cat foods).

10. Maintain your pet’s slim Body Condition Score (ideally 3 out of 3) on a lifelong basis. Being overweight or obese causes unnecessary stress on all body systems and contributes to inflammation, which can have serious health implications.

Features

St. Johns Grad’s Big Film Goal – Tuesday, September 19

Sam Coffman, a 1991 graduate of St. Johns High School, has always dreamed of being part of the entertainment industry. With his latest script and the right people on board, Sam is making that happen with his animated feature film, The Great Mystery.

Sam will be talking about his film in a special presentation in the Wilson Center Auditorium on Tuesday, September 19 at 7:30 p.m., giving people a chance to learn more about his project. Video will also be included during the event. There will be a Q & A session at the end of the presentation – there is no admission charge.

After networking in Los Angeles for over five years, Sam was recently able to set up a meeting with Stan Lee’s anime film and series producer to pitch his script. The producer loved the story and gave Coffman the green light to start creating pre-production media in October with her and the #1 animation studio in Japan.

“Stan Lee is an amazing American comic-book writer and executive producer,” says Coffman. “He is the genius behind Marvel Comics – including Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, and Iron Man. It is huge to have his name affiliated with my film!”

“Sam always displayed a high level of creativity while in high school,” explains Bill Tennant, a former teacher at SJHS. “I particularly remember his fantastic performance in the 1991 State Championship winning musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – outstanding!”

Since graduating from high school, Sam pursued his creative interests in Kalamazoo and North Carolina, eventually ending up in Chicago for 10 years where he attended Northeastern Illinois University, graduating with a degree in Sociology.

While in Chicago, Sam was involved in a variety of creative experiences in the entertainment industry including work on a Keanu Reeves film, performing with various bands, and a stint with Chicago’s famed Second City.

Sam then headed to Japan where he spent 2 ½ years acting in a variety of films and TV shows, while also getting deeply involved in the production process itself. In 2012, he decided to take his creative momentum to Los Angeles where he booked several TV and film jobs – all the while working on his own film ideas and scripts.

“I’m glad that Sam has this fine opportunity to bring his wonderful script to the big screen,” says Tennant. “He has the talent – has worked hard through the years – this is the leap he has dreamed of!”

If you can’t make the presentation and would like additional information, please visit Sam’s website at https://igg.me/at/thegreatmystery.


A Look Back – Phillips Implement Co.

by Barry Clark Bauer

Phillips Implement was located at 313 N. Lansing St. in St. Johns. This was later the location of Dennis Distributing.

Standing on the right next to this Oliver Tractor is the owner, Harold Phillips, in the middle is Bob Lange, and the guy on the left is identified.

Phillips Implement no longer exists and the building was recently torn down.


Benny and Jessie’s Pet Info – How to Stop Your Dog From Pulling on the Leash

We all have that friend, relative, or rival who walks their dog with expert leash-wielding skills. They aren’t being pulled down the block, tied ’round trees, or tangled up with the friendly neighbor dog who’s also out for an afternoon stroll. I don’t know about you, but I silently envy the person and pet that can walk side-by-side without breaking a sweat.

And I have to admit, good leash walking skills are important for more than just showing off your pet-parent talents.

“From a relationship perspective,” explains Sarah Fraser, a certified professional dog trainer and co-founder of Instinct Behavior & Training in New York City, “if your dog is walking nicely on a leash, it likely means that your dog is paying more attention to you, making it easier for you to provide direction and guidance as needed along your walk.”

A leash-puller can also run the risk of accidentally breaking away from your grip, which can pose multiple dangers to your pet if he or she continues to run, not to mention the danger for yourself if you end up face-first on the sidewalk. Having proper leash manners minimizes the risk that you will be pulled over in a moment of overzealous leash yanking and will make the time more about walking and less about tug-of-war.

“Teaching your dog to walk nicely on a leash allows you to take her more places and for longer walks, because it’s more comfortable and enjoyable for the both of you,” Fraser says.

Tips for Better Walking Behavior

Whether your dog is big or small, here are six ways to improve your dog’s behavior on a leash:

Adjust your attitude.

First, ask yourself: “What would I like him or her to do instead?” Instead of teaching a dog to stop pulling, think of it as teaching your dog how to walk nicely beside you.

Remember it’s all about the rewards.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to start teaching a dog to walk properly on a leash is to reward the dog for paying attention to you and for being in the desired position (next to you or close to you) when out for a walk.

“As the dog learns that walking next to you is a pleasant, rewarding experience, she’ll spend less time pulling and more time walking nicely beside you,” says Fraser. Try using very special treats in the beginning, like small pieces of boiled chicken or roast beef, to really get your dog’s attention, she advises.

Play the “follow me” game.

Hold on to your leash and take several backward steps away from your dog. The backward movement is inviting, so your dog is likely to turn and follow you. Say “yes!” as your dog approaches you, then immediately reward him or her with a treat.

“The game helps your dog focus and move with you,” says Fraser. Then back away several steps in another direction. Once again, says “yes!” as your dog approaches and reward him or her with a treat. Repeat this pattern eight to 12 times, until your dog is actively pursuing you when you move away.

Practice on your regular walks.

Once you’ve started your stride, each time your dog looks up at you or walks next to you, says “yes!” and immediately reward him or her with a treat.

Reward often.

“Frequent rewards will help your dog figure out more quickly what behavior you’re looking for and make the learning process easier for her,” Fraser explains.

“The trick to making this work is using very special treats at first, and keeping your rate of reinforcement high, which just means that you are marking and rewarding often — maybe every 4-5 steps at first — for any and all ‘good’ leash behavior.”

Over time, you can thin out your rate of reinforcement, rewarding your dog less frequently throughout the course of the walk, Fraser adds.

Consider additional assistance.

“If your dog is already a practiced puller, consider purchasing a quality front clip harness to provide extra control on walks,” Fraser recommends. But if your dog already pulls hard on a front clip harness, consider working with a certified, positive reinforcement-based trainer.

Finally, remember that walking on a leash is a skill that takes time and practice for both the pet parent and dog, so celebrate incremental improvements and successes.


Letters – Readers work out photo puzzle and a corn test

After reading last week’s A Look Back, several readers set about trying to identify the students in the photo.

I am starting to think the second boy from the back in the plaid pants is Scott Tiedt. I am also wondering if the girl in the plaid jacket behind Chrissy Dedyne is me. I can only see half of the face so I’m not sure.
– Barbie Downing Heibeck

The girls that I recognize are Chrissy Dedyne in the very front, Shelly Low on her bike, Lori Hogan, Dawn Bakita Dawn Bakita Mee, Cathy Feeman Fick and Kellie Kellie Bissell Seman. I think there are a couple of Ward and Fedewa boys.
– Melissa Martis Fowler

I see Cathy Feeman and Dawn Bakita on the right.
– Jamie Foster

I can remember lining up on this corner every morning of elementary school, unless of course, you were on Safety Patrol duty in 5th grade! Boys and girls always had to line up separately!!
– Kellie Bissell Seman

So in an effort to summarize


Chrissy Dedyne in the very front, Shelly Low on her bike, Lori Hogan, Dawn Bakita Mee, Cathy Feeman Fick and Kellie Bissell Seman

******

Carrollton Farmers Exchange in Carrollton Ohio has sent me pictures of a field split with their normal AgroLiquid Program and one with PrimAgro Products. The first picture was taken 30 days after planting the second one was taken 9-7-17. as Fred said; This stuff is awesome, that’s all I have to say!


Kurt Fisher
Sales Account Manager
AgroLiquid
www.agroliquid.com


Maralyn’s Pet Corner – Cat Hairball Problems?

Hairballs are the bane of cat ownership. These clumps of hair bond together in the stomach and then are vomited up in our shoes, carpets and floors. But are cat hairballs normal, and is there any way to prevent them in the first place? Let’s take a look.

Are Cat Hairballs Normal?

Technically speaking, cat hairballs are not normal. Cats have been grooming themselves for thousands of years and their digestive tracts are built to handle the hair that is inevitably swallowed. Hairballs should move through the digestive system and come out the other end. However, when this process goes awry, the hair can clump together in the stomach and does not pass into the intestinal tract. It causes enough irritation that a cat will usually vomit up the wad, and voila … you have a hairball.

When I’m presented with a cat that brings up the occasional hairball and absolutely everything else appears to be perfectly normal, I don’t initially recommend an exhaustive work-up (that would take gastrointestinal biopsies). I will perform a physical (looking for both GI problems and dermatological conditions that could increase shedding), run a fecal exam, and if I feel they’re warranted (or the owner wants to be especially thorough), recommend a comprehensive panel of blood work (including a check of thyroid levels) and a urinalysis.

Why Do Hairballs Occur?

Cat hairballs can occur for a few reasons, but the vast majority of cases can be attributed to:

1. Ingesting more hair than normal.

Skin diseases (e.g., external parasites, infections, and allergies) can all cause cats to shed and/or groom themselves excessively, which in turn may lead to hairball issues. Extreme grooming can also be associated with stress, boredom, compulsive behaviors, and concurrent illness that is seemingly unrelated to the skin or gastrointestinal system. For example, a cat with osteoarthritis may attempt to soothe herself by stimulating the release of pain-relieving endorphins through repetitive grooming behaviors.

2. Altered gastrointestinal motility.

When a cat’s gastrointestinal tract is not functioning correctly, it may not be able to process even a normal amount of hair in the way that it should. Hairballs can be associated with inflammatory bowel disease, internal parasites, pancreatitis, hernias, foreign bodies, cancers, and other potentially serious diseases.

What are the Best Ways to Prevent Cat Hairballs?

