The Lenawee Voice — January 2025

LENAWEE VOICE

A voice for southeast Michigan

By Erik Gable The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — An Adrian man who has devoted his career to improving people’s lives is now taking on a statewide leadership role.

Rudy Flores has been appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Hispanic/ Latino Commission of Michigan. The commission has 15 members and is responsible for advising the governor and legislature about the wellbeing of Hispanic communities in the state.

Flores will be the only member of the commission who comes from one of Michigan’s southernmost counties.

Flores is an Adrian native and grew up attending Adrian Public Schools. He went to Jefferson Elementary School during its final year, then was a student at Michener Elementary School, Drager Middle School, and Adrian High School before going to Spring Arbor University, where he earned a degree in social work.

He said his role will include raising awareness not only of the needs of the Hispanic and Latino community in southeast Michigan, but also of the community’s strengths.

That means calling attention to the good things that are happening locally, such as the Adrian District Library’s expansion of bilingual programming.

of Adrian’s Sunnyside neighborhood, which was built in the 1940s by MexicanAmericans who had been denied the right to buy land within the city limits.

“There’s a lot of heritage there and a lot of resiliency that comes from there,” he said.

In addition, Flores noted that Adrian played a large role in supporting César Chávez’s nationwide fight for the rights of farmworkers.

Flores works for the state of Michigan providing services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers in Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw, Wayne, Jackson and Hillsdale counties, a job he has held since 2013. He is also the co-chair of the Southeast Michigan Migrant Resource Council.

A migrant farmworker is anyone who has to travel more than 100 miles and stay overnight in order to do their job, while seasonal farmworkers live locally yearround.

“That’s huge in our community,” he said.

It also means spreading the word about the rich history of southeast Michigan’s Hispanic community, such as the story

A decade ago, Flores said, he worked with a lot of families who traveled back and forth between Florida and Michigan for work. Now most of the people he works with come temporarily to the U.S. from other countries using H-2A visas, which are for short-term agricultural workers.

See FLORES, page A15

Rudy Flores of Adrian has been appointed to the Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

Rudy Flores is pictured speaking at last year’s Martin Luther King Day Community Celebration, at which he was presented with a Community Service Award for his work with migrant and seasonal farmworkers in southeast Michigan. PHOTO BY PATRICIA GRAY

Don’t ignore discussions about zoning

Welcome back to The Agenda, a monthly column in which we highlight issues of importance in our community and ways you can get involved.

It’s dense, but it’s important. Both the city of Adrian and the village of Blissfield will be talking about their zoning ordinances in the coming year. This may seem esoteric, but zoning ordinances are the underlying basis of what can be built on what land.

In Adrian, a zoning ordinance that imposes no height limits or setback requirements in ERO (EducationResearch-Office) zones is the reason the city planning commission had no choice but to approve an Adrian College sports dome despite the concerns of the dome’s future neighbors. That shows us the importance of a well-planned zoning code.

One question Adrian may be considering: Should the city’s zoning code be more open to allowing accessory dwelling units as a way to increase the housing stock?

When planning commissions review proposed buildings or developments, their role is often strictly administrative — determining whether or not the proposed use complies with the zoning code. The real decisions are made when the zoning ordinances are written in the first place.

IN BRIEF

Embezzlement trial for former Blissfield employee set for later this year

BLISSFIELD — A monthlong trial has been set for late 2025 for a former Blissfield village employee charged with embezzling more than $20,000 from public coffers, according to Lenawee Voice news partner Local Buzz Radio. The attorney for Holly Koester, 42, said he anticipates calling roughly 70 witnesses in the case, which is now slated for trial beginning Nov. 4.

Koester was charged with embezzlement in 2022, a month after resigning from her position with the village. Accountants hired by the village found what they called financial inconsistencies involving more than $27,500 that they said had been diverted from the proper accounts between September 2018 and December 2019.

Ridgeway Township man fends off home invasion

RIDGEWAY TWP. — On Dec. 10 at approximately 6 p.m., the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on East M-50 in Ridgeway Township for a report of a shooting.

Deputies found that the homeowner had discharged a firearm at a 34-year-old man from Van Buren Township who had let himself into the house and assaulted the homeowner. The suspect was injured by the homeowner’s shot and fled the scene. He was later located at a Toledoarea hospital where he had sought treatment for a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Local Buzz Radio reported that the homeowner and the suspect knew each other, and that there was no danger to the public.

LOCAL NEWS

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of the month before the event.

City weighs future of Adrian Inn property

The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — The Adrian Inn at 1575 W. Maumee St. was a major topic of discussion at the Dec. 16 Adrian City Commission meeting.

The city purchased the hotel for $800,000 in 2022 as a short-term measure to help people who were displaced by the emergency evacuation of Riverview Terrace. But the building is in bad shape, and city officials are anxious to make sure it doesn’t become an even bigger headache than it was before.

City administrator Greg Elliott said the city’s primary motivation in buying the hotel was to make sure displaced Riverview Terrace residents had a place to live, but a secondary reason was to eliminate a recurring nuisance.

“This property had been declared to be a drug house by the city commission prior to us buying it, and we were in litigation with the then-owner prior to buying the property,” he said.

Housing Help of Lenawee has been leasing the building, but cannot afford to fix the problems that were identified in a city rental inspection. Housing Help notified residents that the Adrian Inn program would be ending and has been working to help them find new lodging.

However, complicating matters has been the fact that tenants of the Housing Help program are not the only people who have been living there. The inn also has had a number of unauthorized residents.

“There is a physical master key and somebody who had lived there got hold of it and has been kind of renting those out to their friends,” Elliott said.

Back when the city bought the hotel, city officials had a hotel operator go through the building in the hopes that they would buy it after the need for a Riverview Terrace replacement had ended. But the hotel operator told the city the building was in such bad shape that it would need to be torn down.

The city also asked general contractor Krieghoff Lenawee to look at the building, and learned that the cost of repairs would exceed the value of the building.

Elliott said the city has heard from a few parties who are interested in the property.

Adrian College is interested in owning the land, but not the building, he said.

The city has also received inquiries from hotel operators who want to buy the building, but Elliott told commissioners he doesn’t think that’s a good idea. He

said his opinion is that “we should not entertain any offers that propose to reuse that building.”

“The reality is the building is not reusable,” he said. “Nobody would spend the money needed, which is on the order of millions of dollars, to bring it up to code. So my great fear is that we would get what we had before, which is somebody operating a low-cost motel which becomes a nuisance to the city.”

Elliott added that it may be possible to subdivide the land.

“I think it is possible to perhaps have two parcels there once the building is demolished, because there is quite a bit of property in the back,” he said.

Elliott said that if the building were not there, the property would be worth about $1 million.

Mayor Angie Sword Heath asked for Elliott’s opinion about whether the city should take care of demolition, in order to get a higher selling price for the land, or accept a lower price with the building still in place and include a stipulation that the buyer has to take it down.

“My recommendation would be that we demolish it as soon as we possibly can,” Elliott responded.

He said that other vacant, city-owned properties, such as the former Daily Telegram building on North Winter Street, have been broken into and people have started living in them.

“That’s going to be even more true of this property as time goes on,” he said.

The Adrian City Commission is discussing what to do with the Adrian Inn, pictured here on Dec. 21. The city purchased the building in 2022 as short-term housing for people displaced by the emergency evacuation of Riverside Terrace, which has now reopened.

Passing the torch at two Blissfield institutions

Blissfield’s newspaper and grocery store are both entering the new year with new ownership

The Lenawee Voice

BLISSFIELD — Blissfield residents got some welcome news in mid-December: The community won’t be losing its local newspaper after all.

Marcia Loader, publisher of The Advance for nearly three decades, announced early in December that she would be retiring at the end of the year. At first the 150-year-old newspaper was slated to cease publication. But in the newspaper’s Dec. 18 issue, it was announced that local business owners Rex and Linnie Crist have reached an agreement to assume ownership of The Advance and keep it publishing.

In the announcement, the Crists stated that local businesses would suffer if they were no longer able to get the word out through The Advance, and it would have been detrimental to the entire region.

Sports writer Doug Donnelly will be the editor and publisher of The Advance, and Darin Wolfe will continue to run the newspaper’s printing business.

The Crists own Springbrook Commons on the west side of Blissfield, and they are also purchasing Borchardt Brothers Market, which is located in that plaza.

Owners Bill and Beth Borchardt are retiring, while Andy Borchardt is staying on. Plans to remodel the store are in the works.

Blissfield receives grant to support rewrite of village’s zoning ordinance

BLISSFIELD — The village of Blissfield has been awarded a $50,000 Housing Readiness Incentive grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

The Housing Readiness Incentive Grant Program provides funding to implement actions that enhance housing supply and affordability.

The grant will support the updating of Blissfield’s zoning ordinance.

Village administrator Danielle Gross said Blissfield will use the funding to engage a professional consultant to help with a comprehensive rewrite of the village’s zoning ordinance with emphasis on housing supply, diversity and affordability.

The rewrite is also intended to turn the zoning code into a modern document that promotes the goals of Blissfield and is easily accessible and understandable by the public.

The grant is “one more piece of the puzzle for Blissfield,” Gross said in a news release.

“The funding will allow us to continue our forward progression getting us closer to our goal of being prepared for future improvements, and meaningful reinvestment in order to support the highest quality of life in Blissfield,” she said.

Bixby Hospital demolition begins

ADRIAN — Demolition of the former Bixby Hospital building on Riverside Avenue started in December. ProMedica said the building will be taken down in sections to help minimize noise for local residents. However, neighbors should still expect some level of noise during the demolition,

including sounds from equipment, backup beepers, and concrete grinding. To reduce dust pollution, the demolition contractor will implement watering measures throughout the project.

After the building is torn down, residents can anticipate noise from concrete grinding, material sorting, and truck traffic. No road closures are anticipated.

All demolition and debris removal activities are expected to be completed by the end of April.

The hospital was closed in 2020, when the new Hickman Hospital opened on North M-52.

After the demolition, ProMedica will sell the land to a private developer, who plans to build about 60 single-family rental homes on the site.

State grant awarded for construction of musical playground at Gerber Hill Park

DEERFIELD TWP. — Lenawee

County has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA)’s MI Neighborhood 1.0 Program. This funding will support the creation of a musical playground at Gerber Park, designed to enrich the recreational experience for individuals of all ages and abilities.

The project will feature a variety of interactive musical elements, including xylophones, drums, chimes, and bells, strategically placed along a paved pathway that seamlessly integrates with Gerber Park’s natural beauty.

Designed with inclusivity in mind, the playground will incorporate wheelchairaccessible instruments and sensory-rich experiences to ensure everyone can participate.

“We are incredibly grateful to MSHDA for this generous grant, which allows us to bring an innovative and inclusive recreational amenity to Gerber Park,” said county administrator Kim Murphy.

“This musical playground is a testament to our commitment to creating spaces that inspire creativity, foster connection, and enhance the quality of life for our

Gerber Hill Park, located at 14360 Carroll Road in Deerfield Township, will be the site of a new musical playground paid for using a grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

community. This project also aligns perfectly with the original vision of Frank and Elizabeth Gerber, for it to be an educational and recreational park for the children of Lenawee.”

Beyond its recreational value, the musical playground will serve as an educational resource, offering opportunities to explore music, rhythm, and sound. The design emphasizes safety and sustainability, with durable materials and a long-term maintenance plan to ensure the playground remains a vibrant part of Gerber Park for years to come.

Construction on the playground is scheduled to begin this spring.

Winter Athena Aid event raises money and collects personal care items for women in need

ADRIAN — The Athena Lenawee organization held its Winter Athena Aid event on Dec. 5 at the Hills of Lenawee golf club and banquet center.

All proceeds from the event will support Athena Lenawee’s grant program, and collected personal care

items were distributed to several local nonprofits.

The mission of Athena Lenawee is to inspire, develop and celebrate women’s leadership. Athena Aid events are held regularly to fund mini-grants and scholarships. This funding is available

for local women in need and programs and services that directly impact local women and girls.

Athena Lenawee also sponsors annual community awards.

For more information, go to athenalenawee.org.

The Lenawee Voice

A truck prepares to leave the Bixby Hospital property during demolition on Dec. 18. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

IN BRIEF

House on Front Street declared public nuisance

ADRIAN — The Adrian City Commission voted on Dec. 16 to declare a house at 616 E. Front St. to be a public nuisance.

The decision clears the way for the house to be boarded up and anyone who is found there to be removed from the premises, once the city gets permission from the Lenawee County Circuit Court.

During a public hearing on Dec. 16, commissioners heard from five residents of the neighborhood who told them about people coming and going, cars lining the streets at all hours of the day and night, multiple police raids, and shootings linked to the house. One speaker noted that there is a bus stop nearby, causing safety concerns for children in the neighborhood.

They also heard an objection from the owner of the house, who disputed many of the allegations.

Adrian police chief Vince Emrick said the regional drug task force found distribution-level quantities of methamphetamine, crack cocaine and heroin, as well as packaging materials, during a recent raid. He said the nature and severity of the complaints police have received about the property are unusual.

The commission’s vote to declare the house a nuisance was unanimous. City administrator Greg Elliott said getting Circuit Court approval will take a few months. Assuming the approval is granted, it will be boarded up for a year, after which anyone wanting to re-occupy the house will need to get a new certificate of occupancy.

State promises $375,000 for Occidental Highway

TECUMSEH — The city of Tecumseh is among nine recipients of state grants to help with local road repairs.

“These grants will help communities across the state fix local roads faster so people can get to work or drop their kids off at school and businesses can move goods and supplies around more efficiently all year round,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a news release.

Tecumseh will resurface South Occidental Highway from M-50 to West Russell Road. The project includes resurfacing the existing asphalt, curb and gutter replacement, new pavement markings, and ADA ramp improvements. The $375,000 grant represents half of the total project cost, with the city putting up the other half.

Funds from oil and gas trust to pay for pool work

ADRIAN — The Adrian City Commission voted on Dec. 16 to spend $381,490 in earnings from the city’s oil and gas trust for repairs and upgrades to Bohn Pool.

The trust was created using royalties from oil drilling on public property in the city. The principal is held in trust, but city policy allows drawing up to 5 percent of its value per year.

MLK Community Celebration to feature keynote panel discussion

ADRIAN — Three community leaders will host a panel discussion during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration, which will take place from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, in the Tobias Center at Adrian College.

The panelists will be Monique Savage, educator and social worker; Robert Benard, bishop and presiding prelate of Christ Temple Ministries International; and De’Angelo Boone, senior pastor of City of Refuge Ministries.

Work on U.S. 223 bridge won’t wrap up

until spring

Cars and trucks wait for the traffic signal to allow them onto the one open lane of the U.S. 223 railroad bridge. The Michigan Department of Transportation’s work on the bridge is taking longer than anticipated. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — Construction on the U.S. 223 railroad bridge east of Division Street is expected to last until spring, Adrian City Commissioner Mary Roberts said.

Roberts recently attended a meeting between the Michigan Department of Transportation and representatives of local communities. She reported on the U.S. 223 bridge project and other items at the Dec. 1 city commission meeting.

The bridge has been reduced to one lane of traffic since September. The repair work is taking much longer than originally expected.

“They ran into massive amounts of damage that they just didn’t know about until they got into the undercarriage of the bridge,” Roberts said.

Additional news from MDOT:

n Changes are being planned for the intersection of Front and Broad streets in downtown Adrian. Roberts said the concrete island in the middle of the intersection will be removed,

and there will be a permanent right turn lane going south on Broad Street for traffic turning west on Front Street. A stop sign will be installed for traffic going north on Broad Street.

n On the south side of Adrian, a left turn signal will be installed for traffic turning from Division Street onto U.S. 223.

n The section of Church Street downtown that is under MDOT’s jurisdiction will be resurfaced within the next few years. Church Street between Broad and Main is part of M-52.

n Roberts also mentioned that MDOT has battery backups on the stoplights at some of their busiest intersections, including U.S. 12 and M-52, U.S. 12 and M-50, and M-52 and M-50. These battery backups are able to keep the lights working for up to 12 hours when there is a power outage.

The cost to attend is $50 per person, or $350 for a table of eight. For more information or to order tickets for the event, call Andre’a Benard at 517-673-1218 or Pamela Hall at 517-920-2706.

ADRIAN — Adrian Public Schools recently announced that Drs. Konda and Padmaja Mouli and their sons, Dr. Samdeep Mouli and Pradeep Mouli, have donated a professional building adjacent to Adrian High School, valued at $300,000, to the district. This contribution will enhance district facilities and bolster educational opportunities for Adrian students.

The Moulis also pledged $100,000 to support the creation of state-of-the-art STEM and Career labs at Adrian Public Schools’ four elementary buildings.

“We are incredibly thankful for the Moulis’ generosity and vision for the future of our students,” Nate Parker, superintendent of Adrian Public Schools, said in a news release. “These gifts will allow us to inspire curiosity and innovation at an early age, providing students with the tools and experiences needed to pursue their career dreams and passions. We are sincerely grateful to the Mouli family for their dedication to education and their decision to support our schools in such a profound way.”

“The creation of these STEM and Career labs will provide dynamic, hands-on learning environments where elementary students can engage with science, technology, engineering, math, and career-focused pathways,” said Derrick Richards, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. “These labs will seamlessly align with the state-of-the-art STEM facilities at Springbrook Middle School and Adrian High School, completing a comprehensive continuum of experiences for all students from kindergarten through 12th grade.”

Solar power support brings $400,000 into Raisin Twp.

The Lenawee Voice

RAISIN TWP. — A state program intended to reward local governments that host renewable energy projects has awarded $400,000 to Raisin Township.

The grant came about as a result of Raisin Township hosting Beecher Solar, which is a project of Next Era Energy. The project is slated to generate up to 80 megawatts of electricity by installing photovoltaic solar arrays on about 600 acres.

“Today’s grants support townships that chose to host these projects, providing them flexible resources to make critical investments in their communities,” Phil Roos, director of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, said in a news release.

“This award will be extremely beneficial to the township for improving road projects, public safety, and other essential services for our residents,” said Raisin Township supervisor Tom Hawkins. “The Renewables Ready Communities Award is a great way to incentivize communities to work together to increase renewable energy production in Michigan.”

Funding through the Renewables Ready Communities program is available until the funds are exhausted.

So far, Raisin Township is the only community in Lenawee County to receive funding through the program.

Fairfield Township Fire Station renovated

By Julie C. Clemes The Lenawee Voice

FAIRFIELD TWP. — Residents of Fairfield Township can now expect to be serviced through a newly renovated fire station. The public was able to view the renovations at an open house that took place Dec. 14 at the station, located at 9965 Brown St. in Weston.

