2023 Fall Homefront

Published seasonally by Herald Publishing Company

20,000 total circulation

15,500 MAILED, 4,500 delivered to homes and businesses within a 40 mile radius of Tecumseh

Available to out-of-town residents with $20 subscription

Copyright © 2023. All Rights Reserved For reprint and reuse permission, email: homefront@tecumsehherald.com

Publisher: Jim Lincoln | Creative Director: Suzanne Hayes Lead Graphic Designer: Nanci Bridget

Copy Editor: Jennifer Carson | Advertising Sales: Suzanne Hayes, Vicki Riddle

Writers: Ann Belote-Weir, Jennifer Carson, Sarah Chinavare, Gayle Hazelbaker, Sara Hilton, Jackie Koch, Renee Lapham Collins, Linda Learman, Christine MacIntyre, Cashmere Morley

Mailing/Delivery: Suzanne Hayes, Joshua Bridget, Nanci Bridget, John Hoffman, Eric Parsons

Graphics: Noah Lightfoot, Koda Woodward | Business Office: Patti Brugger, Bonnie Love

Photo by Sara Hilton

EXPERIENCE TECUMSEH

ALL SEASON LONG!

doWntoWn tecuMseh • 517-424-6818

MytecuMseh.org • doWntoWntecuMseh.coM 

F

all is the perfect time to experience all Tecumseh has to offer. Come for the annual Appleumpkin Festival and take advantage of the fun this “Best Community Festival” offers. You can even fly above the historic town in a helicopter where you’ll see rolling countryside, waterways, and well-kept neighborhoods. Come back down and go antiquing at many vintage shops. Visit anytime and enjoy hometown brew pubs and wineries complete with live entertainment and dining for every palate. Shop the boutiques, golf the beautiful courses, hike the parks, and see a show at a world-class theater. Come to stay.

PARTY ON THE PATIO

sept 9 • 6-10pM • Free adMit

Behind stiMpson & associates p.c. 108 W chicaco Blvd tecuMseh  hosted By david stiMpson

Say goodbye to summer and hello to one of the hottest block parties downtown Tecumseh has to offer. Held in the southwest parking lot behind Stimpson & Associates P.C. building. FREE admit and open to the public. Enjoy live music, food trucks, and local pubs open and serving.

This year's Great Lakes Big Rig Truck Show is getting ready to roll into Tecumseh. Packed with horsepower and billowing smoke, big rig fans are in for a real treat. Enjoy food from vendors and watch the live bands perform! Register your rig at Tecumseh Products Sept 8, 9am-5pm and Sept 9, 9am-2pm at $50 per truck. Held in conjunction with downtown Tecumseh's Party on the Patio. Watch The Parade of Lights on Saturday night. Sponsored by Bogie's Express. Proceeds benefit Eileen's Irish Step Dancers Scholarship fund.

GREAT LAKES TRUCK SHOW

sat, sept 9 • 9aM-10pM • Free Bo trout: 734-604-3242

held at tecuMseh products property south MauMee st, tecuMseh

Bogiesexpress@coMcast.net

CROSWELL OPERA HOUSE

THE PROM

Weekends sept 15-24

129 e MauMee st, adrian

Basedon a true story, The Prom, which inspired a 2020 Netflix film adaptation by the same name, follows four Broadway actors as they help a small-town high school student in her fight to be allowed to take her girlfriend to prom.

Tecumseh Center for the Arts

Open Mic Night

Sat, Sept 16 • 7:30pm

517-423-6617

400 N Maumee St, Tecumseh

All talent welcome to TCA's Open Mic Night. Prizes will be awarded.

Sign up by Wed, Sept 13 to secure your spot! thetca.org

517-264-7469 • crosWell.org  2023

Great Lakes

Truck Show

Run for the Hills

1 Mile, 5K Run/Walk

Sat, Sept 16 • 9am (timed run) Sept 17-Oct 1 Virtual Run/Walk

Hidden Lake Gardens

6214 Monroe Rd, Tipton runsignup.com 

Oh These Irish Hills annual race on the hilliest course around.

ARTALICIOUS FINE ARTS FAIR

sat, sept 16, 11aM-7pM sun, sept 17, 11aM-5pM doWntoWn adrian artalicious.org 

Celebrating its 16th anniversary, this year’s event will feature the Lenawee County Student Art Show and our annual silent auction with this year’s theme of “In the Garden”, hosted by the

Adrian District Library. Look for a variety of creations to adorn your garden. The fair will offer two days of performances by My Adventure Theater, over 60 juried artists, live entertainment from local musicians, kids art activities on Non-Profit Row, several food trucks, and a Journey Tribute Band on Saturday evening. Artalicious has grown in prominence in the region over the past 15 years. Bring a friend, make a day of it, and enjoy artists’ demos, live music, and everything downtown Adrian has to offer.

The Art of Bonsai

Sun, Sept 17 • 11-4

Hidden Lake Gardens

6214 Monroe Rd, Tipton

A bonsai bazaar with vendors, demos by bonsai artists, and intro presentation on bonsai. hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu

49TH CLINTON FALL FESTIVAL

septeMBer 22-24

Fri/sat 10-6 • sun 10-5 doWntoWn clinton 517-456-7396

 More inFo on FB page or clintonFallFestival@yahoo coM

One of the best festivals in SE Michigan! Come to this annual fall festival. New!... Young Artists/Entrepreneur booths, plus 200+ arts/ crafts, vintage, and merchant booths. Live entertainment, carnival rides/games, lost art demos, parade, train rides, classic car/truck show, pumpkin painting, kid zone with inflatables, exotic animals, and petting farm!

DUNDEE'S PUMPKIN PALOOZA

saturday, octoBer 7

all day Fun! • Free adMission

350 W Monroe st, dundee dundeespuMpkinpalooza.coM 

See the biggest pumpkins and vegetables around! Bring the whole family to enjoy this FREE event. Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off starts at 11am. Vendor show starts at 9am, Kids Activities, Pumpkin Carving, Dinosaurs show, Pony Rides, Car Show, watch Halloween Town. Check out all the details on website.

Pumpkin Hook's PUMPKIN FARM

Sept 15-Oct 29

Fri, Sat, Sun 11-6

180 Pumpkin Hook Rd, Dundee • Family fun! Buy or pick your own pumpkins, sunflowers, Indian corn, and gourds. Visit antique barn... great donuts too! Find us on 

U-PICK APPLES AND PUMPKINS

sat/sun • 11aM-5pM thru octoBer

Forever acres FarM & orchard

278 W chicago Blvd, Britton 248-469-2566

ForeveracresFarMandorchard.coM

Bring the family for fall festivities. Open to the public for u-pick apples and now pumpkins too! This working farm also includes a variety of donkeys, goats, turkeys, and chickens. They are a mix of rescue animals and farm-raised. You can also rent the farm and orchard for photoshoots and weddings.

PIONEER DAY

sun, oct 8 • 10aM-5pM

Waterloo FarM MuseuM

13493 Waterloo-Munith rd grass lake • 804-596-2254

WaterlooFarMMuseuM.org 

Looking to glance into the 19th century? This museum features an 1850s farmhouse, working forge, log house, outbuildings and one-room schoolhouse just three miles up the road! Music, period crafts/trades, cooking and wagon rides. Vendors, concessions, gift shop, and flower barn. Come back December 2-3 for Christmas on the Farm!

AUTUMN ART EVENT AT ACA

Friday, octoBer 13 517-759-3005

adrian center For the arts 1375 n Main st, Bldg 46 adrian adriancenterForthearts.org

NEW! October 13th classes offered in every studio including; skeleton jewelry, halloween cookie plate, luminaires, etc, for kids/adult. Fall classes for youth, teens, and adults kick-off in September — check website. It's never too early to think about Christmas. ACA Holiday Market will run thru December.

Downtown Blissfield First HarvestThursdayFestival

October 5 • Free • 3-7pm

Scavenger/treasure hunt, pumpkin bowling, pumpkin bake-off, food trucks, bounce house, dancing, and more. blissfieldmainstreet.com 

Fiber Expo

October 7-8 • $4/$6

Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4

419-825-1609

Washtenaw Farm Council

Grounds on Saline-Ann Arbor Rd • Join us for a fiber fantasy expo!

Vendors, Classes, Animals

fiberexpo.com 

St. Elizabeth Roast Beef Dinner

Sun, Oct 15 • 11:30am-5pm • $15

St. Elizabeth Parish Center

512 N Union St, Tecumseh

Roast beef, potatoes, gravy, green beans, coleslaw, roll, and cookies.

APPLEUMPKIN

APPLEUMPKIN FESTIVAL

octoBer 14 & 15 • sat 9aM-6pM sun 10aM-5pM •517-423-3735

doWntoWn tecuMseh • doWntoWntecuMseh.coM 

Celebrate fall with the 29th Annual Appleumpkin Festival! Arts & crafts, vendor booths, carnival rides/games, delicious fair food, helicopter/monster truck rides, antique tractor show, Antique Street Fair/Flea Market, live entertainment, children's activities, and more! Free parking can be found around downtown Tecumseh and at the Tecumseh High School (760 Brown St).

Shuttle bus from THS to Downtown and on to Kapnick Orchards. Appleumpkin is held in conjunction with Kapnick Orchards 44th Apple Festival held at 4245 Rogers Hwy, Britton.

5th Annual Clinton Clinton Historic Spirit Walk

Sat, Oct 28 • 6-9pm • $35

Smith Kimball Community Center

211 Tecumseh Rd, Clinton

Tickets on sale October 14; Call Mary Houghton: 517-456-4074

Learn the haunted history on this guided walking tour featuring four homes and a cemetery. Info: facebook.com/49236HSC

Since 1995, this annual 5K walk/run has raised funds for higher education scholarships for area students. This event pays tribute to the two founders of Carter Rehabilitation Centers. Pick up your race packet at CRC on October 13, 7am-5pm or at the starting line before the race. Register the day of 7-7:45am. Festival activities start at 10am.

the kelly carter and thoMas leFFler MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP 5K RUN

saturday, oct 14 • 8aM starting line on pearl st and chicago Blvd Free parking on s pearl 517-423-7722  carterrehabcenter.com/kc-tl-scholarship-run.html

kapnick orchards

4245 rogers hWy Britton • open daily 517-423-7419

Weekend wagon rides thru the fall!

Are you looking for a place to immerse yourself in all those fall feelings? Kapnick Orchards is open everyday for U-Pick apples and pumpkins. You can pet the farm animals and shop in the store for all your favorites, including award-winning apple cider, cider slushies, donuts, and pies. Offering weekend wagon rides too!

Also, don't miss their 44th Annual Apple Festival on Oct 14 & 15 where there will be live entertainment, craft booths, cider, and apple butter making, wagon rides, and more! u-pick puMpkins & apples!

kapnickorchards.coM 

Apple Festival

octoBer 14 & 15 44th annual

UNDER THE RADAR MICHIGAN: HOW IT ALL STARTED

thurs, noveMBer 2 • 7-8pM tecuMseh district liBrary

215 n ottaWa st, tecuMseh 517-423-2238 tecumsehlibrary.org

Everwonder how two regular guys ended up with a popular PBS TV show and book that features the cool people, places, and things that make Michigan a great place to be? Well, if you’d like to find out how it all happened, join us as the men of Under the Radar Michigan make their way to Tecumseh. Join Tom Daldin and Jim Edelman for an inspirational story of reinvention and discovery. They’ll tell you how they do it ... why they do it ... and share great stories from their travels around Michigan. Be sure to bring your questions, your sense of adventure, and your sense of humor, because when Tom and Jim start talking...it’s a wild and crazy ride. Book signing immediately to follow. The First 50, Next 50, and Yet Another 50 will all be available

TECUMSEH HOLIDAY

OPEN HOUSE/ noveMBer 10-11

Fri 10aM-9pM/sat 10aM-5pM streetscape lighting cereMony noveMBer 10 •7pM

Join the downtown merchants as they unveil gift ideas and holiday merchandise.The ever-popular Recipe Walk will once again be part of the weekend festivities. Revel in the spirit of the holiday season while strolling the shops in downtown Tecumseh.

5K Fun Run/Walk Nite Lites

Nov 11 • 6pm • 517-937-6426

nitelitesshow.com 

Michigan International Speedway: 12626 US12, Brooklyn. Register early.

SALINE CRAFT SHOW

sat, nov 11 • 8aM-3:30pM 734-429-5922 • $5 adMission saline Middle school 7190 n Maple rd, saline FaceBook.coM/saline.craFtshoW 

A fantastic array of crafters display and sell their wares. Shop the highest quality product lines from over 250 craft booths. You'll find everything from sculptures, pottery, jewelry, and accessories to seasonal items, home decor, and gifts. Concessions and package pick-up available. No strollers please.

doWntoWn tecuMseh 517-424-6818 • downtowntecumseh.com Save

49th

November 10-12

F-Sa 10am-7pm • Su 11am-5pm

Taste of Bliss, Breakfast with Santa, Yuletide Cheer, Brunch, Bingo, shopping, live entertainment, and carriage rides. blissfieldmainstreet.com 

The Croswell Opera House The Little Mermaid

Weekends Nov 17-Dec 3 2:30/7:30 • 517-264-7469

129 E Maumee St, Adrian Ariel, Sebastian, and all your friends from the classic Disney film come to life on the Croswell stage! croswell.org

OLD MILL PARAFEST 10 PARANORMAL CONVENTION

sat, nov 11 • 734-529-8596

haunted old Mill MuseuM

242 toledo st, dundee $40/$65 • BeneFits the old Mill oldMillparaFest coM 

Celebrating 10 years! Come have electrifying fun and learn about paranormal activity. Renowned speakers, unique displays, food, drinks, all at the site of the Old Mill. Offers a chance to investigate a haunted building, very rich in history, and paranormal activity. Meet 'n Greet VIP event after the convention.

Tecumseh POPS

Annual Holiday Concert: Christmas...Far & Near

Dec 3 • 3pm • 517-423-6617

Tecumseh Center for the Arts

400 N Maumee St, Tecumseh

Listen to classic holiday music performed by the Tecumseh POPS

Orchestra & Community Chorus

$12/$10 • tecumsehpops.org

Blissfield Yuletide Festival

Details...

WHAT’S YOUR Pleasure?

DO YOU PREFER LIFE IN THE CITY OR IN THE COUNTRY, IN A FARMHOUSE OR A RANCH STYLE? DO YOU PREFER PAINTED OR STAINED CABINETS? IS IT A SCREENED PORCH OR A DECK YOU LIKE BEST WHEN RELAXING WITH FAMILY? THE POINT IS THAT EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN STYLE OF LIVING. THIS HOMEOWNER’S CUSTOM BUILD HAS AN INDOOR BASKETBALL COURT.

WHAT’S ON YOUR WISHLIST?

With so many options available, builders as versatile as Teena and Rob Hill have no problem mixing it up. Offering fresh, innovative ideas and exceptional quality, Abstract homes can be seen everywhere these days. Not only will they provide the home of your dreams, but Abstract will even find the property for you and work to be sure the home fits in beautifully with the landscape and your lifestyle.

Shown here is an example of just that. This sports-minded family needed a large home close to town, yet still wanted it to be surrounded by nature. Abstract constructed a five bedroom home in Tecumseh Township that backs up to open space and even includes an indoor basketball court, as well as a home office. How’s that for customization?

Magic happens when the right homeowners and builder get together.

What are you waiting for? Call Abstract Builders today!

517.403.6456 | abstractbuildersllc.com

By Christine MacIntyre

estled atop a bluff, overlooking U.S. 12 at the 80-acre Cambridge Junction Historic State Park, rests the one-and-a-half story white clapboard farmhouse known as Walker Tavern. This historic building is home to the Irish Hill’s lush natural landscape, exhibits, and a recurring farmer’s market. While the main draw is the historic buildings, walking and hiking are popular activities too.

Lori Perkins, Walker Tavern Historical Site’s historian, says the new event Evening Prairie Stroll, which occurs on September 9 from 5 to 7pm, is a new and unique experience for guests. The Next Page band will play a two-hour set at the barn on the hill. Guests are welcome to bring chairs, snacks, and refreshments, although Perkins said they will provide some seating and Walker Tavern root beer.

Stroll event. “There’s a history of the escape of John White from the slave catchers at the Royal Watkins Farm, so there’s an exhibit panel devoted to that,” Perkins explained. They also created a booklet about the John White story for eighthgrade students. “We’re hoping to get eighth graders out here to go through the book. It takes them through Lenawee County and puts boots on the ground for where the event took place.”

Perkins says the John White story, written by Laura Haviland, a key figure in transnational escape networks, is what made Watkins Lake a National Site. “We decided to use Walker Tavern as the foil since Watkins Lake doesn’t have signage to tell the story, and the tavern is just outside where the events occurred.” At the time, Sylvester Walker owned the tavern, and Perkins says it isn’t inconceivable that he knew about the escape routes being used.