If your cat is having an issue with hairballs, consult a veterinarian. Assuming your cat’s veterinarian finds nothing unusual during an exam, the following is typically recommended:

1. Add fiber to the diet.

The bulk of additional dietary fiber essentially “sweeps” hair through the digestive tract, preventing it from clumping together in the stomach. Discuss with your veterinarian on the best method to add fiber to your cat’s diet. One option is to choose a diet specially formulated with soluble and insoluble fibers to increase digestive activity.

2. Changing diets to a formula with fewer potential allergens.

Gastrointestinal inflammation (often caused by food allergies and/or inflammatory bowel disease) is at the bottom of many chronic cases of hairballs. A prescription, hypoallergenic diet is ideal, but over-the-counter limited antigen foods can be tried as long as owners understand that if a cat’s response isn’t ideal, a more restrictive food trial will still be necessary.

3. Take on some of the grooming ritual yourself

Increasing the number of times per week the cat is brushed will help any of the above solutions work better since any hair that is removed during the brushing sessions are not swallowed by the cat.

As long as your cat is not losing weight or vomiting up hair more than once a week or so, feel free to try some or all of these recommendations before calling your veterinarian. But if they don’t work, it’s time to make an appointment. Your veterinarian can look closely for any health conditions that may be playing a role in the formation of hairballs and make appropriate treatment and dietary recommendations.

Features

Forty Ceramic Artists featured at Rural Studio Tour – September 23-24

The first annual ceramic studio tour – The Cracked Pot Clay Studio Tour — presents twelve area potteries that have opened their studios and invited additional Michigan ceramic artists to join them in showing and demonstrating their work. Over 40 artists are participating in the tour. The public is invited to experience the studios, observe potters in action, and watch multiple live demonstrations.

The Cracked Pot Clay Studio Tour will be held on
Saturday, September 23 from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm and
Sunday, September 24 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Admission is free.

This is your chance to meet and talk to the artists in their studios, take in the peaceful surroundings that inspire them, enjoy a backroads autumn tour, and watch first-hand the creation of ceramic art. The rural ceramic artist studios and potteries surrounding the Williamston, Bath and Mason area are local gems that have been creating beautiful art for decades. Don’t miss this chance to explore the serenity and artistry that make up Michigan’s local pottery community.

The tour follows a rustic path, visiting architecturally diverse studios, starting in Bath at Pamela Timmons’ Studio, which overlooks natural wetlands. The tour continues at two studios that border on the Rose Lake Nature Area: Paul Thornton’s Studio Gallery, featuring his whimsical face pots, and Bill Selanders’ Fox Knoll Pottery, with well-crafted functional ware. As you wind your way toward the Williamston area, visit the Ned Krouse Pottery Studio, which specializes in Raku, and Welded Creations Plus, where Nancy and Lee Kronenberg combine their talents of crafting metal and clay. Be sure to visit two new studios in Williamston, Mary Fritz’s Red Cedar Studio overlooking the Red Cedar River, and Ruth Zimmerman’s Red Barn Pottery, a ceramic art center. Stop also at the Mark Chatterley Sculpture Studio to view amazing sculptures set in the natural landscape. As you meander toward Mason, check out two bucolic historic farms, Virginia Cassaday Pottery and Blake Williams at Blue Barn Studio. The tour concludes in Mason, where visitors can experience the DeLind Studio, which features the work of the talented DeLind family, and the Jon Whitney Pottery Studio, specializing in masterfully-thrown functional pottery.

The clay artists in the tour range from the internationally and nationally known to the locally loved. They will present their functional and sculptural work for viewing and purchase. Mary Fritz of Red Cedar Studio, the tour’s coordinator, says “This is the first time Mid-Michigan’s vibrant ceramic community has come together to share their work in the settings that inspired them!”

See www.crackedpotstudiotour.com and visit The Cracked Pot Clay Studio on Facebook for a map and art preview. Pick up a brochure from area businesses to begin the tour. All participating studios have maps and brochures to be distributed. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind opportunity to take a trip through the local art community and bring a piece home with you.


Now and Then – Michigan Iron Industry Museum

by Jean Martin

About once every month or six weeks the St. Johns Independent has been receiving press releases from an entity called the Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee. What, we wondered, were we to make of that?

Then a week or so ago we found ourselves at loose ends in the Upper Peninsula town of Marquette. Well, why not visit this place?

The Museum is located just west of Marquette and overlooks the Carp River, the site of the first iron forge in the Lake Superior region. Admission is free, but they encourage donations. Oddly enough, they do charge for their very fine video presentation on local mining history.

Visitors might want to take note. Do not trust the GPS app on your smartphone for directions. You will get there eventually, but you will be doing it the hard way. Instead we suggest that you simply follow US-41 west out of Marquette. On the left you will see a State Police Post. Do not turn there; that way madness lies. Continue west a short way, and you will see the Museum entrance on the left. It will require a Michigan left to get over there, but we believe you will find it well worth the trouble.

www.michigan.gov/ironindustrymuseum


A Look Back – Waiting for the bus

by Barry Clark Bauer

The kids are back to school starting this week. Waiting for the bus that seems to take forever, especially in the cold weather.

The big difference is this photo, it was taken in 1974 which was 43 years ago and these kids are now in their fifties. Wonder what happened to them.

The kids are unidentified.


Benny and Jessie’s Pet Info – Is Your Dog Bored?

Whether the kids have gone back to school, the adults are away all day at work, or the daily routine of walks and play-time have just lost their appeal, finding new ways to occupy your dog is essential. Dogs need both physical and mental stimulation to help keep them healthy and happy. And it’s no secret that bored dogs tend to get themselves into trouble.

“My philosophy is a tired dog is a good dog,” says Caren Malgesini, a vet assistant at PAWS, an animal rescue organization in Lynnwood, Wash., and the owner of Caren’s Canine Counseling dog training business in Everett, Wash.

But entertaining your dog doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money on doggie day care, a dog walker, or pricey toys. With a little creativity and insight into your dog’s personality, you can find, or even make, the right toys to make playtime more fun for both of you, or to keep your dog entertained and busy on his or her own.

Malgesini says it’s also important to take your dog’s breed or breed mix and age into consideration as well. Breeds like the Doberman Pinscher, Golden Retriever, and Australian Cattle Dog, all bred to be working dogs, need more exercise and mental stimulation than more easy-going breeds like the Basset Hound or Bull Dog, which prefer less challenging playtimes, she notes.

PAWS recommends two types of entertaining dog toys:

– Interactive toys that require your participation, like balls and Frisbees to fetch, and rope toys for playing tug-of-war
– Distraction toys that keep your dog busy when you don’t have time or aren’t around to play, such as toys that hide food treats, chew toys, and puzzle toys filled with treats

Interactive Toys for Dogs

Dogs, even non-working dogs, were bred to interact with humans. So spend any time with your dog that you can, because playing together strengthens your bond, advises Malgesini. Lack of interaction with people can result in needy, mopey dogs, she notes.

“We don’t give them enough to do, so they get into trouble,” adds Jen Gabbard, a Detroit-based blogger who offers a wealth of low-cost or free ways to keep your dog entertained on her blog Puppy Leaks (http://www.puppyleaks.com/). Gabbard’s easy interactive dog toys include:

Tug toys

Tug-of-war is a great way to tire your dog (and yourself) out. And you don’t have to buy a tug toy, you can easily make your own from old t-shirts, towels, or other soft materials.

Fetch toys

Many dogs love chasing balls, Frisbees, or soft toys. Some rubber toys are oddly shaped so that they bounce erratically and make the game more fun, notes Gabbard. Tennis balls are always a hit with dogs.

Distraction Toys for Dogs

“There are so many dogs that are left alone all day,” says Malgesini. “But anything can be a game to your dog if you make it fun.”

However, it’s important to initially supervise your dog with a new toy before leaving him or her alone with it. Younger dogs tend to be more destructive and may ingest part of the toy, which can lead to intestinal blockages. “Watch them to see what they do with it,” Malgesini advises.

Gabbard has a few ideas to help keep your dog occupied if he or she is home alone for hours at a time:

Stuffed Kong

Give your dog a Kong toy filled with treats, frozen peanut butter, or other food. Gabbard is such a fan of Kongs that she feeds her own dog all of her meals in a Kong. “It’s partly because she scarfs down her food quickly, but mostly to keep her mind engaged,” says Gabbard.

Frozen treats

A free equivalent to a Kong, these treats are made by freezing dog treats in ice or by making ice cubes out of a meat- or vegetable-based broth. It’s amazing how long ice treats can keep your dog occupied, says Gabbard.

Digging box

If your dog loves to dig, channel that love by building a digging box, similar to a small sand box, in your yard and burying toys in it for your dog to find.

Change It Up to Keep Your Dog Engaged

Play time is best when it incorporates both mental and physical exercise, which can be equally tiring, says Gabbard. “Don’t underestimate the importance of play.”

Other ways of mentally and physically challenging your dog don’t require toys at all. Gabbard suggests that dog owners:

Change your walk routine

Dogs like to do new things, so take a different route or visit a new park.

Teach your dog new tricks

You can train your dog to help around the house. Gabbard has trained her dog to help pick up her toys and to carry sticks and small logs to the wood pile. It’s fun and helpful at the same time and can be especially welcome for working breeds.

Arrange a play date with a friend’s dog

Just be sure the two dogs get along well before leaving them to play unsupervised.


Maralyn’s Pet Corner – Signs of Pyometra in Cats

How do you know if your cat has pyometra? Sometimes the symptoms are straightforward, but at other times the disease can be tricky to diagnose. Knowing the signs of pyometra can, quite literally, save your cat’s life.

What is Pyometra?

Pyometra is defined as an accumulation of pus within the uterus, which can develop because of the hormonal, anatomical, and physiological changes that occur after a cat has gone through a heat cycle but does not become pregnant. Bacteria then take advantage of the situation, resulting in a potentially fatal infection.

