Calling All Artists – Plein Air Event

The Clinton County Arts Council will be sponsoring a Plein Air Event on May 12, 2018. As you may know, this is the same day as the downtown district’s Spring Fling and the Eat Healthy/Eat Local Festival. There will be many artists stationed throughout the downtown area painting the festival, historical homes and businesses; capturing St. Johns and all its beauty.

Artists are cordially invited to participate and can obtain an Entry Form at the Art Gallery, 215 N Clinton Avenue. Registration is open to all artists, 17 years and older. Media choices include: oils, acrylics, watercolors, gouache, pastels, charcoal or pencil, and mixed media. This is a 2-dimensional art event.

Early Registration by April 6, 2018
_____ $25 – Clinton County Arts Council Member
_____ $30 – Non-Clinton County Arts Council Member

Registration deadline by April 20, 2018
_____ $30 – Clinton County Arts Council Member
_____ $35 – Non-Clinton County Arts Council Member

Artist reception will follow at the Clinton County Art Gallery from 2:00-4:00pm to display finished pieces with fellow artist and pianist, Richard Lahmann entertaining us.

The exhibition will be on view and available for sale through June 1st in the Clinton County Art Gallery.

Oh Mi Organics schedules Grand Opening

Oh Mi Organics invites you to join them for the Grand Opening of their new Chocolate Factory on March 24, 2018. The business will be located at 109 W. Higham St. in downtown St. Johns.

Come see the renovation of a 118 year old newspaper building turned into a gourmet chocolate factory with an observation window into the kitchen. There will be double the chocolates on display, a coffee bar, and a handmade paper bag floor featuring signatures and artwork from your friends, families, and community.

Free chocolate samples, prizes, and big fun are in store. In your wildest dreams you can not imagine the marvelous surprises that await you at Oh Mi Organics!

Museum wants your WW I photos

This year marks the centennial of the signing of the Armistice ending World War I. The Clinton County Historical Museum Paine-Gillam-Scott House, located just west of the courthouse, will feature an exhibit honoring Clinton County’s World War I veterans.

If you have a Clinton County ancestor who served in WW I you can help us honor his name by sharing with them photos, letters, documents or other artifacts relating to his service to our country. Museum staff can scan the item so you can keep the original, or they will gladly accept them as donations to the museum where they will be preserved for future generations, if that is your wish.

Contact the museum at 989-224-2894 and leave a message, or e-mail pgsmuseum@hotmail.com.

Kindergarten Registration 2018 – 2019

St. Johns Public Schools offers all day, everyday kindergarten. Children who will be 5 years old on or by September 1, 2018 are eligible to attend school in the fall. New this year will be a Young 5’s Program. Students turning 5 after September 2, 2018 up until December 1, 2018 will have an opportunity to attend this program this fall. For more information go to: Young 5 Kindergarten

This year they will be holding an open house style registration process at the Wilson Center in the gymnasium on March 14, 2018 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM. All kindergarten families are asked to attend. Principals and kindergarten teachers will be on hand to meet and greet the kindergarten families. Open houses within each building will be held before the first day of school.

For the 2018-2019 school year there will be kindergarten classrooms at Eureka (Pre K-5), Gateway (K-2), and Riley (K-5). Oakview will house our town preschool classrooms along with grades 3-5.

Now is the time to start gathering information to ensure you have all your documents. All immunizations Must be up to date before your child may enter kindergarten in the fall.

New Restaurant Delivery Service coming to St. Johns Friday

For years local food delivery has been extremely limited. Most people just think of pizza delivery when they don’t want to leave the house to pick up food. Now here come the Options.

Owner-operator Jon Hockman is introducing St. Johns Eats, the area’s premiere restaurant delivery service. Now you can go to one website, www.stjohnseats.com, and view local menus. Even better, now you can easily order delivery online from nearly every restaurant in the area. Delivery for most orders is only $3.99.

” Area selections include everything from fast food to bar food to home-style dinners. Never again will you have to settle,” says Hockman. “We’ll even deliver from multiple restaurants if your family is indecisive like mine.”

“We have an extra large delivery area of up to 10 miles from each restaurant, much further than traditional pizza delivery,” he adds.

According to Hockman, the new service uses state-of-the-art industry-leading technology to communicate with drivers and customers. Drivers are dispatched on deliveries via a smartphone app. They use insulated hotbags and coolers to keep orders fresh and GPS navigation to find addresses quickly and safely. Customers can even track their delivery progress right on their computer, tablet or phone after placing their order.

