Help pave the future of Public Transportation
Clinton Transit, also known as the Blue Bus, is currently conducting a Transit Development Plan to identify transportation needs, and to assess how transit can adapt to meet these needs. An important task for this effort is to solicit input from residents.
Clinton Transit is committed to ensuring that residents remain mobile and connected to the important people and places in their lives. To support this, the agency is working on a comprehensive Transit Development Plan designed to identify Clinton County’s transportation needs and assess how transit can adapt to meet those needs through innovative ideas, local connections and regional collaborations.
“The completed plan will serve as a roadmap for future service improvements and potential expansion,” explains MaLissa Schutt, executive director for Clinton Transit. “This is an opportunity to help design what public transportation will look like in Clinton County in the future.”
Via stakeholder meetings, focus groups, open houses and three separate surveys, Clinton Transit will be seeking feedback from every corner of Clinton County. Beginning this month, three surveys will be deployed to gather input from current customers, as well as Clinton County residents and employers.
“We hope everyone will take part. Whether they ride the Blue Bus or not, their input gives us valuable insights that we will use to guide our decisions,” says Schutt.
Individuals are encouraged to respond to each survey that applies to them as residents, employers and/or current riders.
“We’ll be sending a separate survey to local employers. More than a third of rides on the Blue Bus are work related, so we want to hear how we can better serve our local workforce,” says Schutt.
Clinton County residents will also receive a postcard with information about the survey and how to participate. Riders can conveniently fill out a paper survey on their next trip. Links to each survey will also be available at mybluebus.com and facebook.com/bluebus.
Established in 2001, Clinton Transit has been providing curb-to-curb service to meet the needs of all Clinton County residents. Fondly known as the Blue Bus, the on-demand transit system responds to ride requests and provides safe, reliable transportation to all county residents. This creates a more connected, accessible and vibrant Clinton County.
For more information on the Blue Bus, visit mybluebus.com.
Who operates the Recycling Center?
There appears to be some confusion about who owns and operates the St. Johns Recycling Center and how it is funded.
It was established by the St. Johns Lions Club in 1978 and is operated as a nonprofit. In addition to income generated from the sale of recyclables, the Lions Club depends on donations from those who use the center to keep the doors open.
They want to remind patrons to take the time to sort their recyclables into proper containers at the site. Below is a list of acceptable material and items they do not accept.
Acceptable materials include:
– Corrugated cardboard (remove all packaging material)
– Metal cans (rinsed)
– Newspapers and inserts, mixed office paper, magazines, glossy catalogs
– Paperback books (no hard cover)
– #1 and #2 plastic containers rinsed to prevent cross contamination (look for number on bottom and sort into proper window)
– Clean #6 Polystyrene and Styrofoam (must be broken down as small as possible to maximize space in the collection boxes)
– Styrofoam food and beverage containers MUST be clean. Soiled containers can contaminate other material in the collection boxes.
– Scrap metal and appliances (except those containing Freon)
– Auto parts and automotive/tractor/mower batteries
They do NOT accept:
– Glass bottles or jars
– Televisions, computer monitors, or other electronic devices of any kind
– Pizza boxes
– Paperboard or chipboard (examples: cereal boxes, cracker boxes, shoe boxes, frozen food packaging, etc.)
Please help keep the cost of recycling down. Make sure what is put into bins can be recycled, including removing items from plastics bags. Also cut large, corrugated cardboard into smaller sizes (no larger than 4’x4’) that the baling machine can process.
While it may be inconvenient to cut the cardboard into manageable sizes before dropping it off, please know this additional step is necessary and a time-saver for volunteers. The Recycling Center is staffed part-time by one person who oversees the daily operation of the facility, including management and all physical labor.
The Recycling Center is a self-serve drop-off center located at 605 N. Swegles, just off Business US 127, that is open 24 hours a day beginning Monday at 8:00 a.m. through Friday at 5:00 p.m. (except holidays). It is operated as a non-profit, and while they would love to keep it open on weekends, they simply do not have the funds or labor to do so.
The price for recycled goods does pay for some operation costs, but it by no means covers all the expenses. They also rely on donations from individuals and businesses that use the facility. Please consider donating. There is a donation drop box at the center that is checked daily, or donations may be mailed to the St. Johns Lions Club Recycling Center, P.O. Box 511, St. Johns, MI 48879. 100% of the donations support the Recycling Center.
They would appreciate receiving community feedback on how they can improve the operations of the center. Please contact Lion Dean Hartenburg, President of the St. Johns Lions Club, at (989) 640-9762 with your suggestions or concerns.
Dave Bennett returns to the Park July 26
The Dave Bennett Quartet will be making their 5th appearance in St. Johns as they bring their dynamic, entertaining show back to mid-Michigan. This incredible performance will take place on Wednesday, July 26 starting at 7:00 p.m. in the William E. Tennant Performance Shell in the beautiful St. Johns City Park.
Bennett is a clarinet virtuoso who plays electric guitar, piano, drums and vocalizes. He will cover music from the Swing Era to early Rockabilly and Country, to Elvis Presley and more. Audience members can expect everything from toe-tapping swing, to moody blues, to emotional ballads – to original, brand-new jazz compositions – all performed with deft touch, virtuosity, and style.
Leading his tribute to Benny Goodman, Bennett has been a featured soloist at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops Orchestra and has played that show with 35 other US and Canadian orchestras. He has also performed in 50 performing arts center across the USA – his tribute to Jerry Lee Lewis brings down the house every time.