What are the Symptoms of Pyometra in Cats?

Some cats with pyometra show no signs, or may show vague clinical signs like lethargy, fever, dehydration, and poor appetite, even if they are suffering from very advanced disease.

Vomiting may also be present. Because the signs of pyometra can be mild and/or ambiguous, abdominal imaging (x-rays and/or ultrasound) is sometimes the only way to definitively diagnose or rule out cases of pyometra in cats.

If a cat with pyometra has an open cervix, pus (often tinged with blood) will drain from the cat’s vagina, but fastidious feline groomers often clean it away before owners can observe it. Because the pus has a way to get out of the body, these cats may not show many signs of systemic illness.

In comparison, when a cat with pyometra has a closed cervix, the pus will accumulate within and distend the uterus, leading to pain, abdominal enlargement, and more obvious signs of illness. The uterus may eventually rupture, leading to peritonitis—infection of the abdominal cavity—which is fatal without aggressive treatment.

While increased thirst and urination are classic symptoms of pyometra in dogs, these clinical signs are rarely observed in cats.

What Puts a Cat at Risk for Pyometra?

The probability of a cat developing pyometra increases with age, and affected cats have often gone through a heat cycle roughly a month before falling ill.

Intact females are at highest risk for developing pyometra, but the condition can be diagnosed in spayed female cats, as well. Here’s how:

When a cat is spayed in a traditional manner most of the uterus is removed, but a small portion attached to the cervix is left within the abdomen. This is called the uterine “stump.” An alternate form of spaying is becoming more popular in which the entire uterus remains in the body and only the ovaries are removed. Pyometras are extremely unlikely with either of these two surgical procedures, as long as the cat is no longer under the influence of reproductive hormones. Unfortunately, this can occur under certain circumstances.

Sometimes, ovarian tissue has been left behind within the cat’s abdomen. The tissue may be microscopic and therefore invisible to the surgeon’s eye, or a mistake may have been made and a larger piece of ovary remains.

Some spayed female cats also develop pyometras after coming into contact with their owner’s estrogen-containing topical products or after being treated with progestins for skin problems, a practice which is no longer in wide-spread use.

Treating and Preventing Pyometra in Cats

The best way to treat a cat with pyometra is to spay her as soon as her condition has been stabilized. The ovaries, entire uterus, and cervix are removed as one unit to minimize the chance of pus leaking into the abdomen.

When a spayed cat develops pyometra, the uterine stump is removed (or the whole uterus if only the ovaries were previously taken out) and any remaining ovarian tissue must be identified and excised. If an owner plans to breed the cat in the future, medical treatment is available that may eliminate the need for surgery that inevitably leads to infertility.

Spaying a female cat when she is young and healthy is the best way to prevent pyometra. The spay procedure is much more risky once the disease has damaged her uterine tissues and weakened her ability to withstand surgery and anesthesia.

Features

Pilgrim United Church free barbecue – with an album
by Maralyn Fink

On Wednesday the Pilgrim United Church held a free barbecue at the Depot in St Johns. This event was open to the public to attend and was held from 4:30-8:30 pm.

Free food, games and crafts were provided. This is the second year that they have had this and was well attended. Everyone was having a great time, and the weather was perfect.

There are around 250 members at the church, and it is led by Pastor Andy Croel. Their mission statement is Grow and Go.


Lovely evening closes out Concert in the Park – with an album
by Maralyn Fink

A lovely evening to end the season of the Concert In The Park series last evening was attended by a large crowd.

Matt King as Elvis was the final act for the season.

Mayor Dana Beaman unveiled a plaque to Bill Tennant for his foresight for building the shell and for his determination in raising the funding and dedication for promoting the arts in St Johns. The plaque is now hanging on the band shell.

Thanks, Bill for all your hard work in bringing Concert In The Park to St Johns. See you next season.


Local man publishes A Boy’s Dream Comes True

The Mountains Shall Depart by Robert E. Holzhei has been published by Book Baby & Smith Publishing Companies that distribute throughout the United States and Europe.

Writing was a lifelong dream for Holzhei, and the words kept nudging at him. The first story was written at Cedarville, Michigan, and was published.

“Two authors had an influence as my writing style developed. The book begins being told from the perspective of a young boy growing up in the mid 1940’s, much like To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Suddenly the style changes and the story line shocks and impacts the reader unexpectedly. It is straight forward prose, much like the style of Ernest Hemingway,” said Holzhei who studied the author’s works.

“The words are my mistress. They arrive unexpectedly, often in the middle of the night and demand expression. The first sentence begins with a caress, and my mistress urges me to follow her, within reach, yet so far away. I am happy when I sit down to write. It’s like looking forward to something for a very long time and once I experienced it, I knew it would all be there for me tomorrow,” said Holzhei.

Holzhei is the author of 427 published outdoor/travel stories in a variety of publications throughout the U.S. and has previously self-published two books: Canadian Fly-In Fishing Adventure Featuring Campfire Stories from Northern Michigan and Alaskan Spirit Journey. The Alaskan book features a cedar book mark since the first published story was written at Cedarville, Michigan. It also has a wooden birch cover made out of birch and has a wire binding.
Holzhei and his wife have vacationed in the Manistee, Traverse City, Ludington areas for the past number of years, as well as traveling in the Upper Peninsula. The past winters have been spent in the Florida Keys where the novella was finished.

Holzhei will be spending time on a speaking/book tour in Northern Michigan this summer. He also presents sessions at the annual Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW) conference each September on working with media, new member sessions, and this fall a session on the emerging self-publishing industry.

He has won a variety of national awards including the First Place in the Best of Best Newspaper Category-Third Place in the Open Category, three AGLOW presidential awards for service, a third place from the Michigan Outdoor Writers Assoc. He also was instrumental in beginning a summer journalism workshop for high school students at Michigan State University which began with 40 students and now draws over 500 journalists not only from Michigan, but throughout the United States.

Holzhei has a B.A. in English with an emphasis in writing, minor in psychology and a M.A. in Education with post-graduate studies. Following 37 years teaching high school English and creative writing classes, he continues to chase the muse-his mistress where the words await expression.

You can find the book at Amazon.com. The Paperback edition will be in stock on September 4, 2017.


A Look Back – A Modern Day Phone Booth in 1972

by Barry Clark Bauer

This is not the phone booth most of us older people remember but it’s what we had in 1972. This booth was located in downtown St. Johns in front of the Clinton Theater.

The young ladies aren’t identified.


Letters – Forever GI Bill a leap forward

Today’s veterans deserve and need the expanded benefits in the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2017 that the president signed into law Aug. 16. These benefits will be life changing for so many.

The budget-neutral legislation received unanimous support in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.
As a veteran, a college graduate, a Baker College dean and a father of a soldier, I understand the importance of being able to pick up where soldiers left off when they return from deployment. This law widens the opportunity for our veterans to acquire the education that will enable them to serve our great nation once again while providing for their families.

Dubbed the Forever GI Bill, the new law extends the time veterans have access to GI educational benefits from 15 years following military service to their lifetime.

Other enhancements are the expansion of benefits for reserve and guard forces, coverage for surviving spouses and dependents, and lifting requirements that had limited benefits for some Purple Heart recipients.

Updates based on the needs of life in the 21st century include extended funding for specific degree programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, which typically take longer to complete. And benefits will be reinstated for veterans affected by a school’s closure or disapproval by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
These changes, among others in the Forever GI Bill, come at a time post-secondary education and/or training have never been more essential to earning a living wage.

At Baker College, we are committed to providing quality higher education that prepares graduates for employment or career advancement. Unique support for military-connected students includes a veteran point of contact at Baker College campuses, and a military education center to provide assistance in all areas of student services.
I encourage every American to thank their elected officials for their bipartisan support to accommodate the changing needs of our military and society.

Retired Air Force Tech. Sgt. Richard G. Bush, Ph.D.
Baker College Dean of the College of Information Technology – on-ground and online undergraduate and graduate programs

Features

The Mosers share some of the lessons they learned by Becoming Amish

Twenty years ago, when Bill and Tricia Moser were in their late 30s, they stepped away from their upper-middle class lives in Grosse Pointe, Mich., and joined the horse-and-buggy Amish. No more BMWs. No more architectural career for him. No more occupational therapy career for her. No more happy hours with the creative class. No more hair salon. Motivated by a desire to live out their faith in a more moment-by-moment way, the Mosers chose homemade clothes, built pallets for money, tried to learn horsemanship and focused time on their children, their faith and their community.

In this essay, the Mosers share some of the lessons they learned from the Amish:

1. The Amish defy political and cultural categories. Living among them helped us shape our life in a way guided by faith, not by general societal expectations. For us, a fascinating part of the Amish journey was seeing how the people of this faith are both extremely conservative and extremely liberal all at the same time.

On the conservative side: They hold onto a give-no-ground stance on abortion and divorce. They advocate extremely modest dress. They reject offensive lyrics in popular music. They reject government involvement in citizens’ lives to the point of refusing government services like Social Security payments or unemployment benefits — benefits most of them pay into and are entitled to. They are entrepreneurial, with many having their own businesses. They advocate fiscal austerity.

On the liberal side, the Amish refuse to fight in wars. They gather to build houses for one another, donating their labor. They support one another in business in a socialist-like way (more on that in a second). They agree as a community that nobody should be getting rich while others in the community are poor. And while Amish communities emphasize the conservative principals of fiscal austerity, they do so with what most Americans would view as a completely unacceptable socialistic intrusion into family life: In our community, a panel of church members reviews any family’s purchase decision of more than $10,000. While somehow this way of life defies general society expectations, boundaries and rules, it all makes sense, all achieves unity, all achieves singularity under the teachings of Jesus, to honor God and care for our brothers and sisters.

