Veterans Day observed
Honor Flight reps visit Kiwanis Club
From left to right: Sue Lounds, Mike Zigler,Howard Pierce, Dick Root, Bob Paksi, Dale Brown and Kathy Barnes.
Early Thursday morning on November 9, the St. Johns Kiwanis Club was honored to have veterans and a representative from the Mid-Michigan Honor Flight organization at their meeting. Kathy Barnes spoke about their goal of providing Michigan veterans with a free “Tour of Honor” to Washington D.C. The trip is intended to reinforce on a personal level our country’s appreciation for their service.
The trip allows the participants to visit various monuments in the D.C. area.
Since the Mid-Michigan Honor Flight chapter was founded in 2014, they have completed 17 flights, while accompanying over 1050 honorees. The Mid-Michigan Honor Flight chapter is one of three chapters that cover the state of Michigan. The Mid-Michigan chapter serves 51 counties spanning the central and upper part of the Lower Peninsula.
For the honoree everything for the trip is free. Kathy explained that every flight or mission costs between 120.000 to 150.000 thousand dollars to complete. Veterans who have attended spoke of what a wonderful event it is-whether as an honoree or as a guardian (escort). John Fitch attended the meeting and spoke of his experiences as a guardian/escort.
The Mid-Michigan Honor Flight current 2024 schedule is: Mission 18 Flight Dates, May 14 – 15.Grand Rapids, Gerald Ford Airport and Mission 19 Flight Dates, June 11 – 12, which will be an all-female veterans honoree and guardian) flight.
The success of this project is only possible with the help of many helping hands. Financial support works hand in hand with all of the volunteers needed to make this event literally “fly”. Help can be given in many forms, such as, thank you notes to the honorees, greeting Veterans at the airport, welcoming home, among many others. An example of this would be the lap quilts that have been made to give to the honorees.
For more information or to apply for the “Tour of Honor” please check out their website: www.midmichiganhonorflight.com. Any questions on partnering with them as a financial sponsor, or volunteer you can also contact Mid-Michigan Honor Flight at 231-803-4255.
History of the St. Johns Lions Club
The St. Johns Lions Club has spent the last 75 years supporting the community. The club was chartered on November 20, 1948, with L. Russell Steffens serving as its first president. One of the club’s charter members, Ralph Lynam, had the distinction of serving as Lions International President in 1978-79.
From its start 75 years ago, club members immediately organized and participated in a variety of activities that provided benefits for the community as a whole and individual area residents. Among the most profitable fund-raising projects of the early years were the old-time variety shows that drew large crowds in the auditorium of the Rodney B. Wilson High School.
Other previous fundraisers included donut sales and door-to-door lightbulb sales. Today the club raises its funds through its annual white cane sale, Lions mint sales, Music in the Park concession trailer, and a chili fundraiser that is co-sponsored with the Knights of Columbus during the annual Christmas parade and tree lighting.
Past projects supported by the club include building a cinder track at the high school football field, lighting at youth baseball fields, improvements at the city park, bandshell construction, computer hardware and software upgrades at the Paine Gillam Scott Museum, and purchase of computer equipment for the visually impaired and large print books for Briggs Public Library.
Today, the group is smaller, and funds raised focus on community service and humanitarian programs, including assisting the vision and hearing impaired, youth, and people with special needs. The club also collects eyeglasses and hearing aids for reuse, awards community service scholarships to high school seniors, sponsors an annual Easter Egg Hunt, participates in Adopt-A-Highway roadside clean-up, and supports community events such as the St. Johns Police Department National Night Out and the Rotary Club’s July 4 th fireworks, among others.
Perhaps the most well-known project the club supports is the recycling center. Initiated in 1978, the recycling center helps reduce the amount of material ending up in landfills. Located at 605 N. Swegles St., it is open 24 hours a day, beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Monday through 5:00 p.m. on Friday.
Second Cup Cafe open Monday through Friday
The Second Cup Cafe located in the Clinton County RESA Bldg., 1013 Old US-27 in St. Johns is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The Cafe supports young adults in the Transitions Classroom.
They are selling at $1.50 each Big cookies: NoBakes, Monster, Chocolate Scotcharoos, Molasses, Oatmeal-Raisin, Brownies, Soft Pretzels and cheese dipping sauce, Bagels, Coffee and Tea. They also have lots of assorted decorations. Come and support these hard working students.
Remember when? – Lions Donate flag to Oakview in 2012
Hugh Banninga- St. Johns Lions Club president; Kaitlin Doerr, 5th grade student; Kaylin Shaffer, 5th grade studentwith Mr. John Ferden, 5th grade teacher
The St. Johns Lioness and Lions Club have donated a new American Flag to Oakwood Elementary School in St Johns.
