Adrian Our Town | Summer 2021

Summertime and the living’s easy.

Or easier, anyway, now that vaccines are here and restrictions are loosening. Yes, after a year filled with sadness, stress and uncertainty, things are looking something like they did before. Concerts, like Faster Horses Festival at MIS, are back on.

The Lenawee County Fair is back to satisfy your craving for fried food and adrenaline. Restaurants are welcoming guests inside and we can see people’s smiles again when we stop by the grocery store.

It’s almost strangely appropriate that this is coming as the weather warms and Michiganders get a chance to enjoy life without the threat of snow and ice, a whole new kind of life in bloom. So embrace this time as fully as you can.

Invite old friends over for a BBQ, stop by a grad party to celebrate a great accomplishment, or snag a ticket to a NASCAR race.

This is shaping up t be a summer like so many others before, and that makes it all the sweeter. And we hope that this edition can help you experience it in all the best ways.

Kate Mitchell Editor-in-Chief

Cover Design by Ryan Shreve of Fyrebird Media

BEER +

WINE

Area wine and beer makers are ready to be back in business!

By Drew Saunders

Lenawee County’s beer and wine industry is just as eager to hit the ground running with its first postCOVID summer as its thirsty customers are. The winery and brewery owners and managers interviewed for this article all had just as tough a time of surviving the coronavirus pandemic as other small businesses across the world, but are cautiously optimistic about the future.

Businesses like Pentamere Winery had to shut down — in Pentamere’s case for six weeks — but they are still here and ready to go. Dan Measel, who has been the chief winemaker for Pentamere for nineteen years, told Our Town that he is confident of a good summer as long as the coronavirus restrictions are phased out for the majority of the summer.

“Full steam ahead. We’re listening to what’s coming out of Lansing … but folks are coming out, we’re here and hopefully the timing is good right now,” Measel said.

The tasting room at Pentamere is limited to twelve people at a time to conform with Lansing’s social distancing requirements, as of publication.

Michael Wells, the owner of Black Fire Winery, responded to the pandemic by setting up his limited capacity wine room to sell mostly online. Any of his products can be ordered and shipped to up to

forty states. Black Fire also had to recover from a flooding issue that happened during the lockdown, but is currently open for business, and is ready to accommodate people of any comfort level.

“We’re thinking that this is still going to be another year of things being done outside. So, we’re going to gear up for things to be outside,” Wells said. And so, Black Fire will “have more outdoor seating then we’ve had in the past, because I don’t think people still feel that comfortable with being close to other people.”

Operating a business like the Flying Otter Vineyard has been frustrating during the pandemic, according to Bob Utter. But they have survived, and their outdoor

= a good time!

patio will still be providing live music, as he says they had been throughout the pandemic.

“It’s always di cult to have to scale businesses back to the point where its really di cult to stay in business,” Utter said. “And then you have to deal with all the regulatory requirements in terms of restricting our business, but the customers find it very frustrating. A lot of them are very good and understanding, but a lot of them aren’t.”

Now that about three-fifths of Michigan’s population, aged 16 or older, have had at least one shot of the vaccination, the state is starting to reopen. But as restrictions lift, that doesn’t mean the rules will be the same across the board. Utter, for example, said that restrictions for him and his employees might vary from rules for patrons.

The Tecumseh Brewing Company had to hit pause on its long-term expansion plans when Washington and Lansing enforced social distancing and lockdown procedures over a year ago. These plans include going out to beer festivals with their food truck, which was just permitted before the lockdown began and has been mostly collecting dust, but it is still ready to go.

Co-owner Kyle De Witt also told Our Town that they are planning on adding a tasting room to their production facility, because only half of the space is actually used to produce their product. That will be in the future, however. In the meantime, Tecumseh Brewing has gone forward with improvements to both their production facility and eatery — repainting, adding fire pits, a children’s playground and adding a garage-door style roll up door, to allow easy access between inside and outside.

“Now that things are opening back up, for good it looks like, on July 1, we’re really looking forward to getting these places humming at full speed, as opposed to fifty percent,” De Witt said. “Now that we can open at full speed, our customers are really excited to get out there. Some customers haven’t been out there at all during COVID, so they’re excited to get out.”

And it isn’t just wineries and breweries. Laura Wanke, the general manager of Chaloner’s Cigar House on Maumee Street, said that her 130 or so members were thrilled to be back. They have been open as long as the state has allowed, surviving a six week ban on indoor smoking. They also serve spirits.

“They’re thrilled,” Wanke said...

TECUMSEH BREWING

CONTINUTED FROM PAGE 7

...of her customer base, now that they can be welcomed back in.

“I think that most people are just happy — even when there were a lot of restrictions …. — I think people were happy just to come back out.”

Outdoor music has always been a key component of businesses like these, but they will be more important than ever during the recovery. Flying Otter will be providing music and so will Tecumseh Brewing, along with their trivia nights. Chadoners will be opening back up to cigar events, bridal showers, corporate events and just celebrated their first post-pandemic bourbon tasting show. But Wells said Black Fire Winery will be “waiting to see” if enough of his customers want free music at his establishment. If enough people ask for it, Wells said he will arrange to provide it.

BLACKFIRE WINERY

FLYING OTTER VINEYARD

PENTAMERE WINERY

BY KATE MITCHELL Editor-in-Chief

FUN FRIED FOOD AND 4-H

Lenawee County Fair returns with fan favorites intact from July 25 - July 30

Over 182 years, the Lenawee County Fair has seen it all. World Wars, the invention of the lightbulb, America growing to 50 states. So it should be no surprise that Michigan’s oldest fair wasn’t going to let a global pandemic put a stop to it. For the 2021 season, the yearly event is aiming to be back to its pre-pandemic self, with plenty to o er visitors as they emerge from a year of almost continuous lockdowns.

“The board has done everything possible to make this year’s fair the same as it has in the past,” Lenawee County Fair manager Je Long said. “Hopefully, our visitors will not see anything di erent than in the past years. We are trying to plan a couple of new events, [we are] still in the planning stages and hope to announce soon.”

Returning this year will be the things that draw everyone to the fair: the bandshell performances, midway rides, food stands, merchants, as well as major shows like the truck and tractor pulls and figure 8. And, of course, all the 4-H events are back in full swing, too.

“The 4-H has done a wonderful job communicating with their members through this,” Long said. “It was di cult at times since they could not meet in person, but for Fair time it looks like it is back to normal and they are going to be very successful at this year’s fair.” And while the 2020 season looked very di erent, COVID-19 wasn’t stopping anyone when the word got out that the event was on for 2021.

“Once word got out there was going to be a fair this year, people [were] excited, calling the o ce, asking questions, merchants looking to rent space,” Long said. “It has been very positive. I think everyone is looking forward to getting out and enjoying everything the fair has to o er.”

