517 December 2021 Issue

517 B U S I N E S S

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LOCAL MINDSET Small businesses pay big dividends in any community

L I F E

CREAM RISES TO THE TOP

Quality Dairy family of employees is credited for sustained success

A WORLD OF PURE IMAGINATION

Exploring childhood wonder at Fabiano’s Candies

anchored by

ALTRUISM COMMUNITY KEEPS SHERI JONES GROUNDED AND AS A GUIDE FOR THE GREATER GOOD

December 2021

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publisher’s note

W

Needs, Wants and Shopping Local

hen it comes to receiving gifts, the scales balancing needs versus wants shift back and forth with age.

As a child, it’s pretty much a one-sided argument in favor of wants because most kids get needs taken care of by doting adults. Although you may gather substantial evidence and present a rock-solid case of exactly why you need that action figure with the kungfu grip and detachable lunar jetpack that makes real intergalactic sounds, deep down you really know it’s still a want — even if you’ll never admit it to anyone but yourself.

When you reach young adulthood and begin striking a path of your own in the world, the balance begins to shift. Sure, you still want that upgraded phone with the digital retinal scan and built-in pastry maker. However, what you need is a nice set of dishware so you’re not eating dinner every night out of an open can over your apartment sink with the plastic spork you got from the fast-food joint three weeks ago.

As you get older still, the back-and-forth, wants-and-needs struggle finally settles into a bit of an uneasy truce. You pretty much have all your needs covered through years of accumulation. And you still have wants, but those come with the additional baggage of figuring out where exactly you would put the darn thing if you actually got it.

Still, as the years go by, there are those gifts you receive that don’t necessarily fit into the wants or needs categories, but they nonetheless remain special in their unexpected thoughtfulness. They might remind you of a person, or a place, or an event, or all of the above — and more likely than not, they came from a small, local business.

I’ve used this column in past years to emphasize the economic importance of shopping local and to highlight how dollars spent in local businesses stay in the community supporting other local programs and services. Yet what is often underemphasized among the benefits of shopping local is the shopping experience itself — both for the gift buyer and the recipient.

Small businesses offer the buyer a unique and authentic purchasing occurrence, typically serviced by a knowledgeable and insightful staff eager to assist. They also provide those quality and uncommon products that are waiting to be discovered as reminders of a specific moment in time.

It goes without saying that local businesses still need your continued support this holiday season; however, beyond that, local businesses are where you will find those special keepsakes that are nestled between want and need in that sliver of a crack known as a treasured memory.

Happy shopping and have a safe and fulfilling holiday.

Tiffany Dowling Publisher

517 Business and Life, Volume 2, Issue 12, December 2021.

Publisher Tiffany Dowling tiffany@m3group.biz

517 Business and Life (USPS#020-807) is published monthly by M3 Group at 221 W. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48933. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Michigan.

Managing Editor Mary Gajda mary@m3group.biz

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Creative Visionary Chad Hussle chad@m3group.biz Lead Editor Christopher Nagy Contributors Rich Adams Teece Aronin Susan Combs Jill Davy Kyle Dowling Mary Gajda Erin Hagen Christopher Nagy Christine MacIntyre Metro Melik Omar Sofradzija Penny Spehar Jack Tany Graphic Designers Kathryn Aspin Audrey Spring Client Strategists Megan Fleming megan@m3group.biz Liz Reno-Hayes liz@m3group.biz Melissa DeMott melissa@m3group.biz Photographers Kyle Dowling Mary Gajda Metro Melik M3 Group 221 W. Saginaw St. Lansing, MI 48933 P (517) 203-3333 Subscription subscribe@517mag.com

WE’RE MOVING MARCH 2022

The countdown is on.

In a few short months, McLaren Greater Lansing will open its doors to patients in a brand-new facility. The all-new health care campus, including a 240-bed state-of-the-art hospital, will advance patient care, comfort, safety, and convenience for our community. From the cancer-fighting expertise of Karmanos to a modern heart and vascular institute to luxurious labor and delivery suites to an ER that reinvents the patient experience, we’re bringing our best close to you.

Visit mclaren.org/lansing for a preview.

Compassion A CO L L A B O R AT I O N O F

The Children’s Trust Fund makes it possible for children to have safe, stable and nurturing relationships and environments, which has a positive impact on health and the development of skills that assist children in reaching their full potential.

The dedication of our supporters plants the seeds to grow positive childhood memories for families throughout all 83 counties of Michigan. Every donation to the Children’s Trust Fund supports local programs in your community to ensure all children can live safe and healthy lives.

Your continued support to the CTF mission shields children from abuse and neglect through prevention and helps guide them to a future of hope and promise. Working together, we are building a better, brighter and more compassionate Michigan for its most vulnerable residents.

GIVE TODAY!

To learn more and advance the work and efforts of the Children’s Trust Fund, visit michigan.gov/ctf.

contents

12/21

13 Local Mindset

Small businesses pay big dividends in any community

45 Anchored by Altruism

Community keeps Jones grounded and as a guide for the greater good

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contents

lifestyle

business 11

AREA SNAPSHOT

36

PLACES

17

TRENDS

38

GOOD READS

18

NOTABLE NEWS

RECIPE

26

STATE/NATIONAL

39 40

STYLE

30

ON THE RECORD

POLL

31

PERSPECTIVES

42

33

BIZ TIPS

50

NONPROFIT

52

PLAY

A Snapshot of Local Business News Affecting the 517 Community Investment Professional Highlights from the 517 Region A Brief Look at State and National News Affecting our Region Cream Rises to the Top

Giving Animals a New Leash on Life Leading by Example

DEPARTMENTS

2 PUBLISHER’S NOTE 56 6

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WRAP UP

A World of Pure Imagination Exploring childhood wonder at Fabiano’s Candies Timely Tomes Creating stronger communities through conscious purchasing Holiday Bacon-wrapped Water Chestnuts In-Town Trends Whether gifts for you or others, shop local Best of the 517 New beginnings Stadium of Dreams Strikeout Baseball looks to Lansing location Visit 517living.com for More Lansing-Area Activities

business

AREA SNAPSHOT p.11 TRENDS p.17 NOTABLE NEWS p.18 STATE/NATIONAL p.26 ON THE RECORD p.30 PERSPECTIVES p.31 BIZ TIPS p.33

GIVING BACK AS A BUSINESS Holiday fundraising drives often do well because we all have that warm-andfuzzy holiday feeling. But what if you made a commitment to give back year-round — not only financially but through volunteering, advocacy and education efforts?

Consider a corporate program to allow employees to join in. Have an in-house office drive each month and let your employees choose where the funds will go or sign the staff up for a corporate volunteer day.

Giving back can also do your health some good. Associated health benefits include lowered blood pressure and stress levels and raised self-esteem.

Source: clevelendclinic.org 12.21 | 517

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business / AREA SNAPSHOT

A snapshot of local business news affecting the 517

DELTA TOWNSHIP DEVELOPMENTS SHOW POSITIVE OUTLOOK

BY JACK TANY

Kris Krstovski is a person who doesn’t let grass grow under his feet.

The energetic Krstovski, founder and owner of Bingham Farmsbased K2 Retail Construction and Development, takes great pleasure when discussing his team’s involvement in the $200 million Delta Crossings project in Delta Township.

“To start a project of this magnitude during a pandemic is really remarkable,” said Krstovski. “To pull this off is a blessing.”

Krstovski explained that his construction firm originally planned 10-12 years to complete all six phases of the project, but it has literally cut that in half.

“We have the momentum and the opportunity to complete all phases in five to seven years,” he said. “The development itself is a 200-plus-acre mixed-use development. It’s a very big initiative.”

Phase 1 of Delta Crossings — which was completed in 10 months — consists of TJ Maxx, Hobby Lobby, Sierra Department Store, Bob’s Discount Furniture and Texas Roadhouse.

“For Phase 2, we’re bringing in brand-new retailers to the area such as BJ’s Wholesale Club, At Home, Olive Garden and a new branch for Consumers Credit Union,” said Krstovski. “Phase 3 is a big animal in itself. It’ll provide multifamily development for current and future residents of Delta Township.”

Looking ahead to Phase 4, Krstovski revealed that there are ongoing talks with two national chains that would be new to the Lansing region.

Delta Township Supervisor Ken Fletcher said the project is a good thing for the area and that it is important to evolve with the times.

“Having a variety of new retail, restaurants and housing will be good now and long term to keep our central business corridor vibrant and bring new people into our community,” he said. “Delta has plenty of industrial area and area for new neighborhoods, and the Eyde property on Saginaw (Highway) is also an area of potential growth.”

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PARTS STORE PROSPERS DURING PRODUCT SHORTAGES

SCHOR LOOKS FORWARD TO SECOND TERM AS LANSING MAYOR

BY TEECE ARONIN

BY RICH ADAMS

Product shortages exacerbated by the pandemic have caused many consumers to change tack.

Instead of ordering new and waiting on uncertain delivery, many are seeking out ways to repair what they already have — and that alternative approach is benefiting businesses such as The Outlet, 3130 S. Cedar St. in Lansing.

The Outlet sells TVs, appliances, furniture and household items. Its online presence, Michigan Service Parts, sells mostly TV and appliance parts to repair centers and do-it-yourselfers.

“What you’ll find at The Outlet is typically new, lightly used, scratch-and-ding and refurbished items sold at huge savings for our customers,” said owner Kelly Lewter. “I’ve been selling online for around 10 years, and the storefront opened about two years ago.”

He added that much of the inventory is sourced from what is considered “scrap” or “salvage” materials. When the pandemic struck, Lewter worried.

“If the business falters, I have 15 employees counting on me for a paycheck,” he said.

But business spiked when new product shortages and months-long delivery waits spurred people to have items repaired rather than wait for new ones. Thanks to The Outlet, people with broken refrigerators could replace them — often with same-day delivery. And the online division saw sales shoot up almost 100% in the months after COVID-19 struck.