According to their website, patrons should allow one to two hours to tour the historic buildings at Cambridge Junction Historic State Park. The tavern includes an 1840s parlor, bar room, dining room, and kitchen. The barn offers surveying and stagecoach exhibits. Buildings include the historic tavern, barn, and Hewitt House Visitors Center. The grounds also feature hiking trails and picnic areas.

said Perkins. The event is reminiscent of the Thursday night candlelight tours from 40 years ago, which Perkins remembers from when she was a student. “You could go into the tavern, and there would be candle lanterns. It was pure dark in there otherwise—unless there was a full moon.”

While three-quarters of the trail is a brick path, Perkins said that golf carts will be available for people who cannot make the trek and, if circumstances require, they will allow people to drive their vehicles up the hill.

Walker Tavern’s newest exhibit, featuring John White, will also be open during the Evening

September 9 5-7pm

Cambridge Junction Historic State Park’s grounds are open from 9am to 6pm daily from May 1 through October 1, except for some holidays. Historic buildings are open Wednesday through Sunday, 9am to 5pm, from May 31 through September 3.

The Evening Stroll doesn’t require reservations, and the event is free, although entry to the park requires a Michigan State Park Recreation Passport. n

Cambridge Junction Historic State Park 13220 M-50, Brooklyn • 517-930-3806

michigan.gov/walkertavern

 Friends of Walker Tavern

“Lanterns will light the way up and down the hill, and the tavern will be candlelit,”

FROM MY

KIT CH EN

rika and John Aylward, owners of The Boulevard Market in Tecumseh, have always been proud to be a part of their community’s story. “Food is such a big part of coming together,” said Erika. “Whether families or friends are coming together for a joyous occasion or a sorrowful one, food is a part of the story. Food is universal—it hits every age group, every gender, everyone, and everything. Differences can be put aside over amazing food.”

Erika, of Macon, taught a multitude of cooking classes out of The Market for years before moving classes to her home in 2016. She instructed classes until the Covid-19 pandemic brought that part of her story to a close. When asked what inspired her, Erika shared, “I have never been formally trained, but cooking has always been a passion and a curiosity. I love to eat. I love variety. I love to try new things. Even if you cannot travel, food takes you to a certain culture, to a certain place, that is always what I really loved about cooking.”

The Boulevard Market, with a European feel that Erika has always strived for, is truly a gem in our quaint town. The recently added outdoor seating brings Erika’s vision

to fruition. “Putting the tables and chairs out front was the cutest thing ever.” Erika laughed. “We have owned this building since 2005, and I always thought it would just be the best, and that was the icing on the cake.” Erika is delighted to share a few of her recipes from the market’s special menu of small shareable plates and non-alcoholic spirits that have become increasingly trendy.

The outdoor seating and menu at The Market was designed to be a small break in the day, not to serve as a full meal. “Maybe you are out with friends and you have a dinner planned downtown, you can stop at The Market and enjoy a plate of cheese centric food and a refreshing alcohol free crafted cocktail,” said Erika. The small menu encompasses snacks and drinks that are unique to the cheese shop.

Goat Cheese Tartine is made using house made goat cheese, Tecumseh honey, and lavender that comes from a farm on US 12. “We want the recipes to be really different but simple,” explained Erika. “You don’t go to a random restaurant and get Raclette on the grill with the sides.” Erika and John have traveled extensively and the only place they have ever seen Raclette on the menu, was Gruyere, Switzerland—that is how special this menu is. “It can be something you have never heard of or something you would never find outside of a big city.”

wine or spirits with a sugary beverage. True non-alcoholic wines and spirits are made via the dealcoholizing process, meaning the grapes are fermented, vinified, and created into a fully alcoholic product, then the alcohol is removed via methods such as vacuum distillation and reverse osmosis. This process does not sacrifice any flavor you would find in a wine or spirit.

This new spot in Tecumseh will be seasonal, too. As the fall turns crisp, Erika is hoping to offer outdoor seating through November by adding cozy plaid blankets, sheepskin rugs, heaters, and of course personal pots of fondue. “We want to do this as long as we possibly can,” Erika said. “We will have cafe gourmand, an espresso, and four tiny samples of different desserts on one plate that are two bites each. It’s so French… who doesn’t want that?”

“It’s bigger than John and I. If we can make people happy, it has such a big impact on everybody we are able to come in contact

2 oz. Martini Floreal

3 oz. sparkling dry white wine

4 oz. Northwoods apple soda

One slice of apple

One sprig of sage, give it a twist

Pour all into a large wine glass, stir, and add ice.

The variety of non-alcoholic beverage choices are meant to be fun, creative, and interesting. Erika’s alcohol-free cocktails are sophisticated, and the market has an entire selection devoted to this rising social enjoyment. “Non-alcoholic drinks allow people to be social without worrying about any negative effects alcohol may bring about,” shared Erika. “Our plates and drinks are inspired by the seasons, local delicious cordials, and products and fun drinks we’ve experienced around the world,” said Erika. Patrons should not confuse true non-alcoholic

Erika Aylward

Story and photos by Sarah Chinavare

New drinks will include French orchard spritz, apple ginger fizz, Moscow mule and maple bourbon old fashioned—all alcohol free.

BUILD YOUR OWN CHARCUTERIE BOARD WITH THESE PROFESSIONAL TIPS!

Up to five choices of cheeses spanning different milks/textures; soft, semi-soft, blue, hard. Goat, cow or sheep milk ~ two ounces of cheese per person. Up to 4 types of cured meats or pate ~ two ounces per person. Use different slicing techniques to create visual interest. Additional items; olives, cornichons, pickled vegetables, jam, honey, mustard, crackers, breads, fresh fruit. Good pairings are contrasting flavors sweet/spicy, sweet/salty, rich/acid, smokey/acid. Get everything you need at The Boulevard Market.

with. We have so much fun and take so much pleasure in the fact that we get to be a part of people’s Christmas Eve or their bonfire and how excited they were to share things with their friends and family. It’s what keeps communities strong, it keeps families strong. It is what we always think about and what we are the most proud of when it comes to our stores. And our staff takes the same pride in all of that. I love that. That’s what I would want people to remember about The Boulevard Market,” Erika concluded.

Whether you are traveling to Tecumseh or showing a friend around town, The Boulevard Market is the perfect place to enjoy Michigan’s spectacular weather and people watch while you indulge your senses and treat your palate to fondue and a handcrafted beverage. Come to The Boulevard Market and experience Erika’s creations for yourself. Get inspired to cook and go home with all the unique ingredients you need to make her kitchen a part of your story. n

102 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh

Mutt’sNuts!Gone

A comedy dog thrill show that leaves audiences howling!

By Christine MacIntyre

he Tecumseh Center for the Arts announced a new season of shows, beginning with the playful national touring act, Mutts Gone Nuts, on October 1 at 3 pm.

Scott and Jane Houghton of Mutts Gone Nuts share the stage with their adorable rescue dogs, giving spectators of all ages a high-energy canine cabaret to remember. The four-legged performers engage in frisbee, freestyle dancing, tricks, and more. However, the lighthearted show is just one aspect of Mutts Gone Nuts; the Houghton’s use positive, reward-based methods such as toys and praise to train their dogs. The Houghton’s also look for what each dog enjoys and then embrace that talent. While traveling, each dog enjoys a large, padded, climate-controlled kennel.

TCA director Amy Slupe said Mutts Gone Nuts is a unique family show with special family-friendly pricing in the lineup. “We wanted to make sure that this show, in particular, got highlighted as our family show.” Adults, seniors, and military tickets cost $25, and kids aged 18 and under cost $15. “We’re really excited because [Mutts Gone Nuts] is such a great group we want everyone to be able to enjoy.” n

The Tecumseh Center for the Arts

400 N Maumee St, Tecumseh 517-423-6617 • thetca.org/staff

1 Half 1 Full

At Sutton Early Learning Center (a TPS School), the focus is on building strong foundational skills for children ages 3-5 by providing opportunities for learners to engage at their developmental level. They are encouraged to explore new ideas to find success and joy in learning.

To apply for the Great Start Readiness Program, visit lenaweefreepreschools.org

Sutton Early Learning Center

Director Shawn Behnke

517-424-9957 ext 4110 2870 Sutton Rd, Adrian sbehnke@tps.k12.mi.us

The Learning Cove 517-215-6653

Patterson School

212 N Ottawa St, Tecumseh thelearningcove.org

It’s a Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon at Patterson Intermediate School in Tecumseh. The buses are lined up to head home and the halls are bustling with students and teachers ready to call it a day. But in one of Patterson’s rooms, the excitement and intention of learning to read is just beginning!

Community volunteers have arrived and are eager to tutor their assigned student who has been enrolled because he/she is behind grade level in reading. The weekly lesson plans for the students have been individually designed by Lynn Raine, a retired reading specialist from Tecumseh Public Schools. The volunteer tutors, or “reading coaches,” have been trained and are comfortable with the plans they will be using. Some students are transported by bus from one of the other elementary schools in Tecumseh, and some just walk from their classroom at Patterson. Students are warmly greeted into the classroom called The Learning Cove. After choosing a snack or two, they proceed to their cubby table area where their coach greets them and checks in on their day. For the next hour, the coach and student will be immersed in reading intervention.

Since 2016, The Learning Cove has tutored 95 second, third, and fourth graders. Many of our students begin the program with reading levels one, two, or even more grade levels behind. Last school year, we helped 21 students. The majority of them made a year or more progress in reading. Nine ended the year at or above the expected grade level.

“My students attending The Learning Cove have made tremendous gains. It provides them with that extra, very specific practice they need to be successful. This is a valuable asset and we are lucky to have this great program in our community!” said Tania Arras, Reading Specialist, Tecumseh Public Schools.

Could you help make a difference? Please consider volunteering to be a reading coach. We are a science-based reading program using phonics skills, games, and decodable books (books using words related to specific phonics skills) to teach and reinforce reading. Our program is only successful if we have caring adults from the community who will encourage and teach using the lesson plans provided. Volunteers come from a wide variety of backgrounds. They are trained by a reading specialist and staff. Substitute coaches are also needed to cover when a full-time coach is unavailable. Expect to give two hours of your time on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays from 3:15 – 5:15.

If you are interested in volunteering as a reading coach or you would like to make a monetary donation — applications/donation information can be found on thelearningcove.org. Find us on Facebook too!

The Learning Cove is a non-profit community outreach after-school tutoring program supported and administered by Covenant Presbyterian Church in Tecumseh. The goal is to provide free tutoring in reading to students. We are a volunteer-based organization that collaborates with Tecumseh schools, community members, parents, and students to impact academic achievement. Our vision is to bridge an education gap in reading, providing the opportunity to be successful in school and in life.

Coach Bill lEisenring and Justin C.

Coach Linda Knape with Adeline V.

Coach Sandy Lewis and Pryce N.

WHERE ARE Tecumseh GRADS NOW? Teacher the

Lindsey Saxton has been a kindergarten teacher at Herrick Park Intermediate Learning Center for a dozen years, but prior to that she spent a large part of her life in Tecumseh Public Schools as a student. A 2000 graduate, Saxton attended TPS from kindergarten through high school graduation, and that experience had a major impact – so much so that although she had a chance to move to New York City and teach there, she ultimately decided to return to her hometown.

Saxton’s parents were high school sweethearts and Tecumseh High School graduates. “Tecumseh has always been my home,” she said. She earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Eastern Michigan University. While in college she met her husband, Marc, a Blissfield native, when they both worked at Mac’s Seafood Shack in Saline. The couple has two daughters, Kailer, 15, and Sloane, 11.

Following college, Saxton spent three years teaching science to pre-kindergarten through sixth-grade students at PS 30 in Harlem. Shortly after Kailer was born, the Saxtons moved back to Michigan to be closer to family, and in 2008 she taught in Inkster, Mich. for a while before landing a position at the TPS preschool in 2009, which she held for two years.

“Teaching positions were hard to come by back then,” she said. “When a position opened up at Herrick Park, I actually interviewed for a second-grade position. Mrs. Francis, our principal at the time, felt that I would be a great fit for kindergarten and offered me this position instead. I’m so thankful for her insight because I have been in kindergarten ever since. I wouldn’t want to teach any other grade.”

Along with appreciating the chance to raise her children in Tecumseh near the rest of her family, Saxton enjoys teaching in Tecumseh. “I love teaching at TPS because I am surrounded by so many quality educators and supportive families. I love being able to

give back to the community that helped me become who I am today,” she said.

In June her class of 22 kindergarten students celebrated the accomplishment of publishing a children’s book titled “If You Give a Bear a Book,” that was modeled after the style of books written by children’s author Laura Numeroff of “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” fame. Saxton had developed an author’s study unit centered around the author, which included a Zoom gathering with Numeroff. The class began working on their own stories in early April, and each student wrote and illustrated a page in the book. After shipping off the final draft, the class received their books in May.

Saxton’s interest in teaching was sparked by her own teachers. “I had many wonderful teachers at TPS, but the one that influenced me to pursue education was Mr. Ted Rachwal, my fifth-grade teacher,” she said. “Mr. Rachwal went above and beyond the curriculum to make learning fun and engaging. We built ham radios, rewrote Shakespeare in modern day language, learned calligraphy, produced plays, etc. He even took several of us on the P.A.L.M. bike ride, where we rode across the state of Michigan over the course of a week.”

One key memory from her preteen years was the chance to participate in

an exchange program called The French Connection in sixth grade, when she was an exchange student in La Verpillière, France, under the guidance of several TPS teachers. She spent three weeks immersed in the culture, learning the language, and seeing the sights. She said she is grateful her parents gave her that opportunity, which she feels began her love of travel.

While in school she also participated in a TPS program called cross-age tutors that paired high school students with elementary classrooms, with the older students helping teachers in any capacity they needed. “It was a wonderful way to test out the profession and decide if teaching was for me. Spoiler alert: It was!” said Saxton. “I then went on to receive my B.A. in Elementary Education from Eastern Michigan University. After a year in kindergarten, I knew it was where I wanted to be, so I went back to get my M. A. in Early Childhood Education.”

What did she enjoy most about growing up in Tecumseh? “If you asked me this question as a teenager, I might have had a different answer, but as I have grown and experienced big city life and learned the importance of community, I have come to realize just how charming our town is,” she said.

Lindsey Saxton | THS 2000 Grad | By Jackie Koch

Since his childhood, Ryan O’Quinn wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the Army.

“As a child, I was always looking through pictures and things from his time in the Army and always had known that I wanted to be in the Army,” he said. “Basically my entire life.” After graduating from THS in 1992, O’Quinn attended Michigan State University where he participated in the ROTC program and earned his degree in Communications. He enlisted in 1997 and retired as a “full-bird” colonel. The moniker comes from the eagle insignia. He said growing up in Tecumseh and having the family values and hardworking culture he learned from the community made a positive impact on his Army career.

“I always referenced how my Tecumseh upbringing and the community made me the leader I am today,” he said. “Especially as I took command of new units across my career.” After being deployed around the globe and the U.S., O’Quinn spent the last 20 years of his career working in Army acquisition, the “business side” of the Army.

“It ensures we procure the right equipment the soldier needs,” O’Quinn said. “Since I was a soldier and a leader, they thought I would be good at this. That’s when I would say my career really took off and became something pretty darn cool.”

Once his retirement is final, he will be working for 3M as a government markets contracts manager.

Ryan O’Quinn | THS 1992 Grad

By Renee Lapham Collins

O’Quinn is the son of Fred (Sue) and the late Mary O’Quinn. He has a brother, Kevin, who also joined the Army, and a sister, Shannon Gregory, who is a nurse. O’Quinn married Coty Butler, Class of 1993, his high school sweetheart. The O’Quinns live in Rochester Hills with their three children, Cameron, 17; Lauren, 15; and Collin, 12.

“My in-laws, Randy and Pam (Raymond) Butler are 1973 Tecumseh High graduates,” he said. “They have been extremely supportive throughout my career. When I was in school, Mr. (Harrison) Gonser (Tecumseh Middle School science teacher) and Mr. (Walt) Beham, who taught high school history, probably were the most influential for me.”

Although the two teachers were different, “They both tried to take in people who maybe weren’t exceeding as students quite as well. I was not necessarily a fantastic student, and the two of them took me under their wing and brought me into the classes,” he said. “They pulled me in and they listened to me and made me part of it. Mrs. (Mary) Tommelein, I really enjoyed having her as a teacher, and Mrs. (Diane) Fisher, the gym teacher. She and I had a love for tennis.”

O’Quinn said there was “Always a teacher in every grade who was willing to take me under their wing and motivate me. Without them, I don’t think I would’ve done as well. And then, of course, my wife—I met my wife about that same time, too. She was a very good student and so I had to try to keep up with her. She helped me study.”

O’Quinn said that, in addition to his own family and his teachers, the Shearer family in Tecumseh has been like a second family. “Me and Jennifer’s oldest, Monty, are best friends,” he said. “The support of his family has been a huge part of taking care of me and making me feel good, especially when I was deployed and they sent me goodie boxes and trinkets and things like that.”