2. Community is essential. When we left general society, we were seeking a community of faith where we could immerse in a shared sense of the Bible, a shared set of values, and shared life goals. We wanted to live where our interaction with faith was not just a Sunday-morning service and a Wednesday-evening Bible study, but instead a moment-by-moment part of our lives. Living among the Amish gave us that. When we gather with community members in a field to cut hay for horse feed, in a kitchen to can applesauce for the year, at a home site to build a barn, or even as we watch buggies pass our home on their way to school, each moment of that life, that work, that togetherness is an expression of our faith. We do not feel the separation of church and life that we felt when we were part of general society, even though we attended fine churches.


Young Amish men follow the cadence of a caller at an auction in Marion, Michigan in 2013. (Courtesy of Bill Moser)

We found that being part of a strong, tight community fulfilled a deep human need, a need that God created in us. Jesus speaks of our need to be part of a community, but our secular philosophers do so as well. As Wendell Berry said, “We have thus come again to the paradox that one can become whole only by the responsible acceptance of one’s partiality.” We lived the truth of that statement.

3. Capitalism can and should be done in a more humane way. It should focus foremost on supporting families and community versus enriching individuals.

Though the Amish would reject the term “entrepreneurial” as a prideful notion to avoid, the Amish launch many businesses and have a very high start-up survival rate. Sociologist Donald Kraybill, who has studied the Amish extensively, found 95 percent of new Amish businesses were still going after five years — far higher than in general society. But we found that the Amish achieve that remarkable capitalistic success in part by using principles that could be viewed as socialistic.

For one, the Amish help one another — even competitors — to a surprising degree. A tomato farmer might teach another farmer to grow tomatoes, and then they’d sell opposite one another in the same farm market. When we first became Amish, we bought a pallet business from an Amish man, and at the closing of the deal, the seller, whom I did not know prior to the business deal, realized that I did not have enough money to purchase the initial lumber I would need. He simply said, “I will just leave $10,000 in the checking account that you can use and you can pay me back when you are able.” In the view of American commerce, that was a ridiculously risky unsecured loan with nothing signed, no paperwork of any kind. In the language of our Amish community, that was brotherhood.

In many cases, when companies do have employees, there are built-in ways for workers to earn an ownership stake — sweat equity — so they can share in the profits. The community has a realistic understanding that a family needs a certain amount of money to lead a healthy life. Obviously there are exceptions to all of this, but in the Amish communities where we have lived, that generally means the owner of the company makes less than would be the case in general society, and the workers make more. The Amish see this as another expression of Jesus’ teachings of community of faith.

4. Education can happen outside a schoolroom.

My wife and I both went to college. Our broader family is highly educated. My wife’s brother is a chief financial officer at a university. My brother’s wife is a genetics researcher with a doctorate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Nearly all of our siblings and their children have college degrees. So when my wife and I announced we were joining a culture that ended formal schooling upon completion of eighth grade, it caused much tension within our family. Education was the single most controversial aspect of our becoming Amish. And while it’s true that our children have only an eighth-grade education formally, as adults they are constant readers and constant learners, and when viewed by a broader measure of “Are our children successful in life?” the answer is yes.

When arguing the 1972 Supreme Court case that allowed the Amish to leave school after eighth grade, the lawyer William Ball built his argument with testimony from a county welfare agent, a sheriff and a school administrator, asking questions like, “Are any Amish on welfare?” No. “Are any Amish breaking the law?” No. “Are any Amish a problem in school?” No. The point the attorney was making is that we need to assess the success of Amish education from a more holistic vantage point.

Our eldest son is part owner of a metal fabrication company. Our second-oldest son is running a truss-building company. Our third son works at an orphanage in Ecuador. Our fourth son is learning to run a lumberyard. Our daughter is a teacher. Our youngest son is just now 18, and his career will take shape later. My wife and I feel God did not make us to sit in classroom chairs for 13 years and learn mostly from books. Life is more complex than that.

Final note about education. When my brother-in-law, the chief financial officer, was visiting recently, he asked to see the books of the truss-building business that our son runs, and I could just see him working to get his mind around the fact that my son, who never had formal schooling, was running a company of this scale with such a skill for organization and accounting. We are not saying everybody should stop schooling in eighth grade. That approach is part of the Amish faith, and they have a system of support built around that. But we do feel American education can learn from the Amish’s more whole-brain way of learning.

5. There were aspects of Amish life that weren’t for us. Ultimately, we left the horse-and-buggy Amish and transitioned to an Amish-Mennonite church, which is based on the same statement of faith as our Amish church but differs in some ways culturally. We drive cars now and are not so separate from general society. A main reason we made that transition was the language barrier. The Amish culture speaks Pennsylvania German, a language my wife and I were never able to learn — we felt like expats in Amish nation. And despite a willingness on the part of our churches to provide translation during church and community members’ willingness to speak English to us when visiting, the language difference felt like a screen between us and the depth of spiritual experience we sought.

Also, the horse-and-buggy Amish are strongly devoted to being separate from society, but we felt a desire to share our message of faith with a broader world, and the Amish-Mennonite church we joined is more open to that sharing. This essay is part of our desire to share.

6. It’s not easy becoming a horseman in middle age. You can ask our children for the details.

Bill Moser is a lifelong friend of writer Jeff Smith. The two recently collaborated on a book about the journey of Moser and his wife, Tricia, called “Becoming Amish.”

Reprinted from June 21, 2016


Girls on the Run Transforms Young Girls’ Lives

As students prepare to head back to school, many parents are looking for after-school activities that provide a safe and structured space where children can learn skills and be physically active. Girls on the Run offers this and so much more.

A recent independent study provides compelling evidence that Girls on the Run is highly effective at driving transformative and lasting change in the lives of third to fifth grade girls. The program’s intentional curriculum places an emphasis on developing competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, and contribution in young girls through lessons that incorporate running and other physical activities. Throughout the course of the ten-week program, girls learn critical life skills including managing emotions, resolving conflict, helping others and making intentional decisions. It is the combination of the research-based curriculum, trained coaches and a commitment to serve all girls that sets Girls on the Run apart from other after-school programs.

The independent study was conducted by Maureen R. Weiss, Ph.D, a leading expert on youth development. “Girls on the Run participants scored higher in managing emotions, resolving conflict, helping others, and making intentional decisions than participants in organized sport or physical education,” confirms Weiss. “Being able to generalize skills learned in the program to other situations such as at school or at home is a distinguishing feature of Girls on the Run compared to traditional youth sports and school physical education, and suggests that the intentional life skills curriculum and coach-training program can serve as exemplars for other youth programs.”

Key study results

1. 97 percent of girls said they learned critical life skills at Girls on the Run that they are using at home, at school and with their friends

2. 7 out of 10 girls who improved from pre-season to post-season sustained improvements in competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, or physical activity beyond the season’s end.

3. Girls in Girls on the Run were significantly more likely than girls in physical education or organized sports programs to learn and use life skills, including managing emotions, resolving conflict, helping others and making intentional decisions.

4. Girls who were the least active before Girls on the Run increased their physical activity level by 40 percent from pre-season to post-season and maintained this increased level beyond the program’s end.

For more information about spring registration for Girls on the Run, please visit GOTRMidMichigan.org.


A Look Back – Gayle Desprez

by Barry Clark Bauer

Gayle Desprez, vice president and cashier of Clinton National Bank recently
completed the first two-week session of a three year course at the University of Wisconsin graduate school of banking.

Desprez was among 1,500 bankers from 41 states and three South American countries enrolled in the course which includes studies in economics, investments, law, marketing and commercial loans. Instructors and speakers at the school are numbered among presidential advisors and members of U.S. Congress.

Desprez wil1 complete the course in 1973 after two more on-campus sessions and a home assignment program. He is a graduate of several other banking profession courses and currently serves on the board of directors of the American Institute of Banking for central Michigan.

AIB sponsors educational session for bank employees.


Benny and Jessie’s Pet Info – How to Calm Down an Anxious Dog

If you’ve ever experienced anxiety, you know that feeling nervous and stressed can become overwhelming, even debilitating, at times. Unfortunately, it’s not unusual for pets to also experience anxiety, and just as with humans, there are varying degrees and manifestations of the emotion. It can be extremely difficult for any pet parent to watch their dog suffer from anxiety. You’d do anything for him, but calming an anxious pet is no easy task and finding an effective treatment typically calls for the help a vet or a certified animal behaviorist.

“Dogs use body language to communicate how they are feeling,” says Ashley Atkinson, CPDT-KA and behavior consultant at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. If your pet seems uneasy or fixated on licking, for example, he could be trying to tell you he feels nervous, stressed or even fearful. “It’s important to watch and observe your dog for his or her own ‘communication style’ and determine what signals he or she uses to indicate anxiety.”

The signs of anxiety are vast and may change for your dog over time. “Some symptoms may include pacing, trembling or shaking, hyper-vigilance, lip licking, frequent yawning and decreased appetite,” said Susan Konecny, RN and DVM medical director of Best Friends Animal Society®. “Physiologic effects may include increased salivation or drooling, dilated pupils, increased heart rate and panting, or skin lesions from self trauma or over-grooming.”

If you’ve noticed repetitions of this behavior, your pet may be experiencing anxiety. The first step to help calm your dog begins with attempting to determine what’s causing your dog to feel this way. An evaluation of good physical health by your veterinarian can also help to validate suspicions that a psychological stressor is the culprit.

Causes of Anxiety in Dogs

The causes behind the anxiety your dog is experiencing can be as vast as the signs and symptoms your dog displays to show their anxiousness. Some common causes of anxiety include past abuse, loud noises (like thunder), medical problems or other animals.

