2023 Festival of Lights downtown
Homeless Coalition speaks to Rotary
Take action speaker Rotary Club of St. Johns Karen Leif and Cyndi Thelen spoke on behalf of Clinton County housing and Homeless coalition, the need in our community. Nick Koenigsknecht spoke about being a Paul Harris Rotarian.
And the Cows are ready for sponsorship for the Barn Bash.
Want to get involved in the homeless contact Karen Leif beaconnav@stjohnsfbc.com or visit https://clintoncountyhomelessshelter.org/ for more information.
SJPD says farewell to another officer
Thanks for your years of service to our community and to your fellow officers. You will be missed Officer Worrall.
RESA students learn about animals
Thank you to Pruess Pets for another engaging and informative assembly for the RESA Educational Center. Students learned about each animal’s habitat, diet, and physical features and got to have some hands on experiences with the animals along the way.
Thank you to Recreational Therapist, Rachel Platte for organizing this opportunity for the students.
HIFCM recognizes retiree
In recognition of her retirement a party was held recently at Hazel Findlay Manor for Cheryl Prichard. She most recently worked in the dietary department and served the residents for 40 years. To say she will be missed is a huge understatement.
Remember when? – Santa Parade and more, 2009
There will be a festive Christmas Celebration in Historic Downtown St. Johns on Friday, December 4th, involving a number of events sure to be fun for the whole family. All are invited to watch the Annual Santa Parade of Lights. Each entry is beautifully decorated with colorful holiday lights and also welcomes Santa Claus to our Mint City USA. The Parade begins at 5:45 p.m. and travels down Clinton Avenue to the Train Depot lawn at 107 E. Railroad Street.
After the Parade, enjoy the official lighting of the annual St. Johns Christmas Tree on the Depot lawn and the presentation of the Key to the City to Santa Claus by St. Johns Mayor Dana Beaman. This magical key opens every door in St. Johns, and enables Santa Claus to visit every boy and girl on Christmas Eve.
Families, neighbors, co-workers, local school groups, marching bands, civic organizations, church groups, dance troupes, musical groups and businesses are all welcome to participate in the parade and add to the pageantry of the St. Johns Tree Lighting Ceremony. This event helps to bring our community together to celebrate the holidays.
Parade goers are invited to visit our many downtown stores and businesses after the parade. Many will be conducting special events on Friday, and each is sure to tantalize the eye and bring joy and laughter to those that participate. The Briggs Public Library holds children’s events throughout the weekend offering stories, music, games, crafts, refreshments and visits with Santa at 108 E. Railroad Street.
The Clinton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is holding a “Snowflake Wonderland” fundraiser at the UAW Hall at 109 W. Walker Street in downtown St. Johns on Friday, December 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in conjunction with the Santa Parade. Items from numerous vendors will be on display with an array of stocking stuffers and Christmas gift ideas… and all for a good cause.
So come to historic Downtown St. Johns on Friday December 4th and help ring in the holidays by enjoying our lighted, magical events and visit with Santa too.
Letters – Local officers say thanks
The officers of the St. Johns, Ovid, DeWitt Township, and Bath Township Police Departments, and the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department say “Thanks!”
On Saturday, December 2, Law Enforcement officers around Clinton County asked for your help in rounding up “wanted” groceries. Your response was overwhelming!
We were at six different locations in Bath, DeWitt, Ovid and St. Johns. Between those locations we filled 20 police cars and 2 fire trucks with food and collected $2,486 in cash donations for local food banks in Clinton County.
Thanks to all of you, many more people will have needed food this winter.
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – How to Keep Cats Out of the Christmas Tree
courtesy of Victoria Lynn Arnold
Ever wonder why your cat is so drawn to the Christmas tree each year?
It’s the perfect scenario, in your cat’s mind. The Christmas tree is something high to climb on that provides plenty of hiding spots and has all sorts of fun, shiny, moving things to bat at and play with.
However, this isn’t the safest spot for your cat, nor is it your preferred spot for them to hang out.
There are dangerous things that can be chewed on and potentially ingested by your cat, like the tinsel, branches and pine needles, ornaments, and Christmas lights. Swallowing any of these could be a choking hazard and potentially cause an intestinal blockage.
How to Cat-Proof Your Christmas Tree
Is it possible to have both cats and a Christmas tree during the holidays with no incidents? Yes—it just might take a little planning and rearranging. Here are some ideas for how to keep your cat out of your Christmas tree this holiday season.
Try Cat-Deterrent Sprays
Keep your cat away from the Christmas tree with a cat-deterrent spray.
Cats absolutely hate the taste of bitter things. This is an evolutionary trait that has probably kept them safe from eating things like rancid meat in the wild. Thankfully, it can also keep them from destroying things in the house or chewing on toxic plants. If you use a bitter-tasting spray on the tree, it can help keep your cat from chewing on the branches.
DIY Cat-Deterrent Spray
You can make your own homemade cat-deterrent spray by following the instructions below.
Ingredients:
3 cups of water
½ cup of fresh rosemary
¾ cup distilled white vinegar
¼ cup lemon juice
Steps:
Boil water.
Add fresh rosemary to boiling water. Turn off heat, cover with a lid, and let it steep overnight.
The next day, strain the rosemary pieces out of the liquid with a cheesecloth or a sieve. Pour the liquid into a spray bottle.
Add vinegar and lemon juice.
Shake well to mix up the liquids.
Let an Air-Spray Can Do the Work
Try a motion- or heat-activated spray to warn your cat to stay away. These types of sprays are harmless to your cat but scare them away because of the startling burst of air.
The motion-activated sprays make a hissing sound as they release air. This will also startle your cat because it simulates the sound a cat makes when they feel threatened. This is how they tell possible aggressors to stay away. If your cat hears that same sound, they will learn to stay away.
Using a motion- or heat-activated spray is recommended instead of spraying your cat with water. If you try deterring your cat by spraying them with a water bottle yourself, the cat will associate you with fear. Plus, if you aren’t patrolling the tree 24/7, it just teaches them to get into the tree when you aren’t around.
The PetSafe SSSCAT Motion-Activated Dog & Cat Spray is one of the most popular motion-activated spray cans on the market.
Use Cat Training Mats
Place a cat training mat in front of your Christmas tree. They are made to be safe to use and won’t hurt your cat. These products typically offer two settings—tonal and static—sometimes simultaneously. These settings are used to startle your cat, which will train them to stay away. Try out the PetSafe Generation 2 ScatMat.
Set Up a Physical Barrier
Keep your cat away from the Christmas tree with a physical barrier like a pet fence or pet playpen. But for cats who are extra clever and determined, you may want to combine this with another method like the cat-deterrent spray.
Place Aluminum Foil around the Base
Many cats absolutely hate the look, sound, and feel of aluminum foil. So, if you want a quick, easy fix to keep your cat away from the tree, create a sort of Christmas tree skirt with sheets of aluminum foil taped together around the base.
Move Furniture Away from the Tree
Cats are quite athletic, and they love to jump from one piece of furniture to the next. If you move as much furniture as you can away from the Christmas tree, your cat won’t have that extra launching point.
Get Your Cat Their Own Cat Tree
You can try to lead your cat away from the Christmas tree by offering them something more desirable. If you get your cat a new cat tree with some special added features and catnip, it could be tempting enough to draw their attention away from the Christmas tree.
Downsize to a Tabletop Christmas Tree
If you’re tired of trying to keep your cat out of the tree, go for a smaller Christmas tree that can sit on top of a table. This way the tree isn’t big enough for your cat to jump onto or climb around in.