Math teacher Carl Novak also figured prominently in O’Quinn’s life, although it wasn’t math that brought them together.

“Mr. Novak, I never had him as a teacher,” O’Quinn said. “But when I was in Kosovo, he reached out to me to tell me how proud he was of me, and to see how I was doing, if I needed anything. That went a very long way and said a

lot about him, that he’d be thinking about me six or seven years after I left high school. I always really, really, really appreciated that because when you’re away from home like that, especially that was my first war zone area, having that kind of support is super important.”

Tecumseh Grads continued...

Administrator the

Danielle Gross never expected to work in government, but nearly 20 years after graduating from Tecumseh High School, Gross was hired as the Blissfield Village Administrator. In the interim, however, she found the road from Tecumseh to Blissfield slightly longer than the 16 miles outlined on Google Maps.

About 1,300 miles, to be precise. “We moved to Rawlins, Wyoming in 2010 and we were there almost twelve years,” Gross said. “We fell in love with it. If you like the outdoors, Wyoming is a good place to be.”

Rawlins, with a population around 8,900, is in south central Wyoming. It has an elevation of more than 6,500 feet, with a much more arid climate than the Great Lakes State. It’s also about four hours south of Yellowstone, which Gross and her family were able to visit. “It is absolutely beautiful,” she said. “And yes, my husband and I are into the Yellowstone series—we’ve watched all of them.”

Gross earned her bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Phoenix after earning her associate degree from Baker College, where she met her husband, Ben Gross. The daughter of Ed Hull, Gross grew up with a love of science and reading. She said English teacher Judy Kastel and science teacher Jill Adkins had a great impact on her high school experience. Her father, owner of Carpet on Wheels in Tecumseh, helped instill a strong work ethic— Gross worked at the Daily Grind through high school. She enjoyed reading and creative writing, was a swimmer until her freshman year, and remembers the Tecumseh History class as one of her favorites.

“I always loved science,” she said. “When you are younger, you talk about what you want to be when you grow up and it’s never the same thing. I thought I’d be a forensic medical examiner or a veterinarian. I never was super-political—I couldn’t imagine being in government.”

After finishing her finance degree at Baker, Gross worked in banking and just when it was starting to feel a bit routine, the couple relocated to Wyoming, where her husband accepted a position as

a corrections officer at the State Penitentiary in Rawlins. At the time, Michigan’s economy was tanking and officials from Wyoming were in Michigan recruiting corrections officers.

Later on, her husband worked for Admiral Beverages and then became certified in water management, moving into a supervisor’s position for the Rawlins community. In the meantime, Gross was hired to be the secretary for the Department of Public Works. Eventually, she was promoted to the director position and then moved into Community Development. The two positions provided her with a solid background in public administration so when the couple decided to move back to Michigan to be closer to their families, she was well-qualified for the Blissfield job.

“I love my job most days,” Gross said. “When we came home and I landed this job, it was perfect. We love the community and it’s close to home.”

The Gross family relocated to a home off Mohawk Street in Tecumseh, which they have been busy renovating. They have three sons, Jamison, 15; Connor, 13; and Carson, 11. All of the boys attend Tecumseh Schools.

As Blissfield’s administrator, Gross supervises 26 full-time employees, the Aquatic Center, the Police Department, Public Works, Water Plant, Sewer Plant, Clerk, Treasurer, and Zoning Administrator. She manages the day-to-day operations for the village, reporting to the Village Council. “They make the policy and I administer it,” she said. “July 12 was my second-year anniversary at Blissfield and it’s going well. My favorite part is the people—staff and residents. We have some amazing residents and the staff is the absolute best.”

Danielle Gross | THS 2004 Grad By Renee Lapham Collins

“We love the

and it’s close to home.”

Artist the

Elijah Van Benschoten | THS 1999 Grad

By Renee Lapham Collins

When he was a student at Tecumseh High School, Elijah Van Benschoten never really thought about art as a potential career. In fact, he said, it was the sharp eyes of Ron Frenzen and Heidi Dauphin who saw his potential as an artist.

“Heidi was the first teacher to recognize I had any sort of skill in art,” Van Benschoten said. “She was very encouraging as far as developing it and further pursuing it. Ron Frenzen was great, too. I only had him for one year, but he was very helpful for just being an encouraging and positive presence.”

But it was the influence of math teacher Carl Novak that steered Van Benschoten into education. “Mr. Novak, he was the only math teacher that I had that I actually liked,” he said. “He made math fun. And that made me realize that, oh, for the kids who might not enjoy art when they first

come into class, I can probably reach them, too. Mr. Novak had this great way of making math seem accessible, and I thought, well, I could do that with art. So, I borrowed a lot of teaching tactics and strategies that I saw from him.”

The son of Brian and Shirley Van Benschoten of Tecumseh, Van Benschoten played soccer as a youngster but gave it up when he broke his ankle. He went to Siena Heights University to study art.

“It was actually my first week at Siena that I discovered I wanted to be a teacher,” Van Benschoten said. “I went into the BFA (Bachelor of Fine Art) program there, not really knowing what I wanted to do with art, just knowing that I wanted to be in art. And it was my first week there that I saw how much my instructors loved what they did.”

He asked them how he could become an art professor and they told him to get his

Master’s Degree in Fine Art. Luck was on his side as he was accepted into the MFA program at Syracuse University on his first try. He returned to Michigan and started working at Adrian College in 2006, where he stayed as an adjunct professor with fulltime responsibilities for nearly six years. He also taught at Siena, Albion College, Owens Community College, and “A bunch of schools in the area.”

“I also went up to Interlochen my first summer after grad school, in 2007,” he said. “I’ve been up there ever since. The first three years, I taught painting and then I started teaching printmaking.”

Van Benschoten spent a year or so in South Dakota teaching in person classes, and then moved to Cincinnati, where he currently makes his home. He is divorced with a nine-year-old son, Hunt, with whom he spends much of his time. In fact, Van Benschoten said, Hunt has an interest in art and spent part of his summer with his dad at the fine arts camp.

“It was his first year actually being in the program,” Van Benschoten said. “He was a junior camper.”

Although his background was in painting, over the years, Van Benschoten said he “Learned to love printmaking in college,” and once he started teaching

it, he really came to enjoy the art form. Printmaking is an artistic process in which the artist transfers images from a matrix or template onto another surface, usually paper or fabric. Woodcut, etching, engraving, and lithography are traditional types of printmaking, while modern artists also include screenprinting.

“It has a problem-solving nature,” he said. “It feels like I’m always learning something new with the processes. At a certain point, I’m probably going to stop learning something and that’s when I’m going to get bored with it. But until then, I’m really fascinated with just getting to know as much as I can about the processes and how well I can develop my technique.”

Van Benschoten teaches at Miami (of Ohio) University, Shawnee State University, and worked remotely with South Dakota State University for a number of years to build its online art department.

“I don’t think every medium can be effectively taught online, but there are a lot of mediums that can be taught online,” he said. “Even traditional mediums like drawing, painting, and the like can be taught online because it is all about just developing technique. And technique can be taught remotely.” n

By Ann Belote-Weir

There are two about running: things

Sam Skeels

According to Sam Skeels, principal at Adrian High School and a runner himself, “It’s not a very expensive sport for parents. A pair of shoes and you can go out and get after it.” He does state that over the years, technology has changed when it comes to that type of footwear.

“You had your major shoe companies, and they would offer maybe one neutral foot shaped shoe and then one shoe for stability for people who need a little more [support].” He continued, “Today you’ve got new brands, and every shoe company makes multiple different models of shoes to be attractive with the colorway (different combinations of colors and patterns), and you just didn’t see those things twenty years ago.” But that isn’t a bad thing. “You’ve got a ton of different options for style and functionality that people can choose from,” Skeels said.

Shoes are available all over, even online, but Skeels is a proponent of shopping local, with stores that specialize in athletic shoes. “You may have to travel a little bit, but they have professionals there that can get you in a pair of shoes that is right for your feet. Also, when we shop local, we help to improve our own local economies and also get someone into a shoe that may save injuries,” Skeels elaborated. “If you’re a first-time runner, or becoming a runner and enjoying the sport, if the shoe isn’t the right foot fit, that basically turns you off because you’re not in the right shoes.”

What else has changed in the world of running, and sports in general? Believe it or not, socks. “The options that people have for socks to

maintain blister-free, or dry feet is just amazing, and it seems like it grows every year,” Skeels said.

Let’s not forget other clothing options, with Skeels noting that technical fabrics have become more prevalent for shirts and shorts. “They continue to evolve and become lighter and more functional. It’s come such a long way from straight cotton or Lycra to these crazy light materials that don’t have seams and are antichafing and UV resistant.”

Other optional equipment includes a water system which can be anything from a lightweight backpack with a bladder to a vest that carries collapsible water bottles that you can refill. Smart watches have also changed over the years. Skeels noted that “Today you have multiple

manufacturers, and you have these watches that, in real time through GPS, can tell you how fast you’re going, your pace, your average pace, your heart rate, and your cadence. Smart watches cost anywhere from a couple hundred to $1000.”

At the end of the day, Skeels did indicate less is enough for those just starting out. “At the end of the day, if someone wants to be a runner, or jogger, or even start off as a walker, and dip their toes into jogging and running, it’s really accessible. You don’t need all the fancy things. A lot of times, they end up taking away the joy of just being out there and moving your body, whether it be on the trails in nature, or in the streets in the city, or whatever you wanna do.”

Local Fall MARATHONS

’

By Ann Belote-Weir

FALL MARATHONS ARE POPULAR AS MILD TEMPERATURES ALLOW FOR FAST RACE TIMES AND PREDICTABLE WEATHER. AND IF YOU RUN A FALL MARATHON, YOU CAN DO THE BULK OF YOUR TRAINING THROUGH THE HOT SUMMER. HERE ARE SOME OF OUR BEST LOCAL RUNS.

Tecumseh

s

Ride-Row-Run Marathon September 9

The Tecumseh Ride-RowRun Marathon, the third year for this event, will be taking place on September 9. According to Jessica Stretch, who heads up the event, the marathon grew out of a conversation on fundraising for the expansion of the Kiwanis Trail. “At the time I was a board member for the Tecumseh Kiwanis, and Dan Swallow (Tecumseh City Manager), Kyle DeWitt (cofounder of Tecumseh Brewing), and I wanted to do something like this and thought ‘Why don’t we do a triathlon?’”

The event, which provides money to Kiwanis Trail Authority for trail expansion and maintenance, offers two different ways to participate.

One is the short triathlon (which is not timed) and consists of an approximately 14-mile bicycle ride, kayaking one large lap around Globe Mill Pond, and a run/walk that is about 2.39

miles. Because this event is not timed, there is no finisher rewards.

The longer triathlon is timed. This event also includes an approximately 14-mile bicycle ride, kayaking one large lap around Globe Mill Pond, and traversing a bit up the river, followed by a walk/run of 4.54 miles. Awards will be given to the top three overall finishers. These are not technically triathlons, according to Stretch.

“It’s a fun triathlon, so it’s family friendly—we have the fun one that is for all ages. If you don’t want to do all segments of it, you don’t have to—it’s just supporting the trail expansion and maintenance.”

Stretch does not participate herself as she spends a lot of time leading volunteers and making sure everything is getting done.

“I do get help from Team RWB—they help me out the

most.” Team RWB stands for Red White and Blue. “They are a nonprofit organization that do runs/walks for awareness for veterans.” Stretch added that Brandon Smith, Tecumseh Chapter Captain of Team RWB, also “helps me big time.”

Stretch said, “It’s [the marathon] just a great time and to me it’s just giving back to the community and something for the community to enjoy.”

For both triathlons,

For info/sign up, visit raceentry.com/2023-kiwanis-triathlon/race-information

bikes, when not in use, will be supervised and left in the parking lot of Tecumseh Paddling Company labeled with the participant’s number. After noon the bikes will be unattended. Kayaks for the race will be provided by Tecumseh Paddling Company.

Participants are invited to stay for an after-party at Tecumseh Paddling Company which will include a food truck, a coffee cart, and vendors.

Marathons continued...

Run for the Hills, the annual Oh, These Irish Hills - 1 Mile 5K Run/ Walk is gearing up for its 13th year and according to Kay Roumell who volunteers as the main contact, “It’s a workout!” The run takes place at Hidden Lake Gardens in Tipton and some call it 'The most challenging course in southeast Michigan.' "It is up and down hills and turn arounds. It is a very challenging 5k course. Anybody that has run it will agree.”

Monies raised, per Roumell go back into Hidden Lake Gardens. This year, half will go back to gardens and half will go to the Reach for the Sky Canopy Walk. The entry fee for the run will allow runners access to this 700-foot walk. Roumell describes that as a win/win. “It’s nice to go to—it’s something for sightseers.”

Run for the Hills will take place on September 16 and a virtual 5k will take place September 17 through October 1. Roumell said the virtual option, for those who can’t attend the actual event, can be done at Hidden Lake Gardens between those dates, or in any area the participant would like.

Roumell stated that the inperson race is professionally timed by Michigan Running Foundation with results posted live during the race and online. All participants, in nine different age divisions, will receive finisher medals. Families welcome.

Registration runsignup.com and at otih.org/otih-run-for-the-hills

Run for the Hills 1 mile, 5k Run/WalkTipton September 16

The Kelly Carter and Thomas Leffler Memorial Scholarship 5k will take place Saturday, October 14 during the Appleumpkin Festival in Tecumseh. The race will start at Pearl Street and Chicago Boulevard. Free parking will be available just south of the starting line.

The 5k is named for Kelly Carter and Thomas Leffler. Carter was the founding director of Carter Rehabilitation and Aquatic Centers of Tecumseh. He established the Kelly Carter Scholarship Fund in 1995. The scholarship was originally designed to help Lenawee County students going into the ancillary medical school fields. This was expanded to include those going into physical rehabilitation. Carter passed away from ALS in 1998.

Co-owner of rehabilitation center, Thomas Leffler, passed away in August 2019. Leffler was behind expanding the center to Adrian. The run, named for both these men, has helped with funding the over 53 scholarships that have been awarded to date.

According to Robert Leffler, Physical Therapist at Carter Rehabilitation and Aquatic Centers, and son of Thomas Leffler, “My dad and Kelly Carter were dedicated to the profession of physical therapy and also to the youth pursuing a career in the healthcare field. They were very big on education. They understood the value of a quality education.”

The run is in its 28th year, and Leffler stated that it’s a run in the memory of his father and Kelly Carter. “It’s a very successful run. We get a pretty good turnout every year.” Per Leffler, this is the third year the run has been in conjunction with the Appleumpkin Festival. “We changed the day to Saturday. People can run it or walk it—we’ve had families walking before—and the nice thing is, we have showers back at the clinic here at Carter Rehab Center for people from out of town. They can come after the run, take showers, and make it down to the festival.”

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Leffler stated that participants can run, jog, or walk. “The body was designed to move and not be sedentary. We are big proponents of exercise and for a healthy lifestyle.” On his bicycle, Leffler starts the runners off and then he takes the lead runners through the course.

"Participation is for a good cause. It supports the youth of our county pursuing a career in the healthcare field, which is a great field to be in." Leffler said. "There’s a need for people to be in the field and for these kids to get into it, and higher education, it was very important to my father and also to Kelly, and we want to continue to support that and carry on that legacy, their legacy,” he said.

Info/sign up at carterrehabcenter.com/ kc-tl-scholarship-run.html

The 4th Annual Heritage Park Half Marathon & 50k will be held October 22 at Heritage Park. While there is a plethora of 5k runs and walks, this is a different approach to a public running event. The idea was born out of conversations between Sam Skeels, Adrian High School principal and runner, and Kerri and Eric Clark, owners of Running with E’s. “The Clarks have been putting on races and helping support races for as long as they’ve been in business, and over about the last ten years or so, I’ve got into race directing,” said Skeels. “I also have been doing ultra marathons, and any step past a marathon is considered an ultra-marathon. I would go do these races, and these races mean so much to me and they’ve enriched my life. So, I got to talking to the Clark’s about the absolute jewel of Heritage Park that we get to enjoy here in the city, and how awesome it would be to create an ultra marathon experience for people in the area.”

The Clarks agreed and helped Skeels with the planning. Skeels said “We created a course out there for the 50K and the first couple of years we did a marathon as well as a half marathon. We’ve since done away with the marathon, so we kind of forced people to maybe get out of their comfort level a little bit and jump from a half marathon to a 50K but it’s turned into a really cool event.” And according to Skeels, people come from all over. “We’ve extended it from people that are local and now we end up getting people from all over the place. As far away as North Carolina—I think that’s the farthest we’ve had people travel from [to run].”

Skeels is happy that this event fits into the community. “It’s become a nice event and I think what we’re most proud of is it’s still a mom and pop’s local race that we, as lovers of the running community and lovers of our community, can put on so everyone can enjoy the park and enjoy the sport of trail running.”

Money raised from this event goes right back into Heritage Park. Skeels noted that “Eric (Clark) especially is out there working to improve the trails and we spend a lot of time making improvements to the park.” This includes an addition to the northern end of Heritage Park that families and others who just want to enjoy a nature walk can use.

