Remembering Doug Pardee
This week we learned of the death of C. Douglas Pardee from his son, Scott. It came as bittersweet news to those of a certain age who remember both Doug and his father, St. Clair Pardee. Many of you might not know the name; but if you’ve been around St. Johns for any length of time, you know his work.
Doug graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School with the Class of 1947 as its class president. He went on to serve in the military and study at the University of Michigan. By November of 1959 he was registered by the Michigan State Board of Architects and joined his father’s local firm, St. Clair Pardee and Associates.
You might know some of their work including Swegels Street School, the law offices of Wieber Green, PC at the corner of State Street and Spring. In 1975 the firm designed the addition to the Congregational Church.
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The year after joining Pardee and Associates Doug was nominated for the R.S. Reynolds Memorial Award for his work on the familiar first addition to St. Joseph School, the Cass St. addition. The award was conferred on the designer whose creative use of aluminum could influence the architecture of the time. The St. Joseph School addition was one of 96 in the nation and one of four in Michigan that year to receive the nomination.
Before receiving that award he was chosen to design the second addition to the school in 1958. This work included a gymnasium complete with boys’ and girls’ shower and locker facilities in the basement. The second floor level would feature six more classrooms with an audio-visual and multipurpose room and lockers for students.
In May, 1966 he presented floor plans and drawings for Eureka and East Essex schools to the St. Johns Board of Education.
Douglas Pardee reads bids received for the construction of rural schools and additions. Seated next to Pardee are Fred Meyer and Board President Ray Parr.
He was named the architect for all four of the rural elementary schools including Eureka, East Essex, East Olive and Riley Elementary School.
That same year Doug was one of those who was present at the groundbreaking of the transformational new addition to Clinton Memorial Hospital. The hospital retained the basic shape and footprint that remained until the new Emergency addition was added
Doug had been known for the home he designed and built for his family at 303 South Baker Street. He had not lived or worked in St. Johns for many years and died last week in Saginaw at the age of 93. His son says that he had been in failing health for some time and that COVID had weakened him in the last couple of weeks, but otherwise he had remained mostly clear of other symptoms.
Coffman interviewed about his latest project
This week we heard from our friend Sam Coffman. Last November he was interviewed by his company’s legal team at Foster Swift about his animated film production.
They published the interview on their website then strategically submitted it to the legal industry’s biggies, and he just received the analytics’ numbers back. They are on-track for having a global HIT on their hands!
Among others, legal world juggernaut JDSupra, as well as the Law Business Research’s far-reaching platform LEXOLOGY, both blasted the interview around the world, and now people everywhere are waiting to see the film.
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Inspiration Arises From Disaster: A Film Project Over a Decade in the Making
The ongoing pandemic has wreaked havoc on the film industry, with most theaters shut down in 2020. Even now, many blockbuster films have gone straight to streaming services.
One local filmmaker’s vision began nearly a decade before the COVID pandemic. It all started with another tragic disaster, but from that disaster, a story unfolded and inspired a film project.
Foster Swift’s Business Development Team sat down with one of the founders and the Director of AI OK MEDIA, LLC, based in Saint Johns, Michigan, to discuss what disaster inspired this film, where they currently stand with the project and how the attorneys at Foster Swift helped them overcome some of the hurdles along the way.
When did this film project begin?
Our production started in April of 2011 when I returned to my home town of Saint Johns, Michigan after two years of living and working abroad in Japan. After escaping the triple disaster that began on March 11, 2011, I think the creative part of my brain got a jolt from the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear holocaust-related PTSD I was experiencing. Even though my previous writing experience had primarily included only academic papers and hundreds of songs, I strangely had a flood of ideas for several screenplays while in Michigan.
What inspired you to undertake this project?
Over the course of the following few years, I taught myself how to tell a story using the modern screenplay format, and over the last decade, the screenplay that was inspired by the disaster in Fukushima slowly became the current iteration of our film’s story.
What were the circumstances in getting the project started?
I had lived and worked in Los Angeles for a year, back in 2004, and even before experiencing the cataclysms in Japan, I was planning to move back to Southern California to pursue a rewarding career in the mainstream entertainment industry. In 2012, I moved back to Los Angeles to work on the script while also working as an actor, film editor, musician, restaurant waiter, and caretaker for disabled persons. I cannot begin to tell you how much easier it was to get around California with Google Maps compared to the Thomas Guide I used in 2004!
