{"id":1989,"date":"2018-08-30T20:57:57","date_gmt":"2018-08-31T00:57:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/?p=1989"},"modified":"2018-08-30T20:57:57","modified_gmt":"2018-08-31T00:57:57","slug":"features-28","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/?p=1989","title":{"rendered":"Features"},"content":{"rendered":"

St. Johns author\u2019s 4th book published<\/strong><\/p>\n

courtesy of Bob Holzhei<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Hills Shall Be Removed by Robert E. Holzhei has been published by Book Baby and Smith Publishing Companies that distribute throughout the United States and Europe.<\/p>\n

The book is a sequel to The Mountains Shall Depart which was published in July of 2017. The third book in the trilogy has begun with a target date set for publication next summer.<\/p>\n

The sequel continues with a young boy named Luke describing his experience while growing up in the mid-1940\u2019s on a family farm. The book begins \u201cin the mid-1670\u2019s with German immigrants arriving in the British Colonies before venturing out to establish homesteads for themselves in Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Wisconsin and Michigan. Between 1820 and 1870 over seven and a half million German immigrants came to the United States doubling the entire population of the entire country. During the later stages of World War II and the following post war period, German citizens and people of German ancestry were expelled from various Eastern and Central European Countries.
\nLuke observes the changes in the traditional life-style from a distance, as family farms begin to vanish and corporate entities swallow up the family farm leaving many farmers without their land and no source of income with which to support their families.<\/p>\n

Corruption behind the curtain of a corporate take-over of the farms becomes profitable for key players behind the scene including bankers, attorneys, accountants and growing corporate farms.
\nWriting was a life-long dream for Holzhei.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe words are my mistress. They arrive unexpectedly, often in the middle of the night and demand expression. I am happy when I sit down to write. It\u2019s like looking forward to something for a very long time and once I experienced it, I knew it would all be there for me tomorrow!\u201d<\/p>\n

Holzhei is the author of 439 published stories, in a variety of publications, across the United States and previously published Canadian Fly-In Fishing Adventure Featuring Campfire Stories from Northern Michigan and Alaskan Spirit Journey.<\/p>\n

Holzhei speaks at various community organizations and begins his presentation with preserving family history before discussing the steps involved in getting a book published. Holzhei has won a number of National Writing Awards including the Best of Best Newspaper Category, Third Place in the Open Category, three Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writing Awards for service and a third place from the Michigan Outdoor Writer\u2019s Association. Holzhei also presents sessions at the AGLOW annual conference.<\/p>\n

Holzhei, a graduate with an Associate\u2019s Degree from Delta College, a Bachelor\u2019s Degree in English with an emphasis in creative writing, a minor in psychology and a Master\u2019s Degree in Education from Michigan State University including post graduate studies. Holzhei was a St. Johns High School English teacher and advised the school paper, The Torch<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\n

USDA Food Safety Tips For Power Outages<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Severe storms present the possibility of power outages and flooding that can compromise the safety of stored food. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recommends that consumers take the following steps to reduce food waste and the risk of foodborne illness during this and other severe weather events.<\/p>\n

Power Outages and Food Safety <\/em><\/p>\n

Plan Ahead<\/p>\n

– Keep an appliance thermometer in both the refrigerator and freezer. Make sure the refrigerator temperature is at 40\u00b0F or below and the freezer is at 0\u00b0F or below.
\n– Group foods together in both the refrigerator and freezer. This helps foods stay cold longer.
\n– Keep the freezer full. Fill empty spaces with frozen plastic jugs of water, bags of ice, or gel packs.
\n– Freeze refrigerated items that you may not need immediately, such as leftovers, milk, and fresh meat and poultry. This will keep them at a safe temperature longer.
\n– Have a large, insulated cooler and frozen gel packs available. Perishable foods will stay safe in a refrigerator only 4 hours.
\n– Find out where dry ice and block ice can be purchased.<\/p>\n

