Relay for Life to move downtown in 2019
photo by Breanna Graham
Organizers announced Tuesday evening that Relay for Llife, in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority, will move their venue from the City Park to the Depot area on South Clinton Avenue in 2019. The event will be held in conjunction with the DDA’s annual Eat Healthy, Eat Local celebration. The Relay will begin at on Friday May 10 and close at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 11. The closing will coincide with the beginning of the Eat Healthy, Eat Local event.
This year Railroad Street will be closed off for walkers. The relay will begin with participants moving east on Railroad Street to the Depot parking lot. From there walkers will travel north to the Rail Trail, then return west along the Trail to Clinton Avenue. Clinton will remain open throughout the event. The entire Depot area including the pavilions and surrounding open space will be used for the Relay, and a silent auction will be held in the main hall of the Depot itself on Friday evening.
The next meeting of Relay for Life of Clinton County will be held on January 8, 2019 at Pilgrim United Methodist Church located on the corner of Parks Rd. and Dewitt Rd. All participants and any interested community members are invited to attend. For more information visit the website.
Silent Auction fundraiser at the Depot is Friday, December 7
You’ll find goodies large and small from holiday décor to special gifts for all ages at the Silent Auction in the St. Johns Depot on Friday, December 7. The auction will be held in conjunction with the Festival of Lights Santa Parade, which begins at 5:45 p.m. and ends with the lighting of the tree near the depot on Railroad Street.
The auction will begin at 5:00 p.m., giving you time to stop in and browse before the parade. Then be sure to place your bids on items that intrigue you by 8:00 p.m. when the bidding closes.
More than 40 businesses, artists and crafters from St. Johns, DeWitt, Bath, Lansing and East Lansing have generously donated valuable items. The proceeds will raise money for the interior restoration of two long vintage rail cars, built in 1902 and 1903, belonging to the Clinton Northern Railway Museum, a branch of Clinton County Arts Council.
While your are at the Depot on December 7, enjoy the model trains running on the extensive layout in the east room of the depot. You can also tour the restored 1927 caboose and 1926 box car sitting on the tracks outside the depot and see the long cars now positioned near them.
Join the fun, get some good gifts and support this large effort to preserve a major part of railroading history.
Christmas at the Museum
The Clinton County Historical Museum, formerly known as Paine-Gillam-Scott Museum, is ready for Christmas; so don’t miss the beautifully decorated house.
Santa will welcome you when entering the foyer. Volunteers will offer tours through the house and will point out the oldest ornaments, toys, and other artifacts from the foyer to the school room in the back of the house.
The real tree and the fresh garland scents add to the experience of touring a hundred and fifty-eight year old house.
The Clinton County Historical Museum is located at 106 Maple St., west of the Court House in St. Johns, Michigan. It is open on Wednesday, 2 – 6 p.m. and Sundays 1 – 4 p.m. For more information or group tours, contact them at 989-224-2894, email at PGSmuseum@gmail.com or visit our web page PGSmuseum.com and Facebook at Paine-Gillam-Scott Museum.
Festival of Lights Santa Parade is Friday, December 7
Are you coming Friday, December 7th? We think you’re going to love all of the new fun organizers have planned for this year including:
– The new SJ Express train
– Live performance by MSU A Capella, “State of the Fifths”
– Jolly and Holly the real live Christmas trees.
– Arts, crafts, cookie decorating, face painting and live entertainment at the UAW Hall.
– Santa Parade of Lights
– Train rides on the lighted Rails to Trails
– Live Nativity
– Sawdust Santa making wooden toys with kids
– Santa’s Workshop
– Storytelling and crafts with Santa at the Library
– Scenic wagon rides around decorated homes
– Snoopy House and Charlie Brown
– Bonfire and marshmallow roasting
– “Whoville Hair” updos
– Voting for best decorated home
– Family photo ops
– Lighting of the Christmas Tree and so much more!
Toys for Tots Benefit is December 8
On Saturday, December 8 the Elvis and Friends “Toys for Tots” Benefit Show will be held at 6:00 p.m. in the Wilson Auditorium. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Featured artist covers include Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, George Strait and Elvis.
The admission price is $10 or an Unwrapped Toy. For more information, please visit thewilsoncenterauditorium.org” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”> Wilson Center Auditorium.
FOMR to meet on December 5
The Friends of the Maple River will hold their December Bi-Monthly meeting at the Clinton County Court House in St. Johns at 7 PM, on Wednesday, December 5th. The meeting will be in the Board of Commissioner’s Room. The public is welcome and there is no charge to attend.
This month FOMR is pleased to highlight its partnership with the Mid-Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area by having Erin Pavloski in attendance. Erin is the Regional Invasive Species Coordinator and will share information regarding invasive species we should be mindful of in the watershed and the use of an internet tool known as MISSIN. Please join us to see how you can help address these problematic invaders.
A business meeting will follow the presentation. The FOMR will be conducting a variety of year end business, including consideration of the 2019 calendar & activities (Clean Up, Float Trip, Quiet Water Symposium, etc.) in preparation for a fun and successful year!
As always, check the website http://www.friendsofthemapleriver.org/ or find them on Facebook at Friends of the Maple River to stay in touch with what FOMR is up to. For for more information or to become a member, supporter, or donor of FOMR, contact rhem at: email: FOMR_info@friendsofthemapleriver.org.