Today in the J

The first day of school for the 2017-18 school year for all Jackson County public school students.  All Jackson County school districts adopted the new county common calendar.  Today is a half day for students.  The new county common calendar is an earlier start than most districts in the state, which means an early end to the school year (June 6, 2018). The Kiwanis Summer Kids Series wraps up the summer this week with  “Smurfs - The Lost Village” at the Michigan Theatre.  Showtimes are 10am and 2pm.  Admission is $1.  Sponsored by the Kiwanis Clubs of Jackson and Brooklyn.  Doors open one half hour before showtime. Allskate Fun Center presents  Wednesday Afternoon Skate & Laser Tag from 1-4pm. Admission is only $6 and skate rental is $4 (Skates or Blades).  Laser Tag:  1 play $5  |  Double play $8.  Family & Group Rates available.   Allskate Fun Center, 1313 West North Street, Jackson. Cascades Family Night Concert Series continues tonight at 7pm at The Cascades.  Entertainment by Denise Davis and The Motor City Sensations, one of the most dynamic and entertaining bands in Metro Detroit, featuring a wide repertoire of R&B, Funk, Blues, Motown, and Soul Classics.  Admission is $10 per…

The Kiwanis Summer Kids Series wraps up the summer this week with  “Smurfs - The Lost Village” at the Michigan Theatre.  Showtimes are 10am and 2pm.  Admission is $1.  Sponsored by the Kiwanis Clubs of Jackson and Brooklyn.  Doors open one half hour before showtime. The Jackson Downtown Development Authority presents the Grand River Farmers Market, today from 8am to 2pm.  The market, featuring seasonal farmers and other vendors is at Grand River Marketplace, corner of Glick Highway and Mechanic Street in Downtown Jackson. The American Red Cross will have a Blood Drive today from 12 PM to 5:45 PM at Grass Lake United Methodist Church, 449 E. Michigan Avenue, Grass Lake. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org  LEGO Gaming and LEGO Madness comes to Jackson District Library Eastern Branch on Tuesday, August 22 from 1-4 p.m. Play some LEGO games on the XBOX, as well as classic LEGOs. Intended for kids and teens.  Jackson Recreation Department offers Water Aerobics class for adults at the Middle School at Parkside pool.  Classes are at 8:45am and 7:00pm.  Cost is $5 per class.  Classes run Monday thru Thursday through the summer. The Jackson City Council meets tonight at 6:30 PM, City Council Chambers, 2nd…

The Jackson Downtown Development Authority presents the Grand River Farmers Market, today and tomorrow from 8am to 2pm.  The market, featuring seasonal farmers and other vendors is at Grand River Marketplace, corner of Glick Highway and Mechanic Street in Downtown Jackson. The Midtown Jackson Art Walk will have everything you could ever imagine: Drawings to win art, pottery, sculpture, jewelry, paintings, photography, music, metal, and there will be food trucks!  The Art Walk will take place today from 4-8PM. Spend an evening in Downtown Jackson walking, shopping and enjoying the art in businesses throughout downtown. With award winning artists and talented musicians, there will be a stop for everyone.  Presented by The Midtown Association of Jackson.  Sponsored by Gilbert Chocolates, Experience Jackson, Art 634 and the @Jackson Art Zone. Regie Hamm Live! tonight at the Michigan Theatre. A hit songwriter, artist and producer, Regie Hamm has penned over 20 #1 hits, many of them in Christian music. He hit the Billboard Top 20 as an artist in 2003, and later went on to see his solo-written song “Time Of My Life” (sung by 2008 American Idol winner David Cook) stay at #1 for 4 months on the pop charts, making it the longest running number one pop song by a Nashville…

