Home For The Holidays Special supplement to
2
Huron Daily Tribune • 2021 • Home for the Holidays
A 'normal' holiday season ... sort of its Whoville theme and return to a more traditional Christmas theme this year. As was the theme last year thanks We are thankful, however, that to the coronavirus pandemic, the holiday season saw a lot of changes. we will at least get an opportunity to enjoy some holiday spirit this Many events were canceled or at the very least, significantly reduced, year. It is still important, however, to remember that there is still a due to fears of unnecessary risks. This year, 2021, has been a year of pandemic going on. Take appropriate precautions — if you haven't been resurgence, with the return of many of our favorite events here in Huron vaccinated, wear a mask when you are indoors with a group, for County. And while the pandemic example. It's also not to late to start continues, with many people the vaccination process — if you get being vaccinated, the effects of the the two-shot regimen, you'll be fully pandemic are expected to be much vaccinated by Christmas. less this holiday season. Most importantly though, we hope With that, we should be able to that everyone is able to get together once again enjoy some of the events with their families this season, and that we have become used to in the get together with their friends as well Thumb each winter. and enjoy some of our great events That's not to say there won't be changes this year. The Pat Kellerman here in the Thumb. I know I missed my normal holiday Memorial Turkey Trot will not traditions last year, and it just didn't return this year, though that is not coronavirus-related. And with new feel like the Christmas that I'm used leadership at the Bad Axe Chamber to. I'm looking forward to a bit of of Commerce, the annual Bad Axe normalcy this year. Christmas Parade will depart from It's been a long year and a half, By Eric Young Editor
Eric Young
and as has been the theme all year, it's nice to see our events return. Go out and partake, give the organizers your support, so we can continue to have these great events in the years to come. Eric Young is the editor of the Huron Daily Tribune. He can be reached at eric.young@hearstnp.com.
3
Home for the Holidays • 2021 • Huron Daily Tribune
Bad Axe Christmas parade returning to traditional theme By Robert Creenan Staff writer
With the return of the Bad Axe Chamber of Commerce, the annual Christmas parade the group puts on will be making a return as well. The “Deck the Streets” parade will take place at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 27, with a more traditional Christmas theme. The lineup for floats starts at 3:30 p.m. with participants asked to be there by 6 p.m. The parade route will be the same as in years past, starting at Bad Axe Middle School and making its way along Huron Avenue to the Franklin Inn. Kaitlyn Fay, the head of the Bad Axe Chamber of Commerce, said they had got community feedback about the parade where residents want to return to a traditional theme. “Anytime we mention its happening, we get asked if its going to be Whoville again,” Fay said. “Most people are happy to hear that it isn’t. People are ready for something more traditional again.” Three prizes will given out for the participating floats, with each receiving a trophy. They are most original, overall best, and mayor’s choice. Fay said they will leave it up to those putting the floats together how they want to build and set them up. “If they want to take creative liberties, we’ll not crush their dreams, as long as everybody is safe,” Fay said. Aside from the parade, other Christmas themed
events are scheduled to take place around Bad Axe that day. These include: • The Bad Axe Theater will be playing The Polar Express free of charge at 1 p.m. • Free ornament decorating will take place at City Hall from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. • Food trucks will be set up in front of the Huron County building. • A gift-wrapping station The Bad Axe Christmas parade returns this year with a more traditional theme instead of the Whoville of years past. will be held at location yet to It will be one of many Christmas events happening in town the Saturday after Thanksgiving. (Tribune File Photo) be confirmed. • Thumb Bank and Trust will have having fire pits with s'mores. • A drop-off box for letters to Santa Claus will be set up outside City Hall. Fire pits and hat selling Do You Need A Ride??? stations will also be present. While the chamber is • Need to see a Doctor? • Dentist? • Go to Work? • Go Shopping? still figuring out how many lights to put up, Santa Claus is scheduled to make an appearance where he will get off his float and light up the downtown area. Organizing this parade for the first time was hard for Fay and other chamber members “Our Friendly, Personable, and Courteous Drivers because they did not have a lot will get you to your of time to do it. She said it will destination in a safe and timely manner!” be easier next year when they do have more time. Buses Are: • Handicap Accessible • Wheelchair Equipped “We’re excited to be doing • Comfortable Environment this again for the community,” County-Wide Transportation • Every City and Village Fay said. “We’re working hard to get this out to as many Hours of Operation: people as we can.” Mon-Fri 5am-10pm • Sat 8am-6:30pm • Sun Closed Huron Transit Corporation Those interested in 1513 Bad Axe Rd. • Bad Axe, MI 48413 800-322-1125 • 989-269-2121 • Fax 989-269-8631 participating in this year’s THUMB AREA TRANSIT www.tatbus.com parade can reach out to Fay at 989-269-6369, by email at badaxechamberofcommerce@ gmail.com, or through the chamber’s Facebook page.
