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To the rescue: Local nursery gives homeless cats a chance
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MY STORIES
MY LIFE
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Cheers!
Plus: Mitch Lutzke recalls famous faces in town
Burgdorfs celebrate another year of award-winning wines FALL/WINTER 2012 MyWilliamston.com
Contents Fall/Winter 2012 Volume 3, No. 2 CONTRIBUTORS Saralee Bloese Lorri Hathaway Mitch Lutzke
14 cover story | ‘A Moment in Wine’
Area winery a hidden Michigan gem
COVER STORY Burgdorf ’s Winery ......... 14 With: Wine 101 ..................... 17 Winery’s honors . ......... 18 About Burgdorf ’s ......... 18 MSU’s role in Michigan’s wine industry ............... 20 local dish Q&A: Dr. Keller on owning a downtown landmark ........ 4 With: Keller’s Plaza history ....... 4 Pre-election buzz: Theatre to stage political plays ............. 6 Holiday tradition: Annual light parade Dec. 1............... 7 Giving season: Coat, toy drives help those in need . ... 7 Historic calendar: Museum prints newfound photos ...... 7
Find past issues of My Williamston online at issuu.com/yeetown.
Bailey Besko volunteers at The Kitten Nursery, a rescue facility for nursing and expectant mom cats and their kittens. READ ABOUT THE NURSERY ON PAGE 8. COMMUNITY A purr-fect place: Nursery aids homeless cats .............. 8 Plus: Cats in need of homes...... 9 Column Mitch Lutzke reports on celebrity visits to town ..... 12
in every issue Calendar .......................... 22 Meeting schedule ............ 26 For more information about My Williamston magazine, visit MyWilliamston.com or email contact@MyWilliamston.com
Featured Event — Boy Scout Haunted House, 6-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26-27, and 6-9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 30-31, in the Community Center basement. The cost is $4. See more events in the Calendar on Page 22.
2 | My Williamston | Fall/Winter 2012
On the Cover
Deb and Dave Burgdorf by the production facility at their Haslett winery. Photo by Lorri Hathaway
My Williamston is published by Yeetown, LLC. We are located inside Keller’s Plaza at 110 E. Grand River Ave. in downtown Williamston. © Yeetown Designs, a division of Yeetown, LLC
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Local dish
Compiled by My Williamston staff
Q &A
A word with Dr. Ralph Keller
1. Why did you and your wife buy the Plaza in 1981? My wife Charlotte was just a doer. She had many other things in her life in addition to the Plaza, but at the time, she was reading the paper, saw the building was for sale and wanted it. That’s the way she was. 2. What was the building’s condition like then? When we first purchased it, on Oct. 30, the operation of the building was all on the first floor. Gorsline Furniture and TV took up almost the whole first floor. The upstairs had no rooms. There was just dead space with dirty floors and about 1015 pails collecting rain water. I couldn’t believe it. There was only a dentist office in the top corner spot overlooking the four corners and a few other empty office rooms. We did a lot of renovation, from electrical work and plumbing to interior design. The inside was dark gray paint.
Meet Dr. Keller Who: Owner of Keller’s Plaza; practiced medicine in Williamston from 1955-94. Family: Wife Charlotte Keller died in 2007. Has two sons and two daughters. About Dr. Keller: Although he keeps his medical license active, he is retired. Dr. Keller twice served as the chief of staff at Lansing General Hospital (currently McClaren Greater Lansing) and was chairman of the executive, ethics and credentials committees. He also worked at the Family Medical Center of St. Lawrence Hospital (currently Sparrow). He has flown airplanes and enjoyed his sailboat and motorcycle. He currently enjoys seeing theatre shows. Charlotte really dressed it up by painting. We put a new roof on the building and installed all the current lighting. In 1985, we started renovating the upstairs by adding walls to create rooms for stores, like a mini-mall. That was Charlotte’s vision. She had a love of construction and rebuilding interiors. At one point, well after renovating, we had to replace the staircase after a fire left a lot of smoke damage.
3. Tell us about Keller’s Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant, which opened June 14, 1982, and upstairs Keller’s Plaza, which opened Nov. 24, 1985? Charlotte was really the leader when it came to organizing the operation of the ice cream parlor. I was busy with my medical practice. She was thinking of the ice cream parlor right away when we purchased
the building. She put in the ice cream parlor and then had all the other first-floor stores designed since the downstairs was mostly just an open space before that. There were times when we would come out to the restaurant and people were waiting at the front to get in. I couldn’t believe it. That didn’t happen all the time, but it was very busy at times. Around Thanksgiving and Christmastime, she had the
Keller’s Plaza has long history in Williamston Keller’s Plaza, the historic building at the four corners in Williamston, has housed everything from the city’s first funeral home and doctor’s office to a popular ice cream parlor. Owned by Dr. Ralph Keller’s family since 1981, the two-story, 30,000-square foot building was built in 1899. The F.P. Van Buren company built the current brick building after the previous wooden structure — which served as the office for Williamston’s first medical doctor, James A. Leasia — was destroyed by a fire in 1897. The first store in the new building was The Van Buren Department Store, which 4 | My Williamston | Fall/Winter 2012
sold groceries and general merchandise. Dr. Leasia soon returned to the building with the town’s first drug store before Ray and
C.A. Gorsline purchased the east side of the building in 1922 and opened Gorsline’s Funeral Parlor and, later, Gorsline Furniture and TV. The Gorslines renovated the entire building in 1966. Dr. Keller and his wife Charlotte led another major renovation of the first floor in 1982 before opening an ice cream parlor and restaurant, then renovated the second floor in 1985. That last renovation added 11 storefronts upstairs, which with the five on the first floor led to advertising “Sixteen shoppes under one roof ” and a building-wide grand opening celebration Nov. 23-24, 1985.
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LOCAL DISH Dr. Keller and his wife Charlotte opened Keller’s Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant, shown at left during the 1980s, on June 14, 1982. Living Arts Dance Studio is currently in that space. mayor and people from city hall come over. I remember there was a piano that you put 25 cents in, and it would play your roll. When the upstairs opened to the public, there were 11 shops. Many of the stores were antiques stores, but there were other kinds, too. She really went after tenants. She would talk to friends and other contacts from here to Lansing to let them know we had openings. That helped get new people in the building. There was a lot of turnover, but she always filled it. Did you ever expect to own the building for so many years? Charlotte was the one who ran the building, but she had Alzheimer’s disease set in around 1998-99 and it got to a point where she couldn’t keep up with the dayto-day operations. It slowly progressed until 2007 when she passed away. She started having me do things that ordinarily she had been doing, but it progressively got worse to the point where I was running the building. I’ve never had any desire to get rid of it. All of the family is filled with joy regarding Keller’s Plaza. The building is greatly improved compared to when we bought it. It’s just progressively gotten better year
‘‘
after year after year. I never anticipated the Plaza would expand and be as great as it is now. I just hope it keeps growing like it is. We keep improving things and renovating things to make it really strong. What do you like best about owning and maintaining Keller’s Plaza? I like taking care of things here. I like to stay busy with it to keep mentally and physically active. But the best thing about the building is the tenants. I try to stay very close to the tenants and be friendly with them. That’s very important to me. I want to be good friends with all of them and know them by their first names. You practiced medicine in Williamston for 40 years, from 1955-94. What drew you to Williamston? Charlotte and I were driving through the area with our first baby in 1955 and decided on Williamston. We liked the city and it was within driving distance to the hospital, which I traveled to at least once a day. I loved practicing medicine here. I had many patients over the years and still see my old patients often.
