The Hills Magazine April 2020

the

hills

A Social Magazine for the Residents of Whitehills Lakes, Whitehills Woods and the Cove at Whitehills Lakes | A PRIL 2020

Gage Cutler Inventor of FinMan Fishing Innovations

Inside: Living Spaces 6417 Oakencliffe Betsy’s Northeast Adventures - Final Edition The Dancing Clydesdale The Mico BOOKSHELF Sponsor Spotlight Spartan Auto Group Lazy Weekend Breakfast Pizza

YOUR STORIES | YOUR PHOTOS | YOUR COMMUNITY

1 The Hills • April 2020

“Where the Hip Hounds Hang Out!” Mid-Michigan’s Original Doggy Daycare Center

Cageless Daycare Boarding Grooming Training Classes

2 Convenient Locations!

5325 W. Mt. Hope Hwy, Lansing · 1284 Grand River Ave, Okemos

(517) 333-WOOF • LansingHipHounds.com Loving Dogs Since October 2000

CELLULAR REPAIR | AESTHETICS | LUXURY AIRBRUSH TANNING

1 OF 3 IN MICHIGAN TO OFFER THIS SERVICE

Earth = PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields).

Wind = Exercise with Oxygen.

Fire = Red & Near Infrared Light Therapy These three technologies simulate the elements that human life requires not only to exist, but to thrive.

To schedule a consultation call: 877-215-4674 2 The Hills • April 2020

or go to our website www.AvitaNova.org

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We Specialize in Custom Jewelry

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April 2020 • The Hills

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WORKOUT WARRIORS Fitness Classes Right In Your Neighborhood!

$10 off

All Massages *Expires April 25, 2020*

Offering Small Classes For Every Fitness Level Cardio | Zumba | Strength | Barre | Core | Stretch and More

VISIT WORKOUT WARRIORS EL ON FACEBOOK OR EMAIL SPARTANSCAN@GMAIL.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION. Jeanne Schaberg | 6398 Ridgepond Pl, Whitehills Woods | (517) 775-1638

Curative offers you the unique option of receiving a rejuvenating massage from the comfort of your home.

Experience a new level of relaxation and book with curative today!

Schedule your Massage Today!

(989) 980-2161 akalawilson@curativemassagellc.com www.curativemassagellc.com

Repair • Restore • Renew • Your Skin

Call to schedule your complimentary consultation!

(517) 267-2497 4660 S. Hagadorn Rd, Suite 610 | East Lansing, MI 48823 | Chm.cosmetic@msu.edu 4 The Hills • April 2020

The Hills

www.n2pub.com © 2020 Neighborhood Networks Publishing, Inc.

I M P O RTA N T

PHONE NUMBERS

STA F F PUBLISHER/EDITOR, THE HILLS MAGAZINE

Evan Winters | 517-488-2607 evan.winters@n2pub.com

CONTENT DIRECTOR

Jeanne Schaberg, Whitehills Woods resident TheHillsPublication@gmail.com

Hospital (with 24 hour emergency room) 517-364-1000 517-975-6000

Sparrow Hospital McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital

COMMUNITY

CREATIVE TEAM ADVERTISING INFORMATION

C O N TACTS

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Neighborhood Home Owners Associations The Cove at Whitehills Lakes 517-333-9622 Whitehills Lakes/Woods 517-882-1826 ext.126

STAFF WRITER HEALTHY LIVING RESIDENT INTERN

Charter Township of Meridian Accounting & Budgeting Township Manager Tax Assessment Board and Commissions Communications Clerk’s Office Community & Planning Fire (Non-Emergency) Human Resources Police (Non-Emergency) Parks & Recreation Township Manager Building & Code Enforcement Water & Sewer

517-853-4100 517-853-4250 517-853-4400 517-319-6904 517-349-1232 517-853-4300 517-853-4506 517-272-4791 517-853-4250 517-332-6526 517-853-4600 517-853-4254 517-853-4500 517-853-4650

Bath Charter Township Superintendent Assessment Building & Zoning Clerk Fire Non-Emergency Library Ordinance Compliance Parks & Recreation Police Non-Emergency Treasurer

517-641-6728 517-641-6728 ext.112 517-641-4238 517-641-6728 517-641-7811 517-641-7111 517-641-6728 517-641-5167 517-641-6271 517-641-6728

Resident Contributors Wanted To become a contributor, please contact Tiffanie Winnie to learn more. She can be reached at TheHillsEL@gmail.com.

RESIDENT RECIPE ART CONTRIBUTOR RESIDENT CONTRIBUTOR RESIDENT CONTRIBUTOR

N2 Publishing Design Team Evan Winters | 517-488-2607 | evan.winters@n2pub.com Michele Hoffman - Hoffman Photography 517-393-1058 | 1picturelady.com Elizabeth McCabe Calla Ramont, Whitehills Lakes resident Karen Bush Schneider, Whitehills Lakes North resident Anthony Collar, Whitehills Woods resident Shems Hamdan, Whitehills Woods resident Saltia Biscette, Whitehills Woods resident

Service – Remodel – New Construction Water Heaters – Sump Pumps Back-Up Pumps – Water Softeners Locally Owned & Operated Licensed & Insured

DISCLAIMER: N2 Publishing is not affiliated with or contracted by the Whitehills Neighborhood Association (the “Association”). This publication, including the content of articles and advertisements contained herein, is not authorized or endorsed by the Association. Any articles included in this publication and/or opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of N2 Publishing but remain solely those of the author(s). The paid advertisements contained within The Hills magazine are not endorsed or recommended by N2 Publishing or the publisher. Therefore, neither N2 Publishing nor the publisher may be held liable or responsible for business practices of these companies. NOTE: When community events take place, photographers may be present to take photos for that event and they may be used in this publication.

April 2020 • The Hills

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Sponsor I N D E X Neighborhood

This section has been created to give you easier access when searching for a trusted neighborhood vendor to use.

Take a minute to familiarize yourself with the businesses sponsoring the publication. These local businesses are proud to partner with you and make this magazine possible. Please support these businesses and thank them for supporting the publication!

ADVERTISING / MARKETING The Hills Magazine Evan Winters (517) 488-2607 ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE Vista Springs Timber Ridge Village (517) 339-2322 vistaspringsliving.com AUTO DEALER/AUTO REPAIR Lexus of Lansing (517) 394-8000 lexusoflansing.com Shaheen Cadillac (517) 507-4905 shaheencadillac.com Shaheen Chevrolet shaheenchevrolet.com Spartan Toyota (517) 394-6000 spartantoyota.com BANKING Capitol National Bank (517) 484-5080 capitolnational.com Dart Bank (517) 244-4406 dartbank.com CBD PRODUCTS Above The Roots MI (517) 455-6163 abovetherootsmi.com

6 The Hills • April 2020

CARPET/RUG CLEANING & RESTORATION Magna-Dry (517) 371-2565 magnadrylansing.com CHIROPRACTIC CARE & WELLNESS Moore Life Health and Healing Dr. Ryan Moore (517) 781-4884 moorelifechiro.com COUNTERTOPS Paxton Countertops (517) 627-3688 paxtonsurfaces.com DESIGN BUILD / REMODELING Custom Built Design & Remodeling (517) 881-9871 callcustombuilt.com DISABILITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES Able Eyes (517) 819-7284 ableeyes.org DOG BOARDING/TRAINING/DAYCARE Doggy Daycare and Spa (517) 333-9663 LansingHipHounds.com FINANCIAL PLANNING/WEALTH MANAGEMENT Thrivent Financial (517) 881-8294 https://connect.thrivent.com/ Brice-Blossom/, https://connect.thrivent. com/shelby-butler/

FITNESS WORKOUT WARRIORS Jeanne Schaberg 6398 Ridgepond Place East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 775-1638 FLOOR COVERING/FLOOR INSTALLATION Carpet Studio Flooring America (517) 351-6310 flooringamericalansing.com Rycus Flooring (517) 887-8720 rycusflooring.com HOME THEATRE / HOME INTEGRATION Sound Solutions (517) 202-3047 lansingsound.com IT BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Doberman Technologies (517) 978-8324 dobermantechnologies.com INSURANCE All Michigan Insurance Agency (517) 349-4820 allstate.com/pamlamb Allaby & Brewbaker Insurance (517) 332-3766 abins.com Michael Church State Farm (517) 351-5433 churchsf.com

JEWELRY, CUSTOM DESIGN, REPAIR Medawar Jewelers Okemos 2168 W. Grand River Ave Okemos, MI 48864 (517) 347-8808 medawarjewelers.com LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR Bud Branch and Blossom (517) 515-1723 budbranchblossom.com Earth Tones Landscaping (517) 333-5700 etonesinc.com MASSAGE - MOBILE Curative Massage (989) 980-2161 curativemassagellc.com MASSAGE/REIKI Holistic Butterfly Studio (517) 303-5849 holisticbutterflystudio.com MEDICAL SPA & WELLNESS MSU Aesthetic & Laser Treatment Center (517) 267-2497 www.cosmetic.msu.edu MEDICAL WEIGHT LOSS & SKIN CARE A Vita Nova (517) 235-5303 avitanova.org MOVING SERVICES M & M Moving & Storage (517) 977-8859 mmmovingandstorage.com Two Men and a Truck (517) 306-2441 twomenandatrucklansingmi.com

PAINTING & CABINET REFINISHING Platinum Paint Coatings (517) 712-1867 platinumpaintcoatingsmi.com PAINTING & WALLCOVERING Coloring & Covering of Michigan (517) 862-2526 coloringandcovering.com PAINTING/DECK STAINING Tony Grant’s Painting Company (517) 394-5942 tonygrantspainting.com PERFORMING ARTS MSU Wharton Center for Performing Arts whartoncenter.com PERSONAL TRAINING AND NUTRITION Figured Out Fitness Jennifer Nagel (517) 214-8138 figuredoutfitness.com PLUMBING Perry Plumbing (517) 625-6133 perry-plumbing.com REALTOR Lisa Fletcher, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices (517) 449-6100 greaterlansinghomes.com Lynne VanDeventer Coldwell Banker Hubbell Briarwood (517) 492-3274 www.lynnevandeventer.com

REALTOR - SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Sarah Hudgins, Williams Raveis Sarah Hudgins (239) 331-0748 sarahhudgins.raveis.com REALTORS Kristin Clark, Inspired Home (517) 582-1580 inspired-home.com REMODELING Northern Home Improvement (517) 484-3767 northernhomeimprovement.com RESTAURANT & WINE Dusty’s Cellar & Tap Room (517) 349-5150 dustyscellar.com SOCCER Cap City Athletic 1847 (517) 230-8353 capcityathletic.com SOCIAL CLUB University Club of Michigan State University Sara Majeske (517) 353-5626 universityclubofmsu.org TICKET BROKER The Ticket Machine (888) 887-4411 theticketmachine.com WEALTH MANAGEMENT Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. (517) 483-4895 TB Financial Services Anthony Bagneschi (517) 619-1298 tbfinancialservices.com

April 2020 • The Hills

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C O N N E C T E A S I LY V I A

QR CODES

If you see an advertisement or article in the magazine with a QR Code, you can scan that code and it will link to a website, video or social media page for more information. Below are the directions on how to use these code and an example from the Real Estate Resource Page to test it out.