“After a year’s absence, bringing back Dave Bennett to perform again this year on our 20th anniversary season was a must,” says concert coordinator Bill Tennant. “Dave and his quartet have made such an impression on everyone who heard them before – they are without doubt, one of the best groups we’ve ever had perform in St. Johns!”
The group’s namesake is looking forward to the show. “We love St. Johns, “ says Bennett. “This will be our fifth performance in the city, first performing there in 2019. We love the Performance Shell and the Wilson Center Auditorium – both great venues. We’ve also connected with our St. Johns audiences on a deep emotional level – that’s what it’s all about!”
Along with Bennett, who’s from the Detroit area, the quartet includes local jazz greats Jeff Kressler on keyboards, Ed Fedwa on bass along with Ann Arbor’s Pete Siers on drums.
The concert is sponsored by the Clinton County Arts Council and the City of St. Johns. It is open to the public free of charge – donations are graciously accepted.
All concerts are presented rain or shine. The Lion’s Club food trailer will be available for a variety of food items again this year. The CCAC receives funding from the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Free movie night at the Lutheran Church is July 28
St. John’s Lutheran Church hosts Free movie nights during the summer.
Their first one was held at the end of June, and the next one is coming up quickly on July 28.
This month they will be showing the PG movie Family Camp.
The movies are sponsored by Chuckie D’s BBQ. They will have live music this month by TC Katz, and there will be a bounce house for the kids. There will be popcorn for sale, and Kona Ice also.
Good News Kitchen needs partners
The free meal ministry, Good News Kitchen, has grown to the point of needing more help.
The Ministry is looking for an organization or group to come in and cook the meal one Tuesday a month. They supply all the food, equipment and supplies; you provide the people power.
Requirements include one Safe Serve certified person and they do background checks also.
If interested, please contact the St. John’s Lutheran church office at 989-224-6796.
Free Family Night at IQhub: Robots in Action July 25
Come out on Tuesday, July 25 for the IQhub’s second free family night of the summer. From 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. the IQhub will be open with special evening hours that feature demonstrations and displays by the Michigan State Police Bomb Squad and Consumers Energy.
Robot Exploration is the IQhub’s summer exhibit that runs until Friday, September 1. Visitors are welcome to see all of the robot display currently set up at the IQhub. Regular museum hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and as always, admission is free. The first 40 kids will get a “robot” to take home!
See the Michigan State Police bomb squad vehicle up close and in action. The bomb squad currently consists of 15 members assigned to seven regional teams. These teams respond statewide to suspected explosive devices and Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) incidents. Squad members are “Certified Bomb Technicians” and “HAZMAT” Technician Level trained.
The squad is an integral part of the Michigan Regional Response Team Network (RRTN), which was established to provide quick response capability in every region of the state to WMD/Terrorism incidents. Each team is equipped with specialized bomb squad and hazmat equipment including bomb suits, x-ray equipment, a robot, and an explosive containment transport vessel. The bomb squad responds to approximately 500 calls for service each year. People will see the specialized bomb squad robot, the hazmat bomb suit and talk to one of the bomb squad members.
With 87,097 miles of electrical distribution lines to patrol, Consumers Energy uses the latest drone technology to “keep their eyes on the lines”. Consumers Energy pilots are trained and certified to fly various drones, called “UAVs” or “unmanned aerial vehicles”. These UAV’s are mainly used as a flying camera and pilots patrol miles and miles of distribution lines. Drones are also used for aerial inspections at Consumer’s Ludington Pumped Storage facility and reservoir, really like a small man-made elevated lake, power plant equipment, bridge inspections, wind turbine inspections, storm damage assessment and other hard to access places.
The UAVs help Consumers Energy do the work quicker with less cost, yet provide increased data and improved accessibility. Outputs include 4k pictures, LIDAR scans, corona images (heat signatures), thermometer readings and more. Visitors will learn from a Consumers Energy pilot about the certification program and safety in flights as well as enjoy multiple drone demonstrations!
For more information, please contact the IQhub at 989-227-3847 or email IQ.hub@agroliquid.com. The IQhub is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is to be a free educational center for agricultural history, innovation and exploration.
Next week at the Art & Soul Gallery
Beginner’s Wood Burning Class coming up July 25
Tuesday, July 25 – 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
In this fun and creative beginners’ class at the Art & Soul Gallery, Lauri Stephens will teach you the basics of wood burning, such as how to safely use a burning iron, temperature management, image transferring, and which woods are best to use. You can design up to two, frameable, 5 x 7 illustrations with plenty of time to practice beforehand! Bring your friends, family or just your wonderful self and create with us! This class is intended for ages 10 and up. Younger patrons will require a parent.
All supplies will be included. This class costs $35.
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Watercolor Mini Retreat is July 27
On Thursday, July 27 from 6:30-9:00 PM The Arts Council will offer Flip Flops, Popsicles, and Beaches!
Do you need a little artistic me-time? Maybe you have creative block or just want to paint with others. This watercolor mini-retreat taught by Susan Mahoney at the Art & Soul Gallery is great for anyone who’s dabbled in watercolors and wants to be guided through some fun, summer-themed paintings.
The cost is $33.30 – $37.00. Sign up now.
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Lauri Stephens – Stained Glass Class July 29
The Art and Soul Gallery will be having another, beginner to intermediate stained glass class! Lauri Stephens of The She Shed will be teaching the entire process of stained glass making, from pattern decisions, glass cutting and grinding the glass to the finishing steps of foiling and soldering. The spots for this class are limited. The cost of the class will be $110.