Theatre uses ‘dark’ period for series of staged play readings
Usually, once a show ends at the Williamston Theatre, the next show’s sets are brought in and rehearsals for that show begin. The theater has “gone dark” because its powerful stage lighting instruments aren’t in use. This November, the theater will use this time between its regular shows for a series of political-themed staged readings of plays. ”Dark Nights in Billtown” will take place Nov. 2-4, with a different performance each of the three days. The staged readings will be in rooms that are not traditionally used as theater spaces, leaving only 25 seats for each performance. To reserve a seat, call (517) 655-SHOW. A suggested donation is $5 at the door. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, “November” by David Mamet: What wouldn’t you do to get re-elected? President Charles Smith will do whatever it takes. Mamet’s acerbic wit is in full force as he satirizes a politician’s scurrilous attempts to secure his re-election. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, “The Election” by Don Zolidis: High school elections are a great way for students to learn about the democratic process, if by democratic process you mean pandering, mud-slinging and manipulative ads. As the teenagers face off, what will they learn about themselves, democracy and the election process? 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, “We the People,” short plays from diverse voices, including “Seeing the Light” by Robert McKay, “Middle Kingdom” by Howard Korder, “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes, “Lawyers, Guns and Money” by Thad Davis and “Bad Santa” by Melinda Lopez & Maxine Lopez-Keough: A collection of short plays (and a poem) meant to provoke thoughts about how politics and government impact our daily lives.
QUOTEWORTHY
We are delighted to have a local winery where students have an opportunity to visit and expand their classroom experience.” — Michigan State University professor Dr. Ronald Perry on the school’s working relationship with Burgdorf’s Winery. Read more about Burgdorf’s on Page 14.
6 | My Williamston | Fall/Winter 2012
LOCAL DISH
Depot calendar shows newfound photos Parade, Clauses lead
The discovery of an undeveloped roll of film means the latest calendar produced by the Williamston Depot Museum includes pictures being published for the first time. Linda (Lechler) Siciliano found the roll of film in the collection of Earl Lechler, her father, and Williamston photographer J.D. Small developed the pictures. The 2013 calendar’s cover features a photograph of the downtown in 1959 and the inside is filled with historic photos, including some
from the 1930s, from the collections of Lechler, Wayne Fate and the Museum. Museum board member and Williamston High School history teacher Mitch Lutzke organized the calendar. The calendars cost $12 with all proceeds benefiting the Museum. For more information, visit the Museum or call (517) 655-1785. The Museum also has notecards with historic pictures of Williamston available for $6 and Christmas cards with a picture of the National Block Building, which now houses Tavern 109.
Food bank, others reach out to families in need Thanks to the work of volunteers with the Williamston Food Bank and other service organizations in the area, everything from food to toys to winter hats are distributed to people who need a helping hand. The food bank, which operates out of a first-floor room in the back of the Williamston Community Center, works with the Williamston Kiwanis each holiday season to deliver toys to children of low-income families. The group also works with Williamston
United Methodist Church to collect and pass out winter hats and gloves, West Locke Wesleyan Church for toiletries, Sandy Bowden-Whelton’s Pyper’s Diapers for diapers and baby wipes, and others for pet food, school items, medical supplies and more. Danny and Gwen Hulbert and Jill Cutshaw lead the food bank’s efforts throughout the year. To contact the food bank, call Jill Cutshaw at (517) 655-3813 or the Hulberts at (517) 655-3562.
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holiday celebration
Santa and Mrs. Claus return Dec. 1 to highlight the 16th annual Holiday Light Parade in downtown Williamston. The Clauses will ride in the parade, which follows a route from the Williamston Community Center east on Grand River Avenue to City Hall, where Santa will light the city's Christmas tree. The Clauses will then meet with children at Keller’s Plaza. The day of the parade is filled with events leading up to the 6 p.m. start time and businesses offer specials and extended shopping hours. The Williamston Theatre presents a holiday show each year and will have two showings on the day of the parade, at 3 and 8 p.m. This year’s play, “Ebenezer,” is a world premiere of a script by Michigan playwright Joseph Zettelmaier and picks up 15 years after “A Christmas Carol” leaves off with Ebenezer Scrooge.
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COMMUNITY
Finding fur-ever homes
Williamston nursery a haven for homeless mom cats and kittens
A
s a new animal shelter volunteer eight years ago, Jennifer Lesperance learned quickly that there just wasn’t enough help to care for all the homeless cats and kittens. It was this overwhelming need that eventually inspired her to branch out on her own. In 2007, Lesperance started fostering several shelter cats and a few strays, and over time, this large-scale fostering eased into what is now The Kitten Nursery. “I saw the number of mom cats who were either pregnant at the time or had just given birth and they did terrible in there because there’s not enough people to care for them,” said Lesperance, who volunteered at Ingham County Animal Control and Shelter. “Nobody can keep up because there’s simply not enough people. That’s why it’s so important to have a lot of volunteers. “I thought if we could keep the moms healthy and take care of the sick kittens, then we could save them. I’d bring cats home as fosters and (my husband) Adam would want to keep them. We would just fall in love with them and it was too hard to send them back. We thought if we’re going to keep fostering, we need to do it separately. So we started doing it out in the garage. We got some cages, then it just slowly grew and became its own thing.” Since its inception as a nonprofit in 2008, The Kitten Nursery has been home to hundreds of nursing and expectant mom cats and their kittens. Lesperance said the Williamston rescue facility has cared for and adopted out about 400 cats and kittens, averaging about 100 per year. At any given time, about 20-25 cats live at the Nursery and roughly 15-25 ad-
ABOUT The Kitten Nursery is a rescue facility for orphan kittens, and expectant or nursing mom cats. It provides kittens the 24/7 care needed to become healthy pets, and gives moms a safe place to have their babies. 8 | My Williamston | Fall/Winter 2012
Above, Bailey Besko visits with Oreo at The Kitten Nursery. At left, Bailey, with Maurice, chats with Nursery founder Jennifer Lesperance, while Marshall Besko cuddles with Chris Osgood. Lesperance said kid volunteers are important. “It makes the kittens trusting of young kids and not scared,” she said. Photos by Saralee Bloese
DONATIONS The Kitten Nursery is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization. It accepts monetary donations, gift certificates to local pet stores, pet food and other supplies. It also welcomes volunteers.
