Three community leaders retire From CCAC Board
Three St. Johns residents who over the years have promoted art activities in the St. Johns area have retired from the Clinton County Arts Council Board. Jenny McCampbell, Ruth Reynolds and Bill Tennant arrived in St. Johns from other cities and states to have an impact on our mid-Michigan community.
Jenny McCampbell was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, growing up in Barrington, Illinois. She arrived in St. Johns in 1975 when her husband Gary got a counseling job with Community Mental Health. She headed up CCRESA’s amazing Gifted and Talented program for a number of years.
Jenny, along with her husband and Bill Richards, talked about the need for more art opportunities in the area. They, along with others, formed the Clinton County Arts Council in 1981. Jenny has been connected with the arts council in one way or another over the past 40 years.
Jenny and Gary have been involved with the Clinton Northern Railway Museum for many years, a labor of love helping to highlight St. Johns’ historic connection to the railroad. They have also been involved with the Concert in the Park series for the past 20 years. You could see Jenny enthusiastically supporting and attending most all of CCAC activities through the years.
Jenny created the sister city relationship between St. Johns and Konan in Shiga, Japan. Along with others, this relationship was formed and now includes a student art show featuring works from both cities. The Japanese Garden next to Briggs Library in downtown St. Johns is an outcome of this relationship.
Ruth Reynolds was born and raised in Florence, Alabama. After joining the Navy for a tour of duty, she had various jobs working in health care and with several social agencies such as substance abuse and adult foster care. She also had jobs in the retail sector.
Ruthie, as she is affectionately called, moved to Laingsburg in 1996 to help out her sister Rose. Ruthie has been an important member of our St. Johns community since moving here in 2005. She has been involved with the Clinton County Relay for Life for a number of years and is currently co-chairing this year’s event.
Ruthie’s involvement with the Clinton County Arts Council began in 2018 when she became a volunteer in Art Gallery and in 2019 took over as the director of what is now the Arts & Soul Gallery. Her success was amplified by her friendly personality along with her excellent work connecting with the artists. She enjoyed scheduling Meet the Artist evenings and art classes. She also helped run a number of popular events out of the gallery. Ruthie was the consummate CCAC team player actively supporting all of the organization’s branches.
Ruthie, along with Debi Daoust and Joanne Sullivan, developed a program that they called the Mobile Art Cart. Ruthie spent many hours putting together bags filled with art supplies that were then distributed to families who came to a couple of local food distribution centers. Hundreds of bags were enjoyed by many families throughout the county.
Bill Tennant who was born and raised in Detroit took a position in the St. Johns Public Schools in 1968 as a music teacher. Upon retiring, he served on the St. Johns School Board for over 14 years.
Bill and his wife Joi were both educators. Joi was the owner and lead teacher of Meadowland Nursery School. Together they opened and ran an educational book, game and toy store in downtown St. Johns called the GameMaster.
Bill got involved with the Clinton County Arts Council from the beginning. He and Kaye Pilmore worked on bringing live entertainment into the area during the summer months. Bill headed up a committee to build the Performance Shell and still heads up the Concert in the Park series today. He also led a committee to renovate the Wilson Center Auditorium, a historic gem in St Johns.
The greater St Johns community is better for having Jenny, Ruthie and Bill make St. Johns their home. At the CCAC’s December meeting the three members were thanked for their years of service to the arts council and to the community for basically helping to raise the quality of life by presenting fine art opportunities to mid-Michigan residents.
Cedar Creek celebrates the Grand Opening of the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for Adults
Cedar Creek Hospital officially opened its new Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) which offers specialized treatment specifically designed to address the needs and challenges of adults. This population requires support when transitioning from an inpatient psychiatric facility to home or to prevent the need for inpatient psychiatric hospitalization.
Cedar Creek’s PHP is an acute outpatient program that utilizes individual and group therapy, trauma informed care, medication management and health services, and a variety of evidence-based treatment interventions to serve adults struggling with mental and emotional wellness. PHP will build upon the same resiliency skills used to overcome past challenges to help improve one’s quality of life at home, at work, and in their communities.
“We are excited to be able to offer intensive, mental health services for adults on an outpatient basis so that individuals can receive the benefit of treatment while being able to return to their home at the end of the day,” said Jenn Briere, MSW/LMSW, Director of Outpatient Services, Cedar Creek Hospital. “Having an additional treatment option like this in the community will provide access to quality mental health services that has not otherwise been available in this region.”
PHP includes a mix of traditional and alternative therapies and treatments such as dialectical behavior therapy skills, cognitive behavioral therapy, pet therapy, expressive arts, nutrition, medication education, and treatment for co-occurring disorders. Patients may transition to our PHP immediately following an inpatient admission or may utilize PHP to prevent hospitalization. Programming is offered Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and includes lunch, beverages, and snacks. Our goal is to help adults improve daily functioning so they can return to their home, job, and everyday life activities.
About Cedar Creek Hospital
Cedar Creek Hospital provides treatment to teens and adults struggling with emotional or behavioral health issues. Following an initial free assessment by a licensed counselor, patients receive a personalized treatment plan that can include individual, group, and recreational therapies. They encourage family education and participation to allow involvement for all who want to be part of the healing process. Prior to discharge, they will work with local community resources to help ensure patients receive continued support for recovery.
To learn more, visit: https://cedarcreekhospital.com/ and follow them at https://www.facebook.com/CedarCreekHospital and https://www.linkedin.com/company/cedar-creek-hospital-of-michigan/.
Cedar Creek Hospital is credentialed with most insurance companies, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicaid, and Medicare.