During A Power Outage<\/p>\n

– Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed.
\n– The refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours. If the power is off longer, you can transfer food to a cooler and fill with ice or frozen gel packs. Make sure there is enough ice to keep food in the cooler at 40\u00b0F or below. Add more ice to the cooler as it begins to melt.
\n– A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full).
\n– Obtain dry ice or block ice if your power is going to be out for a prolonged period. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot freezer for 2 days. (Caution: Do not touch dry ice with bare hands or place it in direct contact with food.)
\n– In freezers, food in the front, in the door, or in small, thin packages will defrost faster than large, thick items or food in the back or bottom of the unit.
\n– During a snowstorm, do not place perishable food out in the snow. Outside temperatures can vary and food can be exposed to unsanitary conditions and animals. Instead, make ice. Fill buckets, empty milk containers, or cans with water and leave them outside to freeze. Use the homemade ice in your refrigerator, freezer, or coolers.<\/p>\n

After A Power Outage<\/p>\n

– Never taste food to determine its safety. When In Doubt, Throw It Out!<\/p>\n

Refrigerated Foods<\/em><\/p>\n

Unsafe Foods<\/p>\n

– Discard the following if your refrigerator has been without power for more than 4 hours:
\n -raw, cooked, or leftover meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and egg substitutes;
\n -luncheon meat and hot dogs;
\n -casseroles, soups, stews, and pizza;
\n -mixed salads (i.e., chicken, tuna, macaroni, potato);
\n -gravy and stuffing;
\n -milk, cream, yogurt, sour cream, and soft cheeses;
\n -cut fruits and vegetables (fresh);
\n -cooked vegetables;
\n -fruit and vegetable juices (opened);
\n -creamy-based salad dressing;
\n -batters and doughs (i.e., pancake batter, cookie dough);
\n -custard, chiffon, or cheese pies;
\n -cream-filled pastries; and
\n -garlic stored in oil.<\/p>\n

– Discard opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, and horseradish if they were held above 50 \u00b0F for over 8 hours.
\n– Discard any foods like bread or salad greens that may have become contaminated by juices dripping from raw meat, poultry, or fish.
\n– In general, if any food has an unusual odor, color, or texture, throw it out.
\nSafe-to-Eat Foods
\n– High-acid foods such as mustard, ketchup, relishes, pickles, non-creamy salad dressings, jams, and jellies; however, they may spoil sooner.
\n– Foods that don’t actually require refrigeration. These foods may be used unless they turn moldy or have an unusual odor;
\n -whole fruits and vegetables (fresh);
\n -fruit and vegetable juices (unopened);
\n -dried fruits and coconut;
\n -baked goods such as fruit pies, bread, rolls, muffins, and cakes (except those with cream cheese frosting or cream fillings);
\n -hard and processed cheeses;
\n -butter and margarine;
\n -fresh herbs and spices;
\n -flour; and
\n -nuts.<\/p>\n

Frozen Foods<\/em><\/p>\n

Safe-to-Eat Foods<\/p>\n

– Frozen foods that have thawed, but still contain ice crystals.
\n– Foods that have remained at refrigerator temperatures \u2014 40\u00b0F or below. They may be safely refrozen; however, their quality may suffer.
\n– Foods that don’t actually need to be frozen. These foods may be used unless they turn moldy or have an unusual odor:
\n -dried fruits and coconut;
\n -baked goods including fruit pies, bread, rolls, muffins, and cakes (except for those with cream cheese frosting or cream fillings);
\n -hard and processed cheeses;
\n -butter and margarine;
\n -fruit juices; and
\n -nuts.<\/p>\n

– Never taste food to determine its safety.
\nWhen In Doubt, Throw It Out!<\/p>\n

