The Lenawee Voice — August 2026

Para noticias locales en español, por favor vaya a la página A15 OPmobility marks 30 years of manufacturing in Adrian » PAGE A5

Sugartown Sweets & Soda Shoppe a new Blissfield destination

Musical ‘Matilda’ opens August 6 at the Croswell

» PAGE B1

» PAGE C1

THE LENAWEE VOICE

ADRIAN, MICHIGAN

FREE AUGUST 2026

LOCAL NEWS FOR ADRIAN AND LENAWEE COUNTY

3 SECTIONS | 48 PAGES

LENAWEE COUNTY FAIR COVERAGE INSIDE

Employees of Adrian A&W gather for reunion » PAGE B3

Sydney Cunningham reacts after being announced as the winner of the Lenawee County Fair Queen competition on July 26, while Mikaela Gray and Gretchen Gautz, at left, and Michaela Cross, Bryleigh Ahearn, Denae Covey, and Natalie Barrett look on. For more from the 2026 Lenawee County Fair, turn to pages A11 and A12. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

From forest to table at Great Lakes Foragers Gathering » PAGE B9

Blissfield’s iconic Stable restaurant returns as an offshoot of American Farm Museum

By Arlene Bachanov The Lenawee Voice

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Hidden Lake Gardens celebrates a milestone year » PAGE C1

BLISSFIELD — A beloved Blissfield restaurant that shut its doors several years ago is officially back in business with a (somewhat) new name and new ownership.

The Stable, as it’s now called, held a soft opening in late July and is now in its first phase of operation, with a menu of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, desserts, and a full bar. Many of the items feature locally sourced and other Michigan products.

Current hours are 3-9 p.m.

Wednesdays and Thursdays, 3-10 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. In time, the restaurant’s menu and hours of operation will both expand.

For the time being, seating is by reservation only. Reservations can be made by calling 517-682-1515 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.

The Stable’s new life is an offshoot of Blissfield’s American Farm Museum and Education Center, which was formed in part to create a way to showcase the Charles and Barbara Burkholder Farm Toy Collection.

Ellie Sayler delivers an appetizer to Julie and Rick Hedrick at The Stable’s soft opening on July 17. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE The Burkholders spent much of their lives amassing the collection and wanted it to someday be housed in a museum where the public could see it. By the time the couple died, Barbara in 2014 and Charles in 2015, the collection had grown to some 13,000 toys and 350 pedal tractors.

In 2017, the American Farm Museum purchased a site on E. Jefferson Street in Blissfield with the intent of building a home for the toys. “It was always our

Adrian City Commission hears report on options for city water » PAGE A3

dream to educate people about the past, present, and future of agriculture with the toy collection at [the museum’s] heart,” said Melissa Tsuji, president of the farm museum board.

In order to make the museum a reality, however, “you’re looking at millions of dollars in infrastructure, which is really hard to fundraise for.”

See STABLE, page A19

Adrian Steel breaks ground on 112,000-square-foot expansion » PAGE A6

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AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Commission rejects all city administrator candidates

By Erik Gable

The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — A divided Adrian City Commission voted on June 29 against hiring any of the candidates for city administrator, opting to do another search in six months and leave utilities director Will Sadler as acting administrator until then.

One week earlier, the commission had interviewed four finalists: n Jeremiah Davies, the Hudson city manager and former Adrian parks and recreation director. n Ali Awadi, the facilities and emergency management director for the city of Westland. n Shannon Sirpilla, the city manager in Beaverton. n Jason Smith, the former city manager of Litchfield and Belleville.

A fifth finalist, Joel Mazur — the former city administrator of Oregon, Ohio — withdrew his candidacy before the interviews.

The interviews can be seen on the city’s YouTube channel.

Voting to reject all of the candidates and post the position again in six months were Mayor Angela Sword Heath and commissioners Bob Behnke, Aaron Chesher, Mary Roberts, and Tiffany Zych. Voting against that proposal were commissioners Chip Moore and Matt Schwartz, both of whom spoke in favor of offering the job to Davies.

The decision generated sharp criticism during the public comment portion of the meeting, with a former mayor, a retired city administrator, a retired police chief, and a former city commissioner all voicing their objections. In addition, one of the other finalists spoke during public comment to say she thought Davies would have been a good choice.

During the discussion at the beginning of the meeting, Moore gave his endorsement to Davies, saying: “He

lives here, he knows what needs to be done here. The business community that I represent thinks he’s the right guy for the job.”

Schwartz said he heard strong public support for Davies when talking to city residents over the past week. He also said that although he appreciates what Sadler was doing, he was concerned about the impact of going six months with one person trying to cover the responsibilities of both city administrator and utilities director, especially with complaints about Adrian’s water system running high.

Chesher said the results of search firm Yeo & Yeo’s interviews with city staff led him to feel that it would be better to keep Sadler in place for now. He said the timeframe of the search was “way too short.”

Chesher also said that the Adrian utilities budget Sadler manages is larger than Davies’ entire budget at the city of Hudson. Schwartz replied that Davies has experience as an Adrian department head too.

Behnke pointed to the Addison school district as a place where a board is opting to take its time with a search. Addison has an acting superintendent in place who is willing to serve until a permanent replacement is found.

Heath alluded to Davies’ short time in Hudson, saying: “Do I really think we might have had the right candidate? Yes. But was it the right time? No.” A motion to extend Sadler’s appointment as acting administrator and not hire any of the candidates was made

by Chesher and seconded by Roberts.

“I think we’re doing a disservice to the citizens and taxpayers of this city,” Moore replied.

Zych disagreed, saying it’s good that the commission is willing to “make sure that we have the best possible fit moving forward.”

Schwartz opposed the idea of a delay, saying, “the people elected us to make decisions, not to procrastinate.” In a

back-and-forth with Behnke, he asked, “so you think there’s going to be a better candidate coming up next time than what we have?”

“Yes,” Behnke said.

“I don’t,” Schwartz replied, adding that he doubts any of the four finalists from this time will reapply.

Following the 5-2 vote, several members of the public spoke to criticize the decision. Carrie Smith, who had spoken at the beginning of the meeting to advocate for Davies, objected to the idea of continuing with one person in two roles, noting that there are already several key positions in City Hall being doubled-up.

“Matt Tomaszewski, he’s amazing, but just how many jobs can Matt do?” she said. Tomaszewski is the director of engineering services, but has also been the interim parks and recreation director since Davies left for Hudson.

Dane Nelson, who served as city administrator from 2006 to 2013, said the commission was making “a huge, huge mistake.” He said the only stability in that job in the past 25 years has been with administrators who were from Adrian.

“I’m not sure you’re ever going to be happy,” he said.

Former mayor Gary McDowell opened his comments by saying, “I’m appalled.”

“You’ve kicked the can six months down the road, but not only that, you’ve given Adrian another black eye,” McDowell said.

Retired police chief Terry Collins, who is also a county commissioner, said the decision to wait six months comes from the same commission that previously asked Yeo & Yeo for an expedited process.

“What are you telling the people of Adrian? We can’t make our minds up. We don’t know what we want,” he said.

Former commissioner Kelly Castleberry, who left the commission in 2025 after opting not to run for re-election, said Sadler has been a dedicated long-term employee and that

commissioners need to think about the demands they are placing on him.

“Your job is to set policy and make hard decisions, and you blew it today,” she said.

In an unusual occurrence, one of the finalists for the position also spoke during public comment to give a vote of confidence to another candidate. Sirpilla, the Beaverton city manager, said she actually considered withdrawing her application when she saw there was a local candidate in the running. After the interviews and the public open house with candidates that followed, she said, “I feel like Jeremiah Davies would do an excellent job for you.”

At the next meeting on July 6, Zych defended the decision to not hire any of the finalists.

“Contrary to what the louder voices have been saying, I have heard from many more who are supportive and positive about the decision — and yes, it was a decision — to not hire a city administrator from the candidate pool last Monday,” she said.

“I was appalled that none of the former elected or appointed officials who have contributed to Adrian’s current standing had the wisdom to ask themselves, ‘What did this commission find out about these candidates? Do I perhaps not have all of the information that they have? Should I speak with any of them one-on-one to figure out what I’m missing before I add fuel to the proverbial fire?’ ” Zych said she had concerns about the budget and responsiveness of the parks and recreation department that Davies led, but “our job last week was not to tear the candidates limb from limb and highlight their every fault in a public setting. Our job was to do our research beforehand, consider public and private feedback, and weigh their collective career experience to professionally assess the best next steps for our city’s leadership.”

THE LENAWEE VOICE

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AUGUST 2026

LOCAL NEWS

News tips and press releases can be emailed to news@lenaweevoice.com. We welcome submissions in either English or Spanish.

To meet our print deadline, news about upcoming events should be sent by the 15th of the month before the event.

Commission discusses options for Adrian city water

By Erik Gable

The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — Several options for dealing with complaints about the taste and smell of Adrian’s city water were discussed at the July 6 city commission meeting.

Adrian’s water is frequently high in the compounds 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin, which cause an earthy, musty taste and are difficult to remove using conventional treatment methods. The compounds come from algae growing in Lake Adrian, an artificial reservoir that was created about 85 years ago by damming Wolf Creek. The city gets most of its water from a wellfield on Hamilton Highway in Adrian Township, which came online a little under 20 years ago, but the limited capacity of that aquifer means water from Lake Adrian still has to be part of the mix.

Utilities director and acting city administrator Will Sadler outlined several options for commissioners — both ones that he believes are feasible and ones that he said are a long shot.

He emphasized that he was working off of old cost information, from a 2019 report by the engineering and consulting firm Tetra Tech, but said he hoped to be able to present better cost figures by the second meeting in August.

Ozone a good option: The first option Sadler discussed was ozone treatment.

In that method, ozone gas, a powerful oxidizing agent, is introduced into the water, where it dissolves and reacts with contaminants. Sadler said both Ann Arbor and Monroe use ozone treatment.

Monroe gets its water from Lake Erie — a body frequently plagued by harmful algae blooms — and Sadler said they still receive complaints, but the complaints are “few and far between.”

Sadler said ozone treatment would remove 90% to 95% of the geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (or MIB). He estimated the cost at $7 million, but emphasized again that he was pulling numbers from the 2019 report. Monroe recently paid $800,000 for one of their three units, but that cost did not include installation.

Advanced oxidation: In advanced oxidation treatment, ozone treatment is combined with other methods such as hydrogen peroxide. This could remove up to 99% of the geosmin and MIB — “which would be fantastic,” Sadler said — but at a cost of at least $8 million or $9 million.

“Both of those are, to me, reasonably priced things that could be funded through grant programs to some degree,

The city of Adrian’s water plant treats water both from the city wellfield on Hamilton Highway and from Lake Adrian. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE and definitely through the state revolving fund,” Sadler said.

Reverse osmosis: The most expensive treatment option that Sadler outlined was nanofiltration, or reverse osmosis.

The price tag for this method would be more like $18 million, Sadler said, and it also comes with a major drawback.

“I’ve never been completely sold on reverse osmosis because it does generate a waste stream,” Sadler said. Between 15% and 30% of the total volume ends up being waste, packed with all the things that were filtered out of the water — and that has to go somewhere. Discharging it into the river poses environmental risks.

And if it were put into the wastewater stream, Sadler said, “it could cause problems at the wastewater plant.”

Looking for more groundwater: The ideal situation, Sadler said, would be if Adrian could switch entirely to groundwater instead of relying on surface water, which is prone to any number of problems. But groundwater availability in the Adrian area is not good.

“If we could find groundwater, that would solve all the problems,” Sadler said. “It’s just that we know that we’re groundwater-poor in the area, and just randomly testing properties and spending $35,000 to $40,000 on a test well that may or not produce — that’s kind of a crapshoot.”

And then there’s the question of getting the water to city customers.

“If you do find an aquifer, it’s probably going to be further out than the one we’ve got,” Sadler said, adding that the cost of running a water line from a new well location would be between $2 million and $2.5 million per mile.

Additional algae treatment in Lake Adrian: Sadler said he’s also looking at a few smaller-scale options. The city uses ultrasonic treatment to kill off the algae that produces geosmin and MIB, and another unit would cost about $24,000.

Bringing back SolarBee machines like the city used to have in Lake Adrian would cost $140,000 for two units.

SolarBees provide additional water circulation to discourage algae growth, but Sadler said it’s harder to know if they would be effective because the city had not yet started testing for geosmin and MIB the last time it had them in place.

The previous units were retired due to their age and condition and replaced with sonar.

Funding options: Sadler said he would be asking Lenawee Now, which is administering a state-funded enhancement grant for projects in Adrian, about the possibility of using funds from that grant for purchases like additional sonar or SolarBee machines.

He also discussed the possibility of funding upgrades through Michigan’s State Revolving Fund. This fund provides low-interest loans that can be repaid over 20 or 30 years, meaning that while local taxpayer money does have to be used for the projects, the impact can be spread out over time.

In addition, some principal forgiveness is usually available, meaning that State Revolving Fund functions a bit like a cross between a loan program and a grant program.

The city currently has three water projects in the State Revolving Fund pipeline. A project at the Broad Street pump station, which is part of the city’s wastewater management system, has been funded. Two other requests, for a

lead service line replacement project and for improvements to the wastewater treatment plant, are still in progress and the city expects to hear this fall if they will be funded.

Sadler noted that qualifying for the State Revolving Fund is not a quick process. The city would have to submit a letter by November of this year stating its intent to apply for funding in order to be allowed to submit a full project plan the following spring. Then a notification of whether the project will be funded wouldn’t happen until fall 2027.

All told, Sadler said, “we would not be starting construction until fall of 2028.”

He also noted that funding is not guaranteed.

“It’s a competition,” he said. “We’re competing with everybody else.”

The city would have an advantage over some other applicants because the state considers Adrian to be an “overburdened community,” a status that gives it an edge in seeking funds.

“But they can’t fund everybody,” Sadler said.

Further discussion: Commissioner Chip Moore asked about introducing species that consume algae into Lake Adrian. “Have we thought about just putting 1,000 of whatever type of fish like to eat the algae?” he asked. Moore also mentioned zebra mussels.

“You want to be careful to not introduce any kind of invasive species,” Sadler replied. He also said that organisms like zebra mussels often avoid the algae that produce compounds like MIB and geosmin because they don’t like it either.

Michigan has been fighting problems caused by zebra mussels since the late 1980s. According to Michigan State University, although they do filter water, they can actually make problems such as algae blooms worse because they filter the beneficial algae that otherwise would compete with harmful algae, while leaving harmful algae alone. Their shells also cause sharp debris and lead to odor complaints of their own, since they release a foul smell when they die.

Pilot study may be needed: Sadler also told the commission that in order to qualify for State Revolving Fund money, the city may need to do a pilot study of whatever method is being contemplated, testing it on a small scale to make sure it will be effective.

Water treatment will be a discussion topic at upcoming city commission meetings. The commission meets on the first and third Monday of every month in the City Chambers Building, 159 E. Maumee St.

Adrian imposes one-year moratorium on data center requests in city limits Local Buzz Radio

ADRIAN — Recent overtures concerning a possible data center development in Adrian prompted Adrian City Commissioners to quickly adopt a 12-month moratorium during which no application for data centers in the city will be considered or approved.

Acting City Administrator Will Sadler said he first learned of the potential

interest following a recent phone call made to a city building official inquiring about a property in the city where a data center might be placed.

With no ordinance on the city’s books pertaining to data centers, Sadler said, city staff recommended a moratorium to give the city time to develop regulations governing them.

Although Sadler said he did not know what property the caller had been asking

about, he said the call did not appear to involve a large data center like the one being built in Saline Township.

Commissioner Matt Schwartz said the moratorium would not last forever but would give commissioners time to learn more about both the benefits and drawbacks associated with data centers.

Mayor Angela Sword Heath and commissioner Bob Behnke were absent from the meeting. Commissioners Aaron

Chesher, Mary Roberts, and Tiffany Zych joined Schwartz in backing the moratorium.

Commissioner Chip Moore voted against the moratorium, saying he didn’t believe anyone would seriously propose that a data center be built in Adrian.

Moore said he is against data centers but wasn’t worried that someone would open one, calling the moratorium “political theater.”

A4 | LOCAL NEWS

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

ADDISON VILLAGE July 24: Operating while intoxicated, North Steer Street at Junction Road.

ADRIAN CITY June 23: Burglary, 800 block of East Butler Street. Credit card or ATM fraud, 500 block of River Street.

June 24: Disorderly conduct, 700 block of South Main Street. Disorderly conduct and assault, 900 block of East Beecher Street.

June 25: Intimidation, 200 block of East Siena Heights Drive.

June 26: Operating while intoxicated, South Center Street at Erie Street. Assault, 100 block of Gorham Street.

June 27: Theft from a building, 1400 block of Village Green Lane. Assault, 700 block of Treat Street. Larceny, 1300 block of Sherman Court. Fraud, 500 block of Division Street.

June 28: Assault, 300 block of Erie Street.

June 29: Assault, 700 block of Riverside Avenue. Larceny, 300 block of East Beecher Street. Wire fraud, 400 block of South Madison Street. Assault, 700 block of Treat Street. Burglary and property damage, 900 block of East Butler Street.

June 30: Shoplifting, 200 block of East U.S. 223. Assault, 300 block of Greenly Street.

Shoplifting, 200 block of East U.S. 223.

Theft from a building, 500 block of South Mckenzie Street.

July 1: Property damage, 1400 block of South Main Street. Assault and larceny, 800 block of Hoch Avenue. Assault, 200 block of Division Street.

July 3: Assault, 1300 block of South Main Street. Operating while intoxicated, 1300 block of South Main Street. Assault, 800 block of East Butler Street.

July 4: Fraud, 900 block of West Michigan Avenue. Assault, East Michigan Street at Division Street. Disorderly conduct, Erie Street at South McVicar Street.

July 5: Assault and disorderly conduct, 1000 block of East Maple Avenue. Assault, 600 block of Tabor Street.

July 6: Assault, 800 block of Elm Street.

Credit card or ATM fraud, 1300 block of South Main Street. Shoplifting, 200 block of East U.S. 223. Drug violation, 400 block of Erie Street.

July 7: Larceny, 200 block of East U.S. 223.

Assault, 1100 block of Frank Street. Assault, East U.S. 223 at South Main Street. Assault, 300 block of Frank Street.

July 8: Assault, Toledo Street at North Center Street. Assault, 1300 block of South Main Street. Burglary, 700 block of Springbrook Avenue.

July 9: Intimidation, 300 block of South Dean Street. Larceny, 700 block of South Main Street.

Assault, 600 block of James Street. Theft from a building, 700 block of Lakeshire Trail.

July 10: Assault and theft from a building, 700 block of Riverside Avenue. Theft from a building, 100 block of Chandler Street.

July 11: Assault and burglary, 300 block of Erie Street. Assault, 900 block of South Main Street. Disorderly conduct, 200 block of East U.S. 223.

July 12: Theft from a vehicle, 300 block of North Mckenzie Street. Theft from a vehicle, 200 block of Greenly Street. Assault, 100 block of South Main Street.

July 13: Credit card or ATM fraud and theft from a vehicle, 400 block of Allis Street.

Assault, 500 block of Company Street. Theft from a vehicle, 100 block of Chandler Street.

Larceny, 200 block of North Broad Street.

July 14: Larceny, 500 block of East Church Street. Assault, 100 block of South Main Street. Theft from a building, 400 block of Stockford Drive. Assault, 400 block of East Michigan Street.

July 15: Robbery, 300 block of East Church Street. Theft from a vehicle, 700 block of St. Joseph Street. Property damage and disorderly conduct, 1200 block of South Main Street.

July 16: Theft from a vehicle, 500 block of East Church Street. Theft from a vehicle, 1000 block of East Maple Avenue. Theft from

AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE a vehicle, 800 block of East Church Street.

Theft from a vehicle, 1000 block of East Maple Avenue. Theft from a vehicle, 900 block of East Maumee Street. Credit card or ATM fraud, 500 block of East Church Street.

Theft from a vehicle and property damage, 100 block of East Butler Street. Theft from a vehicle, 600 block of East Church Street.

Theft from a building, 600 block of North Main Street. Assault, 600 block of Tabor Street. Assault, 1300 block of South Main Street. Theft from a vehicle, 600 block of East Maumee Street. Assault, 1100 block of Frank Street. Shoplifting, 200 block of West Maumee Street. Disorderly conduct, 700 block of St. Joseph Street.

July 17: Theft from a building, 700 block of South Main Street. Larceny, 300 block of Miles Drive.

July 18: Theft from a vehicle, 1300 block of Anthony Court (two reports). Burglary and property damage, 200 block of West Beecher Street.

July 19: Disorderly conduct, West Maumee Street at West Church Street. Assault, Elm Street at Chestnut Street. Theft from a building, 1000 block of East Maple Avenue.

Larceny, 1200 block of North Main Street.

July 20: Theft from a vehicle, 1000 block of East Butler Street (two reports). Theft from a vehicle, 1100 block of East Maple Avenue.

Credit card or ATM fraud and theft from a vehicle, 300 block of Lawrence Avenue.

Theft from a vehicle, 1000 block of Chestnut Street. Shoplifting, 1000 block of North Main Street. Theft from a vehicle, 300 block of Lawrence Avenue. Assault, 100 block of Sand Creek Highway. Operating while intoxicated, 200 block of North Broad Street.

July 21: Assault, 800 block of East Church Street. Disorderly conduct, Frank Street at Division Street. Theft from a vehicle, 100 block of West Church Street. Assault, 100 block of East Maumee Street. Assault, South Winter Street at Dawes Street. Assault, 800 block of Toledo Street. Property damage, 600 block of Beechwood Drive.

July 22: Assault, 500 block of East Church Street. Wire fraud, 400 block of Springbrook Avenue. Sexual assault, James Street at Lansing Avenue. Operating while intoxicated, East Church Street at Gulf Street.

July 23: Intimidation, 300 block of East Beecher Street. Property damage, 100 block of Park Place. Assault, 500 block of Clinton Street. Property damage, 1500 block of Village Green Lane.

July 24: Assault, 800 block of South Main Street. Assault, burglary, and property damage, 800 block of Bradish Street.

Property damage, 800 block of Treat Street.

Assault, 100 block of South Winter Street.

Disorderly conduct, East Siena Heights Drive at North Broad Street.

HUDSON TWP. July 19: Property damage, 200 block of Lakeview Drive.

ADRIAN TWP. July 8: Assault, Shepherd Road at Tipton Highway.

July 12: Larceny, 5300 block of West U.S. 223.

RIDGEWAY TWP. June 23: Fraud and credit card or ATM fraud, 7100 block of Ridge Highway.

June 28: Assault, 7500 block of Britton Highway.

July 9: Assault, 7400 block of Hoagland Highway.

BRITTON VILLAGE July 15: Assault, North Main Street at East Chicago Blvd.

CAMBRIDGE TWP. June 30: Credit card or ATM fraud, 7600 block of Sherlock Drive.

DOVER TWP. July 6: Fraud, 4900 block of Benner Highway.

July 21: Property damage and motor vehicle theft, 1200 block of Seneca Highway.

FAIRFIELD TWP. July 13: Larceny, 2900 block of East Weston Road.

July 16: Property damage and theft from a vehicle, 4800 block of West Weston Road.

July 23: Fraud, 7700 block of Sand Creek Highway.

FRANKLIN TWP. June 26: Theft from a building, 7000 block of West U.S. 12.

June 29: Property damage and assault, 12900 block of Monagan Highway.

July 20: Identity theft, 5800 block of Pawson Road.

MADISON TWP. June 23: Shoplifting, 1600 block of East U.S. 223.

June 24: Property damage, 3100 block of South Adrian Highway. Drug violation, 1600 block of East U.S. 223.

June 26: Shoplifting, 1600 block of East U.S. 223.

June 29: Shoplifting, 1600 block of East U.S. 223.

July 3: Larceny, 200 block of Stieff Street.

Larceny, 3100 block of South Winter Street.

Operating while intoxicated, West U.S. 223 at Adrian College Blvd.

July 7: Shoplifting, 1600 block of East U.S. 223.

July 10: Shoplifting, 1600 block of East U.S. 223 (two reports).

July 11: Wire fraud, 4500 block of West Carleton Road.

July 12: Shoplifting, 1600 block of East U.S. 223.

July 13: Shoplifting, 1600 block of East U.S. 223.

July 16: Shoplifting, 1600 block of East U.S. 223 (two reports).

July 19: Shoplifting, 1600 block of East U.S. 223.

July 20: Fraud, 1600 block of East U.S. 223.

Assault, West Cadmus Road at Sand Creek Highway.

July 22: Shoplifting, 1600 block of East U.S. 223.

MORENCI CITY July 12: Theft from a vehicle, 500 block of North Street.

ONSTED VILLAGE June 27: Disorderly conduct, 100 block of West Second Street.

June 30: Assault, 100 block of North Main Street.

July 11: Assault, 9800 block of Slee Road.

PALMYRA TWP. June 23: Fraud, 2800 block of South Rogers Highway.

June 27: Property damage, 3800 block of Sharp Road.

July 8: Operating while intoxicated, 5400 block of East Carleton Road.

July 20: Property damage, Ogden Highway at East Carleton Road.

July 21: Assault, 6500 block of Crockett Highway.

RAISIN TWP. July 22: Assault, 5100 block of North Raisin Center Highway.

ROLLIN TWP. June 29: Larceny, 2400 block of North Keil Highway. Larceny, 2700 block of North Keil Highway.

July 1: Shoplifting, 800 block of Manitou Road.

July 5: Assault, 3600 block of Round Lake Highway.

July 6: Motor vehicle theft, 2700 block of North Keil Highway.

July 17: Assault, 3200 block of Round Lake Highway.

July 19: Assault, 5000 block of Townley Highway.

July 24: Assault, Forrister Road at Water Street.

ROME TWP. June 25: Theft from a vehicle, 10600 block of West U.S. 223.

July 21: Fraud, 4500 block of Skinner Highway.

SENECA TWP. July 20: Burglary, 9900 block of Brown Road.

July 22: Larceny, 9300 block of Morenci Road.

TECUMSEH CITY June 23: Assault, 1400 block of Fox Run. Motor vehicle theft, 600 block of West Chicago Blvd.

June 26: Assault, 300 block of West Chicago Blvd.

July 1: Assault, 9100 block of North Union Street.

July 2: Theft from a building, 1400 block of West Chicago Blvd. Fraud, 100 block of West Kilbuck Street.

July 3: Operating while intoxicated, 500 block of South Occidental Road.

July 5: Property damage, 100 block of South Division Street.

July 6: Fraud, 300 block of South Ottawa Street. Assault, 200 block of West Logan Street.

July 9: Disorderly conduct, 200 block of North Occidental Highway.

July 14: Wire fraud, 9100 block of North Union Street.

July 19: Burglary and theft from a vehicle, 100 block of Cairns Street.

July 20: Theft from a vehicle, 700 block of South Evans Street. Assault, 900 block of West Chicago Blvd. Larceny, 700 block of Ternes Road.

TECUMSEH TWP. July 4: Fraud, 1100 block of East M-50.

July 13: Identity theft, 100 block of Wildwood Circle.

July 16: Assault, 5300 block of East M-50.

WOODSTOCK TWP. June 24: Credit card or ATM fraud, 7100 block of Walnut Hill Drive.

June 26: Property damage and assault, West U.S. 12 at North U.S. 127.

June 28: Assault, 6300 block of West U.S. 223.

July 2: Larceny, 10000 block of Prospect Hill Highway.

July 6: Property damage, 14400 block of Vischer Road.

July 18: Assault, 12800 block of Silver Lake Highway.

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LOCAL NEWS | A5

AUGUST 2026

OPmobility marks 30 years of manufacturing in Adrian

Employee Keith Allen, right, shows his parents, Dick and Lynn Allen, a fuel tank for a Ford Mustang that was signed by the employees of OPmobility who had a hand in its production. As part of its 30th anniversary celebration, the company invited employees’ families to come and see the plant floor. PHOTOS BY RENEE LAPHAM COLLINS/LENAWEE VOICE

By Renee Lapham Collins The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — People here are family.

That maxim was borne out by the OPmobility employees who flocked to the West Beecher Street plant July 10 to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

Over its three decades in Adrian, the company has operated under different names, but one thing has remained constant: the “can-do” attitude of its employees.

“I believe Adrian’s ‘can-do’ attitude has been instilled since day one,” Plant Manager David Frederick said. “The biggest thing that has set Adrian apart is our ability to win — again, that ‘can-do’ attitude. The other thing for me is the continuous improvement of our facility.”

Adrian is often among the first plants asked to implement new automation or product development, he added, “because we will do it and we will succeed.”

The plant manufactures fuel tanks for Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, although Industrial and Continuous Improvement Manager Pericles Grivanos said its business is heavily concentrated in GM products. The Adrian plant also manufactures DEF-storage tanks for diesel exhaust systems to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

“We have about 300 employees,” Grivanos said. “We make fuel tanks and ship them out with the fuel pumps, hoses and heat shields so that they are ready to install when they arrive at the assembly plants.”

The plant will launch a fuel-tank line for Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups in November.

Plant Controller Eric Salenbien said Adrian was OPmobility’s first North American facility to add twin-sheet blow molding and shell-to-shell welding for its fuel-storage systems.

“We’re the first facility to have a robotic helium load,” he said.

Adrian is also among the company’s initial U.S. sites working on hydrogenpower technology, with knowledge gained in Michigan expected to transfer to the European market.

Built in 1996 as a Solvay Automotive facility, the plant later became part of INERGY Automotive Systems and then Plastic Omnium. The France-based supplier adopted the OPmobility name in 2024 as it expanded into lighting,

Brooke Johnson of Union City and her boyfriend, Justin Webster, look at the displays at OPmobility’s 30th anniversary open house on July 10. Webster is among the 300 employees at the plant. electrification, hydrogen and other mobility technologies.

Nine massive blow-molding machines tower above the plant floor. Salenbien, who began working there as a co-op student in 1999, said the plant produced its 38 millionth fuel tank in March.

It now averages about 1.4 million tanks annually, with production expected to reach 1.9 million within the next few years. Three shifts operate five days a week.

“This team will run through a brick wall to create a safe and quality part for our customers,” Frederick said.

“It’s a family,” Salenbien added. “If someone is sick or struggling with health issues, the plant comes together very quickly. They organize bake sales, build ramps and organize bowlathons. They do whatever it takes to help their fellow team members.”

Frederick said that philosophy reflects the values of the Burelle family, the majority shareholder of OPmobility.

“Things might change out in the market and we adjust,” he said, “but one thing that has never changed for them is their care for the people.”

