WALKER TAVERN WHEELS BASE BALL 57 ADRIAN BICENTENNIAL 60 LAURA HAVILAND 66 R4, ACA, PLANEWAVE 69 ADRIAN PARADE OF HOMES 72
OLIVER HOUSE 74 LENAWEE DISTRICT LIBRARY 78
GAYLE'S SUMMER READS 79 US 12 GARAGE SALE 80
GUIDE 80
GO 82
• 800.832.6443 homefront@tecumsehherald.com homefronttecumseh.com P.O. Box 218, 110 E Logan St Tecumseh, MI 49286
Tecumseh's Sun & Sand Festival
Photo by Nanci Bridget
Downtown Dempsey's 64
Downtown Printing 13
Dragonfly and Birch 15
Dundee Mayfly Festival 20
Eagles Nest Bar & Grill 29
Edward Jones 13
Embers Bar & Grill 29
Evans Lake Resort 31
F&S Landscape 52
Family Farm & Home 21
Flamingo Beach Grille 28
Forgotten Generations Antiques 81
Foundation Realty 84
Freedom Winery 28
From the Ground Up 5
Gauci Golf Resort 24
Germain Toyota of Dundee 36
Gillin Eye Care 27
Golden Acres 39
Golf Components Plus 22
Graceful Acres Farm Store 5
Gurdjian Insurance 60
Habitat for Humanity 80
Harvest Chocolate 26
Heart Wood Place 31
Hidden Lake Gardens 8,10,33
Hidden Lakes RV Resort 69
Hills of Lenawee Golf 24
Hills' Heart of the Lakes Golf ......... 25
Hinesly Orthodontics ..................... 21
Home Team Ice Cream .................. 15
Hopscotch Kids ............................. 57
Horizon Travel .............................. 14
Hospice of Lenawee ........................ 6
Howard Hanna ................................ 2
Howard Hanna - Bob Fox .............. 44
IDK Creative Decor 81
Indian Creek Camp 38
Jackson Antique Mall 81
J-Bar Hobbies 56
Jerry's Pub 29
Kapnick Orchard 55
Kent J Benham, DDS 52
Kids Chess Camp 6
Kiwanis of Tecumseh 34
Lavender Lane 47
Lenawee County Fair 9
Lenawee Fuels 41
Lenco Credit Union 78
Liv's Native Nursery 52
Lloyd's Repair Service 13
Garden Center 49
Madison Market 5
Distilling 64
Chicken Broil 8
Community Fair 9
Beach Creative Corner 44 Mark Prielipp Greenhouse 49
Home Center 21 Marty's Landscape 73 Masterpeace Counseling 45 Maumee Street: Taproom 60 McLennan Landscape 15
Meckley's Flavor Fruit Farm 35
Memory Lane Antiques 81
Millie's Coffeehouse 15
Muk's Sports Pub 28
Musgrove + Co 26
New Life Renovations 38
Next Generation Automotive 14
Northern Chicks 73
Old National Bank 75
Old Wooden Stone School 6
On the Level 70
Paper Street Soap 26
Party on the Patio 6
Patina Jewelry 56
Pentamere Winery 26
Peppers Mexican Grill 30
Pinetree Antiques 81
Prescription Earth ......................... 59
Promenade Tecumseh ................... 73
Rad Raptor Comics ........................ 64
Radant's Electric ...........................
Toledo Street Pavilion 115 Toledo St, Adrian 517-264-4816 facebook.com/adriancitymarket downtownadrian.com/ adrian-city-market
Veggies, fruit, dairy, blankets, baked goods, food trucks, and crafts.
SATURDAYS 9am-1pm
Providing flowers and fresh fruit & vegetables three times a week to the community.
Blissfield
Mon, Wed, Fri thru nov 11am-5pm
FARMERS MARKETS AREA
11000 E M-50, Britton
@FTGUflowers
U-Pick flower experience, where you can pick your own flowers and create a mason jar bouquet. Pre-made bouquets too!
New farm store carries eggs, micro greens, salad mixes, farm meats, baked goods, crafts, pet treats. Vendors: Musgrove Coffee, Dave Makes Pasta, and more. Graceful Acres 4415 N Rogers Hwy, Britton 517-605-1917 gracefulacresllc@gmail.com
FARM STORE
Mid-july thru
Early October
Open daily dawn to dusk
Cambridge Junction Historic State Park 13220 M-50, Brooklyn 517-930-3806 Michigan.gov/walkertavern
Produce, baked goods, honey, maple syrup, salsas, jams, and amazing crafts.
SUNDAYS 10am-2pm
No market on Sundays of MIS Races. Walker Tavern open for tours during the market. Recreation Passport is required.
Wed-sat (9-6pm)
2984 Treat St, Adrian Near corner of US 223 East of Kohl’s 517-447-3494
Stop by and pick up flowers, hanging baskets, baked goods, plants, crafts, and farm-fresh produce.
SATURDAYS THRU NOVEMBER 1 8am-1pm
The Market on Evans 213 N Evans St, Tecumseh 517-423-3740 downtowntecumseh.com
Flowers, food trucks, live music, crafts, handmade/ homegrown goods, produce, kids activities, entertainment, baked goods, and more!
SATURDAYS thru Oct 25
ExcludingAppleumpkinOct11 9am-1pm
Step back in time
Old Wooden Stone School Open Houses
June 7 • 11am-2pm
175th Anniversary Celebration
Surprises, special guests, and more! Also open first Saturdays, June-Oct • 11am-2pm Corner of Stephenson Rd and Hawkins Hwy, Onsted
Behind StimpSon & aSSociateS p.c. 108 W chicago Blvd, tecumSeh
Open to all! One of the hottest block parties downtown Tecumseh has to offer this summer. Held in the SW parking lot behind Stimpson & Associates P.C. Enjoy live music, food trucks, and local pubs. All first responders/military/public works employees can get a "free drink" ticket good at any participating restaurant or pub. David Stimpson is your host.
ReTree Tecumseh’s “Juried Junk” Garden Accent Sale
Sat, June 14 • 10-4pm at First Presbyterian Church, 211 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh
ReTree's premier fundraiser features handmade/vintage garden décor/accessories. Proceeds go to planting trees on Tecumseh's public land. retreetecumseh.org
Classic Car & Bike Show
June 19, July 17, Aug 21, & Sept 18
Held at Old National Bank's parking lot: 205 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh Awards given. Free event! Bring non-perishable food items for service clubs. downtowntecumseh.com
Music in the Park
June 19, July 17, Aug 7, 21, & Sept 18 6-8pm • Adams Park
309 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh
Great live music in an outdoor setting under new pavilion in Adams Park next to City Hall. Classic rock, jazz, blues, etc. Bring lawn chairs. mytecumseh.com
Events
5th Annual Adventures in Chess Kids Camp
June 16-20 • $250 517-902-6796 • Heritage Hall 9045 Austin Rd, Saline
A week of friendly competition and instruction open to all school age children. Beginner to advanced. adventuresinchess@gmail.com
SPEAKEASY ANNUAL FUNDRAISER
thur, June 12 • 5:30pm
White Birch Wedding Barn 11000 BriggS hWy, cement city hoSpiceoFlenaWee.org
Save the date for Hospice of Lenawee’s Speakeasy Annual Fundraiser held at White Birch Wedding Barn and Event Center. Doors open at 5:30pm, dinner from 6 to 8pm, and live auction starting at 8pm. Don’t miss the opportunity to show your support.
BLISSFIELD FREE SUMMER EVENTS
517-486-3642
BliSSFieldmainStreet.com
MUSIC IN THE PARK:
Fridays, June 13, 27, July 18, Aug 1 Thursday, Aug 21 • 7-9pm
TOUCH A TRUCK: June 21
CAR & BIKE SHOW:
Setup starts at 3pm • 5-8pm June 12, July 10, Aug 14
MOVIES ON LANE:
June 19, July 17, Aug 21
TRACTOR CRUISE-IN: August 15
CROSWELL OPERA HOUSE LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
June 13-22
ShoWtimeS vary 129 e maumee St, adrian 517-264-7469
$46/$36/$26 croSWell.org
See the Broadway show that inspired the hit movie "The Birdcage." Set in a drag nightclub in the south of France, this musical is not just glamorous, glitzy, and stunning ... it's also a heartwarming story about family and love!
BLISSFIELD PARKS & REC
FREE
EVENTS!
PICNIC IN THE PARK
Wed, June 18 11am-1pm clara Bachmayer park
Pack a lunch and join us for lawn games and fun!
SPLASH & FLOAT AT THE POOL
Sun, July 20
BliSSField aquatic cntr
Celebrate
National Ice Cream Day at the pool with an ice cream float!
S'MORE FUN WITH FRIENDS
Sat, Sept 13
6-8pm elliS park
Free s'mores for everyone!
Sponsored by
Tecumseh’s Fairy & AdventurePirate
Sat, June 21 • 10am-3pm
517-424-6818 • Dress in your favorite costume! Get clue sheets at Hopscotch Kids' front door. Find pirate treasures/ fairy doors and win prizes. downtowntecumseh.com
ADRIAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS KIDS/TEEN CAMPS
517-759-3005 1375 n main St, Bldg 46, adrian adriancenterFortheartS.org
TEEN ART CAMP: June 23 - June 27
MORNING KIDS CLAY THROWING CAMP: June 16 - June 20
AFTERNOON KIDS CLAY THROWING CAMP: June 16 - June 20
MYTHS AND MONSTERS KIDS CAMP: July 14 - July 18
Hidden Lake Gardens The Art of Bonsai
Sat, July 13 • 11am-5pm Hidden Lake Gardens
6214 Monroe Rd, Tipton A bonsai bazaar with exhibitions, vendors, and demos/presentations by bonsai artists. hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu
72ND ANNUAL MANCHESTER CHICKEN BROIL
Saturday, July 19
4-7:30pm • $13/$15 alumni memorial Field corner oF Wolverine and vernon St, mancheSter manchesterchickenbroil.org
“We’re looking forward to another awesome chicken broil,” says chairman Jeff Mann. Run entirely by volunteers, this 72nd annual event serves up close to 8,000 meals in only 3.5 hours! It includes their famous halfchar-broiled chicken, radishes, secret recipe coleslaw, roll/ butter, chips, and drink. This will once again be held the third Saturday in July. There will be musical entertainment and a kids play area. “We’ll do our best to ensure everyone has a great time and leaves well fed!” says Mann. Drive thru available. Join the fun! Online ticket sales available. $13 pre-sale/$15 day of broil.
CROSWELL OPERA HOUSE BRING IT ON
July 11-20
129 e maumee St, adrian 517-264-7469 • croSWell.org
This high-flying musical takes you inside the world of competitive cheerleading! Based on the movie of the same name and featuring music by Lin-Manuel Miranda of “Hamilton” fame. Fans of spectacular dance will not want to miss this one!
TECUMSEH'S SUN & SAND FESTIVAL
Friday & Saturday
July 18-19
517-424-6818
doWntoWn tecumSeh
doWntoWntecumSeh.com
Join in the fun at Tecumseh's Summer Beach Party. Sculptors from Ice Creations in Napoleon, OH, will be creating life-size works of art out of sand. Live entertainment, food, scavenger hunt, and tons of fun and activities for the whole family!
SAND SCULPTURE EVENT
(Friday & Saturday):
Watch the carving on Friday 10am.