Lewter and his company continue to adapt and grow, with the storefront space having almost doubled.

“Our plan is to continue what we’re doing and keep the store and our online parts business flourishing,” said Lewter.

It’s been a challenging four years for Lansing Mayor Andy Schor.

In addition to being at the helm of one of Michigan’s mostpopulous cities, nearly two years of Schor’s first term of office were spent addressing the fallout of a global pandemic.

Despite those challenges, voters handed Schor another four years in the November election, winning with 11,328 votes to Kathie Dunbar’s 6,290.

Schor ran on a platform of reducing crime, maintaining a shrinking police force and keeping harmony in a diverse population. With the election behind him, it’s back to work, and the mayor is looking forward to his second term and to the continued development of the city of Lansing.

“I’m very excited for growth in the city of Lansing,” Schor told 517 Magazine. “I’m very optimistic — even coming out of the pandemic — that Lansing will continue to be a strong and vibrant city. People are moving here, and we continue to have a healthy business community. We will see incredible economic development and investments, stronger neighborhoods, reduced crime, and improved infrastructure with the influx of dollars from the federal government to assist. I look forward to many new accomplishments in 2022 for the city of Lansing.”

Schor has been working to push the state for more COVID-19 relief dollars and other ways to assist small businesses, including those downtown that have been affected by so many state workers continuing to work from home. His focus for the coming term will be on job growth, neighborhoods and equity.

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F E ATU R E

LOCAL MINDSET SMALL BUSINESSES PAY BIG DIVIDENDS IN ANY COMMUNITY

BY OMAR SOFRADZIJA

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THE SEASON OF GIVING BACK

Small, local businesses offer more than just community convenience. When supported by area residents and encouraged to thrive, they help lift the economic stability of an entire region.

T

hink one person, doing one small thing, can’t make a big difference?

Think again, Michiganders.

“Even if a person made a conscious effort, a pledge to themselves, a commitment to their neighborhood that 1 out of every 10 purchases (now going out-of-state) would go to a local business, it could fuel our (state’s) economy with an extra $1.2 billion — not to mention keeping that business as part of your community,” said Cathleen Edgerly, executive director of Downtown Lansing Inc. This holiday season is shaping up to be an important opportunity for those momand-pop shops that dot our downtowns to regain some stability that’s been lacking for the past couple of years — especially as we come out of a pandemic period where many dollars once spent locally and in-person instead disappeared into cyberspace through e-commerce.

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“It comes down to making that extrastep effort to make sure you’re supporting the local businesses that are important to you,” said Don McNabb, board chair for the Eaton Rapids Downtown Development Authority. “We want to keep people local, we want to keep people visiting our businesses and we want to keep these businesses here for a long period of time.”

It’s about more than supporting those small entrepreneurs. The dollars they get here, stay here.

“The money stays in the community,” said Craig Hatch, president and CEO of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Experience Jackson.

“That makes your community more healthy and more vibrant, and it builds more jobs. It’s also supporting those business owners that support the community. They’re the ones who are going to sponsor your Little League teams.

They’re the ones that are going to share with your nonprofits.”

That money also creates local jobs.

“Small, local business owners are the biggest employers nationally. They create 2 out of every 3 new jobs in the local economy,” said Edgerly. “They employ more than 52% of the nation’s employees. That’s pretty significant for any community of any size and for our state as well.”

It’s also about what Adam Cummins, community and economic development administrator for the city of East Lansing, called “placemaking.” Those are the distinct charms that make your community your home: “It gives your community that unique charm and character that people desire.”

In the same way the coronavirus has changed our habits, it’s also hit the reset button on the shopping patterns for many

“E-commerce for our local businesses is huge because it’s a great convenience,” said Hatch. “Whether you’re sitting at home or sitting at my daughter’s softball game, you can sit there and shop. It’s so easy to go to Amazon. A lot of that is on our local businesses to make sure they’re staying ahead of that game and getting into the e-commerce world.”

Many mid-Michigan merchants’ associations are planning holiday season initiatives, events and promotions Edgerly called “shopportunities” to help lure people back to their city centers, debit cards in hand. Those range from gift cards that can only be used at local merchants, social events that bring people into shopping districts to mingle and shop, and other marketing efforts to build awareness.

Ultimately, all that adds up to more than just supporting local entrepreneurship.

F E ATU R E

consumers. That’s a challenge for small businesses, but it’s also an opportunity for merchants who make themselves visible, from storefronts to websites.

“Understanding the time that we’re living in, there are a lot of unknowns,” Cummins said. “There’s a lot of opportunity for new customers.

The pandemic has shifted consumer behaviors. There’s a lot of customers up for grabs who are looking for new places to shop and dine.”

In our digital era, it’s important to note that shopping in town doesn’t have to mean shopping in person. You can still shop from behind your laptop on the couch and peruse the online offerings of a local shop. That puts the onus on local shopkeepers to maintain and build the online presences that helped them survive social distancing rules.

Rather, it’s about preserving the foundation that creates a magnetic pull for people to want to come to Greater Lansing communities — and stay there.

“If we want to keep people in our communities, we’ve got to create jobs. We have to have things for them to want to do,” said McNabb. “It goes back to the motto ‘Live, Work and Play.’ You’ve got to find ways for people to do all three.”

Edgerly agreed: “We have to support the people and places that are here, that give us so much support.

Look at who supports local events. Who supports local sports teams? Who’s creating great community spaces? Those are our local businesses.

“Let’s give them the love and support that they have given all of us for decades and, sometimes, for generations,” she added.

SMALL-BUSINESS TACTICS TO THRIVE Here are some ideas from mid-Michigan economic development experts on what small businesses can do to delight their customers and define their community value:

• • •

SOCIALIZATION, NOT JUST SHOPPING. Creating events, happenings and social spaces (think how-to classes, sampling events, art installations) can encourage people to try new things and perhaps make related purchases. Plus, it’s something mega-sized digital sellers simply cannot offer: an in-person social experience.

TEAM UP WITH YOUR RETAIL NEIGHBORS. Large-scale themed events like special shopping days or holidaythemed activities coordinated between various nearby businesses can create buzz and draw a mass of shoppers that benefit all. Get your shopping district to be seen as a fun place to be, not just to shop.

MAINTAIN A STRONG ONLINE PRESENCE. Social distancing may have prompted many small businesses to improve their online offerings, but a return to normal shouldn’t get them to stop. Keep giving local shoppers an online option.

Pay attention to your website and use social media to show off products and services.

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business / TRENDS

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PICKING MAIN STREET OVER MALL STREET Big things come in small packages. Going small can make a big difference where you live when it comes to holiday shopping. The ripples of investing in local small businesses can swell into large waves of benefit that buoy the health of an overall community. Here’s a look at just a few of the wide-ranging perks of staying local.

YOU MATTER AS A CUSTOMER Every customer counts for an independent business. Your patronage matters and is going to be valued.

Plus, because the staff is likely to be personally invested in the products and services of the business, they are going to be more informed and knowledgeable so you will receive more individualized service and attention to detail.

Going the extra mile for the customer is just standard operating procedure.

LOCAL MONEY STAYS LOCAL Most estimates indicate that for every $100 spent at a local business, at least $68 will remain in the community.

That’s a significant increase from the $43 that would stay local from a national chain.

Although wages, taxes and donations would stay local from both types of businesses, independent shop owners also tend to keep services like accounting and marketing in the local economy.

SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP Ingenuity and innovation are the cornerstones of the American economy. Supporting local business is an intentional act of nurturing your neighbors who are taking risks to invest in your hometown. The pandemic shook the economic foundations of communities everywhere, and those aftershocks are still being felt. Your continued dedication to small business is helping to shore up the local economy.

SPREADING THE WEALTH By some statistics, small businesses donate 250% more than larger businesses to local nonprofits and causes. According to one survey of small businesses, 66% give to local charities, 48% support local youth organizations, 42% donate to local first responders, 39% support local religious organizations, 37% aid local service groups and 32% donate food or volunteer in local soup kitchens.

KEEP YOUR COMMUNITY UNIQUE One-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinct character of a location. It’s what makes a community a destination and attracts more guests and visitors. Local stores give a community an individuality that can’t be found or replicated anywhere else. Shopping at local businesses not only supports that concept, but it also helps encourage it to bloom.

Sources: rubicon.com/blog/shop-local-reasons/, fundera.com/blog/local-business-statistics, independentwestand.org/what-happens-when-you-shop-local/, score. org/blog/small-businesses-giving-back-makes-big-impact-local-communities and sustainableconnections.org/why-buy-local/.

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PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 517 REGION Massey Receives 2021 ATHENA Leadership Award Michelle Massey, vice president of community Michelle Massey outreach and customer support at TechSmith, is the recipient of the 2021 ATHENA Leadership Award.

Massey will be honored by the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce at the annual ATHENA Awards luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing.

The ATHENA Leadership Award is presented annually in more than 500 communities internationally. It recognizes individuals for professional excellence, providing valuable service to the community, and actively assisting women in attaining professional excellence and leadership skills.

“I am honored to be the recipient of the 2021 ATHENA Award. It is wonderful to be recognized for doing good in a community that I am passionate about,” said Massey. “Our community is one of creativity, opportunities and vision. I am grateful I have been able to participate in and lead initiatives that have impacted business and the community.

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Receiving this award is humbling because there are so many others committed to the Lansing region and doing great things.”

Massey has over 25 years of information technology industry experience, along with extensive experience in community engagement, business operations, corporate planning, support and proposal development.

Ribbon-cutting Held for StoneBriar at Burcham Hills Completion of StoneBriar at Burcham Hills was celebrated by more than 175 attendees at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception Sept.

