Events of January 13, 14, & 15, 2023

Friday, January 13

January 13:  MLK Diversity Breakfast sponsored by AARP Michigan, Friday, January 13 at 7:30 AM.  American 1 Events Center, Keeley Park.  Mission of the MLK Diversity Breakfast: To promote community collaboration to reflect Dr. King’s dream and to motivate youth for service and excellence.  Join us on January 13 to honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The event will begin at 7:30 am and will include breakfast, as well as the opportunity to hear from this year’s speakers, the Willis Family.  JOHN WILLIS, Chief Equity Officer & Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.  KHARI WILLIS, Lumen Christi Alum, former Safety in the NFL, retired in 2022 to pursue career in Christian ministry.  JOHN WILLIS III (JAY). Executive Director, Isaiah’s Hub Youth Center, non profit with focus on developing strong economic foundation in youth. Provides a safe place for teens to be developed into great people.  For Tickets & Info:  jacksonchamber.org

Mighty Naturalist Program:  Our Feathered Friends.  Our Feathered Friends is for ages 1-5 years old with an adult caregiver.  What is unique about birds, and what do their characteristics (feathers, feet, beak, color, etc.) tell us about their life?  We will read a bird-themed story, look at bird feathers, take a short birding hike to observe our local birds in action, then return indoors for hands-on ‘beak’ activities, and a make ‘n take craft.  Advanced Registration Required. Please register online at www.dahlemcenter.org/events or call 517-782-3453 to reserve your spot for you and your mighty naturalist(s). Payment due upon registration. 

Did an Asteroid Really Kill the Dinosaurs?  Hurst Planetarium, Ella Sharp Museum.  Did a space rock six miles wide slam into the Earth 66 million years ago and wipe out 75 percent of all living species at that time, including the dinosaurs? Explore the impacts and cosmic collisions across the Solar System in this dynamic new show. Includes footage from the first iridium layer found in Gubbio, Italy.  Showtimes:  Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 4 pm, Saturday & Sunday 1 pm & 3 pm.  Tickets are first come first serve available in the Hurst Planetarium or the Museum Front Desk.

Five Second Rule Live at Ironbark.  8 PM to 11 PM.  Come jam with this stellar group of rockers and catch Baby Bear Burger out here as well!  Ironbark Brewing Company, 2610 Kibby Road, Jackson.

Saturday, January 14

Jackson College MLK Dinner Celebration.  Jackson College will host the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Dinner Celebration.  The event will take place on Saturday, January 14, 2023. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. in the Victor Cuiss Fieldhouse.  This year’s theme will be “Drum Major For Justice, Peace, & Righteousness” Our special keynote speaker is Angela Thompkins, Vice President, and Chief Diversity Officer. Angela has dedicated her life to pursuing inclusion, advancing equity, and advocating for all people.  In addition to our keynote speaker, the Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Service Award winner, Anthony Parker, President & CEO of Logistics ASP, will be honored. We will also have a musical performance by Larry Sumner.  Tickets can be purchased here.

Fossils of Michigan and Ancient Creatures.  This exhibit consists of Creatures that once lived in the ancient tropical seas that dominated the area 350 million years ago. Creatures such as trilobites, corals, crinoids, gastropods, cephalopods, bryozoans, brachiopods and even primitive placoderm fish. This exhibit showcases commonly found Devonian through Pennsylvanian fossils of the Michigan Basin which includes Northern Indiana, Southern Ontario, Northern Ohio, Eastern Illinois and Wisconsin.  Ella Sharp Museum.  This exhibit opens on January 14th and runs through May 14, 2023.

Dinosaur Safari.  Dinosaur Safari, an immersive exhibit for children and families, opens on January 14, 2023 at the Ella Sharp Museum. The nearly 2,500-square-foot exhibit features seven animatronic dinosaurs as well as hands-on stations that help children imagine themselves as paleontologists.  The incredible world of Dinosaur Safari features colorful and life-like dinosaurs, including the Triceratops and T. Rex!  This exhibit is presented locally by The Charles Aymond Fund and the Consumers Energy Foundation.  Ella Sharp Museum.

