The Blanchard House will be open for tours from 1 to 4 pm every Sunday in June, July, and August. Hosted by the Ionia County Historical Society.

Alateen, a 12-step program for teens who have family members or friends with a problem with alcohol, every Sunday from 7:30 to 8:30 pm at Zion United Methodist Church, 423 West Washington, Ionia.

Parent child playgroup every Monday from 10 to 11 am at the Early Childhood Center, 1975 Orchard Street, Room 109, Belding. Registration required, call 616-527-4900, ext. 1461. Sponsored by the Ionia County ISD Great Parents Great Start Program.

West Michigan Amputees Support Group meeting the first Monday of every month from 2 to 4 pm at the Ionia County Commission on Aging. For more information call 527-7244

The Ionia County Genealogical Society is open Mondays from noon to 4 pm at the Freight Station Museum, 1117 Emerson Street, Lake Odessa.

Bereavement Support Group meets for a 'brown bag' lunch the third Monday of every month from noon to 1:30 pm at the Ionia Area Hospice office, 601 East Washington Street, Ionia - 616-527-0681. Open to all bereaved community members.

Ionia-Maple Valley Community Band meets for rehearsals every Tuesday at 7:30 pm in the Ionia High School bandroom. Adult and high school student musicians welcome. For information call 616-761-3581.

Trap shooting every Tuesday, starting at 5:30 pm, at Western Michigan Rifle and Pistol Club. Everyone welcome. Call Jim 616-761-3475 or Ed 616-642-9816 for information.

Girls on the Move, a club for all girls who want to get out and walk, talk, and/or run, meets Tuesdays/Thursdays at 5:30 pm and Saturdays at 8 am at the Ionia River Trail (begin at the Cleveland Street entrance). For more information call Maria at 616-902-1501, or www.girlsonthemove.net.

Step-by-Step, a weight loss support group, meets every Tuesday from 7 to 8 pm at Temple Baptist Church, State Road, Ionia. Weekly weigh-in, indoor walking area, Bible study, personal reflection question and discussion time, prayer partners, and monthly body measurements.
Parent child playgroup every Tuesday from 10:30 to 11:30 am at St. Johns Lutheran Church, 617 North Jefferson, Ionia. Registration required, call 616-527-4900, ext. 1461. Sponsored by the Ionia County ISD Great Parents Great Start Program.

Emotions Anonymous meetings (for adults) every Tuesday at 1 pm at River's Edge Drop In Center, 302 East Main Street - suite #2, corner of Main and Jackson, Ionia.

Ionia Community Grief Support Group meets the first Tuesday of the month from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Hospice office, 601 East Washington, Ionia. Call 616-527-0681 or 517-882-4500.

The Portland River Hatters, Red Hat Society group, meets for breakfast the first Tuesday of every month at 9 am at Jerry's Restaurant and Pub. New members are welcome.

Lake Odessa Community Grief Support Group meets the third Wednesday of the month from 1 to 3 pm at Central United Methodist Church, 912 Fourth Avenue - 616-374-8861. For more information call 616-527-0681 or 517-882-4500.

Diabetes education class every Wednesday at 9 am at Ionia County Memorial Hospital Home Care, 525 Lafayette Street, Ionia. For more information call 616-527-7060.

Adult Domestic Violence Support Group Thursdays from 5:30 to 7 pm offered through RAVE-Ionia/Montcalm, Inc. Contact Amanda at 616-527-3351, ext. 226.

Travelog movie shown every Thursday at 9:30 am at the Ionia Theatre. Sponsored by the Ionia County Historical society.

Free and confidential business counseling with a SCORE representative will be available the first Thursday of every month from 9 am to noon at 439 West Main Street, Ionia. Call the Chamber of Commerce at 616-527-2560 for an appointment.

Alcoholics for Christ, a 12-step recovery program for alcoholics, drug addicts, and family members, meet every Thursday at 7 pm, Impact Church Office, 1070 North Hudson Road, Lowell. For information call Paul 616-527-7796.

Alanon, a 12-step program for adult friends and family members of someone who has a problem with alcohol, every Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 am at First United Methodist Church, 105 East Main Street, Ionia.

Angel Food Ministries sign up Saturday, August 9 from 10 am to noon at Nazarene Church, 201 North Washington Street, Lowell. A regular box is $30 and will feed a family of four for approximately one week. Everyone welcome. Questions, call Esther 897-7395.

