Adrian Our Town | Fall 2021

Still dancing

Quinceañeras carry on through coronavirus, just a bit late

A SYMPHONY NO LONGER SILENCED

PG. 6

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

pg. 20

Aiming for NORMALCY

PG. 6 16

Kate Mitchell

I don’t know about you, but fall is easily my favorite time of year. Cool air with a hint of bonfire smoke, cozy sweaters, apple cider with warm donuts that melt in your mouth. What’s not to love?

The best parts of fall are magnified here in Michigan — take that from someone who grew up about 1,000 miles south. The colors are brighter, the apples are sweeter and hayrides tend to be more fun when the temperatures dip below 80.

Yes, things are still rough out there with coronavirus, but that doesn’t mean you have to forego everything fun — especially if you’re fully vaccinated. Take in some music at the Adrian Symphony Orchestra, go on a trip to experience all the vibrancy of fall at its peak and pay a visit to one of Lenawee County’s many Halloween events.

To me, fall is like an entire season of anticipation, a season of comfort and sweet rewards building to the most magical time of year. I couldn’t be more excited that it’s here, with all it has to o er. We hope you love it, too, and that we can help you make the absolute most of it.

Editor-in-Chief

Images sourced from Unsplash and Metro Creative: cover, page 10 and 34 .

A symphony no longer silenced

The Adrian Symphony Orchestra returns after a long hiatus from live performing

By Anissa Gabbara Contributing writer

The pandemic put a hold on concert goers everywhere as the world of live music took an unprecedented shi�. As COVID-19 cases surged in the U.S., venues were le� with no other choice but to cancel shows, forcing ar�sts to find alternate ways to entertain. As a result, people have missed out on rejoicing with fellow music fans and reveling in the sounds that unite us all. Fortunately, music lovers in Adrian are in for a treat as the Adrian Symphony Orchestra gears up for its first season since closing its doors last year due to the pandemic.

Bruce Anthony Kiesling, ASO music director and principal conductor, recalls rehearsals being in full swing as Michigan’s first round of COVID-19 restric�ons were put in place during concert week in March 2020.

The shutdown came as the orchestra was se�ling into a brand new venue at Siena Heights University’s newly built performing arts center.

“The rehearsals were going so incredibly well and it was our very first �me in this new space, which was sounding amazing,” says Kiesling. “It was a magical week, so to have that stopped mid-produc�on was par�cularly jarring.

“Being an eternal op�mist, I thought in two weeks this will be over [and] we’ll be back to normal, so it was difficult because we didn’t really know what to expect.”

Fostering a love for orchestral music and sharing it with the people of Southeast Michigan for 40 years, the ASO looked into the idea of doing virtual concerts in fall 2020 to keep folks engaged. But it took a while to accept the new reality created by the pandemic.

“We kept holding out hope because the ideal situa�on was just to be on stage with the orchestra and a live audience, but it became apparent that wasn’t going to happen,” said Libby Watson, ASO execu�ve director. Kiesling adds, “We just wanted to remind people that we’re s�ll here doing what we do in a different way,

and delivering our product in a different way, but [we wanted to] make sure [that] we were s�ll on people’s radars emo�onally more than anything.”

According to Watson, going virtual was an opportunity to give guests a unique experience that they wouldn’t otherwise have in the hall. For example, the video cameras on the stage zoom in on the musicians and instruments, giving viewers an up-close-and-personal experience.

The musicians jumped at the chance to play together again to virtually perform “Peter and the Wolf” by Sergei Prokofiev and “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin earlier in the year. It was nothing short of exci�ng, and even emo�onal for some, according to Kiesling.

“Music is not just their job, but a major part of their life and their iden�ty,” he says. But as any musician can imagine, it’s hard to beat the tender moments of playing in front of a live audience, where engaged listeners take in every musical moment.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

“When you get to a moment and there’s real silence in the room because people are a�en�ve, that’s something we can’t wait to get back to [in October],” said Kiesling.

Of course, any change of this magnitude comes with its set of challenges. According to Kiesling, being a small group socially distanced on a big stage made it hard for the musicians to listen to each other. Being socially distanced was par�cularly difficult for the string players who share a music stand. Kiesling adds that wearing a mask while conduc�ng posed another set of challenges, as everything from how to shape phrases to the character of the music is communicated via the conductor’s facial expressions. “It was a major change, not just for me as a conductor, but for all the players as living, breathing musicians,” he said.

The response from the community about the ASO’s return to the stage for live performances has been overwhelmingly posi�ve. “They’ve missed that opportunity to not only hear music, but to come together as an audience,” says Watson.

To ensure the safety of guests upon opening its doors again this fall, the ASO staff is closely monitoring city, county, and state protocols. Additionally, paying attention to what other orchestras are doing has been helpful, as some have already started playing for live audiences as early as summer 2021, according to Kiesling. But taking small steps toward some degree of normalcy ensures that staff is taking the time to determine best practices.

The Adrian Symphony Orchestra

Aiming for normalcy

By Drew Saunders Contributing writer

Even in the face of a pandemic, some things never change.

“As with any start of a new school year, we’re full of excitement. We had hope that we were going to start the school year off back to what we used to know as normal. Obviously, with some of the [coronavirus] things happening here we are keeping an eye on it and watching it very closely,” Tecumseh Public Schools Superintendent Tony Rebo�aro said. “Ge�ng back to all of our extracurricular ac�vi�es –the bands, sports and choir – we are entering with great hope that we can come back to normalcy.”

Everyone is back to school across Lenawee County this year. A�er students were largely absent from school buildings across the country last school year, this fall all of Lenawee’s districts are going ahead with no mask or vaccine requirements; with the only federally-mandated excep�on being that all students and drivers u�lizing school buses will be masked for the whole trip to and from school. “We are not recommending masks. We are respec�ng all individual rights to wear a mask, but we are not manda�ng

or requiring students or staff to wear masks,” Addison Community Schools Superintendent Steve Guerra said. “Right now the CDC and our health department is recommending, not requiring, the use of masks. We felt that un�l it is mandated, we will just go back to normalcy.”

The Delta variant of the coronavirus is s�ll very much raging in parts of the unvaccinated. Some states have even run out of hospital beds because this variant is much more easily transmi�ed, and people get sicker faster when they do get it. Some states have been so desperate to find beds that they have flown pa�ents to other states. According to NPR, one rural hospital in Kansas has flown pa�ents as far away as Wisconsin just to find an open bed. While previous strains of the disease tended to only really affect older people, the Delta variant is harming younger and younger people. This Delta wave is ongoing and there are fears that it will get worse as people start to spend more �me inside as winter approaches.