29. The four-story building offers 44 upscale apartments for residents living independently.

StoneBriar at Burcham Hills is the first life-plan community in mid-Michigan to offer an entrance-fee, independent-living product.

“It’s truly a fresh take on senior living,” said Kari Rennie, Burcham Hills executive director. “Burcham Hills has been midMichigan’s trusted provider for senior living services for over 47 years, and we are confident that when our newest residents need assisted living, memory care, rehab or nursing care, they are already home and on a campus that provides any level of care they may need or desire.”

All StoneBriar pet-friendly apartments have a patio or balcony, high-end finishes, a full-size kitchen, and a washer and dryer.

There is a separate covered entrance to the building as well as heated underground parking.

“Formal planning activities began in 2015 and included our residents, management team, employees and board of trustees; city leaders; and citizens,” said Jim Savage, board president. “We are very pleased to see the realization of our goal to provide a state-ofthe-art community that offers financial and emotional security as well as peace of mind for the family, with assurances that a plan is in place if the need for future care should arise.”

Patrick Awarded DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses McLaren Greater Lansing nurse Alicia Patrick was Alicia Patrick honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the exceptional care nurses provide every day.

The nomination, submitted by one of Patrick’s patients, stated: “Alicia was the best.

She was my nurse on Dec. 17, 2020, and was there for the worst of my labor and delivery of my son. It has been over two months since

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then, and I am still grateful for her every day.

She knew I wanted an unmedicated delivery and helped me every step of the way. I don’t think she ever left my side. She told me how to relax and showed me different positions to get into to help with the pain and help my baby drop. She even had me bear my weight onto her and held me up. I am amazed at how much she went above and beyond for me during the birth, and the aftercare was no different. I really don’t think I could have had the birth I did without her!”

Patrick was rewarded by hospital leadership and co-workers and received a certificate commending her for being an “Extraordinary Nurse,” as well as a sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” hand-carved by artists of the Shona people in Zimbabwe.

“I’ve always loved watching others get this award because I feel everybody here does a really good job,” Patrick said. “I’m very proud to have been nominated as well, because I love my patients.”

Hude Receives Platinum Club Honors Lansing-area real estate agent Kelly Hude received Re/Max Platinum Club honors, which are based on the production of individual agents.

The Platinum Club was first introduced in 1994 to recognize the significant increase in earnings among the very highest producers in the Re/Max system. Members of the Platinum Club qualify by having earned between $250,000 and $499,999 in gross commissions during the preceding calendar year. Hude sold nearly 50 homes in 2021 and ranked No. 28 in sales volume out of 900 agents in the month of June.

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Kelly Hude

MSU Health Care Opens Gastroenterology Clinic Michigan State University Health Care opened a new gastroenterology clinic Nov. 1.

The clinic is located on the second floor of the Hannah Technology Research Center, 4660 S. Hagadorn Road, Suite 230, adjacent to the MSU Health Care urology clinic.

After practicing medicine together for more than two decades, gastroenterologists Dr. Catherine Kerschen and Dr. Lisa OliveriLePain as well as physician assistant Maria Reed decided to form the MSU Health Care gastroenterology clinic.

“We have similar practice philosophies and complement each other very well,” said

Kerschen. “We have been talking for years for ideal practice that would benefit patients and our careers.”

MSU Health Care Gastroenterology focuses on general gastroenterology as well as complex and/or multiple gastric conditions, including biliary diseases, chronic liver disease, diseases of the colon, diseases of the esophagus and diseases of the small intestine.

In addition to diagnosis, management and treatment of patients, the clinic consults in conjunction with hepatobiliary surgeons at MSU Health Care Surgery and gastrointestinal subspecialists at Henry Ford Health System clinics for gastroenterology, hepatology, inflammatory bowel and motility.

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Emily Balander

Bria Anderson

George Molloy

Richard Balliet

Martin Announces New Hires Martin Commercial Properties announced the addition of four new full-time hires to the Martin team.

The new hires include Emily Balander and Bria Anderson as assistant property managers, George Molloy as facilities manager, and Richard Balliet as information technology coordinator.

Martin Commercial Properties is a vertically integrated commercial real estate firm with an established track record of delivering service and results to clients since 1962. Its team services clients nationally, with offices in Lansing and Grand Rapids. Martin provides strategic advice and execution in five core lines of business, including brokerage

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services, property management, corporate services, investment properties and project management.

Martinez Joins Michigan Legislative Consultants Michigan Legislative Consultants announced Monica Martinez joined the lobbying firm. Martinez brings a wealth of experience in the legislative and executive branches to the firm.

“We’re thrilled to have Monica Martinez join our team and help serve our expanding list of clients,” said Tim Ward, partner at Michigan Legislative Consultants. “Our ability to continue to attract top-notch talent like Monica reflects the client-centric

culture we have built at Michigan Legislative Consultants.”

Martinez was previously a senior policy analyst for the Senate Democratic Office, deputy director of legislative affairs for former Gov. Jennifer Granholm and a commissioner at the Michigan Public Service Commission from 2005 to 2011.

She also started a consulting firm, Ruben Strategy Group, where she spent the last decade supporting major national associations, nonprofits, coalitions and businesses in developing their markets, creating strategic pathways to solutions and empowering their organizations.

“Monica Martinez has a drive and a passion to help clients succeed. Her leadership roles and ability to develop and implement strategies will serve as a wonderful asset out of the gate to our clients,” said Brendan Ringlever, partner at Michigan Legislative Consultants.

MSU Neurologist Honored for Providing Access to Care Dr. Amit Sachdev, associate chief medical officer for Michigan State University Health Care, received a Notable Rising Star in Health Care Leadership award from Crain’s Detroit Business.

Sachdev implemented safety protocols, including mask wearing and social distancing, in early March 2020 and introduced telemedicine to the MSU Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology. His quick thinking allowed MSU Health Care to create the infrastructure needed for telehealth and to continue providing quality health care to all patients.

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“What strikes me the most is he has an engineering background that, once the pandemic hit, was really a key asset in dealing with a very complicated situation,” said Dr. Anthony Avellino, who nominated him for the award. “His ability to integrate multiple pieces of the puzzle was instrumental in developing and creating clinical processes and flow and safety protocols that resulted in a highly successful telemedicine platform. He’s passionate about what he does, and in health care we need more passionate people like him.”

Sachdev earned his medical degree from the MSU College of Human Medicine and was a neuromuscular medicine fellow with the neuromuscular diseases program within the Department of Neurology at the University of Michigan.

MSU Foundation Wins Emerging Park Award The Association of University Research Parks named the Michigan State University Foundation the recipient of its 2021 Emerging Research Park Award.

The award, presented at the 26th annual Awards of Excellence ceremony Oct. 19 at the AURP 2021 International Conference in Salt Lake City, is given to a research park that is building an exceptional ecosystem that supports bringing technology from inception to market, leading to sustainable growth, job creation and contributing to the economic health of the region.

In the last seven years, the MSU Foundation and Michigan State University have made significant contributions to the

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region and the state by supporting a robust environment for innovation, entrepreneurship, corporate relationships and commercialization activities. MSU and the MSU Foundation have made strategic investments, grown operations and added new square footage to their footprint in East Lansing and Grand Rapids.

Montes Joins First National Bank of Michigan First National Bank of Michigan announced the addition of Dan Montes Dan Montes as vice president, relationship manager. He will work out of the Lansing office at 101 S. Washington Square.

“We are pleased to welcome Dan Montes to our commercial lending team,” said First National Bank of Michigan Market President Patty Barnas. “Dan has over 13 years of diverse commercial banking, credit and management experience, and possesses the skills and knowledge to offer FNBM customers the expert personal service we are known for.”

Montes attended DeVry University in California, where he studied communications management/project management. He is an active member of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Sparrow Announces Staff Honors Dr. Christopher Herald, who leads the emergency department at Sparrow Carson Hospital, is Sparrow’s Physician of the Year;

Dr. Paul Entler, Sparrow Health System vice president of quality and performance improvement, received the Sparrow Physician Leadership Award; and five other staff members were inducted into Sparrow’s Physicians Hall of Fame during a recent Celebrating Sparrow Physicians dinner.

“I think a career in health care has always been something I thought about when I was young because of this hospital really,” said Herald. “I was born in this hospital; and living in Carson, which is such a small town, and having a great hospital facility like this in the community is really unique, but it’s also a big part of the community.”

Entler is an internal medicine physician who has experience in a wide variety of areas, such as nursing home and dementia care, obesity care, wound and hyperbaric medicine, and hospital care. He has held a number of leadership roles at Sparrow and led efforts to improve quality and patient care.

Inductees into Sparrow’s Physicians Hall of Fame can be nominated by colleagues or members of the community. This year’s inductees include Dr. Timothy Hodge, an emergency medicine clinician, educator and leader; Dr. Said Omar, the medical director of the Sparrow Hospital Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Dr. Albert Ross, a founding partner of the Michigan Gastroenterology Institute and active in numerous Sparrow governance committees; Dr. Rebecca Wolfe, a family medicine physician at Sparrow Medical Group North; and the late Dr. Paul Schluckebier, an OB-GYN whose passion for his patients and their families impacted countless lives.

Bank merger whiplash?

Switch to local bankers you know and trust.

Call me today at 517.253.8563 for a complimentary initial consultation.

With 21 years of experience serving successful women and their families in the Lansing area, Stephanie uses her comprehensive approach to financial planning to provide advice for women who want to be empowered and informed as they make complex decisions about their future.

As the only Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) in Lansing*, she believes that freedom and independence are core values of successful women, regardless of marital status.

