Homegrown Productions to present comedy February 22, 23
Homegrown Productions theatre group will be performing “Til Beth Do Us Part,” a comedy by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten.
Performances will be at the Wilson Center Auditorium on February 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 24 at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets are $10.00 for all shows. For more information call 517-930-1421 or 517-930-0410.
Chronic Pain workshop coming up
Chronic Pain PATH (Personal Action Toward Health) is a 6-week workshop designed for people with chronic pain. Sessions will be held at Redeemer United Methodist Church, 13980 Schavey Rd.
Dewitt, MI on Tuesdays, April 9 – May 14, 2019 from 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
In this interactive workshop, people are taught effective tools to better self-manage their condition and its impact on their life.
Managing chronic pain is more than taking medications. We address a variety of topics including fatigue management, dealing with difficult emotions, and pacing and planning.
This includes the Moving Easy Program: safe exercises to improve strength, flexibility, and endurance. Caregivers and significant others are also welcome to sign up and attend as active participants. The workshop is free of charge, but pre-registration is required.
Register with Tri-County Office on Aging at 517-887-1465. (Priority is given to those 50+ but all are welcome to call. Funding is provided by Michigan State Medical Society.
Kelly Schafer appointed to serve on National CASA Leadership Council
The Voice for Clinton County’s Children has announced the appointment of Kelly Schafer, Executive Director, to the Rural Leadership Council of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association.
Serving a two-year term, Ms. Schafer, along with child welfare leaders from across the nation, will play an integral role in voicing the unique needs of more than 900 local programs that make up the CASA and Guardian ad Litem (GAL) network. In 2018, the CASA/GAL network, with its 85,000 volunteers, served more than 260,000 children who have experienced abuse and neglect. With more than 400,000 children in foster care on any given day, the leadership council will focus its efforts on ensuring that the network achieves its mission of serving all children through best-interest advocacy.
“The Leadership Councils are a vital part of our efforts to serve more children in the foster care system, while continually improving their outcomes,” said Tara Perry, Chief Executive Officer of National CASA. “We are so excited and grateful to have Ms. Schafer providing her insight and expertise as we strive to move our mission forward on behalf of all children who have experienced abuse or neglect.”
“I am honored to be appointed to this important national role, “said Ms. Schafer. “I look forward to bringing The Voice for Clinton County’s Children’s successes and challenges to a national network in order for us improve our advocacy work in Clinton County and across the nation.”
For more information about Clinton County’s CASA Program, please contact Ms. Schafer at 989-640-5681 or visit their website VoiceForClintonCountyChildren.org.
Health Department encourages radon testing
The Mid-Michigan District Health Department (MMDHD) is encouraging residents to test their homes for radon and is offering free test kits to those living in Clinton, Gratiot and Montcalm counties.
“Radon is a naturally occurring gas in the environment that becomes dangerous when it builds up indoors,” said Liz Braddock, MMDHDs Environmental Health Division Director. “Radon can rise to dangerous levels in homes, especially in the winter when windows remain closed.”
Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, after smoking. Radon-related lung cancers are responsible for an estimated 21,000 deaths annually in the United States, according to the National Academy of Sciences.
Radon forms when small amounts of radium and uranium in the ground start to break down. Most soils in our area contain some amount of these elements, so radon can be found anywhere. The gas becomes dangerous when it gets trapped indoors and builds to high levels. Radon enters homes through cracks in walls, basement floors, foundations and other openings. Any home, new or old, could have a radon problem.
You can’t see or smell radon, and it causes no immediate symptoms, so testing is the only way to know if there is radon in your home. Residents of Clinton, Gratiot and Montcalm counties can obtain a free test kit by contacting the Mid-Michigan District Health Department:
Clinton County Branch Office: 1307 E. Townsend Road, St. Johns. Phone: 989-227-3110.
Gratiot County Branch Office: 151 Commerce Drive, Ithaca. Phone: 989-875-1002.
Montcalm County Branch Office: 615 N. State Street, Stanton. Phone: 989-831-3607.
The free test kits are available from the health department through collaboration with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Northern Michigan Public Health Alliance.
Mid-Michigan District Health Department serves the residents of Clinton, Gratiot and Montcalm Counties.