After over five years of struggling in an ultra-competitive L.A., I finally got a meeting with Stan Lee’s main Japanese co-producer there (Yes, The Stan Lee of Marvel Comics). She loved the story, saw that its themes matched Lee’s vision, and requested that I make a graphic novel for Lee. Soon after that meeting, I accepted a position as a professor at a Tokyo university in an attempt to be in the place where I could most likely find graphic novelists to learn from.
After a year as a professor in Tokyo, I realized that being a full-time freelancer in the art world was going to be the best way to get our production seen by audiences the most quickly. Making that transition to freelancing was not easy, but I felt so strongly about getting our story out into the world, that sacrificing stability for storytelling felt like a necessary plan of action.
After that, I lived in Tokyo for several more three-month stints to work as a freelancer with the teams who have gotten us to this point, and I am happy to report that our efforts have produced a Japanese/English script, two Japanese/English synopses, a Japanese/English graphic novel, and a one-minute animated teaser. I cannot stress enough how important Foster Swift has been for our fledgling LLC. Attorneys John Kamins and John Mashni have been so cool…
How was Foster Swift able to help you overcome some of the hurdles and keep your project rolling?
Before I left for Tokyo, my family and I created AI OK MEDIA, LLC with Foster Swift’s Emmy-earner John Kamins at the Farmington Hills (now Southfield), Michigan office. John was very patient, and his talk of connections and merchandising inspired us to think bigger than ever. John also drew up the paperwork that allowed me to transfer the story’s copyright to the LLC. Looking back, John Kamins’ big ideas pushed us in the right direction, and now our production is a burgeoning success story for the ages!
Before John Kamins retired, he had me meet with Foster Swift’s film degree-holder attorney, John Mashni, in the Lansing, Michigan office. I am happy to report that collaborating with John Mashni for the past few years has meant all the difference in our production’s journey – due to John expertly wearing several hats. Our animated teaser’s production contract with Tokyo’s Toneplus Animation Studios was negotiated with John’s help, and after he collaborated with me on our screenplay and synopses to great effect, John even labored with me to iron out our story’s crucial log line which is: “In our future, a young revolutionary leads a mass slum uprising – but everything changes when a general causes a cataclysm that could trigger human extinction.”
Where are you and your team currently at with the project?
And now that our production team is finally ready to submit our story to graphic novel publishers such as Penguin Books and Dark Horse Comics in America and Shueisha’s JUMP! magazine in Japan, John will soon be an integral part of that process. John will also be a big part of creating our forthcoming trailer, and hopefully, John’s services will be needed as we negotiate a production/distribution deal for our feature film.
Regarding the forthcoming trailer, our LLC is currently, independently funding the creation of a silent, black and white trailer to be used in an upcoming Kickstarter crowdfunding venture. A successful $25,000 Kickstarter campaign in 2022 will fund the finishing of the trailer – including editing, coloring, scoring, and the addition of CGI, titles and text, sound effects, and (hopefully) celebrity actors’ voices. Our plan for 2022 is to create a global buzz for our film through the Kickstarter platform and attract more investors there as well. The proper two-minute theatrical trailer we expect to come from that process could set us up to be able to make a difference in the world with a poignant animated feature film in 2023 if our luck holds.
Were there any major roadblocks along the way?
There are too many to list. Stan Lee’s death in November 2018 was our first big heartbreaker, but the pandemic takes the cake as far as how we are having to constantly reassess how to keep moving forward. Other roadblocks include language and cultural barriers, culture shock/reverse culture shock, and the sleep deprivation torture of constant jet lag. Even though I am now working remotely in Michigan indefinitely, I am still required to work around the schedules of collaborators who live all over the world. Being on-call around the clock for years on end has been a challenge to say the least, but the idea of shaking up the world with our epic tale keeps me motivated to keep going, no matter what.
Are there any details about this film project that you can give without giving away any spoilers?
We have found that the multi-lingual process of collaborating internationally has produced a hybrid storytelling style. Even though we follow the Campbellian formula to the letter, the unique details that hold our hero’s journey together maximize emotional impact in a completely novel way. As for spoiler-free details from our story, I can only share a few without co-producers admonishing me.