A6 | LOCAL NEWS

IN BRIEF State budget has earmarks for four area projects ADRIAN — Michigan’s new state budget contains appropriations for four legislatively directed spending items, commonly called earmarks, in the Lenawee County area. They are: n $350,000 for a consolidated public safety facility in Adrian Township, requested by Rep. Nancy Jenkins-Arno (R-Dover Township). n $1.5 million for a workforce development program run by Lenawee Now, also requested by Jenkins-Arno. n $60,000 for improvements to the Hudson Senior Center, requested by Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R-Quincy). n $500,000 for the village of Brooklyn’s redevelopment project in Weatherwax Park, requested by Sen. Sue Shink (D-Northfield Township).

Cleary University to absorb three SHU nursing programs HOWELL — Cleary University and Siena Heights University announced an agreement to transition three accredited nursing programs from Siena Heights, which closed this spring, to Cleary’s Howell campus.

In a tribute to the SHU legacy, the programs will collectively be named the Siena Heights School of Nursing at Cleary University.

Pending approval from regulatory agencies, the first program to roll out will be the RN-to-BSN program, which offers registered nurses the chance to earn a bachelor’s degree. The other two programs are SHU’s BSN pre-licensure program and Master of Science in Nursing degree.

The partnership with Siena Heights also includes the opportunity for a representative from the Adrian Dominican Sisters to join Cleary’s board of trustees to ensure the nursing program remains strong and sustainable.

Preservation carpentry program planned at SBWI ADRIAN TWP. — The Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute has received approval to start an Architectural Carpentry & Preservation program to provide intensive, hands-on training for students interested in preserving, restoring and recreating the architectural elements that give historic buildings their character.

It will be a one-year diploma program and is slated to start in the fall of 2027, coinciding with the planned opening of the woodworking institute’s new campus in Adrian Township.

1Mosaic Church adds second Sunday morning service ADRIAN — 1Mosaic Church, located at 1002 W. Maple Ave. in Adrian, recently announced the addition of a second service to its worship schedule.

Beginning Aug. 30, instead of a single service at 10 a.m., the church will offer 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services.

Ministry for children from birth through fifth grade will be available during both services.

1Mosaic is a nondenominational Christian church. More information is available at 1mosaic.org.

AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Adrian Steel breaks ground on expansion

Pictured at the July 23 groundbreaking for Adrian Steel’s new 112,000-square-foot expansion are Joe Emens, Lynn Baugh, Norm Brandeberry, Harley Westfall, Marnie Dilworth, Don Delong, Tyrel Hill, Rick Brandeberry, Marc Jackson, Kathy Westfall, Bob Stephan, Jim Morgan, and Dave Westphal. DEBORAH J. COMSTOCK/LENAWEE VOICE ADRIAN — On July 23, local manufacturer Adrian Steel broke ground on its new expansion, the largest in the company’s history.

Adrian Steel was founded in 1953

by Bob Westfall. It manufactures upfit equipment that is used to equip trucks and vans for use by skilled tradespeople

as diverse as builders, plumbers, electricians, heating and cooling technicians, satellite dish installers, and locksmiths.

Current and former employees, families, and friends in the community were on hand for the groundbreaking, which marked the beginning of a $43.4

million, 112,000-square-foot expansion that, in addition to expanding the company’s capacity, is expected to add 40 jobs at the Adrian plant. The project is being aided by a $320,000 performancebased Michigan Business Development Program grant through the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

New plans announced for Adrian Mall site Indoor self-storage facility is only new occupant named so far Local Buzz Radio

ADRIAN — After several redevelopment proposals for the former Adrian Mall property over the past several years failed to move past the announcement stages, exterior painting has taken place and a new website launched last month promising the property’s transformation into “a

modern retail power center” called the Howard Center.

While the developer says the ultimate plan is for the site to become a vibrant mixed-use retail center, only one addition has been named so far: a 93,000-square-foot, climate-controlled indoor self-storage facility called Captain Emma’s that is slated to open next spring.

That facility will join Dunham’s Sports, Hobby Lobby, and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet.

However, Howard Center envisions a complete redevelopment of the former mall. The developers are advertising a

turnkey restaurant space — the former Garfield’s — and about 200,000 square feet of big box and “mid-box” space that is listed as having “footprints that can accommodate a wide range of national, regional, and local tenants.”

They are also marketing two out-lot sites that are described on the website howardcenteradrian.com as “ideal for quick-service restaurants, drivethru concepts, banks, medical users, automotive services, and other retailers seeking new construction in a hightraffic location.”

Adrian College rolls out new academic programs ADRIAN — Adrian College is expanding its student offerings by adding 13 new programs to its 2026-2027 undergraduate catalog.

Most recently, Adrian College added a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Communications, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Cybersecurity Management, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Public Health and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance (Musical Theatre).

The Public Health program is meant for students who are passionate about

health care but are not pursuing a clinical or medical career. The musical theater degree emphasizes comprehensive training in voice, musicianship, acting and commercial music skills.

The college also recently announced the addition of a Bachelor of Business Administration in Artificial Intelligence for Business Strategy, a Bachelor of Arts in Applied AI and Data Science, a minor in AI and Ethical Leadership, and a minor in AI for Creativity and Design.

The school also added a certificate in AI and the Future of Work and a certificate in Japanese Business Culture.

The certificate in AI and the Future of Work includes a course called “AI for Everyone,” which will be required for all Adrian College students.

For the first time, Adrian College has been approved to offer two threeyear degree programs, an Applied Bachelor of Business in Marketing and an Applied Bachelor of Business in Management.

Adrian College also previously announced the creation of a new department of engineering and the hiring of a full-time professor, Khaled Almustafa.

Launch Lenawee announces fall small business program ADRIAN — Registration is now open for Launch Lenawee’s fall 2026 Small Business Development Program, designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and current small business owners.

The fall 2026 class marks Launch Lenawee’s 11th cohort serving entrepreneurs throughout Lenawee County. Prospective participants are required to attend one of four free orientation sessions to receive an overview of the program, curriculum, instructors, and enrollment process.

Registration is now open for the following orientation sessions: n Saturday, Aug. 1, at 10 a.m. n Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 6 p.m. n Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m.

The orientation sessions will be held at the Adrian Armory Events Center, 230 W. Maumee St., Adrian.

The fall program is scheduled to begin Sept. 15, with classes held each Tuesday evening through early December.

The Launch Lenawee instructor is Naomi Lolley.

The cost to participate in the program is $149.

“Entrepreneurship can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to figure everything out on your own,” said Mary Murray, program director of Launch Lenawee. “Our goal is to equip local entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and encouragement they need to move from an idea to a well-planned business.”

For more information, email info@ launchlenawee.org.

THE LENAWEE VOICE

LOCAL NEWS | A7

AUGUST 2026

Increase in state funding allows Adrian police to seek additional officer

By Erik Gable

The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — A plan to add an officer to the Adrian Police Department, made possible by an increase in state funding, was presented to the Adrian City Commission at its July 6 meeting.

According to police chief Vince Emrick, the police department was notified a few months ago of $118,000 in additional funding, and the recently passed state budget indicates the funding availability will continue.

Deputy chief Laurence VanAlstine gave a presentation to the commission that included how the Adrian Police Department makes decisions about how to deploy resources.

“We continually — daily — analyze crime, our officers’ workload, and how we deploy officers in the field,” he said. “We like to make our operational decisions based on objective data rather than on our guesses. I’ve been doing this for 36 years, I can guess pretty good, but I’d rather see the numbers.”

VanAlstine said more officers in the field can help the police department prevent crime, not just respond to it.

“If we can have more people on the street, more people in patrol cars, they can prevent crime just from their presence,” he said.

“Our overall belief is that personnel provide the greatest long-term operational return, because people, not equipment, prevent crime. People investigate offenses. People assist victims. Things don’t do that. We’ve got a nice shiny fleet of cars — they get us there but they don’t help people.”

The cost of adding an officer, after benefits and payroll taxes are added in, is about $90,000.

Commissioners asked questions and made comments after VanAlstine’s presentation.

Commissioner Chip Moore asked about installing cameras in problem areas, adding that he just got back from a trip to France and saw cameras everywhere.

“Europe seems to have a lot of cameras in high-tourist areas or downtown, and I’m just wondering … when you think of all the crime areas in this community, would it make sense to put cameras in those crime areas?” he asked.

VanAlstine replied that although technically there’s no legal right to

Deputy police chief Laurence VanAlstine speaks at the July 6 Adrian City Commission meeting. privacy when a person is out in public, “it’s still the government — us — watching what you’re doing, and a lot of people are sensitive to that and so are we.”

He also mentioned the cost of monitoring and maintaining camera systems. Moore asked if artificial intelligence could monitor cameras, and VanAlstine replied, “going forward in the future it’s certainly something that could be looked at.”

VanAlstine also answered questions about recruiting. He said the department is currently three officers short of its full budgeted complement.

One new hire who is already a sworn officer has a start date at the end of July, and another will attend the police academy in October. The department is looking for one more to fill the roster as it stands now, and this new position would add another to that list.

“If I told you I knew how to do it perfectly, that wouldn’t be true,” VanAlstine said about recruitment.

“Frankly, the best recruiting we’ve done is word of mouth,” he added — hiring a good candidate and then asking them for referrals.

Commissioner Aaron Chesher said the community would benefit from social work experience being mixed into the police department’s personnel plan. He also mentioned the Jebbee app, a social media platform launched

by Adrian native Stephanie Hickman Boyse that aims to help young people explore potential careers.

Plan for McDonald’s on West Maumee is rejected

By Erik Gable

The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — The Adrian City Planning Commission voted on July 7 to deny a special land use permit for a proposed McDonald’s restaurant on West Maumee Street.

The planning commission had two separate topics to consider: a site plan review and a special land use request, which was required because the city’s zoning ordinance does not automatically allow drivethrough restaurants in a B-2 business district.

While a site plan review is largely an administrative function, with the planning commission’s role limited to determining whether the plan meets the legal requirements, planning commission chairman Mike Jacobitz explained that a special land use request is different.

“Whether or not it meets the criteria for a special use permit is somewhat subjective and open to discussion,” he said.

Jacobitz noted that while a restaurant is a “use by right” in a B-2 zone, a drivethrough restaurant is not. The zoning ordinance says that a drivethrough can be allowed in a B-2 district, but that requests must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

The commission decided unanimously that they did not feel a drivethrough was an appropriate use for the properties at 4210 and 1548 W. Maumee St. The decision followed a presentation

by Tim Crowder, a regional construction manager for McDonald’s, and Mike McPherson, the engineer for the project.

Also present was Mike Bodman, owner and operator of the North and South Main Street McDonald’s locations.

Crowder said the company made a number of changes to its original site plan to address concerns raised by residents, including fencing and landscaping between the restaurant and the residential properties to the north.

The proposed orientation of the building on the property was also changed.

“We understand that the neighborhood concerns are real and deserve a direct response,” he said.

Crowder said he felt the revised plans addressed the concerns raised by neighbors.

The commission also heard comments from several nearby residents.

Pat Cassidy, a resident of Seel Drive, said a restaurant on that parcel would hurt

neighbors’ property values. Gerald Burg, who lives on Meadowbrook Drive, asked how water runoff would be addressed, with Meadowbrook being lower than Maumee Street. Randy Palmer, who owns 1546 W. Maumee St., said he has a rental unit on the second floor of that building and any efforts to reduce noise and light spill should take into account that there are residential uses to the east as well as the north. And Jed Engle, who lives on Meadowbrook, said a drivethrough at that location would be “a square peg in a round hole.”

Jacobitz said the planning commission also received a letter signed by 40 residents of the Meadowbrook subdivision opposing the plans.

After receiving public comments, Jacobitz reviewed the requirements for a special land use permit, which include: n The proposed use must be compatible with the city’s comprehensive land use plan. n It must be compatible with the existing or intended character of the general vicinity. n Its construction, operation and maintenance must not change the character of the surrounding area. n It must have access to public facilities, infrastructure, and services. n It must not be detrimental to the natural environment, public health, safety, or welfare by creating a nuisance.

“This is the type of street that we would expect fairly intense commercial development on,” Jacobitz said, adding that there are other drivethrough restaurants in the area. However, he also said the parcels along that stretch of Maumee Street are shallower than the parcels to the west, bringing any development at that location closer to residential properties behind it.

Tiffany Zych, who is the city commission’s representative on the planning commission, said a drivethrough on that parcel would change the character of the area.

“I don’t think it fits the bill for a special use permit,” she said.

Planning commissioner Don Taylor said the local McDonald’s franchise owner runs a good business and supports the community. But, he said, “I really believe this does not meet the criteria for approval.”

Planning commission members Brian Watson and Robert Love III joined Jacobitz, Taylor and Zych in voting to deny the special land use request.

Because of that decision, no vote was taken on the site plan review.

A8 | LOCAL NEWS

AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Many ballot questions, but few local contests on August primary ballots The Lenawee Voice

Health in the Heart of Adrian Sat., Aug. 15, 2026 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Ebeid Center at Comstock 801 East Maumee Adrian, Michigan

FREE Community Event Local organizations sharing resources to help you live healthier. Open to all!

Health Screening and Education • A1C Testing • Stroke Screening • Cancer Education • Hearing Tests • Women’s Health • Free Hair Cuts And much more …

For more information: 517.264.1365 or adrianenp@promedica.org

ADRIAN — The Aug. 4 primary election is dominated by statewide races this year, with few contests among the local offices on the ballot. However, a number of townships and school districts have millage referendums on the ballot.

The ballot is led by races for governor and U.S. Senate.

On the Democratic side, the race for governor has garnered little attention, with secretary of state Jocelyn Benson leading Genesee County sheriff Chris Swanson by a wide margin in polls.

But on the Republican side, there’s a contest between U.S. Rep. John James and businessman Perry Johnson. State Sen. Aric Nesbitt and former attorney general Mike Cox will appear on the ballot, but both have suspended their campaigns.

It’s the opposite story in the race to replace Gary Peters in the U.S. Senate.

Former congressman Mike Rogers is unopposed on the Republican side, but there’s a hard-fought race between U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and former public health official Abdul El-Sayed on the Democratic ballot. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow will appear on the ballot, but ended her campaign in July.

Rep. Tim Walberg, the Republican incumbent, is unopposed on the primary ballot, as is the Democrat who will seek to unseat him in November, teacher and union organizer Christian Vukasovich.

Most of Lenawee County is in Michigan’s 16th Senate District, and there are no primary contests in that district.

Democrat Deandre Barnes of Newport will challenge incumbent Republican Joe Bellino of Monroe in November.

In the 15th Senate District, which includes the city of Tecumseh as well as Tecumseh, Clinton and Macon townships, there is a Democratic primary between Felicia Brabec of Ann Arbor and Michael White of Ypsilanti. The Republican candidate will be Jason Rogers of Saline.

Most of Lenawee County is in the 34th House District. Although neither primary is contested in that district, there is a wrinkle on the Democratic side. John E. Dahlgren was disqualified from the primary ballot because of an unpaid $25 fine from his last bid for the seat that he said he was unaware of until after filing.

AUGUST ELECTIONS

It’s still possible for him to appear on the November ballot as a challenger to incumbent Republican Nancy JenkinsArno, but he has to get Democratic primary voters to write in his name.

One countywide race has a Republican primary: a partial term for Lenawee County Road Commission, where incumbent Todd Brown is running in the Republican primary against Tony Simpkins.

To view a sample ballot, as well as for information about polling places, go to michigan.gov/vote.

Ballot questions across Lenawee County The following areas have ballot questions on the Aug. 4 primary ballot. n Blissfield Township — a roads and bridges millage renewal of just under 1.5 mills, two fire operations millage renewals totaling 1 mill, an 0.5-mill fire equipment millage renewal, and a 1-mill levy for fire department general operations, daytime staffing, and special equipment. n Clinton Township — a 1.6-mill fire department millage renewal. n Deerfield Township — an 0.25-mill fire operations renewal, a 0.5-mill fire equipment renewal, and a 3-mill roads and bridges renewal. n Dover Township — a 1.6585-mill roads and bridges renewal and an 0.8810mill ambulance renewal. n Medina Township — a roads and bridges renewal of just under 2 mills. n Palmyra Township — a 1-mill fire department operations renewal. n Riga Township — a 1.5-mill fire millage renewal, a 1-mill fire equipment renewal, and a 2-mill roads and bridges renewal. n Rollin Township — a 1-mill levy for fire protection services, replacing a levy that expired in 2025. n Tecumseh Township — a renewal of just under 1 mill for fire, police and ambulance services. n Woodstock Township — an 0.75-mill levy for fire protection services, replacing a levy that expired in 2025. n Britton Deerfield Schools — a 2-mill sinking fund levy for school facilities and equipment. n Hudson Area Schools — an 18-mill operating millage renewal. n Morenci Area Schools — an 18-mill operating millage renewal. n Waldron Area Schools — an 18-mill operating millage renewal.

THE LENAWEE VOICE

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AUGUST 2026

NEWS FROM AROUND LENAWEE COUNTY ADDISON ONE KILLED IN MOTORCYCLE CRASH: On July 24, Lenawee County sheriff’s deputies responded to a crash on North Steer Street just south of Junction Road in Addison. A Harley Davidson motorcycle traveling south on Steer was struck from behind by a Chevrolet Equinox. The rider of the motorcycle, a 63-year-old man from the Brooklyn area, died at the scene. The driver of the Equinox, a 24-year-old Portage woman, has minor injuries.

Alcohol is believed to have been a factor. — LENAWEE VOICE LEONARD NAMED TO SCHOOL BOARD: Maribeth Leonard was appointed last month to fill a vacancy on the Addison school board. She is an Addison graduate and business owner who recently retired from Lifeways. There had been four applicants for the vacancy. — LOCAL BUZZ RADIO ADRIAN EMMENDORFER NAMED SPRINGBROOK ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL: The Adrian school board approved the appointment of Eric Emmendorfer as the next assistant principal of Springbrook Middle School during its July 27 meeting. The appointment follows Jason Skeels’ promotion to principal of Springbrook. Emmendorfer joined the district in 2009 as a math teacher at Springbrook. Since 2022, he has been in the role of District Instructional Coach, supporting teachers across the district in strengthening instructional practices and student learning. — LENAWEE VOICE WATER MAIN BREAK DISRUPTS SERVICE: A July 5 water main break in the area of the South Main Street tunnel construction project disrupted service for many Adrian residents and closed a number of south side restaurants for the evening. The break, which created a geyser of water, resulted after heavy rain washed away soil from the embankment around the new water main, leaving it exposed at a joint, at which point the weight caused the joint to break. — LOCAL BUZZ RADIO FIRE PITS BACK IN TOWN SQUARE PLANS: The Adrian City Commission approved putting fire pits back into the plans for a Town Square downtown, after deciding earlier this year to remove them. Mayor Angela Sword Heath said she had initially been concerned about safety and liability, but the possibility of barriers and having the fire pits on a timer relieved those worries.

And commissioner Aaron Chesher said he had spoken with several people who said the fire pits were the main thing that would draw them to the planned town square. Development still remains contingent upon funds from a $15 million enhancement grant the city received several years ago being allocated towards the project by grant administrator Lenawee Now. The project carries an estimated price tag of $2.75 million. — LOCAL BUZZ RADIO CITY APPLIES FOR MORE HOUSING FUNDS: Home improvements in Adrian could get a significant boost if the city succeeds in obtaining a $1 million state grant city commissioners voted in July to apply for. If awarded, the money would be used to assist low and moderate-income households in the city with home improvements. In a previous round of funding, the city received far more applications for assistance than could be funded. — LOCAL BUZZ RADIO SCULPTURES AND SEATING INSTALLED WITH STATE GRANT: New permanent sculptures and public seating in downtown Adrian were installed in July, paid for by a Public Amenities Grant from the state of Michigan. — LENAWEE VOICE COMMISSIONER CONVERSATIONS: City commissioner Bob Behnke will be available to meet with residents from 6-7 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the Adrian District Library. — LENAWEE VOICE BROOKLYN HOME IMPROVEMENT FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR BROOKLYN RESIDENTS: A new program will help Brooklyn residents with critical home repairs. The village of Brooklyn is announcing the Homeowner Rehabilitation Program, which is powered by $400,000 in federal funds through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. The program is designed to assist income-qualified homeowners with necessary repairs to improve the health, safety, accessibility and stability of homes.

The program is for homeowners of single-family homes in the Brooklyn village limits. Eligibility is based on income; for example, to qualify, a one-person household must have an income of no more than $51,920, and eight-person households are capped at $97,920 annually. As much as $25,000 will be available for each project, and the village anticipates the funding will pay for repairs at between 16 and 40 homes, depending on the cost of individual projects. This work may include general repairs, plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling, roofing, and mold remediation. Local contractors will be engaged for the work, and there will be no cost to homeowners. More information is available online at villageofbrooklyn.com/ homerehab.html. — LENAWEE VOICE

New sculptures and seating were installed in downtown Adrian last month with funding from a state grant intended for such amenities. CITY OF ADRIAN MEDINA TWP. TEEN KILLED IN CRASH: Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded on the morning of July 4 to a crash at the intersection of Morey Highway (M-156) and Medina Road in Medina Township. The call came in around 9 a.m. Preliminary investigation indicated that a 15-year-old boy from the Medina area was riding a small e-bike east on Medina Road when he ran the stop sign at Morey Highway and was struck by a southbound semitrailer. The teen was transported by Hudson EMS to ProMedica Hickman Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

His family was present at the scene and accompanied him to the hospital. The driver of the truck, a 31-year-old Morenci man, was not injured. — LENAWEE VOICE MORENCI MORENCI WON’T INCREASE NUMBER OF CANNABIS RETAIL LICENSES: The Morenci City Council has decided unanimously not to change the number of marijuana retail licenses available in the city. During a discussion on July 13, council member Tess Stiver said that regardless of where people stand on marijuana use, she hasn’t heard from anyone who thinks expanding the number of available licenses — which currently stands at five — would be a good idea. That includes representatives of the marijuana retailers currently operating in the city, two of whom told the council that the business is getting increasingly difficult, especially now that recreational use has been legalized in Ohio.

Ohio has also banned bringing marijuana into the state from neighboring states such as Michigan, which has an especially large impact on Morenci retailers since Morenci is right on the Ohio border. At the same meeting, council member Jerome Bussell proposed to add consumption establishment licenses and temporary marijuana event licenses to the city’s ordinance, but the proposal failed due to lack of a second. — MORENCI ADVOCATE RIGA TWP. FIRE AT ETHANOL PLANT: The ZFS Riga ethanol plant in Riga Township sustained little to no damage when insulation in the dryer system area caught fire on the morning of July 21 while contractors were dismantling the system. Riga Township fire chief Michael Norman said plant employees began fire suppression efforts using their hydrant monitor, since the usual suppression system for the dryer had already been removed in preparation for removal of the plant’s tube system. Due to the plant’s blast doors being closed, workers were unable to reach the fire’s point of origin, with crews from Riga, Blissfield, Deerfield, and Palmyra departments being called around 8:15 a.m. to extinguish the flames and remaining on the scene for about three hours. Norman said the contractors’ work was part of a series of upgrades for the plant in preparation for its reopening. There were no injuries. — LOCAL BUZZ RADIO TECUMSEH DOWNED POWER LINE CAUSES FIRE AT PARTY STORE: A downed power line after a heavy storm is believed to have caused a July 3 fire at The Party Shop on South Maumee Street in Tecumseh. The Tecumseh, Raisin Township, Clinton, and Sand Lake fire departments were called to battle the blaze. The store was safely evacuated and there were no injuries. In addition to the damage to the party store, firefighters reported that the building next door, occupied by Insight Counseling, sustained siding damage caused by the heat. — LOCAL BUZZ RADIO

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AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Adrian marked Independence Day with a parade along Maumee Street. Pictured here, walking with the Lenawee NAACP and spreading the word about the importance of voting, are James Robinson and Tiffany Henagan-Robinson with their daughter Mallory. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

AMERICA’S

250

Gateway Community Church got into the spirit with a Revolutionary era–themed float in Onsted’s Fourth of July parade. Standing are Justin Anderson, left, and Pastor Craig McMichael. Seated from left to right are Gloria McMichael, Vivian McMichael, Darcie Anderson, Charlie Downard, Mia Anderson, Kari Downard, and Nora Anderson. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

TH

IN LENAWEE COUNTY

Adrian First Church of the Nazarene hosted a celebration on June 27 that included a fashion show from different eras of American history. Pictured here are Beth Wilson, Steve Wilson, Mark Moulding, Jillian LaRocque, Dhaelynn McFadden, Pam Ramos, John Ramos, Hayden Anderson, Dylan Harsh, Dave Randolph, Barb Randolph, Abigail Lang, Joann Wood, Kevin Wood, and Emily LaRocque. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

On July 19, the Lucy Wolcott Barnum Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated a bronze marker in the east garden of the Lenawee Historical Society on Church Street in Adrian. The marker honors patriots who fought for American independence. The chapter also unveiled three large vinyl banners that list the 28 Revolutionary War patriots who are buried in Lenawee County. The banners include a QR code that takes the reader to a digital book that highlights the story of each patriot and a map showing where they are buried. These will be displayed around the county in the future. Pictured here are, in the back row, Elizabeth Schultz, Ellen Hicks, Elizabeth Fomin, Angela Breakstone, and Pat Rowley; in the middle row, Judy Sheldon, Chris Sherman, Marianne Vykydal, Nancy Patton, Dawn Parsons, Mary Fetkenhier, and Linda Hartley; and in the front row, state corresponding secretary Carol Dunn, state regent Dawn Brady, regent Marcia Cole, America 250 chair Nancy Kujda, vice president general Kelly VanWormer, and state organizing secretary Cindy Miilu. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DAR

Members of the River Raisin Ragtime Revue, Lenawee County’s professional ragtime orchestra, gave a free concert of historic American music on July 3 at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Adrian. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

THE LENAWEE VOICE

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AUGUST 2026

LENAWEE COUNTY FAIR Sydney Cunningham is 2026 Lenawee County Fair Queen ADRIAN — She accepted the Lenawee County Fair Queen’s crown wearing an evening gown, but Sydney Cunningham’s career ambitions involve a set of turnout gear.

The Tecumseh resident plans to study fire sciences at Lansing Community College, and the scholarship she won in the July 26 county fair queen competition will assist in that goal.

Her platform as county fair queen is to increase knowledge of the “three C’s” of firefighting, communication, coordination and control.

Cunningham was one of nine contestants for the title in the competition that kicks off the Lenawee County Fair every year.

The contest was emceed by two former fair queens, Haley Entmaa and Ashlee Pelham, who noted that the contestants had been rehearsing for the event for the past few weeks.

Entmaa emphasized the friendships formed among the group and the cooperative nature of the fair queen contest.

“Yes, it’s a competition, and yes, they’re all vying for the title of Lenawee County Fair Queen,” she said. But while competing on stage, she said, they all support each other behind the scenes.

Pelham said the skills that contestants practice while competing to be Lenawee County Fair Queen include many that will help them later in life, such as interviewing and communication.

The first runner-up was Gretchen Gautz of Adrian, whose platform was the importance of agriculture education — making sure people know that “food doesn’t come from a freezer in the back of a grocery store, it comes from a farm.”

The second runner-up was Mikaela Gray of Onsted, whose platform was promoting self-expression and positive body image through dance.

The People’s Choice award went to Brooke Robinson. The interview award was won by Gautz, the evening gown award by Cunningham, and the talent award by Denae Covey, who performed a clarinet solo.

This year, the traditional congeniality award was called the Safety Pin award, with the judges saying that it “recognizes the contestant who goes out of her way to support others.” The winners, chosen by a vote of the other contestants, were Gautz and Covey.

The Lenawee County Fair is organized by the nonprofit Agricultural Society of Lenawee County, which was established in 1839, making it Michigan’s longestrunning fair. The Agricultural Society is responsible not just for the fair, but for the year-round operation of the Lenawee County Fair and Event Grounds on North Dean Street.

At the beginning of the fair queen contest, the audience was welcomed by fair board president Dawn Barrett and Janelle Stewart, the Michigan State University Extension Educator who oversees the 4-H program. They called attention to upgrades at the fairgrounds made possible by a recent Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development grant as well as by many generous donations from the community.

More information about the fair and the fairgrounds can be found online at lenfair.com.

Sydney Cunningham of Tecumseh walks across the stage after being crowned Lenawee County Fair Queen on July 26. Looking on and applauding are fellow contestants Michaela Cross, Bryleigh Ahearn, Denae Covey, Natalie Barrett, Brooke Robinson and Leah Mishka.

ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

Sydney Cunningham performs a dance for the talent portion of the competition.

Michaela Cross walks across the stage during the fair queen competition.

Bryleigh Ahearn gives a vocal performance for the talent portion of the contest.

Denae Covey performs a clarinet solo during the county fair queen contest on July 26.

Mikaela Gray was second runner-up in the Lenawee County Fair Queen contest on the first evening of the fair.

Natalie Barrett’s talent demonstration was a presentation on how to show a dairy feeder calf.

Gretchen Gautz was first runner-up in the Lenawee County Fair Queen competition on July 26.

Brooke Robinson crosses the stage during the final event of the Lenawee County Fair Queen competition.

Leah Mishka chose a speed painting demonstration for her talent presentation.

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AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

The Williams Insulation Fairgrounds Capital Improvement Fund has been established in memory of Walt Williams. Pictured here are Wendee Bohn, Williams’ daughter, with her husband Matt and son Dakota, with fair board vice president Jerry Pape and president Dawn Barrett.

Fairground improvement fund honors memory of Walt Williams ADRIAN — The Lenawee County Agricultural Society recently announced the establishment of the Williams Insulation Fairgrounds Capital Improvement Fund in Memory of Walt Williams, a permanent endowment made possible through the generosity and vision of Walt Williams, founder of Williams Insulation.

The Williams Insulation Fairgrounds Capital Improvement Fund in Memory of Walt Williams has been established to provide long-term support for the Lenawee County Fair through the funding of capital improvements that enhance, preserve, and modernize the fairgrounds. Earnings from the fund will be dedicated exclusively to permanent

infrastructure and facility improvements, helping ensure the fairgrounds remain a vibrant community asset for generations to come.

“My father believed that success carried with it a responsibility to give back,” said Wendee Bohn, Williams’ daughter. “Williams Insulation has always been rooted in this community, and the Lenawee County Fair represented many of the values he cherished — hard work, agriculture, family, education, and neighbors helping neighbors. Supporting the 4-H livestock auction each year wasn’t simply a tradition for him; it was an investment in young people and in the future of our community.”

