2023 Spring Homefront

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Publisher: Jim Lincoln | Creative Director: Suzanne Hayes Lead Graphic Designer: Nanci Bridget Copy Editor: Jackie Koch Advertising Sales: Suzanne Hayes, Vicki Riddle Writers: Ann Belote-Weir, Jennifer Carson, Gayle Hazelbaker, Sara Hilton, Jackie Koch, Renee Lapham Collins, Linda Learman, Christine MacIntyre |

Suzanne Hayes, Joshua Bridget, Nanci Bridget, John Hoffman

S. Maiden Lane, Tecumseh home photo by Suzanne Hayes

Irish Hills Realty St. Patrick’s Day Open House

March 17 • 1-5pm 517-301-4663

214 E Chicago Blvd Downtown Tecumseh Food, fun & prizes irishhillsrealty.com 

Spring EVENTS

Loyal to Local. These Vintage markets feature original art, vintage furniture, handmade goods, new/used home decor, jewelry, consumables, live music, food trucks...

HIDDEN LAKE GARDEN’S SPRING FLOWER BULB SHOW ‘BULBS IN HARMONY’

now-mArch 26 Tue-sun 10Am-4pm

Closed Mondays 6214 monroe rd (hwy m-50), TIpTon 517-431-2060  hIddenLAkegArdens.msu.edu

Tired of winter? Come enjoy a spectacular showing of daffodils, hyacinths, tulips and other spring flowers inside the conservatory. Thousands of spring bulbs and blooms will be on display. Admission included with entrance fee. Free to HLG members.

Tecumseh Leprechaun Hunt

March 17-19 517-424-6818

Find them all for a chance to win $25 in Chamber bucks! downtowntecumseh.com

mAson – mArch 26Th*

JAckson – AprIL 14Th **

BATTLe creek – mAy 7Th

cheLseA – mAy 21sT **

BeLLevILLe – AugusT 20Th

10:00-11:00 (eArLy BIrd)* $10

11:00-4:00 generAL AdmIssIon $5

10-11:30 (eArLy BIrd)** $15

11:30-4:00 generAL AdmIssIon $5 fInderskeepersvInTAgemArkeT.com

Tecumseh Parks & Rec Craft & Vendor Show

March 18, 10-3pm

The AJ Smith Rec Center

810 N Evans St, Tecumseh 517-423-5602  $1 admit, kids free mytecumseh.org

Tecumseh cenTer for The ArTs

400 n mAumee sT, Tecumseh 517-423-6617 • TheTcA.org

THE MOXIE STRINGS

sAT, mArch 18 • 7:30pm • $25-$30

Instrumental wizardry!

VIP TITANIC DINNER SHOW

sAT, AprIL 15, 6pm • $75

Held at AJ Smith Center: 810 N Evans St, Tecumseh Silent Auction 5pm.

DREW & KIM FEATURING DANNY K

SAT, APRIL 22 • 7:30pm • $25/$30

Dueling pianos!

Occasions

Hall & Events Center

ThAnk you for The musIc: ABBA TRIBUTE CONCERT

The crosweLL operA house

sAT, AprIL 22, 7:30pm

129 e mAumee sT, AdrIAn $25/$15 • 517-264-7469 crosweLL.org 

From “Dancing Queen” to “Waterloo” and everything in between, the music of ABBA is highlighted in this special concert featuring some cast members from the Croswell’s 2018 hit production of “Mamma Mia!”

2ND TECUMSEH OCCASIONS BRIDAL EVENT

sun, AprIL 2, noon-3pm

occAsIons hALL & evenTs cenTer

313 n evAns sT, Tecumseh  419-464-2351

occAsIonshALLAndevenTcenTer com

Saline Craft Show

March 18, 8-3:30pm

Saline Middle School

7190 N Maple Rd

Saline • $4 Admit 10 and under free

Over 150 craft booths! salineschools.org

Area professionals will be on hand to help plan the wedding of your dreams. While here, tour this historic church that has been transformed into a dream venue accommodating both large and small bridal events. Free online registration or $5 at the door.

Fiber Expo

April 1-2 419-825-1609

Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4

Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds on Saline-Ann Arbor Rd

Vendors, Classes, Animals fiberexpo.com

AdrIAn cenTer for The ArTs

MINI CLASS OPEN HOUSE

sAT, AprIL 8, 9Am-4pm

1375 n AdrIAn hwy, AdrIAn • $5-$15 517-759-3005 

AdrIAncenTerforTheArTs.org

Join Adrian Center for the Arts for a series of mini classes. You and your friends will be able to make clay projects, glass pieces, drawings, metalsmithing and much more. A fun and creative event for all ages.

Besties on the Boulevard

Thur, April 20 • 4-8pm Downtown Tecumseh 517-424-6818

Bring the girls for hot deals, give-a-ways and a scavenger hunt! downtowntecumseh.com

Events

15th Annual Tecumseh’s Art Walk

May 12, 6-9am

Downtown Tecumseh 517-424-6818

Bringing art into downtown businesses

downtowntecumseh.com

MUSICALS DECADES THROUGH THE

SPRING CONCERT

sun, mAy 7, 3pm Tecumseh cenTer for The ArTs

400 n mAumee sT, Tecumseh 517-423-6617 • $12/$10  Tecumsehpops.com • TheTcA.org

Tecumseh Pops

Orchestra & Community Chorus present Musicals Through The Decades with selections from these popular musicals: Carousel, Sound of Music, Girl Crazy, Kiss Me Kate, West Side Story, Music Man, The Man of Mancha, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, The Chorus Line, The Lion King, Wicked, and A Beautiful Noise. There’s something for everyone at this collaborative production.

May Mingle

‘Welcome to the Jungle’ Community Learning Connections

May 13, 6-10pm

Tecumseh Golf Club 5200 Milwaukee Rd  517-423-7574 • $45 Admit communitylearningconnections.org

mAy 18, 19 & 20

TECUMSEH’S CITY-WIDE GARAGE SALE

mAy 18-20 • sTArTIng AT 9Am 517-424-6003

myTecumseh.org

Area pickers will be anxious to see what special bargains they can find during the sale. No permits required for the 3-day event! Dust off those old treasures, sort thru those clothes you haven’t worn in ages and put them out to sell!

Classic Car & Bike Show

Thur, May 18, 6pm 205 E Chicago Blvd

Tecumseh • 517-424-6818

Also June 16, Aug 18 & Sept 15. Show off your classic car or motorcycle!

downtowntecumseh.com

Tecumseh

Farmers Market

Open Sat’s May 20-Oct 7 9am-1pm • 517-423-3740 Market on Evans 213 N Evans St, Tecumseh • Produce, crafts, music, food trucks, flowers, antiques, etc. downtowntecumseh.com

Tecumseh’s Memorial Day Parade

May 29, 10am

Starting in downtown Tecumseh then north on Union St to Brookside Cemetery for a moving tribute • 517-423-2107 mytecumseh.org

Radio personality Cheron Sanders’ breast cancer was discovered during a routine mammogram. She had no symptoms or family history of the disease.

What she did have was abnormal cells throughout her right breast. To prevent the cancer from spreading, her Henry Ford Health team moved quickly to perform a mastectomy, followed immediately by microsurgery breast reconstruction—Henry Ford is one of few who can perform this joint procedure. After treatment, Cheron created CheronsSheroes.com, a website providing women with support during their breast cancer treatment. Discover Cheron’s story, and learn more about breast cancer screening at henryford.com/mammography

Cancer

After beating my own breast cancer, I‘m tuned in to helping others with theirs.

“Not too big, not too small, but just right. That’s how Holly DeWitt describes her new “Goldilocks” build in Tecumseh. Initially, she planned to buy an existing home which had undergone a recent renovation. But when Holly learned Abstract Builders had done the renovation, she gave them a call. “We had a discussion,” Holly said, “and things kind of took off from there.” She credits husband-and-wife team Rob and Teena Hill, owners and operators of Abstract Builders, for their expert guidance, honesty, and integrity throughout the entire process, from financing to finishing touches. “I couldn’t ask for better builders. I’m very thankful we could work as a team,” Holly said.

“Cozy” and “warm” are words she returns to as she describes the modern farmhouse ranch, currently Abstract’s most popular build. But this is no cookiecutter house: DeWitt worked closely with Abstract to

customize the home, which is now settled on a corner lot in an established subdivision at North Union and Red Maple streets.

Entering the home through the front door, the living, dining, and kitchen areas are in view all at once in the open floor plan. Cream-colored walls throughout, brightened by the natural light flooding in from several windows on the front and back sides of the house, lend to the home’s warmth and airiness. Each designated common space is moderately sized yet ample. In the living room, a pillowy couch, comfy chairs, and a coffee table nestle together on a rug. The sitting area faces a partial wall toward the east side of the house where a flat screen tv hangs above a wide linear glass fireplace and black soapstone hearth, custom-built for the space by Abstract owner Rob Hill. Behind the partial wall is a short hallway with a bedroom at each end and a full bath in between. Black-framed sliding glass doors, taking up most of the living room wall opposite the front door, provide a tranquil view into the backyard.

Story by Linda Learman | Photos by Nanci Bridget Abstract Builders LLC continued...

master bedroom with en-suite bath

On the opposite side of the home, in the western wing, is the airy master bedroom suite, including a master bath with a private water closet and walk-in shower, as well as a generous walk-in closet. The arrangement of bedrooms at opposite ends of the house is one of Holly’s favorite features for the space and privacy it affords to both kids and parents.

The “piece de resistance” of the home though, as Holly calls it, is the kitchen, which beckons just west of the living room. “It’s the heart of the home; it’s where everything happens; it’s where everyone wants to be; and, with the open floor concept, it is where all the ‘wow’ comes from,” she said.

Along the kitchen’s back wall, a dramatic veined slab of black/ grey soapstone serves as a backsplash, provides built-in shelves, and is also the same stone used for the fireplace hearth on the opposite side of the room. Bookended by slivered almond-colored cabinets sitting atop each end of the dark soapstone counters as well as below them, the backsplash sets off the

the “piece de resistance”

stunning centerpiece of the space: a large black matte Italian oven with brass knobs and trim. The kitchen island, centered in front of the stove, is topped with a soft white and gray honed Carrara marble and holds the farmhouse style kitchen sink. Three rattan pendant lights hang above the island, adding a rustic and relaxed charm to the space, as does the unlacquered brass finish on all the home’s faucets, fixtures, and knobs. “I didn’t want anything to feel too polished or too precious. I wanted it to be able to patina over time, to feel lived in,” Holly said.

Tucked in beside the kitchen is another of Holly’s favorite features: the banquette nook. The snug area, cornered in by two large black-framed windows offering a view of the back deck, and a partial wall offering some separation from the living room, feels both open and intimate at the same time. When not in use for dining, Holly said it’s a great space to play board games, do homework, or just gather with friends and hang out. At the kitchen’s other end, walled off as distinct spaces, a mudroom and walk-in pantry sit opposite each other just inside the

the banquette nook

the pantry

home’s garage entryway. With a stacked washer and dryer, tall cabinets, custom shelves, and a bench with cubbies, the mudroom efficiently uses all its space to give everyone’s belongings a place as they come and go.

The walk-in pantry, wallpapered in a dark blue floral Holly chose to evoke “European countryside charm that’s also a little moody,” features thick

wooden shelves anchored above the L-shaped marble countertop. Underneath the counter, cabinets provide additional storage and, in one discreet corner, space for a kegerator.

“Every nook was intentionally planned,” Holly said. “I don’t think a lot of builders are like that. I don’t think a lot of builders have their craftsmanship and attention to fine detail. I’m super thankful to have had Teena and Rob. They were amazing.” n

mudroom/ laundry

MACON CREEK STABLES

That property proved to be a perfect place for a new business. “We originally opened in 2013 as my former wife had horses,” said Smetka. “I kept the boarding facility and have been able to build it up since.” The horse barn is on the main property. According to Smetka, most of those boarding have been there since opening.

Families are at the forefront of what keeps it going. According to Smetka, “The biggest thing is family clients. Seven of the 10 stalls since we built the facility, have been families.” He said it’s good family time bonding over caring for horses. “The kids have fun working with the horses,” he said. “We have grandparents that are getting their grandkids ready and getting them in with the horse.”

While the stables are one component of Macon Creek, a regulation size indoor equestrian arena is also available. “4H members have gone

PEOPLEHorse

By Ann Belote-Weir

to shows – local shows, Saturday through Sunday shows, and some events I have sponsored, and they’ve used the arena as a practice facility,” said Smetka. Outside school districts with equestrian teams have also contacted him to ride.

With all this going on, is the public able to come and ride? “Yes,” he said. People are welcome to contact Smetka and he will reach out to a trainer about not only someone going out for a ride, but also regarding lessons. If someone has never been on a horse, it’s important that they are comfortable around the horse, and this will include an introduction, lunge, and lead work. “I wouldn’t say they first time out you’ll get to ride,” said Smetka, “If there is zero experience, someone most likely won’t be riding a horse at that time.”

He also pointed out that first-time riders and those with little experience are matched with a horse that is best for the rider. “If we have inexperienced riders, we will put them on horses close to retirement – the more experienced horses so they are calmer,” he said. Once cleared to get on a horse, riding lanes are available throughout the family farm.

Interestingly, Smetka doesn’t ride but does agree that riding is beneficial. “A lot of people who own horses do find caring for their horses and riding therapeutic. When boarding, a lot of horse owners are choosing a barn based on not only the level of care their horses receive but also the environment. They are either looking to make friends with other boarders to spend time with at the barn or enjoy the solitude,” he said.

Owning and boarding a horse isn’t for the faint of heart. There is a lot of work involved and it’s more than feeding and riding. Starting first thing in the morning, Smetka and his girlfriend make sure horses are fed and water is checked. Trainers are also in and out all day working with their horses. At night, another team of workers show up to feed, check hay, check water, and put the horses to bed. “It takes a team, an army, to keep it going,” Smetka noted.

One thing important to him is keeping the cost reasonable. “With our stables, you can have a horse and afford a horse. Our costs are mid-range. We are not in it for money – (Macon Creek Stables) allows

The facility was built on farmland near Britton that has been in owner Adam Smetka’s family for over 100 years and three generations.

them to have a horse at a reasonable cost,” he said. “It’s a whole family event – which is nice. We like it. It’s low key. It’s a family atmosphere.”

