S T N I R P B M U TH l a c o l h t i w s e s s e n i s u b Local B M U H T e h t ties to
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The best of both worlds
Ubly farm shares homegrown goodness across state lines Paige Withey For the Tribune UBLY — Farmers know best — homegrown food surpasses store-bought without question and siblings Jesse Walsh and Marlena Phillips of Ubly understand this firsthand. Together, they are sharing their love of cattle and confections across the country through their business Steaks and Cupcakes. “Our grandpa bought the family farm back in World War II and he ran it until the 1980’s,” Jesse explained. “Then our parents took it over. We grew up here, it’s what we’ve always done and love to do.” Their Ubly farm is home to around three hundred steers and is also the hub for Marlena’s independent confections business, MJ’s Kupcakery LLC. “I started baking cupcakes through MJ’s right out of high school," Marlena said. "We have a licensed kitchen here at the farm. Then we teamed up together to create Steaks and Cupcakes.” While MJ’s Kupcakery LLC is a community sensation for their gourmet filled cupcakes and the family farm has its fair share of local consumers, Steaks and Cupcakes gives them the oppor-
Siblings Marlena Phillips and Jesse Walsh enjoy sharing their love of cattle and confections across the country through their business Steaks and Cupcakes. (Paige Withey/For the Tribune) tunity to expand their client base to areas they wouldn’t be able to reach otherwise. “We wanted it to focus more on the online market for this business,” Jesse said. “While the service is still available locally, we wanted to offer food from our farm to people who might not have easy access to fresh beef or gourmet cupcakes.” The pair explained that while Steaks and Cup-
cakes has been up and running for around a year and a half, the idea has been over three years in the making. In order to be one of the few Michigan farmers to ship their beef, it has to go through a vigorous USDA inspection process. Figuring out how to ship the cupcakes was no easy task either. “The ball really got rolling once we worked our how to ship the cupcakes,” Jesse said. “Every-
thing ships frozen, and cupcakes thaw quickly, so we wanted to make sure the quality stayed intact through the whole process.” Both Jesse and Marlena expressed their gratitude for their family members living in other states, who were more than happy to help test their shipping methods to ensure their products stay looking and tasting good throughout transit.
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As for a physical location, Steaks and Cupcakes is regularly set up at the Oakland County Farmers Market. “A lot of people in our community are lucky enough to have neighbors or know someone who raise beef, where at the market it isn’t so common,” Jesse said. “Locally, people buy whole sides of beef and keep it in their freezer," Marlena added. "People in
the city are more likely to go to the market and buy what they need for that week." Currently, Steaks and Cupcakes has the ability to ship its products to six states, including Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, with plans to expand shipping to accommodate most of the continental United States. The main goal of Steaks and Cupcakes is to reach as many people as possible with their homegrown goodness, the pair said. Locally, Steaks and Cupcakes has donated beef to organizations such as Fiddler’s Green, Safe Place, and Sanilac Rescue Mission. Its popular snack sticks are also available at various convenient stores around the thumb, including East Side Party Store in Bad Axe and Fast Freddie’s in Ubly. You can find more information about Steaks and Cupcakes on its Facebook page or online at www.steaksandcupcakes. com. For people in the thumb looking to order online and pick up locally, customers are encouraged to use the coupon codes “Beef” or “Cupcakes” in reference to which is being ordered, and select the appropriate shipping option for pick-up orders.
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FEBRUARY 2020
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The facade at the Bad Axe Theatre. (Robert Creenan/Huron Daily Tribune)
No Business like show business Mark Rolfe has been involved with Bad Axe Theatre since 1989 Robert Creenan
robert.creenan@hearst.com
BAD AXE — Huron County may center around farming, but when the days come to a close, some people just want to put their thoughts of a long day aside and have a night out. One such place to go is the Bad Axe Theatre, one of the few places in the county that shows the latest movie releases. No matter what time of year you go to that theater, there is always once person you can count on to stand behind the counter to sell tickets. Mark Rolfe has owned the Bad Axe Theatre since 2004, and he takes pride in how he owns one of the only theaters in Huron County. Rolfe first started working at the theater when he moved to Bad Axe from Flint back in 1989, but his love of movies goes back a decade before that, when he saw "Star Wars" for the first time after hearing about it from so many kids on the playground in first grade. “Once I saw it I was absolutely hooked,” Rolfe said, calling it and out-ofbody experience. “Seeing the "Star Wars" logo, the opening crawl, and the star destroyers, was un-