THE LENAWEE VOICE

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AUGUST 2026

SPORTS

Members of the Waverunners summer swimming program are pictured at a meet on July 14. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT PETKUS

Waverunners swimming program teaches valuable skills

By Renee Lapham Collins The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — The nearly 100 swimmers who make up Adrian’s Waverunners summer swimming program have had to demonstrate one of the lessons their coaches regularly teach: When circumstances are difficult, figure it out.

A power surge disabled a controller for the Adrian High School pool’s pump

shortly before the summer season began.

The team lost the first two weeks of its nine-week season while waiting for the problem to be diagnosed and was unable to host any of its scheduled home meets.

The Waverunners eventually moved its practices to the four-lane pool inside the former YMCA building, now owned

by Creek Enterprise. The smaller space is crowded, but the swimmers are still in the water.

“We’ve had some real blows to our sport locally with the loss of Bohn Pool, the Tecumseh pool and then the high school pool for the summer,” coach Christy Pino said.

She and head coach Robert Petkus credited Creek Enterprise owner Jason Derby with maintaining the former YMCA pool and making it available to the team.

For Petkus, “figure it out” is more than a response to facility problems. It is

part of his coaching philosophy. During some practices, Petkus gives swimmers unfamiliar movements or drills without explaining precisely how to perform them. They must think about how their bodies move through the water, decide what feels most efficient and make adjustments.

See WAVERUNNERS, page A14

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AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Scott Marry Annual softball tournament funds scholarships is national through Ronnie Lee Legacy Foundation wrestling coach of the year

By Jeffrey R. Plum The Lenawee Voice

HUDSON — Hudson athletic director Jeremy Beal understands the impact Scott Marry has on the studentathletes and the community.

Marry “has meant so much to the Hudson community for the past 30 years,” Beal said.

“Coach Marry has obviously had tremendous success with the wrestling Scott Marry program, but his contributions to the culture of our athletic department and community are immeasurable,” Beal added.

Now, the rest of the nation knows the impact that Marry commands in his community.

Marry received the 2026 National High School Athletic Coaches Association Wrestling Coach of the Year title on July 1 in Coralville, Iowa, 10 minutes from Carver-Hawkeye Arena on the University of Iowa campus.

“I give all glory to God, my wife Paula, family, parents Delmer and Peggy Marry, staff, community, and Hudson Wrestling Club,” Marry said.

Mark Holdren, the Michigan High School Coaches Association wrestling representative, nominated Marry in February. He was one of 11 Michigan coaches representing different sports nominated for the national award.

“To be recognized by others outside our community for the years of service means people genuinely respect hard work and dedication,” Marry said.

“This award represents a lot of hard work by many people and many wrestlers,” said Marry, who became the all-time winningest coach in Michigan at the Division 4 team state meet with 893 wins. “Our program has the privilege to work with the best of the best around these parts,” he continued.

Marry became a member of the Michigan chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in May, when he also received a Lifetime Service Award.

“Ever since I have known him, he has worked tirelessly to advance and improve the Hudson wrestling program,” Beal said.

“We have some very good wrestlers coming up through the program and the right coaching staff in place, so hopefully that bodes well for the continued success of the program,” Beal added.

Marry felt the national award revived him, and now, he is determined, along with his staff, to make the program even better.

“I have a vision for this program to continue to grow, and I have no intention of slowing down,” Marry said. “In fact, this summer we have worked harder than any summer, and we invite all to join in. Our offseason has been awesome, and I’m fired up for this upcoming season, and the community is fired up as well.”

BLISSFIELD — The Ronnie Lee Legacy Foundation held its fourth annual softball tournament on June 20 at Ellis Park in Blissfield. The tournament is in memory of Ronnie Lee VanSteenkisteAmador, and raises money for a scholarship fund benefiting Blissfield High School graduates.

VanSteenkiste-Amador was a 2016 Blissfield graduate. She then attended Adrian College, where she played softball while earning her bachelor’s degree.

She then returned to coach the sport at Blissfield, serving as JV coach alongside LeeAnn Forche. She died in 2022 after a car accident.

Volunteer umpires for the tournament were Chad Abbott and Lucas Rogers, and The Press Stop food truck served food to participants and spectators throughout the day.

Waverunners from page A13 “If we’re in their ear all the time, precisely telling them what to do, they become really rigid in their sport,” he said. “They can’t really figure out what feels natural for their body type.”

Instead, Petkus wants swimmers to become active participants in their own development.

“You can see that their brain is actually working,” he said.

That ability to think independently can be applied far beyond the pool.

Waverunners, which serves youth ages 5 to 18, is the summer portion of an Adrian swimming tradition that can carry a student from early elementary school through high school graduation.

The Waverunners compete in the six-team Ohio-Michigan Summer Swim League, with meets each Tuesday and a championship meet on the final Saturday of July.

Many Waverunners continue with the YMCA Gators from September through March and eventually compete for Adrian High School.

Petkus and Pino followed that route themselves.

Petkus swam for the Waverunners, Gators and Adrian High School. Pino, also a Waverunners alum, spent nine years with the Adrian Alligators, now the Gators, and represented the team at the YMCA National Meet during her final four years. She later swam for Adrian High School and the University of Toledo.

That personal history gives both coaches a strong desire to preserve the programs for another generation.

Petkus began coaching the Gators about 13 years ago. After one year as an assistant, he became head coach when his predecessor left. When the Waverunners coaching position opened that same summer, he stepped into that role as well. He later became involved with coaching both Adrian High School teams.

When Petkus took over the Gators, the team had only eight swimmers.

This past season, it had about 60.

The Waverunners number about 94 swimmers, down slightly in recent summers, but still going strong.

Building the program has required more than attracting children. Petkus wanted them to understand the discipline behind competitive swimming — a sport in which athletes must

Pictured at the fourth annual Ronnie Lee Legacy Foundation softball tournament are board members Rhonda VanSteenkiste, Lisa Novak, LeeAnn Forche, Molly Schmitz, and Brooke Pickles.

maintain technique even as their bodies tire.

“I think they really understood the idea of process more than just the end result being the goal,” he said.

That process has produced collegiate athletes, including recent Adrian swimmers and divers now competing at Saginaw Valley State University, the University of Findlay, Hope College and Ball State University, Petkus said.

Yet Petkus and Pino do not measure success only by records, state cuts or college opportunities.

“My philosophy of coaching is that sport is a vessel through which kids can learn so many life lessons — perseverance, resilience, teamwork — and it is our job as coaches to guide them through that,” Pino said. “Getting faster at swimming is just a byproduct of doing those things well.”

Pino and Petkus coach the Adrian High School girls team, which begins its season in the fall. Petkus coaches the boys team in the winter.

For some high school swimmers, success may mean qualifying for the state meet or becoming a state champion. For others, Pino said, it may initially mean finding a place where they belong.

“One of the biggest challenges on the high school team is that every girl joins the team for a different reason, and success looks different to each of them,” she said. “We as coaches need to meet them where they’re at and help guide them toward their version of a successful season, while still keeping in mind the goals of the team as a whole.”

The friendships that develop are among the greatest rewards of coaching, Pino said.

“You see that they care just as much about each other’s success as they do their own,” she said. “Swimming is an extremely challenging sport. I believe that you have to truly be a special kind of person to dedicate yourself to this sport, and I’m so proud of these kids who choose to do so.”

Older swimmers are also expected to help sustain that culture. Through a leadership group, they plan activities, assist during practices and help younger swimmers master skills.

In teaching, an older swimmer must recall what once helped and find a way to explain it. They, too, must figure it out.

The coaches also address pressures young athletes face outside the pool, including nutrition, comparison and negative body image. Petkus said swimmers sometimes believe eating

less will help them achieve a particular appearance, without understanding how much fuel is required for a demanding two-hour practice.

He and Pino encourage athletes to eat enough, develop strength and respect what their bodies can do.

They also remind swimmers that progress occurs at different rates. A child who appears naturally gifted at an early age may eventually be overtaken by another swimmer who continues to practice and improve.

“Comparison is the enemy of joy,” Petkus said.

He recalled one swimmer who repeatedly fell just short of qualifying times while watching a more naturally talented friend succeed. The swimmer continued working and eventually earned a place on the high school state team.

Petkus now uses him as an example for younger athletes.

“Stay with the process,” he tells them.

“Things happen at different times.”

The future of competitive swimming in Lenawee County remains uncertain.

Tecumseh’s pool has closed and is slated for demolition, leaving Adrian as the county’s only high school with its own swimming program. Sometime in August, Petkus said, the Michigan High School Athletic Association is to rule on whether to allow Tecumseh High School swimmers to join with the Saline team.

Fewer available pools can also mean fewer opportunities for children to take lessons. To join the Waverunners, a child must be able to swim one length of the pool without assistance. The Y has a pool and does offer lessons, but the structure is designed more for family use with its zero-entry model rather than competitive swimming.

For now, however, the crowded lanes at the old Y hold swimmers ranging from beginners to experienced high school athletes. Some are learning a new stroke.

Some are pursuing state cuts. Others are discovering how to lead, persist and belong.

Petkus asks them to consider what will remain after their times and records have been surpassed.

“How will you be remembered?” he asks. “There are the record books, but who will remember you fondly?

“At the end of the day, it’s only swimming,” he said. “Strive to be great people, not just great swimmers.”

For more information on joining the Gators, email Pino at cpino@ ymcatoledo.org. Registration for Gators begins in August.

THE LENAWEE VOICE

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AGOSTO 2026

NOTICIAS LOCALES

Aceptamos envíos de noticias locales en inglés o en español. La fecha límite de cada artículo es el día 15 del mes anterior. Las noticias pueden ser enviadas por correo electrónico a news@lenaweevoice.com.

La comisión analiza opciones para el agua de la ciudad Traducido por Lizbeth Pérez-Cázares ADRIAN — En la reunión de la comisión municipal celebrada el 6 de julio se discutieron varias opciones para mejorar el sabor y el olor del agua de la Ciudad de Adrian.

El agua de Adrian suele tener altos niveles de 2 compuestos, el metilisoborneol y geosmina; que le causan un sabor terroso y a moho. Estos compuestos provienen de las algas que crecen en el lago Adrian y son difíciles de eliminar. Durante los últimos 20 años, la ciudad ha obtenido la mayor parte de su agua de pozos, pero debido a que el acuífero del que se abastece es limitado, el agua del lago Adrian sigue formando parte de la mezcla.

El Director de Servicios Públicos y Administrador Municipal interino, Will Sadler, presentó varias opciones a los comisionados. Indicó que algunas de ellas son más factibles que otras.

Tratamiento con ozono: En este método, se introduce gas ozono en el agua, donde se disuelve y reacciona con los contaminantes. Sadler comentó que tanto Ann Arbor cómo Monroe utilizan el tratamiento con ozono. Este eliminaría

Feria de salud en Adrian programada para el 15 de agosto Traducido por Lizbeth Pérez-Cázares ADRIAN — El programa Adrian Ebeid Neighborhood Promise de ProMedica presentará su feria anual de salud “Salud en el corazón de Adrian” el sábado 15 de agosto, de 11:00 am a 3:00 pm.

La feria de salud tendrá lugar en el Centro Ebeid, 801 E. Maumee St., Adrian.

Este evento comunitario gratuito reúne a proveedores de atención médica, organizaciones sin fines de lucro y aliados comunitarios locales para conectar a los residentes del condado de Lenawee con valiosa educación sobre salud, exámenes de detección, recursos de bienestar y actividades para toda la familia diseñadas para mejorar la salud y el bienestar general.

Se ofrecerá educación sobre diabetes, educación sobre el control de la presión arterial, pruebas gratuitas de hemoglobina glicosilada (A1C) y educación sobre la prevención de caídas.

Además de los servicios de ProMedica, los colaboradores comunitarios ofrecerán una variedad de recursos y actividades gratuitas, que incluyen cortes de pelo gratuitos, terapia de masajes, exámenes de audición, educación sobre jardinería, información sobre salud y bienestar, recursos comunitarios y refrigerios.

La unidad móvil de distribución de verduras de ProMedica también estará presente, repartiendo frutas y verduras a los primeros 100 asistentes, lo que contribuirá a aumentar el acceso a alimentos saludables y a fomentar hábitos alimenticios nutritivos.

El evento es gratuito y está abierto a todos los residentes del Condado de Lenawee. Para obtener más información, envíe un correo electrónico a AdrianENP@promedica.org o llame al 517-264-1365.

entre el 90 % y el 95 % de los compuestos que causan las quejas sobre el sabor y el olor. Sadler indicó que esta opción probablemente costaría alrededor de 7 millones de dólares.

Oxidación avanzada: En este método, el tratamiento con ozono se combina con otros métodos, como el peróxido de hidrógeno. Esto podría eliminar hasta el 99% de los compuestos, pero el costo sería mayor, quizás entre 8 y 9 millones de dólares. Ósmosis inversa: Esta es la opción más cara, y Sadler declaró que probablemente costaría alrededor de 18 millones de dólares. Otra desventaja importante es que la ósmosis inversa genera una gran cantidad de aguas residuales.

Buscar más agua subterránea: La solución ideal sería depender completamente del agua subterránea.

Sin embargo, Sadler afirmó que el agua subterránea en la zona de Adrian no es abundante y que se podría gastar mucho dinero en la perforación de pozos de prueba que no produzcan nada. Además, cualquier pozo nuevo probablemente estaría más lejos que el campo de pozos actual de la ciudad, y la construcción de

una nueva tubería de agua costaría entre 2 y 2,5 millones de dólares por milla.

Más tratamiento contra las algas: Sadler declaró que también está considerando algunas opciones a menor escala para reducir la cantidad de algas en el lago. Esto podría implicar la compra de otra máquina ultrasónica como las que la ciudad utiliza actualmente para controlar las algas. También podría significar la compra de SolarBees, las cuales son máquinas que funcionan por energía solar que agitan el agua y dificultan el crecimiento de algas. La ciudad ya contaba con estos dispositivos en el pasado, pero los reemplazó por dispositivos ultrasónicos cuando los antiguos tuvieron que ser retirados debido a su antigüedad y estado.

Opciones de financiación: Sadler declaró que consultará con Lenawee Now, que administra una subvención estatal para proyectos en Adrian, sobre la posibilidad de utilizar fondos de esa subvención para compras adicionales como máquinas sonar o máquinas SolarBee. También habló sobre la posibilidad de financiar las mejoras a través del fondo rotatorio de préstamos de

Michigan, que ofrece préstamos a bajo interés con plazos para pagar de 20 o 30 años. En ocasiones, estos préstamos son parcialmente condonables. Sin embargo, Sadler comunicó que este no es un proceso rápido. Cualquier proyecto financiado por este programa no podría comenzar hasta el otoño de 2028.

Conversación adicional: El comisionado Chip Moore preguntó sobre la introducción de especies que consumen algas en el lago Adrian, como los mejillones cebra. Sadler respondió que estos organismos suelen evitar las algas que causan problemas de sabor y olor. Además, los mejillones cebra son una especie invasora. Michigan lleva aproximadamente 30 años luchando contra los problemas que provocan los mejillones cebra.

La comisión municipal se reúne el primer y tercer lunes de cada mes en el edificio del ayuntamiento ‘City Chambers’, ubicado en 159 E. Maumee St. Las discusiones de las reuniones se traducen al español y la traducción se muestra en una pantalla durante la reunión.

La comisión rechaza a todos los candidatos para el puesto de administrador de la ciudad Traducido por Lizbeth Pérez-Cázares ADRIAN — En una reunión celebrada el 29 de junio, los Comisionados de la Ciudad de Adrian votaron en contra de contratar a ninguno de los candidatos para el puesto de administrador municipal. La votación fue de 5 a 2.

La alcaldesa Angela Sword Heath y los Comisionados Bob Behnke, Aaron Chesher, Mary Roberts y Tiffany Zych votaron a favor de rechazar a todos los candidatos y volver a intentarlo en seis

CALENDARIO DEL CENTRO EBEID PARA AGOSTO ADRIAN — Los siguientes programas educativos y reuniones comunitarias se llevarán a cabo en agosto en el Centro Ebeid (Ebeid Center), en el 801 este de la calle Maumee (801 E. Maumee St.), Adrian. Las clases se ofrecen en inglés a menos que aparezca una opción en español. Es posible que haya intérpretes disponibles para algunas clases si es que se necesita. Para realizar alguna consulta, envíe un correo electrónico a AdrianENP@ProMedica.org o llame al 517-264-1365.

En Forma de Niño (ofrecida por la YMCA) — los miércoles, 5, 12, 19 y 26 de agosto, 4 p.m. Kids Fit está diseñado para ayudar a los niños a ganar fuerza, confianza, coordinación y hábitos saludables mediante juegos y ejercicios divertidos y activos durante agosto.

Se aceptan a personas de 5 a 12 años, con actividades de fitness adecuadas diseñadas para cada edad.

En Forma de Adolescente — los miércoles, 5, 12, 19 y 26 de agosto,

meses. Los comisionados Chip Moore y Matt Schwartz votaron en contra de esa propuesta.

Una semana antes, la comisión había entrevistado a cuatro finalistas: n Jeremiah Davies, Administrador Municipal de Hudson y exdirector de parques y recreación de Adrian. n Ali Awadi, Director de Instalaciones y Gestión de Emergencias de la Ciudad de Westland. n Shannon Sirpilla, Administradora Municipal de Beaverton.

n Jason Smith, ex Administrador Municipal de Litchfield y Belleville.

El quinto finalista, Joel Mazur, ex Administrador Municipal de Oregon, Ohio, retiró su candidatura antes de las entrevistas.

Tanto Moore como Schwartz apoyaron la contratación de Davies para el puesto.

Los otros cinco dijeron que no creían que ninguno de los candidatos estuviera preparado para el puesto.

5 p.m. Teen Fit está diseñado para principiantes y deportistas adolescentes activos para mejorar la agilidad, la velocidad, el equilibrio y la fuerza mediante divertidas sesiones de entrenamiento grupal y ejercicios atléticos. Los adolescentes ganarán confianza mientras desarrollan una base sólida para el deporte y la forma física de por vida.

Yoga Para Personas Mayores — los martes, 4, 11, 18 y 25 de agosto, 3 p.m. ¡Estas clases son adecuadas para todos los niveles de habilidad! Esta serie gratuita continuará e incluirá nuevas propuestas. Experimenta risa, manos y pies, ansiedad, cara y cuello, restaurativo, yoga de pared y otros nuevos estilos de yoga en silla que se introducirán.

Reunión de la Coalición Comunitaria — el lunes, 10 de agosto, 5 p.m. La Coalición se reúne el segundo lunes de cada mes. Deje que se escuche su voz y contribuya a la conversación sobre cómo los residentes pueden impactar a su comunidad.

Primeros Auxilios en Salud Mental — el miércoles, 12 de agosto, 9 a.m. a 4:30 p.m. MHFA te enseña a identificar, entender y responder a los signos de problemas de salud mental y consumo

de sustancias entre adultos. Se trata de un curso mixto online de 2 horas a ritmo propio y un total de 6,5 horas de formación presencial dirigida por un instructor. Se requiere registro.

La Salud en el Corazón de Adrian — el sábado, 15 de agosto, 11 a.m. a 3 p.m. Disfruta de acceso gratuito a pruebas de A1C, cribado de ictus, educación sobre el cáncer, pruebas auditivas, terapia de masaje, cortes de pelo y mucho más. Se ofrecerán productos gratuitos del VegeMobile y almuerzo para llevar a los primeros 100 asistentes.

Alquiler para el éxito — el martes, 18 de agosto, 5:30-7 p.m. Conozca las leyes de vivienda justa, los contratos de arrendamiento, los derechos de los inquilinos, el mantenimiento, las reparaciones y más. Estipendio de $50 si pre-registras y completas una sesión de presupuesto privado con Community Action Agency.

Padres de Lenawee (facilitado por De’Angelo Boone) — el sábado, 29 de agosto, mediodía. Los padres del condado de Lenawee están cordialmente invitados a ser parte de esta iniciativa de apoyo al padre. Damos la bienvenida a todos los padres y agencias de apoyo comunitario.

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AUGUST 2026 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: [ADS] Adrian Dominican Sisters, adriandominicans.org [AM] Anderson-Marry Funeral Homes, andersonfuneralservices.com [BJFH] Borek Jennings Funeral Home, borekjennings.com [BVH] Brown-Van Hemert Funeral Home, brownvanhemert.com [E] Eineder Funeral Homes, einederfuneralhomes.com [H] Handler Funeral Homes, handlerfuneralhomes.com [PA] Purse Funeral Home in Adrian, pursefuneralhome.com [PS] Gil Purse & Son, gilpurseandson.com [W] Wagley Funeral Homes, wagleyfuneralhomes.com

Lawrence Remi Smith, formerly of Adrian, will be remembered at a memorial Mass at 3 p.m. Aug. 6 at Holy Family Parish, St. Mary campus, with visitation one hour prior. He died on Sept. 20, 2024, in Wakefield, Mass., at the age of 80.

Hazel May Morgan, 100, of Brooklyn died on Jan. 21. She was valedictorian of the Brighton High School class of 1943 and graduated from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy in 1947. She was an avid “rock hound,” traveling to many states to build a significant collection of gems and minerals, and was a leader in multiple gem and mineral clubs. She also enjoyed working at the Lake Ann Christian Camp and Retreat Center in northern Michigan. [E] Delbert R. Tallman Jr., 90, of Allen, Texas, died on April 24. He was a 1954 graduate of Clinton High School and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1955-57. He worked for Ford Motor Co. for 30 years, eventually transferring from the Rawsonville plant to Carrollton, Texas.

Lois L. Lewis, 73, of Sand Lake died on May 30. She was a 1970 graduate of Adrian High School and was a middle school life science teacher for 36 years, most of them on Hilton Head Island. She believed in the art of discovery and loved nature. She and a team of teachers raised $80,000 and planned a 14-acre outdoor wetlands laboratory for students.

Howard Laser, 91, of Waterville, Ohio, formerly of Adrian, died in June. He ran Country Side Grain Elevator and he loved living on his farm, raising crops and livestock.

T. Christine “Chris” Creech Craft, 98, of Brooklyn died on June 5. As a young woman, she left high school to help care for her seven brothers. At age 70, she fulfilled a lifelong goal by earning her GED. She was a talented quilter and painter. [PA] Antonio Perez, 82, of Howard, Ohio, formerly of Adrian, died on June 8. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, then made his career as a journeyman pipefitter at Tecumseh Products.

Sister Ann Ziemba, OP, 87, of Adrian died on June 15. Formerly Sister Ann Romana, she was in her 70th year of profession as an Adrian Dominican Sister.

She ministered for almost 50 years in elementary education in New Mexico, Illinois, and Michigan. She later served as registrar at the Dominican Literacy Center, a legacy institution of the Adrian Dominican Sisters in Detroit. [ADS]

Amanda Jane “Mandy” Clore-Gilbert, 50, of Adrian died on June 16. She attended Blissfield High School and earned her diploma through the adult education program. [PA] Shirley Marie McCarley, 74, of Adrian died on June 17. She was a 1970 graduate of Sand Creek High School. She worked at the Chemtura Corp. in Adrian for many years, primarily in the biolab department, and loved the Sand Creek Aggies, always listening to their football games on the radio. [W] Penny June Bibbins, 70, of Brooklyn died on June 18. For more than 50 years she dedicated her life to customer service in the Brooklyn community, and was a cherished friend to countless residents. [E] Cora Eileen Alcock, 78, of Britton died on June 19. She worked for 10 years in the cafeteria at Britton Schools. She also worked as a phlebotomist for the University of Michigan’s Bone Health Study. One of her biggest accomplishments was assisting with building Alcock Drilling. She was a faithful member of Britton Grace United Methodist Church. [H] Mary Lou Crane, 84, of Adrian died on June 20. She was a 1960 graduate of Adrian High School. After retirement in 2003, she and her husband moved from Adrian to Manton. [AM] James “Jim” Harlow Anderson, 84, of Hudson died on June 21. He was a 1959 graduate of Adrian High School and a Hudson resident. He began his career on the family dairy farm before graduating from high school. He was a Sunday School teacher and church elder at Rollin Friends Church. [BVH] Michael David Bilan III, 56, died on June 21. He attended Blissfield High School where he excelled in baseball, basketball and football. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and his master’s degree in clinical psychology. He worked as a pharmaceutical representative with Pfizer, and his work was published in numerous journals. [AM] Evelyn Louise Carswell, 89, of Adrian died on June 21. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed kayaking at the Tecumseh Paddling Company. She spent hours observing the albino white tail deer that lived in the area and was instrumental in memorializing its passing with a memorial rock that is placed at Indian Crossing Trails Park. [W]

Alice Catherine Petty, 65, of Adrian died on June 21. She was a 1979 graduate of Dryden High School and attended Grondin’s College of Cosmetology, then worked as a licensed cosmetologist at Grondin’s Hair Center in Lake Orion. [AM] Carolyn Louise Reitz, 71, of Tecumseh died on June 21. She spent 19 years teaching for St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waltz. She was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Britton, where she served as organist for services on occasion.

She also played the hammered dulcimer and the guitar. [H] Robert “Bob” Stanley Ritz, 83, of Adrian died on June 21. He earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Adrian College and a master’s from Eastern Michigan University. He worked in Bedford and Battle Creek before returning to Lenawee County, where he served as principal at several schools including Sand Creek High School, Adrian High School, and Springbrook Middle School. He finished his career as the assistant superintendent at Adrian Public Schools. He then worked at Siena Heights College in administration. He enjoyed golf at Woodlawn Golf Course and was a longtime member of the Lenawee Country Club. He was a member of Holy Family Parish and the Knights of Columbus. [W] Frances Louise Gautz, 92, of Adrian died on June 22. She was a 1951 graduate of Adrian High School. She enjoyed summers with family at their Devils Lake cottage. For many years she made numerous lap robes for the VA hospital. She was past president of the American Legion Unit 97 Auxiliary. She worked for the city of Adrian as a receptionist at Oakwood Cemetery for over 20 years. [W] Thomas Emmons Gavle, 80, of Brooklyn died on June 22. He was a 1964 graduate of Dearborn High School and served in the U.S. Army, earning a Bronze Star. He went on to work for the Norfolk Southern Railway and was a member of the Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church. [E] Ronald Lewis Merillat, 80, of Hudson died on June 22. He was a 1963 graduate of Morenci High School and obtained degrees from Michigan State University and Florida State University. He worked in education in Dansville, Fayette, Blissfield, Morenci, and Waldron, as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. He was a devoted member of Fayette Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). [AM] Maria Rosa Hernandez, 94, of San Antonio, Texas, died on June 23. She attended Adrian Free Methodist Church. [AM] Fayetta Hohenstein, 80, of Onsted died on June 23. She was an active member of the Irish Hills Eagles for many years. [PS] Jeanne Marie Reau, 77, of Adrian died on June 24. After graduating from beauty school, she opened a small salon in Deerfield. Later she worked as a security guard for Libbey-Owens-Ford. She was a devout Catholic. [H] James “Jim” William Ritzert, 80, of Adrian died on June 24. He served in the U.S. Navy and after his service he began a long career with General Motors, retiring in 2004. He was a member of Hope Lutheran Church. [AM]

Pamela Diane Bailey, 84, of Adrian died on June 25. She attended the Croswell school, St. Joseph Academy, and HOPE Community Connections. [W] Pauline L. Prielipp, 68, of Britton died on June 25. She was a 1975 graduate of Britton Macon Schools and earned her bachelor’s degree from Siena Heights College and her master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University. She began her career at Chelsea Hospital, then Sisters of Mercy Hospital, eventually retiring from ProMedica Health System. She was a member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church. [AM] Charles Eugene Sanders, 58, of Adrian died on June 25. He was a family man and an avid Michigan State fan. Known for his stubborn streak, he recently surprised everyone by doing something he always swore he would never do — conquering his fears and flying on an airplane. [PA] Rita Mae Bednark, 82, of Adrian died on June 26. She was employed at Fisher Body in Tecumseh for 25 years. [AM] Donald C. Dietrich, 90, of Britton died on June 26. He was a 1954 graduate of Milan High School. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of Milan Baptist Church. He retired from Dundee Cement Co. after 30 years as a mill operator. [PS] William Robert “Bill” Gentner, 89, of the Irish Hills died on June 26. He never left his beloved Cambridge Township or the South Shore of Wamplers Lake, except to winter in Florida. He was a 1955 graduate of Onsted High School. He owned and operated Gentner Trucking for 55 years and was also an owner of CTE Sand & Gravel.

He was a firefighter and fire chief, and also served as Cambridge Township supervisor for 36 years. He was a lifetime parishioner of St. Joseph Shrine Catholic Church and a member of Knights of Columbus Council 6223 and the Elks Lodge in Adrian. [E] Gary Joe Holmes, 71, of Riga died on June 26. He attended Blissfield High School and received his bachelor’s degree in history and education from Eastern Michigan University. He taught at Blissfield Community Schools for over 40 years, also serving as athletic director. He was a Civil War re-enactor and a charter member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. He volunteered at the Blissfield Depot and the historical societies and museums in Lenawee County. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Riga. [W] Neil Micklewright Sr., 69, of Indianapolis, Indiana, died on June 26. He spent 11 years in Formula One, where he worked as a mechanic at the highest levels of European motorsport. He was part of the 1990 Indianapolis 500 winning team with Doug Shierson Racing, based in Adrian, where he served as team manager. [W] Jeffrey “Joe Dirt” Andrew Mullins, 60, of Adrian died on June 27. He was a 1984 graduate of Madison High School and served in the U.S. Army from 1984-89. He worked at Ford Motor Co. as a fitter and packaging associate. He was a Harley Davidson fan with over 120,000 miles on his bike. He belonged to the Citadels and Misfits Motorcycle Clubs over the years. [W]

THE LENAWEE VOICE

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AUGUST 2026

IN MEMORY Allen Maynard Slater, 58, of Adrian died on June 27. He was a 1986 graduate of Marshall High School and earned business degrees from Kellogg Community College and Western Michigan University. He served the Adrian community as a State Farm agent for nearly 30 years. He was a member of the Adrian Rotary Club and was Rotarian of the Year in 2010.

