{"id":16599,"date":"2022-08-04T20:57:18","date_gmt":"2022-08-05T00:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/?p=16599"},"modified":"2022-08-04T20:57:18","modified_gmt":"2022-08-05T00:57:18","slug":"features-230","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/?p=16599","title":{"rendered":"Features"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Fair week in St. Johns<\/strong><br \/>\nby Maralyn Fink<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dFHB9lKHuqM\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>I attended the 4H Fair on on Saturday. It was a beautiful day. I visited all the buildings that were open.<\/p>\n<p>This is what I found.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>National Night Out draws happy crowd<br \/>\nby Maralyn Fink<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d_SyQSANGZc\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday evening I attended The National Night Out at the City Park. The weather was perfect, and a large crowd attended the event.There was free food for everyone, and many Emergency Vehicles were on display.<\/p>\n<p>It was an enjoyable time with people visiting and enjoying the night.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to all the volunteers who put this together and all the EMS groups that participated.<\/p>\n<p>It was another great event for St Johns. We thank you for your service!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Our Mint Heritage<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/heritage2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"594\" height=\"358\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16602\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The rich heritage of the Mint City is rooted deep in the soil of the St. Johns community. Agricultural opportunity planted the seeds for the treasured celebration and traditions we hold today.<\/p>\n<p><em>Panting a legacy<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/legacy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"677\" height=\"448\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16603\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In the flat prairies of Michigan\u2019s lower peninsula, St. Johns was made for mint. The area&#8217;s rich, dark soil &#8211; and the dedication of the hardworking farming community &#8211; presented the opportunity to plant a legacy.<\/p>\n<p>In the 19th century, mint farming was taking Michigan by storm, spreading northeast from the St. Joseph and Kalamazoo regions. By the mid-1800s, mint production in Michigan had skyrocketed, rivaling New York as the national leader in mint supply.<\/p>\n<p><em>A tenacious spirit<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/spirit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"671\" height=\"379\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16604\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Michigan&#8217;s climate, like much of the Great Lakes region, forced mint farmers to take extra measures to protect their crop from excessive wind and harsh winters. They introduced organic soil, or muck, to their fields, creating richer earth with greater water-holding capacity and better protection for the sensitive plants. The farmers&#8217; hard work and ingenuity led to a better-protected crop and significantly increased the yield of mint fields.<\/p>\n<p>By the turn of the century, 90% of the world\u2019s supply of mint oil came from the region reaching from St. Johns to the southwest corner of the state.<\/p>\n<p><em>From the ground up<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ground.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"659\" height=\"466\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16605\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The unique concentration of mint farms in St. Johns and the surrounding Clinton County lead to St. Johns being dubbed &#8220;Mint City USA.&#8221; The Mint Festival, held each year in August, is an opportunity to honor the legacy of hardworking mint farming families, celebrate our vibrant community, and of course, enjoy a good old scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Maralyn&#8217;s Pet Corner <\/strong>&#8211; Why Do Cats Get Stuck in Trees?<br \/>\ncourtesy of Kate Hughes<\/p>\n<p>As a species, cats are known for their grace, agility and athleticism. However, there is one physical feat with which many cats have struggled\u2014getting down after they climb a tree.<\/p>\n<p>Why does a cat climbing a tree have so much trouble descending?<\/p>\n<p><em>Why Do Cats Climb Trees in the First Place?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Katenna Jones, an associate certified applied animal behaviorist, certified cat behavior consultant and owner of Jones Animal Behavior in Warwick, Rhode Island, says that cats are an interesting species from a behavioral perspective because they can be predators to small creatures while being vulnerable to larger animals.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou see behaviors at both ends of the predator\/prey spectrum. So, as skilled hunters, they may chase their prey up a tree without realizing what they\u2019ve gotten themselves into. On the other side of the coin, cats tend to go high when they feel threatened. So if a cat feels his life is in danger, he would very likely run up a tree, which offers safety and a vantage point,\u201d explains Jones.<\/p>\n<p>That said, Jones notes that looking too deeply into a cat\u2019s reasons for climbing a tree might be a moot point. \u201cCats may also climb trees because they can and it\u2019s fun,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p><em>Why Do They Get Stuck?