{"id":15401,"date":"2022-03-31T20:57:04","date_gmt":"2022-04-01T00:57:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/?p=15401"},"modified":"2022-03-31T20:57:04","modified_gmt":"2022-04-01T00:57:04","slug":"features-212","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/?p=15401","title":{"rendered":"Features"},"content":{"rendered":"

Soap Box Derby set to return June 12<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The St. Johns Soap Box Derby has announced its 2nd Local Championship Race, set for Sunday, June 12, 2022. It is time to start building your car. The event will be held in Downtown St. Johns. Boys and girls ages 7 to 19 build with assistance from an adult then race in their gravity powered cars.<\/p>\n

There will be practice run days on May 1 and May 22. Participating in the Soap Box Derby provides racers the opportunity to sharpen their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills. Mechanical knowledge along with an appreciation of physics and mathematics will define a successful racer.<\/p>\n

The event will consist of one single elimination race in each of the two divisions, Stock and SuperStock. The day\u2019s event starts at 8:00 AM with track setup and practice runs, with the race commencing at 10:00AM. The winner in each division becomes a Local Champ and achieves the opportunity to race at the national level.<\/p>\n

Each July, winners from across the U.S. compete in the First Energy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship in Akron, Ohio. The St. Johns organization sent 2 champions to Akron in 2019 and is thrilled to do it again.<\/p>\n

Interested in racing? See www.sjsoapboxderby.com<\/font><\/a>. Registration opened March 15, 2022 and closes April 17, 2022. Contact the St. Johns Soap Box Derby to learn more or for questions. All contact information is available on their website as well as their Facebook page.<\/p>\n

New car kits are available online at: www.soapboxderby.org<\/font><\/a> The event is free for spectators. Bring your chair and take a seat in beautiful Downtown St. Johns, which has seen 28 new businesses open in the last 4 years. Cheer on your favorite racer in this side by side competition.<\/p>\n

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Fowler native joins LAFCU marketing team<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"LAFCU has welcomed Britney Weber, digital and graphic designerto the Michigan credit union.<\/p>\n

As digital and graphic designer, Weber supports the LAFCU marketing department by providing visual concepts and images that help communicate the credit union\u2019s products, services and initiatives.<\/p>\n

The Fowler native comes to LAFCU with more than five years\u2019 experience in digital marketing, graphic design and social media, having worked for several retail companies. She is a published photographer and designer in several magazines.<\/p>\n

Weber earned an associate degree in photographic technology at Certeret Community College, Morehead City, North Carolina, and graduated with honors.<\/p>\n

She helps coach the girls JV volleyball and varsity girls track teams at her alma mater, Fowler High School.<\/p>\n

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Remember When<\/strong> – Nick van Frankenhuyzen is speaker at 2009 Library event<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Award-winning illustrator, Gijsbert \u201cNick\u201d van Frankenhuyzen, is the featured speaker for the Fourth Annual Honors and Authors Night, hosted by the Briggs Public Library Foundation.<\/p>\n

The event runs from 7 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, May 12 at Clinton Commons in St. Johns, and includes light hors d\u2019oeuvres and beverages prior to Nick\u2019s presentation. A tax-deductible donation of $35 per person is requested, benefiting the Foundation.<\/p>\n

A nationally recognized artist, Nick will narrate a PowerPoint presentation on the process he uses to create images for children\u2019s books like the popular Legends series and the acclaimed Great Lakes Regions series. He will have books and prints for sale, and will sign books brought in by guests.
\nBorn in the Netherlands, Nick immigrated to Michigan in 1976 and worked as art director for the Michigan Natural Resources magazine until 1993 when the family\u2019s Hazel Ridge Workshop & Gallery in Bath Township became a full-time venture for the self-employed artist. That 40-acre farm with its fields, woodlots and wetlands has served as an inspiration for many of Nick\u2019s paintings, and for books authored by his wife, Robbyn.<\/p>\n

Notably among the couple\u2019s literary works are Adopted by an Owl, winner of the 2003 Great Lakes Great Book award, and their latest release, Itsy Bitsy and Teeny Weeny \u2013 a true story about the bond between an orphaned fawn and lamb raised as \u201csiblings\u201d by the van Frankenhuyzens.<\/p>\n

Other recent books that contain Nick\u2019s illustrations are Bambi\u2019s First Day: A Mother\u2019s Love, and W is for Wolf: A Dog Alphabet that\u2019s part of the award-winning Alphabet series published by Sleeping Bear Press.<\/p>\n