January 14 Christmas Tree Pickup.  Boy Scout Troop 424 of Queen of the Miraculous Medal Parish is conducting their annual Christmas Tree Pickup in Jackson and parts of Summit Township from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14.  Residents are asked to register prior to the event so the scouts know what streets to visit. Registration can be made by calling 517-740-0570 to leave a message with a phone number and address.  The service is free, but donations of any amount are accepted, with all funds going directly to Troop 424 to help pay for troop equipment and reduce costs for camping.  Residents should leave their trees on the curb by the evening of Friday, Jan. 13.  All trees collected by Troop 424 will be recycled.

Bone Cleaning Demo Day.  12 PM to 4 PM.  Bone Cleaning Demo Day at Ella Sharp Museum.  PaleoJoe will be at the museum facilitating dinosaur bone cleaning demonstrations for visitors as they view the Michigan Fossils & Ancient Creatures exhibit.  You can stop and ask questions as he cleans, prepares and repairs real dinosaur bones that are over 65 MILLION YEARS OLD.  This special event is included with regular admission prices, museum members are free. 

An Acoustic Evening with Lucas Powell with special guest Najj and Chey Halliwill.  7 PM to 10 PM.  Join us for an evening of acoustic indie, folk and alternative stylings courtesy of Najj, Chey Halliwill and Lucas Powell!  Ironbark Brewing Company, 2610 Kibby Road, Jackson.

Salute To Sinatra With Bruce Hammond.  Irish Hills Eagles #3689, 13251, Wamplers Lake Rd, Brooklyn.  Join us for the president’s charity event at Irish Hills #3689 in Brooklyn Michigan for an evening of Sinatra staring Las Vegas Entertainer Bruce Hammond. Tickets are $20.  Show is open to the public.  Doors open at 6:00 P.M.  Show is at 7:00 P.M.

Fiber Arts Show at Art 634.  6 – 9 PM.  Fiber Arts Show at ART 634, 634 N Mechanic St, Jackson.  Join Art 634 and Skeins of Valor as they present the Fiber Arts Show!  We welcome you to join us for the opening reception, featuring artists who create in mediums from macrame to felt to quilt and more, made by Sue Hale, Dee Jones, April Vilminot, Justine Melville, Julie May and Margaret Moller. The event will also feature music by Kevin Kreiger. 

Mike Wheeler Band in Concert.  7:30 – 10:30 PM.  Mike Wheeler Band at BLUEStage Jams, 398 Brooklyn Rd, Napoleon. (517) 795-0609.  Delmark recording artist, Mike Wheeler and his Band, one of greater Chicagoland’s hardest working Blues artists will return this season to shake up the room at BLUEStage Jams on Sat, Jan 14th, 2023. Mike also crosses genre lines, see Rosa’s Lounge Live Steams for a recent show here.

Sunday, January 15

Michigan Songwriter’s Showcase.  2:00 PM.  Michigan Theatre of Jackson, 124 N. Mechanic Street, Jackson.  This Showcase will feature Mike Ward:Psychosongs, Jan Krist, Victor Mcdermott, and Jeff Troutman.  It will be hosted by notable musician Ray Kamalay. It will all take place in the confines of one of Michigan’s most historic playhouses, the Michigan Theatre of Jackson, now entering its tenth decade. This stunning showplace, newly refitted for comfort and sound, is the perfect soundstage to feature this homegrown talent to an audience at ease with food and drink.  Doors Open at 1:00 P.M., Show is at 2:00 P.M.  Admission is FREE!!! 

Toddler Tour: Dinosaur Safari.  It’s never too early to start visiting museums! Join us for a monthly Toddler Tour that highlights either our featured exhibits or the Hurst Planetarium. Themes change every month.  Join us for a roaring good time through our newest exhibit, Dinosaur Safari! We will be going back in time and walking alongside giant dinosaurs, dig for fossils, and learn all about our long-extinct dino pals. We will also have a hands-on craft specially designed for ages 2-5. This program is approximately 45 minutes in duration and is limited to 30 participants.  Ticket purchase includes admission to the main museum to further explore our exhibits.  Time: 11:00 am & 12:00 pm.  Price: $10 per parent and child, $3 for every additional family member.  Register online at ellasharp.org, walk-ins are fine!