Info/sign up at runsignup.com/Race/MI/Adrian/HeritagePark12and50k Info on all running events can be found at runningwithes.com

Marathons continued...

Tecumseh 517-423-3250 | Blissfield 517-486-2145 | FREE DELIVERY IN LENAWEE COUNTY

Nite Lites: Christmas 5k Kicks off Holiday Season - Brooklyn November 11

The Christmas Season is going to open ahead of schedule this year when the 9th Annual Nite Lites 5k fun run/ walk comes to Michigan International Speedway (MIS) on November 11. According to John Spink, founder of Nite Lites Christmas Lite Show, which is a drive-through event at the track, this event grew out of requests. “People wanted to walk through the show. Since it’s a drive-through, we weren’t able to do that. We thought if we did [this event] that would be the one time where someone can actually walk or run through the lights.” In the spirit of Christmas, the proceeds from the run will be given to the Hanover-Horton High School Class of 2025.

For the 5k, runners and walkers will have a bit of a different experience than what they’ve experienced at other running events as this one is at night, with the run beginning at six in the evening and the walkers starting at 6:30. Participants will not be disappointed. The displays are more than Christmas Lights. Past displays have included ice skaters, larger than life candles, and more. “We build and add new things, and we haven’t taken anything out. We just keep adding

more and more,” said Spink. “It just keeps getting bigger and better. While the drive only event is six miles, the run/walk will only see half the show. Spink noted that it’s a 5k—3.1 miles and the show is more like five to six miles long. "We make it so that the 5K will get you back to where you started,” he said.

While the walk is a one-day event, the actual drive event has been extended this year. “We’re actually going to open a week earlier this year and we’re going to run later,” said Spink. “We are opening on November 17 and staying open through January 7, including the holidays.” Back this year will be the trackless train. “That’s another option we started last year,” added Spink. “You get on where you park your car, ride through the show, and the train brings you back to where you’re parked.” The train runs Thursday through Sunday.

Register online for the 5k walk/run through November 4 with the option of getting a long-sleeved T-shirt. Registration is also available the day of race, but no T-shirt option will be available. Spink did add a bit of advice to those attending the event. “Dress warm!” n

Register online at nitelitesshow.com

Truly a place to call home

By Renee Lapham Collins

The first thing you notice about Tecumseh Place Assisted Living is its welcoming atmosphere. Its three structures are tucked off Southwestern Drive and bordered by meadows and woods that attract wildlife and provide a calm vista.

Keely Sanders, who took over as administrator in December 2022, leads a tour around the spacious great room, where residents can sit together for meals, watch television, play cards and games, or just enjoy each other’s company. There are dining tables and chairs of varying sizes on hardwood floors for shared meals or games, with side chairs and tables scattered about for a quiet chat or an evening with a good book. A large television is mounted over a fireplace on one end of the common area with carpet and comfortable, cushioned sofas providing a spot to catch up on favorite programs. A vaulted ceiling ringed with windows provides plenty of natural light, bringing the feeling of outdoors inside. There are even some deer mounts on the walls and a fish tank to enhance the nature theme of the decor.

There are 20 apartments in Fieldstone, with eat-in kitchenettes, living rooms, closet space, and baths that are accessible for all levels of mobility. Residents can choose to eat in their apartments or in the main dining area. Housekeeping and laundry services are provided and there is care coordination with outside agencies, social and recreational activities, help with medication, and general assistance with the daily living activities. As a resident’s condition deteriorates with age, they can remain at Tecumseh Place and receive all the care they need. “We want to keep people in their apartments as they age to maintain a home environment for them as long as we can,” Sanders said.

Fieldstone is for those who are able to come and go on their own, so she classifies that as “semi-assisted.” The apartments are large enough for a couple. Tecumseh Place I, built in 2007, is reserved for those residents who need memory care, and Tecumseh Place II is designed for those who need a “higher level of assistance in living.” Tecumseh Place II was built about three to five years after the first facility. Fieldstone opened in 2015. “There are never more than 20 residents in each building,” Sanders said. “It’s small, it’s quaint, and care is personalized to each resident.”

The care options include supportive care for those who still have some independence but need assistance with personal care, mobility, and medication; memory care for those with dementia, including secure doors and specialized care; and respite care. Respite care is for seniors who need short term support with daily activities.

Tecumseh Place is a program of Baruch Senior Ministries, a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to compassionate,

quality care. Tecumseh Place staff takes its role to heart. “We’ve done a big reset,” Sanders said. “We have new caregivers, new people that are focused on our residents, and we all really care about each of our residents. It’s not just a job—we are all dedicated to our residents—from the top down.”

She said the facility also prides itself on keeping things local as much as possible. “We serve the Tecumseh area, we use local vendors, we’re small and communitybased.” The three buildings have been getting upgrades, with renovations at Tecumseh Place II and “a lot of painting” at Tecumseh Place I. “It’s really been a fun opportunity for us. Neither of those buildings have been updated since they were built.”

The facility is private pay, but Sanders said, “We have a lifetime Promise program that says that if a resident requires financial assistance, we will work with them to make up the difference in their income so they can continue at Tecumseh Place. It’s available to qualified residents, based on their monthly income, and it allows them to stay. We will never ask a resident to leave over personal financial circumstances.”

Sanders started her career in a skilled nursing facility as a CNA and earned her bachelor’s degree in health care administration. She lives in Onsted with her two children.

“I love it,” she said. “I have been working with senior living and it’s definitely a passion for me.”

Fieldstone/Tecumseh Place I & II 1311 Southwestern Dr, Tecumseh 517-423-3374

FIELDSTONE AT TECUMSEH PLACE

Keely Sanders, Administrator

Now open for take-out in downtown Tecumseh... The Pit Stop'

Sunset Ridge BBQ had its grand opening August 18, complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to make everything official.

Owner Mike Caudill is pleased to finally have the storefront up and running. “We will be calling this ‘The Pit Stop,’” Caudill said. “That will be the long-term name and we’ll be working it into our social media posts so people will know.” He is eying a bigger exterior sign that will be seen from the street, maybe with some kind of backlighting.

Caudill announced his plan to move into the former Tecumseh Bread and Pastry Building in January and he had a soft opening in the spring. “We started slow. We wanted to work out all the kinks, get up to speed on the point-of-sale software, and get the employees trained in a different environment,” Caudill said.

This Eastern Kentucky native studied geology at the University of Kentucky and started his career as a mines and minerals geologist in the coal fields of the bluegrass state. After marrying Erin, who works for Toyota, Caudill moved above ground and was an environmental consultant before Erin’s job brought the couple to the mitten. He started Sunset Ridge BBQ in Kentucky and named it for the neighborhood where they lived. “I started making barbeque in 2010,” he said. “I like it because it’s more than cooking food, it’s a whole culture. It’s a way of life associated with a celebratory time of year, it’s very welcoming. It pervades life and family in all of its regions. It’s about community.”

Caudill said none of the barbeque dishes are served with sauce. Rather, they are dry-rubbed with various spices, depending on the recipe and on the meat. Kentucky barbeque differs from Texas barbeque, for example, and eastern North Carolina barbeque differs from them both. At Sunset Ridge, Caudill has three meats on the menu: brisket, chicken, and pork. There also are sides including baked beans, potatoes, coleslaw, greens, macn-cheese, and salad. Caudill prepares all his meats using wood-fire techniques—no gas. “I like to do things the old way,” he said. “I cook meat with a wood fire and I like the old way of doing things. I make small batches rather than large batches because it’s easier to manage and fresher.”

The business ran as a side hustle until 2019 when the company Caudill worked for was sold and barbeque became his full-time pursuit. Erin, he said, is a master planner and the “brains behind the business.” The couple’s son is now playing football at Olivet, while their daughter helps out in the store. Right now, he said, they are staffing everything with part-time high school teens, but come fall and winter, “We will be looking for more permanent adults to staff the restaurant. It’s much easier to have a storefront where we can prepare everything and have a home base,” Caudill said. “We currently have some bistro tables outside and we are working on a patio in the back.”

Caudill has expanded his hours, too. Sunset Ridge BBQ will be open from 4 to 8pm Thursday and Friday and 11am to 8pm Saturday and Sunday, in time for brunch. The brunch menu will include homemade biscuits and gravy, breakfast burritos, loaded tater tots, and breakfast sandwiches. Caudill said he is hoping to offer chicken and waffles in the near future. “We still have takeout and people can order online or call us,” Caudill said. “So far, that has worked really well.” n

eat. drink. Enjoy.

Mike Caudill (R), owner of Sunset Ridge BBQ with Cooper Barkway

BURGERS AND BONFIRES

Voted “Best Burger” in Lenawee. Also serving quesadillas, chili, subs, hot dogs and more. Great selection of beer, wine, and full bar. Lunch, dinner and appetizers. Hang out around the firepit or on the patio. Dine-in or carry out.

MUK’S SPORTS PUB

(517) 423-6364 • mukssportspub.com 

107 S Evans St, Tecumseh Open Daily

BEGINNING TO END

We’ve got you covered any time of the day! Enjoy a hardy breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, omelettes. Or treat yourself to the classic hot fudge ice cream cake and an array of other tasty desserts. Beer and wine too!

TUCKEY’S BIG BOY

(517) 423-7464 • bigboy.com 

12701 E Monroe Rd, Tecumseh 7am-9pm daily

SWEET & SAVORY

Good Eats. Sweet Treats. Serving pizza, subs, salads, cheesy bread, appetizers and a variety of delectable desserts like beautifully decorated cupcakes, cake balls, pies, cookies, and more! In downtown Adrian’s Gallery of Shops.

DOWNTOWN DEMPSEY’S

(517) 759-4334 • downtowndempseys.com

 136 E Maumee St, Adrian

M 11-2:30, T-Th 11-2:30/5-8, F11-2:30/5-9, Sat 5-8

WE CATER TO YOU

Bringing Italy to your table! Classic lasagna, sandwich rings, salads, pastas, pizzas, breadsticks, desserts, and full bar. Let them cater your graduation, wedding or any size event! Dine-in or carry out. Rent the Colosseum room (holds 45).

SAL’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

(517) 423-6688 • eatatsals.com 

1400 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh

M,T,Th,F,Sat,Sun 11-9, Closed Wed

eat. drink...

CRAFTING CHARCUTERIE

Black Pig Salame, Four Corners Creamery, and Peppalo Chocolates - all made right on-site. Fall flavor galore in the pairing of artisanal cheeses, wines and beverages.

THE BOULEVARD MARKET

(517) 423-6000 • boulevardmarket.com 

102 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh

M-Sat 10-6, Sun 11-4

SHE’S A BEAST

You’ve gotta try Randy’s Godzilla Sandwich with pulled pork, pulled chicken, mac n’ cheese, slaw, pickles, and topped with brisket. Family-fun! Catering available. Gift/fudge shop too.

RANDY’S ROADSIDE BAR-B-QUE

(517) 908-5387 • randysbarbeque.com

7007 US-12, in the Irish Hills (Onsted)  Wednesday-Sunday 12-7

EAT. DRINK. ROCK. ROLL.

Try this fatoosh salad with Shish tawook chicken. Offering good food/drink in a comfy setting on the lake. Apps, pizza, fish, burgers, wraps, soups/salads, full bar. Karaoke too!

JERRY’S PUB & RESTAURANT

(517) 467-4700 • jerryspub.com 

650 Egan Hwy, Brooklyn

W-Sun, 11-9, F, Sat 11-12

PIZZAS OF THE MONTH

Fun and ever-changing pizzas of the month! Like the American, the reuben, taco pizza, and more. Check FB for updates. Also ribs, salads, pasta, wraps, and breadsticks. Catering too!

BASIL BOYS

(517) 423-1875

VARIE•TEA

Feel like royalty with their sweet and savory offerings! Check out the variety of teas (hot and cold), soups, sandwiches, salads, quiche, desserts, and great gifts. Dine-in or take-away.

BRITISH TEA GARDEN

(517) 423-7873

• thebritishpantry.com 

112 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh

Tu-Sat (lunch) 11-3, (store) 10-4

IN GOOD SPIRITS

Old school country store with modern convenience goods. Offering a plethora of liquor/beer/wine, house-made goodies, to-go meals, popcorn, candy, and essentials.

MACON GROCERY (517) 423-7275 

8160 Clinton-Macon Rd, Macon M-Sat 9-7, Sun 10-6

A LIGHT LUNCH

Did someone say lunchtime? Half a sandwich and a cup of house-made soup. A friendly and casual cafe offers coffee, signature lattes, breakfast items, popcorn, fudge, and more!

THE BUZZ CAFE AND MARKETPLACE

(517) 759-3289 • thebuzzadrian.com 

110 E Maumee St, Adrian Open Daily

HELLO GOURD-GEOUS

Fall favorites like grandma’s pumpkin spice hand-dip, pumpkin spice frozen lattes, and apple pie sundaes and flurries are sure to give you that “fall feeling”. Order lunch online.

TWIN PINES EATERY

(517) 423-7949 • twinpinestecumseh.com

1102 W Russell Rd, Tecumseh 

M-Th 11-8, F & Sat 11-9, Sun 12-8

A TOWN FAVORITE

Try their signature energy oat balls! Locally sourced coffee, traditional coffee, or a tea flight with teas, cold brew and pressed juices. Located in Adrian and Jackson too.

MUSGROVE + COMPANY

Downtown Adrian, Jackson and Tecumseh

M-F 7-5, Sat & Sun 8-5 

www.musgrove.company

SAY CHEESE

Previously the Patriot Pub. Try pulled pork mac ‘n cheese and more! Family restaurant and sports bar. Great menu for lunch/dinner. Beer, wine, wide range of cocktails/live music!

THE HILLS FORK OAR POUR

(517) 431-5010 • Find us on Facebook  6400 Michigan Ave, Tipton Open daily 11am-11pm

Franken dog

HOT DOGS GALORE

Fun and affordable dogs that are sure to please anyone! Franken dog, Pizza dog, German dog, Chicago dog, etc. Paninis, wraps and desserts. Mon & Wed 99¢ coney dogs.

THE DOG HOUSE RESTAURANT

(517) 301-4266 • thedoghouserestaurant.com  107 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh M-F 10-7, Sat 10-4

ONLINE ORDERING

Speed up take-outs – order online for individual/groups! Burritos, nachos, tacos, fajitas, salads, brunch, and great drinks can also be enjoyed inside or on the patio.

SALSARIA’S

(517) 423-0018 • ordersalsarias.com 

146 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh

M-Sat Open at 11am • Sat Brunch 10-2

BURGERS AND BEER

Best burgers in town – grilled to perfection! Also try their chicken wings/tenders, steak, nachos, and don’t forget about Taco Tuesdays! Full service bar and bloody Mary’s.

EMBERS BAR AND GRILL

(517) 423-2601 

1370 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh Plaza T-Th 12-10, F & Sa 12-11

PIZZA AND MORE

Specialty pizzas galore. Subs, salads, lasagna, burgers, chicken parm. Mid-East fare; chicken/ beef shawarma, grape leaves, falafels, perfect for any occasion! Dine-in/carry-out. Beer/wine too.

BROWNIE’S HOUSE OF PIZZA

(517) 423-8324 • (517) 815-1838

1002 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh  Wednesday-Sunday 4-8

WINE, CIDER AND BEER

New options added to the ‘Tap Row.’ Now serving wine – vinted in Tecumseh with notes of raspberry, apple, and peach. Hard cider too! Craft beer, artisan food. Weekly entertainment.

TECUMSEH BREWING COMPANY

(517) 815-1726 • tecumsehbrewingco.com

Enjoy.

Everyone is chasing after the newest Chevy Trailblazer...

Don’t be fooled by this SUV’s sub-compact stature. The Ecotech® 1.3L Turbo engine in this beast of a car will make you feel alive. The sport terrain tires and suspension tuned for off-road capability, will let you go where the pavement ends.

CHEVROLET

Chevrolet of Clinton’s “Undead” Staff (L to R): Charley Rebottaro, Sales | Shyanne Gaw, Detailer | Kerry Brosnan, Sales | Bradley Mackinder, Sales Joe Ventimigilia, General Manager | Devet Coopshaw, Office Manager | Shannon Cowell, Cashier | Joe Bennett, Internet Manager

Strawberry Blue Farm   strawberrybluefarm.com • @strawberrybluefarm

Located

Story and photos by Sara Hilton

YARN

Pumpkins

As autumn settles around the farm, we begin transitioning out of cut flowers and begin preparing for colder seasons. During the fall months, items dried throughout the year are turned into autumn wreaths, and the wool from the previous spring is spun into yarn. Because we love all things fall, all things creative, and all things yarn, we couldn’t resist sharing how we make our autumn yarn pumpkins. These little décor statements give a cuddly, hot drink vibe and are the perfect coffee table accent for chilly autumn days.

