The Lenawee Voice — March 2024

Adrian District Library millage renewal will be on the ballot in May » PAGE A5 Developer plans 53-house residential community on former Bixby site » PAGE A5

Adrian Center for the Arts opens glass, metalsmithing and sculpture studios » PAGE B1

THE LENAWEE VOICE

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MARCH 2024

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To honor their memory Park upgrades underway in Morenci » PAGE A3

Two Lenawee County communities make plans for bicentennials » PAGE A7

Peppers Mexican Grill opens third location in Blissfield » PAGE A9

Kimberley Davis stands with portraits of her children, Mariama Walters and John Amara Walters, both Adrian High School alumni who died in young adulthood due to sickle cell disease. Davis is working to raise awareness and direct more resources to fighting the condition, which is underfunded relative to comparable illnesses. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

After losing two children to sickle cell disease, a former Adrian resident works to correct inequities in research and treatment

By Kate Mitchell The Lenawee Voice

Croswell stages musical for young audiences » PAGE B1

For Kimberley Davis, the fight against sickle cell anemia is personal.

After seeing the effects firsthand, Davis lost two children to sickle cell disease: a daughter, Mariama Walters, who died in 2007 at age 21, and a son,

Should Adrian install security cameras in four city parks? » PAGE A8

John Amara Walters, in 2021 at age 29. But out of this devastating loss an advocacy group — KMD Advocacy Center — was born.

Sickle cell anemia is one of the most prominent life-threatening illnesses — more prevalent than cystic fibrosis or hemophilia — but Davis said research and treatment are woefully underfunded.

New restaurant coming to former CoCoNuts location in Tipton » PAGE A9

“My goal is making sure the awareness is there,” Davis, a former assistant professor at Adrian College, said. “Once people are more aware of what sickle cell is, what the numbers are, they’ll listen.

That’s the key, getting people to listen.”

Sickle cell disease affects red blood cells, taking them from their typical round, flexible structure and shaping them into a more rigid sickle or crescent form. This shape and rigid structure makes the cells become sticky, which can cause pain and block blood flow.

See SICKLE CELL, page A13

Stitched Consignment Shop opens in downtown Adrian » PAGE A10

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MARCH 2024 THE LENAWEE VOICE

THE AGENDA Plans for the Eclipse nightclub site, a tunnel under South Main, and more Welcome back to The Agenda, a monthly column in which we highlight issues of importance in our community and ways you can get involved.

Main Pedestrian Tunnel project. Plans for the project will be available to view, and staff will be on hand to answer questions.

How’s that smell? As we discussed in our last issue, Crimson Holdings on East Maumee Street has installed a packed bed scrubber system that is supposed to prevent the factory from filling the neighborhood with that rotten-egg smell that residents have gotten to know all too well. At a public forum in February, city commissioners heard that some residents are still noticing the odor. If you live near Crimson Holdings and are still experiencing problems, there are two ways to report it, and it’s recommended that you do both of them: n Contact Leslie Love, the city’s community revitalization coordinator, at llove@adrianmi.gov. Judge Laura Schaedler still has the power to make sure her orders are being followed, and the mechanism for that is for the city to report to her if there are still problems. n File a report with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) by going to michigan.gov/EGLECrimsonHoldings and clicking on “Submit an air quality complaint.”

Eclipse nightclub redevelopment proposal: The Adrian City Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, to discuss a proposal for redevelopment of Eclipse, the nightclub on the west end of Adrian formerly known as LA Cafe.

Want details on the planned Kiwanis Trail pedestrian tunnel? The city of Adrian will hold an informational open house from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, in the City Chambers building, 159 E. Maumee St., regarding the South

Commissioner Conversations: Adrian city commissioner Bob Behnke is holding open office hours on two upcoming dates: n Monday, March 11, from 6 to 7 p.m., when he will be joined by commissioner Gordon Gauss. n Monday, April 1, from noon to 1 p.m.

Both will take place at the Adrian District Library. Behnke invites anyone who’d like the chance to bend a city commissioner’s ear to come, ask questions, and share comments or concerns.

Tecumseh Charter Commission seeks input: The Tecumseh Herald reports that the commission revising Tecumseh’s city charter is hoping residents will come out for their next meeting, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, in the Tecumseh Police Department conference room, 309 E. Chicago Blvd. For background on the charter commission, refer to the Feb. 22 issue of the Herald.

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THE LENAWEE VOICE

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MARCH 2024

LOCAL NEWS IN BRIEF Workshop aims to help seniors spot scams MORENCI — A workshop to help senior citizens recognize and avoid scams will be offered at 12:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 14, at the Morenci Senior Center, which is inside Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 800 W. Chestnut St., Morenci.

Led by Erica Lamley from the Lenawee County Department on Aging, the workshop will provide insights and tools to navigate the digital and real-world landscapes where scams often lurk.

“We are excited to bring this workshop to Lenawee County,” said Cari Rebottaro, director of the Department on Aging. “It can be hard to determine what is a scam, what is real, and what advice you should take. Attendees will have the opportunity to share their experiences, ask questions, and engage in discussions with local experts.”

For more, call the Department on Aging at 517-264-5280.

Adrian woman dies after crash on Lyons Highway FAIRFIELD TWP. — A 43-yearold Adrian woman died after a crash on the afternoon of Feb. 6.

According to the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Department, she was driving north on Lyons Highway near Horton Road when she crossed the center line, veered off the roadway, and struck a tree. She was taken to a Toledo hospital, and the sheriff’s department was notified several hours later that she had died.

Driver killed after being struck head-on by pickup RIDGEWAY TWP. — A collision on the morning of Jan. 29 claimed the life of a 55-year-old Onsted-area woman.

According to sheriff’s deputies, the woman was driving east on M-50 in a Chevrolet Malibu when a Ford F-350, driven by a 23-year-old Dundee woman, crossed the center line and struck her car head-on.

She was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the pickup had minor injuries.

Free tax help available ADRIAN — Residents of Lenawee, Jackson, and Hillsdale counties whose household income was $64,000 or less in 2023 can get their tax returns prepared for free through the Community Action Agency’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

During last year’s tax season, the program helped residents secure a total of $3.1 million in federal and state refunds, $1.1 million in property tax credits, and $184,000 in home heating credits.

To schedule an appointment with a volunteer tax preparer, call 517-247-2099 or go to caajlh.itfrontdesk.com.

News tips and press releases can be emailed to news@lenaweevoice.com. To meet our print deadline, news about upcoming events should be sent by the 15th of the month before the event.

Morenci has big plans for city parks

Heather Sarnac, community and economic development director for the city of Morenci, is pictured in Stephenson Park. Planned upgrades to the park include new, more accessible playground equipment; an expanded basketball court; more lighting; and a paved trail around the perimeter of the park. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

Upgrades to Stephenson Park, located a few blocks south of downtown, are in the works

By Erik Gable

The Lenawee Voice

MORENCI — Changes are in the works for Morenci’s city parks.

Stephenson Park, located a few blocks south of downtown, is about to receive major upgrades thanks to a $863,500 grant the city was awarded last year. And the city council recently approved a five-year parks and recreational plan that spells out goals for all of the parks in the city.

In the community surveys that the city conducted while drafting the five-year plan, 82 percent of people said they were “very satisfied” or “somewhat satisfied” with Wakefield Park, the 15-acre park on the west side of town that includes several athletic fields and is the site of Morenci’s annual Town & Country Festival.

However, only 20 percent said they were satisfied with Stephenson Park.

Heather Sarnac, the city’s community and economic development director, said that of Morenci’s parks, Wakefield Park is the one that usually gets all the attention.

“When kids talk about going to the park, it’s Wakefield Park,” she said.

But with the upcoming work, Sarnac hopes that will change soon.

The plans include: n New, more universally accessible playground equipment. n A paved, quarter-mile walking and jogging path around the perimeter of the park. n Two picnic pavilions. n A full-sized basketball court in place of the smaller court that’s there now. n A new pickleball court. n Accessible entrances that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. n Improved lighting throughout the park.

“Everything is going to be refreshed, but very similarly themed to what was there before,” Sarnac said. She added that even though there will be lots of new offerings, there will still be plenty of green space in the middle of the park for open play.

As part of the planning process, city officials visited fourth and fifth graders at Morenci Elementary School, who wrote about what they’d like to see at the park and why.

Superintendent Jennifer Ellis said this outreach from the city gave kids an experience with civic engagement and showed them that they can have a voice in their community.

“I think it was a really nice collaboration,” Ellis said.

The city also consulted with Disability Connections to ensure the inclusivity of the design.

The landscape architect for the project is Lisa DuRussel.

The city put the project out for bids in mid-February, and Sarnac said the hope is to start construction in May or June.

Although Stephenson Park will see the most changes, the city is also planning to resurface the Wakefield Park tennis courts. That project, which Sarnac said many residents identified as a priority in community surveys, will be funded by the city.

Morenci has also applied for a $514,000 grant to install a splash pad at Wakefield Park. Sarnac said she expects to hear in March if the application was successful.

One longer-term item, Sarnac said, is that many residents would like to see a path connecting Wakefield Park to the Riverside Natural Area, a largely undeveloped 11-acre area to the north.

However, this would require a bridge across Bean Creek, so it’s a larger undertaking.

Oak Grove Cemetery chapel replacement to start soon The Lenawee Voice

MORENCI — Work is scheduled to begin soon on replacing the chapel at Morenci’s Oak Grove Cemetery, which had to be torn down after it was damaged in a wind storm in August 2022.

Heavy winds caused one of the old trees near the chapel to snap just above its base and fall onto the building. The impact caused the building to almost fold in half, according to Ted Hutchison, supervisor of the Morenci Department of Public Works.

Cleaning up the damage and demolishing the old chapel cost about $19,000, Hutchison said. The cost of the replacement building will be about $324,000.

Michigan Building Specialties, based in Adrian, was hired by the Morenci City Council in October to construct the new building.

The building will be about 2,000 square feet, like the old chapel, and will have approximately the same layout. The foundation from the demolished chapel will be reused for the new one.

Hutchison said construction should be able to start in March.

Oak Grove Cemetery, which is known for its beautiful old trees, is located west of M-156 on the north side of Morenci.

It is one of two cemeteries owned and maintained by the city, with the other being the Old Cemetery on the east side of M-156.

The chapel at Oak Grove Cemetery is pictured after a tree fell on it in August 2022, damaging it so badly that it had to be torn down. Work on a replacement building is set to begin soon. COURTESY OF TED HUTCHISON

A4 | LOCAL NEWS

IN BRIEF Tecumseh Public Schools’ new superintendent could be hired by end of March TECUMSEH — The process of finding a new leader for Tecumseh Public Schools, to replace retiring Superintendent Rick Hilderley, is nearing completion.

After gathering input from students, staff and community through surveys and meetings, the school board developed a list of criteria for the new superintendent.

Applications are due March 5 and initial interviews are slated for March 16. Finalist interviews are scheduled for March 19.

The school board hopes to have the new superintendent start work around June 1.

Tecumseh mayor decides not to seek another term TECUMSEH — Tecumseh Mayor Jack Baker, whose tenure in city government goes back more than 30 years, announced in February that he will not seek re-election in November.

Baker was first elected to the city council in 1990, and Jack Baker when Tecumseh switched from the council appointing the mayor to the position being on the ballot, he was the city’s first popularly elected mayor in 1994. He stepped down after the 2000 election but returned to the council in 2006, was elected mayor again in 2014, and has been returned to the office every election since then.

Baker co-owned and operated the Baker Brothers gas station downtown from 1986 to 2015.

So far, Brian Radant and Mark Raine have indicated they plan to run for the seat.

MARCH 2024 THE LENAWEE VOICE

County commissioners split on how to handle Tecumseh Products site

By a slim majority, commission votes against entertaining any sale for industrial use

By Erik Gable

The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — In a 5-4 vote, Lenawee County commissioners agreed on Feb. 14 to say that they are not open to selling the former Tecumseh Products property to anyone who wants to develop it for industrial purposes.

The proposal was made by Commissioner David Stimpson (R-Tecumseh). He said that when rumors start flying about possible buyers — such as a steel tubing operation that was proposed last year but didn’t end up with the county receiving an offer — it creates uncertainty in the community.

It’s hard to convince people to develop an area for commercial or residential use when they think a factory might start up next door, he said.

Stimpson said an $8 million townhome and commercial development is being planned immediately north of the site.

“Whenever we start talking about putting in an integrated steel operation or steel bending operation, that gives them pause,” Stimpson said.

Stimpson also said that Tecumseh’s new land use plan, which was developed with input from about 1,000 residents, will call for commercial and residential zoning in that area, not industrial.

Commissioner Terry Collins (R-Adrian) agreed with Stimpson.

“There’s no doubt that that property has, over a period of time, become an albatross for this commission,” he said, adding: “There was a time I’d say, ‘Somebody give us a buck and you can have it. It’s yours.’”

But Collins said his position has evolved. If the county isn’t careful about who it sells to, he said, it could harm efforts to return the site to productive use.

“There are people who buy run-down contaminated properties and just sit on them,” he said.

Collins said it wouldn’t be fair to Tecumseh to sell the land to someone who would develop it in a way the city doesn’t want.

County Commissioners Nancy Jenkins-Arno, Dustin Krasny and David Stimpson discuss the Tecumseh Products site on Feb. 14.

IMAGE FROM VIDEO RECORDING

“It struck me that if we sell this to certain individuals or organizations, we’re in effect handing the city of Tecumseh a pig in a poke,” he said. “In virtually the heart of that city, right next door to the downtown district, we could let a factory go up because it’s going to make us a few bucks, make the county a few bucks. I’m not sure I want to do that to Tecumseh.”

One of the commissioners who disagreed was Kevon Martis (R-Riga).

He said Tecumseh has the power to use its own zoning ordinances to determine whether the land is industrial or not.

“The negotiation with respect to land use is between the buyer and the jurisdiction in which they are buying,” Martis said. “We are not here to enforce Tecumseh’s zoning ordinance. They have full power and authority to do that.”

Commissioner Dustin Krasny (R-Onsted) said he’s concerned that if the county limits its sale options, getting funds to help with cleanup could become harder. He said buried hazardous materials continue to be found on the site, noting, “We just found a buried gas container from nearly a century ago.”

Commissioner Nancy Jenkins-Arno (R-Clayton) said although the Tecumseh Products site is the county’s responsibility, the government ultimately should not be in the real estate business.

“I think our goal should be to get that back on the tax rolls as quickly as possible,” she said.

Stimpson disagreed with that position, saying “I don’t think our goal is to get that

property back onto the tax rolls in the quickest manner, but to get that property back onto the tax rolls in the best manner.”

The final vote was 5-4. Voting in favor of saying the county won’t sell the land to an industrial developer were Stimpson, Collins, K.Z. Bolton (D-Adrian), Ralph Tillotson (R-Adrian Township), and Dawn Bales (R-Madison Township). Voting no were Martis, Jenkins-Arno, Krasny, and chairman Jim Van Doren (R-Tipton).

During the public comment period, Todd Gillman, a Republican precinct delegate from Cambridge Township, blasted the commissioners who voted yes and threatened some of the Republicans with a primary challenge over the issue.

“Sitting on property, waiting for the value to go up, is not the role of the government,” he said.

He said that “if a citizen wants to buy it and sit on it, more power to them.”

Gillman also argued that Stimpson, who owns property near the site, should not be involved in decisions about it, because he could be affected financially.

“He has a conflict of interest,” Gillman said. “He owns property in the immediate vicinity. He should not have input on what happens with that property, he should not have a vote on what happens with that property, and he probably shouldn’t even be on the board as long as the county owns that property.”

What’s next: Commission chairman Jim Van Doren appointed a committee to talk with Tecumseh city leaders about the future of the Tecumseh Products site. In addition to Van Doren, the committee will consist of commissioners David Stimpson (because he represents Tecumseh), Dustin Krasny (chair of the physical resources committee) and Terry Collins (chair of the ways and means committee), plus county administrator Kim Murphy.

The Lenawee County Commission meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 1:30 p.m. at the Lenawee County Courthouse, 301 N. Main St. Meetings are open to the public.

Adrian city planning commission drops idea of stricter rules for RVs

By Erik Gable

The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — Following a public backlash, the Adrian city planning commission dropped the idea of proposing stricter regulations on the storage of campers and similar vehicles at residents’ homes.

The current policy requires recreational vehicles such as motor homes, snowmobiles, boats, and all-terrain vehicles to be stored in a completely enclosed building, with the exception of those that are licensed for operation on a public street, which may also be stored in a resident’s back yard.

The planning commission had been considering adding several new restrictions to the ordinance. Those restrictions would have included: n Requiring RVs parked outdoors to be no longer than 22 feet. n Requiring residents who park RVs outdoors to keep them on an improved surface such as asphalt, a concrete slab, or compacted stone.

Limiting the size of RV storage spaces to 10% of the area of the back yard, which would have essentially forbidden RV parking for anyone who doesn’t have a large yard.

The planning commission does not have the authority to change city ordinances on its own. Its role is to make recommendations to the city commission.

At the planning commission’s Feb. 6 meeting, chairman Mike Jacobitz said city staff drafted the potential changes in response to some complaints that the city had received from residents. However, he and the other planning commissioners agreed unanimously not to recommend the proposed changes.

Planning commissioner Brad Watson noted that most of the residents at the meeting were against the proposed changes, but he also said he had received some communications from residents who supported them. However, he added, “I took the time to drive around all of Adrian these past few days, and my opinion has changed on the draft n

ordinance that we have.” He said he did not see the need for any major changes.

Other commissioners agreed with Watson, including Don Taylor, who said it would be worth looking at how many complaints about RVs the city receives.

“We may not have as many complaints as we think,” he said.

All of the residents who spoke at the meeting were against the idea of imposing stricter rules on RVs. Many said that a well-maintained RV parked at somebody’s home should not be considered a “blight” issue, with one resident commenting that he’s parked his RV at his home for more than 30 years without anybody complaining about it.

City commissioner Bob Behnke, who is also an RV owner and who distributed information about the proposed changes to many people who had RVs in their yards, said that his camper sits on an asphalt pad and even has landscaping around it, and has been there for 10 years with nobody complaining, but is technically in violation of the ordinance

because it isn’t in his back yard.

One resident said that her family’s camper is one of the only luxuries they can afford, and that if she had to rent a storage unit for it, her children would lose that opportunity for recreation.

In addition to the cost of renting a storage unit, resident Carl Yoder said he works on RVs and that they cost more to insure when the owner is not able to keep them at home.

Many residents said that RVs should not be a target for enforcement when there are much bigger problems in the city.

One woman commented that one of her neighbors has a toilet sitting in their yard and another has three cars up on jacks.

Watson agreed with those who said the city has bigger problems to deal with.

“There are much bigger things that need to be taken care of,” he said. “I completely agree.”

The planning commissioners who were present at the meeting voted unanimously not to forward any ordinance changes to the city commission for approval.

THE LENAWEE VOICE

LOCAL NEWS | A5

MARCH 2024

Adrian District Library millage renewal to be on May ballot The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — A millage renewal for the Adrian District Library will go before voters in the city of Adrian on May 7.

The measure is not a new tax, but a renewal of the library’s existing 2.5-mill levy, which was enacted by voters in 2015.

The millage has been rolled back slightly over the last nine years as a result of Michigan’s Headlee Amendment, and is now at 2.4817 mills. The May ballot will ask voters to restore the full 2.5 mills.

IN BRIEF Details on gravel pit are still sketchy RAISIN TWP. — Officials had still not received enough information about a proposed gravel pit to place it on the Raisin Township Planning Commission’s agenda for discussion as of February.

“Some stuff has trickled in, but it’s not a complete application as of yet,” planning commission chairman Marcus McNamara said at the commission’s Feb. 13 meeting.