Huron County Residents
4
Huron Daily Tribune • 2021 • Home for the Holidays
Harbor Beach Christmas Parade returning By Robert Creenan Staff writer
the High School Marching Band, law enforcement agencies, fire departments, The 36th annual Harbor and Santa Claus at the end of Beach Christmas Parade the parade, with all kinds of will return this year to get entries welcome. residents in the holiday spirit. “We let each group decide The parade will be held at what they would like to bring,” 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 4, with the Brandow said about the floats’ parade route starting at City theming. “It makes it more fun Hall and continuing eastbound and unique.” on State Street to the M-25. After the parade is over, It will then turn south onto residents will have the chance Trescott Street. to vote on their top three floats The parade committee that in the parade until 6 p.m. on organizes the event includes Dec. 5. The parade committee Debbie Brandow, Shelli Arntz, will then announce the top Tammy Holdwick, and Tammy three entries on the Harbor Roberts, whom have done so Beach Christmas Parade for the past few years. Facebook page, with first place As of Nov. 15, the parade receiving $75, second place has 21 entries so far and $50, and third place $25. will continue to accept Anyone who wants to get applications right up until the involved with the parade can parade starts. Some of the call or text Brandow at 989participating groups include 670-8639.
The Harbor Beach Christmas Parade will return this year to give residents their dose of holiday cheer. Judging for the best floats will take place, with prizes for the top three floats as voted on by residents.(Tribune File Photo)
5 ways to support small businesses this holiday shopping season Small businesses long have been the heart and soul of local communities. There is something to be said about being on a first-name basis with a local restaurateur or another small business owner, as such familiarity often translates into exemplary service. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses account for 99.9 percent of companies in the country, due in large part to the broad definition of small businesses (those with fewer than 500 employees). However, the vast majority of businesses in the United States have a staff that’s smaller than 20 workers, according to the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. These firms employ nearly 60 million workers, says the SBA. Despite the prevalence of small businesses, fewer than
80 percent of entrepreneurial small business ventures make it beyond their first year, and only around half make it beyond five years. Consumers who want to help their favorite small businesses survive can use the holiday season and beyond to set the course for success. Consumers can make a concerted effort to fuel this important cog in their local economic engines. • Shop local. The concept is simple but effective. Opting to shop in local stores over larger conglomerates and franchises can help small businesses take root. Before making holiday shopping lists, visit local stores and base gift ideas on items they have in stock. Chances are those gifts will be one-ofa-kind. • Purchase gift cards/ certificates. All businesses
have slow periods, and postholidays is often a time when sales stagnate. Gift cards may bring new customers into local businesses who might otherwise not have patronized them, potentially creating new repeat customers. • Cater holiday meals and gatherings. The holiday season is chock-full of entertainment opportunities. Individuals can rely on nearby restaurants and other food and beverage businesses to cater holiday parties. Some businesses also may be willing to discount or donate food for nonprofit group activities, such as church holiday bazaars, school holiday concerts or fundraising fairs. • Mention small businesses on social media. The holiday season breeds excitement. Therefore, when shoppers are in local stores, they can
snap pictures of products and overflowing shopping bags and post them online while praising local businesses. • Think about subscription gifts. Enrollment in a health club or a massage therapy service are gifts that keep on giving for the recipient, but
also help ensure consistent incoming cash for the business providing the service. When shopping this holiday season, consumers can look to the small, local businesses in their communities that help make towns and cities unique.
