Today in the J

Jackson College Winter Film Series.  “Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse”.  Bitten by a radioactive spider, teenager Miles Morales suddenly develops mysterious powers that transform him into Spider-Man. He must now use his newfound skills to battle the evil Kingpin, a hulking madman who can open portals to other universes.  Michigan Theatre.  Doors open at 7:00 P.M. Film Starts at 7:15 P.M. Admission is $5. The Library Fights Back.  Use the Force this Spring Break to make your way to the Jackson District Library and work toward becoming a Jedi Master.  The district-wide challenge runs through April 7, with a different Star Wars theme at all our locations.  Try your hand at 13 different Star Wars challenges at all JDL locations to earn exciting prizes. Complete four challenges to earn a prize, eight challenges to earn a second prize, and all 13 challenges to enter into our grand prize drawing.  Share your Star Wars experience or costumes with us on social media using the hashtag #JDLStrikesBack.  Call the Children's Department at 517-905-1331 for more information. Experience Trackers and Maps are available at the Carnegie Library.  Be on the lookout for various Star Wars-themed events during the week of Spring Break at the…

March 29 Capital City Brass Band in Concert.  Annual Pre-NABBA (North American Brass Band Association) Concert by the Capital City Brass Band will help prepare the band for the National Championships in Fort Wayne, Indiana, April 5-7. The concert is free and along with the full ensemble includes performances by all the band's competing soloists and chamber ensembles.  7 PM, JSO Weatherwax Hall, 215 West Michigan Avenue, Jackson. The Michigan Theatre presents Kev Nichols. Kevin Nichols and Blue Tuesday host Blues Jam. Doors open at 6:30 P.M. Music Starts at 7:00 PM. Bar and Concessions available for purchase. Admission is FREE!!! Chuckles for Charity.  Featuring comedian Jason Douglas.  All proceeds from this event go to benefit disAbility Connections, a local non-profit which assists and advocates on behalf of individuals and families in our community who deal with the effects of disease, accident, and disability.  Silent Auction – 50/50 Raffle – and more!  Details: Facebook event page, click here.  Commonwealth Commerce Center, City View Ballroom.  6 PM. March 30 The Library Fights Back.  Use the Force this Spring Break to make your way to the Jackson District Library and work toward becoming a Jedi Master.  The district-wide challenge is scheduled from March…

Kiwanis Club of Jackson Travel Adventure Series FINALE!  Celebrating our 73rd and final season tonight with the film “Heart of San Francisco” presented by Sandy Mortimer.  Jackson High School Auditorium, 7 PM.  Admission $8.  The final adventure of the final year of the Kiwanis Travel Adventure Series. Jackson Tuesday Musicale Annual Awards Fundraiser Concert.  Featuring the Hillsdale College Chamber Choir.  7 PM, First United Methodist Church, 275 West Michigan Avenue, Downtown Jackson.  Proceeds from ticket sales create summer music camp scholarships to support Jackson County high school music students.  Donation:  Adults $20, students $10.  Tickets available at the door. Thursday Night Film Series.   "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”.  When a persistent posse threatens two outlaws' (Paul Newman, Robert Redford) romp through Wyoming, they decide to take their act to Bolivia.  Admission 5 Dollars. Doors open at 6:30 P.M. Film Starts at 7:00 P.M.  Michigan Theatre, Downtown Jackson. Free Day at Kids ’N’ Stuff Children’s Museum.  Visit Kids ‘N’ Stuff Children’s Museum on Thursday, March 28 from 10 am to 7 pm and enjoy free admission for everyone in your family courtesy of Albion College’s Student Volunteer Bureau.    Every year, Kids ‘N’ Stuff hosts at least twelve free days…

Red Cross Blood Drive.  10 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Jackson College, 2111 Emmons Rd, Jackson.  Right now, the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of most blood types, and blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in. Recent snowstorms and severe weather in many parts of the country have forced hundreds of blood drive cancellations, causing more than 20,000 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. Exploring DNA.  Celebrate Women’s History with science! Learn about Rosalind Franklin and her DNA discoveries, extract DNA from a strawberry, and make paper Origami DNA. Intended for tweens and teens age 10 and older.  Jackson District Library SUMMIT BRANCH.  Wednesday, March 27th @ 5:00 pm. Allskate Commercial Shoot.  5-8pm.  JTV will be here with their cameras shooting a new commercial for Allskate! Bring the whole family, Mom, Dad and the kids! Adm is only $4, skate rental $, Laser Tag only $4. Early Bird Food specials will be featured, so bring your appetite as well. Family Fun Pack only $40 includes: Skating, rental skates, 10 game tokens each, 1 game of Laser Tag each for (4) people. ($10 for additional members, 1 parent must remain present)  Skate mates $5…

Family Night at Allskate.  5 PM to 8 PM.  Bring the whole family, Mom, Dad and the kids! Admission is only $4, skate rental $4, Laser Tag only $4. Early Bird Food specials will be featured, so bring your appetite as well. Family Fun Pack only $40 includes: Skating, rental skates, 10 game tokens each, 1 game of Laser Tag each for (4) people. ($10 for additional members, 1 parent must remain present)  Skate mates $5 + deposit.  Allskate Fun Center, 1313 West North Street,  Jackson. Early Waterfowl Trip.  Join the Jackson Audubon Society  Tuesday morning group for an early waterfowl expedition! Explore the Watkins Lake State Park in search of early season waterfowl!   Meet at 9 am at the East end Meijer carpool parking lot, or 9:30 am at the North Lot of the Watkins Lake state park.  Details here. Professional Tax Help.  Get FREE professional tax help for your 2018 tax returns.  Weekdays from 4-7pm starting February 4th.  Location: Carnegie Branch, Jackson District Library – 244 W. Michigan Ave. Jackson.  Call 517.788.4087 with any questions. The Works of Robyn Ladwig.  Prior to living in Michigan, Robyn was born and raised in south Florida, where she developed a love…