f’ing real.” The first movie he ever saw in the theaters, according to Rolfe’s parents, was "Bambi," during which he never moved and was transfixed by the screen. After watching "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" when those movies were released, Rolfe wanted to show movies, be in movies, direct movies, anything to do with the movies, but he eventually settled on just showing them. Rolfe wanted to be a projectionist when he was living in Flint, but at the time, they had to be members of a union. He did have friends who worked at the theater back then and eventually got a job as a projectionist, along with working at the former Four Seasons Health Care. He eventually moved to a management role in 1994, but he had never seriously considered buying the theater until he talked it over with his family, who encouraged him on the idea. “If you go bankrupt, whatever,” Rolfe said about his family’s advice. “At least you tried.” After seriously thinking about it, he told the owner at the time, Rick Ferris,
that if he ever wanted to sell the theater to let him know. On April 16, 2004, Rolfe became the official owner of the Bad Axe Theatre, with the first movie shown after that being "The Passion of the Christ." As the owner, Rolfe is in charge of scheduling all the movies the theater shows, whether it’s the latest releases or special themed months over the summer and during holidays where free movies are shown. Rolfe does not let personal preferences get involved in what movies are shown, as people have asked him for many different kinds. Among the movies shown in the past include "Fifty Shades of Grey," "Fahrenheit 11/9," "I Can Only Imagine," and "Unplanned." The building the theater resides in was opened as a Knights of Columbus hall in 1916, where the group held meetings, dinners, other events, and even showed stage productions and movies. After a building fire in the 1940s, it became a regular movie theater, with the Knights of Columbus using the basement as their regular meeting space. The theater was also featured in a 1983 nation-
Mark Rolfe with Bad Axe Theatre employee Hailey Arntz. (Robert Creenan/Huron Daily Tribune) wide Buick advertisement, where a Buick was parked in front of it and featured in magazines. The theater became one with two screens in 1990 after formerly having a single-screen with a balcony. The second screen was added after a five-week engagement with the movie "Ghost," and was opened after a month-long renovation.
In the nearly 16 years since he purchased the theater, people would come out no matter what it was showing. Even though there are more online options for seeing films now, the desire to watch films in a movie theater is still there. Rolfe says having a theater in town brings culture, and he loves it when people ask him about
when the latest movies are going to come here. “I don’t think movie theaters will ever go away,” Rolfe said, “Because if that’s the case, why do people go to sporting events when they can watch it on TV? It’s a good night out, a good first date. It’s a staple of America.”
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Bad Axe Pest Control built on family values Third generation set to take over company By Eric Rutter
eric.rutter@hearstnp.com
FILION — Though pest control may not sound like glamorous work, Bad Axe Pest Control’s Dale Ricker learned that helping others is the true reward of the service he performs. “We are looking at the safety of our customers, so we want to use the safest methods as possible so that we are not endangering them,” Ricker said. Open since 1984, Ricker has long helped control spiders, ants or other bugs across the Thumb, but the area’s chief pest controller first began working in the field for his father many years prior. At that time, Ricker’s father owned a pest control business on the east side of Flint, and Ricker would help customers with their insect-repelling needs. This arrangement lasted for three years before Ricker moved out of Flint and into the Thumb, set on establishing a new pest control company, one that would be his own. “I was considering starting a company, and I talked to my dad about that,” Ricker said. “He said it would be too much trouble to try to start a company. He said there was a lot of red tape to it, and that kind of got me more determined.” In the years to come, Ricker at times worked two jobs to support his burgeoning business, but he never lost his desire to help people along the way. “What I find is by
helping people, they remember that,” Ricker said. “When they have problems, we will be the first one they’d call.” In fact, Ricker recognizes that many people would like to attempt to solve their pest-related ailments before hiring professionals, so Bad Axe Pest Control even offers advice and tricks of the trade to intrepid callers. “We do offer free advice for people, and they want to do it themselves but don’t know where to start,” Ricker said. “So, we help them out with that. That’s a free service. We just give them the info they need and try to walk them through it. If they have questions later on, they can call us, and we act like a consultant.” In all, this strategy is part of what Ricker learned from his father over the years. By connecting with customers on a human level and realizing their motivations, Ricker is able to build a relationship. And in his experience, these positive interactions leave lasting impressions on customers. In the Thumb, Ricker splits his work between residential locations and commercial businesses. With the Lake Huron shoreline nearby, much of his summertime work is committed to helping businesses avoid a series of troublesome pests. “Primarily, on the shoreline you have a lot of ants and spiders,” Ricker said. “Those are probably the chief issue there. When we get into the commercial thing, you are trying to
At the helm of Bad Axe Pest Control, Dale Ricker works on commercial, residential and industrial jobs.