Scan a QR code with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch Open the Camera app from your device’s Home screen, Control Center, or Lock screen.

Hold your device so that the QR code appears in the Camera app’s viewfinder. Your device recognizes the QR code and shows a notification.

Tap the notification to open the link associated with the QR code.

How to Scan a QR Code with a QR Code Reader Open the QR Code reader on your phone.

Hold your device over a QR Code so that it’s clearly visible within your smartphone’s screen. Two things can happen when you correctly hold your smartphone over a QR Code. The phone automatically scans the code ...

If necessary, press the button. Presto!

Welcome

new to the hills?

TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD!

Are you and your family/spouse/children new to Whitehills Lakes, Whitehills Woods, Whitehills Lakes North, Whitehills Lakes South, or The Cove at Whitehills Lakes? Please send your contact information to evan.winters@ n2pub.com to be added to our email and event invitation list. We take pride in protecting your information – we will never share your contact information with anyone. Currently, we have over 400 email addresses on file.

8 The Hills • April 2020

Do you need to call a plumber?

Who should you call to set up a massage for your wife?

We have created a virtual map with the google business listings of our recommended business partners for easy access. Just point your iPhone camera or QR Code reader at the code and download to your phone. If you have the Google Maps app, it will work even better.

Click the upper left-hand corner after downloading to open the key. This button Your Local Map, In A Snap

A Virtual Map of our Recommended Partners

• Professionally Trained Personnel • Residential and Commercial • Packing and Moving Service • Load and Unload Rental Trucks

Carpet Area Rugs Tile Laminate Hardwood Vinyl Vinyl Tile & Plank Window Treatments

2865 Jolly Rd, Okemos, MI 48864

517-351-6310

www.flooringamericalansing.com

• Short and Long Term Storage • Portable Storage Units • Dumpster Services

Mark Lewis

HOURS: SUNDAY CLOSED MONDAY 10AM–8PM TUESDAY 10AM–6PM WEDNESDAY 10AM–6PM THURSDAY 10AM–8PM FRIDAY 10AM–6PM SATURDAY 9AM–4PM

mark@mmmovingandstorage.com MMMovingAndStorage.com SERVING ALL OF YOUR MOVING NEEDS

517.977.8859 April 2020 • The Hills

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NON-PROFIT ADVERTISING We are happy to announce that each month we will be offering a free halfpage ad for residents and their favorite 501(c)(3) nonprofit. If you have a favorite non-profit that you would like to help take advantage of this program, please email Evan.winters@n2pub.com for more details. Spots will be reserved on a first-come basis.

CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY DIGITAL MAGAZINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram and Facebook Follow The Hills Magazine at @the_hills_magazine on both Instagram and Facebook for more information on our advertisers.

Neighborhood Facebook Page Did you know there is a private Facebook page made exclusively for Whitehills’ homeowners? To be added, simply search for “Whitehills Lakes Connection” and request to join! An administrator will approve your request. *This Facebook page is not run by The Hills Magazine* Digital Copy of The Hills Magazine Did you know you can read The Hills Magazine in digital format each month? This copy is not public, but as a resident you can visit the digital copy at www.thehills-lansing.com.

10 The Hills • April 2020

Anthony Collar’s

Art

Art by Anthony Collar, Whitehills Woods resident

We are extremely honored to feature art by Anthony Collar, who is a resident of Whitehills Woods, in each issue of The Hills. Born in 1986, he was diagnosed with autism at age 2. With the help of his school and family, he created a business that features his incredible drawings. While sharing his talent through the Art of Autism, Anthony expresses his joy for life and love for people.

For information, you can visit www.artofautism.net.

April 2020 • The Hills

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Happy April!

Reach vs.

Right: from the publisher

A Seth Godin-Inspired Thought

I’d like to continue with a marketing focus piggybacking on last month’s from the publisher section. This month with a focus on reach vs the right clients.

As kids, we reached for the cookies on the tall countertop and climbed the highest branches of a tree to get to the top. “Reach” was about the highest, farthest, greatest amount of distance we could go. Professionally, as adults, we still see “reach” in a similar way, but should we? If we are reaching thousands and thousands, up to millions of people… is that really the best way to grow our business?

Some may think so, but marketing genius Seth Godin encourages us to think differently about reach in this recent blog post.

So, is your goal to reach more people or the right people?

Let’s say you own a small business. In a perfect world, you’d have unlimited ad dollars to spend, so why not reach big and shell out the cash for a Super Bowl commercial, even if your target market is less than 1% of those who will tune in for the big game?

Incoming: the pin to pop this dream-world bubble.

The reality is, budgets exist for a good reason, and there needs to be a limit, a maximum, for a truly valuable spend. Your best bet when it comes to reaching your ideal customer is to target them in the most direct way possible. We all have our “ideal audience” in mind – based on age, gender, lifestyle, etc. – so why bother with marketing opportunities that aren’t actually the right fit?

And even when you find the right opportunity to reach your customers, how do you grab and keep their attention when they’re constantly inundated with ads? Lucky for you, we have the suggestion.

Catch their eye while they’re willingly (and excitedly) reading stories shared by the very people they want to know more about.

Better yet, catch their eye month after month through a magazine they’re proud to keep on their coffee table, one they don’t even pay to receive. Better still, catch their eye by being seen not simply as an advertiser, but as a community supporter who enables this cherished resource to exist because of your partnership.

Forget a wide “reach” – landing in the hands of just one quality potential customer is worth more of your time and money than casting a wide net where your advertising efforts may (and likely will) fall on deaf ears.

The right people are waiting to hear from you. We can help with that!

Evan Winters Publisher 517-488-2607 evan.winters@n2pub.com @EvanAWinters on Instagram

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THE HILLS TEAM

Bringing The Hills Magazine to life each month

Evan Winters: Editor and Publisher evan.winters@n2pub.com Photo Credit: Sparrow Foundation Dapper Dads

Calla Ramont: Healthy Living Intern, Whitehills Lakes resident

Jeanne Schaberg, Content Coordinator

Jace Schnee

Karen Bush Schneider: Resident Recipe, Whitehills Lakes North resident

Johanna Schnee

Anthony Collar: Anthony’s Art, Whitehills Woods resident

Elizabeth McCabe: Staff Writer

Saltia Biscette: “IMAGINE” Writer, Whitehills Woods resident

If you would like to join our staff, please email evan.winters@ n2pub.com to get more details. It’s fun and flexible! The pay is $30 per article with accompanying photos.

April 2020 • The Hills

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6417

Oakencliffe W h i t e h i l l s Wo o d s

14 The Hills • April 2020

living spaces This gorgeous architectural classic in Whitehills Woods was meticulously designed and built in 1996 by Cawood Builders. 2017 brought a timeless and tasteful update professionally designed

by Parkway Interiors which resulted in an expansive renovation

by Cawood Builders. With just over 8000 square feet of stylish living space, this home is warm, inviting and an excellent home for entertaining. Attention to detail is evident everywhere from the moment you walk into the entry with the winding staircase, triple crown molding, and abundant light from beautiful windows. Quarter-sawn oak floors have an oil rub finish for supreme durability throughout the main floor. The great room, with 12 foot ceilings, a wonderful globe chandelier and a stacked stone fireplace is the center of this home. To the left of the entry there is a formal dining room and to the right is the north wing which includes an office and an elegant master suite. The kitchen overlooks the back yard and its renovation included custom-built cabinetry, a touchless faucet, a pot filler, an island, quartz countertops and all new Thermador appliances. The open floor plan in the kitchen allows for eating and lounging right near the new trex deck, landscaped patio and all outdoor spaces.

The main floor master suite is down a hallway beyond a stately home office to the right of the entryway. The master bath has a spa-like feel with the heated floors, a luxurious soaking tub, an oversized shower and two separate bath vanities. The walk-in

Relax & Enjoy Retirement Retirement Income & Tax Planning Tony Bagnesch, EA, RICP®, CFP® 333 Albert Avenue, Suite 606 East Lansing, MI 48823 Phone: 517.619.1298 E-mail address: abagneschi@parklandrep.com

Securities offered through Parkland Securities, LLC, member FINRA & SIPC. TB Financial Services, LLC is not associated with Parkland Securities, LLC. or SPC. Fee-based investment advisory services offered through Sigma Planning Corporation, a registered investment advisor.