The proposed location is just northwest of the intersection of Occidental Highway and Gady Road.

The proposal by Lucky Strike Sand and Gravel has generated opposition from township residents concerned about dust pollution, increased truck traffic, and risk of wells running dry due to the amount of water that gravel mining requires.

For the owner of a house valued at $150,000, a 2.5-mill levy represents $187.50 per year. (The number is $218.75 for a home valued at $175,000, or $75 for a home valued at $60,000.)

The millage brings in about $1.2 million per year. Money that is not needed for the library’s day-to-day operations is used to fund periodic upgrades to the library building. Over the past 10 years, those projects have included a new roof, new flooring in the computer area, replacing aging furniture, and most recently, the

renovation of the youth services area and teen lounge.

Susan Nichols, who is chairing the renewal committee, said the library offers “something for everyone in the community,” including homeschool parents, families looking for wholesome children’s activities, residents working on genealogy, business owners looking for community information, job seekers who need internet access, people who want to participate in interesting and informative programs, and of course readers of all ages.

“It is not financially funded by the city,” Nichols said. “Without the millage passing, Adrian residents will lose this precious resource for their businesses and their families.”

The Adrian District Library’s service area consists of the city of Adrian.

Also coming up in May: The Adrian and Morenci school districts will have operating millage renewals on the ballot.

Watch for a story on those proposals in the April edition of the Lenawee Voice.

Single-family homes planned for former Bixby hospital site

Developer hopes to build 117 homes off Sutton Road RAISIN TWP. — A developer is seeking approval to build 117 singlefamily homes just northwest of the corner of Sutton Road and Green Highway.

The homes would be about 1,600 square feet, on lots of one-half acre or more, and would sell for about $300,000, William Nicholson of D.R. Park Properties told the Raisin Township Planning Commission on Feb. 13. The development would be a mix of spec homes and built-to-order.

Nicholson told the Lenawee Voice he would like to start construction this spring.

“Demand is there right now. New homes built are selling quickly,” he said.

The development already has roads in place.

Planning commissioners’ questions focused mainly on access to drainage areas. The commission tabled any action on the proposal.

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Demolition of the former Bixby Hospital on Riverside Avenue in Adrian could begin as early as this summer. A developer has reached an agreement to purchase the land from ProMedica and plans to buid single-family homes on the 7-acre site.

By Erik Gable

The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — A developer is planning to build about 50 single-family rental homes on the site of the former Bixby Hospital on Riverside Avenue, and demolition of the hospital building could begin as early as this summer.

Michael Collier, of the real estate development company Collier Gibson, spoke at the Adrian City Commission’s Jan. 16 study session about the plan. The company is asking the city to consider a $900,000 loan to help speed up the project.

The proposed development would cover about 7 acres and the plans currently call for 53 homes. They would be one story each, and a mix of twobedroom and three-bedroom houses ranging in size from about 900 square feet to 1,100 square feet. Collier said rents would probably range from $1,200 to $1,400 per month.

However, Collier said, this would not be a typical subdivision.

“We’re looking to do something a little unique,” he said. “It will not have a typical neighborhood feel. It will have more of a community feel.”

The development would consist of homes clustered around shared areas, modeled after a community called Black Apple in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Collier said the development would aim to address the “missing middle” of the housing market.

The term “missing middle” is generally used in two ways. First, it refers to housing that falls in between apartments and the large single-family homes that have dominated most new developments since World War II. Second, it refers to affordability, trying to offer single-family homes that don’t cost as much as the typical suburban house.

Collier Gibson has worked out a deal with ProMedica in which the company will take possession of the land after the demolition of the old Bixby building is finished.

“They want to ensure that the hospital is demolished and that they’ve met their obligation to the community prior to letting us officially own it,” Collier said.

He noted that the Grace Christman Medical Building, which includes the ProMedica Hickman Cancer Center, will not be demolished. ProMedica plans to keep that building operational, he said.

“They want to maintain that building and intend on using it for a number of years,” he said.

The plans call for demolition to begin around July 15 with workers clearing out the building, which Collier said will take a few weeks, and then the tearing-down of the building itself will take about 12 weeks, meaning demolition could be completed by the end of October.

Collier said ProMedica is paying for the majority of the demolition costs.

The company is asking the city for a pre-construction loan of $903,850, with a payback period of 36 months. Collier

said this would allow the company to speed up the development process and have the project completed 1 ½ to two years sooner.

City administrator Greg Elliott said the loan would not be a big risk for the city, noting that the property itself would be the collateral and that, once the hospital is demolished, the land would be valuable.

Commissioner Bob Behnke asked whether some of the houses could be reserved as lower-income units. Elliott said the city could ask the developer to consider that, but added that even without some units being designated as low-income, the project would still increase access to housing in Adrian.

“Housing is supply and demand, and if we can add 50 units to our market, that’s going to open something else up elsewhere,” he said.

He added that the proposed rental rates are “pretty good in our market.”

Mayor Angela Sword Heath said two of the city’s biggest problems right now are the lack of housing and dealing with vacant buildings.

“You’re hitting both of those, so thank you very much for considering Adrian,” she said.

The hospital, at 818 Riverside Ave., opened in 1957, replacing the original Emma L. Bixby Hospital at the corner of Maumee and Locust streets. It was closed in 2020 and replaced by the new ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital on M-52.

A6 | LOCAL NEWS

MARCH 2024 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Serving an unmet need Forensic nurse opens clinic in Adrian to help victims of sexual assault and domestic violence

By Kate Mitchell The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — When the worst happens, having the right resources can make all the difference.

Making sure survivors have the care and resources they need is the mission of Safe Haven, the newly founded trauma clinic specializing in sexual assault care in downtown Adrian. Launched by forensic nurse and nurse practitioner Rachelle Vanaken, Safe Haven focuses on on helping victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, elder abuse and other intimate traumas, and served its first patient on Christmas Day. The kind of cases Safe Haven specializes in can make finding the right care difficult. A typical hospital experience can be traumatic, Vanaken said. Having to recount what happened to multiple care providers while having invasive exams done with minimal privacy can make an already horrific experience even worse for many survivors.

“A lot of people don’t want to go to the ER for something like this,” Vanaken said.

“There are multiple counties in Michigan and multiple counties in different states that use outpatient clinics and it was always a dream. Someday, there’s going to be an outpatient clinic here in Lenawee because this is what’s needed.”

Safe Haven was thoughtfully designed with the survivor experience in mind.

A part of the Adrian Counseling and Psychiatric Clinic (ACPC) facility located in the Lenawee Professional Center in downtown Adrian, Safe Haven has its own entrance off the rear of the building to ensure patient privacy when they seek care. Inside, the walls are painted a calming blue, the floors a mellow gray

IN BRIEF

wood. There are uplifting pieces of art on the walls, a comfortable waiting room and — perhaps most importantly — the exam rooms are fully private, with doors instead of curtains like you often find in hospital emergency rooms.

Vanaken took careful consideration of all these factors when designing the space and she, alongside ACPC owner Sarang Patel, invested significant time and money into making the clinic into exactly what patients need. Patel provided the initial investment while Vanaken and her family spent hours painting, putting down floors, and building storage to get the clinic ready to serve Lenawee County.

For both Vanaken and Patel, it was an easy investment to make. The need, they said, for something like Safe Haven in this region is apparent.

“Working at ACPC, you find that trauma is ingrained in a lot of patients,” Patel said.

He said the clinic is about “getting as many people help as possible.”

“When Rachelle said it’s 24/7, it’s on call and there’s no wait ... I was in. Let’s get people in. There’s so much abuse and so much trauma, and there’s not enough resources.”

Safe Haven and ACPC take a holistic approach to treatment. When a patient calls the 24/7 number, a sexual assault nurse examiner answers. They talk with the patient, assess their history and arrange to meet them at the clinic. Once on site, the SANE-certified provider will conduct the exam — no recounting the trauma over and over as can often happen in a hospital environment — and immediately provide appropriate medications for sexually trasmitted infection, HIV and pregnancy prevention.

They also discuss options for what

Sarang Patel, owner of the Adrian Counseling and Psychiatric Clinic, and Rachelle Vanaken, the founder of Safe Haven, are pictured during a recent open house at the clinic. Safe Haven is located inside ACPC at 142 E. Maumee St. KATE MITCHELL/LENAWEE VOICE comes next. This can include ensuring the patient has a safe place to go if the assault was perpetrated by someone in their home, getting them scheduled with a mental health professional, or working with police if the survivor decides they want to report their assault.

A key aspect of that part of care is whether or not the patient wants to report the assault. As Vanaken says, she works with the police, not for them. Reporting is always up to the survivor, not the provider, and Safe Haven can provide a forensic exam to gather evidence without immediately going to police. This gives patients the evidence they will need if they choose to report the assault in the future.

Supporting patients goes beyond providing care. Safe Haven also wanted to ensure that there were no barriers to those needing care, including cost. That means that sexual assault survivors who seek treatment at Safe Haven may have expenses covered by a state of Michigan program called SAFE Response (the SAFE stands for Sexual Assault Forensic Exam). Those who are insured can use

their insurance but they don’t have to, just in case patients don’t want the person who holds the insurance to know they sought treatment for assault.

“I want people to know that we’re here, we’re available, and if they happen to be a victim of violence, they can call,” Vanaken said. “I don’t care if they’re undocumented. There’s a lot of addiction that goes along with being in a place that someone can take advantage of you — come talk with me about it. Don’t let it be a sticking point, we have resources.”

With the additional resources at ACPC, Vanaken and Patel are ready and equipped to help anyone who might need it, taking empathy and the trauma of assault into consideration every step of the way. And for Vanaken in particular, Safe Haven is fulfilling her own dream as well as a need in the community.

“This has been a vision,” Vanaken said. “I just want people to know that we’re here with open arms, no questions asked. Call and we will help you.”

If you need assistance from Safe Haven, call 517-260-1948 to speak to a SANE-certified care provider.

FOUR HONORED AT ‘TOGETHER WE STAND’ EVENT

Transgender Day of Visibility to be observed ADRIAN — The M Society, a local organization that advocates for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, invites friends to observe Transgender Day of Visibility on Saturday, March 30.

A potluck is planned for 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the community room of the Adrian library. The event is meant as a chance for trans and genderexpansive individuals and their families to build community, find support, and meet new friends. More information about the M Society is at themsociety.my.canva.site.

Local author to speak for women’s history month ADRIAN — Adrian College professor Christy Mesaros-Winckles will speak about her new book, “Silenced: The Forgotten Stories of Progressive Era Free Methodist Women,” at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, at the First Presbyterian Church of Adrian, 156 E. Maumee St. The talk is free and refreshments will be served.

“Together We Stand,” an annual event celebrating Black History Month, took place on Feb. 18 at Christ Temple Ministries International in Adrian. The four churches that came together to organize the event each chose someone to be honored for their service and dedication to the Lenawee County community. Pictured from left to right are Christopher Carter (City of Refuge Ministries), Ruby Bedolla (Second Baptist Church), Jimmy White (Bethel AME Methodist Church), and Aaron N. Benard (Christ Temple Ministries International). Although it has taken different forms over the years, Andre’a Benard of Christ Temple Ministries said the event dates back to the late 1970s. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

THE LENAWEE VOICE

LOCAL NEWS | A7

MARCH 2024

Here’s what streets are on Adrian’s 2024 road work list

Season of bicentennials

Many Lenawee County communities will mark their 200th birthdays over the next decade, beginning this year with Tecumseh and Blissfield

The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — The following city streets are slated for repaving in the fiscal year that begins July 1: n East Church Street from Locust to Maumee will be completely reconstructed, including asphalt, curb-and-gutter work, and driveway approaches. This is the only complete reconstruction being planned for the coming fiscal year. n Scott Ridge, a subdivision in northwest Adrian, will be milled and resurfaced. n Erie Street between McVicar and Dean, on Adrian’s east side, will be milled and resurfaced. n Mill Street, which is off of North Main just south of the Spotted Cow, will be milled and resurfaced. n Park Place East and Park Place West, which run on either side of Monument Park near the post office, will be milled and resurfaced.

At the Adrian City Commission’s Feb. 19 meeting, the contract for the work was awarded to Gerken Paving of Napoleon, Ohio, which was the lowest bidder. There were no Lenawee County bidders.

Engineering services director Matt Tomaszewski said Adrian’s streets are evaluated every year using the Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating (PASER) system. Decisions about resurfacing are based on both the condition of the roads and on the amount of traffic they receive, he said.

IN BRIEF Pickleball tournament will help fund Habitat’s home repair program ADRIAN — Habitat for Humanity of Lenawee County is planning a pickleball tournament to raise money for its home repair program.

The tournament will take place Saturday, June 29 at Heritage Park.

The entry fee will be $50 per team.

For more information or to register, call 517-265-6157.

Mike Rogers to headline local GOP fundraiser ADRIAN — The Lenawee County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 16, in the Merillat Room at The Centre in Adrian.

The speakers are U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers, former Michigan state senator Michael MacDonald, and former pro basketball player Willie Burton.

Tickets are $100. Tickets for a VIP meet-and-greet before the dinner are also being offered.

The Lenawee County Republican Party’s website is lenaweegop.com.

Local artist Barret Dvorsky painted this mural in the 100 block of South Lane Street to mark Blissfield’s bicentennial. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

By Marge Furgason The Lenawee Voice

The year of 1824 was an important one in the history of Lenawee County, and 2024 will be equally important as two local communities, Blissfield and Tecumseh, pay tribute to their roots with bicentennial celebrations.

Tecumseh According to the “Illustrated History and Biographical Record of Lenawee County, Michigan,” published in 1903, Tecumseh was the first official settlement in Lenawee County. It was on June 26, 1824, when a group of settlers, led by Musgrove Evans, registered the village of Tecumseh at the Registrar’s Office in Monroe. Most of the settlers had come to southeast Michigan from Jefferson County, New York. Musgrove Evans is credited with platting the village and serving as its first postmaster.

Others instrumental in Tecumseh’s founding, and whose names can be found today on local roadways, included Joseph Brown, Ezra Blood and Turner Stetson.

Fast forward to 2024 and Tecumseh will celebrate its 200th anniversary from Thursday through Sunday, July 18 to 21.

Kelly Jo Gilmore, Tecumseh’s economic development director, said the four-day event will begin with the unveiling and dedication of a clock in Adams Park next to City Hall, a project undertaken by the Kiwanis Club of Tecumseh. The ceremony is being planned for Thursday evening in the park, and will include a performance by the River Raisin Ragtime Revue.

Thursday night will also have Tecumseh’s monthly Classic Car and Bike Show, with hot rods and hot wheels on display in the parking lot at Old National Bank and the city’s northeast parking lot.

Other weekend attractions will be the city’s annual Summer Beach Party and sand sculpting event, with a historic theme prevailing among the sculptures displayed along Chicago Boulevard.

Also being planned are a cornhole tournament, antique tractor show and summer block party. In keeping with the 200th anniversary theme, a vintage baseball game will be played, Promenade Tecumseh will host a historic homes tour, and there will be guided tours of historic

This photo from the Tecumseh District Library archives shows a parade commemorating Tecumseh’s centennial in 1924. TECUMSEH DISTRICT LIBRARY sites in Brookside Cemetery. Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn some of the area’s history with exhibits at the Tecumseh Area Historical Museum and a Native American treaty display at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

Weekend entertainment includes a performance by the Dodworth Saxhorn Band and a historical version of the popular TCA Radio Show.

A bicentennial celebration just wouldn’t be complete without a parade or fireworks, so a birthday parade is being planned for Saturday morning, and fireworks are set for Saturday night at Tecumseh High School.

Information on how to sign up to enter the parade, become a festival sponsor or serve as a volunteer can be found on the city’s website at mytecumseh.org.

Blissfield The village of Blissfield, known as the second settlement in Lenawee County, was founded by Hervey Bliss, who, in 1824, was living in Raisinville in Monroe County. He purchased some land on June 19, 1924, a 160-tract along the River Raisin, filled with swamps and dense forest.

According to the “Illustrated History and Biographical Record of Lenawee County,” Bliss surmised that if the swampy land could grow trees it could also grow crops.

So he worked to clear the land and build a cabin. Bliss moved his family to their new home on Dec. 24, 1824.

Blissfield’s 200th anniversary will be celebrated on Saturday and Sunday, July 27 and 28. Laura Nichols, Blissfield DDA/ Main Street director, said the dates were selected in honor of Blissfield’s actual incorporation as a village on July 27, 1875.

Organizers of the two-day event include

Barbara Abenzeller, Eric and Deena Remley, along with the Blissfield Area Historical Society and other members of the Blissfield community.

In preparation for the celebration, local artist Barret Dvorsky, owner of Do Art Here in downtown Blissfield, was commissioned to paint a mural depicting the village’s 200-year history. The mural is 40 feet long by 16 feet tall and on display in the downtown area.

Blissfield’s annual River Raisin Festival will go on as usual, from July 11-13, with the bicentennial promoted by an entry in the festival parade. The Miss River Raisin Pageant will also feature a Miss Bliss pageant to select a queen to reign over the bicentennial. Miss Bliss will be open to women age 70 and over who were residents of Blissfield at the time of its sesquicentennial celebration in 1974.

History will be on full display at the two-day celebration, highlighted by the opening of a time capsule which was buried during the 150th birthday. Nichols said the capsule was recently dug up from its hiding place in Bachmayer Park and is now on display at Blissfield State Bank.

It will be officially opened during the bicentennial festivities.

Other attractions during the twoday event will include Civil War reenactments, open house events at the historic Victorsville Schoolhouse and the Blissfield Model Railroad Museum.

A Keystone Kops force will keep “order” and be ready to take anyone accused of a minor offense to its “jail” at the Blissfield Railroad Depot. Also planned are bed races, old-fashioned games, cornhole and sand volleyball tournaments.

More information on the Blissfield Bicentennial can be found on Facebook.

A8 | LOCAL NEWS

IN COURT Teen charged in shooting death of mother’s boyfriend ADRIAN — A 17-year-old boy has been charged as an adult in connection with the death of Kirt Stubbins of Addison. Stubbins was shot while hunting in the vicinity of Rome Road on Nov. 30.

Karl-Mark Berry was arrested on Feb. 12 and arraigned on Feb. 13 on a charge of open murder.

According to the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Department, Stebbins was dating Berry’s mother.

Hearing set for man accused of shooting wife A pretrial hearing is set for March 27 in the case of Stephen Sevedus Maples, 73, who is accused of killing his wife, Cathy Maples, at their Baldwin Highway home in February 2023.

According to court documents, Maples called 911 on the night of Feb. 24 and said he had shot his wife. Responders found her dead, having been shot multiple times, and also found a .357-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun.

Cathy Maples spent 35 years as a teacher in the Deerfield and later Britton-Deerfield school district.

Driver convicted in man’s drowning death William Michael Badger Jr., 51, of Blissfield, was convicted by a jury on Feb. 20 of causing another man’s death in a car crash in 2021.

Authorities said Badger was drunk when he drove his car off the road and it flipped over in a ditch on Lipp Highway.

The car filled with water and the passenger, David Campell, drowned. Sentencing is set for May 3.

Woman sentenced for allowing sexual abuse Jaimee Lee Carden, 37, was sentenced to prison on Jan. 26 for allowing men to sexually abuse her young daughter in exchange for money.

Defense attorney David Goldstein told the court that Carden was addicted to drugs and that “if it had not been for the drugs, this probably would not have happened.” He said Carden did not expect to avoid punishment, but “this is not an evil person that needs to be locked away for the rest of her life.”

Prosecutor Jacqueline Wyse said Carden knew the men she was allowing access to her children were sex offenders.

“She put them in situations to be around those sexual predators,” Wyse said. “She indicated she did that because she was getting money, vehicles, whatever she needed to feed her drug habit.”