The renovations were paid for with money from the general fund, as well as some funding that came from federal grants, said Chris McAllister, Fairfield Township supervisor. The total cost of the renovation was just over $500,000, he said.

The work for the renovation was done by a local construction business, Creekside Carpentry of Jasper, and was completed by local workers, McAllister said.

Lenawee Lifelong Learning, founded by Bob Freligh, is an educational program for adults in Lenawee County. We offer an opportunity to attend courses on a variety of topics you may enjoy investigating.

Knowledgeable instructors donate their time and expertise. There are no tests and no grades – only fun and learning.

Classes have included Poetry, History, Supreme Court Decisions, Shakespeare, Arts and the Brain, and local tours.

SESSIONS ARE HELD AT THE WEBER CENTER IN APRIL AND OCTOBER.

McAllister said the renovations included opening up space in the building by tearing down internal walls, making the doors for the fire trucks to enter and exit the building bigger, raising the ceilings, adding new floors, and upgrading the heating and electrical systems.

“Basically, we opened the entire barn up,” McAllister said, referring to the work that was done to make better use of the existing space.

The Fairfield Township Fire Department was formed in 1946. Fairfield Township covers 42 square miles, and the fire department serves about 1,650 residents.

The fire department staff consists of 13 paid on-call firefighters, McAllister said. The firefighters respond to about five calls a month for emergencies that include fires, rescues, accidents and citizen assists. The fire department has three fire trucks and one rescue vehicle.

Although there is no full-time staff on the fire department, McAllister said the vehicles are maintained to be ready for emergencies at any time.

“We keep them ready because they have to be ready at any time to go out the door,” he said.

McAllister said the renovations to the fire station are part of the ongoing financial support the township has always given to the fire department.

“The township has always invested in the fire station,” McAllister said. “The board today took the next step toward making this an effective building for the next 50 years.”

Anyone interested in becoming a firefighter needs to complete the staterequired Firefighter I and II classes through the Lenawee County Fire Chiefs Association, said Capt. Rob Shadewald of the fire department.

Morenci library plans a full year of tree-related programs and activities

MORENCI — In celebration of the $218,000 grant the city of Morenci recently received to plant trees in the downtown area, Stair District Library has planned a year-long agenda of tree-related events, programs, activities, and displays.

“We kicked off the celebration in October with a really interesting presentation by Hidden Lake Gardens Managing Director Paul Pfeifer who talked about the history and the opportunities available at the Gardens, including the new Sky Canopy Walk,” said library director Colleen Leddy.

In November, during International Games Month, the library hosted a Community Games Night and highlighted their games made of wood such as ping pong, Nok Hockey, Jenga, mancala, Klask, and Keva planks, and from wood products such as board games.

In 2025, a vibrant lineup of treethemed activities will include a “Happy Trees” sip-and-paint art program, papermaking crafts, a community Tree Art

Show, engaging storytimes, thoughtprovoking book discussions, and presentations by a retired tree trimmer and a professional arborist. The library will also offer Poet-Tree programs, author visits via Zoom, tree plantings, a tree scavenger hunt, a nature table, and a tree-themed Summer Reading Program.

“It’s a year filled with creativity, learning, and celebrating the beauty and importance of trees,” said Leddy. “And we’ll wrap it up with a special grantfunded chartered bus field trip to Hidden Lake Gardens.”

Library patrons will be treated to another engaging presentation by Pfeifer about growing trees in cities, followed by a guided tour of the Sky Walk and the Hidden Lake Gardens grounds.

Leddy said the goal is for participants to build camaraderie, gain a deeper understanding of the importance of a thriving downtown tree canopy, and become personally invested in the future of Morenci’s trees.

Downtown Dollars program launched in Adrian

ADRIAN — The Downtown Adrian Main Street DDA has announced the launch of “Downtown Dollars.” These downtown gift certificates can be redeemed at participating businesses in the Downtown Development District. Downtown Dollars can be purchased in $5 increments and are valid for five years from the date of purchase. From time to time the Downtown Adrian Main Street DDA along with

local sponsors may provide promotional dollars. These promotional dollars are often a BOGO (buy one get one) opportunity.

Downtown Dollars are an easy way to support the community, Main Street director Jay Marks said.

The DDA also suggests that businesses buy Downtown Dollars in bulk for employee rewards or customer appreciation programs.

Pictured during an open house for the newly renovated Fairfield Township fire station are, in the front row, Rob Willnow, Bob Duke, Dustin Mohr, Vernae Hillard, Chief Dawn McAllister, and Jacob Schamberger; and in the back row, Capt. Rob Shadewald, Brandon Oard, Owen Jackson, and Lindsey Strahan. JULIE C. CLEMES/LENAWEE VOICE

New librarians in Tecumseh

TECUMSEH — Jordan Wright has been hired as the new director of the Tecumseh District Library.

Wright comes to Tecumseh from Ferndale District Library where he was the director. During his nearly 12-year stint at Ferndale, he served in several positions of increasing responsibility.

“Jordan’s experience, enthusiasm and energy will move the library into a new phase of service to the district,” said Lisa Hart, president of the Tecumseh District Library board of trustees. “His credentials are outstanding and we look forward to welcoming him to the community.”

Wright is the third library director since the library became an independent public library in 2003. He replaces Susan Bach, who resigned in October.

“I work in public libraries because I thrive on human connection,” said Wright. “I’m energized by serving the public, connecting people with resources, and

most importantly, turning non-library users into enthusiastic supporters.”

Jennifer Moore is the new children’s services librarian. She replaces Mary Beth Reasoner, who retired from the library after 48 years.

Moore has worked with children and their families for most of her career. She started as a preschool teacher, then became a home child care owner, school teacher and university faculty member.

Her education background is in early childhood education and she completed her doctorate at Walden University. Her educational studies and research interests have focused on children from birth through age 8 and their families. She also has a degree in psychology and counseling.

The Tecumseh District Library is a Class IV Library, serving the residents of the city of Tecumseh, and portions of Adrian, Franklin, Macon, Raisin, Ridgeway, and Tecumseh townships.

Jordan Wright

Jennifer Moore

Adrian College introduces Commercial Music program

ADRIAN — Adrian College has introduced a new major and minor in Commercial Music within its Performing Arts department, board chair Patrick Farver announced in December.

Farver said for the program to be successful, updates had to be made in Spencer Hall.

“With the help of our extremely talented and passionate faculty, particularly Kristin and Phil Clark, we have developed a two-phase project to renovate and update all of Spencer Hall, home of the performing arts,” Farver told the audience at the recent President’s Dinner. “Phase One, converting an existing classroom into a ‘keyboard Mac lab,’ was recently completed thanks to some incredible donors.”

The program offers a BA in Commercial Music, as well as a minor. Kristin Clark, chair of the Department of Performing Arts, said it aims to provide students with the foundational skills necessary to succeed in the commercial music industry.

“Through the study of music theory, performance, music production, audio recording, songwriting, and music business, this program equips students with the artistic, technological, and entrepreneurial skills needed to thrive in the evolving music industry of the 21st century,” she said.

“I have had a passion for music my entire life, and I’ve had the pleasure of working with many Adrian College students, even recording music with a few, thanks to Pete Bishop, the founder and CEO of APG Audio Visual Mentoring right here in Adrian,” Farver said. “Through Pete’s expertise and a partnership with Sweetwater, a leading studio and recording equipment company, we have been able to transform one of the classrooms in Spencer Hall.”

Farver said the next phase of the project will connect all classrooms and studios in Spencer Hall to a main recording studio.

Approximately $50,000 of the targeted $150,000 needed to complete the main recording studio project has already been donated. Adrian College hopes to have the project completed before the start of the next academic year.

“This will be very cool and innovative,” Farver said. “Soon, Bulldog Records will be launched, giving our students the opportunity to release their music through an Adrian College label.”

One of the students who has recorded music with Farver is Angel Dorris, a senior majoring in Vocal Performance and minoring in Commercial Music.

Dorris developed a vocal health issue as a freshman that made her think her

music and college career were over. However, with the help and support of Clark, she was able to get back on track and resume performing her songs.

“Dr. Clark worked with me to rehabilitate my voice and get me to the point where I am today,” she said during the President’s Dinner. “I stand before you as a senior about to graduate in the spring with a degree in voice. I have performed countless solos here at Adrian. I sing with the women’s a cappella group, and I’ve even gotten to sing with the choir at Carnegie Hall.”

Most recently, through the Adrian College internship program with APG Audio Visual Mentoring, Dorris became a published artist.

Adrian College is now offering courses in musicianship, music production, songwriting, music entrepreneurship, performance, and recording studio activities. For more information, email Clark at kbclark@adrian.edu.

Ryan Arent of Sweetwater Integration checks the sound system in Adrian College’s new keyboard Mac lab. MICKEY ALVARADO/ADRIAN COLLEGE

Adrian College board chair Patrick Farver speaks during the President’s Dinner in December. JOHN DISCHER/ADRIAN COLLEGE

Adrian College senior Angel Dorris performs during the President’s Dinner.

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Rudy Flores nombrado miembro de la Comisión Estatal

Artículo original por Erik Gable Traducido por Lizbeth Perez-Cazares

ADRIAN — Un hombre de Adrian que ha dedicado su carrera a mejorar la vida de las personas ahora asume un función de liderazgo a nivel estatal.

Rudy Flores ha sido nombrado por la Gobernadora Gretchen Whitmer para la Comisión Hispano/Latina de Michigan. La comisión tiene 15 miembros y es responsable de asesorar al gobernador y a la legislatura sobre el bienestar de las comunidades hispanas en el Estado.

Flores será el único miembro de la comisión que proviene de uno de los condados más al sur de Michigan.

Flores es nativo de Adrian y creció asistiendo a las Escuelas Públicas de Adrian. Asistió a la Escuela Primaria Jefferson durante su último año, luego fue estudiante en la Escuela Primaria Michener, la Escuela Secundaria Drager y la Escuela Preparatoria Adrian antes de ir a la Universidad Spring Arbor, donde obtuvo una Licenciatura en Trabajo Social.

Dijo que su función incluirá crear conciencia no sólo sobre las necesidades de la comunidad hispana y latina en el sureste de Michigan, sino también sobre las fortalezas de la comunidad.

Eso significa llamar la atención sobre las cosas buenas que están sucediendo a nivel local, como la expansión de la programación bilingüe de la Biblioteca del Distrito de Adrian.

También significa difundir la rica historia de la comunidad hispana del sureste de Michigan, como la historia del vecindario Sunnyside de Adrian, que fue construido en la década de 1940 por mexicano-estadounidenses a quienes se les negó el derecho a comprar tierras dentro de los límites de la ciudad.

“Hay bastante herencia e historia en Sunnyside y las familias que vivían en esa comunidad”, Flores dijo.

Además, Flores señaló que Adrián jugó un papel importante en el apoyo a la lucha nacional de César Chávez por los derechos de los trabajadores agrícolas.

Comienza la demolición del hospital

Traducido por Lizbeth Perez-Cazares ADRIAN — La demolición del antiguo edificio del Hospital Bixby (Bixby Hospital) en la Avenida Riverside (Riverside Avenue) comenzó en diciembre.

ProMedica dijo que el edificio será derribado en secciones para ayudar a minimizar el ruido para los residentes locales. Sin embargo, los vecinos aún deben esperar cierto nivel de ruido durante la demolición, incluyendo sonidos de los equipos, localizadores de respaldo y trituración de concreto. Para reducir la contaminación por polvo, el contratista de demolición implementará medidas de riego durante todo el proyecto.

Una vez que se haya derribado el edificio, los residentes pueden anticipar el ruido procedente del triturado del concreto, la clasificación de materiales y el tráfico de camiones. No se prevén cierres de caminos.

Rudy Flores aparece en la Biblioteca del Distrito de Adrian con una muestra del tipo de recursos con los que trabaja para brindar a los trabajadores agrícolas migrantes en el sureste de Michigan. Esos recursos incluyen información sobre atención médica, leyes de inmigración, derechos civiles y servicios de alfabetización en inglés.

“Adrian está bendecido con la cultura rica de hispanos”, Flores dijo. Flores trabaja para el Estado de Michigan brindando servicios a trabajadores agrícolas migrantes y trabajadores agrícolas temporales estacionales en los Condados de Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw, Wayne, Jackson y Hillsdale, un puesto que ha ocupado desde el año 2013. También es Co-presidente del Consejo de Recursos para Migrantes del Sureste de Michigan (Southeast Michigan Migrant Resource Center).

Un trabajador agrícola migrante es cualquiera que tiene que viajar más de 100 millas y tiene que pasar la noche para

poder hacer su trabajo, mientras que los trabajadores agrícolas temporales son personas que viven todo el año en las comunidades donde trabajan.

Hace una década, dijo Flores, trabajó con muchas familias que viajaban de ida y vuelta entre Florida y Michigan por motivos de trabajo. Ahora la mayoría de las personas con las que trabaja vienen a Estados Unidos desde otros países utilizando visas H-2A, que son para trabajadores agrícolas temporales.

Aunque la composición de las personas que realizan trabajos estacionales en las granjas del sureste de Michigan ha cambiado durante la última década, muchas de sus necesidades no

del antiguo edificio del Hospital

Se espera que todas las actividades de demolición y de remoción de los escombros estén terminadas a finales del mes de abril. El hospital fue cerrado en el año 2020.

en diciembre.

Después de la demolición, ProMedica venderá el terreno a un constructor privado, quien planea construir alrededor de unas 60 viviendas unifamiliares para alquiler en ese lugar.

lo han hecho. Esas necesidades incluyen ropa de abrigo, cobijas y atención médica, y también información.

“Uno de los recursos más importantes son documentos con información”, Flores dijo.

Flores y sus colegas brindan a los trabajadores agrícolas migrantes información sobre temas como atención médica, leyes de inmigración, derechos civiles y alfabetización en inglés.

Señaló que el trabajo no sería posible sin la ayuda de muchas escuelas, empresas, agencias y organizaciones religiosas locales.

“Este trabajo no puede ser posible sin el apoyo de la gente de esta comunidad”.

La cena MLK se llevará a cabo el día 20 de enero

ADRIAN — Tres líderes comunitarios serán los anfitriones de un panel de discusión durante la celebración comunitaria anual de Martin Luther King Jr., la cual se llevará a cabo el día lunes 20 de enero de 6 a 8 p.m en el Centro Tobias (Tobias Center) del Colegio de Adrian (Adrian College).

Los panelistas serán Monique Savage, educadora y trabajadora social; Robert Benard, obispo y clérigo auxiliar presidente de Ministerios Internacionales del Templo de Cristo (Christ Temple Ministries International); y De’Angelo Boone, pastor principal de Ministerios de la Ciudad del Refugio (City of Refuge Ministries).

El costo para asistir es de $50 por persona, o $350 por una mesa para ocho personas.

Para obtener más información o para ordenar boletos para el evento, llame a Andre’a Benard al 517-673-1218 o a Pamela Hall al 517-920-2706.

— Traducido por Lizbeth Perez-Cazares

La demolición

Bixby (Bixby Hospital) comenzó

Las reparaciones del puente U.S. 223 no estarán terminadas hasta la primavera

Artículo original por Erik Gable Traducido por Lizbeth Perez-Cazares

ADRIAN — Se espera que la construcción del puente ferroviario U.S. 223 al este de la calle Division dure hasta la primavera, dijo la Comisionada de la Ciudad de Adrian, Mary Roberts. Roberts asistió recientemente a una reunión entre el Departamento de Transporte de Michigan y representantes de las comunidades locales. Ella informó sobre el proyecto del puente U.S. 223 y otros temas en la reunión de la Comisión Municipal del 1 de diciembre. El puente ha sido reducido a un carril de tráfico desde septiembre. Los trabajos de reparación están tardando mucho más de lo previsto inicialmente. Roberts dijo que cuando los ingenieros entraron en la estructura del puente, descubrieron que estaba en peores condiciones de lo que habían pensado originalmente.

Se espera que la construcción del puente ferroviario U.S. 223 dure hasta la primavera.

Más noticias del MDOT (Departamento de Transporte de Michigan): n Se están planificando cambios para la esquina de las calles Front y Broad en el centro de la Ciudad de Adrian.

Grupo pretende apoyar a los emprendedores

y

añade la opción en español

ADRIAN — Lanzamiento Lenawee (Launch Lenawee), una organización que ayuda a emprendedores locales a iniciar nuevos negocios, está planificando sus seminarios de aprendizaje para el 2025. Cualquiera que esté interesado en aprender más sobre el Programa de Acción Empresarial Launch Lenawee es bienvenido a asistir a una orientación, el martes 7 de enero a las 6 p.m. en Adrian Armory, en el 230 Oeste de la calle Maumee (230 W. Maumee St).

El programa tiene como objetivo brindar a los participantes las habilidades y la información que necesitarán para administrar un pequeño negocio exitoso. El programa 2025 estará disponible tanto en inglés como en español, gracias a los servicios de traducción proporcionados por medio de Hispanos de la Alianza de Lenawee (Hispanics of Lenawee Alliance — HOLA).

Para obtener más información, envíe un correo electrónico a Sheila Blair a sheila@launchlenawee.org.

Kits de prueba de radón gratuitos disponibles en enero

Traducido por Lizbeth Perez-Cazares

ADRIAN — El Departamento de Salud del Condado de Lenawee está ofreciendo kits de prueba de radón gratuitos a los residentes durante todo el mes de enero. El radón es un gas radiactivo invisible, inodoro e insípido que podría estar presente en su hogar. Con las pruebas que puede hacer usted mismo, usted puede identificar y atacar cualquier posible problema de radón para proteger la salud de su familia.

El radón se produce naturalmente cuando el uranio del suelo, las rocas y las aguas subterráneas se descompone. Este se filtra en los edificios a través de grietas en los cimientos, huecos alrededor de las tuberías y otras aberturas pequeñas. Mientras los niveles de radón fluctúan dependiendo de la composición química del suelo, la estructura de los edificios y el clima, el peligro surge cuando el radón se acumula en el interior, alcanzando niveles potencialmente dañinos para la salud humana.

Como el radón proviene del suelo, todo el mundo está expuesto a él hasta cierto punto. El grado de exposición

en ambientes interiores puede variar significativamente, con algunos hogares mostrando niveles elevados a pesar de la proximidad a otros hogares con lecturas bajas. Las pruebas son la única manera de saber si su hogar tiene niveles elevados de radón.