In addition to van Frankenhuyzen\u2019s presentation, Honors and Authors also includes recognition of Brigg\u2019s Library volunteers and patrons by the Foundation\u2019s Board of Directors.<\/p>\n

The Briggs Library Foundation was organized in 2005. Its primary mission is to ensure a stable base of funding for the Library that will help support continuing growth for future generations of area residents.<\/p>\n

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Maralyn’s Pet Corner <\/strong>– Is Raw Cat Food Good for Cats?<\/p>\n

Feeding raw foods to cats is controversial. The wild ancestors of domestic cats certainly ate raw foods, but does that mean our cats should do the same?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at the pros and cons of raw cat food diets so you can make an informed decision when choosing a healthy food for your cat.<\/p>\n

What Is Raw Cat Food?<\/em><\/p>\n

Raw cat food is just that\u2014unprocessed food made from raw ingredients.<\/p>\n

Cats are obligate carnivores that have some unique nutritional needs that can be met by eating a diet composed primarily of animal tissue. Raw cat foods accomplish this by placing uncooked meat, fish, and internal organs at the top of their ingredient lists. Ground bone is often included as a source of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin and mineral supplements and other ingredients are added to round out the diet and prevent nutritional deficiencies.<\/p>\n

Cats require high dietary protein levels because, unlike most animals, they use protein rather than carbohydrates as their primary energy source. Certain amino acids, most notably taurine, as well as arachidonic acid, vitamin A, vitamin D, and many B vitamins, must also be present in sufficient amounts.<\/p>\n

Commercial Raw Cat Food vs. Homemade Raw Food for Cats<\/em><\/p>\n

Raw cat foods come in many different forms. Some pet parents prepare raw foods for their cats at home. Others choose commercially available raw cat food diets, which are usually sold as raw frozen or raw freeze-dried formulas.<\/p>\n

Other options are also available, like premixes of vegetables, vitamins, and minerals that you add raw meat to, or there are ready-made, raw pet diets that can be purchased from local butchers. Which option is best?<\/p>\n

Homemade Raw Cat Food<\/em><\/p>\n

Making your cat\u2019s food at home gives you the most control over what they eat, but it isn\u2019t as easy as you might think. Meat alone is not enough!<\/p>\n

Cats need the correct balance of amino acids, fats, vitamins, and minerals to thrive. These nutrients are best provided by a combination of meat, internal organs, vitamin and mineral supplements, and other ingredients eaten in just the right amounts and proportions.<\/p>\n

To make matters worse, numerous studies have shown that it\u2019s virtually impossible to find nutritionally complete and balanced recipes for homemade pet foods online or in print.<\/p>\n

And even if you do start with a good recipe, like one designed by a veterinary nutritionist to meet your cat\u2019s particular needs, it can be hard to stick to it. A paper published in 2014 found that many owners who made their pets\u2019 meals at home eventually strayed from the recipe, which could lead to nutritional deficiencies or excesses over time.<\/p>\n

Commercial Raw Cat Food<\/em><\/p>\n

Commercially prepared raw cat foods take a lot of the guesswork out of feeding raw. Reputable manufacturers follow the guidelines put forth by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).<\/p>\n

Make sure that you can find an AAFCO statement of nutritional adequacy like one of these on the label of any cat food you might purchase:<\/p>\n

Brand X Cat Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for adult maintenance, growth and reproduction, or all life stages.<\/p>\n

Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Brand X Cat Food provides complete and balanced nutrition for adult maintenance, growth and reproduction, or all life stages.<\/p>\n

You can be confident that any cat food, raw or not, that conforms to AAFCO standards will at the very least provide your cat with the basics of good feline nutrition.<\/p>\n

Are Raw Cat Food Diets the Same as the BARF Diet for Cats?<\/em><\/p>\n

The acronym BARF is sometimes used to describe a version of homemade or commercially available raw cat foods. BARF stands for either \u201cbiologically appropriate raw foods\u201d or \u201cbones and raw foods.\u201d<\/p>\n

BARF proponents often highlight the inclusion of raw bone and internal organs in their foods, rather than simply adding raw meat to other ingredients to create a balanced diet. The pros and cons of BARF and non-BARF raw cat foods are similar.
\n
\nIs Raw Cat Food Better Than Other Cat Food?<\/em><\/p>\n

Nutritionally inadequate cat foods are widely available, and this is true for both processed cat food (canned, dry, etc.) and raw cat food diets.<\/p>\n

Many of the benefits that are often ascribed to feeding cats a raw diet could be gained simply by switching to any higher-quality, more biologically appropriate cat food.<\/p>\n

