Soap Box Derby Race Day is Sunday, June 11
Come downtown on Sunday, June 11 to watch the Soap Box Derby racers compete for their chance at a trip to Akron, Ohio.
There will be parking near the Depot downtown, east side, west side and behind the courthouse, behind the Wilson Center and behind Gilroy’s. Clinton Avenue will be closed to traffic by early morning on the day of the race.
At 9:00 a.m. racers will march up Clinton Avenue to begin the events. The 2022 St. Johns Soap Box Derby champions will escort and lead the racers.
At 10:00 a.m. The Official race begins.
Immediately following the race, racers will proceed down Clinton Avenue to the 3rd block where the awards ceremony. will be held
Be sure to check out the incredible history display of the St. Johns Soap Box Derby Then and Now in the history display venue located in the Pierson 319 building. There will be small checkered flags in the history venue for purchase, and the 2023 Soap Box Derby program booklets will be available in the venue as well.
St. Johns Soap Box Derby t-shirts will be for sale and custom made by Hot Prints on site and will be located near the history venue.
Food vendors will be located on the west side and east side intersection of Clinton / Walker streets. Vendors include Chuckie D’s BBQ, Taqueria Los Naranjos, Cupcakes and Kisses, Deana’s Pizza by the slice at Mazz’s Party Store, Kona Ice snow cones, Kathy’s Kettle Corn. Global Coffee will be open to the public providing delicious food and beverages as well.
Face painting by Addison Brown will be available on the west side of Clinton Street.
Sea Cruisers kick off Concert in the Park Series
Kicking off this 20th year of Concerts in the Park are return guests and super group the Sea Cruisers, bringing the best sounds of the 50s, 60s and 70s to the stage once again.
“They have been an opening great opening concert for us throughout the years,” says Bill Tennant, concert coordinator. “It’s great to have them back again for this our 20th Anniversary year, kicking off a truly amazing concert series loaded with outstanding groups from Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Grand Haven and in-between,”
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 at 7 p.m.; rain or shine.
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 Concert in the Park Series page on Facebook.
The Lions Club food truck will once again be at the city park before and during each music series in the park this summer. Plan to come to the park and have dinner before the show. They will have their amazing pulled pork sandwiches, hotdogs,chips, ice cream,popsicles,pop,water and karmelcorn.
Performances are on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. – rain or shine.
20th Anniversary St. Johns Concert in the Park Series Schedule
We’re still a month and a half away, but it is never too early to make plans for your Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m.
June 14 – Sea Cruisers (50s/60s)
June 21 – Meridian Community Band
June 28 – LCB Big Band (Lansing Concert Band)
July 5 – Miranda & The M80s (80s)
July 12 – Toppermost (Beatles Tribute)
July 19 – Jeff & Friends (Variety, Outstanding Vocal Performances)
July 26 – Dave Bennett Quartet (Jazz & More)
August 2 – C.A.R.MA (Grammy Award World Music & American Roots)
August 9 – Detroit Metro Society (Motown)
August 16 – Full Cord (Bluegrass)
August 23 – Karl Holmes Band (Nashville Recording Artist)
August 30 – Matt King (Elvis Tribute)
Gateway teacher is Crystal Apple Award Winner
Congratulations to Gateway North Elementary teacher, Dorean Logan who is one of the three 2023 Crystal Apple Award Winners. Doreen (DJ) will receive a Crystal Apple trophy, a $500 School Specialty merchandise certificate, and a $250 School Specialty merchandise certificate for her school. She was nominated and selected from over 300 nominations by Josh Gove, Visual Arts Educator at Gateway and Oakview Elementary Schools. 10 Finalists were selected and over 13,000 votes were cast.
“I nominated DJ Logan, a Kindergarten teacher at Gateway North Elementary, for the Crystal Apple Award for an Outstanding Educator; the award is given out annually by the company School Specialty. The nominations are submitted across all 50 states and the company then narrows the hundreds and hundreds of nominations down to a top ten in the nation. Miss Logan was in the top ten which then went to a nationwide vote to see who would land in the top three and earn the award, which Miss. Logan did, and deservedly so! She earned her Crystal Apple trophy and gift certificates to School Specialty to purchase supplies and materials for our school and her classroom.
“I nominated Miss Logan due to her unwavering dedication and passion for education. In her 45 years of service as an educator she has served 39 of those in the Kindergarten classroom. In my nomination I was able to touch on many great things, such as her love and dedication to her students, the staff at Gateway, and the entire district and community as a whole. She is the definition of a lifelong learner and an educator who perseveres and soars with a positive, growth mindset. Miss. Logan is the Champion of Gateway and a role model for all of St. Johns.”
You can learn more at the School Specialty website.
Want to help your community?
Are you looking for an opportunity to help out your community? AmeriCorps may be an option for you.
Americorps is a non profit organization that gives back to the community in so many ways. When you join AmeriCorps, you choose how you want to give back.
– Mentor a child. Help boost graduation rates.
– Support communities impacted by natural disasters.
– Work to end hunger.
These are just a few of the service opportunities available to you through AmeriCorps. There are many different opportunities to go through.
What are some of the benefits of AmeriCorps? They offer opportunities with different time commitments and requirements, meaning that you can serve in whatever capacity works for your passion, goals, and lifestyle. Through their programs, they also provide benefits for members, including education awards, housing stipends, living allowances, and supplemental health insurance. Benefits may vary by program.
If you are interested and have any questions please email today.
Farmers Market opens Saturday, June 10
This Saturday June 10 will be the 1st Farmers Market of the season. There will be a variety of vegetables, home baked goods and other vendors.
They will be open every Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon. The market continues to be located on the west side of the Clinton County Courthouse.