Carden pleaded no contest to the charges. Judge Anna-Marie Anzalone sentenced Carden to between 150 months and 40 years on the most serious charge, firstdegree child abuse.

MARCH 2024 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Adrian considers installing cameras in four city parks

By Erik Gable

The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — The city of Adrian is considering the installation of 32 security cameras in four city parks.

Parks and recreation director Jeremiah Davies discussed the idea with city commissioners at a study session on Feb. 5. The parks under discussion are Island Park, Comstock Park, Riverside Park, and Trestle Park.

Davies said the city has had problems with vandalism and crime at the parks, and has spent several thousand dollars on vandalism-related repairs over the past few years.

“This is becoming an expensive issue,” he said.

City staff reached out to several companies, both locally and outside the area, and received a quote from Southfield-based InaComp of $88,000

over the course of 10 years for 32 cameras with 4K resolution and the software to run them. Information technology coordinator Gordon McKinney said the company also offers other payment options, but the $88,000 plan would be the cheapest without cutting down on the number of cameras.

The city’s internet service provider, D&P Communications, would charge $90 a month per location to provide internet connections to the cameras, McKinney said.

Commissioners did not take any action, because the discussion was preliminary, but those who commented were supportive of the idea.

“We owe it to our citizens,” commissioner Gordon Gauss said. “They’re paying for the parks; for them not to be able to use them just isn’t right.”

During the public comment portion of the study session, city resident Joshua

Franck raised two concerns.

First, he asked if there is data to support the idea that cameras will prevent vandalism. If there is to be surveillance of city residents when they use the parks, he said, the city should be able to demonstrate that it will fix the problem.

Second, he noted that the cameras will probably catch people sleeping on benches, and said it seems like they would contribute to the criminalization of homelessness.

“They’re people and they exist,” Franck said. He added: “Homelessness is not a crime.”

The city has an ordinance that limits park hours to between sunrise and sunset, and bans camping in the parks.

That ordinance was passed in 2020 amid significant controversy, with opponents citing its impact on people experiencing homelessness.

Laura Haviland to be honored on postage stamp The Lenawee Voice

Laura Smith Haviland, the Lenawee County abolitionist and humanitarian who spent decades of her life helping enslaved people escape bondage in the American South and reach freedom in Canada, is one of 10 historical figures who will be honored in a set of postage stamps to be released this year.

The stamps will commemorate the Underground Railroad. Their first day of issue will be March 9.

In addition to Haviland, the people depicted will be: n Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery and then returned to Maryland numerous times to lead others to freedom, and during the Civil War also worked for the Union as a scout and spy. n Thomas Garrett, a Delaware-based Quaker operative. n William Still, who was born to a mother who had escaped slavery and a father who had purchased his own freedom, and who became the leader of the Philadelphia Vigilance Committee. n Harriet Jacobs, who escaped slavery and later wrote a memoir describing the horrors of her life in bondage and her escape. n The Rev. Jermain Loguen, who escaped slavery and became an operative based in Syracuse, New York. n Catharine Coffin, a Quaker operative based in Indiana and Ohio. n Lewis Hayden, who escaped slavery and became an operative based in Boston. n Frederick Douglass, who escaped slavery and then rose to fame as an abolitionist and orator, and sheltered freedom seekers at his home in Rochester, New York.

William Lambert, who was born free and became an operative based in Detroit.

“Stamps are miniature works of art and often tell a story that highlights our American culture, our people or an important point in our history,” Lisa Bobb-Semple, acting Stamp Services director for USPS, said in a news release.

“Stamps also allow us to show what’s important to us as we carefully select which stamp adorns our mailpieces. The 2024 stamps were designed to offer the American public a broad array of choices for those looking to collect stamps or send a special message.”

Laura Haviland was born in Canada in 1808. In 1829, she settled in Raisin Township with her husband, Charles. She helped start the first anti-slavery society in Michigan, and also founded the state’s first racially integrated school.

She and her husband began sheltering runaway slaves on their farm in the n

1830s. Over the next three decades, in addition to opening her own home, she made numerous trips to the South to help people escape from their enslavers.

At least one of those slave owners placed a bounty on her head, offering a $3,000 reward to anyone who would kidnap or murder her on his behalf.

After the Civil War, she worked for the Freedmen’s Bureau and also became active in the women’s suffrage and temperance movements. She died in 1898 and is buried in Raisin Valley Cemetery.

Haviland is not the only person on the set of stamps to have a Lenawee County connection. Frederick Douglass visited Adrian and spoke at the Croswell Opera House in 1872.

The Underground Railroad stamps will be sold in sheets of 20. They are “Forever” stamps, which will always be equal in value to the current first-class one-ounce rate.

Colleges’ online programs recognized by U.S. News & World Report ADRIAN — Both Siena Heights University and Adrian College are included in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 college rankings.

Siena Heights University’s online bachelor’s degree program was tied for 26th in the nation, out of 348 programs evaluated. The university was the fourth highest-ranked private institution in this

category, and also was the top-rated Michigan institution for the eighth year in a row.

Siena Heights was also ranked 28th in the nation for online bachelor’s programs for veterans, the highest ranking in that category for any Michigan institution.

Two Adrian College programs were included in the magazine’s evaluation

of master’s degree programs in business.

Adrian tied for 97th for online master’s programs in business excluding MBA programs, out of 222 programs reviewed, and its online MBA program tied for 208th out of 356 programs reviewed.

For more information about the U.S. News & World Report rankings, go to usnews.com.

THE LENAWEE VOICE

A9

MARCH 2024

BUSINESS Peppers Mexican Grill expands, opens restaurant in Blissfield

The former CoCoNuts on U.S. 12 will soon reopen as Flamingo Beach Grille & Bar. Kelly and Eric Tucker of Temperance have purchased the building and hope to open their new restaurant in April.

New restaurant coming soon to former CoCoNuts location in Tipton The Lenawee Voice

TIPTON — Area residents who miss CoCoNuts, the beach-themed restaurant on U.S. 12 that closed in 2017, will have reason to celebrate soon. A southeast Michigan couple has purchased the building and they plan to open soon as Flamingo Beach Grille & Bar. The menu will be very similar to what guests were used to before, said Kelly Tucker, who will own and operate the new restaurant with her husband, Eric. It will include steak, seafood, pasta and burgers, along with some vegetarian options.

The owners plan to eventually have live entertainment on weekends.

The Tuckers have been married for 21 years. Kelly previously served as general manager for two restaurants, and Eric is a retired machinist. After Eric retired, they were looking for the next chapter in their lives and decided to open their own eatery.

The restaurant can seat about 100 people, plus close to that number on the patio, and another 14 at the bar.

The Tuckers live in Temperance but plan to relocate to a home on Vineyard Lake.

The target for opening is April.

Flamingo Beach Grille & Bar will be located at 4321 Michigan Ave., Tipton.

More information is available on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Marcos Garcia recently opened Peppers Mexican Grill in Blissfield. It’s his third location, after Milan and Tecumseh. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

By Erik Gable

“That’s the best seller, because it’s the most authentic,” Garcia said.

Other favorites include fajabo, which is grilled chicken and steak on a bed of rice with onions, cilantro, tomatoes, cheese and tortillas, and the Piña Loca, which is half of a pineapple stuffed with grilled chicken, steak and shrimp, and topped with grilled vegetables, cheese and sliced avocado.

The margaritas use Garcia’s own recipe too, and anyone who can’t decide between all the flavors can order a flight of four.

The restaurant, which is located in the Borchardt Brothers plaza on the west side of Blissfield, can seat 93. There’s also a patio that will be open in warmer weather.

Garcia said the Blissfield location of Peppers currently has about a dozen employees.

The Garcias live in Milan and have three children, ages 12, 9 and 7.

The Lenawee Voice

BLISSFIELD — Marcos Garcia’s first job, at 17, was washing dishes in a restaurant. Now he’s the owner of three, with the most recent having opened at the beginning of this year.

Garcia and his wife, Maria, started Peppers Mexican Grill in 2019 in Milan. They opened a second location in Tecumseh in 2020, and their third, at 638 W. Adrian St. in Blissfield, opened on January 1.

“We spend more time at the restaurant than at home,” he said with a smile.

A family atmosphere and food made on-site from fresh ingredients are two hallmarks of the three restaurants, Garcia said.

“We use fresh produce, fresh meat — never frozen, never from a can,” he said.

Many items, including the taco marinade and the salsas, come from family recipes.

Authenticity is also important, with street tacos being a popular item for many guests.

Two popular items from the Peppers menu: The Piña Loca, which is served inside half of a pineapple, and a sample flight of four margaritas. COURTESY OF PEPPERS MEXICAN GRILL

The Lenawee County locations of Peppers Mexican Grill are at 638 W. Adrian St., Blissfield, and 1410 W. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh.

More information at peppersmexicangrill.net.

Family-owned Tire Outlet Plus adds building to meet growing demand

By Erik Gable

The Lenawee Voice

PALMYRA TWP. — Due to high demand for its services, a family-owned tire business in Lenawee County is expanding.

Tire Outlet Plus, at 4100 East U.S. 223, is building two new service bays to bring its total to six, according to Tony Martinez Jr., who manages the store with his wife, Micki.

Martinez’s parents, Tony and Irene Martinez, also own Vulcan Tire on East Beecher Street, which they opened in 1986.

In 2016, they purchased the building at the corner of U.S. 223 and Humphrey Highway, which was previously the home of Michigan TBA. The new store opened under the Tire Outlet Plus name in 2019.

In addition to tires, Martinez and his staff do repairs for steering, suspensions, brakes, alignment — anything that, if it’s out of order, can cause tires to wear out too quickly.

Martinez said this comes from experiences like seeing people come in with tires that were brand new six months

ago, but already have steel cords sticking out of them.

“There’s always an underlying condition as to why a tire would wear bad,” he said. “My goal is to find that problem and be able to solve that problem.”

Tire Outlet Plus sells all major tire brands, including Cooper, Firestone, Michelin, BF Goodrich, Goodyear and Nexen, and they offer financing. Other services include headlight replacement and installing lift kits.

Tire Outlet Plus is at 4100 East U.S. 223.

For information, call 517-759-3131.

Tony Martinez Jr. is pictured in front of the new building being erected at Tire Outlet Plus on U.S. 223. Martinez manages the store, which is owned by his parents, Tony and Irene Martinez. The family also owns Vulcan Tire, which they opened in 1986. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

A10 | BUSINESS

MARCH 2024 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Stitched Consignment Shop aims to make clothes shopping fun

By Julie C. Clemes The Lenawee Voice

Coffee Soup Salads Sandwiches Chocolate

110 E. Maumee Street | Historic Downtown Adrian

ADRIAN — Jeri Graf knew what she wanted to do when she was growing up.

After “a couple of jobs,” she decided to do it.

She opened Stitched Consignment Shop in Adrian in mid-December. Graf, who was born and raised in Adrian, started consignment shopping when she was young, and it became a lifelong passion.

“I’ve always gone to consignment shops since I was a kid,” she said. “I never really had a lot of money to go shop new, so used was always better.”

“There was one in town with two ladies, and they were amazing,” she continued. “Every time I’d go there and look around, I always loved it. I always wanted to work there.”

Stitched Consignment Shop carries a wide range of merchandise for juniors and women, including purses, jeans, jackets, shirts, shoes, and workout attire.

Sizes range from 2x small in juniors to womens sizes 4x to 5x.

Graf said the consignment store is a “win-win” situation for everyone. It’s recycling, and the customer can bring in used items and get money for them.

“It’s better than buying new,” she added.

Graf said she likes to make it affordable for everybody, instead of carrying only “super expensive stuff.” She gave the example of purses, which can range from $5 to $300.

“If you’re low income, you could come here and still find something,” she said.

“There’s something for everybody and all sizes.”

Graf uses social media to promote her merchandise, and changes the posts regularly. She likes to post items in “different sizes, bigger sizes, smaller sizes, dressier stuff, more stuff for teens.”

“I try to do something every day so people might say ‘Oh that’s cute, my daughter might like that,’ or ‘Oh that’s cute, I might like that,’ so it’s something that they can do together,” she said.

IN BRIEF Downtown yarn shop moving to new location ADRIAN — Tink and the Frog is moving to a larger home, but the downtown Adrian yarn shop isn’t going far.

The store’s new location is 128 E. Maumee St., the former home of the Lenawee’s Heart & Soul children’s art and music studio. The new space is almost twice the size of Tink and the Frog’s previous location on North Main Street.

Dollar General Market gets Raisin Township approval RAISIN TWP. — The Raisin Township Planning Commission has approved the site plan for a Dollar General Market at the corner of Occidental Highway and Sutton Road.

Dollar General Markets are an offshoot of Dollar General that focus more on groceries and fresh produce than on traditional dollar-store merchandise.

Jeri Graf is the owner of Stitched Consignment Shop, which opened recently on North Main Street in downtown Adrian.

JULIE C. CLEMES/LENAWEE VOICE

She also has regular giveaways, in which customers can enter into a drawing for merchandise.

Stitched Consignment Shop is a threegeneration family business. The store also carries handmade items from Celestial_ Crafts101, which is an online store her daughter operates. Graf’s mother, Jill, works with her at the store.

Graf called working in downtown Adrian “a blessing.”

“I wanted to work downtown because the people are so nice,” she said. “They’ve all been so welcoming.”

Graf accepts new or used items to be considered for consignment on Tuesday and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Items must be clean, in good condition, and brought in a laundry basket.

Stitched Consignment Shop is at 209 N. Main St., Adrian.

Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For information, call 517-920-4695 or search for Stitched Consignment Shop on Facebook or Instagram.

All four JR’s restaurants permanently closed ADRIAN — JR’s Grill & Pub, which had restaurants in Adrian, Tecumseh, Brooklyn and Milan, closed all of its locations at the end of January.

The move left many customers frustrated as they were unable to use the gift cards they had purchased or received at Christmas. Some had purchased the gift cards during a cash-only promotion, meaning they couldn’t even get their money back by pursuing a credit card chargeback.

Many other area restaurants stepped up and offered discounts to people with JR’s gift cards they couldn’t use.

A reporter from 13abc, who came to Adrian to cover the story, was asked to leave the property.

Brunch Box won’t reopen BLISSFIELD — Lisa’s Brunch Box in downtown Blissfield will not reopen after being damaged by a fire in January. Gift certificates are being honored at Blissfield Coney Island & Restaurant through the end of March.

THE LENAWEE VOICE

BUSINESS | A11

MARCH 2024

Gleaner Life Insurance service group makes winter a little warmer for people in need ADRIAN — Gleaner Life Insurance Society’s Legacy Arbor service group wrapped up its 2023 projects by providing dinner and gifts at the Share the Warmth homeless shelter and later furnishing 126 large fleece blankets to three local facilities for senior citizens.

The service group purchased and served a three-course honey roasted chicken dinner Dec. 8 at Share the Warmth. The Legacy Arbor group also purchased and assembled several dozen goody bags for guests. Each bag included gloves, socks, hand and feet warmers, a kit with personal care items, breakfast bars, beef sticks and other snack foods. Extra supplies were given to the shelter for future needs.

On Dec. 19, the arbor packed 126 big fleece blankets it had purchased to give residents at three Lenawee County senior citizen facilities: Hampton Manor in Madison Township, Tecumseh Place in Tecumseh, and Citizens for Quality Care in Morenci. These were delivered on different days around the holidays, helping current residents and providing a warm welcome for future residents.

“Sometimes, we do have people who come without a whole lot, sometimes just the items they bring and sometimes they don’t have family members,” said Tecumseh Place life enrichment coordinator Carmen Sumner-Burgos. “So, we have to have things like this to get them through until we can get more things for them.”

Founded in 1894, Gleaner Life Insurance Society is a nationally recognized not-for-profit fraternal benefit society. Gleaner assists its members in

Gleaner Legacy Arbor members Rebecca Creque, Christine Zeller and Leandra Bryan were among eight service club members providing and serving dinner at Share the Warmth.

LEFT: Arbor members Mark Lenz (left) and Kristin Reid (right) are shown with Tecumseh Place employees Keely Sanders, Carmen Sumner-Burgos and Carol Belanger. RIGHT: Narijes Othman of Hampton Manor with Legacy Arbor member Rebecca Creque and Kristin Reid. achieving their financial security goals through a broad range of life insurance and annuity financial solutions. As a fraternal organization, Gleaner provides volunteer

Career Connections Job Fair will take place March 21 at The Centre ADRIAN — The Align Center for Workforce Development will hold its third annual Career Connections Job Fair at The Centre, 1800 U.S. 223, Adrian, on Wednesday, March 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“This event brings together students, community members of all backgrounds, and employers looking to fill positions across staffing levels,” said Kelly McNicol, career education navigator for the Align Center for Workforce Development and one of the planners of the job fair. “We are looking forward to about 40 regional employers at this event.”

Employers will represent diverse industries such as medical, manufacturing, finance, corrections, automotive,

and education, and will seek candidates of all levels, including professional roles, entry-level positions, apprenticeships, and internships. Many participating organizations offer clear paths for professional growth, whether through internal advancement, on-the-job training, or tuition reimbursement.

In addition to connecting job seekers with employment opportunities, the event focuses on skill development crucial for success in the workforce. The ACWD’s Career Education Navigators, along with staff from Michigan Works, will work with job candidates to help them prepare for the event through developing foundational skills.

opportunities and supports outreach programs to make a difference in the lives of its members and the communities where they live, work and serve.

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MARCH 2024 THE LENAWEE VOICE

IN BRIEF Lenco Credit Union works with Habitat to provide home improvement grants ADRIAN — A collaborative effort between the Lenco Credit Union, Habitat for Humanity, and Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis has helped more than 40 homeowners make vital home improvements since Lenco initiated the program locally in 2018.

“These grant funds are a huge blessing to our area, as this program has brought in over $266,000 to our community over the last five years,” said Linda Benschoter, executive vice presidend of Lenco.

Income-eligible homeowners can receive grants for home repairs such as roofs, siding, windows and more.

Interested homeowners can contact Wendy Knox at 517-265-6157 or wknox@habitat-lenawee.org.

Gleaner Life’s financial strength rating reaffirmed ADRIAN — Gleaner Life Insurance Society’s insurance financial strength rating has been reaffirmed by Kroll Bond Rating Agency. For the seventh consecutive year, KBRA affirmed Gleaner’s rating as “A-minus,” the third-best of 11 letter grades given by the agency, with an outlook rated “Stable.”

“The rating reflects Gleaner’s conservative balance sheet, historically stable operating results, disciplined product pricing and crediting rate practices, and its diverse asset portfolio,” KBRA stated.

Plastic Omnium honored for climate action ADRIAN — Plastic Omnium, a French manufacturing company with a facility in Adrian, was awarded an “A” score for climate action by CDP, a nonprofit that runs a global disclosure system for businesses and governments to manage and report their environmental impacts.

The company’s efforts to fight climate change include a solar energy project at its Adrian location.

A zoning variance allowing the solar installation to be built was granted in February by the Adrian Zoning Board of Appeals.

New report aims to provide a ‘roadmap to rural prosperity’ Rural Innovation Exchange

CASSOPOLIS — Like many rural communities in Michigan, Cassopolis faces challenges.

Among them is a shortage of housing in this tidy village of about 1,700 people in the southwest corner of Michigan.

Development has been on the upswing in its small downtown and businesses have made known they need more housing for their workers.

“We are in negative housing,” said Emilie LaGrow, who is the village manager.

“We have regular conversations with our businesses, and they need housing for their workers. Workers want to live closer.

They want them to live closer. The reality is we have to grow housing.”

Even as Cassopolis strives to solve this issue — with three different types of housing projects in the works — LaGrow and village officials are aware that full success and prosperity with housing and other municipal issues will not come without collaboration — with local, regional, private, philanthropic and state entities.