Larrie L. Eaton, 81, of Adrian died on June 28. After obtaining his associate’s degree from Michigan State University he served in the U.S. Navy from 1965-71. He then worked for over 30 years as a safety coordinator at Tecumseh Products, retiring in 2004. He was a member of the Lenawee County FFA Alumni, Farmers Antique Tractor and Engine Association, and Lenawee County Farm Bureau. He served on the Raisin Township Fire Department, the Lenawee County Fair board, and the Tecumseh Township board. [H] Oscar James Patton, 72, of Adrian died on June 28. [AM] Jason Elliott Jaime, 55, of Tecumseh died on June 29. He was a graduate of Tecumseh High School and attended Alma College on a football scholarship. He was honored as an All-State football player in high school. Later he became the coach for his daughter’s soccer team. [H] Linda White McCutchan, 86, of Adrian died on June 29. She attended the University of Detroit, earning an associate degree in dental hygiene. She and her husband, Dr. Joseph McCutchan, moved to Adrian and started a dental practice. She later earned a degree from the University of Toledo and became an instructor of dental radiology at Owens Community College. She was a longtime member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, and also of KKE, Alpha Phi, Kiwanis, and the Lincoln Elementary School community. [W] Gregory A. Salenbien, 54, of Britton died on June 29. He worked at Tenneco in Ann Arbor as an engineer. He was a gifted designer with over 30 patents to his name. [AM] Ana Tigu, 80, of Adrian died on June 29.

She was originally from Romania. [PA] Richard Samuel “Sam” Turner, 66, of Onsted died on June 29. He was a graduate of Onsted High School. He was a talented woodworker and cabinet maker and owned and operated American Refacing and Refinishing Company, which he started right out of high school, for over 40 years.

He loved pontoon boating on Wamplers Lake. He felt happy and at home with the Jerry’s Pub family and crew. [AM] Brandon K. VanEtten, 50, of Sand Creek died on June 29. He was a 1994 graduate of Sand Creek High School. For more than 30 years he worked in service-oriented roles, most recently in the custodial department at Tecumseh Public Schools. He was a lifelong member of Bethany Assembly of God. [W] Sharon Louise Pate-Hill, 85, of Adrian died on June 30. She was a 1959 graduate of Adrian High School. She worked for Morenci Area Schools and was the librarian at the middle school for 28 years. She and her husband enjoyed dancing and going to auctions and car shows. [W] Marilyn Ann Lown, 90, of Adrian died on July 1. She was a 1953 graduate of Addison High School. She worked for Key Bank in Addison for many years, retiring in 1998. She was a member of Somerset Congregational Church since she was 14 years old and was always a choir member.

She was president of the Addison Schools Alumni Association for many years. [BVH] Donna L. Moreno, 62, of Adrian died on July 1. She was a 1983 graduate of Madison High School and graduated from cosmetology school in 1990. She had worked at New Image Salon and retired from Bellus. [AM] Joseph Richard Wright Jr., 53, of Blissfield died on July 1. He was a 1990 graduate of Blissfield High School and attended trade school. He was a skilled carpenter and worked in construction with Kevon Martis & Associates. He was especially proud of the dirt bike track he made for his children. [W]

Shari Lynn (Mazany) Kaszuba, 64, of Tecumseh died on July 2. She was raised in Detroit and moved with her family to the Irish Hills in 1999. She also lived in Clinton and spent her final years in Tecumseh. [H] Bruce Alan Andrews, 78, of Brooklyn died on July 3. He was a graduate of Holgate High School and Bowling Green State University. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was a top salesman throughout his career at Bostwick Braun, where his territory brought him to Brooklyn. He was a member of St. Rita Catholic Church and served on the Zoning Board of Appeals. He was a avid runner, and also enjoyed hiking, fishing and golf. [E] Mischel Karen Lane, 75, of Adrian died on July 3. She was a 1968 graduate of Adrian High School. She worked at Inteva in Adrian, retiring after 44 years. [PA] Joseph Patrick Aranda, 59, of Adrian died on July 4. As a young man he began DJ’ing parties, and his love of funk and R&B drew him toward the deep, driving bass lines, so the electric bass became his instrument. He was an accomplished musician, known throughout the Detroit and Ann Arbor area for his mastery of the slap bass technique. He entertained thousands through the River Raisin Music Festival, the Blue Llama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge in Detroit, and locally at the Brick Wall, Hooligans, and more. [AM] Wayne A. Baumea, 79, of Adrian died on July 4. He served in the U.S. Army, then worked at Dura Convertible Systems. He was a member of the Manitou Road Baptist Church, served over six years as the director of Faith Bible Institute, and helped lead the Reformers Unanimous group. [AM] Taven Edward Bonsell, 15, of Hudson died on July 4. Throughout his life he was known for his sense of humor, bravery, down-to-earth personality, and kind heart.

He loved boxing and the outdoors. One of his proudest memories was harvesting his first buck in 2025 alongside his uncles and grandpa. He had planned to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. [BVH] Walter Lee Gentry, 94, of Hudson died on July 4. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was known for his faith and his talent for woodworking. [AM] Betty Jo Sherman, 92, of Tecumseh died on July 4. She was self-employed as a beautician. She owned and operated Rustic Beauty Salon at Sand Lake, where she was a longtime resident. [H] Rita Mae Woods, 95, of Britton died on July 4. She was a 1948 graduate of Deerfield High School and pursued further education in business from Cleary Business College.

She worked as a business accountant for her husband’s fourth-generation ownership of the Woods Seeds Farm in Deerfield. She also worked for a few years as a nursing assistant in Tecumseh. She was a lifelong parishioner of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. She belonged to the Tecumseh Garden Club and served on the Deerfield school board. [AM] Ardell Elizabeth Austin, 90, of Hudson died on July 5. She was a 1953 graduate of Hudson High School. She had a great love of music and was a longtime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. [BVH] Stuart Michael Harman, 66, of Adrian died on July 5. He was a graduate of Adrian High School. He received his certification at Ohio Auto Diesel Technical College in 1980 and became a diesel mechanic. [PA] Robert “Bob” J. McCarty, 66, of Adrian died on July 5. He attended Adrian High School. Before starting his own construction business, McCarty Builders, he worked at Adrian Fence and the Lenawee County Drain Commission. In addition to building homes, he was a skilled furniture maker. [W] Randy L. Shadewald, 69, of Adrian died on July 5. He was a 1975 graduate of Sand Creek High School and had a lifelong career in farming. He served as president of the FFA and superintendent of the Dairy Barn and was a proud supporter of the 4-H program. [AM] Robert Paul Tripp, 76, of Adrian died on July 5. He was a graduate of Lyons High School. He had a passion for traveling and watching his granddaughter perform

as a singer on cruise ships, cheering his oldest grandson at collegiate track meets, and fixing cars and lawn mowers with his youngest grandson. [AM] Sister Frances “Fran” Lombaer, OP, 86, of Adrian died on July 6. Formerly Sister Virginia Francis, she was in her 68th year of profession as an Adrian Dominican Sister.

She was born in Chicago and ministered for more than 20 years in elementary and secondary education in California, Nevada, and South Africa. In Adrian, she was part of the Portfolio Advisory Board staff, served as congregation archivist, and ministered as a secretary at Siena Heights University and the Dominican Life Center Clinic. [ADS] Edward Francis Rivard, 98, of Tecumseh died on July 8. He was a 1946 graduate of Lincoln High School in Warren and held a degree in finance from Walsh College. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He worked at Chrysler, first in production and then as a financial analyst. He was known as “the card man” at Cambrian Assisted Living in Tecumseh for sending a card with mints to every resident on their birthday. [AM] Dr. Carlos L. Knisely, 99, of Tecumseh died on July 9. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1944 and served in the Pacific theater. He attended Michigan State University and became a veterinarian, acquiring Tecumseh Veterinary Hospital in 1956 and running it for 37 years. He served on the Tecumseh planning commission, Junior Chamber of Commerce, and city council. He was an active member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and the Elks. [H] Teresa Lynn Anderson, 66, of Jasper died on July 10. [PA] Anna May (Louie) Sasaki, 92, of Rochester, formerly of Adrian, died on July 10. Her first post-college job was at the NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field in Cleveland. As a woman working in a technical role, she had unknowingly become one of the “hidden figures” in the space program. She and her husband moved to Adrian in 1965 and she helped start what is now the Adrian Community Preschool.

She then worked as a reliability engineer for General Motors Truck & Bus. Cindy May Schilling, 70, of Llano, Texas, died on July 10. She was originally from Addison. In Texas she had a thriving home cleaning service that grew into a property management and maintenance business. [BVH] Sandra Lee “Sandy” (Bauschka) Keller, 79, of Adrian died on July 12. She was a 1964 graduate of Adrian High School.

She was an owner of Jasper Camper Sales for over 40 years along with her husband, Lewie. She enjoyed riding motorcycles and belonged to Motor Maids. [W] Iris Marie Moralli, 50, of Adrian died on July 12. She dedicated much of her career to the fast food industry. [PA] Henry Santiago, 70, of Pioneer, Ohio, formerly of Adrian, died on July 12. He was a 1973 graduate of Blissfield High School.

He worked at McNaughton McKay Electric Company for 20 years, retiring in 2018. [AM] Vickie Sue Wetli, 75, of Brooklyn died on July 12. She was the 1969 salutatorian of Blissfield High School and attended Central Michigan University. She worked as a paraprofessional at Onsted Community Schools for many years. She attended Brooklyn Presbyterian Church earlier in her life. [W] Marjory Mae Brighton, 100, of Adrian died on July 14. She enjoyed a career as a realtor with R. Snyder Real Estate, retiring in 1981. She was a member of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church and she was a talented seamstress. [AM] Patricia Ann “Tricia” (Swain) Ferrett, 70, of Britton died on July 14. She was a graduate of Port Huron Central High School and Jackson College. She worked as an authorization agent for NBD. [PS] Connie (Mead) Frayer, 77, of Britton and Tecumseh died on July 14. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Ridgeway Township. [PS] Charles Douglas Holland, 88, of Brooklyn died on July 14. He was a 1956 graduate of Brooklyn High School and continued his education at Jackson Junior

College and Lansing Community College.

He served in the U.S. armed forces, then built a career in telecommunications. He enjoyed spending time with his friends at his weekly “Tuesday Meetings” and stopping by the American Legion.

Kim Wireman, 63, of Brooklyn died on July 14. She was a 1981 graduate of Davison High School and obtained a bachelor’s degree from Baker College. [E] Ronald Lee Massanari, 85, of Tecumseh died on July 15. After earning his doctorate from Duke, he spent 36 years as a college professor and retired from Alma College, where he served as chair of the Religious Studies department. [H] Nicholas Moreno Jr., 73, of Adrian died on July 15. He was a 1972 graduate of Madison High School and a lifelong Adrian resident. He worked for Swift trucking lines for many years until his retirement. [AM] Thomas Lee Amos, 66, of Clayton died on July 16. He was employed at Hi-Lex Controls in Hudson for many years. [AM] Daniel Lee Cramer, 69, of Grass Lake died on July 16. He was a 1975 graduate of Hudson High School and proudly served in the U.S. Navy. He worked as a truck driver. [AM] Sandra Kay Helzerman, 86, of Adrian died on July 16. She was a graduate of Milan High School and Eastern Michigan University and earned a master’s degree in education. She taught elementary school at Van Buren Public Schools in Belleville. [PA] Sister Chrisa Marsik, OP, 88, of Adrian died on July 16. Baptized as Vlasti Ann Marsik, she was in her 66th year of religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation. She was born in Owosso.

Her ministries as an Adrian Dominican Sister were varied. She spent many years in education but also served as executive secretary to the Congregation Prioress, administrative assistant to the Southeast Adrian and Adrian Crossroads chapters of the Congregation, Weber Shop coordinator, and a member of the history department staff. [ADS] Richard “Dick” Reinhold Filter, 95, died on July 17. He was an Adrian native who served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He played semiprofessional football for the Adrian Big Reds. He retired from American Chain & Cable, where he worked for 33 years as a tool and die maker.

Melody Ann Roberts, 74, died on July 17. She read voraciously and traveled the world, rode a camel through the desert, smoked hookah with the locals, and made friends with Egyptian children who called her name as her boat cruised down the Nile. [H] Thomas “Tommy” Counts, 80, of Tecumseh died on July 19. He retired from Herrick Hospital after more than 35 years working in the laundry and supply department. He enjoyed making wooden toys, which he donated to Toys for Tots for many years. He was a member of the Tecumseh Senior Center. [PA] Adolf “Al” Hetke, 85, of Brooklyn died on July 19. He was born in Germany and at the age of 15 he and his family moved to America. He earned a metallurgical engineering degree from General Motors Institute (Kettering), a master’s degree in manufacturing systems from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from Michigan State University. He worked for Ford Motor Co. and Nemak before starting Hetke Consulting, in 1998. He spent the next 27 years bettering the processes of aluminum casting and held several patents. After retirement he and his wife moved to Lake Columbia. He was a longtime parishioner of St. Rita Catholic Church in Clark Lake. [E] Paul Eric Anderson, 59, of Tecumseh died on July 20. He formerly worked as a shipping clerk for Eden Foods in Clinton.

He was a huge Michigan football fan and worked for nearly 30 years at the football games on the field. He was an avid golfer and bowler. He was the creator of “Paul’s Sports Chat” online and loved talking sports with his friends and family through the chat. He struggled with heart issues for several years and was the last and oldest survivor of the “mustard procedure” that was performed in the early 1970s. [H]

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AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

PERSPECTIVES The long goodbye: A last look at Siena Heights RENEE LAPHAM COLLINS I thought commencement would be the goodbye.

On May 9, as I helped place academic hoods over the shoulders of Siena Heights University’s final graduates, the gesture felt like more than academic tradition. It felt like a blessing. It felt like farewell. It felt like history passing through our hands.

More than 400 graduates crossed the stage that day, including my granddaughter and students I had first known as uncertain freshmen. Actor Bill Murray, who received one of Siena’s final honorary degrees, reminded them that they did not need a building to remain who they had become.

He was right, of course.

And yet, buildings do hold memory.

Commencement was not the end of the goodbye. For those of us who remained through the final weeks, the month that followed sometimes felt like a never-ending funeral.

Each day, another colleague departed after finding a new job or opportunity.

We congratulated them, hugged them and watched them leave, grateful they had found a way forward and saddened by one more empty office.

We hastily packed boxes and purged files, trying to decide which pieces of our working lives should be saved and which could be thrown away. In the vestibule connecting Sacred Heart Hall with St. Dominic Chapel, tables were piled with things marked “free”: file folders and office supplies, picture frames, vases, decorations and books—so many books.

They were the accumulated remnants of decades of work and campus life.

Each day, the piles grew a little smaller.

So did we.

Then came the final Mass in St. Dominic Chapel, a sacred place that had held nearly three-quarters of a century of prayers, professions of vows, funerals, retreats, baccalaureate Masses and ordinary moments when someone passing between the university and the Dominican motherhouse stopped to sit quietly.

In her opening remarks before the service, Trudy McSorley recalled the late Siena art professor and historian David Van Horn once saying, “There has to be a place where dreams motivate life.”

“Is that not Siena?” she asked. “Is that not this holy ground, this holy and sacred place?”

It was.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Why should we pay for Trump’s waste and fraud?

Congressman Tim Walberg gets his opinions printed in the Monroe News

Michigan needs more nursing homes

By Jeffrey L. Degner American Institute for Economic Research

For generations of students — including my mother, my siblings, my daughter, my granddaughter and me — Siena was a place where dreams motivated life. It was a place where people imagined futures they might not otherwise have believed possible.

At the end of the Mass, the Blessed Sacrament was carried from St. Dominic Chapel to St. Catherine Chapel at the Dominican Life Center, formerly Maria Hall. Those gathered followed in procession, some walking and others riding in golf carts.

Sister Carol Johannes, O.P., had reminded us that Christ would not leave us orphaned. Closing the chapel doors, she said, would open other doors.

“We will find him everywhere,” she told us.

I believe that. I believe the Dominican mission of study, community, prayer and preaching continues in the lives formed there. I believe Siena survives in its graduates and in the work they carry into the world.

But belief does not make the leaving any easier.

During those final weeks, I had one last place I was determined to see: the long-shuttered fifth floor of Sacred Heart Hall, home to the original art studio when Siena was still a college and the campus consisted of only a few buildings.

My mother studied art at Siena in the early 1950s. I imagine her setting up her easel near those fifth-floor windows and working on her drawings in the light that filtered through the room. I wanted to perch on a stool, as she may have done, and look through those windows at the view she had known.

Perhaps I believed that reaching the room would allow me to close the distance between her time at Siena and mine.

But time ran out.

The closest I came was a former faculty office on the fourth floor with almost the same view. The spacious room had tall windows with oak sills, their miniblinds drawn. I stood on a chair, raised the blinds and photographed the scene below. I opened the window slightly and felt the breeze push through.

Shards of clay roof tile, broken loose during high winds, littered the sill.

I photographed those, too.

The fragments seemed to hold something of what we were experiencing: an old and beloved place weathered by time, pieces of it coming loose, and those of us with long histories there trying to gather what we could before walking away.

I never reached the room where my mother once placed her easel.

That unfinished pilgrimage stays with me. There are places we assume we will visit someday, stories we believe we will have time to recover and questions we intend to ask — until suddenly there is no more time.

My final day at Siena was June 16.

Trevor Willis, director of the TRIO McNair Scholars Program, joined me on the steps of Sacred Heart Hall, where we had lined up for commencement just a few weeks earlier. We took a selfie.

Then I helped him load what remained of our program into his old pickup truck: boxes, files and the pieces of one chapter that would be carried into another. I watched him drive away toward the program’s new home, then joined the long line of people learning to continue somewhere else.

After an entire year of preparing to lose Siena, I am only now beginning to understand what has actually been lost.

The long goodbye may be over, but the grieving is not.

Imagine being confined to a nursing home bed, falling out and breaking a femur. When you complain of the pain, you aren’t offered any pain medication, and you have to wait 20 hours before being sent to an emergency room.

This situation isn’t fiction for one Michigan-based patient. While the facility and many like it maintain a respectable online rating, inspections by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services paint a different picture. Unfortunately, Michigan’s nursing homes and long-term care facilities are characterized by overloaded staff, bed shortages, and decreased quality of care.

The pathology that causes these substandard outcomes in all but 11 states has a name: Certificate of Need, or CON. Most Michigan residents are unaware that Certificate of Need laws deliberately limit their supply of nursing homes, MRI machines, and psychiatric beds. These goods and services are in high demand, and limiting supplies inevitably results in higher prices.

Michigan’s Certificate of Need Board determines the supply of medical care. It has two inherent flaws. The first is conflict of interest. While board members themselves may not directly benefit from their roles on the board, the hospital systems and insurers they represent stand to gain financially by blocking new competitors or from limiting their own services. Michigan’s CON Board is appointed by the governor and approved by the Senate. Members are required to declare conflicts of interest in every meeting. However, the board’s bylaws only vaguely define conflicts and leave it to board members to decide whether one exists.

The second flaw is what’s known as “technocratic washing.” The CON Board outsources its bed-need decision to a complicated, 47-yearold algorithm, so the determination of whether the state needs new beds is not made by physicians or patients.

Instead, the decision comes from a mathematical formula.

Nursing facility expansion is a decision that should be handled by doctors, patients, or elder-care advocates. Instead, Michigan maintains a system that limits competition, reduces availability, and provides worse patient outcomes. The obvious solution would be to allow new competitors into this critical area of need.

Renee Lapham Collins is a freelance journalist and a Siena Heights University alumna.

This column was distributed by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

but anyone with a countering opinion cannot. The Monroe News long ago stopped printing letters to the editor.

The reason Congressman Tim Walberg submitted his opinion piece “Making Washington work for southern Michigan” is, in my opinion, that he has received record calls from constituents

angry that he has called for cuts to their Social Security and Medicare to rein in the growing $40 trillion debt.

Timmy is fat on a $100,000-plus Michigan state pension and a $175,000 congressman’s salary (with future pension), but wants his hardworking constituents to pay for huge tax cuts for

A view from the fourth floor of Sacred Heart Hall. PHOTO BY RENEE LAPHAM COLLINS

his corporate donors, an unaffordable war, and spending on a multitude of nobid projects for the president’s friends.

Don’t buy his BS. He’s wallowing in the president’s waste and fraud.

—­Paul Wohlfarth, Ottawa Lake

THE LENAWEE VOICE

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AUGUST 2026

Stable from page A1 Then in 2025, the organization was approached with the idea of leasing the Hathaway House, a Blissfield fine-dining landmark for more than half a century until it closed early in the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to be able to display the Burkholders’ collection for the time being.

That’s where The Stable comes into the picture.

Located in what was the carriage house when the Hathaway House was a private home long ago, the casual-dining restaurant known as the Main Street Stable closed after the Hathaway House did.

When the American Farm Museum decided to lease the Hathaway House, the five-person board started talking about subletting the Main Street Stable building for a new restaurant in order to create a revenue stream for the organization’s goals.

“The more we discussed it, the more sense it made,” Tsuji said.

Because the AFMEC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, it formed an LLC for the restaurant and set about laying the groundwork for its opening as The Stable.

Randy Brenke, the board’s chief financial officer, stepped forward to get the ball rolling. “We wouldn’t be where we are without his leadership,” Tsuji said.

One of the board’s first orders of business was to tap Maria Carrico to serve as The Stable’s manager.

“Maria knows the former Hathaway House and Stable like the back of her hand,” Tsuji said.

A Blissfield native and Blissfield High School graduate, Carrico spent almost 18 years as a server and bartender at both the Hathaway House and the Main Street Stable.

“So this place holds a special place in my heart,” she said, and when the farm museum board approached her about a year ago to ask if she might be interested in helping to open a new restaurant, she said yes.

Another key component fell into place when Justin Hill was hired as the head chef.

Hill brought more than 16 years’ experience in the culinary industry, much of it at various Michigan country clubs, to his new role.

“Chef Justin is excited to be here and excited for folks to try his new menu,” Carrico said.

It took an enormous amount of work to get the building ready for its new life,

Chef Justin Hill pushes out an order of shrimp tacos at the July 17 soft opening of The Stable in Blissfield. including new appliances, a new fire suppression system in the kitchen, some electrical work, and much more.

The décor looks somewhat like it used to in the old Main Street Stable days, “but we are making it our own,” Tsuji said. For example, a nod to farm life and agricultural products can be found in the whimsical salt and pepper shakers on each table.

Both Tsuji and Carrico said they are looking forward to having people come in to The Stable and experience Hill’s culinary creations. “I think folks are going to be pleased and excited to try some of the things on the menu,” Tsuji said.

“We hope to be a place where folks can laugh, cry, celebrate, meet new and old friends, and enjoy a great meal together,” Carrico added.

Community interest in The Stable was high right from the start of the project.

“Our board is very proud of the work of our team and that the community is embracing it as they are,” Tsuji said.

And while operating a restaurant is definitely not what the AFMEC would have envisioned itself doing not all that long ago, “wow, what a gift,” she said. “I know that all the blood, sweat, and tears that have gone to get us to this point are well worth it.”

Lenawee County’s 11 Public School Districts are accepting “Schools of Choice” students for the 2026-2027 school year.

Application deadlines and additional information for each district are as follows:

ADDISON

Application Deadline

ADRIAN

Application Deadline

May 1 - Aug. 28, 2026 - 1st Semester Dec 14, 2026 - Jan. 15, 2027 - 2nd Semester

April 7 - Aug. 28, 2026 - 1st Trimester November 11-25, 2026 - 2nd Trimester

Additional Information

Additional Information

BLISSFIELD

BRITTON DEERFIELD

CLINTON

Mar. 12 - Aug. 28, 2026 - 1st Semester December 4-18, 2026 - 2nd Semester

Apr. 24 - Aug. 28, 2026 - 1st Sem./Tri. (K-12) Oct. 30 - Nov. 13, 2026 - 2nd Tri. (K-5) Dec 4-18, 2026 - 2nd Sem. (6-12)

March 23- August 20, 2026 1st Semester Dec 4-18, 2026 - 2nd Semester

Additional Information

517-456-6501 www.miclintonschools.org

Application Deadline

Additional Information 517-486-2205 kgraf@blissfieldschools.us www.blissfieldschools.us

HUDSON

Application Deadline

517-547-6901 tiffany.smith@addisonschools.us www.addisonschools.org

Application Deadline

517-451-4581 jennifer.delmotte@bdschools.us www.bdschools.us

MADISON

Application Deadline

Mar. 18 - Sept. 3, 2026- 1st Semester December 7-18, 2026 - 2nd Semester

May 11- Aug. 27, 2026 - 1st Trimester November 10-24, 2026 - 2nd Trimester

Additional Information

517-264-6640 x4108 (Angie) aschaffer@adrian.k12.mi.us www.adrianmaples.org

Application Deadline

Additional Information

MORENCI

Application Deadline

Feb. 24 - Aug. 28, 2026 - 1st Semester Dec. 5-18, 2026 - 2nd Semester

517-448-8912 x227 lemens@hudson.k12.mi.us www.hudson.k12.mi.us

Additional Information

517-265-1847 ramie.overbey@madisonk12.us www.madisonk12.us

Additional Information

ONSTED

SAND CREEK

TECUMSEH

Application Deadline

Application Deadline

May 1 - Aug. 28, 2026 - 1st Semester December 4-18, 2026 - 2nd Semester

Mar. 30- Aug. 28, 2026- 1st Semester December 4-18 2026 - 2nd Semester

Additional Information

Additional Information

517-467-2173 x1102 www.onstedschools.us

517-436-3108 brooke.smith@sc-aggies.us www.sc-aggies.us

517-458-7504 Elementary 517-458-7506 MS/HS www.morencibulldogs.org

Application Deadline

Limited SOC for 1st-5th Grades May 1 - May 30, 2026 - 1st Semester Unlimited SOC for Y5, K, & 6th-12th Grades Mar. 17 - Aug. 21 2026 - 1st Semester Dec. 4-18, 2026 - 2nd Semester All Grades

Additional Information

517-424-7318 | www.tps.k12.mi.us

A20

AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Sisters raise money to benefit Morenci community » PAGE B6

Reading clinic helps both teachers and students » PAGE B8

OUR TOWNS

THE LENAWEE VOICE SECOND SECTION AUGUST 2026

Tanana Emmendorfer named Miss River Raisin Festival for 2026 » PAGE B2

New veterans monument dedicated in Morenci

Kimberly Precour is pictured inside her new store, Sugartown Sweets & Soda Shoppe.

JULIE C. CLEMES/LENAWEE VOICE

Sugartown Sweets & Soda Shoppe now open in Blissfield

By Julie C. Clemes The Lenawee Voice

BLISSFIELD — Kimberly Precour had the idea of starting a candy and soda shop for about 20 years before opening Sugartown Sweets & Soda Shoppe in downtown Blissfield. That dream is now a reality.

Sugartown Sweets & Soda Shoppe had its grand opening on July 18. Precour was awarded a $25,000 Match on Main grant through the Michigan Economic Development Corp., which allows for reimbursement for renovation expenses.

The funds will allow Precour to expand beyond selling candy and sodas to actually making chocolates and other sweets.

BLISSFIELD —

See SUGARTOWN SWEETS, page B13

Kirk Deatrick speaks at the unveiling of a new veterans monument in Oak Grove Cemetery. Behind him, from left to right, are Chris Keefer, Adam Vereecke, Karen Vereecke, Kent Deatrick, cemetery sexton Eric Emmons, Paul Roerig of Fackler Monument, city administrator Jeff Bell, and assistant sexton Christa Davis. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

By Erik Gable

The Lenawee Voice

MORENCI — More than 80 years ago, Staff Sgt. Robert Deatrick was fighting in the Battle of the Bulge during the final months of World War II. Soon, his name will be the first to be inscribed on a new veterans monument at Oak Grove Cemetery.

A dedication ceremony for the new monument took place on July 4. It included the singing of the national anthem by Vada Lambert, a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Jim Clark of American Legion Post 368, speeches by elected officials, a prayer

by Chris Keefer, a 21-gun salute, and playing of “Taps.”

Having a veterans monument was a dream of cemetery sexton Eric Emmons, and it was able to come about because

MORENCI —

The new monument in Oak Grove Cemetery, pictured during the dedication ceremony on July 4. of a conversation between Emmons and Morenci resident Kent Deatrick on a cold March day last year.

During a tour of the cemetery, Emmons said he’d like it if the cemetery had a monument to all veterans in addition to its Civil War memorial, but that he didn’t know how it could be funded.

Deatrick remembered that his mother, Betty, had set up an investment account in the 1990s to fund scholarships, but scholarships hadn’t been awarded from it in some time. The money was still there, however. So he began investigating how it could be used to make the dream of a veterans’ monument at Oak Grove Cemetery into a reality.

The result is a 6,000-pound black granite monument, built and installed

by Fackler Monument Company out of Montpelier, Ohio.

Deatrick’s family has a legacy of military service. In addition to his father, his mother had two brothers

See MONUMENT, page B13

B2

AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Tanana Emmendorfer is Miss River Raisin Festival

LET OUR 50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORK FOR YOU! CHARLES J. NOE 517-263-4062

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

ADVICE MATTERS.

MARGARET M.S. NOE 517-263-8200

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

NOE LAW OFFICE

147 NORTH MAIN STREET, ADRIAN noelawoffice.com

Tanana Emmendorfer of Adrian is crowned Miss River Raisin Festival 2026 by outgoing title holder Ashlee Pelham on July 10, while Miss Michigan Grace Hanke looks on. This is the Miss River Raisin Festival scholarship program’s 31st year. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE The Lenawee Voice

BLISSFIELD — The Miss River Raisin Festival contest is said to be the only local event in the Miss America program that takes place outdoors.

That distinction took center stage for a while on July 10, as a rain shower made things a little wet at Blissfield’s Ellis Park. But the audience stayed, and the weather cleared up by the time Tanana Emmendorfer of Adrian took her place as Miss River Raisin Festival, the 31st young woman to wear the crown.

Emmendorfer, a junior majoring in marketing at Spring Arbor University, adopted mental health awareness in athletes as her service initiative, and will

BLISSFIELD —

advocate for that cause during the coming year. A trombone solo was her entry for the talent portion of the competition.

According to emcee Jocelyn Near, herself a former title holder, the Miss River Raisin Festival opportunity has granted $218,000 in scholarships over its lifetime, including this year’s awards.

The third runner-up in the competition was Kindell Covey of Adrian, the second runner-up was Madilynn Tomasek of Blissfield, and the first runner-up was Gretchen Gautz of Adrian.

There were a total of nine contestants in this year’s event, including Emily Auth of Blissfield, Denae Covey of Adrian, Lauren Howard of Adrian, Liberty Lake of Temperance, and Makenzie Simpson of Monroe.

THE LENAWEE VOICE

B3

AUGUST 2026

Remembering work, friendship, and ‘Uncle Nick’ Former A&W employees gather for Adrian reunion

By Renee Lapham Collins The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — For a few hours on June 28, the old Adrian A&W restaurant was alive again.