April 2020 • The Hills

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closets are custom and include a center island, quartz counters on top of a bank of drawers, plenty of storage, and dreamy space for laundry. The second floor has 3100 square feet and 4-5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, a built-in writing desk overlooking the front entry and a charming secret bonus space for kids. The lower level boasts another 1300 square feet of finished space, room for a home gym, a fireplace and plenty of space to entertain on game days or any day. Professionally designed custom window treatments and energy-saving shades are all throughout this home. Don’t miss this – no detail was spared with this renovation and selection of furniture and accessories – any family will love this comfortable and elegant home improvements New landscaping - front, side, back yards New patio and deck with trex New asphalt driveway New mechanicals - furnace, air conditioner New roof – 2017 Painted exterior trim Painted Interior trim, walls, doors New light fixtures throughout the home on all floors New door hardware throughout Redid all flooring to include quarter-sawn oak with finish for durability. All new kitchen – island, peninsula, custom cabinets, Thermador appliances Masterbath heated floors, soaking tub, two vanities Added island and washer/dryer in master closet Added mudroom with lockers, cubbies and tiled dog bath Custom window treatments which also include energy efficient shades Stacked stone fireplace in living room Refaced built-ins throughout the entire house Updates kids playroom and added the three TVs. home. Added a basement b-dry system

16 The Hills • April 2020

RYCUS, You’ll Like Us!

Home & Garden Show Specials happening NOW through May 1st!

Free Estimates 5300 S. Pennsylvania Ave. Lansing, MI 48911 rycusflooring.com (517) 887-8720 Since 1990, we've helped to beautify Whitehills one floor at a time.

IPHONE CAMERA OR QR READER

MAKING MEMORIES Tile | Vinyl | Carpet | Wood | Cork | Bamboo ON A RYCUS FLOOR Residential | Commercial

A Time for New Beginnings The VanDeventer Team Lynne VanDeventer, Diadre Pagliei & Tomas Brown

The VanDeventer Team received Coldwell Banker awards for 2018 Team of Three!

Featured Home 6235 Pine Hollow

Visit Lynnevandeventer.com for a Free Market Analysis!

(517) 282-6135

(517) 282-6145

(517) 402-1650

#1 Team in Michigan #2 In the Nation

REALTOR®, Serving All Offices Each Office Is Independently OwnedAnd Operated.

Please join us On Facebook, The VanDeventer Team

(517) 492-3274 DIRECT LINE | (517) 339-7718 RESIDENCE lynnevanda@coldwellbanker.com

Equal Housing LENDER

April 2020 • The Hills

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neighborhood job postings

Join Our Team Fl e x i b l e & Fu n Advertising & Website Sales Executive Duties for the “Advertising Sales Executive” position would include prospecting and contacting potential sponsors for the private neighborhood publications we maintain (The Hills, The Lakes, and The Estates). An accepted candidate would be responsible for generating advertising revenue from the local businesses in the area. Advertising Sales Executives typically meet face-to-face with six to eight businesses per week from appointments scheduled by phone calls, referrals, and networking. Very little travel is expected as the Advertising Sales Executive typically stays within 5 to 10 miles of the communities in East Lansing and Okemos.

Skills – Sales, client relationship management, clear communication, basic computer skills (Excel/email/Word), work ethic, and an upbeat professional attitude.

Schedules are flexible but are usually between the hours of 9 am and 4 pm, Monday-Friday.

Training – Training is provided through a corporate training seminar as well as conference calls, meetings, one-on-one coaching, and shadowing/field training.

Compensation – Advertising Sales Executives are paid on a generous commission scale, and offered additional opportunities as the results accumulate. This job would be appropriate for someone seeking to earn $2,000-$4,000 per month without sacrificing family time. *Pay is based on results.

18 The Hills • April 2020

Resident Writers If you like writing and are looking for a little extra cash, you should consider joining our writing staff. The only requirement is that you must be a resident of the neighborhood. This is a great position to build a resume for a high school or college student or a fun part-time job for an adult who loves to meet new people in the community.

Types of Articles: Precious Pets Sports and Athletes Arts and Theatre Meet Your Neighbors Making a Difference Resident Business Beat Pay: $30 per article with accompanying photos To learn more about any of these positions, reach out directly to Evan Winters at 517-488-2607 or evan.winters@n2pub.com.

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20 The Hills • April 2020

Positioning your home front and center.

Kristin Cl ark| kristin@inspired-home.com | 517-582-158 0 1675 Watertower Place Suite 800, East Lansing MI 48823

O: 517.420.5730

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13227 Watson Rd. | Bath, MI, 48808 | (517) 515-1723 | budbranchblossom.com April 2020 • The Hills

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travel tales

Betsy’s Northeast

Adventures Part 6 FINAL EDITION

My name is Johanna Schnee. My brother and I have been telling you all about our trip last summer that we took in our RV, named Betsy. If you’ve read the other articles, then you might know that the last article, which my brother wrote, ended with us being in Plymouth, MA. I hope you have been enjoying these articles because there is still more to share, so now let’s dive into the last part of Betsy’s adventures.

When we left Plymouth, MA, we traveled to Trenton, ME, where we parked Betsy at Timberland Acers RV Park. The biggest and most exciting attraction nearby is Acadia National Park. The next day we went on a free bus into Acadia’s park. The bus helped us to avoid traffic and parking difficulties that we had been warned about. The town of Bar Harbor (in Acadia) was very cute with lots of shops and restaurants. The coastline in Acadia had huge rocks along the beach which were so much fun to climb on. We spent most of our time climbing! At Jordan Pond (the name of a lake in the park and also a restaurant at the same location), we had afternoon tea and popovers, which is a Jordan Pond tradition when you dine from 2-4 pm on their lawn overlooking Jordan Pond.

This was a lovely experience with food I had never tasted before. That evening we had a lobster dinner. Unfortunately, I found that I do not like lobster! While in Trenton, we also had the time to go on a pirate miniature golf outing and to a real live lumberjack show. They did really cool tricks with knives and axes, they climbed up trees using only ropes and sharp stakes on their boots, and they entertained us with water log running, which I’ve always wanted to see in real life. I even got to go up on stage and saw a tree with a huge, huge saw!

After three days exploring Acadia and the Trenton area, we headed off to New Hampshire. First we dropped Dad off at the airport to go to Germany for a

22 The Hills • April 2020

work trip and we would pick him up a few days later in New York. So off to the Twin Tamarack RV Park in New Hampshire we went: me, Jace and Mom. Once we got settled in, we went Weirs Beach Pier on Lake Winnipesaukee. There was a boardwalk with amazing New York-style pizza and a nice little beach to hang out on. One night we went to a drive-in movie theater for a surprise treat (I’d never been to a drive-in before) to see the movie Aladdin but-- Ooopsie! – that was a mistake because our car battery died in the middle of the movie and we were stranded there for hours and worst of all- we didn’t even get to HEAR the rest of the movie! With little sleep after a late night at the movies, we still managed to go tubing on the Saco River the next day and did a drive down the Kangamagus Highway through the White Mountains, which was very pretty.

Heading out of New Hampshire, we started the drive to New York, our final stop. We made a quick stop in Vermont to get the delicacy of Vermont maple syrup and candies as a souvenir. Even though we didn’t stay in Vermont, we feel like we still got to “see” Vermont since the most beautiful drive of the whole trip was through the Green Mountains in Vermont. Even from the highway, it was a stun-

ning view unlike most highway views of concrete and buildings. Once we crossed the border into New York, we found our way to the Brookwood Campground near Silver Bay, NY. We couldn’t wait to get to the YMCA in Silver Bay on Lake George.

It’s a fun-packed resort for all ages. My mom said to tell you to check it out if you are looking for a place to do a family reunion. You can stay in the big lodge with a cafeteria or you can rent one of their huge houses for a whole big family to stay in together. Some of the activities for the guests at the YMCA are archery, tennis, kayaking, swimming, rock climbing, paddle boarding, shuffleboard, baseball, and tons of board games for rainy days. It’s a beautiful place and so much fun. The best part of Silver Bay YMCA was that our friends were there. They spend the entire summer there every year. Our friends (a family of 7)

are missionaries and they lead a college team of about 50 students there every summer to work summer jobs and get leadership training.

After three days of lots of fun at Silver Bay, it was time to finally GO HOME! It was a 14-hour drive to the house and when we pulled into the neighborhood, it was amazing to see the Whitehills sign again after 45 days of being gone. We had so many adventures and a great time on our trip but it’s always nice to be home. Thank you so much for reading this and I hope you enjoyed reading about our travels as much as we enjoyed them in real life. But keep an eye out for other fun articles to be written by Jace and I in the future. And thanks again for diving into Betsy’s NE Adventures!

April 2020 • The Hills

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National Parks

American

of the

South tour & travel

By Shauna Osborne

Growing up in the South, some of my favorite family vacations were to national parks. From soaring mountains to marshy lowlands to stunning seacoasts, we have an embarrassment of riches in our national parks. Whether you’re in the mood to hike, soak, boat, explore, or wrestle a gator, there’s something for everyone! As the weather starts to warm up this month, consider a weekend trip to one of these lovely Southern locales.

Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas This small, nearly urban national park, originally called Hot Springs Reservation, was set aside by Congress in 1832 to protect and promote the enjoyment of the land’s most precious resource: the hot springs. Free to the public, it is the oldest park in the country managed by the National Park System, and thousands of visitors each year flock to the area to enjoy its 47 natural hot springs (have a proper soak in one of the facilities on Bathhouse Row!), hike the numerous trails (the 8.9-mile Sunset Trail loop is a popular one), and take in the thriving local art scene (check out the Ozark Bathhouse, which operated as a bathhouse until 1977 and reopened in 2014 as a fine art gallery).