The debate on whether or not to get stricter on figh�ng the coronavirus is also playing out in Lenawee County. The Daily

Lenawee County Schools want safety, stability in face of COVID

Telegram reported on September 16 that four parents in Tecumseh protested during a mee�ng of the school board over their decisions. According to the Telegram, this included at least one parent whose four-year-old had to quaran�ne while she and her husband struggled to find day�me childcare.

School districts are increasingly introducing COVID dashboards; which are essen�ally webpages where all cases of COVID-19 are documented and presented on a regular basis to provide parents with regular informa�on. No students are specifically iden�fied, but these dashboards generally tell parents the date of the incident, the school it took place in and the number of cases.

for the virus as a condi�on of employment. Republican governors across the country have made a point of trying to outdo each other in decrying the mandate as uncons�tu�onal. It is likely that this ma�er will eventually end up in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court has previously ruled, in cases such as the 1905 Jacobson v. Massachuse�s decision, that the government does indeed have the power to enforce public health mandates. Some liberal groups are ques�oning how the current Supreme Court will rule with three appointees from former President Donald Trump on the bench.

Most of the school districts did not respond to this magazine’s ques�ons on how they will approach this new legal situa�on, and Superintendent Bob Behnke said that Adrian Public Schools is yet to determine how they will implement this new rule.

“At this �me, we are wai�ng to get clarifica�on from the state and local governments and their agencies as to how this may or may not affect us. Un�l we have this feedback it is not possible for us to create a plan or take ac�on,” Rebo�aro said.

President Biden announced on Sept. 7, by introducing a requirement through the Department of Labor in which all employers with 100 or more employees have all of their staff either get vaccinated or submit to weekly tests

Safety Protocols

Lenawee Intermediate School District Superintendent Mark Haag took a similar posi�on, saying in an email “I don’t think any of us know enough about the detail and implica�on of President Biden’s statement to make any informed comments” on the new Labor Department rule.

COVID-19 PREVENTION STRATEGIES

1. Promoting vaccination against COVID-19

2. Requiring consistent and correct mask use for all

3. Physical distancing to extent possible

4. Screening and testing

5. Ventilation

6. Handwashing and respiratory etiquette

7. Staying home when sick and getting tested

8. Contact tracing in combination with quarantine and collaborating with the local health department.

9. Cleaning and Disinfection

Source: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/coronavirus/COVID-19_Guidance_for _Operating_Schools_Safely_728838_7.pdf

“One part I can answer with clarity is that the LISD clearly has more than 100 individuals, more like 400, so it definitely will apply to us when there are more concrete details,” Haag added. “We have not seen a clear implementa�on date; therefore, we have not communicated much of anything with our staff due to the lack of details. So, in terms of staff reac�on, we really do not know.”

School districts have come to the conclusion that they will follow the guidelines of the Lenawee County Health Department – which did not formally respond to mul�ple requests for comment – on whether and when to enforce mask mandates or closures. The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services actually used Swiss cheese as an analogy in their recommenda�ons to the public.

Ge�ng inoculated with one of the vaccines that have been given full approval by the Food and Drug Administra�on is the first step in protec�ng everyone and using face masks correctly is the next. Social distancing, temperature screenings, COVID-19 tes�ng and proper ven�la�on are also steps that the public can take. But unless something changes for the worse, a shutdown is not on the cards yet and neither is an indoor mask mandate. The federal government, again, is manda�ng masking on school buses. “Last year is a great example. We used local data to drive our decision. Right before return of spring break, we heard from Lansing to close down the high school and extend break for a week. But when we looked at our data, didn’t have any cases at the high school, to stop educa�on for our high school students when the data was saying to stay open didn’t make sense,” Benhke said in an interview with Maple City Our Town. “On the flip side, we had transmission rates at elementary that were high and of concern, so we did the opposite of what was recommended in Lansing. We closed elementary schools for 3 days to extend the return from spring break and worked with MDHHS.”

Delta variant – especially since children are much more suscep�ble to this much more deadly and easily transmissible strain than they were in previous waves. The result of poli�cians staking their careers on s�cking to a hardcore base of supporters on their side of the issue is that there is no unified response across the country.

Whether or not parents choose to send their children to school with a mask or not may cause some bullying. While no district has a specific an�-bullying mandate when it comes to masks, all of the school officials asked by this magazine about this possibility said that this would not be tolerated because of their already exis�ng an�-bullying policies.

“I wish there was a hard line in the sand. We’ve been working with the health department if there can be,” Hagg said. “We have a variety of special educa�on and tech ed programs. Our primary programs where we have direct contact with students vary widely in both size, nature and loca�on. We don’t necessarily have a district-wide threshold where we shut everything down, because we might have a very small program that operates in a separate facility with a small number of students. … The threshold we had last year, with the excep�on of when the state had mandates, was 25 percent.”

This is to conform to the state’s pupil minimum to count as a date of instruc�on, Haag said.

Adrian Public Schools has also invested in its ven�la�on system. While not the only tool in the district’s tool box to fight COVID-19, Superintendent Behnke said it was part of his district’s arsenal in keeping students safe.

the debate over whether or not to have mask mandates has divided school districts across the country. The Michigan State Medical Society is one of a long list of associa�ons of medical professionals recommending that mask mandates be reintroduced to protect people from the

School officials are planning on taking full advantage of returning to in person instruc�on and all it brings along with it. This includes everything from social and emo�onal care for students who have spent so much �me isolated, to academic catch up; and from ge�ng back to normal sports seasons and reboo�ng the sense of community that schooling provides.

“From an instruc�onal point of view, the fact that we have a lot of work that needs to take place to help address closing the achievement gap for our students,” Behnke said in an interview with Adrian Our Town. “The students that missed instruc�on or were virtual, and we o�en see students who were placed into quaran�ne, and they came back, and there was another exposure from home, and they were out for another amount of �me, closing that gap with instruc�on is something that we’re excited about.”

Parents can opt to keep their students in virtual instruc�on in most cases. Some parents are taking advantage of that op�on, according to mul�ple school officials. In the event that a teacher needs to quaran�ne in Adrian, Behnke says that they will be able to teach from home. Tecumseh parents can also keep their students online. Parents can transi�on their students from in-person to online when they want to; but Rebo�aro said “We’d like to have [parents] make those decisions at the semester breaks” rather than in the middle of the semester.

Contact tracing will be done by the school nurse in Tecumseh and Adrian; in conjunc�on with the LCHD, which will collect all of the data. Behnke said that just like last year, the data will be the determining factor on if and when there are any school closures this year.

“Individuals who are fully vaccinated are not required to quaran�ne if they have remained asymptoma�c since their last exposure to COVID-19. Immunocompromised people need to consult their healthcare provider about these recommenda�ons, even if they are fully vaccinated,” the LCHD’s 2021-2022 COVID-19 School Guidance recommenda�on says. “Individuals previously diagnosed with COVID-19 who are asymptoma�c are not required to quaran�ne if they have recovered from COVID-19 within

the previous three months, measured from the date of symptom onset; or if they are asymptoma�c, the date of the first posi�ve test.”