3 V 3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
(Saturday, 10am-5pm): Held on S Ottawa St.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
(Friday, 6-10pm): On S Evans Street.
SCAVENGER HUNT:
Follow the clues on the scavenger hunt map to find hidden treasures throughout businesses. Once you have completed the clue sheet, turn it in for a chance to win a gift card packet from local merchants.
PET PARADE
(Saturday, 10am): Under the Sea theme.
2025 LENAWEE COUNTY FAIR
StarS & StripeS and Summer nightS
Fair Week: July 20-26
lenaWee county Fair & event groundS 602 north dean St, adrian 517-263-3007 • lenFair.com
Michigan's longest running fair — since 1839. Featuring 4-H Projects, Animal Shows and Auctions. FREE entertainment daily (Bandshell). Nightly Grandstand shows. Food vendors! Get tickets online for general admission and all Grandstand shows.
80TH ANNUAL MANCHESTER COMMUNITY FAIR
auguSt 5-9
alumni memorial Field 220 e vernon St, mancheSter manchesterfair.org
See online fair book for schedule
Come to Manchester's 80th Community Fair — Michigan's biggest little fair! Enjoy the fair parade, car show, cornhole tourney, tractor pulls, steer/ swine/lamb/rabbit shows, demolition derby, rodeo, INSANE WRESTLING REVOLUTION, and more. Delight in the carnival rides, animal exhibits, and fair food.
The Croswell Opera House Annie August 8-17• 517-264-7469
129 E Maumee St, Adrian
Everyone’s favorite plucky orphan returns to the Croswell stage in this family favorite that’s good for all ages! croswell.org
SALINE COMMUNITY FAIR
auguSt 27 - 31
Blissfield on Tap
Sat, August 9 • 4-9pm • $20-$25
Clara Bachmayer Park
113 S Monroe St, Blissfield 7th annual outdoor local Craft Beer & Music Festival. Food trucks and fun. blissfieldmichigan.gov/blissontap
SeptemBer 1 (rideS only) WaShtenaW Farm council groundS 5055 ann arBor-Saline rd SalineFair.org
All for fun and fun for all! The Saline Community Fair is happy to announce that it will once again be held at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds. The fun begins Wednesday with rides, the Unbelievable Comedy and Magic Show, and animal judging. Thursday is Children's Day, with
a junior livestock auction and KOI drag racing. Senior citizens are admitted free on Friday until 1pm to watch the pony pull, talent show, and rodeo. Saturday enjoy Super Stock and the Modified Tractor and Truck Pull, antique tractors, Heroes’ Day Program, and A2 Saline Music Center Rocks. Sunday see the llama show, Saline Fiddlers, and Auto Cross Derby. The Beer Barn is open ThurSun! We will see you at the fair!
Run for the Hills 1 Mile, 5K Run/Walk
Sat, September 14
Hidden Lake Gardens 6214 Monroe Rd, Tipton Enjoy the most scenic and hilliest course in southeast Michigan. runsignup.com
18 years strong, the Artalicious Fine Arts Fair returns to Downtown Adrian this year! The streets will be lined with artists, great food, and live entertainment. This year's event will feature glass blowing, adult make & takes, more artist demonstrations, and fun activities for kids.
from tofarmbar
TEBOE’S GOAT MILK SOAP SHOP
By Cashmere Morley
Don and Rebel Teboe
Teboe’s Dairy Farm
11375 Tecumseh Macon Rd
Clinton | 517-902-8035
donteboe@yahoo.com
teboesgoatmilksoap.com
DDon Teboe sleeps about four hours a night. He’s up before the sun to meet his 31 Oberhasli goats for an alfalfa breakfast in the barn.
The secret to making the best goat soap money can buy comes down to the alfalfa, Teboe promises, and this batch is grown right on the farm. Teboe will likely spend a couple of hours tending to his herd before leaving for his regular nine-to-five. But for those early-morning hours in the barn, there are goats to milk, there are stalls to clean, and there are nearly 50 varieties of goat milk soap to prep with his wife, Rebel. Meet the man who runs Teboe’s Dairy Farm in Clinton.
“There’s a point during all of this when you start thinking, ‘Is this really worth it?’ I mean, I’m taking in a little bit of money, but it’s a lot of work. The goats are a lot of work. Making the soap is a lot of work. But then something will pop up that gives you a little motivation. It’s a really good product. People really like it. Some people tell me that this is the only soap they’re ever going to use,” shared Teboe.
Teboe, a veteran who served in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service as a machinist mate, became a financial advisor, and now works at Liebherr-Aerospace, began owning goats in 2016. After noticing a void in the marketplace for more natural options when it came to products such as milk, cheese, butter, and soap, Teboe bought two Oberhasli goats from a farm in Tecumseh and started producing milk. He notes that Oberhasli goats are good for making dairy products because their milk is “fairly sweet” and “doesn’t taste too goaty at all.”
In the midst of Teboe’s newfound hobby, the pandemic hit. Suddenly, Teboe had more time on his hands than ever before,
and a hypothesis formed: If Teboe has more downtime, he’ll have the time he needs to produce his own goat milk soap, a task that had interested him since he had researched the best kinds of soap to cure eczema and psoriasis and found goat milk soap to be a cure. Thus, his “science experiment” with goat soaps began.
“Suddenly, I’m wondering, ‘What oils do you use?’, ‘How much do you use?’, and ‘What’s the curing time?’ It took me a while to get it exactly right. I mean, I came up with some soaps originally that were pretty good, but now I think they’re really good,” he said.
Why was soap so important to Teboe? The answer comes down to what’s in the bar. “The soaps in the store are all chemicals. If you look at the label, the soaps that we use are actually labeled under patent as “chemical detergents.” I know a lot of people are having trouble with skin problems. I just figured it’s something that people use all the time. And I just wanted to make a good, all-natural soap,” explained Teboe.
From the start, Teboe envisioned a goat farm rooted in natural, sustainable cycles. The farm grows high-quality alfalfa, which feeds the goats, resulting in rich, fat-filled milk perfect for making superior soaps. Visitors support Teboe by purchasing these soaps, and the income goes back into caring for the goats and planting more alfalfa — completing the cycle. To date, Teboe has sold around 7,000 bars of soap, and his orders even reach customers across Europe.
Rebel Teboe
Don Teboe and his herd
become a
Your financial advisor could help you find a tax-advantaged investment strategy for you.
Jim Zawacki, Financial Advisor 127 Herrick Park Dr, Tecumseh, MI 49286 517-423-3292 | james.zawacki@edwardjones.com
Mark R Vernon, Financial Advisor 140 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh, MI 49286 517-423-6967 | mark.vernon@edwardjones.com
Preston P Pelham, Financial Advisor 7688 N Adrian Hwy, Ste 2, Tecumseh, MI 49286 517-301-2332 | preston.pelham@edwardjones.com
Teboe’s continued...
Producing goat milk soap is a careful, multistep process. Teboe first filters fresh goat milk twice; then, he freezes it. The frozen milk is then broken up and blended with oils and other natural ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil before the mixture is poured into molds and allowed to cure for six weeks. The result is a creamy, moisturizing soap that can be used by people with all different skin types and concerns.
“The soaps have some coconut oil in them, which is really good for scars, and olive oil, which is very good for just moisturizing your skin, and then the goat milk is good for both. The pH of the goat milk is almost the same as your skin, so that’s why it’ll clean your skin but it won’t take the oils off your skin to dry it out,” said Teboe.
In addition to soap making, Teboe also produces alfalfa for his herd and other local farmers. Raising his own hay allows him to control the quality of his goats’ feed, keeping them healthy and happy, and also contributes to the farm’s sustainability. The goats at Teboe Dairy Farm are not just production animals; they are well cared for, an essential part of the land and life Teboe has built.
Though the farm has already grown impressively, Teboe has plans for the future. His goal is to increase operations. He hopes to move into more dairy products and further expand his online store in the future: “We started with the goats, then we had the goat milk, then the goat soap; now, we’ve just expanded into hard cheeses like Asiago.”
Beyond the goats, chickens, ducks, and German Shepherds also dot Teboe’s farm. He hopes to offer more opportunities for children and adults alike to stop by the farm to experience the simple pleasures of collecting chicken eggs or driving a tractor. “That’s where I’d like to go with the farm,” said Teboe. “You come here for soap, or milk, or cheese, but you also get to pet the animals and see farm animals that you maybe never see in your daily life.”
In a world that often moves too fast and prioritizes mass production, Teboe’s Dairy Farm offers something different from your Dove bars or Beekman soaps — a return to craftsmanship and care for the land and animals that make that bar of soap possible in the first place. Teboe’s journey from a machinist mate to full-time farmer is still unfolding, but the rewards of following one’s passion are apparent today in each bar of Teboe’s Goat Milk Soap. n
Manchester
milliescoffeehouse.com
Photo by Sherry Green of sherrysshots.com
Story and photos by Renee Lapham Collins
FROM OUR KITCHEN
Cooking with the
where we make different kinds of foods,” she explained. “We’ve made macaroni and cheese, brownies, and ramen noodle soup. The goal is to try things they’ve never had before. A lot of them only know the mac and cheese that comes from a box, so they were really surprised when they had the homemade version.”
The cooking class has been going strong for four years. “We meet twice a week to cook, and the rest of the time the kids have nutrition class,” she said.
In the Monahan household, Jeff does 99 percent of the cooking, according to Elaine. “I get home too late during the school year — and during the summer, he likes to grill. Who knows? Maybe after I’m retired, I’ll cook more often.”
Chocolate Rhapsody
Cake Layer:
⅔ C all-purpose flour
½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
⅓ C granulated sugar
6 tbsp. butter, softened
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla
¼ C milk
Chocolate Layer:
Stabilized Whipped Cream
½ tsp. unflavored gelatin
2 tbsp. cold water
In their Hickory Ridge Drive kitchen, Jeff and Elaine Monahan of Tecumseh are assembling the ingredients for a casual Sunday dinner with friends.
They’ve added a leaf to their oak table, expanding it to seat six comfortably and leaving room for guests, china, and flatware. Wine glasses wait on the kitchen island next to smoked cheese and homemade bread.
Out on the deck, Jeff is tending to grilled asparagus and potatoes to accompany smoked pork ribs while Elaine puts the finishing touches on a “dangerouslooking” Chocolate Rhapsody dessert, rich with chocolate, fresh raspberries, and whipped cream.
As he stirs the vegetables on the grill, Jeff talks about the main dish. “My sister Debbie got me into smoking,” he said, expertly turning the asparagus so it grills evenly.
Jeff is number four of nine children, so there was a lot of cooking going on when he was growing up in Hudson. Once he moved out and was on his own, he started experimenting with different dishes and techniques. “I was 18 when I moved out, and I cooked for myself because I was too cheap to eat out,” he added with a grin.
His mom cooked, canned, and baked. Her Monster Cookies have become legendary in the Monahan family. In fact, each of the siblings received a special cutting board engraved with their mother’s recipe — in her own handwriting — a
cherished nod to family food traditions. “I enjoy cooking and sharing it with others,” Jeff said. “Smoking is my new favorite way to prepare things.”
The ribs were rubbed with Jeff’s “American 5-4-3-2-1 Rub,” a mix of smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, chili powder, mustard powder, and cumin. Then, they were placed in his Orion smoker for an hour and 45 minutes. He’s especially fond of this new model, which cooks everything more evenly. “The recipe is a little different every time I make it,” he noted. “I tend to look through recipe books and then modify what I find with ingredients I like. So each time, it’s personalized.”