Stephanie Milosavlevski

CFP®, CDFA® Financial Advisor 2139 Commons Parkway Okemos, MI 48864 • 517.253.8563 stephanie.j.milosavlevski@ampf.com ameripriseadvisors.com/stephanie.j.milosavlevski *Source: Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts (IDFATM). Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with plaque design) in the U.S. The initial consultation provides an overview of financial planning concepts. You will not receive written analysis and/or recommendations. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, Member FINRA and SIPC. Not Federally Insured | No Financial Institution Guarantee | May Lose Value © 2021 Ameriprise Financial, Inc., All rights reserved. 3711737ACMR0821

fnbmichigan.com COMMERCIAL | PERSONAL

business / STATE/NATIONAL

A BRIEF LOOK AT STATE AND NATIONAL NEWS AFFECTING OUR REGION

SPORTS BETTING GAMBLE PAYING BIG DIVIDENDS TO THE STATE BY CHRISTINE MACINTYRE The house appears to be winning on the sports betting gamble in Michigan.

The Jan. 22 inception of legalized sports betting in Michigan brought economic benefits, such as an influx of taxes and payments to the state, transparency, safeguards, and a regulated marketplace in which transactions take place.

So far this year, Michigan’s 14 authorized operators/providers delivered more than $19.3 million in taxes and payments from internet gaming and internet sports betting to the state of Michigan — $4.4 million of which was a result of internet sports betting alone. The totals exclude receipts from retail sports betting through the sportsbooks at land-based casinos.

The three commercial casinos reported paying $2.4 million in taxes and municipal service fees to the city of Detroit. Brick-andmortar tribal casinos are authorized under federal law and are regulated the by tribes and the tribal gaming commissions.

“Michigan residents are huge fans of professional and college sports teams, and many people enjoy gaming for entertainment,”

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said Mary Kay Bean, communications specialist for the Michigan Gaming Control Board.

The start of the football season proved to be a particular boon, Bean said, noting that September’s online sports betting handle — the total amount wagered — was $354.3 million, an 84.2% increase from August. Those figures do not include amounts generated by retail sports betting conducted at land-based casinos.

“Sports fans in the state of Michigan are some of the most passionate and knowledgeable in the entire country,” said Johnny Avello, director of race and sportsbook operations for DraftKings.

“DraftKings has seen great success in Michigan since January, thanks to their enthusiasm for both professional and collegiate sports.”

Nontribal operators distribute 20-28% of their adjusted gross receipts for internet gaming to the Internet Gaming Fund, Agriculture Equine Industry Development Fund and the city of Detroit.

Since sports betting is available in nearby states and Canadian provinces, its legalization in Michigan keeps gambling dollars and the

related taxes and payments within the state.

Additionally, legalized sports betting lends an advantage to Michigan’s commercial and tribal casinos, whose sportsbooks are offered at their brick-and-mortar locations, providing additional opportunities for interaction with and attraction of patrons, according to Bean.

“Michigan is an important state for FanDuel Group,” said Kevin Hennessy, director of publicity for FanDuel, which collaborates with MotorCity Casino on mobile sports betting along with its second-largest retail FanDuel Sportsbook. “The atmosphere at the FanDuel Sportsbook at MotorCity Casino rivals any sportsbook in Las Vegas and is truly one of our crown jewel properties.”

The Michigan Gaming Control Board uses a responsible gaming database that allows patrons to sign out of one or both forms of internet gaming for one or five years. In addition, providers’ websites include selfexclusion options, such as self-imposed limits and timeouts. The Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline, (800) 270-7117, is open 24/7.

MORE RESIDENTS ARE STEERING TOWARD LOCALLY SOURCED MEAT

CLOCK KEEPS TICKING ON DEBT CEILING

BY JILL DAVY

BY RICH ADAMS

Knowing where your food is coming from and the practices used to produce it — as well as showing support for small-scale and independent growers — have long been part of the appeal of shopping at local farmers markets for fruits and vegetables.

Now more people are using that reasoning and those principles when it comes to bringing the main course to the dinner table.

As prices have risen across every aisle at the grocery store, the meat counter also has not been spared. Supply chain bottlenecks, labor issues, drought and energy costs are some of the major contributors to the recent inflation; however, livestock producers aren’t cashing in on those inflated prices.

The cost of raising livestock continues to inch up for the producer due to the same previously mentioned issues, but the price they are paid when they sell the livestock — or the live weight price — is not reflective of the same rate of inflation customers are seeing through the glass cases at the meat counter.

At a local consumer level, a movement that is gaining more attention is sourcing meat directly from a producer. Many farmers have relationships with independent butcher shops and are selling beef and pork as a whole or partial animal (half or quarter, for example), or in even smaller bundles. The consumer pays the farmer an agreedupon price per pound that includes processing. While it is an upfront financial commitment, consumers have the benefit of buying directly from the people who raised the animal.

Nick and Candace Spitzley, owners of Spitzley Farms in Eaton County’s Vermontville, have been selling processed beef that they raise to consumers for about 10 years. Candace Spitzley acknowledged that their prices are a little higher than a national grocery chain might be, but she believes their customers appreciate knowing they are buying direct from a producer that does not use growth hormones on their animals.

“It takes 18-24 months to grow a cow until it’s ready to butcher,” she said, noting their investment in the animals. “We’re not just doing this to pay our bills. We’re doing this to raise our family.”

A decision to raise the nation’s debt limit is once again on the clock — and inaction from Congress on the issue could have wide-reaching implications.

The debt limit, also referred to as the debt ceiling, is the legal cap on the amount the federal government can borrow to avoid defaulting on its debt obligations. The ceiling was set at $28.4 trillion since Aug. 1. If the ceiling isn’t raised and the limit is reached, the federal government is only able to use cash on hand and several “extraordinary measures” permitted by the U.S. Treasury to fulfill government obligations, according to the White House. Once those resources are exhausted, the government loses the ability to pay its bills and fund operations beyond its incoming revenue.

The issue of raising the debt ceiling has been locked in a stalemate in the Senate, with predictions that the U.S. will default on its obligations sometime between mid-December and mid-February if action isn’t taken.

In a blog post from the White House Council of Economic Advisors, the protracted financial and economic fallout from the U.S. defaulting on its debt could weaken the dollar, spike interest rates and have devastating consequences to the nation’s standing in the global market. Closer to home, the results would likely be felt on a very personal level due to the suspension or delay of Social Security retirement payments, Medicaid benefits, veterans’ care, the child tax credit, and federal food and nutrition programs residents and families depend upon to survive.

Congress has always acted when called upon to raise the limit, according to Treasury spokesperson John Rizzo. Since 1960, Congress has acted 78 times to raise the debt limit. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned of the consequences of default.

“Our country would likely face a financial crisis, causing interest rates to rise quickly and restricting access to credit,” Yellen explained.

“Additionally, every Social Security beneficiary, every family receiving a child tax credit, every military family waiting for a paycheck or small-business owners receiving a federal loan would be at risk.”

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business / ON THE RECORD

CREAM RISES TO THE TOP QUALITY DAIRY FAMILY OF EMPLOYEES IS CREDITED FOR SUSTAINED SUCCESS

BY MARY GAJDA

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

QUALITY DAIRY PRESIDENT AND CEO KEN MARTIN KNOWS THE INS AND OUTS OF THE BUSINESS BECAUSE HE’S WORKED THOSE POSITIONS HIMSELF.

Quality Dairy has been the familiar and friendly go-to of Greater Lansing neighborhoods for 85 years.

Founded in 1936 with the first store on Washington Avenue in Lansing, there are more than two-dozen QDs currently in operation throughout mid-Michigan, providing local residents the assurances of both convenience and, well … quality. It’s right there in the name.

Brothers Ken, Paul, Alan and Stanley Martin learned the ropes of the family business as youth cleaning office floors and working their way up through different departments. According to Ken Martin, the president and CEO of Quality Dairy, the lessons learned in those early days still apply no matter how high in the ranks you climb.

“You don’t ask someone to do what you won’t do or haven’t done yourself — and you don’t evaluate someone on how they’re doing unless you truly understand,” he said.

The young Martins were also taught that hiring employees was much like entering a marriage: It was a commitment to invest in and create long-term opportunities for employees.

“We’re committed to making sure we hold up our end of the bargain,” said Ken Martin, explaining that the company was broad enough that if a position didn’t work out for an employee in one role, chances were he or she could find a fit elsewhere.

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With QD’s roots firmly planted in Lansing, the company has been a major employer over the years. Ken Martin also noted that there aren’t many degrees of separation within the family of employees that have made their way through the company’s doors over the years.

“I’ve had people tell me, ‘You’ve probably employed someone from every Lansing family at one point in time,’” he said.

Ken Martin’s indoctrination into his leadership role after the loss of his brother came just as the world was learning about COVID-19. But he soon learned the lessons engrained in the company’s moral compass were going to play a major role in keeping the doors open during the pandemic.

Investing thousands of dollars in training for each employee is one of the reasons QD has retained as much of its workforce as it has, while other businesses have lost so many team members. In fact, the convenience store industry overall has an extremely high turnover rate. Add in a pandemic, and those numbers dramatically increase.

Making good hires, investing in them and keeping them safe on the job are among the Martin family’s mission; and when the going got tough, it was those employees who made the difference.

“I don’t know if anybody could have been prepared (for COVID),” Ken Martin said. But

“our people showed up; that’s the story here.

The employees of Quality Dairy didn’t skip a beat. They didn’t stay home; they didn’t ask why they had to come in. They simply showed up.”

He added that it was those employees who kept the company afloat when it just could have collapsed. However, QD wasn’t left unscathed.

“I have stores that should be open much later or even 24 hours, and I’m closing them early,” he said. “To say we’ve come out of it unblemished, we can’t say that. But we’re just so proud of how everyone has rolled their sleeves up and got it done.”

As for what the future holds, Ken Martin’s son, Jesse, and nephew, Joe (brother Alan Martin’s son), are current vice presidents and are being primed to step into ownership roles someday, a role Ken Martin referred to as the third shift rather than the third generation because of the deeply impactful journey ahead.