Removing Odors From Refrigerators And Freezers<\/em><\/p>\n

The following steps may have to be repeated several times:
\n– Dispose of any spoiled or questionable food.
\n– Remove shelves, crispers, and ice trays. Wash them thoroughly with hot water and detergent. Then rinse with a sanitizing solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.
\n– Wash the interior of the refrigerator and freezer, including the door and gaskets, with hot water and baking soda. Rinse with a sanitizing solution (see above).
\n– Leave the door open for about 15 minutes.
\nIf odor remains, try any or all of the following:
\n– Wipe the inside of the unit with equal parts of vinegar and water to destroy mildew.
\n– Leave the door open and allow to air out for several days.
\n– Stuff the refrigerator and freezer with rolled newspapers. Keep the door closed for several days. Remove the newspaper and clean with vinegar and water.
\n– Sprinkle fresh coffee grounds or baking soda loosely in a large, shallow container in the bottom of the unit.
\n– Use a commercial product available at hardware and houseware stores. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.<\/p>\n

Note: If odors still remain, the unit may need to be discarded.<\/p>\n

FSIS\u2019 YouTube video \u201cFood Safety During Power Outages\u201d has instructions for keeping frozen and refrigerated food safe. The publication \u201cA Consumer\u2019s Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes\u201d can be downloaded and printed for reference during a power outage. An infographic is also available outline steps you can take before, during and after severe weather, power outages and flooding. FSIS provides relevant food safety information during disasters on Twitter\u00a0@USDAFoodSafety\u00a0and\u00a0Facebook.<\/p>\n

If you have questions about food safety during severe weather, or any other food safety topics, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888MPHotline or chat live with a food safety specialist at AskKaren.gov. These services are available in English and Spanish from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. Answers to frequently asked question can also be found 24\/7 at AskKaren.gov<\/font><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

A Look Back – St. Johns Basketball Team<\/p>\n

by Barry Clark Bauer<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This comes to us from 1968.<\/p>\n

Curt Keck give us the following names:
\nBack row, Mike Brown, Brian Carpenter, Bill French, Brad Huntley John Smit, Dave Flermoen.
\nFront row, Gary Rademacher, Gary Burk, Roy Pederson Fred Root, Jim Findlay.<\/p>\n

\n

Bennie and Jessie’s Pet Info<\/strong> – What\u2019s the Difference Between Service Dogs, Emotional Support Dogs and Therapy Dogs?<\/p>\n

courtesy of Victoria Schade<\/p>\n

It takes more than a patch and vest to make a service dog.<\/p>\n

Although it\u2019s easy to assume that service dogs, emotional support animals and therapy dogs all provide the same type of aid for their caretakers, their training, responsibilities and access to public spaces differ greatly. The confusion over what working assistance dogs do versus what \u201csupport pets\u201d provide can have far-reaching consequences for the people who rely on the tasks their service dogs perform every day.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a breakdown of what each of these categories mean.<\/p>\n

What Is a Service Dog?<\/em><\/p>\n

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, \u201cService animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.\u201d Veronica Sanchez, a certified professional dog trainer and the owner of Cooperative Paws, an organization that offers service dog training for professional trainers, says, \u201cIn the service dog world, we refer to this as \u2018task training.\u2019\u201d These tasks are essential functions that handlers are unable to perform on their own because of their impairment.<\/p>\n

Service dog responsibilities depend on the needs of the handler. Certified professional trainer Michaela Greif from Paws & Affection, a nonprofit organization that trains service dogs for children with a range of disabilities, says that some of the of skills include retrieving dropped items, pulling doors open, turning lights on, pushing drawers and cabinets closed, bracing to provide balance for an owner, interrupting panic attacks or alerting an owner to a change in insulin levels.<\/p>\n

But the breadth of a service dog\u2019s abilities goes well beyond the day-to-day support they provide their handlers. \u201cThe harder work is in creating a dog that can flourish under all types of circumstances, because a service dog needs to be quiet, attentive to the handler, accepting of a multitude of environments and unfazed by every imaginable situation,\u201d Greif says.<\/p>\n

