Roof sit, 2022 – an album by Maralyn Fink
Village of Pewamo welcomes Native Americans
Descendants of Chief Pewamo from the Kickapoo Tribe of Horton, Kansas were in the Village of Pewamo recently.
They were excited to see that the Village proudly bears the name of their ancestor and hope to return again.
Remember When – Rotary Club spearheads major project in 2009
by Rhonda Dedyne
Special Writer
Gardens and landscaped walkways, a gazebo, covered pavilion.
Those elements were part of an image for the Old Grand Truck Depot site that was created by area residents a decade ago.
That vision is about to become a reality.
The St. Johns Rotary Club, working with the city of St. Johns and other civic organizations, is taking on the challenge of developing the Depot site – piece by piece.
“The club is committed to a three-year financial pledge for work on the project, and also is soliciting grant funding from The Rotary Foundation and other similar organizations,” Rotary Club President Dennis LaForest says about the large-scale project.
A preliminary design for the Depot site by THA Architects and Engineers incorporates many of the elements that were discussed during community-wide meetings in the late ’90s, following the city’s purchase of the abandoned Old Grand Truck Depot in 1998. The original plan included a permanent location for a farmer’s market, a play area for children, a pavilion and stage area for local events, landscaping, parking and other restoration at the site.
A significant amount of landscape work has been done over the years, but the updated plan features space for additional garden areas and green space that will create a park-like setting for the entire site. The potential use of the location as a stop on a rail-trail from Owosso to Ionia is also part of the revised plan.
“We’re envisioning a time when St. Johns and the St. Johns Depot District will be a destination stop on the rail-trail,” LaForest says, citing plans for the construction of a convenience center that would be located just east of the existing Depot.
“The multi-use convenience center will offer barrier-free access restrooms for the entire Depot site and Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee (C-I-S) trail users. A vending and concessions area in the building will be able to accommodate trail users 24/7, as well as during scheduled special events.”
Other new, structural components of the plan include an informational kiosk that will provide facts about the C-I-S trail and Depot; multi-use covered pavilion; and gazebo.
“The pavilion will be located on the northwest corner of the site, near Clinton Avenue and adjacent to the old rail bed that will become the C-I-S trail,” LaForest says, noting the location will be convenient for trail users as a picnic area. “The vision of the original committee was for a covered pavilion that could be used on a weekly basis as a farmer’s market during the growing season, along with craft vendors for special Depot events – this plan also addresses those needs.”
While it’s the smallest component of the proposed plan, a full-size gazebo will certainly be a focal point on the Depot site.
“The plan calls for the gazebo to be modeled after one that’s located at Mission Point on Mackinac Island,” LaForest says. “It can be used as a band-stage for concerts in the summer, and also will provide a great backdrop for family and wedding photographs. There’s a lot of potential for its use by all area residents.”
The gazebo also provides an opportunity for Rotarians to inject some ‘sweat equity’ into their chosen project along with financial contributions by the local club.
“We’ll start building the gazebo as soon as the weather permits, and hope to have it completed for use by early summer,” the Rotary president says about the hands-on project that is being accomplished with the donation of materials by a local business owner.
“The estimated cost of the entire plan is $300,000, so we’re very appreciative of any in-kind donations and labor that will help complete the Depot site.”
“We see this as being a wonderful community project – something that everyone can work together on and enjoy using for many years to come.”
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – How Do Dogs Sweat?
We have millions of sweat glands all over our bodies. These glands, called eccrine and apocrine, are activated by nerves to help cool us off. Eccrine glands produce and release an odorless, clear fluid that evaporates and aids with heat loss. Apocrine glands, located in the armpits and genital area, secrete a thick fluid that releases an odor when it mixes with bacteria on the skin’s surface.
Dogs have a type of sweat gland called merocrine glands, which are located in dog paw pads. Rarely, a dog will sweat through its paws. Overall, though, dogs have far fewer sweat glands than people do, making their other natural mechanisms for cooling off more important than sweating.
Thermoregulation in Dogs
Dog sweat glands, in addition to being few in number, are also inefficient. Therefore, dogs rely on other mechanisms to keep their body temperatures under control—a process called thermoregulation.
The primary form of thermoregulation in dogs is panting. When a dog pants, heat rises up from his chest and escapes through the moisture of his tongue, mouth and throat. As he exhales during panting, the moist air evaporates and keeps him cool. So, even though your dog won’t have sweaty armpits when he’s hot, you’ll know he’s trying to cool off when he starts panting.
Another form of thermoregulation is vasodilation, which is an expanding of the blood vessels. Vasodilation allows warm blood to get closer to the skin surface. The closer this warm blood is to the body’s surface, primarily through vasodilation in the face and ears, the better a dog can cool down.
Heatstroke in Dogs
When panting and vasodilation aren’t enough to keep a dog cool, heatstroke can occur. Heatstroke in dogs has many causes, including exercise, being trapped in a hot car, and not having access to fresh, cool water on a hot day. Heatstroke can be fatal if left untreated, so it is important to recognize its symptoms and act quickly. Symptoms of heatstroke in dogs include:
– Red gums
– Rapid heart rate
– Incoordination
– Unconsciousness
– Excessive panting
– Thick and ropey saliva
– Body is warm to the touch
If your dog is showing signs of heatstroke, call your veterinarian immediately and get your dog to the veterinary clinic as soon as possible for treatment and monitoring.
Keeping Your Dog Cool
Because dogs can’t sweat like humans do, it is important for dog owners to be proactive about keeping their dogs cool during the warmer months. Here a few strategies to keep your dog cool:
– Never leave your dog unattended in the car
– Keep your home at a comfortable temperature
– Make sure your dog has access to shade during outdoor play
– Exercise with your dog in the early morning or the end of the day
– Provide your dog with unrestricted access to cool, fresh water
– Give your dog frozen dog treats, such as doggy ice cream or frozen broth popsicles
In addition you can also outfit your dog with dog cooling apparel, like the Suitical Dry Cooling Vest, when it’s time for a walk or outdoor play. Cooling mats help dogs cool down quickly, particularly when a cold surface like tile is not readily available.
Understanding how dogs cool off and knowing what happens when they overheat can help you take good care of your dog when the temperatures rise outside. Make sure your dog can enjoy the dog days of summer as much as you do.