Charlie's Wag-N-Train Opry Saturday, August 9, near Sheridan. Open mic, dancing, wagon rides, potluck meals, rustic camping, flush toilets, sewer dump, insulated and heated for your comfort. For more information call Marie or Charlie at 989-261-4475 or 989-506-6160. Proceeds to Juvenile DiabetesResearch Foundation.

Trash and treasure sale Saturday, August 9 from 9 am to 4 pm at First United Methodist Church, 105 East Main Street - under the tent. Something for everyone!

Golf outing Saturday, August 9 at Arrowhead Golf Course, Lowell. Shotgun start at 9 am. Four person team scramble, $50 per person. Hosted by Saranac American Legion Post 175. Sign up your team at the Legion.

The historic Saranac Depot will be open Sunday, August 10 from 1 to 4 pm.

North LeValley School Board meeting Monday, August 11 at 6 pm at the school.

Belding VFW #4406 joint Post and Auxiliary meeting Monday, August 11 at 5:30 pm. All members welcome.

Belding VFW #4406 Ladies Auxiliary regular business meeting Monday, August 11 at 6:30 pm. All members welcome.

Belding VFW #4406 regular business meeting Monday, August 11 at 7 pm. Discussion on by-laws, please plan on attending.

Joychicks - Ionia Red Hat Ladies - breakfast Monday, August 11 at 10:30 am at the Lumber Mill Inn in Muir. New members welcome.

Beta Sigma Phi Sorority meeting Tuesday, August 12 at 6:30 pm at the president's home for a picnic and organizational meeting for the coming year.

Dragon egg hunt for all girls in kindergarten to 6th grade on Tuesday, August 12 from 6:30 to 8 pm at the Ionia Community Library - just east of the courthouse on Main Street. To register or for more information call Sheila Ransom at 616-527-4900, ext. 1498.

Regular Communication for Doric Chapter #75, Order of Eastern Star Tuesday, August 12 at 7:30 pm in the chapter room of the Masonic Temple, 211 East Main Street, Belding. Dinner will precede the meeting at 6:30 pm. All members may attend.

Belding VFW Post #4406 Men's Auxiliary regular business meeting Wednesday, August 13 at 6:30 pm. All members welcome.

Roast beef and pork dinner Wednesday, August 13 from 4 to 6 pm at the Lyons-Muir Lions Club. Adults $7, 6-12 $3, 5 and under free. All profits go to the Duane D. Ferris Agricultural Memrial Scholarship Fund.

Bertha Brock Park Advisory Board monthly meeting Wednesday, August 13 at 4:30 pm at Palmer Lodge within Bertha Brock Park. For more information call Nicole Frost, Park Manager, 616-522-PARK.

2008 Fall Festival monthly committee meeting Wednesday, August 13 at 11 am at the front pavilion in Bertha Brock Park. Anyone interested in being involved with this year's festival is welcome to attend. For more information call Nicole Frost 616-522-7275.

Stated Convocation for Hooker Chapter #73 Royal Arch Masons Wednesday, August 13 at 7:30 pm in the lodge room of the Masonic Temple, 211 East Main Street, Belding. Dinner will be served at 6:30 pm.

Rock the Port summer concert series features the Djangotones Thursday, August 14 at 7 pm in the Lake Odessa Park. For those who do not know how to swing dance, instructors from Grand Rapids Swing will be here to give large group lessons.

Hawaiian Paradise is the travelogue Thursday, August 14 at 9:30 am at the Ionia Theatre.

Benefit for Sue Groom Friday, August 15 from 5 pm to midnight at Belding VFW Post #4406. Tacos, karaoke, door prizes, haircuts, and fun! Members, friends, and public welcome and encouraged to attend.

Ronald Grange potluck dance Saturday, August 16 at 6 pm, corner of Powell Highway and Charles Road. Open mic and jam session. Bring a dish to pass and your own service. Everyone welcome.

Keefer School reunion Saturday, August 16, 1 pm to ?, Hazel Devore Island, Lyons. Bring a dish to pass and your own table service, iced tea and punch furnished. For anyone that attended Keefer School.

Joychicks - Red Hat Ladies of Ionia summer time event August 18-20. Call Queen Lois 989-855-3742 for reservations and more information
The Tri-River Group will meet Tuesday, August 19 at 10 am at the Ada Historical Society.

Rock the Port summer concert series features Vertical Smile on Thursday, August 21 at 7 pm in the Lake Odessa Park. They played at this year's Art in the Park and we are happy to have them back for an encore.

