Hospital changes old entrance

Sparrow Clinton Hospital is constructing a new entry way for the MRI Scanner. This is located at the north end of the building where the old emergency room entrance used to be.

Judge Sullivan receives CASA award

CASA-The Voice for Clinton County’s Children presented the Honorable Lisa Sullivan with the 2016 Michigan CASA Association Judge of the Year Award. The award was presented during the annual state conference on November 12th.

Pictured here are Linda Karek and Kathy Dickson, CASA Advocates; Honorable Lisa Sullivan; Kelly Schafer, CASA Executive Director; and Liz Nobis, CASA Advocate and Board Member.

Judge Sullivan was nominated by a CASA Advocate who spoke of Judge Sullivan’s dedication to making decisions in the best interests of children.

Starry Night Gala brings great entertainment to St. Johns – November 18

The Clinton County Arts Council, in celebration of its 35th anniversary, will be presenting their First Annual, “Starry Night Gala” – a wonderful evening of great entertainment and fun! This fund-raising event is being held on Friday evening, November 18, in the beautiful Wilson Center Auditorium, and will headline the amazing, “Three Men and a Tenor.”

The evening will also include a silent auction and an art sale, with some beautiful art pieces being available that evening. Refreshments will also be available before the show begins and during intermission. The auditorium doors will open at 6:00 p.m. with the show starting at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets to the “Gala” are now available at The Gallery, 215 N. Clinton Ave in downtown St. Johns and also from CCAC Board Members. They will also be available at the door. Tickets for this special fund-raiser are being sold at $25 each. The Wilson Center Auditorium is located at 101 W. Cass St. in downtown St. Johns, just south of the Court House.

Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner offered – November 24

The annual Community Thanksgiving dinner will be held in downtown St. Johns on Thanksgiving Day, November 24 at First Congregational Church. The meal is prepared by and for community members and everyone is welcome. Area churches, sponsors and volunteers make this event possible.

The first seating will be at noon and the second is 1:30 p.m. Free will donations will be accepted.

The traditional menu includes turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, locally grown squash and apple or pumpkin pie.

Please call the church by Monday November21 at (989) 224-2636, SMS text after November 15 to 517-755-6866, email
first.congregational.church.sj@gmail.com, or request seats directly at http://tinyurl.com/48879thanksgivingdinner.

House Republicans select Tom Leonard as speaker

House Speaker Kevin Cotter, R-Mt. Pleasant, issued the following statement following the selection of Speaker Pro-Tempore Tom Leonard, R-DeWitt, as the speaker of the house for the upcoming 99th Legislature:

“The new House Republican caucus made an excellent choice today in electing Tom Leonard to serve as the new speaker of the house. I am happy for Tom and excited to see what new accomplishments this chamber will pursue and what new challenges it will face. By selecting Tom Leonard, this caucus is sending a message that it will continue tackling the tough issues and making the bold decisions necessary to keep this state moving forward.

“Michigan is on the right path and making incredible progress; the people of this state see it every day. Tom Leonard is the right man to keep that momentum going strong and push this state to even greater heights.”

Assistant Majority Floor Leader Lana Theis, GOP Caucus Chairman Eric Leutheuser, Speaker of the House Pro Tem Lee Chatfield, Speaker of the House Tom Leonard, Majority Floor Leader Dan Lauwers, Majority Whip Rob Ver Heulen, Assistant Majority Floor Leader Triston Cole, Associate Speaker of the House Pro Tem Gary Glenn, and Associate Speaker of the House Pro Tem Jim Tedder.

St. Johns Festival of Lights and Santa Parade – December 2

Have you heard? Are you coming? It’s right around the Corner.