Former employees gathered at Burr Ponds Park in Adrian to reconnect, trade stories and remember the coworkers who are no longer with them. The restaurant itself is gone, but for the dozens of people who once worked there, memories remain vivid: frosted mugs, Coney dogs, carhop tips, late-night shifts and friendships that lasted long after the final customer was served.

Michelle “Mikie” Rion began working at the restaurant in 1971 and remained until it closed permanently in 1999.

“We were teenagers,” Rion said. “My older sisters answered the help-wanted ad and worked there, and then I worked there, and then my younger sister and younger brother worked there. We all worked there.”

She also met her future husband there.

“I fell in love with Nick, and fortunately he fell in love with me, too,” she said.

The Rion family had purchased the restaurant in 1947. For decades, the A&W occupied a prominent spot near the southeast corner of Main and Church streets, directly across from the fire

ADRIAN —

Former employees of the Adrian A&W restaurant gathered for a reunion on June 28. Pictured here are, in the back row, Deanna Dowling Baird, Doreen Dowling Cheng, Kim Meyers Kelly, Sue Shulters Fuss, Linda Ridley, Rebecca Salazar Pabolo, Sarah Perez, Alison Lyos Prielipp, and Julie Clemes; and in the front row, Lupe Salazar Hamden, Kim Carnahan Herbert, Judy Stone, Mikie Rion, and Renee Carnahan Stewart. The guest book also included Tammy Drogowski Kolle, Mary Lorenc, Michelle Kopke Blackerby, Denene Ward Yarger, Casey McAdams, Pam Ward Ford, Vicki Carlson, Belinda Carson Lolley, Joann Rutledge Townsend, Don Rutledge Jr., Lisa Kline Saveti, Sherry Stone, Pat Rion Bagrow, and Panouli Bagrow Harpst. station. It later operated as Zeke’s after leaving the A&W franchise.

The building was eventually demolished to provide additional parking behind the downtown storefronts.

Once she married Nick, Rion became deeply involved in operating the restaurant, sometimes working as many as 90 hours a week.

“We were open every day,” she said.

The hours stretched late into the evening, and Sundays included deep cleaning the grill hoods, bathrooms and floors. The restaurant employed hundreds of people over the years, many of them high school students working their first jobs.

Rion said the restaurant tried to accommodate school schedules and the

hours employees needed. Young workers often began washing mugs before moving on to carhop, counter or kitchen duties.

But the job offered more than a paycheck.

“Nick taught our employees life lessons,” Rion said. “He didn’t know a stranger.

Everybody knew him and loved him.”

See A&W, page B13

B4

AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Some important tools of estate planning Beneficiary and Transfer on Death accounts are two important things to understand in estate planning.

A beneficiary is a person, organization, or entity designated to receive assets from a legal arrangement such as a life insurance policy, retirement account, trust, or bank account, usually after the owner’s death. Naming beneficiaries allows assets to pass directly to the intended recipient, often bypassing the probate court process, which can save time, money, and paperwork.

Types of beneficiaries Sondra Carnahan holds a plaque commemorating the 100th anniversary of her family’s cottage at Sand Lake.

Clifford and Hazel Burnor purchased the property and started the family’s Sand Lake tradition in 1926.

Family marks a century at Sand Lake

By Renee Lapham Collins The Lenawee Voice

ONSTED — Earlier this year, the Burnor family celebrated 100 years and six generations at Sand Lake in the Irish Hills. The family gathered over the weekend of July 4 to mark the occasion with a picnic and remember the legacy of their founding grandparents, Clifford and Hazel Burnor.

Renee Carnahan Stewart, who organized the event with her sister and cousins, said the daughters of Clifford and Hazel, Doris Brittain and Geraldine Carnahan, maintained and enjoyed the property for decades.

“The property’s story began with tents,” Stewart recalled. “Later came a small, one-room cabin, which grew into a larger cottage. Over the years, we continued to build both outward and upward.”

She said the family is “forever grateful to the generations” preceding them that the lot and home have been preserved for their use and that of future generations.

The celebration included a welcome from “Great-Grandma Burnor,” portrayed by Kim Carnahan Herbert, and “Great-Grandpa Burnor,” portrayed by Brian Rubel.

They were followed by the Burnors’ young daughters, Doris, portrayed by Beth Rubel Jakubik, and Geraldine, portrayed by Kellie Berger.

Other family members joined the fun by portraying different periods in the family’s history. Stewart appeared in an “old bathing suit,” while Kendra Barak portrayed Geraldine later in life.

Guests enjoyed a wonderful spread of food, including smoked pork, pulled turkey sandwiches, lemonade, tea, Great-Grandma’s cookies and a special anniversary cake.

The Carnahans also presented their mother with a plaque commemorating the property’s 100-year family history.

“It was a joyful and meaningful celebration despite power outages, no internet service and reported lightning strikes just a few doors away on Sunday morning,” Stewart said.

Common beneficiary roles include: n Primary Beneficiary — The first person, persons, or organization designated to receive the asset. n Contingent Beneficiary — A backup beneficiary who receives the asset if the primary beneficiary cannot inherit.

Beneficiaries can be individuals such as spouses or children, but they can also be trusts, businesses, or charitable organizations.

Beneficiary designations are commonly used for life insurance policies, IRAs, 401(k)s, annuities, and bank accounts. In many cases, the beneficiary listed on the account overrides instructions in a will, making it important to review and update these designations regularly.

Beneficiaries may also be classified as revocable (the owner can change them at any time) or irrevocable (they cannot be changed without the beneficiary’s consent).

Special considerations for minor beneficiaries Naming a minor as a beneficiary can create complications because minors typically cannot legally manage inherited assets. Financial institutions may require a court-appointed guardian

LYNETTE FOOR or conservator to oversee the funds until the child reaches adulthood.

A common solution is establishing a trust, which allows a trustee to manage the assets and distribute funds according to instructions, such as for education or at specific ages.

What is a Transfer on Death?

A Transfer on Death (TOD) designation allows certain assets—such as brokerage accounts, bank accounts (often called Payable on Death or POD), and in some states real estate — to pass directly to a named beneficiary upon death.

With a TOD designation: n The owner keeps full control of the asset during their lifetime. n The beneficiary has no rights to the property until the owner passes away. n The transfer typically requires only a death certificate to complete.

TOD designations are often used as a simple and inexpensive probateavoidance tool, particularly for straightforward estates.

Benefits and limitations Both beneficiary and TOD accounts offer several advantages. They: n Avoid probate. n Allow quick transfer of assets. n Are easy and inexpensive to establish.

However, they do have limitations.

They do not allow complex instructions, such as distributing funds over time

or protecting assets from creditors. If a beneficiary dies before the owner and no contingent beneficiary is listed, the asset may still go through probate.

Options for those without family heirs If someone does not have family members to inherit their assets, they can name charitable organizations or nonprofits as beneficiaries. This allows individuals to support causes they value while leaving a meaningful legacy.

Thoughtful beneficiary planning helps ensure assets are distributed according to your wishes while simplifying the process for those who receive them.

Examples include local organizations such as the Lenawee Humane Society, Share the Warmth, and the Lenawee Community Foundation, or national charities like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Thoughtful beneficiary planning helps ensure assets are distributed according to your wishes while simplifying the process for those who receive them.

Regularly reviewing beneficiary designations is a simple but important step in making sure your estate plan reflects your current intentions. Life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or death of a loved one are good reminders to review and update these designations to ensure they still reflect your wishes.

Lynette Foor is a financial advisor in Adrian.

Contact her at 517-265-3540 or lynette.foor@lpl.com.

Professionals working together for generosity At the Lenawee Community Foundation, we are honored to work with many individuals, families, and businesses who support the causes that matter most to them and help make our entire community a better place to live. In many cases, trusted professional advisors, including attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, are helping donors make important decisions about taxes, investments, estate planning, and family wealth.

All of this is wonderful! There’s one more step, however, that is often overlooked: Connecting the dots. If you are a donor or fund holder at the Lenawee Community Foundation, or plan to establish a fund in the near future, please consider introducing your advisors to the Lenawee Community Foundation team. A simple introduction can make a tremendous difference in ultimately achieving your charitable goals. Here’s why: n Attorneys, CPAs, and wealth managers are experts in many aspects of financial and estate planning, and their work is essential in helping you develop and implement strategies through legal documentation, tax filings, and other technical guidance. Not all advisors, however, are experts in charitable giving. n The Lenawee Community Foundation, by comparison, brings to the table specialized knowledge about charitable giving strategies, local

BRONNA KAHLE nonprofit needs, philanthropic tools that may be best suited for your particular situation, and the types of assets you might consider giving to achieve your goals. n The Lenawee Community Foundation does not offer legal, tax, or financial advice, but we absolutely stay current on legal, tax, and charitable developments. In turn, we can keep you and your advisors informed about which trends to watch. n When you establish a fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation as part of your charitable plan, our team will handle the paperwork and administration to create and manage that fund. This is often a relief to your advisors, not to mention a relief to you!

Importantly, collaborative conversations among donors, advisors, and the Lenawee Community Foundation are not only for ultra-highnet-worth families. Even relatively straightforward charitable plans can benefit from collaboration between your advisors and the Lenawee Community

Foundation. In many cases, donors discover giving opportunities they might not otherwise have considered. What’s more, many advisors appreciate having philanthropic specialists available to help explore charitable strategies that benefit both the donor and the causes they care about.

So, what can you do? We invite and encourage you to take the lead! A simple email introducing each of your advisors to the Lenawee Community Foundation team is often all that is required to open the door to better communication and stronger planning. The Lenawee Community Foundation is always happy to join a conversation with you and your advisors, but a baseline introduction is the most critical part.

When professionals work together, the result is often a more coordinated and impactful charitable plan. By connecting your advisors with the Lenawee Community Foundation, you help create a team that can support both your financial goals and your desire to make a lasting difference. We look forward to hearing from you—and meeting your advisors! Thank you for all you do to make our community a better place.

Bronna Kahle is president and CEO of the Lenawee Community Foundation.

For information, call 517-263-4696, email forlenawee@lenaweecf.com, or visit lenaweecf.com.

THE LENAWEE VOICE

B5

AUGUST 2026

Opportunities for free school supplies in Lenawee County The Lenawee Voice

A number of school supply giveaways in Lenawee County are aiming to make sure that all kids in the community have the tools they need to get the upcoming school year off to a good start.

Saturday, Aug. 1: Bonnie Glisson’s 10th and final Backpacks for Kids.

Fairfield Baptist Church, 13 Seneca St., Fairfield Township, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

All children are welcome and must be present to receive a backpack and school supplies. The church asks that for every backpack given, a nonperishable food item be donated to the Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry.

Sunday, Aug. 2: Backpack Blowout.

Covenant Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 5290 Milwaukee Road, Tecumseh, noon to 2 p.m. while supplies last. Students from kindergarten to 12th grade can receive free backpacks, school supplies and hygiene products.

Thursday, Aug. 6: Deadline to register for Associated Charities’ back-to-school distribution. Associated Charities of Lenawee County is preparing for its annual back-to-school program, which will provide clothing, shoes, backpacks and school supplies to Lenawee County children who register

by Aug. 6. Distribution will run Aug. 1820. School clothing will be available at no cost to Lenawee County families who have children enrolled in kindergarten through high school and who are registered at Associated Charities. For more information, call Associated Charities at 517-265-7255.

Saturday, Aug. 8: Annual Back to School Event. Abundant Life Church, 1120 E. Maple St., Adrian, 4-6 p.m. Kids can get good-condition clothes and shoes donated by the community.

Wednesday, Aug. 12: Morenci Backto-School Bash. Downtown Morenci, 6-8 p.m. Morenci’s annual Back-to-School

Bash gives local students and families a fun way to celebrate the upcoming school year. Now in its fifth year, the event has continued to grow thanks to community collaboration. Organized by Seneca Community Church, Morenci Area Schools, the Kiwanis Club of Morenci, and the City of Morenci, the Bash offers free school supplies, games, prizes, program information, and a free meal for students and their families.

Seneca Community Church will host several free games for kids, along with raffles to support Morenci teachers. The Morenci Area Schools food service team will provide a free meal for students and their families. Supplies will be handed out in grade-level bags for elementary students, while middle and high school students can choose five items from tables of available supplies. For more information contact Heather Sarnac at 517-429-0100 or heather.sarnac@ cityofmorenci.org.

Saturday, Aug. 15: Free school supply distribution. AMVETS Post 1957, 122 N. Main St., Adrian, 1-3 p.m. while supplies last. The AMVETS sixth annual free school supply distribution event is open to the public. Children who attend will receive all basic school supplies.

There is limited parking in downtown Adrian; additional parking is in the city lot off of Toledo Street behind the Croswell Opera House (if you park in back please enter the building through the front door on Main Street). Hosted by the AMVETS Post 1957 Ladies Auxiliary and Operation Homefront.

Sunday, Aug. 16: Back-to-School Bash. Align Center for Workforce Development, 440 E. Church St., Adrian, noon to 4 p.m. while supplies last.

Lock’D In Construction presents its fifth annual Back to School Bash, now hosted at the Align Center, offering free backpacks, school supplies, gently used clothes, haircuts, and more.

47 Dominican Sisters mark milestone anniversaries ADRIAN — In a spirit of joy and gratitude, Adrian Dominican Sisters, associates, relatives, and friends gathered to honor the witness and dedicated lives of 47 Sisters celebrating their Jubilees, their milestone anniversaries of religious life. The 2026 Jubilee celebration brought the Sisters to the Motherhouse for special activities June 25-27.

Sisters who celebrated these milestone anniversaries included three 80-year Jubilarians, two 75-year Jubilarians, 22 70-year (Double-Diamond) Jubilarians, 14 60-year (Diamond) Jubilarians, five 40-year (Ruby) Jubilarians, and one 25-year (Silver) Jubilarian. Together, the Jubilarians generously gave 2,995 years of religious life to God, God’s people, and the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

The celebration opened with a meeting of the Jubilarians with the General Council, followed by supper and a reception for the Jubilarians and their invited guests.

The event took on a contemplative tone on June 26, when Jubilarians and other Adrian Dominican Sisters gathered for a Mass to celebrate nearly 160 Sisters who would have celebrated their Jubilee this year had they still been alive. The name of each deceased Jubilarian was read out solemnly, while a handbell tolled after every 10 names that had been proclaimed. “We honor the memory of these women and remember their strong dedication to the Gospel,” Sister Carol Weber, OP, a 60-year Jubilarian, said in a reflection. “They went where God called them … Their lives were steeped in prayer,” and their relationship with Jesus was “their very foundation.”

REUNIONS Adrian Catholic Central Class of 1966: A 60th reunion will take place on Sunday, Aug. 16, at 3 p.m. at 3052 Marsh Road, Onsted. RSVP to Margie (Marsh) Dennis at 517-438-3757.

Adrian High School Class of 1959: The class of ’59 will have their annual gettogether on Friday, Oct. 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at ZZ’s Bar & Grill (Lenawee Recreation), 520 College Ave., Adrian.

Adrian High School Class of 1966: The 60th reunion will take place on Saturday, Aug. 22, at Hills of Lenawee Golf Club, 4110 Country Club Road,

She went on to reflect on the group of women who followed Jesus and who came to his tomb early to anoint his body — only to discover that he was alive.

They announced Jesus’ resurrection to the apostles.

“These women had a deep relationship with Jesus,” Weber said.

“They walked with him, they cried with him. They listened to him, and they loved him.”

“I believe the women of the Gospel and our deceased Jubilarians leave us with a challenge,” Weber said. “No matter our age or physical ability, we are still called to a deep relationship with Jesus, and to share that with everyone who crosses our path.”

The dedication of the 47 Jubilarians was celebrated during the Jubilee Mass on June 27.

Father James Hug, SJ, presider, thanked the Jubilarians “for all the occasions, in good times and in hard times, in which you responded to God’s call to live in the light, to be the light, to show mercy and hope, conscious of those you have touched and blessed through the years, and of those who touched and blessed you.”

Sister Elise D. García, OP, prioress of the congregation, noted that the readings for the day focused on the call to abiding love.

“They speak of the heart of the call, so vibrantly alive in each of you. Jesus

makes that call clear to his disciples in this Gospel: ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.’ ” García described the “incredibly rich and diverse ways” in which that call had borne fruit in the lives of the Jubilarians: as educators at all levels, from elementary school to college, university, and seminary education, and in various aspects of ministry in hospitals and healthcare, parishes, dioceses, leadership, nonprofit organizations, justice advocacy, social work, accompaniment with people at the margins, and vocation and formation.

The Jubilarians have also served in nearly every state and in the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, Taiwan, Kenya, and South Africa.

“You have lived your lives, entering into the communion of life and love that is God’s gift to all people,” García said to the Jubilarians. “Through your loving ministry, you have invited countless children, women, men, and people of faith or no faith into the community of life and love.”

Among those celebrating milestones in their religious life was Sister Teresa Estrada, who also marked a different milestone this summer: She turned 100 on July 2.

“I’ve had a happy life,” said Estrada, whose career was spent ministering in education. “I still get letters from one of the teachers going back 40 or 50 years. I loved teaching children, and I thought it was a gift that God gave me. I tried to find the best way that I could help these children.”

Adrian. More info: Karen (Woerner) Collins, 517-263-4702.

Adrian High School Class of 1968: The class of ’68 is having its 58th reunion on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 3-8 p.m., at the Riga Township Fire Station, 7817 Riga Hwy., Riga. RSVP to Barb Beebe Kirkendall (barblkirk@hotmail.com) or Susan Rink Arbaugh (Susanra662@ gmail.com).

Madison High School Class of 1976: The Class of ’76 will hold its 50th reunion on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 5-8 p.m., at ZZ’s Sports Bar & Grill, 520 College Ave., Adrian. Cost is $10 cash at checkin; attendees are responsible for their own food and beverages. All who were

members of the class during high school are welcome to attend. RSVP to Julie June Selders at 517-442-7743. The class has a Facebook group at “Madison HS (Adrian) Class of 1976 & Classmates.”

Morenci 20th Century All-School Reunion: A reunion for Morenci classes from the the 1930s to 1990s will be held on Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Morenci Eagles.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; pictures will be taken starting at 7 p.m. Tacos, nachos, or taco salad will be available for $10; please RSVP for the meal. More info: 517-4010346 or morencialumni@gmail.com.

Tecumseh High School Class of 2006: The class of ’06 will have its 20th reunion on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the

Tecumseh Legion, 101 W. Pottawatamie St., Tecumseh. More info: Jessica_MWilson@yahoo.com.

Bixby Hospital Reunion: A reunion for all employees, volunteers, or physicians from Bixby Hospital will take place on Sunday, Sept. 13, from 1-4 p.m. at Hidden River North clubhouse, 975 W. Beecher St., Adrian. $5 for pizza and ice cream; please bring your own nonalcoholic beverage.

Croswell Opera House Reunion: The Croswell is celebrating its 160th anniversary with a free reunion on Friday, Aug. 7, for anyone who’s ever been part of a Croswell show. More info: croswell.org/160.

Making up the entrance procession for the Jubilee Mass are Sisters Durstyne Farnan, Elise D. García, and Carol Weber, OP; Father James Hug, SJ; and Sister Theresa Mayrand, OP.

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AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Sisters’ lemonade stand raises money to help the Morenci community

Sisters Navy, Blake and Ezri Hall are pictured at the lemonade stand they ran on July 23 to fund school supplies at the community’s Back-to-School Bash.

MORENCI — When Morenci Kiwanians hand out free school supplies during the community’s Back-to-School Bash on Aug. 12, they’ll be aided by the work of three sisters with a heart for service.

Ezri, Blake and Navy Hall operated a lemonade stand at their home on Salisbury Street on July 23.

It’s a tradition going back to 2022, usually coinciding with Morenci’s citywide garage sale, though this year it was a week later.

“I really just wanted to start instilling giving to your community any chance you can,” the girls’ mother, Kristin Hall, explained. In 2022, they donated $515 to the Morenci Fire Department. In 2023, the lemonade stand raised $300 for the Kiwanis Club’s Wishing Tree project at Christmas. And in 2024, the girls raised more than $2,200 to support the accessible swing now in place at Morenci Elementary School.

MORENCI —

Each year, the sisters have decided for themselves what project they want to support.

After missing a year in 2025, they chose to raise money for school supplies to be given away at the Back-to-School Bash, which will take place from 6-8 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Ezri will begin fourth grade and Blake will begin third grade this year at Morenci Elementary School, and Navy is starting preschool.

In addition to selling cool drinks to thirsty passersby, they accepted donations in cash and by Venmo. As of July 26, the total stood at just over $2,000.

Rosemary Dickerson, representing the Kiwanis Club, said their donation will purchase numerous school supplies, touching the lives of countless children in the community.

“Navy, Blake, and Ezri are truly outstanding Morenci citizens, and we are incredibly proud of them,” she said.

THE LENAWEE VOICE

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AUGUST 2026

223 Grill & Chill now open in Madison Township

By Julie C. Clemes The Lenawee Voice

MADISON TWP. — A new restaurant, 223 Grill & Chill, is now open at the corner of U.S. 223 and Treat Highway and serving a wide variety of Mediterranean and American foods. Owner Hassan El Khechen opened the restaurant on June 15 for dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering services.

El Khechen visited the Adrian area before he made the decision to open 223 Grill & Chill.

“I came, I checked the area, and I liked the area,” he said.

When he found that the location was available, he started working toward opening the restaurant, which is at 2275 West U.S. 223 in Adrian, in the Ridi’s (Marathon) gas station plaza.

223 Grill & Chill offers appetizers, salads, sandwiches, gyro sandwiches, wraps, subs, burgers, chicken and wings, side items, bowls, seafood, entrees, a kids’ menu and desserts.

“Everything is from scratch,” El Khechen said. “Everything is fresh and clean.”

Specialty Mediterranean items include a fattoush salad; tawook, which is yogurt-marinated chicken; sujuk, a spicy sausage; and fried kibbeh, made from finely ground meat, bulgur wheat and warm spices. Other items include spinach pie, veggie grape leaves and baklava.

In additional to traditional appetizers, the menu also includes hummus and cheese pie. Salads include Greek salad and a Gyro salad that can be made with

Hassan El Khechen is the owner of 223 Grill & Chill. JULIE C. CLEMES/LENAWEE VOICE Gyro meat, mixed meat or chicken.

Sandwiches include chicken shawarma, made with slow-roasted seasoned meat served with toppings on pita or flatbread.

Gyro sandwiches include a Philly gyro. Mac and cheese wraps are also available, as well as seven types of sub sandwiches. Burgers come in a classic burger style, a smash burger or special burgers featuring sujuk, shrimp or a fried egg turkey bacon burger.

Desserts include cheesecake, carrot cake, chocolate cake and baklava.

The restaurant is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The menu can be found at 223grillandchills.com.

More information is also available by calling 517-800-5445 or by emailing 223grillchill@gmail.com.

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AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Blissfield teacher Alison Schober high-fives Logan Becker during the Lenawee County Reading Clinic, a program of the Lenawee Intermediate School District that serves as education for both students and teachers. Students receive individualized reading support while educators strengthen their understanding of how children learn to read.

County reading clinic builds confidence that lasts beyond summer

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ADRIAN — The room is filled with quiet encouragement.

An educator leans in to help sound out a word. A student smiles after getting it right. Across the room, another child celebrates a small victory with a highfive. Conversations fill the room as educators and students work side by side, confidence grows one word at a time, and children leave believing in themselves just a little bit more than when they arrived.

That is the heart of the Lenawee County Reading Clinic.

Each summer, the Lenawee Intermediate School District brings together local educators and young readers for an experience that changes both. Students receive individualized reading support while educators strengthen their understanding of how children learn to read, immediately putting new learning into practice with the child sitting with them.

“There is real power in one-on-one instruction because it allows educators to target each student’s specific needs while building a relationship with them,” said Emily Stiver, literacy consultant and co-facilitator of the Reading Clinic.

“When instruction is individualized, students receive exactly the support they need at that moment, and they begin to see that someone believes in them.

That connection helps students feel valued, seen, and capable of becoming successful readers.”

For Robyn Francis, literacy data support and co-facilitator, those relationships begin almost immediately.

“The teachers really come alive once the students are in the room,” Francis said. “A lot of the Reading Clinic is reading through the materials and discussing the concepts, but when the students are here, that is when the magic happens.”

Sometimes, that magic is found in moments that seem small.

A child reads a word they struggled with the day before. A teacher offers praise after a breakthrough. By the third day of this year’s clinic, some students were so excited to return that they greeted their tutors with hugs.

“It melted my heart,” Francis said. “It doesn’t take long for a caring adult to connect with a child and help him or her learn.”

While students build confidence as readers, educators are building confidence, too.

Throughout the eight-day clinic, teachers learn evidence-based literacy practices and immediately apply them during one-on-one tutoring sessions.

That combination of learning and doing allows educators to leave with strategies they can use in their own classrooms long after summer ends.

For Kelly Bush, participating in the clinic helped bridge the gap between learning about literacy and knowing how to put it into practice.

“I was hoping to learn how to figure out what areas students are struggling in and then how to help them become proficient in those areas,” Bush said.

After completing the clinic, she said she is taking back a stronger understanding of phonemic awareness and phonics, along with tools to identify and teach the skills students are missing.

When asked to finish the sentence, “Every child deserves someone who…,” Bush didn’t hesitate. “... will never give up on them, even when things are hard.”

For Letty Goodlock, the greatest reward was watching her student become more excited and confident each day. When asked the same question, she answered, “...believes in them and encourages them to reach their full potential.”

Glory Nighswander, another participant, described seeing a student’s eyes “light up” when something finally clicks as her favorite part of teaching.

While each child benefits from individualized support during the clinic, the impact stretches far beyond the students sitting at those tables.

“I hope every educator leaves feeling empowered to take what they have learned and apply it in their classrooms,” Stiver said.

The Lenawee County Reading Clinic is open to educators from school districts across Lenawee County who want to strengthen their understanding of evidence-based literacy instruction while working directly with students.

During the summer clinic, families of elementary students who could benefit from individualized reading support are invited to participate at no cost.

More information can be found at lisd.us/lcrc.

THE LENAWEE VOICE

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AUGUST 2026

LAND & WATER

This page is dedicated to coverage of agriculture, the environment, and the intersection between the two.

To suggest story ideas, please email news@lenaweevoice.com.

From forest to table at Great Lakes Foragers Gathering Annual event at Frog Holler Farm offers a taste of nature’s bounty

By Kadi Franson The Lenawee Voice

NORVELL TWP. — The smell of a campfire filled a bowl-shaped field lined with vendors selling medicinal tinctures, plants, soaps, and pastries.

A pack of kids, made delirious by the long summer days, ran around, wildly waving sticks and chasing fireflies.

Scanning the crowd, I noted the murmur of conversations, occasional peals of laughter, people tending the fire, and the squawk of someone’s pet quail.

I was at the annual Great Lakes Foragers Gathering, one of the longest-running foraging events in the country, and a unique offering in southeast Michigan.

Organized each year around the summer solstice by the local organization Will Forage for Food, this year’s event took place at Frog Holler Farm near Brooklyn.

While foraging from the land is the central theme of the event, it brings together many folks across the “I love plants” spectrum: backyard gardeners, land stewards, bushcrafters, foragers, artisans, herbalists, and plant healers.

Collectively, this group has clocked significant time out-of-doors, evidenced by deep attention spans and heightened awareness of their environments. The air had a friendly, inclusive quality. The unspoken dress code: cargo pants and mushroom accessories.

Before attending, nobody mentioned to me that this event could also be billed as a foodie destination.

I sampled a sip of hickory nut milk that had been recently boiled down from a bucket of foraged nuts. The texture and flavor of the fresh milk were full-bodied, a far cry from the watered-down nut milks I was accustomed to buying from the grocery store.

It wasn’t my first notable culinary experience of the weekend. Every day, a team led by powerhouses Colleen Perria and Angie Martin worked around the clock in the open-walled community kitchen to prepare dishes that rivaled those of any coastal city’s most soughtafter fine-dining experience.

One dinner included puffballencrusted catfish tacos with grape leaves and lambsquarter, served with a paw paw crema, bergamot black beans, and a six-flower slaw.

A typical menu at the Great Lakes Foragers Gathering. Friday night’s offerings were puffball-encrusted catfish, vegan lions mane hominey with morels, six-flower slaw, rice with sassafras and prickly ash, bergamot black beans, and tortillas. All of the dishes focused on Michigan-foraged foods.

A group of people works together to process the elder flowers they foraged at the Great Lakes Foragers Gathering, which took place from June 18-21 June at Frog Holler Farm in the Irish Hills. PHOTOS BY KADI FRANSON/LENAWEE VOICE

Herbalist Jim McDonald demonstrates ethical ways of harvesting wild yams.

These wildly distinct dishes share a couple of common ingredients: they showcase Michigan-foraged foods and are prepared with care and attention by people working collectively to restore a human connection with the land. Still, it seemed almost impossibly ambitious to me to offer such labor-intensive meals, so I went to the organizer, Rachel Mifsud, to better understand the process.

“We have a group of people who forage all year long,” she told me. “We have four deep freezers full of food, and keep a spreadsheet of everything we’ve collected. Two months before the event,

we sit down and start talking about the menu based on what we’ve got on the list… but the community brings in foraged food we didn’t know we were getting. Half of what they’re using right now in the kitchen, they didn’t know they were getting.”

I replied that this could add a lot of logistical uncertainty to an already arduous undertaking, but she shook her head. “For them, that’s part of the fun.

They love the challenge of that.” Her favorite food? She thought for a moment before smiling, “They make a really good wild rice porridge.”

While inspiring land reconnection through the belly is one (very effective) approach, the event equally appeals to the mind and hands. Workshops ran all weekend. There were classes geared toward healing and medicine making, such as wilderness first aid and herbs for pain relief. Herbalist-led plant walks not only introduced species but also delved into the ethics of foraging, demonstrating ways to harvest for future abundance rather than depletion. There were options for kids and crafting classes featuring corn brooms and birch bark earrings. Several workshops leaned into the culinary aspect. At one, taught by master mixologist Angie Jackson, participants learned how to prepare herbal bitters, going through each plant to better understand their properties before creating a blend to take home.

One night, there was even a talent show where Mifsud energized the crowd with her yodeling.

Mifsud’s organization, Will Forage for Food, which aims to cultivate a community of foragers and nature enthusiasts, began hosting the gathering 15 years ago. What began humbly as a handful of people at a potluck continued to garner interest year after year. The 2026 gathering marked a major milestone, with over 300 attending and tickets selling out.