“We are currently looking for more driver-partners that live in the area,” Hockman says. “This is a perfect second job for people that are underemployed or anyone who could use extra money. Drivers choose their own shifts based on their availability.” Anyone interested should email their contact information to
jhockm01@aol.com.

Restaurant delivery has existed in larger cities for years. As of this Friday, you’ll be able to get that big city restaurant delivery service with hometown customer service.

Mint Country Garden Club Meeting

The monthly meeting of Mint Country Garden Club will be held Thursday, March 1, at 7:15 pm.

Ed Carpenter will be giving a presentation on Peacock Road Family Farms.

Meetings are held at Clinton Commons Community Center, 1105 S. Scott Rd, St. Johns. Visitors are welcome to attend. For further information about this meeting or how to become a member, email mintcountrygardenclub@gmail.com or call 517-599-6307.

Free Poetry Workshops

Lansing Poet Laurete, Dennis Hinrichsen, is offering a free poetry workshop.

This is a two session workshop; each session is 2 hours long. This workshop will meet on Saturdays, March 10 and 24 from 12 p.m.-2 p.m. at Deb’s Sereni-TEA Lounge, 1045 S US 27.

The workshop is for beginning writers, high school age and above. They will go through the drafting, writing, revising, and presenting process.

Dennis Hinrichsen has written seven poetry books. He received his Masters of Fine Arts in Poetry from University of Iowa. He has also taught for 25 yrs at LCC. Please call 989/493-5824 to reserve your seat.

St. Johns Big Boy Supporting Kids

On Wednesday, March 28th St. Johns Big Boy will donate 15% of all sales from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. to The Voice for Clinton County’s Children. This fun evening will kick-off The Voice for Clinton County’s Children’s 5th Annual Superhero 5K Run, Walk, or Fly! which will be on Saturday, April 28th.

Katie Eccleton presented Kelly Schafer, Executive Director of Clinton County CASA, a check from the Exchange Club 707’s youth Services committee for $100 to help kick off the event.

Proceeds from these events support services provided to Clinton County’s abused and neglected children. More information is available at VoiceForClintonCountyChildren.org or by calling 989-640-5681. Don’t forget your Superhero cape!

Michigan Technological University Fall Dean’s List

Michigan Technological University, in Houghton, Michigan, has released the Dean’s List for the 2017 fall semester. More than 1,800 students were named to the Dean’s List this past fall. To be included, students must achieve a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

Saint Johns, MI: Jacob Suidgeest*, Saint Johns High School, Computer Science, Lisa Suidgeest and Ted Suidgeest. [Asterisks indicate those earning straight-A averages of 4.0.]

DeWitt, MI: Jared Dietzel, Dewitt High School, Mechanical Engineering, Laurie Dietzel

Elsie, MI: Cameron Alvarez, Ashley High School, Software Engineering, John Alvarez

Westphalia, MI: Matthew Fox, Pewamo Westphalia High School, Civil Engineering, Dennis Fox
Derrick Smith, Pewamo Westphalia High School, Computer Science, Lori Smith and Brian Smith
Jared Smith*, Pewamo Westphalia High School, Computer Engineering, Lori Smith

Grand Valley State University Dean’s List

Grand Valley State University announces the names of students who were placed on the dean’s list for the Fall 2017 semester concluding in December. The list includes those students who have maintained a 3.5 grade point average and been enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits. The honor is noted on the students’ official records.

Saint Johns: Mary Ballor; Madison Berridge; Mary Dieterly; Makaila Fike; Michael Gudbrandson; Dylan Kernohan; Olivia Kosnik; Riley McCann; Rebecca Sabin; Matthew Soros; Megan Soros; Lauren Suidgeest; Stephanie Whitford; Abigail Williams

Bath: Samantha Behl; Gabrielle Labioda; Shannon Wendling

DeWitt: Mallory Armbrustmacher; Avery Armstrong; Matthew Boynton; Lear Brougher; Jonathon Butler; Julia Carlson; Megan Chant; Hailey Ciesluk; Madison Cook; Meghan Cook; Mason Cordes; Joshua Getter; Hailey Grim; Dayton Hammon; Dawson Heath; Brendan Kahl; Audra Kimble; Brooke Kramer; Ryan Madar; Kaleigh McCrackin; Nicholas Neros; Marisa Pratt; Megan Scott; Kristen Strojny; Michael Szeman; Madison Tiemann