Though the fair is back and ready to get back to normal this season, that doesn’t mean the pandemic didn’t take its toll. The fairgrounds may be best known for the annual, week-long event, but there are plenty of other things that happen throughout the rest of the year, things that just weren’t happening in 2020. Losing out on those bookings made last year a hard one to weather.

“We were unable to rent out any of our rental halls for wedding and receptions, this is our main income during the o season,” Long said.

“The Board has done a great job in watching the expenses in the last 18 months, [I] have to give them great credit for that. We were able to work with the Health Department with them using our merchant building to give the COVID shots, that was a positive for both of us. The o ce is now seeing an increased number of calls for rentals, so I think we are headed in a positive direction for our recovery.”

There were some upsides to last year’s forced closures, however. It forced Long and the fair board to get creative about ways to engage the community and keep business moving. Some of these new events, like the Fair Food Walk Up, continued this year with plans to keep it going in the future, and the Christmastime Drive Thru is on the books for this holiday season, too. Long and the team are even looking into a fall event on the grounds this year, though that’s still in the planning stage.

Of course, for this year’s fair, there might still be some caution in the air. Masks won’t be required, but the fairgrounds will have more hand washing and sanitizing stations than it has in years past. And, because it’s the fair and it’s a big draw to so many people in the Lenawee County area, visitors can expect plenty of crowds, something that hasn’t been seen much for the last year or so. But, Long said, helping to keep others safe and comfortable as a fairgoer can be easy.

“Just be smart, social distance if you can. If you don’t feel well, don’t come to the fair that day,” he said. “Most of all, be respectful to everyone around you at this year’s fair. Everyone has reacted di erently to the COVID situation and we should respect their views.”

As Long and the rest of the board has been preparing for the big event, there is one thing that has made all the work worth it: the joy the event brings to visitors every year.

“[I’m looking forward to] seeing our community enjoying themselves once again and the smiles on everyone’s faces,” he said. “Especially the young children.”

Crowds of smiling faces at the fair? After 2021, that’s a hard view to beat.

PROTECT & SERVE

UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE CITIZENS OF LENAWEE COUNTY

By Drew Saunders

The relationship between the police and citizens in the United States has been at the forefront of a cultural and political divide for generations, especially in the last decade. But is the relationship between law enforcement and the people they are sworn to protect under strain in Lenawee County?

“The average citizen, I think, has an OK relationship. I think what happened last year with the ongoing shootings with young Black men; there is an ongoing mistrust between citizens, especially minority people,” Lenawee County NAACP President Jeanette Henagan said. “They do not trust law enforcement, but the average general person who doesn’t have any negative contact with police, they have a pretty good relationship in this county.”

Police chiefs across the county told Our Town that they have a great relationship with the local communities, across all demographics. Leadership from the Lenawee Branch of the NAACP agreed that they have an overall good relationship with police leadership, but said that there is room for improvement on an individual o cer level.

Lenawee Democratic Party Chairperson Juanita Kelley and Vice-Chairperson Bill Swift agreed that police chiefs are doing their best to engage with the community attentively and fairly.

“I think it is generally good,” Swift said. “It seems as though the Sheri is interested in quality police work and being very involved in oversight of his o cers. That seems very encouraging. That’s not to say that there haven’t been any issues at the county level. It appears as though, for local policing … we’re not aware of any particular issues.”

Police leadership meets with members of the community all the time, but the Lenawee NAACP told Our Town that they want to see the individual patrolmen attend, too, to open dialogue on all levels of law enforcement. They agree with police leadership that they have a good working relationship with them, but that that is not always the case with individual o cers.

“I have a good rapport with the police chief and the sheri ,” Peter Martinez, a local community organizer in Adrian, said; although he did report that some people he knew felt stereotyped by the police.

Our Town could not confirm any individual incident of bias in policing, with everyone except for Martinez referring to any incident of Lenawee-specific discrimination as either a rumor or a general perception. Any reported issues of discrimination or profiling seemed to be specific to individual o cers or incidents and not whole departments.

“We would like the citizens to begin to trust law enforcement. We want them to be more open and approachable … and for the citizens to think of them as a help instead of someone who is out to harm them,” Henagan said. “We want open lines of communication with local police.”

In some major cities this comes in the form of a civilian oversight board, which scrutinizes the day to day performance of police. This is usually intended as a transparency initiative by providing a regular review of police behavior by civilians outside of police administration, and to improve the overall relationship between the police and all demographics that they serve, from minorities to people from di erent parts of town to people with special needs.

“Nationally, I think a lot of these things are going to be mandated. I like to do things before they are mandated,” Lenawee County Sheri Troy Bervier said.

Oversight boards come in many forms, with some operating on a city-wide, or a precinct by precinct level; and their powers vary from being purely advisory, to having subpoena power, to having a voice in the hiring and firing of o cers and in various forms of starting prosecution. Selection processes for these boards also varies from community to community. Kelley said she supports the ability of such a board to submit subpoenas, but not starting prosecutions.

“We’ve been in talks with them for months. I’m not sure if it’ll ever come to fruition or not. I don’t know if it needs to. Any time we’ve had an issue, they’ve been more than willing to meet with us,” Lenawee NAACP Criminal Justice and Legal Redress Chairperson Joe Costello, said. And even if such a board is formed on a city or county level, Costello told Our Town that the

Lenawee NAACP wasn’t interested in establishing the more powerful, subpoena-empowered form of a civilian oversight board. “We just want to open up the lines of communication. … Citizens have a lot to learn about why o cers do what they do, and I think maybe o cers need to learn about the perceptions of the citizens. And not just when the wheels fall o .”

“I don’t see the necessity,” Ted Dusseau, the chairman of the Lenawee County Republican Party, said of the idea of a civilian oversight board. “But if the general population thought it was needed, I don’t see anything wrong with having one.”

Dusseau also told Our Town that the police generally have broad support in Lenawee County, with there being no real di erences between the sheri and any local jurisdiction.

“It appears to me that the younger generation doesn’t respect the police and quite obviously don’t want to be told what to do and what not to do, and that it comes from home,” Dusseau said. “They get stopped for a tra c stop, or something and they rebel against giving their identification, or they’ve been drinking, or they’ve been on drugs or whatever. … They don’t want to accept that responsibility because they’ve created the problem.”

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics — the inhouse statistical authority for the Department of Justice — white Americans are about half as likely to experience a use of force by law enforcement as Black Americans. The BJS found in its most recent Contacts Between Police and the Public report last December, that in 2015 African-Americans experienced a physical altercation of some sort with the police about 5.2 percent of the time when brought into police contact, compared with 5.1 percent of the time for Hispanic Americans and just 2.4 percent of the time for white Americans.

