2024-2025 Winter Homefront

-DEEPAK CHOPRA

Winter 2025

AD VER TIS ERS

WINTER

Christmas Open House Antique Sale

December 6-8 • 10am-5:30pm • 517-423-8277

Hitching Post Antique Mall - 1322 E Monroe Rd, Tecumseh

HOLIDAYS IN TECUMSEH

MytecuMSeh.org/reSiDeNtS/holiDayS iN tecuMSeh.php 

MOONLIGHT HOLIDAY SHOPPING

Small Business Saturday Sat, November 30

Keep dollars local. Shop small... support big citywide!

“A Vintage Christmas” Parade Fri, December 6 • 7pm

Watch the annual downtown parade, where Santa Claus and Christmas spirit arrive!

New! Holiday Night Market

Dec 6 & 7 • 4-9pm market oN evaNS - 213 N evaNS, tecumSeh

Open air market with vendors, live music, hot cocoa, Santa’s house, and a giant Christmas tree!

Merry & Bright Contest

Dec 13-14

• Citywide home holiday decorating contest. Cast vote with a donation of canned foods at Market on Evans.

Moonlight Holiday Shopping Fri, December 20 • 5-8pm

Downtown shops open late for last-minute shoppers. Specials, activities, refreshments.

HOLIDAY MARKET

ADRIAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Nov 30-Dec 23 M-F 12-6, Sat & SuN 1-4 opeN Daily 1-4pM aDriaNceNterFortheartS.org

1375 N MaiN St, #46 517-759-3005  

gift! The annual Adrian Center for the Arts Holiday Market is a great chance to buy original art at all price points. More than 50 Lenawee County artists will be represented. HOLIDAY WORKSHOP EACH WEEKEND.

WINTER WONDERLAND

Sat, DeceMber 7 • 9aM-8:30pM • DowNtowN cliNtoN 517-456-7494 • the village oF cliNtoN Mi 

Clinton District Library

• Noon: Storytime

• 10am-2pm: Adult/children craft making and book sale Smith-Kimball Community Center

• 2-5pm: Gingerbread house contest

• 12-3pm: Family photos taken Downtown Clinton

• 5:30-7:30pm: Free walking s’mores

• 9am-7pm: Craft sales Around the Town

• 9am-2pm: Craft/bake sales at the Clinton United Church of Christ

• Noon & 5pm: Free movie at the Clinton Theater - Moana

• Free hot dogs at Clinton Fire Dept prior to parade

• 7pm: Parade and visit with Santa afterward at Township Hall

• After parade, tree lighting at Veterans Park

• Contests: Merchant Snowman/ Residential Holiday Lighting

HOSPICE OF LENAWEE

LIGHTS OF LOVE

SuN, December 8 • 6pm

hoSpiceoFleNawee.org

Tecumseh - Tecumseh City Hall

Clinton - Smith-Kimball Community Center

Hudson - Hudson Community Center

Adrian - Hospice Of Lenawee

Onsted - Bank Michigan

Blissfield - That One Place

Please join us for our annual treelighting ceremonies honoring the memory of special people in our lives.

CANDLELIGHT REMEMBRANCE

SuN, December 15 • 6pm

holy Family pariSh

St. maryS campuS, aDriaN

Music and memories at this annual remembrance celebration honoring those we hold dear.

Visit Clinton for holiday fun and shopping at this celebration!

Clinton’s Annual Celebration Christmas in the Village Grinchmas in the Village December 6-7

Manchester Friday - Holiday Light Parade at 6:30pm. Tree lighting ceremony and visit with Santa at 7pm on Manchester Mill porch.

Tecumseh POPS Annual Concert: “HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS”

SuN, DeceMber 8, 3pM tecuMSeh ceNter For the artS 400 N MauMee St, tecuMSeh 517-423-6617 • $12/$10  tecuMSehpopS.coM • thetca.org

This annual Holiday Concert will include Christmas and other related holiday favorites, including Hanukkah, etc. Listen to a new version of “Twas The Night Before Christmas,” along with the traditional “Hallelujah Chorus” and a stirring version of “The First Noel.” This holiday selection will put all in the holiday spirit!

R4 Ragtime Christmas

Sun, December 8 • 4pm

The Performing Arts Center

$20 Gen Admit • Under 18 Free Adrian High School

785 Riverside Ave, Adrian 2nd annual R4 Christmas concert. This performance will brighten your winter! ragtimeband.org 

Blissfield’s Wassail Festival

Fri, Dec 13 • 6-8:30pm 517-486-3642

Sample and vote for the best merchant-made wassail. Tickets online or village office. Parade of Lights on Sat, Dec 14, 7pm. blissfieldmainstreet.com 

The Nutcracker by Ballet Chelsea

Fri, Dec 13, 7pm Sat, Dec 14, 2pm & 7pm Sun, Dec 15, 2pm

George E Potter Center 2111 Emmons Rd, Jackson Sun, Dec 15 • Noon: Sugarplum Tea Tickets: balletchelsea.org or jacksonsymphony.org

CROSWELL OPERA HOUSE IT’S A BROADWAY HOLIDAY AT THE CROSWELL

DeceMber 13-15 • $35/$25 Show tiMeS vary 129 e MauMee St, aDriaN 517-264-7469 • croSwell.org 

Ring in the season at Michigan’s oldest theater with this holiday concert that’s fun for the whole family! Performers from many of this season’s shows, including July’s hit production of School of Rock, will return to the Croswell stage for this concert. Songs from the season will be mixed in with holiday classics and some newer seasonal songs, so there will be something for everyone!

PROMENADE TECUMSEH CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT HOME TOUR

DeceMber 13 & 14, 5:30-8:30pM • $10 For both NightS  proMeNaDe tecuMSeh aND tecuMSeh area hiStorical Society

MuSeuM: 302 e chicago blvD, tecuMSeh

Tour the interior of three historic homes and the Tecumseh Area Historical Museum — all beautifully decorated for Christmas. Early tickets available Nov 30 at the museum and at Antiques & Vintage on the Boulevard, Schmidt & Sons Pharmacy, and Tecumseh Antique Appeal. During tours, tickets can also be obtained at each tour location. For tour locations/info, visit us on Facebook.

Croswell Opera House Into the Woods

Jan 25-Feb 2 • $12/$18/$25

129 E Maumee St, Adrian 517-264-7469 • croswell.org

Christmas Historic Home Tour

Sat, Dec 14 • 4-7pm

Clinton Historical Society

$10 • 517-442-8385 

Tour two homes (one city and one country farmhouse), Lancaster Insurance, and St. John’s Episcopal Church. Early tickets: Lancaster Insurance. Day of event tickets: St. John’s Church.

The area’s top high school theater students come together for this production of a Stephen Sondheim classic.

NITE LITES

OPEN DAILY

NOW THRU JAN 5

Su-th 5:30-9pM $30/car

F & Sa 5:30-10pM $35/car

$50/liMo/MotorhoMe/MiNibuS

$100/tour buS

traiN ticket: $17.25

MichigaN iNterNatioNal

SpeeDway • 517-937-6426

12626 uS12 brooklyN

NiteliteShow.coM 

Drive thru a winter wonderland. MI’s largest drive-thru holiday light show is open all month including Christmas Eve/Day and New Year’s Eve. Bring the family to see this awesome five-mile show. Car, van, tour busses welcome. Reserve

online to take the new Nite Lites Express Trains! Train tickets must be purchased online where riders will select date, time, car, and bench. Dress warmly as the train is not enclosed.

16TH ANNUAL ICE SCULPTURE FESTIVAL

*FriDay, JaNuary 17

*SaturDay, JaNuary 18

DowNtowN tecuMSeh SaturDay, 1-3pM - DueliNg ce carviNg coMpetitioN downtowntecumseh.com 

Time for fun, outdoor events for your family! The downtown area will have over 40 ice sculptures for you to view and interact with. Carving demonstrations are on Saturday throughout the day. Check out the dueling ice carving competition on South Evans Street Saturday afternoon. Also enjoy shopping and great food at area restaurants, and a scavenger hunt. Downtown Tecumseh welcomes you to enjoy the weekend winter festivities!

*Note: Days of event have changed from previous years.

Devils Lake Tip Up Festival

February 7, 8, & 9 

Sponsored by Devils and Round Lake Men’s Club

Outhouse race, ice fishing contest, snowmobile races, etc.

Celebrate Tip Up Festival Here

February 7, 8, & 9

Highland Inn

3171 Round Lake Hwy Manitou Beach  Kick-off: Fri, 8pm w/ Red Light Ride Sat, 7pm - Leg Wrestling Sun, 2pm - Bikini Contest

Opera House Kanin Wren’s Taylor Swift Tribute Sat, Feb 15 • 7:30pm • $35/$25 129 E Maumee St, Adrian  517-264-7469 • croswell.org

Michigan singer/songwriter Kanin Wren brings all the magic of a Taylor Swift concert to the Croswell.

Croswell

Photos by Nanci Bridget

A Builders Far from the

bstract’s newest build offers the privacy, space, and calm lifestyle that the owners and their four dogs have been seeking. Tucked away on two acres, this Tecumseh Township home-in-the-making is a dream come true for this busy, professional family.

No detail has been spared in the construction of this stylish threebedroom, two-bath, modern farmhouse design. The open concept allows expansive views from the kitchen to the office, through to the living area’s pièce de résistance. The two-story, see-through, stone fireplace allows a hypnotic view through to the koi pond and bridge out back.

There, you’ll find plenty of room to roam and dream of spending warmer nights stargazing around the outdoor fireplace. Besides two spacious garages, the full, two-story carriage house offers the ultimate luxury for hobbies as well as storage.

This active family is constantly on the go and looks forward to the respite this home will offer after the move-in is completed and relaxation can begin. Sometimes the most productive thing to do is to slow down... and this is just the place to do it.

Let Abstract Builders create a sanctuary perfect for your lifestyle.

madding crowd

READY TO HELP YOU

Anytime Fitness started in Minnesota in 2002 and is the world’s largest gym.

Tecumseh’s Anytime Fitness gym, which opened in 2015, is now under the ownership of Amanda Rainsberger, who is an Adrian College alum and multi-club owner-operator with locations across southern Michigan.

Manager Brendan Marra, a Lenawee County native and certified personal trainer, is new to the location and transferred from the Chelsea, Mich., location to be closer to home. He is getting a helping hand from Operations Manager Bayler Kierns and Member Experience Associates Haley Whiteman and Jordyn Lamirand.

In addition to the 24/7 format, access to a personalized fitness plan also is a draw, Marra said. “The environment here is really conducive to working out,” he said. “It’s never crowded and there’s plenty of equipment so people don’t have to wait to work out. There’s always room for people here.”

“We offer personal training and are in the process of adding group training, nutritional

guidance, and recovery options at the location.” He added that Anytime Fitness does a good job of adapting to members’ needs. “We work with all fitness goals and body types,” he said.

Mornings tend to be a little busier with the Silver Sneakers program, and the 5-6pm slot also has a high volume of people exercising after work. But, Marra said, “we have a lot of resources, too.”

Rainsberger said the average age of members is 24-55, “but we have members as young as 14 and as old as 90.”

“We have a lot of good things coming with new apps that feature workout goals and ways to track your progress,” she said. “Within the next couple years, there will be a club renovation and some new equipment additions.”

Three membership options are available, starting at $21.99 biweekly. Membership includes 24/7 gym access to over 5,500 locations globally, two sessions with a certified trainer, an Apple Fitness+ subscription, a body composition scan, online workouts through the App, and a personalized fitness plan.

Amber Aranda only recently returned to her Lenawee County roots, and she has been working hard at creating a workout space that has a motivating yet Zen kind of vibe. The former St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at 313 North Evans, now the home of Temple Fitness, seems to dovetail nicely with her plan, and so far, it’s been well-received. “My concept is Zen, inviting people into a positive mindset,” she explained. “I want you to come in and feel comfortable in your workout.”

Aranda and her stepdad, Larry Anderson, partnered to open Temple Fitness. Amber said she always has been interested in fitness and has worked with a variety of populations as well as had jobs that require an elite level of strength and training. “I was an EMT and firefighter in Colorado for a few years and also worked as a counselor for juveniles in detention,” she said. “When my dad said he wanted to close down the catering/event space here and do a workout studio, I agreed to come home and manage it.”

Aranda is a 2004 graduate of Adrian High School. She has a keen interest in physical fitness and her own personal routines. She also has two certified personal trainers — Ashley Duval and Levi Blayer — who are

Temple Fitness 517-424-1333 or 517-902-6701 313 N Evans St, Tecumseh templefitness247.com

available to work with members on their personal fitness goals.

“I compare my gym to a boutique-style gym,” she said. “You are not going to feel like you’re walking into a Powerhouse or LA Fitness gym, but a small-business, boutique gym that has all those same things but is laid out differently.”

She has a room with massage chairs and hopes to add massage to her offerings. The main gym is spacious and the vaulted timber ceilings frame the workout area with plenty of natural light. The feedback she’s received from members has been positive. “What stands out is the space and the amount and variety of equipment,” she said. “Plus, I get a lot of comments about how clean everything is.”

There are different membership levels, encompassing adults, students, families, first responders/military, and seniors. Prospective clients can choose either a month-to-month deal or yearly options that can be broken down into monthly payments or a yearly fee.

Those interested in giving Temple Fitness a try can get a free seven-day pass. Call for more information.

Brendan Marra and Jordyn Lamirand

By Renee Lapham Collins

Amber Aranda

Harrison and Angelina Sander opened Accelerated Fitness just about a year ago. As they have grown their fitness studio, they have added a variety of programs designed for people of all ages and fitness levels, including women’s workouts.

Harrison works with members to get them started on a regular exercise schedule, serving as a fitness coach and motivator. The studio features exercise machines and free weights to fit any workout routine, and personal training is available.

Exercise is at the top of the list of Harrison’s tips for losing weight and getting in shape.

Five easy ways to lose weight:

1. Exercise: When you exercise properly, your heart rate should be above resting for approximately 30 minutes, and you should exercise a few times per week. Our TRAC Program at Accelerated Fitness is designed to do just that. When choosing a fitness coach, always look for programs that are personal and customized to your lifestyle as well as someone who gives you one-on-one coaching. A program completely tailored to you will get you the best results.

2. Water: Drinking an average of 20 ounces every four hours can greatly improve digestion, skin hydration, detoxification, and nutrient absorption and increase your overall health.

3: Food: Eat 4-5 times per day. Aim to eat small meals 3 hours apart. Doing this keeps your metabolism “running hot.” Having more meals often lets the body know it is not starving and that it is okay to keep all systems going and continue to burn fat.

4. Protein Shakes: Protein shakes are easy to take along for the ride when you’re on the go. One good-quality protein shake can carry as many nutrients as a small chicken breast. Diets and meal plans can get overwhelming at times. Find a nutrient-dense, superfood system that excludes all of the ”filler junk” and you’ll be set.

5. Sleep: I cannot emphasize enough the importance of sleep. Sleep is vital — our bodies repair themselves when we are sleeping. If you don’t get in enough sleep, you slow down fat loss by not supporting proper muscle repair. Lack of sleep also leads to headaches, the inability to think clearly, and feeling sluggish. Get your sleep.

MISSION FITNESS

What is the true fountain of youth? From 16thcentury explorers to 21st-century medical experts, society has been obsessed with discovering how to keep the looks and body of youth. According to Eric Driver, owner of Mission Fitness, the secret lies within.