Since 1998, Randy Osantoski has diligently worked to rid Bad Axe and the surrounding area of its pest problems.
prevent issues with cockroaches. You are trying to prevent issues with mice, ants and other pests, so there’s a little difference there. The shoreline is very seasonal, and the commercial accounts are very steady.” According to Ricker, the first aspect of removing pests is the positive identification of the pest itself. After the inspection, Bad Axe Pest Control provides recommendations on how to proceed. One problem that Ricker has noticed over the past several years is that with the proliferation of the internet, many customers attempt to remedy a situation themselves and end up causing a worse infestation. “If you have a question about it and are concerned about safety, call a professional,” Ricker said. And after close to four decades controlling pests in the Huron and Tuscola County areas, Ricker has nearly seen it all. On
ing the reins from there.” With transition on the horizon, Ricker feels just as passionate about helping customers now as he did 36 years ago, and this is one element that he is instilling in the future of Bad Axe Pest Control as well. “I see with young blood coming in, new ideas,” Ricker said. “There is constant change in our industry in regard to treatment
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Heck's Bar has been a frequent host of bike nights over the years. (Courtesy Photo)
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Bad Axe Pest Control has helped control the Thumb's pest population since 1984. that same note, Ricker is considering the process of passing the business onto the next generation, similar to how he learned from his dad’s business so many years prior. “At this point I am getting to retire, and my daughter and son-in-law are going to be buying the business, taking the business over,” Ricker said. “I’m looking at letting off, and they’re looking at tak-
Heck’s Bar: Serving stories by the bottle The history behind the famous Kinde bar
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Dr. Bradley
Amanda Cook,
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By Eric Rutter
Danielle Brown, Jessica Peterson KINDE — Open since
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-LMSW Family Nurse Practitioner-BC Social Worker the mid-1960s, Heck’s Bar
is an institution of the Kinde area, and its owner, Robert Heck, has heard more stories pass through the famed establishment Jessica Peterson Dr. Bradley Amanda Cook, Dr. Bradley Amanda Cook, Brown, JessicaJessica Peterson Peterson Dr. Dr. Bradley Bradley Amanda Amanda Cook, Cook, Danielle Danielle Brown, Jessica Peterson Dr. Bradley Amanda Cook, Danielle Danielle Brown, Brown, Danielle Brown, than four walls can hold. Family Medicine Social -LMSW Nurse Practitioner-BC Family Medicine Family Nurse Practitioner-BC Nurse Practitioner-BC Family Nurse Practitioner-BC Family Family Medicine Medicine SocialWorker Worker Social -LMSW Worker -LMSW Family Family Nurse Nurse Practitioner-BC Practitioner-BCFamily Family Family Nurse Nurse Practitioner-BC Practitioner-BC Family Medicine Social Worker -LMSW Family Family Nurse Practitioner-BC Family Nurse Practitioner-BC Seamlessly shifting from Port Clinic Harbor Beach Medical Clinic Port Hope Harbor Beach Medical Clinic detailed conversation of PortHope Hope PortMedical Hope Medical Medical Clinic Clinic Harbor Harbor Beach Beach Medical Medical Clinic Clinic Medical Clinic Harbor Beach Medical 4255 Lakeshore Rd. ••Port 8970 Sand Beach Rd. •Clinic Beach 4255 N. Lakeshore 8970 Sand Beach Rd. •Harbor Beach 4255N. 4255 N.Port Lakeshore N.Hope Lakeshore Rd. Port Rd.Hope •Hope Port Hope the bar’s history to filling 8970 8970 Sand Sand Beach Beach Rd. Rd. •Harbor Harbor • Harbor Beach Beach (989)428-1000 (989)479-3291 (989)428-1000 (989)479-3291 4255 N. Lakeshore Rd. • 8970 Sand Beach Rd. • Harbor Beach (989)428-1000 (989)428-1000 Port Hope (989)479-3291 (989)479-3291 the drink orders of regular ly Medicine (989)479-3291 (989)428-1000Social Worker -LMSW Family Nurse Practitioner-BC Family Nurse Practitioner-BC clients, Heck chronicled Services Include: Services Include: Orthopedic SurgeonJoint Services Services Include: Include: Dr. Behan, Dr. Behan, Revisions • Joint Replacements • Robotic Assisted the winding tale of how Joint Revisions • Joint Replacements Dr. Dr. Behan, Behan, Orthopedic OrthopedicSurgeon Surgeon Joint Revisions • Joint Replacements •Procedures Robotic Assisted Joint Revisions • Joint Replacements • Robotic Assisted Services Include: Knee Replacements • Arthroscopic • Port Hope Medical Clinic Orthopedic Orthopedic Surgeon Surgeon Harbor Beach Medical Clinic Knee Replacements • Arthroscopic (989)479-3291 (989)479-3291 Knee Replacements •Replacements Arthroscopic Procedures • Knee Replacements • Arthroscopic Procedures • Heck’s Bar has reached Dr. Behan, Hand Surgery •Joint Injury •Lakeshore Fracture Care Hand Surgery •Joint Injury (989)479-3291 (989)479-3291 Joint Revisions • Joint • Robotic Assisted itsHope current state, which is 4255 N. Rd. • Port 0 Sand Beach Rd. • Harbor Beach Orthopedic Surgeon Hand Surgery •Joint InjuryInjury • Fracture Care Care Hand Surgery •Joint • Fracture Knee Replacements • Arthroscopic Procedures • located at 2990 W. Kinde (989)428-1000 (989)479-3291 (989)479-3291 Hand Surgery •Joint Injury • Fracture Care Rd. “A lot of good memories,” Heck said of his time at the helm. “A lot of bitOrthopedic Surgeon tersweet memories. We’ve watched relationships bloom. We’ve watched relationships fall apart. A
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methods and products. I think it’s getting safer. Our products are probably more regulated than they’ve ever been before. I see it becoming safer.” In pest control, safety is standard, and one Bad Axe Pest Control is committed to reaching. To contact the Bad Axe Pest Control, call 989-2696640 or visit facebook. com/badaxepestcontrol.