Students who have been within three feet of a person with COVID-19 will have to quaran�ne for the LCHD’s recommended ten days. If they are exposed, the school must conduct contact tracing, the parents will be no�fied and will be asked to help monitor their children for two weeks. Students are recommended to a�end school virtually during this �me. Parents can s�ll choose to send their children to school in this instance, but they will be required to wear a mask at all �mes, even if the students hadn’t worn a mask before the exposure, as a condi�on of being able to return in person.

Benkhe explained that contact tracing with families and anyone else known to be in contact with an infected person gave them “a good reset” to test and add to the data and coordinate with the LCHD rather than shut down an en�re building.

“At some point, there was talk previously above 5% posi�vity, everything gets shut down. But last year we were able to, even with higher posi�vity rates in the county, s�ll able to move forward with school,” Benkhe said. “So the ebb and flow of the data and the ebb and flow of the virus because the informa�on we know about the virus is more now, but the evolu�on of the delta variant is alarming and concerning as we go into the year too.”

Some districts did not respond to requests for comment by press time.

Still dancing

Quinceañeras carry on through coronavirus, just a bit late

By Allison Dunn Contributing writer

Deanna Flores initially planned on a large celebration to recognize her 15th birthday and the important milestone from girlhood to womanhood, but as with many aspects in life, the coronavirus pandemic had other plans.

Life over the past year for the now 16-year-old Adrian High School junior was anything but normal. She balanced virtual and in-person learning and also saw her brother miss out on some of the most memorable events as a high school senior.

But the pandemic also fell into the time that Deanna was turning 15 and wanting to celebrate with a quinceañera, part religious ceremony, part birthday party, that recognizes a girl becoming a young woman in the Latin community.

“Despite the transformations that it has undergone, the quinceañera ritual has not lost its importance in recent years,” Robin Cavgnoud wrote in 2013 article published on Liège Université’s Portial de Publication de Périodiques Scientifiques about the celebration for young Peruvian girls.

“This celebration has been adapted to modern forms in order to survive. For women of thirty, forty, or fifty year olds, stories related to this event are usually filled with emotion and nostalgia. Likewise, this celebration is still central in the lives of young girls.”

As a young teenager, Deanna Flores expressed interest in having a quinceañera celebration, and her mother, Angela Flores, was determined to make it a special day.

“I was a little surprised because she’s a very shy person, but she was really set on having one,” the mother said. “I really wanted to do it for her because I wanted her to be able to experience that.”

A quinceañera starts with a ceremony or mass, commonly followed by a glitzy celebration, which often resembles a wedding, with a banquet hall, music and dancing, and beautifully designed ball gowns.

The vendors, including a hall, band, and photo booth were booked for Deanna’s party in May 2020. She had a beautiful, pink ball gown and planned to get her hair, nails and makeup done. Invitations were prepared to send to guests and the family was ready to celebrate with around 100 of their closest family members and friends.

But as the number of coronavirus cases increased in Michigan and across the country, various orders were issued to help minimize the spread. The Flores family had to reevaluate how to move forward.

Unsure of when things may be somewhat “normal,” the family opted to move the May celebration to Aug. 29, 2020.

“We were thinking everything would be OK and it still wasn’t,” Angela Flores said, adding the family considered moving the date further, celebrating during her 16th birthday, and even canceling the event altogether.

“The look on her face when she thought it wasn’t going to be able to happen, I just said ‘We gotta figure it out,’” Angela Flores recalled.

The family decided to throw a celebration in their backyard under a large tent and around 50 people showed up throughout the evening.

It wasn’t what was initially planned but they made the best of it with homemade cooking and trying to maintain as many social-distancing practices as possible. Deanna admitted she was upset when she learned the party would be a little different than expected, but she said she was thankful for everyone who came.

Most importantly, she realized the value of the church ceremony, she said.

“Everyone that came and cared about coming made me think that I was important to them, and receiving the important gifts like the rosary, my necklace, Bible and bracelet also made me think it was more important at the moment in the church,” she said.

During the traditional ceremony, pairs of girls and boys, representing a year in the girl’s life, walk down the aisle, followed by the quinceanera and her parents.

The young girl makes a commitment to God to live the rest of her life according to the teachings of Christ and by renewing her Baptismal promises, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Relatives and friends, or sponsors, make a special presentation of gifts, including a tiara or crown, a pair of earrings, a cross, a rosary, and a Bible.

Still lovin’ it

Michael Bodman carries on the family legacy of service with a smile at area McDonald’s

By Lorie Beardsley Contributing writer

At times in life the path seems to wind back to the place where it all began. at was the case for Michael Bodman, now a second-generation owner-operator with McDonald’s. Several decades ago, a man named Bill Sigmund worked for Kra . During his time with the company, Sigmund met Ray Kroc. When they met, Kroc could not a ord to purchase an entire railroad car of cheese. e solution that would allow Kroc to get his cheese was that Kroc would pay each day for the amount of cheese he had used the day before. If the name Raymond Kroc sounds familiar, it is because he purchased the McDonald’s corporation in 1961, served as the CEO for several years, and expanded the corporation throughout the world. A er meeting Kroc, Sigmund and his wife, Vi, became interested in owning a McDonald’s franchise themselves, but with Sigmund being committed to his role at Kra , his request was denied. Upon committing fully to McDonald’s, Sigmund got his restaurant. Having been inspired by meeting Kroc, Rusty Bodman, an associate of Bill and Vi, eventually became an owner-operator with McDonald’s. While in college pursuing an accounting degree, Michael Bodman, Rusty’s son, worked in his father’s restaurants, but Michael had no intention of joining his father’s business venture.

A er graduating, taking a job with Ernst and Young, and working long, late hours, Michael decided that he was not interested in investing another ten years struggling to become a partner. Upon telling his father that he was interested in the family business, Michael’s father welcomed him and gave him a job, as an hourly employee.

Michael’s decision to become an owneroperator was only the rst small step in the lengthy process. Franchisees must prove to the corporation that they are committed to the business by meeting several requirements to the satisfaction of the corporation. Persevering through the process has led Michael to the place where he is now, currently

owner-operator of three McDonald’s locations: two in Adrian and one in Hudson.

e Adrian McDonald’s located at US-223 serves more customers than any other freestanding McDonald’s restaurant in the state. “Most restaurants get three visits per capita in a given time period from local residents. We (Adrian) average over 7 visits per capita for the same time period from local residents. at tells us we must be doing something right to get that many customers coming back,” Bodman said. Michael ascribes that restaurant’s success to both the location and to the people.

“I have lots of long-term employees, long-term managers as well,” Michael said. Several managers have retired from his restaurants, and some of his sta ’s children have started their careers there. e relationship that he has with his sta is something that Michael values greatly.