The 1st St. Johns Light Festival and Santa Parade will be held on Friday December 2nd. So much for family and friends to enjoy including:

– Train rides on the Rails to Trails
– Parade of Lights
– Live Nativity
Sawdust Santa making wooden toys with kids
– Santa’s Workshop
– Reading with Santa
– Kids Crafts
– Craft Vendors
– Scenic tractor rides around decorated homes
– Bonfire and marshmallow roasting
– Petting zoo
– Memories of Christmas Past at the depot
– Bounce houses
– Voting for best decorated home
– Award for most spirited costume
– Lighting of the Christmas Tree and so much more.

For more information visit www.sjlightfest.com

14th Annual Christmas Festival December 3

The 14th Annual Christmas Festival, coordinated by the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce, will be December 3 at the CC RESA Building, 1013 S US 27 in St. Johns. This annual event will have something for the entire family.

The day starts out with Breakfast with Santa from 8 to 10:30 a.m. The cost for the breakfast will be $6 for adults and $4 for children. Children aged 2 and under will be free. Tickets for the Breakfast are available at the Chamber of Commerce office, located at 1013 S US 27 in the CC RESA Building across from McDonalds or at Big Boy of St. Johns. Breakfast will include scrambled eggs, silver dollar pancakes, sausage, danish, cereal and beverages. Bring your own camera so you can get several pictures with Santa.

A Craft Show and Festival of Trees will occur in the building all day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 85 vendors will be selling everything from jewelry and quilts to baked goods, wood items and much more. At the Festival of Trees you will have the opportunity to vote for your favorite tree with a monetary donation. The tree that collects the most donations gets to decide what charity receives all the donations.

From noon to 3 p.m. there will be Kids Make it and Take It Crafts. There will be over 10 crafts kids of all ages can make there, or purchase the kits to take home. All crafts will be only .25 to .50 each

The Christmas Festival is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and by Sparrow Clinton Hospital. If you would like any additional information about any event of the Christmas Festival, please call the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce at 989-224-7248 or email them at ccchamber@4wbi.net.

Christmas Event at the Depot – December 10

Join the City of St. Johns Recreation Department at its second annual Christmas Event on Saturday, December 10, 2016. Children have the opportunity to explore the St Johns Railroad Depot at 107 E. Railroad Street, including the outdoor railroad cars and small model train exhibit.

Admission includes: kid friendly food including popcorn, hot chocolate, and pizza, crafts, and movie.

Doors open at 4:45 PM. The program starts at 5:00 PM with a popular family friendly Christmas movie starting at 6:00 PM that will last 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Advance tickets required. Admission is $12. Children 4 and Under are Free with a paid adult.

The deadline to register is December 8, 2016 or until full. Registrations forms are available at the St. Johns City Offices and their website at http://cityofstjohnsmi.com/Departments/ParksandRecreation/YouthPrograms.aspx. Call 989-224-8944 ext. 284 or email bblackmon@ci.saint-johns.mi.us for more information. Like us on Facebook.

Health Department announces annual award winners

Mid-Michigan District Health Department held its annual district-wide meeting on November 4, 2016 at which Outstanding Performance and Longevity awards were presented.

Outstanding Performance Awards were presented to:

Environmental Health Division
Jacob Kizer, Environmental Health Specialist I, received his Outstanding Performance Award from Bob Gouin, Environmental Health Division Director.

Community Health and Education Division
Dena Kent, Public Health Nurse II, received her Outstanding Performance Award from Melissa Bowerman, Administrative Services Division Director.

Administrative Services Division
Ross Pope, Quality and Process Improvement Coordinator, received his Outstanding Performance Award from Melissa Bowerman, Administrative Services Division Director.

Administration
Leslie Kinnee, Public Information Officer, received her Outstanding Performance Award from Marcus Cheatham, Health Officer.

Longevity Awards in recognition for years of service, were presented to:

Thirty years of service
Laureen Simon, Public Health Representative II, received her longevity award for thirty years of service from Marcus Cheatham, Health Officer.

Twenty-five years of service
Mary Wallen, Hearing & Vision Technician and Laura Grosskopf, Public Health Nurse II received longevity awards for twenty-five years of service from Marcus Cheatham, Health Officer.