Services Include: Joint Revisions • Joint Replacements • Robotic Assisted Knee Replacements • Arthroscopic Procedures • Hand Surgery •Joint Injury • Fracture Care
lot of these people are like family to us.” After building such familiarity with the area and the people who call the Thumb home over the years, Heck has grown to know his clientele on an intimate level. “We’ve got two families, the Yax and Fisher family," Heck said. "There are five generations that have been in this bar.” While tending to a customer’s drink order, Heck described just how closely his life has been intertwined with the bar that carries his family name. “I was born in 1959, and (my parents) had built a house down the road here three houses down,” Heck said, pointing toward the door. “It’s the ranch-style house, third one on this
side of the road.” After his parents purchased Heck’s bar in the mid-1960s, the establishment soon became known for its perch dinners. Word spread of the bar’s quality perch meals, but, knowing his clientele, the bar shifted its strategy into a different direction. “That morphed into a full-blown Friday buffet,” Heck said. “We were quite well known for that, serving two to three hundred people a week. There were a couple weeks when we ran out of food after we got some press out of the Detroit area.” But as with any business, the ebbs and flows of the restaurant have come full circle. Now, the See HECK’S BAR on page 5
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Lori Babcock in her office in Port Austin. Babcock has been involved with real estate in Huron County since the 1970s. (Robert Creenan/Huron Daily Tribune)
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Babcock's real estate office in Port Austin. (Robert Creenan/Huron Daily Tribune)
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The Beachcomber Motel sign at night. (Courtesy Photo/Jill Meeks)
From Tennessee to the Thumb Lori Babcock has sold real estate in Thumb for over 40 years By Robert Creenan
robert.creenan@hearst.com
PORT AUSTIN — Sometimes, an impulsive decision in youth can lead to the change of a lifetime. That is certainly the case for Lori Babcock, who has been selling real estate in Huron County since the mid-70s, doing her part to try to make Port Austin and the county a better place for people to live. Despite her long-standing residency in the area, Babcock is not originally from the Thumb, but Tennessee. She came to visit her aunt over Labor Day weekend when she was 19 years old, during
which time she decided she wanted to remain in Michigan. “The following Tuesday after Labor Day, I went to downtown Detroit to a bank and asked for a job,” Babcock recounted. "They hired me on the spot.” It was working at a bank branch office that Babcock would meet her husband, Port-Austin native Gary, who she would marry in 1968. The two would have their first child, Jill, in 1971, after which Babcock left her bank job and they decided to move to Port Austin in 1972. After moving to the area, Babcock wanted to get back to work, so she
worked as a typist for the Schillinger & Schillinger Insurance agency. During her time there, where she got her insurance license, Babcock also got her real estate license in 1976, and found that she loved being involved in real estate more. With her newfound calling, Babcock purchased a branch of Ostentoski Realty based in Port Austin and started her office there. In 1990, she bought a building located at the intersection of Spring and Lake streets, near the entrance to the Port Austin Harbor, and moved there. Babcock later expanded her reach by purchasing
other real estate companies in the county, growing to the total of five that she has now, with Jill and her son, Jeff, following her into the real estate business when they grew up. Babcock Realty’s current office is located next to the Port Austin Market, which opened after the larger real estate company Century21 approached her about opening a location in Port Austin. Including her children, Babcock has 19 realtors that work under her. In her line of work, selling all kinds of realty over Huron County from the lakeside houses in
Port Austin to farmland in the center of the county, Babcock still works with clients who reach out to her personally, though there are times she will pass them off to other realtors due to other circumstances. Real estate is not the only venture for the Babcock family, as the four members, along with Jill’s husband Glenn and Jeff’s wife Amy, also own the Beachcomber Motel & Suites on Spring Street, purchasing the then rundown motel in June 2015. “We felt that it could be so much more than it was,” Babcock said. “It was a beachfront property we
had a vision for.” “We all love Port Austin so much, we want to see it develop,” Babcock’s daughter Jill Meeks said. “Its in our wheelhouse. Plus we get to run it together as a family business.” The Beachcomber Motel completed some renovations this past summer to its pool area, renovating rooms, and doing some landscaping work, trying to maintain its retro look. Work was also done raising its seawall along the Lake Huron shoreline, though its still an uphill battle for them. “You can’t fight mother nature,” Meeks said.