Smetka has great memories from 10 years of running Macon Creek. “Over the years we have had a number of people come and go from the barn, but many become friends. My nephews often visit the farm, and they always look forward to seeing the new horses and playing with the kids. That’s what makes it all worth it,” he said.

Macon Creek Stables

8400 Hoagland Hwy, Britton  517-376-1767

wyld thistle

horsemanship.

“I’ve had horses my entire life, it’s generational. My mother started showing horses at nine and my father rodeoed, as did my grandfather,” she said. Shannon, the owner of Custom Equine Horsemanship, has taken her skills and experience to Wyld Thistle Stables in Tecumseh, owned by Shawn and Alicia Mitchell, to pass along her knowledge to those interested in learning all about horses. “I teach the basics to first time riders,” she said. “I show you where the horse can see you, how to lead, grooming. If someone excels, we move on. I am a firm believer in knowledge and safety.”

Shawn added, “You don’t have to own a horse to get lessons, as Wyld Thistle has horses on site that they lease if you want to know how to care for a horse before you actually buy one.”

While owning this stable is a new venture for the Mitchells, Shawn isn’t foreign to being out in the country. “We were coming out of Covid, and we were looking for a business out of the city, and looking for something with more space,” he said. “I grew up in Montana and wanted to get back to my roots.” They purchased this as an already operational stable with established clients, and they do have a couple horses leased out. “They ride them, clean stalls, and they enjoy that option. It is a bit of an investment of time,” said Shawn. Wyld Thistle Stables has 38 acres with trails for riding through pastures and wooded areas that the Mitchells will continue to develop.

Shannon teaches breaking and conditioning and specializes in offering lessons to children who otherwise wouldn’t have access to horses. “I am training individuals how to ride horses and care for horses, how to show horses. I can help find the right horse for someone,” she said.

She teaches both English and Western riding, with Western being her specialty. While English riding is what someone would expect to see at something like the Olympics, Western is more what someone would expect on a working ranch, and, said Shannon, “What you would see at the rodeo.” But you have to start with the basics of riding. “Once you start there, you can ride any discipline.” n

309-265-1749 

1300 E Monroe Rd, Tecumseh

Shannon Fouty - 517-920-8159

Mother/daughter, Cathrine and Clara Krosnowski are frequent clients

Shannon Fouty knows a thing or two about

The Forgiels are one of many families doing weekly riding lessons/learning

MIND, BODY, SPIRIT HEALING STONES

New! Quartz is helpful for communication, channeling and spiritual awareness. Also just in... Agate slices, often called the “Earth Rainbow” can increase concentration, honesty and memory.

Lenawee’s Largest Crystal/Rock Shop offers jewelry, chakra photography, crystals, metaphysical tools...

DNA SALES 2100

406 N Pearl St Tecumseh 517-424-2903

W-Sat   DNAsales2100.com

NO PLACE LIKE GNOME

This home decor shop is new to Tecumseh. Selection is unique, vast and ever-changing. You’ll find treasures you can’t find anywhere else with a price that can’t be beat. Wide range of products like farmhouse decor, candles, clothing and more!

TWIGS & TWINE

123 S Ottawa St, Tecumseh

Corner of Ottawa and Pottawatomie 517-301-4079 • twigsandtwinellc.com 

SPRING STYLES

Bringing you the latest in fashion and accessories. You will love the variety and styles offered at both downtown Tecumseh and Dexter boutiques. Also order online anytime. Gift cards too!

THE EVE AND ANNIE BOUTIQUE

102 W Chicago Blvd Tecumseh | 517-438-4290

Also in Dexter • T-Sa   theeveandannieboutique.com

TAKE FLIGHT THIS SPRING

The original Tim Bird kite! Great for ages 7 and up. Flies up to 50 yards. Wings flap like a real bird too! Offering an array of Wacky wigglers, puzzles, retro toys, games, books, lighthouses and more!

J BAR HOBBIES

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

LUXURIOUS LATHER

Pamper your skin (or even wash your dishes) with Savon de Marseille. This timeless classic soap has been crafted in the south of France for 600 years. Perfect for people tired of toxic soaps and detergents.

ANTHRO APOTHECARY

anthroapothecary.com 

128 E Chicago Blvd Downtown Tecumseh 517-798-1732

MichiganWARES

MICHIGAN-MADE GIFTS

Year ‘round craft shop located inside Grey Fox Floral. Great gift ideas - full of many one-of-a-kind, handcrafted items; decorative pillows, hats, scarves, mittens, quilts, jewelry, blankets, seasonal decor, greeting cards, knit animals, toys, gift baskets, local art and more. Over 30 local vendors.

MICHIGAN WARES

116 S Evans St, Tecumseh 517-423-3735 • M-F 9-5, Sat 9-2 michiganwares.com 

By Christine MacIntyre

FRI, MAY 12, 6-9pm

The annual Tecumseh Art Walk, featuring local artists who will display their artwork throughout downtown businesses, is scheduled for Friday, May 12 from 6-9pm.

Attendees will be able to purchase the artwork, as most will be for sale, including media such as pottery, oil and acrylic paintings, textile art, jewelry, and wood carvings. Some artists will also demonstrate their skills for the public to enjoy. Artists will be present to answer questions, explain their techniques, and mingle with the public.

Rhonda Nowak, Tecumseh’s marketing and event coordinator, said, “Collaborative events like this are a great way to showcase our wonderful community and how we can support each other.” An example of such support and collaboration is that many downtown businesses host the artists, providing them with a place to display their work.

Nowak said that this year’s Art Walk is gearing up to be a great event, and they are working on securing musicians who will play during the event – another fantastic art form. Maps featuring the participating locations and artists will be available at downtown businesses as well as at downtowntecumseh.com and the Downtown Tecumseh Facebook page.

Adrian Center for the Arts MINI CAMP

Local artists and teachers founded the community-based art center Adrian Center for the Arts (ACA) in 2015 to further arts education for all ages. Along with welcoming their new director, Valerie Herr, who started in July 2022, ACA is hosting a Spring Mini Class Open House on Saturday, April 8. ACA has also expanded its scholarships for youth and adults, added more class offerings, hired additional teachers, and continues building new community partnerships.

The variety of classes offered at ACA allows people to submerse themselves into an art medium of choice under the direction of experienced teachers who will guide them in their creative endeavors. Herr said the Mini-Class Open House “is a way for ACA to introduce ourselves to our community at affordable prices.”

With 15 different classes offered, each 30 to 45 minutes long and costing either $5, $10, or $15 each, people will be able to try things they might be interested in without a huge time commitment or expense. “Have you always wanted to take a clay class? You can take our mini class and see if it’s something you’d like to do,” said Herr. The mini-class series includes clay projects, glass pieces, drawing, metalsmithing, raku, and more.

An exciting variety of ACA full-length spring classes include the Spring Kids Club series, Spring Break Drawing Intensive, Spring Teen Club, letterpress, clay throwing, Mexican Market Mosaic, various drawing and painting classes, jewelry making, and more. Signups for spring are currently open and can be found on their website.

Herr has more than 20 years of experience working for nonprofit organizations in various roles. She was born and raised in Jackson County, where she lives with her husband. She has two grown sons, both of whom are Eagle Scouts. Her passion is “ensuring accessibility for everyone to participate in the arts.” She chose to come to the ACA because of those who came before her. “[They] did such a great job starting it. I’m excited to build and expand upon that,” she said. n

Valerie Herr Director

Mini Classes: Drawings

Clay Projects Glass Pieces Metalsmithing

The surrounding area boasts a vibrant art scene with ample visual and performing arts opportunities for all ages. Here are a couple of events taking place this spring to help get your creative juices flowing and allow you to enjoy the area’s unique arts culture.

TThere is a dizzying amount of displays in the new Classic Cabinets and Interiors showroom. Shiny drawer pulls, sparkling cut-glass knobs, and frosted backsplash tiles catch the eye’s attention before it wanders upward to warm lighting spilling out from dozens of fixtures. A staircase leads to a second story with more designs, including a full-size kitchen with a large island and a small sitting area with an electric fireplace.

Amie Pelham and Brian Renaldi aren’t identical twins like Jonathan and Drew Scott or married like Chip and Joanna Gaines, but this local home improvement team gives its clients every measure of the kind of expertise, hands-on attention to details and sound advice they might see on HGTV. Possibly more.

Classic Cabinets and Interiors opened in December off North Adrian Highway in a newly constructed building adjacent to the former Tecumseh Gymnastics studio. The spacious showroom has plenty of square footage for cabinet and flooring samples, accessories, and some pretty remarkable state-of-the-art design ideas, including builtin kitchen storage, kitchen islands, and trendy decor. The warehouse formerly housing the gymnastics club now is a workshop for the six full-time carpenters and tradesmen who bring the projects to life.

Photos by Nanci Bridget

Story by Renee Lapham Collins |

CLASSIC designs

Long-time associate Renaldi joined the company as a partner and serves as project manager. He supervises the construction side of the business and lends his 30 years of expertise to every job. In fact, during a recent interview at the end of a long workday, Renaldi’s cell phone was blowing up with texts from the work crews who were checking in with updates on all of the current projects. “When someone calls for a consultation, we set up an appointment go into the home,” Pelham said. “A lot of times, people will want to have walls taken out or closets. I’ll take Brian so he’ll take a look at the project, and we can tell right there for example, if a wall can come out. Is it load bearing? What are the obstacles that we would face if we take this out? What are the possibilities if we can make

Owners Amie Pelham and Brian Renaldi

the space larger for an island? Brian and I go to the consultation and listen to what our customer’s needs are. What we’re trying to do in each situation is merge existing spaces with new ideas and then figure out how we put it together to make it cohesive.”

Once exact measurements are taken, Pelham and Renaldi return to the showroom, put all the information into their design software program, “20/20,” and “bring the space to life” for their client. Once that is done, the client comes to the showroom for a presentation with the plan, and all of Pelham’s suggestions for cabinets, countertops, flooring, backsplash, lighting, hardware, and plumbing fixtures. Many times, she said, they see it all laid out and discover that it’s something they may not have considered.

“The estimate is presented line by line,” Pelham said. “The client sees the cost of every item plus the cost of the renovation. This sets us apart because they can see how the estimate and prices line up. That way, we’re all on the same page.”

Renaldi’s background gives the company an edge. “Brian, being a builder, he gets into the basement, the attics, he looks at the whole structure and he knows

ahead of time if there are going to be any issues,” Pelham said. “Plus, we can do your remodel project from start to finish, or if you want a full addition, we can do that, too. We can even build you a house.”

In fact, Pelham said, “If you are going with us for the whole project, you get us for the whole project. We care about the whole project.” The difference between their business and a big box store, she said, is that “you get a designer for the whole process when you use Classic Cabinets and Interiors.”

That holds true for the weekend

do-it-yourselfer. “We also offer a cash and carry option,” Renaldi said. “Many times, people will go to a big box store for a home improvement project because they don’t know they can get everything right here and at a competitive price. You can go to the big box store today, and maybe several of them for individual parts of your project, or you can come here, have Amie help you put together a unique project and then we can order everything and have it in a week. We can show you a cabinet, a countertop, a floor and lay it all out right here and let you see what works together.”

Pelham is excited about the possibilities for her clientele. Having everything under one roof is a great option for anyone looking to renovate a kitchen or bath, whether they need the work done for them or plan to do it themselves.

“We want people to know they have a place to come where we’re going to help you with your renovation or your cash and carry project,” she said. “We want people to have a beautiful home, we’re very hands on and we want to open them up to the realm of possibilities.” n

By Jackie Koch and Jennifer Carson

Since starting their company, Baked Nutrition, in 2021, Tecumseh residents Laura Vsetula and husband Steve have expanded the business and are now offering baked goods, which they prepare at the Hall-Slater VFW in Tecumseh. They received their food license in December 2022, which allows them to bake out of the VFW health-regulated kitchen and enables them to sell products in stores.

Baked Nutrition items are now for sale in Tecumseh at Jerry’s Market, and Boulevard Nutrition on Wednesdays. Vsetula also offers order pick-up at their home (Tue-F 9-5) and out of the VFW Hall (Tue-F 11-6). Delivery is also available. On Fridays, they sell their products at 180 Nutrition in Adrian. “It’s crazy. We never really thought we would be in this kind of position or that it would actually make it to a grocery store,” she said.

Creating the baked products was a result of Vsetula’s quest to lose weight and improve her health. She designed low carbohydrate, low calorie, high protein baked goods that were based on a baking mix from the Herbalife dietary supplement company, and shared them with others. They caught on and in 2022 they began selling them at Tecumseh’s Farmers Market, offering rolls, donuts, cookies, and muffins. The varieties of rolls include apple pie, peach pie, raspberry, blueberry cheesecake, blueberry lemon, and traditional cinnamon rolls.

Laura said there are benefits to using the Herbalife mix over traditional baking mixes, as the mix provides 28 to 30 grams of protein per item. The baked items are low calorie and low in sugar. “The response so far has been good,” she said.

Starting in May, Baked Nutrition will be a vendor at Tecumseh’s Farmers Market at the Market on Evans, 213 N. Evans St., Saturday mornings between 9am and 1pm and every other weekend at Britton’s Best Farmers Market at 278 W. Chicago Blvd., from 10am-2pm.

Baked Nutrition | 517.270.4686 

Vsetula home: 304 N VanBuren, Tecumseh

VFW Hall: 427 N Evans St, Tecumseh

Find goodies at Tecumseh and Britton Farm Markets

The Quilt Patch

Last fall the winds of change were blowing at The Quilt Patch. New owner, Lorrain McNeal drives in from Fayetteville, Ohio every day. She met Kathy Seal through the Sauder Village quilt shop, Threads of Tradition. As the previous manager, McNeal used to organize events in conjunction with other quilt shops, Seal and The Quilt Patch being just one of the participating stores. Seven years ago, McNeal overheard a group of owners chatting about retiring and what they would do with their shops when they made that decision. McNeal chimed in that if anyone was looking to sell their store, to let her know. She distinctly remembers telling her mom that she was going to own a quilt store one day, and during that conversation, McNeal planted a seed in Seal’s head.

In the interim, McNeal moved on from managing Threads of Tradition to being a sales representative for many fabric lines. Her relationship with Seal continued under this new role until one day Seal called her and asked if she was still interested in buying a quilting store.