“One of the best things is when people who used to work for us come back, and we nd out they did great things, and they say part of (their success) is because of the things they learned while working for McDonald’s,” Michael said.

ough Rusty has retired, and Michael has since bought out all of his interests, Rusty remains active in the restaurants, running orders and interacting with people.

“He never used to like talking to customers, but now you can’t stop him.” Michael foresees his future following much that same path.

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WOMEN AT WORK

Adrian-area women find success and passion as business owners

By Kate Mitchell Editor-in-chief

As the one true queen, Beyonce, says: Who runs the world? Girls. Or, in the case of these Adrian-area businesses, women are the ones making things happen and running the show.

While woman-owned businesses aren’t terribly common — only about one in ve American businesses are owned by women — they are on the rise, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Southeast Michigan is hub for women-owned businesses, with these businesses nearly doubling in number in the mitten state between 2002 and 2019.

“I hadn’t planned on doing this,” she said. “I was in the healthcare eld for a long time, and then I went into real estate and I loved real estate. But when the market tanked, I got out and raised my kids. When they were old enough and in school full time, I came in here.

“Growing up in this industry, you have a passion for it. It’s in your blood.”

One Adrian woman, Andrea Vogel, took ownership of the family business in that time. In 2011, Vogel took over Brown & Sons, an Adrian-based contracting rm and the family business. While she loves the business, taking over from her father hadn’t been what she intended.

Donna Baker, CPA, also hadn’t started with the plan to own her own business. Donna Baker & Associates was born out of Baker’s love of teaching. Namely, that her work as an accounting professor at Siena Heights University came with a sabbatical. Baker thought the best way to grow her accounting knowledge to better teach her students was to get back out and work in the eld.

She started Tax Pro lers — which she still owns — out of the Adrian Mall to handle tax preparation for local individuals and businesses. Her goal, for her

hobby business, was to eventually do 500 tax returns in a year. She hit that goal her rst tax season. e second year, she did 1,200.

“My hobby on the side has grown enormously,” Baker said. “I still teach full time, I love teaching, and I love not just preparing taxes but working with a lot of small businesses. I love helping them and teaching them what they can do to succeed. It’s the teacher in me. I took this passion for teaching and did what I can to help our local businesses.”

Baker’s transition from Tax Pro lers to a full accounting rm wasn’t entirely planned, either. She hired many of her SHU students to work with her doing tax preparation, and many of those students were working parents on top of being students. ey enjoyed working with Baker — especially being able to do it part time — and proposed expanding the business into the bookkeeping sphere. She agreed, as long as someone else took the lead. Of course, Baker ended up being all in.

Her students also pushed her to expand to a bigger o ce as the business grew. She resisted that move at rst, too.

“ ere was a building downtown, and it was great space for a typical CPA rm,” Baker said. “I told [my sta member] absolutely not, my goal is full time

teaching, I don’t want to get weighed down. I have seven kids. I want to have extra free time with the kids. She looked at the building and said ‘I’m moving the bookkeeping sta down there.’ It’s grown astronomically from there.”

Baker, as it happened, only needed a little push. In the end, it paid o .

“I’m glad she pushed me to do this,” she said. “I love every minute of it. I feel like I’m helping people, I’m helping businesses and individuals and I love the personal relationship with them.”

For Michelle Van Brunt, owner of ee Old Mill, the journey to becoming a business owner took a little less nudging. It was more of a natural progression, a result of her personal background.

ee Old Mill, just one of the businesses Van Brunt and her husband own together, serves the community she grew up in, functioning as a mill, o ering trucking and warehousing services and selling their own line of feeds to the Adrian area.

“I grew up on a farm, so agriculture is in my blood,” she said. “I married a farmer. ee Old Mill just evolved from there, it’s a family business.”

Being a business owner of any kind has its own host of challenges and triumphs. For Vogel, that meant making sure Brown & Sons — which she took ownership of in 2011 — was a business she could be proud of. While any business owner wants to be pro table, Vogel wanted to provide contractor services that went beyond what many have come to expect.

“Customers are the most important part of our business,” she said. “We actually care about the customers. If I’m going to make a lot of money doing this, I’m doing it where I can sleep at night. I’m giving the customers value for the dollars they spend here.”

It also means taking care of Brown & Sons’ employees. Construction work, Vogel says, is hard work. Looking out for the people who are out in the eld, putting roo ng and siding on homes, makes for happy employees and happy customers, too.

Her philosophies have paid o , with Brown & Sons being awarded Best of Lenawee ve years running. e nominations and the wins — both coming from the community and past customers — are representative of the best parts of the work for Vogel: helping people.

“My favorite part of my job is when customers leave reviews and send me letters,” she said. “I’ve had customers send owers and gi baskets, stop in with homemade bread. at makes me feel good. It’s letting me know that I’m on the right track and that’s the way we should do business.”

Making a di erence is what Baker enjoys most about her work as a CPA, too. While Donna Baker & Associates has been going strong for years, Baker has continued to teach. Currently, she’s the Adrian College chair of the MS of Accountancy and she’s loved combining her educational career with her business to positively impact as many people as she can.

“I love getting to know my clients and helping them,” Baker said. “My kids get mad at me because whenever we go into a restaurant or store, I stop and talk to someone. I love working with students and helping them gain knowledge they need to have successful accounting careers. I have thoroughly enjoyed making a di erence in these students’ lives. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed making a di erence in my businesses’ lives, because a few tips can save them a few thousands on a tax return. And sometimes, just

being a listening ear can help a lot too.”

While there has been plenty to love about being Adrian-area business owners, there have been challenges, too.

Vogel’s business shi s regularly as new materials and techniques are developed, and new training is necessary to keep her workers up-to-date on the best way to get the job done. Baker regularly has to juggle additional tax codes and new programs across her various areas of expertise. For Van Brunt, COVID posed a new challenge for her young business.

“ ee Old Mill opened in 2017 and since then, the only thing that has changed is COVID,” Van Brunt said. “Service is our best quality. We have to be price competitive, so our service is the only thing we can o er to get people to come to us rather than the big box stores.”

Coronavirus restrictions and precautions made providing ee Old Mill’s signature customer service a lot harder. But, in the way that so many good business owners manage to do, Van Brunt and her family found a way to help her customers, even when faced with huge challenges.

“We have always o ered curbside service and bulk deliveries,” she said. “When COVID hit, people were very happy that they could call, email or place a Facebook order and we would get it ready for them. ey would pull up, honk or call and we would bring the order out to them, all contactless. People really appreciated that, and we still o er that service today.”

While Van Brunt says her eld — agriculture — has been receptive to women owning their own businesses, others have faced challenges as a result of gender discrimination.

For Vogel, it came in the form of doubt when she took over the business from her father.