That collaboration is among the key strategies outlined in a new report, Michigan Roadmap to Rural Prosperity, released by the Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity, which is part of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

A first of its kind for the state, the roadmap identifies seven challenges rural communities face — including the lack of housing —and offers strategies in each of those priorities to collectively build long-term prosperity areas across the state. In addition to collaboration, the strategies call for more tools, resources, and partners in planning and collaboration.

“We always highlight the fact that we see success and progress in communities where multiple partners have come together to understand their needs, opportunities, and assets — and then create a plan to act on that understanding,” said Sarah Lucas, director of the Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity.

The 70-page report emphasizes that Michigan’s long-term prosperity depends on the success of its rural communities in both the lower and upper peninsulas. Housing was the most “cited critical issue facing rural communities statewide, now and into

the future,” according to the report. Rural Michigan has been hit especially hard by the increase in second homes and shortterm rentals, shrinking the supply and raising the prices of homes and rentals for year-round residents.

The other challenges addressed are: n Grow and diversify the workforce across sectors. n Improve individual health and economic well-being. n Support local and regional capacity to deliver services. n Build and maintain resilient infrastructure. n Enhance regionally driven and placebased economic development efforts. n Protect, conserve and steward natural assets.

“When you look at these issues, most of them are not geographically bound issues,” said Mackenzie Price, executive director of the Huron County Community Foundation. “It’s not just one township seeing a housing issue.

None of us are alone. Here are some ways we can address these issues and some different agencies that might be able to work with us.”

Developed after two years of engagement — including an extensive listening tour, surveys, summits and various reviews — the roadmap’s vision centers on a “future of resilient, connected rural residents, businesses, communities and natural environments.”

Those who participated in the lengthy process and have reviewed the report said the Michigan Roadmap to Rural Prosperity clearly identifies the challenges rural areas face and offers solid strategies and priorities. The call for greater collaboration among local, county, and other entities to address those issues especially resonated. Too often, rural communities strive to find solutions to their challenges in isolation.

“The whole goal is to help folks understand rural Michigan a little better — what challenges and opportunities exist in rural Michigan,” Price said. “It makes it easier for people who say they want to support the rural economy and the development of rural infrastructure.

It’s a good place to get information for what that engagement looks like.”

The strategies identified in the roadmap center around solutions that can be scaled to respond to needs and opportunities identified by rural communities through “regular, ongoing,

two-way engagement and inclusive decision-making.” Addressing housing, the report recommends more than a dozen strategies, including advocating for state, federal and philanthropic funding requirements that reflect rural needs and development requirements, and can be feasibly implemented by low-capacity, under-resourced communities.”

“I think what stands out to me is the emphasis that rural communities share the same challenges as urban communities, but they look different,” said Jessica AcMoody, policy director of the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan. “Because they look different, we have to have different policies in place.”

Along with identifying the challenges and strategies, the report defines what is rural and shares population and economic trends and the demographics of rural Michigan. Rural Michigan is home to 20 percent of the state’s population.

“Rural Michigan generally lacks a sustainable or balanced population — a population that is diverse in age, experience, and backgrounds — making it more challenging to meet current and evolving needs of rural residents, businesses, and communities,” according to the report.

The assets of rural Michigan are many. Rural Michigan is home to 94 percent of the state’s land area, “boasting tremendous natural resources that provide sustenance to residents, drive our economy, are culturally significant, and offer endless outdoor opportunities,” the report says.

Rural Michigan is also home to some 50,000 farms, making Michigan the second-most agriculturally diverse state in the country; 12 federally recognized tribes; more than 1,400 local governments; and 70 counties considered rural or mostly rural.

More than 155,000 firms call rural Michigan home, and two-thirds of school districts and 21 colleges and universities are located in rural areas, making rural Michigan “instrumental in preparing the future workforce.”

To read the report, go to tinyurl.com/ ruralroadmap.

Rural Innovation Exchange is a jouralism outlet that focuses on the innovation, talent, entrepreneurship, social innovation and community development taking place in rural Michigan. Read more stories at secondwavemedia.com.

THE LENAWEE VOICE

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MARCH 2024

Strike averted as hospital and nurses’ union reach contract The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN TWP. — Nurses at ProMedica Hickman Hospital have secured a new contract with hospital management, ending the danger of a strike.

The new contract will last for three years. According to the Michigan Nurses Association, the contract includes wage provisions under which, by the third year of the contract, nurses at the top of the pay scale will earn more than $50 per hour.

Union leaders said the hospital also dropped its proposal for a two-tiered retirement system under which new hires would not have received the same retirement benefits as current nurses.

“Because we remained united as a union, we were able to win more and protect our future,” Tracy Webb, a critical care nurse and president of the MNA local at the hospital, said in a statement.

On Jan. 11, nurses voted to authorize their bargaining team to call a strike if the team deemed it necessary.

On Jan. 30, nurses who were not on duty picketed in front of the hospital. In addition to airing their contract demands, they called attention to executive salaries at ProMedica, which paid former CEO Randy Oostra more than $5.4 million in 2022 and more than $7.1 million the year before, according to the organization’s IRS filings.

On Jan. 31, the bargaining teams reached a tentative deal, and nurses voted to ratify the contract on Feb. 7.

In a statement to media, ProMedica said: “ProMedica Hickman Hospital

is pleased that the MNA membership has ratified the contract. The contract underscores our commitment to providing all our employees with fair and market-competitive wages and benefits. It also reflects our longstanding commitment to supporting and promoting a culture of high-quality care and patient safety — both being areas in which the hospital has been regularly recognized as an industry leader.”

Nurses said the contract is evidence of the strength of union solidarity.

“Something clearly clicked for the hospital’s administration when they saw almost every single RN who works at our facility either wearing red on the floors or picketing outside the hospital in the slush,” said ProMedica Hickman nurse Sue McGaffigan. “Our solidarity made all the difference in the world.”

In addition to the wage gains, the MNA said the contract includes: n Establishment of an equitable system to place nurses on the wage scale by years of licensure. n Language to limit the cost of healthcare premiums paid by nurses. n Stronger protections limiting the use of mandatory overtime. n Establishment of basic health and safety language including the contractual right to personal protective equipment and protections against violence in the workplace. n Additional language to assure that complaints submitted by nurses about unsafe staffing will be properly addressed.

Community members honored at Martin Luther King Day celebration The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — Tributes to several service-minded community members were delivered at the annual Lenawee County Martin Luther King Day celebration, which took place on Jan. 15 at Adrian College.

Monique Savage was presented with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award.

An educator and social worker, Savage has lived in Lenawee County for more than 40 years. She is a member of the NAACP and 100 Women for Lenawee, and she serves on the Adrian District Library board. She is also an ordained minister and member of Christ Temple Ministries International.

During her time teaching at Adrian College, Savage created Sisters of the Yam, a support group for young women of color who were the first in their families to attend college. She helped develop a program to identify underrepresented students at the middle school level and then mentor and guide them to eventually become college students.

At Christ Temple, she developed a program for young people that involved books written by people of color, about children of color, being read to them by people of color.

Another aspect of her service to the church was developing a support group for women who may have been victims of domestic violence.

She has been a presenter of antiracism workshops both locally and nationwide.

Deanne Henagan, left, presents the Lifetime Achievement Award to Monique Savage. PHOTO BY PATRICIA GRAY Rudy Flores and Sister Patricia Harvat were presented with the 2024 Community Service Award.

Flores was honored for his work advocating for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and immigrant communities. He has been working in human services since 1992. He has served on the boards of Adrian Public Schools and the Adrian Rea Literacy Center, and currently serves on the ProMedica board.

Harvat has been a member of the Adrian Human Relations Commission and has been instrumental in creating programs to engage the Adrian community in exploring issues of cultural diversity, equity and inclusion.

Student awards were presented to Juliana Reynolds from Adrian College, Elise Kruse from Jackson College, and Autumn Bradford from Siena Heights University.

Sickle cell from page A1 These cells also die much sooner than typical red blood cells, leaving people with the disease with a shortage of oxygen-providing red blood cells. It can also cause episodes of extreme pain when blood flow is blocked, swelling of hands and feet, frequent infections as a result of damage to the spleen, delayed growth or puberty, and vision problems.

Complications from sickle cell disease can be fatal but the illness is broadly misunderstood and underrepresented, Davis said, and KMD is working to correct that.

The advocacy center was at least partially inspired by Davis’ son and his work on Capitol Hill, where he was a legislative aide to Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland). Davis and the center’s work is rooted in policy change and driving additional research and funding toward fighting the disease that claimed her children’s lives.

“I wanted to do something to honor them,” Davis said.

As one of the first steps, the center worked alongside Van Hollen to create the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act, legislation that was designed to strengthen the medical workforce that treats sickle cell disease and strengthen services available to those living with the disease.

“For Americans living with sickle cell, access to their doctors and treatments can be one of the biggest challenges they face,” Van Hollen said on his website.

“And while medical advancements over the years have enabled these Americans to live longer, the supply of care simply hasn’t kept pace with demand. This bill will help close this gap by increasing the

Former Adrian resident Kimberley Davis is pictured with mementos of her children, both of whom died from sickle cell disease, in her Northville home. size and capacity of the medical workforce that is trained to treat sickle cell. Better care is out there for sickle cell patients and their families, and our legislation will make it more accessible.”

Accessibility is a major concern for KMD Advocacy Center. Individuals with sickle cell often need extra accommodation as they navigate the complications that come with the disease. They frequently need to miss school or work, may not have access to care providers with experience treating sickle cell and, while curative therapies are available, they cost upwards of $1 million, making them out of reach for many with the disease. For the center, that means supporting efforts that would lower costs for patients as well as provide programs that are both entertaining and educational to make the information as accessible as possible.

One of the challenges Davis and KMD Advocacy Center face is overcoming common misconceptions about sickle

cell. Davis believes one of the reasons the illness hasn’t gotten the same attention as others is that it was labeled as a disease that only impacts the Black community.

But the reality is very different. While in the U.S. it primarily impacts people of African descent, high instances of sickle cell are present in India, southern Europe, the Mediterranean and Arab communities as well. Because of the nature of the disease, it can affect different organs, and patients will often need to see as many as 13 different specialists to treat the illness. Ensuring that everyone from ER care providers to psychologists working with patients to friends and family understand what sickle cell is and who it effects is vital.

This work was why Davis was honored at January’s Lenawee County Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner. Her son John — who graduated from Adrian High School in 2010 — was posthumously recognized in 2022 with a lifetime achievement

Mariama and John Amara Walters as children, with their mother in a family photo. award. It made this year’s event, which donated funds to KMD Advocacy Center, a special one for Davis.

“It’s encouraging and it really touches my heart and my family,” she said. “It’s kind of bittersweet, in a way. You wish they were still here but at the same time just grateful for the community recognizing the importance, keeping their legacy alive, as well as doing what they can to help meet our goal of increasing the social and economic investment for achieving equitable care for individuals and families living with sickle cell.”

As the advocacy center continues into the future, Davis is optimistic that, with increased education and funding, things will be better for those living with sickle cell.

“I want to make sure people think about sickle cell with their heart,” she said. “I want them to think about what they would want for their own children and, as we move forward, what they could do to help. That’s what we want to see.”

A14 18: Drug possession and Feb. 6: Retail fraud, 200 block POLICE REPORTS retailJan.fraud, 800 block of North of East U.S. 223.

Main Street.

Feb. 7: Property damage and Jan. 19: Fraud, 1300 block of burglary (residential, forced West Maumee Street. Fraud, 400 entry), 1300 block of South block of North Locust Street.

Winter Street. Larceny, 100 block Jan. 20: Assault and property of East Maumee Street. Illegal damage, 500 block of Frank use of credit card, 500 block of Street. Larceny of parts or Tabor Street. Assault, 500 block of accessories from a vehicle, 300 Toledo Street. block of Logan Street. Drug Feb. 8: Property damage and possession, Toledo and Tecumseh burglary (residential, forced streets. Aggravated assault, entry), 800 block of Erie Street.

Dennis and Dallas streets.

Larceny, 1200 block of South ADRIAN CITY Jan. 21: Use of the internet for Main Street.

Jan. 1: Aggravated assault, 600 harassment or threats, 600 block Feb. 9: Larceny from a yard, block of Clinton Street. Vehicle of East Hunt Street. Robbery, 600 1000 block of South Main Street. theft, 900 block of East Beecher block of South Madison Street.

Retail fraud, 200 block of East U.S. Street. Assault, 300 block of East Property damage, 1100 block of 223.

Beecher Street.

Lowe Avenue.

Feb. 10: Property damage and Jan. 2: Larceny from a building.

Jan. 22: Use of telephone for retail fraud, 200 block of East U.S. 1400 block of South Main Street. harassment or threats, 1500 block 223. Assault, 100 block of East Retail fraud, 800 block of North of Shrewsbury Avenue.

Maumee Street. Assault, 4600 Main Street. Assault, 800 block of Jan. 23: Larceny, 1500 block of block of West U.S. 223.

North Main Street.

Village Green Lane. Assault, 200 Feb. 11: Assault, 700 block of Jan. 3: Assault, 500 block of block of East U.S. 223.

Lakeshire Trail. Retail fraud, 200 North Winter Street. Larceny from Jan. 24: Use of telephone for block of East U.S. 223. Disorderly a building, 700 block of Caton harassment or threats, 300 block conduct, 400 block of State Street.

Avenue. Larceny, 800 block of of East Church Street.

Larceny, 200 block of Division Oak Street. Assault, 300 block of Jan. 25: Retail fraud, 1300 Street. Use of the internet for East Church Street. Identity theft, block of South Main Street. harassment or threats, 1500 block 400 block of East Church Street.

Identity theft, 1000 block of South of Village Green Lane.

Retail fraud, 1500 block of West Winter Street. Disorderly conduct, Feb. 12: Aggravated assault, Maumee Street. Criminal sexual Main and Maumee streets.

1100 block of June Lane. Property conduct (forcible contact), 1400 Jan. 26: Assault, 200 block of damage and burglary (residential, block of Village Green Lane.

East U.S. 223. Assault, 1000 block forced entry), 200 block of Jan. 4: Aggravated assault and of Chestnut Street.

Jordan Street. Operating while property damage, 100 block of Jan. 27: Larceny from a building, intoxicated, U.S. 223 and West Gorham Drive. Assault, 100 block 500 block of South Madison Street. Maumee Street. Assault, 1500 of Sterling Street.

Larceny from a yard, 800 block of block of Stratford Drive.

Jan. 5: Assault, 100 block of West Maumee Street. Operating Feb. 13: Disorderly conduct, Clinton Street. Assault, 100 block while intoxicated, North Winter and 100 block of Dawes Avenue. Use of Sand Creek Highway. Property Maple Avenue. of a telephone for harassment or damage, 300 block of East Jan. 28: Larceny from a threats, 800 block of Elm Street.

Maumee Street. Assault, 700 block building, 1300 block of South Retail fraud, 1500 block of West of Riverside Avenue. Retail fraud, Main Street. Identity theft and Maumee Street. Aggravated 200 block of East U.S. 223. fraud, 1200 block of South Main assault, 700 block of South Main Jan. 6: Drug possession, 500 Street. Use of a telephone for Street. Retail fraud, 300 block of block of North Winter Street. harassment or threats, 600 block East Beecher Street.

Jan. 7: Retail fraud, 700 block of South Madison Street.

Feb. 14: Assault, 900 block of of South Main Street.

Jan. 29: Drug possession, East Butler Street. Aggravated Jan. 8: Property damage, 1400 South Winter and Berry streets. assault, 1200 block of South block of West Maple Avenue.

Vehicle theft, 600 block of Main Street. Fraud, 400 block Larceny of parts or accessories Division Street. Criminal sexual of Meadowbrook Drive. Retail from a vehicle, 100 block of East conduct, 1800 block of West fraud, 200 block of East U.S. 223.

Maumee Street. Property damage, Maumee Street. Fraud, 100 block Property damage, 600 block of 200 block of West Maumee Street. of North Main Street. Assault, West Beecher Street.

Larceny of parts or accessories 1200 block of South Main Street.

Feb. 15: Drug possession, 600 from a vehicle, 1200 block of Property damage, 100 block of block of Springbrook Avenue.

South Main Street. Retail fraud, East Maumee Street. Retail fraud, Feb. 16: Aggravated assault, 200 block of East U.S. 223. Use 1500 block of West Maumee 800 block of East Butler Street. of telephone for harassment or Street. Burglary (residential, no Use of the internet for harassment threats, 500 block of Rio Grande forced entry), 1100 block of South or threats, 100 block of East Drive.

Main Street.

Maumee Street.

Jan. 9: Vehicle theft, Front and Jan. 30: Burglary (unoccupied Feb. 17: Assault, 500 block of Broad streets. Assault, 300 block building), 1000 block of Chestnut Division Street. Property damage of East Church Street.

Street. Drug possession, 700 block and burglary (residential, forced Jan. 10: Property damage, of Riverside Avenue. Burglary entry), 1200 block of South Main 1000 block of South Main Street. (residential, no forced entry) Street. Larceny from a vehicle, Assault, 400 block of Seel Drive. and fraud, 600 block of South 1000 block of East Maumee Fraud, 1100 block of July Drive.

Madison Street. Larceny from a Street. Aggravated assault, 600 Property damage to a business, building and from a yard, 300 block of South Madison Street.

400 block of West Maumee Street. block of East Maumee Street.

Operating while intoxicated, Bent Property damage to a vehicle, Fraud, 200 block of Sand Creek Oak and Riverside.

1200 block of South Main Street. Highway. Disorderly conduct, Feb. 18: Assault, 100 block of Jan. 11: Larceny from a 400 block of East Maumee Street. West Park Place. Assault, 1100 building, 300 block of East Retail fraud, 1500 block of West block of West Michigan Ave. Maumee Street. Retail fraud, 500 Maumee Street. Assault, 1100 Sexual assault, 1200 block of block of West Beecher Street. block of South Main Street.

Michigan Ave. Assault, 1200 block Property damage, 700 block of Assault, 600 block of Beechwood of Trenton Road. Assault, 1000 Caton Avenue.

Drive. Identity theft, 500 block of block of Vine Street.

Jan. 12: Retail fraud, 4400 Missouri River Court.

Feb. 19: Burglary (residential, block of West Maumee Street.

Jan. 31: Assault, 400 block of forced entry), 400 block of Frank Jan. 13: Assault, 400 block of Bristol Street. Assault, 500 block of Street. Assault, 800 block of South Winter Street. Retail fraud, East Church Street. Larceny from Bradish Street. Larceny from a 300 block of East Beecher Street. a building, 500 block of North building, 900 block of East Hunt Use of telephone for harassment Broad Street.

Street. or threats, 100 block of Chestnut Feb. 1: Larceny from a yard, Feb. 20: Sexual assault, 1300 Street.

1100 block of South Main Street. block of Sherman Court. Retail Jan. 14: Larceny from a Drug possession, 600 block of fraud, 1500 block of West Maumee building, 100 block of West East Michigan Avenue. Fraud, Street. Property damage, 600 block Maumee Street. Assault, 100 300 block of East Maumee of Toledo Street. Assault, 800 block block of North McKenzie Street.

Street. Assault, 200 block of East of East Church Street.

Retail fraud, 4400 block of West Maumee Street. Assault, 1500 Maumee Street. block of West Maumee Street.

ADRIAN TOWNSHIP Jan. 15: Retail fraud, 200 block Vehicle theft, 500 block of North Jan. 24: Identity theft, 3900 of East U.S. 223.

Broad Street. block of Spielman Road.

Jan. 16: Identity theft and Feb. 2: Drug possession, Jan. 28: Larceny, 3000 block of larceny from a building, 200 block Toledo and Tecumseh streets.