Twenty years of service
Cheryl Thelen, Social Worker and Health Educator, receives her longevity award for twenty years of service from Marcus Cheatham, Health Officer.

Fifteen years of service
Mario Lucchesi, Information Technology Coordinator, and Norm Keon, Epidemiologist received their longevity awards for fifteen years of service from Marcus Cheatham, Health Officer.

Ten years of service
Candy Smith, Public Health Representative II, Bonnie Waterman, Accounting Clerk II, and Laurie Finn, Public Health Nurse II received their longevity awards for ten years of service from Marcus Cheatham, Health Officer.

Five years of service
Sarah Doak, Community Health and Education Supervisor and Jacque Strack, Public Health Nurse II received their longevity awards for five years of service from Marcus Cheatham, Health Officer.

Mid-Michigan District Health Department serves the residents of Clinton, Gratiot and Montcalm Counties.

Homeless Awareness Week

At the St. Johns City Commission’s regular meeting on Monday, November 14th the commission adopted a resolution proclaiming November 12-20, 2015 as Homeless Awareness Week in St. Johns.

For more than twenty years, the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness and its partners have actively promoted Homeless Awareness Week throughout the state of Michigan. The purpose of the proclamation is to educate the public about the many reasons people are homeless, including the shortage of affordable housing in St Johns for very low income residents; and to encourage support for homeless assistance service providers as well as community service opportunities for students and school service organizations.

There are many organizations committed to sheltering, providing supportive services as well as meals and food supplies to the homeless including the member organizations of the Clinton County Housing and Homeless Coalition.

The St Johns City Commission recognizes that homelessness continues to be a serious problem for many individuals and families in St. Johns. The intent of Homeless Awareness Week is consistent with the activities of the Clinton County Housing and Homeless Coalition.

The St. Johns City Commission encourages all citizens to recognize that many people do not have housing and need support from citizens and private/public nonprofit service entities.

Toys for Tots collection sites listed

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 35 collection boxes to businesses throughout the county that will collect toys through Thursday, 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 drawing, minecraft, Trolls and Beat Bo. 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 (MSU hats and shirts), fishing or hunting items, 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 Township Office

In DeWitt: Bridge Street Hair, DeWitt City Police, DeWitt District Library, DeWitt Township Police and Fire (both locations), Mercantile Bank, New Beginnings Learn and Play and Verizon Wireless.

In Fowler: Dollar General, Journey Federal Credit Union, Ken’s Kar Kare 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, FirstMerit Bank, Journey Federal Credit Union, Mercantile Bank, Peebles, 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.

Castle update

by Maralyn Fink

Now that ground breaking is over, construction of the Castle St Johns has begun.

Here are a few pictures of now, and I will be following up on the progress.

Maralyn@sjindy.com

Communicating with Respect, Building Self-Worth in Children – November 23

This series will give parents an opportunity to discuss, do activities, and learn strategies on each topic to enhance their parenting skills. In the first session, parents will increase their understanding of Nurturing Parenting, a proven approach experienced by hundreds of thousands of families worldwide.

MSU Extension in Clinton County invites interested parents of children birth to 8 years old to come to participate in this series. Sessions are from 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm, at the Bath Township Library Center (14033 Webster Rd) in Bath. Please call in advance to register at 989-224-5241. This is a free series open to the community; attend one session or all eight.

Sessions Schedule Wednesdays:

November 30: Understanding Feelings
December 7: Understanding and Developing Family Morals, Values and Rules
December 14: Praising Children and their Behavior & Understanding Discipline
December 21: Learning Positive Ways to Deal with Stress and Anger

Briggs District Library News

Tween – ‘Tweens ages 10-12 can join us on Tuesday, December 6 from 6:30-7:30 for a series of “A Minute to Win It” Christmas games! Registration is required and is now available.

Family Game Night – It will be a night of fun for the whole family on Thursday, December 15 from 6:30-7:30. We will provide the games and the snacks, and you can compete as a family in new and classic card and board games. Registration is required and is now available.