Elsie: Brandon Meisel

Fowler: Katherine Cole; Olivia Groves; Claire Schafer

Ovid: Gabrielle Dorn

Pewamo: Cassandra Esch; Evan Fedewa; Savannah Klein; Tiffany Martin

Westphalia: Hannah Bengel; Olivia Nurenberg; Alyssa Platte; Chase Platte; Kayla Spitzley; Lauren Spitzley

Briggs District Library News

March is Reading Month – Pets!Pets! Pets!– We are offering four Free programs for the month of March. Potter Park Zoo “Read with the Animals” is a family program, all age children must be accompanied by an adult. Zoo Staff will be bringing animals and sharing a “tale” to match the animal. This program is on Tuesday, March 6, 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Next is “Cat vs. Dog” for ages 3 and 4 years old (independent listeners) on Tuesday, March 13, 6:30-7:30pm. “What Pet Should I Get” is on Tuesday, March 20, 6:30-7:30 pm and will be for 5 and 6 year olds. “Paw, Claws, Feathers & Fins” for ages 7 thru 9 is on Tuesday, March 27, 6:30-7:30 pm. Related stories, music, craft and snacks will be provided for programs March 13 thru March 27. Registration for all 4 programs is required and open at this time.

“Spring” into Toddler Storytime – Children ages 2-3 (with a participating adult) are invited to choose between Thursday mornings, 10:30-11 am or Thursday evenings, 6:30-7 pm, March 22 thru April 26. We will celebrate “spring” weather, animals, bugs, flowers and more with stories, music, movement, crafts and a game or two. Registration is required.

Easter Egg Fun – Get your “bunny on” and register for this “hoppin” good program. We invite children ages 2- 5 (with an adult) to register for this “most egg-celent” program on Saturday, March 24, 10:30-11:30. There will be “bunny tales”, a spring craft, a tasty snack and an Easter Egg Hunt in the library for children registered for the program. Registration is required and opens on Saturday, February 24.

Mystery Dinner Library Event – The library is inviting the community to join us for a special evening of dinner, drinks, and entertainment on Saturday, March 24, when we will be hosting a 1920s-themed mystery dinner event! Doors will open for the evening at 6:00p.m, dinner will be served at 6:30 and entertainment starts at 7:00pm. Tickets cost $50 per person, and may be purchased at the Library.

Chef’s Surprise – During this session of chef’s surprise, children ages 7-10 will have the opportunity to learn how to use a blender and prepare pie crust while making fruit smoothies and homemade hand pies. We are inviting children to our spring break fruity fun on Wednesday, April 4 from 10:30- 12:30. Registration is required and will begin on Wednesday, March 7.

Spring Program – “Egg-stra, Egg-stra read all about it” Ages 4-6 (independent listeners) are invited to join us on Monday, April 9 from 6:30-7:30 for a night of “egg-citing” stories, “egg-tastic” games/music/movement, and an “egg-cellent” snack. Registration is required and will begin on Monday, March 12.

LEGO Block Party – There will be plenty of LEGO building fun and games on Monday, April 16 from 6:30-7:30 at this family friendly event. This program is open to all whom wish to attend and it will be held at Lowe United Methodist Church, 5484 W Lowe Rd, St. Johns. Registration for this event is appreciated and will begin on Monday, March 19.

Spring Break Activities – Make It & Take It Crafts / LEGO TIME – The Library is offering a Make-It & Take-It Crafts time on Tuesday, April 3. Craft materials will be on tables in the youth area for all to create their own masterpieces. LEGO Block building is offered on Wednesday, April 4. LEGO blocks will be put out in the youth area and meeting room for all to enjoy. Both passive programs will be available from 10:00 – 11:30am & 2:30 – 4:00pm. Registration is not required. Young children must be accompanied by an adult.

Tales to Tails – 15 minute sessions for children ages 6-12 to practice reading aloud to Ruger, a certified therapy dog. Sessions occur on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month from 6:30-7:15. Registration is required and is currently open.

Seed Library – The seed library is back again for another year of garden planning. Are you starting to plan your garden for the summer and want to try something new? Our seed library gives patrons the opportunity to sample seeds for free. Patrons can check-out the seeds with their library card, plant the seeds at home, let them go to seed, and then return some of the next generation seeds for others to borrow the following year. Please visit the library for more information about seed varieties that we will be offered. We are also accepting donations of seeds that patrons have previously saved and would like to share with others in the community.