Compare that with 2018, where Black Americans’ experience of the use of force went up by one tenth of a percentage point, while the number of incidents for Hispanic and White Americans both went down slightly.

GRILLED NEW WORLD

By Lorie Beardsley

There’s more to cooking outside than burgers and brats

Warmer weather and longer days provide the opportunity to move more of our favorite activities outside. Cooking is no exception, with Michigan summers being the best time to fire up the grill.

Whether you prefer the convenience and precision of gas grills or the flavor and the experience of cooking over charcoal, you will find no shortage of recipes with which you can challenge your skills and delight your guests. Though meats remain the most popular items for grilling in the United States, recipes for grilling have expanded to include everything from Caesar salad to pizzas to blueberry cobbler.

Not only has the range of culinary creations expanded when it comes to grilling, but technology has also expanded allowing grilling enthusiasts to further sharpen their craft. Instant read food thermometers are an accurate and easy way to make sure that foods are cooked to the ideal temperature, and remote probe thermometers have even taken temperature tracking up a notch.

America’s Test Kitchen reviewed instant read thermometers in the summer of 2018. Testers emphasized both accuracy

and speed with thermometers that they deemed best producing a reading in two to three seconds. They chose the Thermoworks Thermapen Mk4, and Test Kitchen sta has relied on that thermometer almost exclusively.

Given the price of the Thermapen, currently sold for $99 on the Thermoworks website, testers and sta also recommended the Thermoworks Thermopop which is currently priced at $35. In addition to the Thermoworks products, sta and testers also recommended a “midpriced thermometer,” the Lavaworks Javelin Pro available for $55.99 at Amazon.

Test Kitchen testers also tested remote probe thermometers including both pager models and Bluetooth enabled models in their tests. They found some of the Bluetooth enabled thermometers to be glitchy and preferred the pager varieties. They chose the pager style Thermoworks Smoke 2 Channel Alarm, sighting ease of pairing, readability, and an easy to hear alarm. The product sells for about $100.

Our family has used the Easy BBQ Smart Wireless BBQ probe thermometer. We have found it to be neither complicated nor glitchy, at least in the two years we have used this model. It paired easily with the app and translates

to the app consistently, providing timely readings throughout the cooking process.

Whatever your favorite grill tools and toys, and whatever your preference for outdoor cooking, from the classic Weber kettle grill to a new Blackstone griddle, serving up great tasting food is ultimately the objective for the grill master.

To that end, my husband and I went outside and set up the black Weber kettle grill on an 85 degree afternoon. Our grilled meal consisted of St. Louis barbeque pork steaks, grilled vegetable kabobs and grilled vegetable orzo salad.

The St. Louis pork steaks involved two methods of cooking, searing and braising. We seared the steaks for approximately six to seven minutes per side, allowing them to develop the not only impressive but also flavorful grill marks. We then placed the steaks into barbeque sauce where they braised for approximately 90 minutes. Though the recipe included with this article does not call for including beer in the braising sauce, we added a bottle of beer since it is often part of the braising liquid for St. Louis style barbeque.

The meat had an ideal mix of char-grilled flavor and tenderness after having been seared directly over the fire at the beginning of cooking, and after having had time to draw in moisture while it was braising in the liquid over the zone for indirect heat that had been created on the grill.

St. Louis BBQ Pork Steaks

Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Servings: 8 - Calories: 517kcal

Author Kelly ~ the hungry bluebird

Ingredients

• 1½ cups ketchup

• 2 cups light-bodied American beer

• ¼ cup steak sauce, like A.1.

• ¼ cup dark brown sugar, packed

• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon hot sauce, like Frank’s

• ½ teaspoon liquid smoke

• 6-8 pork steaks (mine were huge, I cut in half for 6)

• Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Preheat grill. For gas, turn all burners on high for 15 minutes. For charcoal, make sure you to use enough charcoal to cover the circumference of the grill.

Make the sauce. Whisk together the first 9 ingredients in a large bowl. Transfer BBQ sauce to a large, disposable aluminum pan and set aside.

Season the pork steaks to taste with black pepper and grill until well-browned, 6 or 7 minutes a side. Transfer the steaks to the pan with the sauce and turn to coat. Cover the pan with foil and place back on the grill. Turn the burners down to low and cook for about 90 minutes until tender. Check after about an hour to see if the sauce looks too thick or dry; if so, add a little water.

Carefully remove the pan from grill. Remove steaks to serving platter or pan. Skim any excess fat from sauce and spoon over steaks or serve on the side.

The grilled kabobs were colorful and quite simple. We threaded whole grape tomatoes; large chunks of onion;

we chose to cook the entire box. We had made enough skewers to accommodate that amount of orzo. We used an entire six-ounce package of feta, and we needed to increase the dressing recipe by approximately four-fold. Making the orzo salad as directed serves four people, but making it as we did, it would certainly serve a crowd!

The St. Louis barbeque pork steaks are fairly simple, particularly if you choose to use a bottled barbeque sauce. Once braised, they can basically be left in the covered aluminum pan for the duration of their cooking time. Do check them

yellow, orange, and red bell pepper, and rounds of zucchini and summer squash on to skewers. We prefer using the flat skewers as they prevent produce in particular from spinning or moving too much on the skewer. We then drizzled the veggies with oil and seasoned them with salt and pepper.

I cooked the orzo for the salad to package directions and allowed it time to cool to room temperature. We placed the skewers directly on the grill. We cooked them for approximately five to seven minutes per side, to al dente. You may choose to cook them longer if you’re looking for a nice char.

You could serve the grilled vegetable skewers as a side dish with the pork steaks, in fact the vegetable skewers would make an ideal side with almost anything from a cedar planked grilled salmon to a pulled chicken sandwich.

For our meal though, I removed the veggies from the skewers and tossed them with the orzo. I dressed the orzo with red wine vinegar, olive oil, and the juice of a fresh lemon. We seasoned the salad with salt and pepper, and garnished it with fresh parsley cut from our herb garden.

Though the recipe called for cooking just one cup of orzo,

Grilled Summer Vegetable and Orzo Salad

The perfect salad for summer!

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes

4 SERVINGS

Ingredients

• 1 cup orzo pasta

• 2 Tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp red wine vinegar

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• 1 medium zucchini, about pound, sliced

• 1 medium yellow squash, about pound, sliced

• ½ yellow onion, sliced

• 1 pint grape tomatoes

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• Fresh parsley to garnish

Instructions

Cook the orzo according to the package directions. Drain.

In a medium skillet, add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, and lemon juice. Grill the onion, zucchini, yellow squash, and tomatoes for 4 to 5 minutes, turning occasionally.

Toss the cooked vegetables with the orzo. Cool before serving.

periodically to be sure that enough liquid remains, and add more sauce if necessary.

The skewers were also simple and can be fun and are certainly versatile. You can make them with family or friends. We have even attended parties where the hosts encouraged people to assemble their own skewers, then the hosts grilled our custom-made skewers for us.