See FORAGERS, page B10

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B10 | LAND & WATER

AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Adrian College’s Walden West nature preserve marks 10th anniversary of donation from Jim and Mary White TIPTON — This summer marks the 10th anniversary of Adrian College receiving Walden West, a diverse 119acre nature preserve in Tipton, from donors Jim and Mary White of Ann Arbor.

For the past 10 years, Walden West has served as an outdoor classroom for Adrian College professors and students conducting a wide range of studies.

The nature preserve, located about a mile east of Evans Lake and just north of Evans Creek, features wooded glacial moraines created 13,000 to 14,000 years ago that overlook a small lake and two ponds. The preserve also includes wetlands with one of the southernmost stands of tamarack in Michigan and fens where rare carnivorous plants thrive.

The Whites named the property Walden West because of its similarity to Henry David Thoreau’s writings about living at Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts, which was also created by retreating glaciers.

Jim, a retired University of Michigan law and English professor, used the property as a writing retreat. Mary was a lawyer, law teacher and novelist.

Before donating the property to Adrian College, the Whites established a conservation easement with the Legacy

Walden West, viewed from the air.

Land Conservancy, which permanently protects the land in its natural state.

The Whites said they donated the property to Adrian College to “protect and preserve it.” Jim also was interested in having the property used for educational purposes.

“It is a beautiful, wonderful place,” Jim said. “I didn’t want to see it destroyed.

On that road, there are little collections of houses up and down, and there are people who would buy the whole thing

and develop it into a subdivision. We didn’t want that to happen.”

Adrian College’s biology department chair and Walden West director, associate professor Ben Pawlisch, said the last tour took place several years ago and was attended by members of the Michigan Botanical Society. The guests reported being very impressed with the fens, which are as rare as those found at the Nature Conservancy’s Ives Road Fen Preserve south of Tecumseh.

“They loved the fens and were pretty impressed with the carnivorous plants in that area, such as pitcher plants and sundews,” Pawlisch said. “We use it mainly for our students and get a lot of good use out of it.”

Coyotes, deer, ducks, eagles, hawks, owls, ruffed grouse, turkeys and warblers have been seen on the property. The small lake also contains at least three species of fish: bluegill, bass and trout.

Species of note observed on the property, primarily in the fen area, include Sullivant’s milkweed and purple milkweed, both threatened species in Michigan; swamp milkweed and poke milkweed, both attractive to a variety of pollinators; Grass-pink, an orchid uncommonly found in southeast Michigan; tamarack, of which a healthy population is uncommon in Michigan; tulip trees; pitcher plant, a rare carnivorous plant found in fens and bogs; and star grass, a rare plant found in fens in southern Michigan.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary, a small guided hike at Walden West has been scheduled for the fall from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25.

Participants must register in advance and sign a liability waiver. For more information, contact Mickey Alvarado at malvarado@adrian.edu.

Foragers from page B9 Despite its growing popularity, the event is not run for profit. This year’s ticket price was $275 per individual, kept intentionally affordable to make the event accessible.

As it expanded, people began chipping in to build capacity: foraging year-round to reduce the food budget, bringing in more volunteers for marketing and kitchen work, and adding work-trade ticket options to help keep the bathrooms clean and do groundskeeping. One big cost-saving switch this year was to offer only breakfast and dinner, and to invite attendees to make their own “Stone Soup” for lunch over the fire. I checked in with Mifsud to see how it had been going.

“Yesterday, all I did was put a pot of water on the fire. Somebody came up with some kale. I said, let me get you a cutting board and a knife … I handed it to her, she’s cutting, and then another person wandered over to help. After about three minutes, I left. Twenty minutes later, they had their meal. It was like the actual Stone Soup story,” she told me.

Today, this “many hands” approach and generosity of spirit are at the core of the gathering.

“The people who work here put their heart and soul into this, and you can tell.” Seva Scott told me as we chatted between classes. She was attending with two friends, Katya Georgiva and Mariya Ivanova, all living in the Detroit area by way of Bulgaria.

Edith Michielsen, left, and Ava Meals, who runs her own business called Ava’s Salves, process foraged plants at the gathering.

Colleen Perria kneads a massive ball of dough to prepare a meal at the Great Lakes Foragers Gathering. PHOTOS BY KADI FRANSON/LENAWEE VOICE Georgiva nodded: “Passion brings people into community.”

The women grew up in villages before immigrating. Back home, grandmothers cooked food from home gardens, and it was normal to make your own yogurt.

People walked everywhere. The modern American lifestyle was a big change for them, with its prevalence of convenience foods, flavorless big-box store vegetables, and car dependence.

Attending the gathering allowed them to be among others who value the healthy, fresh food and slower lifestyles that they grew up with. It also served as

a reminder that you don’t need much to experience a deep sense of well-being.

The event was somewhat rugged with its days of camping, ticks and mosquitoes, and a pack-out-your-trash credo. Despite the rustic setting, Ivanova still felt a sense of luxury at the event. “I feel like I’m in an all-inclusive hotel in my own way,” she laughed.

Scott added, “We lost this with the industrial age. It’s nice to see kids not on their phones.”

As for the event’s future? Mifsud hopes that it keeps going, continuing to evolve organically. “If the event wants

to change, it’ll tell us it wants to change, and we’ll change it,” she said.

After 15 years of shepherding the event to what it is today, I asked her what she is most proud of. “It’s just the community.

Everyone is such a community.”

At the end of the weekend, people dismantled their camps and caravanned out of the bowl-shaped field, waving goodbye to one another as they returned to the fast pace of modern life. With luck, they took with them one of the weekend teachings from the plants: nourishment is available if you slow down and know where to look.

To learn more about Will Forage for Food or the Great Lakes Foragers Gathering, visit willforageforfood.com.

AUGUST 2026

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ProMedica health fair planned for August 15

Local crafting group donates port pillows for patients at ProMedica Hickman Hospital

THE LENAWEE VOICE

HEALTH & WELLNESS

ADRIAN — ProMedica’s Adrian Ebeid Neighborhood Promise will present its annual “Health in the Heart of Adrian” Health Fair on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The health fair will take place at the Ebeid Center at Comstock, 801 E. Maumee St., Adrian.

This free community event will bring together healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations and local community partners to connect Lenawee County residents with valuable health education, screenings, wellness resources and family-friendly activities designed to improve overall health and well-being.

Offerings will include: n Diabetes education. n Blood pressure management education. n Free A1C testing. n Fall prevention education.

In addition to ProMedica’s services, community partners will offer a variety of free resources and activities, including: n Free haircuts. n Massage therapy. n Hearing examinations. n Gardening education. n Health and wellness information. n Community resources. n Refreshments.

The ProMedica Veggie Mobile will also be on site distributing fresh produce to the first 100 attendees, helping increase access to healthy foods and encouraging nutritious eating habits.

“Health in the Heart of Adrian reflects ProMedica’s ongoing commitment to creating healthier communities through collaboration,” said De’Angelo Boone, coordinator of education and programming for the ProMedica Adrian Ebeid Neighborhood Promise.

Health in the Heart of Adrian DATE AND TIME: Saturday, Aug. 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

LOCATION: Ebeid Center, 801 E. Maumee St. DETAILS: Free and open to all Lenawee County residents.

MORE INFO: AdrianENP@promedica.org or 517-264-1365.

From left to right are Rhonda Witte, director of medical oncology for ProMedica Hickman Hospital; Josh Roth and Lora Kasik of Musgrove + Company; Kelly TenCate, charge nurse at Hickman Hospital; and Amy Bow, director of operations at the hospital.

ADRIAN — ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital recently received a donation of 101 handmade port pillows through Knit + Crochet with Purpose’s Gather to Give Series.

The pillows were presented by Musgrove + Company owners Josh Roth and Lora Kasik and will provide comfort to local cancer patients undergoing treatment.

The donation was created by local sewers, crocheters and knitters who gathered at Musgrove in Tecumseh to craft the specialized pillows for patients receiving care through Hickman Hospital. Community members also contributed by dropping off handmade port pillows at Musgrove’s Adrian location and The Matthews House Shop.

The initiative began four years ago when Kasik joined with Sara Hilton of Strawberry Blue Farm to launch Knit + Crochet with Purpose. The program connects volunteers who enjoy knitting, crocheting and sewing with local organizations in need of handmade items, creating opportunities for crafters to give back to the Lenawee County community.

Port pillows are small cushions that attach to a vehicle seatbelt to help protect and cushion chemotherapy ports. For many patients, ports can

Some of the port pillows donated by the Knit + Crochet with Purpose group to help people undergoing cancer treatment avoid discomfort from seatbelts pressing against chemotherapy ports. become sensitive or painful during treatment. The pillows help reduce discomfort caused by pressure and friction from seatbelts during travel to and from appointments.

Kasik drew inspiration for the project from her own cancer journey in 2012.

During three months of chemotherapy treatments at ProMedica’s Hickman Cancer Center in Adrian, she discovered

firsthand how much comfort a port pillow could provide.

“The port pillow was honestly one of the best things I had during chemotherapy,” Kasik said. “It made traveling to appointments so much more comfortable. During treatment, you’re constantly driving to and from appointments, and having that cushion helped prevent pain and irritation from the seatbelt rubbing against the port area. Being able to provide that same comfort to others means a lot to me.”

Melissa Sheppard, executive director of the ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital Foundation, said the donation reflects the compassion and generosity of the local community.

“These handmade port pillows are a beautiful expression of compassion and community,” Sheppard said. “They will provide comfort and support to our patients throughout their treatment journey while reminding them that they have an entire community cheering them on.”

The Gather to Give Series will return later this year. Anyone interested in participating can contact Musgrove + Company, Strawberry Blue Farm, or the Sip ’n Stitch group through the Tecumseh District Library for more information.

B12 | HEALTH & WELLNESS

AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Immunization is a powerful weapon against illness Each August, National Immunization Awareness Month serves as a useful reminder for individuals and families to review vaccination records and talk with their healthcare providers about what may be recommended based on age, health history, work, school, travel, and other circumstances.

Vaccines help prepare the immune system to recognize and respond to certain viruses or bacteria. Different vaccines work in different ways, but the goal is similar: to help the body build protection before a person is exposed to a disease. If exposure occurs in the future, the body is often better prepared to respond, which may help prevent illness or reduce the severity of illness.

MONICA HUNT Over the past century, life expectancy in the United States has increased substantially. Infectious diseases, especially those affecting children, were once among the leading causes of death. That shift reflects progress across several areas, including improvements in sanitation, advances in medicine, access to healthcare, and the introduction of widespread vaccination programs. No

single factor tells the whole story, but together they represent a significant change in how long and how healthily Americans live.

Vaccination can also support broader community health. When more people are protected against certain diseases, those illnesses have fewer opportunities to spread in schools, workplaces, childcare settings, and other community spaces. The amount of protection needed to reduce spread varies by disease, but staying informed and reviewing vaccination records is one way individuals and families can help reduce preventable illness in the community.

In Lenawee County, residents can review immunization records through the Michigan Care Improvement

Registry, also known as MCIR, or contact the Lenawee County Health Department at 517-264-5226 with questions.

The department works alongside healthcare providers, schools, and community partners to support access to immunization information and services.

As back-to-school season approaches and fall activities ramp up, it is a reasonable time to check whether vaccination records are current. Residents with questions about immunizations or records are encouraged to talk with their healthcare provider or contact the Lenawee County Health Department for more information.

Monica Hunt is the Lenawee County Health Department’s health officer.

Direct care workers help older adults maintain quality of life The direct care worker plays an essential role in helping older adults remain in their own homes and communities. These dedicated professionals work in home care agencies, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, assisted living communities, and adult day programs. They provide hands-on assistance to individuals living with disabilities, cognitive impairments, or age-related challenges, helping them complete daily activities and maintain their quality of life.

The responsibilities of a direct care worker vary depending on the setting in which they work. Many assist with personal care tasks such as bathing, grooming, and dressing. Those who provide care in the home may also

IN BRIEF Mental Health First Aid training planned in Adrian ADRIAN — Mental health challenges affect millions of people each year, yet most people don’t know how to respond when someone needs support. That’s why Lenawee Community Mental Health Authority is sponsoring a Mental Health First Aid training on Aug. 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ebeid Center, 801 E. Maumee St., Adrian.

This course teaches participants how to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges. No clinical background is needed.

Register before Aug. 5 by emailing Megan Widmer at mwidmer@lcmha.org.

Registration is required and space may be limited.

County events to mark Overdose Awareness Day ADRIAN — Throughout August, organizations and community members in Lenawee County will work to raise awareness of the danger of overdoses. National Overdose Awareness Day is Aug. 31.

Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 1:30 p.m.: The Lenawee County Commission will recognize National Overdose Awareness Day at their August meeting.

Saturday, Aug. 29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Face Addiction Now’s third annual Jeep Duck Run at 1200 S. Main St. More information at facebook.com/ lenaweeFAN. Saturday, Aug. 29 to Monday, Aug. 31: Purple ribbon memorial display on the Lenawee County Courthouse lawn.

CARI REBOTTARO help with light housekeeping, meal preparation, and other daily tasks that support a safe and comfortable living environment.

The role of a direct care worker extends far beyond physical care. Direct care workers provide valuable social interaction through conversation, companionship, and encouragement.

They help individuals stay engaged in

activities, offer emotional support, and promote dignity and respect in everyday life.

Remaining active is an important part of maintaining independence. Direct care workers often serve as motivators and cheerleaders, encouraging movement and participation in daily activities. This may include taking a walk, completing simple household tasks, or engaging in exercises that help maintain strength and mobility.

Direct care workers are also valued partners for family caregivers. They provide respite for those caring for a loved one at home, giving caregivers time to rest and attend to their own needs. In addition, direct care workers may notice changes in a person’s abilities, health,

or behavior and report those concerns, allowing for an earlier response to illness or disease progression.

No matter where an older adult encounters a direct care worker, one thing remains certain: these professionals provide care, compassion, and support to the individuals they serve. The Lenawee County Department on Aging would like to express its appreciation to all direct care workers throughout Lenawee County. Whether they work for the Department on Aging or another organization, they help older adults maintain their independence, dignity, and quality of life.

Cari Rebottaro is director of the Lenawee County Department on Aging.

Brooklyn recognized by AARP as age-friendly community BROOKLYN — The village of Brooklyn and AARP Michigan recently announced that the village has joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, a national movement dedicated to helping communities become great places for people of all ages to live, work, play and grow older.

Through its participation in the network, Brooklyn joins hundreds of communities across the country that are preparing for demographic change and creating places where residents can remain active, engaged and connected throughout every stage of life. Agefriendly communities focus on the features that shape daily life, including housing, transportation, outdoor spaces, social participation, civic engagement,

health services and opportunities for connection. Brooklyn joins 14 other Michigan communities in the network.

“Strong communities don’t happen by accident — they happen when neighbors come together and think about what people need to live their best lives,” said Paula D. Cunningham, state director of AARP Michigan. “Whether you’re raising a family, launching a career, caring for a loved one or enjoying retirement, you want a community where you can stay connected, feel valued and have the opportunity to contribute. That’s what age-friendly work is all about.”

Brooklyn is home to approximately 1,450 residents, with about half of the population being 50 or older.

“With 50 percent of our population over the age of 50, it’s important that we’re mindful of how we can make Brooklyn more age-friendly,” said village manager Matt Swartzlander. “This is just the start of vital work to make sure the village is a place where people of all ages can thrive.”

The AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities provide participating communities with access to planning tools, research, best practices and a global network of leaders working to make communities more livable for people of all ages.

For more information about the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, visit aarp.org/ agefriendly.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Day Services, 327 Erie St., Adrian. Free respite care is available during the meeting. Call 517-266-2588 to reserve a spot or ask questions.

Men’s Caregiver Support Group: This group meets the first Friday of each month from 2-3 p.m. at Daybreak, 327 Erie St. This group is facilitated by a male counselor, who also has caregiving experience. The group is available for men to share their caregiving challenges and provide support. Respite is available by calling Daybreak Adult Day Services at 266-2588.

Overeaters Anonymous: Saturdays at 10 a.m., Mondays at 1:30 p.m., and Thursdays at 4 p.m. at Serenity House, 600 Gulf St., Adrian.

Al-Anon Meetings: Tuesdays at noon, NewSong Church, 5211 S. Occidental Hwy., Tecumseh.

Tuesdays at 7 p.m., Madison Church of the Nazarene, 3993 Treat Hwy., Adrian.

Thursdays at 6 p.m., NewSong Church, 5211 S. Occidental Hwy., Tecumseh.

Thursdays at 7 p.m., All Saints Episcopal Church, 151 N. Main St., Brooklyn.

Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., Tecumseh District Library, 215 N. Ottawa St., Tecumseh.

Sundays at 1 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1245 W. Maple Ave., Adrian.

Celebrate Recovery: A Christcentered recovery group meeting Saturdays at 9 a.m. at Ogden Church, 3201 East U.S. 223, Adrian. Contact Roger or Theresa Miller, 517-215-5754 or theresamillercr@yahoo.com.

Good Grief: Free drop-in group for adults widowed earlier in life, meeting on the second Tuesday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Hospice of Lenawee, 1903 Wolf Creek Hwy., Adrian.

Contact Heather Popkey or Karen Cheney at 517-263-2323.

Caregiver Support Group: The Lenawee Department on Aging invites all caregivers to its Caregiver Support Group on the first Monday of the month at 2 p.m. at Daybreak Adult

To submit a support group listing or report any corrections or changes, please email Linda Cline at lcline@lenaweevoice.com.

THE LENAWEE VOICE

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AUGUST 2026

Sugartown from page B1 “For us, this grant is about more than adding equipment or expanding what we offer,” Precour said. “It gives us the opportunity to continue building Sugartown into the kind of place we envisioned from the beginning.”

The store features the “Willy Wonka” feel that Precour imagined. The decor is a blend of the original features that date back to the 1850s, along with Amish-made counters and cabinetry that allow the customers to “travel back in time,” she said.

All the products offered at Sugartown Sweets & Soda Shoppe are made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup.

Sugar-free options are available for the chocolates, soda syrups, dark chocolate covered marshmallows, licorice, taffy and caramels. Precour hopes to expand the sugar-free options in the future.

She sources the candies and sodas from older companies, including saltwater taffy that comes from Shriver’s, which has been selling salt-water taffy on the New Jersey boardwalk since 1898.

Another source, a candy maker from France that is sixth-generational, is a source for the bulk candy.

Many of the bulk candies come in flavors that aren’t common, which

allows customers to “expand their taste buds,” Precour said.

The chocolate truffles are also made by smaller companies that are smallerbatch confectioners from all over the United States. The store also carries marshmallow treats made by a husbandand-wife team that travel the United States and create flavors to reflect each state they visit.

The sodas are Italian-style, made from syrup and carbonated water, and can be topped with cold foam or homemade whipped cream.

— Kimberly Precour The soda counter itself currently seats eight people. Precour is planning to add table seating near the front windows.

With the Match on Main funding, Precour plans to add a candy kitchen that will allow customers to watch while Precour makes chocolates and dipped items, such as caramel apples and chocolate-dipped strawberries.

Precour and her family — husband Paul and daughter Sophia — moved to Blissfield in 2019.

“Blissfield is exactly what we were looking for,” she said. “We’re glad we’re here.”

“Blissfield is exactly what we were looking for. We’re glad we’re here.”

Sugartown Sweets & Soda Shoppe 117 W. Adrian St., Blissfield Phone: 517-392-3638

A&W from page B3 After the restaurant closed, Nick worked at Country Market, where a photograph and plaque honoring “Uncle Nick” remain near the entrance. He died in 2005.

“He was a great people person,” said Renee Stewart. “He socialized with everyone who came in.”

The restaurant also became a gathering place for customers, firefighters and police officers. Regulars sometimes sat near the cash register and talked with the staff as they worked.

“We’d have people who would just pop in and philosophize with us,” Rion said.

Sue Fuss, who worked there off and on from 1973 to 1983, said Nick taught her customer service, how to handle money and how to count back change.

She also remembers the day her toddler daughter, Liz, wandered into the walk-in cooler and was accidentally shut inside. Fortunately, she was found quickly.

Stewart’s sister, Kim Herbert, who worked there from 1979 to 1983, remembers earning tips as a carhop and being paid in cash.

“You could go home and have money in your pocket,” she said. “Back then, a few bucks would about fill your car up.”

Herbert met her longtime friend Kim Myers Kelly while working at the restaurant.

Kelly remembers using her earnings to buy Calvin Klein jeans on layaway and later saving enough to pay for her senioryear spring break trip to Florida.

“I learned a lot of responsibility from having that job,” she said. “It was a fun job.”

Don Rutledge worked there in 1965 and 1966. He remembers mixing hamburger in the basement with a canoe paddle and driving younger employees who did not yet have licenses to and from work. His mother, Tillie, worked at the restaurant for 20 years.

Belinda Carlson Lolley and her mom, Vickie Carlson, leaf through a photo album at the Adrian A&W Reunion in Burr Ponds Park.

RENEE LAPHAM COLLINS/LENAWEE VOICE

At the reunion, the menu included many of the foods employees remembered making and serving: coney dogs, chili, burgers, fries and carrot cake.

The food brought back the flavor of the old restaurant, but the gathering was really about the people.

“We thought we were just working at a restaurant, but we were really growing up together.”

— Renee Stewart The former A&W may now exist only in memory, but the friendships, lessons and stories formed there have endured for generations.

Rooty Bear also stopped by the reunion, posing for photographs and adding another familiar face from the restaurant’s past. Former employees tested their memories with a quiz about their years at the A&W, then paged through scores of photo albums that allowed them to revisit the people, celebrations and everyday moments that shaped their time there.

“We thought we were just working at a restaurant,” Stewart reflected. “But we were really growing up together. The building is gone, but the friendships and the memories are still here.”

Morenci Mayor Tracy Schell speaks at the dedication of the new veterans monument in Oak Grove Cemetery. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

Monument from page B1 in the service — William Price, who served in the Navy and was lost at sea, and Vernon Harper.

The monument was designed with space for about 1,000 names to be inscribed on the back, which means it will be a work in progress.

Deatrick plans to get the ball rolling by having his father and two uncles’ names etched into the granite, and anyone can have a veteran’s name added to it just by paying for the cost of inscription.

The monument is located next to the chapel at Oak Grove Cemetery, which is on Lime Creek Highway (M-156) just north of town.

Vada Lambert sings the national anthem at the dedication ceremony.

B14

AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Bows & Toes dog grooming now open in downtown Morenci

By Julie C. Clemes The Lenawee Voice

MORENCI — Bows & Toes, a dog grooming business owned by Morgan VanEpps, opened in January in downtown Morenci.

VanEpps works with her mother, Telisha Chaisson, in the business. She previously was at Playful Paws in Jackson, where she started working in the daycare area before switching to dog grooming.

VanEpps is from Brooklyn and moved to Morenci a year ago after she and her husband found the “perfect house” in Morenci.

The move has been a positive experience, VanEpps said.

“Everybody’s real friendly and the community is close,” she said. “It’s fantastic.”

She realized that there weren’t many dog groomers in the area and decided

Morgan VanEpps, owner of Bows & Toes, is pictured with Dolly, demonstrating one of the creative dye treatments that VanEpps offers. JULIE C. CLEMES/LENAWEE VOICE to start her own grooming business. The business has grown to serve about 100 regular customers.

VanEpps is a “one-on-one” groomer, so there is only one dog in the shop at a time. The salon is appointment-only to ensure the type of environment that is comfortable for the dog.

“It makes it stress-free,” she said. “It’s not noisy at all.”

“It’s just more comfortable for the anxious dog or the older dogs,” she continued.

VanEpps specializes in creative grooming, such as using pet-safe dye to color the dog’s coat or a spiral cut on the dog’s coat, as well as traditional grooming services.

Cost for grooming services depends on the weight of the dog and the type of grooming service the customer wants.

Small dogs are those that weigh under 20 pounds, medium dogs are 21 to 50 pounds, large dogs are 51 to 80 pounds, and extra-large dogs are 81 pounds or more.

Costs for a bath-and-brush range from $30 to $50 for a small dog, $50 to $60 for a medium dog, $60 to $75 for a large dog, and $75 to $95 for an extra-large dog.

The next level, a mini-groom, includes the bath-and-brush as well as a trim around the face and feet and a sanitary trim. A full groom adds a full coat trim.

Prices for grooming range from $50 for a mini-groom for a small dog to $135 for a full groom on an extra-large dog.

Other services include a de-shed at $15, a nail trim/dremel at $15, teeth brushing at $10, flea and tick treatment from $15 to $25, anal gland expression for $15, and nail polish at $10.

Creative grooming costs depend on the type of cut or dye treatment the customer is interested in.

Bows & Toes is located at 137 W. Main St. in Morenci. Contact the salon by phone or text at 517-740-4120, or by email at BowsandToes25@gmail.com.

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THE LENAWEE VOICE

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AUGUST 2026

EBEID CENTER CALENDAR FOR AUGUST ADRIAN — The following programs are planned for August at the Ebeid Center, 801 E. Maumee St., Adrian. The center is a program of the ProMedica Ebeid Neighborhood Promise. For more information, email AdrianENP@ ProMedica.org or call 517-264-1365.

Coalition Activity Planning (East Adrian Community Coalition) — Monday, Aug. 3, from 5-6 p.m. Help shape activities that build strong relationships among neighbors, promote a positive community spirit, and provide enriching experiences for all ages. The Activities Planning Committee is open to all.

Yoga for Seniors (offered by the YMCA at 801 E. Maumee St.) — Tuesdays, Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 3 p.m.

These classes are appropriate for all skill levels. This free series will continue and include new offerings.

Kid Fit (offered by the YMCA of Lenawee County) — Wednesdays, Aug. 5, 12, 19 and 26, at 4 p.m. Kid Fit is designed to help kids build strength, confidence, coordination and healthy habits through fun, active games and exercises through August. Ages 5-12 are welcome with appropriate fitness activities designed for each age.

Teen Fit (offered by the YMCA of Lenawee County) — Wednesdays, Aug. 5, 12, 19 and 26, at 5 p.m. Teen Fit is designed for beginners and active teen athletes to improve agility, speed, balance and strength through fun group training

sessions and athletic drills. Teens will gain confidence while developing a strong foundation for sports and lifelong fitness.

Community Coalition Meeting (East Adrian Community Coalition) — Monday, Aug. 10 from 5-6 p.m. The coalition meets the second Monday of every month.

Mental Health First Aid (presented

by Community Mental Health) — Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mental health first aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. This is a blended course with two hours self-paced and online, and 6.5 hours led by an instructor in person. Registration required.

Health in the Heart of Adrian (presented by ProMedica) — Saturday, Aug. 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Get free

access to A1C testing, stroke screening, cancer education, hearing tests, massage therapy, haircuts and much more. Free produce from the Veggie Mobile and carryout lunch will be provided for the first 100 who attend.

Rent for Success (presented

by Community Action Agency) — Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 5:30-7 p.m. Learn about fair housing laws, lease agreements, tenants’ rights, maintenance, repairs, and more. All who attend will receive a $50 stipend if they pre-register and complete a private budget session with Community Action Agency. Registration required.

Fathers of Lenawee (facilitated by De’Angelo Boone) — Saturday, Aug. 29, at noon. All Lenawee County fathers are invited to be a part of this fathers’ support initiative.

B16

AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Michigan authors in the spotlight at local libraries » PAGE C2

Telegraph Quartet closes ASO’s chamber music series » PAGE C3

ARTS & LIVING JIM WHITEHOUSE

Morenci hosts Labor Day Bridge Walk » PAGE C4

THE LENAWEE VOICE THIRD SECTION AUGUST 2026

Sometimes you have to be ...

Life on the Floating Porch Everyone in this watery state of Michigan seems to have a different idea of the best kind of boat to use.

During my own boating years, sailboats were my choice. Sailboats, canoes, kayaks — anything without a motor. Not that I didn’t have some fun with motorboats. Water skiing, just zipping around the lake for fun on days when there was insufficient wind to go sailing. Doing a bit of fishing — that kind of stuff.

But for me, it was always back to the sailboats.

When my dad aged out of the physical job of sailing, he bought a pontoon boat, which he and my mother never referred to as a pontoon boat. Nope. It was a Floating Porch.

Dad was never one to spend $2 if he could spend $1, so his Floating Porch was not a luxury model. It was a strippeddown old thing with a small motor and no built-in furniture. Instead he had a few aluminum folding chairs chained to the railing with a bicycle lock, as if anyone would want to steal an aluminum folding chair with worn-out webbing.

The pontoons leaked, but slowly.

When my beloved wife Marsha and I were at the lake with our then-little kids, we’d sometimes borrow Dad’s Floating Porch. Since I was never much in love with putt-putting slowly around the lake while sitting in a lawn chair, I’d never start the motor.

See WHITEHOUSE, page C4

Alayna Brazzil plays the title role in “Matilda,” opening Aug. 6 at the Croswell Opera House. TAYLEEN THEISEN/STUDIO CHERE PHOTOGRAPHY

A little bit naughty ‘Matilda’ at the Croswell is a fantastical tale for the ‘Revolting Children’ in us all ADRIAN — A precocious young girl who discovers she has unusual powers is at the center of “Matilda,” the musical based on a children’s book

by Roald Dahl that opens Aug. 6 at the Croswell Opera House.

THEATER —

The exuberant musical follows the title character as she triumphs over indifferent parents and a cruel headmistress — and learns that everyone has the power to change their story. She may be treated poorly by her parents but she finds support and encouragement in her teacher, Miss Honey. And while the headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and loves punishment for those that don’t follow her rules, Matilda has the courage and cleverness to be the saving grace that the students need.

Anyone who’s seen the 2022 Netflix film will find that the stage show is full of familiar tunes, because this musical is the work that inspired it. The songs include the mischievous “Naughty,” the high-energy “Revolting Children,” and the hauntingly plaintive “When I Grow Up.” The director of “Matilda” is Brian Hissong and the assistant director is Erin Pifer. Choreography is by Jodi Hissong and the music director is Josh Glover.

See ‘MATILDA,’ page C4

Hidden Lake Gardens marks the 100th anniversary of Harry Fee’s dream

By Arlene Bachanov The Lenawee Voice

TIPTON — One hundred years ago this year, one of Adrian’s most successful businessmen, Harry Anson Fee, decided he wanted a retirement project.

Fee had just retired as the president and general manager of what was then known as the Citizen’s Light and Power Co., Adrian’s electric utility. He had long wanted to own a lake, and so he bought Hidden Lake, near Tipton, and the three parcels of farmland surrounding it — roughly 228 acres — and started trying to farm the property.