“We’re in that due-diligence phase right now,” Ken Martin said, “I know they’re up to the challenge.”

In the meantime, the company is celebrating its 85th year in business. Yet Ken Martin sees another milestone ahead.

“I won’t be in this role,” he said, “but I’m waiting for QD’s 100th year. That’s the milestone I want to see.”

business / PERSPECTIVES PERSPECTIVE

GIVING ANIMALS A NEW LEASH ON LIFE

Julia Willson

A Q&A WITH JULIA WILLSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CAPITAL AREA HUMANE SOCIETY

BY PENNY SPEHAR

Q& A

The Capital Area Humane Society is engaged in its Creating Hope, Completing Families capital campaign? What will the result of the campaign be?

We are really looking at changing the way that we house animals at CAHS. Animal shelters can be very frightening places for pets.

In 2014 we began a 10-year facilities plan to create an environment where pets feel safe, while at the same time projecting to the community that animal shelters are a place of hope.

We completed the first phase of our vision in 2017. We are now working hard to make the rest of our vision a reality by re-creating our dog, kitten and puppy adoption areas. While the pandemic slowed our progress on this campaign, we were able to move forward with the creation of the Judith A. Posey Anti-Cruelty Center in November

2021. This is an area of the shelter, designated for the care of animals that are victims of cruelty.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the work at CAHS? It has been a very interesting time for animal welfare. We have seen some unexpected things, like an increase in adoptions due to people being at home more. That was a real win for the animals.

We have also been reminded of how much our community cares about animal welfare through so many wonderful people stepping up to help with volunteering, fostering and donating.

It hasn’t been without some real challenges though, and we faced many of the same struggles other businesses have trying to navigate these unchartered waters. We have learned a lot about being resilient and doing things differently.

What is the best part about working at CAHS? I have been passionate about animal welfare since I was a small child. I was the kid who had to save every stray and hug every dog.

This is truly a dream to be serving my community in this capacity. And I have the most amazing group of people to work with. The shelter is filled with staff and volunteers who remind me every day that the world is filled with amazing people.

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To establish a budget, prioritize monthly spending, from necessary expenses to desired (but not necessary) items. For example, paying your mortgage or rent and utilities as well as buying food are necessary, but eating out weekly is not.

BUDGETING FOR 2022

By Deidre Davis, MSU Federal Credit Union’s Chief Marketing Officer If a budget is the foundation of sound money management, why is it so challenging to stick to one? Here are some ways to get back to budgeting basics in 2022.

A budget is a plan for using your money based on priorities you identify and choices you make. It is a tool to assist you in doing what is most important to you financially. Setting financial goals and incorporating them into a budget results in smarter spending choices.

Next, subtract those expenses from your net income (your income after taxes). Then, identify your financial goals and add them into your budget. These might include saving a down payment for a car, home, or upcoming vacation.

Open subsaver accounts — separate accounts within your main savings account — for each goal. To make saving easier, set up automatic transfers to those accounts each month or every time you receive a paycheck.

A good way to maintain your budget is to create an emergency fund so you have cash on hand for unexpected expenses such as car repairs or medical costs. You can use these

funds instead of money allocated for other purposes or a credit card, which can add to your debt.

The MSUFCU Mobile app allows members to keep track of their accounts, automate their savings, transfer funds, and more. The Credit Union also hosts free inperson and virtual seminars on a variety of financial education topics including budgeting, managing your credit, and saving for retirement.

In addition, our Savings BuilderSM account helps members save faster by paying higher dividends on their initial deposits.

DEIDRE DAVIS

Chief Marketing Officer MSU Federal Credit Union deidre.davis@msufcu.org | 517-333-2424 Headquarters: 3777 West Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823

business / BIZ TIPS

LEADING BY EXAMPLE Behavior from the top will be emulated among other leaders One of my new coaching clients is a plant manager who is struggling with high turnover on his team. He is fabulous on the metrics side — getting quality product out the door — but is falling down on the people side of the business.

Direct reports say he has an autocratic style and micromanages everyone and everything. When the human resources business partner was discussing the situation with me, I asked her to describe the styles of his previous bosses.

Yep, autocratic and micromanagers.

My client has been with this company for 10 years. Luckily, in our initial conversations he realized he needs to shift his style and is very open to learning and trying new ways to lead, manage and motivate.

BY SUSAN COMBS

Think about what kinds of leaders you are growing. This is especially important as we all continue to work in the hybrid or virtual space.

In a July 2020 Harvard Business Review article by Sharon Parker, Caroline Knight and Anita Keller on remote managers trusting their team members, the authors recommended several ideas based on their research of 1,200 people in 24 countries.

The No. 1 recommendation is to look at what’s happening at the highest level. What behaviors are being modeled at the top? In their research, the managers who struggled with leading remote teams had low job autonomy as well as excessively controlling and low-trust bosses — which begets more of the same and can lead to more turnover in a time when every organization is desperately trying to hold on to talent.

Other suggestions the authors offer include: • Provide practical support for remote working (the right equipment, training, etc.).

• Educate managers on the potential benefits of remote workers.

• Train managers to “check in” not “check on” — learn skills of delegation and empowerment.

• Train managers how to manage by results.

So, as we finish out another year of dealing with the pandemic and remote or hybrid work, be mindful of the kinds of leaders you are growing. Focus on building trust, maintaining a positive work culture and growing empathetic leaders.

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OUR DONORS DRIVE OUR MISSION

In this season of thankfulness and giving, we want to express our sincere gratitude for the generosity of our donors in driving our mission to ensure McLaren Greater Lansing continues to provide the gold standard in health care to our community.

This coming spring, the new McLaren Greater Lansing health campus will open to serve the needs of the local community. The $600 million project will bring the next generation of medicine to mid-Michigan with a 240-bed, state-of the-art hospital; a Karmanos Cancer Institute; and a heart and vascular institute that will transform the patient experience by providing world-class care in a world-class setting.

Our goal is to provide the best health care in our community, and that would not be possible without

the support and strength of the countless donors who are making an impact right along with us. Large or small, celebrated or anonymous, every show of support is noticed, deeply appreciated and affirms our goal to improve health outcomes by bringing the pinnacle of care and service to Greater Lansing.

The health of a region defines the compassion of its residents, and the outpouring of generosity that has been shown to this project is proof positive that we live, work and play in a community that places a high value on its commitment to caring.

We could not do this without you.

Thank you.

517-975-7100 mglcampaignforcare.com

lifestyle

PLACES p.36 GOOD READS p.38 RECIPE p.39 STYLE p.40 POLL p.42 NONPROFIT p.50 PLAY p.52

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS In this month of giving, finances or even time may not be on your side, but it doesn’t mean you can’t do something that will make a difference in someone’s life. You can choose to do something small, such as pay for the meal of someone behind you in line at a drive-thru, drop off blankets and supplies to a homeless shelter, bring coffee to your favorite police or firefighters, or bake cookies for your favorite team of caregivers.

Other ways you can give back include checking on the elderly during bad weather, or dropping by to simply play a game of cards, share a meal or just talk. Handmade holiday cards left on the door stoop or a small gift to a senior with no family could take just minutes of your time. Yet such small gestures could mean the world to someone this holiday season.

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lifestyle / PLACES

A WORLD OF

PURE IMAGINATION EXPLORING CHILDHOOD WONDER AT FABIANO’S CANDIES PHOTOS AND ARTICLE BY METRO MELIK

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t ent a cont more G.COM A 517M

did you know?

The caramel for caramel treats at Fabiano’s Candies is made on-site. The caramel is used as a base for multiple items, from chocolate-covered salted caramel to seasonal caramel apples.

Just like Willy Wonka passed the keys to the chocolate factory off to a worthy heir in Charlie Bucket, the secrets of the Fabiano family’s sweet successes have been handed down through the generations.

What began in Holland, Michigan, as a business idea of Michael Fabiano has grown through the decades to become a local favorite that draws visitors far and wide to visit Lansing for a taste of the sugary sensations that sprung from the budding 14-year-old entrepreneur.

It was 1924 when Fabiano convinced his father to purchase a candy operation and move it into the family’s ice-cream parlor. Eleven years later, Fabiano married Jane Coscarelli and brought the successful candy business to the 517, where he taught Coscarelli how to make the candy with care and quality.

They passed the art of candy-making on

to their children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.

In the years and generations since then, Fabiano’s Candies, 1427 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing, has become a pillar of a business that offers tasty treats for candy lovers in Greater Lansing. Whether to fulfill their cravings or fulfill their gift lists, Fabiano’s Candies offers a cornucopia of homemade candy offerings, with many made on-site.

Watching the confectioners work looks less like a task and more like a dance. There is a rhythm to the preparation, placement and packaging during production. Although there weren’t any notes playing while I was in the kitchen watching them expertly maneuver their way around the candy-cooling conveyer, I could feel a sense of music. It was a joy to watch.

They had a strong sense of concentration while

working, but there was also a palpable sense of pride in what they were doing.

Inside the store, the decision-making process for visitors may seem overwhelming.

Yet the people helping guests navigate their way through the cabinets stocked full of tasty treats are patient tour guides helping to fill your bags or boxes with just what is needed to satisfy any candy craving. The first week of November, the Candy Cane Elves return to Fabiano’s to begin the alchemy of candy cane production. The elves know the secret as to why something that starts off as amber in color turns into a stark-white confection that we know as the candy cane.

Fabiano’s Candies started as a bright idea in a young man’s heart, and through the decades it has brought joy to many. It’s no surprise that two of the main ingredients in everything they create are care and craftsmanship.

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lifestyle / GOOD READS

TIMELY TOMES CREATING STRONGER COMMUNITIES THROUGH CONSCIOUS PURCHASING

W

e’re in the midst of a most unusual holiday season, with supply chain challenges affecting businesses on all levels. Retailers have encouraged pre-ordering, early buying and the merits of purchasing from current inventory.