“The real fountain of youth is within each of us,” he said. “It is in our ‘strength.’ We have the ability to transform our bodies from weak into strong and, through that transformation, live a stronger and perhaps longer life.”

Over the last decade, Driver has had many clients who have found success with improving their fitness and their lives. Two women stand out.

“There are a couple of clients who found this legendary fountain,” he said. “Several years ago, I had a new client coming in for her initial consultation — what we call a ‘strategy session.’ She told me she had back pain and knew she needed help but felt lost and stuck. She had a lot of anxiety about the gym, and it increased when she saw all the people working out. I convinced her that the people she saw training all had felt the way she was feeling when they started. This client has now been a member for eight years. She

...GET FIT FOR 2025

3245 N Adrian Hwy, Adrian

overcame her back pain and strengthened herself to be able to participate in her favorite sport. Recently, she told me she is stronger than ever and loves being healthy and fit.”

Driver’s second client, who has been with Mission for more than a decade, was anxious about taking that first step to better strength. “Not only was she procrastinating over a workout but over making the decision to work out,” Driver explained. “She just never felt ready.” Three months later, she finally came in for a workout. “She wanted to be stronger,” he said. “In the last 10-plus years, she has rarely missed a week of training.”

These women’s stories demonstrate how important it is to maintain a regular exercise schedule. “Improving strength as we age is the single best way to capture that elusive fountain of youth,” Driver said. “You will feel better and have more energy, too.”

“Don’t be shy,” Driver said. “Call today for your free ‘one-on-one’ with a trainer. The first 10 people who call or text us at 517-305-4675 and mention ‘Homefront’ will receive $150 in personal training to celebrate the start of their fitness journey.” n

Angelina and Harrison Sander

Client getting coached by Eric Driver

110 E Chicago Blvd Tecumseh

517-423-6370

T-F 10-5:30, Sat 9-2 patinajewelers.com

MIND, BODY, AND ‘SOLE’

Fashion and comfort are always in season. Offering men’s, women’s, and children’s footwear in popular brands like Brooks, Spring Step, Stride Rite, Red Wing, New Balance, Vionic, and more. Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

STAY WARM

Check out the newest boutique in downtown Tecumseh. This quaint shop is chock full of women’s, men’s, children’s, baby clothing, and much more. Also, local Michigan-themed gifts, accessories, books, etc. They even create their own Tecumseh-themed candles.

‘DEER’

FUTURE HUSBAND

Patina offers antler inlay as an alternative to traditional bands for men. Bring in your antler and they can create something personalized, just for him. Specializing in custom one-of-akind creations from wedding to colorful gemstone jewelry to handsome gold chains, bracelets, and watches.

ALL ABOARD FOR FUN

Over 1,500 puzzles ranging from 300 to 1,000 pieces. Electric and battery-powered train sets. Only 5” high, but big on cuddles, Aurora Palm Pals. Retro toys...games, history books, models, art supplies, etc. Open Daily through Christmas Eve!

DISCOVER NATURAL QUALITY!

Explore natural treasures at Anthro, from 100% Merino Wool Mini Ruanas handmade in England to artisanal skincare, organic teas, and more. This season, embrace eco-friendly, high-quality goods crafted for a natural, balanced lifestyle.

Amie Pelham Owner/Designer

Molly Boldt Interior Designer

Brian Renaldi Owner/Project Mgr

Olivia Ballow Interior Designer

Lisa Vansickle Interior Designer

Sharrie Williams

By Cashmere Morley

THE PRINCESS

OF ROCKING GOSPEL BLUES HELPS SPREAD SOME LOVE AT THE TECUMSEH CENTER FOR THE ARTS

you are looking for a sweet treat this Valentine’s Day, indulge in the richness and depth of Sharrie Williams’ “Rockin’ Gospel Blues” performance at the Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA). Williams will perform a rousing 90-minute set on Friday, Feb. 14 at 7:30pm. She has performed with the likes of Van Morrison and Dizzy Gillespie, among others, and hopes people leave her set not just humming along with her songs but with a “message in their soul.”

“Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite days,” said Williams, “because it’s all about love. And I’m a huge lovebug. So, we are going to share some love and spread joy and dance and sing and have a great time. That’s what I’m coming to do.”

A powerhouse vocalist known for her dynamic blend of gospel, blues, and soul, Williams grew up in a deeply musical, churchgoing household, where both her parents were singers. Raised in Saginaw, she has been singing since she “could open her mouth.” By the time

she was 12, Williams had begun touring and recording with the Greater Williams Temple church choir. This early exposure to gospel music shaped her style and laid the foundation for her career, which has taken her around the world.

“My husband, who is in heaven now, helped me get started with my [international] music career, and I began to sing internationally with his help. That’s when I began to sing with all these people like Buddy Guy and Koko Taylor and Ruth Brown. And, you know, to this day, I’m still in awe that God even used me to do what I do.”

Over the years, Williams has gained critical acclaim. She is a three-time Blues Music Award nominee and 2012 Blues Album of the Year winner from L’Academie du Jazz. Her discography includes highlights such as “Hard Drivin’ Woman,” which encapsulates her signature sound. Even with her success, she remains grounded in her faith and is passionate about spreading love and positivity through her music.

Williams has delivered performances

Tecumseh Center for the Arts

400 N Maumee St, Tecumseh 517-423-6617 • Th 12-5pm, F 12-5pm

$15 youth/$28 seniors & military/$33 adults aslupe@tecumsehmi.gov thetca.org • @TC4Arts

 @tecumsehcenterforthearts

 OfficialSharrieWilliams

at blues festivals and clubs around the globe, sharing the stage with legends like Mavis Staples, Larry McCray, Sugar Blue, Bobby Bland, Walter Trout, Johnny Taylor, and Joanna Connor, among others. Her musical influences range from Etta James and Tina Turner to Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin.

In 2001, Williams launched her debut album, “Sharrie Williams Live at Wiseguys,” under her own Faith Records label. The live recording garnered attention from the Detroit Music Awards, earning her a nomination for Best Blues Album of the Year. By 2003, Sharrie Williams & The Wiseguys had completed successful tours across Holland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and Great Britain, further solidifying their international presence.

Williams openly shares her journey of recovery from addiction, crediting meeting her husband in 1996 for encouraging her to get clean. Now, in 2024, she celebrates 28 years of sobriety. “I definitely bring my life to the forefront

[of my singing],” she said. “You never know who needs to hear [your story].” Tecumseh Center for the Arts Executive Director Amy Slupe expressed her excitement about Williams’ upcoming performance. “Welcoming Sharrie to the TCA is incredibly exciting. It’s always a great honor when an artist of her caliber performs here on our stage,” said Slupe. “There are very valid reasons why she’s internationally celebrated. The power of her vocals coupled with the fantastic energy she exudes is captivating. We hope everyone takes advantage of this amazing opportunity to experience Sharrie’s passion for music. She’s definitely going to be filling the TCA with love this Valentine’s Day!” Known as the “princess of rocking gospel blues,” Williams describes her performances as a mix of genres, bringing together a full band, backing vocals, and high-energy music. “We’re gonna have a stompin’ good time, because that’s what I have in mind,” Williams said. n

3rd

annual Coffee

+ Crochet + Knit Event

Sat, Feb 8, 2025

4-7pm • Musgrove + Co

Join Strawberry Blue Farm and Musgrove + Company for the “Third Annual Coffee + Crochet + Knit Event” on Saturday, Feb. 8 from 4 to 7pm at the Tecumseh Musgrove + Company. Spend the evening taking part in a community knit and crochet a-long. This gathering is an open invite for all ages and all levels to sit together while sharing a common art form. Local knitting and crochet experts will be on hand to answer questions and assist those wanting to learn. Extra needles and yarn will be available to practice your skills or you are welcome to BYON (bring your own needles) or BYOH (bring your own hooks) and create your own projects alongside fellow yarn-loving friends. Strawberry Blue Farm yarn will also be available for purchase. Find community. Learn something new. Hang out with old friends. Make new friends.

By Sara Hilton

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

To learn more and to keep up to date with the latest information, visit Strawberry Blue Farm online!

Strawberry Blue Farm is a flower and fiber farm located in Tecumseh. Their yarn and flowers are available for purchase at The Matthews House Shop among other locations.



 @strawberrybluefarm strawberrybluefarm.com

ur sheep have taken on a special job on our little farm — they bring people together. I actually never intended this, but it has become the part of our farm for which I am the most grateful. Early on, in the farmer’s market stage of our flower and fiber business, I placed a small suitcase of my handspun yarn and a few photos of our sheep next to our flowers. From the very first day, something started to happen around that little suitcase. Children would stop to look at the sheep and touch the yarn. Adults would stop to chat about childhood farm memories. Knitters and crocheters stopped to swap stories and patterns. At every market we attended, people gathered around that little suitcase like a warm campfire.

Over the years, that yarn community has grown through events, collaborations, groups, and even service projects. Our sweet little sheep and the wool they grow have become the catalyst for connection and community, comfort and joy, service and giving.

So often I think we have this idea that when it comes to service and loving others, if it doesn’t hurt or cost us dearly, we are doing it all wrong, that somehow it doesn’t count. What I’ve learned most from the community around Strawberry Blue Farm yarn is that when we serve and love others through the things that bring us joy, that joy wildly catapults out into the community and seems to always land in places of drought, places that are thirsty for joy.

As the winter winds begin to swirl, I invite you to join us in the many upcoming ways that we cozily gather around yarn. Join us in serving others. Join us in the joy of creating. Join us in community. Join us for the love of yarn.

Join a Group!

Over the past few years, three knitting, stitching, and crochet groups have formed from our first Coffee + Crochet + Knit Event with Musgrove + Company. These groups have been fostered under the sweet care of Sonja Downey of the Tecumseh District Library. “Over the last few years, I’ve watched deep relationships form within our groups,” she said. “These groups are therapeutic in a way. There is just something special about the conversations that happen over all these beautiful colors and among all the creating. There is a comfort and hominess to it.” Downey stresses the kindness and welcoming spirit of the groups. All abilities and crafts are welcome. Simply show up. Timeless Stitches in Tecumseh also offers a group and stresses that all abilities and even stitchery crafts are welcome. If you are looking for new community, consider joining one of these groups.

Knit + Crochet with Purpose

One of the many wonderful things that has come out of that little suitcase of yarn is the annual Knit + Crochet events. A few years ago, we teamed up with Musgrove + Company to connect people in the community who love to knit and crochet with local organizations that are in need of knitted and crocheted items. The response has been incredible. Our community of yarn lovers has abundantly given gifts of warmth and comfort through piles of hats, mittens, scarves, and blankets.

From now through the month of February, we will be collecting knitted and crocheted items for the Tecumseh Service Club, Hospice of Lenawee, and Catherine Cobb Safe House. Don’t know how to knit or crochet, but still want to help? We also have a list of additional items that can be given to support these wonderful organizations.

Tecumseh Service Club:

Where to Bring Donated Items:

From now through the month of February, drop off your completed knitted and crocheted items or your additional donations at one of three locations: Musgrove + Company (two locations): 135 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh • 110 W Maumee St, Adrian

The Matthews House Shop: 127 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh

Enjoy a 10% discount on your entire purchase when you bring a donation! Discount is only valid on the day of the donation and excludes consigned items. However, the discount INCLUDES Strawberry Blue Farm yarn! That means you can donate a knitted or crocheted item and then receive 10% off when you restock your yarn stash.

In need of knitted and crocheted hats, scarves, and mittens.

Additional needs:

Adult-size gloves for teenage boys and girls and gift certificates for food and the movie theater to give to the teens.

Hospice of Lenawee:

In need of knitted and crocheted hats and blankets.

Additional needs:

Women’s short sleeve nightgowns (larger sizes preferred), fuzzy socks with grippers, twin sheet sets — extra long to fit hospital beds, cloth pads, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, and plastic-covered pillows.

Catherine Cobb Safe House:

In need of knitted and crocheted baby socks, hats, and mittens.

Additional needs:

Over-the-counter medicine, facial tissue, personal hygiene items (women and children), paper towels, toilet paper, diapers (size 3-6), pull-ups (size 2T-3T), teen boy hygiene items, children’s underwear, and teen boxers.

Tecumseh District Library

Knitting and Crochet Group

Where: Tecumseh District Library

125 N Ottawa St, Tecumseh

When: Third Saturday of the month

Time: 10am-12pm

Musgrove + Company

Knitting and Crochet Group

Where: Musgrove + Company

135 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh

When: First Tuesday of the month

Time: 5-7pm

Crafting and Chatting Around the Fireplace

Where: Tecumseh District Library

125 N Ottawa, Tecumseh

When: Fridays

Time: 10am-1pm

Timeless Stitches Knit and Crochet Group

Where: Timeless Stitches

112 N Evans St, #3, Tecumseh

When: Tuesdays • Time: 1-3pm

By Linda Learman

NEVER FORGET

JACK HAMMEL, TECUMSEH’S FLYING TIGER

“N

ever Forget” is a motto conjuring an ode to democracy and the respect, honor, and sacrifices it demands. A few good Tecumsehites recently put those words into action to ensure Tecumseh native son Jack Hammel, a young fighter pilot and member of the Flying Tigers, who died helping to defend China and American interests from Japanese hostility during World War II, will be forever remembered both at home and abroad

On September 3, 2024, nearly 80 years after Hammel’s death, the “Beijing Review” and other Chinese news outlets reported Hammel’s name was added to China’s first international monument dedicated to aviation martyrs who helped China defend itself from Japan in WWII (American names were first added in 1995). Hammel’s story was shared during a ceremony in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, where the Memorial Hall is located, and China released a list of 2,590 names of American aviation martyrs the same day, in an effort to improve historical records and honor the enduring legacy of the Flying Tigers.

But, without the especially dedicated efforts of Jerry Hale, Bob Elliott, and other Tecumseh folk, Hammel’s name may never have made it onto the Chinese memorial. It was “a real labor of love,” says Hale, a Tecumseh native, now of Wayne, Pa., who was instrumental in getting Hammel’s name added to the Chinese monument. Elliott, a 35-year Tecumseh resident and historian of the Tecumseh Historical Society for almost as many years, has kept the flame of Hammel’s memory alive locally. When Hale and Elliott’s paths crossed in 2018, Hammel’s legacy would be assured around the world.

Elliott, who studied to be a teacher in college before spending his 40-year career in the commercial aviation industry from which he is now semiretired, has led tours through Tecumseh’s Brookside Cemetery for many years, teaching various groups about the local souls buried there who fought for freedom. Among them is Harry Hammel, a veteran wounded in World War I and a prominent doctor in town who served as “chief of staff at Herrick Memorial Hospital in Tecumseh for many years, a hospital he helped create,” writes Elliott in his 2023 book “Tecumseh’s Hometown Heroes.” Elliott’s book pays homage to 35 local veterans from the Revolutionary to Vietnam Wars, including Dr. Hammel, as well as his son Jack.

THE FLYING TIGERS WERE A GROUP OF VOLUNTEER CIVILIAN, BUT MILITARY-TRAINED PILOTS. THE P-40 PLANES HAD EXCELLENT DIVING AND CLIMBING ABILITIES.

Lieutenant Jack Hammel

As Elliott recounts in his book, Jack Hammel, a 1939 graduate of Tecumseh High School, was class and student council president. He captained the basketball team. Handsome with deep set eyes, thick dark hair, and a pleasant smile, his black and white high school yearbook photo exudes a quiet confidence. After high school, in 1940, Hammel enrolled in the United States Military Academy West Point. WWII had begun on September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland; two days later, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany. The United States would not enter the war for another two years, but Hammel’s class would be the only one in the U.S. Military Academy’s history to graduate one year early, in June 1943, allowing cadets to be quickly commissioned into the Army Air Corps in service of the war.

