New Year’s Eve ball drop in St. Johns a hit – with an album
The Mint City Singers want you
Ovid Library to host local author January 14
Plan now for a paint party at IQhub February 6
Moolenaar announces first office hours of the new decade
MMDHD Calendar – January, 2020
New Year’s Eve ball drop in St. Johns a hit
A good sized crowd composed of people of all ages was on hand to watch the first ever New Year’s Eve ball drop in St. Johns.
Following the countdown the ball changed colors and flares were seen on the ground. The dazzling 2020 sign lit up, and eventually the ball made it to the ground. This all happened on the North end of downtown on the grounds of the lumberyard near the rail trail.
The 2020 ball drop in St. Johns was brought to you Sunbelt Rentals, Chant Farms, Schneider Fabrication, Captains Choice Docks and Boat Lifts, Michigan Graphics and Signs, and New Look Computer and Data.
The Mint City Singers want you
If you can sing in the shower, you can sing in the choir. Enrollment is active now. All singers ages 14 – Adult are invited to join them when they resume rehearsals on January 9. No previous experience needed.
Mint City Singers is a community-based choir comprised of people from St. Johns, Michigan and the surrounding communities. It provides opportunities to sing and perform a wide variety of choral music, cultivate self-expression through group singing, and contribute to the artistic diversity within the community.
The choir was founded by Marcus Roll in July 2011, and the choir’s first concert was held on October 16, 2011. A Leadership Committee was formed in January of 2012 and in February of 2012 the Mint City Singers (MCS) became a branch of the Clinton County Arts Council. There were several temporary directors between 2012-2014. In April of 2014 Ellen Hoard became Music and Artistic Director, and she continues in that capacity today.
The group was permitted to rehearse free of charge in several places through the years including the St. Johns Lutheran Church, St. Johns First Congregational Church, Saint Johns First United Methodist Church, and Redeemer Church – St. Johns Campus. In September of 2019 the choir obtained a new rehearsal home in the South Point Mall next to the Secretary of State office, 1035 Old U.S. 27, St Johns, MI 48879.
Visit www.clintoncountyarts.org for detailed information about the choir, membership, and enrollment, or contact director Ellen Hoard (989) 233-5775.
Ovid Library to host local author January 14
Nearly forty percent of American adults are obese, and Jon Stanton is one of them. The former Carland and Ovid resident has struggled with obesity most of his life.
“I was already wearing adult-sized clothes in third grade,” he says. Now he’s written a book about what it’s like to grow up and live as a fat man.
FAT: A Life Unfiltered is a frank portrayal of the life of the obese, but with an emphasis on more humorous experiences of being overweight.
“When you’re more than 100 pounds overweight for most of your life, funny things happen to you that don’t happen to thin people or even people who are just slightly overweight,” Stanton says. “It also affects your worldview, the decisions you make, how you form relationships – almost everything about your life is impacted in some way.”
Stanton says he wanted to keep most of the book humorous because laughter opens people’s hearts, allowing them to feel the pain and shame the extremely obese experience without being overwhelmed. The entire book isn’t funny, though. “I took time to discuss what goes on in our heads,” he says. “Nearly everyone I know who is as big as I am struggles with low self-esteem and negative self-talk, as well as denial. I couldn’t leave those things out of the narrative.”
Stanton has been as heavy as 430 pounds and as light as 200 pounds, within just a couple years of each other. From 2007-2009, he lost 230 pounds through eating better and exercising regularly, and he kept the weight off for over three years. He completed two half-marathons, a century ride (100 miles in one day) on his bike and appeared on NBC’s “Today” and the “700 Club” to tell his success story to others who struggle with weight. He also won the Governor’s Fitness Award from former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm.
“Those were some of the best years of my life. I was speaking to groups regularly about healthy living, I met and married my wife, I was riding my bike 3,000 miles annually and felt great. But old demons are hard to keep at bay forever; and unfortunately, I eventually gained back more than 100 of those pounds.”
That, Stanton says, is why he wrote the book. “Battling weight all the time, especially in our food-saturated culture, is exhausting. I want to encourage people who have struggled, let them know they aren’t alone, and try to help people who have never struggled understand we aren’t just lazy, unmotivated creatures with no willpower.”
Many of the book’s stories took place in Shiawassee and Clinton counties, so area residents will recognize some of the names and places.
Stanton will be signing books on Tuesday, January 14 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. and again from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Ovid Public Library, 206 N. Main St. He will also speak to the Women’s Book Club about the writing process from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
The book is $12 for a single copy or two copies for $20. For those unable to attend, the book is available from amazon.com via Stanton’s website www.hopefortheheavy.com.
For more information about the event, visit https://tinyurl.com/stanton-ovid-library.
Plan now for a paint party at IQhub February 6.
Grab some friends and go to IQhub to paint these fun winter scenes. Colors and style can be changed to suit your own taste.
This is a public paint pARTy by Tracie Davis will be hosted by IQhub on Thursday, February 6 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at 1130 S. Dewitt Rd.in Saint Johns.
There is no experience is necessary. All supplies and instruction are included. You are welcome to bring your favorite food and non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy while painting. Paper plates, silverware, napkins cups, and bottled water will be provided for your use.
Pre-Registration is required to ensure that they are ready for you. Register here for $35.
Did something come up and you can’t make it to the party you registered for? Contact Tracie ASAP at 517-290-4847 or traciedavis@tinybydesign.com prior to the day of the event for a full refund. Did something come up the day of the event? Let them know ASAP and they can arrange for party credit to attend another event.
Moolenaar announces first office hours of the new decade
Congressman John Moolenaar announced office hours to be held by constituent relations representatives at locations throughout the Fourth District. The purpose of the office hours is to help residents in need of assistance with a federal agency, like the IRS and the VA.
January 9, 1:30 -2:30 p.m.
DeWitt City Hall, Large Conference Room, 414 East Main Street, DeWitt, MI 48820
MMDHD Calendar – January, 2020
Family Planning Clinic Schedule
The Mid-Michigan District Health Department’s Family Planning Clinics provide confidential care to men and women in need of contraception and reproductive health services. Charges for services and supplies are based on income. The Family Planning Clinics are scheduled as follows:
Mid-Michigan District Health Department
1307 E. Townsend Road
St. Johns, MI 48879
January 7: 8 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
January 14: 8 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
January 21: 8 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
January 28: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Clinic in Shiawassee County
January 9: 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
149 E Corunna Ave, Corunna MI
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (989) 224-2195, Option 5, Monday through Friday.
Hearing and Vision Screening Clinic
Vision screening is required for all children entering kindergarten. The Mid-Michigan District Health Department offers free vision testing, as well as hearing screening tests for all children ages 3 to 21. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (989) 227-3125, Monday through Friday.
WIC Benefit Pick-Up Schedule
Pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants and children up to 5 years old may be eligible for free food through the WIC (Women, Infants & Children) program. The Mid-Michigan District Health Department WIC Benefit Pick-up Clinics are scheduled as follows:
January 13
January 29: Mid-Michigan District Health Department, 1307 E. Townsend Road in St. Johns, from 9 a.m. to Noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (989) 224-2195, Option 5, Monday through Friday.
“In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”
Immunization Clinic
The Mid-Michigan District Health Department Immunization Clinics are to be held as follows:
Mid-Michigan District Health Department
1307 E. Townsend Road
St. Johns, MI 48879
January 6: 8 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
January 13: 8 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m
January 16: 8 a.m. to noon and 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm
January 27: 8 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Immunizations will be available for adults and children eight weeks of age through adulthood, appointments are preferred. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (989) 224-2195, Option 5, Monday through Friday.