“When I began my career here in 2011, not a lot of people took me seriously because I was a woman,” she said. “I had to work harder to prove that I could be just as e ective in business as a man, I had to ght more.

“I still face some of it, but it’s not like it was in the beginning. is is a small town, and over time, people have learned who I was and what I was capable of doing.”

Baker came up in the accounting world in a time that is both far removed but also not so long ago: the late 1980s. At the time, she was working for Ernst & Young, one of the largest accounting rms in the world.

When she got her start, only 10 percent of new accountant hires at Ernst & Young were women, and there were some companies the rm contracted with who bluntly said they didn’t want to do business with a woman. With a personality that can deal with adversity, Baker was sent to deal with some of these more di cult clients. One incident with one of these clients stands out clearly in her memory.

“I handed one of the owners a piece of paper to sign, and he signed it and threw it on the oor in front of me,” Baker said. “I picked it up, thanked him, and walked away. You can’t change people’s minds by ghting back, but you can change them by showing competency.”

ings have changed a lot over her 35 year career, though. Now, Baker says, her gender can be a boon in some business situations. Plus, for the locals who know her well, she has proved her mettle.

“Being a woman as a leader — a CPA, a nancial advisor — in a community can be bene cial,” Baker said. “ ere are areas of strong need, whether that is sitting on a big corporate board or whether that’s working with clients that just prefer to have a woman. Over my career, my mode of operation has been to prove my competency and it’s been very successful.”

Anyone owning any kind of business will face challenges, but for these Adrian area women, those challenges have been more than worth it. Serving their community — their friends and families — with their skills and passion has been the experience of a lifetime.

“It’s de nitely hard, but anything worth having is worth ghting for,” Vogel said. “You have to have a good support system and you have to believe in yourself and you have to care about people. If you’re going to make it in this world you have to lead with your heart.”

For Van Brunt, too, her business serving the community where she grew up has been a labor of love.

“Being a self employed business owner is hard,” she said. “It takes long hours, days and weekends. But, with that being said, it is rewarding when you see all your hard work start to become your vision. It becomes one of your babies, and watching it grow is great! “ at is what I enjoy, seeing my business become its own.”

Fall color tours worth the drive

By Rachel Brougham Contribu�ng writer

Michigan’s fall color season is flee�ng and if you don’t know where to go to get a great leaf peeping experience, it can easily pass you by before you know it. Whether you’re looking to get out and enjoy the vibrant reds, oranges and yellows by car, foot, bicycle or any number of other means, there are plenty of spots around the state to immerse yourself in the colors of the season.

Michigan has 19 million acres of forests for you to explore this autumn, which according to David Lorenz, vice president of travel for Pure Michigan, has become one of the Michigan’s busiest seasons. Fall tourism in Michigan helps give a boost to many of the state’s businesses in what would otherwise be a slower shoulder season.

As Lorenz notes, the spectacular fall colors can be enjoyed from anywhere you can see the forest. “When you combine the vibrant colors with all the natural colors you find in the fields, like those with soy beans and apple trees and everything else, it really is pre�y stunning,” he said.

Fall colors start earlier the further north you go, generally starting in late September in the Upper Peninsula, before spreading southward throughout the Lower Peninsula.

Depending on how far you want to travel, here are a few options for getting the most out of fall’s beauty here in the Wolverine State.

Brighton

Give your car and your legs a rest and enjoy the fall colors on a horseback tour at Brighton Recreation Center. e center’s riding stable o ers guided trail rides from 45 to 90 minutes that will take you through the woods. All abilities are welcome for those 8 years of age and up. Hiking and mountain bike trails are also available.

Just west, you’ll get an “up north” experience at Island Lake Recreation Area. e 4,000-acre park just outside Brighton o ers a mix of hardwood forest and open meadows for hikers along 18 miles of trails.

Try the park in the early morning or late evening to see hot air balloons take o and land.

Peak Color: Mid to late October. Drive time from Adrian: Approximately 1 hour, 10 minutes

Ypsilanti

Travel to the home of Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti for plenty of fall splendor. By car, travel down Merritt Road and make a stop at Wiard’s Orchards for apple cider, hay rides and apple picking. You can also let your GPS guide you through the outskirts of the city where you’ll encounter plenty of color along rolling hills and the Huron River.

Stretch your legs in the city’s Depot Town, full of small shops and restaurants along the Huron River. Riverside Park is a favorite among both locals and visitors, as the 16-acre park features bike trails, shing, picnic tables and a playground.

Peak Color: Mid to late October. Drive time from Adrian: Approximately 50 minutes

Kalamazoo

Dana Wagner, director of marketing and communications for Discover Kalamazoo, says driving down a road that has great overhanging trees on both sides is a must-do for leaf peepers. And the area has plenty of opportunities for those looking to get spectacular views from afoot.

For those looking for a simple hike, try the Kalama-

zoo Nature Center, which is home to miles of trails that wind through woods, wetlands and prairies. You’ll get some of the best views from the Raptor Ridge Trail, which not only gives you a glimpse of the fall foliage from the highest points in the county, but you’ll likely see plenty of birds over the Kalamazoo River Valley.

Nearby, Markin Glen County Park also features one of the highest points in Kalamazoo. From the top, hikers will not only be able to take in the vibrant fall colors, but a scenic view of downtown. For those looking for overnight accommodations, the park also features a campground.

“Driving around the roads going to VerHage’s Fruit Farm and Cider Mill is always really pretty with the fall colors,” Wagner said.

Peak Color: Mid-late October. Drive from Adrian: Approximately 1 hour, 49 minutes.

Harbor Springs

It’s hard to talk about fall colors without mentioning M-119, otherwise known as the Tunnel of Trees, which winds its way along Lake Michigan. Start in Harbor Springs and make your way to the northwest corner of the Lower Peninsula, just west of the Mackinac Bridge.

“It’s beautiful, everyone should see it at least once,” Bonnie Kulp, executive director of the Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center says of M-119 in Emmet County. “You’ll fall in love and want to do it over and over again.”

e narrow highway winds north through woods and rolling hills while giving you peaks of Lake Michigan along the way. You’ll hit small villages such as Good Hart and Cross Village with restaurants and little shops, o ering up plenty of spots to stretch your legs and take a break while soaking up the fall foliage. Kulp’s advice is to do the

M-119 drive in one direction, and go State Road in the opposite direction, which will take you north or south through the county, also giving viewers beautiful fall colors amid the hills.

ere are plenty of stops for those looking to get out and explore by foot as well, including the Woollam Family Nature Preserve just o M-119, which is part of the Little Traverse Conservancy. e short half mile trail will lead you through mature beech-maple hardwoods before reaching the sandy shoreline.

“I just tell people to explore the area and let your GPS guide you,” Kulp said. “Just be sure to stop and get out the camera throughout the trip.”