CONTACT Call: (517) 862-5931 Email: chiplovessteve@yahoo.com Mail: P.O. Box 281 in Williamston Facebook: facebook.com/kittennursery Website: KittenNursery.com
ditional nursery cats live in foster homes. The Kitten Nursery takes in new cats and kittens based on available space and volunteers. Lesperance and Susan Steinke, a regular volunteer since 2010, said the Nursery is at capacity and feeling the strains of a weak economy. More cats are in need of homes, less cats are being adopted and donations are lacking. Last year’s warm winter also led to an influx of homeless cats. “Some years were just huge in the beginning,” Lesperance said. “Now adoptions have slowed down quite a bit. The cats are getting older, which makes them less likely to be adopted, and with the economy changing, cats are being abandoned in foreclosed homes. We’ve been taking in a lot of those cats. That’s becoming about half of what we have at the Nursery.” Steinke said the Nursery is only accepting special cases. “If it’s a super-duper emergency or the cat comes with a full-sponsorship, we can take it,” she said. “That sounds terrible, but we have 24 cats and kittens out just in foster care, and if those cats need a spay or neuter and other help, it’s a lot of financial resources we don’t have.” Lesperance recalled one of those emergency cases that involved a cat owner who was terminally ill. “The guy was dying of cancer and nobody would take his cats. His hospice nurse got a hold of us and asked if we’d take them,” Lesperance said. “He had rescued a litter of four and they were all brothers and sisters. They’re over 3 now and he’s dying and all he could think of was what’s going to happen to the cats. Nobody in his family was going to take them, so they were just going to go to the shelter. So we took them. I can’t imagine him dying and knowing that. That’s horrible.” As much as cats like these rely on the Nursery, the Nursery relies on its volunteers to keep up with the year-round, day-to-day operation. “Even though we need more volunteers, it’s been a good year for picking up new ones,” Steinke said. “We’ve had a boatload of just re-
Looking for homes
Longtime animal volunteer Jennifer Lesperance, with Mugsy, said The Kitten Nursery has cared for and adopted out about 400 cats and kittens. ally good kid volunteers and family volunteers. “We have one mom and daughter team who come in. Their family is allergic, but not the little girl. She got to come to a mobile adoption event because she cleaned her room.” Lesperance said having kid volunteers is important. “It makes the kittens trusting of young kids and not scared. I think that’s made our kittens more adoptable,” she said. Working with cats is beneficial for the volunteers, too. “It’s something we can all do and it doesn’t cost us any money,” said Williamston resident Lisa Besko, whose family, including her husband, Joe, and children, Bailey and Marshall, visit the Nursery about once a week. “We can stay as long as we want and we can leave when we want to. It’s therapy. It’s therapy for me because I can go there and not worry about anything else. I can just go there and play with the cats and the kids love it.
From top to bottom: Antoinette is sweet, and athletic, and often overlooked because she can be shy at first. Ralph is a funny little kitten who had a rough start in life. Stella is an inquisitive, dilute tortoiseshell kitten who enjoys meeting people. Tortuga is a female Siamese who is affectionate and quiet.
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COMMUNITY “I’m attached to all of these cats. I cry every time one gets adopted and if they don’t get adopted I cry.” Other assistance comes from veterinarian Dr. Kerry Lewis. “I love seeing all the kittens when they first come in and invariably have runny eyes, are infested with fleas, or are very skinny and malnourished, and then seeing them one or two months later after they have been adopted and look like new cats,” said Lewis, who owns Riverside Cat Hospital in Okemos. Lewis examines and treats sick cats from the Nursery, and offers a reduction in cost for spays and neuters, testing and medication. Steinke, recalling a cat recently found near a daycare, said it’s that transformation that makes rescues special. “He was starving, cold, wet. He was yellow and he’s actually white,” she said. “And now, he’s living the life in his new home. That’s what you live for. That’s the whole reason you do it.” Lewis said her practice is more effective working with an organization such as the Nursery, rather than with individuals who find strays. “We recommend (individuals) try to work through the local shelter to get these cats taken care of,” Lewis said. “By working with The Kitten Nursery, we can organize our efforts with others to provide medical help to a lot of cats and kittens.” The Nursery holds mobile adoptions three times a month in Okemos, including two at Soldan’s and one at Pet Supplies Plus. “It’s mostly because it’s easier than people coming here and also, our fosters can bring the foster kittens,” Steinke said. “Also, we get unexpected traffic. It gives you an opportunity to catch people we wouldn’t otherwise catch. Mobiles are a lot of work and sometimes it can be nothing or sometimes it can be seven adoptions or even just one 7-yearold and you’re pretty happy about that. “Some people can’t stand the idea of cats without homes. Even though (the Nursery) is a warm place, they can’t stand the idea of cats without homes, so they literally can’t go to a place where the cat is living because they don’t have a home. The reason mobile adoption events really started is because there are people who can’t go to a shelter without crying.” Steinke said one good thing about reputable rescues such as the Nursery is that it will take animals back if the adoption isn’t a good fit. “We’ll get cats or kittens back sometimes, and that’s OK because we don’t want them taken to a shelter or tossed on the street,” she said. 10 | My Williamston | Fall/Winter 2012
Abigail, front, Oreo (left) and Tippy hang out at The Kitten Nursery. At any given time, about 20-25 cats live at the Nursery and roughly 15-25 additional nursery cats live in foster homes. To keep up with demand, the Nursery always needs litter (pine pallet horse bedding), cleaning supplies, and dry and canned food. “Between fosters and here, we use at least 40 cans a day and that doesn’t include what the fosters are providing,” Steinke said. The Nursery also could use gift certificates to pet stores. “We don’t have enough bottle-feeding fosters,” Lesperance added. “We have a lot of requests and used to be able to take more
kittens that need that, but it takes a special foster to do that and we only have one.” People are welcome to visit the Nursery whether to volunteer or adopt a cat. It strives for a comfortable and friendly atmosphere, which is what originally drew in Steinke. “I liked the fact that it’s a warm, fuzzy place,” Steinke said. “The kittens and cats get lots of support, there’s great volunteers ... and, well, there’s kittens for goodness sake.”