The end result of Fee’s venture is what is now known as Hidden Lake Gardens, which has spent 2026 celebrating its centennial dating from Fee’s purchase of the original piece of land. The Gardens

DESTINATIONS —

Carlos Coronado and Theresa Zatirka, who were visiting from the Detroit area over the Fourth of July weekend, are pictured looking over the Sky Walk at Hidden Lake Gardens.

It was their second trip to the botanical garden, which is operated by Michigan State University on land purchased by Harry Fee 100 years ago. LAD STRAYER/LENAWEE VOICE

are located at 6214 M-50, just west of Tipton.

As good as Fee had been at business, he was a failure as a farmer because the land was not especially well suited for the purpose.

Hidden Lake itself is what geologists call a kettle lake, formed by a chunk of ice left behind by the ancient glacier that once covered Michigan. The glacier also left rocky soil in its wake as it retreated, and besides the resulting poor soil the land was too hilly to be easily farmed.

The farm “was quickly a flop,” Jessica Goodrich, Hidden Lake Gardens’ marketing and publicity coordinator, said.

And so, about a year after purchasing the land, Fee decided to start growing nursery stock instead — only to shut that business down at the dawn of the Great Depression because he did not want to compete with local nurseries struggling to earn a living.

See HIDDEN LAKE, page C5

C2 | ARTS & LIVING

AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

MICHIGAN AUTHORS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Local libraries will host a variety of author talks this month

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8/26

Cheryl L. Neely

Aram Mrjoian

Rod Sadler

“No Human Involved: The Serial Murder of Black Women and Girls and the Deadly Cost of Police Indifference”

“Waterline: A Novel”

“Depraved Obsession: The Gripping True Story of Law Enforcement’s Hunt for a Sadistic Serial Killer”

In this book, Cheryl L. Neely, a professor of sociology at Oakland Community College, examines the lives and deaths of Black women and girls whose murders were neglected by both police and media. She examines how although Black women are killed at a higher rate than any other group of women in the U.S., their deaths are often treated with less urgency. This book is a Library of Michigan 2026 Michigan Notable Books selection.

Adrian District Library

143 E. Maumee St., Adrian Saturday, Aug. 8, at 1:30 p.m.

“Waterline” follows an Armenian-American family as they confront grief, inherited trauma, and the enduring impact of history across generations. Outside Detroit on the island of Gross Ile, the Kurkjian family receives news that Mari, the eldest of their youngest generation, has swum into the depths of Lake Michigan with no intent of returning to shore.

The consequences of his suicide drag out a deeply rooted pain passed down from generations before. The author, who teaches creative writing at the University of Michigan, explores the complex beauty of diaspora, the weight of inherited trauma, and the echoes of the Armenian Genocide on contemporary Armenian life.

Tecumseh District Library

Drawing on his three decades in law enforcement, Rod Sadler explores the investigation into one of southeast Michigan’s most disturbing serial killer cases, offering a firsthand perspective on the detectives, victims’ families, and the pursuit of justice.

This book details the search for Ronald Lloyd Bailey, who assaulted several boys, killing two of them, in the 1970s and ’80s. Sadler is the author of several true crime narratives set in Michigan, including “Killing Women” and “Grim Paradise.”

Tecumseh District Library 215 N. Ottawa St., Tecumseh Saturday, Aug. 8, at 2 p.m.

215 N. Ottawa St., Tecumseh Thursday, Aug. 6, at 6:30 p.m.

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THE LENAWEE VOICE

ARTS & LIVING | C3

AUGUST 2026

Telegraph String Quartet concludes ASO’s summer chamber music series Modern American composer Kenji Bunch joins 19th-century masters Debussy and Mendelssohn on August 26 program

By Arlene Bachanov The Lenawee Voice

ADRIAN — A journey through three works for string quartet, each of which in its own way took previous musical forms and put a new twist on them, is on tap for the final concert of the Adrian Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Chamber Series.

The concert, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26 at Holy Rosary Chapel at the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ Motherhouse, features the Telegraph String Quartet, made up of violinists Joseph Maile and Eric Chin, violist Pei-Ling Lin, and cellist Jeremiah Shaw.

Tickets are $27 and can be ordered online at adriansymphony.org or by calling 517-264-3121. Student tickets are free at the box office only with a valid student ID. The chapel is located at 1257 E. Siena Heights Drive, Adrian.

The evening’s program includes Debussy’s String Quartet in G minor, Kenji Bunch’s String Quartet No. 3: Apocryphal Dances, and Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 2 in A minor.

Maile said in an email interview that the Telegraph Quartet selected these particular pieces, not only for this concert but for performance throughout the ensemble’s upcoming 2026-27 season, because “we love each of them for their ingenuity and storytelling and we always try to start with that aspect when we choose repertoire.”

“All three of these works are kind of taking a new spin on, and experimenting with, the traditional forms that were canonized before them — Mendelssohn is channeling the through-composed elements of the late Beethoven quartets he so adored, Debussy is putting a very modern and non-Germanic spin on a traditional German chamber and symphonic form and Kenji is cooking with the recipes of the Baroque using modern ingredients,” he said.

Debussy’s piece, the only one he wrote for string quartet, was composed

MUSIC —

The Telegraph String Quartet, which will perform on Aug. 26 in Holy Rosary Chapel, is made up of violinist Eric Chin, cellist Jeremiah Shaw, violist Pei-Ling Lin, and violinist Joseph Maile. PHOTO COURTESY OF TELEGRAPH STRING QUARTET

Telegraph String Quartet DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 7:30 p.m.

LOCATION: Holy Rosary Chapel, 1257 E. Siena Heights Drive TICKETS: $27 (or free at the door for students with ID) TO ORDER: 517-264-3121 or online at adriansymphony.org in 1893. While it follows the traditional string quartet movement structure, it was “a seminal foray of Debussy’s into harmonic and coloristic worlds very exotic in their timbre and far from the established Austro-Germanic aesthetic that had reigned supreme up till then,” Maile said.

Bunch, an American composer who lives in Oregon, wrote his third string quartet in 2017. He “amalgamates the Baroque style — pre-dating the formal string quartet medium — with contemporary folk and popular music in a cheekily anachronistic tip of the hat to that bygone era,” Maile said.

Finally, “the 19-year-old wunderkind, Felix Mendelssohn,” writing his first mature composition in 1827, “at this stage is fervently following in the very big creative footsteps of his predecessor Beethoven, experimenting with motivic unity in the traditional four-movement structure by linking musical themes throughout the first three movements and introduction into his final movement.”

The Telegraph Quartet was formed in 2013 in San Francisco, where some of the

members had a shared connection to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

The ensemble takes its name from Telegraph Hill, an iconic landmark of the San Francisco Bay area.

“But I like to also think we share something poignant with our technological namesake, the telegraph machine, as one of the first forms of communication across vast distances — something the string quartet does with emotions not only across cultural distances but [also] transmitting deep emotions of past eras into our own modern times,” Maile said.

After being the Quartet-in-Residence at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music from 2017 to 2024, the ensemble became the Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Michigan.

The Telegraph Quartet performs across the U.S. and overseas and has recorded several albums. The group’s current recording project, under the Azica label, involves contemporary string quartets by the late American composer George Rochberg and Jamaican composer Eleanor Alberga.

Coming up The Adrian Symphony Orchestra’s 2026-27 season begins on Sunday, Oct. 11, with “Oscar Winners: Songs and Scores,” featuring music from Academy Awardwinning films like “Frozen,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and more. That concert will be followed on Nov. 15 by the music of Hector Berlioz and Ludwig van Beethoven. See the complete schedule at adriansymphony.org.

C4 | ARTS & LIVING

AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

Ragtime Revue to organize Big Read in Adrian next year ADRIAN — The River Raisin Ragtime Revue, or R4, a professional ragtime orchestra with programming based in Adrian, was selected by the National Endowment for the Arts to present a community Big Read in Adrian. The NEA awarded the orchestra a $20,000 matching grant, the largest amount that can be awarded by the program.

The NEA Big Read is a nationwide program started in 2006 and designed to bring communities together through a shared reading experience. It provides matching grants to local organizations to fund book clubs, author talks, writing workshops, and other creative events.

The 2026-27 Big Read honors 250 years of the American story by celebrating the country’s culture, history, and resilience through the eyes of its citizens. The Ragtime Revue selected Catherine Clinton’s “Harriet Tubman: The Road To Freedom” for the program.

R4 executive director William Pemberton said the book “will allow the local

Whitehouse from page C1 Instead, we’d load our cooler with a few drinks, some sandwiches and fruit, open the crude wooden chest Dad kept on the Porch to dig out some life jackets, and off we’d go. “Off we’d go” meant that I’d jump in the lake and pull the Floating Porch 100 feet away from the dock and anchor it.

The kids would swim, we’d sit in the sun for a bit, eat a sandwich, drink some pop, and then I’d pull the Floating Porch back to the dock to end the day.

As for canoeing, Marsha and I learned early in our courtship that paddling a canoe down a river is a great test of a relationship. Both of us, before meeting, had experience canoeing, so we had our separate ideas about the best strokes, the channel to choose and all the other fine points of navigating moving water in a skinny boat. Her views on the best practices were wrong and mine were right. Or mine were wrong and hers were right.

We survived. It was only after we married and wallpapered some rooms that we found a better test of a strong relationship than canoeing.

Speaking of canoeing, my good friend Richard likes to canoe, so he decided to build some canoes. And make the paddles. Lots and lots of paddles.

Richard, you see, always has big ideas. So far, he has built three canoes.

Each one is 35 feet long and will hold 20 people. A canoe that size is not something that two people can carry to the water, so he had to build trailers big enough to haul the canoes. Ah, Richard!

He likes horses, too. When he was in college, he worked summers driving carriages on Mackinac Island. He still does drive a carriage on Mackinac Island.

When he goes there for a visit he takes his own antique carriage and a pair of horses on a freight ferry.

Thinking about Richard and thinking about my dad, I wonder what would have happened to dad’s Floating Porch if Richard had borrowed it for a couple of weeks? It might have become the only horse-drawn Floating Porch on the lake using gigantic canoes for pontoons and antique carriage seats instead of folding aluminum lawn chairs.

Jim Whitehouse grew up in Morenci, practiced law in Hudson, and now lives in Albion.

community to explore the significant abolitionist activities in Lenawee County prior to the Emancipation Proclamation.”

Clinton’s book will be supplemented by other selections that support the project. These include Laura Smith Haviland’s “A Woman’s Life-Work: Labors and Experiences,” and two works

by National Book Award-winning author and historian Tiya Miles, “All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake” and “Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People.”

R4 is partnering with the Adrian District Library and at least 12 other community organizations to bring numerous events to Adrian audiences.

Events will take place from January through May 2027 at various Adrian

venues, including the Adrian District Library, the Lenawee Historical Museum, and the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ Weber Center.

In addition to the featured authors, presenters will include Harriet Tubman historian and interpreter Kathryn Harris, former Adrian College chaplain Christopher Momany, Lenawee County historian Bruce Neal, and the R4 orchestra.

The Lenawee NAACP will offer guided bus tours to Underground Railroad and abolitionist historic sites. In addition, R4 is working with the Hispanics of Lenawee Alliance to present an event exploring the concept of freedom from a local Hispanic and Latino perspective.

R4 is partnering with Adrian Morning Rotary and the Boys and Girls Club to develop youth activities that will include

book giveaways, youth book clubs, and writing contests.

Numerous adult book clubs and discussion groups will be organized for the several-month event by the Adrian District Library and partnering groups.

The project will also highlight R4’s Haviland Hall renovation project on the PlaneWave Instruments campus in Adrian. R4 is converting the historic 1882 church, originally built with the help of Laura Smith Haviland, into a community arts and educational venue that will house the orchestra and its archives.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the Big Read project.

For more information, email info@ r4ragtime.org. Information is also available at ragtimeband.org/big-read.

Labor Day Bridge Walk in Morenci MORENCI — You don’t have to drive four hours north to walk across a five-mile bridge this Labor Day. Instead, join the Kiwanis Club of Morenci for a 25-second stroll across the southernmost bridge in Michigan.

The 32nd annual Silver Creek Bridge Walk will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 7, on the historic truss bridge at the Michigan-Ohio border in Morenci.

This fun, tongue-in-cheek tradition offers a lighthearted alternative to the Mackinac Bridge Walk, bringing neighbors and visitors together to celebrate community and kick off the holiday.

This year, Kiwanis is partnering with Morenci American Legion Post 368 and will honor the 250th anniversary of the United States. The event will include public speakers, patriotic trivia and prizes, the traditional short walk across the 81-foot pedestrian bridge, and a free hot dog lunch provided by the Kiwanis Club.

Community members, representatives of local organizations, and elected officials are invited to take part in the open mic. Speakers may sign up at the event, and remarks are limited to one minute; short and sweet, just like the bridge walk.

Immediately following the walk, the Kiwanis Club will hold its Golf Ball Drop Fundraiser Raffle. Only 100 golf

‘Matilda’ from page C1 The role of Matilda is played by Alayna Brazzil of Holland, Ohio. The headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, is played by Jeffrey King of Temperance.

Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, are played by Ashley Fox of Ypsilanti and Emma Skaggs of Perrysburg, Ohio.

The role of Miss Honey is played by Becca Nowak of Britton. Eli Fox of Ypsilanti plays the role of Matilda’s brother Michael and Leigh Jewett of Temperance plays librarian Mrs. Phelps.

Among the students of Crunchem Hall, Landon Miller of Adrian plays the role of Bruce and Genesis Mutatu of Adrian plays the role of Lavender.

The role of Amanda is played by Norah Stukey of Saline and the role of Nigel is played by Jesse Gutierrez of Adrian. Jake Aviles of Ypsilanti plays the role of Eric; Natalie Villagomez of Swanton, Ohio, plays the role of Alice; Marlo Hissong

People cross the Silver Creek Bridge during last year’s Labor Day Bridge Walk in Morenci, which is Michigan’s southernmost city’s answer to the annual Mackinac Bridge Walk.

ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE

balls will be sold for $20 each. The firstplace winner will receive $500, second place will receive $250, and third place will receive $100. Participants do not need to be present to win. All proceeds from the raffle support Kiwanis of Morenci’s mission to serve youth in the community.

To order a commemorative T-shirt or purchase a golf ball, see a Kiwanian or visit the Morenci Kiwanis Club Facebook page for more information.

Labor Day Bridge Walk

of Severna Park, Maryland, plays the role of Hortensia; and Zarek Devlin of Adrian plays the role of Tommy.

The Acrobat is played by Katie Giller of Oregon, Ohio; the Escape Artist by LaMar Ashford of Ypsilanti; the Children’s Entertainer by Mitchell LaRoy of Blissfield; and Rudolpho by Nathan Glover of Toledo.

Rounding out the cast are Makenzie Gonzalez, Shannah Mutatu, Libby Pifer, Astrid Thomas, Luca Walter, Trae Wesson, Briella York, and Elijah York of Adrian; Delayna Garcia of Cement City; Ethan Anderson of Manchester; Rinnah King of Temperance; Miriam Roth of Ypsilanti; Adalyn Brazzil of Holland, Ohio; Derrick McCullough of Perrysburg, Ohio; Jocelyn Villagomez of Swanton, Ohio; and Talitha Thomas of Sylvania, Ohio.

“Matilda” opens on Thursday, Aug. 6. The first weekend will have performances on Thursday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m., with no Friday

performance because of the Croswell’s 160th-anniversary reunion on Aug. 7.

The second weekend will have performances on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets range from $26 to $46 for adults and $16 to $26 for students, and may be ordered online at croswell.org or by calling 517-264-7469.

The Croswell reminds patrons that it will never sell tickets for more than the advertised price, so any website offering tickets for a higher price is a scam.

DATE AND TIME: Monday, Sept. 7, at 11 a.m.

LOCATION: Silver Creek Bridge, on M-156 south of downtown Morenci.

MORE DETAILS: The annual bridge walk will be followed by a golf ball drop raffle to raise money for Kiwanis Club programs.

Show dates and times Thursday, Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 8 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. n Sunday, Aug. 9 at 2:30 p.m. n Thursday, Aug. 13 at 7:30 p.m. n Friday, Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m. n Saturday, Aug. 15 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. n Sunday, Aug. 16 at 2:30 p.m. n n

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AUGUST 2026

Hidden Lake from page C1 Instead, Fee turned his nursery stock into an arboretum. Cars were fairly new on the scene, and his idea was that families could take a Sunday drive out to his property and motor along its thendirt road looking at the scenery he had created.

Today, the tens of thousands of visitors each year who explore Hidden Lake Gardens — which now stretches across 755 acres — are experiencing the fulfillment of “Harry’s idea for a series of pictures,” Goodrich said, featuring different groupings of trees and other plants.

It does seem that Harry’s wife Harriett didn’t exactly share her husband’s love of rural life. According to Goodrich, “Harry would have been happy living in the farmhouse here,” which although in need of repair still stands on the property today, “but she wanted to live in town.”

And so Harry would regularly visit his land solo, driving out from Adrian in a tan Packard that his workers knew to listen for. “Work would pick up” when they heard his car coming, Goodrich laughed.

Still, Harriett Kimball Fee has her own place in Hidden Lake Gardens’ history, and in Adrian history as well.

Harry sold Hidden Lake Gardens to Michigan State University in 1945. When Harriett died not long after, her will set up a trust fund for the property, but it stipulated that if her husband did not do likewise in his will, then her trust would instead go to the city of Adrian for its parks.

As it turned out, when Harry died in 1955, he had not put such a stipulation in his will. A protracted court fight later, Adrian had its parks beautification fund.

The decision “changed the course of history for Hidden Lake Gardens, because it would have had an endowment,” Goodrich said. Today, the Gardens operates primarily off of its admission fees, memberships, and gifts from donors.

After Harry died, his sister, Jessie, remained an integral part of the facility until her own passing almost 15 years later.

“Jessie Fee was very concerned about the direction [Hidden Lake Gardens] would take,” Goodrich said. “She wanted to preserve the natural feel and not make it commercial, and the stakeholders at MSU heard her.”

And, she said, “there’s some nostalgia here, a feeling of decades gone by.”

Today’s Hidden Lake Gardens features a visitors center, which includes a gift shop, a library, and exhibits about its history and geology; a conservatory with a Tropical Biome, an Arid Biome, and a Temperate House; several extensive collections of plants; 12 miles of hiking trails in addition to the paved road that wends its way around the property; and a picnic area.

The visitors center and conservatory were funded by the Herrick family of Tecumseh, a fact that’s readily apparent in the building’s construction: Indiana limestone, the same stone used in Herrick-funded buildings including the Tecumseh Center for the Arts and most of the facilities at Adrian College.

As for the plant collections, each one “has an interesting story behind it,” Goodrich said.

The more than 350-plant Harper Collection of Rare and Dwarf Conifers, donated by Justin C. Harper in 1981, was moved to the Gardens from Moline, Illinois. There’s also a nationally recognized collection of hostas at Hosta

Laura Hartmann of Adrian enjoys the Temperate House, one of the climates that visitors can experience at Hidden Lake Gardens. LAD STRAYER/LENAWEE VOICE Harry Fee, whose land purchase 100 years ago eventually led to what is now Hidden Lake Gardens, is pictured around 1953.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HIDDEN LAKE GARDENS

Jeff and Danielle Shepherd of Hudson visit the Arid Biome greenhouse at Hidden Lake Gardens over the Fourth of July weekend. LAD STRAYER/LENAWEE VOICE Hillside, which the Michigan Hosta Society helped develop and which stands on the site of a rock garden Fee created, and the Bonsai Courtyard, dedicated to the preservation of this ancient Japanese horticultural art form.

“Jack Wikle [Hidden Lake Gardens’ legendary bonsai expert] started collecting bonsai” in a small space by the conservatory, Goodrich said. Today, with the help of numerous area bonsai enthusiasts, the collection has grown to several dozen plants, “the oldest of which is some two thousand years old.”

Hidden Lake Gardens’ most recent addition, in 2023, was the Sky Walk, which takes visitors as high as 65 feet over a kettle hole — another feature left behind by that long-ago glacier — to get a treetops’-eye view of the forest floor below.

As the facility looks toward its future, it’s working on a master strategic plan “with the intention of having a very specific path forward for the next 20 to 25 years,” Goodrich said.

That planning includes looking at increasing parking for larger events and updating the 1960s infrastructure to improve issues like accessibility. The facility is also exploring installing a children’s garden and creating associated events to build community.

But “anything we do, we want to hark back to Harry Fee’s original vision,” Goodrich said.

In addition to its paid staff of seven, Hidden Lake Gardens has a dedicated corps of volunteers who carry out all manner of tasks at the facility. More volunteers are always welcome.

“A lot of great things that happen here happen because of the great people we have,” Goodrich said. “The staff and volunteers are very invested in Hidden Lake Gardens and very committed to its success.”

Hidden Lake Gardens is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays year-round except for certain holidays. Last admission is 4:30 p.m. Sky Walk hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the conservatory, the Bonsai Courtyard, and the visitors center and gift shop are open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens, $8 for military members and veterans with ID, $5 for students, and free for children 4 and under. Admission covers all attractions including the Sky Walk.

Yearly memberships are available at a variety of levels. For individuals and families, the cost is $80 per household (two adults, dependent children, and free admission for up to six accompanying guests), $45 for individuals, $65 for a child and an adult living at the same address, and $20 for students.

Membership includes free admission year-round; discounts on classes, workshops, lectures, and gift shop merchandise; access to membersonly programs and events; and free or reduced admission to participating public gardens and nature centers throughout North America.

For more information on Hidden Lake Gardens and its upcoming events, call 517-431-2060, email hlg@msu.edu, or go online at hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu or the Hidden Lake Gardens Facebook page.

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AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

AUGUST THINGS TO DO IN LENAWEE COUNTY To submit events for inclusion in this calendar, please email news@lenaweevoice.com by the 15th of the month before the event.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 Summer Reading 2026 Finale Party Tecumseh District Library, 1-2 p.m.

Celebrate a summer of reading with ice cream on the library’s west lawn, a prize raffle, and the gravity-defying antics of Crazy Craig Wise.

Free.

215 N. Ottawa St., Tecumseh 517-423-2238 or tecumsehlibrary.org

Shakespeare in the Park: ‘Romeo & Juliet’ Trestle Park Bandshell, 6:30 p.m.

The third outing for the Adrian Shakespeare Company. Continues Sunday. Free.

302 W. Hunt St., Adrian adrianshakespeare.org

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2 Shakespeare in the Park: ‘Romeo & Juliet’ Trestle Park Bandshell, 2:30 p.m.

The third outing for the Adrian Shakespeare Company. Final performance. Free.

302 W. Hunt St., Adrian adrianshakespeare.org

MONDAY, AUGUST 3 Torn Paper Goldfish Craft Clayton branch library, 3-5 p.m.

Kids of all ages can drop by the Clayton branch of the Lenawee District Library for this craft, tearing pieces of paper and using them to create mosaic-like goldfish artwork. Free; no registration required.

3457 State St., Clayton

Deerfield Sewing Club Deerfield branch library, 5-6 p.m.

Sewers ages 17 and up of all skill levels are invited to join the Deerfield Sewing Club. Bring your machine, materials, and current project and work on it surrounded by others. This is not an instructional group.

170 Raisin St., Deerfield

TUESDAY, AUGUST 4 Paige’s Petting Farm Schultz-Holmes District Library, 2-3 p.m.

Celebrate the end of Summer Reading 2026 with a visit from Paige’s Petting Farm in the front yard of the library.

407 S. Lane St., Blissfield 517-486-2858 or blissfieldlibrary.org

Lenawee County Family Researchers 50th Anniversary Celebration Sand Creek Community Church, 5 p.m.

Lenawee County Family Researchers will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the group’s founding with a potluck dinner. Bring a dish to pass and your own table service; cake will be provided. The public is welcome.

6190 East St., Sand Creek

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5 Sip & Stitch Farver’s at the Croswell, 4-6 p.m.

A fun and relaxed midweek activity for knitting, crocheting, hand embroidering, cross stitching, and other fiber arts. Bring your current project and join the crew from Tink & the Frog Yarn Shop for drinks, snacks, and good company.

129 E. Maumee St., Adrian

Family Movie: ‘Hotel Transylvania 3’ Lenawee District Library, 2-3:30 p.m.

The Lenawee District Library will be showing the family-friendly film “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation.” Refreshments will be provided; all ages welcome.

4459 West U.S. 223, Adrian lenawee.lib.mi.us or 517-263-1011

Family Movie: ‘Clifford the Big Red Dog’ Deerfield Branch Library, 5 p.m.

The Deerfield Branch of the Lenawee District Library will be showing the 2021 film “Clifford the Big Red Dog.” Enjoy popcorn and pizza while you watch. All ages welcome.

170 Raisin St., Deerfield

Brooklyn Big Boy Car Show Night Brooklyn Big Boy, 5-8 p.m.

Every Wednesday, this car show features a live DJ, 50/50, driver prizes and more.

329 S. Main St., Brooklyn

Spirited Discussions Mammoth Distilling, 6 p.m.

Spirited Discussions, the Lenawee District Library’s summer book club, will meet at Mammoth Distilling to discuss the novel “Dear Edward” by Ann Napolitano. Copies of the book are available for checkout at the Main Branch, 4459 West U.S. 223 in Adrian.

108 E. Maumee St., Adrian

Cambrian Annual Cruise Night Cambrian Senior Living, 6-7:30 p.m.

Cars, trucks, tractors and bikes are all welcome.

No entry fee. Prizes, food, crafts, and a live performance by ABC Sisters. Registration is at 5:30 p.m.

333 N. Occidental Hwy., Tecumseh cambrianseniorliving.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6 Hudson Citywide Yard Sale City of Hudson The Hudson Citywide Yard Sale takes place from Aug. 6-9, the same weekend as the U.S. 127 Yard Sale.

World’s Longest Yard Sale U.S. 127 from Addison and points south This yard sale runs the length of U.S. 127 from Addison all the way to Gadsden, Alabama.

Details at 127yardsale.com.

Music in the Park: Schlitz Creek Adams Park, 6-8 p.m.

Tecumseh comes alive with this outdoor concert series in the park next to City Hall.

Free.

309 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh 517-423-5602 or downtowntecumseh.com

Author visit: Aram Mrjoian Tecumseh District Library, 6:30 p.m.

An evening with University of Michigan creative writing lecturer Aram Mrjoian, named a 2026 Michigan Notable Book Author by the Library of Michigan. Mrjoian will discuss his acclaimed debut novel, “Waterline.”

215 N. Ottawa St., Tecumseh 517-423-2238 or tecumsehlibrary.org

‘Matilda’ Croswell Opera House, 7:30 p.m.

Based on the novel by Roald Dahl, this exuberant musical focuses on a young girl with astonishing intelligence and powers as she triumphs over indifferent parents and a cruel headmistress — and learns that everyone has the power to change their story. Continues Saturday, Sunday and next weekend. Adults $46/$36/$26, students $26/$22/$16.

129 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-264-7469 or croswell.org

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7 Home Builders Association Golf Outing Wolf Creek Golf Club, 9 a.m.

This event by the Home Builders Association of Jackson, Hillsdale & Lenawee will bring members and industry partners in Lenawee County together for a day of golf, networking, and fun. Registration is $425, including golf for four players, cart, lunch, dinner, and drink tickets. For more information, contact Patrick O’Dowd, 517-936-8329 or pat@hbajmi.com.

6363 Burton Road, Adrian

THE LENAWEE VOICE

AUGUST 2026

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7 Shaving Cream Art Clayton Branch Library, 3-5 p.m.

Kids of all ages can drop by the Clayton Branch Library to make art prints using shaving cream and food coloring. No registration required.

3457 State St., Clayton

The Croswell Family Reunion Croswell Opera House, 4 p.m.

As part of its 160th anniversary celebration, the Croswell will host a family reunion calling home performers, volunteers, audiences, supporters, and families from across generations. Free, but registration is requested at croswellreunion.givesmart.com.

129 E. Maumee St., Adrian croswell.org or 517-264-7469

America’s 250th Birthday Car Show Onsted American Legion, 5-8 p.m.

No entry fee or registration. Prizes will be awarded. Food truck on site; Jaded Soul Band performing from 7-10 p.m. Bring your own chair. For more information, call or text 517-605-8199. Free.

333 Connor St., Onsted

Adrian First Fridays: Life is a Stage Downtown Adrian, 5-8 p.m.

Downtown Adrian’s monthly First Fridays event features shopping, food, activities, and more.

First Fridays Car Show: Muscle Cars Lenawee Fair & Event Grounds, 5-8 p.m.

The theme for this month’s car show is muscle cars. Live music by the band JTE. 602 N. Dean St., Adrian

Outdoor Escape Room Experiences Adrian District Library, 5-7 p.m.

The Adrian District Library will host two outdoor escape room experiences in front of the library. Designed by Escape Room Novi, the two themed experiences are the Wild West Saloon and the Super Villain Lair. Each escape room adventure lasts 20 minutes and accommodates four to six participants at a time. Recommended for ages 8 and up.

143 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-265-2265 or adrian.lib.mi.us

A Night at the American Farm Museum Hathaway House, 6 p.m.

An evening of community, heritage, and celebration that includes a sneak peek of the new American Farm Museum and Education Center gallery space in the former Hathaway House location. Enjoy curated cocktails at the cash bar and a dinner prepared by The Stable team, served on the lawn of the Hathaway House. $75 per person or $600 for a table of eight.

424 W. Adrian St., Blissfield afmecblissfield.org

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8 Riga Days Riga Park, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This community festival includes vendor displays, bounce houses, yard sales, popcorn, cotton candy, and hot dogs and chips provided by the Riga Fire Department. Vendors can contact LeAnn Rose at lrose@bionix.com or 517-673-0405 to reserve a space.

7817 Riga Highway, Riga

Devils & Round Lake Auto Show Village of Manitou Beach, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Devils & Round Lake Auto Show will showcase a lineup of classics, hot rods, and modern custom builds for automotive enthusiasts of all ages. Enjoy food from Smoky D’z BBQ as well as local restaurants including Two Lakes Tavern and Blackbird Cafe & Baking Co. Live entertainment will be provided by Ryan Groth. Visitors can also enjoy the Manitou Beach Farmers & Crafters Market.

110 Walnut St., Manitou Beach

Family to Family Sale Align Center for Workforce Development, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Deadline to have a table is Aug. 3 ($5 for one table, $10 for two tables). For more information, call 517-301-6106 or email melina@aligncentermi.org. $2 admission.

440 E. Church St., Adrian

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AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8 Main Street Multiverse

Join Lenawee Lifelong Learning for our October classes, designed for interested adults on a variety of topics.