A Neighbor You Can Trust, When Trust Counts Most. Robert Heck has decades of experience working behind the counter at Heck's Bar. (Courtesy Photo)
Bob and Helen Heck first opened Heck's Bar in the mid-1960s. (Courtesy Photo)
HECK’S BAR continued from page 4 perch dinners are back on the table as Heck’s Bar works to deliver a tasty menu to its many patrons. “About 10 years ago, it got to the point where there were so many fraternal organizations doing buffets that it just wasn’t financially feasible to continue on the buffet,” Heck said. “So, we went back to what we did best — the perch baskets. We do cod baskets also. Right now, we can’t get perch. That’s just something that doesn’t happen right now.” In recent years, Heck has implemented a craft beer program to mirror a growing interest in microbrew beers across the state of Michigan. Currently, Heck’s offers 25 labels of in-state craft beers, and the bar is increasing its collection of Michigan-based liquors as well. While the liquor and beer served at Heck’s Bar has Michigan roots, the people who visit the
establishment have even deeper roots in the area. Heck mentioned an individual who stopped into the bar minutes after watching his mother pass away. Still in shock from the jarring events, this man sat in front of Heck’s mother as he attempted to process the tragic news. “He was a big Schnapps drinker, and she poured him two shots of Schnapps to console him,” Heck said. “He calmed down a little bit. He didn’t sit there to get drunk because his mom died. He just needed something to take that edge off.” Instances like these have occurred time and time again since Heck’s Bar opened. Much like those who visit, not all times are positive. “We’ve seen good times,” Heck said. “We’ve seen bad times. We’ve been through like five recessions. We are holding our own right now.” Heck mentioned that the winter is the toughest season for the bar.
But after many decades behind the bar top, each year wears on Heck more and more. At this point in his life, Heck expressed strong interest in continuing his passion for writing and photography. He has authored a short story for the Porcupine Press, which is a magazine in the Upper Peninsula, and work of that nature would capture his attention. Heck even toyed with the idea of putting out a piece that draws from the many stories of his bar. “I would like to write a loosely-based fiction about this place here,” Heck said. Heck, who has been married for 12 years, also has a strong interest in motorcycle riding. Before long, Heck plans to ride off into the sunset with a litany of tales from his time at Heck’s Bar racing through his head. Tales that might one day end up between the pages of a book.
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FEBRUARY 2020
Great Lakes Custom Apparel Company in Sebewaing does custom transfer and embroidery work on sportswear, clothing and most surfaces. (Submitted Photo)
Great Lakes Custom Apparel Company at 111 E., Main St., Sebewaing, can transfer any image onto coffee mugs, shirts, and more. (Submitted Photo)
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Great Lakes Custom Apparel Company LLC, owner Sarah Mowry works on a commercial embroidery machine. (Mary Drier/For the Tribune)
New Sebewaing business owner looks to continue to improve her craft By Mary Drier For the Tribune SEBEWAING — If you want a custom logo on a shirt or a coffee mug Great Lakes Custom Apparel Company LLC can do that, and much more. Sarah and Kyle Mowry bought the former Jackie’s Windows and Sew On store at 111 E., Main St., Sebewaing. The couple kept most aspects of the former business, which did window treatments and embroidery, and custom heat transfers on apparel. “We are not doing the windows," Sara said. "We are going to keep doing custom embroidery, doing digitized embroidery, vinyl heat transfers, and dye-sublimation, which is print using special ink on special paper to migrate dye into the material." Great Lakes Custom Apparel can do printing on clothing, mugs, mouse pads, caps, wall art, coasters, phone covers, keychains, towels — just about anything because it is a different kind of heat transfer. “I can do a lot of different kinds of design work," she said. "I put a photo of a lady’s dog on a mug. It looked just like the dog-
Kyle and Sarah Mowry show some of the custom design work they do at Great Lakes Custom Apparel Company LLC, in Sebewaing. (Mary Drier/For the Tribune) gie. It was so cute." Although she has always enjoyed crafts, she has taken some graphic art classes and transfer classes, and will be taking more classes to enhance her skills. “I enjoy being able to create stuff," she said. "I like doing different designs and crafting." “The business gives me the freedom to work around my kids’ schedules, and they can be here with me,” she added.