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Holiday Light Parade Saturday, Dec. 1 Downtown Williamston 6 p.m. parade, followed by City Hall tree lighting, extended shopping hours, and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Williamston Downtown Development Authority — Keeping your downtown vibrant! 161 E. Grand River Avenue ∙ (517) 655-2774 ∙ www.williamston-mi.us Fall/Winter 2012 | My Williamston | 11
History A LOOK BACK
Learning history with Mitch Lutzke
Famous faces of Williamston’s past
D
otted across Illinois are signs where Abraham Lincoln stopped during his life in the Prairie State. No matter how trivial, it seems that every town attempts to grab its piece of Lincoln. One place even has a plaque on a downtown building saying he slept there in 1858 while traveling during the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates. In Williamston, we are pretty sure good old Abe didn’t sleep here, but the area has had its own brushes with historical figures. The famed Michigan governor Austin Blair, who later represented Ingham County in the U.S. House of Representatives, made at least two speeches in Williamston. Blair, who was an avid supporter of President Lincoln during the Civil War, was seen as one of the most efficient and effective governors of his time. Based at his home in Jackson, Blair used much of his own money to outfit Michigan’s Union soldiers for the war. For a short time, Blair and another Jackson man owned the land where Barrett’s Men’s Wear is now located. Being a staunch Republican, it is likely Blair’s topics were focused on the political banter of the day. In 1881, Sojourner Truth spoke at the Williamston Methodist Church on South Putnam Street. The original wooden church has since been replaced by the current stone structure, but the site is the same place where Truth appeared. Few details of her visit exist, but it appears the former slave who became a world renowned abolitionist and feminist, may have spoken there over a several-day period. The Lansing Tri Weekly Republican newspaper noted in its May 17, 1881, edition that, “Sojourner Truth lectured at the M.E. Church on Monday evening,” which was May 16. The following week, the same paper again reported, “Sojourner Truth lectured to a $30
Former Michigan Governor George Romney (on scaffolding in the top photo) in the mid-1960s as he paints during “Operation Face Lift.” Another former governor, Austin Blair, made at least two speeches in town and Sojourner Truth, a former slave, spoke at Williamston Methodist Church in 1881. Truth photo used with permission from Sojourner Truth Institute of Battle Creek. Other photos courtesy of the Williamston Depot Museum.
house at the M.E. Church last Wednesday evening,” which was May 18. According to The Sojourner Truth Institute of Battle Creek, Truth gave speeches about the ills
of drinking, a popular community theme in Williamston at the time, during her final years. She also addressed audiences during this time arguing against capital punish-
Mitch Lutzke is a history and video production teacher at Williamston High School. He is a local historian and member of the Williamston Depot Museum's board of directors. He lives in Williamston with his wife and children. Contact Mitch at mlutzke@MyWilliamston.com. 12 | My Williamston | Fall/Winter 2012
ment. That spring, the Michigan legislature was considering adopting the death penalty. A month after her Williamston appearance, the legislature defeated the measure. Truth died in 1883 in her adopted hometown of Battle Creek and historians regard her as one of the most influential women of all time. Jumping ahead to the 20th Century, in 1952, famed U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur, who had been fired the year before by President Harry Truman for insubordination during the Korean War, made a brief stop in Williamston while on his way to speak in Detroit. On the morning of May 16, his caravan whisked into town, escorted by the police department, a color guard and the high school marching band. The entourage stopped at city hall for a short ceremony. During this time, according to the Lansing State Journal, 11-year-old Phyllis O’Hara, a local Girl Scout, presented MacArthur’s wife Jean with a bouquet of flowers. Unlike previous famous quips of “I shall return,” and “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away,” there wasn’t any meaningful utterance here. According to Roland “Andy” Anderson, who walked over to city hall from his West South Street residence with his World War I veteran father, Ivar, there wasn’t even a speech. Anderson, who
remembers standing about 10 feet from the famed General, said when MacArthur prepared to address the crowd, the event quickly ended instead. “He stood up in the car to speak, the microphone didn’t work, he threw it on the ground, tapped his driver and they drove away,” said Anderson, who recognized MacArthur as matching photographs that showed him with a crushed hat and corn cob pipe. In the mid-1960s, Michigan Governor George Romney not only visited Williamston, but he also worked in town. He contributed his painting skills by participating in “Operation Face Lift,” a statesanctioned refurbishing project. Romney donned a brush and applied some paint to storefronts in the business district. The May 18, 1968 visit was also part of the “Michigan Week” festivities for the year. Romney, of course, is the father of the 2012 Republican Presidential nominee, Mitt Romney. The estate of John and Marge McGoff was the scene of a slew of political dignitaries in the 1970s and 80s. At their Spruce Hill estate, on the corner of Williamston and Mitchell roads, the businessman was a well known supporter of local charities and Republican politicians. On June 3, 1983, former President Gerald Ford attended a fundraiser
that drew about 400 people. According to the Lansing State Journal, Ford addressed the media and commented on the likely re-election of President Ronald Reagan. The family sold their estate in 1995 and John McGoff died in 1998. Marge spends much of her time away from Williamston, but she does return from time to time to visit friends. There are many other stories, rumors and tales about other celebrities and famous people who have spoke, slept or partied in Williamston. The best has to do with the Shagbark estate on Rowley Road when it was owned by Judge Howard Weist. Rumors are that Presidents Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge, legendary baseball commissioner Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, movie stars and others, attended Gatsbyesque bashes there in the 1920s and 30s. However, documenting those tales has been impossible. More recently, stories of hockey great Eric Lindros, singer Linda Ronstadt and movie star Katie Holmes visiting friends in Williamston have circulated. Whether you live in the big city or a small town, every place plays a part in the fabric of the United States. While Williamston does not have any “Lincoln Slept Here” plaques, the city has had its touches of the famous over the years.
St. Katherine’s Episcopal Church Williamston, Michigan The Rev. Ronald C. Byrd, Sr., Rector (517) 349-4120 www.stkatherines.org We are a medium size church located on 10 1/2 acres of gardens and woods in the midst of a residential area west of Williamston. Come join us for worship or any of the special events we offer.
Join us for Sunday worship 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:45 a.m. 9:45 a.m. 10:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist - Rite One (no music) Bible Study (also offered Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.) Nursery Care Children’s Worship Center Holy Eucharist - Rite Two (with music)
We offer a unique and charming setting surrounded by serene beauty and peace. Our historic chapel offers a wonderful location for your intimate wedding. Our parish hall and grounds are available for your reception, baby or bridal shower, family reunion, or any special occasion. We also have meeting space and office space available.
Supporting caregivers, and their loved ones . . .
Forster Woods Adult Day Center in Williamston is located on the campus of St. Katherine’s Episcopal Church and grew from the vision of The Rev. Ronald C. Byrd, Sr. and from the support of the congregation to reach out into our community and provide much needed support to older adults and their caregivers.