Holiday Programs – HO! HO! HO! It is that time of year again. There will be music, stories, games, crafts and refreshments. There will be a jolly man in a red suit that will visit with each child. This is a great photo opportunity so make sure to bring your camera with you.

You are invited to enjoy our Holiday Programs on Thursday, December 1st (6-8pm), Friday, December 2nd,(6-8pm) or Saturday, December 33rd (10:30-noon). Registration is not required for any of these Free programs. FYI: Railroad Street will be closing at 4:30 Friday evening only due to Downtown Development Authority events. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns regarding this parking issue.

Library Closure – The Library will close at 6:00pm on Wednesday November 23 and be closed November 24, 25 and 26 for the Thanksgiving Day Holiday. The drop box on the Library porch will be available for returns throughout these closures.

Future Library Closures – At the October 27th Library Board Meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the 2017 closure schedule. The Library will be closed four and a half fewer days in 2017 than it has been in previous years. The Library will go back to being open on Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Veteran’s Day, the Saturday after Thanksgiving and from 10:00-1:00 on Good Friday. This change was made possible by the community’s recent financial support of the Library.

Kids, Cartoons, & Crafts – Children ages 5-9 are invited to join us on Thursday, December 22 from 6:30-7:30 for a special Christmas edition of this festive program. We will have a snack, play a game, build a simple craft, and watch a special holiday-themed episode of the Animaniacs! Registration is required and begins Thursday, December 1.

Pre-Reader Program – Shake It “UP!” Registration for this upbeat program for children ages 4 thru 6 years old begins on Thursday, December 15th. We will enjoy stories, music, and some very creative movement! This 6 week session will be on Thursday evenings, 6:30-7pm and runs January 12th through February 16th, 6:30-7pm. We’re going to “Move It Move It”

******

Contact Information:

Library Director: Sara Morrison
Phone: 989-224-4702 * Fax: 989-224-1205
E-mail: director@briggsdistrictlibrary.org
Street address: 108 E Railroad * Saint Johns, MI 48879

Mark Your Calendar

******

Dinner Theatre in Laingsburg – November 17, 18, and 19

Laingsburg High School will be performing the show Crazytown as a Dinner Theatre November 17, 18, and 19. Dinner begins at 6 pm show starts at 6:30. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 night of the show. Email LHSdinnertheater@gmail.com to reserve tickets.

******

Starry Night Gala – Friday, November18

The doors to the Wilson Center will open on Friday, Nov. 18 at 6:00 p.m. with a silent auction – the program begins at 7:00. Tickets to the Gala will be sold for $25 at the Art Gallery or at the door.

******

Calling on St. Johns residents to decorate outside of their houses by December 2nd

http://www.sjlightfest.com/contest.html

******

Breakfast with Santa and Kids Crafts December 3

Flag Tribute to Veterans on view for Veterans Days

Flags are scheduled to be put up at 8 A.M. by veterans, veteran family members and other volunteers. In November the flags will come down at 5 P.M.

Four flag wagons are maintained for moving and storage of the flags. If bad weather is predicted on the day the flags are scheduled to go up, the flags will not be put up because no one wants to store more than 500 wet flags.

The number of flag holes in the cemetery is dictated by the Mount Rest Cemetery Board, but hole creation and maintenance is done by the committee and flag volunteers.

At the cemetery main gate the Flag Tribute to Veterans program also displays flags of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Merchant Marines, and the POW/MIA flag. Police, Fire Fighters flags are also displayed.

St. Johns Police Department receives good news

The St. Johns Police Department recently received two pieces of good news.

The SJPD was advised that they received a grant to help purchase new portable radios. The $15,000 Byrne Justice Assistant Grant will help cover two-thirds of the total cost of the police departments portable radios. This grant enables the department to replace their current radios that are nearly 20 years old as well as become P25 compliant, a standard set to go into place in 2021, while not burdening the overall budget.