Everglades National Park, Florida Naturally, the first things that spring to mind when we think of the Everglades are swamps and alligators, but this remarkable 1.5-million-acre wetlands preserve, located on the southern tip of Florida, has so much more to offer! The land was set aside as a national park in 1934, with the express purpose of protecting the subtropical wilderness’ fragile ecosystem, as it is home to 36 threatened or protected species, 350 species of birds, 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish, 40 species of mammals, and 50 spe-

24 The Hills • April 2020

cies of reptiles. Besides exploring the marshlands, visitors to the park can enjoy boating, fishing, kayaking, and camping.

Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky Located in central Kentucky, this national park and World Heritage Site encompasses parts of the world’s longest cave system (more than 400 miles mapped so far!), Mammoth Cave. In addition to touring parts of the cave system, visitors to Mammoth Cave National Park can take advantage of the hiking, horseback riding, biking, picnicking, camping, and gorgeous scenery (particularly along the Green River) the park has to offer.

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia This gorgeous national park is less than 100 miles from Washington, D.C., and offers nearly 200,000 acres of protected land, home to black bears, deer, and more than 200 species of birds.

With over 500 miles of trails varying in difficulty, Shenandoah is a hiker’s dream, offering up gorgeous waterfall hikes such as South River Falls, Whiteoak Canyon Falls, and Dark Hollow Falls, all accessible from Skyline Drive, a scenic 105-mile road that runs the length of the park and comprises 75 stunning overlooks.

Grasscloth Wallpaper

Coloring & Covering of Michigan Wallpaper Painting Staining Over 30 Years Experience Commercial & Residential Bill Ramsey, Owner coloringandcovering.com (517) 862-2526 bill@coloringandcovering.com

Coloring & Covering

April 2020 • The Hills

25

the Mico

BOOKSHELF!

By Micomonaco Readers

Do you listen to podcasts? Our house has a near-constant soundtrack of audiobooks, but I find rare moments of silence for the Read-Aloud Revival podcast. Hosted by Sarah MacKenzie, its focus is helping you connect with your kids through books. She’s been a rich resource of read-aloud and independent reads: most of our new favorites have been her recommendations. She did an episode on math books (math-related picture books, that is) not too long ago, and I recruited Eva to order some via CADL. Our favorites include 7 Ate 9

by Tara Lazar, a detective story stuffed with numerical puns. My older kids really enjoyed this one: my younger two joined in but I think it was mostly social laughing. Everyone got into Sir Cumference and the First Round Table

26 The Hills • April 2020

by Cindy Neuschwander. Again it was the older kids who fully understood the humor, but it is an inventive and entertaining tale, and the exposure to the concepts and vocabulary of geometry can only help prepare them for later.

Another series we discovered courtesy of Read Aloud Revival is the Wilderking trilogy by Jonathan Rogers. We burned through these books as my kids begged for just one more chapter, and even their exhausted parents couldn’t resist. Our favorite books share certain elements: complex plot, engaging characters, quality writing, plus hilarious situations and dialog. In addition to the slightly familiar but wholly re-interpreted story and winsome characters, these books made us laugh until we cried. The first book (The Bark of the Bog Owl) tells the story of Aidan of Errol and his quest to save his beloved country of Corenwald from the heartless invaders from the Pyrthen empire.

Only the assistance of the free and fierce Feechies keep his quest feasible.

These books employ redemptive themes and draw from the Biblical story of David, but so deftly that this enhances the story rather than detracts with preachiness. We actually joined Audible solely for these exclusive audiobooks (delight-

fully read by the author): his bog-owl “bark” alone makes the fee worthwhile!

I haven’t been reading much fiction recently, but one book I read a couple of years back and have been thinking of recently is Station Eleven (by Emily St. John Mandel). It’s a dystopian tale taking place after civilization’s collapse due to a devastating flu pandemic, tracing the fortunes of various survivors as they fight to stay alive. Even as the point of view shifts, the setting skips between the present (the world we recognize), the two weeks where almost everyone dies, and twenty years after the pandemic, which is where/when the main action is taking place. There are no zombies, it’s well-written, and the story arcs of the winsomely drawn characters intersect in unexpected yet satisfying ways. However, I did not enjoy it and sort of wish I hadn’t read it. This book won lots of awards, and the reviews use words like “haunting”; “gripping”; “deeply and darkly moving,” so if that’s what you’re looking for, have at it. But be warned that reading it right now might be akin to those events where you watch the movie Jaws floating in an inner tube in a dark pool, except worse.

I did enjoy What Doesn’t Kill Us: How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude, and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary Strength (Scott Carney). We are geared, Carney posits, to withstand widely fluctuating environments, and our comfortably invariable 70 degrees puts too little stress on our bodies. According to him (and Wim Hof, a Dutch wellness guru who originated many of these ideas) adding those temperature extremes back into our lives will make them better, if less comfortable. Famous for exploits like swimming long distances in freezing water and climbing mountains in his underwear, Hoff claims that through exposure to cold and breathing exercises, he can train anyone to control his/her internal temperature, and thus perform similar feats. The book tells how Carney traveled to Poland to train under Hof, convinced he was a fraud, but ultimately ended up on top of a mountain in sub-freezing temperatures, wearing almost nothing. It’s a fascinating story, written with a quick tempo and just the right blend of science, narration, and anecdote, and I found it quite convincing. I haven’t yet switched to icy showers or abandoned my winter wear, but this book did make me feel better about the refusal throughout the winter of certain Micomonaco children to wear coats (or pants).

Thanks to those of you who have contacted me with book recommendations! Keep ‘em coming!

Jana.micomonaco@gmail.com April 2020 • The Hills

27

sponsor spotlight

By Elizabeth McCabe

Spartan Auto Group: Lexus of Lansing | Spartan Toyota | Lexus of Ann Arbor | Wolverine Toyota Committed to Exceeding Expectations Spartan Auto Group, which owns Lexus of Lansing, Lexus of Ann Arbor, Spartan Toyota and Wolverine Toyota is proud to be a family-owned-and-operated business.

Owned by Rosario Criscuolo, his son Derek and daughter Deanna run the day to day operations of the four dealerships in Lansing, Ann Arbor and Dundee.

Rosario started selling out cars in Detroit before purchasing Spartan Toyota in 1984 and Lexus of Lansing in 1991. In 2000, Rosario purchased Lexus of Ann Arbor. (Lexus only has a total of five dealerships in Michigan and Rosario is proud to own two of them.) In 2008, Rosario purchased Elite Toyota which he renamed in 2018 to Wolverine Toyota.

Giving Back to the Community The professionals at Spartan Auto Group are committed to investing in the community. One

28 The Hills • April 2020

way that they do that is through Mott’s Children’s Hospital from raising funds to build the new hospital ten years ago to research and development of curing childhood illnesses. This children’s hospital holds a special place in Derek’s heart. His mother had a niece who was transferred to his hospital and received excellent medical care. In addition, Derek’s cousin had meningitis at birth.

The compassionate folks at Mott’s Children’s Hospital helped her regain her health. Giving back is their way of making a difference to other children in the area.

Spartan Auto Group also supports Sparrow Hospital, where they built a teen room / children’s playroom. Derek is also supporting a hospital development by the Catholic Healthcare International for people in Howell, Michigan. An Italian, Derek holds Saint Padre Pio (the saint of health and curing the ill) in high regard. This is his inspiration for helping those who have medical needs.

“We have also done a lot with the Lansing diocese for the Catholic Church,” adds Derek.

“We do our best to show that we care,” says Derek. “It comes from my grandpa, which he instilled in my father’s head.

You don’t step over a dime to get to a dollar.”

The Spartan Auto Group also does “a lot of little things.”

That includes adopting families during the holidays in all three communities the dealerships are located. Wolverine Toyota in Dundee also gives back to the humane society and Toys for Tots. They also help those in need, including one family whose home recently burnt down.

Derek credits his father for his stellar work ethic. “Nothing would be here without his efforts,” he comments.

Derek also admires the employees at Spartan Auto Group.

‘We have 224 employees.

When you see them succeed greater than what they were when they started here, that is the greatest reward. We have three to four managers who worked for us who bought their own dealerships.”

“We had a huge gathering of people who brought non-perishable food and clothing,” says Derek. In addition, Wolverine Toyota also gives back to the wrestling team, police department, and fire department in town.

Relationships Not Salesmanship “Our motto is relationships not salesmanship,” explains Derek. “That can be translated in many different ways.” The professionals at Spartan Auto Group invest in their customers.

“I have gone to soccer games of my clients’ kids,” says Derek.

After seeing clients a handful of times each year, they become friends. Derek builds relationships with their clients.

“We are only as good as the people around us,” he adds.

Derek and the dedicated team at Spartan Auto Group take the time to listen to customers and address their needs accordingly.

In the event that there is a concern, they own the mistake and make things right, creating friends in the process.

According to their website, “We’re fiercely committed to providing our customers an incomparable experience. This carefully designed experience fosters both the talents of our team members and the prosperity of our communities, too, ensuring a never-ending and mutually-beneficial evolution.”

We are honored to feature Spartan Auto Group in this month’s issue. For more information, check out their website, www.spartanmotormall.com.

SPARTAN TOYOTA 5701 S. Pennsylvania Lansing, MI 48911

WOLVERINE TOYOTA 16490 Tecumseh Rd. Dundee, MI 48131

LEXUS OF ANN ARBOR 590 Auto Mall Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48103

LEXUS OF LANSING 5575 S. Pennsylvania Ave. Lansing, MI 48911

While Spartan Auto Group does everything you might expect from an auto dealership (including personal deliveries and personal showings on cars), they differentiate themselves from their competition by their care and concern for their customers.

April 2020 • The Hills

29

Chad and Lisa Borodychuk & the

making a difference

By Elizabeth McCabe

Lisa and Chad Borodychuk found purpose in their pain. Their daughter, Olivia, passed away from Alexander Disease Leukodystrophy at the young age of 8.

Through their daughter’s life, they decided to bring hope and healing to others through starting a foundation in their daughter’s memory, the Olivia Kay Foundation, a 501(3)(c) non-profit organization headquartered in DeWitt.