Here are some factors to consider and how different diets stack up.<\/p>\n

Water Content<\/em><\/p>\n

Cats are meant to get most of their water directly from their food. While dry cat foods are very low in water, canned cat foods can provide just as much, if not more water in comparison to a raw cat food diet.<\/p>\n

High-Quality Ingredients and Digestibility<\/em><\/p>\n

Both raw and cooked food can be made from ingredients of varying quality. Raw isn\u2019t synonymous with \u201chigh quality\u201d or \u201chigh digestibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

In fact, cooking improves the nutritional value of certain foods. For example, many types of raw seafood contain thiaminase, an enzyme that breaks down thiamine. Cats who eat a diet of mainly raw seafood are at risk for thiamine deficiency, which can lead to poor appetite, seizures, and death. Cooking breaks down thiaminase, making these varieties of seafood safe for cats.<\/p>\n

Nutritional Value<\/em><\/p>\n

No scientific study has ever shown that raw cat food diets provide better nutrition than do other types of cat food.<\/p>\n

Of course, a high-quality raw diet would be nutritionally superior to a low-quality processed food, but you could achieve similar benefits by switching to a high-quality canned cat food, for example.
\nSafety Considerations for Raw Cat Food Diets<\/p>\n

While some raw cat foods may provide cats with excellent nutrition, they are still not without their drawbacks.<\/p>\n

Studies reveal that commercially prepared raw pet foods suffer from increased levels of contamination with potential pathogens like Salmonella, Listeria, and E. Coli in comparison to \u201cregular\u201d pet foods.<\/p>\n

The situation isn\u2019t any better for raw diets prepared at home. USDA estimates show that approximately one-quarter of raw chicken parts in human food-production facilities are contaminated with Salmonella and\/or Campylobacter bacteria. Toxoplasma gondii and other parasites can also be spread through raw cat foods.<\/p>\n

You may have heard that healthy adult cats have innate resistance to foodborne pathogens. While this may be true in some cases, reports of cats developing and even dying from diseases contracted from raw cat food do exist.<\/p>\n

People living with a cat who eat raw foods can also be exposed to these pathogens from handling contaminated foods or coming into contact with pathogens in the cat\u2019s feces. The risks posed by raw foods are greatest for people and cats who are very young, very old, or immunocompromised.<\/p>\n

How to Prepare Raw Cat Food Safely<\/em><\/p>\n

If you feel strongly that a raw cat food diet is right for you and your cat, protect all the members of your family by closely following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration\u2019s guidelines for preventing infections associated with the handling of these products:<\/p>\n

Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds) after handling raw pet food, and after touching surfaces or objects that have come in contact with the raw food. Potential contaminated surfaces include countertops and the inside of refrigerators and microwaves. Potential contaminated objects include kitchen utensils, feeding bowls, and cutting boards.<\/p>\n

Thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces and objects that come in contact with raw pet food. First wash with hot, soapy water, and then follow with a disinfectant. A solution of 1 tablespoon bleach to 1 quart (4 cups) water is an effective disinfectant. For a larger supply of the disinfectant solution, add \u00bc cup bleach to 1 gallon (16 cups) water. You can also run items through the dishwasher after each use to clean and disinfect them.<\/p>\n

Freeze raw meat and poultry products until you are ready to use them, and thaw them in your refrigerator or microwave, not on your countertop or in your sink.<\/p>\n

Carefully handle raw and frozen meat and poultry products. Don\u2019t rinse raw meat, poultry, fish, and seafood. Bacteria in the raw juices can splash and spread to other food and surfaces.<\/p>\n

Keep raw food separate from other food.<\/p>\n

Immediately cover and refrigerate what your pet doesn\u2019t eat or throw the leftovers out safely.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re using raw ingredients to make your own cooked pet food, be sure to cook all food to a proper internal temperature as measured by a food thermometer. Thorough cooking kills Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and other harmful foodborne bacteria.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t kiss your pet around its mouth, and don\u2019t let your pet lick your face. This is especially important after your pet has just finished eating raw food.<\/p>\n

Thoroughly wash your hands after touching or being licked by your pet. If your pet gives you a \u201ckiss,\u201d be sure to also wash your face.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Soap Box Derby set to return June 12 The St. Johns Soap Box Derby has announced its 2nd Local Championship Race, set for Sunday, June 12, 2022. It is time to start building your car. The event will be held in Downtown St. Johns. Boys and girls ages 7 to 19 build with assistance from Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-features"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15401"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15401\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}