21 minute read
Poofy Pillow Power
Poofy Pillow
Power
A bunch of floor pillows is a great way to add some charm and coziness to your interior. Your living room could become much more livable and fun by adding several floor cushions with interesting prints in bright colors. And, movie night could be very cozy when you’re sitting on a floor full of comfy heaven.
HELLO 2021 Your Present
Circumstances don’t determine Where you go. They merely determinewhere you START.
—Nido Qubein
Take a night off from cooking on Feb 9th and celebrate National Pizza Day by ordering your favorite pie!
Looking for a cozy winter project but don’t knit or crochet? Try one of the “loop yarns” like Lion Brand’s Off the Hook or Bernat’s Alize Blanket EZ Yarn. These jumbo yarns have loops that you can interlace with your fingers to create lots of projects. An online search will bring up many FREE PATTERNS.66
One NEW YEAR’S EVE tradition is a Toast with Champagne
or other sparkling wine. Research has found that over 360 million glasses are consumed to ring in the new year. That’s a BUNCH of bubbly!
You Might Not Know About . . .
— By Sarah Gray — Tommie Wilck
From her rural beginnings in Hillsdale to jet-setting around the globe, Tommie Wilck led a rather exciting life. “She was a colorful lady,” said her niece Suzanne Rutledge. “She had quite a life.”
Born in Battle Creek on June 19, 1928, Thelma – or Tommie, the nickname she went by her entire life – England was raised in Hillsdale and graduated from Hillsdale High School. She was the oldest of three sisters including Elaine “Skip” England and Ann “Ginger” England. After her graduation, the family moved to Jonesville.
Tommie completed a secretarial course at Cleary’s College in Ypsilanti and one year of college at Eastern Michigan University before moving to California with her first husband Jim Blount. In 1953, she began working for Walt Disney Studios in the legal department. In 1958, Tommie joined Walt Disney’s staff and he called her his “secretary of the exterior.” Following the retirement of Walt’s number one secretary Dolores Scott, Tommie was promoted to the position. In Disney archives it states that Walt considered Tommie “sassy” because she would stand up to him.
Tommie was Walt’s secretary from 1958 until Walt Disney’s death in 1966. In 1962, she married publicist Tom Wilck. Tommie’s parents were not able to come out to California from Jonesville for the wedding so Walt offered to give Tommie away at the ceremony. According to Disney archives “as he walked Tommie down the aisle of the church, Walt whispered to her, ‘I didn’t tell Tom how sassy you are.’”
Tommie’s time as Walt’s secretary created some fun stories. The Disney archives recorded a few of these:
Each evening she [Tommie] prepared a calendar of the following day’s appointments for him. She tried to keep him on schedule, and one day when he continued talking with visitors past the 12:30 p.m. lunchtime, she rang a ship’s bell, a gift from the Coast Guard. Walt was amused, and he instructed her to sound the bell every day at lunchtime.
It was Wilck who prepared Walt’s daily end-of-the-workday Scotch Mist at 5 p.m. in anticipation of his massage and lower-back treatment from Studio nurse Hazel George. “The Scotch Mist is mostly ice,” Wilck remembered. “I would put ice and water in it and then float the scotch on top and not give him very much of it. He may have consumed a lot of liquid but I don’t think he got much liquor.”
A particularly amusing story came from a forgotten phone call. The archives report that “one of Wilck’s duties was to call Walt’s house every night to let their housekeeper Thelma know that he was on his way home. One particular night she forgot and didn’t call. When Walt showed up, Thelma said ‘What are you doing here? Tommie didn’t call.’ Lillian (Walt’s wife) said the same thing. Walt picked up his hat and stormed back out the door yelling, ‘That’s a hell of a greeting when you get home.’”
Tommie’s duties were far more than drinks and phone calls and it was clear that she became a trusted associate of Walt’s. For instance, in the casting for the movie Mary Poppins, Walt was interested in having Bette Davis star in the picture as the leading lady. Tommie suggested Julie Andrews, who was appearing on Broadway at the time. Walt went to take a look and the rest, as they say, is history. In the 2013 Disney movie Saving Mr. Banks about the making of the movie Mary Poppins, Tommie was portrayed by actress Kathy Baker and appears several times in the picture. During the ending credits a photo is shown of Tommie and Walt together.
She also appeared on the small screen herself – if only very briefly. A Hillsdale Daily News archive had a story about her brush with acting. During Walt’s hey-day, he had several television programs and specials. In one such program called The Title Makers, Tommie was waiting to give Walt a telegram while he was shooting. “One of the fellows suggested that I go over and ‘dress up’ the set with my presence,” she said in the article. “So I did and Walt thought it was fun.” After getting a bit of make-up and shooting a few more takes, it was in the can. “I will make my debut at the very beginning of the leadin. Don’t blink though or you will miss the whole thing,” she said.