Meanwhile, social media sites are encouraging shoppers to avoid stress by purchasing gifts from local artisans instead, a strategy that has the added benefit of supporting the health and economy of our community.

The books I’m recommending this season reflect this movement.

For example, we all want stronger communities, but how do we go about creating them? Author, speaker and adviser Charles H. Vogl offers some thoughtful insights in his inspiring book “The Art of Community: Seven Principles for Belonging.”

Business owner Jane Mosbacher Morris brings a unique perspective to the concept in her book “Buy the Change You Want to See: Use Your Purchasing Power to Make the World

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BY CHERYL LINDEMANN

a Better Place.” After visiting a business in India that employs women fleeing trafficking, Morris started a company called To the Market with a goal of connecting retailers to ethically and sustainably created goods. She explains how she developed her business and shares ways for consumers to make a positive difference with their own purchasing choices, including a delicious chapter on chocolate.

Following the success of her award-winning cookbook “Ruffage,” Michigan chef Abra Berens turns her attention to more local and sustainable ingredients in “Grist: A Practical Guide to Cooking Grains, Beans, Seeds and Legumes: 140+ Recipes and 160+ Variations.” Gorgeous photography, seasonal recipe variations and profiles of growers are featured in this book that would also make a lovely and useful gift.

These titles are available in our collection at cadl.org/ catalog, with some available digitally as well as in print.

Cheryl Lindemann is a collection development specialist at Capital Area District Libraries, and a co-host of the CADL CAST podcast “Reader’s Roundtable.”

lifestyle / RECIPE • Water chestnut s • Bacon • Soy sauce • Ketchup • Worcestershire • Brown sugar sauce • Toothpicks • Cooking spray

HOLIDAY BACON-WRAPPED WATER CHESTNUTS

CHESTNUTS ROASTING ON A RACK OF WIRE. BACON TICKLING YOUR NOSE.

That’s right. We entered the 517 Magazine test kitchen to do a remix on Nat King Cole’s Christmas classic. These savory appetizers will be the star of your holiday party. And no one needs to know how easy they were to make.

DIRECTIONS

INGREDIENTS

• While baking, mix the ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and water in a

• 2 cans of whole water chestnuts, drained and rinsed • 1 package of bacon, cut in half • 2 tablespoons of soy sauce • 1/3 cup of ketchup • 1/3 cup of brown sugar • 1/3 cup of water • 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce

• Place the water chestnuts in a zip-close bag with the soy sauce. Marinate for 30 minutes, mixing frequently.

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

• Wrap each chestnut in a half strip of bacon (trim bacon if desired) and secure with a toothpick.

• Place the chestnuts on a wire rack on top of a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake in the oven until bacon is crispy, roughly 30 minutes. bowl. Set aside.

• Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Remove the wire rack and set aside. Wipe off excess grease from the baking sheet with paper towels and spray the baking sheet with cooking spray.

• Swirl each chestnut in the sauce, coating liberally, and return to the baking sheet.

• Return the baking sheet to the oven for 15 minutes, until the sauce is a sticky glaze.

• Remove from oven, garnish with pepper and serve.

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lifestyle / STYLE

IN-TOWN TRENDS

BY ERIN HAGEN

WHETHER GIFTS FOR YOU OR OTHERS, SHOP LOCAL

H

oliday shopping in December is the best time to shop local. No shipping fees. No delivery delays. Just grab and go with the thanks and appreciation of a friendly community merchant. This is when I like to do my very personal gift shopping.

Both stores I am featuring in this month’s column are packed with all kind of goodies for your fashion needs and more.

I love a good one-stop shop. Bradley’s Home and Garden, 117 E. Cesar Chavez Ave. in Old Town Lansing, now carries a collection of menswear at very affordable prices. The owners have a great selection a of trendy sports coats, that are priced so well you can afford to buy one each season. Also, there are great

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T-shirts, pants and hats. At the store’s great prices, you can get an entire very trendy outfit that will take you from work to an evening on the town.

Urban Outfitters, 2950 Centre Blvd. in East Lansing, is another great shop. The store carries a large selection of men’s and women’s clothing — a collection of merchandise that could make anyone in your family happy. Shop this season’s long sweater coats and teddy bear jackets for her and stylish oversized sweatshirts and funny socks for him.

Other trending items include knit sets — tops and bottoms in sweater material. Black moto boots are the trending boot for winter, or pick up casual sneakers. No matter what you end up giving, I’m sure your loved ones will be ever so grateful.

Happy holidays to you and yours — and happy shopping local.

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“Healthy children are the greatest asset any family can have.”

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- Susan Maples 2021

Unfortunately, health often goes unappreciated until we’re in crisis.

Speaking of crisis … as I write this, the health of our country is in serious jeopardy, and it happened on my watch, as a health care professional. It clearly wasn’t the case when I began my career in dentistry only thirty-six years ago. It should disturb us all that the U.S.A. measures as the sickest population among industrialized countries and at more than double the cost of care of any other country.

We are heavier, more diseased, more medicated, slower moving, faster paced, more socially pressured, less satisfied, more anxious, and more depressed than ever! And it’s not about to stop. By 2050, it’s projected that 43% of us will suffer from obesity, half from heart disease, half from cancer, one-third from type 2 diabetes, and 40% from anxiety disorder.

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And if they drove change among their peers?

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your kid’s formative years. Stand tall against cultural norms. Refuse to be intimidated. Are you ready?

Just read on … with a curious and open mind.

Throughout the book, I use the word parent to include any brave adult who loves and cares for a growing child. Even if you’re not caring for children in your immediate household, keep reading. After all, there’s no such thing as other people’s children when we’re all facing this health crisis together.

It’s estimated that 75% of our country’s health expenditure is for these lifestyle diseases that are preventable. Shouldn’t it scare us that every forty seconds one American dies of a heart attack and every four minutes another by stroke? Yet cardiovascular disease is preventable altogether if we would just eat real food, move more, and sleep well.

Here’s another serious issue. Our health care system doesn’t pay for prevention, only treatment.

Recognize that “preventive” procedures like colonoscopy, mammography, and PSA tests are for early detection, not prevention. We need medical coverage for all aspects of teaching how to live a healthy lifestyle. And we need to revamp our processed food supply.

Instead, medicine has been on a quest to treat one problem at a time, prescribing drugs only

to quell the symptoms, not the disease itself. The system is broken! Imagine instead, all health care professionals take time to identify the underlying root cause of disease and learn to effectively facilitate behavior change. Talk about a revolution.

To do that we must learn to see the human body as a whole—and learn what to do to care for it. How do we breathe? What’s the quality and quantity of our sleep? What do we eat? How do we effectively move our bodies? How do we respond to stress, both acute and chronic? How do we nourish and nurture our brains? And how do we improve our gut/mouth microbiome?

Your Brave Parent Journey Begins Now! If you want to help, put a child in the driver’s seat on a lifelong journey to health, consider this book your roadmap. Let me help you set up your kiddo for a lifetime of health—truly against all odds in today’s world.

Dr. Susan Maples is a dentist in Holt.

She is also a speaker, health educator and author of “BlabberMouth! 77 Secrets Only Your Mouth Can Tell You to Live a Healthier, Happier, Sexier Life.” Reach her at Susan@DrSusanMaples.com

(517) 694-0353

lifestyle / BEST OF...

best of

NEW BEGINNINGS Jan. 1. A fresh start. That’s often the way people view a new year. We make earnest resolutions, mostly on how we’re going to do better in the coming year. This is when diet and fitness resolutions pick up, and when health and wellness centers get a rash of new clientele as well.

We knew it would be on our readers’ minds, so we posted a poll on our website and social media channels — and they sure delivered.

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THE YMCA

SKIN BOSS MED SPA

It may have garnered a certain level of product retention in the name from the famous song from the 1970s, but the YMCA has been a staple in the region for years with an emphasis on body, mind and spirit.

Our readers recommended the YMCA for the great staff, family atmosphere, amenities, and focus on community and members. Comments from readers include “always more variety than a typical gym” and “best staff ever.”

The YMCA has plenty of area locations to choose from, visit lansingymca.org/ to get more information.

While diet and fitness have always been part first-of-theyear bucket lists, aesthetics and skin care have really come in to play. We think that’s why our readers chose Skin Boss Med Spa as another go-to for a new you in the new year.

Located in Haslett, Skin Boss provides services that include injectables, laser treatments, body treatments, facial treatments and permanent makeup. Readers commented about the friendly, professional and knowledgeable staff as well as the great treatment options.

Readers said “it’s gorgeous inside,” “the staff is wonderful” and “I’d be lost without them.”

Get more information at skinbossmedspa.com.

517 | 12.21

CHRYSALIS REFLEXOLOGY, HYPNOSIS & ENRICHMENT CENTER Readers looking for support in their path to health and healing fondly chose Chrysalis for reflexology and hypnosis for healing, professional development training, adult movement classes, meditation and more. Readers complimented Chrysalis with “best reflexology and energy work ever” and “Laurie helps you relax, figure out your goals and is with you every step of the way” as well as “its wide range of services keeps me coming back.” Located in Okemos, find out more at chrysalisenrichment.com.

HONORABLE MENTIONS So many area businesses were mentioned in our poll — including Hair United, a downtown salon known for inclusivity and creativity; Court One Athletic Club and Planet Fitness; The Equipoise, an Aveda salon in Williamston; Steven L. Marvin Salon Spa of Holt; and Creative Wellness of Lansing, a 2020 winner of a Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Award.

Missed the poll? Make sure you visit the polls section of our website at 517mag.com/517polls/; our current feature poll is on women leaders.