The presentation was made by Lions Club president Hugh Banninga. Accepting the flag for the school on behalf of Oakview school principle Mrs. Kerry Beal was fifth grade teacher Mr. John Ferden.
Letters – FC Mason project funding and thanks from Giving Paws
We’ve heard that there are some rumors flying around about our funding and target demographic. We are receiving NO tax money for this development; we are fully funded by private loans from Mercantile Bank.
Future tenants will be held to the same rental requirements as current tenants (rental history, job history, etc). We don’t knowingly rent to illegal aliens.
– Project Developers
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During this special season of gratitude our paws are SO thankful for you.
– Thank you to our amazing Dog Pack Volunteers, you spread joy year round!
– Thank you to our Leaders of the Pack for your thoughtful and purposeful leadership!
– Thank you to our Doghouses for inviting our Dog Pack Volunteers to serve!
– Thank you to our local vendors for sharing your gifts and pawfect, fun items in our store!
– Thank you to all of our generous donors, grant supporters and event host and attendees for making our work possible!
You support our mission of service of our Paws on the Ground!
– Giving Paws
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – How Cold Is Too Cold for Your Dog?
– courtesy of Jennifer Coates, DVM
Being outside is great for a dog’s physical and mental health. Walking, running, looking, sniffing, listening, and meeting old or new friends are all activities that help keep dogs happy and healthy. But what should we do when it’s cold outside? When do the risks of spending time outside outweigh its benefits? Let’s look at the dangers associated with cold weather and how we can still safely enjoy the great outdoors with our dogs in the winter.
Dogs Are Individuals
A temperature that feels comfortable to one dog might make another shiver. There are a few variables that affect how dogs respond to the cold.
Coat type
Dogs with thick, double-layered coats tend to be the most cold-tolerant (think Siberian Huskies, Newfoundlands, and Samoyeds). Many of these breeds originated in northern climates and have attributes that allow them to thrive when temperatures drop. However, dogs with exceptionally thin coats, like the Basenji and Xoloitzcuintli, may suffer in the cold and tend to do better when it’s warmer outside.
Coat color
On a clear day, black, brown, or other dark-coated dogs can absorb significant amounts of heat from sunlight, keeping them warmer in comparison to dogs with light-colored coats.
Size
Dogs lose most of their heat through their skin. Small dogs have a larger surface area to volume ratio compared to big dogs, which means, relatively speaking, they have a bigger surface to lose heat through and a smaller area “inside” to hold on to heat. Therefore, small dogs get colder faster than large dogs, all other things being equal.
Weight
Body fat is a good insulator, so thin dogs become cold quickly. However, the health risks of being overweight far outweigh any benefits, so don’t let your dog pack on the pounds in preparation for winter.
Conditioning
We’ve all experienced this one. After the heat of summer, 55 F can feel frigid, but after a long, cold winter, the same temperature can make us break out a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. Dogs that are used to the cold handle it much better than those that aren’t.
Age and Health
Puppies, canine senior citizens, and dogs with underlying health problems cannot regulate their body temperatures as well as healthy dogs in the prime of their lives. Be sure to protect vulnerable dogs from the cold.
Don’t Just Look at the Temperature
The temperature as it registers on a thermometer isn’t the only environmental factor that affects how dogs feel the cold. Consider other factors, including:
Wind chill
A brisk breeze can cut through a dog’s coat, greatly decreasing its ability to insulate and protect against the cold.
Dampness
Rain, snow, heavy fog, going for a swim—any form of dampness that soaks through the fur can quickly chill a dog even if the air temperature is mild.
Cloud cover
Cloudy days tend to feel colder than sunny days, since dogs can’t soak up the sun and warm themselves.
Activity
If dogs are going to be very active while outside, they may generate enough extra body heat to keep them comfortable even if the temperature is quite low.
Cold-Temperature Guidelines for Dogs
While broad generalizations are difficult, cold should not become a problem for most dogs until the temperature falls below 45 F, at which point some cold-averse dogs might begin to feel uncomfortable. When temperatures drop under 32 F, small breed dogs, dogs with thin coats, or very young, old, or sick dogs could be in danger if they spend too much time outdoors. Once temperatures drop under 20 F, all pet parents need to be aware that their dogs could develop cold-associated health problems like hypothermia or frostbite when outside for extended periods of time.
The best way to monitor your dog when they’re outside in the cold is to keep a close eye on their behavior. If you notice your dog shivering, acting anxious, whining, slowing down, searching out warm locations, or holding up one or more paws, it’s time to head inside and warm up.
Call your veterinarian if you notice any signs of frostbite or hypothermia, including sluggishness, confusion, severe shivering (which may stop as hypothermia progresses), and parts of the body that appear pale and are cool to the touch.