Acclaimed Artist to be featured in St. Johns
The Clinton County Arts Council (CCAC) will host “Welcome Home” an exhibit celebrating the work of local artist Tom Tomasek, at the CCAC Gallery located at 215 N. Clinton Ave.
This exhibit comes on the heels of Tomasek’s exhibition at the Midland Art Center in May. Tom Tomasek has had a love of art since childhood and found a way to contribute to the art community through pastels. Tomasek’s incredible pastels have earned him numerous juried awards, creating extraordinary detail in his depictions of Michigan landscapes and nature.
His works can be found in public buildings, published in the book “The art of the Sleeping Bear Dunes,” and various other galleries throughout Michigan. He has been recognized nationally and in 2015 he was selected as one of four Michigan artists to display their works in Shiga Prefecture in Japan through an art exchange program.
A reception and artist talk will be held on Thursday, July 14th from 6:00pm – 7:30pm. Tom will talk about and show examples of his artistic process. The event is free to attend and light refreshments will be served.
Clinton County Arts Council is honored to have Tom Tomasek’s exhibit throughout July. It receives a portion of its funding through competitive grants from the Michigan Council for Art and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.
MountainTown Singers perform June 29 at St. Johns Concert in the Park
It’s barbershop at its best when the MountainTown Singers perform June 29 in the 2016 Concert in the Park weekly music series at the William E. Tennant Performance Shell in the St. Johns City Park. The concert that begins at 7 p.m. also features songs by local artists the Mint City Singers, Beth and Tom Web and the Biewer, Nurenberg and Makara singers.
MountainTown Singers has been creating exciting a cappella music in central Michigan since 2004. The group became a chartered chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) in July 2005 and continues to thrill audiences with its wide-ranging repertoire that includes musical styles like Barbershop, Choral, Gospel, Patriotic, Seasonal and Swing.
The chorus performs at public and private venues, and also competes in BHS sponsored competitions. MountainTown Singers took second place at the Pioneer District convention in April 2005, and went on to become District Champions in 2006, 2009, 2012 and again in 2015. MountainTown director, Jessica Thompson, previously directed the Capital City Chordsmen of Lansing for five years. MountainTown Singers rehearse weekly in the music building at Central Michigan University. Students and staff of the university from several academic disciplines are an active component of the chorus.
The local performers who open the June 29 concert are equally talented and well known across the mid-Michigan area. The Mint City Singers is a community choir based in St. Johns. The group will open the evening with an arrangement of “America,” and follow up with familiar songs like “It’s A Wonderful World,” “Singin’ In The Rain,” and “Blue Moon.” Broadway and movie tunes are on tap by the Webbs, as well as a variety of favorites by the Biewer, Nurenberg and Makara singers.
Concert in the Park is sponsored by the Clinton County Arts Council and the City of St. Johns with support from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts. Concerts are held each Wednesday evening; rain or shine. The St. Johns Lions and Lioness Club staff a concession stand that offers light refreshments.
For detailed information on the Concert in the Park series visit the CCAC web site, http://www.clintoncountyarts.org/ and check out the St. Johns City Park Performance Shell page on Facebook.
St. Johns Concert in the Park 2016 Schedule
St. Johns City Park Performance Shell
Wednesday evenings, 7 p.m.
June 29: Barbershop Chorus, Mountain Town Singers
July 6: Great Evening of Folk, Blue Water Ramblers
July 13: Real Motown, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
July 20: Orchestra Pops, Mid-Michigan Festival Orchestra
July 27: Canadian Roots/Ragtime, My Sweet Patootie
Aug. 3: Eagles Tribute Band, Motown Eagles
Aug. 10: The Music of Ireland, Monday’s Supper
Aug. 17: Beatles Tribute Band, Toppermost
Aug. 24: All Brass, Capital City Brass Band
Aug. 31: Elvis Impersonator, Matt King
Garden Buddies learn at the Briggs
The first programs in the Rae Johnson Children’s Garden began on June 8 at the Briggs District Library.
The Garden Buddies programs are for children who will be entering 2nd – 6th grades, and was held on Wednesday evening two weeks before switching to Wednesday mornings once school is out.
Staff members will cover different topics each week, and through a combination of hands-on activities and crafts, the children will learn about and create a working garden.
New book commemorates the 100-Year History of the Ionia Free Fair
Since 1915, the Ionia Free Fair has been a mid-summer attraction enjoyed by millions. It has been billed both as “Michigan’s Greatest Outdoor Event” and “The World’s Largest Free Fair” and is still going strong after 100 years. David McCord, life-long resident of Ionia County and member of the Ionia County Historical Society, took the reigns on a project over 18 months ago to document the history of the Ionia Free Fair in book form.
Now, after the involvement of dozens of dedicated people and sifting through thousands of photos, documents, and memorabilia, this fascinating story has been recorded for posterity. The 328-page large-format book (available in both soft-cover and hard-cover versions) begins its history with the earliest District Fairs in the 1800s before Ionia’s fair was Free. In 1915, the mayor of Ionia Fred W. Green (later Governor of Michigan) introduced the idea of the Free Fair to a gathering of Ionia businessmen. That launched this century-long tradition of entertainment and competitive spirit still enjoyed today by hundreds of thousands of patrons every year.
The full title of the book is: “Ionia Free Fair Centennial 1915-2015 : 100 Years of Memories.” The story is told through over 1,000 photos, most of them from the archives of the Ionia County Historical Society, the Ionia Free Fair Association, and the Ionia Sentinel-Standard newspaper. The book also includes personal recollections from people involved in the Free Fair’s administration through the years, as well as exhibitors and fans throughout the generations.
The credited author for the book is David McCord, but, as he points out, “This was not a solo effort by any means. Thanks go out to a long list of contributors and researchers, each with their own area of expertise.” He adds, “Although the book conveys a lot of history, it’s really more of a nostalgic look at the event – the evolution of the facilities, the attractions, the entertainment, and how a week-long event can effect a community in very many ways.”
The new book is available through the Ionia County Historical Society (ICHS), and proceeds from the sales will go towards the Historical Society’s many projects and programs to preserve and share Ionia’s local history. It will also be available on Amazon.com for the on-line shoppers. The ICHS is headquartered in the historic John C. Blanchard House in Ionia, a Victorian mansion which houses the local museum and where their monthly meetings are held. Info about the book can be found at www.facebook.com/IoniaFreeFairBook, and about the ICHS at www.ioniahistory.org.
Resolution declares September 2016 as Leukodystrophy Awareness Month
A resolution to declare September 2016 as Leukodystrophy Awareness Month passed the House recently, announced Rep. Tom Leonard.
Rep. Leonard, R-DeWitt, introduced the resolution after meeting and hearing the story of Olivia Borodychuck, who is affected by this genetic disorder.
“Although leukodystrophy is a rare disorder, those who are affected by it endure a lifetime of struggle,” said Rep. Leonard. “The disease damages the myelin sheath, which is responsible for protecting nerves and helping the transport of nervous signals throughout the body.”
The damage to the myelin sheath causes a significant disruption in signal transmission, which leads to overall poor function of the nervous system. There are over 40 types of leukodystrophy, and one in 7,000 people are affected by the potentially fatal condition.
“The Borodychuck’s are an incredible family who have already done so much to support others who have been affected by this disease,” Said Rep. Leonard. “In declaring September Leukodystrophy Awareness month, our goal is to bring more attention to this rare disorder and to promote discussions that will lead to more support for families and possibly even a cure.”