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 an adult then race in their gravity powered cars.
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.
The event will consist of one single elimination race in each of the two divisions, Stock and SuperStock. The day’s 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.
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.
Interested in racing? See www.sjsoapboxderby.com. 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.
New car kits are available online at: www.soapboxderby.org 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.
MMDHD issues latest COVID updates
MDHHS updates Isolation & Quarantine Guidance based on low COVID-19 numbers, state entering post-surge, recovery phase
Based on current conditions and low numbers of new COVID-19 cases, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is updating its COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine guidance for Michigan residents, including for school settings.
“We are updating our guidance to reflect the fact the state has entered a post-surge, recovery phase,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive. “As we move through the phases of our COVID-19 response our recommendations will be updated to reflect the current status of transmission, while continuing to prioritize public health and promote health and wellness for all communities. We continue to strongly urge all residents ages 5 and older get the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine and to get boosted when eligible as the vaccine continues to be our best defense against the virus.”
This update does not change guidance for health care, long-term care, corrections and other high-risk settings, and these entities should continue to follow existing guidance.
Isolation
Any individual who tests positive for COVID-19 and/or displays COVID-19 symptoms (without an alternate diagnosis or negative COVID-19 test) should isolate regardless of vaccination status:
– Isolate at home for the first five days (starting with the day after symptoms began or day after test was taken for those without symptoms); and
– If symptoms have improved or no symptoms developed, return to normal activities, while wearing a well-fitted mask, for the next five days to protect others.
and
If individual has a fever, stay home until fever free for a period of 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications before returning to normal activities while wearing a well-fitted mask, until the 10-day period is complete.
or
Isolate at home for 10 days if unwilling/unable to wear a mask.
Notification Of Contacts
Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 should also notify others whom they had contact with during the time they were contagious (beginning two days before symptoms started or testing positive if no symptoms are present).
Prioritize notification of individuals who are personal/household contacts* and immunocompromised or high-risk individuals.
Individuals would then follow the below guidance on Quarantine.
Quarantine
Quarantine guidance may be adjusted to respond to and control outbreaks within unique settings as needed. Local leaders and individuals should work with their local health departments for outbreak response and follow additional quarantine recommendations as situations dictate to maintain a safer environment for community members.
Individual is exposed to someone who is positive for COVID-19 and:
Exposure is to a personal/household contact:
– Conduct symptom monitoring for 10 days; and
– Test at least one time if possible three to seven days after exposure and if symptoms develop; and
– Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days from the date of last exposure to protect others (home quarantine is an alternative for those who are unable or unwilling to mask); and
– Avoid unmasked activities or activities with higher risk of exposing vulnerable individuals for 10 days from the date of last exposure
– Exposure is to other type of contact (from a community, social or work setting)
– Conduct symptom monitoring for 10 days; and
– Test if symptoms develop; and
– Consider wearing a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of last exposure to protect others. At a minimum, wear a mask in settings with higher risk of exposing vulnerable individuals
For more information, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus. To find a vaccine, visit VaccineFinder.org.
SafeCenter Walk In Their Shoes event scheduled for Saturday, April 23
SafeCenter Domestic and Sexual Violence Services of Clinton and Shiawassee Counties will be hosting their first ever “Walk In Their Shoes” event in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2022! The event will take place on Saturday, April 23, 2021 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm at the Riverwalk Loop Trail in Downtown Owosso. Participants can check-in at the parking lot located behind Capital Sports Fieldhouse and are welcome to attend anytime within the three-hour timeframe.
This year’s event provides a unique opportunity for our community to come together and raise awareness about the statistics, causes, effects, and remediations to sexual assault. There is an old saying: “You can’t understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” Along the Riverwalk Loop Trail will be information about sexual assault, as well as affirmations for both survivors and our community as a whole. There will be a separate Foot Race in HEELS at 11:00 am for anyone interested. By providing a space that is both educational and playful, we can more openly confront stereotypes and the root causes of sexual violence with less defensiveness and denial.