Forster Woods Adult Day Center will provide the following services: transportation coordination; personalized care; breakfast, lunch and snacks; music activities; animal therapy; exercise; and professionally designed programming that will engage the participant and encourage social activity. Forster Woods is open Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. For enrollment information or to schedule a visit, contact our Executive Director, Kimberly Holland or our Program Director, Jennifer Putmon at 517-349-3101. 4656 N. Meridian Rd., Williamston, MI 48895 | Phone: 517-349-3101 E-mail: mail@forsterwoods.org| www.forsterwoods.org
Fall/Winter 2012 | My Williamston | 13
Fruits Of Their
Labor
Couple turns passion into area destination
O
wning a winery wasn’t always the plan for Deb and Dave Burgdorf. Although the pair enjoyed drinking wine when they met in college, their career paths in science and agriculture were headed in a different direction. After stumbling years later upon some fresh fruit, the couple’s experimentation in beverage making began. They eventually created their first wine, Perfection, paving the way for what has become a hidden gem in Haslett’s rural flatland. Now in its seventh year, Burgdorf ’s Winery includes a 3,360-square foot production facility, boasts more than 20 wines and has a growing list of awards. “Just a few short years ago, the Burgdorfs toiled in relative obscurity in their rural mid-Michigan winery,” said Michael Brenton, president of the Greater Lansing Vintners Club. “Now they are achieving national and even international recognition by creating wines that are winning gold and double gold awards in state, national and international wine competitions. It is a testament to perseverance, hard work and a commitment to quality.”
Story & Photos by Lorri Hathaway 14 | My Williamston | Fall/Winter 2012
Fall/Winter 2012 | My Williamston | 15
COVER STORY
0.0972 in
Dave and Deb Burgdorf look over the grapes grown in the vineyard on their five-acre property. Below, Burgdorf’s newly designed labels are ready for wine bottles. From the moment guests walk into the winery’s garage-converted tasting room and gift shop attached to their home, Deb and Dave treat them like friends. Burgdorf ’s tagline, “A Moment in Wine,” adequately represents the couple’s belief that each sip is its own unique experience to be enjoyed thoroughly. From the tasting room, an inconspicuous back door leads to an outdoor deck and patio where the beautiful countryside setting may inspire visitors to linger for an afternoon. Deb and Dave opened the small boutique winery in 2005. Since then, they have added a 2,400-square-foot building expansion to an old 960-square-foot yellow barn behind their home where they produce the wine. This increased production capacity from 1,000 to 5,000 gallons and provides the ability to produce as much as 10,000 gallons in the future. They’ve also added a variety of wine flavors to their debut wine, Perfection. It was a long road to Perfection that be-
“
gan in 1989, shortly after the couple relocated to Michigan from Illinois where they met at college. There, Dave was working for the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the same building where Deb worked for the Illinois State Forester. Once in Michigan, Dave and Deb stumbled upon an abundance of ripe wild raspberries near their home. They picked the raspberries
and made pies and cobblers, but still had an abundance of the fresh fruit. Turning the remaining raspberries into wine was a natural fit for the couple, with their combined experience in agriculture and fermentation. Deb said that first batch of wild raspberry wine was “awful” and laughs when she recalls sharing their early concoctions with friends. “Most of our experiments were enjoyed by our friends and family who we used as guinea pigs,” Deb said. The original batch did, however, inspire Deb and Dave to develop different types of wine over the years, dabbling mostly in fruity wines. The Burgdorfs weren’t necessarily rookies seven years ago. Deb, the primary winemaker, has a masters degree with an emphasis in fermentation biology, is a microbiologist and had been doing fermentation in the industry for more than 20 years. She’s also one of only a few women winemakers in Michigan. Dave has a bachelor’s of science degree in Agricul-
Most of our experiments were enjoyed by our friends and family who we used as guinea pigs.” — Deb Burgdorf, on their early winemaking days
16 | My Williamston | Fall/Winter 2012
What’s in a name? In the United States, wines are named for the
variety of grape used to make them, while in Europe wines are named for the region where the grapes grow. The European concept is that the characteristics of a place (type of soil, climate, altitude, etc.) affects the character of the grapes. Many wines are blends of two or more grape varieties. In the U.S. (except in Oregon, where it is 90 percent) a wine label only has to reveal the grape variety that makes up at least 75 percent of the wine, although some U.S. wine makers voluntarily list all varieties. Other countries have varying minimum percentages for labeling.
W
Wine terms Aroma or bouquet: The smell of a wine. Body: The apparent weight of a wine in your mouth (light, medium or full) Crisp: Refreshing acidity Dry: Not sweet Finish: The impression a wine leaves as you swallow it Flavor intensity: How strong or weak a wine’s flavors are Fruity: A wine whose aromas and flavors suggest fruit; doesn’t imply sweetness Oaky: A wine that has oak flavors (smoky, toasty) Soft: A wine with a smooth rather than crisp mouthfeel Tannic: A red wine that is firm and leaves the mouth feeling dry Compiled by My Williamston staff
Wine 101
ine is the fermented juice of fruit, typically of grapes. Wine made from grapes is often grouped into the categories red, white, rose, sparkling and dessert/fortified. Red wine comes from red- or bluishcolored grapes, and is made by fermenting the colorless grape juice with the grape skin. The skin imparts on the liquid both a red color and tannins, a naturally occurring substance in grapes often described as causing a dry, puckery feeling in the mouth. Tannins can taste bitter if they get cold, which is why red wine is usually served warm. White wine is made from white grapes, or in a few cases, the juice of red grapes. The grape juice is fermented without the grape skin, leaving it colorless and with few tannins. White wine is highly acidic, which is why it’s often described as crisp or tart. It is generally served chilled. Rose wine is made from red grapes. It is pink-colored instead of red because the grape juice only stays in contact with the grape skin for a short time. Like white wine, it has few tannins and is most often served chilled. Sparkling wine contains carbon dioxide, giving it its bubbly appearance. It is made from either red or white grapes. Sparkling wine is commonly used interchangeably with Champagne, which isn’t accurate. Champagne is only a type of sparkling wine, and is called Champagne because it comes from the Champagne region of France. Dessert/fortified wine has a high sugar content, either from harvesting grapes very late or from adding alcohol to the grape juice during fermentation. Brandy is a popular example.
Quick tips for pairing wine & food
Match weight with weight. Serve dry, light-bodied, low alcohol wines with light dishes, such as raw and low-fat. Serve full-bodied, ripe, high alcohol, creamy textured wines with heavy foods, like rich sauces. Serve high acid wines with high acid foods. Avoid tannic wines with fatty/oily fish. Soften tannic wines with salty, fatty, protein-rich foods. A protein-rich food with salt softens the a mouth-puckering sensation. Serve salty foods with high acid wines. Serve off-dry or sweet wines with slightly sweet or sweet foods. The wine should always be as sweet or sweeter than what’s on the plate.