Training Service Dogs<\/em><\/p>\n

Training a service dog takes commitment. For example, Paws & Affection dogs go through over two years of training, starting at just eight weeks of age. The training starts off with basic pet dog manners, and builds to include thorough socialization, impulse control and the specialized skills needed to support their handler.<\/p>\n

The formal training process culminates with the Canine Good Citizen Test and Public Access test, which Greif says evaluates the ability of the dog to be an appropriate, unobtrusive helpmate in public. Then, dog and handler are matched and train together to become a working team.<\/p>\n

The scope of work that goes into preparing a service dog for the responsibility of assisting their handler and acting appropriately in public goes well beyond what typically happens in pet dog training.<\/p>\n

People with disabilities have the legal right to take their service dog to any place where the general public is allowed, from movie theaters to hospitals, even if pets are not usually permitted there.<\/p>\n

How Should You React to Service Dogs in Public?<\/em><\/p>\n

Although it\u2019s tempting to reach out to pet a service dog, it\u2019s critical to resist the urge. Remember, service dogs in public are on the job. Greif cautions, \u201cIt is wonderful that so many people are enthusiastic about seeing such dogs in public, and it is most appropriate to direct your interest toward the human on the other end of the leash, rather than assuming it is okay to pet or speak to a service dog.\u201d
\n
\nWhat Are Emotional Support Animals?<\/em><\/p>\n

Emotional support animals (ESAs) also provide a service for their caretakers, but not in the same way as a service dog. Sanchez says that while ESAs are defined in the Fair Housing Act and Air Carrier Access Act, they provide comfort through their presence and are not trained to perform specific tasks like service dogs.<\/p>\n

Dogs whose sole function is to provide therapeutic support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA, so their access to public spaces is limited. ESAs are currently allowed in no-pets housing and in the cabin of an airplane, but otherwise, they are not permitted in places where pets are not allowed.<\/p>\n

Any domesticated animal is eligible, from mice to pigs. To qualify for emotional support animal status, handlers must have a letter from a licensed mental health professional recommending the need for the support animal. The animal must be under the handler\u2019s control at all times and cannot cause a disturbance.<\/p>\n

Sanchez says, \u201cPeople confuse the term ESA with a service dog trained to help a person with a mental illness.\u201d Service dogs assist people with a mental illness perform specific behaviors, like reminding a person to take medication, alerting a caregiver if help is needed, interrupting a panic attack, or waking up a person having a nightmare. An emotional support animal is not task-trained to perform those type of essential function behaviors.<\/p>\n

What Is a Therapy Dog?<\/em><\/p>\n

A certified therapy dog is a canine volunteer who provides a calming, friendly presence in settings like hospitals, nursing homes, schools and disaster areas. There is no single certifying organization for therapy dogs, so the requirements for certification varies by the type of skills the dog will perform, whether that be sitting quietly while a child reads or accepting petting from senior citizens.<\/p>\n

Therapy dogs need a pleasant temperament and should be friendly with strangers. Most therapy dogs have to pass an exam by the certifying body or complete the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test.<\/p>\n

Although therapy dogs provide an important type of beneficial support, they are not afforded any special rights or access under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Therapy dogs are strictly pet dogs with a part-time volunteer job.<\/p>\n

The Damage Done by \u201cPretend\u201d Service Dogs<\/em><\/p>\n

The proliferation of different types of \u201cassistance dogs\u201d has led to people trying to pass off pet dogs as specialized service dogs. Dogs not trained to tolerate the stressors present in public spaces can result in inappropriate behaviors like barking and biting.<\/p>\n

Greif states, \u201cFake service dogs make members of the public confused, skeptical and less accepting of true service dogs, and can stigmatize individuals with disabilities for whom greater independence is hard-won.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sanchez adds, \u201cPeople who pretend their pet is a service dog have damaged the reputation of service dogs as a whole and minimized the tremendous amount of effort that goes into a service dog’s training. Additionally, this behavior has caused members of the public and businesses to question people with disabilities who need service dogs, most especially people whose disabilities are not visually obvious.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Maralyn’s Pet Corner<\/strong> – Can Growing up with a Cat Prevent Asthma in Children?<\/p>\n

courtesy of Hanie Elfenbein<\/p>\n

Having a pet as part of your family has many well-documented health benefits. Some are specific to cats, while others are particular to dogs.<\/p>\n