Peak Color: Early October. Drive from Adrian: Approximately 4 hours, 30 minutes

tyroads) some great local spots for Michigan’s fall colors. ose looking for great colors can check out the page to nd spots near them.

In addition, Pure Michigan o ers plenty of driving routes on its Fall Color Tours portion of its website. ere’s also an interactive map that’s updated with expected peak color times throughout the state.

And if you still can’t decide where to go to experience this year’s fall colors, that’s OK too.

“I just tell people to get out and don’t forget the east and west routes as they can be perfect,” said Lorenz. “You can go north or south on the expressway for a beautiful view, but if you really want to get fall in Michigan and get the true splendor of the season, try the later a ernoon toward evening going east to west or west to east. With the right light, those leaves just burst with color.”

Find the Right Color Tour for You is fall, even if you don’t have a particular destination or exact route in mind, taking the scenic route — including back roads — will o er plenty of fall color viewing opportunities.

“Taking a fall color tour down a county road is a great way to spend an a ernoon during this unprecedented time,” notes Denise Donohue, executive director for the County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan. “Michigan’s colors are among the best in the country, making fall the perfect opportunity to go out and enjoy the state’s natural beauty.”

e CRA encourages leaf peepers to post on the association’s Facebook page (facebook.com/micoun-

Rachel Brougham is the former assistant editor of the Petoskey News-Review. She currently lives in Minneapolis where she works as a freelance writer and editor.

Blended Families go beyond genetics

Families can grow and change, but love remains the common bond

By Lorie Beardsley

Contributing writer

November is a special month for my family. It is a time we remember the 30 children who have been part of our lives, many for just a few months, and some for only a few days.

As a sixteen-year-old who had no interest in babies or having a family of my own, neither at that point or ever in my life, I wasn’t too excited to hear that the topic of a (rarely called) family meeting was that my parents had decided to become foster parents. I don’t remember jealousy being an issue. It was more the teenage notion that I didn’t like the idea of changes that could mean inconvenience for me.

ough I don’t remember exactly how I made that point, I am certain that I expressed some protest at the possibility of having to take care of crying babies. Even as a narcissistic teenager, I began to nd that the experience was somewhat interesting, though. I remember coming home from school one day and mom saying that we should go look in the crib. A little girl just a few days old lay sleeping, tucked tightly in a blanket in the center of the pure white sheet. At times my parents would be called to take a placement and would have to go to the hospital to pick up the babies who had no parents waiting eagerly to take them home. If the child were a little older, a department of social services sta member would bring the child to our house.

My parents chose to take placements of infants primarily, but would on occasion take children in the toddler age group. I think the oldest child who spent time as a foster child in our home was nearly three years old.

Due to space in the household and the preference of my parents, we usually had only one child in our home at a time. I believe it was only once that we had two children for a few months. at was certainly an interesting experience as both were less than a year old and were only about six months apart in age. While the children were in our home, they were part of the family, though few if any of them would remember their time with us. I remember many of them, though.

nice and had an ample living room area. She needed help to decorate and to host the celebration by that point, but the table top tree was looking lovely, and the nativity set that had been a part of her Christmas Eve décor for decades was set up on the mid level of the stand that held her TV.

Below the nativity scene on a so blanket on the oor one of the foster babies lay sleeping. Under the Christmas tree, grandma had a little package for that little girl. ough it was an inexpensive toy, it was a gi from the heart for a little girl who would only be part of our family for a few weeks.

Some of the foster babies were with us for only a few weeks, some for a few months, but two little girls were with us for over a year, and those two changed our family forever.

I was a senior in high school when they rst came to us. She was brought into our living room by a DSS worker who handed her to me. She was about six months old with blond, curly hair.

I was away at college when my parents went to court and celebrated her adoption into our family.

I was also away at college when my family took another adorable little girl, who had come into our home as an infant, to see that same judge who had granted the rst adoption and would grant this adoption as well.

As a college student and then as a young adult working in another city, I missed a lot of the details of their growing up, but I was always excited to see them and to spend time with them when I was home for the holidays.

e younger was given several physical challenges through the DNA of her biological parents, and though she could say it’s not fair, she is a sweet and loving person who enjoys playing the violin and has even become friends with some members of the popular musical group Celtic Women. She now spends three days a week working in the kitchen of a local community organization, helping to prepare meals for the participants in the programs.

e older of the two has been married for several years, has a lovely home, has become a mother and has moved on with her life in a way that, as once an exuberant part, has le a bit of a gap in the family. When families change or merge, we always want that happily ever a er summary, but life is complicated,

It was our family tradition to spend Christmas Eve at grandma’s. She was in her 80’s and lived in an apartment complex for senior citizens. Her apartment was CONTINUED ON

Fall Fun

all

Making the most of your Michigan autumn

By Lorie Beardsley

Contributing writer

Summer has come and gone, the leaves have begun to glow in brilliant shades of auburn, orange and gold, and the days have grown shorter. Fall has arrived in Michigan, and with it comes orchard outings, hayrides and Halloween.

According to data from the National Retail Federation, Americans who celebrate Halloween spent just under $100 per person in preparation for their festivities in 2020. Nationwide, sales of candy, costumes, decorations, and even greeting cards for the holiday last year totaled 8.05 billion dollars. With Halloween events being discouraged, scaled down and even canceled, the numbers still indicate that the holiday retained its popularity.

Even with disrupted plans, 61 percent of Americans plan to dress in costume this year. As is the case every year, creativity is a key component to costume ideas, but those lacking either ideas or time will nd plenty of ideas on the internet. e projections for popular costumes in 2021 range from Baby Yoda to Bezos in Space.

ose looking to celebrate the haunted holiday this year will nd plenty of events to entertain them, whether slightly spooky or totally terrifying is the goal.

For the young ones, the Adrian District Library will host its annual Family Halloween Storytime at the Adrian District Library on Tuesday, October 26 from 6:30 to 7:30 in the Community Room. Participants are encouraged to wear costumes to the event. ose in attendance will listen to a “slightly spooky story,” sing songs, parade through the library to show o their costumes, and enjoy some treats.

e Clinton Inn, located at 104 West Michigan Avenue in Clinton, is planning two events for Halloween weekend. e Halloween Masquerade will begin at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 30 and is open to adults age 21 and older. e Halloween themed cocktail party will feature spooky cocktails, music and entertainment, door prizes, hors d’oeuvres, photo booth and a costume contest. Tickets for the event cost $25.

Clinton Inn will also host a family friendly Halloween Celebration on Sunday, October 31 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. e event is open to both kids and adults and will feature a photo booth, apple cider and donuts, full size candy bars for trick or treaters and a costume contest.