Popular whites
Popular reds
Chardonnay (Shar-doe-nay) — Citrus and tropical fruit flavors Sauvignon Blanc (So-vinyawn Blonk) — Versatile food wine with distinct aroma Pinot grigio (Pee-noh GreeJhoh) — A high-acid, delicate white called pinot gris in France Riesling (Rees-ling) — Naturally sweet & fruity, low in alcohol
Pinot noir (Pee-know NaWahr) — Fruity taste, often described as smooth and silky Merlot (Mare-low) — Soft & velvety like a jam with fruity flavors Cabernet sauvignon (Ca-burr-nay So-vin-yaw) — Considered the best red, fruitier taste than merlot Zinfandel (Zin-fahn-Dell) — Thick like a jam, high sugar and alcohol
Fall/Winter 2012 | My Williamston | 17
COVER STORY About Burgdorf ’s Where: On a five-acre estate at 5635 Shoeman Road in Haslett Hours: Open Tuesdays-Sundays noon-5 p.m. and by appointment. More information: (517) 655-2883, BurgdorfWinery.com History: The winery opened in 2005, but owners Deb and Dave Burgdorf have more than 30 years of experience in winemaking and agriculture. This year, the couple expanded its production facility to include multiple 50-gallon fermenting tanks, greatly adding to its production capacity. The winery worked with a smaller tank until building the addition. Fun facts: Deb is one of only a few female vintners in Michigan. Dave put his carpentry skills to use building the expansion and converting their garage into an elegant tasting room.
Jessica Kerbawy pours a sample of Merlot at the tasting bar at Burgdorf’s Winery.
2012 AWARDS Indy International GOLD/BEST IN CLASS — Vidal Blanc (2011) GOLD — Dry white SILVER — Cayuga White (2011); Late Harvest Vidal (2009) BRONZE — Naked Chardonnay (2011); Pinot Noir Rosé (2010); Spartan White (2010); Raspberry Michigan Wine & Spirits GOLD — Cayuga White (2011); Red Raspberry;
ture and recently retired as a vegetation specialist for the USDA. The pair’s talents complement each other well, with Deb using her fermentation skills to develop styles of wine, and Dave spearheading the construction of the tasting room and production facility and using his background in plant materials and conservation planning to grow quality fruit. Some of the grapes used in the winery’s production come from the grapevines behind their winery, including plump Niagara, Concord and Catawba grapes, and others come from Southwest Michigan where grapevines are known to thrive. More grapes are harvested from a training vineyard at nearby 18 | My Williamston | Fall/Winter 2012
Marquette (2011) SILVER — Blueberry Cabernet Franc (2011); Naked Chardonnay (2011); Perfection; Riesling (2011); Vidal Blanc (2011) BRONZE — Late Harvest Vidal (2009); Merlot (2011); Shiraz (2011); Spartan White (2010); St. Croix (2011) Tasters Guild International GOLD — Golden Temptation (2007) SILVER — Red
Raspberry; Spartan White (2010) BRONZE — Dry Riesling (2010) 2011 AWARDS Finger Lakes International GOLD — Red Raspberry SILVER — Naked Chardonnay; Perfection; Spartan White BRONZE — Cayuga White Michigan Wine & Spirits GOLD — Niagara; Perfection SILVER — Late Harvest
Michigan State University, where the winery and university have a longtime partnership. The Burgdorfs started working with the school in 2006 when Dr. Ronald Perry, a professor in the school’s department of horticulture, suggested using the training vineyard. The partnership generates income for MSU to help pay for maintenance of the plot while providing the Burgdorfs with local fruit. The Burgdorfs also work with MSU’s educational programs in viticulture, chemical engineering and wine appreciation by aiding the school’s research and hosting students at their production facility for handson experience. Dr. Kris Burglund and Dr. David Miller,
Vidal; Morado; Raspberry Tasters Guild International GOLD — Cabernet Sauvignon; Cayuga; Late Harvest Vidal SILVER — Naked Chardonnay; Niagara; Perfection; Red Raspberry; Spartan White Indy International BRONZE — Raspberry (2009); Spartan White (2009); Late Harvest (2009) 2010 AWARDS Indy International
SILVER— Morado BRONZE — Naked Chardonnay; Blueberry Michigan Wine & Spirits DB. GOLD — Morado SILVER — Naked Chardonnay; Raspberry 2009 AWARDS Indy International DOUBLE GOLD/BEST IN CLASS — Perfection SILVER — Blueberry BRONZE — Raspberry Michigan Wine & Spirits DB. GOLD — Perfection
who work in the school’s food science and chemical engineering department, use the Burgdorf ’s facility to run lab tests for their class to learn about wine production. “We have been working with Burgdorf ’s to provide a realistic teaching experience for our students in winemaking,” Burglund said. “They have allowed us to teach commercial winemaking in a context we are unable to do on campus.” A wine appreciation course, Exploring Wines and Vines, taught by Dr. Perry, was introduced to MSU’s curriculum in 2009. The course requires students to visit a Michigan winery from a selected list that now includes Burgdorf ’s.
WILLIAMSTON THEATRE Sept. 20 - Oct. 21, 2012
Nov. 15 - Dec. 23, 2012
Jan. 24 - Feb. 24, 2013
WORLD PREMIERE An epic and intimate End-OfThe-World comedy that keeps you laughing ‘til the unexpected end! Contains Mature Language and Themes.
Contains Mature Language and Themes.
Directed by John Lepard
Directed by Tony Caselli
by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb
A hilariously funny and achingly poignant comedy that takes us on a wonderful journey exploring love, loss and the healing power of family.
Two lost souls will bear witness to events they do not fully understand as the spirit of Christmas descends on Ebenezer once again.
Tickets on sale October 23.
by Joseph Zettelmaier
Directed by Tony Caselli
by Deborah Zoe Laufer
Tickets on sale January 8.
Williamston Theatre 122 S. Putnam Street, Williamston 517-655-SHOW(7469)
Performances: Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays @ 8PM Sundays @ 2PM With 3PM performances on Saturdays starting the second week of each production.
www.williamstontheatre.org
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COVER STORY
MSU tied to wine industry’s success
MSU student Rafael Grosser, left, and Adam Marschall Jaros, a Michigan State University teaching assistant, test for sugar levels in the production facility at Burgdorf’s Winery. “We are delighted to have a local winery where students have an opportunity to visit and expand their classroom experience,” Perry said. Perry also is happy with the outcome of wines produced from the training vineyard. “We are thrilled to see that some of Burgdorf ’s wine products made from MSU vineyard fruit has yielded accolades and significant awards in wine competitions,” he said. Burgdorf ’s uses MSU grapes in a lineup of award-winning wines, including Spartan White. The Burgdorfs named that wine to show their appreciation to the school. The off-dry white wine, blended from three white grape varietals grown in the training vineyard, is a part of the winery’s growing list of award-winning wines. “We enjoy working with (the school), the exchange of information, the good people
and relations with a common goal of educating young people,” Dave Burgdorf said. In 2012 alone, Burgdorf ’s took home 13 medals at the Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition in East Lansing, eight at the Indy International Wine Competition and four at the Taster’s Guild International Competition. In addition to producing award-winning wines, the winery hosts wine tastings, dinner parties and other gatherings. In the meantime, Deb and Dave continue their journey, honing their winemaking skills and looking to the future. “We always wanted something that we could do together in retirement when we reached that time of life together,” Dave said.