This project was supported by Byrne JAG grant #2015-MU-BX-0964 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and administered by the Michigan State Police (MSP).

Officer Ben Helms, a 5-year member of the St. Johns Police Department, recently received a 2016 MADD Outstanding Officer Award at the 2016 MADD Lifesavers Award Luncheon. Officer Helms was one of six officers chosen for this award from statewide nominations. Officer Helms was chosen for this award due to his multiple arrests for OWI, as well as his arrests for Open Intoxicants in a Motor Vehicle and Violation of Controlled Substances Act arrests. To accompany this, Officer Helms is very instrumental in educating youth who attend St. Johns Public Schools on Alcohol and Drug Awareness.

Chief Kyle Knight commented, “I am very pleased to be able to keep up with the state of the art communication tools while not burdening the tax payers as well as Officer Ben Helms’s commitment to making St. Johns a safe area to travel through due to his enforcement and education.”

Starry Night Gala brings great entertainment to St. Johns – November 18

The Clinton County Arts Council, in celebration of its 35th anniversary, will be presenting their First Annual Starry Night Gala. This will be a wonderful evening of great entertainment and fun.

This fund-raising event is being held on Friday evening, November 18 in the beautiful Wilson Center Auditorium.

Headlining the event will be Three Men and a Tenor. Three Men and a Tenor is a popular Michigan ensemble that performs throughout the United States. “They are more than just a barbershop quartet,” explains Bill Tennant, CCAC board member. “They are the complete entertainment package and are all about fun. They have performed several times here in St. Johns over the past few years. Our audiences just love them!”

Also on the evening’s program will be featured two local groups, the Mint City Singers under the direction of Ellen Hoard and St. Johns local community theater group, Homegrown Productions which will be presenting a series of short skits. Homegrown Productions is led by Beth Webb, Susan DeRosa and Tom Webb. Both groups are under the CCAC organizational umbrella. The Emcee for the evening will be St. Johns Police Chief Kyle Knight.

“We are excited to be able to present this great Gala performance to our Clinton County community in celebration of our 35th anniversary,” ssays Jason Butler, president of the CCAC Board. “Besides the great entertainment, we will be raising some much needed funding to keep the Arts Council a vibrant asset in our community.”

The evening will also include a silent auction and an art sale with some beautiful art pieces being available that evening. Refreshments will also be available before the show begins and during intermission.

The auditorium doors will open at 6:00 p.m. with the show starting at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets to the Gala are now available at The Gallery, 215 N. Clinton Ave in downtown St. Johns and also from CCAC Board Members. They will also be available at the door. Tickets for this special fund-raiser are being sold at $25 each. The Wilson Center Auditorium is located at 101 W. Cass St. in downtown St. Johns, just south of the Court House.

Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner offered – November 24

The annual Community Thanksgiving dinner will be held in downtown St. Johns on Thanksgiving Day, November 24 at First Congregational Church. The meal is prepared by and for community members and everyone is welcome. Area churches, sponsors and volunteers make this event possible.

The first seating will be at noon and the second is 1:30 p.m. Free will donations will be accepted.

The traditional menu includes turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, locally grown squash and apple or pumpkin pie.

Please call the church by Monday November21 at (989) 224-2636, SMS text after November 15 to 517-755-6866, email
first.congregational.church.sj@gmail.com, or request seats directly at http://tinyurl.com/48879thanksgivingdinner.

Clinton County 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 will be delivering over 35 collection boxes to businesses throughout the county that will collect toys through Thursday, December 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 Minecraft, Trolls, Beat Bo and MSU. We are also always in need of things like craft kits for older girls, current CD’s, DVDs and books from recent movie releases, sports apparel (hats and shirts), fishing or hunting items, Jewelry, etc.

If you place a toy in a box in Clinton County you can be assured the toy will go to a child that lives in Clinton County:
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.