For starters, our tale has a tender, interracial teenage love story at its heart. The story’s climactic end-of-the-world scenario is striking beyond belief, but our message about the power of love overshadows even that. Secondly, the Bechdel Test is passed in a pivotal scene, and strong female characters are included in the diverse cast. Also, the action in the story is so varied and extreme, sub-nautical swashbuckling takes place alongside epic phantasmagoria at one point. Lastly, the ecological warning that our story includes contains clear anti-revenge sentiments and presents audiences with opportunities to learn from a wise young protagonist’s example. All in all, we hope our story will be cathartic and serve as a catalyst for people who want to live in a way that makes the world a better place for everyone.
So! Get ready for the YA graphic novel and PG-13 animated feature film that are about to make a positive impact globally. Our production team has overcome adversity time and again, and the momentum that our resilience has manifested is now unstoppable. If we continue to be successful and get a chance to publicly name parties that help our story reach the masses, audiences around the world will definitely be hearing about how awesome Foster Swift is – maybe even during an Oscar ceremony! Dare to dream with us, and please stay tuned!
If we have the photo, it’s official
Clinton County Sheriff Sean Dush’s department photo was recently completed, and now they would like to officially introduce him.
Sheriff Dush was appointed to replace Sheriff Jerue who retired earlier this year. Sheriff Dush was sworn in and took office as of May 1, 2022 to serve the remainder of the term ending in December of 2024.
Sheriff Dush was born in Lansing and raised in St. Johns. He graduated from St. Johns High School in 1991 where he competed in football and wrestling. Sheriff Dush joined the US Army out of high school where he was Honorably Discharged. Once home from the military, Sheriff Dush attended Ferris State University where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice.
While attending Ferris State University in the summer of 1997, Sheriff Dush completed his internship in the Clinton County Jail where he observed the day-to-day operations of the jail. Upon graduating from Ferris State University in 1998, Sheriff Dush was hired as the Community Corrections Coordinator for the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office where he placed low level offenders on work crews and substance abuse counseling.
In 2001 Sheriff Dush attended the 68th Mid-Michigan Police Academy where he was one of 3 class presidents. Upon graduating from the police academy in 2001 Sheriff Dush was assigned to the road patrol as a Deputy. Sheriff Dush was promoted to Road Patrol Sergeant in 2008.
In 2011 Sheriff Dush was promoted to Detective Sergeant and in 2017 he was promoted to Detective Lieutenant where he remained until he was appointed Sheriff on May 1, 2022, after Sheriff Jerue retired. Sheriff Dush has worked for the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office for 24 years.
During his time at the Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Dush has received many awards including multiple Departmental Commendations, Departmental Citations, Employee of the Year, and a Michigan Sheriffs Association Distinguished Service Medal presented by Governor Granholm. Sheriff Dush is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Law Enforcement Executive Seminar and the Police Executives and New Chief’s School.
Sheriff Dush and his wife Stephanie have four children and reside in St. Johns.
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – Why Does My Cat Headbutt Me?
If you are a cat parent, you’re probably familiar with the cat headbutt, or as it’s more properly called, a head bunt. Many people consider a headbutt endearing, and in fact, a study showed that shelter cats that headbutted potential adopters were more likely to be adopted.
So what does it mean when cats headbutt you? Is it really a sign of affection or something else?
What Are Cat Headbutts?
Cats have glands on their cheeks, forehead, and chin that contain pheromones. A pheromone is a substance produced by animals as a type of scent communication. When a cat headbutts you, they are rubbing pheromones on you. The pheromone deposited during headbutting comes from glands located just in front of a cat’s ears.
Humans can’t detect these pheromones, but to a cat, you can consider yourself marked. These pheromones signal to other cats that a cat has been there.
The type of headbutt varies from cat to cat. Sometimes a cat will clunk you skull to skull, which can be a jarring experience. In other cats, the headbutt is a much lighter encounter. However, either method will leave you marked with their facial pheromone.
Cat Headbutting vs. Head Pressing
It’s important to note that headbutting in cats is not the same as a similar behavior called head pressing. With head pressing, a cat will compulsively push their head into the wall or corner and will typically not appear relaxed.