1. Using a paring knife, core the center of each foam pumpkin. The coring should be at least an inch in diameter.

2. Cut a long length of yarn. Double the strand over itself several times to create a multi-strand loop. Tie a knot in one end of the yarn strands.

SUPPLIES:

1. Assortment of foam pumpkins

2. Assortment of yarn and roving (varying textures make for an interesting display)

3. Paring knife

4. Small sections of branches

3. Secure the yarn to the pumpkin by feeding the knotted end of the yarn through the core and then through the looped end of the yarn.

4. Continue to wrap the yarn through the core and around the pumpkin until the entire surface is covered in yarn. It can be helpful to use the blunt end of a knitting needle to press the yarn through the core. If you run out of yarn, simply repeat the process from step two. Once the pumpkin is covered, tuck the loose end into the core.

5. Cut a small section of branch and press into the core to create the pumpkin stem.

6. Style in a basket, or in a display of varying heights.

Wreath Making

Looking

I

DOUBLE THE FUN!

Monopoly® Scrabble®— a perfect mash-up of two of the world’s most famous, greatest, and beloved games. Seasonal toys and games for the whole family. Kites, retro toys, books, model kits, planes, trains, lighthouses, STEM/science kits, and more!

J BAR HOBBIES

117 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh 517-423-3684 • T-Sa • jbarhobbies.com 

FLAVORS OF FALL LEV’S BAKERY

Try their best-selling fall treat...iced pumpkin sugar cookies. Take home a delicious pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving! And as always — the best donuts around. Come check out their revamped space!

LEV’S

BAKERY

124 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh 517-423-2948 facebook.com/LevsBakeryofTecumseh 

FOR PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE

Spoil yourself and your pets with cool stuff. Custom shirts, pet bowls, mugs, pet bandanas, coozies, ornaments, towels, hats, signage, and embroidered personal gifts and accessories. Printing, embroidery, vinyl lettering, and sublimation.

S PECIAL T EE PRINTS, LLC

vicki@specialteeprintsandpets.com 517-815-1915

CUSTOM CONTENT

Get a personalized shirt for the season or a fun gift for a Halloween party! Specializing in screenprinting, vinyl decals, and banners. Customized t-shirts, hats, backpacks, fanny packs, pants, blankets, and more! Great for parties, gifts, sports teams, businesses, or just because!

THREE RAVENS PRINTING

112 S Pearl St #A, Tecumseh 517-423-9245 • M-F 10-5 threeravensprinting.com 

READY FOR A CHANGE?

They can take your heirloom or unwanted jewelry and create beautifully designed, custom pieces that can be handed down for generations — like this ring; whose center diamond was remounted for a delicate, modern look. Repairs/jewelry styles from fine to fashion. Free ring inspections/consultations.

PATINA JEWELRY + DESIGN

110 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh 517-423-6370 • T-F 10-5:30, Sa 9-2 patinajewelers.com  

ETHICAL ELEGANCE AND UNIQUE GIFTS

Shop Fair Anita’s exquisite handbags/ jewelry, embracing the beauty of fair trade. Elevate your senses with Anthro’s Herbal Hints, or browse the spices, teas, and bath/body treasures. Explore Mr. Holdridge’s Men’s Collection too. Begin your journey of style and conscience shopping!

ANTHRO APOTHECARY

128 E Chicago Blvd Downtown Tecumseh 517-798-1732 anthroapothecary.com 

HOPE IS A THING WITH FEATHERS

Meet Peanut — the world's oldest chicken.

By Linda Learman

Peanut, a dainty, tawny-colored bantam hen with black tailfeathers, gingerly struts along the edge of a luscious green lawn set up as a croquet court. She is a pretty girl who softly clucks what seem to be sweet nothings before settling into the lap of Marsi Parker Darwin, her devoted human companion. But this flirty bird is no spring chicken.

At 21-years-old and counting, Peanut holds the current Guinness World Record for “oldest living chicken.” Although interesting, Peanut’s longevity may not even be the most remarkable thing about her. “She’s kind of an amazing miracle chicken all the way around,” Darwin said.

Peanut and her 15-year-old daughter hen, Millie, live a comfortable life together at “Darwin’s Eden,” the 37 acres where Parker Darwin and her husband Bill built their home and livelihoods in the woods and wetlands in the Waterloo area of Chelsea, Michigan. Most bantam (meaning smaller than standard sized) chickens don’t lay eggs past age five, but Peanut was “five or six” when she had Millie, Darwin says, and continued to lay eggs until she was eight, typically the upper end of a healthy bantam’s life expectancy. Given the law of averages, the mother-daughter hen duo was already an eggs-traordinary pair before Peanut officially entered the Guinness Record, at 20 years and 272 days on January 28, 2023.

Sincethen, Peanut has appeared on TV, garnered thousands of social media likes, received a special tribute from the State of Michigan signed by Governor Whitmer, and has a book about her life, My Girl Peanut and Me, written by Darwin. But Peanut’s comparatively glamorous lifestyle today belies her humble and uncertain beginnings.

One morning twenty years ago, Darwin noticed an unhatched egg in one of her chicken’s nests. The mother hen was busy with her new hatchlings and the one remaining egg left in the otherwise empty nest was cold when Darwin discovered it. Not wanting a rotten egg to attract other animals, Darwin was drawing her arm back to throw the egg in a pond when she thought she heard chirping from inside the shell. She paused and then, more distinctively this time, heard a “cheep” again. Upon further inspection, Darwin saw the eggshell had a tiny crack and the chirping was becoming fainter, so she peeled back the shell to discover a struggling but still alive baby chick. Darwin didn’t expect the chick to survive, but she dried it off, put it under a heat lamp, and tried to reunite it with the mother hen that same day. “But her mom pecked at her. She didn’t want her,” Darwin said.

Shortly before they hatch, chickens grow an “egg tooth” on their beaks to help them break out of their shells. But Peanut never had one and “probably wouldn’t have survived” if not for Darwin’s intervention and, Darwin said, “It’s sort of extraordinary that maybe she wasn’t meant to live, but she’s the oldest chicken in the world!”

While Emily Dickinson’s 19th century poem “Hope is the Thing with Feathers,” is entirely metaphorical, Darwin hopes her children’s book, My Girl Peanut and Me, not only tells a charming true story about one small chicken, but also conveys life lessons to young people about the importance of “Asking for help and giving things a chance,” Darwin said. Peanut “is a survivor and a thriver,” she said, and her story can offer light in a sometimes dark world.

WhenPeanut’s mother repeatedly rejected her chick, Darwin put Peanut in an old parrot cage in the house and, as a result, “She started out spoiled rotten,” Darwin said with a wink. “She lived there for two years because every time I tried to put her out with the chickens, she was like ‘I’m not a chicken,’” Darwin joked, noting that the other chickens ranked Peanut at the bottom of the pecking order and sometimes bullied her. “Finally, after two years, she seemed more interested, and a couple other chickens did pal up with her and she lived outside for the next 15 years,” Darwin said.

Then, one cold evening a few years ago, Darwin went out to feed her chickens, and Peanut followed her onto the porch. The old parrot cage was there, and Peanut settled herself into it for the night. “And then the next night it was like this little parade—it was like she told her chicken friends ‘come on, guys, I know a better place to stay,’” Darwin said. “And so, then I had porch chickens.” One of them, a oneeyed rooster named Benny, is still one of

Peanut’s chicken pals, though most of her friends (and children and grandchildren at this point) have since flown to the great coop in the sky.

A year or two ago, Darwin saw that Peanut was getting more frail and moved her back into the house, where Peanut now lives with her daughter Millie full time, “Watching TV together, eating yogurt for breakfast, and being little brat chickens,” Darwin said. Out on the grass

in the lap of her faithful caregiver, Marsi Darwin, who gently strokes Peanut’s feathers and murmurs gentle words back to her.

Artisans and farmers, the Darwin and her husband have operated a stainedglass studio and fowl farm on their property for more than 30 years. Raising chickens started as a hobby, and over time she gained a reputation for helping others

reason to get up in the morning. I’ve got my chores. I get to see nature at its finest hours.” Once a week, Darwin delivers to clients the several dozen fresh eggs she gathers from her chickens. Other than that, she simply cares for them.

To this day, Peanut has never been to a vet and “has mostly been really healthy,” Darwin said, “Which is remarkable for an animal who maybe wasn’t supposed to live.” Darwin’s friends encouraged her to submit documentation on Peanut to Guinness World Records, which included photos, witnesses, and veterinary statements, and took six months of verification before Peanut earned her recognition as world’s oldest living chicken. As Darwin reflected more on Peanut’s story, she began to see parallels with her own childhood hardships and decided to write her book for fun, but also to help other young people know they’re not alone.

In this chicken and egg story, the mystery of which comes first might remain elusive, but Marsi Darwin is certain of this: “Peanut represents hope. She’s fun to be around. She isn’t demanding. Just give her some food, water, fresh air. She loves attention and being held. And I’m awfully fond of her.” n

in the sunshine, Peanut demonstrates she’s no birdbrain as she responds to her name when called and keeps up a sprightly peck and step. But if her peaceful clucks are any indication, Peanut appears most content

to rescue ducks, peacocks, and even the occasional parrot. Darwin estimates she currently has a total flock of about 100 birds. The Darwin’s two pet cats, Corgi dogs, and parrots round out the property residents. Caring for their menagerie is a lot of work, but “It’s good for me,” the now retired librarian said. “It gives me a

THE ANNUAL FALL FOLIAGE FESTIVAL AT HIDDEN LAKE GARDENS IS BACK THIS YEAR WITH A NEW TWIST!

LOCAL ARTIST AND AUTHOR JENNIFER

CARSON BROUGHT THE IDEA OF A FAIRY TALE FESTIVAL TO THE GARDENS.

Hidden Lake Gardens Fall Festival

October 7, 10am-4pm

ipf.msu.edu/hidden-lake-gardens hogwartsandtoadbellies.com

By Jennifer Carson

I wanted it to be held in the fall to encourage people to step into the spirit of the festival and dress in their fairy tale finery. As a huge fan of the Renaissance festival in Holly, Mich, I was always disappointed that usually it was too hot to wear some of my warmer (and frankly more fun!) costume pieces. The staff at Hidden Lake Gardens jumped at the chance to revive their fall foliage festival with a fun new theme. The festival will take place on Saturday, October 7 from 10am to 4pm. The organizers wanted to make this an affordable family event, so there will be a special entry fee for the day—$5 a person or $20 for a family of four or more. Come dressed in your fairy tale best. Take part in the day’s activities, including the Knight’s Adventure Trail, where knight hopefuls will learn the codes of chivalry and earn knighthood by proving their bravery. Every new knight will have to challenge themselves by taking a journey through the canopy walk.

Other activities include pumpkin decorating, a bring-your-own lunch fairy tale character picnic, a scavenger hunt, a guided hike, storytelling, a roaming pocket faerie, selfie-stations, plus musical performances, demos, an artisan village, food trucks, hill rolling, and fairy house building. Members of the Society for Creative Anachronism will be there, too!

There will be several workshops you can sign up for to add to the magic of the day. Check out the website for details on workshops being offered and how to pre-register. Festival organizers are also looking for volunteers. If you’d like to spend some time helping with the event, give Hidden Lake Gardens a call. n

By Gayle Hazelbaker

This book has it all—characters you can relate to, an interesting location, great writing, witty banter, mystery, adventure, and demons. Our hero, Richard, is an average senior citizen. The days of aches and pains way outnumber the days where all the moving parts move as they should. As the story opens, he is residing in an assisted living facility grumbling about Stanley, his new neighbor across the hall. Stanley is not a typical octogenarian. He is, in fact, a “Hunter”—a slayer of demons and other unnatural beings.

During an encounter with Stanley, Richard learns that there is a beast that has eluded Hunters for over a hundred years. It is the same demon who killed Richard’s wife, leaving him to raise a daughter alone. This same beast is due to kill again before the next new moon. In order to stop this from occurring, the two men “load up on ibuprofen and prune juice” and go on a road trip to hunt the demon down. Things take a nasty twist when the Devil kidnaps Stanley. It is then that Richard realizes it is up to him to save his friend from the Devil and slay the demon who murdered his beloved.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is not the genre I normally choose, but I’m glad I was open to it. E.A. Comiskey has so much to say about living, family, and friendship. A point made early in the story is that no matter your age, if you have purpose, desire, and drive—you feel alive. It echoes the adage, you don’t know what you are capable of until you try. “I’m too old for this” is often what we think and say as we age. In reality, if you are alive, you aren’t dead—so keep on living. Another message in the novel that hit home with me is about the ties that bind us, whether as family or friends. It is easy to think these relationships come naturally, when the truth is effort, through communication and action, is required to achieve and maintain good connections.

Richard is estranged from his daughter and granddaughter. When his wife died, he lost the joy of living. He raised his daughter the best he could but he was a curmudgeon. Happiness was not part of their home. His granddaughter lives closest to his residence, so she is the one who answers the calls for help. While she does come when the facility calls, she does so grudgingly. Like her mother, she does not have a happy relationship with her grandfather.

For book clubs open to speculative fiction, I think this would be an excellent selection. Beyond the demons and supernatural beings, there is so much to discuss and think about. This novel is the first in the series Monsters and Mayhem. I’m looking forward to reading the second installment. I am excited to find out what Richard and Stanley have been up to.

E. A. Comiskey

When asked where the inspiration for this book came from, the author said, “The idea for the book really came while I was watching the TV show, Supernatural. Everyone in the show is so young and strong and beautiful. I wondered how it would be different if they weren’t. I did what writers do and started playing with different ideas and landed on the idea of a mash-up: Supernatural meets Grumpy Old Men.”

Gayle ’s top 5 picks for

E. A. Comiskey grew up in Blissfield and currently resides in Hudson. She has been writing since she was a child. Her writing has garnered lots of praise and awards, most recently she won the Southwest Airlines Co. Storytellers on The Rise contest. Her winning short story, Alone in Tombstone, was made into a film. Comiskey is most certainly a writer to watch and to read! n

F all Reads

(1) Finlay Donovan is a stressed out, single mom who is trying to write a new suspense novel. When she meets her agent for lunch, she is mistaken for a contract killer when she is overheard speaking about the premise of her upcoming book. That is the premise of Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano’s adult debut novel, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It This is the first book in an entertaining mystery series. When you run out of Calgon and want something to take you away from the everyday, pick up this book. You will not regret it.

(2) Sarah Adler’s debut novel, Mrs. Nash’s Ashes, is an entertaining read! Our heroine, Millie, is on a mission to reunite her elderly, deceased best friend with the love of her life. To

that end, she needs to travel from Washington D.C. to Key West. When her flight is cancelled, she finds herself on a road trip with a cynical, but handsome, writer. Their entire trip is a delightful comedy of errors. While the formula for a great rom com remains the same, the storyline and the characters are outstanding. This pleasing novel is fresh!

(3) William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy. So, it’s a relief when his skill on the basketball court earns him a scholarship to college, far away from his childhood home. He soon meets Julia Padavano, a spirited and ambitious young woman. With Julia comes her family; she is inseparable from her three younger sisters, but when his basketball

dreams shatter and his darkness returns, will the sisters unite when it is most needed? This is a moving portrait of a family in crisis. The writing is gorgeous—smooth and poetic. Do not miss Hello, Beautiful by Ann Napolitano.

(4) Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen is the story of recently murdered Irene Lamontaine, head of the famous Lamontaine soap empire. Her estate, Lavender House, offers a unique freedom, where none of the residents or staff hide who they are. But to keep their secret, they have needed to keep others out, and now they are worried they are keeping a killer in. Within a page or two, I was hooked on the writing, the characters, and the exploration of what it meant to live

authentically in the 1950’s. At times funny, heartbreaking, and sad, this noir satisfies the need for a mystery that is thoughtful and engaging.

(5) The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell is a modern, cozy mystery full of twists and turns. The plot centers on a reality show for bakers. Six contestants are housed at Grafton—a Vermont estate. Each quirky character has a secret and very different reasons for wanting to be on this wildly popular TV series. The novel opens with the show’s host discovering a dead body halfway through the taping of the show. The isolated setting, complete with a violent thunderstorm, guarantees that fans of Agatha Christie will find much to enjoy in this debut novel. n

The Bridges of Tecumseh

The Power of Nature

When the first land surveyors and pioneers entered Lenawee County in the 1820’s, Tecumseh’s position beside the River Raisin made it an ideal location for a new settlement. Along the river’s banks and tributaries, settlers found fertile soil and open spaces which had been cultivated for generations by the Pottawatomie and their ancestors as gardens and orchards. The river also provided an ample source of power for the first lumber and grain mills in Lenawee County. Two ancient trails intersected nearby, both used for millennia by migratory animals and the seasonal movements of the Native American tribes.

In June 1824, “Brownsville” took root near a bend in the River Raisin near present-day Evans Park. Almost immediately the first group of pioneers (The Tecumseh Company), set to work planting fields of crops and constructing a dam across the river to harness the power of nature. Trees from the mill pond and the thick forest surrounding Brownsville were felled to dam up the river. When the mill race was completed, the settlers realized a hope that the new community could sustain itself. By 1826, a crude mill produced the first grains and lumber in Lenawee County. Many of the early industrial businesses would develop near the dam at Brownsville and it soon became a thriving cluster of log homes.