La prueba de radón es una medida preventiva que todos deberían considerar. Las pruebas se recomiendan especialmente si:

n Si usted vive en una casa o departamento debajo del tercer piso.

n Si usted está comprando o vendiendo una casa, ya que los resultados de las pruebas de radón suelen ser solicitados por los posibles compradores.

n Si usted vive en un área conocida por niveles más altos de radón, como el Condado de Lenawee.

Los kits de prueba de radón gratuitos están disponibles en el Departamento de Salud del Condado de Lenawee, 1040 sur de la calle Winter., Adrian (1040 S. Winter St,Adrian). Los horarios son de lunes a viernes de 8 a. m. a mediodía y de la 1 p. m. a 4:30 p. m. Para más información

llame al 517-264-5213 o envíe un correo electrónico ehdesk@lenawee.mi.us.

Roberts dijo que se eliminará la isla de concreto en el medio de la intersección y que habrá un carril permanente para girar a la derecha hacia el sur en la calle Broad para el tráfico que gira hacia el

oeste en la calle Front. Se instalará un señalamiento de alto para el tráfico que va hacia el norte por la calle Broad.

n En el lado sur de Adrian, se instalará un semáforo para girar a la izquierda para el tráfico que gire desde la calle Division hacia U.S. 223.

n La sección del centro de la calle Church Street que está bajo la jurisdicción del MDOT será repavimentada en los próximos años. La calle Church entre Broad y Main es parte de M-52.

n Roberts también mencionó que MDOT tiene baterías de respaldo en los semáforos en algunas de sus intersecciones más transitadas, incluidas la U.S. 12 y M-52, la U.S. 12 y M-50, y la M-52 y M-50. Estas baterías de respaldo pueden mantener las luces de los semáforos funcionando hasta por 12 horas cuando hay un apagón de energía eléctrica.

El Consejo Juvenil de Lenawee (Lenawee Youth Council) otorga becas a 11 programas

ADRIAN — La Fundación

Comunitaria Lenawee (Lenawee Community Foundation) anunció recientemente $18,854 en becas para proyectos comunitarios. Los proyectos fueron elegidos por miembros del Consejo Juvenil de Lenawee.

El Consejo Juvenil de Lenawee ofrece a los residentes del Condado de Lenawee entre 12 y 21 años con oportunidades para participar en proyectos de servicio comunitario, colaborar con otros jóvenes y desarrollar habilidades de liderazgo.

El dinero proviene de una donación que se estableció hace más de 25 años para apoyar proyectos que beneficien y que sean manejados por jóvenes del Condado de Lenawee.

Las becas apoyarán 11 programas:

n Programación Juvenil en el Centro para las Artes de Adrian (Adrian Center for the Arts), incluyendo clases de arte y clubes extraescolares para niños y adolescentes.

n La compra de materiales en español para la Biblioteca del Distrito de Adrian (Adrian District Library), beneficiando a más de 1,700 adolescentes y proporcionando el acceso a materiales educacionales y recreacionales a la población hispanohablante.

n Una excursión al Museo Henry Ford de Innovación Americana (Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation) para estudiantes del Programa de Bachillerato Internacional de la Preparatoria de Adrian (Adrian High School International Baccalaureate Program).

n Programación Juvenil en la Orquesta Sinfónica de Adrian (Adrian Symphony Orchestra), incluyendo un concierto que sirve hasta 2,300 estudiantes del Condado de Lenawee.

n Involucrar a jóvenes voluntarios en el Refugio Seguro Ahimsa (Ahimsa Safe Haven), un rescate de animales cerca de Onsted.

n La restauración del espacio para adolescentes en el Club de Niños y

Niñas de Lenawee (Boys & Girls Club de Lenawee), que se planificará con la aportación de los adolescentes del club.

n El proyecto Mapa de Camino a la Graduación (Roadmap to Graduation), operado por Caridades Católicas (Catholic Charities), que coloca a jóvenes no acompañados de 17 y 18 años del Condado de Lenawee en hogares de mentores seguros y que les brinden apoyo, con el objetivo de ayudarlos a graduarse de la preparatoria.

n Un programa a través de Ayuda para la Vivienda de Lenawee (Housing Help of Lenawee) que ayudará a más de 500 niños sin hogar a participar en deportes, teatro, excursiones y otras actividades extracurriculares que requieren dinero para participar.

n Un evento informativo sobre salud mental para jóvenes en el área de Hudson.

n El Fondo de Salud, Felicidad y Esperanza de la Fundación Comunitaria de Lenawee (The Lenawee Community Foundation’s) Health,Happiness and Hope, cuyo objetivo es aumentar la cantidad de fondos sin restricciones disponibles para satisfacer las necesidades de la comunidad.

n Biblioteca Imaginación (Imagination Library), que distribuye libros a más de 1,000 niños del Condado de Lenawee desde el nacimiento hasta los 5 años. Los libros se envían por correo a las casas de los niños sin ningún costo para sus familias.

Para obtener más información sobre el Consejo Juvenil de Lenawee (Lenawee Youth Council), comuníquese con Paula Trentman en paula@ lenaweecf.com.

Traducido por Lizbeth Perez-Cazares

Traducido por Lizbeth Perez-Cazares

LAND & WATER

River Raisin Watershed Council names new leader

TECUMSEH — Sean Dennis has been named executive director of the River Raisin Watershed Council beginning this month.

He succeeds Steve May, who retired after nine years as executive director. May, who previously was Lenawee County’s drain commissioner, has been a longtime advocate for the River Raisin Watershed.

The role of executive director includes program management, communications, and collaboration with communities, business leaders and local governments who work with the council to conserve the River Raisin watershed.

“Sean brings a combination of experience, enthusiasm, dedication and business acumen to the

organization and we are excited to have him lead our dedicated staff,” Harry Sheehan, chair of the River Raisin Watershed Cuncil board, said in a news release.

Dennis previously was executive director of the Greater Lenawee Chamber of Commerce.

The Watershed Council is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to

Deer hunting is an important part of responsible

As deer season comes to a close, let’s talk about deer from a wildlife management perspective. White tailed deer populations have been on the rise in Michigan, especially in the Lower Peninsula. The DNR estimates the total deer population to be 2 million, which is double the size it was in 1940. About 1 million of these deer are concentrated in the southern Lower Peninsula, which is a 500% increase in the past 40 years. No matter who you are, there is a reason to care about the overabundance of deer on the landscape.

What are deer doing?

Deer like to live where they have sufficient cover, food, and water. Their home range on average is about one square mile, though they tend to move more with the change in seasons and food availability. As an herbivore, a lot of their activity is browsing. They eat an incredible amount of plants — anywhere from 8 to 24 pounds a day for an adult depending on their body weight. For cover, deer prefer dense vegetation in fields, marshes, and woodlands. Historically in Michigan, black bears, wolves, coyotes, and bobcats served as the native predators to help keep deer populations in check. The lack of predators around southeast Michigan caused by habitat fragmentation means this responsibility now largely falls to humans.

What are their impacts?

Many people might believe that the more wildlife there is, the better. While this is certainly true for wildlife whose populations are threatened, it no longer applies when populations swing to the extreme such as in the case of deer. For people, the overpopulation of deer can lead to both physical and economic damages. Deer-vehicle collisions in Michigan numbered to 58,000 in 2023, killing some and injuring many more. Deer also are hosts for lyme-carrying ticks, which can infect our pets and our own bodies. Of course, deer eat crops and horticulture gardens where deer density is high, hurting farm yields and our own plant sanctuaries. From 2014 to 2020, crop damage permits, which are granted to hunt deer on farmland during the summer due to significant crop damage, increased by 60% in Michigan. In forests, deer preferentially

ALLEGRA BAIRD

munch down tree saplings and native forbs, which already have to compete with invasive species. This means that overstory trees are not being replaced by understory saplings when the mature trees die off. This also hurts many other wildlife species who have to share food sources with deer.

How are humans related?

Humans have long held a close cultural connection to deer. Managing for deer habitat to provide us with deer harvest was for a long time part of family tradition in Michigan, especially in rural areas. Older generations would teach younger generations how to hunt and continue to provide food for the family. This interaction directly benefited humans, and indirectly benefited the environment. By keeping deer populations in balance, natural areas sustained higher levels of plant diversity and forests regenerated themselves. But as more people have moved to the suburbs and the cities, the tradition of hunting has become less prevalent.

Why are deer increasing in the Lower Peninsula?

Historically, deer populations have been lower in the southern Lower Peninsula, and higher in northern Michigan. Today, the opposite is true. Deer in the Lower Peninsula have abundant food sources, from understory brush to crops to gardens, and a lack of predators. In the north, previously young forest stands have grown into mature forests, leaving less food combined with harsher winters and more natural predators. Additionally, there are fewer hunters per capita in the southern part of the state.

How can we help restore the balance?

There’s still a lot that people can do to keep deer populations in check. While some things are outside of our control,

preserving and protecting the River Raisin and the communities that depend on it. The council has 54 local government members in five counties.

The river flows from Jackson and Hillsdale counties, all the way to the city of Monroe. The basin is the size of Rhode Island and is over 85% agricultural.

Sean Dennis

wildlife management

like the harshness of winters that can either help or hinder deer survival, there are other interventions that will make a difference.

If you are planting trees on your property, using a 4- or 5-foot protective cage goes a long way to diminish deer pressure and increase the tree’s chance maturing and providing its lifelong benefits.

Most of the solutions, though, come back to promoting deer hunting, including here in Lenawee County. In our county, the number of hunting licenses sold since 2013 has dropped 16%. Looking at data collected by the DNR, Lenawee hunters harvested 4,632 deer in 2022, and 4,204 deer in 2023, a roughly 9% drop in one year. And while bucks are always the prize to take home, hunting does, which birth on average one to two fawns every spring, will go a lot further to help control the population.

What programs already exist to promote hunting access?

To bring more youth into hunting, the Hunt Michigan Collaborative (HMC) is leading the way to invigorate the next generation of hunters and reduce crop damages and vehicle collisions in our state. The HMC works with the DNR and the National Deer Association to organize hunts and bring much needed deer management to private landowners, urban areas, and farmers.

To bring hunting access to people in towns and cities where they don’t own their own private hunting land, the Hunting Access Program is another thoughtful solution. If you are a landowner and do not already utilize your land for hunting, you can still promote public access solely for hunting purposes by leasing your land to the DNR. This program is run out of the Lenawee Conservation District by Farm Bill biologist Caleb Brink. If you would prefer to arrange a private lease for hunting purposes with someone you know, the Michigan Farm Bureau has also provided a sample hunting lease agreement with proper guidelines, which can be found at michfb.com/agriculture/ farming-resources/land-use-regulation/ hunting-lease-agreement.

In addition to promoting more land access and hunting recruitment, we can also support our present hunters in taking more deer each season. Most

hunters only harvest one or two deer, since processing costs are high and that amount provides enough meat for their family.

The Lenawee Community Foundation is aiming to curtail hunger for foodinsecure people in our county through their Hunters Helping Lenawee program. Similar to Sportsmen Against Hunger, this local program covers the cost of animal processing with deer provided by hunters and supplies local food pantries, which serve over 1,000 residents every month. One deer can provide enough meat for a meal for 200 people! You can learn more about Hunters Helping Lenawee at lenaweecommunityfoundation.com/ hunters-helping-lenawee-faqs.

Deer, just like any other wildlife, are an important part of our ecosystems and provide an important role. However, overpopulation has many negative consequences for people, the environment, and the deer themselves.

Allegra Baird is a conservation specialist with the Lenawee Conservation District. She can be reached at allegra.baird@macd.org or 517-263-7400.

COMING UP

What’s happening in Lake Erie?

The Lenawee and Hillsdale County conservation districts are offering a webinar on Wednesday, Jan. 15, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. to talk about efforts to keep Lake Erie healthy. The hosts will be Alison Bressler from the Western Lake Erie Basin Advisory Group, Michelle Selzer from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Ehsan Ghane from Michigan State University. To receive a Zoom link, go to tinyurl. com/bdf8r54z or scan the QR code above.

Basics of Beekeeping: The River Raisin Watershed Council will offer a six-week class on beekeeping on Thursdays, Jan. 16 to Feb. 20, from 6-8 p.m. The class, taught by Don Warner and Janet Tucker, will take place at the watershed council office, 804 N. Evans St., Tecumseh. The cost is $150. To register, go to riverraisin.org/ upcoming-events.

PERSPECTIVES

EDITORIAL

We’ll have to invest in Lenawee ourselves

The recent surprise closings of two Lenawee County Wendy’s restaurants and the announcement of Big Lots’ impending demise make one thing abundantly clear: We cannot stake our community’s economic future on the hope that somebody from outside Lenawee County is going to swoop in and be our salvation.

It’s not that we mind when a giant national chain decides to open up a store in Adrian. But when that happens, all it means is that we met some threshold determined by a formula in a spreadsheet in somebody’s corporate accounting office. We’re just a line on a balance sheet — a footnote to an annual report, good mainly for fattening the wallets of executives and shareholders who probably can’t even find Lenawee County on a map.

And what is given so dispassionately can just as easily be taken away.

To be clear, we take no pleasure in news like the closing of Big Lots. Every closing represents a loss of local jobs and a disruption in people’s lives. And there’s no reason a thriving local economy can’t include both local businesses and chains.

But we need to be there for the people who we know will be there for us, and that means supporting our local, familyowned companies whenever possible.

The headwinds against local investment are strong, and some of them start with our own habits.

One of the most-shared stories this newspaper published during our first month of operation was about the Michaels craft store being built in Adrian. Would a local store with the same products generate the same excitement?

Will the folks who clamor for a Golden Corral or a Chick-fil-A be as eager to check out the menu at the next locally owned restaurant that opens?

We hope so, but too often it’s the established brand names that get the most attention.

Let’s change that.

We have a suggestion: No matter when you’re reading this editorial, next weekend, take an hour to walk through a Lenawee County downtown and learn what’s there. And the next time you go out for a meal, make a point of choosing something local.

If we want a thriving community, we need to invest in the people we can count on to invest in us. And that means doing everything in our power to boost the small, independent businesses run by our friends and neighbors.

If we’ve beat this drum so many times that it’s starting to feel repetitive, that’s because it matters.

Incidentally, four months before announcing its closure and preparing to lay off thousands of employees, Big Lots gave its top executives more than $5 million in “retention bonuses.” Go figure.

Letters to the Editor should be 350 words or fewer and may be emailed to letters@lenaweevoice.com. Please include your town of residence and a phone number for verification purposes.

More compassionate, effective strategies are needed to help people fight addiction

Addiction treatment in America has long been shaped by a narrow focus that stigmatizes drug users. Layal Bou Harfouch, drug policy analyst at the Reason Foundation, is seeking to challenge this perspective.

Historically, addiction treatment authorities in the U.S. have measured progress only by the person’s completely abstaining from controlled substances. Bou Harfouch points out that this “all-or-nothing” mentality overlooks the significance of incremental changes in recovery.

Through her work, Bou Harfouch has come to understand that addiction is a multifaceted issue.

“It’s not just a social issue,” Bou Harfouch says. “It’s not just a health care issue. It spans so many different aspects of life.”

With a clinical background at Johns Hopkins Division of Addiction Medicine, Bou Harfouch has witnessed the harms of abstinence-based treatment firsthand. Through her research, she aims to increase recognition of harm reduction as a more effective and compassionate alternative to traditional treatment models.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Current wage mandates harm vegetable growers

As a vegetable grower in southeast Michigan, my family has worked to provide safe, affordable and healthy food for our communities for over 63 years. Unfortunately, we are not sure how much longer we will be able to continue to grow vegetables on our farm with outdated government policies pushing us and many other fruit and vegetables growers out of business throughout Michigan and in

Harm reduction prioritizes “saving lives and preventing disease rather than making abstinence the goal,” Bou Harfouch says. She recommends meeting people where they are in their journey and encouraging conversation. Treatment should not be about judging individuals, but rather about reducing the risks associated with substance use.

Despite the growing support for harm reduction methods, Bou Harfouch observes ongoing hesitancy from some individuals. “There’s still a lot of resistance from folks who are stuck in that old way of thinking — who see substance use as something to punish rather than address with compassion,” she says.

For these individuals, addiction is primarily seen as a moral failing, something to be punished, rather

states across the country.

We’re in an impossible position. We need labor through the federal H-2A program to produce fruits and vegetables in the U.S. The problem is the mandated wages for these workers are unsustainably high.

Current mandated wages, under the Adverse Effect Wage Rate provision, in Michigan are over $18 per hour, nearly 80% higher than Michigan’s current minimum wage ($10.33). And it keeps increasing — nearly 60% in the last 10 years. This is an unprofitable level to sustain business.

Our farm needs over 90 workers each year to harvest our crop. We, the

than a health issue requiring care and empathy. Bou Harfouch strives to be an advocate for change, saying, “My role is to bring empathy and human nature back into the conversation.”

Drawing on her clinical experience, Bou Harfouch shares the story of a woman who was first injected with heroin as an infant. “Some may not have had a choice in the matter, to end up in a place where they were addicted to this substance,” she says. The story serves as a poignant reminder that many individuals are struggling with addiction through no fault of their own.

Bou Harfouch’s experiences in the field have fueled her desire for systemic change. She is committed to expanding access to medication-assisted treatments, which she describes as “life-changing for people.” Through her advocacy for more compassionate treatment, Bou Harfouch envisions a system that supports transitionary recoveries and confronts the underlying causes of addiction.

of America.

farmer, must pay the workers’ travel expense to and from their country of origin and visa costs to enter the United States, approximately $2,000 per person. We then provide clean, safe housing, electric, heat, water and laundry.

We must help our elected officials in Washington understand that the time to act is now. If we don’t do something soon, we’ll continue to lose the production of fruit and vegetables to foreign countries. The time is now to Protect Our Produce.

Michael Iott, Iott Ranch & Orchard, Petersburg

Jessica Wyeth is a marketing analyst with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. She holds a B.A. in politics from The Catholic University

JESSICA WYETH

Adrian Police Department swears in new officers IN BRIEF

Morenci, Madison schools awarded safety grants

Two Lenawee County school districts are among 10 districts statewide to be awarded funds through the federal government’s School Violence Prevention Program.

The Morenci school district was awarded $469,500 and the Madison district was awarded $265,203, according to a list provided by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“This grant reflects our district’s unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our school community,” Jennifer Ellis, superintendent of Morenci Area Schools, said in a news release. “We are thrilled to receive this support, which will allow us to implement effective strategies that foster a safe and welcoming learning environment.”