Jackson College Winter Film Series.  Jackson College Monday Night Film Series “Bohemian Rhapsody”.  Queen cements a legacy that continues to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day. Bohemian Rhapsody is a movie based on the true story of Queen's journey from the start of the rock band to their now-legendary 1985 performance at the Live Aid concert in Wembley Stadium.  Michigan Theatre, Downtown Jackson.  Doors open at 6:30 P.M. Film Starts at 7:15 P.M. Admission 5 Dollars. The Works of Robyn Ladwig.  Prior to living in Michigan, Robyn was born and raised in south Florida, where she developed a love for the ocean and the natural world of the South.  Her work focuses on aerial coastline paintings created in acrylic and epoxy resin.  Bringing her love of the natural world to canvas, it allows her to explore different mediums of texture and movement.  The exhibition is open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays and during performances at the Potter Center.   Jackson College Central Campus, Potter Center.

March 22 Red Cross Blood Drive.  12 p.m. - 5:45 p.m., Blackman Township Hall, 1990 W. Parnall Road, Jackson. Home and Lifestyle Show.  Over 60 building industry exports will fill the American 1 Events Center at the Jackson County Fair Grounds during the 43rd Annual Home & Lifestyle Show March 22, 23 and 24th. If you are planning a new home, a remodel project, or simple home improvements to your existing home, you won’t want to miss this local event. No matter the size or scope of your project, you’ll have an opportunity to talk with the pros about maintaining and improving your home improvement project.  Hours for the show are Friday March 22nd from 3:00 – 8:00 pm and Veterans are free, Saturday March 23rd from 10:00 to 7:00 pm, Sunday March 24th from 10:00 – 3:00 pm. Admission is $5 for adults and children 16 and under are admitted for free. Parking is free.  There will be special events all weekend: Chain Saw Carver – Sponsored by Eagle Ventures – Saturday & Sunday, PAWS from the Detroit Tigers – Saturday from 1-2 pm, A caricature artist “The Nose” – Saturday, The Ballooney Bin making balloon animals – Sunday…

Neighborhood Meeting.  Neighbors in Jackson’s Second Ward have an upcoming opportunity to speak with their City Council representative and learn the latest news from the neighborhood. Councilmember Freddie Dancy is holding a neighborhood meeting for Jackson’s Second Ward on Thursday, March 21 at 6 p.m. At the meeting, residents will hear from an attorney at Legal Services of South Central Michigan about legal services they can take advantage of, get an update on the latest news in Jackson from Mayor Derek Dobies, learn about the proposed Neighborhood Association Ordinance that is being considered by the Council, and hear from the Jackson Police Department about the latest police activity in the neighborhood. The meeting is taking place at the Salvation Army, which is located at 806 E. Pearl St. in Jackson. All Jackson residents are welcome to attend. Thursday Night Film Series at the Michigan Theatre. ”The Camera Man”.  Things go wrong when a photographer (Buster Keaton) turns newsreel-maker to impress a secretary (Marceline Day). Admission $5 Doors open at 6:30 P.M. Film Starts at 7:00 P.M. The Works of Robyn Ladwig.  Prior to living in Michigan, Robyn was born and raised in south Florida, where she developed a love for…

Michigan Center Spaghetti and Swing.  Do you like buttery breadsticks? Spaghetti? Fantastic music?  The Michigan Center Jazz Band and Drumline are hosting their annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser on Wednesday, March 20 at Michigan Center High School!  Join us for an evening of delicious food and fabulous entertainment!   Single tickets: $8 Families of 4-6: $28.  Kids 10 and under eat free!   Don't miss out! Annual Meeting of the Board:  Jackson Community Foundation.  Michigan Theatre of Jackson, 124 N Mechanic St.  This meeting is for EVERYONE! Donors, potential donors, grantees, etc! Bring a guest or two and help spread the news about who we are and the good works we do in Jackson County!  5-6 PM Meet our staff and trustees, other donors, grantees, and community members! Light refreshments will be available.  6-7 PM Annual Meeting - Update from our Board, Committees and our Investment Consultant.  7-8 PM Opportunity for questions and mingling with light refreshments. United Way Diaper Drive.  United Way of Jackson County (UWJC) is spearheading the United Way Diaper Drive Presented By Henry Ford Allegiance Health to gather and deliver diapers to five local nonprofit partners. Those agencies will then distribute the diapers to families in need. The partners are Catholic Charities,…

Adult Mental Health First Aid for Veterans and Their Families.  8 AM to 5 PM.  LifeWays, 1200 North West Avenue, Jackson.  LifeWays is proud to offer FREE Adult Mental Health First Aid for Military Members, Veterans & Their Families to local community members!  Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour, in-person training from the National Council for Behavioral Health that teaches the average community member how to help someone in a mental health crisis or experiencing symptoms of mental illness. During the training, you will learn how to identify the different signs and symptoms of mental illnesses and how to connect people to care.  Free to attend.  For more details, call  517-789-2490. T3 with AARP.  Eastern Branch, Jackson District Library.  1 PM to 3 PM.  The Third Tuesday of each month, AARP will host an informational workshop on issues important to older adults and their families. Topics to include avoiding fraud, resources for family caregivers, how to save on utilities, brain health, things you can do to stay in your home safely, and more.  Today’s topic:  How to Save on Utility Bills.  Adults are the intended audience. Call 1-877-926-8300 to register. United Way Diaper Drive.  United Way of Jackson County (UWJC)…