Burgers and hot dogs are summer classic that will likely always have their place on our picnic tables, but grilling also o ers endless possibilities. This summer, why not grill something you have never grilled before?

A TASTE OF NORMALCY

WHAT’S NEXT FOR LOCAL RESTAURANTS?

By Anissa Gabbara and Lorie Beardsley

After more than a year, the world is finally getting a taste of pre-pandemic life back, and simple pleasures like dining out have never tasted better.

As COVID-19 restrictions are easing in Michigan, restaurant owners are gearing up for what’s expected to be a busy summer with an exuberant crowd of customers — a stark contrast to the bleakness of 2020. Needless to say, restaurants, especially local ones, have su ered greatly amid the pandemic; some closing temporarily, and some closing permanently. But what’s next for the ones still standing?

Adrian restaurant goers are enjoying the loosening of restrictions, and local eateries are seeing success despite the vast number of changes that occurred throughout the pandemic. “We’ve been open since last September, [and] we closed down like three weeks after [Governor Whitmer] mandated that there would be no in-house service,” said Craig Asbury, who co-owns Miller’s Family Restaurant, located in Adrian, with his wife, Bonnie. “We just closed for the entire summer and reopened [in] September 2020 — that was 25 percent for five months. Now we’re basically at 50 to 75 percent occupancy, and the restaurant is doing really well.”

Over at Jed’s American Grill, also located in Adrian, business is booming with no signs of slowing down. “We’re doing awesome,” said Brady Loughrige, main bartender and active manager. “After the first time they eased up on all the COVID restrictions, we’ve been nearly packed every day.”

While things are looking promising for many restaurants in town, the e ects of the pandemic linger. With millions of Americans losing their jobs last year, some restaurants are still facing challenges, such as sta ng shortages. A look at the local job listings on Indeed.com reveals that open positions at local restaurants are in abundance.

“It’s hard to keep people wanting to work; it’s hard to be strict with employees because of the fact that they know they’re needed, and most of the people that are coming in to apply never even show up,” said Loughrige.

Considering that the leisure and hospitality industries were hit the hardest, Loughrige, like many other restaurant workers, is working hard to bounce back from the economic devastation birthed by the pandemic. “Honestly, I like this job and I want to keep this job, so I’ve been working my butt o and I’ve just been getting it done the best way I possibly can,” he said.

Fortunately, Miller’s hasn’t experienced a sta ng shortage since they already had a smaller sta before the pandemic. Furthermore, Asbury says that his wait sta and cooks were eager to return to work. “They all wanted to come back to work rather than stay on unemployment.”

But the pandemic has put a hitch in his and his wife’s retirement plan. “We were thinking about selling the restaurant before the pandemic hit, but now that it’s hit, we’re going to have to hold onto it longer than what we had planned,” said Asbury. According to Loughrige, Jed’s still has a COVID-19 menu as food suppliers are struggling to deliver certain items. “Other than that, we’re running everything exactly the way we were running it prior,” he said.

Folks are looking forward to resuming their dining adventures while mingling with friends, family, and co-workers, and hitting up their favorite local bars and eateries for happy hour or a bite to eat. But as people seem to be putting the pandemic behind them, the void is evident in communities where thriving businesses once existed.

“I know a lot of restaurants that have closed down permanently just because they had mortgage payments, and their debt load was way more than mine was, so it’s a ected those restaurants in a way that hasn’t really a ected me,” said Asbury.

Opening a restaurant has long been viewed as entering a game that is extremely di cult to win. The common consensus is that 60 percent of new restaurants fail within the first year, while 80 percent will fail within the first five years. A 2017 Forbes article challenged that failure rate, stating that “only 17 percent of restaurants closed within the first year.” The article, citing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, did not address the closure rates after five years.

Regardless of the discrepancy surrounding closure rates, opening a new business, especially a restaurant, is a daunting task even during the best of times. Sustaining a restaurant through a pandemic is an unprecedented challenge, a challenge that many restaurants could not endure.

Plus, businesses couldn’t have foreseen a crisis of this magnitude. The world seemed to change in an instant, and the challenges endured were unprecedented. But if there’s anything that the restaurant industry has taken away from the pandemic, it’s being prepared in the event of a similar situation happening again.

“I think restaurants have to think about this happening in the future, and possibly investing in drive-thru ability,” said Asbury. “I think restaurants as a whole are going to do great after we get 70 percent of the people vaccinated, and I think everybody will be comfortable with going out.” Recently, additional help has been made available to restaurants and bars that have been impacted by the pandemic according to the LenaweeNow website: “Restaurants, bars, and other food and drink establishments across Michigan hard hit by COVID-19 are encouraged to apply for $28.6 billion in federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund direct relief being provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration under the American Rescue Plan. Registration for the funding will begin on Friday, April 30, 2021, at 9 a.m. EDT with the application itself opening on Monday, May 3, 2021, at noon EDT.”

Those who may be in need of more information about the Restaurant Revitalization Fund can visit sba.gov/restaurants in Spanish at sba.gov/ restaurantes. Business owners or residents who would like more information about any of the programs available to assist restaurants and bars throughout Lenawee County can visit enaweenow.org/covid19/

As restrictions are being lifted in Michigan, some restaurant owners are still leery of another surge of COVID-19 cases, and are proceeding with caution by keeping masks on. At Miller’s, the sta is still wearing masks.

“Some members of our sta don’t believe in the vaccine, so I’m not making anybody do anything they feel uncomfortable doing, but until I feel comfortable about the numbers, we wear masks because we just want people to feel safe when they walk in here, and I think our sta wearing masks makes everybody feel just a little bit safer,” said Asbury. He also adds that many of his customers still walk in wearing masks, but if they choose not to, he doesn’t scold them or send them on their way either. “People get to make up their own minds.”

After being in business for 33 years, Asbury is glad to see familiar faces returning to the Adrian staple. Both old and new customers have been filling seats at Jed’s, and according to Loughrige, they’re ready to ditch the masks. “They all want us to take our masks o , even before all this maskless stu came about. So I feel like customers and even the employees are more relieved,” he said.

As of May 2021, fully vaccinated Michiganders are no longer required to wear a mask in most indoor and outdoor settings. Moreover, the broad indoor mask mandate is expected to expire after July 1, 2021, and residents are thrilled. What’s Loughrige most excited about going forward? “I’m excited to be able to smile at my bar customers again,” he said. And for Asbury? “Retiring,” he jokes. “I still like to come to work. I’m happy where I’m at.”