In the fall of 2021, McNeal started working one Saturday a month to see if running a quilting store was still a good fit for her and her family. About six months in she made the decision to stay, and it all rolled seamlessly from there. McNeal has kept the same knowledgeable staff and you can still visit Seal at the shop as she continues to work a day or two a week and teaches classes as well.

So, what’s changing about The Quilting Patch? Soon they will be adding Bernina and Burnette sewing machines, as well as machine service and maintenance—a full service sewing store is very important to McNeal. She will also be adding some new events and a fourth sewing retreat weekend to be scheduled in the fall. McNeal is thankful for the community and quilting customers for a warm welcome and grateful to Kathy Seal and her husband, Mike, for the opportunity to continue their legacy.

The Quilt Patch | 517.423.0053 

112 N Evans St #5, Tecumseh thequiltpatch.com | Open Daily

Lucy’s Luxury Pet Spa

Lucy Jones opened the doors to Lucy’s Luxury Pet Spa in Tecumseh in October 2022, but her experience in pet grooming began long before she became a business owner. As a college student at Eastern Michigan University, she took a job as a pet bather at a corporate salon and learned how to groom while she finished her degree in science education. That was 17 years ago, and her passion for animals led her to work with a man who presented exotic animal shows for elementary schools as well as a position in grooming at a pet store.

The Clinton resident who grew up in Canton, has created a business around taking care of the grooming needs of pets, with services such as bathing, nail trims, special cuts, dye work, and more. She employs a receptionist and a second groomer with 30 years’ experience, as well as having an apprentice who is learning from her how to groom animals.

Jones has pets of her own, including a cat that is almost 18 years old and a chihuahua that is 15 years old. She doesn’t balk at unusual pets that come in to be groomed. “We groom dogs, cats, we’ve done ferrets, we’ve done guinea pigs, birds,” she said. “We’re a full service salon so we do nails, ears, baths, full haircuts whether they want the AKC standard cut or a creative grooming with mohawks or dye jobs. We pretty much do it all.”

Grooming at Lucy’s Luxury Pet Spa is by appointment only. They’re open Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9am-5pm, with later appointments available Monday and Wednesday from noon-8pm.

Lucy’s Luxury Pet Spa

900 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh  517.260.8640 | groomerlucy@gmail.com

Legacy

Legends Alzheimer’s Care

Helping

Hands

Help seniors

Natural Expressions

Natural Expressions on South Evans Street in Tecumseh is a place where clients can boost or regain their confidence, according to owner Jamie McRobert.

McRobert, a registered nurse who formerly worked in a hospital, left that work to stay home with her daughter for three years, but in the meantime she completed training at the National Laser Institute to become a nurse injector, a specialized area of nursing. She has been working in the esthetics field for seven years.

She decided to start a business in 2019 and began renting a room inside a local spa. In spring 2022 she opened her own location in Tecumseh. Natural Expressions offers skin tightening

Aesthetic Clinic

and rejuvenation, acne treatments, microneedling,Botoxinjections,dermal fillers, and other types of medical grade skin care.

“IwantedapositionwhereIcould make people feel better. So doing this, I get to make women feel better about insecurities that they have,” said McRobert. “Every woman, when they look in the mirror, has something different that bothers them. And that doesn’t mean that they’re not beautiful exactly how they are, but I just want to help enhance what is bothering them because when they look in the mirror, that makes them feel better.”

It’s important to her to listen to clients’ concerns and help them with those concerns. “I like being real with

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Tecumseh Irish Hills Realty

Irish Hills Realty’s new office in Tecumseh aims to serve both those wanting to sell a home and those seeking a new abode in Southeast Michigan, and owner and broker Mitchell Ramsey and his crew are ready to serve. The office, in the building that formerly housed The Sports Hut, is just a few steps away from the bustle of downtown Tecumseh and is an additional space from which the agency’s realtors can assist clients.

The company has grown since Mitchell Ramsey purchased it in 2014 and moved it from M-50 to a location on U.S. 12 in 2016. That Onsted location paired with the Tecumseh office gives Irish Hills Realty a wide base of potential properties to market.

Ramsey has been selling real estate since 2009. He originally worked in auto sales until his wife, Jessie, who was working as a registered nurse, took a travel nursing job that moved the family to California for a year. When they returned to Michigan, Ramsey, a 2000 graduate of Onsted High School, investigated real estate sales and decided to give it a try. Now he and Jessie make up the Ramsey Team.

Opening an office in Tecumseh was a decision they based on the number of properties in the area reported in the Multiple Listing Service, a database of homes for sale. They specialize in lake houses but are available to help someone buy or sell any type of home. “We’re trying to help support the market that needs it. There are a lot of realtors outside of Lenawee County that are doing a lot of sales in the Tecumseh market, so we’re just trying to fill a void,” said Ramsey. “We’re going to be able to offer full-time service. If anybody calls us, we’re going to be able to list a house or go and put an offer on a place. We have a large group of real estate professionals ready to service the Southeast Michigan area.”

Agents can respond to inquiries quickly whenever someone contacts either office. “We’re always available,” Ramsey said.

To meet the public and introduce the business, the Tecumseh location of Irish Hills Realty will hold an open house Friday, March 17 from 1-5pm.

Irish

my patients,” she said. “There are some things it’s better to go to a plastic surgeon for, so it’s very important that I set realistic expectations and I want them to look natural. People have a big misconception that Botox and fillers look fake, when so many people they know have them. When it’s done right, no one knows that they have Botox or fillers or are getting laser treatments. My biggest thing is not creating a look that doesn’t fit with their natural face or appearance.”

In addition to McRobert, the medical spa has a medical director, Dr. Melissa VanSickle, and patient coordinator, Cheryl Minnehan.

McRobert said she’s not in it to encourage more and more changes.

“Even though it’s esthetics and people associate that with vanity, it all comes down to confidence. It’s talking and listening to what is bothering them and helping them with that, and just letting them enjoy the improvement and feel better about themselves. That’s what’s important to me,” she said. n

Just voted one of the TOP nursing homes in Michigan for both long term care and short-term rehabilitation according to U.S. News & World Report

Cheryl Minnehan and Jamie McRobert

Ration stamps

Rosie by any other name...

Rosie the Riveters 1940s

Felecite (Phyllis) LeClair Kimlin Hollis Spears,

By Linda Learman

was 105 at the time of her death in 2011 and had several names over her long life. But one of them that won’t be found on any legal documents is “Rosie.” Phyllis Spears (then Kimlin) was a “Rosie the Riveter,” one of the many millions of unsung American women who helped shape America’s World War II effort, define a nation’s can-do spirit, and set a powerful example of female strength and independence.

As National Rosie the Riveter Day approaches on March 21, Phyllis’s daughter, Nancy Roberts, 89, of Tecumseh (a “rosebud,” as Rosie descendants are called), is proud to share her mother’s story not only in her honor, but in honor of all the World War II Rosies and the paths they helped pave for women and all Americans today.

Before the war began, life was already difficult for Phyllis Kimlin. Living through the Great Depression of the 1930s in Gaastra, a small town in Iron County in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Phyllis’s husband had abandoned her and their four young children, including Nancy. With scarce opportunities for women during that time in general and that place in particular, Phyllis kept food on the table by keeping house for a priest. Nancy’s grandfather lived with them. “I always heard the reason my grandfather lived with us during that time was to help pay the rent,” she said.

After the Second World War broke out in 1942, Phyllis heard the Willow Run Bomber Plant in Ypsilanti needed women to work. Leaving her children in the care of neighbors and relatives in the U.P., Nancy said, “My mother got on a train, came down to Ypsi. She said she got off the train, didn’t know where to go, what to do, and a man came up and said, ‘Do you need a room?’”

The kind stranger, Mr. DeBoer, was the assistant principal of Roosevelt High School, then part of the Michigan Normal School and Eastern Michigan University. He provided Phyllis a room in his home with his family. And, as Phyllis didn’t drive or own a car, other employees drove her to work every day once she began her job as a riveter on May 29, 1943, at Willow Run, the largest B-24 bomber warplane plant in the world.

Phyllis and her children

Phyllis eventually was able to buy a small trailer behind a house off Ecorse Road and sent for Nancy (her only girl) and her oldest son to come live with her. Nancy, who was only eight years old at the time, recalls that her mother sometimes had to work all night at the plant. Phyllis continued to earn and save her money, and when Willow Village opened – housing for plant workers whose numbers far exceeded the available housing in Ypsilanti at the time – she rented a two-bedroom apartment there and had her two other children sent down to live with her, as well.

“She was at work all the time,” Nancy recalled. According to HenryFord.org, the standard workweek at the bomber plant for hourly employees was 54 hours, with time and a half for overtime, and women on the assembly line were paid the same as men. Nancy has memories of French braiding her mother’s hair every morning, not for vanity but for safety. “They had to always have their heads covered in what they called ‘snoods,’” Nancy said – a kind of thick hairnet or bag to keep hair back – or something akin to the iconic red polka dot bandana now associated with Rosie the Riveters.

Like many others in the “Greatest Generation,” Phyllis didn’t talk much about her part in the war effort, and she seldom complained. “The hardest place to rivet was center wing; I remember her talking about that,” Nancy said. “She almost got drilled one day doing that because her sweater got caught, but it didn’t get to her body.”

Riveting

wasn’t all the Rosies did, either. “They needed women to do everything,” Nancy said. In addition to working in the plant, Nancy remembers her mother “feeding other people out at the picnic tables, too.” All able men were conscripted for the war, but Nancy smiles reminiscing about the dances she attended every Friday night with her mother in Willow Village. “We taught a lot of old men there how to do the schottische (a partnered dance that was popular in the U.P.),” she said.

On Sundays, Phyllis took her four children to church, out to eat, and to the movies, offering the family some rest and relaxation. “We didn’t have electric stoves or refrigerators. We had coal bins out in the yard where we had to get the coal to keep warm and to cook. It was a whole different world,” Nancy said. But even though her mother “had

all that responsibility” and “was tired from work and worry,” Nancy, who grew up to be a working mother of five herself, marvels all these years later at how Phyllis “kept everything up.”

Two years to the day after Phyllis Kimlin began working in the Willow Run plant, her employment ended May 29, 1945. “When the war was over, they kicked all the women out,” Nancy said. “The men (returning from the war) had to have the jobs, which I understand somewhat, but she still had four kids to feed.” Eventually Phyllis found work in another factory and kept her family in Ypsilanti, but Nancy never forgot the day when, a few years after the war ended, her gainfully employed mother took her shopping but wasn’t allowed to buy the clothes on credit without a man. “And after she’d done all that and worked to save the damn world in the war,” Nancy said, quickly reprimanding herself for her mild curse and taking a moment to pause before speaking again.

A small and delicate pink plate, about the diameter of a softball, is displayed on an end table in Nancy Roberts’ living room. In cursive gold letters is the proclamation, “I am a strong woman because a strong woman raised me.” “If it wasn’t for the Rosies, we would not have won the war,” Nancy said. “They built ships; they built airplanes; they ran gas stations; they took care of families at the same time. They did everything – ran grocery stores. Being a Rosie was just the tip of it.”

After decades of activism calling for recognition of these women, the United States Congress in 2017 declared March 21 as National Rosie the Riveter Day. The American Rosie the Riveter Association (ARRA), founded in 1998, estimates six million Rosies worked in the nation’s factories, shipyards, and bomber plants during World War II, with an additional estimated 10 million volunteer Rosies. Michigan’s Willow Run chapter of the ARRA is the largest and most active in the nation.

Nancy Roberts (a rosebud) at the Yankee Air Museum in Belleville

On March 21, 2023, Michigan will celebrate the National Rosie Day at the state capitol in Lansing with events collectively planned by six Michigan Manufacturing Councils, including Capital Area Manufacturing Council, Women in Manufacturing, and the ARRA Willow Run Chapter of Rosies. Starting at 3pm inside the capitol, 10 Rosies who plan to attend (most of whom are over 100 years old) will be honored, followed by a 4:30pm rally outside with a group photo on the steps of the capitol.

“Rosie stories haven’t been told,” said Cindy Kangas, executive director of Capital Area Manufacturing Council. “We couldn’t have done it without them – they helped to win the war and keep the economy going. They kept food in the grocery stores and on the table.” And beyond that, the Rosies’ legacy helped change the narrative of what women can do.

Kangas emphasized that women in manufacturing and the skilled trades has continued importance today, and she encourages girls and women to learn more about career opportunities in these fields.

At the capitol event, “Everyone is welcome to come – men, women, those in or out of manufacturing. The hope is for five generations,” Kangas said. “Come hear the Rosies’ stories and history. Put bandanas on and take pictures. Learn how you can do it, too!” n

For more information and to register for the free event at the state capitol, visit eventbrite. com/e/rosie-day-tickets-444138057887.

To recognize and preserve the history and legacy of working women in Michigan

BURGERS, BEER, BILLIARDS

Delicious, juicy burgers - always made with fresh, never frozen ground beef. Great selection of beer, wine and full bar. Amazing food! 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

DELICIOUS FOOD FRESHLY MADE

A unique dining experience for lunch and special events. Reservations recommended. Opening for dinner soon.

GOVERNOR CROSWELL TEA ROOM

(517) 920-4167 • 123 E Maumee St, Adrian governorcroswelltearoom.com 

T-F 11-2, Sat 11-3

TRADITIONAL MEXICAN

Mexican favorites; fajitas, chimichangas, wet burritos, street tacos, famous California burrito and desserts like flan, fried ice cream and churros. Full bar and delicious margaritas! Also in Milan and Springbrook Commons Plaza in Blissfield.

PEPPERS MEXICAN GRILL

(517) 815-1283 • peppersmexicangrill.net 

1410 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh Sun, T-Th 11-8, F, Sat 11-9

TAKE FLIGHT

Did you know flights are offered all year round? Choose from seasonal coffee, traditional coffee, or a tea flight with teas that are locally sourced! Also serving cold brew and pressed juices. Check out the new Adrian location next to Chaloner’s.

MUSGROVE + COMPANY

Downtown Adrian, Jackson and Tecumseh

M-F 7-5, Sat & Sun 8-5

www.musgrove.company 

RESTAURANT AND TEA ROOM

GOURMET GATHERINGS

Artisanal cheeses, Black Pig Salame, Peppalo chocolates, truffles, wine/beverage selection and specialty foods. Perfect for Easter and Mother’s Day and any day in between.