Carson Highway. of Berry Street. Illegal use of a Assault, 700 block of Leeland Feb. 6: Assault, 3500 block of credit card, 700 block of Kimole Court. Retail fraud, 4400 block of Sapphire Drive.

Lane. Assault, 200 block of Jordan West Maumee Street.

Feb. 14: Assault, 5500 block of Street. Larceny from a building, Feb. 3: Larceny, 100 block of Bent Oak Highway.

100 block of Clinton Street.

East Maumee Street.

Feb. 17: Operating while Operating while intoxicated, Feb. 4: Retail fraud, 1500 block intoxicated, West Valley Road and South Main and Ferguson streets. of West Maumee Street.

Willow Nicole Lane.

Jan. 17: Retail fraud, 200 Feb. 5: Assault, 300 block block of East U.S. 223. Retail of North McKenzie Street.

BLISSFIELD VILLAGE fraud, 1200 block of South Main Drug possession, 600 block of Jan. 13: Operating while Street. Retail fraud, 4400 block Springbrook Avenue. Illegal use intoxicated, 500 block of West of West Maumee Street. Burglary of credit card, 1400 block of South Adrian Street. (residential, forced entry), 100 Winter Street. Stalking, 100 block Jan. 31: Aggravated assault, block of North Center Street. of North Broad Street.

600 block of South Jipson Street.

ADDISON VILLAGE Jan. 11: Property damage, 200 block of South Talbot Street.

Jan. 13: Assault, 200 block of West Main Street.

Jan. 15: Assault, 200 block of East Main Street.

Feb. 13: Larceny from a yard, 200 block of North Comstock Street.

MARCH 2024 THE LENAWEE VOICE BRITTON VILLAGE Jan. 8: Property damage to a business, 200 block of College Avenue.

Feb. 7: Assault, 300 block of North Main Street.

CAMBRIDGE TOWNSHIP Jan. 28: Operating while intoxicated, Onsted Highway and Teachout Road.

Feb. 20: Larceny from a vehicle, 300 block of Egan Highway. Larceny from a vehicle, 100 block of Elm Street.

CLAYTON VILLAGE Jan. 4: Larceny from a building, 3000 block of State Street.

DEERFIELD VILLAGE Jan. 30: Assault, 200 block of Deerfield Road.

Feb. 6: Burglary (residential, no forced entry), 300 block of West River Street.

Feb. 10: Property damage, 100 block of West River Street.

Feb. 13: Assault, 200 block of Deerfield Road.

DOVER TOWNSHIP Jan. 2: Wire fraud, 1700 block of Benner Highway.

FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP Feb. 5: Fraud, 7300 block of South Adrian Highway.

Feb. 9: Larceny of gasoline from a service station, 8600 block of South Adrian Highway.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP Jan. 6: Operating while intoxicated, M-52 and Munger.

Jan. 9: Vehicle theft, M-52 and North Adrian Highway.

Jan. 28: Larceny, property damage, and burglary (residential, forced entry), 200 block of Evans Trail.

Feb. 1: Vehicle theft, 1100 block of West U.S. 12.

Feb. 9: Fraud, 1100 block of West U.S. 12. Assault, 200 block of Center Drive.

HUDSON TOWNSHIP Jan. 16: Assault, 13300 block of Lawrence Road.

Jan. 30: Assault, 13500 block of West Cadmus Road.

MADISON TOWNSHIP Jan. 2: Assault, 2100 block of Homestead Lane.

Jan. 4: Larceny from a vehicle, 3400 block of Ogden Highway.

Burglary (non-residential, forced entry), 3600 block of Ogden Highway.

Jan. 18: Fraud, 3500 block of South Adrian Highway.

Agravated assault, 2000 block of Allan Street.

Jan. 23: Retail fraud, 2500 block of South Main Street.

Jan. 26: Fraud, 1900 block of Allan Street. Larceny, 6800 block of South Adrian Highway.

Jan. 30: Assault, 2900 block of Airport Road.

Feb. 9: Burglary (nonresidential, forced entry), 3200 block of South Adrian Highway.

Feb. 12: Property damage and disorderly conduct, 3400 block of Treat Highway. Larceny, 3400 block of Treat Highway.

Assault, 2400 block of East Carleton Road.

Feb. 14: Assault, 2400 block of West Clearview Drive.

Feb. 15: Assault, 6200 block of Treat Highway.

Feb. 18: Assault, 1500 block of Naomi Avenue.

Feb. 20: Aggravated assault, 100 block of Smokey Hill River Court.

MORENCI CITY Jan. 25: Burglary (residential, forced entry), 11800 block of Morenci Road.

Feb. 3: Assault, 300 block of Pearl Street.

Feb. 10: Assault, 100 block of West LaGrange Street.

OGDEN TOWNSHIP Jan. 3: Assault, 12400 block of Neuroth Highway.

PALMYRA TOWNSHIP Jan. 1: Operating while intoxicated, Deerfield Road and Ogden Highway.

Jan. 2: Burglary (nonresidential, no forced entry), 3600 block of Ogden Highway.

Jan. 24: Aggravated assault, 6800 block of Driggs Road.

Feb. 4: Operating while intoxicated, Palmyra and Rouget roads. Aggravated assault, 6300 block of East U.S. 223.

Feb. 20: Property damage, 6300 block of East U.S. 223.

RAISIN TOWNSHIP Jan. 1: Operating while intoxicated, Occidental Highway and Ives Road.

Jan. 2: Assault, 5400 block of Raisin Center Highway.

Jan. 26: Assault, 2200 block of East Valley Road.

Feb. 2: Operating while intoxicated, Occidental Highway and Sutton Road.

Feb. 19: Burglary (nonresidential, forced entry), Green and Ives.

RIDGEWAY TOWNSHIP Jan. 19: Operating while intoxicated, Pocklington Road and Hoagland Highway.

Feb. 1: Assault, 6900 block of Ridge Highway.

ROLLIN TOWNSHIP Jan. 12: Use of a telephone for harassment or threats, 500 block of Grove Street.

Jan. 22: Assault, 9600 block of Pottawattamie Drive.

Feb. 15: Fraud, 2100 block of North Keil Highway.

ROME TOWNSHIP Jan. 9: Operating while intoxicated, U.S. 223 and Forrester Road.

SENECA TOWNSHIP Feb. 9: Larceny from a vehicle, 9000 block of West Yankee Road.

TECUMSEH CITY Jan. 1: Operating while intoxicated, Russell and Occidental.

Jan. 7: Assault, 800 block of Woodstock Lane. Operating while intoxicated, Pearl and Kilbuck streets.

Jan. 8: Property damage, 1000 block of Meadow View Drive.

Jan. 9: Assault, 500 block of East Chicago Boulevard. Identity theft, 100 block of Brown Street.

Identity theft, 600 block of West Cummins Street.

Jan. 12: Aggravated assault and disorderly conduct, 700 block of Brown Street.

Jan. 13: Operating while intoxicated, M-50 and Pearl Street.

Jan. 23: Property damage to a business, 500 block of East Pottawatomie Street.

Jan. 26: Operating while intoxicated, Brown and Seminole streets.

Jan. 28: Retail fraud, 400 block of East Chicago Boulevard.

Jan. 31: Fraud, 100 block of East Chicago Boulevard.

Feb. 1: Fraud, 500 block of Ridge Lane.

Feb. 7: Disorderly conduct and assault, 3700 block of Brown Street.

Feb. 8: Drug possession, 700 block of Brown Street.

Feb. 12: Identity theft, 600 block of West Russell Road.

Feb. 15: Operating while intoxicated, 300 block of East Chicago Blvd.

Feb. 16: Fraud, 300 block of South Evans Street.

Feb. 18: Operating while intoxicated, Herrick Park and North Evans.

Feb. 20: Operating while intoxicated, West Chicago and Occidental.

TECUMSEH TOWNSHIP Jan. 4: Operating while intoxicated, M-52 and M-50.

Jan. 9: Operating while intoxicated, Russell Road and Essex Drive.

Jan. 15: Larceny from a building, 1100 block of East M-50.

Jan. 17: Operating while intoxicated, M-52 and Robbins Road.

Feb. 15: Identity theft, 8000 block of Matthews Highway.

WOODSTOCK TOWNSHIP Jan. 7: Larceny from a building, 13600 block of Morley Road.

Jan. 28: Burglary (unoccupied building), 17600 block of Lewis Road.

Feb. 5: Use of the internet for harassment or threats, 14700 block of West U.S. 223.

Feb. 6: Assault, U.S. 127 and Briggs Highway.

Feb. 12: Retail fraud, 16600 block of Cement City Highway.

Feb. 20: Use of a telephone for harassment or threats, 15200 block of West U.S. 12.

NOE LAW OFFICE

TWO LAW OFFICES SERVING LENAWEE COUNTY FOR 49 YEARS AND COUNTING ...

CHARLES J. NOE

MARGARET M.S. NOE

ATTORNEY AT LAW FORMER ASST. PROSECUTOR CRIMINAL LAW PERSONAL AND AUTO INJURY DIVORCE/FAMILY LAW ESTATE PLANNING

ATTORNEY AT LAW FORMER CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE FORMER ASST. PROSECUTOR PERSONAL INJURY ESTATE PLANNING

517-263-4062

517-263-8200

147 North Main Street, Adrian, Michigan 49221

THE LENAWEE VOICE

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MARCH 2024

LAND & WATER IN BRIEF Former Lenawee County 4-H Extension agent honored by MSU EAST LANSING — Gary Seevers is being honored with the Dean’s Pinnacle of Excellence Award by the Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The award Gary Seevers is presented to alumni who have obtained the pinnacle of achievement in their field and brought distinction to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Seevers received a bachelor’s degree in animal science, and graduate degrees in agricultural economics from MSU, earning his Ph.D. in 1968. An accomplished economist and financial market specialist, Seevers went on to have a successful career working for MSU Extension, on Wall Street and in the White House. His first job was as a 4-H Extension agent in Lenawee County.

‘Michigan Farm Fun’ directory highlights agritourism destinations Farmers across the state are continuing to add new, interactive activities for visitors to experience the culture of farming and get a true sense of place.

Newer activities like goat yoga, wreath-making workshops, story time with the animals, traveling farm programs, overnight farm stays, date nights on the farm, wine dinners among the vines, lavender painting classes, educational day camps, 5K orchard runs and more are attracting new visitors to the farms.

Longtime activities like farm tours, corn mazes, petting zoos, pick-your-own produce, hayrides, cider and donuts, and visits to farm markets and roadside stands continue to attract crowds as well.

To make it easier for visitors to plan agriculture adventures for the whole family, the Michigan Agritourism Association publishes “Michigan Farm Fun: Michigan’s Agritourism Directory.”

The directory is organized by region. It can be viewed online at michiganfarmfun.com.

Ballot initiative would return control over wind and solar projects to local governments

By Kyle Davidson Michigan Advance

LANSING ­— A new ballot committee is trying to reverse recent policies that grant the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) permitting authority for large-scale wind and solar energy projects.

According to a statement, Citizens for Local Choice was formed by a bipartisan group of individuals to restore voters’ rights in land use decisions for industrial wind and solar operations. Several GOP lawmakers are supporting the effort.

In late November, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 5120, which will allow energy providers to submit a permitting application to the Michigan Public Service Commission if the community impacted fails to approve or deny their application in a timely manner, if the local zoning process is stricter than the standards outlined in the bill, or if a project meets zoning standards outlined in the bill but the application is denied.

Energy providers would also be required to participate in a locality’s permitting process if that process mirrors the state’s. Both parties would have 120 days to reach an agreement, with the option for a 120-day extension.

The commission, which consists of three members appointed by the governor, regulates energy, natural gas and telecommunications companies within the state.

House Bill 5120 and its companion, House Bill 5121, each passed along party lines, and received strong opposition from Republicans and citizens who argue the bill has stripped authority away from local governments. Following the passage of the bills, state Sen. John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs) called them a “power grab” saying that while local governments are can provide input, the final decision is predetermined.

“The only authority that locals maintain in this power grab is the ability to say yes,” Damoose said in a statement.

The ballot effort would repeal these new laws, restoring the ability of localities to manage proposals to construct energy facilities and allowing local ordinances to regulate setback distance, structure height, shadow flicker, and the amount of light and sound emitted by energy facilities.

According to a report from the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School that was published in May 2023, 26 Michigan localities have policies blocking or restricting renewable energy developments.

“We refuse to sit on the sidelines as local control gets stripped from our communities. We are committed to this effort and believe we have a real chance to rightfully restore control back into the locals’ hands,” Norm Stephens, a committee member for Citizens for Local Choice, said in a statement.

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers has approved the proposed initiative language. The committee must

submit 356,958 valid signatures by May 29 in order to appear on the November 2024 ballot. Otherwise, the initiative could be pushed back to November 2026.

While opponents argued these laws will be used to steamroll opposition to renewable energy projects in rural communities, Rep. Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton), one of the bill’s sponsors, previously testified that the legislation included strict protections against eminent domain takings of land.

“This is very much a property rights issue. If a farm owner or landowner willingly wants to lease his or her land for solar or wind, this process finds them a way to be able to do just that. Far too often a local authority denies permits because someone on the township board doesn’t like the way that these look,” Puri told members of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee.

Energy providers are also required to provide their host community $2,000 for every megawatt of the project’s capacity located within that locality to fund police, fire, public safety, other infrastructure or other projects agreed on by the provider and the locality.

Should the developing company pursue an application through the MPSC, it must also provide a grant of up to $150,000 for affected local units to cover the legal costs of contesting an application.

This story is from Michigan Advance, a nonprofit newsroom covering politics and policy across the state. It is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

MSU Extension offers online vegetable gardening course Now is a great time to learn more about growing your own vegetables.

Michigan State University Extension has a self-paced, online course called Smart Gardening with Vegetables 101.

Crafted as an introductory course for those just getting started in growing vegetables, this course covers all the basics on how to be a successful vegetable gardener. You will learn how to select the right site, establish healthy soil and grow vegetables in raised beds or containers. You will also learn about the wide variety of vegetables you can grow, the proper care and management of vegetables and more about beneficial insects, pollinators and pests.

Smart Gardening with Vegetables 101 consists of over six hours of presentations, readings and additional resources you can download or print off for reference.

Key messages focus around smart practices, i.e. sustainable and more earth-friendly practices that gardeners can implement. Overall, the messages focus on improving water quality, and

REBECCA KRANS gardeners can help with this effort by creating healthy soils, using nutrients and fertilizers properly, and reducing the use of pesticides.

The importance of pollinator protection is also stressed. Vegetable gardeners can assist pollinators by incorporating diversity or other flowering plants and herbs, among their vegetables. You’ll discover different practices you can use in your yard or garden to help pollinators.

Another important consideration when deciding to vegetable garden is space. Many people may not have enough space for a large garden, so this course will give you some ideas for gardening in small spaces. You do not

This garden features a vertical aspect, which is often overlooked when vegetable gardening. REBECCA KRANS/ MSU EXTENSION need a large area for a productive garden; practices that will be covered include proper planning, growing vertically, intercropping and successive planting.

Sign up today and begin this year’s gardening journey to fresh vegetables.

The price is $30. For more information and to register, go to www.canr.msu. edu/courses/smart-gardening-withvegetables-101-1.

Rebecca Krans is a consumer horticulture educator with Michigan State University Extension.

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MARCH 2024 THE LENAWEE VOICE

PERSPECTIVES

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.

EDITORIALS

Michigan needs to embrace solar power, not block progress Some political movements have nice-sounding names, but goals that are a lot less appealing when you dig beneath the surface.

That’s the case with Citizens for Local Choice, a group currently gathering signatures to overturn a new state law that lets state regulators overrule local governments on the siting of large-scale wind and solar projects. They want to put a referendum to overturn the law on the November ballot.

Local choice sounds great, right? But in reality, this petition drive is about two things. First, it’s about making it harder for property owners to use their land as they see fit. Second, it’s about erecting roadblocks to generating renewable energy in Michigan.

Over the past few years, Michigan has been ground zero in the fight over utility-scale solar farms, with more than two dozen local governments delaying or blocking utility-scale developments. These township boards didn’t necessarily come out and say “no solar” outright — they just piled on enough restrictions, from absurdly large setback requirements to limits on how much ground can be covered, that the developments became unfeasible.

The most fundamental building block of local control is the idea that people can do as they please with their land, as long as it doesn’t harm their neighbors. And it doesn’t take much regulation to make sure neighbors’ rights are protected. There’s nothing wrong with making developers plant trees around their installations, for instance. Another common-sense measure is requiring decommissioning bonds, which are a financial instrument used to ensure that, once a solar installation reaches the end of its life, the land can be restored to its original condition. (Can you imagine if a rule like that had existed for the abandoned factories that dot our landscape today? We should be so lucky!)

In rural areas like Lenawee County, people have always made money by selling the products that come from their land. In the past, that almost always meant food. Today, it can also mean energy. Lenawee County’s land is highly desirable for solar and wind projects, and plenty of farmers are interested in pursuing that option.

Unfortunately, some heavyhanded local governments have made it next to impossible.

Sometimes it’s appropriate for the state to step in.

When local governments run roughshod over their own citizens, that’s one of those times.

So when you hear about Citizens for Local Choice, our advice is — don’t buy the spin. In this case, “local choice” just means letting township governments dictate to farmers and stand in the way of progress.

Home address rule stifles public input Recently, the Adrian City Commission started enforcing a policy that anyone who wants to speak during the public comment period of meetings must state their home address. While we don’t believe there’s any ill intent behind this rule, it unfortunately has a chilling effect on citizens’ willingness to exercise their rights and engage with their government in a public forum.

There are plenty of reasons a person might not want to state their home address out loud in a room full of people — particularly when their comments will also be posted on YouTube.

Human services workers, police officers, prison guards — all of these people have a right to interact with their government in their capacity as private citizens, and all of them have good reasons to not want to broadcast their home addresses in public. And with hate crimes on the rise nationwide, members of minority groups may have similar reluctance.

Already, one resident has started to speak at a meeting and then chosen not to because of this rule being enforced. There are sure to be others.

Kudos to Commissioner Bob Behnke for giving voice to these concerns at the commission’s Feb. 5 meeting.

We hope other commissioners will join him and reconsider this policy.

LOCAL VIEWS

Can Taylor Swift swing an election?

I graduated from college in 1965.

The ’60s and ’70s were a turbulent time in the United States. Black people were fighting for their civil rights. The second wave of the feminist movement (women’s liberation) was taking hold. We were in the middle of a vicious war in Vietnam. I had been listening to the popular musical groups of the time: The Kingston Trio (“Where Have All the Flowers Gone”), Bob Dylan (“Blowin’ in the Wind”), Barry McGuire (“Eve of Destruction”), Aretha Franklin (“Respect”), Marvin Gaye (“What’s Going On?”) — you get the idea. These songs were not just entertainment; the lyrics were making me think about some of the injustices in the world. They were shaping my ethical and political values, which remain with me.

Songs and the people who sing them can powerfully influence young people. We are in turbulent times again, with our nation more divided than it was in the ’60s and ’70s. Perhaps the most divided that it has been since the Civil War. And once again, we are beginning to see the powerful influence of songs and their singers. One of those singers is, ironically, Talyor Swift. I say “ironically” because she started out in country music, which has strong appeal with conservative politics as both are seen as champions of hardworking, God-fearing, freedom-loving Americans. And Swift was definitely a country singer, winning 12 Country Music Association awards between 2007, when she won the New Artist of the Year Award, and 2017 when she won Song of the Year. Republicans loved her, and Republican politicians sought her endorsement. Then things changed.

In the 2018 Tennessee Senate race, she spoke out against Republican candidate Marsha Blackburn and endorsed the Democratic candidate,

and gun violence, and agree with Swift that they cannot “vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love.” The absence of a “red wave” in the 2022 election largely happened because there was an increase in young voters.