Winter Festival of Lights – December 2

by Maralyn Fink

I spoke with Brenda Barber on the upcoming Winter Festival of Lights being held in downtown St Johns on December 2, 2016.
This will be a fun filled event for everyone, young and old. It is set to begin at 4:30pm lasting until 10:00pm, and Clinton Avenue will be closed for the event.

Attractions include:
– Train Rides on “Rails to Trails” provided by Uncle Johns Cider Mill
– Kids crafts at Main Street Café
– The Pavilion will be taking donations for Toys for Tots and the Clinton County Food Bank
– Santa’s Workshop, Sawdust Santa’s and Whittlers in the heated Pavilion
– Who-vile Hair at Nicole’s Salon & Day Spa and Unique Reflections
– Craft Show at the former Mint from 4:30-10 p.m.
– Scavenger Hunts in areas and information can be picked up at Santa’s Workshop
– Shaggies ice cream parlor will have Mint Ice Cream and Bounce House

The schedule is as follows:
4:30pm-9:30pm Animal Petting Area opens
4:30pm-10:00pm “Memories of Christmas Past”
5:00pm Live Nativity in the 1st block
5:45pm Santa Parade begins
6:00pm-8:00pm Story Telling by Santa at Brigg’s Library
6:30pm Lighting of Christmas Tree by the Gazebo
7:00pm Tractor Rides through town to look at Christmas Lights
7:00pm Live Nativity in 1st block
7:00pm-9:00pm Bonfire & Roasting marshmallows by the Train Depot

Win a Prize for best Christmas Costume. Win a Prize for “Best Decorated House” in City Limits.
Firemen will dress as Hobo’s over by the Depot with a bonfire. A Flash Mob Dance to the song “Happy” by Pharrell is planned

Visit the website for voting details www.sjlightfest.com.
For more information please contact Brenda Barber at Brenda@barbersfloorandmore.com.

Breakfast with Santa and Kids Crafts December 3

The 14th Annual Breakfast with Santa, sponsored by the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce is scheduled for Saturday, December 3, 8-10:30 am at the CC RESA Building at 1013 S US 27 in St. Johns. Breakfast will include scrambled eggs, silver dollar pancakes, sausage, cereal, pop tarts, milk, juice and coffee. The cost is $6 for adults and $4 for children (age 2 and under are free). You must have a ticket in advance (or some will be available at the door) to get your picture with Santa – please bring your own cameras. Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce, 1013 S US 27 in St. Johns or Big Boy of St Johns on S US 27.

After Santa has seen the last child and breakfast gets cleared away there will be crafts children of all ages can make from 12:00 – 3:00 pm. These crafts are something the children can make for other kids, parents or grandparents, or they can make them for themselves. Crafts will cost .25 or .50 to make. If you don’t have time to make them that day, you can buy the kits to take home and make.

Of course the day is not all about the kids. In the lobby of the building there will be many decorated trees to enjoy. You can vote on your favorite with a money donation. The tree that collects the most votes, ie the most money, gets to decide what charity receives all the money collected.

The day is rounded out with a craft show with almost 80 vendors, selling everything from homemade cookies and candies to wood products, jewelry, quilts, totes, hair accessories and much more. The lunch of BBQ pork sandwiches, hotdogs and nachos will be available from 10:30 until gone by the Clinton County Senior Center in the lobby of the building.

If you have any questions about the Breakfast with Santa or any other part of the day, please call the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce at 989-224-7248.

Sister Act comes to SJHS – November 11-13

by Maralyn Fink

On Thursday I went to St. Johns High School to attend the dress rehearsal for the upcoming Drama Club play Sister Act.

The play was chosen by the Director Barry Palmer. The student director this year is Skyler Glass. Nicole Eller directs the chorus. Dawn Flynn is chair of the costumes.

The pit orchestra is directed by Justin Valla with Don Snelling doing the props.

The play runs from Friday night through Sunday afternoon, November 11-13. Tickets are on sale for $10 each at the box office or by calling 989-227-4112.