A barbecue sauce Jeff calls “Sweet and Smoky” was served on the side. The vegetables were tossed in olive oil, salt, and pepper before going onto the grill — resulting in a hot, flavorful meal, perfectly timed and plated.
Elaine, who is wrapping up her career in education this year, also enjoys time in the kitchen. As she slices and serves the decadent Chocolate Rhapsody, she shares a bit about her approach. “I do enjoy baking,” she said.
Elaine grew up making everything from scratch, and she’s passing that on to her sixth-graders at Hudson Middle School. “We started a sixth-grade cooking class
2 C (12 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
¾ C heavy whipping cream
Raspberry Mousse Layer:
¼ C granulated sugar
2 tbsp. water
1 tsp. cornstarch
10 oz. frozen raspberries, thawed, pureed, and strained
8 oz. white chocolate, broken into pieces
1-¾ C heavy whipping cream, divided 1 tsp. vanilla
Stabilized whipped cream (optional)
Fresh raspberries (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Grease bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
Cake layer: Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Beat butter and sugar until creamy; beat in egg and vanilla. Alternately beat in flour mixture and milk. Spread into the prepared pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
Chocolate layer: Microwave chocolate chips and ¾ cup of cream in an uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on high power for 1 minute; stir. If any chips retain their shape, microwave an additional 10-15 seconds, stirring until melted. Cool completely.
Raspberry mousse layer: Combine sugar, water, and cornstarch in medium saucepan; stir in raspberries. Bring mixture to a boil. Boil, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Cool completely. Microwave white chocolate pieces with ½ cup cream in uncovered microwave-safe bowl on medium-high power for 1 minute; stir. If any pieces retain their shape, microwave an additional 10-15 seconds just until pieces are melted. Cool completely. Stir into raspberry mixture. Beat remaining 1-⅓ cups cream and vanilla in mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold raspberry mixture into whipped cream.
Assemble: Spread ¾ cup chocolate mixture over cake layer; freeze for 5 minutes. Spoon raspberry mousse over chocolate; freeze for another 10 minutes. Carefully spread remaining chocolate over raspberry mousse. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or until firm. Remove the side of the springform pan. Garnish with whipped cream and fresh raspberries.
1 C heavy whipping cream, chilled, divided 2 tbsp. powdered sugar ½ tsp. vanilla
For best results, chill mixing bowl and whip attachment prior to use. Sprinkle gelatin over cold water in small bowl. Scald 2 tbsp. cream (bring to a simmer either on the stove or in the microwave); pour over gelatin, stirring until dissolved. Refrigerate for 10-15 minutes; beat with a whisk until smooth. In a stand mixer fitted with whip attachment, whip remaining cream and sugar until soft peaks form; whip in gelatin mixture and vanilla, stopping to scrape the bowl twice. Whip until stiff peaks form.
Sweet and Smoky Barbecue Sauce
½ of a large red onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp. olive oil
6 tbsp. packed dark brown sugar
½ C cider vinegar
¼ C molasses
¼ C honey
¼ C Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp. dark rum
2 tbsp. yellow mustard
1 tbsp. liquid smoke
1 tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tsp. ground allspice
¼ tsp. ground cloves
4 C ketchup
Coarse salt (sea or kosher) and ground pepper
Sauté onion and garlic in oil until tender. Combine the rest of the ingredients (except ketchup, salt, and pepper) in a large, deep, heavy, non-reactive saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, uncovered, until all ingredients are dissolved, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes. Stir in ketchup and bring to a boil, stirring well, as the ketchup may spatter. Add salt and pepper to taste. Reduce the heat and gently simmer, uncovered, until dark, thick, and richly flavored, 15-20 minutes, stirring often. Use right away or transfer to jars, cover, and cool to room temperature, and refrigerate. Sauce will keep for several weeks.
Adapted from “Barbecue Sauces, Rubs, and Marinades” by Steven Raichlen. n
Monahans
Amie Pelham Owner/Designer
Molly Boldt Interior Designer
Brian Renaldi Owner/Project Mgr
Olivia Ballow Interior Designer
Lisa VanSickle Interior Designer
Nellie Ondrovick Interior Designer
Builders
everything’s better with a lake view
Perched on a gentle slope overlooking the shimmering lake, this Loch Erin home boasts a contemporary vibe with its head-turning exterior. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows and doors dominate the lake-facing side of the house, inviting in streams of sunlight and offering panoramic views of the water. The upper-story deck, seamlessly built into the structure, extends outward like an open-air living room, leaving the floor below free of view-obstructing columns. Teena and Rob Hill of Abstract Builders are creating yet another gorgeous build where every detail is designed to bring the outside in. What can they build for you?
By Christine MacIntyre
Fishing
very summer finds the fish bitin’ at Tecumseh Park, also known as the Pit — a former gravel quarry turned beloved fishing hole. The park is home to one of the most anticipated events of the season: the annual Fishing Derby, hosted by Tecumseh’s Parks and Recreation Department.
This year’s event takes place on Saturday, June 14, from 9 to 11am. The Pit’s five-acre pond has become a favorite local getaway for families, anglers, and anyone who enjoys a nice day outside.
Now in its eighth year, the Derby has grown in size and spirit. “We’re expecting between 50 and 100 people this year,” said Katrina Rumsey, recreation programmer for the city. “We’re hoping that increasing the activities there will increase the number of people at the event.”
The Derby is a free and inclusive event, perfect for children ages 5-12. “We’ll be giving out prizes, including gift cards from Basil Boys, Twin Pines Eatery & Ice Cream, and Hopscotch Kids, and we’re excited to have Boy Scout Troop 632 and Cub Scout Pack 607 join us too,” Rumsey added. There may even be a raffle for attendees to enjoy. Prizes will be awarded for the longest, shortest, and most fish caught, as well as a prize from the Cub Scouts for most creative fishing gear, adding a friendly competitive edge to a laid-back, feel-good event.
No need to pre-register — simply show up, check in, and cast a line. Participants are encouraged to bring their own rod, reel, bucket, sunscreen, and bug spray. The organizers will provide bait, so
you can spend less time prepping and more time fishing. And, while the fish might steal the spotlight, there’s plenty more to enjoy at The Pit.
Hannah’s Shaved Ice will be on site serving cool treats, and the park offers a wide range of amenities for those looking to make a day of it. In addition to the pond — about 30-feet deep in spots and now equipped with buoys and life preservers for safety — there’s a beach area, swimming, a playground, sand volleyball courts, and a bathroom facility. Additional concessions are also available.
“It’s a great place to do your fishing,” Rumsey said. “People like just hanging out and having a good time on nice weather days.” While motorized watercraft aren’t allowed, the pond is perfect for inflatable loungers and casual floating.
The Pit is a hub of outdoor fun year round. In the winter, the park’s large hill becomes a favorite sledding spot for local families. This kind of multiseason charm keeps people coming back, and events like the Fishing Derby bring the community together.
So, grab your gear, rally the family, and spend a morning at The Pit. The fish are biting, the shaved ice is waiting, and the memories are yours to make. Mark your calendars and join the fun! n
Tecumseh Parks & Recreation
517-423-5602
sgilmore@tecumsehmi.gov
Bernie’s
By Linda Learman
s robins return and flowers bloom in Michigan, so, too, do golfers begin to appear outside on local courses. Some may be trying the game for the first time. Others will be occasional players, working in a round when they can. Several will be on a local school’s golf team or in a league. A select few may be hardcore golfers who just can’t get enough. Regardless of ability level or passion for the sport, these golfers — as well as the golf-curious and even the golf-indifferent — might enjoy Bernie’s At The Turn at Wolf Creek Golf Club in Adrian. Bernie’s hosts three bays of indoor golf simulators and also rents space for private gatherings.
“Anyone who golfs in Michigan understands you lose some of your swing in winter,” said Moonie Dillard, co-general manager for Wolf Creek Golf Club/Raisin Valley Golf Club. With a relatively short season in Michigan (typically late April to late October), spring golfers don’t have to wait for the ground to thaw to dust off their clubs and get swinging by using the simulators at Bernie’s.
Anyone who golfs in Michigan also knows the weather doesn’t always cooperate no matter what the season is. Or maybe they don’t have time for a typical two- or four-hour round. Rain or shine, Bernie’s At The Turn golf simulators are available to rent during regular course hours.
“The sims,” as Dillard calls them, can help golfers play a virtual round, hit at the virtual range, practice their actual swing and aim, or otherwise improve their golf skills through virtual drills designed to be fun and encouraging. They present an opportunity to give golf a try without the challenges or frustrations of weather and natural features like trees, sand, water, and wind, to name just a few. And, Dillard explained, simulators “help build muscle memory for better game consistency.” They also offer insightful data analytics about a player’s game.
are both located adjacent to Legacy Golf Club
PGA Professionals Claire Batista and Andrew Headman
AT THE TURN Seasonal Golf Simulator
“When new owners, the Crist family, took over Wolf Creek in February 2023,”
Dillard said, “they completely remodeled the clubhouse, paved the parking lot, and made several course updates.” They also added Bernie’s At The Turn, located in the clubhouse’s lower level. Bernie’s just finished its second winter and first full year of operation, and it’s been a hit, according to Dillard, enough to support an indoor golf league this past winter.
“Lots of our regular golfers use Bernie’s,” Dillard enthused. “Word of mouth has traveled and more and more people are coming in.”
Each golf simulator bay is in a separate room named after a famous golfer: Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus. The rooms can accommodate a maximum of four golfers playing a round, with plenty of space for
additional friends who may want to hang out around the bay. At Bernie’s, “You can have your own little party,” Dillard said.
Inside the clubhouse entrance and just outside the pro shop stands a whimsical, impressively sized wood carving of a golfing stickman, appropriately named “Bernie,” carved by course superintendent Marti Gilbert.
Dillard noted that Gilbert, besides tending Wolf Creek’s greens, is an adept woodworker who helped build the rooms of Bernie’s. With log-cabin style walls made of pine and faux-ivy covered ceilings, each bay’s design is inspired by nature with the snugness of a long and cozy basement room.
Comfy couches, chairs, and barstools invite lounging. Wall sconces shine soft light. Side tables and shelves offer settings for food and drinks. Bluetooth speakers and TVs equipped with Hulu Live provide entertainment. The main feature, though, glows at the front of the room displayed on a large projector screen: a perfectly manicured golf course on a picture-perfect day. A green-grass hitting mat is positioned in front of the screen where golfers drive, chip, pitch, and putt.
Players use their own clubs and balls (the same ones as for outdoor use). Standing on the mat, and about 10 feet from the screen, golfers take full normal swings to hit the ball directly at the screen. Alongside the turf mat sits
a “launch monitor” that, when the ball is struck, uses technology to capture data such as “launch angle, spin rate, and ball and clubhead speed,” Dillard explained. He further expounded that those data points allow for the calculation of the ball’s direction, the carry distance, and the total yardage of each shot.
Special software installed on a laptop uses this data to show the shot projected onto the screen in real time, so players see the trajectory of their ball on the virtual course, where it lands, and a display of various data points. The software can take a player through a whole round on a course or focus just on the analytics as a player tries to hone in on the mechanics of, say, their chip shot.