Their mission is simple – “to improve the quality of life for children living with severe multiple impairments and terminal illnesses, as well as their families.”

As their website states, “We will accomplish this by bringing hope to each individual as well as providing physical, emotional, and financial support to each child and their caregivers.”

30 The Hills • April 2020

Olivia’s Story Olivia’s mom Lisa explains, “Alexander Disease is the rarest form of the Leukodystrophies. It’s also known as ‘white matter disease.’ Nerves in the brain are in little bundles. Just like wires in lamp cords how they have a sheath around them to protect them. If you cut into the sheath and the wires of a lamp, the lamp won’t work.” In a similar fashion, in Alexander Disease, the nerves don’t work properly as if they have been cut. The sheath in the brain isn’t developing properly or slowly deteriorates. Those afflicted with Alexander Disease suffer from seizures, weakness, declining fine motor skills, muscle spasms, twitching, problems eating orally and many challenges with respiratory function.

While Olivia was born completely healthy, Lisa noticed one day that she had a grand mal seizure at about 10 months of age while they were at home.

“Her health slowly declined through the years,” says Lisa. Olivia lost her ability to sit up, hold her head up, and then in her later years, she became bedridden.

Toward the end of life, she struggled with breathing and controlling secretions, which Lisa and Chad had to suction her mouth constantly so she wouldn’t aspirate. Olivia was fed through a gtube and then became dependent on bi-pap ventilation.

While her doctors said she would have a year or two to live, she beat the odds and fought her battle until the age of 8. In April of 2017, she passed away.

The Olivia Kay Foundation Chad and Lisa created the Olivia Kay Foundation when Olivia was 5 in 2015.

Lisa says, “Initially it was to bring awareness and help children on a smaller scale. We put on an awareness walk for a couple of years before starting the foundation.” We then decided instead of raising money for another organization out of state, why not raise money and keep the funds locally to help children here in Michigan?

“We wanted something close to home to see the result of our hard work and continue to build awareness,” says Lisa.

Olivia, who was attending a school at the time in Clinton County at the Clinton County RESA in St. John’s. Lisa and Chad noticed just at the school alone that “The biggest expense for most families is a wheelchair-accessible van, which can cost $7,000-$10,000 to convert one they already have or to purchase one outright, can cost anywhere from $40,000-$70,000.” “This is a huge expense for most families and one they normally cannot afford.” “Another concern for families that we see is that it can take 8-9 months to get equipment, which is problematic.”

“We try to step in when we can to see how we can help the families with the needs that they have for their children,” says Lisa.

The foundation also helps to fund accessibility improvements to the home, like for example, a wheelchair ramp, so they can transition safely into their homes.

On a smaller scale, the foundation supplies gas cards for families traveling to medical appts., pays for meals for families who have a child in the hospital, and financially helps pay for hotel stays

(for children who have major surgeries and no room is available at the Ronald McDonald House or etc). They also offer gift baskets for families who have children in the hospital for an extended period of time. Anything to help bring comfort or make life just a little easier for them.

The Pillow Project Throughout the course of Olivia’s life, her disease progressed to the point where she lost the ability to move and function independently. To minimize joint discomfort, Lisa started to sew little pillows for Olivia at home.

Lisa was very good with the sewing and Chad was very good with making sure the pillows were stuffed smoothly and not lumpy. He then would take them and make sure they fit in the proper sized bag.

“We make a good team,” said Lisa.

“Olivia was sidelining in her bed and needed support,” says Lisa. The Borodychuks started using their creation of pillows everywhere they went with Olivia, including in the hospital. They were using 7-8 pillows at a time with Olivia because she needed to be supported in a way that wouldn’t affect her breathing and airway. A lot of times, some of the smaller pillows became useful to protect against sores and rubbing from ventilator tubing on the skin.

“Nurses would come in and say the pillows were so cute and that they wished they had them for all their patients to use,” recalls Lisa.

One pillow soon led to another. And finding a way that they could make them for the kids in the hospital was their first task. Each pillow is made in many shapes and colorful kids fabric to appeal to all ages of the patients. They are carefully bagged in a plastic bag and then tagged with info about the foundation. “We take sanitation very serious,” says Lisa. “We have to, because they

April 2020 • The Hills

31

32 The Hills • April 2020

are going to sick kids.” “If anyone understands, it’s our family.”

The foundation’s first pillow donation was to Sparrow Hospital in 2016 where they received 80 positioning pillows in the Peds ICU. This was just the beginning of a soon to become nationally known and recognized initiative now known as the #pillowproject. Now the foundation is supplying pillows to 16 hospitals in Michigan and several hospitals all over the country including California, New York, Tennessee, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Pillows are also shipped out to hundreds of homebound children who suffer from impairments. Their biggest milestone was just reached in November when they hit 10,000 pillows made since the beginning of their project.

Chad and Lisa have been featured in Lansing State Journal multiple April 2020 • The Hills

33

times for their work in the community, and on various local news stations, including NBC News. But their biggest highlight came from People magazine recognizing their efforts.

Lisa says, the foundation holds monthly get-togethers at venues with groups of volunteers who help sew and stuff the pillows.

“The need is so great, and the hospitals love these pillows so much because the kids can use them in the hospital and then they get to take them home.” “And we get to do this, all in memory of our beautiful daughter who taught us so much her short little life.”

To support this endeavor, gift cards are accepted to various local fabric stores and from Amazon to purchase supplies for the growing #pillowproject.

34 The Hills • April 2020

Final Thoughts “Never give up hope,” says Lisa. “When your child is diagnosed with a chronic disease, you just have to continue to be positive.”

She and Chad were determined to give their daughter the best quality of life possible. “Being an advocate for her was the best thing we have ever done. “It taught us perseverance, perspective and most of all how to love others harder.” They also have a 5-year-old son named Oliver.

“Olivia’s life was beautiful. It shaped our perspective on life completely,” she concludes. “And now the real work begins by helping these children and families.”

For more information on the Olivia Kay Foundation, check out https://oliviakayfoundation.org.

Thank You to Dr. Laura Dyras for Making Dyras Dental "Able Eyes Accessible"

Sponsored By

This Location is Able Eyes Accessible www.AbleEyes.org

meegan@ableeyes.org Making Businesses Accessible for Customers of All Abilities Using 360 Virtual Tours Also A Great Marketing Tool April 2020 • The Hills

35

TECHNIQUE

Dutch Pour

creative neighbors

By Pam Harden

As time goes on and we (hopefully!) get closer to spring, I was drawn to use colors of blue in this painting. This is another Dutch Pour technique which entails blowing the paint on the canvas with tools like a hair dryer, straws, tubing, etc. Pretty much anything that will blow air and push the paint on the canvas.

This is another large painting (30” x 40”). I put the white paint down and spread it with a spatula, then I laid the black paint down careful not to mix the black & white and make gray. I squirted few bright blues and silver in paint along the diagonal line. Then I took my blow dryer and blew white paint over the blue colors and the same with the black paint. I then used my skewers and paint spatulas to make the painting look more interesting.

After it dried, I used a resin epoxy on the finish so it looks like glass and can see the different dimensions of the painting.

As always, this is not an exact science and paint has a mind of its own. Therefore, each work of art is unique. Artist, Deby Coles states: “You don’t need ‘talent’ to be an acrylic pouring artist – just enthusiasm, some instruction and willingness to try, fail and try again.”

Thank you for letting me share my passion of painting!

Painting is available for sale. (wrapped canvas.

Does not need a frame.)

Contact me at (517) 230-6181 or pam@pamharden.com Website: www.pamharden.com If you are talented, we would love to hear about it. Reach out to Evan to share your talents in The Hills Magazine!

36 The Hills • April 2020

resident recipe

By Karen Bush Schneider

L a z y We e k e n d

BREAKFAST PIZZA

1 pizza crust, baked 1/8 cup apricot glaze or jam 8 0z. or more mozzarella cheese, shredded ½ lb. or more bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled 6 to12 eggs, scrambled in butter with cheddar and parmesan cheese Fresh chives, minced

Place pizza crust on a baking sheet. Spread lightly with apricot glaze. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake in a 350 degree oven until the cheese is melted.

While the pizza is in the oven, scramble eggs in butter, adding cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, if desired. Keep warm.

Remove the pizza from the oven and top with scrambled eggs, bacon crumbles, and chives. Return to the oven and heat to desired temperature. Slice and serve immediately.

April 2020 • The Hills

37

Address

Neighborhood

List Price

Sq. Foot

Bed

Bath

2500 Overglen Ct

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$1,325,000

9,080

5

5.5

6090 Standish Ct

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$1,299,000

7,384

5

3

6101 Standish Ct

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$1,298,900

7,277

6

5

6231 Heathfield Dr

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$1,195,000

7,513

5

4.5

6050 Standish Ct

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$995,000

8,448

5

6

6417 Oakencliffe

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$995,000

8,084

6

6

6268 Mereford Ct

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$979,900

8,551

6

6.5

2448 Pine Hollow Dr

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$889,900

6,160

4

5

6446 Ridgepond Pl

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$799,900

6,261

5

4

6257 Mereford Ct

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$699,000

3,989

4

3.5

6235 Pine Hollow Dr

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$692,500

5,207

4

4.5

6161 Whitehills Lakes Dr

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$672,500

4,018

4

3

6410 E Island Lake

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$639,900

4,934

4

5

2362 Pine Hollow Dr

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$629,900

4,886

5

5

16577 Thorngate

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$565,000

4,233

4

3.5

6420 East Island Lake

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$555,000

5,165

6

5

16757 Thorngate

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$539,900

4,874

5

5

6014 Southridge Rd

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$529,900

3,318

5

3.5

6241 Windrush

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$499,900

4,440

4

4

6211 Whitehills Lake

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$499,000

4,137

4

5

16878 Thorngate

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$489,900

4,004

4

4

6183 Graebear

The Cove at Whitehills Lakes

$359,000

2909

3

3

6449 Pine Hollow Dr

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$224,900

Lot 1.2 Acre

6391 Pine Hollow Dr

Whitehills Lakes/Woods

$120,000

Lot .51 Acre

38 The Hills • April 2020

Raspberry Limoncello happy hour 1-750 mL bottle prosecco, chilled, 1 c Villa Massa Limoncello, chilled, 1 c frozen raspberries, 6 sprigs fresh mint

Prosecco

Add raspberries to glass coffee cups; set aside.