— Lorri Hathaway is co-author of “From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries” and “The History of Michigan Wines.”
Michigan State University has played a key role in growing the state’s wine business into a $300 million a year industry. The school’s work with Michigan vintners dates back to the college’s founding as Michigan Agricultural College in 1855 when its purpose was to promote and improve agriculture in the state. The university’s department of horticulture took a significant step forward in 1969 with the hiring of Dr. G. Stanley Howell, a horticulturalist who performed extension work on small fruits. “For over 40 years, MSU has been a valuable source for science-based understanding of grapevine physiology, contributing significantly to the development of the modern Michigan wine industry,” said Linda Jones, program manager of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council (MGWIC). MSU works closely with the MGWIC, which aids the industry with both research and promotion. Howell, who has since retired but remains involved with the program, was intrigued with the study of wine grapes and began working closely with growers in the state. His work is credited with helping the industry develop to its current state, which according to a university release last year draws 800,000 visitors a year to 86 wineries and includes a 500-percent increase in wine grape growth since 1973. — Lorri Hathaway
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Calendar
To submit an event, e-mail contact@MyWilliamston.com
WILLIAMSTON October 17 — Presentation on home safety, Williamston Senior Center. (517) 655-5173. 18 — Presentation on phone scams, Williamston Senior Center. (517) 655-5173. 18 — Howl at the Moon Fall Fest, 6-11 p.m. RiverHouse Inn. RSVP to capitalcityevents@yahoo.com. 20 — Trick-or-Treat for Dogs, For Better Independence Dogs fundraiser, 2-5 p.m. downtown. (517) 589-0477, info@fbidogs.org. 25 — Halloween Party, Williamston Senior Center. (517) 655-5173. 26-27 — St. Mary Fall Festival. Spaghetti dinner, 5K, children’s carnival, rummage sale and more. (517) 655-4038. 26-27 — Boy Scout Haunted House, 6-10 p.m., Community Center basement. $4. 27 — Trick-or-treating at downtown businesses, 1-3 p.m. (517) 655-1549. 27 — Halloween Party, 8 p.m., Brookshire Inn & Golf Club. (517) 655-4694. 30 — Boo Night at the Pool, 6-7:30 p.m., Williamston Community Pool. $2. (517) 655-7510. 30-31 — Boy Scout Haunted House, 6-9 p.m., Community Center basement. $4. 31 — Residential trick-or-treating, 6-8 p.m. 31 — Trunk-or-Treat, 6-8 p.m. Williamston Free Methodist Church. (517) 655-3668. 31 — Bingo, Williamston Senior Center. (517) 655-5173. November 3-4 — Knights of Columbus Holiday Craft Show, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Saturday) and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (Sunday). St. Mary Activity Center. (517) 490-3242 or (517) 214-7570. 7 — Presentation on hearing options,
Photo by Chris Purchis
Jules, portrayed by Aral Gribble, explains the sleeping pattern of fish in the Williamston Theatre’s production of“Boom.” Next up at the Theatre is “Ebenezer,” Nov. 15-Dec. 23, followed by “End Days,” Jan. 24-Feb. 24, “Shirley Valentine,” March 21-April 21, “10:53,” May 16-June 16, and “Tuna Does Vegas,” July 11-Aug. 18. A series of short staged readings of plays, called “Dark Nights in Billtown,” runs Nov. 2-4. For show and ticket information, call (517) 655-SHOW or visit WilliamstonTheatre.org. Williamston Senior Center. (517) 655-5173. 8 — Veterans Day lunch, Williamston Senior Center. (517) 655-5173. 10 — Newspaper drive, organized by Venture Crew 363. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Williamston City Hall. (517) 655-2774. 17 — Fall craft show, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Crossroads United Methodist Church. (517) 655-1466. 20 — Presentation on home medical equipment and Medicare, Williamston Senior Center. (517) 655-5173. 22 — Thanksgiving Dinner, 1 p.m. Williamston Senior Center. All welcome. Reservations required. (517) 655-5173. 28 — Presentation on planning ahead, Williamston Senior Center. (517) 655-5173.
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22 | My Williamston | Fall/Winter 2012
29 — Bingo, Williamston Senior Center. (517) 655-5173. December 1 — 16th annual Holiday Light Parade, downtown. (517) 655-1549. 3 — Williamston Senior Center Potluck Dinner, 4-6 p.m. Williamston Community Center. (517) 655-5173. 8 — Newspaper drive, organized by Venture Crew 363. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Williamston City Hall. (517) 655-2774. 13 — Christmas Bingo, Williamston Senior Center. (517) 655-5173. 20 — Christmas party, Williamston Senior Center. (517) 655-5173. 27 — New Year’s party, Williamston Senior Center. (517) 655-5173.
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CALENDAR
HOLIDAY TRADITION — A Williamston fire truck decked out in lights travels down Grand River Avenue during the 2010 Holiday Light Parade. This year’s 16th annual parade begins at 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1. After the parade is a tree lighting at City Hall followed by visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Keller’s Plaza. Ongoing Fit Club, 6-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Nu-U-Nutrition. Free. (517) 204-5783. Lego Club (ages 6-14), 4-4:45 p.m. second and fourth Tuesdays each month. Williamston library. (517) 655-1191. Williamston Senior Center coffee social and lunch, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (lunch at noon) Tuesdays-Thursdays. Williamston Community Center. Reservations: (517) 655-5173. Blood pressure checks, 10:30-11:45 a.m. second Wednesday each month. Williamston Senior Center. Open Table Meal, 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Williamston United Methodist Church. (517) 655-2430. Williamstown Township Recycles, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. second Saturday each month. Township Hall. (517) 655-3193. Live jazz music, 7-10 p.m. Wednesdays. Gracie’s Place. (517) 655-1100, GraciesPlaceWilliamston.com. Team Trivia, 7 p.m. Thursdays. Brookshire Inn & Golf Club. (517) 655-4694. Boom, Sept. 20-Oct. 21. Williamston Theatre. (517) 655-SHOW. Ebenezer, Nov. 15-Dec. 23. Williamston Theatre. (517) 655-SHOW. 24 | My Williamston | Fall/Winter 2012
End Days, Jan. 24-Feb. 24. Williamston Theatre. (517) 655-SHOW. Shirley Valentine, March 21-April 21. Williamston Theatre. (517) 655-SHOW.
DANSVILLE Craft creation challenge, 3:30 p.m. each Tuesday. Dansville library. (517) 623-6511. Coffee chat, 10:30 a.m. each Tuesday. Dansville library. (517) 623-6511. Michigan’s Ghostly Beacons, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15. Dansville library. (517) 623-6511.
EAST LANSING East Lansing Film Festival, Nov. 7-15. Downtown. (517) 980-5802. Holiday Arts and Crafts Show, Dec. 1-2. MSU Union. (517) 355-3354.