Phil Bredesen, in an Instagram post

By Thursday after the election, in which she also stated: conservatives were arguing to raise “I always have and always will the voting age. And this year, a cast my vote based on which Texas Republican representative candidate will protect and fight for introduced a bill to ban polling the human rights I believe we all locations on college campuses. It deserve in this country. I believe in is clear that they are afraid of the the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that youth vote, a vote that Taylor Swift any form of discrimination based seems to be able to motivate. When on sexual orientation or gender is she speaks to her fans, they listen WRONG. I believe that the systemic and act. As MSNBC’s Ari Melber racism we still see in this country said, her fan base “scares certain towards people of color is terrifying, people on the right, who see its sickening and prevalent. I cannot power, see its movement, see its vote for someone who will not be civic reach.” willing to fight for dignity for ALL Taylor Swift doesn’t have to Americans, no matter their skin change anyone’s mind. She just color, gender or who they love.” needs to motivate those young She got 2,217,504 “Likes.” The people who share her views to get Republican establishment went to the ballot box, especially in swing bonkers. states. It wouldn’t take much of a The Republican establishment is voter surge to give Democrats an afraid of the “Swifties,” devoted fans edge. And because she has already of Taylor Swift. They are primarshown that she can get young voters ily Gen Z adults and Millennial to the polls, it is no wonder that the white, urban or suburban women, Republican establishment fears her power. In past elections, young although 48 percent are males. Fifvoters have shown no tolerance ty-five percent are Democrats, and 23 percent are Independents. They for Trump or the GOP’s policies on abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, gun are devoted to Swift and follow violence, and climate change. And her suggestions. For example, when it is time to vote in 2024, there she posted on National Voter will be substantially more of them Registration Day on Instagram to since the last time Trump was on encourage young people to go to the ballot.

Vote.org and register to vote. As a So, can Taylor Swift influence result, over 35,000 did, a 23 percent increase over the same day last year, the outcome of the next election? including a 115 percent increase in I think so. While the Republicans fear her, the Democrats should 18-year-olds. And Republicans do embrace her. They need the voters not like young voters. she inspires.

It seems that young voters are pro-choice, favor LGBQT+ rights, Hank Cetola lives in Adrian. want action on climate change

HANK CETOLA

THE LENAWEE VOICE

PERSPECTIVES | A17

MARCH 2024

Lenawee County is missing out on economic benefits of clean energy We now have more than a decade of experience with clean energy development, solar and wind, in Michigan.

That means we can make an informed comparison between communities that have embraced clean energy development and those that have not.

Two communities that immediately come to mind are Lenawee County, where a proposed wind development was rejected a dozen years ago, and Gratiot County, which enthusiastically welcomed that project, and several more since.

In Gratiot County, wind turbines have been integrated into the community, and become an important part of the fabric, and funding, of critical services.

School Superintendent Jan Amsterburg told me that revenue from wind turbines has allowed local districts to “keep programs whole, and has been a lot of benefit to our local communities.”

Amsterburg supplied documentation showing wind revenues for the district’s operations and sinking fund of $711,145, for debt service $776,790, and for special education and vocational education, $1,373,575! Gratiot has added additional turbines in the meantime, so that funding continues.

Jerry Rohde, supervisor and assessor for Wheeler Township, told me that

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Walberg’s position on Uganda crosses the line It’s important to listen and be respectful of other people’s positions on topics of concern. However, when one’s position crosses the line of civility, morality or ethical behavior, people of conscience must speak up. I’m speaking up because I believe our congressman, Tim Walberg, crossed that line. In the January/February issue of the Lenawee Voice, it was reported that in October 2023, Walberg flew to Uganda to be the keynote speaker for a governmentsupported prayer breakfast. He endorsed that country’s recently passed Anti-Homosexuality Act which calls for the imprisonment or death of anyone convicted under that act.

I listened to his entire speech. It is true that specific reference to the words homosexual or LGBTQ+ were not made in the speech. But he made a significant number of biblical references regarding homosexuality and LGBTQ+ people.

Walberg is an experienced political figure able to infer something specific without using a specific word. When referencing Uganda’s new law, he told the President of Uganda to “Stay Firm. ... Whose side do you want to be on? God’s side. Not the World Bank, not the United States of America necessarily, not the U.N. ...”

Wait a minute. Our congressman is saying that not necessarily being on the side of the United States is OK! The White House, many countries and a host of organizations condemned the law. Even Ted Cruz spoke up and tweeted “This Uganda law is horrific & wrong.

Any law criminalizing homosexuality or imposing the death penalty for ‘aggravated homosexuality’ is grotesque & an abomination. ALL civilized nations should join together in condemning this human rights abuse.” Walberg’s position crossed the line not only for me but apparently for Ted Cruz as well.

Ostrander added that before the wind, in 2009, 26% of Breckenridge homes were empty. Now, he said, “we have a housing shortages. Houses are selling in a matter of hours, for more than asking price.”

Ostrander said that as a lifelong resident, and someone who has his township alone was receiving an been a builder in the additional $60,000 annually for roads, area, he has never seen and $150,000 for fire and rescue. a competitive housing Wheeler fire chief Jeff Westall agreed market like today. that funding from wind energy allowed Jim McBryde of Middle the department to go from “hand-meMichigan Development down” equipment, which sometimes Corporation told me that did not perform in emergencies, to new wind developers also high-quality equipment. He added that upgraded local electricity in a decade, his department has not had infrastructure, increasing to respond to any incidents related to the reliability for local homes turbines. and businesses.

Breckenridge village manager Jeff Gratiot County has Ostrander said that another benefit has been able to add more jobs for teachers, been additional sheriff’s patrols on county law enforcement, and roads — while roads. Pine River Township supervisor attracting new business development in Kevin Beeson said, “I can remember, after an Industrial park.

2 o’clock in the morning, there was no Meanwhile, Lenawee County has seen deputy. You hit a deer, have an accident, no significant new tax base added, as maybe a State Police patrol could come homeowners are asked to bear a larger from another community, but there wasn’t and larger share of the cost of local any sheriff patrol on the road. That’s government. all changed today, and that’s primarily A recent Blissfield school millage was because of tax base” from wind energy. passed, but only after it was cut in half

PETER SINCLAIR

from the original request. Communities like Deerfield are lacking adequate police protection, but the county has no funds to increase road patrols and must ask individual communities to raise additional funds if they want to increase patrols.

Fire departments are operating in old, obsolete buildings but have no money to relocate, or to buy new, increasingly expensive equipment — so community health, safety, and welfare are steadily degraded.

All across the Midwest, small communities have seen steady erosion of their tax bases as manufacturing jobs have left, with nothing to replace them. Clean energy offers a new tax base, with very little in the way of demands.

Clean energy installations make no new demands on services, like police, fire, or schools. In the words of Pine River Township’s Kevin Beeson, “they just sit there and provide a better quality of life.”

All across the Midwest, small communities have seen steady erosion of their tax bases as manufacturing jobs have left. Clean energy offers a new tax base, with very little in the way of demands.

Peter Sinclair is a videographer and environmental activist from Midland.

Anti-solar drive would hurt farmers to help oil industry

Don’t let townships steal farmers’ property rights

At the Feb. 5 city commission meeting, commissioners seemed open to providing logistical support and waiving fees for a Shakespeare in the Park event this summer.

I am definitely in agreement with the city supporting that and any other cultural and diverse events that will improve the quality of life in Adrian.

Free theater events will benefit city residents who may never be able to afford a ticket to a Croswell show.

That being said, if the city provides any financial support or city employee manpower to any events, they will be expected to provide the same support to other nonprofit events such as Juneteenth, Pride events, and Cinco De Mayo. When we had Juneteenth at Trestle Park for three years, the city offered nothing except trash bags to put in the cans in the park. We were required to clean up and move trash, pay all fees, provide proof of insurance, and pay for our own portajohns. We had the same situation downtown as well.

Fairness and equal treatment are very important and affect public opinion about city government and the commissioners that are charged with making decisions. Even though commissioners may have the best intentions, perception is important.

The statewide ballot initiative to overturn the state control of zoning for alternative energy is an attempt by the fossil fuel industry to maintain their market share of energy in Michigan.

The fossil fuel industry spends millions of dollars a year across the country on political campaigns,and lobbying to further their interests. Local control would not have been an issue if townships had done their jobs. The state wouldn’t have had to step in and take over that portion of the accepted land use practices due to the exclusionary zoning. The funny thing is that they forfeited the opportunity to do their own zoning for those land uses and now are crying foul!

Unfortunately, this issue is not as simple as township boards and planning commissions not doing their jobs. It has to do with pressure from rural residents who moved from a residentially zoned area to an agriculturally zoned area and insist on having everything they had in the residentially zoned area. In agriculturally zoned area, farmers are protected by the right-to-farm law and should also be able to expect the same property rights as anybody else has in their own specifically zoned areas.

So in comes the statewide ballot initiative that needs 350,000 signatures statewide and $10 million in funding. In case you’re wondering, the $10 million is in part to pay petition circulators to collect signatures. They get paid for getting the petition signed so they don’t have much of an incentive to be honest with what they say to get you to sign!

As far as I’m concerned, they’ve reaped what they have sown! I don’t want to see my agricultural property rights traded for a bunch of billiondollar oil companies’ benefit!

Don’t sign this misleading and selfserving ballot initiative.

Local control starts with the guy who owns the land. The state ballot initiative on local control is really about landowner rights in agricultural-zoned districts. Many farmers are being squeezed by rising input costs and diminishing commodity prices.

The average age of farmers has hit a new high and many are looking to diversify their operations. Farmers have few options: either they start a business, rent the ground for little return, or sell the land to developers piece by piece.

This is why green energy is a godsend to the beleaguered farmer. Solar and wind developments will save farms for future generations while paying the community taxes from the economic development. Any other development will destroy farmland forever.

The problem is that there is a local cottage business that has successfully eliminated these options for farmers across three states. They started with the 2010 Riga wind farm and have taken their dog and pony show across the tristate area. The exclusionary zoning they promote allows no compromise.

They’ve stopped progress so completely that the state had to step in and offer options to control the hysteria and misinformation being disseminated.

Many who have built their homes in agricultural districts are now demanding the protections of a residential district. Ag districts are for those who choose to make a living off the land. To allow the traveling antigreen energy crowd to convince them otherwise does a disservice to the hardworking, land-owning farmers who want to stay on the land of their forefathers.

This ballot initiative is about agricultural districts and who has rights in these districts: the landowner, or people stealing their rights.

— Jeanette Henagan, Adrian

— John Tuckerman, Blissfield

— Paul Wohlfarth, Ottawa Lake

Whatever position you have on LGBTQ+ rights, I respect the right for you to have that position. In the upcoming election for congressman, make a choice not only on which U.S. policy positions you support, but also on the civil, moral and ethical positions that are important to you. Ask yourself if are you comfortable with Walberg’s support of the Ugandan law? Then, vote your conscience and conviction.

— Mitch Myers, Adrian

City’s support for events should be evenhanded

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MARCH 2024 THE LENAWEE VOICE

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 Home, andersonfuneralservices.com [BVH] Brown-Van Hemert Funeral Home, brownvanhemert.com [PM] Purse Martinez Funeral Home, pursemartinez.com [W] Wagley Funeral Homes, wagleyfuneralhomes.com Kenneth Clarence Goldsmith, 81, of Hudson died on Jan. 1. He was previously employed at Detroit Diesel in Redford. [AM] Christine Carol Richards, 59, of Adrian died on Jan. 1. She previously owned a shoe repair business in Brighton. [PM] David “Dave” Maston Fivecoat, 63, of Adrian died on Jan. 2. He had been employed

by Lenawee Stamping and Hydro Bohn Aluminum. [W] Gary Allan Hoffman, 59, of Adrian died on Jan. 2. He was previously employed as a mechanic at Lenawee Tire in Adrian. [AM] Ellsworth Lee Stout, 81, formerly of Adrian, died on Jan. 2. He was a 1959 Adrian High School graduate and served in the National Guard and Army Reserve during the Vietnam era. He worked at Gleaner Life Insurance for 25 years, including as president and CEO, retiring in 2012. [W] Rebecca “Becky” Sue Swift, 72, of Adrian died on Jan. 2. She was a teacher’s aide in the Foster Grandparent program as well as an in-home caregiver to many children and senior citizens. [W] William Charles Loar, 67, of Palmyra died on Jan. 3. He was previously employed at Tecumseh Products and was also a farmer. [AM] Janice “Jan” LaVonne Qualley, 82, of Adrian died on Jan. 3. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Adrian, known for her baking abilities, especially her holiday pecan rolls and lemon meringue pies. [W] Jason Wallace, 41, of Adrian died on Jan. 3. He worked as a cook and dishwasher at Tip Top Restaurant in Adrian. [AM] Arthur Richard Brown, 99, of Adrian died on Jan. 4. He worked at Bohn Aluminum in Adrian for 43 years. [W] Burton Dennis, 96, of Adrian died on Jan. 4. He was previously employed at Wacker Chemical Company as a chemist. [AM] Patricia Sue Dodge, 72, of Clayton died on Jan. 4. She was a 1970 graduate of Onsted High School and was employed by McDonald’s in Adrian for over 30 years. [PM] Timothy “Tim” Guest, 83, of Hudson died on Jan. 4. He taught Spanish and was the guidance counselor at Hudson High School.

He also was employed by the Michigan Department of Education as a vocational rehabilitation counselor in Adrian. [BVH] Susan Holda, 78, of Jerome died on Jan. 4.

She enjoyed traveling, reading, game shows, Bingo, casinos, and card games. [AM] Marvin Lloyd Horton, 86, of Britton died on Jan. 4. He was a retired farmer and worked 31 years for the Ford plant in Rawsonville.

[PM]

Richard Arnold Kuntz, 95, of Tecumseh died on Jan. 4. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict. He worked as accounting manager at Double A Products in Manchester, for the Village of Manchester, and for Kelly Distributing in Jackson. [AM] Ramona Marie Scholl, 81, of Deerfield died on Jan. 5. She owned and operated Scholl’s Slaughter House. [W] Roy Allen Gatt, 68, of Adrian died on Jan. 5.

He enjoyed baseball, softball and fishing. [AM] Clair DeWayne Powell, 96, of Pittsford died on Jan. 5. He was on the Pittsford 19451946 Men’s Basketball Team, which was inducted into the Wall of Fame for League District and Regional Champions. [BVH] Jerry R. Hittler, 90, of Hudson died on Jan. 6. He served in the U.S. Army for four years and worked at the Chevrolet (HydraMatic) plant in Toledo for 30 years. He and his wife farmed in Sand Creek and later ran an antiques business. [BVH] Ruth Mary Ann Kummer, 93, of Adrian died on Jan. 6. She was a former teacher and addiction counselor. [AM] Russell P. Lindsey, 95, of Adrian died on Jan. 6. He owned and operated Lindsey’s Muffler for many years. [AM] Vicki Kay Jedele, 78, of Adrian died on Jan. 7. She had worked for Hills Department Store in Adrian. [PM]

Janet Marie Rosenberg, 62, of Adrian died on Jan. 7. She was an Adrian High School graduate and a former manager at the Adrian Daily Telegram and Buddy’s. [W] James Lowell Borton, 88, of Adrian died on Jan. 8. He owned and operated Jim’s TV Repair in Quincy and also was employed by Ford Motor Company in Saline. [AM] Olive “Blanche” Elledge, 90, of Midland, formerly of Adrian, died on Jan. 8. She was a longtime member of Adrian Church of God of Prophecy. [AM] Cayce Legend Krueger, 30, of Clayton died in an auto crash on Jan. 8. He attended Hudson High School and also studied Reiki, a natural way to heal the body with energy. [PM] Barbara Jane Newton, 89, of Waldron died on Jan. 8. She worked for 25 years at Hillsdale Hospital. [AM] Arnold “Butch” Partridge, 84, of Tipton died on Jan. 9. He was a lifelong farmer. [PM] Ronald “Ron” Harry Raymond, 53, of Palmyra died on Jan. 9. He was a 1989 Blissfield High School graduate and was employed as a rolloff truck driver for Stevens Disposal for 10 years. [W] Melvin Eugene Wyse, 87, of Fayette died on Jan. 9. He was self-employed as a bricklayer and mason. Much of his career was spent in Lenawee County working for Abraham Realty. He was also a beekeeper for over 30 years. [AM] Maynard Wilson Howard, 89, of Adrian died on Jan. 10. He had worked as a stockroom manager at J.C. Penney, and was a member of Hope Lutheran Church. [AM] Robert Joseph Welke, 97, of Adrian died on Jan. 10. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, taught high school, and coached boys varsity swimming for several years. He was the founder of Camp Sequoia, a family campground located between Adrian and Tecumseh. [AM] JoseLuis Cazares-Montoya, 56, of Adrian died on Jan. 11. He was the owner of Father’s Hands Roofing for over 20 years. He was a board member at The Christian Mission in Adrian and served in the men’s ministry. [AM] Ricky Lynn Hall, 67, of Adrian died on Jan. 11. He served in the Marine Corps, the Army and the Michigan Guard Reserves. He was employed at Uarco/Standard Register for 27 years and Gatehouse Media/The Daily Telegram until retirement. [AM] Farris Gene Hampton, 90, of Jerome died on Jan. 11. He worked at General Motors in Detroit as a shipping clerk. He served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War and taught tanks and gunnery at West Point. After discharge he resumed his career at GM as a tool and die setter. [BVH] Janet Dickerson, 70, of Waldron died on Jan. 12. [AM] Janice Marie Taylor, 85, of Adrian died on Jan. 12. [AM] Dorothy M. Baker, 99, of Hudson died on Jan. 13. She attended Cleary Business College and was a member of Clayton Methodist Church, Hudson Senior Center, and Hudson Museum. [BVH] Robert “Kirk” Bettis, 87, of Adrian died on Jan. 13. He served in the United States Navy and worked at Kewaunee Scientific and Adrian College. [W] Joseph Jay Comstock, 75, of Addison died on Jan. 13. He worked for the Calhoun Telephone Company in Addison for several years and was a journeyman carpenter and car hauler. He was a life member of the Addison Defense and Gun Club and former member of the Addison Fire Department. [BVH] David A. Girbach, 72, of Adrian died on Jan. 13. He worked for Ford Motor Company for 37 years. [AM] Eicy “Joe” Strong Sr., 68, of Adrian died on Jan. 13. He had a private pilot’s license and was a builder. [AM] Samuel Jay Stucky, 72, of Tecumseh died on Jan. 13. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was employed as a safety and security engineer for Ford Motor Company. [AM]

Rachel Hamann, 42, of Adrian died on Jan. 14. She worked at Adrian College and Hills of Lenawee as a food coordinator and cook. [AM] LouAnn Engel, 63, of Adrian died on Jan. 15. She was a member of Crossroads Community Church and AmVets. [AM] Ted M. Reyome, 88, of Deerfield died on Jan. 16. He served in the U.S. Air Force, worked as a welder for 30 years, and operated Reyome Upholstery out of his home. [W] Melva Irene Seyfarth, 66, of Hudson died on Jan. 16. She attended Adrian College and Siena Heights University, worked in many restaurants, and owned a pizza shop near Manitou Beach. [AM] Rosalia Ulrich, 89, of Deerfield died on Jan. 16. She baked for the Sidewalk Café at the German American Festival. [W] Mary Mohr, 85, of Macon died on Jan. 17.