THE BOULEVARD MARKET

(517) 423-6000 • boulevardmarket.com 

102 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh

Tuesday - Saturday 9-6

SLIIIDE TO THE LEFT

Come on down for juicy pulled pork sliders! Also beef brisket, pulled chicken, ribs, pulled pork sundaes, sides and desserts! Catering available. New gift/fudge shop.

RANDY’S ROADSIDE BAR-B-QUE (517) 908-5387 • randysbarbeque.com

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

Wednesday-Sunday 12-6

EAT. DRINK. ROCK. ROLL.

Come to the lake. Offering familiar fare/ cocktails in a comfy setting with lake views. Appetizers, pizza, fish, burgers, sandwiches, soups/salads, full bar, cocktails. Karaoke too!

JERRY’S PUB & RESTAURANT

(517) 467-4700 • jerryspub.com 

650 Egan Hwy, Brooklyn

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

DEALS FOR THE AGES

Senior dinner specials (62+) from 2-5pm. Spaghetti, fish ‘n chips, chicken tenders or fried shrimp includes two sides and a beverage! Kids eat FREE Tuesdays from 4pm-close. One FREE kids meal with purchase of one adult meal.

TUCKEY’S BIG BOY

(517) 423-7464 • bigboy.com 

12701 E Monroe Rd, Tecumseh • Sun-Th 7-8, F & Sat 7-9

SLICE SLICE BABY

Check the ever-changing pizzas of the month! Ribs, chicken, salads, pasta, BBQ, soups, wraps, sandwiches and famous breadsticks. Catering too! Family friendly, fast casual.

BASIL BOYS (517) 423-1875 • basilboys.com 

125 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh

T-Th 3:30-9:30, F&Sat 11-9:30, Closed Sun, M & Holidays

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

HOT DOGS GALORE

Fun and affordable dogs that are sure to please anyone! Buffalo 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

B.Y.O.B.M.

Build your own Bloody Mary! Pick your favorite toppings. Also the best burgers in town. Chicken wings/tenders, steak, nachos, tacos, fish fry Fridays and more! Full service bar.

EMBERS BAR AND GRILL

(517) 423-2601 

1370 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh Plaza

T-Th 12-10, F & Sa 12-11

THE HOUSE OF PIZZA

Specialty pizzas like the taco pizza or Chicken Shawarma pizza. Also serving subs, salads, Mid-Eastern chicken/beef shawarma, grape leaves/falafels.

BROWNIE’S HOUSE OF PIZZA

(517) 423-8324 • (517) 815-1838

1002 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh 

Tuesday-Sunday 4-8

WELCOME BACK TO BROWNIES

If you enjoy the restaurant scene in Tecumseh and you’ve been out to dinner recently, perhaps you’ve noticed that Brownie’s House of Pizza is now open for dine-in service. It’s been quite a wait for loyal Brownie’s fans as the restaurant was previously only open for take-out service.

If you haven’t been out on the town for a while, now is a great time to rediscover Brownie’s. The iconic Tecumseh restaurant has

HOUSE OF ROYAL•TEA

Have a tea party with adorable finger foods. You’ll be gobsmacked by the variety of tea’s, soup, sandwiches, salads, quiche, desserts, and a great gift selection. 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

TO-GO GOODIES

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

MACON GROCERY

(517) 423-7275 

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

FRESH GREENS

Welcome spring with made-to-order salads featuring the freshest ingredients. Don’t forget the homemade croutons! A friendly and casual cafe for coffee, sandwiches and fudge!

THE BUZZ CAFE AND MARKETPLACE

(517) 759-3289 • thebuzzadrian.com 

110 E Maumee St, Adrian Open Daily

WELL-BALANCED MEALS

Healthy, filling salads and now a glass of wine to accompany? Stop in for pizza, salads, and subs with a cold beer, seltzer, or wine! Catering a wide range of items not on their regular menu.

DOWNTOWN DEMPSEY’S

(517) 759-4334 • downtowndempseys.com

Gallery of Shops 136 E Maumee St, Adrian  T-Th & Sat 5-8, F 5-9 • Lunch: T-F 11-2:30

Story by Jennifer Carson | Photos by Nanci Bridget

Bon Appetit continued...

undergone some major renovations in the last few years. It took a while as the new owners struggled to get the work done through pandemic restrictions and shortages, but the current owners pushed through it with steadfast fortitude.

The interior décor has been tastefully updated, the kitchen modernized, and the furniture replaced. Brownie’s is a bright and welcoming space for Tecumseh families, but along with the new, they’ve also kept what was loved about the pizza house’s former incarnation – mainly the same friendly staff, menu, and recipes passed down from the previous owners.

In addition to the traditional Brownie’s menu of pizza, sandwiches, soups, and salads, a taste of Middle Eastern fare has been added to tempt even the most discriminating palate – including stuffed grape leaves, hummus, chicken shawarma, and even a chicken sharwarma pizza. They also offer an extensive list of beer and wine, so bring a good appetite with you when you visit!

Manager Carlo Marogi has lived in Tecumseh since 2003, along with his brothers and business partners. Marogi says that it’s been hard trying to find employees, but the goal is to provide great food and good service, and he is hoping the community will be patient as he transitions the business into being open with full-time hours and a hearty staff. For now, you can dine in or take out Wednesday through Sunday from 4-8pm. n

FLOWERS & SUCH OWNER, HELEN MILLER REFLECTS ON EVENTS THAT CHANGED HER LIFE.

DiplomaticArrangements

“My knees were jelly!” This is how Helen Miller, owner of Flowers & Such in Adrian, described her reaction when she received the call telling her she was chosen to be one of the florists for George W. Bush’s inauguration. “It was pretty amazing, and I am pretty blessed. I’ve met amazing people through the love of flowers,” she said.

Some might find the call serendipitous. “I belong to the American Institute of Floral Designers – you have to be accredited with rigorous testing – and through them the Society of American Florists contacted me,” she said. “It was a great experience to celebrate what

our country stands for. I can’t tell you how much that meant to be there.”

The inauguration is not something she will soon forget. Miller said the team of more than 200 florists cut and processed all the arrangements for the 10 different events President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush would be attending the evening of the inauguration. “Our party was at the Hilton – but there were parties all over D.C.,” she said. “My favorite part was working with the other florists from other areas.” She noted there were all different types of works on display, from seven-foot topiary trees to floral arrangements.

After the inauguration, Miller may

have thought her trips to decorate Washington, D.C. events were over, but in 2015 she was invited to help with floral arrangements when President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan. Floral designers for the event were not allowed in the White House, except to set up the arrangements. “That was a little nerve-wracking,” said Miller. “We were placing flowers on the table and the Clinton china was already on the table.”

That wasn’t the end for Miller and the White House. She was called on yet again to help with floral arrangements for the September

By Ann Belote-Weir

2015 visit from Pope Francis. While the inauguration was very much decorated, arrangements for His Holiness were less so. “There were only white flowers and there weren’t many,” she said. “It was very understated.” The florists were not able to see the pope as they were in the downstairs White House flower shop. “I did see the motorcade – it was surreal,” she said.

“So much is not allowed at these events,” said Miller. “There were checkpoints, you had to have background checks done and have name tags, and armed security was all over.”

Helen’s flowers in Blue Room at the Whitehouse during Obama’s Chinese State Dinner 2015

She was barely unpacked when she received yet another invitation by a group of professional florists to go to Belgium in 2019 to create pieces for Fleuramour, a worldwide event of florists displaying their art. The event is held at the National Commandery at Alden Biesen Castle. “The castle used to be a men’s military facility and they turned the whole area into the Fleuramour, including the grounds,” said Miller. The stable was also transformed. “This is now a theater, and they held a runway couture show there,” she said. The florists all stayed on the grounds in dorm type rooms, which Miller appreciated. “It was really great – talking to other designers from all over the world,” she said. “I’d like to go back.”

Miller, who has had a passion for flower arranging since high school, doesn’t take any of this for granted. “I’ve never asked – they’ve just come about,” she said. Her time is spent creating pieces for funerals, weddings, gatherings, nonprofit events for the community, and proms. “They come in here, dressed and with their hair done, and it’s lovely,” she said. She also offers private floral classes for birthday, bachelorette, and other parties. n

Flowers & Such

910 S Main St, Adrian 517.263.0274 

The 2005

Helen’s rose topiaries at Chinese State Dinner

GET TO KNOW PROPER PROPERTY SERVICES

2006, at the tender age of 24, Jennifer Wojtowicz received her real estate license and opened her business—Proper Property Services eight years later. Wojtowicz was one of those rare individuals who knew exactly what she wanted to do from a young age. Having grown up working with her father in the construction industry, Wojtowicz knew from childhood that she wanted to do something with construction—investing and selling real estate seemed to be where her skills and talents took hold.

Wojtowicz laughingly refers to herself as a “serial real estate investor.” She has flipped properties, owned rental properties, commercial properties, and vacant land. She loves to breathe life into tired things; whether it’s homes, properties, or thrift store finds. Wojtowicz said that real estate is always a great investment, but a lot of people are scared, and she’s empathetic to their feelings. “There are so many unknowns during a real estate transaction that it can be scary.” For Wojtowicz, educating her clients, and walking through the process hand-in-hand, is a key part of the service she provides.

Buying a house is one of the biggest investments most people will make in their lifetime. That’s why Wojtowicz prides herself on not just managing the transaction but educating her clients along the way. She wants you to understand all the ins and outs of the process, what to expect next, what pitfalls to look out for, and the rewards of ownership. Wojtowicz’s understanding of these things seems to come naturally and she keeps the lines of communication open with her clients—past and present—often fielding real estate questions from previous clients.

Twenty years ago, when Wojtowicz first opened her business, she wanted to follow the track that other real estate offices had laid before her—she thought having a big, fancy office and a large group of licensed agents under

her was the way to be successful. She learned pretty quick that track was not for her. She didn’t want to operate like a traditional brokerage, where one client is just like another. Yes, Wojtowicz and her team help their clients buy and sell residential and commercial properties, but Wojtowicz has been very intentional about who she works with, keeping her staff small in order to serve their clients better. There are only two other agents who work with her, and both are client focused.

Angie Buono of Proper Property Services has been in the real estate industry for five years. She has built a solid foundation of clients through her professionalism, attention to detail, and commitment to putting her clients first. She studied at Jackson College and worked in the insurance repair industry. Passionate about helping people with their home repairs, Buono has continued to leverage her knowledge and experience to exceed her client’s expectations. In her free time, Buono is an avid golfer and enjoys spending time outdoors. Spending time with family and friends is something she never takes for granted.

Shana Smith has been a realtor since 2017. She’s also a bartender at Shady’s Tap Room in Brooklyn. She has always loved working with people and in customer service, bringing abundant energy, creativity, dedication, experience, and personal knowledge in all aspects of her work and life. Smith is a huge coffee drinker, loves food, cooking, traveling, and painting.

Wojtowicz was asked how she sees the real estate industry playing out this year since there has been so much volatility. She responded that she didn’t think we were going to have a repeat of 2008 because lending practices have been tightened. She also cites the Covid Relief Bill of 2020 which bailed out the banks again—she sees this as the government being proactive in trying to prevent another real estate bubble pop.

However, she is interested in seeing how people will fare now that the eviction and mortgage moratorium programs have ended. There aren’t a lot of options for homeowners who are in forbearance. Wojtowicz has seen a rise in short sales and foreclosures coming onto the market and feels like this year is really going to tell us a lot about the future of the real estate market.

Wojtowicz also wanted to point out that the very low interest rates we’d been seeing these past several years were not normal or sustainable. “People kind of freaked out when interest rates doubled,” she said, but “6% interest rates are not bad.” Rates have stabilized lately, and even come down just a bit, so it looks like the real estate market will have a good spring. She believes that buyers will be more comfortable with interest rates.

Wojtowicz’s best advice for someone looking to buy property this spring is to team up with a realtor and to get pre-approved. Getting pre-approved by a lender helps with some of the unknown factors—a pre-approval will tell you how much you can afford and what type of monthly payment you’d be looking at. Don’t assume that your realtor is qualified to answer financing questions. Wojtowicz also encourages buyers and sellers to interview agents for the position to find the right person to work with you.

Proper Property Services serves the counties of Washtenaw, Lenawee, Jackson, Monroe, Livingston, Grand Traverse, and Kalkaska counties. They are associated with both the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Ann Arbor (BRAG), and with the Brooklyn-Irish Hills Chamber of Commerce.

You can meet Wojtowicz and her team at the Home, Garden and Lifestyle Show hosted by BRAG, on March 18th and 19th at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds. They will also be participating in the Irish Hills Lake and Home Tour this year. n

STORY BY JENNIFER

Jennifer Wojtowicz

Angie Buono

Shana Smith

CalebVerlinde,KerryBrosnan&AlexandraBaldwin,

Matt McGuigan & Heath Glowacki, Sales Managers Commanding

NewChevroletofClintonSalesConsultants(LtoR) Stunning

Phil Greiner, Sales Infotainment capabilities

Zachary Brewer, Sales Surprisingly agile

Ricardo Velasquez, Finance Manager Tough as rocks

POOL

SKY'S THE LIMIT...

By Renee Lapham Collins

ony Louden’s mom, Kathy, thought her son was crazy when he told her he wanted to build some Lego projects. Once you meet Tony, it’s easy to see why she’d think that. Tony has cerebral palsy, the result of a near drowning when he was 2 years old. “He fell in the pool in our backyard,” Kathy said. “This was in June of 1980 and he turned 3 in October. I pulled him out and gave him CPR on the way to the hospital. They revived him and sent him to Ann Arbor.”

Tony was in a coma for six weeks. When he was discharged, Kathy continued to bring him to the hospital for physical therapy. In the next four decades, Tony would learn computers, earn awards with Handicapped Horseback Riding, participate in swimming and karate in high school, graduate from high school, and even earn his boater’s safety license. He spent a semester at Grand Valley State University and said he “respects college graduates a whole lot more.”

In his high school years, Tony worked for his dad, also Tony, who owned Burdick and Associates, a kitchen and bath store with locations in Tecumseh and Adrian. “Right around the summer of my junior and senior year, I got my first job, working for my dad at a company he owned that sold kitchen and bathroom cabinets,” Tony wrote in a memoir.

According to Tony, he quit in 2000, when his father sold the company. His father now lives in Fort Myers, and Tony has enjoyed visiting him there, including a memorable trip in 2004 when he went parasailing.