Ellis said the grant will fund initiatives such as enhancing school grounds and facilities with upgraded security and implementing proven strategies to prevent and address potential risks.

Two Wendy’s locations close in Lenawee County

The Wendy’s restaurants on South Main Street in Adrian and West Chicago Boulevard in Tecumseh were among 12 Wendy’s locations owned by Team Schostak Family Restaurants in Livonia that shut down in December.

According to Lenawee Voice news partner Local Buzz Radio, employees at the South Main store were notified the same day that the closure took effect. That store, which was the first Wendy’s in Lenawee County, opened in 1977.

The Wendy’s on West Maumee Street in Adrian remains open.

Big Lots to close all stores

Columbus, Ohio-based Big Lots announced in late December that it will liquidate all of its stores, including one on South Main Street in Adrian, after its bankruptcy restructuring plans collapsed.

The company said it will begin going-out-of-business sales at all locations, though it left the door open to a change in direction if it is able to reach a sale deal.

Arrest made in fatal crash

A Tecumseh woman was arraigned on Dec. 12 in connection with an August crash that killed one person and seriously injured another. According to a statement from Michigan State Police at the Monroe post, Holly (DeWitt) Schmidt, 38, has been charged with one count of operating while intoxicated causing death and one count of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury.

A conference is scheduled for Jan. 17 to determine if there is enough probable cause to continue to a trial.

Police say Schmidt was intoxicated when she was driving on Tecumseh Clinton Highway around 9:30 p.m. Aug. 14 and struck a vehicle carrying a couple from Clinton in their 70s.

ADRIAN — Three new police officers were sworn in at the Dec. 16 Adrian City Commission meeting.

Police chief Vince Emrick introduced the new officers to city commissioners before they took their oaths.

Jadon Kaplan is a graduate of Airport High School, where he played basketball and ran track. He worked as a carpenter before attending the police academy.

POLICE REPORTS

Following are reports from law enforcement agencies listed in the Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information Systems (CLEMIS) database.

ADRIAN CITY

Nov. 17: Larceny from a vehicle, 400 block of Wolf Ridge Court. Burglary (residential, forced entry), 100 block of East Maple Avenue.

Nov. 18: Assault, 700 block of Riverside Avenue. Burglary (residential, forced entry), 500 block of Frank Street. Property damage and larceny from a yard, 400 block of East Beecher Street. Assault, 300 block of East Church Street.

Nov. 19: Identity theft, 500 block of Missouri River Court.

Nov. 20: Fraud, 1300 block of Sherman Court. Property damage and assault, Comstock Street and East Siena Heights Drive. Assault, 100 block of North Locust Street.

Nov. 21: Sexual assault, 1200 block of South Main Street. Assault, 900 block of Addison Street.

Nov. 22: Larceny from a yard, 200 block of Riverside Avenue. Drug possession, 700 block of Riverside Avenue.

Nov. 23: Assault, 200 block of North Winter Street. Property damage, 600 block of North Broad Street. Retail fraud, 200 block of East U.S. 223. Larceny from the mail, 200 block of North Main Street. Assault, 800 block of East Maple Avenue.

Nov. 24: Retail fraud, 4400 block of West Maumee Street. Retail fraud, 200 block of East U.S. 223.

Nov. 25: Property damage, 500 block of Toledo Street. Assault, 1600 block of West Maumee Street. Retail fraud, 700 block of South Main Street. Burglary (residential, forced entry), 1100 block of Lansing Avenue. Fraud, 600 block of East Michigan Street. Larceny from a building, 200 block of Jordan Street. Retail fraud, 1500 block of West Maumee Street.

Nov. 26: Burglary (residential, forced entry), 500 block of East Hunt Street. Illegal credit card use, 1500 block of West Maumee Street. Assault, 200 block of Canterbury Street.

Nov. 27: Retail fraud, 1500 block of West Maumee Street. Assault and disorderly conduct, 500 block of College Avenue.

Nov. 28: Disorderly conduct, 4500 block of West U.S. 223. Sexual assault, 200 block of South Charles Street. Assault, 300 block of East Maumee Street. Assault, 200 block of East Berry Street.

Nov. 29: Property damage, 200 block of East Berry Street. Larceny from a building, 200 block of East U.S. 223.

Nov. 30: Burglary (non-residential, forced entry), 1500 block of West Maumee Street. Assault, 1300 block of West Maple Avenue.

Dec. 1: Retail fraud, 1600 block of East U.S. 223.

Dec. 2: Fraud, 1500 block of West Maumee Street. Property damage, larceny from a building, and burglary (residential, forced entry), 1500 block of West Maumee Street. Assault, 600 block of Springbrook Avenue. Sexual assault, 2500 block of South Main Street. Retail fraud, 1500 block of West Maumee Street.

Dec. 3: Larceny from a yard, 500 block of Riverside Avenue.

Dec. 4: Drug smuggling, 700 block of Riverside Avenue. Identity theft, 1500 block of West Maumee Street.

Dec. 5: Assault, 500 block of College Avenue. Larceny from a building, 1500 block of West Maumee Street. Retail fraud, 700 block of South Main Street. Assault, 600 block of Tabor Street.

Dec. 6: Retail fraud, 700 block of South Main Street. Assault, 600 block of South Madison Street.

Dec. 7: Burglary (residential, no forced entry), 700 block of Front Street. Assault, 600 block of Frank Street. Assault, 1200 block of North Main Street. Burglary (residential, forced entry), 1200 block of South Main Street.

Dec. 8: Assault, 400 block of Merrick Street. Vehicle theft, 400 block of Northwestern Drive. Vehicle theft, Northwestern Drive and Oxford Court.

Dec. 9: Assault, 1200 block of East Siena Heights Drive. Disorderly conduct, 200 block of East Siena Heights Drive. Sexual assault, 700 block of Riverside Avenue. Property damage, 200 block of North Main Street. Property damage and arson, 1300 block of Williams Street.

Dec. 10: Assault, 600 block of Tabor Street. Burglary (non-residential, forced entry), 400 block of Dennis Street. Assault, 100 block of Pleasant Knoll Drive. Larceny from a building and larceny from a shipment, 600 block of South Madison Street. Retail fraud, 1200 block of North Main Street. Larceny from a building, 400 block of College Avenue.

Victor Duarte-Peralta is an Adrian High School graduate who holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Jackson College. He was previously employed by the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office.

Zackary Major is a graduate of Adrian College, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice. He also was previously employed by the sheriff’s office.

Dec. 11: Property damage and burglary (nonresidential, forced entry), 1800 block of West Maumee Street. Burglary (non-residential, forced entry), 1500 block of West Maumee Street. Property damage, 200 block of East Hunt Street.

Dec. 12: Retail fraud, 1300 block of South Main Street. Assault, 1100 block of South Main Street. Assault and property damage, South Center and Erie streets.

Dec. 13: Property damage, 600 block of North Broad Street. Assault, 600 block of West Beecher Street. Sexual assault, 1200 block of Sand Creek Highway. Assault, 300 block of Greenly Street. Retail fraud, 4400 block of West Maumee Street. Assault, 100 block of Chestnut Street.

Dec. 14: Assault, 600 block of Ormsby Street.

Dec. 15: Retail fraud, 200 block of East U.S. 223. Assault, 300 block of East Maumee Street. Retail fraud, 1500 block of West Maumee Street. Retail fraud, 800 block of South Main Street. Assault, 600 block of South Center Street.

Dec. 16: Larceny from a building, 1800 block of West Maumee Street. Retail fraud, 4400 block of West Maumee Street. Disorderly conduct, 1500 block of West Maumee Street. Retail fraud, 200 block of East U.S. 223.

Dec. 17: Vehicle theft, 400 block of West Beecher Street. Assault, Hoch Avenue and South Street. Assault, 1500 block of West Maumee Street. Larceny from a building, 100 block of South Main Street. Assault, 200 block of Riverside Avenue. Drug possession, State and East Berry streets.

Dec. 18: Sexual assault, 200 block of Cross Street. Assault, 200 block of Chestnut Street. Retail fraud, 4400 block of West Maumee Street. Disorderly conduct, 200 block of East U.S. 223. Larceny from a vehicle, 200 block of East Maumee Street. Larceny from a vehicle, 500 block of French Street.

Dec. 19: Retail fraud, 800 block of South Main Street. Assault, 300 block of East Beecher Street.

Dec. 20: Property damage, 200 block of East Siena Heights Drive.

ADRIAN TOWNSHIP

Dec. 17: Assault, 3100 block of North Adrian Highway.

BLISSFIELD TOWNSHIP

Nov. 19: Assault, 3200 block of Payne Highway.

DEERFIELD VILLAGE

Nov. 18: Property damage, 100 block of Raisin Street.

Nov. 22: Electronic harassment or threats, 400 block of Raisin Street.

Nov. 28: Assault, 300 block of Elm Street.

Dec. 2: Fraud, 200 block of East River Street.

DOVER TOWNSHIP

Dec. 10: Larceny from a building, 1400 block of Benner Highway.

FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP

Nov. 20: Fraud, 4200 block of West Mulberry.

Dec. 1: Operating while intoxicated, 10200 block of South Adrian Highway.

Dec. 9: Property damage, 3300 block of West Yankee Road.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP

Nov. 16: Assault, 12100 block of Tipton Highway. Burglary (non-residential, forced entry), 9500 block of Pentecost Highway.

Nov. 25: Electronic harassment or threats, 6900 block of Limerick Drive. Property damage, 7600 block of Beebe Highway.

Nov. 27: Assault, 3900 block of Whelen Road.

Dec. 9: Assault, 6500 block of West M-50. Property damage, 12900 block of Tipton Highway.

HUDSON CITY

Dec. 6: Assault, 300 block of West Main Street.

Dec. 11: Assault, 100 block of Grove Street.

HUDSON TOWNSHIP

Nov. 17: Property damage, 600 block of Valentine Lane.

Nov. 22: Illegal credit card use, 700 block of South Meridian Highway.

Dec. 1: Assault, 200 block of Lane Street.

Dec. 3: Vehicle theft, 500 block of South Meridian Road.

MADISON TOWNSHIP

Nov. 16: Burglary (non-residential, forced entry), 2900 block of Treat Highway.

Nov. 18: Property damage, 1100 block of West Beecher Road. Assault, 300 block of James River Blvd.

Nov. 19: Fraud, 2600 block of Sharon Drive.

Emrick also updated the commission on several recent promotions within the police department.

Following a number of retirements, Lt. Joe Wisniewski was promoted from the rank of sergeant; Sgt. Alyssa Monnette was promoted from the rank of officer; Sgt. Michaela Snowberger was promoted from officer; and Detective Rose Nieto was promoted from officer.

Nov. 20: Larceny, 2100 block of Geller Drive.

Nov. 21: Assault, 4900 block of Whig Highway. Property damage, 2000 block of West Carleton Road.

Nov. 22: Disorderly conduct, 3400 block of Treat Highway.

Nov. 28: Assault, 2200 block of East Gier Road.

Dec. 1: Property damage, 2700 block of Elmwood Drive.

Dec. 4: Larceny from a vehicle, 2000 block of Homestead Lane.

Dec. 5: Assault and property damage, 100 block of Shiawassee River Drive.

Dec. 6: Sexual assault, 1300 block of South Winter Street.

Dec. 8: Retail fraud, 1600 block of East U.S. 223.

Dec. 10: Larceny, 200 block of Stieff Street.

Dec. 15: Vehicle theft, 2900 block of West Beecher Street. Retail fraud, 1600 block of East U.S. 223. Dec. 16: Assault, 2200 block of East Gier Road.

Dec. 18: Larceny, 200 block of Stieff Street.

Dec. 19: Drug possession, 3400 block of Treat Highway. Larceny, 2500 block of South Main Street.

MORENCI CITY

Nov. 17: Operating while intoxicated, East Main Street and Hammontree Drive.

ONSTED VILLAGE Dec. 9: Fraud, 6800 block of Onsted Highway.

PALMYRA TOWNSHIP

Nov. 17: Larceny from a building and burglary (residential, forced entry), 6600 block of Pixley Road. Dec. 2: Burglary (non-residential, forced entry), 3700 block of East U.S. 223.

Dec. 3: Property damage, 8900 block of Deerfield Road.

RAISIN TOWNSHIP

Dec. 1: Property damage, 3000 block of Ives Road.

RIDGEWAY TOWNSHIP

Dec. 10: Burglary (residential, no forced entry), 8300 block of East M-50.

ROLLIN TOWNSHIP

Nov. 24: Assault, 3100 block of Mills Road. Nov. 27: Larceny, 14000 block of Woerner Road. Dec. 2: Burglary (non-residential, forced entry), 1800 block of Shady Shore Drive.

Dec. 4: Assault, 3100 block of Mills Road.

ROME TOWNSHIP

Nov. 27: Larceny from a yard, 12700 block of West U.S. 223.

Dec. 4: Wire fraud, 9400 block of Rome Road.

Dec. 12: Assault, 6500 block of Plank Road.

SENECA TOWNSHIP

Nov. 21: 10500 block of Hickory Street. Nov. 23: Assault, 8000 block of St. Clair Street. Dec. 2: Property damage, 10300 block of Lime Creek.

TECUMSEH CITY

Nov. 26: Fraud, 800 block of Woodstock Lane.

Nov. 30: Retail fraud, 900 block of West Chicago Blvd.

Dec. 1: Disorderly conduct, 400 block of Seminole. Dec. 3: Assault, 200 block of South Occidental Highway.

Dec. 5: Assault, 200 block of North Ottawa Street.

Dec. 8: Larceny from a vehicle, 200 block of North Union Street.

Dec. 9: Wire fraud, 200 block of South Pearl Street.

Dec. 10: Retail fraud, 2800 block of West Chicago Blvd. Assault, 600 block of Herrick Park Drive.

Dec. 11: Identity theft, 500 block of West Cummins Street.

Dec. 14: Operating while intoxicated, Chicago Blvd. and Union Street.

Dec. 15: Assault, 100 block of Bidwell Street.

Dec. 19: Larceny from a building, 2600 block of West Chicago Blvd.

TECUMSEH TOWNSHIP

Nov. 22: Fraud, 9200 block of Billmyer Highway.

Dec. 20: Wire fraud, 9300 block of North Adrian Highway.

WOODSTOCK TOWNSHIP

Nov. 25: Burglary (unoccupied building or structure), 15800 block of West U.S. 223.

Nov. 28: Assault, 7800 block of Stephens Way.

Nov. 30: Assault, 14400 block of West U.S. 223.

Dec. 4: Assault, 10300 block of Briggs Highway.

Dec. 15: Assault, 18700 block of West U.S. 223.

Dec. 17: Burglary (residential, no forced entry), 16100 block of Addison Road.

Dec. 19: Assault, 15800 block of Lelah Lane.

FIREPLACE

LISD students make tables and benches for Share the Warmth

ADRIAN — High school students from the Lenawee Intermediate School District building trades program recently used their skills to benefit the community by constructing and donating three picnic tables and two benches for Share the Warmth of Lenawee, a local homeless shelter.

The project not only provided a practical contribution to the shelter’s outdoor space, but also showcased the students’ craftsmanship and commitment to giving back.

The building trades class at LISD offers students hands-on experience in carpentry and construction, preparing them for careers in the skilled trades. Under the guidance of instructor Scott Biggs, the students learned not only how to work with tools and materials but also how to use their skills to benefit others.

“This project provided students with the opportunity to put their classroom skills into action in a real-world setting,” Biggs said. “They not only learned how to build something functional and durable, but they also saw the positive impact that their work could have on people in need.”

The tables and benches were constructed from high-quality materials to withstand outdoor weather and heavy use. The students followed detailed plans to create sturdy, long-lasting pieces that would serve the needs of the homeless community in Lenawee County.

Share the Warmth of Lenawee is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The outdoor seating will provide a comfortable place

for shelter residents to enjoy meals, socialize, or simply relax in the fresh air.

Shannon DeSloover, executive director of Share the Warmth of Lenawee, expressed her gratitude for the students’ contribution.

“This donation is a true gift for our guests. It’s not just about the tables and benches — it’s about the thoughtfulness and effort behind them,” DeSloover said. “We are so grateful to these students for their hard work and for making our outdoor space more welcoming and functional for the people we serve.”

The students gained experience in woodworking and construction, but they also learned about the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness. Many students found the project to be an eye-opening experience.

“It feels really good to know that something we built is going to help people who really need it,” said Joshua Thomas, a Tech Center student from Adrian High School. “This project taught me a lot about teamwork, craftsmanship, and the impact we can have on others.”

The building of the picnic tables and benches was a culmination of several weeks of work, with students involved in every step of the process — from measuring and cutting wood to assembling the pieces and finishing the surfaces. The effort required collaboration and problem-solving.

“These young people are developing not only as skilled tradespeople but as community-minded individuals,” Biggs said. “I’m very proud of what they’ve accomplished.”

Jeanie DeCocker, owner with her employees, Dawn Moran, & Cagni Karl

Pictured from left to right are LISD Tech Center building trades students Braeden Hall (Sand Creek), Joshua Thomas (Adrian), Elijah Crete (Madison), Harrison Mapstone (Blissfield), Mason Nichols (Blissfield), Alex Anspach (Britton Deerfield), Hunter Hallock (Adrian), and Aston Jones (Hudson).

LISD Tech Center building trades students who worked on building picnic tables and benches for Share the Warmth of Lenawee included Emmanuel DePalma (Morenci), Kessler Durkee (Addison), Bradley Miller (Tecumseh), Noland Wilson (Blissfield), and Talan Kruse (Morenci).

Flores from page A1

Although the makeup of the people who do seasonal work on southeast Michigan farms has changed over the past decade, many of their needs have not.

Those needs include warm clothing, blankets, and health care — and also information.

“The most important thing that we give is information,” Flores said.

Flores and his colleagues provide migrant farmworkers with information about topics like health care, immigration laws, civil rights, and English literacy.

He noted that the work would not be possible without help from many local schools, businesses, agencies, and religious organizations.

“We folks that serve the migrant seasonal farmworker community could not do the work without the collaboration, support, and alliance of our local community,” he said.

Rudy Flores is pictured at the Adrian District Library with a sample of the kind of resources he works to provide to migrant farmworkers in southeast Michigan. Those resources include information about health care, immigration laws, civil rights, and English literacy services such as those provided at the Adrian Rea Literacy Center.

New owner takes the baton at downtown Adrian running store

Running with E’s enters its 25th year, a longtime customer takes over from founders Eric and Kerri

By Arlene Bachanov The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — Rachel (Ham) Miller was a middle school runner at Hudson when she started coming into Running with E’s, the store at 146 N. Main St. in downtown Adrian that supplies many area runners with shoes, apparel, accessories, nutritional supplements, and more.