“To help a dog who is stressed, it is important to determine the cause of anxiety,” Atkinson said. “Once you know how to recognize your dog’s stress signals, like trembling or frequent yawning, you can learn to recognize what might be stressing him.”

Take your pet’s history into account and think about his past. If he is a rescue pet there may be more question marks, so take note when he demonstrates signals of anxiety. Perhaps, say, if he shakes around larger dogs, he could have had a bad experience with a large dog before he made it to you and his forever home.

Separation anxiety is another form of anxiousness that is usually easier to diagnose. Typically, a dog with separation anxiety will act out while you are away, and may chew or dig furniture, howl, pace or go to the bathroom inside the house.

At-Home Tips for Calming Your Dog Down

“Every dog is an individual and not only shows anxiety in his or her own way, but different calming techniques can have varying levels of success depending on the dog,” Atkinson said. Depending on what causes your dog stress, the solution can be as simple as recognizing the stressor and removing it. In other cases, however, you will want to seek out the help of a veterinarian, a qualified behavior consultant or dog trainer who can help determine the root of the anxiety and assist in relieving it, Atkinson said.

Here are a few things you can try to help calm your pet:

– Play music: Atkinson says that playing music specifically developed for pets can sometimes ease anxiety, especially if your dog suffers from separation anxiety and the songs are left playing while you are away.
– Aromatherapy and essential oils: there are some balms and sprays specifically formulated for pets that utilize the calming properties of aromatherapy. Rub the spray or formula in between your hands and pat your palms along your dogs back – just be sure he can’t reach where you applied the pet-safe oils so that he won’t lick anything off. Always follow the label instructions for proper use.
– Physical contact: try petting your dog or sitting near him and check to see if his anxiety symptoms subside. “Physical contact helps both humans and dogs relieve anxiety, fear and stress,” Konecny said.
– Exercise: anxiety can sometimes create uncontrollable energy, Konecny said. We are advised by our doctors to exercise to help relieve stress. This applies to dogs as well.”
– Give them a time out: some dogs get so anxious or wound up that no amount of calming, praising or reward will work to bring them down, not unlike young children. “When this is the case, they need a quiet space with no stimulation where they can turn off all the input and simply unwind,” Konecny said.
– Check your own state of mind: reacting to your dog’s anxiety with nervousness of your own can cause your dog to pick up on your anxiety and heighten the problem further, Konecny said.

Anxiety Medications and Supplements for Dogs

Your veterinarian can suggest and prescribe several anti-anxiety or anti-depression medications, some of which are used in human medicine. These are referred to as psychotrophic drugs and can be successful if utilized in combination with behavior modification training. By combining these drugs with specific training to defuse the stress reaction to the offending situations or sounds, a dog can develop confidence to ignore the stressors and eventually, medication may no longer be needed.

A few dietary supplements, such as the amino acid tryptophan and polyunsaturated fatty acids (especially dexahexanoic acid), play a role in optimal brain function and behavior and may also be recommended by a veterinarian.

Dog appeasing pheromones (chemicals transported in the air that mimic odor molecules which have a mood altering effect) have been known to help ease anxiety in dogs, as the smell is reminiscent of the pheromones mothers give off a few days after giving birth to their puppies. These odor molecules supposedly give puppies a sense of security and, when used as an anxiety reliever, can produce that same sense of calm and safeness. There are collars, sprays, treats, supplements and even diffusers that utilize this form of pheromone therapy.

Looking for options to ease your dog’s anxiety, paying attention to what causes him stress and are seeking professional help is the best path you can follow to calm an anxious dog, Atkinson said. Support your dog through this time, and don’t give up. The solution may not be easy, but with dedication, perseverance and the right professional input, you can help your dog overcome his anxiety symptoms.


Maralyn’s Pet Corner – Causes of Sudden Aggression in Cats

You’re on the couch, petting your purring cat just like you have on many previous quiet evenings. She turns on her side as you rub her belly, and she kneads her paws in contentment. Then, before you know what happened, she hisses and bites your hand. What gives? What happened to turn your mild-mannered cat into Cujo?

Unfortunately, aggression is not uncommon in felines; in fact, it’s the second most common reason for a visit to a behaviorist. Sudden aggression in cats is a scary and frustrating problem for many owners, who fear the unpredictable nature of the kitty fury as well as the physical damage he or she can cause in the throes of an attack. In addition to the painful nature of cat bites and scratches, they can also transmit diseases such as cat scratch fever or serious bacterial infection. Cat aggression is truly no laughing matter.

What Does Aggression in Cats Look Like?

Although owners often report a cat attacking out of nowhere, cats often exhibit subtle changes in body positioning before launching into an actual act of aggression. These postures may be a clue in pinpointing the trigger for the aggressive behavior, as well as a much-needed warning before future attacks.

Defensive postures are intended to make a cat look smaller and position herself in a protective manner. These postures may include: crouching, flattened ears, turning away from the person, hissing, swatting at you, raised hackles, or a tucked head. A defensive cat is often experiencing fear or anxiety about a situation that may or may not be apparent to you. You can be the recipient of fear-based aggression even if you’re not the one causing the anxiety.

Offensive postures make a cat look big and intimidating. These postures include: stiffened legs, hackles raised, moving toward you, staring at you, upright ears, growling, and a stiff tail.

In either case, you want to avoid interacting with a cat exhibiting these postures as they are on the brink of moving on to the real damaging moves. A cat in attack mode can move with startling speed and aggression, and inflict extensive damage in a very swift period when the mouth and all four paws are engaged.

What Causes Sudden Aggression in Felines?

Cat aggression falls into a number of categories. Taking a full and complete history about where the cat was located and what was happening right before the aggressive behavior began is a key component in determining the cause.

-Fear aggression is triggered by a cat who perceives a threat that he or she cannot escape. This can be a learned behavior based on past experience, and you may not be entirely sure exactly what the cat is fearful of.
-Aggression with a medical origin is also common. Pain is the most sudden medical cause for sudden aggression, particularly in older cats or those who have always had a calm temperament. Arthritis, dental disease, trauma, and infections are just some of the conditions that can cause pain and subsequent aggression when a cat is touched, or thinks he or she might be touched, in a painful area. In addition to pain, cognitive decline, a loss of normal sensory input, or neurological problems can all lead to aggression.
-Territorial aggression happens when a cat feels an intruder is infringing on his or her territory. While often directed at other cats, people and other animals may be the subject of the aggression as well. Triggers may include introducing a new pet or even a new person into the house, a recent move, or new cats in the neighborhood.
-Status aggression occurs when a cat attempts to run the house. Cats who growl when you try to move them, block doors, or bite you when you pay attention to another pet may be asserting themselves in this manner.
-Petting-induced aggression, the type described in the opening paragraph, occurs when a cat who enjoys being pet suddenly changes his or her mind. It’s thought that the repetitive motion over time turns from pleasant to irritating.
-Redirected aggression is one of the most unpredictable and dangerous types of feline aggression. In these cases, a cat is in a hyper-aroused state by some sort of external stimulus—an animal outside, squirrels running by that he can’t chase, a frightening noise or smell. In your blameless state, you walk by and wind up on the receiving end of this pent-up outburst, seemingly out of nowhere.

What Should I Do If My Cat Experiences Sudden Aggression?

The first stop any time a cat shows these aggressive signs without obvious provocation is your veterinarian. She can examine your cat and make sure he does not have a medical condition causing the unwanted behavior. If your cat has a clean bill of health, your veterinarian can refer you to a behaviorist who can help determine the triggers of aggression and the steps you can take at home to resolve the problem.

In many cases, simply being aware of the early signals of a cat about to freak out gives you the chance to remove yourself from the situation before it escalates to violence. While you can’t always control the causes of the anxiety, owners can often give the cat the space he or she needs to wind down without injuring anyone. With patience and some good detective work, many cats are quickly back in everyone’s good graces.

Features

The Grand Mint Parade 2017


A Look Back – Breaking & Entering

by Barry Clark Bauer

St. Johns City Police Chief Everett Glazier is investigating a Breaking and Entry into Dean’s Hardware in downtown St. Johns back in 1972.


Benny and Jessie’s Pet Info – Why Dogs Lick and When to Worry

Dogs lick themselves, that’s a fact of life, but when does it get to be an issue? You may catch your pooch bathing daily to keep clean. This is an innate behavior in the animal kingdom. But there are times when licking can become excessive and can be a clinical sign of an underlying illness.

Allergies are the number one cause of excessive licking in dogs. Owners may note that their dog licks in between the toes (sometimes leading to staining of the fur due to enzymes in the saliva), they may lick and chew at their hind end and their inner thighs.

Environmental allergies are caused by dusts, danders, pollens, and other airborne particles which lead to build-up on the skin and fur of the dog and in turn cause itching. Allergies to flea bites and certain proteins in pet food can cause similar signs.

Cleaning your dog’s paws with doggie wipes or a warm washcloth after walks outside can help to decrease environmental allergens. Owners should seek veterinary attention for their dogs if the skin is changing color, if there are wounds, pimples, or crusts noted on the skin, if there is excessive scratching associated with the licking, and/or if fleas are seen.

Licking can also be a sign of nausea in some dogs. If your dog is licking abnormal places, such as the floors or the walls, or if your dog is licking his/her lips frequently, these can be a signs of gastrointestinal upset. Some dogs will also smack their lips or drool excessively when they feel nauseous.

If your dog is showing these signs and they last more than 24 hours, or if they are at all associated with vomiting, diarrhea, or lack of appetite, it is important to contact your veterinarian.

Addressing quality of life is the first step. There are shampoos that can help calm the itching as well as veterinary prescribed anti-histamines to keep your dog comfortable.