Some golf pros have rented the simulators at Bernie’s to give lessons to their clients and “diehards love the analytics,” Dillard said with a smile. High school golf teams have hosted events at Bernie’s and, Dillard also pointed out, Wolf Creek has hosted clinics for kids with the simulators (children under 16 can play Wolf Creek’s course for free).
Bernie’s is “a family atmosphere,” Dillard emphasized, welcoming to golfers and nongolfers alike, adding that several holiday parties and even a Detroit Lions watch party were hosted at Bernie’s this past year. “Anyone who wants to reserve the rooms for birthdays, graduation parties, or anything like that can do so,” Dillard said.
Rental rates are $30 per hour Monday-Thursday and $40 per hour Friday-Sunday, and advance reservations are recommended. Dillard noted that outside food and nonalcoholic beverages are permitted, but alcohol must be purchased at the club.
Come hail or highwater (to adapt a more family-friendly phrasing), Bernie’s At The Turn offers year-round fun. n
This public 18-hole course offers four sets of tees for different skill levels. Don’t let bad weather stop you. Reserve the Bernie’s At The Turn Seasonal Golf Simulator for leagues, parties, and casual play. The clubhouse features a wraparound deck and a porch overlooking the 9th hole. Drive their brand new fleet of GPS enabled golf carts. Offering daily 9- and 18-hole specials. Affordable rates. Membership costs include access to Raisin Valley Golf Club too!
6363 Burton Rd, Adrian 517-672-8802 www.thewolfcreekgolfclubadrian.com
LIFE’S A GAME...
This 18-hole public course is a hidden treasure. The River Raisin peacefully winds through naturally wooded terrain to offer challenging beauty at every turn. The reasonable length boasts tight fairways and rippling greens to test your mastery of the game. Drive their brand new fleet of GPS-enabled golf carts. Membership also includes access to Wolf Creek Golf Club. The banquet hall is an excellent spot for golf outings and special occasions.
A destination for all seasons! This 9-hole course is one of the oldest in MI and has been completely renovated/updated to enhance the beauty of Irish Hills. The newly designed course offers incredible views from elevation changes and an exciting/challenging game of golf. The two-level clubhouse offers a private venue space with stunning views up top and Gauci’s Pizzeria & Pub below with a
true and fast greens, and tournament conditions. Pro shop offers apparel/equipment and swimming pool offers ultimate fun. Birdies on the Hill, located course-side, is open daily for lunch/dinner. Special events/meetings held in the clubhouse.
WHITEFORD VALLEY GOLF COURSE
Something for everyone here! They mix challenge with beauty, fun, and affordability. Two 18-hole championship courses and a full-length, 9-hole course welcome golfers of all ages and abilities. Test your skill on wide fairways, receptive greens, and the occasional water hazard or sand trap. Located just north of the Ohio/Michigan state line. The grass is green, short, and waiting for your next round. The Club also hosts special events of all sizes.
Golf Your Way
If you enjoy pristine daily playing conditions, championship layout, friendly atmosphere, and service-oriented staff, then you will love it here.The only private golf club in Lenawee County — built in 1948. 18 holes of superbly maintained fairway and outstanding greens. A typical round takes 3 1/2 hours to play. All levels of golfers welcome. Enjoy professionally prepared meals inside or on the patio. Non-members can order freshly prepared takeout.
Established in 1929, this 140-acre course has scenic rolling hills with three ponds, sand bunkers on 11 holes, and beautiful mature trees. Well-groomed fairways and greens make it challenging and enjoyable. Family-owned/operated course has three sets of tees, appealing to golfers of every skill level. Specials: $22 Monday Seniors, $22 Tuesday Ladies, $18 Twilight (all rates for 18 holes with gas cart per person). Call for tee time or to schedule your outing!
Don’t let the shorter layout fool you, Woodlawn Golf Club of Adrian packs a punch. Built in 1960, this 18-hole course keeps things interesting with fast, sloped greens, sand traps, and water hazards on several holes. It’s well kept, fun for all skill levels, and continues to be a longtime local favorite. Friday Deal: Play 18 with a cart and grab a hot dog, pop, and chips all for just $25.
Mike Hill, a legendary PGA Tour professional, designed and created the publice Hills’ Heart of the Lakes public golf course. This 1969 golf masterpiece is both rewarding and challenging to players of every skill level. With its meticulously manicured fairways and undulating greens, golfers are given the chance to hone their precision shots. Offering corporate and group outings. Discover the long, rolling fairways that wander through an abundant display of nature.
500 Case Rd, Brooklyn 517-592-2110
www.hillsgolfcourse.com
Gillin Eye Care, it’s all about community. For more than 30 years, Dr. Dana Gillin has provided comprehensive and personalized eye care services to the residents of the Tecumseh area. Gillin is an Adrian native who got his professional start in his hometown before making his way to Tecumseh, where he eventually opened the doors of his current office on North Evans Street.
Gillin is proud to offer honest, high-quality eye care and to call
multiple generations of local residents his patients. Over the years, he has developed a reputation as an optometrist whose clients are as loyal to him as he is to them. “It’s a very personal thing,” Gillin said. “It’s all about nurturing relationships, remembering the names of patients when you run into them, providing for our small town.”
In keeping with that homegrown spirit, upon her recent graduation from the Michigan College of Optometry, Dr. Megan Scholl joined Dr. Gillin in his practice. Scholl
harkens from Deerfield and is a 2018 graduate of Deerfield High School. From there, she went on to pursue collegiate studies at Ferris State University, eventually attaining her bachelor’s and doctor’s degrees in optometry.
Scholl knew early on that she was interested in working in the medical field and ultimately decided on optometry, inspired partly by Gillin, with whom she worked during her summers home from college. As the two collaborated, she began to think, “This is cool. I can do this.”
SCHOLL shares Gillin’s affinity for the communities Gillin Eye Care serves, and she is equally dedicated to strengthening local ties and developing long-lasting relationships with patients — treating them with compassion and always prioritizing their well-being. As her mentor puts it, “These relationships are everything. They’re why we do what we do.”
This commitment to the communities and clients they serve is evident at both their Tecumseh and Brooklyn locations and among the entire Gillin Eye Care team. It has been a cornerstone of their mission from the beginning and will continue to be their primary focus as they move into the future.
As Dr. Gillin enters the autumn of his career, Dr. Scholl brings a springlike breath of fresh air as she begins hers. Together, they will continue to offer the high-quality, thorough, and patient-centered eye care that provides clients clear vision for a clear life no matter the season.
Dr. Megan Scholl, O.D. and Dr. Dana E. Gillin, O.D.
WE CATER TO YOU
Bringing Italy to your table! Classic lasagna, sandwich rings, salads, pastas, pizzas, breadsticks, desserts, and full bar. Let them cater your event! Rent the Colosseum room (holds 45).
SAL’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT (517) 423-6688 • eatatsals.com
1400 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh M,T,Th,F,Sat,Sun 11-9
Closed Wed
BUDS AND BURGERS
Bring your friends for the “Best Burger” in Lenawee. Also tacos, subs, hot dogs, quesadillas, etc. Order a beer bucket for all your friends! Hang out around the firepit or on the patio.
This tropical eatery offers home-cooked options, including delicious pizza, seafood, specialty burgers, sandwiches, and pasta dishes. Full bar. Enjoy the tropical-inspired atmosphere.
FLAMINGO BEACH GRILLE & BAR (734) 627-7800
4321 Michigan Ave, Tipton Sun 11-10, M 4-10, T Closed, W-Th 11-10, F-Sat 11-Midnight
Alber Orchard & Cider Mill Freedom Winery
HARD CIDERS
Opening in May for 2025. Providing heirloom hard cider with rotating taps in the restored tasting room/barn. Beautiful venue with endless photo opportunities indoors/outdoors.
FREEDOM WINERY (734) 428-9310 alberorchard.com 13011 Bethel Church Rd Manchester Fri-Sat 1-8, Others by chance
SPICY AND ICY
Enjoy a Spicy Margarita and other amazing food and drinks on the patio! Burgers, chicken wings/tenders, steak, and more. Full-service bar and build-your-own Bloody Mary.
EMBERS BAR AND GRILL (517) 423-2601 1370 W Chicago Blvd Tecumseh Plaza T-Th 12-10, F & Sa 12-11
MORE THAN PIZZA
Try a wrap and have it filled with deliciousness. Also offering pizza, ribs, chicken, salads, pasta, wraps, and breadsticks. Catering available! Family friendly, fast casual.
BASIL BOYS (517) 423-1875 basilboys.com 125 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh T-Th 3:30-9:30, F&Sat 11-9:30, Closed Sun, M, & Holidays
TASTE WAVE the
NEW! SMASH BOX
New to the menu...Smash Boxes – a feast packed into one box for those who love real BBQ! Jumbo pulled pork sandwich, 4 hickorysmoked chicken wings, crispy fries, and choice of one side.
7007 US-12, in the Irish Hills (Onsted) Wednesday-Sunday 12-7
EAT. DRINK. ROCK. ROLL.
Come to the lake. Offering familiar fare/cocktails in a comfy setting with lake views. Appetizers, pizza, fish, burgers, sandwiches, soups/salads, full bar, cocktails. Karaoke too!
Take a sip of nostalgia and escape back to carefree days with St. Julian’s fun and unique wines. With a variety to select from, explore them all while relaxing on the patio.
BBQ sauce, bacon, cream cheese, pineapple. With your choice of hot dog or bratwurst. Try any of our specialty dogs! Also serving paninis, wraps, and desserts. Mon & Wed 99¢ coney dogs. THE DOG HOUSE RESTAURANT (517) 301-4266
thedoghouserestaurant.com 107 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh M-F 10-7, Sat 10-4
SUNDAY BRUNCH
Featuring eggs benedict, biscuits and gravy, etc. Sundays 10-1:30. Ribeye steak, salads, and signature entrees. Enjoy fabulous food/signature cocktails on the edge of Clark Lake. Catering too.
EAGLE’S NEST BAR & GRILL (517) 529-7116
eaglesnestclarklake.com
1200 Eagle Point Rd, Clarklake W-Th 4-9, F-Sat 12-10, Sun 10-8
TAKE FLIGHT
Order a Tequila Flight! Lime wedges and salt make for the perfect combo. Burritos, nachos, tacos, fajitas, salads, brunch and great drinks can also be enjoyed inside or on the patio.
SALSARIA’S
(517) 423-0018 • salsarias.com 146 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh Monday - Saturday 11-9 (Sat brunch 11-2)
BRUNCH IS BACK
Scrumptious brunch every Sat and Sun 11-2! Step off the boat and onto their patio to enjoy a hand-crafted cocktail. Located across from Evans Lake. Beer, wine, fish, burgers, and more. THE HILLS FORK OAR POUR (517) 431-5010
Find us on Facebook 6400 Michigan Ave, Tipton M-F 12-11pm, Sat-Sun 11-11
SAVOR SUMMER
Enjoy your favorite wine, beer, cider, or cocktail in the biergarten! Tribute concerts every Friday and Saturday year ‘round. Tickets on Eventbrite. CHATEAU AERONAUTIQUE WINERY BLUE SKIES BREWERY & MILE HIGH DISTILLERY (517) 446-4052
chateauaeronautiquewinery.com
SUNSET, SOUND, & STRETCH
The art of good food and Drink
COME SEE US
...in Tecumseh, Milan, and Blissfield for great Mexican eats: street tacos/ corn, fajitas, burritos, enchiladas, quesabirrias, etc. Fabulous drinks too! Flavored margaritas, palomas, long islands, daiquiris, and more.