It was a long and difficult road for the couple to be able to buy the business from Jackie Freiburger. They looked a buying the business two years ago and ran into several obstacles because the shop was next door to a former dry-cleaning business. “Because of its location, there were concerns about contamination so we had to work with (the Department of Environ-
mental Quality) and the company who was cleaning up the property next door,” Mowry said. “Carl at the Huron (Economic Develop Corporation) was very helpful with everything.” After that, the transition to new ownership was easy. “We have known Jackie and her husband, Paul, since we were kids," Sara said. "She was happy we wanted the business she started and that we would
Relax in a new La-Z-Boy!
keep going. That was a draw for us. We want to keep providing the local community a business and a service. “We take pride in our work and in the store," she continued. "My husband does custom wood working we will be carrying some of his work in the store.” While Great Lakes Custom Apparel Company has the equipment and ability to create or reproduce nearly every
design, there are some that cannot be done. “I can do any design as long it is not a trademarked one, like Disney, the Nike swoosh, and such like that,” she noted. The company uses topof-the line brandname clothing like Nike, Champion, Sport-Tek, Jerzees, and Bella to put transfers on. The store is open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday by appointment. When not at her store, she teaches dance at the Sparkle Studio in the downtown, and Kyle works for Michigan Sugar. The couple are locals. They both graduated from the Unionville-Sebewaing Area School District. For more information about Great Lakes Custom Apparel Company go to https://www.facebook. com/pg/Great-LakesCustom-Apparel-CoLLC-111659427034880/ community/ or call 989883-3015, which is the same phone number as the previous business. A grand opening will be announced later when all of the renovations are done.
Renew Wellness sets out to improve health of community
Harbor Beach native turns experience, passion into business opportunity By Rich Harp For the Tribune
FREE Y R E V I L E D RE SEE STO S A T IL FOR DE
Renew Wellness Center owner Stefeni Schelke aims to provide complete wellness care to individuals in the region. (Rich Harp/For the Tribune)
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HARBOR BEACH — While it may take time for businesses to become established, that isn’t the case for Renew Wellness Center, which has been open for a little more
than a year in downtown Harbor Beach, providing clients an improved way of life. “The business took off quickly,” owner Stefeni (Meissner) Schelke said. See RENEW WELLNESS on page 7
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RENEW WELLNESS continued from page 4 “People needed (personal trainers). I didn’t know it would take off as quickly as it did.” One reason the business was an immediate success may have been the fact that Stefeni is well known in the area. She has been a long-time resident of the city. In fact, she and her husband, Todd, graduated from Harbor Beach High School. Prior to opening the downtown business, Stefeni worked as a personal trainer. She had a contract with Harbor Beach Schools to work out of its facility and use the school's equipment in the evening hours. She worked at the school until she opened Renew Wellness Center in November 2018. Stefeni’s education and work experiences have no doubt added to the business’s success. She graduated from Alma College in 1998 with a degree in exercise and health science. She was later certified as a personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise. Later, she was certified as a fitness nutrition specialist through ACE. Her work experience included employment at Munson Medical Cen-
ter and at Northwoods Physical Therapy, both in Traverse City. Combined, she had between six and seven years experience with the two employers. Stefeni enjoyed her time at Northwoods. “I received a lot of good experience there, plus it was a fun job,” she said. “We loved Traverse City, but Todd and I wanted to be near family.” Stefeni said their move back to Huron County was precipitated by an injury to Todd, making it impossible for him to physically handle his job in Traverse County. After coming back to the area, he landed a job at Dow Agro-Science, which later became Corteva. Another reason for her company’s success is that she and the certified professionals at Renew Wellness Center have obvious talents and experience in their chosen fields. Stefeni owns the building and the business. She shares that space with Emily Pawlowski and Casey Johnson. Both Pawlowski and Johnson have their own businesses, and each pays her a rental fee for use of the building. Stefeni, as well as Emily Pawlowski are certified personal trainers. Casey Johnson is a certified massage therapist. Together, they have a great working
relationship. Stefeni said the business may have not evolved if she hadn’t met Casey. The two met a couple years ago and began discussing this type of business. “We instantly connected,” she said. “We realized we had the same vision.” Soon afterward, Stefeni found a building for sale in downtown Harbor Beach. She went on to say the building was right, the price was right, and the location was right. “The stars just lined up,” she said. Stefeni said the business offers a host of activities to improve client’s overall health. “I do one-on-one individual training,” she said. “I work with people who want to lose weight, increase strength, improve health, and I help people with nutritional counselling.” “Emily has more interest in group fitness, although she sees individual clients,” Stefeni coninuted. “She does everything I do but not nutritional counseling.” Casey’s expertise rounds out the business services by specializing in pre-natal exercises, deep tissue massage and hot stone therapy. In addition, she is studying something
Casey Johnson, Stefeni Schelke and Emily Pawlowski offer complete wellness training through Renew Wellness Center in Harbor Beach. (Rich Harp/For the Tribune) called Ashiatsu Massage, which Casey expects to be certified in by fall. “She will be able to do massage with her feet,” Stefeni said. “There are not a lot of people that do this. It’s not common, but it is very effective.” One of Stefeni’s nearby goals is to have TRX Straps at the facility, which are used for suspension strength classes, or they can be used to help individuals. In the distant future,
she would like to have a counselor at Renew Wellness Center. “I’ve envisioned that,” she said. “I can see this happening down the road.” As far as today is concerned, the team will continue to give the best services to keep people healthy, Stefeni said. “Our mantra is 'Invest in your health now so you don’t have to pay for it later,'” she said. “We’re very purpose driven. We love
what we do. It’s not like coming to work. The three of us have the same goals. We care deeply about our clients and we’ll continue to take care of them. I find it very fulfilling and empowering to work with these two great women who share the same vision as I do.” “I’m very content where I’m at,” she continued. “This is very rewarding. It’s a shame I didn’t do this 20 years ago.”