Head pressing can also be accompanied by other symptoms such as pacing, vision changes, or self-injury caused by excessively pressing the head. If your cat is head pressing or shows any other signs, it could be an indication of a serious neurologic condition. In this case, your cat should be immediately examined by a veterinarian.
Why Do Cats Headbutt?
Cat facial pheromones have a calming and reassuring effect, so headbutting is a sign your cat is very content. Both before and during headbutting, a cat may flop over playfully, purr, have partially closed eyes, or exhibit other relaxed behaviors.
Alternatively, a cat you don’t know well or at all may headbutt to sniff you or just feel you out.
Here are some of the more common reasons a cat will headbutt you.
Marking Familiar Surroundings
Cats may headbutt and rub their face on familiar objects like your furniture or their cat tree. When cats do this, they are marking the objects using the glands in their cheek.
This type of marking behavior claims a territory as familiar and in a positive way. Think of it as your cat personalizing their surroundings and creating a safe space, as opposed to making a territorial challenge to other cats like they would by urine marking or spraying.
Creating a Colony Scent
Although cats have been traditionally thought of as solitary creatures, they can actually be quite social.
Headbutting is a way for cats to communicate their connection with each other and establish social bonds. When cats within a colony headbutt each other, they are mixing their scents to create a single scent. This unique scent is then distributed to all of the cats in the colony as the colony scent.
Marking Their People or Bonding
Cats mark familiar people just like they mark things around the house. When a cat headbutts and marks you, it means you’ve been accepted into a very special club: a cat’s inner circle.
By marking you, a cat is connecting to you through scent and bonding with you. Thanks to their very keen sense of smell, much of cats’ communication is through scents in their environment. And though you cannot detect it, the fact that you smell like your cat is very reassuring to them.
Self-Soothing
When cats rub their face on something, they are usually purring, happy, and relaxed, without anyone else having to be involved. They seem to enjoy headbutting and rubbing their face on things and the scent of their pheromones immensely.
So when cats engage in solitary face rubbing, they may be self-soothing or regulating their own emotional state. Cats do this in other ways as well, like kneading with their paws, otherwise known as “making biscuits.”
Seeking Attention
Headbutting is a way for cats to mark you with pheromones and bond with you. However, sometimes headbutting can be a way for cats to seek attention. As a general rule, cats like to be scratched under the chin and on the head, so a cat may just be presenting their head to you for some attention and good scratches.
If a cat is consistently rewarded with attention after headbutting, then this may encourage more headbutting. In addition, the more you bond to your cat through headbutting, the more headbutting your cat will do for attention and bonding, in a sort of a feel-good cycle.
Checking Out a New Person
If an unfamiliar or newly adopted cat is headbutting you, they may just be checking you out. Move slowly and feel the cat out before reacting. You could offer the cat your head for a sniff and watch for the cat’s reaction. If they show interest in another headbutt, you could try a light one back. If the cat isn’t on board, they may prefer some head scratches instead, after an initial hand sniff, of course.
Are Cat Headbutts a Sign of Affection?
Cats headbutt to connect to familiar people, making headbutting a cat’s way of choosing you. So, to a cat, headbutting makes you special. Therefore, if a cat decides you are worthy of headbutting, consider it the highest of compliments and absolutely a sign of affection.
Returning your cat’s headbutt is great, if that’s what your cat likes. If you know they really like a good headbutt or chin scratch, then go for it.
Cats also will headbutt other pets in the household as a token of affection. Other cats will understand the message of goodwill, though they may not necessarily appreciate it, while a dog or rabbit might be a little confused.
Do All Cats Headbutt?
There is great variation among individual cats. Confident cats tend to headbutt more frequently and with more force than shy cats. Not only is the most self-assured cat more likely to headbutt, but they are also likely to be the dominant cat in a multiple-cat household. It’s the dominant cat’s role to deliver the colony scent to every cat in the colony.
Therefore, if your cat does not headbutt, there’s no need to be alarmed. Headbutting is only one way that cats show affection. Cats can also purr, flop, knead, slow-blink, or sleep next to you.
If your cat used to be into headbutting but doesn’t seem to be anymore, this change in behavior could mean that your cat isn’t feeling well, especially if you see other symptoms like lethargy or grumpiness. If this happens, consult with your veterinarian to see what might be going on.