Home for the Holidays • 2021 • Huron Daily Tribune
Sebewaing's Spirit of Christmas returns this weekend By Eric Young Editor
have gone to doing crafts and homemade stuff from home. Maybe that's their 'work from After being mostly canceled home.'" last year, Sebwaing's Spirit She said the Spirit of of Christmas event will make Christmas is a full day its triumphant return this of things and places to weekend. go within Sebewaing. In Julie Epperson, one of the addition to the many vendors event organizers, said the and food trucks, Epperson response to the return of the said there will be a light event has been really good, parade Saturday night, the but precautions are still Festival of Trees will be held being taken in light of the at Moore Shorline and there ongoing pandemic. are also a number of kids "We encourage people to activities, including Frosty's social distance," Epperson said. "We encourage them to workshop where kids can do wear a mask and if they don't crafts and meet Frosty the Snowman. Local stores will feel well, they should stay also have different specials home." and discounts in accordance Epperson, who is involved in many of the events held in with the event. Thumb Area Transit will Sebewaing each year, said the also be on hand offering depend for these events has transportation, so people can been even greater this year park in one spot and move than in years past. about the town rather than "I don't know if other having to find parking at carnivals have seen this, each venue. people want to be out," Overall, Epperson said she said. "People want to most volunteers and go out and do things and businesses have been excited go to events and festivals to help with the event this and apparently people have year. money to spend." "For the most part, they That being said, it won't have been supportive," she take money to attend this said. "Everybody gets excited. year's Spirit of Christmas Some of our businesses event, as it is free to attend, though there will be food and have had shortages as far as employees, so they have other items for sale. struggled a bit in that area. Epperson said food is For the most part, we're one of the improvements thankful for the employees this year, as generally the organization has struggled to that have showed up and get food trucks to participate, stuck it out." "We still have a little but that's not the case this vibrant community going year. on," she added. "Normally when you call Epperson said she has been for food trucks they say asked before why the event it's the end of the season," Epperson said. "This year, we is held before Thanksgiving, but she said her answer is have three." There will also be a number that the organizers don't of vendors on hand, selling a want to get in the way of other events. variety of products. "We have lots of vendors," "Right after Thanksgiving, Epperson said. "Some people there are other things going
on in the community, we don't want to have to make people decide where they want to go," Epperson said. "For us to change our event, it means possibly stepping on somebody else's toes, taking from some other event." She couldn't say exactly when the event began, but said it's been going on for more than a decade. "It's been going on a long time," Epperson said. "The Sebewaing Chamber of Commerce has been very active in the community for years and years. The Festival of Trees has been going on for probably a good 10 years or more. It started when we had more businesses downtown, back in the day, it was a time that people just had their Christmas specials storewide. Over the years, when you lose stores, you have to change things up and have vendors." She encouraged people to come out and enjoy the event. "Pack up the family and come down," she said. "Shop the great vendors. People make awesome things from jellies to baked goods to wooden crafts and signs. The food vendors, they are all excellent at what they do. Frosty's Workshop, we go through 150-200 kids. There are about five crafts they can do." "Parents and grandparents love it," Epperson continued. "It's a day for kids too. Sometimes at these festivals, it's all adult stuff." The Sebewaing Spirit of Christmas will be held Saturday, Nov. 20. For more information about the event, visit the Sebewaing Area Chamber of Commerce website at www. sebewaingchamber.com.
Madelyn and Marissa spread holiday cheer with their mother Missy Linzer (Courtesy Photo/Huron Daily Tribune)
Sebewaing Fire Department rolls through town (Courtesy Photo/Huron Daily Tribune)
The Deming family sits with Santa on his slay (Courtesy Photo/Huron Daily Tribune)
5
6
Huron Daily Tribune • 2021 • Home for the Holidays
Bad Axe turkey trot canceled By Connor Veenstra Staff writer The Pat Kellerman Turkey Trot has ended until further notice, according to organizer Lee Kahler. This is due to the advanced ages of many involved in the event. The Turkey Trot started around 38 years ago, when a group of 10 local runners found themselves without a long-distance race. “We started it because we liked to run,” Kahler said. “We liked to run that road race.” The race usually had between 50 to 120 runners each year, depending on the weather conditions. There was no sign up, instead encouraging a “show up and run with us if you want” attitude. And show up they did, with many returning
runners annually, even years when the weather wouldn’t have made it ideal. “We had some years we had so much ice we didn’t know if we’d run it,” Kahler said. “But we knew a bunch of people were coming, so we ran anyhow.” The race had prizes including a turkey for first place, as well as a pair of socks for every runner, provided by Buckley’s shoes. The turkey was provided by the nowclosed McDonald’s Food and Family Center, and its closing was another factor in choosing not to continue for the organizers. One of the original organizers was Pat Kellerman, who was very involved and wanted to give back to the community with her hobby. Besides donating the proceeds
from the Turkey Trot, she would run in other races, sponsored by the rest of her team, to raise money for other causes as well. “We usually donated the money to a safe place, like the high schools,” Kahler said. “She was from the area, so we’d donate to them in the Lakers area.” After Kellerman passed away 10 years ago, the Trot was renamed in her honor. However, many of the runners/organizers have become too old to keep up the 3.1-mile run. “It’s become too much for the members to run,” Kahler explained. “We didn’t get a lot of younger members in.” Still, with almost 39 years under its belt, the Turkey Trot had a good run.