Kathy and Tony live in Madison Township just southeast of Adrian. The yellow, ranch-style house is perched on a large lot in a cozy cul-de-sac. A sturdy ramp spans the porch and extends from the driveway to the front door.

Tony’s bedroom is just off the living room and he greets me from the doorway when I walk into the house. His face lights up with a gleaming smile and we bump elbows as a way of introduction. Now “45-ish,” Tony’s dark hair is mostly gray and he’s sporting a long silver beard. I tell him he looks like he should be on “Duck Dynasty.” “ZZ Top!” he says with a grin.

Kathy thinks he looks like Walter White, the main character in the Netflix hit, “Breaking Bad.” We laugh. But it was the television program “LEGO Masters” that got Tony interested in building the complex Lego projects that he is so excited to share.

Sky’s the Limit continued...

Tony at home with his Lego creations

ew memberships Social+Rounds

He tells me that “boredom during Covid” got him interested in Legos. Because Tony’s speech also was impacted by his brain injury, he is a bit difficult to understand. As we chat, he looks to his mom to translate.

Before the pandemic shutdown, Tony would get out a couple times a week with an adult day care group and they would play cards and games and take field trips. But once Covid hit, Tony didn’t have anything to do. “That’s when he decided on Legos,” Kathy said. “I said, you went through years of therapy for OT and PT and you couldn’t screw a screw. But the Legos really did help him.”

In 2013, Tony crossed another item off of his bucket list. He entered a Facebook contest sponsored by Skydive Tecumseh. A friend helped him make a video explaining why he wanted to go skydiving and encouraging people to vote for him. The video with the most votes would win a free dive. “I ended up tying with two other people so all three of us got to dive for free,” he said. “I had about 50 family members and friends there to cheer me on. Everyone, including me, was shocked when my mom decided she wanted to jump with me. We both went tandem to be safe.”

Kathy said she doesn’t like small planes. But she didn’t want to wait on the ground, either. So she went up with him and the Skydive Tecumseh crew. As we make our way into Tony’s room to check out the Lego projects, Tony stops to queue up the skydive video on his computer. I notice he’s wearing a white T-shirt sporting a photo of him from the dive, arms spread wide, his hands forming a perfect “thumbs-up,” fearless against the blue sky. “I want to go again,” he tells me as the video ends.

We move on to his Lego projects. There are now 32 in his collection. “Which projects do you want to have in the picture?” I ask. He chooses a bulldozer and a lifeflight helicopter. The projects are from a line of Lego kits called Lego Technic. They are ranked by number of pieces and level of difficulty. Tony started out with cars but worked his way up quickly to more complicated objects.

Kathy has organized all of his projects into separate plastic bins, which are stacked in his closet and spill over into the bedroom. A tall, tiered shelf holds smaller items, also in plastic boxes. Most of the projects, Tony tells me, are cars.

517-423-2070

Men’s

“When he got the first project, there were eight separate bags, all labeled, with the pieces to build the project,” she said as she searched for the bins containing the bulldozer and helicopter. “I got out cookie sheets to help him organize the pieces.” He said the first project took him about two weeks. “I didn’t think he would finish it that fast,” Kathy said. “I thought he would be busy for months.”

tee-cumseh golfing

TONY AT SKYDIVE TECUMSEH

He enjoys other things, too, including card and board games, magic tricks, travel, and exercising his brain with word games. After his accident, Tony said the doctors told his mother he would never recover and she should put him into a nursing home for as long as he continued to live. Kathy fought them, and she fought for other things, too, like speech therapy and other programs that would help him have a good life.

“I like hanging out with friends and family and I especially love proving people wrong,” Tony said. “Especially doctors. They said I wouldn’t be able to talk or move again.”

Tony has a lot of pride in his accomplishments thus far. He has determination and perseverance to overcome almost any obstacle in his way. His philosophy is simple. “Because nothing is carved in stone, everything can change,” he said.

Although Facebook isn’t Tony’s thing, he is on Twitter as #Beard_On_Wheels. He describes himself as a “Pink fan, Beard & tattoo enthusiast, thrill seeker, magic lover, and a wheelchair user in that order, builder of Technic LEGO, proud to say I’ve been vaccinated.”

In his memoir, Tony writes that one of his “biggest pet peeves” is other people’s perceptions of him. “When people first look at me, they have preconceived notions about who I am,” he said. “Most people won’t take the time to get to know me, which is one of my biggest pet peeves. I’m sure they would be amazed at what I’ve accomplished in my life, if they took the time to get to know me.” n

By Christine MacIntyre

LOVE IS IN THE HAIR.

DR. WILLIAM DOHERTY IS A FAMILY AND GENERAL DENTIST BY TRADE; HOWEVER, HE HAS AN UNEXPECTED PASSION THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DENTISTRY. INSTEAD, IT IS ALL ABOUT HELPING CHILDREN WHO SUFFER FROM HAIR LOSS DUE TO HEALTH CONDITIONS SUCH AS CANCER.

Doherty’s private dental practice, which he’s owned since December 2019, is in Tecumseh. His patients never know how long his hair might be when they come in for an appointment. It may be freshly cut, it might be chin length, or it might be almost a full eight inches long, depending on where he is in the hair donation journey.

After undergraduate school, in 2011, Doherty knew some people undergoing cancer treatments. Chemotherapy and radiation led to significant hair loss, prompting him to donate hair. After doing some research, he noticed a common theme.

“A couple of companies end up selling more of the donated hair than actually giving it away as donations. Some were very specific in what they wanted for actual hair – the hair needed to be a

certain length and non-treated,” he said. Eventually, he found Children With Hair Loss. “They take any donated hair as long as it’s more than eight inches,” said Doherty. “But the hair can be [chemically] treated, gray, curly, straight, any color. I also like that they’re relatively local.”

Children With Hair Loss (CWHL) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization that provides human hair replacements at no cost to children and young adults facing medically related hair loss. The organization is 42 miles east of Tecumseh in South Rockwood, Mich. Its website states that when a child’s hair is lost for whatever reason, the painful effects are far deeper than just cosmetic. “Each year, the number of children requesting our hair replacements increases…,” it says.

Love is in the Hair continued...

William Doherty

Andrea

The founder, Regina Villemure, is a former cosmetology instructor, hairstylist, and hair replacement specialist. She founded CWHL in 2000 after her niece was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age three. During five years of chemotherapy, Villemure noticed many children in the hospital wearing adultsized synthetic wigs. Realizing that human hair replacements look the most natural on children, and acknowledging that they are expensive, she made it her mission to help “cover young heads to heal young hearts.” The organization provides a customized human hair replacement and care kit to over 600 children annually.

Doherty was fortunate to tour CWHL’s facility to learn about the process, and said they are all about helping others. He said that CWHL takes all the donated hair and sorts it by texture and color. “One person’s hair doesn’t necessarily go to one other person getting it donated to. Instead, it gets compiled into groups, and they make wigs out of the big groupings,” he said. CWHL then donates the hair to any child, age 18 and under, who experiences hair loss for various medical reasons. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be cancer patients. It could be burn victims, accidents, alopecia, or any reason a child has hair loss,” Doherty said. “They will donate a free wig each year until the child turns 18, and a care package with shampoos and things to help care for the hair.

“There’ve been people along the way that I’ve known who’ve had cancer and such. It’s always a thing that’s part of almost everybody’s life. Everybody knows someone or has had personal experience with cancers,” said Doherty. He knows firsthand how hard childhood can be. As a self-proclaimed outcast when he was young, he realizes a child’s struggles when experiencing hair loss. “Kids are hard on each other. If they have any reason to make fun of each other, they will do it,” he said. “Balding will make

kids an even bigger target, so anything I can do to help, I want to do it.”

While the process is low effort for him, the impact is enormous, making it a meaningful and rewarding contribution for him and others who donate. “It’s something I can continue to do that is pretty low impact. It’s not an everyday effort; I can still go about my daily life until I eventually donate,” said Doherty. “It takes a little time for the hair to grow, but I try to help.”

This spring will be Doherty’s fourth time donating his hair to CWHL. He credits good genes for his ability to grow his hair long enough to donate. “My dad and grandpa both have full heads of hair,” he said. So, while gray sprinkles his hair, he said it doesn’t matter. Doherty said it takes one to one and a half years to grow his hair long enough to donate. “I was on track to donate another time before this (spring), but I had to get it cut in October of 2021 because I had to look nice for my wedding,” he said. He was only about an inch away but didn’t quite make it to the finish line.

His office displays certificates from CWHL recognizing Doherty for his donations, so patients who have never heard of the organization can check into it. “At least one patient and a relative of a patient have donated because they saw the plaques in my office,” said Doherty. In addition, several hair salons in the area will cut hair for donation to CWHL, and some will cut and style a wig for a CWHL recipient.

Doherty was born and raised in Southeast Michigan, where he resides with his wife, Megan. He attended Saginaw Valley State University as an undergraduate and received his dental degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry in 2013. When he isn’t engaged in dental work and educating patients about dental health, he enjoys playing and watching hockey, attending concerts, live trivia nights, movies, and outdoor activities. n

Photos provided by Children With Hair Loss

ReRead

By Gayle Hazelbaker

Linda Tuckey has years of experience in retail and customer service. She is also no stranger to books, having always been a reader. Between her husband, Ron, and herself, they own between 2,000 and 3,000 books. With that background and experience, she is the perfect person to be the owner and operator of ReRead Books. Located in the Tecumseh Plaza near Jerry’s Market, it is easy to find.

Tuckey was encouraged by her mother to purchase the business, although she and her husband had discussed the idea of owning a book shop for many years. She purchased ReRead about 10 days before the Covid restrictions went into effect in March 2020. In November 2022, the store moved into its current location on Herrick Park Drive. Floor space went from approximately 3,000 square feet to a little over 1,200. In order to make the transition, the inventory had to be culled. Once done, the remaining titles either met or exceeded the standard of quality she requires of her books before they are put on the shelf to be sold.

She loves the idea of putting print books into the hands of readers because it is a vacation for them. “Most people spend the majority of their workday in front of a computer screen, so why would you want to continue that in your leisure time?” she replied when asked her preference for print over digital. Her philosophy is clearly stated on her website – “Give Your Brain A Vacation. Read a Real Book.”

Another reason she loves a physical book is for its recyclability. “Recycling is an environmentally sound practice,” Tuckey said. “A paper volume can be recycled many times. Once it has been read by multiple people, it can be used as a fire starter or used in a craft project. So different than putting it in a graveyard for electronics.” Books are portable, easily taken to the beach, the mountains, or Granny’s house without worry that they will be lost or damaged.

The collection of books for sale at ReRead is quite diverse. They have children’s books, readers, lots of chapter books, and picture books. Collections of titles for adults run the gamut from Jeff Foxworthy to the history of B-Bombers to VanGogh, as well as the usual genres of mystery, romance,

Tuckey ReRead Owner

and literary fiction. They do have a heavy emphasis on history, from world history to presidents to Michigan history. Within the shelves a browser can find unique titles such as one on basic surgery and a how-to book on shorthand from the Detroit School of Business.

All their books for children and adults are of good quality. The shop does not take donations. ‘We purchase all the books we sell,” Tuckey said. She finds herself frequently at estate sales combing through old books.

Gayle ’s top 5 picks for

“By not accepting donations, we are guaranteed to have good quality books for our customers. “With our shop, we are not competing with the library or Goodwill. ReRead is a different opportunity for used book sales,” she said.

If you have books you would like to be considered for her shop, give Linda Tuckey a call and make an appointment. She will evaluate the titles and let you know her decision.

Spring Reads

Feeling some distance between them, city dwellers and sisters, Libby and Nora, decide to spend a month in a small town that is featured in a book they both love, in hopes of reclaiming their closeness. So, begins, Booklovers by Emily Henry. Libby, lover of romance novels, sees the town as the backdrop for every novel and Hallmark movie she’s ever read or seen. Already married herself, Libby is hoping this month-long vacation will mean romance for her big sister. Nora feels a fish out of water. She yearns for the city, but is determined to please her sister by agreeing to a list of activities straight out of a romance novel, even if she’s miserable doing it. It is witty, tender, satisfying and full of references to books! It’s as fun as a Nora Ephron rom-com. A great way to spend a rainy weekend.

It’s Berlin in the early 1990’s just after the Wall has come down. Intelligence agencies from around the world are scrambling to get their hands on the secrets the East Germans have been keeping. Emil Grimm, a Stasi officer,

is trying to leverage what secrets he has and those he can find to flee to the west before he is prosecuted. As East Germany disintegrates, CIA agent Claire Saylor is sent to Berlin to meet a high-ranking Stasi officer and get those secrets. The resulting tale is based on true events. As the thriller unfolds, Emil and Claire must forge an unlikely bond as they find themselves fighting for their lives against a common enemy. Winter Work is a real thriller. Written by award-winning journalist, Dan Fesperman, this book has multi-dimensional characters and suspenseful plotting. It is a wonderful addition to his other highly acclaimed novels.

The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick is the story of Liv Green. Mother of two, Liv barely scrapes by as a maid to make ends meet, often finding escape in a good book while daydreaming of becoming a writer herself. So, she can’t believe her luck when she lands a job housekeeping for her personal hero, mega bestselling author

Essie Starling, a mysterious and intimidating recluse.

When Essie passes away suddenly, Liv is astonished to learn that her dying wish was for Liv to complete her final novel. But to do so Liv will have to step into Essie’s shoes. As Liv begins to write, she uncovers secrets from the past that reveal a surprising connection between the two women—one that will change Liv’s own story forever

Two years into World War II, the citizens of Britain are struggling mightily to survive on their food rations. To encourage creativity among the housewives of the nation, the BBC radio program, The Kitchen Front, holds a cooking contest. The grand prize is a job as the program’s first female co-host. For four very different women, winning this contest could change their lives dramatically for the better. They intend to give it their all. The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan was named one of the best books of 2021 by Good Housekeeping. This sweet and heartwarming novel

is inspired by true events. Some of the recipes made by the ladies are included in the book!