After Walt’s death, Tommie continued to work at Disney until 1968. According to Official Disney Fan Club information,
44 YEARS
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she played a major role in the development of the California Institute of the Arts. She and her husband led quite the high society lifestyle and Suzanne says they attended many movie premieres together.
In 1971, she moved with her husband to Washington D.C. where he was Deputy Director of Communications for the Republican National Committee. The couple returned to California in 1973, and, soon after, Tommie began the travel agency Ambassador Travel Newport. She and Tom traveled all over the globe finding resorts and activities for travel goers. Then her agency would put together all-inclusive travel packages for groups including meals and excursions.
Though she battled cancer for three years, it did not slow her down. Suzanne said she traveled to Greece just three weeks before she died. Tommie passed away September 13, 1985 at the age of 57. Suzanne said she did not see her aunt much growing up because she lived so far away but does remember a trip her family took to California. The family was given VIP tickets to Disneyland and was even able to visit Tommie at work where they were able to go into Walt’s office. Suzanne remembers Walt had a window ledge filled with blown glass sculptures of all the Disney characters and they were very beautiful with the light shining through.
Lori Bottoms, Suzanne’s sister, remembers other highlights from the trip as well. She says the family saw child actors Kevin “Moochie” Corcoran with Tim Considine catching bees in jars from the bushes outside Walt Disney’s office. Moochie actually autographed coloring books for the girls. Lori also remembers the family getting a sneak peek at the first half of the cartoon 101 Dalmatians before it was in theaters.
Tommie sent Suzanne and her sisters many Disney-themed gifts including Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland dolls which Suzanne still has in pristine condition. “Whenever she sent something, she always signed it T-N-T,” Suzanne said referring to her aunt and uncle’s names. “They had a wonderful life together,” she said of the couple. “They were jetsetters.”
Headspace helps you take ten minutes to clear your mind, calm yourself, and refocus. The app is free with additional features available on a subscription basis. Available for Android and iOS, free, rated 4.7 to 4.9 out of 5. Mealime can ease your meal-planning stress by helping you with quick, healthy meals. Meal plans and recipes are totally customizable, and it builds grocery lists from your recipes. Available for Android and iOS, free, rated 4.6 to 4.8 out of 5.
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Located 4 miles east of Jonesville on US 12
(Located inside Bob’s Market House)
OPEN SEVEN DAYS -Extensive Inventory -Leader Discount Program -Delivery Service Available (Hudson Area)
HOURS: Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
800-276-9741 | 325 Railroad Street, Hudson | 517-448-3111
Funeral planning and cremation services you can trust.
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TREVATHAN’S sweep & Sew shoppe CHASE AWAY THE WINTER BLAHS WITH FABRIC, PATTERNS, FABRIC, PATTERNS, AND PROJECTS.
Trevathans.com Tues. - saT. 10 am-5 pm (Closed sun. & mon.) • (517) 437-5555 • 47 n Broad sT. Hillsdale
MICHIGAN WINTER ...
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Bookkeeping, payroll, and tax services customized to fit your needs.
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576 Olds Street, Jonesville, MI Ph: 517.797.1173 info@lar-cpa.com
BRING IT ON! Covers and remote starters to survive the harsh weather! THE TRUCK SHOP thetruckshopofadrian.com 1317 W. Beecher St. • Adrian • 517-263-0216 71
RESALE TRAIL R S LE TRA L ANTIQUES •CLOTHING • COLLECTIBLES • RE-PURPOSE
Adrian
1025 E. US 223 • Adrian Tue - Sat • 10 -5
517.266.0746
Donations and purchases help to build and repair homes in Lenawee County! Selling new and gently-used donated building supplies, appliances, and furniture
Reading
125 S. Main, Reading Fri & Sat • 9-5
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Clothes, household items, holiday decor, small appliances, books, movies, toys, games, and occasional vintage. All items are clean & cheap! Taking garage sale leftovers & estates.
BROOKLYN
IDK Creative Décor 146 1/2 N. Main St. (M-50) • Brooklyn Thur 10-6 • Fri 10-8 • Sat 10-6
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Vintage, Industrial, Antiques, Jewelry
HILLSDALE
THE CROW’S NEST 34 E. Bacon St. • Hillsdale Tue-Fri 10-5:30 • Sat 10-5 Closed Sun & Mon
517.917.6436
Home Decor, Antique & Handmade Items 72 Like us on Facebook!