Tools for Caregivers coming in March
Powerful Tools for Caregivers, scheduled for Mondays March 25 – April 29, is an interactive program designed to help family caregivers take better care of themselves while caring for a family member or friend. This program will give you, the family caregiver, tools to: help reduce stress and guilt, communicate effectively, take care of yourself, and much more.
This program is not intended for professional caregivers. They meet for 2 ½ hours once per week for 6 weeks. The workshop is free of charge, but donations are accepted ($25 suggested donation, but it is not required). Sessions will take place at Dewitt District Library, 13101 Schavey Rd., Dewitt, MI on Mondays March 25 – April 29, 2019 from 9:00 -11:30 a.m.
Pre-registration is required. To register, call Tri-County Office on Aging at 517-887-1465.
Briggs District Library News
Euchre Club – The library is starting a euchre club! Our first meeting is Friday, February 22 at 6:00pm. This is a fun, free, social club, with no buy-in or cost to play. Seating is limited, so advance registration is required, and you can register as an individual or as partners. We play round robin-style, so registered partners will play together the first round, but new partnerships will be formed in each round thereafter.
Maker Program – Our next afterschool maker program is all about fandom! On Wednesday, March 20 from 3:30-5:00, tweens and teens ages 10 and up can make their own fandom-themed silhouette jar. Hamilton or Harry Potter, fairies or stars, whatever it is you geek can be celebrated at this free program. This is a self-directed program, so participants are free to create for the full 90 minutes, but are free to leave when their project is complete.
Toddler Storytime “Puppet Play and Stuffie Fun” – ages 2-3 with adult participation. Each week we will enjoy a different theme with stuffed animals and puppets. There will be stories, music, crafts, movement and activities that go with eacht week’s theme. The 6 week session runs March 21st – April 25th. You can choose between Thursday mornings, 10:30-11am or Thursday evenings, 6:30-7pm. Registration is required and opens on Thursday, February 21st.
Tweens – We will be crafting with duct tape at our next Tween program! Tweens ages 9-12 can join us on Tuesday, March 26 from 6:30-7:30 when we will work together to make simple duct tape crafts. Registration for this free program is required, and begins Tuesday, February 26.
Chef’s Surprise – Budding chefs ages 7-10 can join us Wednesday, March 27th, 10:30-Noon, when we will learn to make some blow your mind breakfast. Registration is required for this program and will begin February 27th.
March is Reading Month – We’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar with stories, snacks, crafts, and games all related to author Eric Carle! Three programs to choose from on Tuesday, March 5 (ages 3-4), March 12 (ages 5-6), and March 19 (ages 5-9), 6:30-7:30. Registration will be required for all programs and opens on Tuesday, February 13.
Chapter Chatter Presents “Readers Theater” – “The 3 Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf” and “Goldilocks and the 3 Bears” Independent listeners ages 6 – 8 are invited to join us in creating and presenting 2 productions. Children will make/gather, props/costumes for both stories and present both productions to family and friends at the last session of Chapter Chatter. Sessions are on Thursday evenings, 7-7:45pm, February 21st – March 14th. Registration is required for this program and is open now.
Bookaholics Book Club – We are continuing our “Books and Films” theme in February with Thomas Harris’ The Silence of the Lambs. This psychological thriller follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling as she seeks guidance from the homicidal Dr. Hannibal Lecter, in hopes of stopping a serial killer. Copies of the book are now available. The club meets Thursday, February 21 at 6:30 in the bay window seating area of the library.
Tales to Tails – 15 minute sessions for children ages 6-12 to practice reading aloud to Ruger, a certified therapy dog. Ruger will be at the library the following Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:30: 2/28, 3/14 and 3/28, 4/11 and 4/25, 5/9 and 5/23. Registration is required and open at this time.
Connections – Patrons needing help with OverDrive/Libby, RBDigital, or any of the library’s other e-services will be able to come to the library for drop-in tech help each Wednesday from 2:00-3:00pm.
For more program information or to register, visit the library’s website www.briggsdistrictlibrary.org or facebook page or call (989)224-4702.
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Contact Information:
Library Director: Sara Morrison
Phone: 989-224-4702 * Fax: 989-224-1205
E-mail: director@briggsdistrictlibrary.org
Street address: 108 E Railroad * Saint Johns, MI 48879