Library Services Survey – The library is seeking community input regarding the services we currently offer, and any new or additional services that could be offered in the future. Please take a few moments to complete this survey. Print copies are available at the Library desk or complete the survey online at www.briggsdistrictlibrary.org . Whether you currently use the library or not, we welcome your thoughts and opinions.

******

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

Leonard schedules office hours

Tom Leonard, R-DeWitt, will host office hours to meet with local residents and discuss their concerns about state government. Speaker Leonard represents Michigan’s 93rd District.

A coffee hour will take place on Friday, March 9, 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. at Big Boy, 1408 Old U.S. 27, St. Johns, MI 48879.

Local residents are encouraged to bring comments, questions and concerns about local government and anything else happening in the local community. Residents with questions about the coffee hours, or those who cannot make it, can contact Speaker Leonard’s office at 517-373-1778 or by emailing TomLeonard@house.mi.gov.

Relay for Life Organizes

Team captains met on Tuesday, February 13.

Their first event of the year involves hiding Love Rocks. Participants can take a Love Rock and hide it somewhere in the community, or give it to a loved one to hide.

On the back are instructions for those who find them to post a picture of the Love Rock to the Relay Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/sjrelay4life/ in honor or memory of someone who has been touched by cancer. Then re-hide the rock again.

This is a great way for us to honor our family and friends who have been touched by cancer. It is also a great way to get the word out about the 2018 Relay For Life of Clinton County MI. What a great way to share the love and bring smiles to faces in our community.

The 2018 Relay will be on May 18th and 19th from 2 p.m. – 2 p.m. at the Clinton County Fairgrounds. For event details go to RelayForLife.org/ClintonCountyMI

Beaded jewelry classes at Clinton County Arts Gallery

Bead a bracelet that is easy to make and introduces you to two basic beading stitches. The beginner, as well as the advanced beader, will enjoy doing this piece. The Workshop will be taught at 215 N. Clinton Avenue in St. Johns on Saturday, March 17, 2018 from 9:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m. with a break for lunch.

The fee is $40 which includes hands-on and written instructions plus all needed supplies. Payment is due in advance. The minimum age is 14.

The class will be taught by Deborah Laverty who has been Beading for more than 20 years. Her techniques, including bead embroidery, weaving, macrame, and metal working. In addition to making jewelry, she teaches beading classes that focus on the many techniques and designs that beading offers. She is a member of the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild and has exhibited at various art fairs and galleries throughout mid-Michigan.

To reserve a spot, contact the Gallery at (989) 224-2429.

Applications open for summer high school exchange program in Japan

Michigan high school students can experience two weeks of life and study through an exchange program coordinated by the Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU). In the Michigan-Shiga High School Exchange Program, high school students from Michigan spend two weeks in Japan attending high school classes and participating in community cultural events with their student partner and host family. In exchange, the Michigan family hosts the partner Japanese exchange student and introduces them to high school student life in the U.S.

In the summer of 2018, 15 American students will travel to Japan and live with a host family. During the program, hosted in Shiga prefecture since 1990, students will also experience a bunkasai, a Japanese high school cultural festival where Japanese students organize activities like dances, games, sports, and music. In September, the Japanese student partners visit their American counterparts’ homes, attending high school and living with families in Michigan for two weeks.

The cultural experiences in this program are often life-changing for students. The immersive nature provides participants an enriching experience and exposure to Japanese culture which fosters competencies that are useful during the college application process and in future career paths. Several fundraising and scholarship opportunities are available to prospective students.

Students travel together with chaperones that help them during their time in Japan. No Japanese language skills are required. Students interested in this program can receive more information and download the application packet on the JCMU website, jcmu.isp.msu.edu. The application deadline for the program is March 9, 2018. For inquiries or more information, contact the JCMU office in East Lansing at 517-355-4654 or by email at hs@jcmu.org.

Board Elections for the Friends of the FMCIS Trail

The Friends of the Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail will be holding elections at their annual membership meeting on Wednesday April 11, 2018 at the Clinton County Courthouse to fill vacancies for three directors, whose terms will expire in the Spring of 2018. Each of the vacancies is for three year term positions in Clinton, Ionia and Shiawassee counties.

Individuals interested in running for these positions must reside in one of these three counties and if elected, would represent their respective county at monthly meetings.