Big Boy to honor Veterans with free breakfast

The St. Johns Big Boy® will be honoring area veterans with a free breakfast on Veteran’s Day.

From 7:00 to 10:30 a.m., on Friday, November 11, any veteran can stop by the Big Boy® to enjoy a trip to the breakfast buffet compliments of David Hunt, owner of the Big Boy® Restaurants in St. Johns, Mason,

The St. Johns Big Boy® is located at 1408 S. U.S. 127. For further information, you may call the restaurant at 989-224-6828.

Open Gym Schedule – Aqua Therapy/ Lap Swim

Open Gym
This City of St. Johns Adult Open Gym (basketball and volleyball) for adults 18 and older, will be on Thursday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the St. Johns Middle School Gymnasiums starting October 27, 2016 and ending December 15, 2016. There is no open gym on November 24, 2016.

The cost is $4.00 per person per night. Open Gym cards can be purchased at the City Offices for $20 and are good for 6 visits. If you have any further question you can contact Brandon Blackmon at (989)224-8944 ex. 284 or email bblackmon@ci.saint-johns.mi.us.

Aqua Therapy/Lap Swim
The City of St Johns Aqua Therapy/ Lap Swim will take place on Monday’s, Wednesday’s, and Friday from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

The City also offers a morning Lap Swim from 5:00 am to 6:00 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

All activities take place at the St. Johns High School pool. The cost is $5 per visit or you can purchase a pass for $50 dollars which is good for 12 visits. If you have any further question you can contact Bill Schafer at (989)224-8944 ex. 227 or email bschafer@ci.saint-johns.mi.us.

Ways to Enhance Positive Brain Development in Children – November 16

This series will give parents an opportunity to discuss, do activities, and learn strategies on each topic to enhance their parenting skills. In the first session, parents will increase their understanding of Nurturing Parenting, a proven approach experienced by hundreds of thousands of families worldwide.

MSU Extension in Clinton County invites interested parents of children birth to 8 years old to come to participate in this series. Sessions are from 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm, at the Bath Township Library Center (14033 Webster Rd) in Bath. Please call in advance to register at 989-224-5241. This is a free series open to the community; attend one session or all eight.

Sessions Schedule Wednesdays:

November 23: Communicating with Respect & Building Self-Worth in Children
November 30: Understanding Feelings
December 7: Understanding and Developing Family Morals, Values and Rules
December 14: Praising Children and their Behavior & Understanding Discipline
December 21: Learning Positive Ways to Deal with Stress and Anger

Tools for Building and Supporting Early Childhood Development – November 17

Working with Parents, Educators, Caregivers and Community Support Systems

Clinton County MSU Extension and Clinton County RESA invite you to learn from “our crew” of experts in child development including a physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech and language pathologist, and early childhood educator. We will explore how children 0-4 years old develop language, speech, motor skills, and sensory awareness and ways to support that growth and development.

This is a free series open to the community; attend one session or all four. Childcare training hours are available for licensed providers. All sessions will be held at the CCRESA Admin Building, 1013 S. US 27, St. Johns, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. For more information or to enroll for the training, call Clinton County MSU Extension: 989-224-5240.

Session four: Thursday 11/17
A Panel Discussion with the Experts

Moolenaar announces office hours

Congressman John Moolenaar (R-Midland) announced office hours to be held by constituent relations representatives at locations throughout the Fourth District. Residents in need of assistance with a federal agency are welcome to attend and no appointment is necessary. A complete list of office hours is online at: Moolenaar.House.Gov/OfficeHours

November 15

12:00-1:00 PM
Clinton County Building
Garden Level Conference Room “A”
100 East State Street
St. Johns, MI 48879

Lead poisoning is preventable

Right now in the U.S., nearly half a million children, ages one to five, have blood lead levels high enough to damage their health. Could your child be one of them?

Low levels of lead can be found in the soil, the air, the water, and on things we touch. Most often, lead from these sources isn’t cause for concern, but when higher levels are present, it can be very harmful, especially to young children.