Hale, a 1965 THS grad and retired U.S. Coast Guard captain who served for 27 years, likes to walk around Brookside Cemetery when he comes home to Tecumseh, honoring those who served before him. A few months before his high school graduation, though, he had not known anyone who personally lost someone in war. That spring, Hale worked for a widow on Union Street, Mrs. Elizabeth Hammel, who needed help with her lawn and various house projects. Her husband, Dr. Harry Hammel, buried in nearby Brookside, died in 1953, and she lived alone. One day, Mrs. Hammel asked Hale about his plans after high school. When he told her he was entering the Coast Guard Academy, she hesitated a few moments and then said, “I want to show you something,” recalls Hale. She led him up to her son Jack’s room, virtually untouched since his 1939 high school graduation, explaining that he had been killed in WWII. “Well, it really stayed with me,” Hale says.

DATES THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY

While many Americans know the United States helped to liberate Western Europe from Hitler’s Nazis, fewer may know of U.S. efforts to protect China during the war. In the early 20th century, as China rejected monarchy, it wrestled internally over nationalist (and democratic leaning) or communist rule. Just as Chinese Nationalists were beginning to prevail, Japan started to exert growing fascist control and, in 1934, declared rights to all of China, leading to a long and brutal war between the two countries. On December 13, 1937, the Japanese invaded the then-capital city of Nanjing and, over the next six weeks, brutally raped tens of thousands of women and girls and murdered an estimated 200,000-300,000 civilians. It would be decades before the city recovered from all the burning, killing, raping, and looting that took place during the Nanjing Massacre, but the atrocities committed there would never be forgotten by the Chinese.

By 1940, as the war raged on between Japan and China, and Germany continued its invasion into Western Europe, President Roosevelt grew concerned that Japan’s all but assured defeat of China would embolden them to act against the United States. He extended $25 million in aid to China, which allowed the Chinese to purchase 100 P-40 U.S. aircraft to better fight the Japanese, but it was soon apparent many of the Chinese pilots lacked adequate training.

According to the U.S. Army Center of Military History, in the spring of 1941, before America entered the war, President Roosevelt agreed to a request from Chinese Generalissimo Chiang for volunteer American civilian pilots to fly the P-40 aircraft the Chinese had purchased. Chiang’s request came at the suggestion of his advisor, Claire Chennault, a U.S. aviator who had retired from the U.S. Army Air Corps at age 43 in 1937, and who soon thereafter had accepted a lucrative job offer from China to serve as an advisor to the Chinese Air Force in their war against Japan.

Then, on December 7, 1941, the Japanese surprise bombed Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii, killing more

than 2,400 Americans and injuring over 1,000 more. The following day, speaking before a joint session of Congress (and broadcast on the radio to a stunned nation), President Franklin D. Roosevelt intoned that December 7, 1941, would be “a date which will live in infamy.” After FDR’s speech, Congress approved a near-unanimous declaration of war on Japan. Three days later, on December 11, 1941, Germany and Italy, Japan’s allies, declared war on the United States, and Congress responded in kind, marking the start of American involvement in the global conflict.

On December 20, 1941, within 12 days of America entering the war — and with a “Europe-first” policy to adhere to — the Flying Tigers, as the volunteer civilian, but U.S. military-trained pilots came to be known, were the first Americans to fight alongside the Chinese in the war with Japan. The P-40 planes, their noses painted with fierce shark jaws, were not as sophisticated as some of the Japanese aircraft, but in skilled hands, they had excellent diving and climbing maneuverability that exposed Japanese aircraft weaknesses.

In the summer of 1942, with U.S. involvement in WWII well

underway, the Flying Tigers were integrated into the U.S. military and continued with the fighting spirit the volunteer American aviators began. Chennault rejoined the U.S. Army around this time, was promoted to brigadier general, and assumed command of the 14th Army Air Corps in March 1943.

Meanwhile, after Hammel’s accelerated graduation from West Point in June 1943, he married and soon received his orders for China as a fighter pilot in the 14th Army Air Corps, becoming one of the Flying Tigers whose tenacity and skill helped lead to Japan’s eventual surrender in China on August 15, 1945. But Hammel would never get to savor the victory. On July 25, 1945, only a few weeks before Japan’s surrender, Hammel was killed in action — one of the last casualties of the war — his plane shot down by Japanese ground fire. He was 23 years old.

Hammel’s father, Colonel Doctor Harry, was serving in the Army, commanding an American hospital in Germany, “and his younger brother, Richard, was with the U.S. Navy in Guam at the time of Jack’s death,” Elliott writes in “Tecumseh’s Hometown Heroes.” One can only imagine the anxiety and heartbreak this Tecumseh family endured, including their wives, mother, and daughters/sisters still at home, during those difficult war years. Elliott “can still get emotional,” he says, when he thinks about “these young kids whose job it was to liberate the world.”

A FINAL SALUTE

n 2017, retired from the USCG, Hale had been working as chaplain and director of character development at the Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania. He accompanied a student group to China, and one of the cities they visited was Nanjing (site of the 1937 massacre), where they also saw the Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan. Remembering the long-ago story Mrs. Hammel had told him about her son Jack’s death, Hale looked for his name on the monument, but it was not there, and Hale started an inquiry into how to remedy the omission.

In May of 2018, Hale was the featured speaker for the Tecumseh Memorial Day Parade. He told the story about Hammel and his pursuit of trying to get Hammel’s name added to the Chinese monument. As Tecumseh historian, Elliott knew of the Hammels and regularly featured Dr. Hammel in his cemetery tours. He was happy to help. Around the same time, Hale had nominated Hammel for the “Wall of Honor” the Tecumseh Alumni Association wanted to create at the new high school, and soon thereafter fellow THS alum, Sherry Harper, was helping Hale find evidence required to get Hammel’s name on the Chinese memorial.

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WWII Airman's cap

Jerry Hale

They found a nephew of Hammel’s who had some memorabilia to share, and one of Hale’s colleagues at Valley Forge with Chinese contacts helped get Hale’s petition to Xhang Heqiang, a counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., who personally brought the matter to the attention of the Chinese ambassador. Hale says, “Heqiang said it was the greatest honor of his career to help make this happen.”

SEPT 3, 2024 - HAMMEL’S NAME WAS ADDED TO THE MEMORIAL IN NANJING, CHINA

Eight years after Hale’s visit to China, Hammel’s name was finally etched in stone this past fall at the Nanjing memorial. Spurred by his collaboration with Hale, Elliott put together a display this summer about Hammel and the Flying Tigers in the Tecumseh Museum in time for the city’s

bicentennial celebration this past July. Many items are still available for viewing.

After his death, Hammel was laid to rest in the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. In 1973, the West Point Class of June 1943 dedicated a memorial that includes Hammel’s name. Hammel’s last

sibling passed away in 2018, but his service and sacrifice continue to be remembered in the places where he was born, educated, fought for freedom, and died. Hale has hopes of more ChineseAmerican connections to come honoring this Tecumseh son.

When asked why he thinks it is important to share stories like Hammel’s with people today, Elliott does not hesitate: “Freedom is important anywhere around the world. No matter where democracy

and freedom are, we’re here to help. That’s what America is about,” he says. And then — maybe it is seasonal allergies after leading groups of schoolkids through the cemetery earlier that day — Elliott excuses himself to grab a tissue. n

Tecumseh Area Historical Museum 302 East Chicago Blvd 517-423-2374 historictecumseh.org

By Gayle Hazelbaker

Imagination Library

INSPIRED BY DOLLY PARTON

Free books for kids. Not an offer you see too often. But that is exactly what Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is all about: free books for kids. Dolly Parton created her Imagination Library to honor her father. According to her, he was a smart man but never got the chance to learn to read and write. As a little girl, she saw how that held him back. So she created her Imagination Library to inspire children everywhere to love books and reading. The flagship program of the Dollywood Foundation began in her home county to encourage children and decrease the number of high school dropouts. Over the years, the program expanded to cover the United States and several other countries. The Imagination Library is sparking a love of literacy in children all around the world. By reading regularly with children during their preschool years, we give them a big boost toward a successful education.

Many of us would agree that education is one of the most valuable gifts that we can give the younger generation. All children deserve the opportunity to succeed in life, to become independent, and to have the confidence to navigate the world around them. One of those key skills is literacy, and this skill is best developed early in their lives. By providing support and resources to help children develop their literacy skills, we can help ensure that they

have a strong foundation for learning and growth, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Early literacy is what children know about reading and writing before they learn to read and write. It is not about teaching reading, memorizing, or using flashcards. Instead, it is laying the foundation so a child has the necessary skills when they are developmentally ready to read. Research has shown that children who are exposed to reading and language-rich environments before they start school are more likely to be successful in academic pursuits later. This is because early literacy development provides children with a strong foundation of linguistic skills, improved grammar, higher quality writing, better spelling, and increased oral communication.

Children who enter school with strong literacy skills are better equipped to understand and communicate with their teachers and peers as well as to comprehend the information presented to them in class. They are also more likely to be able to follow instructions, complete assignments, and express themselves effectively, which are all crucial skills for success in school.

So, back to free books for kids. The Lenawee Community Foundation (LCF) has supported the Imagination Library for children in Lenawee County for 15 years. According to Paula Trentman of the LCF,

nearly 6,000 children have aged out of the program. Currently, approximately 1,000 kids are registered with the Imagination Library throughout our county and over 235,000 books have been delivered. While these books are free to the children who receive them, they are paid for through contributions to the LCF. Trentman reports she is working on an endowment to support this program, but until it is in place, all donations are welcome. It sounds almost too good to be true, but

it is not. For those interested, it is simple to join the Lenawee Imagination Library. All children from birth until their fifth birthday are eligible. Short official registration forms are available at all the public libraries across Lenawee County. Once a form is completed, it is mailed to the LCF (the address is on the brochure). Within 8-10 weeks after the registration form has been received, books will begin arriving and will continue until the child turns five.

Gayle ’s top 5 picks for

Librarians across the county are delighted to bring this opportunity to the children in their communities. “From the library perspective, to be the conduit of such a great program is an honor,” said Colleen Leddy, director of Stair District Library in Morenci. Leddy continued, “It levels the playing field for all children to have the same opportunity to be ready for reading and success.”

“Kilt Trip”

Winter Reads

“Kilt Trip” by Alexandra Kiley is a much better book than its goofy title would imply. It begins as a funny travel rom-com but quickly becomes a search for family and belonging. Addie is a tour consultant hired by a small family-run tour company out of Edinburgh, Scotland. Logan is the son of the owner of said tour company who resists tourist traps in his tours, opting for meaningful connections to the magic that is Scotland. The story is a well-done “enemies to lovers” trope. Not many pages in, these stubborn, lost people begin to realize what the other has to offer might be just what they need. I enjoyed this book for the descriptions of Scotland, for the relatable characters full of human flaws, and for the satisfying ending.

“Faking Christmas”

“Faking Christmas” by Kerry Winfrey is like a Hallmark holiday movie in book form. Lauren works as the social media manager for “Buckeye State of Mind,” an Ohio tourism magazine and website. She most definitely

does not run a farm, but one tiny misunderstanding leads her boss, Gilbert, to think she owns her twin sister Holly’s farm just outside of Columbus. Laurel only handles the social media for the farm, but she is happy to keep her little white lie going if it means not getting fired. When her boss invites himself for dinner on Christmas Eve, things get zany. Lauren thought it would be for only one night, but then a blizzard hits and everyone is there for the holidays. It is a tender story with lots of situational and family humor. If what you are looking for is light and cute with a happy ending, then this is your holiday read!

“Last Call at the Nightingale”

“Last Call at the Nightingale” by Katharine Schellman is a well-plotted mystery set during the Jazz Age in New York City. Vivian lives in a tenement building with her sister. Both women work at a dress shop, where they spend long hours sewing dresses for the city’s wealthy inhabitants. At night, while her sister continues to sew at home, Vivian frequents the

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Nightingale, a speakeasy where illegal liquor flows and the band plays fast dance tunes. One evening, our amateur sleuth is caught in a police raid. From that point on, she is thrust into the seedy world of bootleggers and mobsters. This is a fun, pageturning read with strong female characters and creative sleuthing.

“The Collected Regrets of Clover”

The tagline for Mikki Brammer’s debut novel, “The Collected Regrets of Clover,” is “What’s the point of giving someone a beautiful death if you can’t give yourself a beautiful life?” Clover has experienced a lot of loss, beginning when she witnessed her kindergarten teacher suddenly die in front of the class. Only a few years later, her parents perish in an accident. These events send her on a journey toward becoming a death doula. Clover is a unique, dare I say an odd, character. As you immerse yourself in her story, you cannot help but feel empathy for her. I loved this book. “The New York Times” summed it up perfectly: “Clover’s

emergence from a shuttered life is moving enough to elicit tears and Brammer’s take on death and grieving is profound enough to feel genuinely instructional.” This is a beautiful novel.

“Five

Decembers”

The winner of the 2022 Edgar Award for Best Novel, “Five Decembers” by James Kestrel is extraordinary. In December 1941, Honolulu Detective Joe McGrady is assigned the case of the gruesome murder of a young naval cadet and a young Japanese woman. His investigation takes him across the globe right before the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor. This book is much more than a pulpy crime novel. It is a story of the human price of war, of survival at any cost, and of love and loss. Kestrel really knows his way around the English language. I have never read anything as beautifully written about WWII, except for “All the Light We Cannot See.” I won’t forget this novel for a long time. n

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HOLY GUACAMOLE

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TROPICAL TASTE

This new eatery offers a wide variety of home-cooked options including seafood, specialty burgers, sandwiches, and pasta dishes. Full bar. Enjoy the tropical-inspired atmosphere.

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HOLIDAY COCKTAILS

Candy Cane and Cinnamon Sugar Cookie are just two of their yummy holiday cocktails. Also try their chicken wings/tenders, steak, and nachos. Don’t forget about Taco Tuesdays! Full service bar and Bloody Marys.

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VARIE•TEA

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By Ann Grahl

Josh Roth is no stranger to awakening history while bringing his entrepreneurial dreams to life. His thriving Tecumseh

shop, Musgrove + Company, named for surveyor Musgrove Evans and situated in a building that dates back to 1875, is evidence of that. That location’s success prompted the opening of a second in downtown Adrian. Now Roth has teamed with fellow Tecumseh businessman Chris Wanke, owner of the popular catering company 3 Dudes & Dinner, to launch a new restaurant in the Maple City — Maumee Street: taproom + kitchen, located at the main four corners.

And, once again, he is giving a nod to history while looking ahead to creating a relaxed, familial setting centered on comfort food, festive libations, and a sitand-stay-awhile environment. “We want folks to linger by offering home comfort and personalized service in a warm, inviting atmosphere,” said Roth.

Roth and Wanke connected a year ago when Roth was looking for kitchen space to expand Musgrove’s offerings. While that possibility did not come to fruition, it seems the pair were still destined to work together. Wanke explained that his participation in Maumee Street aligns well with his work at 3 Dudes & Dinner, so the fit and the timing were right to pursue the venture.

“We are likeminded and compatible, each focusing on what we’re good at but collaborating to form a cohesive whole,” Roth explained. “Our food and service join to bring our vision together.”