And as the Clayton native progressed into becoming a star runner at Hudson High School and then at Siena Heights University, Running with E’s owners, Eric and Kerri Clarke, saw something special about her.

That’s why, when the Clarkes started thinking about retiring and turning their store over to a new owner, Miller was the one they wanted to carry on their legacy.

“You get to know your people,” Eric Clarke said. “Watching her, and watching how she’s grown up, it wasn’t a question. … She has great character. She’s everything you want.”

The Clarkes approached Miller with the idea and she talked it over with her husband, James. There was some hesitation at first, she admits, because the couple already owns a business and they have three young children.

“So I didn’t know how this would work,” she said. But she and James ultimately decided to say yes. She began working with the Clarkes last August and officially became the store’s new owner in December, just as the business was embarking on its 25th year of operation.

The Clarkes, both lifelong Lenawee County residents, opened Running with E’s in December 2000 because “we saw a need for it,” Eric said.

They had a running club in the mid1990s — Eric is actually the runner of the two of them, although Kerri loves to walk — and knew the strength of the local running

Clarke

community, whether it’s school and college programs or individual runners.

It was that community that banded together to help the Clarkes get their new business off the ground, even coming in to do the physical labor needed to transform the building into its new life.

The couple quickly developed a store that serves as a hub for runners from all over the area. Customers come from not only throughout Lenawee County, but from Jackson, Hillsdale, and Monroe

counties as well as Ohio, and the Clarkes began and sponsored many area races as well as serving as race directors both locally and elsewhere.

Running with E’s outfits not just runners and walkers of all ages and abilities, from weekend joggers to professional racers, but also those who simply want to wear better shoes for everyday use.

“A big portion of our business is everyday people,” Kerri Clarke said.

“Lots of people come in and say, ‘I don’t run.’ ” What separates the store from many others, such as big-box stores, is the quality of the shoes and the customer service involved. People buying shoes will have their foot structure and gait evaluated, get a professional fit of just the right shoe for their needs, and have a chance to test the shoes out.

See RUNNING WITH E’S, page B2

As

Rachel Miller, center, pictured with Kerri and Eric Clarke, is the new owner of Running With E’s in downtown Adrian. Miller first started shopping at the store when she was a middle school runner at Hudson. ARLENE BACHANOV/LENAWEE VOICE

Running with E’s from

page B1

Miller said the biggest mistake people make at other stores is buying shoes that are wrong for what they want to do, or are even the wrong shoes for their feet.

In fact, Kerri added, “most of the people who come in turn out to be wearing the wrong size.”

Shoe technology has definitely progressed over the years since the Clarkes opened their store. And while that sort of change will continue, none of what made Running with E’s the store that the Clarkes built over the course of 24 years will be different under its new ownership.

“I actually didn’t want anything to change,” Miller said, “and that’s what most of the customers who’ve come in for years would think too. … It’s what works for this community. What’s the saying? ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’”

Miller’s first experience as a runner came in sixth grade when she had friends in school who participated in crosscountry. “I wanted to run,” she said, “and I was the fastest in the class by far.”

That’s even how she met her future husband. She beat him in the school’s President’s Physical Fitness competition. James, for his part, went home and told his family, “There’s this red-haired girl at school ...”

When she went on to high school, her coach asked her which records she wanted to break, and her answer was simple: “All of them.” She finished her high school career with all but two, and still holds seven of them.

Her running success continued at SHU, where she was coached by Tim Bauer. Bauer, who retired from the

university in 2023, continues to be a fan both of hers and of the store.

“This is one of the friendliest places,” he said. “They’ve been wonderful people.” And, he said, he knows what the Clarkes do: that Miller was the right person to take over the business.

Why does Miller like to run?

“You’ve heard of the runner’s high?” she asked. “I try to get that every time I run.”

Besides, she said, the sport has both physical and mental benefits, with research showing that running “is the best thing you can do for your mental health.” And, Eric chimed in, “it’s also the only sport you can do anywhere,” because all people need are their running clothes and shoes.

For the Clarkes, selling the store gives them a chance to do some of the things that have been hard to impossible for them as business owners.

“It was time to sell,” Eric said. “We have things we want to do and grandkids we want to spend time with.”

“We’ve missed a lot of family time,” Kerri added. Still, she said, “we wouldn’t have sold if it wasn’t to the right person. If it meant working another three or four years, we would have.”

That was why they were both so pleased when Miller took them up on their offer to sell the store to her. And as the ownership transition took place, “it’s just confirmed our decision,” Eric said.

Not that the Clarkes might not still be around every now and then. “I’m not kicking them out,” Miller said, laughing. “They’re welcome here anytime.”

Running with E’s is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 517-266-6344 or go to runningwithes.com.

Rachel Miller demonstrates a shoe fitting with Tim Bauer at Running with E’s in downtown Adrian. ARLENE BACHANOV/LENAWEE VOICE

New leader named at Gleaner

ADRIAN — Gleaner Life Insurance Society has appointed Todd M. Warner of Onsted as the 11th president and CEO in the society’s 130year history. Warner previously served as Gleaner Life’s senior vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer.

Warner has deep family roots with Gleaner Life. His maternal grandfather was a Gleaner agency manager in western Ohio. His father, the late Bill B. Warner, joined the agency and eventually became a senior vice president and chair of Gleaner’s board of directors. His mother, Sharon, lives in Blissfield, as does his older brother, who owns William O. Warner Insurance Agency.

Warner graduated from Adrian College in 1986 and spent 29 years in accounting and finance with Toledo-area hospital system Mercy Health Partners. His tenure included three years as the CFO and three years as COO of Mercy Health Physicians. He joined Gleaner Life’s board of directors in 2013, stepping aside after six years to fill Gleaner’s CFO and treasurer positions.

“My vision for Gleaner is to honor our legacy by building on our strong foundation and working together with our staff, agents, and other partners to develop the products and services our members need,” Warner stated. “By upholding our commitment to fraternalism, we will foster a supportive and united community.”

He and his wife, Andrea, live in the Onsted area. He also serves with the Greater Lenawee Chamber of Commerce as treasurer and a board member.

Board chair Margaret Noe, said she was “happy and excited and honored” to make the announcement. She also praised Kevin Marti, who served as interim president and CEO while a thorough search for a successor was conducted by Chicago-based insurance recruitment firm The Jacobson Group.

Founded in 1894, Gleaner Life Insurance Society is a nationally recognized not-for-profit fraternal benefit society that assists its members in achieving their financial security goals through a broad range of life insurance and annuity financial solutions.

DRAGONFLY TAKES FLIGHT

Kari Chapman opens Dragonfly Tattoo Co. on West Maumee in downtown Adrian

By Julie C. Clemes The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — For Kari Chapman, opening her own tattoo shop, Dragonfly Tattoo Co. in downtown Adrian, is the realization of a lifelong dream.

“This is what I’ve always wanted to do,” she said.

Chapman is a graduate of Sand Creek High School. She studied graphic arts and photography at Jackson College before she started building her tattoo career. She named the shop the Dragonfly Tattoo Co. because she felt that the dragonfly reflects her journey as a tattoo artist.

“Dragonflies are extremely resilient,” Chapman said. “Even if they do get damaged, they just continue to go on.”

“I’ve had a pretty hard time building up my tattoo career, so it just felt like the right thing,” she said.

Chapman spent a little under a year at Good Life Tattoo in downtown Adrian

— where she learned different styles of drawing and other techniques, such as shading — while she was waiting for “the right moment” to start learning the actual tattoo work. She then worked at Tecumseh Tattoo for 1½ years before opening her own shop.

“Dragonflies are extremely resilient. Even if they do get damaged, they just continue to go on.”

— Kari Chapman

Dragonfly Tattoo opened on Oct. 14, 2024, the same day that Chapman got approval from the Lenawee County Health Department. She is glad that she “took the leap” into opening her own business.

“I make this shop my own, with my vibe, my style,” she said. “It’s my life, my fun. It’s been kind of amazing since I’ve opened.”

Chapman said that she hasn’t had a problem building up a client base, especially when it comes to repeat customers.

“They almost always book another appointment before they leave, which is fantastic,” she said. She is currently booking a few months out.

Prices start at $75 minimum for small, outline tattoos, and go up based on the amount of work, the size of the piece, and the amount of detail in the image.

Chapman is glad to be downtown, especially because her family owns Nutrition 360, located “just around the corner.”

“Honestly, the community down here is so great,” Chapman said. “I see so much potential for downtown and I’m so happy to be a part of it.”

Dragonfly Tattoo is at 106 W. Maumee St., Adrian. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 7 p.m. For more information, call 517-366-9476.

Lean Rocket Local Fellows program plans second cohort

ADRIAN — Lenawee Now and the Hillsdale Economic Development Partnership will launch the second cohort of the Lenawee/Hillsdale Lean Rocket Local Fellows Program in March 2025.

This cohort-style business boot camp is open to 12 local business owners from Lenawee and Hillsdale counties. To qualify, candidates must have a revenuegenerating business and complete an

application form. Selected participants will pitch their businesses to a panel as part of the program.

The program, originally established by Jackson’s Lean Rocket Lab, aims to eliminate common barriers faced by entrepreneurs. Through this cohort, business owners gain access to expert training, financial assistance, and a supportive entrepreneurial community. Fellows receive in-depth instruction on

key business fundamentals, including accounting, sales, and marketing, provided by regional business experts. Thanks to a partnership with American 1 Credit Union, participants can also qualify for milestone grants by achieving specific business goals.

For more information, visit leanrocketlab.org/local or contact Gary Clemetson at Gary@LenaweeNow.org or Sue Smith at SSmith@HillsdaleEDP.org.

Kari Chapman is pictured at Dragonfly Tattoo Co., which she opened late last year. JULIE C. CLEMES/LENAWEE VOICE

Todd Warner

What happens to your recycling after it goes on the truck?

There is often one sentiment among those who are hesitant to utilize their program, whether curbside or dropoff — they don’t believe it’s really being recycled. So, we did a little digging, and here’s what we’ve learned about where your recycling goes once it’s carried away by a hauler.

Stevens Disposal: While most trash that gets picked up by Stevens for municipal customers and subscribers goes back to its headquarters in Petersburg, that is not the case with what goes into the recycling trucks. Once your recyclables fill up a truck, it heads to Recycle Ann Arbor’s Zero Waste Materials Recovery Facility. This new state-of-the-art facility opened in 2022.

LRS (formerly Modern Waste): LRS hauls recycling for residential subscribers, through municipal contracts, and from the Lenawee County Recycling Drop-off Site. LRS takes all recyclables to its transfer station in Jackson before shipping with other loads from the area to their MRF near Chicago called “The Exchange.”

The Exchange is another state-of-theart facility that opened in summer 2023. It processes recycling at a rate of 25 tons of recyclables per hour.

JULIE MAURER

What happens at an MRF?

A Materials Recovery Facility is where most of the recycling action happens! Once there, your recyclables get sorted into types of commodities, such as cardboards, aluminum, etc. Each commodity then gets put into a baler to compact it into shippable shape. Bales are then stacked together to be loaded into a truck once sold to an end-user.

But what about … ?

“I put an air tag in my recycling and it ended up in the landfill.” This was something someone said to us once to try to prove that recyclables are not getting recycled. First off, please don’t do this. It can contaminate a load and make everyone’s efforts go to waste. But for the sake of argument, here are some reasons why someone’s tracker could have ended up in the landfill.

n It was sorted out of the recycling at the MRF. The machines and people at MRFs are dedicated to sorting the designated commodities together. A piece of tech that falls loose will get sorted right out of there and into the trash.

n It contaminated the load. That would send the whole load to the land fill. Thus, the air tag determined to prove recycling didn’t happen becomes a selffulfilling prophecy.

n The landfill that the air tag ended up in actually serves as an MRF. This was the ultimate case for the person mentioned above, because the place they said their recycling ended up at was indeed a landfill — but a quick web search revealed that the location also accepted and sorted recyclables. The “proof” that this person had for recycling not being valid turned out to not be true at all!

But I saw…

Another concern people raise from time to time is anecdotal evidence about seeing garbage collectors putting the recycling bins in the trash trucks instead of a separate recycling truck. If you do indeed see this happening, please call

your carrier, because it is something they will take very seriously.

Most haulers’ contracts with local municipalities have a requirement that recyclables cannot end up at the landfill, so it is in their best interest to nip any mistakes like this in the bud.

If you have a concern that your recycling is not handled properly, give them a call at:

Stevens — 734-279-2611

LRS — 517-536-4900

Representatives from Republic, Stevens and LRS also sit on Lenawee County’s Materials Management Planning Committee, which is currently in the process of replacing the county’s existing Solid Waste Plan with a new Materials Management Plan that focuses on diverting even more waste from our landfills.

Hopefully some of this information has helped dispel some of your fears about putting your recyclables in the bin. If you have any questions and concerns about the recycling program, email solid. waste@lenawee.mi.us and we will try to help you find answers!

Julie Maurer is Lenawee County’s solid waste program coordinator.

Adrian Public Schools awarded $245,664 in grant funds for water filtration

ADRIAN — Adrian Public Schools recently announced it has received $254,664.21 in funding through the Filter First — Healthy Hydration program.

This state-funded initiative aims to reduce childhood exposure to lead in drinking water by requiring the installation and maintenance of certified water filtration systems at schools and licensed childcare centers.

The funds will be used to install filtered bottle-filling stations and other approved filtration systems throughout the district, enhancing efforts to ensure high-quality

drinking water for students and staff.

Brandon Garland, the district’s director of facilities, will oversee the project.

“Adrian Public Schools already provides safe drinking water to our students and staff,” Garland said. “This grant allows us to continue to improve our water systems and take additional precautions to maintain the high standards our community expects.”

Adrian Public Schools business manager Dan Peña highlighted the importance of the legislature providing funding for the new mandate.

“We appreciate the Michigan state legislature providing a funding source for a mandate,” said Peña. “Their allocation of resources for this critical initiative will allow the district to meet the new mandate using grant dollars rather than general fund dollars.”

Superintendent Nate Parker applauded the efforts of Garland and Peña in securing the competitive grant. “Brandon and Dan have done great work in securing this grant,” Parker said. “Their hard work in bringing these valuable resources to the district supports

our ongoing efforts to enhance the safety and well-being of our students.”

The Filter First — Healthy Hydration program was created with a $50 million appropriation by the Michigan Legislature. It uses federal funding to support installing filtration systems in schools and childcare centers statewide. Administered jointly by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the Michigan Department of Education, the program ensures safe hydration for Michigan’s youngest residents.

Gleaner Life Insurance Society recently donated nearly $80,000 to Lenawee Cares, a program of the Lenawee Community Foundation. The Lenawee Cares campaign supports efforts to provide food, shelter, and critical resources for the community. Lenawee Cares, established in 2016, is a community-driven annual fund and corporate campaign. Pictured here are Gleaner interim president and CEO Kevin Marti and LCF executive director Bronna Kahle.

On Dec. 18, the Kiwanis Club of Adrian presented $30,000 to the Lenawee Humane Society in support of the organization’s campaign to build a new Humane Society building on the campus of ProMedica Hickman Hospital. Pictured here are LHS executive director Marcie Cornell; director of communications and marketing Sasha Wilkerson; and Kiwanis Club president Heather Pearce.

Youth Council awards grants to 11 local projects

ADRIAN — The Lenawee Community Foundation recently announced $18,854 in grants to community projects. The projects were chosen by members of the Lenawee Youth Council.

The Lenawee Youth Council, which is a program of the Lenawee Community Foundation, provides Lenawee County residents between the ages of 12 and 21 with opportunities to participate in community service projects, collaborate with others, and develop leadership skills.

The money comes from an endowment that was established over 25 years ago to support projects that benefit and are driven by young people in Lenawee County.

Lenawee Youth Council members review each grant application for eligibility then make recommendations to the Lenawee Community Foundation board of directors.

“These young people take great pride in their community and the impact these grants will have throughout Lenawee County,” said Paula Trentman, LCF vice president and director of grants and programs. “They carefully and thoughtfully base their decisions on several factors including the communities in which the project supports and the number of youth assets that will be increased.”

The grants will support 11 programs:

n Youth programming at the Adrian Center for the Arts, including art classes and after-school clubs for children and teens.

n The purchase of materials in Spanish for the Adrian District Library, benefiting more than 1,700 teens.

n A field trip to the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation for students in the Adrian High School International Baccalaureate program.

n Youth programming at the Adrian Symphony Orchestra, including a concert that serves up to 2,300 Lenawee County students.

n Engaging young volunteers at Ahimsa Safe Haven, an animal rescue near Onsted.

n The restoration of the teen space at the Boys & Girls Club of Lenawee, which will be planned with input from teens at the club.

n The Roadmap to Graduation project, operated by Catholic Charities, which places unaccompanied 17- and 18-year-olds from Lenawee County into safe and supportive mentor homes, with the goal of helping them graduate from high school.

n A program through Housing Help of Lenawee that will help more than 500 kids experiencing homelessness take part in sports, drama, field trips, and other extracurricular activities that require money to participate.

n An informational event about mental health for young people in the Hudson area.

n The Lenawee Community Foundation’s Health, Happiness, & Hope Fund, which is intended to increase the amount of unrestricted funds available to meet community needs.

n Imagination Library, which distributes books to over 1,000 Lenawee County children from birth to age 5. Books are mailed to the children at home at no cost to their families.

For more information about the Lenawee Youth Council, contact Paula Trentman at paula@lenaweecf.com.

AHS senior honored with Silent Servant Award

ADRIAN — Adrian High School

Senior Gabe Venerable was recognized at the Nov. 25 Adrian Public Schools Board of Education meeting for his commitment to community service and leadership, earning him the Silent Servant Award presented by the Peter R. Marsh Foundation.

The Silent Servant Award emphasizes the importance of empathy and service, encouraging students to inspire their peers to adopt similar values.

Venerable’s dedication to serving others was shaped by a near-death experience two years ago that transformed his focus on academics and helping others. Dana Noel, the school guidance counselor who nominated him for the award, said: “Gabriel Venerable is an amazing young man. He is so compassionate and gives so much of his time to others in the community. His involvement and selflessness make him a positive role model to his peers and the younger generation.”

Venerable serves as treasurer of Key Club and is a member of the National Honor Society, Equations, Art Club,

orchestra, and theatrical plays. He’s also an athlete, participating in bowling and hockey and serving as a referee for youth hockey, mentoring the next generation of athletes.