Suburban Chevrolet of Clinton, located at 1070 W. U.S. 12 in Clinton, will be hosting their Trunk or Treat on ursday, October 28th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. is year the event will be returning to its former scale. “It is very nice for the kids to have something. We’re trying to bring some fun back into things,” said Joe Bennet of Suburban Chevy. e Trunk or Treat will feature food vendors, cider and doughnuts from Kapnick Orchards, kid’s games and activities and the local businesses that will be on site to participate in the Trunk or Treat itself.

Communities around Lenawee County will be sounding the siren again this year for those who wish to venture out into the twilight on Halloween night. O cial citywide trick or treat times for both the Village of Clinton and the City of Tecumseh will be Sunday, October 31 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. For some fans of Halloween, the holiday would not be complete without a good scare. Zombiewoods, located at 18341 US12 in Cement City, o ers just that. Owner and designer Ray Phillips has a wealth of professional knowledge in the areas of lighting, special e ects, and even pyrotechnics, in which he holds safety certi cation. He draws on that knowledge for inspiration when creating the experiences for visitors to the attractions.

“We use a lot of visual e ects. We also incorporate a lot of mother nature into the walk,” Phillips said. “We have some surprises out there too.”

e walk through the forest takes about 30 minutes in total. Guests will also nd a ghost town among the attractions. More information about the attractions, as well as sneak peaks, is available at https://zombiewoodshaunt.com/ ough the

attractions at Zombiewoods are intended to entertain, Phillips said that the experiences are family-friendly. Zombiewoods is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m.

ose who are looking to enjoy the autumn ambiance, apart from the hair-raising antics of Halloween, will want to add Carpenter Farms, located at 2534 E US-223 in Adrian, to the schedule this year.

“We are a family farm. Our children will be the 5th generation,” Kelly Carpenter said of the pumpkin farm. “In Lenawee County, we are a destination in the fall.”

She added that people come from all over, not just the county or the state, but the world. ey have had exchange students visit the farm with their host families, an interesting experience for several who have never seen a pumpkin before and who have not previously had the pleasure of experiencing fall.

e farm grows over 70 varieties of pumpkins as well as a vast array of edible squash, plus gourds and Indian corn are available for purchase.

“We have everything for all of your fall decorating needs,” Carpenter said. “If we don’t have it here, you probably won’t nd it anywhere in the area.” added that, if a guest makes a request, they will do their best to nd it and grow it the next year.

e attractions at Carpenter Farms include: wagon rides on Saturdays and Sundays, a 17-acre corn maze open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily, a straw maze and a straw pit, farm animals and the very popular corn can – a silo lled with corn where kids can play with and in the corn itself. Carpenter Farm will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily beginning September 17th through October 30th.

e humanitarians will nd an opportunity for philanthropy this Halloween season as the Lenawee Humane Society will host their 100th Howl-O-Ween Ball. is year’s special centennial celebration will take place on Friday, October 29th at the Adrian Tobias Room on the Campus College. e cocktail hour will begin at 6:00 p.m., and doors will open at 7:00 p.m.

Guests are encouraged to attend in costume. Features of the event include: dinner, desserts, cash bar, live and silent

auctions, games and contests, live music, a photo booth, caricature artist, and speed painter Martina Hah. Tickets may be purchased in advance of the event by visiting https://lenhumanesoc.org/howl-o-ween-ball/

From picking apples or taking a wagon ride through the Enchanted Forest at Kapnick Orchards in Britton to navigating the corn maze in Adrian to taking the spooky walk through a haunted forests in Cement City to enjoying trick-or-treating in one’s own community to discovering trunk or treats at local businesses and churches, autumn in Lenawee County o ers a myriad of activities for everyone whether the intention is to be delighted by the scents and avors of fall, or to be frightened by the sights and sounds of Halloween.

From picking apples or taking a wagon ride through the Enchanted Forest at Kapnick Orchards in Britton to navigating the corn maze in Adrian to taking the spooky walk through a haunted forests in Cement City to enjoying trick-or-treating in one’s own community to discovering trunk or treats at local businesses and churches, autumn in Lenawee County o ers a myriad of activities for everyone whether the intention is to be delighted by the scents and avors of fall, or to be frightened by the sights and sounds of Halloween.

2022 Chevrolet

MIKE BASHAM Service Mgr.

LINDSEY ATKINSON Transportation Specialist Equinox

ROB PORTER Service Advisor

2022 Chevrolet

and people are complex. When I married my husband 15 years ago, I married a man who had a son and a daughter, 22 and 20 respectively. Not only is he 17 years older than I am, but he had also lived practically a whole life of which I was not a part. He has history and memories with people who had only known his ex-wife, including family members, many of whom did welcome me and allowed for the opportunity for all of us to become acquainted. My family has extended that same opportunity not only to him, but also to his children, and to his grandchildren. Yes, the teenager turned woman who never had much interest in babies, is now something of a grandmother.

It was shortly a er midnight in early January about eight years ago when my husband’s son-in-law handed me our rst granddaughter. I remember being touched when he handed her to my husband, seeing the emotion rise within him as he looked at his rst grandbaby. When I look at the picture of me holding her, I see a smile that emerged in spite of my baby bias. She was, as are her parents, family, and so are the little sister and brother who have been born since.

As a teenager, I couldn’t have imagined our family being any di erent than it was, just my parents, my younger sister and me. Now, I cannot imagine how our family could have ever been complete without the two sisters who changed the picture forever, even with the absence that we hope is temporary, of one of them.

I cherish my role as big sister, and I cherish my role as Aunt Lorie to three nieces, and a nephew, two of whom have grown into talented, independent, and productive young adults.

Even though I never intended to have children, including step children, and even though neither the children nor the grandchildren view me nor address me as a step parent, I value my role in the lives of my husband’s two adult children and his grandchildren as well.

November is National Adoption Month. What a di erence it has made in my life. My family pictures look very di erent than they did just over 30 years ago, but as di erent as they are now from what I might have thought they would look like, I believe that they are somehow complete as I have learned that more than shared genetics and even shared pasts make a family whole.