Last-minute holiday shopping tips Some people thrive by doing all of their tasks early. Others seem to do their best work when faced with a time crunch. The methods individuals use to manage their time at work and play may extend to the ways they approach holiday shopping as well. There’s no right or wrong way to handle holiday shopping tasks, though Christmas Eve crowds at malls and throughout shopping districts suggest that there’s more late comers than there are early birds. The following tips can help those who typically wait until the last minute to check names off their lists. • Utilize free shipping services. Shoppers who shop for gifts online at the last minute run the risk of gifts not arriving on time. Many online retailers charge a premium for
expedited shipping. Try to stick to shopping at online retailers that offer free shipping even in the eleventh hour. • Create a budget. When rushing around from store to store, it may be easy to spend more than you want to. Make a list of how much you want to spend on each person, and stick to that limit for each person. Move on to the next store if you didn’t find what you need in your price range. • Establish a time limit. Stores have strategies in place to keep shoppers in their establishments longer, hoping you’ll make impulse buys. These tricks include scenting the air with inviting aromas, putting necessities at the rear of the store, failing to display the time, and putting discounted items by the registers or door to attract shoppers.
Set an alarm on your watch or phone for each store so you get what you need and get out on time. • Subdivide bulk gifts. Think about purchasing bulk gifts like gift baskets from wholesale clubs and then breaking them down into individual gifts. This way you can gift several people on one purchase and save time in the process. • Choose one-size-fits-all gifts. Think about a gift that can be purchased for multiple people so you can save time shopping for individualized gifts for everyone. For example, print a personalized photo calendar for several members of your family. You also can purchase multiple subscriptions or memberships to zoos or magazines for people on your list. Streamlining gifting in this way may save money as
well as time. • Choose in-store pickup. Rather than scouring various aisles, you can shop a retailer’s website and then pick up items in the store. You’ll save on potential shipping fees but still benefit by avoiding crowds. Some people wait until the last minute to do their holiday shopping. A few tricks of the procrastinator’s trade can make last-minute shopping go smoothly.
7
Home for the Holidays • 2021 • Huron Daily Tribune
Elkton will soon be decked out in Christmas decorations.(Tribune File Photo/Connor Veenstra)
Christmas returns to Elkton By Connor Veenstra Staff writer Elkton’s annual Christmas weekend will return in early December. Elkton Parks and Recreation Chair Agnes Koskinski said a number of events are planned for the holidays in Elkton, though a full event list is not completed just yet. However, residents can expect a number of things to do this holiday season. There will be a cookie walk at Elkton Missionary Church. People from all over the county will be donating cookies, meaning there will be plenty of varieties to choose from. Those looking to buy cookies are given a box and glove. They’re then free to walk around and take whatever cookies they want, providing them with an assortment of holiday treats. All proceeds from the sale go to the Elkton Parks and Recreation. The Festival of Wreaths will display a series of wreaths decorated by local businesses. The wreaths will then be raffled, with proceeds going to support the Elkton Parks and Recreation family events. There’s also the soup/chili cook-
off, starting in the Youth Center, where you make a donation and get a spoon and ballot. The participants then proceed around town to various participating businesses and sample different soups and chili. New this year is the addition of a holiday dessert portion of the cook-off, so when you’re done sampling soups, you get to go back to the Youth Center and sample a large variety of desserts. You vote for your favorite soups and desserts on your ballot.
“All proceeds will benefit the Thumb Animal Shelter and other local community projects,” Kosinski said. Guess Who’s Santa is like a game of… well, Guess Who. There are 10 secret Santas and you need to figure out who they might be, with a list of names to give you hints as to who they might be. The set-up will begin a short time before or after Thanksgiving, Kosinski said.
New Streaming Package Available * Included with one-year contract *
25 MBPS Download Speeds
Gives you unlimited streaming capabilities with Managed Router included *$75.00 gift card towards Netflix *$60.00 for the first 6 months then $100.00 a month
7 MBPS and 15 MBPS Packages are also available 50% off for your first 6 months then regular prices! * Promotions and free installation only available with our one-year contract *
New sites in Huron, Sanilac, Tuscola, Bay and St. Clair Counties!!! Adding new sites regularly!
Give us a call today! 989-269-2306
Cass City 989-872-2248
6451 Main Street kellycorealty@gmail.com
www.kellyandcompanyrealty
Your source for safe, convenient & compassionate care. Your Hills & Dales. Visit us at hdghmi.org to see all of the providers available for your care.
4675 Hill St, Cass City | 989-872-2121