A TIMELINE OF MICHIGAN RESTAURANT CLOSURES

By Lorie Beardsley

March 10, 2020: Michigan confirms its first two COVID-19 cases March 16, 2020: Governor Whitmer first closes restaurants for indoor dining. The restriction on restaurants was initially slated to last two weeks, but eight days into that initial order, a stay-at-home order was issued. Because they were deemed an essential service, restaurants were permitted to serve carry-out meals. The stay at home order would be extended until June 1, 2020, for much of the state.

May 18, 2020: Restaurants in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the Traverse City area are allowed to reopen with limitations of 50% capacity.

June 8, 2020: Restaurants statewide are allowed to open for indoor dining, with the 50% capacity limitation.

Nov. 15, 2020: Restaurants were permitted to remain open through mid-November of 2020, but then another order was issued. The Nov. 15 order came from MDHHS because the Michigan Supreme Court had previously ruled that the governor could no longer issue emergency orders directly. The MDHHS order closed indoor dining spaces once again.

Dec. 2, 2020: Justin Winslow, President and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association, issues a public statement after the association’s attempt to prevent further extensions was denied in court. In his statement, he made the following points on behalf of Michigan restaurants:

The COVID-19 Outbreak Investigation data tracked by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) attributes approximately 4.3% of all outbreaks to restaurants statewide.

Approximately 250,000 employees are likely to be laid o from restaurants over the holiday season. Unemployment filings have more than doubled already from the week prior and are poised to get significantly worse in the weeks ahead.

If the closure is prolonged and federal stimulus dollars are not made immediately available, upwards of 6,000 more restaurants will permanently close by spring. For the record, approximately 2,000 restaurants have already closed their doors permanently in Michigan in 2020.

Feb. 1, 2021: Michigan restaurants are allowed to reopen to dine-in customers. Though the news came with a caveat: more stringent capacity limitations – only 25 percent to a maximum of 100 patrons. There is a 10 p.m. curfew in place.

June 1, 2021: Vaccinated Michiganders do not need to wear a mask. Indoor dining capacities are 50 percent, but tables are no longer limited to six people or fewer and do not need to be spaced six feet or more apart. Curfews are lifted.

READY SET GO!

By Kate Mitchell Editor-in-chief

Racing fans, start your engines. And music fans, too, for that matter. Michigan International Speedway is welcoming people back after more than a year of canceled or adjusted events, with long time favorites returning to the calendar for the 2021 season. With relaxed COVID-19 rules, the track is looking to get things rolling as normally as possible this year.

“The biggest di erence between this year and last is our fans,” Rick Brenner, president of MIS, said. “We’re so excited to have them back and we’re doing everything we can to create a safe environment. The community is our top priority, and we’re working closely with o cials to make sure we’re doing just that.”

The summer season with the return of fans begins July 16 with the Faster Horses Festival. Unlike some remotelyheld races, last year’s country music extravaganza was

Michigan International Speedyway welcomes fans back for a full slate of summer events.

canceled, and 2021 is a return to form for the music festival that has called MIS home since 2013.

This year’s event lineup features acts like Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett, Jason Aldean and Kelsea Ballerini. But, in big news for festival goers and racing enthusiasts alike, Faster Horses will also be the introduction of two new campgrounds for MIS visitors. The new grounds — which Brenner said have been selling well — feature larger sites with electricity so guests will have room to spread out and get comfortable.

But at the top of Brenner’s mind this year is the racing. The fun begins August 20 with the Henry Ford Health System 200, followed by the New Holland 250 on August 21, and ending on the FireKeepers Casino 400 on August 22.

“The NASCAR cup series event,” Brenner said. “We’re super duper excited about that.”

For the big race weekend, many of the festivities are picking up where they left o in 2019, with camping starting at $130 and tickets as low as $39 for adults. But there are some things that NASCAR and MIS started in the midst of the pandemic that will be sticking around beyond this season.

“We’re doing a lot with digital ticketing, and a lot working towards all the di erent ways to engage fans virtually,” Brenner said. “We had a lot of success with the virtual midway…. So many things were put in position last year to virtually create an experience and people really liked it. We’re looking forward to people coming out and experiencing it in person this August.”

There will be a few more changes fans can expect to see if they come out for a race or other event this year, though adjusting procedures to take health and safety into account wasn’t anything new for MIS.

“We have always done a lot, always put fan safety and experience at the forefront,” Brenner said. “We stayed active last year. We did run two cup races. The action happened;

we just didn’t have our guests. So we refurbished the bathrooms and really did some work to spruce certain areas up while we had the time to do so.”

While the first big event of the summer won’t be until mid-July, the track has already started holding events as pandemic restrictions in Michigan have loosened. MIS played host to Siena Heights’ graduation ceremony, and the 2021 Formula SAE event — an engineering competition — begins July 7. Then there’s the NASCAR Racing Experience events, where enthusiasts can spend some time on the track either behind the wheel or riding along with a professional, that happen throughout the year.

Of course, MIS plans to close out the year with its annual Nite Lights, a drive through Christmas light show that starts the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Plans are already in the works for the February 2022 return of the Backyard Hockey Tournament, too.

As the kicko for the main attractions for the year gets closer, Brenner is hesitant to try to predict how many people will make their way over to the track this season after a year of lockdowns and COVID concerns. But being cautious is nothing new for him.

MICHIGAN INTL. SPEEDYWAY

“One of the things I never do is predict attendance,” he said. “Rain can change things, what we just went through last year can change things, but fans are overly positive and super excited to come back. I’ve been speaking with a bunch who are purchasing tickets. They’re excited to come back and safely gather with friends and family.”

Brenner said that he and the rest of the team at MIS will continue to work closely with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, other state o cials, as well as utilize a bevy of knowledge from NASCAR’s nationwide experience in coping with the pandemic to ensure they’re

ready to roll with any challenges COVID might throw at them. He does recommend that fans planning to attend events check the website to know what to expect before they go. But after

the changes and the challenges of the last year, Brenner is mostly just ready to reopen the gates and welcome fans back to NASCAR’S fastest track.

“We’re most excited for the people, for having our

fans back,” he said. “A lot of us do what we do because we enjoy putting on a great experience for people when they come. The reward we get is when they’re here. We’re excited to interact with and talk with our fans, and we can’t wait to see them all.”

Faster Horses Festival is July 16-18, and race weekend is August 20-22. For tickets, camping reservations, or more information visit mispeedway.com or call (888) 905-7223.