TECUMSEH Hitching Post Antiques Mall 1322 E. Monroe (M-50 at M-52) Tecumseh • Open 7 Days 10-5:30
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Over 8000 sq ft – Victorian, Military, Clocks, Glass, Estate Jewelry, Lighting & Lamp Parts
HILLSDALE
Hillsdale Community THRIFT
390 W. Carleton • Hillsdale Mon-Sat 9-6 • Sun Closed
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New/gently used clothing for the family. Housewares, furniture, books, electronics, jewelry Donations are tax-deductible and accepted during business hours. Non-profit helping the non-profits of Hillsdale County.
Family Store &
Donation center 2940 W. Carleton, Hillsdale Mon -Sat 10 - 7
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New and gently-used items including clothing, housewares, home decor, furniture, books, collectibles. Donations are tax-deductible & always accepted.
Hillsdale Family Chiropractic
Dr. James Daniels Dr. Matt Gordon Dr. Sasha Griffis Dr. Daniel Nye
KEEPING FAMILIES HEALTHY
CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT Chiropractic Care | Corrective Exercises | Nutritional Counseling | Lifestyle Advice Massage Therapy | Personalized Treatments | Well Wave Therapy 79 Hillsdale St, Hillsdale, MI 49242 | (517) 439-9800 www.hillsdalefamilychiropractic.com
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A Day in The Life of a
Becker & Scrivens’ Employee
You call, the concrete arrives, is poured, and looks beautiful. But, what happens in between?
There are many steps that happen from the initial phone call to the smooth, unblemished, finished product. While no two days are alike at Becker & Scrivens, the commitment to quality and service has stayed the same since the business opened more than 80 years ago.
The first you will most likely hear when calling Becker & Scrivens is the friendly voice of Cindy Sito. Talking to Cindy, homeowners will be asked what kind of job the concrete will be used for. Cindy is on the phone most of the day, answering more than 65 calls and scheduling jobs for the crew. As a scheduler, she’ll make sure the drivers get to the site on time or “a fuzz after” as Cindy likes to say. trucks. With 14 drivers hauling three to five loads a day, Scott stays busy keeping the trucks loaded and off to the job sites.
Jim Adams is a face many may recognize, not only because he has been with Becker & Scrivens for 30 years, but as salesman/customer service/quality control, he works with clients and businesses to ensure the job is done right. He also spends much of his time in his truck driving around the county. Whether it’s a one-yard porch or a 1,000-yard commercial project, Jim makes sure each customer gets the attention and respect they deserve.
If you don’t get Cindy on the phone, you’ll probably talk to Scott Corbett, second in command for dispatch and the batch man for all concrete for the past seven years. Scott uses a stateof-the-art computer program to get the correct batch of concrete to the right Working on a concrete mixer seems like a daunting task, but it is exactly what Brady Hubbell likes about his job as mechanic and “do all” at Becker & Scrivens. Brady handles the maintenance on all trucks and is busy even in the winter months when business is slow. He prides himself on keeping the trucks “on the road keeping the drivers safe and everyone safe.” One of the many friendly faces that you may see when a Becker & Scrivens truck pulls up to your home is that of Jeff Herman. A driver with the company for 35 years, Jeff knows his way around the county and is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to pouring concrete. Days can start as early as 5 a.m., and, during the busy season, drivers are out six days a week. Some days Jeff has as many as eight loads to deliver. He talks with the contractor and customers to make sure the job goes smoothly. After his final load, he makes sure to wash out his truck so it is ready to go the next day.
Owner Aaron Scrivens has worked in every aspect of the business he owns, so he knows how dedicated and hard working his employees are. The name Becker & Scrivens is one you can know and trust when it comes to concrete, and the more than 80 years the business has been in Hillsdale County is a testament to that fact.
Becker & Scrivens is more than a name – it is a company full of dedicated, hard working professionals ready and willing to go the extra mile for their customers.
Have your contractor call 800-641-3808 for your next project!
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Decorate your home with these easy DIY Valentine’s Day decor ideas! So many great ideas and simple project ideas. acraftedpassion.com SWEET NOTHINGS http://www.frenchcreekfarmhouse.com
1 Budlong Street • Hillsdale, Michigan 49242 (517)439-9394 • info@hillsdalesmiles.com Monday through Thursday 8 AM to 5 PM • Closed Friday
Dr. Shyroze Rehemtulla, DMD
DIABETES AND DENTAL CARE
If you have an Injury or Illness that results In physIcal ImpaIrment or loss of functIon, a physIcal therapIst can help.
Did you know that 29.1 million people living in the United States have diabetes? Diabetes affects your body’s ability to process sugar. All food you eat is turned to sugar and used for energy. In Type I diabetes, the body doesn’t make enough insulin, a hormone that carries sugar from your blood to the cells that need it for energy. In Type II diabetes, the body stops responding to insulin. Both cases result in high blood sugar levels, which can cause problems with your eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart and other parts of your body.