He also works with Project Unify, where he fosters meaningful relationships with students facing learning and physical challenges. Through games, lunches, and participation in the Special Olympics, he builds bonds that inspire his peers and the broader community.

Beyond school, his community service extends to restoring gravestones in Findlay, Ohio, collecting food for local food banks, and volunteering with Scouts to clean up Michigan International Speedway after a summer concert series.

“Gabe is the epitome of a servant leader,” said AHS principal Sam Skeels. “His selflessness and commitment to others have created a lasting impact on our school and community. He inspires us all to strive for the same level of empathy and service.”

Reflecting on the award, Venerable said: “I’m honored to receive this recognition, but it’s not just about me. I’ve been lucky to have opportunities to help others and learn from them along the way. Serving my community has taught me so much about empathy and the importance of being there for one another.”

Amanda Venerable, Gabe Venerable, and Superintendent Nate Parker are pictured at the Nov. 25 Adrian school board meeting. COURTESY OF ADRIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Students reflect on Christmas memories in Salvation Army’s Painted Kettle Contest

By Julie C. Clemes The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — For the past three Christmas seasons, the Salvation Army in Adrian has sponsored a Painted Kettle Contest for students in each of Lenawee County’s school districts.

This year, students in all 11 Lenawee County public high schools submitted entries on the theme “Your Favorite Christmas Memory.”

The winning kettle was submitted by Morenci High School and painted by Rebecca Cox, who also won last year’s contest. Second and third place went to the entries from Adrian and Onsted.

The goal of the Painted Kettle Contest is to raise awareness of the Salvation Army and the work it does in the community, said Capt. Laura Lunnam.

“The biggest thing is making the schools out in our county know that the Salvation Army in Adrian represents all of Lenawee County,” Lunnam said. “By going out there, they know that the Salvation Army’s there for them.”

“Getting students and teenagers involved is important because they’re our future,” she added.

The red metal kettles used in the contest are no longer used for bellringing, having been replaced with larger, more efficient plastic kettles five or 10 years ago. They “were sitting around collecting dust,” Lunnam said.

Lunnam said she got the idea of using the metal kettles for a decorating contest

Donation boosts Clayton Fire Dept.’s fundraising for new life-saving equipment

CLAYTON — TLC Community Credit Union recently presented a $3,500 donation to the Clayton Fire Department in support of their fundraising efforts to purchase new life-saving equipment.

“We’re excited to be upgrading our equipment to better serve our community,” said fire chief Brad Terrill.

“By refurbishing our current field fire jeep, we’ve already saved taxpayers significant costs. Our next step is to replace the pump. Additionally, we’re investing in advanced life-saving technology with the purchase of an ARM XR automated chest compression system. Our fundraising goal is $18,000 and with this donation and others, we are on our way to achieving these goals for Clayton and the surrounding communities.”

Tecumseh recognized for contributions to Michigan’s growth

TECUMSEH — The city of Tecumseh has been named a 2024 eCities Honored Community for its successes and efforts in contributing to Michigan’s growth. The designation was given as part of the annual eCities study, conducted by iLabs, the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Office of Engagement and Impact. The four other Honored Communities are Battle Creek, Mount Pleasant, Romulus, and Sault Ste. Marie.

The eCities study analyzed publicly available data from 277 communities in 54 Michigan counties.

from contests she had seen at other Salvation Army locations. She added that the Painted Kettle Contest brings an element of fun into the work the Salvation Army does.

“We do everything we can do to make it fun,” Lunnam said. “If you can’t do it fun, don’t do it. “

Some kettles in the contest featured only paint, while others also had glued-

on cutouts. The kettle from Adrian High School featured lights that actually lit up.

“It’s interesting to see what they come up with,” Lunnam said.

One thing she noticed about the kettle designs this year is that they featured the activities that are associated with Christmas, not material goods.

“So many of them had things like making Christmas cookies,” Lunnam said. “I just want to encourage families to know that none of them had presents painted on there.”

“It’s a good reminder to the parents and the grandparents of the world that if you ask a bunch of teenagers ‘What’s your favorite memory?’ you don’t see the Xboxes and PlayStations drawn on there,” Lunnam continued. “It’s the time with people that they remember.”

Morenci Adrian Onsted

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Prevent and detect cervical cancer

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness about cervical cancer, its causes, and preventive measures that can save lives. Understanding cervical health is essential for early detection, effective prevention, and improved outcomes.

Cervical cancer occurs when cells in the cervix grow uncontrollably. The cervix, located at the lower part of the uterus, connects the uterus (or womb) to the vagina (birth canal). This cancer develops gradually, starting with abnormal changes in the transformation zone of the cervix, often referred to as precancers.

Regular screenings, including HPV tests and Pap smears, can identify abnormal cell changes or infections before they develop into cancer.

Anyone with a cervix is at risk, though cervical cancer most frequently affects individuals over 30. A long-lasting infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus transmitted through sexual contact. While HPV is widespread, affecting at least half of sexually active individuals at some point, only a small percentage develop cervical cancer.

Early detection is key. Cervical cancer may not cause symptoms in its early stages. Advanced cases may result in abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge.

MONICA HUNT

Recognizing these signs and seeking medical advice is crucial.

Prevention includes vaccination and screening. The HPV vaccine is highly effective in preventing infections with HPV types most likely to cause cervical cancer. The CDC recommends vaccination starting at ages 11 or 12, but it can be administered as early as 9 and up to age 26 for those who missed earlier vaccination.

Regular screenings, including HPV tests and Pap smears, identify abnormal cell changes or infections before they develop into cancer. Pap smears detect precancerous cell changes, while HPV tests check for the virus itself.

Screening recommendations depend on age and test type.

n Ages 21 to 29: Pap tests every three years if results are normal.

n Ages 30 to 65: Options include primary HPV testing every five years, cotesting (HPV and Pap) every five years, or Pap testing alone every three years.

Regular screenings are vital for early detection and prevention. Consult your healthcare provider to determine the best option based on your health history.

Free or low-cost screenings in Lenawee County

The Lenawee County Health Department, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, offers free or low-cost cervical cancer screenings through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program (BC3NP). This program helps eligible low-income people access critical screening services.

Eligibility includes:

n Uninsured or underinsured women, transgender individuals, or gendernonconforming individuals (per CDC guidance) at or below 250% of the federal poverty level.

n Breast cancer screenings for those aged 40–64.

n Cervical cancer screenings for those aged 21–64.

n Current Michigan residents or migrant workers.

Participants may qualify for free mammograms and Pap tests, as well as diagnostic services for those with highdeductible insurance plans. If diagnosed with cancer, participants may be eligible to receive treatment through the BC3NP Medicaid Treatment Act.

Take action today. Timely screening is essential, as early-detected cervical cancer is highly treatable. For more information on the BC3NP program or the HPV vaccine, visit our website or contact us at 517-264-5226.

Monica Hunt is the Lenawee County Health Department’s Health Officer.

Careers at the LISD span a range of programs and services, including special education, career and technical

general education, early childhood, adult learning, transportation, technology, and administrative and support services.

Tips for staving off seasonal depression

The holiday season is full of joy and light, but the months that follow can feel long and gloomy. With colder, unpredictable weather and fewer daylight hours, it’s tempting to stay indoors. Many of us may feel like hibernating, much like a bear in its den.

During winter, staying connected with others is especially important. If you notice a friend or family member showing signs of seasonal depression — such as changes in appetite, sleeping more than usual, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, or a loss of interest in things they once enjoyed — it’s time to step in and offer support.

Taking the time to visit someone who feels isolated can make a big difference. For older adults, cold weather or concerns about falling may prevent them from keeping up with their usual routines. Offering to drive them to a favorite place or activity, such as a senior center, could ease their anxiety about getting out during the winter. Having a companion can make it easier to get involved. If leaving home is too challenging, consider bringing their favorite activities to them. A book club, card game, or crafting group might be able to meet at their home instead.

A little sunshine can also do wonders for the mood. Encourage your loved one to open the blinds and sit near a sunny window. If they’re willing, bundling up for a short time on the porch or taking a quick ride in the car can be uplifting. For those who find it especially difficult to get outside, you might suggest asking a doctor about light therapy. Light therapy lamps, which mimic natural sunlight, are widely available online and in stores and can be used for just a few minutes a day to help improve mood.

Adding more Vitamin D to the diet can also have positive effects. A deficiency in Vitamin D can cause fatigue, bone pain, and a low mood. Foods like egg yolks, cheese, beef liver, and fatty fish such as salmon naturally contain higher levels of Vitamin D. Many products, including milk, yogurt, cereals, and juice, are also fortified with extra Vitamin D. If necessary, a doctor may recommend supplements.

Exercise is another excellent way to lift the spirits during winter. Physical activity doesn’t have to be intense to be effective. Simple stretching and strengthening exercises can help release serotonin, a hormone that enhances mood. Many senior centers offer gentle exercise programs that are easy to participate in. If staying home is a better option, there are free videos and online groups with exercises tailored to older adults. Even marching in place during TV commercials or lifting soup cans for can make a difference.

While it’s normal to want to stay cozy during the colder months, feelings of sadness or withdrawal that last more than two weeks may indicate a more serious issue. If efforts to keep your loved one engaged and active don’t seem to help, it may be time to consult a doctor. With the right support, even the darkest winter months can become brighter.

Cari

Rebottaro is director of the Lenawee County Department on Aging.

IN MEMORY

We regret that space does not allow us to print detailed obituaries. These listings are intended as a guide to the obituaries that may be found on local funeral homes’ websites. When available, brief biographical information is provided to aid the reader in determining if they knew the deceased. To view complete information, please refer to this key:

[AM] Anderson-Marry Funeral Homes, andersonfuneralservices.com

[BVH] Brown-Van Hemert Funeral Home, brownvanhemert.com

[E] Eineder Funeral Homes, einederfuneralhomes.com

[H] Handler Funeral Homes, handlerfuneralhomes.com

[PA] Purse Funeral Home in Adrian, pursefuneralhome.com

[PS] Gil Purse & Son, gilpurseandson.com

[S] Schaffer Funeral Home, schafferfh.com

[W] Wagley Funeral Homes, wagleyfuneralhomes.com

Sister Sarah Ann Sharkey, OP, 83, of Adrian died on Nov. 19. Formerly known as Sister John Peter, she was in her 64th year of religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation. She served the congregation as novice director for four years, was on the faculty of St. Mary Seminary and University in Baltimore for 13 years, and spent almost 20 years as an associate professor at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio. She was esteemed as a scripture scholar and professor. [ADS]

Richard “Rick” Dean Stuart, 67, of Adrian died on Nov. 20. He was a Tecumseh High School graduate and earned his journeyman’s card as a machine repairman at Washtenaw Community College in 1977. He apprenticed at Hoover Ball and Bearing. He started working for General Motors in 1985 in Pontiac before transferring to Toledo Propulsion Systems. [W]

Sister Shirley Heymes, OP, 94, of Adrian died on Nov. 22. Formerly Sister James Barbara, she was in her 76th year of religious profession as an Adrian Dominican Sister. She was born in Detroit and ministered in education for 46 years in Illinois, Florida, Michigan, and Ohio, including four years as principal at St. Mary School in Defiance, Ohio. Her volunteer service after retirement included ministries at the Dominican Literacy Center in Detroit and at St. John Hospital in Detroit. [ADS]

Gerald “Jerry” Lee Porter, 64, of Brooklyn died on Nov. 22. He worked for many years at Johnson Controls/Uniloy Milacron. He managed and strategically reformatted the plant at Midwest Can, a largescale plastic container factory, helping lead the company to the top of its industry. [H]

Michele Elizabeth Wonderly, 71, of Britton died on Nov. 22. She worked in medical research at the University of Michigan for 31 years, retiring in 2008. She enjoyed crocheting, camping, and canoe trips. [H]

Sister Miriam Joseph Lekan, OP, 101, of Adrian died on Nov. 23. Baptized as Josephine Bernadette, she was in her 81st year as an Adrian Dominican Sister. She spent more than 37 years in elementary and secondary education in Illinois, Michigan, Florida, and Ohio, including six years as principal at St. Michael School in Grand Ledge. She then became a licensed practical nurse, ministering in Cleveland for more than 17 years. After retirement she served in several volunteer ministries. [ADS]

Rosalinda Nieto , 67, of Adrian died on Nov. 23. She is survived by two brothers and nine sisters and her companion, Sergio. [PA]

Shirley Ann Short, 88, of Clinton died on Nov. 23. She worked in a factory for many years. She was a volunteer grandmother at Clinton Elementary School and the Clinton Youth Center. She enjoyed spending time working in her yard, canning fruits and vegetables, serving as a foster mother, and taking care of animals. [H]

Roger William Block, 94, of Lake Columbia died on Nov. 24. He served in the U.S. Marines during the Korean Conflict. He worked with the Evan Sherratt Company repairing and installing X-ray machines. In 1985 he developed a room with special shielding for MRI machines at Henry Ford Hospital. In 1992 he and his wife retired to their home on Lake Columbia in Brooklyn. He was active in many organizations, including the American Legion Post 315, Irish Hills Marine Corps League, Brooklyn Presbyterian Church, and Conklin Reed Organ Museum. [BVH]

Joe Edward Griffin, 65, formerly of Adrian, died on Nov. 24. He is survived by sisters who live in Adrian. [PA]

Edward William Jacobson, 78, of Blissfield died on Nov. 24. He graduated from Blissfield High School and attended Ferris State University. After a spinal cord injury he attended the University of Toledo and became a teacher. [AM]

John William Keeney, 93, of Tipton died on Nov. 24. He was a 1949 graduate of Tecumseh High School and owned and managed Keeney Orchard. He enjoyed hunting and shooting sports and was an avid firearms collector. [AM]

Lela Jean Tiede, 86, of Blissfield died on Nov. 24. She graduated from Deerfield High School in 1957. She worked as a sales clerk at Richland Furs and Blissfield’s Old Country Store. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. [AM]

Stephen Hause, 79, of Saginaw died on Nov. 25. He was a 1963 graduate of Clinton High School. After college at Michigan State he attended Navy Officer Candidate School and served as gunnery officer on the USS Denebola. He was a member of the Sand Lake Volunteer Fire Department and was employed as a staff writer and editor at The Daily Telegram in Adrian. [H]

Keith Edwin Mallory, 70, of Palmyra died on Nov. 26. A 1972 graduate of Blissfield High School, he was employed at Tecumseh Products until they closed. He then began self-employment driving semi trucks, hauling grain for various farmers. He enjoyed spending time at the Blissfield American Legion. [AM]

Kathleen May Studnicka, 81, of Britton died on Nov. 26. She worked in the business office at Adrian College. She was a member of the senior center in Britton. She enjoyed traveling, cooking, and was a wine connoisseur and a member of the Ann Arbor Wine Club. [H]

Larry Dean Yape, 84, of Deerfield died on Nov. 26. He attended Deerfield High School and served in the Army National Guard. He worked for General Motors in Toledo as a toolmaker for 38 years until retirement. He was also a part-time livestock farmer who provided fair lambs for 4-H children for many years. [AM]

Edward Allen (Ed) Courington, 72, of Adrian died on Nov. 27. He attended Adrian Public Schools and spent his entire 48-year career at Kroger, starting when he was 16 and retiring in 2017. One of his proudest accomplishments was becoming a Master Gardener through Michigan State University, and he shared his knowledge by volunteering at Hidden Lake Gardens. [AM]

Caroline “Kate” L. Sawyer, 94, of Addison died on Nov. 27. After attending school she worked as a housekeeper. She was a member of the Congregational Church in Addison. [AM]

Shirley Ann Cabla, 94, of Britton died on Nov. 28. She worked as a secretary for Toledo Edison for 10 years and was a clerical worker at Tecumseh Products from 1967 until her retirement in 1993. She was an active member of St. Elizabeth/St. Dominic Catholic Church. [H]

Sharon Fay Ericksen, 75, of Grass Lake died on Nov. 28. She retired from the Detroit Police Department as a sergeant after many years of service. She was a member of the Irish Hills Eagles. [E]

Melissa “Missy” Denise Yatzek, 43, of Hudson died on Nov. 28. She was born in Adrian and graduated in 1999 from Morenci Area Schools. She was a member of Medina Federated Church. [AM]

Evelyn Marie (Stout) Beebe, 94, of Adrian died on Nov. 29. A graduate of Adrian High School and Siena Heights College, she taught first grade at Onsted Schools for 20 years. She was a member of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was active in the Rome, Pomona, State and National Granges, Farm Bureau, Clayton Woman’s Club, Lenawee County and State of Michigan retired teachers’ associations, Delta Kappa Gamma, Daughters of the American Revolution, Optimist Club, Lenawee County Federation of Woman’s Clubs, Order of the Eastern Star, and Rome Blue Ribbons 4-H club. [W]

Michele Lea Miller, 50, of Morenci died on Nov. 29. She was a 1992 graduate of Hudson High School. She enjoyed collecting rocks, coloring, crafting, gardening, fishing, and nature. [BVH]

Ann Elizabeth (Smith) Emerson, 76, of Adrian died on Nov. 30. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and then Adrian Catholic Central High School, graduating in 1966. She attended Mercy School of Nursing and Mary Manse College in Toledo. She worked as a Nurse Aide at Lenawee Medical Care Facility. She enjoyed volunteering at the Lenawee Historical Society Museum. [AM]

Ted Claude Mason, 88, of Blissfield died on Dec. 1. He attended Blissfield schools, graduating in 1955. He was an active member of the First United Brethren Church, serving as treasurer, and was on the Camp Michindoh Board. [W]

Margaret Helen “Peggy” Nieman, 74, of Blissfield died on Dec. 1. She attended Davis Business College and served over 30 years as Blissfield village treasurer. She also was a Den Mother for the Blissfield Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. She served as a Youth For Understanding regional director. She enjoyed bird watching, sewing, crafting and craft shows, and camping in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She was a longtime member of Blissfield Presbyterian Church. [AM]

Loretta Pauline (Cunningham) Peterson, 89, of Spring Arbor died on Dec. 1. She was a 1953 graduate of Pittsford High School and attended Jackson Business University. She worked at Consumers Power for over 35 years. She is survived by her children, including in Addison and Manitou Beach, and by grandchildren and great-grandchildren. [BVH]

Richard D. Robison, 86, of Adrian died on Dec. 1 at Adrian Bay Rehabilitation & Nursing Center. [PA]

Barbara Jean Stanlake, 89, of Hillsdale died on Dec. 1. She was born in Clayton. For many years she operated a greenery in the North Adams area. [BVH]