PEPPERS MEXICAN GRILL
(517) 815-1283
peppersmexicangrill.net
1410 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh (Busch’s Plaza) T,W,Th,Sun 11-9, F & Sat 11-10
START YOUR DAY RIGHT
Now opening at 6am! Enjoy the breakfast and brunch buffet loaded with all of your morning favorites. Also try the mouth-watering mimosas, beer, and wine served every day!
TUCKEY’S BIG BOY (517) 423-7464 bigboy.com 2701 E Monroe Rd, Tecumseh Open Daily 6am-9pm
FINDING PEACE AT TECUMSEH PARKS
By Ann Grahl
Finding inner peace can be a challenge in today’s hustle and bustle world. To quote a theatrical icon, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Ferris Bueller was onto something. And several community members have come together to offer folks an opportunity to slow things down, to “stop and look around” — and within. To tune out the loud, external noise and tune into their whispering inner voice while grounding themselves in their bodies.
In conjunction with the Tecumseh Parks and Recreation Department, Sanaras Wellness Studio and Me in the Meantime are bringing Sunset, Sound, & Stretch sessions to two local parks: June 12 and August 14 at Hotrum Park and July 10 and September 11 at Douglas W. Bird Park.
These community sound baths and yoga sessions are free to the public and will run from 7 to 8pm (weather permitting). Participants are required to bring their own yoga mats and blankets.
According to Shannon Renee McGee, owner of Me in the Meantime, “The more stressed out you are, the less you’re sleeping or relaxing. Relaxation is key to improving your health and to avoiding getting sick.”
So, slow your pace and treat yourself to the gift of peace, as McGee guides soothing outdoor sound bathes and Heather Herrera, owner of Sanaras Wellness Studio, leads yoga flow sessions.
Enjoy two of Tecumseh’s beautiful parks and let nature, movement, and sound restore your body and spirit!
Both Sanaras Wellness Studio and Me in the Meantime offer a variety of self-care and wellness services, and Tecumseh Parks and Recreation hosts numerous classes and events. Visit their websites or follow them on social media to learn more. n
This summer, the Manitou Beach Creative Corner continues its tradition of igniting creativity in children through vibrant art camps and workshops. The studio is the passion project of artist and retired educator Jean Lash, whose decades of teaching and dedication to the arts have shaped a program beloved by students, families, and the community alike.
“I was a little girl who was so shy, but the arts gave me my voice,” said Lash, who taught art in Michigan public schools before going on to teach at Adrian College and Siena Heights University. In 2018, Lash was approached by David Gajda and Jose Malagon to create an art school for children at Manitou Beach — and the Creative Corner was born.
From the beginning, Lash knew this would be different. “After 31 years of teaching, I wished I had a book with all of my students’ signatures in it. You don’t really realize how many lives you’re a part of,” she reflected. So, when she started the summer camps, she began recording her students, not with signatures but with handprints — each one created using the art medium the student studied. These colorful prints now adorn a wall in the classroom, with Lash’s own handprint at the center, forming the Creative Corner’s logo and serving as a vibrant reminder of every artist who has passed through the doors.
BEACH
offers summer art camps for students who have completed kindergarten through eighth grade. Most sessions run for five days, with additional afternoon and Saturday camps. School-year workshops are offered in the fall, winter, and spring to meet varying family schedules. Classes are capped at 12 students to ensure each child receives personalized attention.
Students work with a wide range of materials, including watercolor, acrylics, oil pastels, chalk pastels, mixed media, yarn, and polymer clay. They can choose from both two- and three-dimensional projects. Special sessions such as “Lake Wonders & Words” combine visual art with poetry, resulting in beautiful, bound class books.
Each student completes three to four pieces of art and selects one to be matted, framed, and exhibited in the Children’s Gallery — currently on display at the Sandbar Café in Addison. Lash’s dream for a gallery came to life thanks to a conversation with her son Doug, who gifted her $1,800 — the exact amount needed to launch it. Supported by generous community donors, especially the Stubnitz
By Sarah Chinavare
Foundation, the gallery rotates exhibits every three months and is believed to be the only year-round children’s gallery of its kind.
Thissummer’s gallery display, titled “Cats & Birds,” is inspired by Paul Klee and the children’s book “The Cat and the Bird” by Geraldine Elschner and Peggy Nille. “Look how cute these are with the range of colors,” Lash beamed. “I read the book to the class and showed them how to draw the bird. They created the cat with oil pastels.”
The impact of the Creative Corner reaches far beyond technique or materials. Students not only take home a portfolio of their work but often leave with art supplies like pens, journals, or even books to continue creating at home. One year, each student received “Beautiful Oops” by Barney Saltzberg — a book about transforming mistakes into something beautiful. “It’s so true,” Lash said. “We need to move more toward creating from our mistakes.”
This mindset has been central to Lash’s teaching. “In Onsted, I used to say, ‘I’ll give you one piece of paper, so think
before you draw.’ But then I’d challenge them — What are you going to create from a mistake? How will you leave your mark on the world?”
That philosophy has made a lasting impression on hundreds of students — nearly 100 attended last summer’s camps, traveling from across Michigan, six different states, and even England.
Lash
isn’t alone in her efforts. The Creative Corner is supported by a talented team of certified art educators, including Betty Walsh, Jessie LaFountain, and Charla Milks, and poet Michelle Ott will also be teaching this summer. Each brings over 20 years of experience and a shared passion for fostering creativity. Lash herself received the Michigan Art Education Association’s Secondary Art Teacher of the Year Award in 2002 and cofounded the Community Arts of Tecumseh in 2008 with Martha Melcher.
Parents regularly praise the teachers’ dedication and the impact the program has on their children’s self-confidence and creativity. “The teachers here go above and beyond,” said one parent. All the teachers help instill a love for the arts that will last a lifetime.
Lash’s classroom strategies also foster connection. “Some students don’t know anyone when they arrive,” she explained. She developed a game where students sit at a different table with different kids each day. “I want every kid that comes in here never to feel lost.”
The Manitou Beach Creative Corner
Lash understands quiet kids especially well. “One little girl stopped working every time I walked away. When I asked her what was wrong, she said, ‘Everyone cuts so easily. Can you show me how to hold the scissors?’” That moment underscores why Lash keeps her class sizes small — to catch those easily missed needs and build confidence from the ground up.
“When I think about my childhood, my dad always told me, ‘You have to leave the world something, so the world knows you’ve been here.’” Lash took that to heart — not only in her stained-glass work (including pieces at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Tecumseh and the Adrian Public Library) but in every class she teaches. “I always tell parents to write their child’s name and date on every piece of art,” she said. “That’s their mark.”
Lash felt especially honored when her work was recognized in a heartfelt letter from Michelle Obama. After reading “The Light We Carry,” Lash was so moved that she sent the former First Lady a letter along with one of the students’ poetry books, “The Amazon Rainforest, Art and Poetry,” and some handmade note cards. Obama responded:
“Educators like you lay the foundation for a brighter tomorrow … know that you have made a lasting impact — not only on
the lives of your students, but also on the future of the world they will inherit.”
Lash proudly displays the letter in her home workshop.
“In several years, I will be 80,” Lash says with a laugh. “But being with these little kids, they keep us young. They think a little differently than adults do.” With deep gratitude, Lash thanks her supporters, including the Kiwanis Clubs of Addison and Onsted, the Stubnitz Foundation, and countless friends and benefactors. “Without the amazing outpouring of community support, the summer art camps simply could not exist.”
From the first handprint on the wall to the last piece of artwork framed for the gallery, the Manitou Beach Creative Corner is more than just an art school. It’s a legacy of imagination, encouragement, and joy — and proof that even the quietest voices can leave the loudest marks on the world.
To register for upcoming summer art camps, visit manitoubeachcreative.org. There are seven weeks of camps with 20 different sessions. n
This is nature’s wonderland, boasting a picturesque lake, perfect picnic spots, a thriving conservatory, and endless trails to explore! Marvel at the Bonsai Courtyard or frolic through Hosta Hillside. For a treetop thrill, visit the Reach for the Sky Canopy Walk. Spend time in nature while giving back to your community. We have roles to match any interest.
Mulch
Red, Black, Brown, Hardwood, and Cedar Mulch
tecumseH HigH scHOOl Graduates
One of Kiwanis’ most successful fundraising projects in the last 69 years is the flag project. For a small fee, Kiwanians will plant an American Flag in subscribers’ lawns to commemorate Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, 9/11, and Veterans Day. Tecumseh shows its patriotism every year with more households participating. Flags can be ordered online or on the club’s Facebook page.
Congratulations 2025 winners tecumseH kiwanis
Each year, the Kiwanis Club of Tecumseh offers Tecumseh High School seniors the opportunity to earn scholarships for college expenses. Students seeking financial aid are required to complete an application and submit recommendations from teachers, guidance counselors, and other sponsors. A panel of Kiwanis members then set about the task of selecting a pool of final candidates for personal interviews. The criteria for selection is based on academic achievement, involvement in community and school, leadership, and volunteerism. We are pleased to offer the 2025 scholarships to these outstanding students and are very proud of their accomplishments and service. We thank the entire Tecumseh community for participating in our fundraising projects that help this program. This year, we are able to offer $13,500 in scholarships to these deserving students who were chosen from an outstanding group of applicants.
By Linda Learman
arry Rothman, Tecumseh resident and founding member of local band Pickin’ Roots, has been “singing since he could talk.” The band, formed in 2014 and devoted to “traditional country music,” as Rothman describes it, will be playing hits from the likes of Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, George Jones, and Conway Twitty at the Clinton Summerfest on June 14, 11am-noon, and at Clinton’s Music on the Porch at the 70th Anniversary celebration of the Smith-Kimball Community Center on Aug. 16, 6-8pm.
Pickin’ Roots, Rothman recalled, began with “nine people practicing music in my basement, including fiddle players and dobro players, but ended up with six people.” Most of the musicians came from the Clinton and Tecumseh area, and a few hailed from Ann Arbor and Ohio. For nearly a decade, they regularly played fairs and festivals across Michigan and Ohio. Since 2023, however, after different bandmates fell ill, moved away, or retired, Pickin’ Roots has been an acoustic guitar duo made up of Rothman and James Dodd from Onsted.
Retirement isn’t on the horizon anytime soon for Rothman, though. “Music,” he said, “has always been a passion,” and he is looking to add more people to the band again. In high school, Rothman sang in the choir and in a country band that proved popular in his hometown of Dundee. But realizing it would take more sacrifices than he was willing to make, Rothman never wanted to pursue music as a career. “I’m not money driven or fame driven. I just like to play music for people who like to listen to it,” Rothman said. “Singing,” he mused, “is the only thing I never had to work at.”
Rothman’s day job, conversely, is “not for the faint of heart,” he writes on his LinkedIn page. In his 26th year with the Michigan State Police (MSP), Detective Sergeant Rothman currently oversees the Cold Case Unit for nine different regions across the state, most recently bringing a 27-year-old homicide cold case to justice in Lenawee County this past April. Extending his police work to the classroom, in 2020, Rothman also spearheaded a collaboration between the MSP and Michigan State University that gives criminal justice students the opportunity to help prepare and analyze cold cases. Inevitably, the work requires encountering hard truths about grim realities.