Looking out the window while comfortably seated at a table near the taproom’s entrance, it is easy to envision the early twentieth-century trolleys that once traveled Maumee Street and to imagine folks bustling about town — shopping, dining, and sharing community. It is that sense of history that Roth honors by including an image of a trolley in Maumee Street: taproom + kitchen’s logo and by incorporating historic photographs and other reminders of the past in the taproom’s décor.

But the harkens to the past don’t end there. Maumee Street’s seasonal, smallplate offerings are reminiscent of what prior generations might have prepared:

“It’s the Midwestern comfort food that so many of us recognize,” said Wanke. “Our dishes have names everyone can pronounce. Think traditional Americana with a few updates.” As Wanke developed the menu and researched what was already available in Lenawee County, he adopted the simple phrase “not redundant, but familiar” to describe his recipes.

The menu features the comforting flavors of home reimagined — roasted turkey to stuffed meatloaf, wings to fried chicken, mashed potatoes to mac &

Photo by Lora Kasik

cheese, soups that change weekly, seasonal salads, and tasty desserts like classic apple pie, a lot of which can be adjusted to allow for food allergies and dietary restrictions. Dishes are prepared with locally procured ingredients, including produce from area farmers, and semi-local meat. “At some point, we’d like to become hyperlocal and take advantage of being in an agricultural hotbed,” said Roth.

Beyond the carefully crafted menu items coming from the kitchen, the taproom portion of Maumee Street offers a variety of cocktails, beer, and wine — all on tap. They also offer a full slate of nonalcoholic beverage options, including inventive mocktails as well as nonalcoholic wine and beer.

Maumee Street: taproom + kitchen is also proud to collaborate with Four Keys Brewing in Blissfield, Mammoth Distilling in Adrian, River Raisin Distillery in Manchester, and Tenacity Craft in Detroit. In the case of Tenacity, Roth is continuing the relationship he developed with the owners of this Brewery who introduced the coffee enthusiast to the family farmers in Costa Rica from which Musgrove purchases its direct-trade coffee beans. Roth noted that the taproom is also open to expanding its sources and welcomes discussions with more brewers.

While Roth and Wanke embrace the historical aspects of the building and city in which they do business, they also look forward to playing their

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part in contributing to Adrian’s future. Indeed, these two entrepreneurs with one shared vision stand ready to make some history of their own — creating a place with a familiar, welcoming vibe, where “everybody knows your name and they’re always glad you came.” n

Maumee Street: taproom + kitchen 101 E Maumee St, Adrian maumeestreet.com cheers@maumeestreet.com FB and IG: @maumeestreet Th-Sun 4-10pm

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Josh Roth and Chris Wanke

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By Ann Grahl

Tecumseh

Mr. Holdridge’s Men’s Collection

128 E Chicago Blvd

Tecumseh • 517-798-1732

anthroapothecary.com

  @anthroapothecary

T-Th 10-4 F-Sat 10-5 Sun 12-4 (thru Christmas)

eet Mr. Holdridge’s Men’s Collection, the new men’s accessory shop in downtown Tecumseh, offering “curated excellence” — ethically sourced products and upscale items for those with discriminating taste looking to enhance their style or indulge in a bit of nature-based self-care.

This new storefront is an extension of Anthro Apothecary, which proprietor Michaela Holdridge opened in 2021. Anthro features numerous in-house blended teas, herbs and spices, and natural bath and body care items, as well as jewelry and other accessories.

Holdridge also included a line of men’s products in that initial shop. Those items, primarily curated by her husband, Matthew, proved popular. And, when the space next to Anthro, which had previously housed Sweetie Pants, became available, the Holdridges did not hesitate to expand. Soon, they were removing the false wall that had existed between the two shops and Mr. Holdridge’s Men’s Collection grew into a space of its own.

Matthew helps to create the scents for the products and essential oils that are produced in the commercial kitchen located in the store. He is also instrumental in choosing the stock and has a reputation for acquiring merchandise that reflects quality craftsmanship while appealing to customers’ sensibilities.

Michaela Holdridge

ARM yourself against ILLNESS

In addition to organic, eco-friendly herbal men’s care products — body washes, soaps, shampoos, shaving creams, and beard and face washes — Mr. Holdridge’s stocks a variety of carefully collected items, including custom leather bags, branded hats, woven caps from Ireland and England,

outdoor gear for camping enthusiasts, and a variety of unique specialty and gift items. Mr. Holdridge’s Men’s Collection and Anthro Apothecary share open hours, making for a convenient one-stop shopping experience, whether you’re seeking personal, home, or gift-giving options.

The Cottage Door

102 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh • 517-301-4330  @thecottagedoortecumseh • thecottagedoorrichland@gmail.com

elcome to The Cottage Door — a warm and welcoming shopping destination in the heart of downtown Tecumseh. This recently opened boutique offers a variety of women’s, men’s, and children’s apparel, including t-shirts and hoodies celebrating Michigan sports teams; earrings, caps, scarves, and other accessories; and gift options galore, from glasses to candles, books to playing cards, and dish towels to home décor. Whether you are feeling Tecumseh proud or purely Michigan, The Cottage Door offers an array of merchandise to help you express yourself.

Laura Chambers Hosler opened The Cottage Door this past September. She and her husband, Jim, along with their parents, worked feverishly to get the shop ready for its public debut. And their efforts so far have paid off, as both locals and those visiting Tecumseh have supported the Hoslers’ new venture.

Laura and Jim are “entrepreneurs at heart,” who already own a successful location of The Cottage Door in Richland, Mich., north of Kalamazoo, which they have operated for nearly three years. Laura also runs an advertising agency, GreenStreet Marketing, in Kalamazoo. And Jim works for Kellanova in Battle Creek.

Though she and Jim reside in Plainwell, Mich., with their three children — Jacob (9), Noelle (6), and James (5) — for Laura, a 1999 graduate of Tecumseh High School, any time spent in town is like a homecoming. This second location of The Cottage Door is a brick-andmortar representation of that and a reflection of who Laura and Jim are. The couple are proud to be part of Tecumseh’s “vibrant community” and reveal that, wherever else they may find themselves, “their hearts are here.”

Laura Chambers Hosler

Ring Sportscards

214 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh • Tecumseh Commons,

hether you’ve been a collector for decades or are just discovering the joy of flipping through packs or boxes in search of that elusive Paul Skenes rookie card, Ring Sportscards in Tecumseh is the place for you. They stock everything you need to satisfy your collecting appetite. From exclusive hobby store to general retail products, they’re your all-sport card-collecting hub.

Ring Sportscards is the latest venture of Bill Leisenring, who also owns Tecumseh Tavern, along with his son, Jack. His new business is located on the second floor of the Tecumseh Commons Building on Chicago Boulevard, a few doors east from the Tavern. Leisenring purchased the stretch of property in 2023 and is working to expand downtown activity eastward.

“I’m a collector first and then a dealer,” said Leisenring, who was bitten by the collecting bug as a child in the 1980s. Soon, he was combining that hobby with his burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit, beginning to sell cards and set up shows as a teen — all of this inspired by his love of sports and his desire to share that passion with like-minded folks.

To that end, Leisenring has designed Ring Sportscards as not just a quick-stop shopping experience, but a place where collectors across generations can gather to exchange cards, talk sports, or bond over their shared love of both. And he hopes to eventually host trade nights and other events at the shop to further his goal of bringing the sports card collecting community together.

“We live in a cardboard desert so it is great to be able to provide a place in Lenawee County for the hobby,” said Leisenring.

Beyond unopened boxes of cards, individual graded cards, and raw cards across all sports, Ring Sportscards carries memorabilia and a complete complement of supplies, which are also suitable for trading card games such as Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering. Additionally, Leisenring offers appointments during which he reviews and buys collections, does appraisals, and submits cards for professional grading.

Open hours currently vary but can be found via Ring Sportscards social media platforms. n

Bill Leisenring

In-Store Pickup or Delivery: Professional Grade Dura-Cube Salt and Bottled Water for Water Coolers

2025 Chevrolet Trax

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Lacey Parker Sales

Katie Coleman Dealership Principal

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Don Coward Sales

Meghan Lamkin Finance Manager

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My team focused on my cancer, so I could focus on healing.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Rebecca resolved to control what she could. She was determined to become a better person through the experience, but as she got into treatment, she soon became overwhelmed by her circumstances. Her dedicated team at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital sensed her despair and responded promptly to put her at ease. Now, thanks to their compassion and expertise, Rebecca is cancer-free and focused on paying it forward as she supports others facing cancer.

By Christine MacIntyre

Looking for a festive way to enjoy the holiday season? The Lenawee County Fairgrounds’ Fantasy Fair Lights Drive-Thru & Craft Show is a family-friendly outing that promises fun, lights, and a chance to give back to the community. The event, which takes place on Dec. 13 and 14 from 6 to 9pm and on Dec. 15 from 6 to 8pm, promises to be a hit for all ages.

For $10 a car, family and friends can load up a vehicle and enjoy a dazzling one-mile drive through the fairgrounds. “You just never know what you’re going to see from year to year,” said Melinda Stubli, a Lenawee Fair board member. From glittering lights on tractors to an enchanting live nativity scene and creative displays with side-by-sides and inflatable holiday characters, the trail features everything from community-sponsored entries to decked-out farm equipment. Last year’s event boasted over 50 entries from businesses, groups, clubs, churches, and individuals, with some choosing to bring their own props while others lit up areas of the fairgrounds. “Some of the displays are unbelievable,” noted Stubli, reflecting on the community’s commitment to making the event magical.

Lenawee County Fairgrounds

Fantasy Fair Lights

Admission: $10 per car (or $8 with a non-perishable food donation)

Bring a food donation and save! In the spirit of giving, the Fantasy Fair Lights Drive-Thru & Craft Show features a canned food drive. Donate a nonperishable food item and receive $2 off the entry fee. Help make a difference this season by supporting local families while enjoying the lights and festivities.

Need to check items off your holiday shopping list? The craft show is a must-see. Located in the merchant building midway through the lighted route, visitors can park their car, do some shopping, and even visit Santa Claus. The show features handmade holiday décor, unique gifts, and oneof-a-kind crafts made by local artisans. It is free to enter and operates during the same hours as the light display, with easy re-entry for drivers wanting to finish the drive-thru after a holiday shopping break.

Sunday night adds its own heartwarming

twist, as local nursing homes bring busloads of residents to cruise through the lights at no charge.

“It’s just a courtesy to give back to our senior citizens,” said Stubli, who founded the drive-thru event during COVID-19. After visiting a holiday light drive-thru at another fair, she decided to do something similar to bring joy to the community during a difficult time. And she has continued the tradition “by popular demand.”

For those seeking a more active way to experience the lights, the Dashing Through the Lights 5K Fun Run will be held on Saturday, Dec. 14 starting at 4:30pm; it is sure to add an extra sparkle to the already bright and lively weekend festivities.

Mark your calendars. You do not want to miss this magical event, packed with lights, laughter, and holiday cheer! n

Adrian’s

TECUMSEH YOUTH THEATRE

TAKES THE STAGE

Alice in wonderlAnd jr

February 1 • 2pm & 7pm

February 2 • 3pm

By Grace Balog

ecumseh Youth Theatre (TYT) has kicked off its 2024-2025 season and is soon to stage productions of “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” and “Chicago.”

Starting as an offshoot of the Tecumseh Civic Auditorium (TCA) 41 years ago, TYT has grown into an exciting and invigorating theater program for Lenawee County students.

The TYT is open to all Lenawee County aspiring thespians in grades 2-12. While some productions have cameos from adults as needed, TYT is the oldest strictly youth-based theater in Southeast Michigan. The TYT stages three productions a year, featuring elementary, middle school, and high school students, respectively. This

year’s elementary school show, “The Aristocats KIDS,” is already in the books. The middle schoolers take the stage next with their production of “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” on Feb. 1, with shows at 2 and 7pm, and concluding on Feb. 2 at 3pm. And high-school students will stage “Chicago,” Feb. 28 at 7pm, March 1 at 7pm, and March 2 at 3pm.

According to TYT President Jennifer Williams, the single best way to support TYT is by attending the shows and showing your support of these talented students. “Whether it’s on the board, financially, or through volunteering, I will be a lifelong supporter of TYT,” Williams said.

Williams, who has been involved with TYT for more than 20 years, was a professional ballerina and dance teacher when she came to Tecumseh, so she already had an interest in the performing arts scene. After seeing the

professionalism and quality shown in TYT’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” she knew she wanted to be a part of the program. She volunteered right away and eventually enrolled all three of her children as well. During the last eight years, Williams has served as the TYT board president.

Robyn Francis became involved in the program when her daughter, Maelle, expressed an interest in theater, trying out for the elementary production of “Pirates Past Noon.” That was 10 years ago. Nowadays, Robyn is part of the board in the role of treasurer. Since TYT is a nonprofit organization, managing incoming funds and budgeting expenses is crucial. The organization depends on ticket sales, sponsorships, and grants to fund productions.

Maelle continues to be involved in TYT as well; she worked as a projection tech in “The Aristocats KIDS” and

is setting her sights on auditioning for this year’s high school production of “Chicago.”

Beth Flumignan’s TYT tenure parallels that of her daughter, Ella. She credits TYT with growing her daughter’s confidence. “She was a kid who could hardly be around other children,” Beth said. “Now she’s in ‘Into the Woods’ at the Croswell and she’s going to be Little Red. It has completely transformed who she is and how she interacts as a person and turned her into this driven, strong, amazing storyteller.”

Beth started out helping with sets and other backstage tasks, but she became more involved as time went on. She is currently the secretary of the TYT board. “As a parent of a kid who is interested in theater, it becomes your whole life. You get sucked in really quickly,” she said.

Though the three women hold official board titles, Beth explained that responsibilities are often shared and that proactivity and teamwork are highly valued. “If there’s a hole in a production team, we’re all jumping in,” Williams added.

TYT’s goal is to provide a safe, educational environment, where students can learn both theater and life skills and move forward into the collegiate or professional level feeling comfortable and confident in their own skin.

Maelle explained that being in TYT has prepared her for her future in theater. “I learned professionalism,

Ella Flumignan and Maelle Francis lead the cast members.

to work hard and have fun. I can laugh with friends and the team, but since we have to prepare in such a short time, we have to stay focused and grind the whole time.”

Though the students work hard, TYT remains a comfortable place for youth, where all are welcome and free to express themselves. “I think it’s very important for kids to have a space where they can make a mistake and move forward. We get that feedback from them in their thank you letters or when they’re talking to us. They say ‘this feels like family,’ ‘this feels like home,’ and ‘this feels okay,’” Beth said. Since the pandemic, it’s been an uphill climb to get back to normal, but Williams said the future is looking bright. “We are always aiming for a bigger tomorrow and we are much better and stronger today than we were.”

There is no shortage of ways to participate in and support TYT behind the scenes, whether it be working in costumes, props, or sets. Students can also become assistant directors, stage managers, or lighting/sound technicians, or they can work to help with advertising, sending emails, or distributing posters.

The public can support TYT by attending shows, by donating funds, or by volunteering. For more information on how to help, email board@ tecumsehyouththeatre.com.

“Come support these kids because they have worked so hard and have put their hearts and souls into this,” Beth said. She added that the energy they receive from the audience while on stage takes a good performance to an amazing one. n

Tecumseh Youth Theatre

Performs at the TCA

400 N Maumee St, Tecumseh 517-301-1347

board@tecumsehyouththeatre.com tecumsehyouththeatre.com

IG and X: @theatretyt

MATT HILTON

By Ann Grahl

SUPERINTENDENT OF TECUMSEH SCHOOLS

Matt Hilton’s entry into the world of education came on a fluke. But his journey since that unanticipated change of course is one he has never regretted. While it has not been without challenges, his career path has been lined with a greater number of rewards, not the least of which has been the opportunity to positively influence the lives of the many students he has had the privilege to serve.