If you are interested in running for one of these positions, please e-mail us at cistrail@gmail.com no later than Friday, March 2, 2018. Please include background information on any past experience that would relate to trail board activities.

The Friends Group is a non-profit 501c3 organization whose mission is to promote the use and enjoyment of a safe, multi-use trail for non-motorized recreation along the Fred Meijer CIS Trail between Ionia and Owosso, Michigan.

Ducks Unlimited banquet coming up April 20

The Clinton County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited will host it’s 37th Annual Spring Wetlands Conservation banquet on Friday April 20, 2018. The event will once again be held at Smith Hall on the 4-H Fairgrounds in St. Johns.

The mission of Ducks Unlimited is to preserve ecologically important wetlands, on both private and public lands across North America. The Clinton County Wetlands Conservation banquet is the way for our local community
to help this important conservation program.

Local DU chairman Chris Mikula extends an invitation to all conservation minded citizens to join him and his fellow committee volunteers for an evening of food and fun to help an important resource conservation program. The evening will include complimentary beverages, beer, wine, soda, coffee, hors d’oeuvres and a catered dinner. There will be door prizes, special raffles, a silent and live auction and raffle tables that will include limited edition art prints, wildlife sculptures, over 25 guns, including pistols, rifles and shotguns along with limited edition DU Commemorative guns, crafts, collectible items, decoy carvings and many other special DU and local craft items.

The local DU committee wants everyone to know that the Clinton County DU banquet is for the entire family. We encourage dads to bring their wives and youngsters. Ticket prices are the same as they have been for the past thirteen years. For tickets, banquet information, or if you want to volunteer to help on the local DU banquet planning committee, become a sponsor, or donate money or items, you can contact any of the following local DU committee members: Kurt Hufnagel at 989-224-2072, Chris Mikula at 989-640-7104, Hayden Arthur at 517-643-5018, Ben Roske at 989-600-4307, Craig Knight at 989-224-8687, or Dennis Koenigsknecht at 989-224-4120,

Local DU Chairman Chris Mikula notes that “Ecological data collected during the past 50 years clearly identifies wetlands as the most productive source of life on earth. No other resource, not even the tropical rain forests, provide as many benefits as do wetlands.” Join with your friends and neighbors on April 20th as we celebrate the many conservation achievements of Ducks Unlimited, and to also help them continue this great conservation program.

For additional information about the local Clinton County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, or about this year’s April 20th banquet, to become a sponsor, donate or to become a volunteer to “Help the Ducks” and join the committee, contact them at the numbers above, or check out the organizations Facebook page at: Clinton County Michigan Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, or check out the DU main website at; www.ducks.org/michigan

Committee Volunteers Needed for St. Johns Mint Festival

The 34th Annual St. Johns Mint Festival is scheduled for Friday, Aug 10 through Sunday, Aug 12.

A group of volunteers called the Steering Committee meets once a month for several months leading up to the festival to plan the activities and determine festival needs. Each event of the festival has a chair and co-chair in charge that works on that committee’s individual needs, get weekend volunteers for their area and more.

The Steering Committee has several openings and is looking for volunteers to become chairs or co-chairs of specific events including Environmental, Ice Cream, Parade and Parking/Shuttles. Each event is different in that some take a few hours a year, some take more, some need a couple volunteers for the festival weekend and some need several dozen.

If you would be interested in joining the Mint Festival Steering Committee and chairing or co-chairing a weekend event, or if you would first like more information about any of the open positions, please contact Brenda Terpening, Administrator of the Festival at 989-224-7248. You can also stop in the Chamber of Commerce office at 1013 S US 27 in St. Johns in the CC RESA Building across from McDonalds.

Hepatitis A cases confirmed in Clinton and Gratiot counties

Michigan is in the midst of a large hepatitis A outbreak. The Mid-Michigan District Health Department, which serves Clinton, Gratiot and Montcalm counties, is reporting three confirmed cases of hepatitis A in its district—two in Clinton County and one in Gratiot County.

Hepatitis A is a serious and highly contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. It is often transmitted through the consumption of food or water contaminated with infected feces or by oral contact with contaminated objects. This outbreak, however, is passing person-to-person through close contact, primarily through drug use, sexual activity and among household members.

Those most at-risk for getting hepatitis A include users of illicit drugs, men who have sex with men, those who are homeless or in transient living situations, those who have been recently incarcerated and those with chronic liver disease.