Overtime, a series of dams and bridges were built along the River Raisin watershed to harness the natural power and control the flow of the waters, albeit in vain at times. Eventually six dams were built: the original

dam at Brownsville (Red Mill Pond), Standish dam, two separate dams at Globe Mill Pond, Blood’s Mill dam, and Comfort’s Mill dam. Much of Tecumseh’s early industrial success and the ability to sustain itself came from these mills and the businesses that grew along the banks of the River Raisin. The bridges at these dams were also an important link in the development of Lenawee County’s road network we know today.

In the decades to follow, growth in the region demanded upgrading the village’s infrastructure; new dams and bridges were replaced either by design or

necessity. That same power of nature used for the benefit of the community was also a bane at times. While epic floods and catastrophes are remembered for their severity, so too, is the collective resolve by the community to move forward and grow.

Red Mill Pond

The dams and bridges at Red Mill Pond are closely associated with the earliest days of Tecumseh’s history. It was here that the first grains were milled for Tecumseh’s 4th of July celebration in 1826 (America’s 50th Anniversary). Lumber for Musgrove Evan’s house, the first frame house in Lenawee County, also came from this mill.

Construction of the first dam and bridge near Brownsville began in 1825 and soon a waterwheel and primitive sawmill were in operation. Red Mill Pond got its name from the original mill built at this site in 1831 by Abner Spafford, which burned in 1868. When the original dam and bridge were completed, it also provided a rudimentary route across the River Raisin connecting with the existing trail to Clinton and the Great Sauk Trail (US12) to the North.

The next year the dam and bridge were suddenly washed away by floods, which forced local farmers to carry their crops to Monroe, the only other mills in the area

during that time. For the tiny settlement at Brownsville, the destruction of the dam in 1827 was a major loss, since the community had little money for repairs. Eventually, a loan of $400 was arranged with a bank in Detroit and the dam, along with a wooden bridge, were replaced a short time later.

The dam’s troubled history recorded other big floods in 1851, 1855, and again in 1868, which cost $550 at the time to replace. The new wooden bridge was much larger and spanned both the river

Story by Mike Hrivnak — Tecumseh Historical Society. Thanks to Cynthia Given, Debbie Kogelman, Bob Elliott, and Gary Naugle Photos provided by Greg Sebring

and the adjacent mill race. It was noted that crossing this bridge afforded users a very intimate view of the river at almost eye-level; teamsters with skittish horses were encouraged to take a different route.

In June 1874, yet another flood swamped the dam and washed away a portion of the bridge. Just downstream, high waters also threatened Standish dam. George Hamilton was a well-known business owner in the community and operated the mill there. Hamilton was checking the dam on the morning of June 19 when he slipped and fell into the rushing waters. His wife became alarmed when he was unusually late for breakfast that morning and began a frantic search of the area. Unfortunately, she found his hat floating in the river and a search party later found his lifeless remains downstream.

Perhapsone of the worst nights in the history of Tecumseh occurred on May 1, 1907. On that night, a large fire consumed several buildings in the downtown area, a major railroad

accident happened nearby, and the dam at Red Mill Pond was completely washed away by high waters. Other businesses nearby were also completely wrecked— including the steampowered electric generating plant—which cast the entire community into darkness for several days. Indeed, it was a bad night in Tecumseh.

In the aftermath, citizens voted to approve $14,000 to repair the bridge (about $500,000 today). The new bridge was sturdier and made of wrought iron to withstand the force of rushing waters. It was designed to be as wide as two wagon loads of hay and would “high hat” across the river at a higher elevation. Concrete abutments were added to improve strength and stability.

While work on the new bridge was underway, traffic was detoured across a small temporary wooden bridge adjacent to the original structure. This temporary bridge was deemed unsteady in the best of conditions, making for tense passage. Some of the traffic was diverted via the road through Newburg, especially the newfangled motor cars of the era.

Pedestrian traffic was ferried across Evans Creek on a small raft. For the Summer of 1907, passengers enjoyed a ride on “Tecumseh’s Navy.”

In 1958, the bridge was improved and widened to accommodate the increased flow of traffic. Before then it was effectively one-lane due to the wider automobiles of the era. Residents recall some tenuous moments crossing the bridge with opposing traffic, especially at night and during icy conditions, but the flood of 1968 remained in the city’s memory for generations.

In July, widespread and torrential rains dumped nine inches of water across the region in a 48-hour period. US 12 near Saline was out of service where a dam and several bridges collapsed. Many roads in and around Tecumseh were impassable. As flood waters began to rise at Red Mill Pond, a panic shot through the community when the dam was breached. Under the careful watch of local authorities, a growing hole developed on the South side of the bridge. When the abutments began to melt away, the bridge became unsafe and all traffic was stopped, effectively cutting off the direct road between Tecumseh and Clinton.

Almost immediately, crews attempted to shore up the dam with rocks and gravel, but the relentless rush of high waters tore away at their work. A local company towed in wrecked cars and a large crane and set them in place to fill the gap. Once the waters receded, construction was set to work on repairs and within a few days the road was reopened.

Since 1968, the dams and bridges at Red Mill Pond have been upgraded and improved several times to its current concrete and metal iteration, but they bear little resemblance to the past.

No history of Red Mill Pond is complete without mentioning some of the many personal tragedies that have occurred there, especially for one of Tecumseh’s founding fathers, Joseph Brown. His son, Jacob drowned in Red Mill Pond in 1840 followed by the deaths of his two other sons on Christmas Day 1843. The boys were ice skating when 12-year-old Patterson fell through the ice. Tenyear-old Mason desperately tried to save his brother but they both slipped below the surface to their icy deaths. All three boys are interred at Brookside Cemetery.

In 1854, five-year-old Mary Hand was on her way to school when she suddenly

fell from the bridge into the rushing waters. Workers at the dam tried desperately to save the struggling child but they were unsuccessful. Her loss was a sad day for the community.

Another tragic incident occurred in 1859 when Jane Niblack committed suicide by jumping from the bridge into the river. Jane was distraught over the death of her first husband and divorce from another. She attempted to convince her 10-year-old son to join her in suicide, but the boy refused and lived to relate his mother’s sad story. In May 1910, six-yearold Adelbert Hastings was playing with some friends near the flume at Red Mill Pond when he slipped into the rushing waters. His playmates grabbed sticks, but they could not reach the struggling boy. They ran for help and found a crew of road workers nearby who quickly joined the search. Soon over 200 volunteers from the community formed a search party to look for Adelbert, but his lifeless body was found a short time later downstream.

Bridges continued...

Bridge at Red Mill Pond 1908

Trevino Photography

Bridges continued...

Current maps of the area no longer show a reference to the small settlement at Brownsville; a historical marker in Evans Park bears mention of Tecumseh’s earliest days. In the 1960’s, the original route of M-52 was improved and redirected further to the West away from Brownsville. Today, the bridge offers a picturesque view of the glass-like still waters of Red Mill Pond lined with lakefront homes—A stark contrast from its industrial and turbulent past.

Globe Mill Pond

The dams near Globe Mill Pond were not as prone to catastrophes, but they were an integral part of Tecumseh’s path to success. When Lenawee County was first chartered in 1822 and Tecumseh designated as the county seat, Michigan’s territorial government stipulated that a bridge must be built to the east of the village to accommodate traffic, which surged with a stream of settlers entering the region. The county seat was eventually moved to Adrian, but the dam and bridge were an early priority for the community.

By 1835, Globe Mill stood alongside the River Raisin and began to produce flour in copious quantities. Founded by Stillman Blanchard, the operation took seven years to complete the three separate dams: one across the river at Standish dam, another across a spillway, and the main dam next to the mill itself. The operation also included two separate spillways and a mill race. When the grist mill was finally operating, the growth of the family farms in Lenawee County provided a bounty of wheat and grains. But the start-up costs wrecked the business and Blanchard eventually went bankrupt. The mill was purchased by the Hayden family who operated Globe Mill (Hayden Mill) until it was destroyed by fire in 1898.

Adjacent to the mill, a small bridge was completed in 1840 and traffic flowed directly into downtown Tecumseh. The bridge from 1840 soon became obsolete and it was often prone to washouts; the steep approaches to the bridge also made travel difficult, especially during mud road season. By then, the La Plaisance Trail was developing into a major thoroughfare across Lenawee County. In 1847, the village of Tecumseh contracted with a local carpenter and bridge builder, Simeon Davidson, to construct a larger wooden bridge, including wider access to accommodate higher traffic volumes. The bridge was completed for $700.

When the railroad arrived in Tecumseh, the area around the intersection of Chicago Boulevard and Evans Street began to develop, eventually becoming the center of downtown Tecumseh (the “four corners”). By 1848, brick buildings rose at the intersection, replacing the wooden frame structures from the pioneer era. As the village grew, it also saw infrastructure improvements, including upgrades to the bridge east of the village.

By the 1870’s Tecumseh’s population had grown to over 2,000 and the bridge needed to be improved yet again; floods had damaged the bridge to a point where it was unsafe. The village approved $3,000 to build a new wrought iron bridge with concrete abutments. When it was completed in 1872, the wider deck on the bridge allowed enough width for two wagons to pass. An ordinance at the time limited the speed on the new bridge to “no faster than a walk.”

The bridge was replaced again in 1932 and reconstructed several more times before its current concrete iteration. Today the bridge at Globe Mill

Pond is rather unremarkable and one hardly takes notice except for seeing a small sign at the “River Raisin.”

The dams at Blood's Mill and Comfort's Mill were some of the first in Lenawee County, but both have since passed into history. The ground has mostly been reclaimed by nature, a far cry when they were an integral part of Tecumseh’s early success and favorite spot to visit.

Blood's Mill

Ezra Blood was among the first group of pioneers to settle in Tecumseh. Most of Blood’s 160-acre property was cut by a deep ravine formed by the River Raisin. The ground was thought by many to be too swampy and not useful for farming. Blood put up his life savings and purchased the plot of land sight unseen; he wept openly when he first viewed his land. Eventually, Blood worked the soil into a prosperous farm where he and his wife raised their family in a log cabin on the property.

In 1827, Blood entered a partnership with Abner Spafford, a blacksmith, to build a mill along the river. Near a sharp bend in the river, they cut a mill race across a small tongue of land. By 1831, Blood’s Mill included blacksmith shops, a sawmill, and a crude grist mill. One of the only roads during that era cut across Blood’s property and crossed the river near the mill. Steep hillside on both sides led to a small wooden bridge that was tenuous at the best of times and conditions. As early as 1827, Tecumseh’s village council approved $25 to build a small bridge at Blood’s Mill.

A natural spring that flowed from the hillside on the eastern side was a favorite reststop for schoolchildren. In more recent times, this quiet and secluded spot was favored by young couples and teenagers, but drivers had to negotiate the steep approach to the ravine and a small wooden bridge at the bottom across the river, which shook and rattled as it was crossed. During flood season, crossing Blood’s bridge could be a risky and thrilling adventure. Blood’s mill, the bridge, and Blood’s log cabin are long gone, and the site has been consumed by overgrowth, but it was an important part of Lenawee County’s early agricultural prosperity.

Comfort Mill

(Also called Raisin or Quaker’s Mill)

Just downstream from Blood’s Mill, Samuel Satterthwaite and Tilton Curtis built another mill in 1828. They selected a location near a wide spot where the river meandered along tree-lined slopes leading to a broad, placid pond. By 1847, Satterthwaite and Aaron Comfort opened Quaker Mill, named in honor of their faith affiliation. A sawmill and blacksmith shops were added a few years later. By the 1850’s the Comfort family expanded operations to include a brick and tile factory.

Bridges continued...

(Brownsville Bridge)

The Bridge at Red Mill Pond taken before the flood in 1907

(Cemetery Bridge) on Union Street in 1908

Globe Mill and Bridge - Pre-1872 image

Comfort Dam, Quaker's Mill early 1900’s

The “scary” bridge at Blood’s Mill

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structure in the 1880’s, which eventually fell into disrepair and was taken out of service a few decades ago. Some residents recall their school years and a

The River Raisin

Bridge at Red Mill Pond from a colorized postcard 1908

AVENUE ART HOUSE

BY JENNIFER CARSON

ENRICH YOUR LIFE WITH

ART E

Pizza. When asked how the art studio got its name, Ringuette told me that his fouryear-old twin boys refer to everything as a “house.” For example, the ice cream place is the “dessert house.” Ringuette and his wife thought it would be fun to call the new studio the Avenue Art House since it is located on Michigan Avenue. The grand opening was on the afternoon of Saturday, August 5th and was well attended.

Ringuette teaches workshops for adults and children and offers two different options for painting instruction in his studio. You can attend a workshop that is open to anyone wanting to attend, or you can book a private party. Currently he has a library of about ten paintings to choose from, but he is open to painting suggestions—if you have something special in mind, he’ll consider designing it for your private party, and Ringuette will be adding to his own library of images as well.

EVAN RINGUETTE

van Ringuette is bringing art back to Clinton! Having been an artist for 20 years, and seriously for 15 of those years, Ringuette recently opened Avenue Art House. It isn’t only an art gallery though, but a place to learn how to paint, too.

Before the pandemic forced Painting With A Twist in Ann Arbor to close, Ringuette worked there leading painting workshops. The next few years found Ringuette working in factory settings to support his family, but he knew he wanted to get back to a more creative workday. After a time of research, Ringuette signed a lease for the retail space open next to Hometown

So, what’s included in a painting workshop? You’ll receive a canvas, paints, brushes, and instruction to finish your painting for up to 16 people. If you’re booking a private party for adults, snacks and alcoholic beverages are allowed to be brought in. Ringuette is also up for hosting a party where he paints a custom piece of art with suggestions from the partygoers. A painting party is the perfect remedy to our overly digital world. Take some time to be creative, put your phone down, hang out with real people, and have an interesting conversation.

aili Dence, the creative director of Whitepine Studios, graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in art at the height of the pandemic and immediately went to work creating unique art experiences for the community. What started out as a mobile art business has quickly grown into a busy art space in the middle of downtown Saline.

Two years ago, Whitepine Studios found a permanent home, but they quickly outgrew that space. Now they are in a larger space with big, beautiful windows, and lots of room to host their summer camps, which are always full to the brim with creative kids, and a nice gallery space in the front of the building.

Even though Dence began teaching on front porches, in backyards, and in senior living communities (and she still does), you can now also sign up for a myriad of other classes hosted in the studio—from drawing fundamentals, to acrylics, beginning ceramics, glass fusing, Mommy and Me classes, and more. There’s something for everyone, ages three to 99, and Dence teaches private lessons as well.

The gallery, managed by Tara Joshi, is focused on bringing in art from local artists.

When I visited, there were one-of-a-kind original paintings in many sizes, fused glass jewelry pieces, and pottery pieces. They are in search of other local artists to add to the gallery and will be adding art cards, journals, and more to their offerings in the hopes of making art accessible to everyone. They will also be adding fun art kits and other art supplies for young artists.

Behind the scenes is Joanne Dence, Kaili’s mom, and the managing director of the studio. She brings to the business over 15 years of experience in human resources, sales, and marketing. The studio is womenowned and women-run, but the whole Dence family has a hand in it. During the pandemic, the family met every Sunday morning for seven months building up a business plan and supporting Kaili’s dream with their personal skills and experience—her brother built and maintains the website, and her dad works on marketing and finances.

Because of their new, bigger space, they are now able to host events like bridal showers and birthday parties and are expanding class offerings for adults. They’d love to hear from local artists about using the space to be a guest teacher and will consider collaborating with others to create a unique experience such as their upcoming Sound and Art workshop with sound healer, Rob Meyer-Kukan. n

SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY WELCOMES NEW PRESIDENT

Siena Heights University welcomed Dr. Douglas B. Palmer as its 11th president on July 1. Palmer succeeded Sister Peg Albert, O.P., who retired after 17 years. “I have spent 30 years on college campuses, and I am overwhelmed by the spirit at Siena Heights University,” Palmer said. “I am lucky to be here.”

Palmer, a native of Pittsburgh, most recently led Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri, just north of St. Louis. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina-Asheville, his master’s degree from the University of Oregon, and his doctorate from Ohio State University, all of which reflect his passion for history. He said he started college directly out of high school but wasn’t really prepared for the rigor of academic life. So, he enlisted in the Army, where he spent four years in a variety of roles before receiving an honorable discharge.

He credits his stint in the military with shaping his transition from being a history professor to a college president. Prior to Culver-Stockton, Palmer spent 20 years at Walsh University in Canton, Ohio, where he was a professor for 15 years before moving into administration. “I didn’t start out with that idea [moving into administration],” he said. “I think the Army is partly responsible for it, though. In the Army, I was trained to improvise, think on my feet, solve problems. Early

Siena Heights University and Jackson Community College Eye Challenges and Opportunities

By Renee Lapham Collins

in my academic career, I was asking what I could do to help solve problems and I became the faculty’s ‘goto’ person.”