Your vet may also recommend some diagnostic tests, such as a fecal panel, blood testing, and/or x-rays, to rule out causes of belly upset. Your veterinarian can often prescribe or administer medications to help control and sometimes eliminate the nausea for your pet.

Dogs can also have behavioral causes of excessive licking, such as anxiety or a type of obsessive disorder where they over-groom themselves. Some studies have shown that the act of licking increases endorphins in the brain which calms the dog while it is licking. Loud noises, separation anxiety and/or change in environment can lead to this behavior.

It is important to intervene to lessen or stop this behavior before the dog licks off all of its fur (usually confined to one site on the body, such as a leg or the abdomen), which can lead to skin infection (hot spots) and acral lick granulomas (which are masses that occur secondary to chronic abrasion with the tongue and inflammation to the area). These infections and granulomas can be painful to the dog.

If there is trauma to the skin, your veterinarian will treat the skin infections and/or granulomas caused by the excessive licking and then determine if the licking is a medical disorder or something that can be alleviated with behavior training.

Diversion techniques can be instituted if your pet is over grooming. This entails close monitoring and side-tracking your dog when he starts to obsessively groom. Give him/her a favorite toy or treat to focus on, go for a walk, or even spend some quality time brushing your dog. This can help get his/her mind off of the compulsions.

If your veterinarian determines after examination (and possible diagnostic testing) that your dog is licking due to compulsive behavior or anxiety, there are some natural calming products that can be instituted. These include calming drops for the water, calming treats, pheromone collars, and thunder shirts. Very dilute apple cider vinegar can also be sprayed on the skin to deter licking but should be discussed with a veterinarian first to be sure it will not irritate the skin further. These natural products tend to have little to no side effects and are safest when starting a treatment plan.

Keeping a low stress environment for anxious dogs can be very helpful also; quiet, low lighting, and slow movements. Still, sometimes natural products are not enough to calm your dog and stop excessive licking. This is when a thorough discussion should be had with your veterinarian about behavior modification drugs such as Fluoxetine and Clomipramine. However, these medications can have side effects and are usually only given for chronic conditions. It is important to discuss all of the pros and cons with your veterinarian prior to starting your dog on these medications.

Quality of life is the most important thing when it comes to our pets. Excessive licking can cause that quality to decrease over time. If you think your dog is excessively licking, it is pertinent to discuss these signs with your veterinarian. Together you can determine if the signs are something to be concerned about, or if your pet is simply taking his/her daily bath.

Dogs lick themselves, that’s a fact of life, but when does it get to be an issue? You may catch your pooch bathing daily to keep clean. This is an innate behavior in the animal kingdom. But there are times when licking can become excessive and can be a clinical sign of an underlying illness.

Allergies are the number one cause of excessive licking in dogs. Owners may note that their dog licks in between the toes (sometimes leading to staining of the fur due to enzymes in the saliva), they may lick and chew at their hind end and their inner thighs.

Environmental allergies are caused by dusts, danders, pollens, and other airborne particles which lead to build-up on the skin and fur of the dog and in turn cause itching. Allergies to flea bites and certain proteins in pet food can cause similar signs.

Cleaning your dog’s paws with doggie wipes or a warm washcloth after walks outside can help to decrease environmental allergens. Owners should seek veterinary attention for their dogs if the skin is changing color, if there are wounds, pimples, or crusts noted on the skin, if there is excessive scratching associated with the licking, and/or if fleas are seen.

Licking can also be a sign of nausea in some dogs. If your dog is licking abnormal places, such as the floors or the walls, or if your dog is licking his/her lips frequently, these can be a signs of gastrointestinal upset. Some dogs will also smack their lips or drool excessively when they feel nauseous.

If your dog is showing these signs and they last more than 24 hours, or if they are at all associated with vomiting, diarrhea, or lack of appetite, it is important to contact your veterinarian.

Addressing quality of life is the first step. There are shampoos that can help calm the itching as well as veterinary prescribed anti-histamines to keep your dog comfortable.

Your vet may also recommend some diagnostic tests, such as a fecal panel, blood testing, and/or x-rays, to rule out causes of belly upset. Your veterinarian can often prescribe or administer medications to help control and sometimes eliminate the nausea for your pet.

Dogs can also have behavioral causes of excessive licking, such as anxiety or a type of obsessive disorder where they over-groom themselves. Some studies have shown that the act of licking increases endorphins in the brain which calms the dog while it is licking. Loud noises, separation anxiety and/or change in environment can lead to this behavior.

It is important to intervene to lessen or stop this behavior before the dog licks off all of its fur (usually confined to one site on the body, such as a leg or the abdomen), which can lead to skin infection (hot spots) and acral lick granulomas (which are masses that occur secondary to chronic abrasion with the tongue and inflammation to the area). These infections and granulomas can be painful to the dog.

If there is trauma to the skin, your veterinarian will treat the skin infections and/or granulomas caused by the excessive licking and then determine if the licking is a medical disorder or something that can be alleviated with behavior training.

Diversion techniques can be instituted if your pet is over grooming. This entails close monitoring and side-tracking your dog when he starts to obsessively groom. Give him/her a favorite toy or treat to focus on, go for a walk, or even spend some quality time brushing your dog. This can help get his/her mind off of the compulsions.

If your veterinarian determines after examination (and possible diagnostic testing) that your dog is licking due to compulsive behavior or anxiety, there are some natural calming products that can be instituted. These include calming drops for the water, calming treats, pheromone collars, and thunder shirts. Very dilute apple cider vinegar can also be sprayed on the skin to deter licking but should be discussed with a veterinarian first to be sure it will not irritate the skin further. These natural products tend to have little to no side effects and are safest when starting a treatment plan.

Keeping a low stress environment for anxious dogs can be very helpful also; quiet, low lighting, and slow movements. Still, sometimes natural products are not enough to calm your dog and stop excessive licking. This is when a thorough discussion should be had with your veterinarian about behavior modification drugs such as Fluoxetine and Clomipramine. However, these medications can have side effects and are usually only given for chronic conditions. It is important to discuss all of the pros and cons with your veterinarian prior to starting your dog on these medications.

Quality of life is the most important thing when it comes to our pets. Excessive licking can cause that quality to decrease over time. If you think your dog is excessively licking, it is pertinent to discuss these signs with your veterinarian. Together you can determine if the signs are something to be concerned about, or if your pet is simply taking his/her daily bath.


Letters – City thanks community for Mint Festival success

We would like to thank the St. Johns Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Development Authority and Principal Shopping District, the City of St. Johns Department of Public Works and St. Johns Police Department for all their hard work during the 33rd Annual St. Johns Mint Festival.

We also want to recognize all the volunteers who put in countless hours of their time to make the Mint Festival a huge success.

Also a thank you and shout out to the owners of Oh Mi Organics who organized and hosted the First Annual Mint City Market and to the businesses who participated. This was a great weekend for our community!

City of St. Johns


Maralyn’s Pet Corner – 5 Things That Stress Out Your Cat

Sounds and smells we may enjoy or don’t think twice about can make our feline family members miserable. Cats have a heightened sense of smell and hearing that serves their wild counterparts well. But our homes are not the wild.

Nobody can say precisely why your cat reacts to a certain stimulus, mostly because there’s not a lot of scientific research available on this subject. Still, experts agree it’s beneficial to identify sounds and smells that stress out your cat, and make necessary adjustments to your environment. The following are some of the most common irritants for cats.

Thunderstorms and Fireworks

Unexpected loud noises and sudden changes in air pressure likely alert cats to be on guard, says Lauren Demos, president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. “They can warn of impending situations that may require the cat to fight or take flight.”

A cat’s reaction to loud and abrupt noises is an evolutionary response, says Dr. Bruce Kornreich, associate director of the Cornell Feline Health Center at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. While humans also get startled by sounds, we can easily figure out that the noise won’t harm us, unlike cats. Cats may also equate loud noises with negative experiences, Kornreich says. And sometimes, there’s just no logical explanation for their reaction.

While you can’t control every noise, you can pre-plan for certain situations, such as fireworks and thunderstorms. “I recommend confining your cat to a room where she feels comfortable and away from the noise,” says Adi Hovav, senior feline behavior counselor at the ASPCA Adoption Center in New York. “However, if she’s already found a hiding spot, consider leaving her there, as moving her to another spot may increase her stress.” If you do set up a quiet “sanctuary” room for your cat, make sure she has access to a litter box, Hovav adds.

A white noise machine to mask the sound may be useful, too. “Or, offer her some quiet attention in the form of yummy treats or gentle petting,” Hovav says. “Not all cats are going to be comforted by being held if they are frightened or stressed, even if they enjoy being held under normal circumstances, so don’t force your cat if she’s not accepting of this type of attention.”

Compression shirts designed for cats can also be helpful for short periods, as can synthetic pheromone sprays, collars, or diffusers, Demos suggests.

High-Frequency Sounds

Loud and startling thumps, bangs, and clanks aren’t the only noises that can stress cats. High-frequency sounds such as whistling tea kettles and even the sound of our voices can cause anxiety, says Dr. Jill Sackman, head of behavioral medicine service at Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners in various locations in Michigan.

Scientists say cats hear a broad range of sounds, including high-pitched ones. This means cats can hear a lot of sounds we can’t, Kornreich says, such as “ambient sounds like fluorescent light bulbs, video computer monitors, dimmers on light switches, and whistling tea kettles.” (If you put your ear close enough to an LCD screen, you may be able to hear the buzzing.)

Cats develop their super-sonic hearing at an early age. “Responses to sound are seen by 10 days of age, so cats are very in tune with the sounds happening around them,” says Dr. Amy Learn, a veterinarian with the Veterinary Referral Center in northern Virginia. Having acute hearing is essential for survival in the wild. “Those large, funnel-shaped ears are mobile and allow them to hear in ‘surround sound,’” she says. Since animals that cats prey on, like mice, communicate in high frequency, this makes sense.

