Lioness Easter Egg Hunt
by Maralyn Fink
With a sunny day on Saturday, I decided to attend the Lioness Easter Egg Hunt at the City Park. Am I taking my life into my own hands, I wondered.
Upon my arrival I parked where I could, which happened to be across from Officer Chad Pierson. I’ll be fine I thought; I’ll just stick with him.
The Lioness Club has been doing this for 5 years according to Sandy Witgen, Chairman, when they took over from the Jaycees. They start planning in January and have expanded over the years.
The Goodwins Club from St. Johns High School also help out with stuffing eggs, preparing the site and help police site. This year they had special eggs for under 3 years without small toys along with pastel colored bags with goodies.
Balloons and face painting by Sharon Shutes and a craft table were available in the pavilion, and clowns helped with that. Tootsie Rolls were provided by the K of C group. All eggs had a prize and candy inside.
A unique thing is that Stephanie Heins and her family who raise bunnies bring them to the event and walk with them in their arms for some extra petting from the kids, and me.
For Easter I’ve included a picture from Back In The Day of my mother, sister and me. Every Easter it was the way of the time that we have a new coat, patent leather shoes and a hat. In this case I loved my white tam. Then we were off to St. Joseph Church. We did get candy back then, and then it was dinner at my grandparents farm in Fowler.
Thanks, Sandy and everyone I spoke with, for pictures I took and the interview.
Nicely done.
Maralyn@sjindy.com
City Manager’s Newsletter
Street Reconstruction For 2016: Year three of the City’s dedicated millage street improvement program will kick off during the first week of April. The specific streets designated for repaving and/or reconstruction can be found on the City’s street reconstruction map, which is available on the City of St. Johns homepage: cityofstjohnsmi.com. More than 3 miles of local roadway will be resurfaced in 2016 as part of the street millage program. Some streets will also undergo significant improvements to curb and gutter. Drainage and curb issues will be addressed before repaving is initiated.
North Lansing Street Project: In addition to the street improvements that will be funded through the dedicated street millage, the City will improve a portion of North Lansing Street (between Higham and Gibbs) using Michigan Department of Transportation Small Urban grant. These grant funds were applied for and awarded during the 2015 grant application cycle. This project will be initiated in the very near future. Consumers Energy is already working on Lansing Street to make upgrades to their underground system, which is described in more detail below. As a result, sections of North Lansing Street will be under various phases of construction from the present up until approximately June 30, 2016. This area will be open to residents that live on this street, but there will be a detour plan for all other traffic.
Consumers Energy Gas Project: In conjunction with the City’s street reconstruction projects for 2016, Consumers Energy will be in neighborhoods upgrading underground natural gas lines. CE will make every effort to minimize any inconvenience to private property owners during this important project. We are pleased that we can coordinate our street improvement efforts with Consumers’ upgrades to gas supply lines servicing residences and businesses.
-courtesy of Guven Witteveen
Yard Waste Bags: As the weather warms, residents begin their annual post-winter yard cleanup in preparation for summer gardening and yardwork. The City has resumed its program where it picks up bagged yard waste placed curbside by residents. This method of disposal is encouraged by city staff, as it an integral part of the City’s composting program. We commend our residents for their widespread use of leaf bags in both spring and fall. Brush and branches are also picked up curbside by City staff. If a resident needs yard waste bags they can be obtained at no charge from the City Offices, Briggs Public Library or by contacting DPW Supervisor Jeremy Ritter at 989-224-8944, ext 229.
Spring Clean-Up Set For Saturday, May 7th: Big Trash Day will be upon us before we know it! That means it’s time to begin scouring your home, garage and shed for items that have outlived their usefulness. The annual Big Spring Clean-Up, conducted again this year by Granger, will begin promptly at 7:00 a.m. on May 7, 2016. Residents can begin placing unwanted articles curbside seven days before the clean-up date (April 30th). Granger may be coming through neighborhoods throughout the week prior to May 7th to do early pick-ups. Please be reminded that this service is paid for by City residents and is therefore restricted to those items owned by City residents. Also, for those who drive through town looking for curbside treasures, please do not leave a mess after going through discarded items. Refer to the City’s website, the City newsletter, or call City Offices at 224-8944 for additional information regarding the 2016 Big Trash day. The cost for this curb side spring cleanup day is $45,134.00. As an alternative to placing gently used furniture, appliances, home accessories and building materials for curb side pick-up the Clinton County Habitat for Humanity Re-Store would be interested in your donation. Contact them at 989-227-1771 or habitat.org/restores for more information.