John Richard Stevenson, 88, of Powell, Ohio, died on Dec. 2. He was a graduate of Adrian High School and the University of Toledo. He served in the military with the Army Security Agency and worked for the Social Security Administration for over 30 years, retiring in 1995 as district manager in Defiance. Based on his many volunteer activities for over 35 years, he was selected to carry the torch for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. [S]

Michael D. Baumea, 69, of Adrian died on Dec. 3. He was an avid CB enthusiast and was known as “Star.” He was employed for several years at Liscomb Distributing. [PA]

Steven Wayne Griewahn, 73, of Milan died on Dec. 3. He was a 1969 graduate of Adrian High School, where he was on the swim team. He worked for General Motors as a pipefitter, retiring in 2015 after 30 years of service. He attended Raisin Valley Friends Church. He was a children’s ORV instructor and a licensed builder. [AM]

James Guy Rutherford, 57, of Adrian died on Dec. 3. He was a 1985 graduate of Hillsdale High School. He was a former employee of Adrian Steel and most recently worked at Advance Auto Parts in Adrian. [AM]

Scott “Scotty” Allen Shaw, 61, of Tipton died on Dec. 3. A 1988 graduate of Adrian High School, he worked as a professional drywaller for almost 40 years, recently retiring from the painters union. [PA]

Thomas Earl “Tommy” Maddox, 75, of Adrian died on Dec. 4. He worked as a Hi-Lo driver for Ford Motor Co. for 40 years. [PA]

Sister Mary Katherine Dolan, OP, 85, of Adrian died on Dec. 4. She was in her 66th year of religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation. She ministered for almost 50 years, including 17 as administrator of the Women’s Residence at Grace House in Chicago, where she helped formerly incarcerated women transition back into society. [ADS]

Linda M. Sell, 73, of Blissfield died on Dec. 4. She graduated from Blissfield High School in 1969 and was employed by Sears, Elder-Beerman, and Christopher & Banks. She was also active in 4-H and was a dog and horse lover. She enjoyed visiting lighthouses. For several years she was the water aerobics instructor at the Christian Family Centre. She volunteered in the office for 20 years at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Adrian. [W] Carl Stites, 82, of Tecumseh died on Dec. 5. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1962 to 1971, followed by two years in the reserves. He worked as a correctional officer at the Milan federal prison, retiring in 1994. [PS]

Sharon Louise Briggs, 79, of Adrian died on Dec. 6. She spent most of her life as a homemaker. She enjoyed sewing, camping, and spending time with her family. [AM]

Sister Luisa Campos, OP, 89, of Adrian died on Dec. 6. She was in her 62nd year of religious profession as an Adrian Dominican Sister. A native of the Dominican Republic, she ministered as a teacher in Michigan, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico for several years and then served in her home country as a lawyer, becoming the founding director of the Dominican Center for Legal Advice and Research and co-founding Ciudad Alternativa. She was committed to human rights and worked tirelessly for social justice for the marginalized and vulnerable. [ADS]

Geraldine “Gerry” L. Chase, 80, of Adrian died on Dec. 6. During her career she worked for several companies including Monsanto Chemical Company, Rockwell International, and Pacific Investment Management Company. She moved to Adrian in 2024 to be with family. [W]

Robert “Bob” Augustus Huntley Jr., 65, of Tecumseh died on Dec. 6. He worked in various jobs throughout his life including construction and concrete. He moved on to become a plant manager in various manufacturing establishments. [PS]

Kathryn Ann (Kay) Blair, 76, of Adrian died on Dec. 7. She graduated from Jackson High School in 1966. She worked for Madison schools as a teacher’s aide, among other roles, for 25 years, retiring in 2012. [PA]

Emma Jean Cheshier, 89, of Adrian died on Dec. 7. She was a member of Freedom Christian Fellowship in Adrian. She worked at the Adrian Big Boy for over 30 years and also owned and operated an Adult Foster Care home in Adrian. [AM]

Jackie Faye Dyke, 74, of Tecumseh died on Dec. 8. In addition to her factory work, she enjoyed working in her yard and spending time with family. She was a supporter of Hospice of Lenawee and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. [H]

Roland Neil Holmes, 86, of Hudson died on Dec. 8. He worked as the purchasing agent for Metalloy foundry until his retirment in 1999. He was a loyal Hudson Tigers and University of Michigan fan. [AM]

Angela Marie McKimmy, 59, of Hudson died on Dec. 8. She worked many years for Renaissance Community Homes and had also worked as a bartender. [PA]

Luella May Stevens, 74, of Palmyra died on Dec. 8 at home with her family. [PA] Cody Garrett Westgate, 33, of Adrian died on Dec. 8. He attended Madison schools. He taught himself small engine repair and worked for Gallant and Son, International Brass Works and Castalloy. He attended St. John’s Lutheran Church. [PA]

Gladys Loreen (Hammond) Hight, 91, of Adrian died on Dec. 9. She worked as a salesperson at Wallace Furniture. She enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles. She was an avid sports fan. [PS]

Karen Louise Kisner, 81, of Addison died on Dec. 9. She was a graduate of Morenci High School. She was an exceptional cook and won first place for her apple pie at the Michigan State Fair. She loved quilting, knitting and sewing. [BVH]

Sandra K. Marry, 81, of Hudson died on Dec. 9. She was a 1961 graduate of Hudson High School and attended Stautzenberger Business School. She was a medical transcriptionist at the University of Michigan Medical Center and at Thorn and Bixby hospitals, retiring from Thorn in 1995. She was a member of Sacred Heart Church and Altar Rosary Society. [AM]

Ruby Marie Kopka, 94, of Palmyra died on Dec. 10. She was a 1948 graduate of Adrian High School. She was a 4-H leader. She was the oldest living member of Palmyra Presbyterian Church, where she taught Sunday school and was an elder. [AM]

Sister Jean Marie Lehtinen, OP, 84, of Adrian died on Dec. 10. She was in her 63rd year of religious profession, having spent 41 years as a Dominican Sister of Edmonds, Washington, and 22 years as an Adrian Dominican Sister after the two congregations merged in 2003. She served the Adrian Dominicans as administrative assistant in the Mid-Atlantic Chapter Office. She later served in pastoral work, including with the Diocese of Toledo. [ADS]

Gloria Jean (Shumate) Linton, 65, of Hudson died on Dec. 10. She was an Adrian High School graduate and a stay-at-home mom. She enjoyed singing, country music, and talking on her CB, and was known as “Devil Woman.” [PA]

Bernard M. Pepper, 92, of Addison died on Dec. 10. He owned and operated Greenleaf Farms until his retirement and was a tool and die maker. He was an avid restorer of antique tractors and lawnmowers. He also collected classic cars and had a collection of nearly 200 model cars. He was a member of the Woodstock Township Board for more than 20 years and was instrumental in the design of the new township building. He was also on the Addison Fire Department. [BVH]

Wayne Edward Roback, 85, of Adrian died on Dec. 10. He graduated from Adrian High School and Michigan State University, where he earned an agricultural degree. He worked as a salesman for agricultural products for 25 years. He then worked for Adrian Public Schools in the maintenance department, retiring in 2004. After retirement he volunteered full-time for over 20 years at the Lenawee County Fairgrounds, and he was active with 4-H. [W]

Louise Lucille Vershum, 98, of Britton died on Dec. 10. She was an active lifelong member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church and enjoyed all of the Ladies Aid activities. She worked for the University of Michigan Health Study in Tecumseh for several years and then as a teller at United Savings Bank. [H]

Mary Charlotte Barker , 95, of Adrian died on Dec. 11. She was a 1947 graduate of Blissfield High School. She worked as a bookkeeper for IBM for several years and then at Adrian Steel, retiring in 1994. She was an active member of Weston Church of the Good Shepherd, formerly Weston United Methodist Church, for more than 30 years. [W]

Dianna Rae Heselschwerdt, 61, of Canandaigua died on Dec. 11. When she wasn’t taking care of her own family she could be found caring for others at her daycare called Dian’s Daycare. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hudson. [AM]

David Wayne Vehmeier, 72, of Morenci died on Dec. 12. He was a graduate of Sand Creek High School. He worked for Morenci Rubber and Hydro Aluminum Bohn, and eventually retired from Inteva. He loved photography and taking photos of lighthouses, car shows, hot air balloon festivals, and the aurora borealis. He would spend many nights at Lake Hudson taking night photos. He loved his dog, Aurora, and would walk her every morning. [AM]

Sister Shirley Boettcher, OP, 94, of Adrian died on Dec. 13. Formerly Sister Elaine Therese, she was in her 77th year of religious profession as an Adrian Dominican Sister. She was a native of Detroit. She ministered in education and in domestic services for 20 years in Michigan, Illinois, and New York before becoming certified as a licensed practical nurse. She served as a nurse in Adrian and Florida for more than 20 years. [ADS]

Margaret Ann “Maggie” (Hayes) Baucher, 87, of Adrian died on Dec. 13. She received her nursing degree from the Middletown School of Nursing in 1958. She was a member of the Eastern Stars #321 in Defiance, Colt Advisory Board, Department of Human Services and a board member of the Cheryl Ann School in Celina, Ohio. She and her husband were longtime foster parents. [W]

Ruby Gray Emerson, 85, of Blissfield died on Dec. 14. She was employed by Adrian Public Schools for 25 years as a cafeteria aide at the former Drager Middle School. She was a member of Blissfield Baptist Church. [AM] David Lee Williams, 88, of Tipton died on Dec. 16. He served the city of Tecumseh for 42 years, working his way up to street superintendent. He was a lifelong farmer and was in partnership with his son, Brad (Williams Farms), milking cows, crop farming, and raising beef cattle. He attended Gateway Community Church in Onsted. [AM] Tammy Sue Chrisman, 62, of Adrian died on Dec. 18. A graduate of Adrian High School and Adrian College, she never let life stop her, despite being diagnosed with diabetes at age 5 and losing her sight by 20. She atttended First Presbyterian Church in Adrian and was active in the Lions Club. [AM]

to tap into your creative side? Perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn to draw, paint, make jewelry, throw a clay pot, create a quilt, crochet an afghan, knit a scarf, or even construct a Windsor chair. If so, there are plenty of classes available locally to help you get started in a visual art — even if you have no idea how to even hold the tools required, let alone what to do with them! Here’s a look at just a few possibilities:

Adrian Center for the Arts

Located on the PlaneWave campus at 1375 N. Main St., Building 46, Adrian 517-759-3005 adriancenterforthearts.org

The ACA holds classes in a variety of creative media, including ceramics, drawing and painting, metalsmithing and jewelry, fibers, printmaking and letterpress, and glass.

Executive Director Valerie Herr said there are classes for all ability levels, from beginners to advanced artists. Many of the classes are designed to introduce budding artists to whatever their chosen medium is, while other courses may be a mix of skill levels. What to try? It all depends, Herr said. For herself personally, “as a non-artist, I enjoy the clay classes because you can

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to exercise your creative side, the Adrian area offers plenty of ways to do it

Tink & the Frog in downtown Adrian offers classes in knitting and crocheting for all skill levels. “We have a very supportive community of knitters and stitchers, and it’s a very social activity,” says owner Michelle Beechler.

“As a non-artist, I enjoy the clay classes because you can smash it down and start over again.”

— Valerie Herr, executive director, Adrian Center for the Arts

smash it down and start over again,” she said. Other newcomers might be attracted to, say, a painting class that will go step by step from Square One.

No matter what the chosen medium, it’s all about having fun and enjoying the creative process. “Most people are there for the experience,” Herr said, “and they don’t care if their vase is a little crooked.”

And beginners don’t have to worry about being intimidated. “We have a warm and welcoming environment,” Herr said. “Our instructors want you to have a good experience.”

Those who want something other than a full-fledged class experience can

even book a private party and create art with their friends or family. Among the offerings coming up in January and February are courses in watercolors; stained glass and china mosaics; beginning and intermediate jewelry making; personalized note cards; character vases; and pet bowls. Some classes take place over several weeks and some are “one and done.”

See CREATIVE, page C2

Kloé Campeau works on a project at the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute in Adrian.

Croswell offers drop-in improv classes for teens

ADRIAN — Following up on its recent launch of drop-in improvisation sessions for adults, the Croswell Opera House is beginning free improv classes for teenagers.

Second Sunday Drop-In Improv will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the second Sunday of every month, starting Jan. 12. Instructor Kylie McElrath will lead participants in a series of games and exercises designed to test reflexes and flex creative muscles.

There is no charge; however, advance registration is encouraged.

The teen classes are for ages 13-17. Adult classes, for ages 18 and up, take place at the same time on the first Sunday of every month.

For more information or to register, go to croswell.org/education or email kmcelrath@croswell.org.

‘God and the Earth’ is topic of upcoming presentation

ADRIAN — Do you see Earth as God’s beloved creation? What would it take to expand our sense of community to include all human beings and all creatures as neighbors worthy of our loving care?

These matters and more will be explored in a livestream presentation, “God and the Earth: A Conversation with Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ,” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30. The presentation is drawn from Johnson’s latest book, “Come Have Breakfast.”

A widely translated author, editor, and mentor, Johnson is professor emerita of theology at Fordham University in New York. She served as president of both the Catholic Theological Society and the ecumenical American Theological Society. She has lectured to church and academic groups at home and abroad.

The cost is $35 and registration is required to receive the livestream link. Visit webercenter.org and click on “Programs,” call 517-266-4000, or email webercenter@adriandominicans.org. Limited scholarships are available.

Creative from page C1

The ACA also offers Kids’ Club and Teen Club classes specifically for those age ranges.

Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute

Located on the PlaneWave campus at 1375 N. Main St., Building 41, Adrian 517-759-3070 sambeaufordwoodshop.com

People interested in trying their hand at woodworking for the first time might think that something like a Windsor chair is far above their abilities. But actually, “we don’t want them to think that,” SBWI’s founder and president, Luke Barnett, said.

While it’s true that many SBWI students — who come to Adrian from all over the country and even around the world — are interested in professionalgrade instruction, “we’re professionals in knowing when a student needs help and what to help with,” Barnett said.

“We have expertise in teaching beginners. A lot of people come in who’ve never done [woodworking] before.”

And even if others in the class are more advanced, beginners will find themselves surrounded by people who are happy to share tips and techniques with them, even during lunchtime as they mingle with students taking other courses. “What we do here is have a community,” Barnett said.

The notion of woodworking as a maledominated craft falls by the wayside at SBWI too. One recent student, Vibeke O. Nielsen, who’s from Norway and currently lives in New York, took a Windsor chair class after having previously attended a different class last summer and enjoying it so much she wanted to come back.

“I’ve never had an issue being a woman here,” she said, and even though she’s not the physically strongest student in the class, “as you progress you learn to do it right.”

While Nielsen has acquired a fair amount of woodworking experience by now, she encourages newcomers to give it a try. “There is enough guidance here, even if you don’t have the skills or knowledge yet,” she said.

SBWI’s classes range from singleday to weeklong. The beginner-friendly classes scheduled for early 2025 include courses in bowl turning, making a cutting board, making a band saw box, and even basic woodshop safety.

The Quilt Patch

112 N. Evans St., No. 5, Tecumseh 517-423-0053 thequiltpatch.com

Crafters who want to try their hand at the traditional art of quilting can find a wide range of classes at The Quilt Patch in Tecumseh.

One great option for newcomers to the world of quilting is the shop’s Beginning Piecing and Machining class, a multisession course that takes place several times throughout the year. “It walks you through the whole process,” said Quilt Patch owner Lorraine McNeal-Gable, and by the end of the course students will have a couch-sized quilt of their own.

No matter what budding quilters are interested in accomplishing, “we try to accommodate all levels,” McNeal-Gable said. People can even get one-on-one instruction on things like how to use their sewing machine.

Those who might find an entire quilt too much of a project to start out with can find plenty of other things to make, such as table runners or placemats.

McNeal-Gable often recommends that beginners start out by learning how to make a pillowcase because they’re easy to create.

Students of all ages — both women and men — take classes at The Quilt Patch. The shop also hosts open-sew days for people to just come in and work on a project. Those turn into especially good ways for people who’ve met at a class to keep coming together and to build community.

“It’s really great to see people say, ‘Look what I did!’ ”

Tink & the Frog’s beginner-level classes include Knitting 101, First Steps in Crochet, and Learn to Knit Socks. A range of other courses are also regularly offered. Materials are included in each class’s cost. “That way we know they’re using the right materials,” Beechler said, and not making a mistake like using a color that just won’t work well for the project.

— Michelle Beechler Owner, Tink and the Frog

“Quilting is a very social activity,” McNeal-Gable said.

The store carries a full range of materials for all sorts of quilting-related projects, as well as selling and servicing sewing machines, and McNeal-Gable said she and her staff are always happy to help customers who stop in with questions on their projects.

Tink and the Frog

128 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-759-3990 tinkandfrogyarnshop.com

If your newfound crafting interest involves knitting or crocheting, Tink & the Frog’s instructors can teach you how to make anything from socks to sweaters and everything in between.

Shop owner Michelle Beechler said she encourages new knitters or crocheters to take one of the beginning classes in their preferred craft. That will teach them the basic skills by creating a simple piece like a washcloth.

“We want to make sure they succeed,” she said.

Students run the gamut when it comes to skill level, from people just starting out to those who’ve knitted or crocheted for a long time and want to learn more. They also come in a range of ages — “and I do have men come in who knit and crochet and they love it,” Beechler said.

She said that a person who’s just getting started in knitting or crocheting will find that Tink & the Frog’s classes offer a real sense of community. “We have a very supportive community of knitters and stitchers, and it’s a very social activity.

“… It’s like a clubhouse here. People get to know each other and have a lot of fun. And it’s a welcoming environment. … We’re an inclusive shop. We welcome everybody.”

And for her, besides having the chance to pass on her love of knitting and crocheting to others, she gets to see what happens when a new crafter creates something of their own for the very first time.

“It’s really great to see people say, ‘Look what I did!’ ” she said.

Kylie McElrath

Students work on the potters’ wheels during a ceramics class at the Adrian Center for the Arts in Adrian.

A quilting class is pictured at The Quilt Patch in Tecumseh.

Local author highlights the architectural gems of southern Michigan

By Erik Gable The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — As Paul Plassman walked around the downtowns and historic districts of southern Michigan towns, he would often find himself admiring the architecture around him.

“I was struck by how many beautiful buildings there were, and nobody seemed to notice them,” he said.