But what works well in the wild doesn’t necessarily translate well to domestic life. Unlike in the wild, cats have few places for escape. “Being bombarded by noises makes cats feel vulnerable,” Kornreich says.

One important way to reduce potential stress associated with high-pitched (and low-pitched) sounds is to be mindful of where you place your cat’s litter box, Demos advises. “Try to locate the litter boxes away from the furnace or water softener, which can produce noises at unpredictable times, and in addition to being an auditory stressor, can have the potential to lead to litter box aversion.”

Strong Scents

We may find the aroma of peppermint invigorating, but it’s a strong scent, so your cat may not share your enthusiasm. “A cat’s sense of smell is roughly 14 times that of a human,” says Learn, who specializes in behavior medicine. Cats display a well-developed sense of smell at birth (as with their hearing), and by adulthood it eclipses ours.

Nobody knows for sure why cats are sensitive to citrus, but Learn has a theory. “Cats have to eat meat,” she says. “There is no need to eat citrus or carbohydrates. Their sense of smell helps them to hunt, and preferentially leads them toward what they want to eat and away from things they don’t need.”

Given kitty’s strong sense of smell, it may also be that the aroma is just too overwhelming. “Sweetness from the juice, sourness from the aroma, and bitterness from the peel mixed together and intensified…I know I would get a headache,” Learn says.

And some citrus may even be toxic, she says. Provided your cat will even want to eat a piece of citrus fruit, first check to make sure what you’re offering is safe for cats. For example, the fruit of the orange is edible, but the skin and plant material can cause issues, according to the ASPCA.

Be careful with non-food items, too. “Avoid using citrus-scented sprays or cleaners on their bedding, food bowls, and litter boxes,” Hovav advises.

If a scent can’t be avoided, you can still work to reduce the stress it may cause to your cat. “For strong smells, minimizing indoor pollution by taking those activities outside is one option,” Demos says.

Cleaning Agents and Essential Oils

Cats are highly sensitive to aerosols, Learn says. “They have sensitive respiratory systems, and when they breathe these types of chemicals in, they can cause a reaction and even lead to an asthma attack or chronic bronchitis.”

Cleaning agents heavily-scented with pine or bleach are also unpleasant, Hovav says. “It’s best not to use these types of cleaners, especially for the litter box. Instead, opt for a mild, pet-friendly cleaner, preferably one that is unscented. Look for enzymatic cleaners to help neutralize any unwanted pet odors.”

Use caution with essential oils around your cat, too. They may be more than just a source of unpleasantness for your cat—some are also toxic. Examples include lemon oil and orange oil, the ASPCA warns.

Dogs, Predatory Animals, and Other Cats

Dogs top the list as the biggest source of anxiety-causing scents and sounds for cats, says Dr. Elyse Kent, owner of Elite Cat Care in Los Angeles. “It’s one of the big reasons I had a cat-only practice for so many years.”

Second on Kent’s list is the smell of other cats’ urine. “Smell is how cats communicate with each other. When a cat smells another cat’s urine, it’s as if their privacy has been invaded.”

Scents from dogs, predatory animals, and even other stressed or frightened cats can put kitty on edge. “Many of these smells likely come in the form of pheromones, which are chemical messengers cats detect through a specialized organ called the vomeronasal organ,” Demos says.

Cats are both a prey and a predatory species, she explains. “Their nervous system has evolved to produce an appropriate physiological stress response to situations that might require action for self-preservation.”

If your cat has an especially tough time with the smell of dogs, Demos says finding a feline-only veterinarian, or an AAFP certified Cat Friendly Practice that has separate waiting and exam areas for cats, can help lessen the stress.

Features

Arts Around St. Johns – with an album

by Maralyn Fink

More color coming to downtown St. Johns. The City of St. Johns, MI, the DDA and the fire department have unleashed three wild artists to paint our downtown fire hydrants.

Mary Ablao from Studio Retreat is in charge of the hydrant at Clinton and Higham. Saralee Howard of The Art of Saralee Howard has Clinton and Walker, and Tracie Davis from Tiny by Design takes on the hydrant at Clinton and State.

They expect to have the hydrants finished for the Mint Festival this weekend, so come downtown and check them out!

They are striving to bring the arts here to St Johns through some art innovations called Creative Placement. They hope that people can enjoy working here, playing here and giving it a hometown feeling.


Random Notes: Ed Mikula: a man of many talents

by Rhonda Dedyne

It’s not unusual for an individual to receive recognition for accomplishments at work or with civic organizations. That’s certainly true for the late Ed Mikula. But, what is unique about “Mr. Ed,” – a gentleman with the friendly smile and helping hands – is the extent of his involvement in a wide range of endeavors that spanned a lifetime of service. A man of many talents, Mr. Ed was always ready, willing and able to share those gifts with people he’d known for decades and with new-found friends like a neighbor, Pam Novak-Smith. Her comments at the funeral service provide a good example of Ed’s giving attitude.

“If there is such a thing as a personality resume, Ed’s would not make the one page requirement,” she said. “After his long list of professional accomplishments and community service, I’d like to see written in boldface: “wonderful neighbor.” I’ll think lovingly of Ed’s patience, his unfailing courtesy, his role in the care of this planet and be grateful for his lasting influence on us all.”

As Pam noted, the list of organizations on Ed’s “personality resume” are many and varied, but a few stand out: St. Johns Lions Club, where he was instrumental in the Club beginning a community recycling program in 1978 and where he still volunteered on a regular basis; Briggs District Library Board of Directors for 19 years; St. Peter Lutheran Church where he served as an Elder and visited shut-ins up until the time of his passing; Friends of the Maple River Board of Directors, and Ducks Unlimited for 36 years where his artistic talents were on display in the variety of paintings he donated for DU fundraisers. An avid outdoorsman, Mr. Ed thoroughly enjoyed taking friends and relatives on hunting and fishing excursions, helping them understand and appreciate the beauty of God’s creation.


Ed and fellow Lion, Roger Feeman, helped begin a recycling center in St. Johns.

The Lions Club Recycling Center is another way Ed demonstrated his respect for the earth. Roger Feeman, a long-time friend, hunting companion and fellow Lion recalls the early years at the Center. “Ed and I worked as a team, going to the drop-off site nearly every day to empty the recycling containers, grind glass and clean up the area,” he says, adding that his friend’s talents in writing and photography helped spread the word about the project and other Lion activities. “Ed was editor of the newsletter for more than 20 years, putting his skill in communication and photography to good use. He was a down-to-earth guy who was always interested in helping people.”

Similar comments come from Briggs District Library Director, Sara Morrison. “Mr. Ed was part of the team of individuals who were instrumental in relocating the library to its current location,” she says. “For 11 years he led the library as its Board President. Mr. Ed was a wonderful, compassionate, dedicated individual who always put others first. It was a pleasure to know him. He will be greatly missed.”

There’s no doubt that sentiment is shared by many, many people who will try to model the example of service that he demonstrated throughout the years – even to his final day. Ed passed away July 2, after helping set up and prepare the Lions Club concession trailer for July 4th events at the St. Johns City Park. The date is significant for another reason. His wife, Adelaide, passed away July 4, 1994.


Ducks Unliited benefited from Ed’s years of service to the organization.

“Dad retired in 1989 from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources after 39 years of service, and he took care of Mom for many years when she was ill with COPD,” a son, Chris, says about his father’s care and concern, noting that the family gathered for “Mr. Ed’s-almost-made-it-to-90” birthday that was August 7. “He was a wonderful role model for our family members, and we were happy to share him with others in our community.”


SJHS grad couples his ambition with passion

St. Johns High School graduate Jarrod Eaton became certain that health science was the right field for him after the earthquake in Nepal in April, 2015 literally shook the ground beneath his feet. Eaton was in the Asian country as the lone student to accompany several SVSU faculty in the Nepal aid efforts.

In the wake of the April, 2015 Nepal earthquake, Jarrod Eaton felt the world shake beneath his feet. Literally and figuratively.

Literally, the Saginaw Valley State University student was on the ground in the Asian nation — helping those affected by an initial earthquake that registered a whopping 7.9 on the Richter scale — when an aftershock that registered 6.7 rattled his world.

Figuratively, those ongoing tremors and the resulting damage he witnessed inspired Eaton to solidify his commitment to develop as a servant leader and help people whose health is in peril, as he did for those in Nepal.

“We saw a lot of roads cut off from fallen buildings in these highly-populated cities, where people were in need and the likelihood of the spread of disease was increased because of their isolation,” said Eaton, the lone SVSU student who accompanied a team of faculty from the university in helping the Nepal aid efforts.

“People were really struggling to control the spread of diseases. That really sparked my interest in the study of the spreading of diseases.”

He coupled his ambition with passion that fueled a remarkable two-year finish to an already-notable SVSU undergraduate experience that included his election as president of the student government body, Student Association, in 2015.

Eaton earned his bachelor’s degree in health science in May 2017, and plans to carry that momentum with him this fall to the University of Michigan School of Public Health. There, he will pursue a master’s degree in global health epidemiology en route to a career studying the spread of diseases.

Eaton already has earned international praise for his work.

In March 2017, he presented research at the 2nd World Congress on Public Health and Nutrition in Rome, Italy.? Eaton discussed his study on the contributing factors surrounding influenza vaccination rate disparities among college-aged populations. His project was titled, “Vaccination of Influenza on College Campuses: A study to identify the correlation of determinants on influenza vaccination rate disparities.”

James Collins, Ph.D., SVSU executive-in-residence for health sciences, served as the faculty mentor and adviser for Eaton’s study. Collins said it was unusual for an undergraduate to be invited to present at such an international conference.