Back when he was a student at Hope College in Holland, Mich., working toward his degree as a sound/lighting engineer, Hilton found himself in a position perhaps familiar to many of us — he needed one more class to graduate. And where did he find those elusive credits? In an introductory education course entitled “The Exceptional Child.” Soon, he was placed as a student intern in Mrs. Dornerwood’s second-grade classroom at Woodside Elementary in West Ottawa, Mich. for two hours each week.

And that is all it took. Hilton switched his major and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology, with a math/ science composite and a professional teaching certificate. It was not long before he was subbing, eventually becoming the only male teacher on staff at Van Raalte Elementary School in Holland, where he was also a K-3 literary coach. It was there that a perceptive principal saw something in the rookie teacher and suggested the latter would be a good fit for an administrative role. So, a couple of years in, Hilton attained an administrative certificate and, eventually, a Master of Educational Leadership and Administration from Michigan State University.

Hilton would spend five years within the Holland Public School system before taking a position in the Ann Arbor Public Schools, as a reading specialist and Title I teacher. Over the course of his 20 years in Ann Arbor, he would eventually assume the role of elementary school principal at Mitchell Elementary and then that of executive director of elementary education. The next logical step: a superintendent position. And

the next logical school system: Tecumseh Public Schools, located in the city to which he and his wife, Sara, owner of Strawberry Blue Farm, had relocated in 2016, longing for “a small-town environment” in which to raise their daughter, Hailey, and son, Tyler, both graduates of Tecumseh High School.

Hilton’s set of experiences in both Holland and Ann Arbor have prepared him well for his new role. And he views his familiarity with the Tecumseh Public School system as an asset that helps him to “move the district forward while respecting the past.”

While it is understandable that holding this type of position in the city in which he also resides might feel intrusive at times, Hilton embraces being accessible to the community and says that it is a positive that fellow residents feel free to share their joys, frustrations, and wishes when it comes to the local schools. “When I walk outside my door, I am the superintendent. I want to be approachable. I don’t stand behind a podium nor do I wear a suit and tie. That’s not who I am. I want to be genuine and have honest conversations. I value the opinions of everyone, and I vow to listen more than I talk.”

Hilton views education in terms of two umbrellas. The first of these is academic, which includes math, literacy, and scholarly coursework; career and technical education; advanced placement classes; and enrichment and other learning options. The second umbrella is environment, which encompasses the overall culture — how we care for kids and how we create a space in which they “feel that they belong and are important to the school, where they feel a sense of significance, and where it’s fun.”

Hilton is quick to point out the everyday successes that often go unnoticed within the broader concepts of running a school district, including the current teachers and staff. He believes that any school system is only as good as its teachers — those educators breathing life into his umbrella philosophy, creating a positive environment and satisfying the academic curiosities of the students.

And, when it comes to leadership, to Hilton, that means stepping back and providing the space for others to flourish; giving credit where it is due; and creating an environment where students, teachers, and administrators feel like skipping down the hallway — metaphorically, at least. “You never see an unhappy person skip,” he quipped.

Speaking of physical activity, Hilton is also a strong proponent of recess, which he says provides an opportunity to develop problem-solving and cooperation skills. “Just like food, recess provides necessary nourishment,” he noted.

Part of providing a climate conducive to learning is the consideration of safety, not only the protection of students but also the maintenance of a safe space for the entire school community, where bullying and disrespectful behavior are called out and dealt with. Another important piece is the partnership between parents and teachers, which Hilton values “beyond measure.” He elaborated that the parent-teacher relationship is one that can easily be taken for granted but when missing can leave a void that is impossible to ignore.

The environment Hilton longs to see in every classroom and corridor in every school extends into his personal life as well. He and Sara have embraced a life philosophy that he refers to as “give it a go,” which has served them well during their journey thus far. That spirit is balanced by their pleasure in the simple things — fitness, walks in the woods, Sara’s garden, campfires, watching the sun set over their five acres, and closing the barn doors at the end of a good day, securing their Jacob and Babydoll sheep inside. He reflects that he may even start hitting the golf course again, returning to a hobby he put on hold while he and Sara raised their children.

As Hilton embarks on this new stage of his career, he openly credits those who have played mentorship roles along the way. Their knowledge and kindness have informed his educational mindset and inspired his deep desire to pay it forward. To that end, he hopes to model the values they helped instill in him as he continues to do his part to build a Tecumseh Public School system that serves each student and promotes the fun of learning. n

Matt Hilton

Superintendent of Tecumseh Schools

760 Brown St, Tecumseh www.tps.k12.mi.us matt.hilton@tps.k12.mi.us 517-423-2167

FB: @tecumsehpublicschools

IG: @tecumseh_public_schools

MANCHESTER UNDERGROUND

Manchester Underground was started in 2019 by musicians Steve Girbach and John Mooneyham, with the intention of offering a monthly “listening room” experience featuring a variety of musicians, where the music could be appreciated without distractions. “These are all artists from different genres. We’re all over the map, but it’s all original music,” Girbach said.

“Our original venue was at The Mill in downtown Manchester right along the river,” he continued. “We called it the Manchester Underground because

SAT, DECEMBER 21

JOHN TORRENCE

This Michigan-based singer, songwriter, musician, and music educator shares his energy and enthusiasm for song, drawing on folk, jazz, and a variety of other genres to entertain and enliven his audiences. Torrence is a popular fixture at many area venues.

Manchester Underground River Raisin Distillery

480 W Main St, Manchester manchesterunderground.org FB: @manchesterunderground

Manchester Underground concerts take place the third Saturday of each month, and tickets are typically $15. Doors open at 7pm, with shows beginning at 7:30pm.

we were literally underground. We were in the basement of this mill in a cool old funky space.”

After losing use of the space during the pandemic, they began searching for another venue and partnered with the River Raisin Distillery in 2022.

According to Girbach, the two men established Manchester Underground as a nonprofit organization in 2024 and they financially support programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

SAT, JANUARY 18

MASHA MARJIEH

Detroit-born and Warren-raised musician, songwriter, and artist

Masha Marjieh released her album

“No End” in 2021, with the single

“Get Down” and her latest album,

“Past Present Future,” released in 2024. Often labeled as an alternative/indie rock artist, Marjieh spins her magic with heart and original songs.

Manchester Underground and the Manchester Blacksmith Shop Concerts offer a variety of musical entertainment for those seeking auditory delights through the depths of winter.

MU WINTER

EVENTS

SAT, FEBRUARY 15

RYAN RACINE BAND

This singer, songwriter, and guitarist from southeast Michigan has been performing for nearly 25 years, making a name for himself as the frontman of Ann Arbor’s rockabilly trio Lucky Haskins, a band formed when he was only 15. Racine’s first solo album, “Outsider’s Heart,” was released in May 2018.

SAT, MARCH 15

JENNIFER WESTWOOD AND THE HANDSOME DEVILS

Westwood and guitarist Dylan Dunbar share an affection for gospel, Texas blues, Stax, and Muscle Shoals era artists. Westwood started in gospel music before hitting the gritty Detroit bar scene that set her career in motion, while

Steve Girbach and John Mooneyham

By Jackie Koch

Dunbar spent his teen years refining his chops in Detroit area blues joints.

S C

Manchester Blacksmith Shop

324 E Main St, Manchester eventbrite.comSearch for “Blacksmith”

All Blacksmith Shop series concerts begin at 7:30pm, with tickets priced at $20. Tickets are available through Eventbrite or at the door the day of the concert.

Part of the Manchester Area Historical Society (MAHS), the Manchester Blacksmith Shop is a museum with a working forge, where blacksmiths teach and provide hands-on experiences. The 1877 brick building was constructed as a wagon factory and later became a blacksmith shop. Ray Berg, MAHS president, says, “Concerts bring visitors into the historic building to enjoy the sounds of music up close, with performances by talented musicians.”

SAT, JAN 18 | ANNIE AND ROD CAPPS

The Capps are two-time Kerrville New Folk finalists and respected songwriters, musicians, and performers with three albums topping the folk radio charts. The band has a sound that incorporates Americana and folk with rock, jazz, and bluegrass influences. Annie’s disarming, earthy voice and solid command of her guitar are punctuated by Rod’s effortless accompaniment and beautiful solo work on both guitar and viola.

FRI, FEB 14 | WARREN & FLICK

This event will feature Jacob Warren on double bass and Grant Flick playing violin, tenor guitar, and nyckelharpa. Their first album, “Kestrel,” was released in 2019, and their second album, “Waxwing,” came out in 2022. Warren’s classical foundation and Flick’s bluegrass and jazz roots give the duo a unique and compelling musical narrative.

SAT, MARCH 15 | FULL CORD

Bluegrass lovers will likely recognize this Michiganbased band that won the 2022 Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition in Colorado. Full Cord was named “Momentum Award Band of the Year” by the International Bluegrass Music Association. Their debut album on Nashville’s Dark Shadow Recording, “Cambium,” was released in November 2023 and maintained charting positions through spring of 2024.

SPRING CONCERT: SAT, APRIL 19 | WHORLED | Celtic, bluegrass, French café, and jazz tunes. n

NICOLE BEACH’S HOUSE OF HOUNDS:

By Cashmere Morley

ouse of Hounds

Nwoman rescue. Between 2022 and 2023 alone, 60-70 dogs and cats have come through her service. Animals that may have been abused or neglected come to Beach afraid of humans, oftentimes unhousebroken or broken in spirit. Beach believes every animal deserves a loving home, regardless of their circumstances, and she works tirelessly to provide that experience to the animals that come to her. Since 2018, she has aimed to give as many animals their forever home as time and resources permit.

By focusing on hounds — a breed often overlooked in shelters — the House of Hounds fills a critical gap in the animal rescue community, providing hope to animals that might otherwise never get a second chance. “When I started the rescue, I didn’t expect anyone to join me. I just couldn’t stop [helping animals]. I wanted to see more rescues Upriver. I’ve also seen a lot of rescues that have become very big and then get busted for animal abuse and neglect. I’ve seen it too many times — misappropriation of funds, things like that. That’s why I wanted to run this myself, to know that money goes where it’s supposed to go. If anything, I’m putting my own money into this. I

track every animal. I can’t keep up, there is so much, but I wanted to know that it was done right, and I wanted to know [the animals] are taken care of.” Beach is also the assistant general manager at Tim Hortons, where she works 50-60 hours a week.

Hounds are used for hunting and are often abandoned once they are no longer useful to their owners. Others are surrendered due to behavior issues or medical needs, making them less desirable to potential adopters. Pair this with their keen sense of smell, their boundless energy, and their sometimes stubborn personalities, which can be challenging for first-time pet owners, and this, unfortunately, leads to high surrender rates among the breed, particularly among people who may not fully understand the animals’ needs.

House of Hounds steps in to help these animals, providing behavioral training that allows them to adapt to life in a family setting or environments with other pets. The organization also educates potential adopters about the breed, ensuring they are fully prepared for the responsibility of adopting a hound. Beach said the largest misconception surrounding pets needing homes is that they come to her “damaged.” In reality, many animals face homelessness due to circumstances beyond their control.

Like many animal rescues, the House of Hounds faces its share of challenges. Funding is a constant concern, as the cost of medical care, food, and housing for the animals can add up quickly and has only skyrocketed since the pandemic. House of Hounds relies heavily on donations from the public, as well as fundraisers and community events. Steady and passionate volunteers, which Beach is always looking for more of, can play a critical role in the daily operations, from helping with adoption and fostering events to fundraising efforts.

Despite these challenges, the House of Hounds has celebrated many triumphs since the inception of the rescue. Over the years, they have saved hundreds of dogs and cats from kill shelters and homelessness. Their success stories are a testament to the dedication of the staff, volunteers, and community members who support their mission. Beach said they do not get paid for their efforts with money; the payment comes from adoptees and fosters who keep her updated on the happy and healthy lives of the animals that come through the rescue.

Nicole Beach

“One of my biggest affirmations of doing pet rescue happened about two or three years into forming the rescue — I adopted a basset hound to David Arquette. He was in town filming ‘Orion’ in downtown Detroit, and he was dating [now wife] Christina McLarty. He wanted to surprise her and adopt a basset hound. I had just happened to find one from Ohio, and I named him Dallas. I was ready to make him available as a foster, but I hung onto him because the potential foster told me ‘we have a home lined up, we’ll tell you more soon,’ and then, on Thanksgiving, we were walking along the Detroit Riverwalk and they walked past us. [David] said ‘this is your new dog’ [to McLarty] and he surprised her. Come to find out, [McLarty] grew up in Dallas, so the name was fitting.”

Beach traded texts with Arquette and McLarty, who would often update Beach on Dallas’ life. “They took him and had him on the set for the day, and we got to go down to the Detroit Packard Plant and pick him up until they could take him back home with them [after filming]. I mean, the photos that we would get; I remember David Arquette having a birthday cake, and it was his face and Dallas’ face on the cake. That is really one of my biggest affirmations that I’m doing what I’m supposed to do.”

If you want to help Beach, she says donations are always the biggest thing someone can do. She notes that the House of Hounds accepts PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App, and they have a post office box as well.

“We collect pop cans. We take food donations, any type of supply. Monetary is mostly our biggest [form of support], then liking us on Facebook, sharing the animals [that are up for fostering and adopting], engaging with our posts, just getting other people to know that we’re here and the animals need a home.”

If you are interested in fostering, Beach encourages trying it. It can be a good way to explore different breeds you may have been curious about adopting, but it also gives pets a loving place to grow and heal.

“Leadership in a foster is always a great quality to have. Patience, understanding, and flexibility are all good too, but it’s really about someone that wants to open their home and heart and give it a shot. We’ll give them a shot as well.”

It costs nothing to become a foster. Adopting an adult animal is $300, and puppies are $350. Visit the House of Hounds website for more information and applications. n

Make memories, continue tradition

ROOTED IN TRADITION MATTHES TREE FARM

The third-generation tree farm operators at Matthes Tree Farm in Ida, Mich. are proudly keeping alive the traditions that their grandparents, Wilbert and Peg Matthes, began over 70 years ago. In 1953, the elder couple purchased the property and started a small-scale tree farm business. Initially, they had only a limited number of trees. But they continued planting and, eventually, were enjoying a thriving business.

As the farm grew in popularity, the Matthes’s added food and drink items to their offerings, prompted by the feedback they received from their customers. Soon, that aspect of the business took off as well. And, in 1978, Wilbert and Peg remodeled the 100-year-old barn that had come with the property to create a warming room and display area.

Sadly, in 1984, two weeks after the season ended, the barn burned to the ground, along with many cherished family mementos. But the couple was not discouraged. They moved forward and rebuilt. That process included dismantling four entire barns elsewhere and hauling them back to the farm, creating the Four Timbers Barn.

In the several decades that followed, Wilbert and Peg’s children and grandchildren began helping around the farm, more activities and offerings were added for visitors to enjoy, firs were planted along with the traditional pines, and the Matthes Tree Farm became a familiar destination for

By Ann Grahl

second- and third-generation customers.

In 2016, Caleb Matthes and family purchased the 80-acre property and have continued to keep Wilbert and Peg’s vision alive. Together, they are all committed to continuing to offer the experiences and the atmosphere that visitors have come to expect and enjoy each year.

