City receives Award for Excellence
The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to City of St. Johns by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.
Doug Deeter, Rehmann Robson; Patrick Clifford, City Treasurer; Dana Beaman, Mayor
An Award of Financial Reporting Achievement has been awarded to the individual(s), department or agency designated by the government as primarily responsible for preparing the award-winning CAFR.
The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial stoiy and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.
The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 17,500
Help to Move Through Your Grief
by Maralyn Fink
There are 5 stages of grief. Are you stuck in one of them?
After much thought and the passing of my husband with much encouragement from others, I have decided to start a Grief Support Group. Knowing first hand the different feelings that occur and how to deal with them is my main purpose. For me, I actually had to seek counseling last June even though my husband passed away 2 years ago.
Below is the information.
Join us beginning Thursday, December 3rd at 2 pm.
Location: Keck-Coleman Funeral Home
1500 Waterford Pkwy
St. Johns, Michigan
Lower Level – Handicap Accessible
For more information, contact Maralyn at maralyn@sjindy.com 989-2247963 or Dick Ammons, Retired Minister/Counselor, at 989-224-7237.
Adoption Day, 2015
Devin Elsea and his wife, Angie Wineland-Elsea, shown here with Judge Lisa Sullivan, have been blessed with a baby boy. The adoption was final on Tuesday, and everyone welcomed Corbin William to the family.
Clinton County Meals on Wheels needs your help
Each year the Clinton County Meals on Wheels program gives a holiday gift to their clients. They would like to do the same this year. They operate on the theory that it’s not the size of the gift but the thought. Most of the items can be bought at the dollar store.
If you would like to help, here are some of the items they are looking for: Kleenex, Hand Cream, Shampoo, 100 Piece Puzzles, Large Print Find a Word or Crossword Puzzle Books, Small Flashlights, Sugar Free Candy, Gloves, Mittens and Socks.
You can drop items off at the Meals on Wheels Office, located in the Clinton County Senior Center at 201 E Walker Street, St. Johns, or you can call 989-224-3600 if they need to pick anything up.
Mark your calendar – December 11
December 11th (7:00 pm)- Community Christmas Concert: Come and enjoy the annual Community Christmas Concert.
Participants include the St. Johns Community Band, the Dewitt Community Concert Band, the Mint City Singers and Vivo Contando, and the community children’s choir.
There will be a free will offering.
The Wilson Center Auditorium is located at 101 W. Cass St., St. Johns.
Toys for Tots Campaign underway
The Marine Corp Toys for Tots campaign has begun in Clinton County. The Clinton County Chamber of Commerce, which is the sponsoring organization for Toys for Tots in Clinton County has delivered over 36 collection boxes to businesses throughout the county that will collect toys through Tuesday, Dec 15 for Clinton County children.
For anyone donating a toy, please consider this. The campaign always gets lots of games, generic baby dolls, Barbie dolls, generic cars and trucks, footballs and basketballs. Some of the most popular items requested this year are anything Frozen, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Spiderman and MSU. We are also always in need of things like craft kits for older girls, current CD’s, DVD’s and books from recent movie releases, sports apparel (hats and shirts), fishing or hunting items, Easy Bake Ovens, etc.
If you place a toy in one of these boxes you can be assured the toy will go to a child that lives in Clinton County:
In Bath: Bath American Legion and Bath Township Office
In DeWitt: Bridge Street Hair, DeWitt City Police, DeWitt Township Police and Fire (both locations), Hometown Pharmacy, Lake State CrossFit and Mercantile Bank.
In Fowler: Dollar General, Journey Federal Credit Union and Main Street Pizza;
In Ovid: Dollar General, Journey Federal Credit Union and Main Street Pizza;
In St. Johns: Barber’s Floors and More, Big Boy, Briggs Public Library, Bruno’s Bar, Clinton County Chamber of Commerce, Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, Dollar General, Emerald Golf Course, FirstMerit Bank, Grace Haven Assisted Living, Journey Federal Credit Union, Mercantile Bank, Pauli Ford, Peebles, Quest Software, Sparrow Clinton Hospital, St. Johns Police Department, Tractor Supply, Walgreens and Walmart.
In Wacousta: Watertown Charter Township.
If your family needs assistance with clothing, food and toys for the holidays, please register with Capital Area Community Services at 989-224-6702. If you need assistance with just toys and you are not registered with another agency, call Clinton County Toys for Tots at 989-224-7248 or email ccchamber@4wbi.net.
