Register now for youth camps
The St. Johns Recreation Department is now accepting registrations for the 2018 youth summer camps that are set to begin June 18th.
Children will have fun learning some basic survival techniques in our Survival Camp, explore the deep blue sea and take a trip to the high school pool in Under the Sea Camp, discover their superpower in our Superhero Camp, become Jr. Firefighter and work on the FUNdamentals of gymnastics, football, basketball, tennis, volleyball, soccer camps, and much more.
For a complete listing of recreation programs with descriptions, dates, and prices please visit the city website at :
http://cityofstjohnsmi.com/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Youth-Programs
Any questions can be answered by calling the Recreation Department at 224-8944 ext. 227 or 228 or by emailing bblackmon@ci.saint-johns.mi.us.
Farmers Market opens June 9
Opening day is fast approaching. Saturday June 9th is your lucky day to buy home grown produce, baked goods, frozen meats, crafts, jams and salsa, honey, maple syrup and kettle corn. A new meat wagon will be selling breakfast and lunch. All meats being served have been farm raised.
St. Johns Concert in the Park, 2018 Summer Series
June 13: The Sea Cruisers; Rock & Roll
June 20: Swinging on a Star; Homegrown Productions Musical Revue
June 27: Ben Daniels Band; Americana Blues/Jazz/Rock
July 4: Life Support Band; Pop/Rock; Fireworks Display
July11: Meridian Concert Band
July18: Martha Reeves: A Birthday Bash with the Great One
July 25: Mid-Michigan Festival Orchestra; Pops
August 1: The Flying Latini Brothers; Blues/Soul/R&B
August 8: Capitol City Chordsmen; Barbershop Chorus
August 15: Saline Fiddlers
August 22: Toppermost; Beatles Tribute Band
August 29: Matt King; Award-winning Elvis Tribute
No admission for the Concert in the Park series, presented by the Clinton County Arts Council and City of St. Johns. All concerts begin at 7 p.m., rain or shine at the William E. Tennant Performance Shell, St. Johns City Park. Food booth courtesy of the St. Johns Lions Club.
Soup kitchen makes stops in area
His Cup Runneth Over, a mobile soup kitchen, will be making a stop at
– First Congregational Church, 100 Maple Ave, St. Johns 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday, May 29 and
– First Baptist Church/Beacon of Hope (northwest parking lot), 512 S. US 27, St. Johns from 12-1:30 pm, Thursday, May 31
– The Meadows of St. Johns, 2265 W. Parks Rd., St. Johns, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, May 31.
Soup, bread, fruit and dessert will be served to all who come free of charge. For more information call 989-533-9535 or 989-544-5764
Register for flag football league
Have fun, stay active and wear NFL Gear this fall by participating in the City of St. Johns Recreation Department NFL Flag Football League. We are a proud member of NFL Flag: powered by USA Football. The league will consist of 7 weeks of practice and 5 week of games. Practices will be held during the week with games played on Saturdays.
NFL Flag provides the opportunity for kids and families to become involved in football through participation early in life. It also helps develop the first phase of player development by teaching football skills at an age in a safe and not threatening environment, while focusing games on speed and agility not size and strength. Registration is open to both boys and girls.
Cost for the league is $35 for City of St. Johns residents and $40 for non-City of St. Johns residents. Fee includes NFL replica jersey, flag belt, one year USA Football Membership, and field prep. Practices will start the week of August 20st, two times a week, with games on Saturday starting September 8th and ending October 6th.
Registration forms will be accepted online, by mail, and in person to the City of St. Johns Recreation Department until July 20th. For additional information contact Bill at the Recreation Department 224-8944 x 227 bschafer@ci,saint-johns.mi.us or Brandon Blackmon at bblackmon@ci.saint-johns.mi.us. Registration forms are available at the City Offices or online at http://cityofstjohnsmi.com/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Youth-Programs.
Be on the lookout for ticks as you head outside
The Mid-Michigan District Health Department, which serves Clinton, Gratiot and Montcalm counties, encourages residents to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather, but also to be on the lookout for ticks.
Why the cause for concern? Ticks can transmit numerous diseases to people and pets, with Lyme disease being the most common. In Michigan, the number of cases of Lyme disease has increased steadily from 92 in 2008 to more than 330 in 2017.
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted by the blacklegged/deer tick. The blacklegged tick has been reported in 34 of Michigan’s 83 counties and continues to spread across the State. Blacklegged ticks were recently found in Clinton County during a routine sweep of the area, and some of those ticks tested positive for Lyme disease. Gratiot and Montcalm counties are currently in what’s called a “potential risk area” because they border counties where the disease is present. This means that blacklegged ticks infected with Lyme disease may be present in Gratiot and Montcalm counties, but have not yet been found.
Symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, chills, headache, muscle and joint pain, and a bull’s-eye rash at the site of the bite. If not properly diagnosed and left untreated, infection can spread to the joints, the heart and the nervous system.
The best defense against Lyme disease is prevention. If possible, avoid shady, moist areas in woody and grassy locations, as these are the preferred hiding spots for ticks. If you do need to venture into these areas, walk on well groomed trails and avoid contact with overgrown grass, brush and leaf litter.
Other prevention tips include:
– Applying repellent containing DEET or Picaridin on exposed skin, following manufacturer’s instructions.
– Treating clothes (especially pants, socks and shoes) with permethrin, which kills ticks on contact. Do not use permethrin directly on skin.
– Wearing light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot.
– Wearing enclosed shoes, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt.
– Tucking pants into socks or boots.
– Using tick prevention products on your pets
Upon returning from potentially tick-infested areas, check yourself and your pets for ticks and shower immediately to wash off and find ticks that may be on you. Ticks can attach to any part of the body, but are commonly found in the hairline, ears, waistline, groin, armpits and sock line.
Prompt removal of a tick is the best way to decrease the chance of infection. If you find one attached to your skin, follow these instructions: Using fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
Slowly and gently pull upward with steady, even pressure. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the area and your hands with soap and water and apply an antiseptic to the bite wound.
If the tick is alive after removal, place it in an airtight container with a blade of grass or moistened piece of paper towel and contact the Mid-Michigan District Health Department for further instructions (989-227-3111 in Clinton County, 989-875-1019 in Gratiot County and 989-831-3615 in Montcalm County). Testing of the tick may or may not be necessary; the health department will be able to tell you for sure.
Residents can also send electronic photos of ticks to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for identification by visiting Michigan.gov/lyme for details.
If you experience a fever, rash, or muscle or joint aches within several weeks of removing a tick, be sure to see your doctor. Patients treated with appropriate antibiotics in the early stages of Lyme disease usually recover quickly and completely.
Briggs District Library News
Potter Park Zoo – Representatives from Potter Park Zoo will be at the library on Monday, June 4 at 6:30p.m. for a live animal presentation. They will share a few animal ambassadors for an up close and personal look at the animals, and a chance to learn more about them and their natural behaviors. No registration is required for this free family program, but advance registration is appreciated, and is now available.
Kick Off – We kick-off Summer Reading on Monday, June 11 from 4:00-7:30p.m. with a bounce house and inflatable Twister, Face Painting by Sharon, Marshall Music “Touch an Instrument,” giant chess/checkers lawn games, and a visit from Curious George! Refreshments will be available for purchase from Crave food truck and Dave Pops! Join us at the Rotary Park across from the library. No registration is needed for this FREE family program.
Garden Buddies – Learn and grow with us in the Rae Johnson’s Children’s Garden. We will learn about what is takes to grow the food we love to eat. Children ages 7-12 are invited to join us for our first session of Garden Buddies on Monday evenings starting June 18 and going through July 16. We will not be meeting on July 2. We will be meeting behind the library for this program from 5-6:30pm. Registration is required is open now for the first session of Garden Buddies.
Cartoons and Crafts – Tweens ages 8-12 are invited to join us on Thursday, June 7 from 6:30-7:30 for a special program where we will watch a classic Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon, then complete a short, hands-on science experiment. Registration is required, and is now available.
Outdoor Games – Children ages 7-9 are invited to join us on Thursday, June 14 from 6:30-7:30 for a night filled with extra-large, extra fun games. We will be meeting outside at the depot pavilion for this fun filled hour. Registration is required and is open.
Cook Me a Story, a Fairy Tale Feast – Join us as fairy tales are retold with a yummy recipe that we will create as a group and enjoy together. “Goldilocks and the Three Pears” Thursday, June 14 10:30-11:30 (ages 4 and 5). “Sleeping Fruity” Thursday, June 14 1:30-2:30 (ages 5 and 6). “Cinnarella” Thursday, June 21 1:30 -2:30 (ages 6 and 7). Mrs. Daman, Begindergarten Teacher at St. Joseph School will lead us thru the fun of cooking a truly unique fairytale experience that begins with “Once upon a Kitchen…” These three programs are for children who are independent listeners! Registration is required and is open for all 3 programs.