Knowledgeable instructors donate their time and expertise. There are NO tests, NO papers and NO grades – only fun and learning! Pay a flat fee of $35 per semester and take as many classes as you’d like!

Fall Classes: Chinese Poetry; Alzheimers – 4 part presentation; Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo & the Detroit Industry Murals; The Supreme Court – 4 cases; Poetry; Science and Discovery.

Tour: The Detroit Institute of Arts – transportation provided.

FALL CLASSES WILL MEET ON FOUR TUESDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS IN OCTOBER AT THE WEBER CENTER.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR WEBSITE:

LENAWEELIFELONGLEARNING.ORG

Downtown Tecumseh, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A high-energy, action-packed celebration of superheroes, comic book legends, and fandom fun for all ages. Step into a world where heroes and villains collide. Meet costumed characters stationed throughout downtown for epic photo ops, and set off on a heroic scavenger hunt as you search local businesses to find your favorite characters. Calling all trainers, gamers, and collectors. Battle it out in a Pokémon tournament, trade with fellow fans at the Trading Card Exchange, and roll for adventure with Dungeons & Dragons games happening throughout the day. downtowntecumseh.com

From Streets to Seats: Brunch Benefit for Housing Help of Lenawee Align Center for Workforce Development, 10 a.m. to noon A brunch fundraiser for Housing Help of Lenawee. Tickets are $75 per person or $550 for a table of eight, including brunch, beverages, and a presentation on the state of homelessness in Lenawee County and the various programs and resources Housing Help provides.

440 E. Church St., Adrian 517-264-0782 or info@h2lenawee.org

Michigan Notable Book talk: Cheryl L. Neely Adrian District Library, 1:30 p.m.

The Adrian District Library will host Cheryl L. Neely, the author of “No Human Involved: The Serial Murder of Black Women and Girls and the Deadly Cost of Police Indifference.” In her book, Neely traces the lives of Black women and girls from Detroit and other major U.S. cities who were victims of targeted killers. Free.

143 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-265-2265 or adrian.lib.mi.us

‘Matilda’ Croswell Opera House, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.

The hit musical based on the novel by Roald Dahl. Continues Sunday and next weekend.

Adults $46/$36/$26, students $26/$22/$16.

129 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-264-7469 or croswell.org

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9 ‘Matilda’ Croswell Opera House, 2:30 p.m.

The hit musical based on the novel by Roald Dahl. Continues next weekend. Adults $46/$36/$26, students $26/$22/$16.

129 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-264-7469 or croswell.org

MONDAY, AUGUST 10 Lenawee Mobile Market Multiple locations Recurring the second Monday of each month through October (July 13, Aug. 10, Sept. 14, Oct. 12). Meal kits, dairy, and fresh produce will be available to take home. No ID is required for pickup. Pickup locations: Riverview Terrace, 400 College Ave., Adrian, from 9-10:30 a.m. and Jasper Bible Church, 8230 S. Adrian Hwy., Jasper, noon to 1 p.m.

Sponsored by City of Refuge Ministries International. cityofrefugeministriesintl.com

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11 Family Movie: ‘The Sandlot’ Lenawee District Library, 2 p.m.

“The Sandlot” tells the story of a diverse group of young baseball players during Summer 1962. Enjoy refreshments while you watch.

Free.

4459 West U.S. 223, Adrian lenawee.lib.mi.us

Fairy Catcher Wind Chimes Tecumseh District Library, 4-5 p.m.

Come to the imagination station for one last craft event before school starts. Create a magical “fairy catcher” wind chime by having kids wrap colorful yarn or pipe cleaners around a sturdy twig. Thread vibrant pony beads, sea glass, and miniature metal bells onto string, tie them to the stick, and hang it in the garden to attract fairies with gentle chimes. For all ages.

215 N. Ottawa St., Tecumseh 517-223-2238 or tecumsehlibrary.org

Jewelry Making: Tree of Life Pendant Tecumseh District Library, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Using wire and colorful gemstone beads, participants will learn how to design and craft beautiful pendants. All materials will be provided, and no prior experience is necessary.

Adults only. Registration is required.

215 N. Ottawa St., Tecumseh 517-423-2238 or tecumsehlibrary.org

Pedal the Hills Hidden Lake Gardens, 6-8 p.m.

Enjoy an evening of bicycling or walking at Hidden Lake Gardens. Explore over six miles of paved trails, surrounded by beautiful scenery and highlights of the Gardens. The gardens will remain open until 8 p.m., with last admission at 7:30 p.m. Woodland Drive will be open for pedestrian and bicycle traffic only and remain closed to vehicle traffic from 6-8 p.m. Admission is free for members of Hidden Lake Gardens and for library cardholders from libraries located in Lenawee or Jackson counties.

6214 Monroe Road, Tipton 517-431-2060 or hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12 Lunch and Learn: Keeping the Land Healthy Weber Center, 12:15-1 p.m.

Mike Walters, permaculture specialist, and Brad Frank, director of sustainability for the Adrian Dominican Sisters, share their efforts to banish invasive species, discuss why these species are such a problem, and present ways to repair and regenerate the land. Bring your lunch (drinks and dessert provided) or purchase lunch from Weber Center for $8 by registering at least two days in advance of the event.

1257 E. Siena Heights Drive, Adrian webercenter.org

Popsicle Stick Graffiti Name Walls Clayton Branch Library, 3-5 p.m.

Kids can express themselves by turning popsicle sticks into a wall that they can “graffiti” with their names. No registration required.

3457 State St., Clayton

Back-to-School Bash Downtown Morenci, 6-8 p.m.

Morenci’s annual Back-to-School Bash gives local students and families a fun way to celebrate the upcoming school year. Now in its fifth year, the event has continued to grow thanks to community collaboration. Organized

by Seneca Community Church, Morenci Area Schools, the Kiwanis Club of Morenci, and the city of Morenci, the Back-to-School Bash offers free school supplies, games, prizes, program information, and a free meal for students and their families. heather.sarnac@cityofmorenci.org 517-429-0100

Lenawee County Family Researchers Workshop Adrian District Library, 6-8 p.m.

A workshop on researching your family story.

Bring your computer or tablet if you have one.

The library also has computers available. This is part of the library’s Summer Reading Program, “Unearth a Story.” For more information, email Judy Sheldon at judesheldon@yahoo.com.

143 E. Maumee St., Adrian

One-Act Wednesdays: The Bremen Town Musicians Adams Park, 7 p.m.

The Tecumseh Players, a community theater troupe founded in 1960, presents the oneact play “The Bremen Town Musicians,” an adaptation by Jon Krueger which includes original music by Tecumseh’s own Benjamin J. Nichols. Patrons are invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Free.

309 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh tecumsehplayers.org

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13 Sprouts and Stories: Storytime in the Garden Hidden Lake Gardens, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

A delightful morning of stories, nature, and exploration, hosted in partnership with the Tecumseh District Library. Bring a blanket and settle in for a cozy outdoor storytime experience surrounded by the beauty of the garden. Designed for ages 2–5.

6214 Monroe Road, Tipton 517-431-2060 or hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu

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AUGUST 2026

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13 Blissfield Car & Bike Show Springbrook Commons, 5-8 p.m.

Each show includes door prizes, a DJ, and a 50/50 raffle, and supports local organizations.

628 W. Adrian St., Blissfield

Celebrate Hudson Music in the Park: Reckless Saints Southern Michigan Center for Science and Industry, 6:30 p.m.

This concert series highlights acoustic music and singer-songwriters performing original music. Roy Schneider and Kim Mayfield are the core duo and songwriters of Reckless Saints. Partners in music and love since 2003, they began recording and touring five years later. They describe their music as “Blue Twangled Folk ‘n’ Roll.” Free, but donations are appreciated. Bring your own seating.

550 E. Main St., Hudson

‘Matilda’ Croswell Opera House, 7:30 p.m.

The hit musical based on the novel by Roald Dahl. Continues Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Adults $46/$36/$26, students $26/$22/$16.

129 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-264-7469 or croswell.org

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 31st Annual Chamber Golf Outing Raisin Valley Golf Club, 8 a.m.

A benefit for the Greater Lenawee Chamber of Commerce. Registration at 8 a.m., shotgun start at 9 a.m. $325 per team.

4057 Comfort Road, Tecumseh greaterlenaweechamber.org/golf-outing 517-423-3740

LCS Athletic Boosters Golf Scramble Hills of Lenawee Golf Club, 9:30 a.m.

The annual golf scramble benefiting Cougar athletics.

4110 Country Club Road, Adrian lenawee.org/golfscramble or 517-438-8820

Blissfield Youth Triathlon Blissfield’s Aquatic Center, 9 a.m.

Open to ages 7-14. Participants will compete in swimming, biking, and running events. $5 per person for the half-mile fun run and $20 for the full triathlon or duathlon. All participants receive a drink and snack, and winners in each category will be awarded medals.

304 Sugar St., Blissfield blissfieldmichigan.gov/youth-triathlon 517-486-4347

Shop & Stroll: Back to School Downtown Adrian, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

School’s almost in session, and downtown is ready to help you kick off the year in style.

Explore local shops for everything from supplies to outfits, plus special deals and surprises along the way. Bring the family, stroll the streets, and make back-to-school shopping fun and easy while supporting your favorite downtown businesses. From must-have items to little treats, there’s something for every student (and parent) to get excited about.

Morenci Church of the Nazarene Centennial Celebration Morenci Church of the Nazarene, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Morenci Church of the Nazarene will host a block party and community celebration to mark its 100th anniversary.

751 N. Summit St., Morenci

Summer Reading Program finale Adrian District Library, 1-2:30 p.m.

The Adrian District Library is hosting a celebration for the Summer Reading Program, Dino-Mite Finale, in the community room at the library. Learn about dinosaurs and take photos with a Tyrannosaurus rex, Velociraptor, and a baby Ankylosaurus. Refreshments will be provided. Free.

143 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-265-2265 or adrian.lib.mi.us

Composers & Creators Workshop

Addison Branch Library, 1-3 p.m.

Using air dry clay and marbles, kids of all ages can make snails at the Addison Branch Library.

Free; no registration required.

103 S. Talbot St., Addison

Macon Creek, 2 p.m.

Community members are invited to join this hands-on session that will explore the meeting point between two‑dimensional art — art that lives on the surface — and music, an art form that unfolds through time.

8759 Clinton Macon Road, Clinton maconcreek.org/live/tales john@maconcreek.org

Tractor Cruise In

‘Matilda’

Marble Snails

Downtown Blissfield, 5-8 p.m.

The tractor cruise-in showcases vintage and modern tractors as local enthusiasts gather for a fun, family-friendly display of farm pride.

Habitat for Humanity of Lenawee’s Farm to Table Dinner Tobias Center, Adrian College, 5:30 p.m.

Gather around the table to celebrate community, generosity, and the belief that everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home. Enjoy a delicious family-style dinner featuring a locally inspired harvest menu, decadent desserts from area bakeries, live music, exciting auctions, and stories of lives changed through Habitat for Humanity. habitat-lenawee.org or 517-265-6157

Onsted Home Run Derby Onsted Village Park, 6 p.m.

Grab your bat and see if you have what it takes to become this year’s Home Run Derby Champion. With divisions for both kids and adults, there’s fun for every age. After the champions are announced, stick around for the Adults vs. Kids Wiffle Ball Game.

‘Matilda’ Croswell Opera House, 7:30 p.m.

The hit musical based on the novel by Roald Dahl. Continues Saturday and Sunday. Adults $46/$36/$26, students $26/$22/$16.

129 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-264-7469 or croswell.org

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15 11th Annual Pets for Vets Brick Wall Pub & Grill, all day A day of fun, food, music, and community to benefit Pets for Vets. All vehicles welcome.

Charity ride $20 per rider and $15 per passenger. Free hot breakfast starting at 10 a.m. Raffles, auctions and door prizes. Music by Stealin’ Copper starts at 6 p.m.

114 W. Maumee St., Adrian 517-759-4072

Croswell Opera House, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.

The hit musical based on the novel by Roald Dahl. Continues Sunday. Adults $46/$36/$26, students $26/$22/$16.

129 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-264-7469 or croswell.org

Murder Mystery Dinner Interactive Theater Irish Hills Eagles 3689, 6 p.m.

Play along with the actors in a 1920s gangster murder mystery. Preshow dinner included in the ticket price.

9500 Wamplers Lake Road, Brooklyn

Summer Block Party: ’90s Night Downtown Morenci, 6-11 p.m.

The Morenci Downtown Development Authority will close out its 2026 Summer Block Party series with ’90s Night. The event will feature live music, food trucks, beer tents, costume contests, 50/50 raffles, and a downtown dance party under the stoplight.

Taking the stage at 7 p.m. is Pop’s Garage, a five-piece dance band named Toledo’s Best Cover Band in 2023. Known for high-energy performances, Pop’s Garage specializes in Top 40 and dance-pop favorites while mixing in rock, rap, country, and plenty of hits from the 1990s. Guests are encouraged to dress in their best ’90s attire.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 Back to School Bash Align Center for Workforce Development, noon to 4 p.m. (while supplies last) Lock’D In Construction presents its fifth annual Back to School Bash, now hosted at the Align Center. This event offers free backpacks, school supplies, gently used clothes, haircuts, and much more. For sponsorship information, contact Monica at 404-604-7886 or email lockdin.robinson@gmail.com.

440 E. Church St., Adrian

The Myriad Project & Chris “Chilly” Rodriguez Macon Creek, 2 p.m.

The Myriad Project will perform a concert of original works and new arrangements of modern music, all unfolding alongside the creation of a live mural by artist Chili Rodriguez. The result is an immersive, multisensory event where sound and visual art evolve together, each shaping and inspiring the other, offering audiences a rare chance to witness creativity happening in the moment.

8759 Clinton Macon Road, Clinton maconcreek.org/live/tales

‘Matilda’ Croswell Opera House, 2:30 p.m.

The hit musical based on the novel by Roald Dahl. Final performance. Adults $46/$36/$26, students $26/$22/$16.

129 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-264-7469 or croswell.org

Golf Outing for the Revitalize Morenci Initiative Woodlawn Golf Club, 8 a.m.

Registration at 8 a.m., shotgun start at 9 a.m.

Teams of four; 18-hole scramble; hot dogs at the turn and lunch afterward. $85 per golfer; $340 per team. For more information, email revitalizemorenci@gmail.com.

4634 Treat Highway, Adrian

MONDAY, AUGUST 17 Paper Plate Moon and Stars Clayton Branch Library, 3-5 p.m.

Kids of all ages can drop by the Clayton Branch Library to turn a paper plate into a moon and star wall decor piece. All materials will be provided. No registration required.

3457 State St., Clayton

Read with Spartie Addison Branch Library, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Book lovers of all ages can drop by the Addison Branch Library to read a story to Spartie the corgi. Bring your favorite book to share or pick one off the library shelf.

103 S. Talbot St., Addison

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18 Adult Lego Night Tecumseh District Library, 6-7:45 p.m.

Unleash your inner master builder at the library’s Adult Lego Night, designed for ages 18 and up. Enjoy a relaxing, screenfree evening of brick-building challenges, collaborative free-play, and nostalgic fun with fellow enthusiasts.

215 N. Ottawa St., Tecumseh 517-423-2238 or tecumsehlibrary.org

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19 Movie: ‘Project Hail Mary’ Lenawee District Library, 2 p.m.

A science fiction film about a middle school teacher who awakens aboard an interstellar spacecraft with no memory of how he got there. Rated PG-13; for ages 16 and up. Also showing on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 5 p.m.

Refreshments will be provided.

4459 West U.S. 223, Adrian lenawee.lib.mi.us

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20 Movie: ‘Project Hail Mary’ Lenawee District Library, 5 p.m.

A science fiction film about a middle school teacher who awakens aboard an interstellar spacecraft with no memory of how he got there. Rated PG-13; for ages 16 and up.

Refreshments will be provided.

4459 West U.S. 223, Adrian lenawee.lib.mi.us

Third Thursday Live Music Downtown Adrian, 5-8 p.m.

Come downtown and enjoy live music at your favorite downtown spots.

Classic Car Show Downtown Tecumseh, 6-8 p.m.

Cars and bikes will be displayed in the Old National Bank parking lot and the adjacent downtown parking lot. Registration is free, but participants are asked to being a canned or nonperishable food item for local families in need.

205 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh 517-424-6555 or downtowntecumseh.com

Music in the Park: Wasabi Pearls Adams Park, 6-8 p.m.

Tecumseh comes alive the third Thursday of the month from June through September with a free concert series.

309 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh 517-423-5602 or downtowntecumseh.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 Lenawee District Library Book Sale Main branch, noon to 5:30 p.m.

The Lenawee District Library’s August book sale features gently used books, movies, puzzles, magazines and more. Continues Saturday.

4459 West U.S. 223, Adrian

Family Bingo Multiple Lenawee District Library locations Both the Clayton Branch Library and the Deerfield Branch Library will have family bingo on Friday, Aug. 21. Bingo will take place at the Clayton Branch from 3-5 p.m. and at the Deerfield Branch from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. This is a drop-in event.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 2026 ididit Car Show ididit, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Celebrate ididit’s 40th year in business and the passion, power, and beauty of automobiles with fellow car enthusiasts. In addition to the car show, enjoy facility tours, a vendor tent, live DJ, and food trucks.

610 S. Maumee St., Tecumseh

HUBFest 2026 Cal Zorn Park, 8 a.m.

HUBFest is a family-friendly, single-day cycling celebration designed to welcome riders of all ages and experience levels. With pavement, gravel, and multi-use trail options, plus an afterparty in downtown Tecumseh, this is a bike fest built around fun, curiosity, and community — not competition. Kids 18 and under ride free.

307 W. Russell Road, Tecumseh lmb.org/hubfest-26

Art at Your Feet Downtown Blissfield, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A public chalk art event presented by the Schultz Holmes District Library, Art at Your Feet brings together artists of all ages and abilities to fill 5-foot by 5-foot squares on the street using a set of free chalk pastels. Registration is required upon arriving at the event. blissfieldlibrary.org

Lenawee District Library Book Sale Main branch, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The Lenawee District Library’s August book sale features gently used books, movies, puzzles, magazines and more.

4459 West U.S. 223, Adrian

Days of Mindfulness: The Everyday Mind Weber Center, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Many people wish to be living a purposeful life and strive to combine a spiritual and active life.

Sitting meditation is a way of shining the light of mindfulness on every aspect of our daily experience. Reflecting upon our relationships with honesty and courage, we amplify our capacity to love within family, neighborhood, city and world. Registration required. $35 (includes lunch).

1257 E. Siena Heights Drive, Adrian 517-266-4000 or webercenter.org

BBQ with Purpose Morenci American Legion, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Enjoy a delicious BBQ dinner supporting Share the Warmth, Lenawee County’s year-round emergency homeless shelter. All proceeds go directly toward providing safe shelter, meals, and support for neighbors in need. $20.

9010 Morenci Road, Morenci sharethewarmthoflenawee.org 517-759-3223

Blissfield on Tap Craft Beer and Music Festival Bachmayer Park, 4-9 p.m.

Enjoy craft brews from local breweries plus music by Hepcat Revival. Tickets are $10 per person in advance, $15 at the event. Drinks are $6 each. For ages 21 and up; no children or pets. Lawn chairs encouraged.

123 S. Monroe St., Blissfield blissfieldmichigan.gov

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AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 Sewing Days First Baptist Church of Brooklyn, 4-8 p.m.

Supporting the Koha Project by sewing cloth pads to be sent to women in Haiti. All supplies will be provided. If you would like to bring your own sewing machine, please also bring a dark-colored polyester thread that works for your machine. To RSVP, email connect@ fbcbrooklyn.org.

402 S. Mill St., Brooklyn

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26 Paper Kite craft Clayton Branch Library, 3-5 p.m.

Kids of all ages can drop by the Clayton Branch Library to make paper kites and embellish them with ribbons, stickers, and other decorations. Free.

3457 State St., Clayton

Brooklyn Big Boy Car Show Night Brooklyn Big Boy, 5-8 p.m.

Every Wednesday, this car show features a live DJ, 50/50, driver prizes and more.

329 S. Main St., Brooklyn

Deerfield Garden Club: Ornamental Plants Deerfield Branch Library, 6:30 p.m.

The August meeting of the Deerfield Garden Club will feature a Zoom meeting with Detroit area professional gardener Alexandra Sarkozy, who will discuss various plants for home gardens.

170 Raisin St., Deerfield

ASO Summer Chamber Series: Telegraph String Quartet Holy Rosary Chapel, 7:30 p.m.

The final concert in the Adrian Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Chamber Series. $27 (free for students with ID at the door).

1257 E. Siena Heights Drive, Adrian 517-264-3121 or adriansymphony.org

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27 Art in the Park Downtown Brooklyn, 5-9 p.m.

On the fourth Thursday of each month from May to September, the village of Brooklyn offers live music, food trucks, art vendors, a farmers market, and more in Weatherwax Park.

115 Water St., Brooklyn

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 Friday After Five: Hydrangea Trek Hidden Lake Gardens, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Hidden Lake Gardens invites the public to visit after hours. For this evening only, the gardens will remain open until 7 p.m., with last admission at 6:30 p.m. From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., guests are encouraged to join the Hydrangea Trek led by managing director Paul Pfeifer. Tour the hydrangeas at Hidden Lake Gardens in peak summer color and learn which varieties thrive in Michigan. This extended-hours evening is another offering in the new Friday After Five series, during which Hidden Lake Gardens will stay open until 7 p.m. on one Friday each month through October. Each date will feature a unique educational program.

6214 Monroe Road, Tipton hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu

Summer Concert Series: Elektrik Mayhem Bicentennial Park, 7-9 p.m.

The Summer Concert Series is a free, familyfriendly event held throughout the summer in the heart of Blissfield. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, grab a bite from a local food vendor, and settle in for an evening of music under the open sky. Free.

South Lane Street, Blissfield blissfieldmainstreet.com/summerconcerts 517-486-4347

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 Irish Hills EagleFest celebrating 50th Anniversary Irish Hills Eagles 3689, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Craft vendors, a bake sale, pig roast, live music, beer tent, and games highlight this festival, which also marks the Irish Hills Eagles’ 50th anniversary.

9500 Wamplers Lake Road, Brooklyn

Third Annual Duck Run 1200 S. Main St., Adrian (RiteAid lot), 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The local chapter of Face Addiction Now invites the community to its third annual Duck Run, a fun, family-friendly event that brings people together for an important cause. $25 per vehicle.

DrugPreventionLenawee.com FaceAddictionNow.org

Lenawee Family Fest Align Center for Workforce Development, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Community baby shower, family photos, local resources, giveaways, free yoga class, free haircuts for kids, activities for kids, food, and more.

440 E. Church St., Adrian

Jerry DeCaire, Marvel Entertainment illustrator Tecumseh District Library, 1 p.m.

Marvel Entertainment illustrator Jerry DeCaire will merge the performance arts with the visual arts in this presentation.

215 N. Ottawa St., Tecumseh 517-423-2238 or tecumsehlibrary.org

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 Revolutionary War researcher David VanHoof Sand Creek Community Church, 6 p.m.

The Lenawee County Family Researchers’ regular meeting will feature author and Revolutionary War researcher David VanHoof, the author of several books about the Revolutionary War patriots of our area. He was also involved in the making of the movie “Frontier to Freedom” which was released this summer. For more information, contact Judy Sheldon at judesheldon@yahoo.com.

6190 East St., Sand Creek

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Adrian First Fridays Downtown Adrian, 5-8 p.m.

Downtown Adrian’s monthly First Fridays event.

First Friday Car Show Lenawee County Fair and Event Grounds, 5-8 p.m.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 Wooden Old Stone School Open House Wooden Old Stone School, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Lenawee County Family Researchers will be at the open house of the Wooden Old Stone School from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., giving two 20-minute informative sessions.

Corner of Stephenson Road and North Hawkins Highway, Onsted

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 32nd annual Silver Creek Bridge Walk Corner of M-156 and Skyline Industrial Drive, 11 a.m.

You don’t have to drive four hours north to walk across a five-mile bridge this Labor Day. Instead, join the Kiwanis Club of Morenci for a 25-second stroll across the southernmost bridge in Michigan. The 32nd annual Silver Creek Bridge Walk will take place at 11 a.m. on the historic truss bridge at the MichiganOhio border. This fun, tongue-in-cheek tradition offers a lighthearted alternative to the Mackinac Bridge Walk, bringing neighbors and visitors together to celebrate community.

This year, Kiwanis is partnering with Morenci American Legion Post 368 to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States. The event will include public speakers, patriotic trivia and prizes, the traditional short walk across the 81-foot pedestrian bridge, and a free hot dog lunch provided by the Kiwanis Club.

The Kiwanis Club will hold its Golf Ball Drop Fundraiser Raffle after the walk, when 100 golf balls will be sold for $20 each. First place wins $500, second place $250, and third place $100.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Blue Jean Ball 2026: 25 Years of Opening Doors to Great Futures Boys & Girls Club of Lenawee A fundraiser marking the 25th anniversary of the Boys & Girls Club of Lenawee. $100 per person.

340 E. Church St., Adrian bgclenawee.org

THE LENAWEE VOICE

ARTS & LIVING | C11

AUGUST 2026

LIVE MUSIC AT BARS AND NIGHT SPOTS Information in this listing is taken from a mixture of submissions and information published by the venues. We recommend verifying information before making plans. To submit listings, email lcline@ lenaweevoice.com before the 15th of the preceding month.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 Ryan Groth, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton.

The Metros, 8-11 p.m., Two Lakes Tavern, 110 Walnut St., Manitou Beach.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2 Leadfoot, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6 Bret Maynard, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton.

Marcus & Tiffany, 8-11 p.m., Chaloner’s Cigar House, 108 W. Maumee St., Adrian.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7 Chase VanBrandt & The Dive Bar All-Stars, 6-9 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.

Big Foot Bob & the Toetappers, 7 p.m., Cherry Creek Cellars, 11500 Silver Lake Highway, Brooklyn. $5 cover. All ages welcome, and those 17 and under are free.

Lawn chairs welcome.

Ryan Groth, 8-11 p.m., Two Lakes Tavern, 110 Walnut St., Manitou Beach.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8 Mike Finch, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton.

Linny & Moochie, 6-9 p.m., Morenci American Legion, 9010 Morenci Road, Morenci.

Sonic Smut, Blood Rune Sigil, Angel of Mars and Burning Brain Band, 7 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m., The Rex Theater, 235 W. Main St., Morenci. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Ages 18 and older, or younger with supervision.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9 Atomic Radio, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12 Linny & Moochie, 6-9 p.m., Flamingo Beach Grille and Bar, 4321 U.S. 12, Tipton.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13 Brittani Joy, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton.

Green Jellÿ, Sins Ov Madness, Thomas Ate The Cat and Bones Of Goliath, 7 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m., The Rex Theater, 235 W. Main St., Morenci. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 Dude & the Flanman, 6-9 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.

Jim Dandy Band, 7 p.m., Cherry Creek Cellars, 11500 Silver Lake Highway, Brooklyn. $5 cover. All ages welcome, and those 17 and under are free. Lawn chairs welcome.

Dan Bickel, 8-11 p.m., Two Lakes Tavern, 110 Walnut St., Manitou Beach.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15 Leadfoot, 7-9 p.m., Gauci Golf Resort, 8421 Sports Park Drive, Onsted.

Giant Reife & The Riflemen, 7-10 p.m., Shady’s Tap Room, 110 N. Main St., Brooklyn.

Bret Maynard, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., Devil’s Lake Bar & Grill, 6365 U.S. 223, Addison.

Roast at The Rex — 16 comics battle to win, 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m., The Rex Theater, 235 W. Main St., Morenci. Tickets $10.

Urge Band, 8 p.m. to midnight, doors open at 7 p.m., Adrian Eagles, 2570 W. Beecher St., Adrian. $5 cover for nonmembers.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 Louie Lee, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.

Pickin’ Roots, 6-8 p.m., Smith-Kimball Community Center, 211 Tecumseh Road, Clinton. Bring your own chair.

Linny & Moochie will play on Aug. 8 at the Morenci American Legion and Aug. 12 at Flamingo Beach Grille and Bar. THURSDAY, AUGUST 20 Bret Maynard, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 Kevin Wolff Duo, 6-9 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.

Turner Luce, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Four Keys Brewing/Starling Lounge, 133 S. Lane St., Blissfield.

Tipsy Doctors, 8-11 p.m., Two Lakes Tavern, 110 Walnut St., Manitou Beach.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 Jaded Soul, 6-9 p.m., Tecumseh Tavern, 206 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh.

Marvin Reili, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton.

Leadfoot, 6-10 p.m., Muk’s Block Party, 107 S. Evans St., Tecumseh.

The Universe Band, 7-10 p.m., Shady’s Tap Room, 110 N. Main St., Brooklyn.

Johnny Lightning & The Storm Bandits, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., Devil’s Lake Bar & Grill, 6365 U.S. 223, Addison.

Marcus & Tiffany, 8-11 p.m., Chaloner’s Cigar House, 108 W. Maumee St., Adrian.

The Band The Group, 8-11 p.m., Two Lakes Tavern, 110 Walnut St., Manitou Beach.

Gruv’n Band, 8 p.m. to midnight, doors open at 7 p.m., Adrian Eagles, 2570 W. Beecher St., Adrian. $5 cover for non-members.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 50 Amp Fuse, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27 Dueling Pianos, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 Medusa, 6-9 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.

Dan Bickel, 8-11 p.m., Two Lakes Tavern, 110 Walnut St., Manitou Beach.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 Bordine & Loar, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton.

Tattered & Torn, a Detroit Slipknot tribute, with Blood Rooted, a Sepultura tribute, and three other acts, doors open at 7 p.m., The Rex, 235 W. Main St., Morenci.

Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

FLYTE, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., Devil’s Lake Bar & Grill, 6365 U.S. 223, Addison.

Ryan Groth, 8-11 p.m., Two Lakes Tavern, 110 Walnut St., Manitou Beach.

Jaded Soul, 8 p.m. to midnight, doors open at 7 p.m., Adrian Eagles, 2570 W. Beecher St., Adrian. $5 for non-members.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30 Frankly Jack, 4-7 p.m., Two Lakes Tavern, 110 Walnut St., Manitou Beach.

Phoenix Theory, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Chase VanBrandt & The Dive Bar AllStars, 6 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 John & Conner, 8-11 p.m., Two Lakes Tavern, 110 Walnut St., Manitou Beach.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 Power Play Detroit, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.

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AUGUST 2026 THE LENAWEE VOICE