“We are here for the community, we have been and will be,” Delpiere said. “I always think of an independent pharmacy as one of the cornerstones of a thriving community.”
Harbor Drug in Harbor Beach continues to serve the area after well over a century. (Sara Eisinger/Huron Daily Tribune)
Harbor Drug serves as the community's glue By Sara Eisinger
sara.eisinger@hearstnp.com
HARBOR BEACH — Welcome to the little lakeshore town of Harbor Beach, where neighbors still say hello and get prescriptions filled at their locally owned independent pharmacy. Harbor Drug has been in business for more than 100 years, starting out in 1912 as Klump Drug. Mike Delpiere and a retired colleague purchased the store in 1992, in need of a larger space to operate. The pharmacists made their transition to the current store in 1997 and have remained since. Delpiere estimated that he opened the second pharmacy, Harbor Drug II of Deckerville, in 2010. It, too, remains in service. “We are here for the community, we have been and will be,” Delpiere said. However, the longtime pharmacist admitted that staying open in today's pharmaceutical market is nothing less than a struggle. Closure is occurring at multiple independent pharmacies throughout
the United States, as others fight to stay afloat. “There are not many independent pharmacies left,” Delpiere said. “Independent pharmacies face challenges from outside sources.” Many independents cite complications associated with competition presented by big-box chains, due to pharmacy benefit managers. The American Pharmacists Association states that pharmacy benefit management maintains responsibility for developing formulary, contracting with pharmacies, negotiating rebates with manufacturers, and processing prescription drug claims. “They work for insurance companies as the middle man,” Delpiere said. This doesn’t always benefit the independent pharmacist, who holds inadequate buying power, receives lower reimbursements, is provided with narrow drug choices, and given limited insurance options. Delpeire believes that being part of the commu-
nity helps Harbor Drug. “I always think of an independent pharmacy as one of the cornerstones of a thriving community,” Delpeire said. “Just like you need a hospital and good government, we are one of those aspects.” Harbor Drug is sure to accommodate its customers, offering immunizations and diabetic shoe fittings. It also offers 24hour emergency services. It provides compliance packaging, which gives people medications in a bubble pack, to include day-by-day medications. This helps to monitor medication intake. “We deliver to senior commons in Harbor Beach,” Delpeire said. “We also service the adult foster care homes.” Medication therapy management is another service provided by these local pharmacists, which entails drug consultation. “We go over medications with them,” Delpeire said. “We help them understand what they are taking and why. We learn See HARBOR DRUG on page 8
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From Farms to Telephones Early risk leads to successful family business By Robert Creenan
robert.creenan@hearst.com
PIGEON — Sometimes taking a risk to secure your family’s future may come out of nowhere, but ends up working out in the long run. That’s how Pigeon-native Edwin Eichler got involved with Agri-Valley Communications, a company he helped grow out of its original form as Pigeon Telephone Company to provide cell phones and high-speed internet. Working in telecommunications was not Eichler’s first pick for a job. He was formerly a ninth-grade English teacher in St. Charles, Illinois, located about 40 miles west of Chicago. It was during his time there that in 1972, Eichler got a phone call from his father, John, saying that he purchased the Pigeon Telephone Company, along with Willis Hengy, and that he wanted his son to come back to work for him. Eichler calls his father’s decision to purchase Pigeon Telephone as a way to expand possibilities and spread risk, as his family also owned a farm where they grew sugarbeets, beans, corn, and raised laying hens. “He saw it as a possibility for someone in his family to not only provide service in the community, but to provide a job and
Edwin Eichler poses for a photo at his desk in his Agri-Valley Communications office. (Submitted Photo) livelihood for the family in the future,” Eichler said. He and his wife Wanda submitted their resignation letters and have been involved with the company since. Agri-Valley Communications dates back to 1908, when the Pigeon Telephone Company was established as farmers sold their own personal lines to the company in order to properly maintain them in the first few decades. Once he moved back, Eichler started off as a lineman climbing up telephone poles, before moving up to a manager, then to the corporate office
as vice-president before becoming president of the company in 1986. Originally, Agri-Valley Communications was structured so that Pigeon Telephone was the overarching company and Agri-Valley Communications was the asset, but those two switched roles in the 1980s once it became clear that Agri-Valley Communications would do more than Pigeon Telephone could, with cell phones on the horizon. Each of the different branches of Agri-Valley Communications does something different, but