Summer Storytimes – Summer sessions: (Lapsit “Music, Music, Music”: ages 12-24 months, Friday, 10:30-11am, 6/8 – 6/29, 4-week session) (Toddler “Singing a Song”: ages 2-3, Wednesday, 10:30-11am, 6/6 -7/18 **No 7/4 session, 6-week session) (Pre-Reader “Cowpokes, Pirates, Jungle Animals and Monsters Make Noisy Music”, ages 4-6, Thursday, 6/21 – 7/19 **No 7/5 session, 4-week session) and (Primetime: ages 3-5, Tuesday, 7:00-7:30pm, 6/5 – 6/26, 4-week session). Registration is required for all summer storytimes.
S.A.M. in the Summer – Fun, hands-on activities in Science, Art, and Math for children in grades 1-6. Art #1: Grades 1-3, Wednesday, 6/20, 3-4pm. Art #2: Grades 4-6, Wednesday, 6/27, 3-4pm. Science #1: Grades 1-3, Wednesday, 7/11, 3-4pm. Science #2: Grades 4-6, Wednesday, 7/18, 3-4pm. Math #1: Grades 4-6, Wednesday, 7/25, 3-4pm. Math #2: Grades 1-3, 8/1, 3-4pm. Registration for all S.A.M. programs is required and is open.
Tales to Tails – Free Reading Program with 15 minute sessions for children ages 6-12 to practice reading aloud to Ruger, a certified therapy dog. Summer Schedule: 2nd Thursdays, 6/14, 7/12 and 8/9 from 6:30-7:15. Extra sessions will be considered if time slots fill up. This program encourages confidence and reading skills over the summer in a relaxing environment. Registration is required and is open.
Bookaholics Book Club – The June selection of the Bookaholics Book Club is NEVER FALL DOWN, a National Book Award finalist by Patricia McCormick. This short novel is based on the inspiring and powerful true story of 11-year-old Arn Chorn-Pond, who survived the Khmer Rouge by playing music in the Killing Fields. Copies of the book are now available. The club will meet on Thursday, June 21 at 6:30p.m. at the library. New members are always welcome to join.
Family Movie Fridays – We will be once again showing free movies for the family to enjoy. Movies will run each Friday, June 8 – July 27 (no showing on July 6), and all shows begin at 2:30p.m. First up is the 1995 Academy Award-winner Babe. Registration, and a complete list of all the movies being shown this summer, are now available on our website.
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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
Leonard announces June office hours
Speaker of the House Tom Leonard, R-DeWitt, will host office hours to meet with local residents and discuss their concerns about state government. Speaker Leonard represents Michigan’s 93rd District.
The local coffee hour will take place on Friday, June 8, 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. at Big Boy, 1408 Old U.S. 27, St. Johns, MI 48879.
Local residents are encouraged to bring comments, questions and concerns about local government and anything else happening in the local community. Residents with questions about the coffee hours, or those who cannot make it, can contact Speaker Leonard’s office at 517-373-1778 or by emailing TomLeonard@house.mi.gov.
MMDHD Calendar – June, 2018
Family Planning Clinic Schedule
The Mid-Michigan District Health Department’s Family Planning Clinics provide confidential care to men and women in need of contraception and reproductive health services. Charges for services and supplies are based on income. The Family Planning Clinics are scheduled as follows:
Mid-Michigan District Health Department
1307 E. Townsend Road
St. Johns, MI 48879
June 5: 8 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
June 12: 8 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
June 19: 8 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
June 26: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
****New Clinic in Shiawassee County***
June 14: 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
In the basement of the District Court Building
110 E Mack St
Corunna ..
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (989) 224-2195, Option 5, Monday through Friday.
Hearing & Vision Screening Clinic
Vision screening is required for all children entering kindergarten. The Mid-Michigan District Health Department offers free vision testing, as well as hearing screening tests for all children ages 3 to 21. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (989) 227-3125, Monday through Friday.
WIC Benefit Pick-Up Schedule
Pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants and children up to 5 years old may be eligible for free food through the WIC (Women, Infants & Children) program. The Mid-Michigan District Health Department WIC Benefit Pick-up Clinics are scheduled as follows:
June 6
June 11: Mid-Michigan District Health Department, 1307 E. Townsend Road in St. Johns, from 9 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
June 27: at Valley Farms Baptist Church, 1141 E State Rd, Lansing,
from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (989) 224-2195, Option 5, Monday through Friday.
“In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”
Immunization Clinic
The Mid-Michigan District Health Department Immunization Clinics are to be held as follows:
Mid-Michigan District Health Department
1307 E. Townsend Road
St. Johns, MI 48879
June 4: 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
June 11: 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m
June 13: 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m
June 18: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
June 25: 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Immunizations will be available for adults and children eight weeks of age through adulthood, appointments are preferred. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (989) 224-2195, Option 5, Monday through Friday.