Nobody knows what happened to Sarah Cook. The beautiful blonde teenager disappeared fifteen years ago, the same night her parents were brutally murdered in their suburban Ohio home. Her boyfriend Brad Stockton—black and from the wrong side of the tracks—was convicted of the murders and is now on death row. Though he’s maintained his innocence all along, the clock is running out. His execution is only weeks away when his devoted sister insists, she spied Sarah at an area gas station. Willing to try anything, she hires Private Investigator Roxane Weary to look at the case and see if she can locate Sarah. The Last Place You Look by Kristen Lepionka was a best first novel nominee for the Anthony and Macavity Awards. It is the first of several mysteries featuring PI Roxane Weary who is equal parts tenacious and troubled. n

By Jackie Koch

She has been a certified Master Gardener for years and became certified as a Master Rain Gardener last summer after designing and installing a rain garden on the grounds of the First Presbyterian Church of Tecumseh. The project was part of the church’s Earth Care Congregation pledge to integrate environmental practices and thinking into the worship, education, facilities, and outreach of the congregation.

They broke ground the first week of May 2022 and removed 400 square feet of turf to make the rain garden, which was filled with native plants to help manage groundwater pollution as well as attract and feed pollinators. The idea grew as a result of conversations between Walsh and the Reverend Cathi King about how to make the church grounds more earth friendly.

“The church grounds are pretty extensive with lots of parking lots, and there was an existing low spot where the runoff from the parking lot drains, so it was the ideal place for a rain garden,” Walsh said.

How can rain gardens help the environment? “First and foremost, a rain garden is meant to solve a problem, because you put them where either rain pools naturally like if you have a ditch or a low area, or where you direct water, like from a downspout,” said Walsh. “If you site it in the proper area then it’s going to be able to do its job, which is to filter that rainwater and allow it to soak in gradually.”

Using native plants in a rain garden is crucial because the root system of a native plant is much longer and denser than plants that don’t naturally live in the environment. Those roots help slow down the water that collects in the garden, filtering pollutants from roads, driveways, and lawns. “Particularly nitrogen, because that’s what causes the toxic algae blooms in water bodies like Lake Erie,” she said, noting that nitrogen comes from lawn treatments and agricultural runoff. Water bodies in the Tecumseh area have also suffered from toxic algae blooms.

Walsh likes to promote planting native species in a section of one’s yard to replace turf grass, as well, which helps save resources. She says that grass lawns use many resources, such as large amounts of water, lawn chemicals, and effort, while native plants are easy to care for. “There are lots of things you can do to make your yard greener. Getting rid of lawn or reducing lawn is one of them,” she said. “If you’re not willing to do that, just stop fertilizing it and watering it. One-third of the freshwater resources in this part of the country go to lawn watering. That’s more than goes to crops.”

Native plants attract native pollinators, such as insects that are the natural food source for native birds. They are an essential part of the ecosystem, said Walsh.

Tecumseh resident Lee Walsh is passionate about improving the environment and sustaining native pollinators and has become somewhat of a local expert on gardening to support both.

To help others think about adding a rain garden to their yard, Walsh will lead a program called “Soak up the Rain: An Introduction to Rain Gardens” Monday, April 3 from 7-8pm at the Tecumseh District Library. She will speak about how a rain garden improves water quality and provides habitat for pollinators, as well as where and how to build a rain garden, what plants are recommended, and common mistakes to avoid. Those interested in attending may call 423-2238 to sign up. In addition, later this spring she will speak on the topic of alternative lawns for Tecumseh Parks and Recreation at the AJ Smith Recreation Center. n

Make your lawn care ‘greener’

• Stop using chemical treatments and fertilizers

• Spot-treat weeds with a less-toxic weedkiller (or dig them out)

• Stop irrigating

• Never use pesticides

• Use a mulching mower that returns grass clippings to the soil

• Set your mower height to four inches or more

• Switch to an electric lawn mower, or a reel mower

• Allow violet, a native wildflower, to remain if it crops up spontaneously in your lawn

• Overseed existing lawn with white Dutch clover

• Replace turf grass with no-mow native grass

• Reduce lawn area by adding flower beds containing native plants, adding a rain garden, and/or adding a native prairie or meadow

Anderson L.Ac

Parker L.Ac

WHERE HOME BEGINS

M. Major, DVM Valerie N. Wise, DVM Laura J. O’Rourke, DVM

Pets Family

It begins with mud and a season of mess. The month of March whispers warm days only to follow with bitter and biting wind, cruel reminders that change has not yet arrived. The skeletal and lifeless branches of our lilac bushes hold little hope. The space between their gnarled limbs and the lush fragrance of their spring flowers yawns like a deep, impassable chasm. This is the most frustrating part of change – being ready for something better, for something different, for something good, yet the path there is unknowable, impossible.

The ancient Greek and Roman playwrights had a solution for such things – a literary device called “deus ex machina.” Translation: god from the machine. When the characters in their dramas would find themselves in unsolvable situations, when that chasm of impossibility yawned in front of them, a god would be lowered via a crane and would solve the crisis with an improbable event. As writers, we are taught to avoid deus ex machina at all costs. It is considered a cheap and lazy way to resolve a story. We writers need to give honest commentary, and life just doesn’t work like that.

And yet, over the course of my writing career, I have sat with and interviewed hundreds upon hundreds of individuals. I’ve listened to hundreds upon hundreds of stories. And one consistency within these stories is something reminiscent to the sudden and miraculous events that we writers are taught to avoid. Over and over and again, I’ve heard stories of people in impossible positions – people who were stuck, people who couldn’t see a path forward. Time and time again I’ve listened as people say, “and then…” Time and time again from the most impossible places the unexpected happens – food appears in the wilderness, barren places suddenly grow life, seas are parted, and paths appear where before there were none.

I love my little farm, because if I pay attention, the world here has an honesty to it, there are things here that I need to see and understand – things that remind me that chasms do close. Things like spring sweeping color across the mess and mud of March and lilacs transforming like dry bones coming to life. n

Strawberry Blue Farm is a flower and fiber farm in Tecumseh strawberrybluefarm.com • @strawberrybluefarm

 

Story and photo by Sara Hilton

(top)

Meade (bottom right)

Meade (bottom left)

wedding guide 2023 homefront

Turn the page to find wedding ideas and inspiration in full bloom.

Center for the Arts 68

Tecumseh Golf Club 57

That One Place 59

The Ashlar 57

The Center on the Riverbank 64

The Clinton Inn 70

The Collins Collective 63

The Greenleaf Mansion 65

The Landing Banquet Hall 65

The Toledo Zoo 65

Fall inn love! Nightly/weekly stays for guests. Overlooking downtown Tecumseh. Kitchens, queen beds, private full baths, adjoining suites.

Union Block Collection

517-902-6065

112 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh theunionblockcollection.com

Add a touch of elegance with a customized culinary experience, perfect for your special day. With detailed planning, fresh ingredients and gourmet recipes — you can just relax and enjoy your day.

3 Dudes & Dinner

517-301-4002

414 N Evans St, Tecumseh 3dudesanddinner.com 

PAR•TEE here! All-inclusive weddings of any size. Amazing views of the course and incredible menu created by professional chefs. Add your own personal touches to amplify the beauty of the day.

Tecumseh Golf Club

517-423-2070

5200 Milwaukee Rd Tecumseh  tecumsehgolfclub.com

info@tecumsehgolfclub.com

Large deck overlooks the Red Mill Pond on the River Raisin with beautiful views of the surrounding area.

The Ashlar

517-438-3388

700 Bishop Reed Dr Tecumseh the-ashlar.com 

Personalized stemware, glassware, mugs, wine bottles, cake servers, picture frames and more. Bring in your own items for engraving too!

Day Old Trophies

517-456-8310

11530 Tecumseh-Clinton Hwy Clinton  dayoldtrophies.com

New Tecumseh party venue. Newly renovated with historic charm. Two light-filled floors with open space perfect for showers, receptions, grad parties and more. Outdoor balcony too. All size gatherings. Character galore!

IlluminaTe

248-832-1518

125 S Evans St, Tecumseh illuminatedance43.com 

These local businesses can make any occasion into an event to remember — especially yours.

Beautifully landscaped campus offers several venues. From a ceremony at Herrick Chapel to the spacious Tobias Center or an elegant Boathouse on Devils Lake. Let us make your dreams come true.

Adrian College Conferences

Facility: 517-265-5161 ext 4382

Catering: 517-265-5161 ext 5055 adriancollegeconferences.com

Locally owned. Artfully arranged. Full-service florist specializing in wedding and event design as well as rentals, hanging installations, arch and entryways, centerpieces, boutonnieres, and of course, bouquets.

Angel's Floral Creations

517-592-9270

131 N Main St, Brooklyn angelsfloral.com

Scenic grounds, unique bridges and historic venue create the perfect setting for weddings. A full-service banquet facility with on-site catering, bar, large dance floor, seating up to 275 with 3 private rooms.

Cascades Manor 517-784-1500

1970 Kibby Rd, Jackson cascadesmanor.com

Their wedding venues have now expanded to include the iconic Chelsea Clocktower. Having that additional space presents potential brides with more options - opening this June.

THE COLLINS COLLECTIVE

By Renee Lapham Collins

Jennifer Boris

“I was obsessed with brides and weddings,” Collins said. “I knew when that issue was going to show up at the library and I would sit there and flip through the pages and look at all the brides and the dresses.”

Collins earned a degree in business from Davenport University and at the age of 24, moved to California, where she worked in IT in the health care industry and in financial planning. She would help friends and coworkers with event planning like weddings, but she still kept her day job. In Santa Barbara, she met and married her husband, Tyler, and finally found the courage to leap from IT to wedding and event planning. All the time she was working in health care and IT, she was secretly obsessing over weddings and helping others have the wedding of their dreams. An opportunity to start her own business in Chelsea brought the couple back to The Mitten. They started The Collins Off Main in 2019 and began working on the Collins at the Clocktower last year. Tyler has a full-time job in law enforcement. “I was successful in the financial world, but eventually I just accepted that weddings are my jam,” she said. “I loved helping people get married. So in 2014, it became my full-time job.”

One of the chief areas Collins focuses on in her business is the guest experience. “I want the guest to walk away and feel that the experience they had

was intentional,” Collins said. “I want to create an experience for them.”

Collins explained that she encourages brides to think about the experience their guests will have and at The Collins Collective, which includes the newly-acquired Chelsea Clocktower property, that happens, regardless of the budget. “We want our spaces to be simplistic and beautiful, and an experience that every bride will treasure,” she said. “Everyone deserves a wedding that is simple and effortless.”

The purchase of the Chelsea Clocktower, Collins said, provided an opportunity to offer both a chapel for the wedding ceremony and a venue for the reception. The wedding ceremony is so important, she said. “When it comes to the ceremony, that’s what people remember and what they want the photos and videos of the most,” she said. “I take it seriously.”

Collins said she doesn’t take any wedding lightly. “They choose us,” she said. “It is a gift to be able to be part of those perfect-moment ceremonies.”

Collins said one reason she and her husband returned to Michigan was to assure their 5-year-old daughter had an opportunity to grow up with her cousins. While Collins never dreamed of owning her wedding planning business, she said the chance to open The Collins Off Main was too enticing.

Bride/Mother of the Bride packages. Botox, Dysport, Dermal Fillers, Microneedling, PRP, Laser Skin Rejuvenation, Medical Grade Facials, LHR, Acne Treatments, Medical Weight Loss. Schedule free consult 2-3 months ahead for optimal results.

Natural Expressions Aesthetic Clinic

517-280-0332 115 S Evans St, Tecumseh naturalexpressions.janeapp.com 

Newly renovated performance and event venue in historic downtown Blissfield. A cozy and intimate space, perfect for weddings, showers and parties! Family-owned for 50 years. This place is top notch!

That One Place in Blissfield 517-759-2119 121 S Lane St, Blissfield Find us on Facebook! 

70 years of experience and offers brilliant, certified diamonds, exotic gemstones, and the finest jewelry selection. They create one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted custom designs. Diamond and fine jewelry remounting, engraving, and repairs.

International Diamond 517-265-9800 995 S Main St, Ste A Adrian  internationaldiamond95.com

AAt the age of 7, Amy Collins remembers riding her bicycle from her home in Vicksburg, Mich. to the local library just to page through the latest issue of “Modern Bride.”

A historical Michigan landmark, the Clocktower is a notable pillar in the Chelsea community. The Clocktower has been transformed into a bright, industrial, ceremony space.

Jennifer Boris

Tashina Wenn Photography

Nestled in 10 wooded acres. Offering unique accommodations like in-house massage therapy services — perfect for the bridal party or your guests.

Heart Wood Place

517-265-3550

3723 Wisner Hwy, Adrian heartwoodplace.com

HISTORIC VENUE IN THE HEART OF CLINTON

Rent it all, just the building, first or second floor or the lawn. Capacity: first floor - 78 people; second floor - 149 people. Indoor tables and chairs included. Beautiful setting perfect for outdoor weddings. Large picnic area. Make reservations through the Clinton Village Office. Reasonable rates.

Smith-Kimball

Community Center

517-456-7494

211 Tecumseh St, Clinton voc-skcc.org

All inclusive venue perfect for wedding ceremonies, receptions, showers, anniversaries, birthdays, graduation parties and memorial luncheons. Indoor/outdoor locations. Newly renovated ballroom and dining facility. Gorgeous views, upscale venue.

Hills of Lenawee Golf Club & Banquet Center

517-265-2142

4110 Country Club Rd, Adrian hillsoflenaweegolf.com

UNIQUE. VINTAGE. CHARM.

Host your wedding in a renovated elementary school with a chic, vintage ceremony and reception. The outdoor patio, catering kitchen, bridal parlor and on-site guest house offer everything you need, all in one nostalgic location.

Ousterhout's Flowers

No matter your style or where you're tying the knot, they have bundles of blooms perfect for you. Beautiful blooms for beautiful brides that fit any budget.

Small intimate weddings to elaborate affairs.

Ousterhout's Flowers

517-423-2164

220 E Chicago Blvd Tecumseh

ousterhoutsflowers.com

Wear your individuality. New boutique accommodates brides, mothers, flower girls, proms, formals, quinceanera's, tuxedos, alterations. Call for appt.

Meant To Be Mine

Bridal Boutique

419-822-0183

1546 W Maumee, Adrian Also in Delta, OH meanttobemine.com

Whether your wedding is an intimate gathering or a grand event, our approach is fresh, fun and creative.

Free consultations.

Flowers & Such

517-263-0274

910 S Main St, Adrian weddingsbyfs.com

Forty Nine South 517-435-2193

2527 Helena Ave, Jackson fortyninesouth.com

Having the additional space at the Clocktower presents potential brides with more options. It opens this June. “I don’t really know how to explain it, but these spaces just sing to me,” she said as she showed off the newly renovated space. “It’s as if the space almost knows how it wants to be done.”