Palmer and his wife, Cathy, are celebrating their 23rd wedding anniversary this month. They have three sons. Theo is in his second year at St. Louis University, while son Charlie is a sophomore at Tecumseh High School, and Jack is in seventh grade at Tecumseh Middle School.

The Palmers recently joined St. Elizabeth Parish in Tecumseh. Cathy, who earned her bachelor’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania, said she worked in retail management for a number of years, has been a volunteer at her children’s school and with the local library in Canton, and is looking forward to new opportunities in their new community.

Palmer said while “All higher education is facing challenges,” he is excited for Siena’s future.

“There are fewer young people [enrolled in college] than we’ve seen since World War II,” he said.

“There have been shifts in population in Michigan, and Covid hit institutions like Siena pretty hard.”

Going forward, he is planning to recruit students who need an extra boost, such as the children of recent immigrants from Central and Latin America and other Hispanic communities.” We have just been accepted for membership in the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities,” Palmer said. “Siena Heights

is going to work harder to welcome Hispanic students, whether they come from families who have been here for centuries or from those who have been here for days.”

Palmer sees the college classroom as a place without walls, experiential learning that expands into the greater community. “I think the more our students are involved in the community, the more likely they will be to stay,” he said.

The Adrian Dominican Sisters’ charism of preaching, teaching, ministry/service, and contemplation/prayer appeals to Palmer. “Siena is very invitational—a Catholic education is about meeting students where they are,” he said. “I’m really excited to be bringing the next generation closer to its American dream.”

Two of the county’s local institutions of higher education are determined to expand their reach, attract local, regional, and even international students, and provide them with the skills they need to succeed. Both schools also aim to keep the talent in Lenawee County through various opportunities for experiential learning, partnerships, and training programs that put students into careers right after graduation.

IIt’s no secret that higher education is facing a host of challenges these days. The pool of students is shrinking, the cost of education is rising, and more and more young people are deciding to postpone college studies.

Doug Palmer

Siena Heights University

Colleges continued...

Jackson Community College and Siena Heights University are intentional in the way they approach both recruitment and retention. Palmer is already eying opportunities to position SHU for the future by playing on its strengths as a small, private, four-year institution with the kinds of human resources that aren’t found in a big state school. Jeremy Frew, Chief Academic and Student Services Officer at Jackson, continues to push for program opportunities that fit those students who want to go into the workforce as quickly as possible, as well as those who want to pursue a four-year degree but at a lower cost.

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numbers,” he said. “We’re not there yet, but we are very proud of where we’re at in terms of our enrollment, even with the decline around the state.”

Frew said while Jackson has a couple of baccalaureate programs, the majority of its students—the vast majority—are in a traditional two-year program. “I really don’t even like to use the term ‘two-year’ anymore, because we have large populations of students going yearround,” he said. “We have a big enrollment in the summer compared to most places because our students go continuously. We do mostly associate degrees, not two-year degrees, because times are so different now with the world.”

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“All of higher education is being challenged right now,” Palmer said. “We all know that. There were fewer people born 18 years ago than at any time since the end of World War II. We call it a demographic cliff.” Palmer pointed to the shifts in population to the south and southwest that contributes to the dearth in potential students, creating a population loss on top of the shift. Colleges and universities like Jackson and Siena are tuition-driven, and as Palmer points out, “We cannot recruit students that have not been born.”

Thepandemic has played a significant role in recruitment, too, particularly among minorities. “One of the impacts of the pandemic is that students of color have not come back at the same level that white students have,” Palmer said. “So, we have to make sure we’re making an extra effort to be invitational. We are going to try to be very intentional about recruiting students coming from families of recent immigrants from Central America, Mexico, Latin America, just as 100 years ago, we [higher education institutions] were appealing to the sons and daughters of the Irish, the Italians, and the Poles—we’re going to do the same.”

To that end, SHU is looking at making its online presence bilingual. The school has also joined the Hispanic Universities and Colleges Association in order to become an HSI, a Hispanic Serving Institution. Other plans are in the works, too. “We’re going to commit some new scholarship dollars for Hispanics in the local community to be able to attend here,” Palmer said. “We’re going to do a lot of different and creative things and we’re going to work with the local community to make that happen as well.”

At Jackson, Frew said, the college has weathered the pandemic fairly well. “We obviously went down during Covid, but we have been building back up to pre-covid

Jackson maintains centers in Adrian at the Tech Center, which most old-timers recognize as “Vo-Tech,” as well as in Hillsdale. “We don’t look like a Siena or Adrian College,” he said. “We have students from all different ages, backgrounds, times in their lives. We are about access, about having students come as they are and then we take them where they need to go.” Allied health programs are very popular at Jackson, Frew said. Students who are getting associates degrees have clinical components that are satisfied where they live. So, they might be at ProMedica or Henry Ford, in Jackson, and once they complete their degrees, they typically get hired. “They are getting a tryout at a job and if they do well, the employer will want to keep them,” Frew said.

He said Jackson also has a unique program with Consumers Energy to train linesmen, which also keeps people local. “What we found is the more we can have a work experience that is tied to a degree, which could be a clinical experience, an internship, or an externship, that will help keep students local because they’re getting experiences in those institutions and a lot of the time they will end up taking jobs there,” he said.

Jackson also is “very aggressive” on work-based learning. “We try to have an internship, externship, or a clinical component to most of the degrees we offer, as well as a workforce development wing at the college where they work with local industry partners.” Experiential learning, moving the learning outside of the four walls of the college classroom, is also a big part of Palmer’s plan. “Students who get involved in their communities early in their college careers are more likely to stay

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in those communities after graduation,” Palmer said. But it’s not just about starting college, he said. It’s about finishing, too. “That’s the goal,” he said. “And I can tell you that most traditional undergraduates have a better chance at finishing in a fouryear period without significant amounts of debt coming to Siena Heights than they would even at the University of Michigan.”

Both Siena and Jackson have a strong number of dual-enrolled students from local high schools. This helps students with the cost of completing degrees. Additionally, Frew said, Jackson has students who transfer to Siena as well as the big state schools, like U-M and MSU. Jackson also offers certificate programs, partnerships with local businesses, workforce development, and non-credit credentials needed for job promotions. Siena also is moving in that direction. “We want to be the kind of institution that is comprehensive from 12th grade through certificates, associate degrees, bachelors degrees, and up to the graduate level,” Frew said.

Palmer said he is still old-fashioned enough to believe that part of the mission of education is teaching citizens to live in a democratic society. “But at the same time, the skills that our students need for the 21st century aren’t the same as the skills that they needed in the 19th century,” he said. He could not emphasize enough the importance of preparing students to be 21st century citizens, with all that entails, including a greater understanding of technology and the role technology plays. “The jobs are moving faster than the curriculum can, and so we can do new things by thinking about the old things, by reminding people it’s critical thinking, creativity, solid communication skills that are the core skills that our graduates must have.” n

“We’re going to do a lot of different and creative things and we’re going to work with the local community to make that happen as well.”

- Jeremy Frew

Jeremy Frew, JCC President

Jackson Community College

Make a

Halloween

A GAG

By Cashmere Morley

butler bestowed with the name Dobson peers into the void with realistic glass taxidermy eyes. If you walk by him, he’ll shiver, shaking his serving tray and whatever contents are on top. The Count, a shriveled, hunched vampire who by all accounts could have just awoken from a deep thousand-year sleep, gazes with a fixed, glowing red stare, from his ancient-looking wooden coffin. This is all while Post Mortem Paul lays in a perpetual state of decay, skeletal fingers infinitely digging out of his grave. It’s spooky, it’s kooky, and it’s all one-of-a-kind— custom characters brought to life just in time for Halloween by Gag Studios, owned by Isle Labs, in Blissfield.

“If you can imagine it, we can create it,” said Todd Bexten, of Gag Studios. “Isle Labs specializes in custom urethane foam molding for a variety of business sectors. Our products are made from rigid or flexible type foam systems depending on the application. We have four to five employees, depending on the time of the year, more around July and August to build inventory for Halloween.” Their stock is extensive and impressive for the spooky season. There are dozens of characters to turn your backyard into a graveyard, a mortuary, or a vampire’s coven. The possibilities are almost endless.

Gag Studios was first started in Livonia as a small business that mainly focused on small wallhung or free-standing Halloween décor. Around 1990, the business was purchased by Isle Labs and the product offering was considerably increased to include full-size characters or props. Today, Gag Studios has a loyal following of fans that have their own collection of Gag products. Said Bexten, “Dobson the Butler, Old Dead Eye, and The Count are always good sellers around Halloween time.”

“The excitement [for us] is in creating the characters from start to finish,” said Bexten. “We take great pride in our quality, which is why many of our products hold their value over the years. Everything from the taxidermy-grade eyes we use, to making sure the character is packed for shipment properly, so, as we say, 'it arrives alive' is the most exciting part of this business to us.”

All their characters are made in-house, according to Bexten. The process consists of a Fiberglass carrier, with a low-durometer silicone mold that picks up every detail. The characters are made from a three-pound density-rigid foam to reduce the weight and help keep shipping costs down.”

Bexten said, “Most characters are made in pieces; head, upper torso, arms and legs,” though, not all are made from the same number of pieces. Fasteners such as bolts with wing nuts, springs, and PVC pipe, are used to connect various parts of the characters for a sturdy assembly. Bexten notes that while “All of the employees have a part” in the design of the characters, “many were sculpted and designed by Tom Kuebler.”

Not all characters require electricity, but those who do require a 110-volt outlet to power a motion maker. It is not recommended these characters go outside.

Bexten said that they do not currently have a brick-and-mortar location, but they are working on an area customers can visit in the facility to purchase items. "For the most part, sales are online right now.” Visit Gag Studios online to add one of their spooky characters to your own Halloween collection. n Isle Laboratories Inc 11523 US-223, Blissfield (517) 486-4055 • islelabs.com

This coming October, on the 21st and 22nd, a fresh concept in seasonal shopping will take place at the historic Macon Township Hall on Ridge Road in Britton. The renovated building, now known as the Cow Palace, will host After Market, a unique two-day shopping experience complete with live music, workshops, and demonstrations.

At this festive event, shoppers will find locally produced fall and holiday items from a variety of high-quality vendors selling everything from home decor to hand spun yarn to homemade soap to gourmet treats. It is the perfect place to purchase autumn décor as well as a variety of unique, one-of-a-kind gifts for the holiday season. In addition, visitors will be able to purchase pumpkins and cornstalks from Mark Prielipp Greenhouse and Mohr. Musgrove + Company will be keeping the crowd warm with coffee from their new tap van and will be giving a behind the scenes peek

with a coffee roasting demonstration. Visitors can also pre-register for a wreath-making workshop given by local Strawberry Blue Farm.

“Our vision for After Market was to create an innovative marketplace where vendors could sell their unique products, while shoppers could take advantage of incredible bargains,” said Matthew and Mary Tommelein, the driving forces behind After Market. “We wanted to bridge the gap between the end of the farmer’s market season and the start of the Christmas rush, providing a win-win situation for both vendors and customers.”

This win-win situation is a redefined shopping experience—a family-friendly event offering all the charms of a true country market. n

There will be raffle tickets on sale for a reverse raffle with items from each vendor and a cord of wood from Matthew Tommelein. All proceeds from the raffle will be used for electrical updates and restoration.

By Sara Hilton

AFTER MARKET

Old Macon Township Hall - Now known as ‘Cow Palace’ 10700 Ridge Highway, Britton • Info: Mary Tommelein 517-215-1732

Facebook: Cow Palace Restoration and Celebration

Oct 21, 9am-4pm

FEATURING LOCALLY PRODUCED FALL AND HOLIDAY ITEMS.

(Vendors may vary each day)

• Mark Prielipp Greenhouse & Mohr

Fall Decor (Cornstalks, Pumpkins, etc)

• Musgrove + Co.

Coffee for Sale (Coffee Demonstration)

• Strawberry Blue Farm

Fall Decor (Wreath Class)

• Emelia Designs

Earrings (6th grader)

• School House Soaps

Healing salves and soap dishes, (base is herbs and flowers Sue Schreck - Macon)

• Gerald Lawyer

Hand Crafted Wood items

• Mary Tommelein

Homemade Hot Fudge and Caramel Sauce

• Cindy Lyons Art

Unique art pieces

• Boulevard Market

Artisanal Cheeses

• Cristy Glass Shop

Glass Art (Cristy Oberst)

A D R I A N

• Veggies

• Fruit

• Dairy

• Blankets

• Baked Goods

• Food Trucks

• Crafts

SATURDAYS

Thru Oct 8 • 9am-1pm

First Fridays 5-8

Toledo Street Pavilion 115 Toledo St, Adrian 517-264-4816  facebook.com/adriancitymarket

Produce, crafts, 734-430-7973

every other SATURDAY 10am-2pm

Britton’s

Sept 16,30 • Oct 14,28

Forever Acres Farm llc 278 W Chicago Blvd, Britton joinbrittonsbest@gmail.com

Britton’s Best Farmers Market 

B R I T T O N

Several barn quilts will be on display as well as the barn quilt art piece at the peak of the Cow Palace — designed by Matt Tommelein and Pessislava Terzieva, a Bulgarian Artist. These pieces of art emulate the printed feed cloth so widely used during the depression.

By Christine MacIntyre

Tecumseh welcomed the metaphysical shop, The Broom Closet, in June. While the business continues the former DNA Sales 2100, the company changed hands and offers the community a growing selection of products and resources. The staff and location are the same, albeit with expanded hours.

The Broom Closet offers a variety of crystals, rocks, candles, incense, holistic wellness books, tarot card decks, teas, essential oils, jewelry, and more. Services provided through in-shop Wholistic Connection include Reiki, Chakra/Aura photography, sound healing, biomagnetic mat sessions, and more. Scheduled events include belly dancing, crystal gridmaking classes, and an upcoming block party in October.

Annette Schilz founded DNA Sales in 2016, turning her love of rocks into a platform for her passion. The rock store grew into the largest rock and crystal shop in Lenawee County. Her business kept increasing with the addition of supporting wellness products and all-natural home goods.

Laura Heckaman, The Broom Closet’s current owner, worked for Annette. However, as each of the women’s situations evolved, by 2022, the pair became convinced the Universe had sent them to one another. Schilz was ready to take a step back and enjoy more flexibility, whereas Heckaman was ready to plunge further into the business. “She [Schilz] needed somebody to help her, and I needed someone to help. We found each other right when we needed to find each other,” said Heckaman. Now, their roles are reversed, with Heckaman at the helm and Schilz still a valuable part of the team as Reiki Master.

Heckaman said the rocks and crystals remain a big draw for their customers. “They’re the bedrock of our business. We really focus on them a lot.” However, she said they will expand their wellness product, home décor, and gift offerings. “We’re also doing some consignment with artisans as well.”

The changes at the holistic wellness supply and metaphysical shop benefit everyone involved, albeit they’ve maintained the feeling of safe space customers love. Heckaman said, “It’s a win-win for both of us and Tecumseh and the surrounding spiritual community.” They’ve received positive feedback so far from both returning and new customers.

By Jackie Koch

Lev’s Bakery of Tecumseh gained some new faces last June when Jason and Martha Miller purchased the business, and now the baked goods staple of downtown Tecumseh has a fresh look as well. The Millers kept the favorite recipes from the DeJonghe family’s 56 years in business but thought a renovation was in order. In July, they put their own mark on the business as they celebrated its first anniversary under their management.

Martha said the appearance of Lev’s may look a little different, but it’s still the same great bakery. The renovations included cleaning and painting the interior, a fresh coat of darker paint with contrasting trim on the exterior of the building, installing new black ceiling tiles that have the appearance of older tin tiles, creating additional shelving to hold more products, and more.

In addition to donuts, cookies, and soft pretzels on Saturdays, Lev’s now has cheese to go with the pretzels. They also sell pizza by the slice, breakfast sandwiches, pie and cake by the slice, churros, bagels, breakfast pizza, and they continue to offer new flavors and items to tempt the tastebuds. The store also sells ice cream and popcorn after 2 pm.

The Millers have implemented a rewards program for frequent buyers to give customers perks that include coupons for free items. Lev’s now has expanded hours and accepts credit and debit cards for payment as well as cash.

Jackie Juhasz and Cheyenne Sosman opened Patina Jewelry + Design in late fall 2021, and renovations began soon after. Recently, Juhasz and Sosman decided to continue renovating by opening up the front of the store to allow for more customer space. A seating area was added by the front windows for customers waiting for a watch battery, or other service. The jewelers also had new flooring installed and added a shiny new pink chandelier to set it all off.