If you have any questions about the Toys for Tots campaign, toys needs or toy distribution, contact Brenda Terpening at the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce at 989-224-7248.
Briggs Library News
Mitten Tree:The library’s annual mitten drive will run until Saturday, Dec. 12. Mittens & gloves must be new (home-made or store bought.) The collection is for all ages, adult or child. Items collected will be donated to charitable organizations. The greatest need is for mittens and gloves.
Last in the Library Book Club: There is still time to read the next selection for the Last in the Library Book Club before we meet on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 3:00 p.m. For this session we are reading the Young Readers’ Edition of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s novel, “Pay It Forward.” The story follows twelve-year-old Trevor McKinney on his attempt to change the world. His idea is simple: Do a good deed for three people, and instead of asking them to return the favor, ask them to “pay it forward” to three other people who need help. This parent/child book club is recommended for children in grades 4-8, though any who can read the material and would like to discuss it are welcome. Copies of the book and registration are now available.
Tween: The ‘Tween holiday program will be held Tuesday, Dec. 8 from 7:00 – 8:00p.m. ‘Tweens ages 10-12 are invited to join the fun as we celebrate the season with a story, game, craft and snack! Registration is currently taking place.
Family Game Night: On Thursday evening, Dec. 10, the Library will be hosting its annual Family Game Night! During this evening of fun for the entire family, we will have a selection of new and classic board games, party games, card games, and more available. This special event will take place from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Registration is required. There will be light snacks and refreshments available. All ages are welcome, though most games are designed for ages 3 and up.
Holiday Cartoon Program: “Kids, Cartoons, and Crafts” is the Library’s new holiday movie program that will feature a short cartoon, a craft, a game, and a snack. Independent children ages 4-8 are invited to celebrate the Christmas season on Thursday, Dec. 17 from 6:30-7:30p.m. as we watch Mickey’s Christmas Carol. Registration for this free program is required.
Holiday Programs: It’s that time of year! Mark your calendars! Holiday Programs will be Thursday, December 3, 6-8p.m., Friday, December 4, 6-8p.m. and Saturday, December 5, 10:30 to Noon. There will be musical entertainment, North Pole games, holiday crafts and yummy refreshments. Santa will share tales from up north and visit with each child. No registration is required for these FREE programs. You won’t want to miss the fun!
Pre-Reader: “Reading Through the Alphabet” is the story-time theme for children ages 4-6 years old (independent listeners). This 6 week session is on Thursday evenings, 6:30-7pm, Jan. 14 – Feb. 18. Story-times include stories, games, music, movement and crafts. Registration is required and begins on Thursday, Dec. 17.
Staff Picks: If you are looking for a good book to read here is a list of titles that Library staff enjoyed or found informative in the last month.
– Fiction: “Chance Harbor” by H. Robinson, “Fear the Dark” by K. Hooper, “The Last Midwife” by S. Dallas.
– Non-fiction: “The Brain: the Story of You” by D. Eagleman (a companion to the PBS series), “The ADHD Advantage” by Dale Archer, MD, “Destinations of a Lifetime: 225 of the World’s Most Amazing Places” by National Geographic.
– Miss Marie’s Juvenile Picks: “Cars, Trains, Ships & Planes: a Visual Encyclopedia of Every Vehicle” by C. Gifford, “Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party” by S. Hale, “The Girl Who Buried Her Dreams in a Can: a True Story” by Dr. T. Tererai, “I Really Like Slop” by M. Willems, “Space! The Universe as You’ve Never Seen It Before” by Smithsonian, “The Goodbye Book” by T. Parr.
Library Closures: The Library will be closed on Friday Dec. 18 from 11:15a.m. – 1:15p.m. for the City of St. Johns Awards Luncheon. The Library will be closed on December 24, 25, and 26 for the Christmas Holiday and on December 31and January 1for the New Year’s Holiday. The drop box on the Library porch will be available for returns throughout these closures.
******
Contact Information:
Library Director: Sara Morrison
Phone: 989-224-4702 * Fax: 989-224-1205
E-mail: smorrison@briggspubliclibrary.org
Street address: 108 E Railroad * Saint Johns, MI 48879
Become a donor – Wilson Center Auditorium
Fundraising is now in full swing with the Wilson Center Auditorium Renovation Committee seeking people, businesses and organizations who are willing to help restore this mid-Michigan historical gem here in St. Johns.