A lead-poisoned child may seem healthy, but could have learning and behavior problems, slowed growth and development, hearing and speech problems, headaches, weight loss, irritability, tiredness, hyperactivity, and even damage to the brain and nervous system. These problems can lead to lower IQ, decreased ability to pay attention and underperformance in school.

The majority of children with lead poisoning live in or spend a lot of time in a home built before 1978. Lead can be found in an older home’s drinking water if it is supplied by lead pipes and plumbing fixtures. But usually, the culprit is lead-based paint, which can be toxic, especially to a young child. The older the home, the more likely it is to contain lead-based paint.

The most common places for lead-based paint to be lurking are in an older home’s windows, cupboards, doors, porches, and outdoor surfaces. Something as simple as opening and closing a window painted with lead-based paint can send lead dust into the air. The dust then settles to the floor and gets on children’s hands and toys, and eventually makes its way into the mouth.

Lead can be found in other places, too, like in some toys and toy jewelry. Certain hobbies and jobs that involve working with lead-based products can also pose a danger if the dust is brought into the home on clothing, shoes, hair or skin.

What can you do to reduce your child’s exposure to lead?
· Before you buy an older home, ask for a lead inspection and be sure to have the water tested.
· Get your young child tested at one and two years of age, even if he seems healthy. Private insurance coverage varies, but if your child is enrolled in Medicaid, the test will be covered. Mid-Michigan District Health Department offers lead blood tests to children enrolled in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. For more information, call 989-224-2195 in Clinton County, 989-875-3681 in Gratiot County, and 989-831-5237 in Montcalm County.
· Renovate safely. Common activities like sanding, cutting and replacing windows can create hazardous lead dust. If you’re planning on renovating an older home, use contractors certified by the Environmental Protection Agency.
· Stay up-to-date on current recalls by visiting the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website at www.www.cpsc.gov and remove recalled toys and toy jewelry as appropriate.

CASA Volunteer Advocates Needed

CASA-The Voice for Clinton County’s Children is currently accepting applications for our next CASA Volunteer Advocate Training.

Those interested in serving as a CASA Advocate must submit a volunteer application, completely pass a criminal and personal background check, and participate in our 30-hour pre-service training.

Applicants should have ample time to visit their appointed child every 7 to 10 days (activities during visits may include playing games, playing outside, helping with homework, coloring, etc.). Our program continues to work toward our goal of having enough CASA Advocates for every Clinton County child who is in foster care.

For more information, please visit our website ClintonCountyCASA.org or contact our office at clintoncountycasa@gmail.com or 517-599-7145.

Mark Your Calendar

Veterans dinner November 11

The Charge Outreach Group of Lowe and Maple Rapids United Methodist Churches will be hosting a free Veteran’s Appreciation Dinner at Lowe, 5485 West Lowe Rd. St. Johns, on Friday, November 11th at 5:00 pm. Veteran’s and their families are invited for food and fellowship, please RSVP to 989-224-4460.

******

Dinner Theatre in Laingsburg – November 17, 18, and 19

Laingsburg High School will be performing the show Crazytown as a Dinner Theatre November 17, 18, and 19. Dinner begins at 6 pm show starts at 6:30. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 night of the show. Email LHSdinnertheater@gmail.com to reserve tickets.

******

Starry Night Gala – Friday, November18

The doors to the Wilson Center will open on Friday, Nov. 18 at 6:00 p.m. with a silent auction – the program begins at 7:00. Tickets to the Gala will be sold for $25 at the Art Gallery or at the door.

******

Calling on St. Johns residents to decorate outside of their houses by December 2nd

http://www.sjlightfest.com/contest.html

******

Crafters needed for December 3 Craft Show

If you would be interested in having a booth, call the Chamber of Commerce at 989-224-7248 or you can print off the application from their website at www.clintoncountychamber.org/events at the bottom of that page.