To get registered for the event, please contact Stephanie Molnar, Program Director/Clinical Supervisor, by email stephanie@thesafecenter.org or by phone 989-723-9716. The cost is $25/individual or $150/team (businesses or organizations). There will be an additional $5/person fee for the foot race. Individuals and Teams are encouraged to raise funds for SafeCenter prior to the event. Winners of the Foot Race, Top Individual Fundraiser, and Top Team Fundraiser will receive recognition and a prize.
By attending this event and giving to SafeCenter, you partner in the mission to Empower, Advocate, Educate, and Prevent and provide essential services to adults and children who are in dangerous and potentially lethal situations. Your contribution also provides SafeCenter with the ability to partner with other community organizations across the area and hold those who seek to do harm to others accountable for their actions. We can’t do this work alone. Take a stand against Domestic and Sexual Violence this April, support SafeCenter, and help make our community a safer place to live, work, and play for all.
Who’s excited to get the Mint Festival Promotions going?
Each year during the second full weekend of August St Johns puts out the welcome mat to over 35,000 people that come to our community. There’s shopping, listening to entertainers, eating great food, a Rodeo, and learning all about mint. It’s a gathering place for families and friends. Last year we were able to put on a modified and limited festival due to the restrictions in place because the Pandemic. We are back to normal operations this year. Without your sponsorships these events wouldn’t be possible.
This year organizers will celebrate the 37th Annual St. Johns Mint Festival on August 12-14 in a return to a more normal format. Plans are moving forward to get everything confirmed. We are looking forward to a wonderful weekend with many great events like our Arts and Crafts, Flea Market, Parade, Food Court, Rodeo and much more. Our plan is that it will be a great weekend for vendors, shoppers, businesses, sponsors and attendees with events on both the main festival grounds and in the downtown area.
You are invited to become a sponsor. There are different levels of options to choose from, and some we have some in-kind items that are needed. Enclosed is information on all the levels of sponsorship, with a return form and in-kind list (if request). We hope you will help us get the festival back on track for everyone involved.
Event Director Mariah Leiby is a proud owner of The Salon 989 and is a member of the St Johns DDA/PSD. She has two young girls, Nellie (8) and Neva (5) who are full of energy, and her husband Ken is a Volunteer Fire Fighter for Maple Rapids and Dallas Township and works for Consumers Energy.
Should you have any questions about sponsorship or the Mint Festival in general please contact Mariah at sponsors@mintfest.com. For sponsorship information visit:
https://stjohnsareachamber.wildapricot.org/resources/Sponsorship%20Opportunities%2022.pdf
https://stjohnsareachamber.wildapricot.org/resources/2022%20Sponsors%20return%20form.pdf
Art and Soul Gallery is looking for some friendly volunteers
Art and Soul Gallery is looking for some bright and cheerful faces to help out with customers and events throughout the year. This will allow them to stay open for longer hours and create more fundraising events in the community to keep the gallery going.
They are looking for people who can donate their time and energy for a couple of hours a week or even a couple of hours a month. They will work with your schedule. If you or someone you know would enjoy helping our non-profit organization and see a greater art presence in the community, please contact Theressa Levett at 989-224-2429 or email her at Clintoncountyarts1@gmail.com. You can also stop in at the gallery at 215 N Clinton Ave. here in Saint Johns.
Clinton Transit in temporary facility
Clinton Transit and the Blue Buses are temporarily moving to the Southpoint Mall while their facility is being renovated.
They working hard to keep operations as smooth as possible. Thank you for your patience as they settle in.
Sparrow Clinton COVID testing changing hours
Sparrow Clinton Hospital’s drive-thru COVID testing, located at 805 S. Oakland Street in St. Johns, is changing hours beginning Monday, March 28. The new hours will be:
– Monday and Friday: 8 a.m. to noon
– Tuesday: 1-5 p.m.
Visit the North parking area near the main hospital entrance. Please access the site from Oakland Street and remain in your vehicle for testing. For more information, visit Sparrow.org/COVIDtesting.