Samuel Aguirre

Elayanna Alvarez

Gabriel Arriaga

Olivia Berry

Kyra Alexander

Sandra Alvarez

Hannah Bailey

Taylor Borton

Bree Ann Allen

Ian Andrews

Olivia Bailey

Grace Bowen

Adrian Alvarez

Ryan Archer

Alondra Bernal Duran

Emma Bowers

Allie Bowersox

Colin Busch Johnson

Cole Carrico

Henry Cruse

Kyla Bule

Alianna Butler Kuney

Kaitlyn Carson

Jade Lynn Cuellar

Amilia Ealy Juan Fermin Jacoba

Ashton Gottschalk

Xavier Gri n

Tyler Hinton

Evan Johnson

Lorena Gradeless

Noah Guerra

Nathaniel Hunter

Jacob Johnson

Juliana Graham

Ramiro Guerrero Jacalyn Isom

Michael Anne Joyner

Jaden Greene

Jacob Hannibal

Spencer Johns

Alexandra June

Joseph Kardatzke

Adriana Knotek

Cheyanne Lofton

Riley Malarney

Kelcie Kirsch

Adriana Knotek

Heavenly Lofton

Mai Mang

Lauren Kiann

Lexi Lambes

Ian Lucas

Day’Anna Marr

Hunter Knisel

Jennifer Lara

Gaige Maggard

Tatianna Martin

Valencia Martinez

Emma Mehan

Ethan Mills

Kiet Nguyen

Amaia McCurdy

Hannah Melton

Kaleigh Moore

RyLeigh Parish

Monica Medrano

Alex Meyer

Kandis Munford

Kallista Parra

Dale Meek

Victoria Miller

Rene Nava

Mia Parra

Haley Pence

Jose Ramirez

Mathew Richardson

Ezekiel Rosalez

Angel Perez

Evan Reynolds

Brody Robertson

Trinity Russell

Maximus Perez

Maxwell Rhames

Brianna Rodriguez

Ethan Sager

Kayley Rada

Hailey Rice

Keesean Rojo Ross

Alexandria Santiago

Logan Scamp

Summer Serafin

Jared Stalb

Tianna Thomas

Andrew Schram

Ella Slupe

Alisha Stoddard

Zachary Thompson

Not pictured: Oziel Bolanos, Isabella Brown, Lilli Chavez, Isiah Clark, Jason Francoeur, Conrad, Gehoski, Zachary Hejl, Tera Hosler, Matthew Lawrence, Enrique Nunez, Drew Ranta, Alexanther Salazar, Joshua Sell, Joseph Sneyd, Alexis Tarachanowicz, and Jayshone Tindall

Ciara Scott

Courtney Smiddy

Michael Tan

Giavonni Tracy

Haleigh Scroggins

Destiny Smiddy

Olivia Terada

Vivian Vargas

Nicole Walkowe

Colin Whaley

Logan Woodring

Sophia Walsh

Alyssa Willnow

Zane Watkins

Connor Wimmer

Angelina Wells

Liana Wood

CONGRATULATIONS to the Blissfield High School Class of 2021

Abbott, Paige Nicole

Bauer, Aidan Keith

Butler, William Thomas

Dunbar, Skylar Mackenzie

Andres, Annamarie

Bauerle, Cheyenne Josephine

Case, Morgan Nicole

Ganun, Gavin Lee

Eatmon, Chesney McKay

Arellano, Casandra Arelia

Berger, Gabriela Aniston

Charlefour, Hallie Mae

Gentz, Logan Wesley

Eisenmann, Ricky John

Auth, Emily Abigail

Brown, James Elwood

Gibbs, Jessica Teri

Fisher, Abigail Lynne

Cramer, Owen William

Giegler, Lillian Kathleen

Fojtik, Jacob James

Bates, Delaney Renee

Burgermeister, Cendell Marie

Ford, Brianna Belle

Hight, Katelyn Mae Hill, Joslyn Michelle Gravitt, Makenzie Dawn Hine, Cort Richard

Hodgkins, Brooklyn Nadine Horky, Zackary Thomas

Hanson, Charlotte Frances

Hudson, MeiLin Rose

Gorniak, Brody Michael

Jackson, Scott Nolan Jacobs, Kaitlyn Christine Jensen, Nicholas Matthew

Johnson, Clarissa Elizabeth Kastel, Logan Lee Kato, Todd Nicholas

Kendall, Kaitlynn Ann

Knadler, Mallory Olivia Koester, Madison Ann

CONGRATULATIONS to the Blissfield High School Class of 2021

Loar, Zachary Lyle Lowe, Katelyn Victoria

Nine, Katie Jo

Kurutz, Charles William

Madalinski, Abby Jean Noel, Kylee Elizabeth

Landwehr, Robert Allen

Martin, Keegan Christopher

Lang, Karsyn Marie

McCarty, Ryan Matthew

Reed, Evan Tyler

Loar, Jonah Jacob Xavier

McCoy, Autumn Rose

Reed, Jacob Dylan

Loar, Liam Michael

Meyer, Sophia LeeAnna

Rickard, Margarette Lucille Roberts, Alexandra Marie

Smith, Alexis Jo Marie

Ryan, Kylie Renee

Spiegel, Conner Scott Spiker, Andrew Edward-David

Savich, Nolan Robert

Stace, Haley Rae

Silwester, Halina Marie

Slusarski, Marcus Anthony

Starr, Autumn Lee Stone, Austin Gene

Not pictured: Bailey, Lillian Renee - Brown, Kaitlyn Marie - Co ey, Hanna Patricia - Diehl, Madison - Frederick, Rebekkah Erin - Gorr, Alix William - Gri th, Brennan Keith - Gruenwald, Sydnee Reese - Hensley, Jacob J. - Miller, Konner Dean-Lewis - Posey, Brian Keith - Salazar, Hannah Elizabeth - Saunders, Ethan James - Saxton, Christopher - Smith, Hunter Dale - Tesznar, Chase Ryan - Tonemah, Fayth Anne - Viers, Andrew James - Vogel, Minnie Margaret - Weaver, Jayden Arthur - Westfall, Paige Margaret - Wielfaert, Jack Henry -