Curb-Side Recycling: Currently our refuse contractor Granger picks up curbside recyclables every week. Residents now use the much larger Curby recycling bins. The city is exploring going to every-other week curbside recycling to reduce costs and to save wear and tear on local streets. Your input in the near future will be helpful. Garbage pick-up would continue on a weekly basis.
DRB Transport Site Plan Approval: DRB Transport, a bulk milk-hauling company, recently had its site plan approved by the St. Johns City Commission. DRB purchased a building and two acres of land located in the industrial park from the City in late 2015. This particular site will be used by DRB as a washing station to clean and sterilize the interior of milk-hauling tanks. DRB trucks and bulk tanks are used to transport milk from local commercial dairy operations to milk processors.
Community Fund to discuss Wilson Center – May 10
The Annual Meeting of The St Johns Area Community Fund will be held at The Wilson Center on May 10 with the business meeting beginning at 6:30 pm and the program beginning about 7:00.
The topic of the program is to get a discussion started on the future of the Wilson Center. Dave Ivan has offered to show how other communities have repurposed their old schools, and they expect to hear from Bill Tennant with an Auditorium update and other school personnel with their ideas.
SJHS Senior Named National Merit Finalist
St. Johns High School senior Vincent Jandernoa has been selected as a National Merit Finalist.
By being only one of 15,000 US High School Seniors to be selected for this honor, Vincent is now considered to be part of the top 1% of high school seniors in the United States.
Vincent entered the competition as a junior when he took the College Board’s PSAT test. This past fall he was announced as a “SemiFinalist” and needed to confirm his scores by taking the SAT test which he successfully accomplished. Being selected as a “National Merit Finalist” is a huge honor for Vincent and our school.
Now Vincent awaits notification to see if he is chosen as one of 7,600 students who will be named a “National Merit Scholar,” thus receiving part of $33 million in scholarships. National Merit Scholars will receive notification in April.
St. Johns Public Schools celebrates with Vincent on this distinguished honor.
Art exchange wraps up Saturday at 3 p.m.
The art installation of SJ elementary school students’ art and the Japanese kids’ art of our Friendship City is on display until the library’s closing time at 3 p.m. this Saturday, April 2.
Heavy snow cancelled school and the original reception of March 1, so the next opportunity at the library was on March 21. Parents, grandparents, teachers and the general public attended the performance of six children’s and popular songs in Japanese by the 4th graders from Riley Elementary School.
The opening song was Opening song was “Somewhere it’s Springtime.”
For more go to http://mishigan.blogspot.com/2016/03/scenes-from-2016-art-exchange-opening.html
Clinton County Farm Bureau Scholarship Program
It is a goal of the Clinton County Farm Bureau to support the industry of Agriculture, including the education of youth for future careers in our industry.
Financial support for youth pursuing careers in agricultural related occupations is a planned annual effort of our organization. Therefore, the Clinton County Farm Bureau has developed the following scholarship program.
Eligibility:
1. Youth must be from a Clinton County Farm Bureau Member family.
2. Youth must be pursuing a 2 or 4 year degree program in an agricultural related field with the intent of a lifelong career in agriculture.
3. Youth must possess the qualities of scholarship, leadership and community service.
4. Youth must be entering the 1st or 2nd year of study to apply.
Award Procedures:
1. Clinton County Farm Bureau is giving away monetary awards for outstanding applications
2. Applicants must submit their application by May 1, 2016.
3. The awards will be presented at the county annual meeting.
4. The check will be processed only after submission of a paid registration receipt from an accredited agricultural institution.
For an application visit: http://www2.michfb.com/counties/custom/19/1
City to begin siren testing
As spring and summer approaches so does severe weather. Beginning at noon the first Saturday of each month, April – October, Central Dispatch will be conducting tornado siren testing. This testing will not take place if stormy weather is in the area.
An actual tornado warning will have the siren sounding a solid tone for a full three minutes. If you hear this three minute solid tone, you are to seek immediate shelter.
Central Dispatch does not send out “all clear” tones. You should listen to your local radio or TV for the status of the storm in your area.