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FEATURE

Anchored by Altruism COMMUNITY KEEPS JONES GROUNDED AND AS A GUIDE FOR THE GREATER GOOD

BY CHRISTOPHER NAGY PHOTOS BY MARY GAJDA

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T

here is a common thread that links the two starkly different worlds of Sheri Jones, stretching from her quiet, rural roots in the small Muskegon County village of Ravenna to being a respected and acclaimed member of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

That thread is hope and compassion and understanding — and although it may at times become taut and strained, it remains an unbroken personal promise Jones has made to be a servant for the greater good of the community.

“I’m all about unity. I’m all about bringing people together, and I feel like we’ve lost a little bit of that over the last few years. So, I always try to bridge the gap between people,” Jones said. “I’ve always tried to remain that young woman from that small town in west Michigan … but I always try to understand the pulse of this community that I’ve raised my children in, that I am infused in, that I’m helping to lift. I try to use the anchor desk — this medium in which I’ve been blessed and this privilege to be in people’s homes to tell their stories — to take the pulse of the community to find out why are they hurting. What are they celebrating? How can I shine a light and make people’s lives better? If

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they’re hurting, how do I give them the resources they need? I hope I’m a little light for those people.”

More than just a little light, Jones has become a guiding beacon in Greater Lansing as a news anchor at WLNS-TV 6 — a trusted and familiar face that station viewers have come to rely upon for more than three decades.

Graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in communication arts and sciences, Jones was hired part time at WLNS in 1988. Her first day on the job, she unexpectedly found herself in front of the camera covering breaking news of a crane collapse at the construction site of the Jack Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing. Full-time work at the station soon followed, with Jones securing the coveted crime beat and a chair at the anchor desk in 1989.

“It was my experience as a crime reporter going out in the streets of Lansing and seeing hurting children that I knew that’s where my focus had to be,” Jones said. “I saw children who were the victim of circumstance by no power of their own. I saw children on the floor asleep in their clothes. I saw them with no food. I saw them on drugs. At 24 years old, I knew what I was supposed to do. Someday, somehow, I was going to help those children. Because, until that time, I didn’t even know that world existed.”

FEATURE

Reaching out to help others was an act ingrained in Jones as a child.

The community service award in her hometown of Ravenna is named after her grandfather. Her parents were active in Scouting, the Lions Club and the League of Women Voters. Being involved in community was not just a family value, it was an integral part of daily life.

That same commitment extended to Jones’ new home in Greater Lansing, working with organizations such as the United Way, Gateway Community Services and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Yet her personal passion came from assisting Child and Family Charities, and the fundraising for the organization’s Angel House residential program for pregnant and parenting teen girls allowed her the opportunity extend the family legacy of giving back.

“At that time, my kids were little. They helped me build the bunk beds, they vacuumed the floors, they used their birthday money to get these Dream Machines for every room for these children that came out of really tough situations,” Jones said. “So, yes, it is a family legacy.

Because, really, that’s what we’re supposed to do. Our highest calling is to help other people. It’s to help our brothers and sisters and to help make life better.”

Being a nightly fixture for the region has afforded Jones a sense of credence among local residents — something she doesn’t take lightly.

“

“

I’m all about unity. I’m all about bringing people together, and I feel like we’ve lost a little bit of that over the last few years.

“I’ve stayed here for so long because of the community, because of my ability to impact the community and make a difference in a lot of lives,” she said. “It’s a phenomenal place to raise three children, so it’s really been the perfect combination of having a fantastic career as well as an incredible community to raise my children in.

“You have to earn that trust and earn that credibility, and I trust anybody in this anchor chair here. I trust them all. And it’s a heavy lift,” Jones added. “But the voice I have because of this job lets me tell people’s stories that can make a difference in their lives. It’s not about me.

Never has been. It’s more about what I can do for the people who watch, the people who are hurting. It’s about how can I help them through this platform.”

And even though she’s been helping those people for more than 30 years — providing calm, providing comfort, providing direction — there’s still a bit of wonder and magic behind it all that never gets old and never fades.

“Sometimes at night when I am done and everyone’s gone home and only the dim lights are on, I’ll just walk out here into the studio and just go, ‘Wow, I’ve had my whole life here.’ And you know what? I wouldn’t change it, and that is a big statement. A lot of people jump from this market to that market and that market, and they make a lot of money doing that. That has never been it for me. Why? Because this career is not about me. It’s about my community.”

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S P E C I A L A DV E R T I S E M E N T

GENERATIONAL PROGRESS: SCHOLARSHIPS CEMENT OPPORTUNITY AT LANSING’S COLLEGE

BY ANDY BRENT

Photography by Kevin Fowler

We tend to take education for granted in the U.S. We assume public schools will be there to steward our children through their primary educations, and that there will always be a minimum of obstacles separating their instruction from their future potential. This assumption, however, paints an incomplete picture. Every year, thousands of seasonal crop workers, often migrants from other countries, work labor-intensive jobs wherever they can find them. Their children, who sometimes do not speak English and may not have been to school before, are left to discover school on their own, without means of expressing themselves to teachers or relating to peers.

“I am Mexican American,” Linares said. “I was born in Mexico and immigrated with my family to the U.S. in 1987 when I was a year old. My family came to Idaho where my dad at the time had relatives. I grew up in a migrant family, moving from north to south every year.”

Rolando Linares experienced this situation firsthand. The first generation Lansing Community College (LCC) student has overcome much on his journey to train as a nurse, including several attempts to go to college in the past. Undaunted, Linares has continued working toward his goals, and on Oct. 28 this year, was awarded the Thomas J. Pung Memorial Scholarship through the LCC Foundation. The $20,000 award is a product of determination and focus born from difficulty and in that is a testament to the positive and indefatigable spirit of an American community college student.

“Growing up, school was hard for me, because we moved very often,” Linares said. “It was hard to get a good grasp of basic math, English class, speaking English, reading. The foundation that a child gets from elementary school, for me, was incomplete.”

In addition to the difficult circumstances surrounding his family’s immigration to the U.S., Linares had to navigate public school while learning English as a second language. This accompanied with the frequent moves common in life as migrant agricultural workers, made school even more daunting.

Academics are not the only formative aspect of schooling.

Socializing and participating in the shorthand that grows among friends is, oftentimes, the payoff for hard work in the classroom. For Linares, it seemed just as he was establishing the kind of trust and familiarity with classmates from which lasting friendships would blossom, another job would call and his family would pack up, and move again.

“I had a hard time making friends and when I did, I would move away,” Linares said. “It was hard for me moving because I needed consistency and it was not there. I remember feeling very frustrated of being lost, that I eventually did not care to go to school or learn.”

According to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDL), the Linares’ family story, and the difficulty experienced

by Rolando, is common. Agricultural work of this kind is typically temporary, and workers move on to the next job after the harvest, along with their school-aged kids. This causes a serious gap in the continuity of education, leading to generational poverty. The USDL estimates migrant farmworkers’ family income is around $20,000-25,000 per year.

The taxing labor and long hours, accompanied with gaps in migrant parents’ understanding of the language and cultural norms surrounding them, also can hold back educational development for migrant students.

Communicating fluently in one language at home, only to struggle with a new language in school, can make progress feel impossible, something Linares experienced firsthand.

“School was hard for me because I started school not knowing any English,” Linares said. “Both of my parents did not speak it enough to teach me words. I had a hard time memorizing the alphabet and reading. The constant moving affected my ability to develop the language skills I needed to express myself and understand things in English.”

Eventually, the Linares family was able to settle in Holland, Michigan. The stability provided by a permanent address and consistent social and educational settings allowed Linares to thrive.

“What turned me around (in Holland) was that I did come across great teachers who understood I needed help,” Linares continued. “They made time to explain things and assist me with understanding and teaching me subject matter. I felt appreciated and I felt that I mattered to them.

As his education took root, Linares became interested in helping others. Growing up, the disparities in opportunities in education were almost mirrored by inequities in the healthcare system, which lead Linares to consider a career in nursing.

“I decided to pursue a career in nursing after a series of personal and work experiences, Linares said. “My positive experiences with healthcare influence how I want to be a part at providing great healthcare to patients.”

That focus on positivity is key for Linares, because positivity was often absent in the chaos of his youth and primary education. The first step of possibility, he believes, is positivity. He continued: “I want to provide positive experiences to patients, because everyone deserves equitable healthcare. Through my experiences working as a phlebotomist, dialysis technician and translator. I have witnessed how positive experiences affect a patient’s outlook... I want to be able to give back to the community by helping a patient at a time. I believe everyone, no matter what diverse background they may come from – everyone deserves equitable healthcare.”

“I want to provide positive experiences to patients, because everyone deserves equitable healthcare.”

From his youth spent trying to navigate an unfamiliar country without a permanent address, Rolando Linares has forged a path to success for not only himself or his family, but also for his future patients. Through LCC’s Nursing Program and the LCC Foundation’s Thomas J. Pung Memorial Scholarship, Linares has intertwined his future success with the health of his community.

“My family is very happy,” Linares said. “They feel too that this scholarship is a blessing. Both my partner Zack and my family are very supportive about my career endeavors. They know I will be doing a good service to the community.”

The LCC Foundation awards more than $400,000 in scholarships to students in need each academic year, training nurses, police officers, lineworkers, fire fighters and other essential personnel in mid-Michigan communities. To contribute, visit lcc.edu/elevate.

lifestyle / JACK DAVIS LEGACY NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

BATTER UP! PLANS ARE IN THE WORKS TO CREATE A STRIKEOUT BASEBALL LOCATION IN THE LANSING AREA TO HELP EXPOSE THE SPORT TO INNER-CITY YOUTH.

STADIUM OF DREAMS STRIKEOUT BASEBALL LOOKS TO LANSING LOCATION

BY KYLE DOWLING

The ol’ ball game is getting a new look in the Lansing area.