The Kiwanis Summer Kids Series continues today with “The Lego Movie” at the Michigan Theatre.  Showtimes are 10am and 2pm.  Admission is $1.  Sponsored by the Kiwanis Clubs of Jackson and Brooklyn.  Doors open one half hour before showtime. The Napoleon Branch of the Jackson District Library presents the Annual Summer Book Sale. Join us at the Napoleon Branch, today during open hours, for our annual summer book sale. Items are priced individually or fill a bag for $2.  Materials for all ages. Today’s hours are 1pm to 6pm. “The Great American Eclipse:  How to View It Safely”, Presented by Andrew Bundas of the Peter F. Hurst Planetarium.  Head down to the Carnegie Branch 6:30-7:30 p.m. to learn how to safely enjoy a solar eclipse. The first 80 people who sign up will receive a shoebox to make their own viewer, but feel free to bring your own and join in. This program is co-sponsored by the Peter F. Hurst Planetarium. Thank you to Miller Show Parlor for providing materials. All ages welcome. Allskate Fun Center presents  Wednesday Afternoon Skate & Laser Tag from 1-4pm. Admission is only $6 and skate rental is $4 (Skates or Blades).  Laser Tag:  1 play $5  |  Double…

The Kiwanis Summer Kids Series resumes today with “The Lego Movie” at the Michigan Theatre.  Showtimes are 10am and 2pm.  Admission is $1.  Sponsored by the Kiwanis Clubs of Jackson and Brooklyn.  Doors open one half hour before showtime. Today is designated United Way Day of Caring in Jackson County.  From 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., all residents willing to volunteer can participate with 10 United Way partners on many different service projects. Volunteers can work the entire six hours or in smaller blocks. These projects are available for individuals, groups and businesses.  To register for a project, contact Stephanie Schiro at (517) 796-5120 or sschiro@uwjackson.org. St. John’s United Church of Christ and the Center for Caring is holding a Fundraiser and Silent Auction to benefit the family of  Nikki Joly and Chris Moore. They lost their home and pets in a house fire last week. Lets show what our Jackson community can do. We want to help them get a new home and show once again #LoveWins  Donations can be made at www.unitedcenterforcaring.com  DONATE TO the SILENT AUCTION by contacting Elody Samuelson at elodysamuelson@gmail.com or 517-769-4132.  Fundraiser begins at 5:30pm and runs until 7pm at St. John’s United Church of Christ,…

The Napoleon Branch of the Jackson District Library presents the Annual Summer Book Sale. Join us at the Napoleon Branch, between August 14-17 during open hours, for our annual summer book sale. Items are priced individually or fill a bag for $2.  Materials for all ages. Today’s hours are 1pm to 6pm. Jackson School of the Arts presents Amazing Artist Camp.  This week’s camp is for ages 4-10.  The camp runs today through Thursday, from 9:30-11:15am  If you just love art, this camp is for you!   Be inspired by famous artists, learn their styles and techniques, and create some beautiful paintings on art-board, fabric and canvas. Spend some time in the dance room doing some colorful creative movement. End the week with a mini art show to share your masterpieces with family and friends. $68 includes all supplies and a daily snack.  Details contact Jackson School of the Arts, 517-784-2389  634 North Mechanic Street, Jackson. Yoga at Meijer Branch, Jackson District Library.  Every Monday and Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. and Friday at 8:30 am.  Join Yoga instructor Jeanette Lamphere and learn the basics of yoga.  Suggested donation $3. Intended for adults.   The Grass Lake Literary and Chocolate Society meets at the Grass…

The Jackson County Fair presents Veterans Day and Pay One Price Day.  Free admission for all Veterans, sponsored by AT&T.   The Vietnam Traveling Wall will be on exhibit through Saturday.  4-H Judging of Livestock at 9 am.  4-H Small Animal Showmanship at 6 pm, Large Animal Showmanship at 7:30 pm.  Tonight’s Grandstand Show is the Twisted P Rodeo at 7 pm.  Tickets are $10 and $15.  The Jackson Downtown Development Authority presents the Grand River Farmers Market, today and tomorrow from 8am to 2pm.  The market, featuring seasonal farmers and other vendors is at Grand River Marketplace, corner of Glick Highway and Mechanic Street in Downtown Jackson. Race Weekend at Michigan International Speedway, the final race weekend of the season.  Today, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Practice and Qualifying. Cherry Creek Winery presents Vineyard Jam with Kung Fu Diesel.  Music begins at 7pm.  The cafe will be open with a varied menu and beer and wine are available.  Cherry Creek is located at 11500 US 12 in Brooklyn. East Jackson Schools and the Jackson Street Cruisers present “Cruisin’ at the Dome”, a fundraiser for East Jackson Athletic Boosters and East Jackson Project Safe.  The Dome will be open for concessions with grilled…