Meridian Community Band plays favorite tunes July 11
An evening of musical favorites is on tap when the Meridian Community Band performs July 11 as part of the weekly Concert in the Park summer series at the St. Johns City Park. There is no admission for the concert that begins at 7 p.m. in the lovely outdoor venue of the William E. Tennant Performance Shell.
Music Director Tom Gillette brings nearly a half century of community and professional band experience to the podium, directing band members in a program that has something for all music – and band – lovers. Highlighting the diverse program are well-known, patriotic selections including “Armed Forces on Parade,” “America, the Beautiful,” “Stars and Stripes Forever” and many others. An active member in the MSU Alumni Band association and a lifelong Spartan fan, Gillette describes his life and especially his new position with the Meridian Community Band as “Pure Musical Michigan!”
Founded in 1977 as part of the Okemos (Michigan) Community Education program, The Meridian Community Band (MCB) became an independent, non-profit organization in 1983. The mission of the MCB is to provide an opportunity for community musicians to come together in an enjoyable and cooperative atmosphere to practice, perfect, and perform inspiring and educational concerts in the American town band tradition for the benefit of the greater community.
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 offering 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.
Most Holy Trinity Parish Festival, Fowler -July 26 – 29 “Board Games”
Thursday:
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm Classic Car Show, downtown Fowler
Friday:
9:30 am – 5:30 pm Fowler Downtown Sidewalk Sales
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Social Tent Happy Hour (1/2 off drinks)
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Euchre Tournament (in the Social Tent)
7:00 pm – 11:30 pm Adult Social Tent (drinks, pulled pork, pizza)
7:00 pm – 11:00 pm Las Vegas Tent (Blackjack, Let it Ride, Money Wheel)
Saturday:
7:30 am 5k race – sign up at https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Fowler/MostHolyTrinityFestival5K
8:00 am Volleyball Tournament. Register at http://www.mhtparish.com/parish-festival.html
4:30 pm Mass
7:00 – 8:30 pm Touch-A-Truck (on Kent St. in front of church), up to 100 free bicycle helmets will be fitted and given away for free – provided by Sparrow Hospital
Dusk Family Movie Night at Fink Field (if rain, movie will be canceled)Sunday:
8:00 am Boys and Girls 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament. Register at http://www.mhtparish.com/parish-festival.html
10:00 am Mass
10:00 am – 5:00 pm Purchase home-baked delicacies at the Country Store
11:00 am – 7:00 pm Inflatables
11:00 am Food Court opens (hamburgers, pulled pork, pizza and BBQ chicken)
11:30 am “Board Games” Parade
12:00 pm Children’s Games & Dunk Tank
1:00 pm Bean Bag Toss
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Bingo in Msgr. Koenigsknecht Hall
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Church
5:00 pm Mass
6:30 pm Raffle Drawings for cash prizes totaling $6,000 and quilts and afghans.
A complete schedule of events, contact information, and registration for Volleyball and Three-on-Three Basketball can be found at the parish website: http://www.mhtparish.com/parish-festival.html
Further questions: please contact the Parish Office at 989-593-2162.
Little Free Library
If you love to read check out the new Little Free Library at 1214 Lincolnshire Drive, St. Johns. If you haven’t heard of these book exchange boxes, they are located all over the country. The concept is simple; you can either take a book, leave one behind, or do both. Once you’re done reading the book, you can keep it, pass it along, or return it to any Little Free Library.
Ellen Hoard is the steward of this library, and has included not only books for adults, but those for children and early readers. “I’ve tried to include a variety of genres. Most of the books are ones I’ve read and loved,” says Hoard. She’s included a bench so you can browse through books or sit and read. There is a dog hook, to keep your pet safe, and a guest book to sign.
It took Hoard a year to make her library a reality. She hunted antique stores to find a suitable box, then had it fitted to a display pole. It took the completion of a new driveway for the box to be mounted, displayed and filled. “I’m just looking for a fun way to share my love of reading. I’m excited to have people visit,” she commented. If you’re interested in putting up your own box, you can learn more at littlefreelibrary.org.