Bake sale Friday, August 22 at Empress Salon, Ionia. All proceeds will go to help abused and abandoned animals.

Saranac Bridge Festival Saturday, August 23. Free breakfast, nature walk, parade, pig roast, food vendors, karaoke, dunk tank, model aircraft club display, washer toss tournament, kids fishing derby, classic cars show, Iron Mike's competitions, Puff and Pedal, antique tractors, entertainment, kids acitvities, demonstrations by our fire fighters, lots of fun all day!

Portland Riverfest Half Marathon, 5K Run, and Non-Competitive Walk Saturday, August 23. For more information <www.portlandruningclub.homestead.com>.

Boston Saranac Historical Society activities at the Bridge Festival Saturday, August 23rd: free entertainment from 1 to 4 pm, famous walking tacos, walk dedication at 2 pm.

Ionia High School class of 1983 reunion Saturday, August 23 from 6 pm to ? at the Royal Heritage, Ionia. For more information contact Al Kasper 616-527-3759 or 616-841-1265.

Free singing school Saturday, August 23 from 7 to 9 pm at First Christian Church, 130 East Washington, Ionia. Four-part harmony made easy using the American invention of shaped notes. Everyone welcome, regardless of age. Books available.

13th annual Parish Festival Sunday, August 24 from 11:30 am to 4 pm at St. Anthony's, corner of David Highway and Jackson Road, Saranac. Country store with crafts, fresh produce, live music, kid's games, bingo, chicken dinner, silent auction, and hourly drawings.

Singing service Sunday, August 24 from 10 am to noon at First Christian Church, 130 East Washington, Ionia. Four-part harmony using shaped notes, instructed by Tim Cook. Everyone welcome, regardless of age. Books available. Potluck to follow.

Ionia High School class of 1948 will celebrate their sixtieth reunion Saturday, August 23 at 1 pm in Bertha Brock Park at the Fishing and Hunting Lodge. For more information call Joan at 616-527-3369.

Rock the Port summer concert series features Mustang Band Thursday, August 28 at 7 pm in the Lake Odessa Park. They have played at many country music hot spots in Michigan.

Chicken BBQ dinners, hog roast, and carnival bingo during Labor Day weekend, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, August 30, 31, and September 1. For more information contact Belding VFW Post #4406 at 616-794-9624.

Labor Day weekend arts and crafts show August 30, 31, and September 1 at the Belding Covered Village Mall. For more information call 616-794-9890.

Rock the Port Summer Concert Series features Josh Rose Thursday, September 4 at 7 pm in the Lake Odessa Park. Josh is the Lakewood High School science teacher. Music is his passion, and he has just released his second album titled 'Slow Bloom', combining folk and pop music.

Belding VFW Post #4406 joint Post and Auxiliary meeting Monday, September 8 at 5:30 pm. All members welcome.

Belding VFW Post #4406 Ladies Auxiliary regular business meeting Monday, September 8 at 6:30 pm. All members welcome.

Belding VFW Post #4406 regular business meeting Monday, September 8 at 7 pm. All members welcome.

'Planting for the Birds' workshop Monday, September 8 at 7:00 pm at the Clarksville Horticulture Research Station. Fee is $15, or $10 for early registration by September 2nd. For more information or to register, call Janice Ransom at the Ionia County MSU Extension Office 616-527-5357. Two hours educational credit for Master Gardeners.

Belding VFW Post #4406 Men's Auxiliary regular business meeting Wednesday, September 10 at 6:30 pm. All members welcome.

Rock the Port Summer Concert Series features 'Haphazard' Thursday, September 11 at 7 pm in the Lake Odessa Park. This band is from Charlotte. They dazzle listeners with their performance of new country and new rock tunes.

Love and Respect Marriage Conference Friday and Saturday, September 26 and 27 at Ionia County Church of Christ, 7831 Jordan Lake Road, Lake Odessa. $17 per person includes workbook and boxed lunch. Register online at www.ioniacountycoc.org or contact Tonya at 616-204-3504.

Coming events (up to 30 words) can be run in this column at no charge for nonprofit organizations. Items must be submitted by noon Thursday to appear in Saturday’s issue. Changes or cancellations must also be made by noon on Thursday. Send your information to: The Ionia County Shopper’s Guide, Box 46, Saranac, Michigan 48881; fax to 616-642-6040; or e-mail to <carol.icsg@sbcglobal.net>.