But, “Music is a healer of the soul,” Rothman opined. “It’s amazing to me how music can bring people together from all different walks of life and no one cares who you are or what you are and, well, it just connects a lot of people, and I think that’s why I like it so much. It makes people feel good. Some of the greatest people I’ve ever met are because of playing music.” In all he does, Rothman attributes his strong Christian faith as his life’s guiding force and notes that his band “mixes classic country with some gospel music,” too.
In addition to fairs and festivals, Pickin’ Roots has played at nursing homes, memorial services, birthday parties, and even a tractor show, which inspired Rothman to write an original song “Grandad’s Farmall” (available on Spotify). “The world’s hard enough to deal with sometimes,” Rothman said matter-of-factly. “And if you can put a smile on someone’s face just by playing a song, that’s worth its weight in gold.” n
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
Clinton Summerfest JUNE 14, 11AM-NOON Music on the Porch Smith-Kimball Community Center 70th Anniversary Celebration 211 Tecumseh St, Clinton AUG 16, 6-8PM pickinrootsband@gmail.com
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Jayden Holly Service Advisor
Tony Ellison Service Advisor
Rudy Gonzalez Sales
By Cashmere Morley
Put your bravery to the test this summer with Indian Creek Campground’s adventure activities. Take their Leap of Faith challenge and scale 25 feet vertically into the air, balancing on a pole above the treetops before leaping as far as you can manage to hit a target. Test your strength and endurance on the Climbing Wall, which suspends climbers 45 feet off the ground. Or bring a friend and race them 45 feet in the air with the Dual Zip Line, which plunges you 700 feet across forest site lines. “One time, we had a 92-year-old out here for a birthday party,” said Angela Harris, who works at the Campground. “I’d say that was pretty memorable.”
Indian Creek Campground, located in Tecumseh and overlooking a creek running through the countryside, offers exciting outdoor adventures with a family-friendly atmosphere. These activities, open from April to October on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, allow adventurers to take in the beauty of the great outdoors while challenging themselves with heart-pounding experiences.
One of the more daring activities available at Indian Creek is the Leap of Faith, a challenge that pushes participants to conquer their fears and jump into the unknown. Available on select dates, this activity involves climbing 25 feet to a platform atop a pole and leaping off into the air, trusting in the harness to assist floating gently back down. The Leap of Faith is perfect for those who enjoy testing their boundaries and embracing adventure in its purest form.
“It’s become more of a trend of guests asking if they can go again. ‘I didn’t think I could do it, and I did it. Now, I want to do it again,’” said Harris. So, this year, Indian Creek is offering that opportunity with the Leap of Faith, just as they do with the Dual Zip Line. “They get to jump twice because it’s so much
fun, they want to do it a second time,” remarked Harris.
Another activity at the campground is the aforementioned Dual Zip Line, which promises an adrenaline rush for those seeking a unique aerial adventure. The Zip Line stands 45-feet high and stretches 700-feet long, across breathtaking views of the country and forest tree line. Participants soar through the air alone or side by side with a friend.
For those who prefer a more vertical adventure, the campground also offers rock climbing. The Climbing Wall tower stands 45feet tall and features an auto belay system, ensuring a safe and controlled descent for climbers of all skill levels. Whether one is a seasoned climber or a first-time adventurer, the Climbing Wall experience provides an opportunity to exceed limits and reach new heights.
All activities require online booking in advance. For the Dual Zip Line and Climbing Wall activities, the minimum weight requirement is 70 pounds and the maximum weight is 225 pounds.
To take part in the Leap of Faith, individuals must be at least eight years old. n
OPEN TUES, THUR, SAT THRU OCTOBER
Indian Creek Campground 9415 Tangent Rd, Tecumseh @indiancreekcamp 517-423-5659 indiancreekcampingmichigan.com/ adventure-activities/
Walker Tavern
By Renee Lapham Collins
When the first English colonists waded ashore in the early 17th century, the American landscape must have seemed staggeringly unforgiving. It was a world far different from what they had left behind — untamed, vast, and unknown. Yet they got to work. It would be nearly 200 years before their descendants pushed westward into what was then known as the Old Northwest — territory north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi. That region included what we now know as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and the eastern part of Minnesota.
The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 made it much easier for settlers to head west — and they came in droves. Goods from the East Coast followed the same route: from New York City to Albany, through the canal to Buffalo, and then across Lake Erie. The influx of migrants into the Michigan Territory sparked the development of new settlements and infrastructure. As pioneers moved inland along routes like the Chicago Road (now U.S. 12), taverns and inns sprang up to serve the steady stream of travelers heading west.
One of the most important of these establishments was the Walker Tavern, located at the junction of U.S. 12 and what would become M-50 in Cambridge Township. According to Laurie Perkins, education historian at the Michigan Historical Center, the original structure was built in 1832 by Calvin Snell as a stagecoach stop and roadside tavern. “The only original pieces left from that time are the stairway — or the stair steps going up to the second floor — and the foundation,” Perkins said.
As traffic increased, Snell outgrew the space and eventually moved east to Tecumseh, where he constructed a three-story Greek Revival-style wood-framed hotel. “Sylvester and Lucy Walker, who had run a tavern in Cooperstown, New York, for many years, purchased the tavern and renamed it Walker Tavern,” Perkins explained. “The lure of cheap land brought them to Michigan.”
Under the Walkers’ care, the tavern became one of the most respected and well-used inns between Detroit and Chicago, offering meals and lodging, and even functioning as a post office for the growing community. Inside the tavern today, Perkins points out the original mail cabinet still on display.
“Snell was such an entrepreneur that he was able to get M-50 to come down here,” Perkins said. “Some people wanted it to align where U.S. 223 is today. But Snell convinced them this was the ideal location.” The resulting junction of U.S. 12 and M-50 was a boon for Cambridge Township. In 1853, Sylvester Walker purchased land across the road from his tavern and built the Brick Walker Tavern, a four-story structure that expanded his growing hospitality business.
“Walker was elected to the Michigan Legislature in 1847. He was a respected business owner, served on the Roads Committee, and had a vested interest in the roads that passed by his establishment,” said Perkins.
Besides being a watering hole for travelers on the journey, Walker Tavern also played an important role in the Cambridge Junction community, Perkins explained. “Mail was picked up here. People came for socialization, for the news. All of that occurred here.”
After Sylvester Walker’s death in 1868, the taverns passed through the hands of several owners. As railroads gradually replaced stagecoach lines, and with new routes bypassing the old roads, the buildings fell into disrepair.
She also notes the historical context that led to the tavern’s prominence. Settlers didn’t typically arrive in Michigan from the south because of the extensive swampland. Instead, they crossed Lake Erie and entered Michigan on U.S. 12, which was originally an Indigenous trail built on higher ground and later developed into a military road. By 1835, a second key route — the LaPlaisance Bay Pike (now M-50) — was being constructed, running diagonally from Holland to Monroe.
In 1921, Rev. Frederick Hewitt, an Episcopal priest and antiques collector from Detroit, purchased the original wooden tavern. Recognizing its historic value, he restored it and reopened it as a museum and antique shop. He also acquired the Brick Walker Tavern across the road and turned both into popular tourist destinations.
Hewitt’s friend Henry Ford, who shared a passion for preserving American history, encouraged his efforts.
Walker Tavern & Visitors Center
Recreation Passport Required 13220 M-50, Brooklyn
Thru Aug 31: W-Sun 10am-5pm Thru Sept 28: W-Sun 10am-2pm
Closed Holidays/Race Day June 8 michigan.gov/mhc/museum/cj
In 1965, the State of Michigan purchased the original tavern and surrounding land, incorporating it into Cambridge Junction Historic State Park. Today, visitors can tour the restored tavern, explore exhibits on 19th-century travel and frontier life, watch vintage “base ball” games, and experience firsthand one of Michigan’s most significant historical landmarks — where the road to the future once passed right through the front door.
educators Explore Underground Railroad
This summer, Michigan educators will have a unique opportunity to explore the powerful local history of the Underground Railroad during a special continuing education program at Adrian College. The three-day event, set for July 22–24, will focus on the life and work of abolitionist Laura Haviland; the story of John White, a selfemancipated man seeking freedom; and the network of resistance that defined Lenawee County in the mid-1800s.
The program will feature a keynote by Jamon Jordan, a Detroit historian, whose storytelling brings Underground Railroad history to life. Educators will also visit several historic sites, including the Raisin Institute, Laura Haviland’s grave in Raisin Valley Cemetery, Walker Tavern, the Cambridge Junction Historic State Park, and Watkins Lake State Park.
The educational event is inspired by Laura Haviland’s 1881 book, “A Woman’s Life-Work,” a religious and activist memoir chronicling her fierce commitment to social justice (read more about Haviland on pg 66).
The story of John White, a man who escaped slavery in Kentucky in 1844, is central to the program. White lived in Lenawee County and sought help from Haviland when slave catchers came to reclaim him. A confrontation between those forces and local abolitionists is believed to have occurred near Watkins Lake in 1847 — at the present-day intersection of Arnold Road and M-124 — and will be revisited during the site tour.
Laurie Perkins helped design the informational signage inside Walker Tavern that will guide visitors during the event.
“The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 prohibited the expansion of slavery into the Old Northwest, but it did not free the nearly 300 enslaved African Americans already living in the territory,” Perkins said.
“By the 1830 federal census, three enslaved people still lived in Lenawee County. But, by the time the Walkers arrived here in 1838, Michigan’s abolitionist activity was out in the open.”
That same year, Sylvester and Lucy Walker took over the tavern at Cambridge Junction — now the Walker Tavern Historic Site — and transformed it into one of the busiest inns along the Chicago Road. While the Walkers helped settlers and stagecoach travelers, Sylvester, a Jacksonian Democrat, was pro-slavery. In stark contrast, his neighbor Laura Haviland risked her life and reputation to help freedom seekers.
“There was no sympathy for African Americans at Walker Tavern,” Perkins noted. “That’s a part of the story we haven’t really talked about — until now.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Perkins and her fellow historians developed new educational materials, including interpretive boards that connect the region’s geography and infrastructure — like the military roads of U.S. 12 and M-50 — to the larger story of slavery, escape, and resistance in 19th-century Michigan. n
LENAWEE FUELS, INC.
Bradley Mackinder
Whittemore
Charley Rebottaro
By Christine MacIntyre
in fresh, simple ingredients stayed with her. After starting her own family, she began selling produce and baked goods from a roadside stand.
Now, just over two years in, the café is a beloved local staple known for its heartfelt roots, bold flavors, and inventive menu. And, while the café also offers soups, bowls, salads, 35 varieties of sliders, and rotating entree options, the bagels are where the day begins — and, often, where the loyal following starts too.
Knight
a small town, it’s easy to overlook the power of a great bagel. But, at Knights in Shining Aprons in Adrian's Northtown Commons Plaza, the bagel isn’t just a sidekick to coffee — it’s the highlight of the morning.
The doors swing open every weekday at 7am, and the aroma of fresh-baked bagels drifts out onto the sidewalk. This local mom-and-pop spot has earned a reputation for turning something as familiar as a bagel into a whole experience. We’re not just talking about plain with cream cheese (though they’ll do that, too, and do it well). We’re talking creative, loaded, thoughtfully flavored bagel variety that feels like the answer to whatever the morning throws out.