FOWLERVILLE Read to a therapy dog, 3:30 p.m. Mondays. Fowlerville library. (517) 223-9089. Trunk-or-Treat, 6-7 p.m. Oct. 24. Heart of the Shepherd. (517) 552-7218. Elizabeth Williams presents “The Nutcracker,” Dec.14-15. Fowerville High. Fall Harvest Party, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Oct.
24. Fowlerville library. (517) 223-9089. Lego Club, 5:30 p.m. first Tuesday each month. Fowlerville library. (517) 223-9089. Scrabble Club, second Monday each month. Fowlerville library. (517) 223-9089.
HASLETT Family Halloween party with magician Jason Hudy, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17. Haslett library. (517) 339-2324. Michigan ghost hunting, 7 p.m. Oct. 25. Haslett library. (517) 339-2324. Gingerbread house decorating, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 27. Haslett library. (517) 339-2324. Crafternoons for adults, 1 p.m. Tuesdays. Haslett library. (517) 339-2324. After-school movies, 3 p.m. second Wednesday each month. Haslett library. (517) 339-2324. After-school Lego club (ages 6-14), 3 p.m. third Wednesday each month. Haslett library. (517) 339-2324.
HOLT Incu-Bake entrepreneurial series, 6:30 p.m. final Thursday of each month. Registration required. Holt library. (517) 694-9351.
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CALENDAR LANSING Making it in Michigan, Nov. 1. Lansing Center. (517) 483-7400. Bridal show, Nov. 6. Lansing Center. (517) 347-7288. 28th annual Silver Bells in the City, 5-9 p.m. Nov. 16. Downtown. (517) 4873322, info@downtownlansing.org. Ladies’ Weekend Expo, Nov. 16-18. Lansing Center. (616) 466-4451. Old Town Dickens Village, noon-5 p.m. Dec. 1. Old Town. (517) 485-4283. Halloween movie, 2 p.m. Oct. 27. Downtown library. (517) 367-6363. Lansing Symphony family music and literature series, 3 p.m. Nov. 4. Downtown library. (517) 367-6363. Documentary series: Werner Herzog in Antarctica, 2 p.m. Nov. 17. Downtown library. (517) 367-6363.
MASON Friendship Bracelets Crafternoon, 4 p.m. Oct. 24. Registration required. Mason library. (517) 676-9088. 38th Mason Christmas Craft Sale, Nov. 8-10. Ingham County Fairgrounds. Mason High School Craft Show, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 10. High school cafeteria. (517) 676-9055, ext. 214. Veterans Day Parade, 3 p.m. Nov. 11. Ingham County Fairgrounds. (517) 676-1046. Cupcake decorating party (grades 6-12), 4 p.m. Nov. 14. Registration required. Mason library. (517) 676-9088. Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner, noon-1 p.m. Mason First United Methodist Church. (517) 676-9449. 12th annual Mason Holiday Lights Parade, downtown Mason, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 23. (517) 676-1046.
See listings online!
Sign2Me class (up to age 3), 6 p.m. second Tuesday each month. Registration required. Mason library. (517) 676-9088.
OKEMOS Halloween carnival, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 24. Okemos library. (517) 347-2021. Kids read to a therapy dog, 4 p.m. Nov. 19. Okemos library. (517) 347-2021. Friends of Historic Meridian: Fall Lecture Series. Mitch Lutzke on history of Williamston area, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25; Jane Rose on history of Okemos area, 3 p.m. Nov. 18. Meridian Service Center. (517) 347-7300. Howl at the Moon; Hike with your dog, 7 p.m. Oct. 26 and Nov. 30. $3 per person. Harris Nature Center. (517) 349-3866. Halloween Adventures, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 27. Harris Nature Center. (517) 349-3866. Christmas in the Village, 2-4 p.m. (tree lighting at 4 p.m.) Dec. 9. Okemos. (517) 347-7300. Meridian New Year’s Eve Fireworks, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 31. Central Park. Film movement series for adults and mature teens, 6:30 p.m. third Thursday each month. Okemos library. (517) 347-2021. First Sunday Gallery Walk reception, 2 p.m. first Sunday each month. Okemos library. (517) 347-2021.
STOCKBRIDGE Halloween story time (ages 3-5), 11 a.m. Oct. 29. Stockbridge library. (517) 851-7810. Trick-or-Treating in Stockbridge, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (517) 851-7435. Friends of the Stockbridge library annual silent auction, throughout November. (517) 851-7810.
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26 | My Williamston | Fall/Winter 2012
ABR
Monthly williamston meetings Community Clubs Kiwanis — Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m., Williamston UMC Lions — First & third Tuesdays, 7 p.m., St. Mary Rotary — 7:15 a.m. Tuesdays, Brookshire Inn City City Council — Second & fourth Mondays, 7 p.m. Parks and Rec — Second Wednesday, 7 p.m. Williamston DDA —Third Tuesday, 7 p.m. — All city meetings at City Hall Chamber Directors — Third Thursday, 9 a.m. Ambassadors — Second Thursday, 9 a.m. — All Chamber meetings at Depot Museum Education Board of Education — First & third Mondays, 7:30 p.m., Middle School Multi-Purpose Room
WEBBERVILLE Larry Martin’s “WWII: In their own Words (Jack Levitt),” 7 p.m. Oct. 16. Webberville library. (517) 521-3643. Down Memory Lane Reminiscers club on the Great Depression of the 1930s, Oct. 23, 2 p.m. Webberville library. Halloween movie special, 3:15 p.m. Oct. 31. Webberville library. Down Memory Lane Reminiscers club on vintage tools, Nov. 27, 2 p.m. Webberville library. Holiday Luncheon, noon Dec. 7. Webberville United Methodist Church. Scrabble Club, 6:30 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays. Webberville library. Drop-in needle arts group, 6 p.m. first and third Tuesday. Webberville library. Lego Club, 3-4 p.m. first Thursday of the month. Webberville library.
Williamston Inn
Just 7.5 miles east of Michigan State University
Fresh Flowers
(517) 655-3773
homemade ChoColates CoFFees & lattÈs
Send a seasonal or holiday greeting from Vivee’s Autumn Thanksgiving Christmas And more!
• Peaceful rural setting • Quaint rooms • Free WI-FI
We deliver Ingham County and the world with FTD
ViVee’s Floral Garden & CaFÈ 142 W. Grand River, Williamston ViveesFloralGardenandCafe.com
517-655-2191
1133 W. Grand River Road • williamstoninn.com
Destination Kids Trick-or-Treat Downtown
illiamston Light Parade Downtown
Saturday, October 27 1 - 3 pm
Saturday, December 1 6 pm
Dog Trick-or-Treat Downtown
Buck Pole Merindorf Meats
Saturday, October 20 2 - 5 pm
November 15, 20, 24 4 - 7 pm
Williamston Area Chamber of Commerce
williamston.org 517.655.1549 Fall/Winter 2012 | My Williamston | 27