“Jarrod had to compete with people in the public health field with professional and advanced degrees,” Collins said. “He wrote a fine summary of his proposed research.”

If it was unusual for an undergraduate to be invited once to present at an international conference, it was almost unimaginable for that same student to be invited to a second international conference to present on a completely different topic. Less than a month after the Rome trip, Eaton flew to London, England for the Student Global Leadership Conference.

Alongside Rene Hernandez, SVSU assistant professor of health sciences and one of the faculty members who joined him in Nepal, they discussed their relief work from two years earlier. The elapsed time has not dulled the images Eaton witnessed in the reeling nation.

“One of the hardest scenes was at a tent village we visited near the end of our week there,” he said. “We came across this girl whose school, we learned, had collapsed. Her friends and teachers had passed away. That was daunting to me; that these people lost everything. A lot of that was hard to grasp until I came back home.”

Before Nepal, Eaton had never traveled outside of the United States. SVSU provided the support that empowered him to travel across the ocean three times in the span of two years. The experiences helped him better appreciate his close relationships with professors, and the many opportunities SVSU offered him.

“My advice to students would be this: Never think you aren’t good enough to apply yourself, or that you aren’t experienced enough to engage in all the opportunities at SVSU,” Eaton said, “because maybe you are more qualified than you think you are.”


A Look Back – St. Johns Band

by Barry Clark Bauer

John Speck is going over the musical score from Romeo & Juliet with two members of the band.

John was also noted for being a CCW instructor. This photo was taken in 1971.


Letters – Soap Box Derby participant identified

The boy with the glasses is Steve Jacobus. He has been identified by his brother, Allen Jacobus. Steve currently lives in the Upper Peninsula in Pickford, Michigan. The family lived on North Ottawa at the time the photo was taken.

Glenn Schultz

Features

2017 4-H Youth Fair in review – with an album

by Maralyn Fink

On Tuesday morning I visited the 4-H fair at the Fairgrounds. There was much activity was taking place with visitors and the 4-H crew tending to their animals.

It was such fun seeing the mothers and their young children interacting in the petting zoo and visiting the animal exhibits. There was also a game tent set up for them.

At Peck Hall the awards exhibit were set up, ribbons and all. Handcrafted items, baking and woodworking were some of the exhibits.

It was a nice time spent on a beautiful morning. Plenty of food was offered in Smith Hall too. Congratulations 4-H Members!


Most Holy Trinity Parish Festival, Fowler – with an album

by Maralyn Fink

On Sunday, July 30 I headed west to the Village of Fowler to attend the Most Holy Trinity Parish Festival.

It was a beautiful day, a little on the warm side; but I joined a friend of mine and took in the attractions. Of course the Fancy Booth is a top priority, and we came away with some nice prizes.

Next up was Bingo which used to be a big thing back in the day, but luck was not with me on that one.

However I came away with some pictures of the events and watched a little 3 on 3 basketball. There was also a dunk tank, and I almost asked the girl if I could take her place for just a minute. It seemed like a good idea, but it didn’t happen.

There was also a Country Store with home-made baked goods from the church ladies; I can’t miss on that one. Of course there were cookies, so I was all set.

All and all, a very nice afternoon. A thank you to Fr. Dennis and the parish for having this event.


You Work Here?

submitted by Kelly Schafer, Executive Director of CASA

We are continuing to paint, polish and add special touches to The Voice for Clinton County’s Children’s new office. Our main goal, the result of very intentional planning, is for it not to look too much like an office because of who we serve—children of all ages who experience abuse or neglect. When children walk through our door, we want them to see a warm, welcoming place where they feel comfortable. This newly designed office is for them, and a welcoming atmosphere is part of our service to them.

It is with great thanks and appreciation to this supportive community that we have seen our new office transform over the summer. Seeing everything from groups donating to pay for the painting of kid-friendly wall murals, to specially-made curtains and donated furniture, has all made this transition very exciting. Yet I can’t help but wonder, how would this office look through the eyes of a child?

As it turns out, my 5-year-old niece recently stopped by the office to help me with that question. She walked /ran around the office, arms flailing with excitement. “You have a teddy bear! This room looks like a pre-school! You have chocolate! I want to see this when it’s done (pointing at a mural)! You have toys!” Her final thought to me with hand on hip was, “You work here?”

At the time, her comments were funny and she really was skeptical when she asked if I work here because of all the “fun” things. What I realized later was that we did it. My niece, in her very sincere and innocent way, convinced me our new office is kid-friendly and does not look or feel like a typical office.

You are invited to see and experience what my 5-year-old niece did, including our big teddy bear, hand-painted wall murals, and we’ll even share some chocolate.

You are invited to celebrate with us at our Open House at The Voice for Clinton County’s Children’s new office on Thursday, September 21 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., with a ribbon cutting at 4:30. We’re located at 1207 N. US 27 in St. Johns behind Sundance and next to Redwing Bowling Lanes. For more information about our services to kids in our community, please visit VoiceForClintonCountyChildren.org.


After 60 years Chapin General Store says goodbye – August 18, 19

On a little corner in Mid Michigan sat a pillar of the community called Chapin General Store. For 60 years it supplied the public with its every need: from milk to deli meats to hardware to spark plugs to toys to hunting
licenses. Amongst the cluttered aisles, were the owners Mary and Carl Goldman. Their friendly smiles always knew exactly where to find the item you needed and were happy to serve you year after year. It was the combination of their warm charm and plethora of inventory that built the ever lasting character of Chapin General Store.

Sadly, Chapin General Store, located north and east of Elsie, soon will be no more. It’s deteriorating structure is scheduled to be demolished in September of 2017. Before the demolition, the family will open the doors one last time for a Goodbye Sale on Friday, August 18 and Saturday, August 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s the last opportunity for the community to buy what they need from Chapin General Store.

Among the items will be a vintage Butcher Boy Commercial Meat Band Saw – 1.5 HP, a vintage Stimpson True Weight Scale, a vintage Toledo Scale Meat Grinder w/ parts, 1920’s Burroughs Adding Machine, a vintage National Adding Machine, 1950’s Sears Firmline Vibrating Belt Exerciser, a vintage “Super Seal” soda sealer, 1050’s Ironrite Model 30 Ironer (Machine No. 2422), 2 JFK Collector Plates, Limited Edition Girl w/ Puppy plate w/ letter of authenticity, a vintage Wagner Ware Sidney O cast iron waffle maker, 2 glass display cases, vintage new stock items – car parts, hardware, farm equipment, household items, a vintage Moose Head, 2 vintage singer sewing machines, and remnants of the store – windows, door frames, and tin ceiling (bring your own tools to remove).

Like the days the store was operating, there is something for everyone!

If you’re unavailable to attend the sale and are interested in any of the items listed above, please contact Al Baron II at (616) 262-0679 or email Lisa Jean Allswede at lisa.allswede@gmail.com.

To learn more about the items at Chapin General Store’s Goodbye Sale, go to the FaceBook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/101960653813132/


A Look Back – 1972 Soap Box Derby Anniversary Issue

by Barry Clark Bauer

John Arehart, a local elementary school teacher, and some of the Soap Box Derby car drivers look over CCN’s Soap Box Derby Anniversary issue.

None of the boys or the guy on the right are identified.


Benny and Jessie’s Pet Info – How to Remove Ticks From Pets

Ticks can transmit deadly diseases to a pet within 24 hours of a bite, so swift removal is key.

Here’s the best way to remove a tick from your dog or cat so you’re prepared to get rid of these dangerous parasites.

Before you start the actual removal process, gather everything that you need to remove the offending tick from your pet first. It’s harder to try and manage a squirming animal while looking for your tweezers or rubbing alcohol than it is having everything you need within arm’s reach.

What You’ll Need

– Gloves
– Tweezers (pointy ones work best)
– Latex or rubber gloves
– Rubbing alcohol
– Antiseptic wipes (optional)
– Jar or container with lid

Steps for Removing a Tick

Step 1: Put on your gloves.

Ticks carry infectious agents that can seep into a human’s bloodstream through breaks in the skin. It’s better to play it safe and wear protective gear.

Step 2: Steady your pet and keep him calm.

When you’re getting ready to remove the tick you’ve got to keep your pet calm. Any unusual poking or prodding tends to make dogs and cats nervous. If there is another person available, have that person hold your pet and keep him relaxed.

Step 3: Position your tweezers.

Take a pair of tweezers—pointy ones work best—and grab hold of the tick as close to your dog’s skin as possible. Be careful not to pinch your dog’s skin.

Step 4: Pull out the tick.

Using steady pressure, pull the tick out using a straight motion. Do not twist or jerk the tick because you want to avoid leaving the tick’s mouth parts behind. Also, make sure not to squeeze or crush the tick, since its fluids may contain infectious material. After removing the tick, examine it to make sure the head and mouth parts were removed. If not, take your pet to veterinarian to remove what’s left in the pet’s skin.

Step 5: Kill the tick.

Kill the tick by placing it in a container with rubbing alcohol. Once the tick is dead, most veterinarians recommend keeping it in the container with a lid in case your pet begins displaying symptoms of disease.

Step 6: Disinfect the bite site.

Use antiseptic spray or wipes to disinfect the bite site and keep an eye on it for signs of infection. If the bite site remains red or becomes inflamed, make an appointment with your veterinarian.

Step 7: Reward your pet.

After you’ve removed the tick from your dog or cat, praise your pet for being good. Give him or her a treat and add in some extra playtime as a special reward.

Keep an Eye on Your Pet

Make sure to keep a close eye on your dog or cat over the next few weeks and be on the lookout for any strange symptoms including a reluctance to move, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite and swollen lymph nodes. If your dog displays any of these symptoms, make an appointment with your vet immediately.