Clinton Township Newsletter

3 m a y 2 0 2 2 from Carol Beder's I was hoping that by the time you read this issue, the Russian invasion of Ukraine would be over, and a peace treaty would have been negotiated, Unfortunately, as of this writing, the atrocities of war are still happening in Eastern Europe. At the same time, many people both here in the U.S. and all over the world are doing everything they can to help the people of Ukraine. Our fantastic reporter Rachel Sprague highlights some of the local efforts to help on page 20 of this issue. (Thank you, Rachel!) Right now we are all enjoying a bit of a reprieve from the pandemic. For a lot of people it's masks-off, and back to normal life (while trying to remember what "normal life" was). At the same time, the most recent variant, BA.2 is lurking in the shadows. Some people I know have gotten sick with Covid for a second time, despite having received multiple vaccinations. We Flynns are still planning to get our second booster. In other words, let's hope for the best and prepare for the worst. In early April I got a chance to meet Dr. Melissa Stager, our new Superintendent of Schools, at her first Coffee and Conversation meeting. I hope you were able to attend one of her meetings. If not, we'll try to fill you in on all of the information in this publication, including what she wants to achieve, the challenges that need to be overcome and, especially, her goals and hopes for the CTSD. She has an impressive background in education and brings a lot of passion for it too – I think she's going to be fantastic for Clinton Township! Speaking of education, I just got back from visiting my youngest at college, and it was bittersweet. He's graduating next month, so that was the last (undergrad) college visit for me – aside from graduation – ever. I'm trying to wrap my head around the fact that this chapter is coming to an end for our family. The last big change I had to get used to was not having children in school locally – after twenty years of running around to school functions, sports and events. Every time I pass by one of our schools, my mind is flooded with a million wonderful memories. The education at both CTSD and NHHS was the main reason my husband and I chose to move here in 1997, and we have no regrets. During this last visit, my son set the schedule and it was chock-full of very college-y things to do: his band's practice (they offered me earplugs, thankfully!), a take-out cafeteria dinner plus deep discussions with the friends, a sorority party, walking around campus, something called a "Pond Skim", which involved snow-skiing down a mountain and then, at the bottom, taking a hard left turn and basically water-skiing over a man-made pond, (Google it – it's pretty crazy!) my son's band concert – probably the last that I'll see – of that band, at least – and a last-day brunch with him and his girlfriend at a funky restaurant, where I did my best to be cheery. Meanwhile, it's been a busy time in the U.S., both good and bad; recently we witnessed Will Smith slap Chris Rock at the Oscars (a first and, hopefully, a last). The Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court – historic, as she'll be the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court. A shooting just happened on the subway in Brooklyn, and inflation, gas prices and interest rates are rising, but the weather is getting gorgeous. I plan to enjoy this spring despite it all -- I hope you and your families do too! -Julie Flynn DAYS TO KEEP IN MIND Sunday May 1 May Day Sunday May 1 School Principals' Day Monday May 2 Kentucky Derby Tuesday May 3 Teachers' Day Thursday May 5 Cinco de Mayo Friday May 6 National Nurses Day Sunday May 8 Mother's Day Sunday May 8 VE Day May 14, 1607 Jamestown Colony Founded Saturday May 21 World Day for Cultural Diversity Sunday May 29 International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers Monday May 30 Memorial Day

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