She was a former secretary at Bookcrafters in Chelsea and had a long career as a cake maker. [AM] David Lynn Acker, 68, of Addison died on Jan. 18. He served in the U.S. Navy for four years. He worked for his father at Acker & Sons Excavating in Addison, then at Ferris & Sons Milk Hauling in Addison and Hendrickson & Sons in Jackson. [BVH] Connie Jean Ackley, 77, of Adrian died on Jan. 18. She worked in housekeeping at Herrick Hospital for 25 years. [AM] Sally Lynn DeLaCruz, 85, of Adrian died on Jan 18. She was a certified as a Nurse’s Aide and had worked at American Chain and Cable, where she was union steward, and Lenawee Medical Care Facility. [AM] Glenda K. Finnegan, 80, of Hudson died on Jan. 18. She enjoyed sewing and quilting and made many hats and blankets for preemie babies at the hospitals. She also made porcelain dolls and clothing. [AM] Patricia Ann Gier, 71, of Pittsford died on Jan. 18. She worked as an LPN at various hospitals and doctor’s offices. [AM] Duane Earl McLaughlin, 79, of Adrian died on Jan. 18. He was previously employed

by GM and was an accountant and engineering technician at the Milford Proving Grounds. [AM] Samuel Medina, 95, of Adrian died on Jan. 18. He served in the U.S. Navy and worked at Hoover Universal for 38 years. [AM] Larry E. Dillon, 82, of Adrian died on Jan. 19. He worked in Wauseon and Tecumseh and retired from PowerTrain in Toledo in 1996. [AM] Timothy “Tim” Charles Doerfler, 72, of Riga died on Jan. 19. He worked as a radio announcer at WABJ for 10 years and also at Flatlanders and Venchurs. [W] Patricia Hansen, 84, of Blissfield died on Jan. 19. She was retired as an executive secretary at Owens Illinois. [W] Ellsworth Keebler Jr., 85, of Adrian died on Jan. 19. He worked in quality control at Champion Spark Plug. [AM] Ann Marie Dilyard, 80, of Hudson died on Jan. 20. She taught at Pittsford Schools for many years. [BVH] Muriel June Koske, 92, of Hudson died on Jan. 19. She was a longtime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a talented pianist who enjoyed teaching piano to others. [AM] Linda Lee Randolph, 74, of Brooklyn died on Jan. 20. She worked as cashier at George’s Market in Tecumseh and also as a home health care aide. [PM] Patricia A. Wolfe, 85, of Adrian died on Jan. 20. She taught sewing at The Little Red Barn and volunteered for the March of Dimes. She also was employed by FASCO Office Services and retired from Tecumseh Products. [AM] John Anthony Zammit, 89, of Onsted died on Jan. 20. He was an industrial engineer and worked at General Motors. He designed, patented, and built the “Flying Nun,” a machine used to efficiently put the outer hardtops on Cadillacs. [PM] Rudolph Henry Bork, 75, of Petersburg died on Jan. 21. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and retired from Tecumseh Products. [PM] Bronson Morgan, 51, of Adrian died on Jan. 21. He worked in the maintenance department at Walmart. [AM] Juan Rodriguez Rivera, 91, of Adrian died on Jan. 21. He was formerly employed by PPG in Adrian and American Chain and Cable. [AM] Jeanne Roseann Clark, 78, of Tecumseh died on Jan. 22. She was a graduate of Bedford High School. [PM] Graciela M. Contreras, 93, of Adrian died on Jan. 22. She was a member of the Spanish Church of God. [AM]

Joan L. Fether, 96, of Sand Creek died on Jan. 22. She worked in the accounting department at Merillat Industries for over 25 years. [AM] Bernadine Winifred Gravitt, 75, of Adrian died on Jan. 22. She worked for several years as a nurse’s aide at the former Hillhaven (now Lynwood Manor) in Adrian. She volunteered at Associated Charities of Lenawee County. [AM] Lana LaVerne Klann, 78, of Adrian died on Jan. 22. She was a talented seamstress and quilter. [W] Elmer L. Marry, 87, of Hudson died on Jan. 22. He was employed as a delivery driver for UPS where he earned 45 years of safe driving. [AM] David V. Miller, 80, of Tecumseh died on Jan. 24. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, serving during the Vietnam era. He retired from General Motors and was the groundskeeper at Tecumseh Country Club. [PM] Thomas Henry Orban, 71, of Morenci died on Jan. 24. He was a master carpenter and worked on historical restorations, including the dome at University of Michigan Law School. He worked with many local builders as well as through his company, Bear Construction. [AM] Ione A. Walter, 90, of Hudson died on Jan. 24. She worked as a medical technologist for 33 years at the former Thorn Hospital. She volunteered at the Hope Group, for various blood drives and at the Hudson Food Pantry. [AM] Kathy L. Arft, 67, of Rochester Hills died on Jan. 25. She grew up in Britton and attended Britton-Macon Area Schools. [PM] Lori Dee Muysenberg, 68, of Brooklyn died on Jan. 25. She was a member of Brooklyn American Legion Post #315. [PM] Forrest G. Scott, 83, of Hudson died on Jan. 25. He served in the U.S. Air Force for four years and was an accomplished auto mechanic. [BVH] William Ashley Baughey, 90, of Adrian died on Jan. 26. [W] Mike Ashenden, 77, of Tecumseh died on Jan. 27. A U.S. Navy veteran, he owned and operated Ecorse Auto Repair. He also owned a dumping service in Saline. [PM] Stacy Lynn Carpenter, 61, of Adrian died on Jan. 27. [AM] Evelyn Rose Goodrich, 96, of Hudson died on Jan. 27. She completed secretarial training in Ann Arbor and worked at the Adrian Daily Telegram and Gocon Corp. in Adrian. [BVH] Marian McMullen, 91, of Tecumseh died on Jan. 27. She had been a teacher for Detroit Public Schools and was a member of Ridgeway Church of the Nazarene. [PM] Robert Richard Tripp, 90, formerly of Adrian, died on Jan. 27. He was a member of the Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. [W] Gloria Dawn Kishpaugh, 98, of Adrian died on Jan. 28. She was a graduate of the University of Michigan and worked in Washington D.C. for six years. She then moved to Denver, where she taught fourth grade for many years, and finished her career at Lucent Technologies. [AM] Ruthann Scott, 79, of Clayton died on Jan. 28. She worked at Rima Manufacturing in Hudson for 20 years. [AM] James Roger Bremmer, 85, of Adrian died on Jan. 29. He retired as a Detective Sergeant with the Michigan State Police after 25 years of service. After retirement, he became a high school teacher and taught law enforcement, and was also an avid farmer. [AM] Mark Allen Brieschke, 67, of Manitou Beach died on Jan. 29. He was the founder and owner of ARIES Engineering Company and held several patents in manufacturing. [W] Linda Kay Ishmiel, 76, of Ypsilanti died on Jan. 29. A Blissfield High School graduate, she taught at the Michigan School for the Deaf in Flint for 37 years. [W] Max L. Munk, 100, of Hudson died on Jan. 29. He was a lifelong resident of Hillsdale and Lenawee counties and retired from Morenci Rubber in 1987. He also was a lifelong farmer. [AM] Rebecca “Becky” Sue Bismack, 58, of Morenci died on Jan. 31. She worked at Consumers Energy for over 20 years. [W] Tad Michael Pelham, 56, of Onsted died on Jan. 31. He owned and operated Irish Hills Overhead Door. [PM] Lee Vernon Miller, 88, of Adrian died on Feb. 1. He worked as a supervisor at American Chain and Cable in Adrian for over 20 years. [W] Vernon Allen Rau, 68, of Palmyra died on Feb. 2. He worked as a heavy equipment operator for Waste Management. [AM]

THE LENAWEE VOICE

A19

MARCH 2024

IN MEMORY Ryan Neal Hanawalt, 48, of Manitou Beach, died on Feb. 3. He was employed in the oil industry for Certarus on their special projects team. [AM] Joseph Zarnick, 87, of Tecumseh died on Feb. 3. He was retired from the U.S. Army and the U.S. Postal Service. He was a decorated veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars. [AM] Glenda Sue Presson, 54, of Adrian died on Feb. 4. She had been employed as a waitress at Tuckey’s Big Boy in Tecumseh for the past 10 years. [PM] Jay Carlton Jones, 66, of Hudson died on Feb. 5. He worked at Carter Lumber for over 20 years. [W] Janice Faye Noffsinger, 65, of Sand Creek died on Feb. 5. She worked at several retail and department stores in Adrian, including Big Lots, J.C. Penney and other stores in the Adrian Mall. She was most recently employed in the cafeteria for Madison schools. [AM] Holly K. Curry, 43, died on Feb. 6. She was a 1998 Morenci graduate and battled congenital heart failure for her entire life. She enjoyed going to the library and parks. [AM] Ranee Louise Gittus, 74, of Tecumseh died on Feb. 6. She spent most of her childhood in Blissfield and was an enthusiastic sports mom. [PM] Catherine A. Jones, 88, of Deerfield died on Feb. 6. [PM] Joy Marvin, 82, of Clayton died on Feb. 6.

She owned and operated Marvin Farms. She dedicated her life to promoting milk and the dairy industry by visiting schools and hosting tours of the dairy farm. She was known to many children as the Cow Lady. She spent many years as a volunteer at Bixby Hospital. [AM] Doris Helen Pierce, 95, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, formerly of Adrian, died on Feb. 7. She was an Adrian High School graduate and studied art at Siena Heights College.

During her Adrian years she was a member of First United Methodist Church. [W] David H. Rickaby, 93, of Adrian died on Feb. 7. He worked at Ace Drill for 28 years and also for the Delphi Group-GM, retiring in 1996. After retiring he was employed by Woodlawn Golf Course. [AM] Lola B. Buie, 67, of Tecumseh died on Feb. 8. She worked Fisher Body in Tecumseh and other locations, retiring in 1999 after 26 years of service. [AM] Edward Joseph Coopshaw, 75, of Deerfield died on Feb. 8. He served in the U.S. Army and worked as a Military Police officer.

Discharged in 1969, he then worked for over 20 years as a rail foreman for Conrail. [AM] Terry L. Fields, 75, of Adrian died on Feb. 8. She owned and operated three hair salons in Adrian, including the College Beautify Boutique, which she owned for 17 years. [AM] Karen Johnson, 67, of Adrian died on Feb. 8. She attended school in Morenci and was a member of Jasper Bible Church. [AM] Donald L. VanDoren, 84, of Adrian died on Feb. 8. He worked at Citizen Gas Fuel Company for 17 years. [W] Gary L. Brackenbury, 83, of Adrian died on Feb. 9. He worked at General Motors for 30 years, retiring in 2007. [AM] LaVon Oliver Campbell, 93, of Fayette, formerly of Morenci, died on Feb. 9. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1952 to 1954. He worked at M&S Manufacturing in Morenci for 45 years, retiring in 1995. [AM] Esther A. Gagnon, 97, of Adrian died on Feb. 9. Her previous employment included Bohn Aluminum and Gerity’s, and for 19 years she worked for Adrian Public Schools. [AM] Shirley Lynn McClain, 65, of Adrian died on Feb. 10. She loved devoting her time to helping others and found she loved working in the Serenity House in Adrian. [AM] Juan Rosales Jr., 78, of Adrian died on Feb. 11. He worked as a machine operator at Tecumseh Products for over 40 years. [AM] Linda Mae (Marshall) Bachelder, 79, of Manitou Beach died on Feb. 12. She worked at NWD and Morenci Rubber. [BVH] Rebecca LaVeeda Rutledge, 39, of Adrian died on Feb.12. She had worked at Applebee’s and Aubree’s as a cook. [W] Sheila Kay Ruple, 53, formerly of Adrian, died on Feb. 12. She most recently lived in an adult foster care group home in Oakland County. She loved spending time at Evans Lake. [W] Jeffery “JR” Wheaton, 62, of Adrian died on Feb. 12. He started his career at Great Lakes Chemical Corporation as a chemical

worker. Later he drove trucks for transport companies including Ruan, Meyers Bros., and Hayes. [AM] Santiago Torres Sr., 72, of Adrian died on Feb. 13. He attended Jackson Community College and attained his tool and die certificate. He worked at several companies throughout his life and retired as a tool and die maker. [AM] LaVonne Bongard, 93, died on Feb. 14.

She worked at Key Bank in Saline for 17 years.

She was an active member of St. Mary on the Lake and the Devils Lake Card Club. [BVH] Glenn R. “Dick” Kelly, 93 of Morenci died on Feb. 14. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1948 to 1952. He was employed for over 42 years as a purchasing agent for Acco Cable Controls and then volunteered at Toledo Hospital. [AM] Virginia “Ginny” Kodelman, 98, of Blissfield died on Feb. 14. She was a talented seamstress and enjoyed outdoor activities including golf, hunting, skiing, walking, hiking, bridge, bowling, and winters in Arizona. [AM] Leo M. Swinehart, 71, of Adrian died on Feb. 14. He had been employed by the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy sheriff for 34 years. [AM] Walter Lanway, 82, of Manitou Beach died on Feb. 15. He was employed as a corrections officer for the State of Michigan. He loved to preach and to teach people. [AM] James N. Kilpatrick, 86, of Tecumseh died on Feb. 16. He was the founder of Ben’s Bump Shop in Adrian. He was also a talented guitar player and teacher. [PM]

Wayne L. Mills, 88, of Adrian died on Feb. 16. He served in the Michigan Army National Guard, attended Raisin Valley Friends Church, and worked for American Chain and Cable for 40 years. [AM] Randall Purser, 70, of Deerfield died on Feb. 17. He was a Blissfield graduate who worked for Ford and for Reau Manufacturing, and was a Deerfield volunteer firefighter. [AM]

Jose Salazar, 100, of Adrian died on Feb. 17. He worked for American Chain and Cable and owned a restaurant called South of the Border. [AM] Jean Irene Vancil, 95, of Adrian died on Feb. 17. She had worked for the Hoover Company in North Canton and retired from the Michigan Employment Commission in 1983. [W]

A20

MARCH 2024 THE LENAWEE VOICE

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Works by Carlos Tobar on display at Weber Center’s art gallery » PAGE B2

Stair District Library invites residents to put their creativity on display » PAGE B4

ARTS & LIVING

THE LENAWEE VOICE SECOND SECTION MARCH 2024

‘Last Stop on Market Street’ Croswell’s annual musical for young audiences is a tale of empathy, understanding and joy

Ron Frenzen prepares to make a cast of his hand in the sculpture studio at the Adrian Center for the Arts.

Glass, metal and sculpture studios now open at ACA ADRIAN — Three new studios are now up and running at the Adrian Center for the Arts, the result of a renovation that transformed a row of old garages into a place for creativity.

About $300,000 went into the renovations, raised from a mix of community donations, grants, and a state of Michigan crowdfunding program.

Classes for people of all experience levels are offered in the new studios, which add glass, sculpture, and jewelry/ metalsmithing to a list of offerings that already included painting, drawing, ceramics, printmaking, fiber arts and more.

While the ACA offered some classes in glass before, the equipment in the new studio makes it possible to offer hot glass as well. The sculpture studio currently offers plaster casting and sculpture from

See ART STUDIOS, page B6

ADRIAN — In “Last Stop on Market Street,” playing from March 15-17 at the Croswell Opera House, audiences will find a story about learning how to put yourself in other people’s shoes and find beauty wherever you look.

But that’s not all, says director Jen Letherer. The musical is also a whole lot of fun.

The hourlong “Last Stop on Market Street” is based on an award-winning children’s book by Matt de la Peña. In the show, a boy named CJ is reluctantly visiting his Nana in Chicago and takes a bus ride through her neighborhood.

CJ is more comfortable with his tablet and phone than with meeting new people, Letherer said. But Nana makes him connect to people, “and in doing so, he begins to see the world differently.”

He also learns that the people he meets on a bus ride through Nana’s neighborhood — a blind man, a heavily tattooed man, a pair of teenage softball players, the patrons of the soup kitchen where Nana volunteers — are all more than they seem.

The musical features a lively hip-hop score written by the late Lamont Dozier, who produced music for Motown Records in the 1960s, and his son, Paris Ray Dozier.

“I think kids are really going to enjoy the neighborhood and the music,” Letherer said.

The role of CJ is played by Zameon Conway, a student at Adrian’s Springbrook Middle School who is in his first Croswell production. Nana is played

by Bennice Byles, also of Adrian, whose previous Croswell shows include last season’s “The Prom.”

The cast also includes Megan Clark, Sophie Cox, Evan Garcia, Becca Glover, Brenna Gifford, Christopher Harlan,

Zameon Conway and Bennice Byles play CJ and Nana in “Last Stop on Market Street,” which runs from March 15-17 at the Croswell Opera House.

Molly Humphries, Maxwell Lam and Carter Steude, all of Adrian; Delayna Garcia of Cement City; Jase Sword of Hudson; and Phiona Taylor of Tecumseh.

Anjewel Lenoir is the assistant director and costumer, Debra Ross Calabrese is the choreographer, and Taieshia Tindall is the music director.

For Letherer, the heart of the show is Nana and the way she connects with the people all around her — and Nana’s way of looking at the world is something everyone can learn from.

“She sees the world as beautiful and fascinating,” Letherer said. “She sees the world as somebody full of gratitude, as someone who wants to connect. She sees that there is beauty in everyone and in every place.”

“I think we can all benefit from seeing the world the way Nana does — and the show is an opportunity, for an hour, to see the world the way Nana does.”

Show times for “Last Stop on Market Street” are: n Friday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m. n Saturday, March 16 at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. n Sunday, March 17 @ 2:30 p.m.

The 2:30 p.m. show on Saturday is a sensory-friendly production with modifications designed for children who are on the autism spectrum or have sensory processing issues.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $10 for children, and may be ordered by calling 517-264-7469 or online at croswell.org.

B2 | ARTS & LIVING

IN BRIEF Shakespeare in the Park in the works for this summer ADRIAN — A group of local theater lovers is working on plans for a summertime Shakespeare in the Park event at Adrian’s Trestle Park.

Plans call for a production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to be mounted on the first weekend in August, with Stephen Kiersey as the director and John MacNaughton as the production manager.

’80s dinner theater is TCA’s spring fundraiser TECUMSEH — An ’80s-themed dinner theater event, “Jack & Diane Get Hitched,” will raise money for the Tecumseh Center for the Arts on Saturday, April 13, starting at 6:30 p.m.

The premise: A woman awakens from a 38-year coma believing it’s still her wedding day in 1986.

Tickets are $80, which includes a four-course meal catered by Three Dudes and Dinner. The fundraiser will take place at the AJ Smith Recreation Center, 810 N. Evans St. For more information, go to thetca.org.

Spring break clases for kids offered at the Croswell ADRIAN — The Croswell Opera House is offering a variety of spring break theater classes for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The classes will take place from Monday through Friday, the week of March 25-29.

The offerings are: n Dino Story Theater — for kindergarten and first grade.

Students will adventure through the Jurassic and Triassic periods and discover new ways to use their voices, bodies and imaginations. n Pirate Story Theater — for second and third grades. n Improv Toolkit — for fourth and fifth grades. Students will learn about the fundamentals and basic tools of improvisational theater. n Activated Acting — for sixth through eighth grades. Students will learn the building blocks and fundamentals of scene work.

The Croswell is at 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian. For more information, go to croswell.org.

MARCH 2024 THE LENAWEE VOICE

‘I always say I paint the truth’ INAI: A Space Apart hosts exhibit by Ecuadorian-born Adrian artist Carlos Tobar ADRIAN — From now through April, visitors to INAI: A Space Apart will have the opportunity to view artwork that ranges from intense commentary on current events or ordinary daily life to colorful depictions of life in Ecuador or in a land of fantasy.

“Works by Carlos Tobar” is on display through April 21 at INAI, an art gallery adjacent to Weber Retreat and Conference Center. An artist’s reception will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 10.

A native of Ecuador, Tobar and his wife Rachel have been residents of Adrian since 1985. A retired graphic artist and commercial offset printer, Carlos has lived out his passion throughout his life: depicting world events, ordinary events, and the joy of life through painting and other media, including stone, wood, block printing, and mosaics.