OCTOBER

1

CALENDAR OF EVENTS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

14

Adrian First Friday, 5-8 p.m., downtown Adrian, www.facebook.com/ adrian rstfridays

5

“The Down Syndrome Diary: Helping Struggling Parents” with Jamie Freeman, author of “The Down Syndrome Diary: 26 Families, 7 Years, 4 Countries” and Tecumseh residents Erik and Megan Fortman, 7 p.m., Zoom and Facebook Live event sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library. Registration required, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

8

“Something Rotten!”, 7:30 p.m., Croswell Opera House, 129

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

9 Appleumpkin Festival, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., downtown Tecumseh, www.downtowntecumseh.com

“Something Rotten!”, 7:30 p.m., Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian, croswell.org or 517-264-7469

10 Appleumpkin Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., downtown Tecumseh, www.downtowntecumseh.com

“Something Rotten!”, 2:30 p.m., Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian, croswell.org or 517-264-7469

Adrian Symphony Orchestra:

“Symphony Fantastique,” 3 p.m., Dawson Auditorium, Adrian College, www.adriansymphony.org or 517-264-3121

12

“Adventures in Knitting with Glass” led by Carol Milne, 7 p.m., Zoom and Facebook Live event sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library. Registration required, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

13 College Info Night with college and career advisor

Madeline Roman, 7 p.m., Tecumseh District Library, 215 N. Ottawa St., registration required, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

Ask-A-Financial Expert with Edward Jones nancial advisor Frank J. Zanger. Individual sessions every half hour from 5-8 p.m., Tecumseh District Library, 215 N. Ottawa St. Registration required, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

“Something Rotten!”, 7:30 p.m., Croswell Opera House, 129

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

15

“Something Rotten!”, 7:30 p.m., Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian, croswell.org or 517-264-7469

16

Carpenter Farms Fall Craft Show, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 2534 E. U.S. 223, Adrian

“Something Rotten!”, 7:30 p.m., Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian, croswell.org or 517-264-7469

17

“Something Rotten!”, 2:30 p.m., Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian, croswell.org or 517-264-7469

19

Pub Trivia Night with Sporcle Live, 7 p.m., Tecumseh Brewing Co., 128 W. Chicago Blvd., sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

21

Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., Musgrove & Co., 135 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh, sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

25

“Jazz and the Civil Rights Movement” with utist and jazz historian Galen AbdurRazzaq, 6:30 p.m., Zoom event sponsored by the Adrian District Library. Registration required, adrian.lib.mi.us

27

“The Heart of India” with George Jabol, 1 p.m., Tecumseh District Library, 215 N. Ottawa St., tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

28

“Paranormal 101: Ghosts, Spirits and More” with Rusty Jones, founder and lead investigator of Central Michigan Paranormal Investigations, 7 p.m., Tecumseh District Library, 215 N. Ottawa St., tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

NOVEMBER

2

“The Culture of Clothing: A History” with Melanie Schuessler Bond, professor of costume design at Eastern Michigan University, 7 p.m., Zoom and Facebook Live event sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library. Registration required, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

4 “Grieve Well: Understanding Grief,” 7 p.m., Livestorm Webinar sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library. Registration required, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

5 Adrian First Friday, 5-8 p.m., downtown Adrian, www.facebook.com/ adrian rstfridays/

6

“Babywearing 101” with Hannah Nunnally, 10:30 a.m., Adrian District Library, adrian.lib.mi.us

8 “Dollars and Sense of eCommerce” with Steve Feinman of Ann Arbor SCORE, 7 p.m., Zoom and Facebook Live event sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library. Registration required, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

9

“Perfect Pies and Tarts” with Keegan C. Rodgers, owner of the Lakehouse Bakery in Chelsea, 7 p.m., Tecumseh District Library, 215 N. Ottawa St., tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

12

Tecumseh’s Twelve Days of Christmas Holiday Open House/Streetscape Lighting Ceremony, streetscape lighting 7 p.m., downtown Tecumseh, www.downtown tecumseh.com or 517-424-6818

13

Tecumseh’s Twelve Days of Christmas Holiday Open House, downtown Tecumseh, www.downtowntecumseh .com or 517-424-6818

14 Adrian Symphony Orchestra: “Festivals,” 3 p.m., Dawson Auditorium, Adrian College, www.adriansymphony.org or 517-264-3121

16

“Mosques: Their Design, Decoration and Furnishings” with Adrian College professor Michael C. McGrath, 7 p.m., Zoom and Facebook Live event sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library. Registration required, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

18

“True Crime in the Civil War” with Michigan author Tobin Buhk, 6:30 p.m., Adrian District Library, adrian.lib.us

Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., Musgrove & Co., 135 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh, sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

25

Runs through Dec. 31

Nite Lights drive-through Christmas lights show, Michigan International Speedway, 5:30-9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 5:30-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, www.mispeedway.com

26

“A Christmas Story: The Musical,” 7:30 p.m., Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian, croswell.org or 517-264-7469

27

“A Christmas Story: The Musical,” 7:30 p.m., Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian, croswell.org or 517-264-7469

28

“A Christmas Story: The Musical,” 2:30 p.m., Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian, croswell.org or 517-264-7469

30

Pub Trivia Night with Sporcle Live, 7 p.m., Tecumseh Brewing Co., 128 W. Chicago Blvd., sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

Editor’s note: Although we have made every e ort to bring you the latest information, events listed below may have been cancelled or rescheduled. Please check with the venue.

Adrian Haunted History Tours

Join us on an eerie journey into Adrian’s haunted past as we stroll the downtown streets of the 1800’s. Stories and legends of the supernatural are combined with fun and fascina�ng history. Stories such as the missing li�le girls who were never found but the ghost of their mother is believed to haunt our city. Plus visit the basement at Hooligans Grill where the underground railroad came to and escaped slaves hid to prevent capture, do you hear the whisper of a woman?? This is a candle light walking tour, approximately an hour and 15 minutes long, chocked full of old stories and legends of paranormal experiences. We not only walk the streets of Adrian Michigan but also go into buildings and basements, places the public never gets to see. Maybe you will experience the paranormal too, as so many others have before. Shadow figures, orbs of light, loud noises, objects move, footsteps or even disembodied voices have all been encountered on our tour over the past 5 years. Bring you camera, phone or ghost hun�ng equipment and see what you catch.

Regular tour dates are held the month of October and it is HIGHLY suggested to make reserva�ons since space is limited to only 16 per group. Most tours sell out quickly! Or you can pick your own date and �me for your special group or family get together ( minimum of 10 people). Make it a date with dinner and a tour at Hooligans Grill.

Tickets are $15 adult and $5 children under 10 years, most tours are kid friendly however later evening tour �mes are not. Call Hooligans Grill at (517) 920-4291 for dates and �mes, plus check out Adrian Haunted History Tours on Face Book. Halloween is a “Paranormal Tour” dates and �mes that include true paranormal inves�gators. You will receive the original tour plus a presenta�on of ghosts caught on camera from the past and a meet and greet with the inves�gators themselves. Explore the basement with the inves�gators with their equipment, exci�ng to see what can be caught. Prices are Adults & children over 10 - $15 each and children under 10 - $5

2021 Tour Date and Times 2021 Tour

October 14th at 8:30pm

October 15 at 8:30pm and 11pm

October 16 at 8:30pm and 11pm

October 21st at 8:30pm

October 22nd & 23rd at 8:30pm and 11pm

October 28th at 8:30pm

October 29th & October 30th at 8:30pm and 11 pm

October 31st "Paranormal Tour" at 8:30pm -$45 each

ADRIAN OUR TOWN

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