Whatever you do on the 21st, do it in honor of Hal
courtesy of Katie Eccleton
Although Hal Rice passed away in 2013, his memory lives on in the lives of those who were blessed to call him their friend. In memory of this man who did so much to bring joy to the lives of those around him, we invite our friends and family to do something encouraging. On what would have been his 70th birthday let’s honor the spirit by which Hal Rice lived.
1) Wear orange to help promote awareness of Multiple Sclerosis.
2) Make a donation to the 501c3 I Move for Hal to help give a deserving SJHS Senior a scholarship to further their education and to help raise awareness and fund research through the National MS Society-Michigan Chapter.
3) Do a random act of kindness to brighten someone’s spirit and remind them of God’s love for them. Buy a coffee for the person in line behind you, write a note of gratitude to someone who doesn’t usually get thanked, stick a cookie in the mailbox for your postal worker, stop and pray with a hurting friend… the ideas are endless.
On the day of February 21 be sure to post in the event so others can share in the joy you’re spreading. Use the hashtag #moveforhal on social media so we can follow along as you make your moves.
Laundry center made possible by memorial gifts
The new laundry center at Beacon of Hope was made possible by gifts in memory of LaVonne and Earl Rogers. Earl was a faithful Beacon volunteer who loved serving his community.
Pictured here are his three children: Roxanne Burnham, Darren Rogers, and Trisha Hufnagel.
Many thanks to all those who donated so that Beacon participants and the homeless can do their laundry at no cost.
A hundred year journey continued
courtesy of Julie Peters, CCHS Archives Director
If you didn’t read about the journey a few weeks ago, here’s a brief synopsis:
In 1990 Michael Kenney, formerly from Michigan now from Florida, found hundreds of 5″ x 7″ glass photo negatives behind a store being remodeled in downtown St. Johns. They were in and around a dumpster.
Fast forward 31 years to just as COVID hit.
I received a call from Michael asking if the Archives would like to have the glass negatives and the film negatives that he had found. My answer was a fast yes!
After COVID seemed to improve some, last October my husband and I drove to Florida to pick everything up. A trip like that with 100 year old glass was very stressful, but everything made it in one piece.
And here we are now. So far I have 400+ scanned and put online. They are veterans from World War I, St. Johns High School graduates before RBW was built in 1925, mothers, fathers and children. A lot of them do have names etched on the edge of the glass, but there are plenty of unknown pictures that I’d really like to put a name with.
St. Johns High School 1882 graduating class. (back) Sara M. Pouch, Wilbur Clarence Wright, Louisa Eliza Cook, (front) Ida May (Lyon) Fildew, Frank Vauconsant.
If you’re interested in checking them out, please go to our webpage www.dewittlibrary.org/CCHS and click on the “DIGITAL PHOTO ALBUMS” button. There are many pictures from the Historical Society Archives and from the DeWitt Library. The glass negatives are shown under the “CCHS-Digital” folder on the left side of the page.
If you see an “Unknown” or “Unidentified” and have a name, please send me a note at petersj@msu.edu with the photo number and I will be thrilled to add their name. Or if something is mislabeled, we’d like to know.
If you are interested, a higher resolution photo file can be obtained for a donation. Dues, donations and volunteers are how we continue to keep Clinton County history alive to share. Thanks for your support.
Please check back often because this is definitely a work in progress.
Legion to host Swiss steak dinner February 19
On Saturday, February 19 American Legion Post 153 will host a Swiss Steak Dinner Fundraiser from 4:30 p.m. – 7:00P p.m. or until it is all gone.
The meal includes Swiss Steak, Potatoes, Salad, Vegetables, Roll/Butter, Dessert for $13.00. Beverage proceeds benefit the Lounge. Dinner Proceeds Benefit The 8Th District Leadership Development Fund
Take-Out is available by calling 989-224-7282 After 4:30 p.m. The Legion Hall is located at 110 E. Walker St. in St. Johns.
LAFCU accepting entries for $10K in college scholarships
Teagan Sanders of St. Johns was among the 2021 Write to Educate Essay Contest winners.The contest is now open for 2022 entries.
LAFCU is now accepting entries for its unique 2022 Write to Educate Essay Contest. The contest awards $10,000 in college scholarships and donates $2,000 to charities in the names of the winners.
Four high school seniors will each receive a $2,500 scholarship to an accredited Michigan college or university. Each will also select a charity to receive a LAFCU donation of $500.
The entry deadline is March 31, 2022.
Winners will be selected based on their one-page essay that examines their experiences during the coronavirus pandemic. Other factors, such as academic grades and financial need, are not considered.
“The essay is an opportunity for students to reflect on their high school successes and their future plans despite the extraordinary challenges caused by the pandemic,” said Kelli Ellsworth Etchison, LAFCU chief marketing officer and chief diversity officer. “And because there are no other factors in determining the winners, everyone starts on a level playing field.”
Winners will each select one of these charities to receive a $500 LAFCU donation:
– Capital Area Humane Society
– Capital Area United Way
– Greater Lansing Food Bank
Ellsworth Etchison explained, “The charity donation supports the credit union philosophy of ‘People Helping People’ and demonstrates the power of giving back — an important concept for the state’s next generation of leaders.”
Winning essays will be published in the Lansing State Journal, community sponsor of the contest.
Entrants must be a Michigan high school student and do not need to be a LAFCU member. The Lansing-based credit union is chartered to serve people and businesses throughout Michigan.
Information is at www.lafcu.com/writetoeducate where entries can also be uploaded.