There’s the jalapeño cheddar bagel, spicy and savory with just enough bite to wake you up. Or the French toast bagel, sweet and indulgent with a touch of cinnamon — perfect with a smear of honey walnut cream cheese and a hot latte. And, for those who like their breakfast hearty, build-your-own bagel sandwiches hit the spot.
The variety is impressive, but what sets Knights apart is how customers are made to feel like they’re part of something. The bagels are made fresh, the ingredients are chosen with purpose, and the flavors speak for themselves. Each sandwich is balanced and satisfying, with enough character to make it memorable but not so over the top that it feels like a stunt. It’s breakfast, elevated — without losing its soul.
It all started with a dream. Owners Jennifer and Deven Knight — Adrian locals with retail, corporate business, marketing, and IT backgrounds — had long felt the pull to share their love of homecooked food. Jennifer was raised on a Lenawee County dairy farm where her family grew, canned, and preserved most of their food. That grounding
The Knights have also stayed committed to affordability, something they’re proud of. “While other restaurants have raised their prices, we have recently lowered ours,” Jennifer said. “We try to keep our prices low, our quality high, and our portions filling.”
It’s all part of a bigger picture: serving real food that feels like home. “We’ve heard our homemade cooking reminds customers of how good food used to taste,” Jennifer noted. “We cook how we like to eat.” Whether you’re grabbing something through the drive-thru, picking up takeout, or staying to dine in and play arcade games for free, the experience is consistent — welcoming, generous, and rooted in community.
Behind it all is the steady hum of small-batch cooking and a deep respect for ingredients. Nothing feels mass produced. Every bite feels a little personal, a little homegrown.
So, if you find yourself in Adrian on a weekday morning, follow the smell of toasted bagels to Knights in Shining Aprons. You’ll find a place built on family, flavor, and the kind of food that keeps people coming back — not just for the meal but for the feeling it leaves behind. n
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Milan Gardens
ach summer, a sweet, herbal scent drifts across the fields of Lavender Lane Farm in Milan, marking the return of the Lavender Harvest Festival, now in its eighth year. Members of the public are welcome to pick their own lavender, relax with some live music, and enjoy over 50 vendors at this annual event, taking place the weekend of July 12 and 13.
Thousands of visitors from Michigan and beyond respond to the invite to stroll among the 10,000 purple, white, and pink blooms while supporting local businesses. The farm, run by husband-and-wife team Joe and Courtney Pusta, opened in 2016 with a simple goal in mind: to provide lifeenhancing products and experiences through the couple’s shared love of lavender. And the festival is an extension of that vision.
“My wife, Courtney, and I decided to give everyone an opportunity to pick lavender instead of going to markets. We wanted people to have an invitation to the farm. We decided it would be nice to have a large event that is family-friendly and that kids 12 and under can get in for free. That way you’re not breaking everyone’s bank, and you can still enjoy the beauty of lavender in full bloom in conjunction with a bunch of other local artisans and food and music,” explained Joe.
What began as a celebration of lavender’s beauty and utility has grown into an event that draws over 5,000 guests across two days. “Everyone knows as soon as they get here that the festival is not some impersonal event; it’s not people working here that don’t know the owners. There’s an inviting atmosphere, which I think is the first thing you notice, besides the fields,” said Joe.
“Second thing is just how much lavender there is in full bloom, and colors are
purple and pink and white,” he added. “It’s breathtaking. We have quite a few props in the fields for photo opportunities, and then, of course, picking lavender is the biggest thing to do at the festival. We make over 100 products that visitors can purchase here as well. There’s a lot to see and do.”
The festival is about more than just the plants, though. Joe and Courtney are passionate about highlighting their local community. This year, over 50 vendors will be on-site, selling everything from hand-poured candles and pottery to fresh baked goods and textiles, as well as thematic lavender-infused soaps, lotions, and essential oils. A lineup of food trucks, offering sweet and savory treats, will keep bellies full while live music will provide a soundtrack for the weekend.
Lavender lovers can also participate in the ever-popular U-Pick experience, available for $10. “The first year we had the festival, we saw kids running up and down the rows of lavender. We were amazed. You’d think they’d damage everything, but it was just the opposite — it was bringing families together
8th annual
Lavender Harvest Festival
July 12 Sat • 8am-4pm
July 13 Sun • 12-4pm
in this really unique way. I just love seeing it,” said Joe. In addition to the lavender-themed events at the festival, Joe promises pony rides, face painting, and a petting farm.
Beyond the field, Joe and Courtney sell all kinds of handmade lavender wares online. From lavender CBD gummies to lavenderinfused body lotions, Lavender Lane online and Lavender Lane on Main, the couples’ brick-and-mortar store, have virtually every lavender product imaginable. There’s even a pet-care line to keep your furry friends relaxed.
“Lavender, aside from just being as beautiful as it is, has got incredible therapeutic value. It has a calming effect on most people, and the applications of lavender really suited my wife and I’s personality,” reflected Joe. “We like to create things, and the science of the plant really appealed to me. So, from distilling lavender to getting the essential oil and incorporating it into lotions and soaps and beauty products and culinary items, I’m interested in all that kind of stuff. It is a good way to work with something much bigger than yourself, to work with nature, with a plant that has so much to offer.”
The 2025 Lavender Harvest Festival opens early on Saturday to give visitors a chance to beat the heat. Whether they’re longing to stock up on handmade goods, soak in the scent, or simply enjoy a peaceful day in the country, Joe and Courtney’s festival offers a fragrant and joyful escape that keeps people coming back year after year.
Lavender Field
12040 Plank Rd, Milan Lavender Lane on Main 12 E Main St, Milan 734-239-2213
joe@lavenderlanemi.com
@lavenderlanemi
Joe Pusta, owner
Harvest Festival attendees
By Cashmere Morley
top and smell the roses at the Milan Garden Club Tour on Saturday, July 19, from 10am to 4pm. What began as a seed of inspiration from visiting Bedford Flower and Garden Club tours has blossomed into a beloved local Milan tradition, now in its third year. Rhonda Hall, an active member of the Garden Club, said the gardens are “different every year,” which offers a nice variety of flora for visitors to explore.
This year’s tour includes eight gardens, with each one offering something distinctive, from budding apple orchards to vibrant Japanese gardens. “One person that signed on to the tour is new this year,” said Hall. “In fact, he’s joining our Garden Club
as well. He’s a landscaper, and his yard is absolutely gorgeous.” Hall explains that she will sometimes drive around Milan looking for beautiful gardens as a way to recruit new stops for the tour.
Garden tours require a car, since some stops can be several miles apart, but the gardens themselves are explored on foot. The Third Annual Milan Garden Club Tour begins at the historic Hack House Museum. Visitors will be able to purchase tickets at the museum for $12, or they can order ahead online. Once ticketed, folks can begin the tour by strolling the gardens around the Hack House, which are also tended to by the Garden Club.
Alongside the gardens, attendees can enjoy a variety of over 20 vendors and food trucks stationed at the Hack House throughout the day. Local artisans will offer handmade crafts, garden décor, and plants for sale.
“The first year we did the tour, we had 80 people come through, only because it poured rain all day. But the people that came through were avid gardeners, and they didn’t care about the weather. Last year, we doubled that number.” Indeed, last year, the tour drew 160 attendees, and this year, Hall and the Garden Club are hoping to surpass that number, aiming for over 200 garden enthusiasts and curious visitors alike. The tour will run rain or shine, so attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing. Hall
noted that visitors from Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti to Saline to Carleton travel for a peek at the Garden Club’s vivid displays.
“[Besides the Hack House gardens,] our Garden Club takes care of the flower gardens at the Marble Memorial Methodist Church. We do all the planting for the Veteran’s Wall, which is in downtown Milan near the firehouse and is dedicated to veterans from Milan. We also plan to start adding six to eight raised flower beds at Aid in Milan, where they give out food and water to people who need it,” said Hall.
The Garden Club’s 35 members meet once a month to discuss upcoming projects and tours. Hall said the club is open to everyone, even folks with limited mobility or disabilities: “Some of our club members can’t get down in the dirt to help plant, but they are
welcome to join and help in other ways. We’ve had guest speakers in the past, for instance.”
Hall explained that members want others to come in and have a great time and that, as a club, they love to give back to the community. “We work a lot with schools; we give out a scholarship to high school students every year.” She added, “The Garden Club isn’t just about flowers. We learn about birds, trees, bees, and pruning.” No matter the topic, though, everything the Garden Club discusses somehow inevitably ties back to nature. n
Rhonda Hall - Milan Garden Club
Hack House Museum
775 County St, Milan | 734-276-4585 milangardenclub.com @milangardenclub48160
Hack House Museum
Adrian Garden Club
The Adrian Garden Club was first organized in 1926 and is one of the oldest garden clubs operating under the Michigan Garden Clubs Inc. banner. This is a fun group, whose members are passionate about the outdoors, love plants, and do good for the city. They enjoy a social activity each quarter and will be participating in the Bee Festival and 4th of July parade.
Garden area
clubs
Meetings: March-Nov. on the third Tuesday of each month at 1pm
Brooklyn Buds and Buddies, a member of the Michigan Garden Clubs organization, focuses on promoting gardening, floral design, and civic/environmental responsibility.
Chelsea Area Garden Club
Since its inception in 1997, the Chelsea Area Garden Club has been dedicated to horticultural education, beautifying Chelsea, and creating social opportunities for its members who share a love of plants and gardening. They also host summer pop up garden tours and a garden field trip.
Meetings: Sept.-May, second Monday of the month at 1pm, Chelsea First United Methodist Church; potluck at noon (usually) followed by a program at 1pm
Membership: membership chairperson, chelseaareagardenclub. mi@gmail.com; $25 annual dues, which go toward civic beautification, grants, and scholarships Website: chelseagardenclub.com FB: @chelseagardenclub
Deerfield Garden Club
The Deerfield Garden Club welcomes anyone ages 16 and older to join its ranks and share their knowledge of and enthusiasm for all things gardening, from small plants to fields of produce.
Meetings: Deerfield Branch Library, 170 Raisin St
Questions: Deerfield Branch Library, 517-447-3400
Membership: deerfieldgardenclub. mi@gmail.com
Milan Garden Club
The Milan Garden Club’s mission is to inspire a love of gardening, home and community beautification, better horticultural practices, and all forms of conservation. They seek to make a difference through educational meetings and informational programs.
Meetings: Second Wednesday of each month at 6:45pm; May-Sept., Friend-Hack House Museum, 775 County St, Milan; Oct.-April, Marble Memorial UMC, 8 Park St, Milan
Membership: Membership Chair Alex Williams, alexernst3@gmail.com; $20 annual dues, open to all genders
Website: milangardenclub.com
FB: @milangardenclub48160
Morenci Garden Club
The Morenci Garden Club is committed to cultivating knowledge and a love of gardening among its members; aiding in the protection of native trees, plants, birds, and pollinators; and encouraging civic improvement.
Meetings: Second Tuesday of each month, April-Dec., at 6pm; Morenci First Congregational Church, 104 W Locust St
Membership: President Amy Moore, amysmoore@msn.com; $15 annual dues
Website: cityofmorenci.org/page/thegarden-club
FB: @morencigardenclub
Saline Stone and Thistle Garden Club
Organized in August 1986, the goal of the Saline Stone and Thistle Garden Club is for its members to cultivate beauty together, including through projects such as planting and maintaining the gardens at the Saline District Library and The Saline History & Depot Museum.