“We actually gave the bench jewelers less space so we could give our customers more space,” Juhasz said. “We also turned the benches around, so now people can watch our jewelers work, whereas before they were facing the wall.“

They have a little bit of something for everyone. They carry everything from Citizen watches to fun, funky fashion jewelry...and of course, diamonds. They create custom engagement rings and wedding bands. Bring in your stones and diamonds and they can remount them in a new setting. They can do it all. n

Taste Nostalgia th e

Jackson’s vibrant arts culture inspired the five-day celebration, Jackson Festival for the Arts. Tahra Gribbin, managing director at Monster Box Theatre, spearheads the event as the festival chair. The September 7-11 event is a one-ofits-kind opportunity to appreciate the rich artistic talent embedded in the community.

Gribbin’s vision for the annual festival emerged earlier this year. It gained momentum as she established a board and secured partnerships with local businesses and institutions who are contributing time, talent, event space, and funds. As details surface, excitement about this free, family-friendly event flows through the community.

“I saw many places doing really cool things, but everyone was doing it

By Christine MacIntyre

individually. So, I thought a festival would be a great opportunity to get everyone together. More art makes more art,” said Gribbin. She hopes to facilitate meaningful relationships between artists and business and art institutions to enrich Jackson’s art landscape further. “There’s just as much cool art happening here in Jackson as in communities such as Ann Arbor, so I wanted to showcase that.”

From live painters, bands and musicians, dancers, original plays, and short films, the festival aims to showcase various visual and performing arts forms. The fun begins on Thursday with a kickoff party, followed by a Kid’s Create Event, a film festival, and rooftop art, workshops, concerts with live art, an art show and silent auction, a music parade, photo walks,

Horace Blackman Park

horror theatre, and improv. Contests include Jackson in Focus, a judged photo contest with prizes, and other pop-up competitions. Additionally, vendor booths will feature goods from various artisans and craft makers.

Locations throughout the community, including Ella Sharp Museum, Art 634, Weatherwax Hall, Jackson School of the Arts, Ironbark Brewing, CP Federal City Square, and Horace Blackman Park, will host events. Some events require tickets. Additionally, some events are agespecific, with particular events geared heavily toward kids and others, such as horror film night, appealing to an adult only audience.

The festival’s host, Monster Box Theatre, is a live performance art theatre. Previously located in Oakland County for eight years, the theatre now resides in Jackson. Their renovations of the former Book Exchange are underway. In the meantime, they offer events such as improv and murder mystery nights at Veritas restaurant downtown. n

Jackson Festival of the Arts

Jacksonartsfest.com

Facebook: @jacksonartsfest

248-408-5458

Monster Box Theatre

Monsterboxtheatre.com

Facebook: @monsterboxthtr

248-787-5365

Some events held at Horace Blackman Park

200 W Michigan Ave, Jackson

experience jackson

come

Photos courtesy of Jackson DDA

CLASSIC CABINETS & INTERIORS

807 S Brown St

(517) 817-5650

classiccabinetsandinteriors.com 

M-F 9-4:30, Sat 9-12

They know details count when it comes to designing spaces. From tile selections to cabinetry/countertopstheir team of experienced designers are eager to help you achieve a perfect balance of design and functionality. Also in Tecumseh.

FORTY NINE SOUTH

2527 Helena Ave

(517) 435-2193

fortyninesouth.com 

Schedule a tour today.

This completely renovated venue combines the vintage charm of the original primary school with the modern amenities required to treat your guests to a one-of-a-kind event experience. Weddings to corporate events. Packages available.

DAHLEM ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

7117 S Jackson Rd

(517) 782-3453

dahlemcenter.org  

Trails open daily dawn to dusk

Gift shop/exhibits - T-F 9-4

Experience the outdoors all year at Dahlem! Explore five miles of hiking trails, gardens, forests, grasslands and more. Trails and nature playscape open daily, dawn to dusk. Enjoy special events, programs, classes, and camps.

CASCADES MANOR

1970 Kibby Rd

(517) 784-1500

cascadesmanor.com  

Open Daily 10-4

Premier venue for memorable weddings, showers, proms, parties, anniversaries, and corporate events of all sizes. Full service amenities; impeccable food, service, and vintage charm. Wedding gazebo on park-like grounds. Easily accessible off I-94.

jackson

CASCADES GOLF

1992 Warren Ave (517) 788-4323

cascadesgolfcourse.com 

Open daily! Sunrise to Sunset

Built in 1929, Cascades offer great challenge and great tradition. Both Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus played at this top-rated public municipal course. Generous landing areas and large, undulating greens, provide great tests to all players.

JAX 60

3501 Wildwood Ave (517) 783-2711

jax60.com 

T-Th 12-10, F-Sat 12-12, Sun 12-9

Jackson’s favorite place to go for bowling and fun! Their talented staff can create a custom tailored event for themed birthday parties, corporate team building events, retirement parties, bar/bat mitzvahs and group outings. Great food too!

EpIQ ESCAPES

561 Wildwood Ave (517) 240-1173

epiqescapes.com 

W-Th 5-8, F 5-10, Sat 12-10, Sun 12-6

Family-friendly games make this activity great for dates, birthdays, corporate team building, and parties. Enter a locked room where you must find clues, solve a series of puzzles and riddles, and work together to escape in 60 minutes!

LEGACY/LEGENDS

ASSISTED LIVING/ALZHEIMERS CENTER 5025 Ann Arbor Rd (517) 764-2000

gantonretirement.com 

Open Daily 8-5

Housing, healthcare, and supportive services. Socialization opportunities, help with daily living, planned activities, medication management, three meals/day, grocery delivery, housekeeping/laundry. Care for late stages of memory loss.

experiencejackson.com

CROSSFIT 517

323 W Michigan Ave

(517) 513-3518

crossfit517.com 

M-Th 9-7, F 9-6:30, Sat 9-12

Get in the best shape of your life. This is where you go when you want results. Strength/conditioning, group training, personal training, nutrition, coaching, kids and high school athletic programs. Free introductory session. Drop-ins welcome.

POWERHOUSE GYM

329 W Michigan Ave

(517) 783-5261

acuityscheduling.com

M-Th 9-7, F 9-6:30, Sat 9-12

Your best option for strength training, cardio equipment, personal training and more! State-of-the-artequipment, group classes, personal trainers, spa services, childcare, aquatic pool, basketball court, private locker rooms, 24/7 access.

JACKSON HISTORIC PRISON TOURS

100 Armory Ct (517) 867-9498

historicprisontours.com 

TOURS; Small groups book online April-October. Charters/large groups call for information/dates.

Walk through Michigan’s first state prison, built in 1842. See the former prison’s amazing architecture and eerie basement (solitary). You’ll hear stories of brutality, corruption, crime, and more.

MID MICHIGAN SUPER SHOWS

jackson

CHRISTOFF & SONS TRANSFORMING SPACES SINCE 1979

400 N Mechanic St (517) 782-1971

christoffandsons.com 

M-F 8-6, Sat 9-3

Showroom designed with you in mind. They’ve expanded their offerings to include quality cabinets (bathroom/kitchen), countertops, lighting, mirrors, diverse floor coverings, window treatments, interior design services and more.

THE BOOK EXCHANGE

142 N Mechanic St (517) 748-7655

Find them on Facebook 

T-F 10-6, Sat 10-5

With over 30,000 titles, they are your source for high quality, gently used books. Located in the heart of downtown Jackson. Bring a book, save a buck! Each book brought into the store that meets criteria earn $1 off a book purchased.

CANDI’S BZB CAFE

225 S Mechanic St (517) 784-8120

places.singleplatform.com 

W,F 6-2, Th 7-2, Sat, Sun 8-1

Jackson’s oldest restaurant - open for breakfast/lunch/brunch. Friendly service, low prices serving up the best grits around. Chicken waffles, biscuits/gravy, etc. Taco Wednesdays too! They donate 15% proceeds of art sales to Humane Society.

MID MICHIGAN SUPER SHOWS

200 W Ganson St American 1 Event Center (517) 524-8899

midmichigansupershows.com  Jerry Dorer hosts 10 shows yearly. What began in 2004 as 18 tables has turned into 245+. All a pickers dream.

Jackson Antiques/Collectibles Show - Oct 6-7

The Jackson Toy Show - November 4

Jackson Auto Swap Meet - January 20

Also Grand Rapids, Wixom and Toldeo shows...soon in Hastings.

JACKSON CANDLE COMPANY

218 S Mechanic St (517) 513-3135

jacksoncandlecompany.com 

T-W 11-5, Th-Sat 10-6, Sun 12-3

Candles and unique gifts located in downtown Jackson. Featuring Swan Creek Candles and hand-poured small batch wood wick candles. Find Hunt & Gather Cocktail (infusion) Kits, Airome diffusers, wax Drizzle Melts, essential oils, jewelry and more!

GRACE SCHOOL OF DANCE

106 E Washington St (517) 539-5153

gracedanceschool.org 

Call for hours

Providing a safe, loving atmosphere instilling discipline, confidence, poise, teamwork, and respect for self and others. GSC is intentional in selecting music, costumes, and choreography with classically-trained teachers in ballet, jazz and tap.

THE BROKERAGE HOUSE INC

100 S Jackson St #102 (517) 788-8733

thebrokeragehouse.com 

Open Monday-Thursday

Committed to Jackson. Committed to you. Committed to Excellence. Co-owners Jenifer Scanlon and Sandy Simmons are continuing to build on the company’s 43 year reputation for excellence. Excellent properties, sales and service.

WINDY HILL CREATIONS, INC

217 N Jackson St (517) 812-6851

Windy Hill Creations

windyhillcreations.com 

M-F 11-5:30, Sat 11-4

Fresh flowers, home decor, Amish furniture, wedding florals, jewelry, vintage, farmhouse, painted furniture and more! They put the “fun” in personal and home creations. Ask about their in-home staging. Wedding/event services too.

JACKSON ANTIQUE MALL

201 N Jackson St (517) 784-3333

VERITAS

151 W Michigan Ave (517) 888-9001

veritasjackson.com 

M-Th 11-9, F 11-10, Sat 4-10

Now open for lunch! This lively, trendy, ingredient forward restaurant has an immersive atmosphere with delicious, meticulously prepared food. Veritas features an extensive wine list, unique events/event spaces. Live entertainment every Fri/Sat.

AXE PLAY

133 W Michigan, Ste D (517) 392-5553

axeplayjackson.com 

W-Th 5-9, F 5-11, Sat 2-11, Sun 1-7

Located downtown, Axe Play is Jackson’s premiere axe throwing bar! Chill-axe with your friends, or make new ones, in an axe-hilarating environment. Have a signature drink from the full bar. Perfect for date night, team building or celebrations.

COUNTY NATIONAL BANK

(888) 322-1088

CNBB.bank 

Bank local with people you know and trust.

JACKSON ANTIQUE MALL

tim39092.wixsite.com/jacksonantiquemall 

M-Sat 10-5:30, Sun 12-4:30

Mid-Michigan’s largest multi level Collectible & Antique Mall representing 50+ dealers with wares ranging from full karat diamonds to country primitives. 3-story 1860s building filled with architecturals and a diverse array of merchandise.

Proudly serving the counties of Lenawee, Hillsdale, Jackson, and Calhoun. GET HOLD OF A

brightwallsjackson.com/map

experiencejackson.com

While working as a 9/11 first responder, Melissa Doser learned that it’s OK to lean on others in times of need.

Now, as a nurse practitioner at Henry Ford Hospice Home – Jackson, Melissa uses lessons learned at Ground Zero to comfort and support her patients and their families. She and her team provide the compassionate end-of-life care that allows families to focus on happy memories and enjoy the time they have together with their loved one. Discover Melissa’s story, and learn more about our hospice services at henryford.com/melissa

I help families in hospice care celebrate life.

Autumn brings crisp air and cerulean blue skies—perfect antiquing weather. Finding a unique piece clinging to its original charm or a treasure encapsulated by character is exciting for experts and novices alike.

The Tecumseh area is rich with antique stores, but open-air antiquing at events such as Antiques in Autumn and the Antique Street Fair and Flea Market provide fresh air and social elements.

Hunting & Gathering

By Christine MacIntyre

BLISSFIELD

Antiques in Autumn

Antiques in Autumn will soon take place in Blissfield’s downtown district. On Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10 am until 4 pm, people can browse for treasures from several vendors selling antiques, collectibles, vintage, repurposed items, and handmade goods.

Vendors set up along Lane Street, where the city closes off a block for the event. “We’re opening it up to pretty much anything. People think antiques must be 200 years old. No, they don’t,” said the event’s co-chairwoman and organizer, Barb McHenry, owner of The Packrat.

While antiques and collectibles draw in people hunting for treasures, food trucks are a fun addition. “That way, people can stay even longer,” said McHenry.

Blissfield Downtown Development Authority and Michigan Main Street sponsor the event, now in its eighth year. Several local businesses will also have sales during the event.

OCT 14

9AM-6PM

OCT 15

TECUMSEH

Antique Street Fair

Downtown Tecumseh will host an antique street fair and flea market again as part of the annual Appleumpkin Festival on October 14 and 15. From 9am to 6pm on Saturday and 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday, shoppers will have ample time to browse a large selection of antiques, collectibles, and vintage items. Saturday also features an antique tractor show on South Evans Street.

Event chairwoman Jan Fox said the festival’s antique portion is a big draw.

“It adds the idea that our festival has a little bit of something for everybody,” she said, adding that those who like antiques can enjoy that space, while people who enjoy crafts can enjoy those spaces. Similarly, families with kids can enjoy the many kids’ activities, including midway rides, carnival games, kid’s putt-putt golf, and more. According to Fox, the antique fair is one of the festival’s original draws, adding that many of the vendors are returning from previous years. n

brooklyn

Blissfield

BLISSFIELD

brooklyn

CHELSEA ANTIQUES

407 N Main St, Chelsea (734) 475-7131 • W-Sat 10-5 / Sun 11-4 • chelseaantiques.net

chelseaantiques@att.net

We buy silver, gold and coins! Inspiring those passionate about vintage home and

chelsea

S Main St (M-52), Chelsea (734) 562-2190 • T-Sat 10-6 / Sun 11-5 • 41 vendor booths quality antiques, collectibles, vintage farm relics, paintings, mid-century modern treasures.

grass lake

jackson

Chelsea Mall Antiques

manchester

THE COPPER NAIL

111 E Michigan Ave, Grass Lake (517) 522-8514 • T-Sat 10-5 thecoppernail.org • Antiques, furniture, resale items, home accessories, jewelry, toys & more! Accepting quality donations.

tecumseh

JACKSON ANTIQUE MALL, INC.

201 N Jackson St, Jackson (517) 784-3333 • M-Sat 10-5:30 / Sun 12-4:30 • 4 floors of collectibles and antiques!

Layaways and dealer space available. Scan QR Code to visit website!

tecumseh

tecumseh

tipton

get lost at farmer j’s world record corn maze

By Cashmere Morley

OVER 50 ACRES OF CORN, ONE MYSTERY TO SOLVE, AND COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE MEMORIES.

At Farmer J’s Corn Maze in Dundee (previous winner of two Guinness World Records), a little disorientation is only part of the adventure. Who knew getting lost could be fun for the whole family?

“We started this maze twenty-two years ago, my husband Lyle, and I, after deciding to diversify what we were offering on the farm,” said Jennifer Jaworski. “We plant the corn and a company called MazePlay. com cuts it for us using GPS—they cut it

within an inch of perfection to the design we create.” The company takes about 12 to 48 hours to complete the maze, depending on complexity and the acres of corn to be cut.

Farmer J’s is bustling with fall activity from the weekend after Labor Day until the end of October. A drone photo reveals the maze’s complexity and overall shape. Jaworski notes that the largest maze they’ve ever had was 50 acres.

“[The mazes] can be challenging or they can be easy, depending on what you’re looking for,” said Jaworski, who notes that there are four mazes, all with different levels of difficulty, at the farm. “We do give you a trail map, and my number is on there in case you get lost, but you must know that our slogan is ‘come get lost with us.’ There are people looking for that kind of experience, but there are also mazes for the kids to enjoy that are not as difficult. Each of the main

mazes has six checkpoints; a visitor takes their ticket to each of the checkpoints. It’s how you know you’re following the path, but it also sometimes becomes a game of who can make it through the checkpoints the fastest.” If you do find yourself lost in the labyrinth of corn, Jaworski will send one of her kids to come rescue you.

There is a mystery maze, called “Who Took Farmer J?” which is a play on the board game Clue. Visitors must guess who took Farmer J, what they took him with, and where they took him to. This picture maze, where visitors must eliminate suspects and motives is an experience separate from the trail map. Once complete, the visitor returns to the service desk to enter their guess on who took Farmer J. If they are correct, they win a badge of honor sticker.

Beyond the corn mazes, visitors can launch corn cannons to win cash prizes, purchase pumpkins, and enjoy refreshments on-site, in case you get parched while solving the maze.

“We stop selling tickets at 10pm. It’s dark. There are people who may get pretty lost sometimes. The day and night experiences are very different, and it’s up to the visitor and what kind of experience they want to have. But it is really something for the whole family to enjoy,” said Jaworski. “It’s fun watching families making memories here.” n

FIFTY ACRE CORN MAZE!

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