Combine first two ingredients in a large pitcher; stir gently. Pour in prepared cups and garnish with mint sprigs.

April 2020 • The Hills

39

you’re invited!

Join Us in 2020 for

HAPPY HOURS RESTAURANT

REVIEWS

B2B Networking Our restaurant review and happy hour events are fun, with no agenda and no sales pitches. They are designed to meet neighbors and some of our sponsors in a casual setting. Food is always covered by our host or a sponsor. We ask that our guests cover the cost of their drinks and tip the servers. A typical restaurant review or happy hour has between 15 and 30 people. If you want to join us for an event, we ask that you email evan.winters@n2pub.com to get on the list. Spots are limited for each event, and we need to know a count for food planning. We hope to see you at one of our fun events in 2020! Our Restaurant and Happy Hours events should be scheduled soon.

Maru Sushi Restaurant Review

Location: Maru Sushi East Lansing Monday, April 27, 2020 6:00 - TBD Address: 1500 W Lake Lansing Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823 Description: Japanese fusion restaurant featuring unique sushi rolls, sharing plates & cocktails in stylish surroundings.

Ten years ago, Robert Song left his career in pursuit of creating something he had been dreaming up for years. With extensive experience as a sushi chef and a manager, his desire to do things a little bit differently drove him to leave his job, and to forge his own path.

After years of planning, research, and traveling across the country to find his right-hand man, Chef Moon Yang, Maru Sushi Okemos became a reality– on a cool, spring day in April of 2009, Maru opened its doors to its very first guests.

Built as a chef-driven concept with a passion for putting love into every dish and every guest experience, Maru differentiated itself quickly as something Michigan hadn’t quite yet seen before. Robert’s experience with traditional Japanese cuisine combined with Moon’s unique contemporary twists, developed the Maru menu as we know it.

40 The Hills • April 2020

Business to Business Events: Sponsorship Still Available B2B “A Professional Fun Networking Event”

Location: TBD Wednesday, June 24, 2020 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Address: TBD B2B “A Professional Fun Networking Event”

Location: Shaheen Cadillac Wednesday, September 23, 2020 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Address: 632 American Rd, Lansing, MI 48911 B2B “A Professional Fun Holiday Networking Event”

Location: TBD Wednesday, December 16, 2020 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Address: TBD If you own a business and would like to join us or send a representative from your company, please email evan.winters@ n2pub.com. We will have door prizes, food, and drinks.

To have your email address added to our event invite list, share it with us at evan.winters@n2pub.com. Privacy is a priority; your email will be protected and not shared with anyone.

2020 CADILLAC ESCALADE

REFERENCE THIS AD AND RECEIVE A

2 YEAR ALL MAINTENANCE PLAN *INCLUDES 4 OIL CHANGES *VALID WITH NEW VEHICLE PURCHASE

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www.shaheencadillac.com

517-394-0330 632 American Road • Lansing, MI 48911

517-393-5600 5901 S. Pennsylvania Ave • Lansing, MI 48911

April 2020 • The Hills

41

SW E ET P OTAT O C A L L A’ S C L E A N E AT S

TOAST

healthy living

By Calla Ramont

Sweet potato toast is one of my favorites for quick + easy meals/snacks! I love it because you can go sweet or savory. My favorite combo is with eggs, avocado, and everything bagel seasoning but I also love sweet variations with toppings like yogurt, peanut butter, berries, honey… the list goes on and on. You can really get creative with it!

Added bonus— sweet potato toast has ONE ingredient (not counting avocado oil and a dash of sea salt) so it’s a great “wholefood” toast substitute. I still love my bread, but it’s fun to switch it up with a less processed version from time to time Ingredients 1 large sweet potato (or as many as you’d like) Avocado oil (or any type of oil) Sea salt

DON'T FORGET ABOUT YOUR DRYER!

CALL US TO SCHEDULE YOUR DRYER VENT CLEANING TODAY!

(517) 371-2565 magnadrylansing@gmail.com

Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.

2. Slice sweet potato lengthwise. Arrange each slice on baking tray and drizzle with avocado oil and sprinkle sea salt.

Use your hands or a brush to make sure they are evenly coated.

3. Bake until they start to get crispy and then flip. Baking time will depend how thick you cut your slices. I like mine on the thicker side so I typically bake 20 minutes, flip, and then bake another 10 minutes.

4. Add toppings!

PS. If your sweet potato is too hard to cut into slices, you can microwave it whole for 2 minutes (or bake 10-15), slice, and then bake the slices until they start to get crispy.

Follow Calla on Instagram at @callascleaneats.

Check out her website: www.callascleaneats.com.

42 The Hills • April 2020

“We were so pleased with the work EarthTones did for us. They were prompt, responsive, and professional. Justin and his team created and implemented a great design that made the most of our resources.

He incorporating plants and hardscaping elements already in place into the renovated spaces, reducing waste and maximizing the impact of our budget. EarthTones also took initiative to make use of some uncovered boulders, transferring them over to our Thorngate Road sign where we had not yet installed any landscaping. This sort of attention to detail and follow-through typifies EarthTones. We look forward to seeing these spaces flourish in the spring and to addressing the remaining common areas in the future!

Jana Micomonaco. Whitehills Lakes North resident and HOA Board Member

HAVE YOUR OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE DESIGNED TODAY!

Phone: 517.333.5700 | Like us on Facebook earthtonesinc@etonesinc.com | etonesinc.com DESIGN | MAINTENANCE | INSTALLATION

Visit Our YouTube Channel by Pointing Camera Phone Here April 2020 • The Hills

43

iPhone Camera or QR Reader

GRAB A

FRONT ROW SEAT!

www.theticketmachine.com | 517-655-3201

Connecting your busy life!

· HOME THEATERS· MEDIA ROOMS | UPGRADES · HOME AUTOMATION · LIGHTING CONTROL · HOME MONITORING | SECURITY SURVEILLANCE · HD GOLF SIMULATORS

Technology for Home or Business Owner: Ryan Tiemann • (517) 853.8841 ryan@lansingsound.com • www.lansingsound.com 44 The Hills • April 2020

EXTERIOR CHANGES TO YOUR

HOME

hoa news

Submitted by the Whitehills Lakes Home Owners Association

Your homeowner’s association requires advanced approval for any changes to your home or landscape.

To avoid unforeseen plan modifications from The Board of Directors, please request HOA approval in advance and in writing before you engage in any paint color changes to your home or any type of exterior construction, landscape modifications (removal or addition of trees and fences) or the addition of play structures. If your home is new construction, after your home closes escrow, any changes you make to your home or landscape must be submitted to the board for approval.

Please send an email to seek approval to spartan1@spartansvcs.net.

Vista Springs Timber Ridge Village

Your New Home with Full Assisted Living & Memory Care

Warning Signs & Symptoms of Dementia • Difficulty finding words • Trouble completing complex mental tasks, for example tasks with multiple steps, balancing a checkbook, paying bills • Confusion about time, place or people • Misplacing familiar objects • Personality changes, such as irritability or depression • Loss of interest in important responsibilities • Expressing false beliefs • Changes in judgement/trouble making decisions Always consult a physician to discuss changes in memory and thinking abilities.

16260 Park Lake Road East Lansing, MI 48823 |(517) 339-2322 Levels of Care: Catered Living | Assisted Living | Rediscovery Care April 2020 • The Hills

45

fun in the capital city

Local

Events

Events May be Canceled or Postponed due to Coronavirus 4/18/2020 Meridian Township Indoor/Winter Farmers Market Location: Meridian Township Farmers Market Address: Grand River & Marsh Road Okemos, MI Times: From: 08:00 AM to 02:00 PM Admission: FREE (517) 712-2395 Fresh and Local Fall Farmers Market The market features Michigan strawberries, beans, tomatoes, peaches, and blueberries in June and apples, winter squash, and pumpkins in the fall. Fresh bouquets of flowers are available throughout the season. A majority of the products sold at the market are grown locally or within the state.

Many vendors are also now accepting credit cards.

Winter Market: first and third Saturdays; December - April; 10 am to 2 pm; in the Meridian Mall 4/18/2020 The Izzo Legacy Run/Walk/Roll 2020 Venue: Breslin Student Events Center Location: Michigan State University Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Times: Starting: 9:00 AM The Izzo family will partner with Playmakers and On Target Living to host an annual premium run/walk experience on the campus of Michigan State University that connects Alumni, MSU and Mid-Michigan communities in a positive celebration of Coach Izzo’s legacy. The events include a 5K Run/Walk, 1 Mile Walk, Children’s Races and a Virtual 5K. The Izzo Legacy events will focus on fitness, fun, family, Spartan spirit and charitable giving!

All event proceeds and donations to this race will go directly to the selected charities listed on the donate page. Fans who donate $1,000 to one or more of the selected local charities will be acknowledged on the Donor Banner displayed at the Izzo Legacy Event.

46 The Hills • April 2020

Each event will take participants on a celebration tour of MSU Athletics on campus! The 5k and Mile Walk will start at the Breslin Center near the Hall of History, pass by Jenison Field House, Old College Field, Sparty, Ralph Young Track and Field, and finish outside of Spartan Stadium. Upon completion, participants will be able to walk around the field before the Spring Football Game! This is not so much a race, but a tour of everything athletic on the banks of the Red Cedar!