“I always say I paint the truth,” Tobar said. “I want people to see what is going on in the world.”

For Tobar, truth includes commentary on the difficult situations of life and current events.

“One painting shows what a mother is feeling in Israel, the pain at the moment,” he said. Moved by the war in Iraq, he painted “When Men Become Animals.”

“The feelings of my heart I put into that painting,” he said, adding that he used exaggeration in the faces, hands, and arms to depict his feelings toward the war.

But Tobar also sees the truth in people’s everyday lives — and his hometown in Ecuador. In one painting, “Moments of Happiness,” he used bright colors to depict people dancing for joy. He also painted scenes from Ecuador, such as the jungle surrounding the town where he was raised, an open-air fruit market, and the chickens raised on his family farm.

“For me, it’s to have a good time remembering,” he said.

He often uses his paintings from Ecuador to share his memories with his four children and eight grandchildren. At the same time, he also likes to introduce

Carlos Tobar’s work is on display at INAI at the Weber Center through April 21.

an element of fantasy into his colorful paintings.

“In my paintings, everything is possible,” he said.

Despite his desire to depict the truth, Tobar never tells his viewers how to interpret his paintings.

“I like it when the viewers interpret it themselves,” he said. “The paintings speak for themselves.”

Along with the paintings, Tobar is exhibiting some of the many drawings that are often the basis for his paintings. “My mind is working, working, working,” he explained.

“During the pandemic, I was very busy, using the time, and I produced many drawings. Some I will turn into a work on canvas, and some I will call a drawing.”

INAI: A Space Apart is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For other hours, call 517-266-4090 to make an appointment.

The Weber Retreat and Conference Center is at 1257 E. Siena Heights Dr., Adrian. More information is available at webercenter.org.

Tecumseh Youth Theatre presents ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ TECUMSEH — Tecumseh Youth Theatre’s high school production this year is “Fiddler on the Roof.” Set in the little village of Anatevka, the story centers on Tevye, a poor milkman, and his five daughters. With the help of a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, Tevye tries to protect his daughters and instill them with traditional values in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia.

Oden Berthelsen plays Tevye; Abby Molare plays his wife, Golde; and Abi Van

Camp, Kaylee Hicks, Claire Cousineau, Grace Carr and Emily Anderson are their daughters. Zara Garrison is Yente the matchmaker.

The cast also includes Jennifer Baker, Samantha Baker, Ebey Book, Jonathan Dahn, Lane Dittman, Dominic Doty, Jae Felger, Ella Flumignan, Charis Frost, Alex Goetz, Jonah Hiatt, Piper Holtz, Julia Jones, Hailey Kennedy, Mercie LaPointe, Lena Lucrecio, Anna McCarty, Andrew McInchak, Allyson Miller, Wesley Miner, Camryn Nowak, Maximos Reh, Macy

Schmidt, Dean Sumner and Anna Wotring.

Younger actors who play the village children are Isaiah Boils, Gwendalyn Cousineau, Jesse Gutierrez, Brooklyn Palmer, Tino Mandelka and Chloe Smith.

Performances are at the Tecumseh Center for the Arts, 400 N. Maumee St., Tecumseh.

Show times are Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 9 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 10 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $15 and may be ordered at thetca.org.

THE LENAWEE VOICE

ARTS & LIVING | B3

MARCH 2024

IN BRIEF

MAKING WINDSOR CHAIRS AT SBWI

TCA hosts Monday’s Supper Celtic quartet in March TECUMSEH — Monday’s Supper, a three-time Irish Music Award Nominee and winner of the 2014 Celtic Album of the Year award, will perform at the Tecumseh Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16. Tickets are $33. For more information, go to thetca.org.

The Lenawee Voice

Music and theater students at Adrian College present junior and senior recitals ADRIAN — Adrian College has announced the schedule for its music and theater student recitals this spring. All recitals are free and open to the public. n Saturday, March 16 at 7 p.m.: Angelica Dorris, junior voice recital, Spencer Hall. n Saturday, March 23 at 1 p.m.: Ella Ledbetter-Newton: Senior Musical Theatre Recital, Downs Hall. n Saturday, March 23 at 3 p.m.: Viance Snell, senior theatre recital, Downs Hall. n Sunday, March 24 at 3 p.m.: Lexie Holt, senior flute recital, Dawson Auditorium. n Thursday, March 28 at 7 p.m.: Ashlynn Kerley, junior trombone recital, Dawson Auditorium. n Monday, April 1 at 5:30 p.m.: Alison Creamer, junior voice recital, Dawson Auditorium. n Thursday, April 4 at 6 p.m.: Mackenzie Sybert, junior voice recital, Dawson Auditorium. n Saturday, April 6 at 5 p.m.: Abbey Baker, senior trumpet recital, Dawson Auditorium. n Saturday, April 13 at 6 p.m.: Kassandra Swiftney, senior euphonium recital, Dawson Auditorium. n Tuesday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m.: Samantha McGaughy, senior voice recital, Herrick Chapel. n Saturday, April 20 at 6 p.m.: Steven Posa, junior piano recital, Dawson Auditorium. n Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m.: Taylor Yount, senior voice recital, Dawson Auditorium. n Sunday, April 21, at 6 p.m.: Liam Eklund, junior cello recital, Dawson Auditorium. n Friday, April 26, at 6 p.m.: Elizabeth Himebauch, senior voice recital, Herrick Chapel.

Symphony continues yearlong exploration of Stravinsky

The intersecting schedules of two different programs at the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute in Adrian led to an unusual event in February: for one week, there were 27 artisans building 27 handmade Windsor chairs in the same building. These included 20 students who are part of a 40-week college program in furniture making; five students who traveled from across the country for a seven-day intensive course in making Windsor chairs; and SBWI founder Luke Barnett and instructor Noah Smith. In the photo above, students start their journey by splitting a white oak log for spindles, using a wedge and hammer to ensure they are following the grain of the wood.

Joe Davin of Moutain Rest, South Carolina, shapes a white oak spindle that will become the back of his chair. The back will go into a steam chamber to make it soft enough that it can be bent around a form; from the moment the wood comes out of the steam chamber, the artist has about 60 seconds to get it bent around the form before it dries.

After the back, spindles and legs are formed, they will go into a kiln which dries the pieces out, making them shrink slightly. Then, once they are inserted into the chair seat, normal atmospheric humidity will make the wood expand again, locking them in place so that no hardware is needed to hold the chair together.

Craig Courter of Bloomfield Hills fits spindles into his chair seat on the final day of a weeklong Windsor chair intensive course.

ADRIAN — The Adrian Symphony Orchestra has been spending this season exploring the work of 20th-century Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, and that focus continues on March 15 when the ASO will perform a suite of eight dances from his ballet “Pulcinella.”

While it’s not as well known as pieces like “Firebird” or “Rite of Spring,” which the ASO will perform in May, music director Bruce Antony Kiesling said the suite from “Pulcinella” is a piece of “beautiful, wonderful music.” In it, Stravinsky took eight traditional dance melodies and arranged them with a contemporary bent.

That basic theme — taking a folk music form and transforming it into an orchestral piece — is mirrored in another work that will be part of the March concert. Ruth Crawford Seeger’s “Rissolty Rossolty,” composed in 1939, has its roots in bluegrass music.

“This was an era when bluegrass and traditional music was finally getting some respect and being written down and recorded,” Kiesling said.

Crawford Seeger also passed her interest in folk music on to her children, who included daughter Peggy Seeger and stepson Pete Seeger. She herself was known not just for her folk arrangements, but for being an early pioneer of modernism in music.

The ASO’s March concert will conclude with a performance of Mozart’s 41st Symphony, nicknamed the Jupiter Symphony. This is one of the pieces that had been slated for the symphony’s 2019-20 season that was interrupted by the pandemic: Kiesling said the orchestra had already had two rehearsals of this particular piece when everything shut down.

The Jupiter Symphony was Mozart’s longest symphony and also his last, and is often regarded as one of the greatest classical symphonies ever written.

The Adrian Symphony Orchestra’s March concert will be on Friday, March 15, at 7:30 p.m. in Adrian College’s Dawson Auditorium. Tickets range from $23 to $37, with discounts for students and seniors.

More information at adriansymphony.org.

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EMPTY BOWLS FUNDRAISER BRINGS IN $4,100 FOR FISHES AND LOAVES

The biannual Empty Bowls fundraiser on Feb. 7 raised $4,100 to benefit the Fishes and Loaves food pantry operated by Neighbors of Hope. Artists from the Adrian Center for the Arts created handmade bowls for people to purchase; attendees could then enjoy a bowl of soup prepared by members of First United Methodist Church. The event took place at the Croswell Opera House.

Stair Library invites residents to display their creativity MORENCI — The Stair District Library in Morenci is inviting residents to showcase their creativity at their local library.

The library has been taking part in the 100 Day Project, a global art project in which people choose a creative project, do it every single day for 100 days, and share the process on social media using the hashtag #The100DayProject.

Library director Colleen Leddy is adding an in-person element to the online project by inviting people to display their work at the library for other members of the community to enjoy. The project began on Feb. 18, but Leddy said that even though the idea is to create something every day, people should feel free to jump in and create at any time.

Maryn Shaffer, now a sixth grader, took part in all 100 days of the 100 Day Project last year, creating 100 drawings that were displayed in the Stair District Library community room. She’s pictured here with a selection of those drawings, which are currently in the library entryway.

One person who did the entire 100 days last years is Maryn Shaffer. The Morenci student, who was in fifth grade last year, created 100 drawings that were displayed in the library’s community room. Many of them

are currently hanging in the library entryway.

The library marked the beginning of the 100 Day Project by hosting open art studio hours for the community. In addition, fourth

Morenci Elementary School fourth graders work on art projects to kick off the 100 Day Project at the Stair District Library. graders from Morenci Elementary School visited the library to have fun creating.

THE LENAWEE VOICE

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MARCH 2024

Lenawee County 2024

Kindergarten Round Up Dates

Evie Wallace, a third-grader at Madison Elementary School, shows one of the inventive cat drawings she made in first grade along with the book that her imagination inspired.

‘Little Cat’ book stems from Adrian girl’s big imagination “Once upon a time, there was a little girl in first grade who loved cats. Her parents would not let her have a cat, so she had to use her imagination ...”

That’s the beginning of the story of how “The Little Cat and the Big Adventure,” a picture book by Madison Elementary School student Evie Wallace, came to be.

Evie, the daughter of Rachel and Tavarski Wallace, was in first grade when she decided she wanted a cat. Her mom and dad said no, so she started bringing home drawings of cats from school — but not just any cats. Her cats were climbing rocks, polevaulting, playing basketball, doing gymnastics. One was a doctor.

Another was a water bottle.

“She’s always had a big imagination and she’s always loved books,” Evie’s mom said. Her parents started looking forward to the daily drawings and, when she got home from school, would ask “What is your cat doing today?”

Inspired to turn those inventive drawings into something bigger, the family found an illustrator to turn Evie’s pictures into a book, staying true to the spirit of the originals. Evie planned out the order of the 34 drawings and decided if the final illustrations matched what she wanted to convey.

“She really made all the decisions for the book,” her dad said.

“The Little Cat and the Big Adventure” is available on Amazon.

Visit Michigan’s Oldest T heater!

FRI. MARCH 15 AT 6:30PM SAT. MARCH 16 AT 2:30PM* SAT. MARCH 16 AT 11AM SUN. MARCH 17 AT 2:30PM *SENSORY FRIENDLY SHOW

Tickets: Adult $18 • Youth/Student $10

Magic An evening of

with Stuart Macdonald

Special guests Eric Buss • oscar Muñoz

SAT. APRIL 6 AT 7:30PM

SUN. APRIL 7 AT 2:30PM

Tickets: Adult $32 • Youth/Student $20 129 E MAUMEE ST • ADRIAN, MI • CROSWELL.ORG • 517.264.7469

All Lenawee County public school districts have scheduled kindergarten registration events during the spring. Regardless of district, all parents will need the following to register: •

Child’s certified birth certificate (raised seal)

•

Child’s immunization record

•

Proof of residency (a bill/invoice indicating you live at your address)

To view each district’s dates, times, and additional details, use the QR code or visit lisd.us/kindergarten.

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IN BRIEF A3 Resident Coalition plans family fun on March 8

Students work on a mixed-media project involving both the ceramics and metalworking studios during a recent class at the Adrian Center for the Arts.

Art studios from page B1 everyday objects, but will eventually expand to offer welding and poured metal sculptures.

Valerie Herr, executive director of the ACA, said the classes are for people of all experience levels.

“When it comes to things like glass, metal and sculpture, people assume that they have to have some kind of skill, and they don’t,” she said. “We have classes for beginners, intermediate and advanced in all of our studios, and we want people to have the experience of coming and creating art.”

In addition to classes that are open to the public, the ACA also arranges personalized, private classes for groups.

The jewelry studio has become an

especially popular destination for teens’ birthday parties since it opened, Herr said.

The ACA offers a mix of one-day classes and ones that span several weeks. Prices vary, but Herr noted that scholarships are available for both youth and adults.

“We want to ensure that everyone has access to the arts,” she said.

Coming up on Saturday, April 6, the ACA will offer a day full of low-priced “mini-classes” in all of the studios.

These classes will range from $15 to $30 and are intended to give people the opportunity to try something for the first time in a setting that doesn’t require a lot of commitment.

The Adrian Center for the Arts is at 1375 N. Main St., on the campus of Planewave Instruments.

For more information, call 517-759-3005 or go to adriancenterforthearts.org.

ADRIAN — The All About Adrian Resident Coalition is hosting Second Friday at the Adrian District Library on Friday, March 8, from 6-8 p.m.

This event features local non-profit organizations and other community resources plus snacks, music and games.

Activities will include an egg hunt for children 14 and under with prizes donated by Re-Bicycle Lenawee, the Boys & Girls Club, Lenawee Great Start, and others. There will also be a family photo station with the Easter Bunny.

Everyone is welcome to attend this free event, and registration is not required.

The Adrian District Library is located at 143 E. Maumee St. in downtown Adrian.

Learn more about A3 Resident Coalition events at facebook.com/ A3andsurroundings.

Celebrate spring with the Adrian Dominican Sisters ADRIAN — For many, spring is a time of rejuvenation and new life after a long, dark winter. All are invited to welcome spring in a ritual celebration of the Spring Equinox from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 17, at the Weber Retreat and Conference Center.

The celebration is facilitated by Sister Esther Kennedy, a spiritual director and retreat leader who leads monthly days of mindfulness.

Participants are welcome to bring a poem, a story, or a treat to share.

The celebration is free and open to all. Registration is not required. For more information, call 517-266-4000.

Adrian District Library offers teen craft club ADRIAN — The Adrian District Library, located at 143 E. Maumee St. in downtown Adrian, is offering a Teen Craft Club starting on Friday, March 8, from 4 to 5 p.m. Teens ages 13-18 are welcome to attend. During the March 8 event, participants will be creating crochet bookmarks.

Beginning in April, the club will meet the first Friday of each month from 4 to 5 p.m. at the library. At the April 5 event, attendees will make soap and on May 3 the group will work on bookbinding.

There’s no cost to attend, but registration is required. To register, call the library at 517-265-2265 or sign up online at adrian.lib.mi.us.

BUSINESS CARD DIRECTORY

Stuart MacDonald returns to the Croswell in April ADRIAN — Illusionist Stuart MacDonald will return to the Croswell Opera House on the first weekend in April, joined by fellow magicians Eric Buss and Oscar Muñoz.

Performances are Saturday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 7 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $32 for adults and $25 for students, and may be ordered by calling 517-264-7469 or going to croswell.org.

‘Constructions of Disability’ is topic of spring convocation ADRIAN — Adrian College’s spring convocation will take place at 7 p.m.

Monday, March 18, in Dawson Auditorium.

The topic is “Constructions of Disability” and the speaker is Dianna Temple.

Temple is an artist, Dianna Temple occupational therapist, and disability advocate. Her work explores disability through the lens of the Social Model of Disability, which emphasizes social, political, and environmental barriers for people with disabilities.

She is the executive director of Ohio SIBS, an advocacy organization for siblings of people with disabilities that aims to create a more inclusive world.

“In my presentation, I will address several photographic projects that directly reflect how I have used photography to question ideas of representation and how our built environment isolates people with disabilities,” Temple said in a statement announcing the convocation. “As an able-bodied photographer, I collaborate with people with disabilities in an attempt to see the social constructs of disability in our world. I aim to create imagery that can build new conversations.”

County’s early history will be focus of talk ADRIAN — The Lenawee Historical Society will present “The Formation and Development of Lenawee County” at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 2, at the Lenawee County Historical Museum in downtown Adrian.

The speaker is Howard Pennington, whose family roots in Lenawee County go back to the 1820s. He will talk about how the county was established, including the histories of the villages and hamlets as they were settled. The program is free.

THE LENAWEE VOICE

MARCH 2024

IN BRIEF Taste of the Irish Hills is coming up in March IRISH HILLS — Tickets are now on sale for the 14th annual Taste of the Irish Hills, a celebration of some of the best food in southeast Michigan, arranged by the Irish Hills Regional Chamber of Commerce. The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, March 9 and 10.

Tickets are $25 per person and allow participants the opportunity to enjoy a self-guided foodie tour of more than 20 Irish Hills restaurants. Each ticket includes a map of locations.

In a press release, Cindy Hubbell, president and CEO of the Irish Hills Regional Chamber of Commerce, said the event has become a fan favorite for the Irish Hills.

“Not only do our residents look forward to it, it draws people from miles around,” she said. “Being the Irish Hills, it only makes sense to hold a regionwide St. Patrick’s Day celebration.”

This year’s event also includes a couple of new stops. A main sponsor of the event is Visit Lenawee.

The participating businesses include April Messer Photography, Artesian Wells Sports Tavern, Boot Jack Tavern, Brooklyn Big Boy, Brooklyn Hometown Pizza, Brooklyn Moose #2651, Callaghan’s Coffee Cafe, Cambridge Junction Historical State Park/ Walker Tavern Historic Site, Cherry Creek Cellars, Clark Lake Golf Club, Eagles Nest Bar & Grill, Harold’s Place, Highland Inn, Jackie’s Cookies and Cakes, Jerry’s Pub & Restaurant, Lake LeAnn Golf Course/10th Hole Grille & Pub Lakeside Cafe, Lucero’s Bar & Grill, Manchester Market, Musgrove & Company, River Raisin Distillery, Sandbar Cafe, The Deck Down Under, The Hills Fork Oar Pour, Two Lakes Tavern, and Wesco.

Tickets are being sold online at IrishHills.com, and in person at the IHRCC office, 221 Mill St., Brooklyn; Visit Lenawee; and Cherry Creek Cellars. For more information call 517592-8907 or email Info@IrishHills.com.

Easter egg hunt scheduled at Adrian’s Parish Park ADRIAN — An Easter egg hunt plus other activities for kids will take place beginning at 3:30 p.m. Easter Sunday at Parish Park, 721 Erie St. The event also includes giveaways, music, food and drink.

Organizers are seeking donations of plastic eggs and candy to fill them with, as well as financial donations to purchase bikes for prizes. For information, contact Jamar Bonney at 517-442-3394.

Author discusses parenting for autistic children TECUMSEH — The Tecumseh District Library will present a talk titled “How Autism Touched My Family” at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16.

Heidi Franklin, author of “My Ausome Brother,” will discuss her journey as a parent with an autistic son and will explain how she finds creative ways to accommodate his special needs in order to help him feel accepted, happy, and comfortable in a sometimes overwhelming world.

Copies of her book will be available for purchase and signing.

To register for the program, go to tecumsehlibrary.org.

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MARCH 2024 THE LENAWEE VOICE