SO WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH YOUR SMILE? Poorly controlled diabetes leads to higher blood sugar levels in mouth fluids. The higher your blood sugar level, the greater the supply of sugars and starches — and the more acid wearing away at your teeth. Diabetes reduces your ability to fight bacteria; lack of oral hygiene will lead to plaque accumulation which will harden into tartar. This will promote gingivitis and later periodontitis.
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOUR TEETH? Whether you have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, managing your blood sugar level is key.
• Make a commitment to manage your diabetes and monitor your blood sugar level.
• Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Consider using an electric toothbrush, especially if you have arthritis or other problems that make it difficult to brush well.
• Floss your teeth at least once a day. Flossing helps remove plaque between your teeth and under your gumline. • Schedule regular dental visits. Visit your dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings.
HOME Holiday wishes.Holiday wishes. HEALTH LIFE
AUTO
• Don't smoke. Smoking increases the risk of serious diabetes complications.
Appointments available after work and after school
Jake Neukom DScPT, aTC, oCS, CmPT Affiliated with Hillsdale College
Athletic Training / Sports Medicine
Jason Adcock CPCU CLU FLMI, Agent 32 S Howell Street Hillsdale, MI 49242 Bus: 517-437-3364 jason@jasonsffamily.com Jason Adcock CPCU CLU FLMI, Agent 32 S Howell Street Hillsdale, MI 49242 Bus: 517-437-3364 jason@jasonsffamily.com May the magic of the season bring you peace, love and joy. Happy Holidays to an incredible community! May the magic of the season bring you peace, love and joy. Happy Holidays to an incredible community! WE DON’T SEE A POLICY NUMBER WE SEE YOU!
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5 Things to Know About Michigan Wine
With red, white, dry, sweet, sparkling, and fruit vines to choose from, you’re sure to find a new favorite varietal made in the Great Lakes State. As you explore all the wine that Michigan has to offer, equip yourself with these handy facts about the state’s blooming grape and wine industry.
1.MICHIGAN IS A GRAPE-GROWING STATE There are more than 13,000 vineyard acres in Michigan and most of them contain juice-making grapes such as Niagara and Concord. In fact, Michigan grows more Niagara than any other state! About 3,050 acres are devoted to more than 30 varieties of wine grapes, both vinifera (old-world grapes like Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Pinot Grigio) and hybrid (a cross between vinifera and native grapes). Both varieties of grapes make award-winning wines.
2.GREAT LAKES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE Set foot on a shore of the Great Lakes and it is easy to see why these massive bodies of water are such a force on Michigan’s climate. The freshwater lakes and the glacial soils contribute significantly to agricultural production, and most of the state’s wine grapes grow within 25 miles of Lake Michigan. The giant lake tempers the air along shoreline regions, protecting fall crops from harsh, early frosts and preventing spring crops from blooming too early. Lake effect snow is important too, as it insulates vines from extremely cold temperatures.
3.LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION There are five distinct American Viticultural Areas (AVA) in Michigan, each with its own unique grape-growing terroir. Lake Michigan Shore AVA in the southwestern part of the state enjoys the benefit of an extended growing season with approximately four additional weeks for ripening. This part of the state excels at producing big, jammy, red varietal wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. The Leelanau Peninsula in the northwest Lower Peninsula hangs its hat on lovely white varieties with well-balanced acidity, such as Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Riesling. Awardwinning hybrid grape wines, such as Marquette, Frontenac, and Vidal Blanc, rule the vineyards farther inland.
4.PARALLELS There is something about reaching the 45th parallel that makes you want to stop and take a picture, but did you know the 45th parallel plays an important role in winemaking? Wine grapes grow between 30 and 50 degrees latitude—any farther south and it is too warm, farther north and it is too cold. Michigan is nestled nicely in there, with points of the state ranging between the 41st and 47th parallels. Michigan wineries along the 45th parallel share the distinction with many notable winemaking regions including parts of France’s Burgundy and Bordeaux, Italy’s Piedmont, and Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
5.ICE WINE Have you had the pleasure of tasting ice wine? If so, you know what a treat it is. But, did you know that Michigan is one of the few places in the world that makes it? To make true ice wine, grapes must be picked at exactly the right temperature where the water is frozen in the grapes but the sugar is not—usually between 17 and 19 degrees Fahrenheit. This often means that grapes are harvested in the middle of the night with little advance notice. It is a bitterly cold, time-consuming process, and a true labor of love. The resulting product is a marvelous, honey-like nectar that inspires one to savor each sip.
The next time you see Michigan ice wine on the shelf, don’t take it for granted. Only a few other places in the world, such as the winemaking regions of Canada and Germany, share our good fortune.
To learn more and to explore Michigan wineries, visit michigan.org.