Jeff Lazaros is working diligently on his dream of bringing baseball back to inner-city kids through Strikeout Baseball. Strikeout is different from regular baseball, with smaller teams and just the infield to play on.

“We used to play it where I grew up down in Detroit,” said Lazaros. “It takes less space to play, and you don’t need to get 18 guys to get a game going.”

The stadium will be completely enclosed, with a wall along the back of the field replicating Jackson Field and a net covering the top of the diamond. The field itself will have lights and sound effects of a crowd and organ music to make it feel like a real major league game.

Depending on where the ball hits along the wall or ceiling, certain calls are made for the play. With each team having about five players, it’ll be much easier for kids to get pickup games going.

“We really believe that down the road, what we’re creating is something that baseball will use and endorse for many years in

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the future,” said Lazaros. “So, this is really just the starting point of creating something cool and unique. And having it start here in Lansing is amazing.”

The stadium will be named after John Smoltz, an MLB All-Star who came from the Lansing area. Smoltz said that he is honored and very excited to see the stadium come to fruition.

“It’s going to be owned and operated by the city of Lansing.

Basically, we’re doing the legwork to create, develop and construct this facility,” said Lazaros. “We’re trying to make it as easy as possible for kids to just buy a ball, pick up their bats and mitts, and just get out and play.”

They have been working on fundraising for the project and they are pending approval as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

“This is my dream,” said Lazaros. “I’ve been working for years to bring this together and, along with my advisory board, I’m proud to see it coming together. I want this to be a symbol for kids to follow their dreams, because they can achieve them. I grew up with very little, and I know what it’s like to be made fun of. And I really believe that the underlying message of what I’m doing is to give hope to young kids to always believe in themselves and, you know, to always put their best foot forward, to respect your elders and be a good person.”

For more details about the project or to contribute, visit strikeoutbaseballusa.org.

SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT

THE GIFT OF GIVING BACK MIND • BODY • SPIRIT Photographer: KyLee J. Carter/LostGirlVision Key Makeup Artist: d neiswender Artistry Apparel: ALT Printing Co.

Hair United celebrated our 1st anniversary in November with a ribbon cutting ceremony, open house (with plenty of local treats!) and the launch of our first line of Hair United apparel, printed by ALT Printing Co. (on Instagram @altprintingco).

To capture our apparel we recruited photographer KyLee J. Carter (@lostgirlvision) and 8 of our real life hair clients as models.

Client d neiswender (@d.n.a__makeup) created the makeup looks. The inspiration for the creative design of the shoot came from past United Colors of Benetton ad campaigns.

Our new line of hoodies and long-sleeve shirts also give back to the community $10 of each Hair United apparel sale will be donated to the Refugee Development Center’s Afghan Welcome Fund. This fund, in partnership with the Afghan Association of Michigan, will be used “to welcome and support refugees as they begin new lives in mid-Michigan […] and ensure basic needs are met and refugees are able to succeed and ultimately thrive.”

Founded in 2002, Lansing’s Refugee Development Center is a “welcoming, thriving community that collaborates with refugees and newcomers through education, engagement, and support.”

To learn more about the RDC/ volunteer opportunities go to www.

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Liz Winowiecki (she/her) owns Hair United, located at 515 West Ionia Street.

Find her on Instagram @lizlizzyliz. Find the salon @_hairunited_ Website: www.HairUnitesUs.com | photo by Rain Lundberg

lifestyle / PLAY

t ent a cont more G.COM A 517M

Lighting Up the Holiday Season WONDERLAND OF LIGHTS Through Dec. 27 It’s time for the 26th annual Wonderland of Lights at the Potter Park Zoo. Tour the grounds with friends and family Thursdays through Sundays as thousands of lights and decorations transform the zoo into a holiday spectacle.

There will be cookie decorating, crafts and animal encounters for all to enjoy. Visit potterparkzoo.org/ event/27th-annual-wonderlandof-lights for more details.

THIS MONTH’S EVENTS Editor’s note: Please call event venues directly to make sure times and dates haven’t changed due to cancellations and postponements related to COVID-19.

Amaru’s Funny is Funny Comedy Club Presents: Amaru Dec. 1-5 As a skilled and accomplished filmmaker and screenwriter, Amaru can adapt to his environment and make any situation into a humorous story. The screenwriter in him makes him visual, but the kid and the quick wit in him makes for a good time at any club. For more information, visit funnyisfunnycomedyclub.com/product/amaru/.

Arts Night Out in Old Town Dec. 10 Looking for a great night out? Every other month, Lansing’s Old Town presents Arts Night Out, a night of street art, pop-up theater, local music, exhibits, performances, dance and more. Many of your favorite Old Town shops will be open as well. Visit lansingarts.org for more details.

Second Friday Shop Hop in Old Town Dec. 10 Come explore all that Old Town Lansing has to offer on the second Friday of every month for the Shop Hop. Visit multiple participating businesses for specials, make and takes, pop-up shops, local artists, and more. Each participating location will have a different offering each month. Visit facebook.com/OldTownLansing for more details.

Follow our friends at 517living.com for other upcoming events in the region.

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December Member Mixer Dec. 14 The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Member Mixers occur on the second Tuesday of every month and provide an opportunity to connect and meet other members and business professionals. The December event is hosted by Financial Technology Inc., 333 Albert Ave., Suite 400, in East Lansing. For more details, visit members. lansingchamber.org/event-calendar/Details/december-member-mixer-hosted-byfinancial-technology-inc-293392?sourceTypeId=Hub.

Advertorial

Maureen Halliday WILX Anchor / Reporter

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working in the news industry?

Maureen: My favorite thing about working in the news industry is being able to connect with local community members and share their stories. There have been instances when sharing someone’s personal struggle has resulted in them receiving help because a viewer saw the story and wanted to offer assistance. It makes me happy that our viewers can connect with my stories and it’s not just something they see on TV. Q: Tell us about your favorite places to go locally?

Maureen: One of my favorite spots to eat in Lansing is the Old Town Diner. It’s a small diner, but the food is amazing. My favorite is their grilled cheese.

Q: What’s the easiest and hardest parts of your job?

Maureen: One of the hardest things about my job is reporting on breaking news, especially when there’s a fatality. We see a lot of tragedy as reporters. We’re usually on scene of breaking news minutes after first responders arrive. The easiest part of my job is working with my amazing reporters, producers and photographers. It’s great being surrounded by hardworking dedicated journalists. We’re able to challenge and push each other to be our best!

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S D R A W E R L A N O I G E R A Greater Lansing holiday gift guide BY KYLE DOWLING

You don’t need to search far and wide to find those perfect gifts for the holidays. The team members at M3 Group in Lansing offered their takes of local locations that make for the perfect shopping destinations for everyone on your list.

AMANDA FISCHER Horrocks Farm Market is one of my favorite places to shop for gifts. I like to look through the beers and wines to find one that the person I’m shopping for has never tried. Next, I usually grab a variety of the popcorn, candy and other fun snacks. I also discovered Horrocks sells greeting cards, so you can basically create a goodie bag customized to the person you’re shopping for without going to a bunch of different stores.

CHAD HUSSLE I’m really into Brazilian jiujitsu, and I want everyone to benefit the way I have.

So, I think a great gift idea and a way to support local would be lessons at places like Magic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or KSK Martial Arts. This is a great way to get in shape and learn discipline — and anybody can do it, it just takes determination and practice. It is pretty life changing and would make an epic gift.

CHRISTOPHER NAGY The gift of an experience is always a fun idea. Our thoughts often turn to “elsewhere” when we think of getting out and seeing new things; however, you don’t have to take a vacation to go exploring. There’s plenty of great events and attractions right here in the Greater Lansing region that will give friends and family members an experiential outing, from history and outdoor recreation to

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nightlife and things to do with the kids.

Plus, a lot of these places were closed due to the pandemic, so even if they’ve been there before, it’s a chance for the recipient to reacquaint themselves with their hometown. The Great Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau is a great place to get great ideas.

KYLE DOWLING If I were to look for gifts from local suppliers, my one-stop shop would have to be the Old Town General Store.

It has plenty of Michigan-made items, from Michigan fudge and cherries to Michigan-shaped cookie cutters and cutting boards. It even has many items packed in a convenient basket for easy gift giving. All the baskets are great; you can’t go wrong.

LIZ RENO-HAYES Horrocks Farm Market is my go-to.

Specialty popcorn, chocolates, nuts, coffee, olive oils, etc. all make great local gifts and the best stocking stuffers. I usually nab a gift certificate for my mom to do her spring flower/garden shopping.

MARY GAJDA I like to create a custom gift box for each family member. For my daughter, I love to shop local boutiques like Grace Boutique and Twiggies in Old Town. For my son-in-law, a sports fan, I pick up gift certificates to places like Frank’s Press

Box so he can enjoy his favorite food and watch the big game. My husband is a musician, so his gifts could come from places like Elderly Instruments. Personal gifts make all the difference.

MEGAN FLEMING Dinner and a show. A gift to a favorite restaurant in town, like One North, and tickets to the new Funny is Funny Comedy Club is the perfect pair. I love gifting experiences, especially for people who already have everything.

MELISSA DEMOTT My family is doing a secret Santa exchange this year. I love shopping locally for one-of-a-kind gifts. I plan to shop at Metro Retro since it has unique thrifted finds at reasonable prices. I will also visit Fabiano’s Candies for their delicious handmade candies, like truffles and almond clusters, and Great Lakes Art and Gifts for their handmade Michigan goods.

TIFFANY DOWLING With the holiday season upon us, Cask & Kettle is bringing the holiday cheer with hard coffee and cider cocktail pods that can be prepared in any Keurig-style brewing machine or poured directly into a steaming mug of water. These pods can be found in several chains throughout Michigan, as well as independent retailers and from the business’s online store.

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