The new chapel area will include oak pews Collins procured, along with chairs and decor that give it a church-like ambiance. The chapel is on the first floor, with the reception venue on the top floor. From the third-story windows, there is a view of the quaint downtown Chelsea village anchored by the Jiffy Mix factory silos. Inside, Collins is listening for the building’s whispers of how the space will be used, but it’s sure to have the urban vibe that has become so popular. It is easy to imagine, now that the walls and floors have been stripped down to beams and pillars. For Collins, it’s a blank canvas waiting to be brought to life.

“I think wedding planning is one of the only industries to be micro-focused on the local economy,” she said. “Ninety percent goes back to the local community. It’s so rewarding to be part of that, to be able to see this happen.”

Collins said she gets teary-eyed at every wedding, and for her that is a barometer of her devotion to weddings. “I love the possibilities, I love the emotions, I love the dad moments before the aisle walk, and the groom’s first sight of the bride,” Collins said. “I love weddings. And I can’t wait to see people have their epic moment.” n

The Collins Clocktower

Capturing those special moments on your big day. Weddings, engagements, family/ senior portraits and more! Also offering drone photography! Serving Lenawee and beyond. Wedding packages available with competitive pricing.

Nanci with an Eye Photography

231-598-0129

Adrian   nanciwithaneyephotography.com

The Collins Off Main

The Collins Collective 734-531-7722

120 W Middle St, Chelsea thecollins.co

Experience the beauty of this rural setting. The 800 wooded acres bordering private Pickerel Lake provide the perfect atmosphere for your wedding. Spectacular indoor or outdoor weddings and receptions.

Sauk Valley Lakeside Lodge

517-467-2061

10750 Prospect Hill Hwy Brooklyn svresort.com

This remarkable venue has much to offer. Have your wedding on the golf course or inside in the banquet room with a panoramic view. You'll find an abundance of photo-worthy locations to capture every moment.

Clark Lake Golf Course

517-592-6259

5535 Wesch Rd, Brooklyn clarklakegolfcourse.com

lakeside lodge

Raelynn

Davy Photography

Raelynn Davy

Photography

Jennifer Boris

Amy Collins

Amanda Barns Photography

“I think wedding planning is one of the only industries to be micro-focused on the local economy.”

sauk valley

The Collins continued

STEAMPUNK C WEDDING

Leigh (Kapnick) and Adam Cruse of Ypsilanti incorporated their love of steampunk to create a wedding with elements rooted in Victorian-era industrialism.

The pair utilized their two-year-long engagement, to plan for their September 2022 wedding. Leigh says, “For me, [steampunk] is a cool aesthetic, and it’s the fun of building a character to go with the theme.” Adam adds, “The retro take on the technology that goes along with [steampunk] is really cool.”

Leigh and Adam met in Calculus class in 2013 at Western Michigan University. The proposal was initially to take place at the 2020 Olympics, for which the couple had tickets; however, the events never occurred due to Covid. Instead, the couple hosted a housewarming party in their new house, where Adam made a small speech to friends about how they were present for all the couple’s most important, memorable moments. He added that it’s nice that their friends could also be there for this particular moment, “and then he asked me to marry him,” says Leigh. The intimate proposal took place on Halloween. “He was going to do it the day before, but I accidentally burned the burgers and killed the mood so badly that he decided to put it off. We both love Halloween, though, so it worked out!”

Adam was interested in steampunk first, although both were already submersed in cosplay, making Leigh’s jump to steampunk a simple feat. “We both go

Raisin Valley Golf Club

to conventions like Youmacon, [where we] dress up as characters from video games and [television] shows,” the couple says.

Once they decided on having a themed steampunk wedding, the pair recruited wedding planner Faythe Emmens from Your Big Day Weddings & Events to assist in making their vision become a reality. The couple drew inspiration from their existing cosplay outfits, steampunk media, and Google. Your Big Day’s Facebook post about Adam and Leigh’s wedding states that the couple “pulled off the quirky theme spectacularly from their simple décor to their elaborate gown and suit jacket, to the little details of a feather pen at the guest book.” In addition, the mixed-gender bridal party, family, and friends wore retrofuturistic elements such as goggles and hats.

“We worked with some of the vendors we know through the Renaissance Festival for our outfits, which made them super fun and unique,” says Leigh. Working directly with the designers, neither Adam nor Leigh saw each other’s outfits before their big day. As a result, each outfit incorporated particular elements unique to the individual.

Pendragon Costumes sent Leigh a selection of fabrics for her dress, from which she chose her favorites. “I worked with some friends to pick out the styles I wanted,” Leigh says, adding that she incorporated part of her mom’s wedding dress into her own.

Creating the wedding of your dreams is an art form. It combines personal elements representing a couple’s unique tastes, from colors and design to style, and the inclusion of traditional or modern details.

at

Story by Christine MacIntyre

Photos by Gina Barnaby Photography

Trust these dry cleaning professionals to make your wedding attire look as good as new. Wedding dress preservations also available.

Fabricare Dry Cleaners

517-423-7810

117 Herrick Park Dr, Tecumseh

Find us on Facebook

Downtown Dempsey's 517-759-4334

A romantic getaway. Themed bedrooms and great breakfasts provide a perfect place for guests, the bridal party or the happy couple!

Blissfield Bed and Breakfast

517-486-2878

420 W Adrian St, Blissfield blissfieldbandb.com

Event venues for the trend-minded client.

The Collins Collective

734-531-7722

120 W Middle St, Chelsea thecollins.co

Offering Italian catering for any size event! Sandwich rings, salads, breadsticks, pasta, lasagna, pizza, desserts beer/wine... See full catering menu online. The Colosseum Room is perfect for small gatherings (holds 40).

Sal’s Italian Restaurant

517-423-6688

1400 W Chicago Blvd Tecumseh eatatsals.com

The perfect place for weddings, parties or any event. Newly-restored barn — Freedom Winery. Bring your own caterer. They'll provide hard cider, wine and ambience. Indoor/outdoor location and endless photo opportunities.

Alber Orchard - Freedom Winery 734-428-9310 • alberorchard.com

13011 Bethel Church Rd, Manchester

Alber Orchard & Cider Mill

Imagine SkyPool Suites with private infinity-edge plunge pools on the balcony, Beachfront Walkout Suites with private Tranquility Soaking Tubs™ for two, or unique Swim-up Crystal Lagoon Suites that allow you to float up to your private patio—all with Professional English Guild-Trained Butlers to cater to your every whim. Sandals®, the world’s only five-star Luxury Included® Resorts, has suites that are so exotic, so opulent, so decadently romantic, they could only be named Love Nest Suites®. These dreamy retreats surround you in uncompromising comfort and worldclass luxuries like our king-size Tranquility Blissful Beds™ with fine Egyptian cotton linens and feathered down pillow choices to ensure a good night’s sleep. It’s all included, all unlimited, all the time.

All Aboard Travel 517-437-4844

10 S Howell St, Hillsdale allaboardtravelhillsdale.com 

*Amenities vary by resort. Sandals® is a registered trademark. Unique Vacations, Inc. is an affiliate of Unique Travel Corp., the worldwide representative of Sandals Resorts.

Beautifully decorated wedding desserts. Offering delicious cake balls and cupcakes (over 30 flavors to choose from), full pies, mini pies, cookies and more. Catering options available. Call them today!

136 E Maumee St, Ste 2, Adrian downtowndempseys.com 

“They were happy to do so once my mom affirmed that they could cut it apart.”

Since steampunk combines fantasy fiction elements with Victorian technology, incorporating that style into details such as floral arrangements and the cake required creativity. “We made all the centerpieces with many people working on them. It’s a very eclectic style with bits and bobs and leather and feathers and gears centralized in a jar,” says Leigh.

For her cake, she sent idea photos to the baker, who then constructed a whimsical two-tier cake gussied up with an intricate lace pattern, buttons, a belt buckle, gears, a cameo, and topped off with a feathered top hat, and flowers.

The wedding venue, Raisin Valley Golf Club in Tecumseh, is co-owned by Dave Kapnick, Leigh’s father. The gorgeous sprawling landscape provides an ideal setting for weddings, a bachelor “golfing” party, rehearsal dinners, and bridal showers. The venue accommodates up to 100 guests, about the number of guests Leigh said were present for their ceremony.

Nervous but excited, the couple stood under a wedding arch as they exchanged vows and said, “I do,”

while Leigh’s cousin officiated. “[My cousin officiating] was really nice and made it feel really personal.”

Their favorite wedding moments include the private first look and their sparkler exit. The celebration continued as their reception ensued at the Adrian Armory. “It was fantastic and a bit of a blur,” says the couple. “Everyone had a great time dancing and got really into it. The music wasn’t really themed, but most everyone who came got into the [steampunk] theme and added some flair to their outfits.” After their special day, the couple drifted away to a honeymoon in Italy, a destination they say is beautiful and they highly recommend.

The Cruse’s unique steampunk wedding, resulted in an event chock full of cherished memories. Once in a while right in the middle of an ordinary life, loves gives us a fairy tale. n

Located on the northern most point of Clark Lake, this new restaurant has it all. Fabulous lake views, ambiance and inspired

This beautiful venue sits alongside the Saline River - perfect for receptions, parties, weddings and showers. Accommodates up to

Beautiful and delicious desserts that will make a statement.

Wedding cakes, cupcakes, tortes, cookies, brownies, pastries and amazing dessert displays.

The Pastry Perlieu

734-787-8499

Brooklyn   thepastryperlieu.com

BRING YOUR WEDDING DAY VISION TO LIFE

and accentuate your style with fresh flowers artistically arranged in stunning bouquets. They strive to intertwine your wedding theme into elegant and enticing florals, centerpieces, table arrangements, wedding cake flowers, boutonnieres and more!

Barrett's Showplace Gardens and Flower Shop

517-265-5595

1033 W Beecher St, Adrian barrettsadrian.com 

Say "I do" on the beautifully manicured golf course that can accommodate weddings up to 100 guests. Have a golfing bachelor party, rehearsal dinner or bridal shower. Spectacular views.

Raisin Valley Golf Club 517-423-2050

4057 Comfort Rd, Tecumseh raisinvalleygolfclub.com

Say, "I do!" at the zoo! Unique venues perfect for wedding ceremonies, receptions, rehearsal dinners or showers of any size.

The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium 419-385-5721 ext 6001

2 Hippo Way, Toledo, OH toledozoo.org/weddings 

Greenleaf Mansion

An elegant bed and breakfast in the Irish Hills specializing in intimate weddings. Have your wedding in the gazebo, stay overnight, and enjoy a gourmet breakfast prepared by a professional chef.

The Greenleaf Mansion

Bed and Breakfast

517-270-7051

247 S Main St, Onsted greenleafmansionbnb.com

A beautiful full-service banquet facility for wedding receptions and courtyard ceremonies. Tables, chairs, linens, decor and catering. Dedicated to excellence and cater to your exquisite taste!

The Landing Banquet Hall 517-423-7699

5447 N Rogers Hwy, Tecumseh thelandingoftecumseh@gmail.com thelandinghall.com

Let Pita Delight cater your special day! Delicious authentic Mediterranean cuisine serving up amazing, baklava, grape leaves, shawarma, falafels, salads, kabobs, sandwiches, wraps, and more. Call for a consultation.

Pita Delight

517-424-2123

109 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh pitadelightgrill.com 

Take your wedding from ordinary to extraordinary with definitely distinctive floral designs from Windy Hill creations Inc. Free one hour consultation!

Windy Hill Creations Inc. 517-812-6851

217 N Jackson St, Jackson windyhillcreations.com

Sweet, customized candy bouquets and favors perfect to use as centerpieces for weddings or showers or even as thank you gifts. All sizes and price ranges available for these unique bouquets.

The Sweet Boutique

517-920-4037

4497 N Adrian Hwy Adrian  sweetboutiqueadrian.com

The Adrian Armory provides a unique setting for your wedding ceremony, reception, or both. This venue offers ample space and seating arrangements for many sized gatherings and can accommodate up to 250 guests.

Adrian Armory

230 W Maumee St, Adrian adrianarmory.com 

UNIQUE AS YOUR LOVE

Patina carries a wide variety of wedding bands to compliment your engagement ring. Their expert jewelers can create a custom one-of-a-kind band to go with an heirloom piece by using computerized renderings. Let Patina help design your perfect ring.

Patina Jewelry + Design

517-423-6370

110 E Chicago Blvd Tecumseh patinajewelers.com 

Ann-Marie's Cake Studio

517-270-1581

4210 W Maumee Adrian  amcakestudio.com

Presenting fresh, deliciously moist cakes and desserts that are individually decorated so your occasion is truly one to remember.

Artisanal chocolate treats make a tasty and beautiful addition to any wedding or shower. Leave your guests buzzing with gratitude.

The Buzz Cafe & Marketplace

517-759-3289

110 E Maumee St, Adrian thebuzzadrian.com 

Lenawee County's leading full-service travel agency. They handle the details so you can enjoy your vacation. Book your destination wedding or honeymoon! Specializing in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, and Hawaii. Call today!

Horizon Travel

517-265-6666

604 S Main St, Adrian horizontravelandcruises.weebly.com 

Great ambiance for a girls night or a shower. Full bar, party platters and catering options are sure to please.

Salsaria's 517-423-0018

146 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh salsarias.com 

Have your wedding on the beach!

Multiple waterfront Irish Hills cabins - perfect for bridal party or wedding guests. Stunning views of Evans Lake. Rent the entire resort for your special day. Evans Lake Resort

517-662-0297

1237 Michigan Ave Tipton  evanslakeresort.com

A front parlor furnished with a vintage button-tufted divan serves as the primary showroom for racks of dresses some starting as low as just $22.

Palmer stocks traditional to trendy wedding gowns, with virtually any combination of colors including black, ivory, and blush and styles such as open back, sheath, column, fit-and-flare, and strapless. Fabrics and accents include satin, lace, applique, beading, sequins, and rhinestones and there are even jeweled belts designed to fit around the waist and add some bling to a gown.

MEANT TO BE MINE

About 300 dresses are on display in the bridal boutique, located on W. Maumee St., and Palmer estimates she has 3,000 dresses in her flagship Meant To Be Mine shop in Delta, just across the state line.