MAY 6, 2020 RAIN — A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES The Best of Abbey Road Live Location: Wharton Center for Performing Arts Address: 750 Shaw Ln East Lansing, MI Times: 7:30PM 1-800-WHARTON In celebration of the anniversary of Abbey Road, RAIN will bring the greatest hits of this epic recording to life, in addition to all your early Beatles favorites. This mind-blowing performance takes you back in time with the legendary foursome delivering a note-for-note theatrical event that is “the next best thing to seeing the Beatles” (Associated Press). Experience the worlds’ most iconic band and come celebrate the best of Abbey Road with Rain — A Tribute to the Beatles.

MAY 14, 2020 GORDON LIGHTFOOT 80 YEARS STRONG TOUR Location: Wharton Center for Performing Arts Address: 750 Shaw Ln East Lansing, MI Times: 8:00PM 1-800-WHARTON After 50 plus active years of hit song making and international album sales well into the multi-millions, it’s safe to say that esteemed singer-songwriter and musician Gordon Lightfoot resides with some very exclusive company atop the list of all-time greats.

His song catalog is incredibly vast and includes such immortals as “Early Morning Rain,” “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Carefree Highway,” “Sundown,” “(That’s What You Get) For Lovin Me,” “The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald,” “Canadian Railroad Trilogy,” “Ribbon Of Darkness,” “Beautiful,” “Song For A Winter’s Night” and “Rainy Day People” to name a few.

But this year is special for the legendary artist, announcing plans for a cross-country USA tour. This tour will feature his wellknown hits as well as some deep album cuts for the die-hard fanatics. All of which are woven together with some of Lightfoot’s own behind the scenes stories and personal anecdotes about his historic 50-year musical career. The event is sure to be a great thrill for live audiences and anyone who enjoys hearing great music and seeing a living legend in person.

May 17, 2020 Nitro Circus - You Got This Tour Venue: Cooley Law School Stadium Location: Cooley Law School Stadium Address: 505 E. Michigan Ave. Lansing, MI Times: From: 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM Admission: TBA (517) 485-4500

May 30, 2020 - May 31, 2020 Hawk Island Triathlon Recurring daily through May 31, 2020 Venue: Hawk Island Park Location: Hawk Island Park Address: 1601 E. Cavanaugh Rd. Lansing, MI (517) 374-5700

Nitro Circus: You Got This is an explosive, high-adrenaline action sports spectacular starring the best athletes in FMX, BMX, Skate, Scooter, and more — and it’s all coming to your town for one night only! Witness Nitro’s thrill-loving daredevils brave the world’s largest jumps as they launch 60 feet into the air. Be there live when they attempt the craziest stunts imaginable on contraptions you never imagined could fly! These real-life action heroes are sure to inspire fans of all ages as they push the limits with record-breaking attempts every night. Get your tickets now and step into the action-packed world of Nitro Circus!

The Hawk Island Triathlon is a beginner-friendly event designed for people of all ages, body types, fitness levels and abilities. We offer a safe and supportive environment, and we make accommodations wherever possible for persons with disabilities.

You know what they call the last person to finish a triathlon? A TRIATHLETE.

Sure, we have hardcore competitors who race for gold. We also have Aunt Betty, the kid who cuts your lawn, and Bob from finance. Whether they race to win or race to finish, they are all TRIATHLETES. Are you ready to join them?

On Sunday, May 31, we offer Sprint and Mini Sprint options. The Sprint is perfect for beginners and experienced athletes who like a “warm-up” event to start the summer triathlon season. The Mini Sprint is available for those who want the multisport experience at a more doable distance. Participants in these categories range in age from 8 to 80+.

A L I G N YO U R B O DY. H E A L YO U R L I F E .

D R . A L LYS O N M O O R E , D C

D R . RYA N M O O R E , D C

M O O R E L I F E H E A LT H . C O M • FA C E B O O K . C O M / M O O R E L I F E H E A LT H 1 0 2 0 E S A G I N AW S T R E E T, L A N S I N G , M I 4 8 9 0 6 • 5 1 7 - 7 8 1 - 4 8 8 4 April 2020 • The Hills

47

meet your neighbors

Gage Cutler, Inventor of Fishing Innovations

“Fish More - Rig Less”

By Elizabeth McCabe

Ever since the young age of 12, Gage Cutler loved fishing. He grew up in the community and had a love of the water.

“My parents had a cottage on Glen Lake before I was born,” he says.

Gage has fond memories of going out on the family boat with his buddies and fishing for fun.

At the age of 18, he started offering an inland lake fishing charter service in northwest Michigan, called Cutler’s Catch, LLC. There were numerous captains offering charters on Lake Michigan, but none offering inland lake fishing excursions. He obtained his captain’s license and helped tourists discover their love of fishing. It all started when Gage was looking for a summer job which could provide extra spending money, a flexible schedule, and the ability to meet people from all walks of life.

Gage says, “I would start on July 1 and go to the end of August before I went back to college. I had a total of 62 trips, averaging one a day.” People came from Ohio, Chicago, and all over the country.

48 The Hills • April 2020

“It was a lot of fun to meet so many different people with various backgrounds and jobs, and I learned to relate to many different types of people. It was a cool thing to do for a first business.”

Little did he know that his summer job would lead to so much more.

As his website states, “After three years of successfully running the business and guiding hundreds of clients, Gage realized there had to be a more efficient way to keep people fishing and reduce the time it took to re-rig, ultimately getting customers back to what they loved to do – fish.”

A Better Way As a result of his summer job, Gage found a better way to fish. He noticed that a lot of people in the boat were looking for the same tools. He found a better way and connected with an engineer to develop a new product.

Gage met a CAD engineer, whose name was Randy.

Gage was looking for a functional product and one that would “look cool.” Consideration was also given to the economics and cost to manufacture the product. He felt strongly about keeping the manufacturing in the U.S., so he selected a digital manufacturing company out of Illinois and a blade company out of Ohio. After the engineering specs were completed, countless prototypes were developed. Thanks to 3D printing, the tooling can be changed to a customer’s preferences.

He desired to “build the fishing tool we’d use every day if it existed - your wingman on the water.” Enter FinMan, an entirely self-funded product.

“The best way to describe it to people is that it’s almost like a Swiss Army Knife for a fishing pole.

It’s a compact super-small tool with a low profile for a fishing pole. It’s attached to the rod. So instead of reaching for a knife, pair of scissors, or nippers, it’s there on the rod,” explains Gage.

This product is “engineered by anglers, built for abuse, and inspired by technology - patent pending.”

April 2020 • The Hills

49

All-in-One Management Solution Gage was searching for a product “that did not interfere with the act of fishing, yet offered anglers an all-in-one line management solution.” As he details on his website, “Something that was an extension of and complement to existing gear - and that never got left behind. This belief has stayed central to the design from the beginning, and is a primary motivator for our team to design the best products possible for our customers.”

Slice. Snip. Stow.

FinMan can “seamlessly slice through the heaviest monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braided fishing lines with ease for quick tackle changes.”

It can also “precisely snip with our thumb-depressable nipper, designed to effortlessly trim tag ends and remove knots from eyelets.”

Thanks to an upgraded inline hook keeper, gear can be conveniently stowed. The hook keeper is a “utilitarian addition and complement to factory rods.”

FinMan can also be removed from the rod very easily and placed on other rods, worn on a lanyard or used on a keychain.

As his website states, “Today, FinMan products are engineered with exacting tolerances and hair-splitting accuracy to perform when it matters most - whether that is an excursion into the Great Lakes region, pitching for bass in the Florida Everglades, or simply getting together with friends at your favorite lake. Wherever fish lead you, our mission is unwavering. Fish More - Rig Less.”

Gage has filed for trademark and patent protection, designed and built a website and developed a business plan. He is currently a junior at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio majoring in Business. FinMan is available on his website, https:// finmanfishinginnovations. com, and will be on Amazon in the near future.

50 The Hills • April 2020

housep ants home matters

for your

By Shauna Osborne

HEALTH

I grew up in a Southern family with their roots deep in the soil. My parents and grandparents grew anything at all you’d want to eat, right there in our back gardens, and to this day, canned corn and green beans are ruined for me, lacking that fresh-from-the-sunshine taste.

Despite the time and care the outdoor gardens took, my grandmother’s favorite plants to meddle with were, by far, her houseplants. That love spilled over to my mother, her sisters, and, eventually, to me. Though my collection may look a little different than hers (Grandma never would’ve had the patience for finicky succulents), we both recognized the endless benefits of having both useful and visually engaging plants in the home. The following is a list of houseplants that, in addition to being elegant décor, offer notable health benefits to the members of your household!

ALOE VERA

As every after-sun lotion label corroborates, this plant has been used for thousands of years as a natural remedy to ease irritated skin. The clear, gel-like substance found inside the plant’s leaves can be used to soothe and heal burns, psoriasis, and cold sores when applied directly to the skin. Additionally, aloe vera is effective in purifying the air, absorbing airborne compounds from toxic cleaning agents and paints, harmful microorganisms, and dust.

BOSTON FERN

PEACE LILY

In addition to its rich, dark green leaves and gorgeous white “flowers” in the summer, the stunning peace lily is a master of air-pollutant removal, working hard to absorb and break down ammonia, benzene, xylene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene throughout your home.

Sometimes called “closet plants,” peace lilies are perfect for homes or rooms that don’t get a lot of natural light.

With its lush green foliage, the Boston fern helps rid the home of harmful toxins and is the ideal houseplant for locales with humidity problems, as it is considered a natural humidifier. These easy-to-grow plants can offer moisturizing health benefits to those who suffer from dry skin, noses, or throats.

SNAKE PLANT

This low-maintenance plant is an excellent (and popular) choice for small apartments and the bedroom, working while you sleep to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen. Snake plants purify by removing many toxins from the air, including formaldehyde, toluene, benzene, and xylene, absorbing them through their leaves. They release moisture into the air and minimize airborne allergens as well.