Just as Wilbert and Peg’s was, the goal of everyone at Matthes Tree Farm is to make the Christmas Tree selection process a joyful experience. They continue to provide highquality trees — Fraser, Canaan, and Douglas firs, Scotch and White pines, and Colorado Blue and Norway spruces — and excellent service, which includes guiding customers as they choose their evergreen, whether it is by assisting with a u-cut tree or with the selection of one from the precut collection.

On weekends, visitors are welcome to linger and take in the 15-foot decorated tree, live entertainment, crafters, refreshments, the petting zoo and pony rides, a bonfire and hayrides, a wreath design station, and time with the big guy himself — Santa! The farm’s Christmas Shop, where customers can purchase originally created wreaths, roping, and décor made with fresh greens, is also open.

Potential customers are encouraged to explore Matthes’s highly informative website before traveling to the farm. The site includes photos and descriptions of the various trees, practical tips on how to choose

the perfect tree, and facts to consider before making an investment in what will be the centerpiece of your holiday celebrations. It also details post-purchase care instructions. The website is also where you’ll find information regarding options for renting the Four Timbers Barn to host personal or professional celebrations — from graduation and birthday parties, to family reunions and weddings, to corporate gatherings. With its soaring ceilings, exposed beams, and warm, inviting atmosphere, the versatile space offers a rustic charm while providing all the amenities required to create a seamless, memorable event. And the picturesque nature of both the farm and barn provides the perfect photo backdrop, allowing for the capture of memories as they are made.

To book a tour, see pricing, or learn more about the Four Timbers Barn or about Matthes Tree Farm, reach out via their website or other contact options. n

Matthes Tree Farm

13416 Lulu Rd, Ida matthestreefarm.com

Farm: 734-269-2668

Caleb Matthes: 734-735-7679

info@matthestreefarm.com

FB: @matthestreefarm

M-Sun 9am-6pm

Kitchen Sat-Sun 9am-5pm

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Nanci, Erika, and Sarah

By Sarah Chinavare

AsThe Boulevard Market has just released a new cookbook!

Erika and John Aylward celebrate the 20-year anniversary of The Boulevard Market in Tecumseh, they are raising their glasses to toast another aspiration fulfilled. Erika, along with graphic designer Nanci Bridget and myself, Sarah Chinavare, as photographer, has published her long-awaited cookbook, “Taste the World: A Boulevard Market Almanac of Cooking.”

Anyone who knows The Boulevard Market knows that, when you visit, you can expect to be inspired to eat good food. And, over the years, customers have requested that the Aylwards compile a cookbook. It is now Erika’s pleasure to respond to those requests with the first volume of The Boulevard Market’s “Taste the World” series of cookbooks. Every recipe was inspired by the Aylward’s travels, and every ingredient can be found locally or at The Boulevard Market.

Erika’s drive to write this cookbook began during the COVID-19 pandemic. “There were some positive things that came out of the pandemic. Maybe people surprised themselves with their resilience and the things that they learned to love. Maybe they experienced something that they might not have if they weren’t stuck at home and forced to go out of their comfort zone, and just yearning for new things and not being able to go out and get them. We were forced to reckon with our cooking during the pandemic,” Erika explained.

She especially witnessed this change at The Boulevard Market, as more people became interested in ingredients and in pairing foods. The resurgence of that interest motivated her to reach those people. Whether they were not comfortable traveling yet or their favorite restaurant was no longer open, she began to think about how she could show people that you did not have to be a chef, or have a fancy kitchen stocked with expensive gadgets, to prepare good food. “None of these recipes are beyond basic skills and that’s important. My kitchen is small. I don’t need gadgets. Everything has to go in the dishwasher. What I love is the act of cooking and seeing something come together in 30 minutes. It’s like literally one-hour gratification; then cleanup is done. Good food shouldn’t have to feel like work.”

The cookbook collaboration began during a “Homefront Magazine” interview at The Boulevard Market Café launch, when Erika felt like it was time to make the project a reality. “This book could not have been complete without all three of us,” Erika commented. “We all brought a different piece, a different talent. I did the cooking part, you [Sarah] illustrated the beauty of the food, and Nanci made both those pieces come alive with her talent in graphic design.”

While all the recipes are inspired from traveling the globe, Erika has adapted them to include ingredients that are available here. These are more than set recipes; they can be made unique because they incorporate your garden, your home, your things. The recipes become you instead of just you following directions. There is something to be said for allowing yourself to be creative in the kitchen and to be unafraid to make something with ingredients you have and that will work well.

The Boulevard Market will always encourage their customers to cook with fun and fancy vinegar or specialty cheeses, because these are ingredients that cannot be produced outside places like Champaigne, France. And the cookbook will bring a special elevation to simple whole foods. That does not mean you could not use a different vinegar than what the recipe calls for; you are just going to get a different result and that is okay. That is inspirational.

FIREPLACE A

Tuckpointing

Jeanie DeCocker, owner with her employees, Dawn Moran, & Cagni Karl

Before/After

Much like chess, the Real Estate market requires strategic moves to get you to the finish line. Bob Fox’s experience in the “game” makes him a crucial player in your quest to find the home of your dreams. When you make your move, start with Bob!

is food tends to be the thing that doesn’t change that much. And then it’s also about what is the most fun to bring home and to relive those memories and good times and maybe respect that a little bit more. One of the recipes in the book is the ‘Warm Strawberry Rice Pudding’; you use Arborio or Bomba rice, with coconut milk and heavy cream. The first time I had something similar was in South Carolina. Every time I make the pudding, I think, ‘This is South Carolina.’” You can find spectacular and unusual ingredients at The Boulevard Market. Purchasing these ingredients helps to keep traditions alive in places like France or Switzerland. “I think that’s one thing that people here don’t always see from the backside of The Boulevard

traditions.”

Erika said that traveling the world and meeting the people who produce the foods they buy and sell at The Boulevard Market is inspirational for her and John. The cookbook serves as one more way to strengthen their connection to those traditions and the artisan food producers.

This new book from The Boulevard Market is not about healthy or unhealthy options; it is about whole food that is prepared well. The recipes are full of complex flavors that happen to be healthy, satisfying, and easy.

“Hands down my favorite is the chicken with the 40 garlic cloves,” said Erika, when asked if she had a

of any gender, age, or culture. It is astounding that everyone can find something in common over good food.”

Over the years, Erika has been inspired by all The Boulevard Market customers. Now, they can allow her recipes to inspire them to elevate their kitchens with “Taste the World: A Boulevard Market Almanac of Cooking,” available for purchase at The Boulevard Market and on Amazon. n The Boulevard Market

Destination wedding and honeymoon travel done right!

By Victor Glass

Horizon Travel & Cruises

in Adrian, Mich. has been assisting couples and newlyweds for over 35 years to find their dream vacation wedding and honeymoon destinations. Dawn Harke, owner and chief travel consultant, has amassed over three decades worth of experience within the travel industry. “We take what the clients are

Dawn Harke Owner/Travel Consultant

SUN, JAN 12 • 1-4PM

wanting, and we try to consult them on where they want to go,” said Harke.

Planning destination weddings and honeymoons can be quite the undertaking in the digital age, where access to information is enormous. Though there are travel booking websites and Yelp reviews just a click away, a travel agency can offer an invaluable service with their knowledge and expertise. The

consultants at Horizon Travel & Cruises work personally alongside their clients with the simple motivation of being of service. “We know the industry,” Harke explained. “We can give recommendations based on clients we’ve already had at a particular destination. We advocate for our clients. In our industry right now, there is a lot of dis-communication and there’s a lot of fraud. So we use reputable

SUN, FEB 2 • 1-4PM

companies that give us the best products for everyone.”

A place like Hawaii is almost synonymous with vacationing or honeymooning. But, because it is such a highly sought-after destination, planning travel there can become somewhat cost prohibitive. Finding a viable substitute that may be more cost effective is where a travel agent can lend a hand and offer a suggestion of an alternative such as St. Lucia, which many have described as the “Hawaii of the Caribbean.”

As far as destination weddings and honeymoons are concerned, according to Harke, Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean islands, and the beloved aforementioned Hawaii have never fallen out of fashion and have always been popular. But, over the last year, cruises have skyrocketed as an option, especially for honeymooners.

“The all-inclusive portions are what they’re really liking,” Harke said. “More bang for your buck.”

Regarding cost efficiency, Harke indicated that it is imperative when making your plans to start early in order to find the best values. Horizon Travel & Cruises corresponds with a lot of companies that work with, not against, their clients, where minimal deposits can be made as early as 10 months in advance with monthly incremental payment plans, making the process that much easier.

Offering aid and service is what an agency like Horizon Travel & Cruises is all about — helping people best design their dream trip or vacation. The same can be said about their chief consultant. When asked what makes a great travel agent, Harke responded, “You have to have a desire and a passion for travel itself. But the joy about being a travel agent is that I can help people design what their dream can be. I am a designer. I am a travel designer.” n

Dawn Harke

Horizon Travel & Cruises

604 S Main St, Adrian

517-265-6666

dawn@horizontravel.org

horizontravelandcruises.weebly.com

 @horizontravel.cruises

UNIQUE. VINTAGE. CHARM.

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

Jewelry trends come and go, but certain shapes and cuts of diamonds will always be timeless. Whether you choose a traditional style or something more contemporary, Patina’s designers will always create exquisite rings that represent your individual love story.

Moveable Feast The

By Cashmere Morley

You

can smell

what’s

cooking from the street. Today, right now, it is the sweet smell of tomato. A note of basil. The zing of garlic. Aromas that float over the city of Manchester, Mich., inviting you to come eat.

A “moveable feast,” as defined in religious contexts, refers to a celebration whose date changes each year depending on the calendar date, such as Easter. A “moveable feast,” as defined by Ernest Hemingway, living in the city of Paris during the 1920s, is a memory or a feeling of a place that has enduring, life-enriching qualities. Dan Huntsbarger, owner of The Moveable Feast Catering in Manchester, would like to assign a third definition: “A moveable feast” can also refer to food that is nourishing, a dish that can be experienced at various times and places, not fixed to one location or moment.

“People associate food in so many sensory ways,” says Huntsbarger. “It’s a memory, it’s a family gathering, it’s a picnic, it’s ingrained from childhood. To actually find people that can stop that process somewhere in midlife and kind of go, ‘wait a minute. I’ve been [eating this way] my entire life, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good for me, right? I need to change what I’m doing,’ is very difficult. We’re creatures of habit. And we have memories that we need to stroke from time to time and go, ‘I need that fast food dinner because it’s routine,’ you know?”

Fast food, The Moveable Feast is not. Huntsbarger, who trained at the Culinary Institute of America out in New York, and was also general manager at Gandy Dancer in Ann Arbor, is focused on what fuels you from the inside out. He calls his catering company a “one stop” catering experience that offers “special events for everybody.” From your appetizer to your wine selection, each facet of your catering experience is carefully selected, like an art curator exhibiting the finest renowned paintings, to bring your vision to life. The food is not, as Huntsbarger describes a Little Debbie donut, a “circle of death” but rather a source of power for your body and soul. From Indian and Thai cuisine to Midwest steak and potatoes, Huntsbarger calls his team “extremely diversified” in their craft. They know that good food starts with good ingredients, but what his catering team delivers goes beyond the physical product delivered on the plate.

“Color, balance, texture, shape, the whole art premise, there should be some precision and cutting [when it comes to the final dish]. It should have purpose. There should be a ‘wow’ factor. If there’s no wow factor, then you’re wasting your time. Why even do it?” Huntsbarger said.

The dining vessels The Moveable Feast uses come from Huntsbarger’s “crazy shopping” trips, where he oftentimes likes to “reverse engineer” platters, meaning he’ll find an inspiring vessel first, then craft a dish around that.

“Right now, I’m in the process [of designing a menu] for Lumen Christi Church out in Jackson. We do their holiday party, their big fundraiser every year, and it seems like 450 people will be there this year. This year, they want to do family style, so I’m finishing building some Lazy Susans that are the size of a table. Picture this: a 72-inch round table that seats 10 people. I’ve got a 48inch round lazy Susan that sits in the center, and it’s got five 12-inch holes in it. We put all the food plates on there, and then they just spin it, as opposed to passing platters. Nobody has to get up

and move.” Am I hearing a “moveable feast” definition, part four?

“That was an idea that came out of a problem needing a solution, and the solution got us the event. That’s happened so much over the years,” said Huntsbarger. “We’re always pushing the envelope.”

He recalls a time The Moveable Feast was in competition with other catering companies to produce a sporting event at the University of Michigan. He said the university wanted that wow factor when it came to serving burgers at a game, so Huntsbarger built a branding iron with the block U-M logo on it to burn onto the tops of each burger they served at the tasting event. He said they were hired on the spot. “If you do nothing, you get nothing,” said Huntsbarger. “But, if you want something, and you want it bad enough, get creative.”

Being creative has also led Huntsbarger to some pretty unusual dining circumstances. One of his favorite memories when it comes to catering comes from another event held at U-M.

“One time, we were at the Jack Roth Club at the football stadium. They had an event called ‘MHacks.’ It was a tech event where companies like Google and Amazon put together a program where they were taking U-M tech students and challenging them to come up with new tech ideas over one weekend. They were in lockdown at the football stadium from Friday to Sunday,” Huntsbarger remembers.

He paints a picture: 900 people, spread out across different floors of the stadium, computers plugged in chaotically, a soft screen glow illuminating their tired faces. Being locked in a football stadium, trying to come up with the next big thing in tech, meant two things: innovation, but also, hunger. “We were responsible for providing them with the Friday night reception, breakfast and lunch on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. It was a few thousand meals. We were literally working around the clock to produce all this food out of all of our trucks, out of all of our kitchen spaces. And then we’d get there in the morning and they’d just be crashed out on our food tables, because they couldn’t go anywhere, they had to stay there in lockdown.”

Another time, a regular client booked The Moveable Feast for a party date. He called Huntsbarger asking him for his estimated time of arrival — a week before his contracted party date.

“At three o’clock in the afternoon for his six o’clock start time, he calls me. And he’s like, ‘Dan, what time should I expect you today?’ And I’m like, ‘Take a look at your contract. You’re not expecting me today. You’re expecting me next Thursday.’ He had given me the wrong date.

He told me, ‘everybody’s coming today in two hours.’ So, I said, ‘you’re just gonna have to let me cater. We’ll be there for you.’ But [in the back of my mind I’m thinking] that’s a full bar, catering for like 50 people, everything.” He and his crew immediately got to work.

“We pulled it all off, and we got there, and we were set up 10 minutes before the guests arrived. [The client] spent the entire party talking [to all of his guests] about how we made this happen.”

Another facet that sets The Moveable Feast apart from other catering companies is their personal supply of glassware and silverware. There is no need for clients to search for these essential party items outside of the caterer if they hire The Moveable Feast; in this case, the meal also brings the dinnerware.

“I think people underestimate the value of having somebody help cater an event for them because they want to do it on their own. They cook at home a lot. They do all these things. And that’s all true, and usually very appreciated by the people [they are hosting], but the person doing it never gets to enjoy the party, right?” said Huntsbarger.