Dresses line the walls and are arranged on racks in two of the rooms, and the old-fashioned pocket doors have been slipped back into the walls to create a spacious display area. A third room, which Palmer calls the “sparkle” room, has accessories, including trains and veils that brides can rent, as well as jewelry sets and other items. Most important, she said, is the Reveal Room, where brides can try on and model their choice of dress for Mom, Grandma, and bridesmaids. Tea, coffee, and charcuterie are served as prospective brides are helped into and out of wedding gowns, Palmer said as she leads an impromptu tour of the main floor rooms. A dais with mirrors gives the bride a look from every angle.

“We have sizes 0-32, to fit any style, shape, budget, and we also have dresses for the mothers of the bride and groom and flower girl dresses,” she said. Alterations add a tailored fit to every gown and that service is only available with dresses purchased at either of their shops. Undergarments, petticoats, slips, handbags, virtually everything a bride needs to make her day special is available at the new boutique.

While their Delta boutique has a larger selection of quinceañera dresses — samples can be brought to the Adrian location to save travel time says Lupe Salazar-Hamden, bridal consultant.

JJacquelyn Palmer’s new Adrian bridal boutique fits nicely into its location — a 170-year-old Victorian-era home with period woodwork and high ceilings.

Story by Renee Lapham Collins

Photos by Renee Lapham Collins and Nanci Bridget

Jacquelyn Palmer Owner of Meant To Be Mine Bridal Boutique

Your one stop dream wedding shop. Now offering catering/ coordinating services in addition to dresses for brides, bridesmaids, mothers and flower girls. Tuxedos and suits rentals/purchase. New York style with small town service.

JBL Bridal Company

517-918-9996 

306 W Main St, Hudson jblbridalcompany.weebly.com

Having a large wedding? The Banquet Hall at Dundee's Old Mill seats 300. Catering assistance available. Charming historical setting.

Old Mill Banquet Hall Dundee Village Office: 734-529-3430

242 Toledo St, Dundee dundeevillage.net

Bridal party or wedding couple can stay at the suite! Space for getting ready and photo opportunities. Two bedrooms, kitchen, deck.

The August Company Building & Suite

517-759-9043  128 E Chicago Blvd Tecumseh

Call the Old Mill to book your shower/wedding. Marjorie E. Busz Conference Room seats 70, Wedding Chapel seats 120. History/ambiance abound.

Old Mill Chapel and Conference Room

734-529-8596

242 Toledo St, Dundee dundeeoldmill.com 

Affordable, pet-friendly hotel. Large suites and jacuzzi rooms available. Currently updating all 63 rooms. Guests can book on vrbo.com.

Tecumseh Inn & Suites

517-423-7401

1445 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh tecumsehinn.com 

The Ella Sharp Museum is renowned for its storied architecture and distinct spaces - ideal for a wide variety of romantic weddings. Two unique locations to choose from, and many more ways to celebrate.

Ella Sharp Museum

517-787-2320

3225 Fourth St, Jackson ellasharpmuseum.org 

EVERY BRIDE HAS A VISION...

Remember hearing guests whispering, "She's glowing!", as she walks down the aisle. Make Desjarlais Aesthetic Center a part of the preparation for that final touch to make your day memorable. Cosmetic laser enhancements, injectable fillers, laser hair removal, body contouring, silkpeels and advanced skincare.

Desjarlais Dermatology & Aesthetic Center

517-759-3191 • 2000 Curtis Rd, Adrian drdesjarlais.com/bridal-packages 

Take a tour: airbnb.com/h/the-august-company-building

The TCA stage can be decorated to fit your style. The theater seats 500 guests. Guests can enjoy wine before the ceremony in the lobby. They'll also put your name on the marquee!

Tecumseh Center for the Arts

517-423-6617

400 N Maumee St, Tecumseh thetca.org/rentals 

We take special care to ensure the bouquets and on-site floral décor reflect your individual style and budget. Delivery available.

Grey Fox Floral

517-423-3735

116 S Evans St, Tecumseh greyfoxfloral.com 

Having a variety of styles has helped propel more traffic into the store, keeping business local and providing options for formal occasions. While bridal dresses are the primary inventory for Meant To Be Mine, there also are prom, pageant, and other special occasion gowns. Tuxedos are available only at the Delta store says McKenzie Gamber, assistant manager, bridal consultant and planner.

Palmer grew up on a farm south of Adrian and graduated from Adrian High School in 1989. She earned her bachelor’s degree in 1992 in Fashion Design from Siena Heights and headed south to Cincinnati where she had a boutique exclusively featuring her own designs and creations.

“I have been sewing since I was four,” she said. “When I was in Cincinnati, I sewed a lot of dresses.

I sewed wedding dresses, pageant dresses, dresses for drag shows,” she said. I even sewed costumes for a female wrestler and suits for secret service agents. I’ve done a little bit of everything.”

Throughout the manse, Palmer has added antiques and repurposed vintage pieces for merchandise displays that add to the ambience of the venerable home. Up a steep staircase is Lucky Owl Photography Studio, a local photographer specializing in weddings, boudoir, and portrait photography.

At Meant To Be Mine, Palmer said, it’s all about the “dream dress, the eye-catcher, the confidence-builder.” Since the boutique just opened in December 2022, it has sparked a lot of interest. The business’ Facebook page has photos of brides-to-be showing off their “I Said Yes” sign that has become a staple of the modern wedding gown search. Palmer loves working with brides to pick out their perfect dress. “I encourage brides to wear their individuality in a custom dress,” she said. “It sets us apart.” n

Meant To Be Mine

419-822-0183

1546 W Maumee St, Adrian meanttobemine.com

The Moveable Feast Catering

EVENTS SURE TO IMPRESS

Recognized by Conde-Nast and Bon Appetit, Dan Huntsbarger — an award-winning chef, has been serving the freshest catered food since 2006. His expert team offers total event planning/bartending for all size gatherings. American/ ethnic foods, vegan, plant-based/ restrictive diets, desserts and wedding cakes. Free consultation.

The Moveable Feast Catering

734-428-9526

223 E Main St, Manchester themoveablefeastcatering.com

Fall Inn Love

he Tecumseh Historical Museum holds the history of the Tecumseh area in the form of books, photographs, memorabilia, and articles from the past, but the atmosphere is not stuffy or stagnant – it is alive with the stories of past residents, businesses, and activities that have made Tecumseh what it is today. The museum will be open Saturdays (10:30am-3:30pm) for the 2023 season starting April 1. During the winter months the museum’s volunteers curate the items that will be on display throughout the year and manage the inventory of historical items. In addition, they are preparing to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the start of the Tecumseh Area Historical Society in 2024, as well as the bicentennial of the City of Tecumseh that same year.

The bicentennial display will include items and information about the indigenous populations of the area 200 years ago as well as artifacts from the history of when Tecumseh first became a town. If anyone has items they want to donate to the museum, especially Tecumseh history artifacts such as photographs, letters, articles or other pieces for the bicentennial display, they can email the museum.

The Tecumseh Area Historical Society board is seeking volunteers to welcome visitors to the museum during Saturday shifts of either 10:30am-1pm or 1-3:30pm. The ideal situation would be for the museum to have a large enough roster of volunteers so that two people could work together during a shift, helping each other serve visitors for that 2.5-hour period.

“Volunteers are important because they help us to keep the museum open. Right now we depend a lot on the board members to do that,” said Board Treasurer Cynthia Given. “We really need docents to be in the museum. Hopefully with an increased number of people helping we can increase the days that we’re open rather than just one,” said Board Treasurer Cynthia Given. “We’re looking for people who want to be there and help tell their own stories about Tecumseh as well as the stories that the displays actually show.” n

By Jackie Koch

Northern Chicks

What Rachelle McDaniel of Ypsilanti Township started as a pop-up vendor for the Third Thursday events in downtown Milan several years ago has bloomed into a business that brings customers from near and far. The boutique store Northern Chicks opened more than five years ago in downtown Milan when McDaniel was encouraged by those who believed in her success.

McDaniel said Jill Tewsley, the director of Milan Main Street, and Dave Snyder, the owner of the building where Northern Chicks makes its home, approached her. “They said, you’re doing so well and selling your stuff so well down here on Third Thursdays. Would you be interested in opening a storefront in downtown Milan?” McDaniel said. “It was great. At the time, they were doing revitalization in downtown Milan, and they had a whole block that was coming available for space for businesses to go in and open.”

Northern Chicks was the first business to fill one of the spaces. “I opened in downtown Milan in November of 2017, and I’ve been there ever since,” McDaniel said. “Ever since I’ve been there the downtown has just grown. The whole block now is filled up and it’s just continuing to grow down there. It’s wonderful.”

She said that Snyder purchased many of the properties downtown to encourage businesses to open. “He’s a great investor. He’s recognized in the state of Michigan for revitalizing and maintaining Milan and keeping it beautiful,” she said.

Northern Chicks sells a wide variety of merchandise including vintage items, antiques, home furnishing, and refinished or repainted vintage furniture. McDaniel has been refinishing furniture for several years and said those items are big sellers at the store.

In addition, the store offers a clothing boutique section, gift items, one-of-a-kind items, and “a little bit of everything,” she said. “I think it makes the store unique when you have those handmakers and those artisans. They tend to bring a unique flavor to the store. I carefully select who those artisans are, and we like to rotate and switch it up sometimes just to have new things coming in. You never come in and see the same thing.”

“It was something I never really thought would take off, and it did. I’m just so excited that the community and the people are really drawn to it,” said McDaniel. “I think now it’s become almost a destination town and store. I get people from all around that come to my store. We’re just ecstatic that it has grown this big.” n

By Jackie Koch

adrian

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE

1025 US 223, Adrian (517) 266-0746

Tues-Sat 10a-4:30p

Free Donation Pickups.

The Store that Builds Homes!

brooklyn

BLISSFIELD

BLISSFIELD

BLISSFIELD

brooklyn

IDK CREATIVE DECOR

146 1/2 N Main St, Brooklyn (517) 938-8147 • Th-Sat 12-6 / Sun 1-5 • idkcreativedecor.com idkcreativedecor@gmail.com

Artistic recreations, vintage finds home decor and so much more!

BLISSFIELD ANTIQUE MALL

103 W Adrian St, Blissfield (517) 486-2236 • T-Sat 10-5 / Sun 12-5 • Three floors of treasures with over 100 dealers. Offering a large selection of antique toys, depression glass, primitives, furniture, etc!

brooklyn

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

122 S Lane St, Blissfield T-Sat 12-5 • Offers gently-used kids clothes, maternity clothing, shoes, accessories and more. Unsold items are donated to those in need in Lenawee County.

chelsea

THE PACKRAT 117 S Lane St, Blissfield (517) 260-3511 • M-T 3-8 / W-Sun 11-8 • 5,800 sq ft of well-organized consignment, vintage and this n’ that of every sort. Working soda fountain here too!

chelsea

THE CORNER COTTAGE

107 Monroe St, Brooklyn (517) 938-8487 • W-Sat 11-5

Adorable shop with everything for home decor. Vintage, cottage, rustic, repurposed, interior design. Beautiful displays and well priced.

PINETREE ANTIQUES & MORE 129 N Main St, Brooklyn (517) 592-3808 • M-Sun 10-5 60 vendors with a vast array of antiques and collectibles ranging from vintage jewelry to items that would be perfect for a man cave!

grass lake

CHELSEA ANTIQUES

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

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

jackson

CHELSEA ANTIQUES MALL

1178 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.

Chelsea Mall Antiques

manchester

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

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!

TO KICK OFF THE SEASON...

FEST

SAT, MAY 20 • 10AM-4PM Artists, baked goods, games, music, crafts, produce...

MARKET DATES

MAY 20 (SPRING FEST)

JUNE 3, 17

JULY 8, 22

AUGUST 5, 19

SEPTEMBER 2, 16, 30

OCTOBER 14, 28

BRITTON’S BEST FARMERS MARKET

10AM-2PM BI-MONTHLY ON SATURDAYS, JUNE-OCTOBER AT THE FAMILY-RUN FOREVER ACRES FARM llc

A new and improved farmers market will soon bring activity and a bounty of local goods to Britton. A Spring Fest kicks off the season on Saturday, May 20 when Britton’s Best Farmers Market opens at its new location — Forever Acres Farm llc on West Chicago Blvd.

LeAnne Milkey, village council trustee, and Richard Frazier, council president, came up with the idea last year to bring the community together with a farmers market. They will co-manage the market.

“We are so happy to be bringing the best of Britton together this year and merging our market with Kevin and Susan Hurst at their charming family-run farm and orchard. Forever Acres will be the perfect pairing for a gathering of talent and community,” said Milkey.

Vendors signed up so far include Baked Nutrition, Carson’s Soaps, Glutton for Punishment Bakery, Hur&Co, Random Treasures, Shaw Face Painting, Sister Scents, and Splinters and Sawdust, but there is room for many more. “We are still seeking music talent, vendors, and food trucks for Spring Fest as well as local produce and flower and plant farmers for our bimonthly market,” she said. Items sold at the market must be new and unused. “There is an amazing amount of talent here in our village and in surrounding communities as well and we are so excited to showcase any and all artists, crafters, woodworkers, small business consultants,

local nonprofits who want to fundraise with a booth, musical talent, bakers and food creators as well with products under cottage law guidelines, food truck vendors, and local artist entertainment,” said Milkey.

Spring Fest will have something for the entire family. “We will have pony rides and fun spring games for families such as an egg and spoon and potato sack races,” Milkey said. “There will be a spring photo area setup for people to take their own photos of their kids or as a family with the Forever Acres mini donkeys from 12 to 2pm. The farm animals will be ready to meet guests and soak up the love and attention and visitors can feed the chicks.”

Subsequent market days will take place two Saturdays per month through October from 10am-2pm. The vendor cost for each market day including Spring Fest is $10 per day, or vendors can pay $75 for the entire season.

The Hursts opened Forever Acres Farm, a centennial farm where they live in their 150-year-old home and offer a u-pick orchard and petting zoo, to the public in 2021. They have added Farkle, a miniature donkey, to their menagerie of animals, which includes Fergus, another miniature donkey; Shrek, a Mammoth white donkey and Fiona, a standard donkey. The farm is also home to six goats and a variety of ducks, turkeys, and chickens, including Polish chickens and Silkies.

Britton’s Best Farmers Market  Forever Acres Farm llc 278 W. Chicago Blvd., Britton

By Jackie Koch