Competition Theatre collects State awards
St. Johns Competition Theatre traveled to Avondale High School in Auburn Hills last weekend to compete at the MIFA Division 2 State Theatre Finals.
The mainstage show, Dearly Departed, placed 4th. They earned the following awards:
– Jacob Campbell- Excellence in Acting
– Parker Lee- Excellence in Acting
– Camden Hudgens- Excellence in Acting
– All cast- Excellence in Ensemble Vocal Work
– Bree Fleischer, Georgia Fromson, Elise LeBaron, Olivia Parker, Emma Parsons, Halie Riojas, Garrett Smith, Justin Thelen, Maggie Hallead- Excellence in Set Design
– Georgia Fromson, Elise LeBaron, Emma Parsons, Halie Riojas, Garrett Smith, Justin Thelen, and all cast- Excellence in Stage Crew
– Abigail Kloha- Superior in Acting
– Maggie Hallead and River Toepler- Superior in Student Directing
The studio show, The Drowning Girls, won both the Innovation in Theatre award and the State Championship.
They earned the following awards:
– Eli Caroland, Gabe D’Valentine, Georgia Fromson, Blake Leavitt, Garrett Smith, Cole Wardin- Excellence in Set Painting
– Jaye Moore- Excellence in Student Directing
– Bianca Garcia- Superior in Acting
– Ella Koenigsknecht- Superior in Acting
– Erynn Kolhoff- Superior in Acting
– Bianca Garcia, Ella Koenigsknecht, Erynn Kolhoff- Superior in Ensemble Acting
– Jaye Moore and Jesse Garcia- Superior in Lights
– Kaitlyn Dupuis, Blake Leavitt, Cole Wardin- Superior in Sound Design
– Kaitlyn Dupuis and Lucas Kramer- Superior in Sound Execution
– Madison Nofzinger- Superior in Costume Design and Costume Execution
– Emma Parsons, Olivia Parker, Jaye Moore, Lucas Kramer, Madison Nofzinger- Superior in Props
– Madison Nofzinger and Bree Fleischer- Superior in Hair and Make-Up
– Cast and Crew- Superior in Scenic Blending
Congratulations to all!
Rep. Filler named Legislator of the Year
State Rep. Graham Filler was recently named one of the 2021 Legislators of the Year by the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police. Here he is photographed with St. Johns Chief of Police David Kirk.
Filler, a former assistant attorney general, is serving his second term in the Michigan House representing people in Clinton and Gratiot counties. He was recognized for his work to improve the criminal justice system as chair of the House Judiciary Committee.
In 2021 Filler backed efforts to provide additional funding for local law enforcement agencies and offer more tools for officer recruitment and retention. He also sponsored legislation to protect the rights and privacy of crime victims and spoke out against legislation that would have destroyed Michigan’s truth-in-sentencing system.
“I am incredibly honored to such great support from our chiefs of police,” said Filler, of DeWitt. “The men and women in uniform who protect our communities have all my respect. Supporting law enforcement and making sure they have the resources they need to protect the public must always be a priority.”
Remember When – Cedar Creek nurse receives hospital’s first DAISY Award in 2019
by Maralyn Fink
Corinne Holmes-Caudell received Cedar Creek Hospital’s first DAISY Award.
DAISY Award recipients are nominated by their, peers, physicians, patients and families, and other staff and administrators to receive:
• A certificate held in a handsome portfolio, proclaiming the recipient an “Extraordinary Nurse.”
• A DAISY Award pin (We’ve learned that nurses love to wear pins on their I.D. badges!).
• A unique, hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture from Zimbabwe, entitled “A Healer’s Touch.” Click here for more about these beautiful works of art.
The DAISY Award was established to celebrate the extraordinary compassion nurses provide their patients and families every day. Each DAISY Award facility also receives a large celebratory banner that is hung in the recipient’s unit for a month, generating very positive conversation about the special role nurses play in patient care.
Letters – Moving Santa’s Remote Workshop
We are so excited to partner with the East Olive Community Center for Toys for Tots.
Moving Toys for Tots supplies to Santa’s new Remote Workshop takes an amazing village.