“If you’re going to have gatherings, if you’re going to have a holiday party, if you’re going to have friends over, you’d be surprised how, at the end of the day, what you spend all your time doing, the shopping, getting all the groceries, getting everything home, preparing it, all the frustration and anxiety, all surrounding it could be taken away by hiring a caterer. We leave your place like we were never there. From the prep to the dishes at the end of the night, we take care of it all. Try a caterer sometime.” n

The Moveable Feast 223 E Main St, Manchester (734) 428-9526 • M-F 9-5pm themoveablefeastcatering.com   @themoveablefeastcatering

Dan Huntsbarger

Online catering menu offers chicken, meatballs, pastas, salads, fruit trays, pizza, ribs, breadsticks, and more!

On-site banquet room seats 50.

Basil Boys

517-423-1875

125 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh basilboys.com 

Lenawee’s leading full-service travel agency. Your honeymoon destination awaits! Specializing in Mexico, the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Hawaii, and cruising packages.

Horizon Travel & Cruises

517-265-6666 

604 S Main St, Adrian horizontravelandcruises.weebly.com

Artisan charcuterie boards crafted with gourmet meats, cheeses, and seasonal accompaniments, perfect for showers, receptions, or any event.

Grazing Thyme 517-938-8071

102 N Main St, Brooklyn facebook.com/GrazingThyme

This 1849 iconic structure boasts well-designed, well-appointed suites (some adjoining). Kitchenettes, comfy beds, WiFi. Located above the town where there’s an easy walk for you or your guests to bakeries, pubs, and shops.

Union Block Collection

517-902-6065

112 W Chicago Blvd Tecumseh  theunionblockcollection.com

Capturing those special moments on your big day. Weddings, engagements, and more! Nanci is friendly and upbeat, making even the shyest individual feel comfortable and confident.

Drone photography too! Wedding packages available.

Nanci with an Eye Photography

Lenawee and beyond   nanciwithaneye@gmail.com nanciwithaneyephotography.com

Unforgettable, unmatched historic beauty. The quaint wedding chapel seats 100. The Marjorie Busz Conference Room seats 70...perfect for small showers and receptions. The Old Mill Hall seats 300. Old Mill Chapel, Conference Room, and Hall 734-529-8596

The perfect place for weddings, parties, or any event. Newly restored barn — Freedom Winery. Bring your own caterer and they’ll provide the hard cider, wine, and ambiance. Endless photo opportunities indoors and outdoors.

"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

Alber Orchard/Freedom Winery 734-428-9310

13011 Bethel Church Rd, Manchester alberorchard.com 

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 

‘

yes Say to the White Birch Wedding Barn

By Ann Grahl

Love is in the air at the White Birch Wedding Barn, a full-service event venue nestled in the heart of the Irish Hills. Owners Amie and Pat Pelham have taken full advantage of the rustic location and natural beauty of the surrounding birch trees to create a romantic setting that provides all the amenities a bride and groom could possibly desire.

For the Pelhams, “in your dreams, every detail matters” is not just a tagline promoting their new venture; it is a mission rooted in their own love story.

Once upon a time, Amie and Pat were high school sweethearts — she a freshman, he a senior. While she accompanied him to his prom, they did not date. It was clear, even then though, that their union was inevitable. But first, Pat would go off to Adrian College while Amie would continue her high school career in Hudson. Soon, she would graduate and he would be calling to ask her on their first official date. That was in 1988. They were engaged a year later. And, in June of 1991, they tied the knot.

After 33 years together, they continue to share the same vision, both inside and outside their home. Ours is a “sweet marriage,” Amie reflected. “Pat and I are a good team. We consider each other’s opinions and bounce ideas off of each other. We have fun, so it never feels like work.”

Though they did not officially break ground on the White Birch Wedding Barn & Events Center until 2023, the project was years in the making. Back in the day, Pat’s mom, Catherine, owned Pelham Catering. And, for many years, while Amie was home caring for her and Pat’s two boys, she would sometimes help her mother-in-law at bridal shows and other events, which gave her a unique vantage point from which to observe what worked and what didn’t.

As the information collected in the back of Amie’s mind, she and Pat would talk about their shared interest in eventually opening a venue of their own. Finally, the time was right, and the pieces just seemed to fall into place, starting with the acquisition of a nine-acre property in Cement City. It was the first one they saw. “We just knew,” said Pat. They contacted an architect who Amie had worked with through her other successful business, Classic Cabinets & Interiors in Tecumseh. The couple trusted that he would be able to capture what they envisioned. On June 1, 2023, official work commenced. And, by June 1, 2024, the White Birch Wedding Barn was hosting its first celebration, which would hold particularly special meaning for Pat and Amie, as it would tie into their own story.

Amie and Pat Pelham

Karli

Kemme Photography Angel’s Floral Creations

Each year, the Pelhams go to Saugatuck to celebrate their wedding anniversary, and every trip includes a stop at a local shop there. Whenever they stopped previously, Amie would point out a sign with a snippet of lyric, “Take my hand, take my whole life too,” from a song made famous by Elvis Presley, of whom Amie is a big fan. After many repeated visits and not walking out with the sign, Amie finally seized the moment — and now that sign hangs above one of the bars in the Barn.

Well, as fate would have it, the song from which those words come, “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You,” turned out to be the song that first bride and groom would enter to.

Amie and Pat’s goal is to bring each couples’ magical vision for their wedding celebration to fruition without anyone in attendance being aware of the tricks it took to make it happen. But they do not accomplish that on their own. The Pelhams have a dedicated staff that assists with all aspects of each event to ensure that things run smoothly and that the focus is “on the magic, not the mess.” This hardworking team is led by Wedding Event Manager Molly Boldt.

And, while the Pelhams are passionate about providing toptier amenities and service to create those magical moments, they are equally passionate about doing so with an eye toward affordability. They are also completely transparent when dealing with prospective clients and clearly explain their pricing and terms.

Their venue includes 8,200 square feet of indoor space, with a capacity of up to 260 (220 with a designated dance floor). The modern barn is climate controlled and has full glass overhead doors that can be opened for an extended reception area, along with elegant touches such as highend designer finishes on every surface and four custom-designed fireplace features. To add to the celebratory options, there are two indoor bars, as well as an outdoor bar option, and a Bluetooth smart audio system.

A rustic yet elegant barn venue, perfect for ceremonies, receptions, and more. Their experienced team is dedicated to ensuring that every aspect of your event is flawless. Offering customized packages tailored to your needs.

Matthes Tree Farm 734-269-2668 • 13416 Lulu Rd, Ida matthestreefarm.com 

Turn your dreams into realty. This event decorating and planning company can help your event dreams become a reality. They create custom, one-of-akind decorations for any size event. Big or small... they will handle it all!

Odds & Ends Events 419-464-2351 13416 Lulu Rd, Ida oeedecorating.com 

A BEAUTIFUL FULL-SERVICE

BANQUET

FACILITY for wedding receptions and courtyard ceremonies. Tables, chairs, linens, decor, and catering. Dedicated to excellence and satisfying your exquisite taste! The Landing is a short distance from Ann Arbor and Toledo. Don’t miss your chance to make your special day truly unforgettable. The Landing Banquet Hall 517-423-7699 5447 N Rogers Hwy, Tecumseh thelandingoftecumseh@gmail.com thelandinghall.com 

All rentals include round tables, black chairs, linens, and a special head table. À la carte items, such as a mobile bar, a dance floor, a golf cart to shuttle guests from the parking lot to the building, and a bus that provides transportation to and from local hotels, are also available. In addition, the outdoor area is covered with 7,600 square feet of artificial turf and there are concrete walkways. “Our goal is for women’s shoes and dresses to never touch dirt,” Pat proclaimed. YOUR FAIRYTALE CASTLE WEDDING AWAITS. A winding half-mile drive leads to twenty secluded, private acres and the impressive six-story stone medieval style castle. Small intimate indoor weddings and large fairytale outdoor weddings and receptions. Endless photo opportunities!

helmercastle.com 

For those opting to exchange vows outdoors, the open-air chapel offers the ideal location, and the 140+ hydrangea flowering plants, beautiful gardens and landscaping, and elegant illumination of Edison lights supply the ambiance.

The facility also features dedicated bridal and groom suites. The bridal suite is equipped with a private bathroom, hair and makeup stations, full length mirrors, a fireplace, a serving bar and mini-refrigerator, a TV/sound system, luxurious seating, and a balcony and mezzanine that are ideal for photo ops. The groom’s suite includes many of the same amenities as the bridal space. But it also has an outdoor putting green and cornhole game. Each detail is well thought out, so all a soon-towed couple needs to focus on is the beginning of their happily ever after.

Indeed, when it comes to the White Birch Wedding Barn, the Pelhams have left no stone unturned, including the large heart-shaped rock that was unearthed during the early stages of construction. For two people who trusted their instincts and built a venue to host celebrations of love, that discovery could not have been more appropriate.

To see all the White Birch Wedding Barn & Events Center has to offer, visit their website and follow them on social media. n

White Birch Wedding Barn & Events Center 11000 Briggs Hwy, Cement City 517-403-6342

whitebirchweddingbarnmi.com  @whitebirchweddingbarn

No

and reviews.

The Moveable Feast Catering EVENTS SURE TO

IMPRESS

Recognized by Conde-Nast and Bon Appetit, Dan Huntsbarger, an award-winning chef, and his expert team offer total event planning/ bartending for all size gatherings. American/ethnic foods, vegan, plantbased/restrictive diets, desserts, and wedding cakes. Free consultation.

The Moveable Feast Catering 734-428-9526

223 E Main St, Manchester themoveablefeastcatering.com 

White Birch continued...

Perfect for weddings, showers, rehearsal dinners, and large events. Transform the hall into the wedding you’ve always dreamed of! Holds 80-300 guests. Your wedding. Your way.

The Mill Sports & Events Center 517-467-5529   230 N Main St, Onsted

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

Grey Fox Floral 517-423-3735 greyfoxfloral.com  116 S Evans St, Tecumseh

Affordable, pet-friendly hotel. Large suites and jacuzzi rooms available. Guests can book on VRBO, Airbnb, and website.

Tecumseh Inn & Suites

517-423-7401

1445 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh tecumsehinn.com 

With this Ring...

By Renee Lapham Collins

Wedding

jewelry traditions

stretch as far back as ancient Egypt, when couples exchanged rings as a symbol of eternity, the circular shape representing a love that lasts forever. Across centuries and cultures, the wedding ring has come to signify love, trust, and partnership. Whether it is a simple band, a family heirloom, or a sparkling solitaire, this symbol of commitment remains an outward sign of devotion.

Today, wedding rings come in various styles, materials, and designs, with couples often choosing rings that reflect their personal tastes and values. While traditional gold bands are still common, alternatives like platinum, titanium, and even wood are popular. Modern wedding rings can be customized with engravings, unique designs, and gemstones, allowing couples to create a piece that feels truly unique.

Jackie Juhasz and Cheyenne Goode, proprietors of Patina Jewelry + Design in Tecumseh, are spotting a number of trends in engagement rings and wedding jewelry that demonstrate the changing attitudes and ages of couples. “Everything is more refined and brides are more conscious about the stone,” Goode said. “It’s supposed to be about the stone and not about having the ring covered in these tiny little diamonds. They’re seeing the importance in choosing the stone and then just having a simple band that accentuates that.”

Brides are choosing solitaires and curved bands in their wedding sets as opposed to a straight band. “The contour bands match a little better, and they also are doing two bands for a more symmetrical look,” Goode said, showing her own wedding set with its oval solitaire set in between two curved white gold bands. Juhasz added that classic shapes for diamonds are making a comeback as well. Princess-cut diamonds were popular 10 years ago, but now brides are looking at emerald and oval cuts.

For the groom-to-be, gold bands are popular as are alternative metals and even wood. “There are a lot of alternative metals,” Goode noted. “They are coming up with so many more options for men now. Men can have some cool inlays in their rings. Whiskey barrel, meteorite, antler bone. That’s a big one right now.”

Juhasz explained that fragments of antlers from a deer can be set directly into the band. “There are different ways to customize rings,” she said. “Another thing that’s popular with the men is dirt. We had someone bring dirt in from the yard of their old home and someone else bring sand from a beach where they proposed.”

TRADITIONS IN WEDDING JEWELRY BECOME HEIRLOOMS

Repurposing heirloom jewelry continues to be popular and Patina “almost specializes” in that, Juhasz said with a smile. “We do have a lot of people coming in for that,” she said. “There are rings from grandma and they’re bringing them in and wanting to reset the diamonds into a more modern ring. Some of those vintage cocktail rings might have several diamonds and they’ll want to separate them out for individual pieces for grandchildren or put that into the bridal jewelry.”

One recent client brought diamonds from the mothers of the couple. They were reset into an engagement ring that was centered around a laboratorycreated diamond for a very traditionallooking ring with heirloom diamonds and a modern centerpiece. “It has the diamonds from both families and it turned out awesome,” Juhasz said. She explained the lab-created diamonds are popular for those who want a “big look” at a lower price than a traditional mined diamond.

“They have found ways to manufacture diamonds using special equipment that makes them less expensive,” Juhasz explained. “Lab diamonds don’t hold their value the way traditional mined diamonds do, but it is an inexpensive way to get a huge look. Sometimes, that’s what younger couples want. It’s not unlike some of the heirloom jewelry from the 1920s, when they would make beautiful cocktail rings with glass stones. They’re still heirlooms. It’s all about being sentimental — about where it came from, as opposed to what the stone is.”

Once the couple is engaged, they will be shopping for wedding day jewelry or special gifts for each other. At Patina, a groom can expect plenty of help in making a choice for his bride. “We tend to give strong suggestions,” Juhasz said. “We usually will lean them toward traditional things like diamond studs or something classic. Brides usually want something to wear the day of the wedding. Pearls are a classic choice, and anything diamond accented is a great option, too.”

When it comes to gifts for the groom, brides may choose jewelry, cufflinks, money clips that can be engraved, and similar items. But a watch remains a top choice. “It’s a lovely gift idea for the groom,” Juhasz said.

In the past, the bride’s family typically footed the bill for the wedding, but now there are couples who share that expense. Sometimes, entire families pitch in to help. “Everyone’s kind of doing the wedding,” Goode explained. “So we’re seeing that the parents of the bride and groom will purchase the gifts.”

No matter what the bride and groom choose to do for themselves and their wedding, their jewelry can become heirlooms that are handed down to their own children and grandchildren, creating a lasting legacy. n

Patina Jewelry + Design

110 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh 517-423-6370 patinajewelers.com  @patinajewelrydesign

Jackie Juhasz and Cheyenne Goode

Perfect weddings made simple. Make your dream wedding a reality at the Clinton Inn! All-inclusive packages, elegant venues, and stress-free planning. Reserve your date for 2025 and 2026.

The Clinton Inn 517-507-5777

104 W Michigan Ave Clinton theclintoninn.com 

Specialty Balayage, Custom Coloring, Vidal Sassoon Cuts, Lash Lifts, Hair Extensions, Blow Outs Before You Go Out, BFF Party Packages. The Hair Studio Text 734-717-9664

 @thehairstudio-xobyelizabeth 1113 W Beecher St, #3, Adrian thehairstudio-xobyelizabeth.com vagaro.com/thehairstudioadrian

Let’s get the party started! Get your customized shirts, robes, mugs, bags, sashes, aprons, and more. Makes for a fun and memorable wedding gift. No minimum order amount.

Three Ravens Printing

517-423-9245

112 S Pearl St, Ste A, Tecumseh threeravensprinting.com  

MAXIMUM EFFECT.

Accentuate your style with fresh flowers artistically arranged in stunning pieces. Intertwine your wedding theme into bouquets, centerpieces, hair pieces, cake flowers, boutonnieres, live plants, and more, all while working within budget to bring your wedding day vision to life.