Weber, John Louis Tiell, Tessa Nicole

Welsh, Alexis LeeAnne

Tomasek, Madilynn Rae

Wol , Luke Robert

Stutzman, Kara Irene

Weasel, Joshua Dean

Wyman, Ty Dale Ybarra, Kevin Seth

Wul , Hayden Allen

Savannah Anderson

Jameson Chesser

Cole Gallant

Preston Hadden

Robert Breckel

Sin Man “Ansen” Cheung

Mikkel Gallant

Avery Hartwig

Abigail Brown

Ezekiel Clymer

Landon Gallant

Evan Hendershot

Sarah Burns

Jaclyn Drews

Alyssa Gerrity

Gabriel Henley

Francisco Cabrera

Isaac Durbin

Brennan Gri th

Brooke Hildebrandt

Joel Hill

Peiduo “Pedro” Liu

Maeghan Pillar

Natalie Spaulding

Jordan Hubbard

Jude Mine

Solomon Reyna

Ethan VanDam

Scott Knoll

Preston Naegele

Breanne Salenbien

Lydia Willett

Sydney Knoll

Katelyn Orta

Brandon Scott

Leviticus Lange

Cameron Osworth

Gavin Sluss

Alvarez, Adrian Dominquez

Berger, Alexis Nicole

Cabrera, Alexa

Anschuetz, Carly Renee

Bertke, Audrey Ruth

Cerasuolo, Nico Joseph

Ashford, Jaden

Bertke, Caitlin Ray

Creamer, Alison Veronica

Brickey, Olyvia Rose

Daniels, Mavrick Michael

Benson, Jordan Anthony

Burger, Anthony Joel

Evers, Maggie Elizabeth

Barrios, Caleb Michael

Broadway, Peyton Naomi

Dusseau-Riley, Grace Elizabeth

Feinauer, Hunter Lee

Gauna, Robert Arturo

Holtz, Lexi Ann

Feltman, Abigail Lynn

Graham, Paulina Marie

Houghteling, Tyler Joseph

Fetter, Brook Tristen

Griesinger, Hailey Jordan

Howard, Malachi Lee

Fisher, Ryan

Haynes, Haley Grace

Jordan, Riley Elizabeth

Gaston, Kayla Marie

Hernandez, Brayden Phillip

Kingsley, Tavia Marie

Francoeur, Makenzie Marie

Henning-Guinn, Dustin James

Kably, Audrey Elisabeth

Kurichh, Anika

Mendizabal, Alyssa Kayle

Pelton, Blake Edward

Roberts, Rovahn James

Lawrence, Donovan Clark

Miller, Brooke Nicole

Perez, Liliana Celeste

Rodriguez, Alyssa Jean Anne

Leupold, Nethanel Joseph

Morgan, Jocelyn Tiana

Pharion, Priscilla Ann

Rodriguez, Miya

Lindsey, Jason Floyd

Morris, Abigail Renae

Pigg, Gabrielle Elizabeth

Sanford, Xavier Gabriel

McDonald, Garret Thomas

Palpant, Maxwell Alexander

Redlin, Chase James

Shadewald, Kayley Renee

Linger, Emma Christine

Nieto, Abagaille Jalee

Raleigh, Chloe Faith

Sengstock, Justice David

Silva, Ivan Jaziel

Thompson, Taeolr

Ward, Elizabeth Ann

Wilson, William Michael

Soto, Demetrio Marciano

Tirado, Emery Renee

Warwick, Christopher Thomas

Windisch, Derek James

Sower, Calie Danielle

Tompkins, Kyleigh Ann

Webb, Teagan Lee

Winkelman, Anna Rena

Stratton-Guzman, Ashton Alejandro

Trejo, Eduardo Javier Morales

Wellman, Alexander Edward

Zamora, Kodie Lee

Wheeler, Davion Damir Williams, Vincent

Theriot, Marcel Santiago-J

Waite, Emma Elizabeth

Tarsha, Riley Glen

Wager, Christopher Michael

HOOLIGAN’S SPECIAL HOUSE MARTINI RECIPE

Hooligan’s Signature Lemon Drop Martini: a terrific summer cocktail, lite sweet and tart.

1/2 ounce Fresh squeezed lemon juice

2.5 ounces Lemon infused Titos Vodka (Wash 3 lemons, Peel and add peels to a large mason jar, muddle to release the flavor and juices, fill Mason jar with Titos Vodka and refrigerate for 24-48 hours)

3/4 ounce Triple Sec

1.5 Ounce Simple syrup

Add all ingredients to an ice filled martini shaker. Take your time shake vigorously, little flakes or chips of ice are good. Rim your martini glass with Lemon flavored sugar (Rokz Cocktail Rimming Sugars): dip in simple syrup then into the sugar. Strain cocktail into the glass and garnish with a lemon twist…..enjoy!

THINGS TO DO IN LENAWEE COUNTY

Editor’s note: Although we have made every effort to bring you the latest information, due to the COVID-19 outbreak events listed below may have been cancelled or rescheduled. Please check with the venue.

JULY 2 Adrian First Friday: “Americana,” 5-8 p.m., downtown Adrian, facebook.com/adrianfirstfridays

8 River Raisin Festival, Ellis and Bachmeyer parks, Blissfield, riverraisinfestival.org

Blissfield Car and Bike Show, 5:30-8 p.m., South Lane Street, downtown Blissfield, blissfieldmainstreet.com

“Fireside Stories: [Dog Days of] Summer,” open mic storytelling event sponsored by the Tecumseh Center for the Arts and Tecumseh Parks and Recreation. 8:30 p.m., AJ Smith Recreation Center fire pit, 810 N. Evans St., Tecumseh, thetca.org or 517-423-6617

9 -10 River Raisin Festival, Ellis and Bachmeyer parks, Blissfield, riverraisinfestival.org

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

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

15 Classic Car and Bike Show, 6-8 p.m., Old National Bank parking lot, 205 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh, www.downtowntecumseh.com or 517-424-6555

Music in the Park, 6-8 p.m., Adams Park, Tecumseh, www. downtowntecumseh.com or 517423-5602

“Through the Maze: Understanding Social Security and Medicare,” sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library featuring Frank Zanger and Preston Pelham of Edward Jones and Cheryl Shores of ACS Clinical Pharmacy and Sociably Secure-NGO. 6:30 p.m., Tecumseh United Methodist Church pavilion, 605 Bishop Reed Dr.,

Tecumseh. Registration required, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

Movies on Lane Street, 6:30 p.m., South Lane Street, downtown Blissfield, blissfieldmainstreet.com

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

16 - 18 Tecumseh’s Summer Beach Party and Sand in Tecumseh, www.downtowntecumseh.com or 517-424-6818

18th Annual Pet Parade, 10 a.m. July 17, downtown Tecumseh, www. downtowntecumseh.com or 517424-6818

Faster Horses Festival, Michigan International Speedway, www. fasterhorsesfestival.com

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

20 “Hope for Headaches,” Facebook Live event sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library featuring Dr. Ashley Bailey of Bailey Family Chiropractic. 7 p.m., tecumsehlibrary. org or 517-423-2238

22 “Tecumseh Lore and Legends: Kayaking Adventure,” a 2 1/2-mile trip down the Raisin River with guide Mickey Alvarado, 6:30 p.m. beginning at Tecumseh Paddling Co., 703 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

“Fireside Stories: Redemption or Second Chances,” open mic storytelling event sponsored by the Tecumseh Center for the Arts and Tecumseh Parks and Recreation. 8:30 p.m., AJ Smith Recreation Center fire pit, 810 N. Evans St., Tecumseh, thetca.org or 517-423-6617

25 - 31 Lenawee County Fair, Lenawee County Fair and Event Grounds, Adrian, lenfair.com

“Self-Defense for All Ages,” sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library featuring martial arts instructor Dixie Andres. 7 p.m. July 27, Tecumseh United Methodist Church pavilion, 605 Bishop Reed Dr., Tecumseh. Registration required, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-4232238