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they all blend together similar to other communications companies. Whereas Pigeon Telephone deals with landlines and its four exchanges are regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission, Thumb Cellular is licensed by the FCC to provide cell service in the Thumb across Huron, Tuscola and Sanilac counties to their customers and to those roaming on other cellular carriers. Agri-Valley Services provides fiber-optic connections and high-speed internet in the Thumb, currently having about 1,000 miles of cables in
the three counties. The AVS Tech Team provides computer repair and networking services, with its most recent project since fall being converting several hundred computers from Windows 7 to Windows 10. Eichler does have a winter home in Arizona he stays at in the winter months, but stays in the same Pigeon home where his mother was raised when in the area. Having been the president of Agri-Valley Communications since the mid-80s, Eichler takes pride in providing phone service in a rural area that
rivals that found in cities. “Its great satisfaction to provide high quality service to the people in the area,” Eichler said. “The trick is to do work without having your name shown all the time. Getting the job done, whatever that might be.” Eichler supports the 4-H and Future Farmers of America livestock auctions during fair season, local STEAM education and arts programs, and has Agri-Valley sponsor nearly all of the community-focused events and organizations in Huron, Tuscola, and Sanilac counties. Eichler is not resting on just providing service in the Thumb area either, as he wants to expand into other areas. Over the past 25 years, he has been looking at expanding into under-served areas in Northern Michigan. Eichler is always looking to have Agri-Valley Communications provide better service, looking to cover the Thumb with more signal so more wireless service is possible. But even he acknowledged that perfect service is not possible since weather can get in the way of signals and cause problems one way or another. ‘The quality is getting better,” Eichler said. “We will always have something to strive to.”
HARBOR DRUG continued from page 7 if there are any medication gaps. People go to so many doctors that sometimes things fall through the cracks.” Delpeire prides himself on ensuring customers always have easy to access to the pharmacists they know and trust. “We are more adequately staffed and knowledgeable,” Delpeire said. “We have a good relationship with the physicians because we are here and have been here.” The five pharmacists at Harbor Drug, in Harbor Beach and Deckerville, collaborate with two local hospitals. Not to mention, a total of 23 employees work between the two stores and hospitals. Their average length of employment is about 25 years. Aside from Judy Kowaleski, 80, who started in 1987. Kowaleski can be found assisting shop customers, with a smile. She also delivers to senior commons every Tuesday. The staff calls itself a pharmacy family. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't love it," Kowaleski said. Janeane Wilson is a pharmacist who started working while in college. Wilson didn’t know what she wanted to do right away, so she came back home and started working at the pharmacy. That is when she decided to go to pharmacy school. Dana Nichol is another current pharmacist, who worked at the store during school. “We have offered scholarships in the past for pharmacy school,” Delpeire said.
Judy Kowaleski, Mike Delpiere and Kathy Behnke pose for a picture at Harbor Drug. (Sara Eisinger/Huron Daily Tribune) Currently, Delpiere and other pharmacists function as adjunct professors for Ferris State University. They possess academic position in university level education, but are not primarily employed at the school. Their roles allow students to complete necessary educational requirements. “We have Ferris students come during the first and last year of pharmacy school for independent pharmacy practice experience,” Delpiere said. “Students come in the summer. It gives local kids the opportunity to come home and we enjoy it. We get to influence them a little and they influence us with new ideas.” Delpiere and his pharmacy family are actively involved in community functions. Delpiere is a current member of the chamber of commerce, served as president of the school board for many years, is the standing Verona Hills president, officiates high school basketball and even announces at football games. Pharmacists speak at diabetes education classes for the hospital and are also involved with virtu-
ally every event that goes on in Harbor Beach. “I would say all of our employees live in the area,” Delpiere said. “They all do various things in the community. Janeane plays organ in her church. Everyone does things. Several employees are involved in the Lions Club, Women’s Life and United Way.” In years past to present, Delpiere has recruited his family to assist in the store. His wife helps to deliver medications and their children worked for the pharmacy when they lived in the area. “I have nephews who come every Dec. 31 to help with inventory,” Delpiere said. “Employees bring their kids to help with inventory.” The pharmacy family makes a point to employ high school kids. There is currently one high school aged girl working hour at the pharmacy. “It is those little things that make a difference in some peoples lives,” Delpiere said. Harbor Drug is located at 114 South Huron Ave., Harbor Beach and Harbor Drug II is located at 2046 Black River St., Deckerville.