Barrett’s Showplace

Gardens & Flower Shop

517-265-5595

1033 W Beecher St, Adrian barrettsadrian.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

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 today! Downtown Dempsey's 517-759-4334

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

Enjoy a wine tasting for your shower/party. Browse their wine collection and learn about custom-labeled bottles for your big day.

St. Julian Winery 734-529-3700

700 Freedom Ct, Dundee stjulian.com 

Order personalized custom soaps for your bridal shower or special event! Proudly offering a wide range of lovingly handcrafted soaps, lotions, and bath soaks. They also carry products for men.

Paper Street Soap 517-301-4307

133 E Chicago Blvd Tecumseh paperstreet.store  

By Cashmere Morley

Effortless Elegance - The Clinton Inn

Weddings are often

among the happiest moments of a couple’s lives, but sometimes even the happiest moments come with challenges. From the venue to the food, there is a lot to consider when planning for the big day. The Historic Clinton Inn in Clinton, Mich. offers a charming and distinctive setting for any wedding-related occasion you can dream up, and this wedding season, they aim to take all the stress out of your big day.

Jennifer Randall, wedding coordinator at The Clinton Inn, said working with the bride and groom to make sure their wedding is just what they have dreamed of is her favorite part of the job. “It’s one of the happiest days of a couple’s lives,” said Randall, “and you’re able to experience that with them. It’s a very gratifying job.” She claimed the key to the Inn’s success is having a great staff who handle wedding setup “weeks before the event” so that “everything runs smoothly.”

“We offer all-inclusive packages, which include the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony, and the reception. They also include a hotel stay for three days, your photographer, your DJ, your photo booth, and all of your food. It’s literally an allinclusive, one-stop venue,” said Randall.

Randall explained that the staff at The Clinton Inn takes care of all the small details so that the bride and groom really can enjoy a stress-free wedding day. She added that they work with mostly Lenawee County vendors to pull off events. “I have a timeline drafted out for everybody, so everybody’s on the same page [the day of the wedding]. And I give that draft to all of the wedding parties on both sides of the bride and the groom, so everybody knows what’s going on. I coordinate with all of the vendors, so that they’re not troubling the bride and groom or their families with last-minute details,” she explained.

Randall said her team sits down with each bride and groom and personally walks through the details of the wedding with them to assess their needs as well as “what they can’t live without.” She noted that every wedding comes with challenges, whether it be working with extended family, adhering to a strict budget, or any other potential complication, but it is not necessary to be overwhelmed by them. Randall takes all potential challenges in stride and said the Inn will work with the bride and groom to ensure their special day is everything they’ve dreamed of.

Randall recalled the first wedding she helped coordinate at the Inn and the glowing feedback received. “We had a couple that had their second wedding [here at The Clinton Inn], and the bride had her first wedding at a Marriott. She said, ‘I spent probably four times as much on my first wedding at the Marriott.’ And she said, ‘By far, the food, the involvement, from beginning to end, everything went smoother. It was more beautiful. The food was better. You guys outdid one of the biggest wedding venues there is!’”

When it comes to wedding planning, Randall invites couples to leave it to her and her team at The Clinton Inn. “Let us take care of your worries and your stress so you can focus on the bigger things in life.”

The Clinton Inn is designed to accommodate a range of event styles, from relaxed to upscale, and Randall and the entire staff are ready to make any wedding or other type of occasion memorable. The Inn is now accepting reservations for private events for 2025 and 2026, including for weddings, bridal and baby showers, birthday celebrations, class reunions, and corporate gatherings. n

The Clinton Inn 104 W Michigan Ave, Clinton • hotel@theclintoninn.com 517-507-5777 • theclintoninn.com •   @theclintoninn

Jennifer Randall

Exchange vows in one of Adrian College’s enchanting event spaces. Discover beautiful scenic venues, adorned with elegant charm. A perfect backdrop for your special day with countless photographic possibilities. Adrian College Conferences 517-265-5161, ext 4382 adriancollegeconferences.com

The perfect location for weddings, receptions, showers, etc. Offering the two largest venues in Lenawee County. Agricultural Hall holds up to 425 guests or Merchant Building holds 500. Full kitchen, portable bar, beautiful grounds for photos/outdoor weddings, outside catering allowed, ample parking, and camping is available for guests.

517-263-3007 602 N Dean St, Adrian lenfair.com 

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

This historic sanctuary is the perfect backdrop for storybook weddings while the modern hall is ready for your bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, or reception. Holds 80+ guests. Full kitchen. Handicap accessible. Reasonable rates.

Tipton Community Congregational Church 517-431-2460

tiptoncommunitychurch.org 9240 Tipton Hwy, Tipton

StunningVenue in the Irish Hills

• Holds 260 Guests

• 4 Indoor Fireplaces

• 2 Indoor Bars

• Portable Bar

• Golf Cart Transport

• Outdoor Chapel

• Bridal Suite

• Groomsmen Room

• Outdoor Speakers

• Putting Green

• Fire Pits

• Caterers Kitchen

• Tables/Chairs/Linens

• Private Vendor Entrance

• Early Access on the Day

• And so much more!

The newly built, 8,000+ square feet White Birch Wedding Barn is the perfect venue for all seasons. Choose a breathtaking spring wedding or an outdoor summer ceremony under the pergola, a fall wedding surrounded by gorgeous scenery or a winter wedding, where guests can gather by a stunning fireplace. Photo opportunities are endless as are the amenities. This is where the character and charm of a barn venue meet modern style and convenience.

YOUR WEDDING. YOUR WAY.

Incredibly reasonable rates! Rent this entire historic building, including the grounds. Beautiful setting perfect for outdoor weddings with endless photo opportunities. Building can be subdivided to fit your needs - indoor capacity of 75-150 people. Indoor tables/chairs, outdoor picnic tables, and on-site parking. Make reservations through the Clinton Village Office.

Smith-Kimball Community Center 517-456-7494

211 Tecumseh St, Clinton voc-skcc.org

For an exciting dining option, let Pita Delight cater your special day! Delicious, authentic Mediterranean cuisine serving up amazing grape leaves, shawarma, falafels, salads, kabobs, and wraps. Call for a consultation.

The Ella Sharp Museum is renowned for its storied architecture and distinct spaces. Ideal for a wide variety of romantic weddings. Offering three unique locations for you to choose from. Wedding packages range from $500 to $6,700.

Ella Sharp Museum 517-787-2320

3225 Fourth St, Jackson ellasharpmuseum.org 

green-witch-gardens.myshopify.com

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Me in the Meantime Holistic Services recently opened in downtown Tecumseh. Shannon McGee started the business following her battles with breast cancer and grief. She was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2018 and just celebrated being six years cancer-free. She realized along this journey that self-care and managing stress are incredibly important to well-being. This set her on a path toward holistic wellness and energy work. Along the way, she became a Reiki Master, including Animal Reiki; Certified Sound & Vibrational Practitioner; and Yoga Nidra Teacher (including Kids Yoga Nidra). She is also certified in Chakra Healing and Guided Meditation. She continues to expand her knowledge with many other holistic modalities to help clients on their own path of self-care.

Me in the Meantime is committed to supporting mind, body, and spirit through modalities like Reiki, which is a Japanese technique used to bring balance and relaxation to the body. Or personal sound & vibrational therapy, which is used to clear stresses from the body and aid the body’s own mechanisms for healing. Whether you are simply looking for much-needed relaxation or additional support in overall wellness, Shannon provides holistic services to help you on your journey. Sessions are held in person on the second floor above the British Tea Garden by appointment.

There is also an online retail supply store for your holistic and spiritual needs, providing products such as candles, incense, crystals, herbs, books, and so much more.

• Reiki

• Group Sound Baths

• Sound & Vibrational Therapy

• Chakra Balancing

• Yoga Nidra and more

Stitched Consignment Shop and Pearls & Patina

By Victor Glass

Stitched Consignment Shop and Pearls & Patina in downtown Adrian are proving to be successful ventures for several local businessowners.

Jeri Graf is the owner of Stitched Consignment Shop, which celebrated its one-year anniversary in November. Graf, born and raised in Adrian, has always wanted to have her own store and to offer an affordable shopping option. As someone who grew up thrifting and, as a youth, loved spending time in thrift shops and antique stores, finally being able to operate a shop of her own that reflects her passions is a great accomplishment. With the advice and support of her community aiding in her success as a first-time businessowner, Graf is gratified and proud to be living her dream.

Neighboring Stitched Consignment Shop is Pearls & Patina, which opened this past May and is owned and operated by Adrian’s own Kristin Foerg and Cherie Cole. This boutique offers a variety of merchandise, including antique and vintage pieces, home décor, hand-crafted items, and more. After operating a booth in the Blissfield Antique Mall for nearly a year, Foerg and Cole decided to open a place of their own. Though they only recently opened their doors, Foerg says that business is going very well. n

Stitched Consignment Shop

209 N Main St, Adrian 517-920-4695

stitched.consignment@gmail.com

FB: @stitchedconsignmentshop

Pearls & Patina

209 N Main St, Ste 8&9, Adrian 517-960-4825 pearlsandpatina@gmail.com pearlsandpatina.com

Vintage Home Decor Antiques

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

ReStore

The Store that Builds Homes!

1025 US 223, Adrian  Tues-Sat 10a-4:30p (517) 266-0746

FREE Donation Pickups.

PINETREE ANTIQUES & MORE

60 vendors with a vast array of antiques and collectibles, ranging from vintage jewelry to items that would be perfect for a man cave!

129 N Main St, Brooklyn  (517) 592-3808 • M-Sun 10-5

PEARLS & PATINA

The cutest shop with a beautiful blend of vintage and new home decor, trinkets, women’s fashion, and furniture.

209 N Main St, Adrian  T-F 11-6/Sat 11-3 pearlsandpatina.com

THE COTTAGE RABBIT

An eclectic array of vintage, antiques, home decor, re-purposed and upcycled furniture, ladies clothing, and jewelry.

115 W Middle St, Chelsea  (734) 562-2084 • T-Sat 10-5/Sun 12-4 thecottagerabbit.com

STITCHED CONSIGNMENT SHOP

This woman-owned consignment shop has what you need for your wardrobe! Dresses, tops, shoes, purses, and more! 209 N Main St, Adrian  Tuesday-Saturday 11-6 stitched.consignment@gmail.com

CHELSEA ANTIQUES

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

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

CHELSEA ANTIQUE MALL

41 vendor booths, quality antiques, collectibles, vintage farm relics, paintings, and mid-century modern treasures.

1178 S Main St (M-52), Chelsea  (734) 562-2190 • T-Sat 10-6/Sun 11-5

Women’s/men’s

Four floors of collectibles and antiques! Layaways and dealer space available. Scan QR code to visit website!

201 N Jackson St, Jackson  (517) 784-3333 M-Sat 10-5:30/Sun 12-4:30 JACKSON ANTIQUE MALL, INC.

Home furnishings, antiques/vintage items, glassware, stoneware, china pieces, figurines, designer purses, fine art, and a plethora of unique items. 154 E Main St, Manchester   (734) 255-8984 •

MichelleandJimSpence

Family

By Renee Lapham

Friends fun! at local taverns

Although tavern trivia nights made some inroads in the United States in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the resurgence of programs like “Jeopardy!” and the rise of online trivia contests have really helped fuel the trend.

Bill Leisenring, who opened Tecumseh Tavern last November alongside his son and partner, Jack, said he decided to remain open on Monday since there are so many downtown businesses that close that day. He soon discovered the reason they do. “It was pretty slow,” he said.

He looked around at ways to boost his receipts and decided to introduce a trivia night. He sought out DJ Trivia, a Jackson-based host who brings quizzes to the Tavern on Monday nights. There are some 10-12 teams that play two rounds of trivia. “My Mondays are more consistent,” Leisenring said. “I’ve seen probably a 20 percent increase in revenue and it’s gone over well with our customers.”

Danielle Matthews is the Monday night bartender and she agrees. “We are pretty full,” she said. “We have a margarita special, too, that has been popular. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.”

Tecumseh Brewing Company (TBC) has hosted regular trivia nights for the last five years. According to manager Jen Mendez,

the TBC events are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with two rounds each night. Gift card prizes are awarded for first- and secondplace teams.

“We have Sporcle Tuesday nights,” she said. “Then, on Thursdays, we have Sporcle OpinioNation, which is kind of like a Family Feud format. We have regular trivia players who come in for both, with 6-8 teams each night.”

Stephen Mitchell, a long-time trivia maven, thinks the programs are great ways to test knowledge, have fun, and meet new people.

He was a Sporcle host at Aubree’s and Chomp in Adrian and at TBC a few years ago. The programs at Aubree’s and Chomp are no longer running. “Sporcle is a portmanteau of sports and oracle,” Mitchell explained. “But it’s all kinds of trivia.”

The Sporcle format is designed around a betting system, where teams wager points based on their knowledge and the likelihood they will have a correct answer. Mitchell said he enjoys the player role these days. “Hosting is fun, but I prefer being a player. The host has to manage music, keep the game moving along by watching the time and giving warnings such as how many minutes are left, and use discretion at times to accept close enough answers,” he said.

Other area taverns that run trivia games include Aeronautique

Winery and Blue Skies Brewery near Brooklyn, Four Keys Brewing and Starling Lounge in Blissfield, Johnnie’s Bar & Grill in Clinton, Tecumseh Brewing Co. in Tecumseh, and Farver’s in Adrian, among others. Music Bingo also is emerging as a new trend for trivia nights. Patrons receive a bingo card with song titles, and as the clues are played by the host, they mark off the titles. The first player to complete a row, column, or diagonal wins the round.

Mitchell holds a master’s degree in communication and worked in a number of academic roles at the college level prior to becoming the Recipient Rights Officer for Lenawee Community Mental Health. While a formal education doesn’t hurt a person’s chances of success at trivia, Mitchell said he doesn’t think it helps any more than a general sense of curiosity. In fact, he said, “being curious” is an excellent trait for success at trivia. “Questions that are more academic usually call back to high school history or science or geography,” he explained. “And that’s a sliver of the overall content when you consider all the sports and pop culture types of questions.”

Jim and Michelle Spence of Adrian are regulars at the Tecumseh Tavern trivia nights and also have played at Farver’s and in Blissfield. They often team up with a couple of other players, including Mitchell and Crosby.

“Whenever you have Stephen on your team, you have a powerhouse,” Jim Spence commented. Having teammates that you can talk with about an answer, well that is a good quality to have in a teammate. It helps to all be on the same wavelength.” The different locations all have different vibes, he explained. “The Tecumseh Tavern has a local vibe and there are a lot of regulars there,” he said.

Trivia events are offered on different nights, which means a hardcore enthusiast can play almost every night around the county.

“We’ve been over to Mammoth Distillery in Adrian, too,” he said.

“It’s really a good way to get to know other local people you might not meet any other way.”

Spence is a philosophy professor at Adrian College, and Michelle, who has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, is employed by Lenawee Now. The pair enjoy the competition, but, as Spence said, “It’s really more British Bakeoff than Survivor. You get to know locals in each community and it changes the environment,” he said. “The staff are playful, the atmosphere competitive, but lighthearted and fun.”

“Trivia events are just great ways to play games together, hang out with friends, and meet new people,” Michelle said. “We really enjoy it. n

Collins

Stephen Mitchell

Maryanne Adams, Andrew Matthews, Tracy Henshaw, and Nicola Matthews

DJ Trivia Productions host Greg Marcero