April 2020 • The Hills

51

the

hills

resident business guide

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54 The Hills â&#x20AC;¢ April 2020

a simple

Thought

a letter from bee Dear ones, For the past few days I have been hosting ten adults and two children (ranging in age from 35 years down to 1 year) at my home in Florida. I suppose I forgot I was on a stress-reducing vacation when I invited all these people to visit at the SAME time.

I don’t consider myself a real control freak, but I also didn’t plan on cleaning up after anybody but myself, let alone ten extra people. But I was proactive and printed out a list of House Policies.

Well, this worked for about the first 36 hours then the “you know what” hit the proverbial fan.

I have spent most of my time running around asking “who left their towels by the pool, who left a half can of Coke in the living room, whose clothes’ are these, whose got the golf cart, and what happened to all my Fuji Water which was number three in the policies of things that were mine? I have managed to turn a few beautiful days of with friends and family into a Hot Bed of Stress.

So here I am sitting by the pool, listening to the waves crash on the shore just steps from my house, wondering how I let this happen to me. I will pre-warn you, these are not brilliant revelations, but I thought I would share just a few of the ideas that have basically hit me

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imagine

By Saltia Biscette

Become driven, intentional, and committed to a change

Dear Friend,

Spring break has passed. Summer break is drawing near. Just two more months until we are halfway through this year. Wow! Time seems to occur within the snap of a finger. SNAP!

So how do we pause time? Let’s begin with honesty.

Oftentimes we live our life by the expectations of others, by self-originated expectations influenced by comparisons, or by assumed expectations of others. I believe one of the reasons time seems to fly is because we have allowed the variables of life to distract us versus the purpose of life to bond us.

What do you hope to achieve during YOUR lifetime?

When asked that question, many people tend to give answers influenced by what is common or what is assumed to be expected. That is where dishonesty happens. Perhaps time flies because we are no longer “present”. We have become distracted by sorting and creating presentations for ourselves. Presentations of ourselves often change because the mindsets of humanity is continuously changing; decade after decade, generation after generation. Are you living YOUR honest self?

We often hear the phrase “times have changed”. Yes, that is indeed true. However, many of us have used that phrase with different tones. What interests me the most regarding “times have changed” is how we as a people have responded to change. Despite the many changes that have occurred throughout decades and

56 The Hills • April 2020

generations – approaches to religion, race, gender, politics, etc. – how we manage our time here on earth should not change its source of influence – LOVE. Imagine if we ALL become driven, intentional, and committed to a change that will slow downtime.

A change where we discern the good in everyone regardless of what appears obvious. A change where we love everyone regardless of our religious, racial, gender, ethnic, etc., differences. A change where we are intentional about stepping away from our comfort zones to become more aware of the unknown and/or unexperienced.

From the bottom of my heart, I have faith in mankind because we were NOT created to destroy. We were created to multiply. To coexist. To serve one another.

To love. We desire to be loved because we were created to live and exist by love. I do believe if we agree to exclusively live by the standards of unconditional love, we will notice a shift in the speed of time. Unconditional love will allow us to live our honest selves so we are no longer investing a large amount of time in how we will present ourselves to a changing society.

Mission of the Month: I challenge you to spend one week getting to know who you TRULY are, what you hope to contribute to this world during your lifetime, and how you will pause time by avoiding and overcoming distractions. Remember, the less distractions we have, the more time we will feel is available.

Love, Sal

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Veggies

lawn & garden

By Shauna Osborne

FOR

MENTAL HEALTH If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably been daydreaming about and planning for your garden since the long, dark, cold weeks of January and February. Now spring has arrived, our frost dates have mostly passed, and it’s time to start thinking about it in earnest: What will we grow? As children, we were taught to eat our veggies to help us become big and strong. The physical health benefits are undeniable, but what if eating your veggies could make your brain healthier and happier, too?

On top of their obvious nutritional advantages and utter deliciousness, the vegetables listed here can provide a boost for your mood and mental health!

SPINACH (AND OTHER LEAFY GREENS) Most Americans don’t get enough magnesium in their diets, a mineral found in abundance in spinach and other dark leafy greens that is proven to reduce anxiety, promote brain health, and improve quality of sleep. Eating these delectable plants also bumps up your iron and folate, which helps increase serotonin levels and minimize depression, irritability, and fatigue.

CAULIFLOWER AND BROCCOLI Researchers have been singing the praises of omega-3 fatty acids for years now, which can be found primarily in fish but also in some veggies, such as cauliflower and broccoli, and have been linked to more stable moods, lower rates of postpartum depression, and improvement in brain aging and function. Broccoli, in particular, also contains high levels of iron and vitamin C, combating anemia and supporting our immune system and overall mood.

BEETS This colorful, highly underrated coolweather crop is actually considered a mental health superfood! Beets contain betaine, which supports moodelevating serotonin production in the brain, as well as nitrates, which increase blood flow to the brain, thus improving mental sharpness and performance. Beets also have a powerful dose of folic acid, which facilitates the synthesis of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, helping stabilize emotional and mental health.

RED BELL PEPPERS Turns out, leaving bell peppers on the plant to continue to ripen from green to red not only ups their tastiness factor, but also more than doubles the level of vitamin C and quadruples the level of vitamin A in them! As the most nutrient-dense vegetables right behind leafy greens, consuming yummy red bell peppers can boost your mood as well as your immune system due to these high vitamin levels.

April 2020 • The Hills

59

introducing

Tullamore Dew precious pets

By Jeanne Schaberg

The Dancing Clydesdale

This is a story about a Draft Horse who doesn’t know she is Draft Horse. Since being purchased from an Amish Farm shortly before her fourth birthday, Tullamore Dew (a.k.a. Tilly) has been raised at a Farm in Williamston where she is the one and only Draft Horse among 20 plus warmbloods. Wyn Farm specializes in English Dressage and Hunter Jumper training, so naturally that is what Tilly has seen day after day as she grazes in her pasture.

Tilly’s trainer, Jordan Irwin spent months working with the Bay colored Mare teaching her to Walk, Trot. Cantor and Halt. Soon it became clear to Jordan that Tilly was ready to work on dressage patterns just like the other horses in barn. Draft Horses are not known for their flexibility, as they are primarily bred as workhorses. Whether it be pulling a plow in the field or pulling a carriage or wagon, these massive, muscular horses “heavy lifting.” Think Budweiser Horses. But Jordan and Tilly were not convinced that this beautiful mare, who just wanted to be like the other horses could not compete in the English Dressage show arena.

So in May of 2018, Jordan and Tilly’s owner decided to enter an English Dressage Schooling Show for what they both thought would be “kicks and giggles.” Little did they know this Clydesdale was a competitor. When the scores came back at the end of the first day, Tilly had already won two ribbons and her scores were in the higher end of the spectrum. When the weekend of showing ended Tullamore Dew had collected four ribbons, one for each event she entered.

So, the “Cinderella” story continued for the remainder of that summer and Tilly continued to compete in the 2019 season under the training, hard work and patience of her trainer. Jordan has pushed this horse beyond everyone’s expectations.

The proof of the duo’s tenacity came in September of 2019. Tilly and Jordan had scored high enough throughout the summer competitions to attend the National Schooling English Dressage Competition being held in Oxford Michigan. This was a big honor but everyone knew that the competition would be tougher than ever. Again, Tilly was the

60 The Hills • April 2020

only Draft Horse in the competition and her presence brought stares and chuckles from many of the other riders and attendees.

Just to interject here, Tilly is (as are most Clydesdales) sweet, patient and easy going. She is truly loved by the entire staff at Wyn Farm and has a pretty regular “fan club” who

visit her regularly. Tilly can be a competitor but her greatest delight comes in the form of human interaction, oh yes, and treats. In one “fun day” competition a three-year-old girl rode her and won the Blue Ribbon.

Now, back to the Nationals. The two-day competition continued with Jordan and Tilly collecting a large audience who still could not believe this massive horse could be a contender. But as it goes, most began to cheer for this “underdog” of the show. As you may have guessed by now, Tilly and Jordan won the competition and after receiving their awards from the judges, they got to take their victory gallop around the arena to the song “Eye of the Tiger.”

But the Fairy “Tail “does not end here. Tullamore Dew who weighs in at approximately 1800 pounds has had her eye on some of the horses who compete in the Hunter Jumper category, and now with a new jumping saddle hand made just for her, Tilly is training to take on the Jumping competitions in 2020.

Feel free to visit Tilly at Wyn Farm located on Noble Road in Williamston, Michigan. This sweet girl is always up for a snuggle and a treat. You can also follow Tilly on her own Instagram Page at tilly_the_dancing_clyde. If you are interested in lessons or boarding you can also contact Jordan on the Wyn Farm Website.

Tullamore Dew is owned and loved by Jeanne Schaberg who resides on Ridgepond Place with her husband and two Golden Retrievers.

April 2020 • The Hills

61

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Call today for Grand Opening details & specials!

(517) 657-4300 Treat your dog to the experience they deserve!

Dog Boarding - Offering cageless, bedroom boarding Dog Daycare - Utilizes 6 large indoor play areas (over 5,500 sf) and 1,800 sf of outdoor play where we separate our guests by play style, size, breed and age to create the best possible experience Puppy Program - Only program in the area that provides EVERYTHING you can do for your puppy to ensure a happy, healthy family member forever Dog Training - Starting with basic obedience to custom training for your dog Dog Grooming - Offering a full service pampering dog spa

It is time to think differently about dog daycare and boarding!

Future Home of Dog Gone Fun 2844 Atrium Dr. Okemos

Follow our progress and watch for grand opening specials and open house opportunities on Facebook and doggonefunmi.com Taking reservations now for spring vacations.

DGF@doggonefunmi.com doggonefunmi.com Like us on

April 2020 • The Hills

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