Joint Spring Concert will be April 29
A spring concert will be presented by the Mint City Singers and Vivo Cantando Children’s Choir.
The free concert begins at 7:30 pm on Friday, April 29th at the First United Methodist Church, 200 E. State Street, St. Johns. Ellen Hoard, the director for both groups, will present delightful musical numbers for your enjoyment.
For more information call Carol at 989-834-2281 or Ellen at 989-233-5775. You can also email Carol at
cdmalewska@yahoo.com or Ellen at ellen.hoard@rpccpas.com.
The Mint City Singers is a branch of the Clinton County Arts Council, which receives financial operating support from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment of the Arts.
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.
Annual Spring Clean Community Event – Saturday, April 30
Clinton County residents are encouraged to take part in our spring collection event – please make an appointment up to one week prior to the event https://www.clinton-county.org/FormCenter/Waste-Management-7/Clean-Community-Event-Collection-Event-R-47 or by calling the office (989) 224-5186.
An appointment is required to attend.
Acceptable items include household hazardous waste, unwanted medications, farm & landscaping chemicals, motor oil & antifreeze, electronics, bulky waste, scrap metal, appliances, clothing, tires, yard waste, reusable household items, books and building materials. Most items are accepted free of charge but nominal fees do apply (cash or check only).
Fees are waived for volunteers! Volunteers can register online https://www.clinton-county.org/FormCenter/Waste-Management-7/Clean-Community-Event-Volunteer-Signup-46 or by calling the office (989) 224-5186.
Heading outside? Be on the lookout for ticks
It may not exactly feel like it, but according to the calendar, spring is here, which means ticks are here too.
While ticks may be small in size, they are nothing to mess with. They are known to transmit numerous diseases to people and pets, with Lyme disease being the most common.
Symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, chills, headache, muscle and joint pain, and a bull’s-eye rash at the site of the bite.
Lyme disease can be serious and even fatal if not properly diagnosed and treated, so prevention is important. If possible, it’s best to avoid shady, moist areas in woody and grassy locations, as these are the preferred hiding spots for ticks. If you do need to venture into these areas, walk on well groomed trails and avoid contact with overgrown grass, brush and leaf litter.
Other prevention tips include:
· Wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot.
· Wear enclosed shoes, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt.
· Tuck pants into socks or boots.
· Apply insect/tick repellent containing DEET, following manufacturer’s instructions.
· Check clothes and exposed skin frequently for ticks.
Upon returning from potentially tick-infested areas, be sure to search your clothes and then bathe or shower as soon as possible to more easily find ticks. They can attach to any part of the body, but are commonly found in the hairline, ears, waistline, groin, armpits and sock line.
Prompt removal of a tick is the best method to decrease the chance of infection. If you find one attached to your skin, follow these instructions: Using fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
Slowly and gently pull upward with steady, even pressure. Be sure to pull the tick straight out and don’t twist or jerk the tick as this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the area and your hands with soap and water and apply an antiseptic to the bite wound.
If the tick is alive after removal, place it in an airtight container with a blade of grass or moistened piece of paper towel and contact MMDHD for further instructions (989-224-3111 in Clinton County, 989-875-1019 in Gratiot County and 989-831-3615 in Montcalm County). Testing of the tick may or may not be necessary; MMDHD will be able to tell you for sure. It is important to note that dead ticks cannot be tested.
If a rash or fever develops within several weeks of removing a tick, be sure to see your doctor. Patients treated with appropriate antibiotics in the early stages of Lyme disease usually recover rapidly and completely.
Swiss Steak Supper – May 5
The Eureka Church will be holding a Swiss Steak Supper Thursday, May 5, 2016. Serving from 4:30 pm until 6:30 pm. Take-outs are available.
2619 East Maple Rapids Road, Eureka, MI. Tell your friends, and we’ll see you there.
Soup kitchen to make 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, April 19 and at
– Middleton Community Church, 223 S. Newton, Middleton, from 4:30 p.m to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 19 and at
– Carson City United Methodist Church, 119 E. Elm St., Carson City, Thursday, April 21 from 11 a.m to 1 p.m, and at – Pompeii United Methodist Church, 135 W. Burton, Pompeii, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday, April 21.
Soup, bread, fruit and dessert will be served to all who come free of charge. All are welcome.
For more information call 989-533-9535 or 989-544-5764
Salmonella risk from chicks
It’s hard to resist little fluffy chicks and ducklings, but it may be best to admire them from afar, or at least be cautious when handling them. That’s because under all that cuteness something harmful could be lurking- Salmonella germs.
Salmonella infections don’t just come from contaminated food- they can come from contact with animals, too. Chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys can carry the germ in their droppings and on their bodies, even when they appear healthy and clean. All poultry can carry Salmonella, but chicks are especially likely carriers.
While it usually doesn’t make the birds sick, Salmonella can cause serious illness when passed to people. Salmonella germs can cause diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps lasting 4-7 days or more. Infants, seniors, and those with weakened immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness, so they should be extra cautious.
Follow these recommendations to help protect yourself and others:
· Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching poultry.
· If you raise poultry, clean all equipment, like cages and feed and water containers, outside the house.
· Never bring live poultry inside the house, or in areas where food or drink is prepared, served, or stored.
· Children younger than five years of age, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems should never handle or touch live poultry.
· Supervise children when they handle poultry and make sure they properly wash their hands afterwards.
· Don’t snuggle or kiss the chicks.
· Don’t touch your mouth, smoke, or eat or drink after handling live poultry.
If you raise poultry, see a display of the feathered cuties in a store this spring, or come in contact with them elsewhere, remember to use caution to ensure you stay germ-free.
Mark Your Calendar
There’s time to sign up for a second sessionArts Council watercolor work shop set for Thursday April 21, from 6-7 p.m., conducted by Artist Sarah Tule. Registration fee is $15.00, including all supplies.
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A class of quilling – an art form of shaping paper strips and adhesive into decorative designs – will be held Thursday April 28 at Clinton County Arts Council Gallery.
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An early Mother’s Day Tea will be held on Saturday April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Clinton County Arts Council Gallery.
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Superheroes for Children Return to Clinton County!
April 30, 2016 Superheroes return to the St. Johns City Park for CASA-The Voice for Clinton County’s Children 3rd Annual Superhero 5K Run, Walk, or Fly
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Spring Clean-Up scheduled – May 7
Please do not place items out at the curb earlier then Saturday, April 30, 2016.
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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.