“Add Some Spice to Your Life with Smiling Jim’s Seasonings,” sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library featuring entrepreneurs Jim and Deborah Bliss. 7 p.m. July 29, Tecumseh United Methodist Church pavilion, 605 Bishop Reed Dr., Tecumseh, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

AUGUST 5

“Michigan and the Moon: 50 Years Since Apollo,” Facebook Live event sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library featuring Dr. Nicolle Zellner of Albion College. 7 p.m., tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

6 Adrian First Friday: “Americana,” 5-8 p.m., downtown Adrian, facebook. com/adrianfirstfridays

7 Tractor Cruise-In, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., South Lane Street, downtown Blissfield, blissfieldmainstreet.com

10 “Get to a Better Place! What You Need to Know Before You Buy a Home,” WebEx event sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library featuring Amy Matteson and Joe Kiser of Old National Bank. 7 p.m. Registration required, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

12 Blissfield Car and Bike Show, 5:30-8 p.m., South Lane Street, downtown Blissfield, blissfieldmainstreet.com

Open Mic Night sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library. 7 p.m., Tecumseh United Methodist Church pavilion, 605 Bishop Reed Dr., Tecumseh, tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

“Fireside Stories: Animal Encounters,” open mic storytelling event sponsored by the Tecumseh Center for the Arts and Tecumseh Parks and Recreation. 8:30 p.m., AJ Smith Recreation Center fire pit, 810 N. Evans St., Tecumseh, thetca.org or 517-423-6617

13 - 19

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” 7:30 p.m., Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian, croswell.org or 517-264-7469

Blissfield Bluegrass on the River, 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Bachmayer Park, www.facebook.com/SEMBA

“Upcycling with Pop Bottle Planters,” Facebook Live event sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library featuring TDL Supervisor of Circulation Services Sonja Downey. 7 p.m., tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

“The Fabric of Civilization,” Facebook Live event sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library featuring Virginia Postrel, author of “The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World.” 7 p.m., tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

Classic Car and Bike Show, 6-8 p.m., Old National Bank parking lot, 205 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh, www. downtowntecumseh.com or 517424-6555

Music in the Park, 6-8 p.m., Adams Park, Tecumseh, www.downtowntecumseh.com or 517-423-5602

For more events follow Adrian Our Town on Facebook!

PROTECT & SERVE

By Drew Saunders

CONTINUTED FROM PAGE 13

This often deadly discrepancy helped lead to the entire Black Lives Matter movement. Police chiefs across Lenawee County told Our Town that they were generally in support of Black Lives Matter, a civil rights movement that calls for accountability for police violence against African Americans and other Americans of color.

After the movement regained momentum in the fall out from the viral video of the death George Floyd at the hands of four Minneapolis police o cers — who did not listen to Floyd’s protests that he could not breathe as they kneeled on his back for nearly ten minutes — when protests swept the world. Everyone from politicians, to street protestors, to artists, to Dusseau condemned the police o cers’ actions as unacceptable.

Bevier said he responded by emailing all of his deputies immediately, to make it clear that his o ce would not condone what happened, and followed that up by calling local Black clergy to try to set up meetings to make sure that dialogue was open.

“I don’t like using the term …. ‘police brutality’ … because what you’re really talking about is use of force by police. You either have no use of force, you have appropriate use of force, or you have excessive use of force,” Bevier said. “We have accountability. If you do the right thing for the right reason, and use the appropriate use of force, then there’s not a problem. If you use an excessive use of force, that’s not tolerated and we will do an internal investigation, and we will hold people accountable.”

Dusseau said that while there has been an issue with racism in policing historically, he said he didn’t see a problem locally. When asked about the long standing historical pattern of mistreatment and violence that African Americans and other minority Americans have had to deal with over generations, Dusseau acknowledged “I think in some areas there has been a problem with discrimination. But the rebellion of not stopping [when being stopped by the police], I don’t understand that, where instead of stopping they want to run or whatever. That just escalates the problem even more. When they run, at 100 miles an hour, endangering innocent people, that’s the thing. I don’t think we used to see that as much as we do now.

“I see where they’re coming [from] … Black Lives Matter. I think all lives matter,” Dusseau added.

Another national discussion in recent years has been a call to a return to community policing. This envisions a return to an old fashioned police practice where, instead of having a police force that largely lives outside and separate from the community it protects, the o cers are encouraged – or even mandated – to live within their jurisdiction and do more than just show up when something goes wrong. Instead, they are encouraged to go around and actively form relationships with the people that they

Sheriff Troy Bevier

serve, solidifying trust and understanding between the citizens and police when the chips are down. This would also generally involve a demilitarization of the police, as Swift, the number two Lenawee Democrat, advocates for.

“The beauty of having a sheri ’s o ce, and being a sheri deputy, is really you’ve done community policing all along,” Bevier said.

Adrian Police Chief Vince Emrick said his department is going forward with a community policing strategy as well.

Another politically charged proposed solution is the Defund the Police movement. What this slogan actually means depends on who is saying it. While some people do actually mean that they want to end funding for the police and abolish law enforcement as we know it, it is more commonly a demand to take responsibilities away from the police and to redistribute them to an expanded and much more heavily funded social safety net. The argument goes that it is unfair, and unwise, to presume that law enforcement should be put in charge of mental health issues, homelessness and economic distress; and it would make more sense from a public safety perspective to take some of the funding to the social workers instead.

“I don’t think that defunding the police is the answer,” Bevier said. In any case, Bevier hasn’t heard any proposal within the county to defund the police. The sheri acknowledged that “we have a horrible system for helping the mentally ill,” adding “I don’t think if it’s

an ‘if or this,’ I think that we should still fund the police to the level that we get good, qualified applicants [so] that the police can do their job. But I also think that we need to fund the mental health crisis in America, too, and in Lenawee County.”

Police leadership across the county told Our Town that they are generally supportive of increased funding for the programs that proponents of the Defund the Police movement have. While some people within that movement do mean defunding the police entirely, most people do not. Most mainstream supporters of the movement mean that they are in favor of taking funding from the police and to redistribute it to social programs that would decrease the amount of crime in the country statistically. This includes everything from a ordable housing and mental health services, to child care and increased educational funding.

The thing is that the chiefs were in favor of funding those programs through other, unspecified means, rather than through cutting their budgets. Adrian mayoral candidate William Garcia said “Chief Emrick is great. So is Sheri Bevier.” But, Garcia added, a lack of social services is causing police to have to deal with situations like homelessness and mental health emergencies, and that’s problematic.

“We don’t have so many things that our community [needs]. Problems that are not police problems end up having to go through the criminal justice system because there’s nowhere else to go,” Garcia said. “It’s like trying to eat soup with a fork.”

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