Thank you St. Johns Police Department for the temporary storage space. Special thank you Clinton County RESA Career Connections Criminal Justice students for a great assembly line. We appreciate moving help from Clinton County Michigan Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Volunteers. We have an amazing community!
– The Voice for Clinton County’s Children
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – Why Does My Cat Ignore Me?
It might go without saying; but when it comes to social skills, cats are not dogs.
Many dogs need the attention of their owners and crave social interactions. Cats are much more independent, and some would even go as far as to say that they can seem standoffish. They still need social interactions, but they seek them on their own terms and usually don’t beg for attention.
So how do you know if your cat is grumpy and wants to be left alone, or just didn’t know you wanted their attention, or is simply ignoring you?
Why Do Cats Ignore You?
There are many reasons why your cat may seem to be ignoring you. Here are the most common.
Your cat wants alone time.
Probably the simplest and most common reason is that your cat simply isn’t in the mood right now.
Cats are independent creatures and have their own emotions and moods. If your cat doesn’t feel like getting scratched or coming for a treat, well, chances are, they’re just simply going to ignore you and keep doing whatever it is they prefer to do, which may include napping.
If your cat is doing their natural thing and relaxing, but this doesn’t include you, don’t take In this case, it’s best to just leave your kitty alone and let them come to you when they want attention.
Older cats might not know you want their attention.
Some cats have more significant reasons to not respond to you. For example, if your cat has gotten a bit older, there is a chance that they aren’t hearing or seeing quite as well as they used to. There is the possibility that your kitty isn’t ignoring you, but rather, they simply haven’t yet clued in to the fact that you are trying to interact.
Moving a little more slowly and deliberately helps these kitties become aware of you, and then they can decide if they feel like paying attention to you. If this becomes a trend, talk to your veterinarian about it so that they can look for underlying medical conditions. Of course, if your cat is acting lethargic or not responding when you try to get their attention, call your vet right away, as this can be an emergency.
Your cat might be scared.
Many cats will choose to ignore something they perceive as a threat, or that they are stressed by. If you have punished or swatted your cat in the past, or even yelled at them, they may now see you as a potential threat.
Your cat doesn’t know if your intentions are good or bad, so they try to ignore you. Sometimes, simply accidentally stepping on your cat is enough to trigger the cold-shoulder reaction. In these cases, cats will often flee if you continue to solicit their attention.
If your cat runs away, hides, and tries to avoid you, back off and give them some space. Let a little time pass, and then try to win over their affection with some gentle scratches or treats. Cats have long memories, and a spray with the water bottle may be remembered weeks and months into the future. You should never discipline a cat with punishment—and that includes spraying with water or yelling.
Your cat may not be feeling well.
It is not unusual for cats to become more reclusive if they are not feeling well, particularly if there is an illness brewing. Even as cats age, they can develop a form of cognitive dysfunction that is similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans.
If your cat is showing any signs of concern in addition to being more standoffish, such as drinking more than usual, having less of an appetite, or acting different in any other way, see your veterinarian. Kitties will often pull back when sickness is developing, and the sooner you discover the underlying problem, the better. With a little effort and some help from your vet, you can translate their behavior and address the problem.
Your cat may be upset by something.
Cats seem to be very independent and sometimes standoffish, but the truth is, most cats have delicate emotions. The slightest insult—perhaps even smelling like you were petting another cat—may put their nose out of joint and cause them to snub you.
Does this mean they are being spiteful? Not at all! They are just communicating their feelings in the only way they know how.
Most cats are pretty forgiving and anxious to have everyone back in good grace. A little detective work and some treats or canned food bribes should do just the trick.
What If My Cat Is Suddenly Ignoring Me?
If your cat’s behavior seems to change suddenly, run through the potential scenarios that might have triggered this change.
Is there a new pet in the house? A new baby? A change in work schedule? Perhaps you’ve moved? Did you trip on your cat while cooking dinner? If you can’t find an event that may have triggered the change, medical concerns come into play.
Often, cats will hide signs of illness very successfully until they are truly quite sick. If this is the case, your kitty may seem to withdraw suddenly because they feel poorly.
If you notice that your cat has a sudden change of behavior (including ignoring you) that you can’t explain with a specific reason, have your cat examined with some bloodwork as soon as possible. You’ll be happy to find any problems early, while they can be addressed.