For a donation of $250, you can sponsor a seat having your name or that of someone else permanently engraved on a seat plaque. For donations of $500 or more, you can have your name engraved on a special plaque being located in the auditorium lobby instead of sponsoring seats.
Please give as much as you can and help spread the word to help in this community effort. We hope that you will become involved in this exciting project.
MSU Extension Listens to the Communities Priorities
Friends of MSU Extension gathered together at Montcalm Community College on November 4th to point out what they believe MSU Extension and AgBioResearch should focus their research and educational programming on. This focus group, along with another held on October 29th in Charlotte, was part of a statewide initiative by MSU Extension and AgBioResearch to hear the voices of those in the local communities.
The above focus groups had a diverse group of over 28 participants from Barry, Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, Ionia, Montcalm and Gratiot County as well as MSU Extension staff who were available for information. Both sessions was led by the District 8 MSU Extension Council that has representation from each county. Each focus group was charged with generating ideas and voting for the top areas where MSU Extension and AgBioResearch should focus their research and educational efforts over the next 3 to 5 years.
Following these two sessions, the MSU Extension District 8 Extension Council will take the highest scored ideas from the Charlotte and MCC focus sessions and combine them to make a District 8 final report to the MSU Extension administration on campus.
MSU Extension will combine the district reports from around the state and take the summary of the on-line survey to identify research and educational priorities for MSU Extension and MSU AgBioResearch for the next 3 to 5 years. Take the on-line survey by January 31, 2016 at MSU Extension and AgBioResearch Survey to Sharpen Our Focus.
Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) periodically conducts an issues identification process to compile the relevant, current and emerging community issues that need to be addressed for our state residents. This process will assist in determining where to concentrate time, resources and energy to improve the quality of life for state residents. MSUE’s goal is to move the state forward by focusing on research and educational programs that matter most to Michigan residents.
Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives by bringing the vast knowledge resources of MSU directly to individuals, communities and businesses.
For more information about what we offer in the classroom and by request, explore the MSU Extension Catalog of Programs and Services, which features programming in Agriculture, Business and Community, Family, Food and Health, Lawn and Garden, Natural Resources and 4-H and Youth.
Mysteries at the (Michigan Historical) Museum on Friday
The Travel Channel show “Mysteries at the Museum” plans to air a segment Friday, November 27, featuring the Michigan Historical Museum. The segment will discuss Michigan Gov. Hazen S. Pingree’s “Potato Patch Plan.” The museum’s collections include a potato-shaped glass bottle created at the time, known as the “potato Pingree” flask.
“Mysteries at the Museum” airs at 9 p.m. EST Fridays.
Pingree served as mayor of Detroit from 1889-1897 and as governor of Michigan from 1897-1901. As mayor, he initiated public works programs similar to those – like the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps – that would be formed during the Great Depression more than 30 years later. One such program, known as the Potato Patch Plan, allowed needy people to grow crops on vacant land and gained Pingree the nickname “Potato Patch Pingree.” While campaigning for one of his many re-election campaigns, Pingree had the potato flask made as a play on his nickname.
The Michigan Historical Center is part of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Its museum and archival programs help people discover, enjoy and find inspiration in their heritage. It includes the Michigan Historical Museum, 10 regional museums, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve, and the Archives of Michigan. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/mhc.
Leonard invites residents to December office hours
State Rep. Tom Leonard today invited people to join him for office hours scheduled during December.
Rep. Leonard, R-DeWitt, said office hours will take place:
· In St. Johns on Friday, December 11, at the Big Boy, 1408 S. U.S. 27, from 9 to 11 a.m.; and
· In Ithaca on Friday, December 18, at the Hearthstone Oven Bakery and Café, 126 S. Pine River St., from 9 to 11 a.m.
In January, Rep. Leonard will change his office hours format. He will begin hosting the informal gatherings on the second Friday of each month from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Big Boy in St. Johns and from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in Ithaca at the Hearthstone Oven Bakery and Café.
No appointment is necessary. Those unable to attend may contact Rep. Leonard by calling 517-373-1778 or toll free at 877-859-8086, via email at TomLeonard@house.mi.gov or through his website at www.RepLeonard.com.