One of the downsides of having a pet is the increased need to clean. Even the most fastidious pets leave their hair wherever they rest. But pediatrician and researcher Dr. James Gern and his colleagues suggest that there is something about having pets that can actually decrease the risk of childhood allergies and asthma, and it just might be related to that stuff they bring in and leave behind.<\/p>\n

Do Pets Make Kids Healthier?<\/em><\/p>\n

All across the world, the question of whether pets are good for a child\u2019s health has been asked. There is not much consensus on the answer, unfortunately, however, there is consensus around the hygiene hypothesis\u2014that a childhood devoid of germs entirely can lead to a less healthy child.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to say that all pet germs are good. Keeping a clean litter box for your cat and picking up after your dog are important. However, pet dander, pet-associated bacteria, or the amount of soil and particles kids come in contact with when they have pets may support the development of a healthier immune system.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, a child\u2019s health might have more to do with the lifestyle of families who choose to share their home with an animal. All of the research reported is self-selective. That is, the families who participated in the studies made their own decision about whether to have a pet and what kind. It could be that families who have pets are also more likely to spend time outside with their children or use fewer anti-bacterial products in the home.<\/p>\n

To improve the reliability of the results, families would have to be assigned to have a pet or not in order to reduce this potential bias. This, of course, would not be a good idea for either the animals or the people involved.<\/p>\n

Can Pets Really Prevent Asthma in Kids?<\/em><\/p>\n

In recent years, researchers have begun to investigate particular relationships between genetic risk for allergies or asthma and the presence of a cat or dog in the house. This helps reduce some of the potential self-selection bias by studying only children with higher risk of developing allergies.<\/p>\n

The meaning of a gene-environment interaction is this: genes are not necessarily active just because they are in your chromosomes. Some genes have to be turned on by another gene or by factors in the environment. Other genes can be switched off. This makes studying something as complex as childhood asthma even more complicated. But it also possibly explains why there is so little consensus between similar studies conducted in different regions of the globe.<\/p>\n

The theory of a gene-environment relationship in asthma is supported by a recent study out of Denmark which said that children with the genetic risk factor for asthma were less likely to develop asthma in households with pets, especially cats. The study suggested that the association had to do with the amount of cat dander in the home\u2014more dander meant less likelihood of asthma. The authors also found that high levels of cat dander are associated with increased risk of eczema.<\/p>\n

However, the largest study conducted on this topic included over 22,000 children and found no relationship between asthma and allergies and pet ownership. If we consider this within the discussion of gene-environment interactions, it could be that this particular study included some children with risks for asthma exacerbated by pets, some whose symptoms were alleviated by pets, and others where pets had no effect on the children.<\/p>\n

The Bottom Line<\/em><\/p>\n

The take-home message is this: there are many factors that probably influence the development of allergies or asthma in children. Some may be straightforward (for example, air quality), while others have a more nuanced influence on immune health. Pets are great for emotional health and many aspects of physical health. Whether reduced risk of asthma and allergies are among the benefits of pet ownership are still unclear.<\/p>\n

As a veterinarian, I am comfortable discussing how to care for furry family members. But before you make any decisions about the health of the humans in your family, consult your family physician.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

St. Johns author\u2019s 4th book published courtesy of Bob Holzhei The Hills Shall Be Removed by Robert E. Holzhei has been published by Book Baby and Smith Publishing Companies that distribute throughout the United States and Europe. The book is a sequel to The Mountains Shall Depart which was published in July of 2017. The 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-1989","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-features"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1989","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=1989"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1989\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1989"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1989"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1989"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}