FOMR meeting is May 16
The Friends of the Maple River May Bi-Monthly meeting will be held at the boat launch at Muskrat Lake on the south side of Jason Road ½ mile west of Dewitt Road and ½ mile east from Airport Road on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. Follow the FOMR signs. The meeting will start at 6:00 PM.
The public is welcome, and there is no charge to attend. Anyone interested in our watershed and aquatic invasive species is welcome to attend the meeting.
Erin Pavloski, Regional Invasive Species Coordinator, Ingham Conservation District, of the Mid-Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) will be presenting on aquatic invasive species and the statewide Clean Boats, Clean Waters program, and how you can help reduce their spread between local lakes and rivers. There will be inspection demonstrations with paddling and boating equipment and free outreach materials available.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their watercraft of choice and plan to spend a little time on Muskrat Lake. There are recent signs of beaver activity on the lake, so you might try to catch a glimpse of a beaver or take a few minutes to fish and/or just take in the sites. Putting your craft in and out of the water will provide you the opportunity to practice the full extent of the Clean Boats, Clean Waters initiative. Feel free to arrive a little early to get your craft ready to go into the water once the program starts at 6. Anyone planning to paddle on the lake must bring his or her own paddling equipment and life jackets (PFDs).
Please take this opportunity to embrace Mid-Michigan CISMA activities to fight invasive species. They hope to see you May 16th at Musk Rat Lake.
As an additional note, the FOMR does plan to do a Maple River group float on Saturday May 19th. The time will be from 9 AM to about noon. The location will be either downstream from the Elsie Dam or from the DNR launch on French Road just upstream (east) of Hubbardston Road. The location and details will be determined during the May 16th meeting and info distributed thereafter. Since the prior river cleanup was canceled due to weather, the plan will be to work in a little cleanup activity as part of the float.
Contact: Erin Pavloski, Regional Invasive Species Coordinator, Ingham Conservation District erin.jarvie@macd.org, 517-676-2290 ext. 2 or Chris Mikula at 989-640-7104, wildcam@aol.com or Jon Morrison at 989-224-1106 both of the Friends of the Maple River.
As always, check our website http://www.friendsofthemapleriver.org/ or find us on Facebook @ 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 us at: email: FOMR_info@friendsofthemapleriver.org.
Museum to open May 20
Spring has arrived at the Clinton County Historical Society Museum, Paine- Gilliam-Scott House. The trees are in full bloom. The featured exhibit for this year is World War I.
Opening date for the museum is Sunday, May 20, 2018. Museum hours are Wednesdays 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Sundays 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Soup kitchen makes stops in area
His Cup Runneth Over, a mobile soup kitchen, will be making a stop at
– First Congregational Church, 100 Maple Ave, St. Johns 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday, May 15 and
– First Baptist Church/Beacon of Hope (northwest parking lot), 512 S. US 27, St. Johns from 12-1:30 pm, Thursday, May17 and at
– The Meadows of St. Johns, 2265 W. Parks Rd., St. Johns, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday, May 17.
Soup, bread, fruit and dessert will be served to all who come free of charge. For more information call 989-533-9535 or 989-544-5764
Help support Habitat
Looking for an easy way to make a difference? Do you purchase anything (or everything!) on Amazon?
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It’s the same Amazon prices and products, but you also help people in need in our community and you only have to purchase the items you were already planning on buying.
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Briggs District Library News
Tales to Tails – Free Reading Program with 15 minute sessions for children ages 6-12 to practice reading aloud to Ruger, a certified therapy dog. Summer Schedule: 2nd Thursdays, 6/14, 7/12 & 8/9 from 6:30-7:15. Extra sessions will be considered if time slots fill up. This program encourages confidence & reading skills over the summer in a relaxing environment. Registration is required and begins Thursday, May 17.
Outdoor Games – Children ages 7-9 are invited to join us on Thursday, June 14 from 6:30-7:30 for a night filled with extra-large, extra fun games. We will be meeting outside at the depot pavilion for this fun filled hour. Registration is required and begins on Thursday, May 17.
Cook Me a Story, a Fairy Tale Feast – Join us as fairy tales are retold with a yummy recipe that we will create as a group and enjoy together. “Goldilocks and the Three Pears” Thursday, June 14 10:30-11:30 (ages 4 and 5). “Sleeping Fruity” Thursday, June 14 1:30-2:30 (ages 5 and 6). “Cinnarella” Thursday, June 21 1:30 -2:30 (ages 6 and 7). Mrs. Daman, Begindergarten Teacher at St. Joseph School will lead us thru the fun of cooking a truly unique fairytale experience that begins with “Once upon a Kitchen . . .” These three programs are for children who are independent listeners! Registration is required and opens on Thursday, May 17 for all 3 programs.