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s really easy for cats to climb trees\u2014cat claws are the ideal tools for propelling them upwards. But once they\u2019re up high, they\u2019ll find that getting down is much more difficult than getting up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA cat in a tree may have trouble coordinating their hind and front feet when they try to back down. It\u2019s just not a movement cats normally do,\u201d says Susan Bulanda, a canine and feline ethologist, author, and search and rescue trainer who lives in Maryland.<\/p>\n<p>Bulanda adds that most cats jump from high places rather than climb down. \u201cThink about it. When your cat climbs the couch, does she climb down? Or does she jump? Almost always, I would say jump. When cats climb trees, oftentimes it\u2019s just too high to jump down and that\u2019s why they get stuck.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Myrna Milani, a veterinarian, consultant, teacher and author based in Charlestown, New Hampshire, says that in some cases, the ability to get down might not be the problem. \u201cSometimes, when a cat is \u2018stuck\u2019 in a tree, he\u2019s really too scared to climb or jump down. It may be because something chased him up there, or he\u2019s not used to being outside,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Milani also notes that indoor cats that have been declawed are at greater risk of getting stuck in a tree if they manage to get outside. Declawed cats are unable to climb as well, but they can still climb. \u201cThese cats are at a big disadvantage when it comes to getting down from a tree. If they\u2019re scared, they can get up without much issue, but coming down is nearly impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>What To Do If A Cat Is Stuck in a Tree<\/em><\/p>\n<p>While the old cartoons and TV shows tend to depict hysterical cat owners calling the fire department when their cat gets stuck in a tree, that is very much an exaggerated reaction.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Milani says the number one priority is keeping calm. \u201cStanding under the tree where your cat is stuck and sobbing isn\u2019t going to help anyone,\u201d she says. \u201cStay calm and relaxed, because you don\u2019t want to make your cat more agitated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few strategies that you can use to help get your cat out of a tree.<\/p>\n<p><em>Lure Her With Food<\/em><\/p>\n<p>As noted earlier, some cats that are \u201cstuck\u201d are simply choosing not to come down out of fear or for other cat-related reasons. Dr. Milani recommends putting out some of his favorite cat food that could entice your kitty to come down from his perch. Warming up some wet food slightly will increase the aroma so that you can coax cats down from the tree faster in most cases.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn some areas, this would run the risk of attracting other animals, so if you\u2019re going this route, I would suggest hanging out under the tree near the food. Bring a book and just relax, because that will show your cat that it\u2019s okay to come down,\u201d says Dr. Milani.<\/p>\n<p><em>Climb Up After Her<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Both Jones and Bulanda mention this option with a very big caveat\u2014only climb up after the cat if you\u2019re physically able, and never do it without assistance. \u201cYou must always have someone on the ground as a spotter,\u201d Bulanda says. \u201cThat way, if you fall, or something else happens, there\u2019s another person who can get help.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jones emphasizes that people should only attempt to retrieve the cat themselves if the cat is relatively calm and trusts them. \u201cA stranger might scare the cat into a more dangerous situation,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>Jones also notes that contacting a local roofing, painting, contracting, pest control or electric company could be helpful. \u201cThey might have an extra-long ladder to borrow.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Make a Ramp<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cDepending on the tree and how high your cat climbed, you might be able to use a sturdy board as a ramp to give the cat an easy route down,\u201d Bulanda says. \u201cThis strategy is much less risky to you and less risky to the cat than climbing up after him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Call for Help<\/em><\/p>\n<p>If the cat is too agitated, too high up, or you\u2019re otherwise unable to rescue her yourself, it\u2019s time to consult with professionals. \u201cCall your local animal shelter or rescue. They probably have advice or helpful resources on hand,\u201d Bulanda says.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fair week in St. Johns by Maralyn Fink I attended the 4H Fair on on Saturday. It was a beautiful day. I visited all the buildings that were open. This is what I found. National Night Out draws happy crowd by Maralyn Fink On Tuesday evening I attended The National Night Out at the City <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/?p=16599\">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-16599","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-features"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16599","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=16599"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16599\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}