SJ students honored at Voice of Democracy Awards Banquet
St. Johns students were honored January 7 at the 2015-16 Voice of Democracy Awards Banquet held at VFW Mint City Post 4113 in St. Johns. The annual event recognizes students in senior and junior divisions for their award-winning essays.
Post Commander Bill Scott welcomed the students and their family members and introduced honored guests including Post 4113 Chaplain Dennis Wright, Post 4113 Senior Vice Commander Larry Varney, Post 4113 VOD Master of Ceremonies Dale Brown, St. Johns High School Principal Mark Palmer, St. Johns Middle School Principal Adel DiOrio, SJHS VOD coordinators Dave Stukey and Dave Mariage, and SJMS VOD coordinators Jill Loznak and Amber Guerrero. Bob Etherton delivered the keynote address.
Judges for both divisions were also recognized: Shelly Bessel, Corinna Batora and Christina Klark. Larry and Shirley Varney coordinated the 2015-16 VOD contest and dinner.
This year’s theme for the VOD senior division was “My Vision for America.” First place winner was Autumn Rey Petrick; second place, Madison Crum; third place, Ethan Webster.
The Patriot’s Pen junior division theme was “What Freedom Means to Me.” First place winner was Tessa Link; second place, Reagann Meyers; third place, Gabrielle Dobernick.
First through third place winners in both divisions received VOD trophies and award certificates along with awards of $100, first; $75, second; $50, third.
Arts Council Gallery undergoing renovations
Gallery renovations are well underway. The floor and wall repairs have been completed. All the walls have fresh paint. New flooring is being installed, and organizers look forward to re-opening on schedule on January 28th.
At the Wilson Center Auditorium – January 15, 19
The Wilson Collective is a program that presents all-ages concerts and events for the St. Johns area that benefit Michigan musicians using a wonderful, historic venue, the Wilson Center Auditorium. The Collective is looking to form an all-ages community with a passion for local music, making contemporary music available to all, especially teens who normally aren’t able to attend live performances.
The Collective Concerts are intended to bring young people and others together, presenting them with a more liberal and alternative place to enjoy many different types of music as well as inspiring them to become more invested in the local music scene. The Wilson Collective also brings a new venue to the contemporary music scene, presenting Michigan musicians with additional opportunities to perform, displaying their creative works. Concerts are scheduled on Friday evenings throughout the winter and start at 7:00 p.m. The first two concerts are coming up on January 15th and 29th. There will be a small admission charge that will go towards the auditorium renovation project. Check the web site or Facebook page for more details on upcoming concerts and events.
The Wilson Collective kicks off its winter contemporary music series with a wonderful concert featuring two local rock bands and other performers from St. Johns, DeWitt, Lansing and Grand Ledge. This opening concert will take place on Friday evening, January 15 starting at 7:00 in the historic Wilson Center Auditorium.
“Synergy,” a popular local band made up of St. Johns High School students, Chase Brya, bass/vocals, and Josh Weinberg, guitar/vocals, along St. Johns Middle School students Alex Pung, guitar/vocals, Jon Collins, keyboard/vocals, and Tom Brubaker, drums, will perform a set of modern and classic rock. “This band performed at the Performance Shell this past summer as part of the ‘Best of Clinton County’ evening and did a great job,” says William Tennant, WC Auditorium Coordinator. “It will be fun to hear them again on this concert.”
The band, “Fire and Water” will also be presenting a set of their classic rock and blues numbers on the concert. This local favorite is made up of adults and includes; Eric and Andrew Pittman, guitarists from St. Johns, Lindsay Luoma, keyboard/vocals from Lansing, John Kelly, bass/guitar/vocals from DeWitt, and Dan Rafail, drums from Grand Ledge. This group is also expecting a special guest vocalist to join them that evening.
The concert will also include some students of John Kelly who will each be doing a number before the bands perform. The students range in age from 5th grade through 10th and include; Kennedy Sturgis, Carly Waire, Lindsey Edwards, Keegen Pratt, Gabby Colarossi and Maria Biewer. “Synergy” is also a product of John Kelly’s great studio of young musicians. “One of the objectives of The Wilson Collective is to offer a performance opportunity to young local musician, presenting them with a performance in this beautiful venue,” states Aidan Pope, Wilson Collective Concert Promoter. “It’s important to foster their growth, getting them excited about performing as they perfect their musical style.”
Various artists covered during the show will include Cam, Meghan Trainor, Adele, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Bad Company, Shawn Mendes, stevie ray vaughan. and more.
There will be a $5 admission charge, which will go towards the Wilson Center Auditorium renovation project. The WC Auditorium is located at 101 W. Cass St. in downtown St. Johns, just south of the Court House. For more information about The Wilson Collective or upcoming concerts and events, please visit the Wilson Center Auditorium Facebook page and/or web site at www.wilsoncenterauditorium.org.
******
Rock Concert set for January 15
The Wilson Collective is presenting its first all-ages rock concert of the year on Friday, Jan. 15 starting at 7:00 p.m. in the Wilson Center Auditorium. The concert will include the local bands “Synergy” and “Fire and Water”, along with several individual performers performing a wide variety of cover tunes. It will be a great evening of local rock music. There will be a $5 admission charge, which will go towards the auditorium renovation project. The WC Auditorium is located at 101 W. Cass St. in St. Johns, just south of the Courthouse.
Open Mic Night set for January 18
The Wilson Collective is sponsoring its first Open Mic Night of the year in the Wilson Center Auditorium, 101 W. Cass St., St Johns, on Monday, Jan. 18 starting at 7:00 p.m. Tell a story, sing a song, recite a poem, talk about a piece of art, act out a monologue, show a video or some pictures… Come and Share – Come and Listen. A $5 fee goes towards the auditorium renovation project.
Zink inducted into Basketball Coaches Hall of Honor
Congratulations to Peg Zink on her induction into the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) Hall of Honor in the category of Friends of Basketball. Peg was recognized at a recent basketball game for her over 22 years of service to the SJHS Athletic Department.
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, March 16, 2016 to fill vacancies for three directors whose terms will expire in March of 2016. Each of the vacancies is for three year terms for 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, January 22, 2016. Please include background information on any past experience that would relate to trail board activities.
The Friends of the Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail is a non-profit 501c3 organization whose mission is to create a safe, multi-use trail for non-motorized recreation utilizing the former Central Michigan railroad corridor between Ionia and Shiawassee counties.