Summer Storytimes – Summer sessions: (Lapsit: ages 12-24 months, Friday, 10:30-11am, 6/8 – 6/29, 4-week session) (Toddler: ages 2-3, Wednesday, 10:30-11am, 6/6 -7/18 **No 7/4 session, 6-week session) (Pre-Reader: ages 4-6, Thursday, 6/21 – 7/19 **No 7/5 session, 4-week session) & (Primetime: ages 3-5, Tuesday, 7:00-7:30pm, 6/5 – 6/26, 4-week session). Registration is required for all summer storytimes.
S.A.M. in the Summer – Fun, hands-on activities in Science, Art, and Math for children in grades 1-6. Art #1: Grades 1-3, Wednesday, 6/20, 3-4pm. Art #2: Grades 4-6, Wednesday, 6/27, 3-4pm. Science #1: Grades 1-3, Wednesday, 7/11, 3-4pm. Science #2: Grades 4-6, Wednesday, 7/18, 3-4pm. Math #1: Grades 4-6, Wednesday, 7/25, 3-4pm. Math #2: Grades 1-3, 8/1, 3-4pm. Registration for all S.A.M. programs is required and begins Wednesday, May 23.
Bookaholics Book Club – The May selection for our adult book club is Prayers For Sale by Sandra Dallas. An instant bond between two women who live in the Depression-era Colorado mountains, results in an unlikely friendship – one in which the deepest of hardships are endured and the darkest memories confessed. Copies of the book are now available. The club meets Thursday, May 17 at the library at 6:30.
Cartoons and Crafts – Tweens ages 8-12 are invited to join us on Thursday, June 7 from 6:30-7:30 for a special program where we will watch a classic Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon, then complete a short, hands-on science experiment. Registration is required.
Family Movie Fridays – We will be once again showing free movies for the family to enjoy. Movies will run each Friday, June 8 – July 27 (no showing on July 6), and all shows begin at 2:30p.m. First up is the 1995 Academy Award-winner BABE. Registration, and a complete list of all the movies being shown this summer, are now available on our website.
Library Closures – The Library will be closed Saturday May 26 and Monday May 28 in observance of the Memorial Day Holiday. The drop box on the Library porch will be available for returns throughout this closure.
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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
May is Foster Care Awareness Month
During National Foster Care Awareness Month, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) wants to stress the important role that foster parents can play in a child or teen’s life.
“When children are unable to stay with their families because of safety concerns, foster parents step up to provide love, consistency and support,” said Nick Lyon, MDHHS director. “Foster parents play a critical role in communities across the state, and by adding additional licensed foster families we have a greater opportunity to match a child with the best possible family and keep them in their community with their familiar school and surroundings.”
In Michigan, MDHHS needs foster parents to provide care and safety to a wide array of children of all ages. MDHHS encourages those who love children and have a big heart, to consider these four reasons to become a foster parent:
Transform A Child’s Life. Welcoming a child into a safe and loving home environment can improve well-being, help with separation and brighten a child’s future.
Receive Support Along The Way. Foster parents are not alone when they become licensed. In fact, they receive training, support services, foster care payments and support from an entire community.
Keep Children In Their Community. In Michigan alone, there are approximately 13,000 children in the foster care system. When children enter foster care, they face many uncertainties. They have to leave their homes and families, and they may have to move to an unfamiliar community. By becoming a foster parent, you can help keep children in their community and school.
Strengthen The Foster Care System. The foster care system relies on strong, good-hearted, responsible foster parents. With each licensed foster parent or family, we add greater options and diversity to best serve children in care.
In Michigan, there are approximately 13,000 children in foster care and 300 children who still need an adoptive family. MDHHS needs foster parents to provide a safe, nurturing home for these children until they can be safely returned to their families.
The first step to becoming a foster parent is contacting a Foster Care Navigator. Navigators are experienced foster parents who can answer questions, help individuals find an agency that’s right for them and provide guidance along their journey to becoming a foster parent. They can be reached at 855-MICHKIDS.
To learn more about foster care, visit www.michigan.gov/hopeforahome.
Senior Center available for weekend rentals
Are you looking for a location to hold a high school graduation, birthday party, family reunion or shower? Then come and take a look at the Clinton County Senior Center, located at 201 E Walker Street in St. Johns. It is available for rent most weekends of the year.
The center has two large rooms (one with dining tables and chairs) available for use. The center rents for $100 – $150. The price depends on whether you use the kitchen or just the large rooms.
If you would like a tour of the facility, stop in any Mon, Tue, Wed or Fri between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. If you have any questions you can also call them at 989-224-4257.
CRV collecting empty ink cartridges
Community Resource Volunteers, a nonprofit agency who works with youth to teenagers, will be collecting empty ink cartridges to help fund science and robotic programs.
Please drop them off at the following locations:
– St. Vicent DePaul, 1009 S Highway 27,
– Huntington Bank, 200 W. Higham,
– Clinton Transit 215 N. Scott Rd. and
– CRV, 304 Brush St.,
– MAHLE Engine Components, 916 W. State St., all in St. Johns.
– Motz Builders, 116 West Main St. in DeWitt.
For more information about our organization and events please go to www.crvonline.org or call CRV 517-672-4226. Thank you for your support.