Plassman recently published “Southern Michigan’s Castles, Churches and Courthouses,” a 400-page book profiling many of those architectural gems. It’s the end result of almost five years of work for the 2024 Siena Heights University graduate.

Plassman grew up in Medina Township in the southwest corner of Lenawee County. A homeschool graduate, he initially attended Jackson College with the intention of earning a degree in civil engineering. But when he decided to change gears, history was a natural choice. He’s been interested in the topic for so long, he said, that he can’t actually remember a time when history wasn’t a passion of his.

That interest eventually expanded to architecture, and he’d often photograph interesting buildings while walking around historic neighborhoods. He didn’t start out intending to write a book, but after his mother and a few friends suggested it, he began systematically identifying some of the most noteworthy architectural treasures of Lenawee, Hillsdale and Jackson counties.

“I tried to pick out the grandest homes, the grandest churches, kind of the best of the three counties,” he said.

He found some of the buildings using resources like the National Register of Historic places, but “a lot of others I just stumbled across while driving around,” he said.

One of the surprises was the BoiesStowell House in Hudson. Located on South Church Street, it’s an Italian villa style house built in 1862 that is now an adult foster care residence.

Another favorite of Plassman’s is Helmer Castle in Jackson County’s Liberty Township, built by an eccentric concert violinist in the 1920s. “It’s a secret castle that nobody seems to know about,” Plassman said of the structure, which remained a private residence for many years until it was recently converted into an event center.

“I was struck by how many beautiful buildings there were, and nobody seemed to notice them.”

— Paul Plassman

Churches feature prominently in the book as well, including St. John’s Episcopal Church in Clinton, one of the oldest surviving churches in Michigan.

A total of 157 buildings are individually profiled in the book, with many more featured in writeups on different historic districts. The book contains more than 700 photos.

Plassman now works at the Lenawee County Historical Museum, digitizing some of the museum’s records.

“Southern Michigan’s Castles, Churches and Courthouses” sells for $60 and may be purchased at the museum, which is at 110 E.

Church St., Adrian.

Paul Plassman is pictured at the Lenawee County Historical Museum with his book, “Southern Michigan’s Castles, Churches and Courthouses.” ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

The Boies-Stowell House in Hudson is one of the historic buildings featured in “Southern Michigan’s Castles, Churches and Courthouses.” PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL PLASSMAN

Taylor Mason to headline Neighbors of Hope benefit

TECUMSEH — Neighbors of Hope will bring back the laughs this winter as they host their fifth annual Comedy Night. The live comedy event will feature Taylor Mason, a nationally renowned ventriloquist, musician, and standup comedian.

Mason combines comedy, ventriloquism, and music to provide appropriate entertainment for everything from tailored corporate presentations and commercials to Carnegie Hall, from Second City to churches to Disney cruises. The event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the Tecumseh Center for the Arts. All the proceeds from this family-friendly event will help fund the ministries of Neighbors of Hope.

“I am very excited to have Taylor Mason with us for our annual Comedy Night fundraising event,” said Steven Palmer, executive director of Neighbors of Hope. “Not only is Taylor a gifted ventriloquist and musician, he blends those gifts in with his clean and hilarious comedy; he engages with the audience in a very personable way. I hope families will join us for this fun evening with Taylor and help us raise money to bring hope to the addicted, homeless, and hungry right here in Lenawee County.”

Sponsors are still being sought for the event. Sponsorship levels range from $500 to $2,500. For more information, email info@neighborsofhope.com.

Tickets to the event cost $30 and are available at the Tecumseh Center for the Arts box office, either online at thetca.org or in person during regular box office hours at 400 N. Maumee St. in Tecumseh.

Croswell announces audition dates for summer musicals

ADRIAN — The Croswell Opera House will hold open auditions beginning this month for its summer musicals. The shows included in this round of auditions are “Anastasia” (May), “La Cage Aux Folles” (June), “Bring It On” (July) and “Annie” (August).

Adult and teen auditions, for anyone age 13 and up, will take place on five dates and in three locations:

n Sunday, Jan. 26, from 5-7 p.m. at the Wingate by Wyndham, 5480 Main St., Sylvania.

n Monday, Jan. 27, from 6-8 p.m. at the Croswell, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian.

n Monday, Feb. 3, from 6-8 p.m. at the Croswell.

n Saturday, Feb. 8, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Croswell.

n Sunday, Feb. 9, from 5-7 p.m. at the Kensington Hotel, 3500 S. State St., Ann Arbor.

The Croswell is looking for people with dance, gymnastics or cheerleading experience for “Bring It On.”

The shows with children’s roles are “Anastasia” and “Annie.” There will be two audition dates for kids ages 12 and under:

n Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Croswell.

n Monday, April 14, from 6-8 p.m. at the Croswell.

For more information, email Jen Letherer at jletherer@croswell.org.

Weber Center announces upcoming topics for Lunch and Learn series

ADRIAN — The Weber Retreat and Conference Center’s monthly Lunch and Learn series is offered from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. Dates and topics this season are:

n Looking for Some New and Easy Recipes? — Jan. 15. A panel of cooks will share samples and recipes, including Hamburger Delight and Upside Down Cranberry Loaf. Feel free to bring your own recipes to share.

n Technology Update — Feb. 12. Members of the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ communications office will discuss podcasts, while members of the technology office will answer questions about topics such as scams, security, and artificial intelligence.

n Oh, My Aching Back! — March 12. Physical therapists from 3DPT will discuss the causes of back pain and explain how exercise and stretching can help you.

n Spice Up Your Cooking — April 9. Gwynne Marks, co-owner of Marks

Trading Company in Adrian, will shares specialty items in the new store, including spices and spice rubs for meats, fish, tacos, and pies.

Bring your own lunch and enjoy drinks and desserts provided by Weber Center. You may also purchase a lunch for $7 — your choice of egg salad, turkey and cheese, or chicken salad croissant sandwiches with chips — by registering at least two days in advance. Visit webercenter.org and click on “Programs,” call 517-266-4000, or email webercenter@adriandominicans.org. Registration is not necessary if you bring your own lunch.

Weber Center is on the campus of the Adrian Dominican Sisters Motherhouse in Adrian. From East Siena Heights Drive, turn into the driveway between Adrian Rea Literacy Center and the solar panel-covered carport, then follow the signs to Weber Center.

For information, call 517-266-4000 or go to webercenter.org.

Tip-Up Festival returns to Devils and Round Lakes

By Dan Cherry

MANITOU BEACH — While the winter weather the past few years has been temperamental, the annual TipUp Festival at Devils and Round lakes returns again for its 73rd year with a slate full of activities.

The Devils and Round Lakes Men’s Club recently announced the 2025 Tip-Up Festival for Feb. 7-9, with most organized events set for the 1,300-acre Devils Lake.

The “red light ride” kicks off the weekend at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, at Highland Inn, 3171 Round Lake Highway. Snowmobile and four-wheeler riders are invited to line up on Devils Lake off shore to make the circle tour around the lake.

Saturday, Feb. 8 starts the first full day of events. The fishing contest, taking in entries of pike, walleye, blue gill, crappie and perch for prize consideration, will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to noon Sunday. Prizes will be awarded at noon Sunday at Manitou Beach Marina, 9517 Devils Lake Highway.

Registration for the poker run will start at 11 a.m. Saturday at the marina, with participants due back to the site by 3 p.m. Hover craft rides will also be offered on the lake, weather permitting.

The snowmobile racing and radar run for fun will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the west basin of Devils Lake.

The annual outhouse races will take place at 4 p.m. near the Manitou Beach Marina. Entry rules and forms are available for pickup at Highland Inn.

Those looking to participate in any of the festival’s ice race events may call 517-403-5236.

The annual auction at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, raises on average about $10,000 each year, auction organizer Claudia Connors said, and is the club’s largest fundraising event. Money from the auction at Highland Inn, currently in its 19th year, are directed back into the community to meet needs for children, students and families.

Donations include approximately $5,000 for local Toys for Tots drives; $5,750 to the “Shop with a Cop” program; hams for local Kiwanis food baskets; and nine laptops yearly to area college-bound students.

Supported programs also include the community Halloween roast, the Firecracker 7K, and the annual golf outing at the Devils Lake Golf Course.

The auction started when Connors received more Christmas gifts than she could use, and it was suggested she auction the extra presents, using the money raised to meet critical community needs.

From there, Connors said, the concept expanded into the highly successful auction.

“We are so very grateful for everyone’s generosity,” she said.

Those interested in donating an item, gift certificate or service to the auction may call Connors at 517-712-6160.

Raffle ticket winners will be drawn between 4 and 5 p.m. at Highland Inn, with proceeds to benefit the club’s community projects.

The Tip-Up Festival gets its name from the use of a signal flag when ice fishing. When a fish takes the bait, a wire attached to the ice fishing rod is tripped, causing a signal flag to raise, or “tip up.”

The Lenawee Voice

Snowmobiling is one of the activities in the annual Tip-Up Festival at Devils and Round Lakes, which is scheduled for Feb. 7-9 this year. PHOTO BY DAN CHERRY

JANUARY

THINGS TO DO IN LENAWEE COUNTY

To submit events for inclusion in this calendar, please email news@lenaweevoice.com by the 15th of the month before the event.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8

Teen Escape Room

Adrian District Library, 4 p.m.

The downtown library offers a bimonthly escape room experience for teens. The theme for January is “Vikings.” Space is limited, so registration is recommended.

143 E. Maumee St., Adrian adrian.lib.mi.us or 517-265-2265

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11

Metalsmithing Studio Open Hours

Adrian Center for the Arts, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Join the ACA for open studio hours in its state-of-the-art metal studio. An opportunity to network and share camaraderie and the joy of wearable art! For ages 18 and up, but youth ages 13-17 may participate with an enrolled parent or guardian. $5.

1375 N Main St., Bldg. 43, Adrian adriancenterforthearts.org or 517-759-3005

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12

Love in Bloom Wedding Expo

Barrett’s Showplace Gardens, 1-4 p.m.

From stunning floral arrangements to elegant decor, this event is a must-visit for any couple planning their big day. Meet with top vendors and get inspired by the latest trends. Free for engaged couples with preregistration; $2 for engaged couples at the door; all others $5.

1033 W. Beecher St., Adrian barrettsadrian.com or 517-263-2660

MONDAY, JANUARY 13

Introduction to Cardio Drumming

AJ Smith Recreation Center, 6 p.m.

Begin 2025 by learning a new exercise with the staff of Elevate Cardio Drumming that will reduce the stress in your life and improve your overall well-being. Cardio drumming brings together drumsticks, an exercise ball, and an exercise ball stand to create a fun workout.

Sponsored by the Tecumseh District Library. $5. 810 N. Evans St., Tecumseh www.tecumsehlibrary.org or 517-423-2238

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17

Tecumseh’s Annual Ice Festival

Downtown Tecumseh, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The downtown will have over 45 ice sculptures for you to see. Participate in a Scavenger Hunt through the downtown area for a chance to win a gift card packet, or just enjoy the sculptures. downtowntecumseh.com or 517-424-6003

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18

Tecumseh’s Annual Ice Festival

Downtown Tecumseh, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The downtown will host over 45 ice sculptures. Dueling ice carvers will compete at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on the corner of Chicago Boulenard and Evans Street. The Michigan Avian Experience will be downtown from 1-3 p.m. with their majestic eagle for everyone to see. downtowntecumseh.com or 517-424-6003

MONDAY, JANUARY 20

Building Bonanza Adrian District Library, 11 a.m. For kids ages 5 and up, this event will offer activities with a variety of building materials including Legos, Duplo bricks, Magnatiles, and Keva planks.

143 E. Maumee St., Adrian adrian.lib.mi.us or 517-265-2265

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23

Family movie: ‘The Wild Robot’ Schultz-Holmes Library, 6 p.m. A free family movie at the library. 407 S. Lane St, Blissfield blissfieldlibrary.org or 517-486-2858

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25

Comedian Michael Palascak Tecumseh Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m. West-coast comedy hits the TCA stage with headliner Michael Palascak, who has appeared on “The Tonight Show” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” $33. 400 N. Maumee St., Tecumseh thetca.org or 517-423-6617

‘Into the Woods’ Croswell Opera House, 7:30 p.m. This inventive show features the intertwining of many well-known fairy tales into a sometimes comic, sometimes dark

masterpiece of musical theater. This is the Croswell’s annual all-area high school production. Adults $12-$25, students $12. 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-264-7469 or croswell.org

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26

‘Into the Woods’ Croswell Opera House, 2:30 p.m. The Croswell’s annual all-area high school production. Adults $12-$25, students $12. Continues on the following weekend. 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-264-7469 or croswell.org

LIVE MUSIC AT BARS AND NIGHT SPOTS

Information in this listing is taken from a mixture of submissions and information published by the venues. We recommend checking to verify that information is up to date before making plans. To submit listings, email news@lenaweevoice.com before the 15th of the preceding month.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3

Noah Martis, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Starling Lounge, 133 S. Lane St., Blissfield. Soup Sandwich, 7:30-10:30 p.m., Mammoth Distilling, 108 E. Maumee St., Adrian.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10

Bordine & Loar, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Starling Lounge, 133 S. Lane St., Blissfield. Brittani Joy, 7:30-10:30 p.m., Mammoth Distilling, 108 E. Maumee St., Adrian.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11

Bon Jovi tribute by Wanted ! , 7 p.m., Chateau Aeronautique Winery, 12000 Pentecost Hwy., Onsted. Two people for $50, four for $80, eight for $130; order at chateauaeronautiquewinery.com.

Rambler’s Band, 8 p.m., Adrian Eagles Club, 2522 W. Beecher St., Adrian. Music of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. $5 cover.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16

“Rockabilly Night” with the Atomic Bombcatz and special guests Dead Black Cadillac, 7-10 p.m., Jerry’s Pub, 650 Egan Hwy., Brooklyn. Donations requested for the Brooklyn Food Pantry. 517-467-4700 or jerryspub.com.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17

Stevie Ray Vaughan Tribute by Cold Shot, 7 p.m., Chateau Aeronautique Winery, 12000 Pentecost Hwy., Onsted. Two people for $50, four for $80, eight for $130; order at chateauaeronautiquewinery.com.

Jon Torrence, 7:30-10:30 p.m., Mammoth Distilling, 108 E. Maumee St., Adrian.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24

Comedy night hosted by Tommy Cook, 7 p.m., Farver’s at the Croswell, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian.

Ryan Groth, 7:30-10:30 p.m., Mammoth Distilling, 108 E. Maumee St., Adrian.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25

Led Zeppelin Tribute by Kashmir, 7 p.m., Chateau Aeronautique Winery, 12000 Pentecost Hwy., Onsted. Two people for $50, four for $80, eight for $130; order at chateauaeronautiquewinery.com.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31

Souls Alike, 7:30-10:30 p.m., Mammoth Distilling, 108 E Maumee St, Adrian.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6

“Into the Woods” cast cabaret, 6:30 p.m., Farver’s at the Croswell, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian. Cast members from the Croswell’s production of “Into the Woods” will reunite for an evening of songs from the show mixed with some of their own personal favorites.

Comedian Michael Palascak performs at the Tecumseh Center for the Arts on Jan. 25.

‘Into the Woods’ gives young talents a chance to shine

The show is the Croswell’s annual all-area high school production

ADRIAN — Students from high schools spread across five counties in southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio will demonstrate their talents when the Croswell Opera House stages “Into the Woods,” its annual all-area high school production.

“Into the Woods” is a musical that ties together numerous classic fairy tales in a sometimes comic, sometimes dark masterpiece of musical theater.

The stories are tied together by the story of a childless baker and his wife (played by AJ Landingham, a homeschool student from Carleton, and Savanah Hernandez from Liberty Center High School in Ohio), who are trying to start a family. However, a curse has been placed on them by a witch (played by Rebecca Lanham, a homeschool student from Toledo). She tells them that in order to lift the curse, they must bring her four ingredients for a potion: a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, and a slipper as pure as gold.

As the baker journeys into the woods to seek these ingredients, so do three other characters, each for their own reasons. Cinderella, played by Lila Brighton (Adrian High School) is going to visit her mother’s grave; Little Red Ridinghood, played by Ella Flumignan (Adrian High School) is going to her grandmother’s house; and Jack from the tale of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” played by Aiden Ketola (Adrian High School), is seeking a buyer for his cow.

Their stories are intricately woven together in a musical narrative that led to Tony Awards for both librettist James Lapine and composer Stephen Sondheim.

Many characters both help and hinder the four seekers along their way.

Jack’s mother is played by Julia Jones (Tecumseh High School). Puppetry for Jack’s cow, Milky White, will be performed by Zoelle Blackmon (JC/LISD Academy) and Abigail Lipsitz (Saline High School).

Cinderella’s deceased mother is played by Caroline Grenn (Monroe High School). Her father and stepmother are played by Alex Goetz (Blissfield High

School) and Amelia Martinal (Lenawee Christian School). Stepsisters Florinda and Lucinda are played by Amelia Bowman and Brenna Gifford (Adrian High School). Cinderella’s Prince is played by Kai Yuen (Adrian High School), and the prince’s steward is played by Alex Coumoundouros (Adrian High School).

Little Red Ridinghood’s grandmother is played by Macy Schmidt (Tecumseh High School), and the wolf who waylays her in the woods is played by Trent Aneed (Adrian High School).

Rapunzel, locked away in a tower by the witch, is played by Carolyn Mohler (Whiteford High School). Rapunzel’s prince is played by Jude Carlton (homeschool, Adrian).

The Giant, originally from Jack’s story, is played by Camdenne Kruse (Tecumseh High School). Noble Wilt (Adrian High School) plays a mysterious man in the woods. The action is narrated by Tyler Condon (Adrian High School). Bringing two more classic fairy tales into the mix are Snow White, played by Claire Cousineau (Tecumseh High School) and Sleeping Beauty, played by Laila Seeburger (JC/LISD Academy).

The show is directed by Michael Yuen. The vocal director is Julia Spanja Hoffert, the choreographer is Jessica Briggs, and the live orchestra will be directed by Jonathan Sills.

The Croswell’s all-area high school production is an annual tradition that started in 2010. In this production, top theater students from all over the region get the chance to come together and work with professional directors, music directors and choreographers while meeting and acting alongside peers from other schools.

Tickets range from $12 to $25 for adults, depending on seat selection, and are $12 for students in all seating areas.

Performance dates and times:

n Saturday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m.

n Sunday, Jan. 26 at 2:30 p.m.

n Friday, Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m.

n Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m.

n Sunday, Feb. 2 at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets may be ordered by calling 517-264-7469 or by going online to croswell.org.

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