The disease spreads easily from person-to-person and can range from a mild illness, lasting a few weeks to a serious illness lasting several months. Illness generally occurs two to six weeks after exposure to the hepatitis A virus. Symptoms of hepatitis A include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), dark urine, pale stool and diarrhea. Not everyone with hepatitis A will have symptoms, but most do.

Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable illness, and while the vaccine is recommended as a part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule, most adults have not been vaccinated. That is why it’s so important for those at-risk of contracting the disease to get vaccinated right away.

In addition to getting vaccinated, people can help protect themselves by washing their hands with soap and warm water after using the bathroom or changing diapers and before eating and preparing food.

This outbreak has had a high hospitalization rate. According to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, of the 736 cases reported since August 2016, a total of 596 have been hospitalized. A total of 24 deaths have been reported.

People who believe they may have been exposed to hepatitis A or who have symptoms should contact their doctor immediately. Those who would like to be vaccinated should contact their doctor or the Mid-Michigan District Health Department at 989-224-2195 in Clinton County, 989-875-3681 in Gratiot County or 989-831-5237 in Montcalm County.

All local health departments involved in the outbreak are receiving financial assistance from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to help combat the disease. The Mid-Michigan District Health Department will use the funds to conduct extra immunization clinics to try to reach those at high risk for the disease.

If your organization is interested in hosting a vaccination clinic, contact the health department at 989-227-3109. Please visit www.mi.gov/hepatitisAoutbreak for additional information. To see an up-to-date vaccination clinic schedule, visit Mid-Michigan District Health Department’s website at www.mmdhd.org.

It’s K of C Fish Fry time again

Beginning on Friday, February 16, the Knights of Columbus will be hosting their traditional Fish Fries at their hall located at 1108 N. US-27.

The menu will include Fried and Baked Fish, baked, augratin and steak fried potatoes, green beans, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, applesauce, rolls,dessert, water, coffee and punch.

Dinner will be served from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Adult tickets will cost $10, children under 12 $5. Early Bird discout $.50 4:00 – 4:30. Takeouts $10. Phone 989-224-1225.

Future dates: February 23; March 2, 9, 16, 23

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day

Community Resource Volunteers will be taking girls in grades 5 through 8 to Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day at Michigan State University on February 24th, 2018. They will be leaving CRV’s Offices located at 304 Brush St, St. Johns, 48879 at 11:45 am sharp and returning to the office at 4:45 pm.

Attendees will get the opportunity to rotate through 5 different hands-on Engineering activities led by students, graduate students and faculty. The format will be like an Open House, and attendees get to pick what they want to see.

Please register by Monday, February 12th at crvonline.org. This event is limited to 15 girls. The price for this trip is $15.00 per student. Parents who volunteer to drive, or be a chaperone, will get their first child go for free and $5 off registration for each child. Families with two or more children attending get $5.00 off each registration.

Parents must pick up children at the CRV office unless we are notified beforehand. Parents will have to sign a permission form for their children to walk home or go with another parent.

Senior Center seeks donations

If you have some gently used puzzles or stuffed animals or Beanie Babies that are looking for a good home, consider donating them to the Clinton County Senior Center. There is always a puzzle going at the center and many are used as bingo prizes on Tuesdays and Fridays. They also use the stuffed animals for bingo prizes. Donations can be dropped off at the Senior Center at 201 E Walker Street in St. Johns, or you can give them a call and they can pick them up.

The center is also looking for pillow stuffing and quilt batting. Volunteers make pillows, quilts, pet blankets and other items that are then sold in the Senior Center gift shops. Money raised in the Gift Shops is used to provide services to the members at the Senior Center.

The Clinton County Senior Center is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Their telephone number is 989-224-4257.

Mint Recipes Needed

The St. Johns Mint Festival hopes to print a new Mint Cookbook in time for the 2018 festival. If you have a favorite recipe or two that you make with mint that you would like included, please send the information to the Chamber of Commerce at PO Box 61, St. Johns 48879. Or you can drop the recipe off at the Chamber at 1013 S US 27 in St. Johns in the CCRESA Building across from McDonalds.

Please make sure your recipe is legible and includes all ingredients and amounts and instructions for preparing and baking. Please also include what name you would like included on the recipe.

If you have any questions before you submit a recipe, please call Brenda at the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce at 989-224-7248

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.