Meetings: Sept.-May on the third Monday of the month at 6:45pm
Membership and information: stoneandthistlegardenclub@gmail. com
Website: salinegardenclub.com
FB: @salinestoneandthistle
The Little Garden Club of Tecumseh
The Little Garden Club of Tecumseh was founded in 1959. The club is open to gardening enthusiasts of all ages. Its purpose is to promote the appreciation of gardening and the beautification of Tecumseh through the planting and maintaining of gardens throughout the community. Beyond those efforts, the club also enjoys social gatherings and outings.
Meetings: Monthly
Membership: Paula Bowman, 517-423-5307, pbowman064@gmail. com; $20 annual dues
FB: @littlegardenclub
ReTree Tecumseh
ReTree Tecumseh’s mission is to establish and fund an ongoing tree-planting program in the City of Tecumseh and to protect and preserve the existing urban tree canopy through care and education. ReTree is a 501(c)(3) organization under the umbrella of the Lenawee Community Foundation and is funded entirely by grants, donations, and fundraisers. Volunteers are welcome.
Where’s Waldo? Not the character in the redstriped sweater from the children’s puzzle books, but the two-year-old Irish Wolfhound of the same name who lives with his owner, Jay (a pseudonym at the owner’s request), on 180 acres on the outskirts of Tecumseh. One-hundred of those acres are fenced in, so the spirited young Waldo can roam quite freely. “I mean, I walk around with him,” Jay said, “but I’m not an outdoors person.”
Retired from the pharmaceutical industry, Jay calls himself an “indoor guy,” which would be unremarkable if not for the fact that, besides living on 180 acres of varied landscape, he has a years-long investment in a large-scale project of replacing non-native and invasive plant species on his property with native ones. The project has been about
six years in the making so far, and with each passing year, much of the land is renewed into what it once might have been.
As for where Waldo is within his 100-acre boundaries, he could be in the woods and wetlands along the property edges, hot on the scent of any number of woodland creatures. He might be cooling off wading or swimming, as he likes to do, in the lake that intersects the land. Perhaps he’s out in the yard near the solar panels, lazing in the sun. Maybe he’s in the grassy wildflower meadows, watching for butterflies. He could be off exploring near where crops are grown or patrolling the building that houses an artist’s kiln. Or, just as likely, he may be inside Jay’s artfully curated home, asleep on a couch. Waldo, a dog about the size of a mature black bear, generally isn’t all that hard to find: a loyal companion, he doesn’t tend to stray from his owner’s side for very long.
Given the size and scope of his property, Jay’s land project sounds like one an “outdoors person” or horticulturist or ecologist might undertake, but Jay insisted he is none of these. “I have a black thumb, not a green one,” he asserted. “But when we moved out here, you know, it looked a little sad, a bit neglected. [The land] really hadn’t been used for eight to ten years, and it was pretty badly overgrown.”
Jay and his late wife moved to the area about six years ago after retiring from their respective careers on the East Coast. The couple first met while working as young chemists, and while his wife went on to earn a PhD in chemistry, Jay pivoted early on in his career to business, eventually leading to his work in the pharmaceutical industry. Retirement presented an opportunity to move closer to family, and when the couple decided to buy the vacant property in Lenawee County, they would also build a home on it.
First, though, they needed to re-envision the overgrown former industrial site into a place they would enjoy inside and out. While excavators began moving earth to prepare a home site, the couple contacted PlantWise, an Ann Arbor native landscaping and ecological restoration business that “put together a plan to restore the land, if you will. It’s more of a restoration project than anything else,” Jay said.
Before and during Jay and his wife’s home build on the property, David Mindell, owner of PlantWise, spent about a year working to eliminate weeds and invasive species that were choking out the woodlands, wetlands, lake, fields, and meadows.
“Woody invasives, like honeysuckle and black locust,” Mindell explained, were uprooted “to prioritize the growth of existing native species.” He elaborated that, in turn, this cultivated better conditions for the aesthetically pleasing landscapes of natural prairies and wildflower meadows around the lake. From the long and winding drive coming into their home, the grasses and wildflowers offer a warm welcome and can be seen waving from the sweeping view inside the home, which looks out over and beyond the lake.
Although native to Michigan, several cottonwood trees near the front of the property were “culled back to make more sunny areas for wildflower meadows,” Mindell said. “Oaks, sycamores, tulip trees, and other native shrubs helped create privacy screening in other areas,” he added. Near the end of that first year, Mindell and his crew were able to begin planting in earnest.
what Mindell described as “An awesome mix of wild columbine, butterfly milkweed, aster, coreopsis, coneflower, wild lupine, Black-eyed Susans. Lots of species of goldenrod. Lots of native prairie grasses: little bluestem, switchgrass, purple lovegrass.” In all, Mindell tallies 34 species of native grasses and wildflowers planted on Jay’s land.
For a guy who likes the indoors, why would Jay put so much effort into the natural restoration he’s done? “First of all,” he enumerates in his soft-spoken British accent, “I think it’s a nice thing to do. But secondly, it’s become very low maintenance. You could go the organized way and turn it into a much more formal area, which would require a lot of maintenance and work. Or you could go the lazy man’s way, which is kind of take it back to a more natural state. It’s actually kind of pretty now as you go through the seasons. The different wildflowers come up in waves. A wave of white in spring, yellow in summer. We really don’t have to do much of anything but mow around the edges of the drive so we can get in, but otherwise just let it be.”
Rather than spending his retirement working on a manicured lawn, Jay, who is interested in art and glassmaking (hence the kiln out back), would rather spend time on those hobbies. He and his wife enjoyed attending craft and art shows, and their home is adorned with striking paintings, intricate glassworks, riveting sculptures, and masterful craftsmanship of tables, chairs, desks, cabinetry, counters, and doors, gathered over the years from the artisans and craftspeople they’ve met. It is an “eclectic mix,” Jay said, musing that it might seem unusual for such “quantitative and scientific people” to be so drawn to art, but their passion and eye for it are evident. Jay has a story about and connection to most every piece of art and craft work throughout his home; he’s less well versed in the taxonomy of what’s outside of it in nature, but he appreciates that too.
The property’s “grassland heavy, wildflower prairies” contain
In early spring (at the time of this writing), Jay’s landscape is full of the muted ambers, browns, and grays familiar to southeast Michigan. Mindell had recently been out to do a controlled burn on the property, adding to the barren feel of the landscape.
A Perfect Chemistry continued...
ELEVATE your LANDSCAPE
But the burn and spot herbicide sprays, Mindell noted, are part of ongoing seasonal maintenance in the land’s restoration, not only keeping aggressive plants at bay but making soil conditions as favorable as possible for the desired native species. “Native plants are deeply rooted and build the soil back better, so there’s less erosion into the lake as well,” Mindell said. Land restoration is a process that happens over time. Some of the plantings, Mindell pointed out, will “germinate and flower quickly while others will take years.” Sprigs of green are starting to emerge now, but in just a few short weeks, Jay’s property will be bursting with life and color.
The landscape plan for the property was designed to encourage “flowering, color, texture, and structure throughout the whole year,” Mindell explained, which also creates natural habitats for native animal species. Of particular note, the design fosters the nurturing of important pollinators such as bees and butterflies whose populations are in decline. As Jay’s land gets back to nature, so to speak, butterflies like the threatened monarchs and endangered fritillaries and swallowtails have found a welcoming habitat. Bees returned and provided honey for a time, Jay recalled, but they did not ultimately survive. Mindell mentioned there are roughly 400 species of native bees in Michigan, many of which require native food sources, so it’s possible other bees may find sanctuary in Jay’s meadows as the restoration continues to evolve.
The diversity of native plantings also draws a greater diversity of native birds to the property. The seedeating birds, Mindell pointed out, along with the pollinators, help restore native plant species as well. Jay’s woods and wetlands are also home to deer, ducks, foxes, coyotes, squirrels, chipmunks, and a whole host of small animals. According to Mindell, eliminating phragmites, cattails, and other aggressive plants around the lake plays an important role in contributing to the property’s biodiversity by improving the water’s quality and making a healthier environment for the fish, fowl, amphibians, mammals, people — and at least one large dog — who live in and around it.
“Because of their stewardship,” Mindell said of the landowners, there’s a “wonderfulness of what they’ve created. Plenty of species need these larger landscapes that small sites can’t provide. It’s been a lot of fun and really satisfying to see how it’s evolved.”
As for Jay, inside his home, surrounded by colorful walls and artwork, Waldo curled up nearby, he surveys the vista from the spacious windows overlooking the lake and meadows and remarks on the natural beauty before him, “It’s nice and quiet and peaceful.”
underwoodsnursery.com
4373 N Adrian Hwy M-52, Adrian | (517) 265-2481
through the newly renovated retail area at Underwood Nursery Tree Farm (just south of Hickman Hospital). From big to small, we have it all. Our trained staff can help you find the perfect trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses, and more. With over 70 years in business, we can help with any project.
n Trees, Shrubs, Perennials
n Landscaping Services
n Hardscaping
n Irrigation
n Tree Services
n Lawn Care
n Pest Control
n Free Consultations
FREE OUTDOOR SUMMER
MUSIC
TECUMSEH
MUSIC IN THE PARK
ELIZABETH WILSON STAGE IN ADAMS PARK
309 E Chicago Blvd
Thursdays, 6-8pm. Free.
June 19: Blue Water Ramblers
July 17: Jean Wilson & Friends
Aug 7: TBD
Aug 21: Out of Favor Boys
Sept 18: TCA Big Band & Vocalaires
Info: call the Tecumseh Parks and Recreation Department at 517-423-5602.
SUMMER PARTY ON THE PATIO
BEHIND STIMPSON & ASSOCIATES
110 W Chicago Blvd. Free.
Friday, June 13, 6-10pm: Bille Lewis and the Soulbacks
Saturday, Sept 6, 2-10pm: Chase
VanBrandt & The Dive Bar All-Stars; Jack Pine Savages
Info: follow Stimpson & Associates on FB or IG.
SIDE LOT MUSIC SERIES
TECUMSEH TAVERN SIDE LOT
206 E Chicago Blvd
Saturdays, 7-10pm. Free.
June 14: Big L & Code Blu
June 28: TBD
July 12: Stealin’ Copper
July 26: 1 Hit Wonders
Aug 9: Jon Torrence
Aug 23: The Wasabi Pearls
Sept 6: Mojo & The Outlaws
Sept 20: TBD
Info: visit tecumsehtavern.com or follow Tecumseh Tavern on FB or IG.
INDIAN CREEK CAMPGROUND MUSIC SERIES
INDIAN CREEK CAMPGROUND
9415 Tangent Rd
On the outdoor stage in the back of the campground near guest parking. Saturdays, 6:30-9:30pm. Free for campers; $5 for others. Parking passes valid until 10pm.
June 14: Roadhouse Rebels
June 28: Metros
July 12: Stained Glass City Band
Aug 16: The Cody Boggs Band
Aug 30: Stealin’ Copper Band
Info: visit indiancreekcampingmichigan. com/events, email camp@ indiancreekcamping.com, or call 517-423-5659.
SALINE
3RD ANNUAL JAZZ IN THE PARK
SALINE ARTS AND CULTURE
Mill Pond Park
565 W Bennett St
Saturday, July 19, 2-8pm. Free.
Alexander Zonjic, Rick Roe Trio, Paul Keller Quintet, and Penny Wells.
Info: follow Saline Arts and Culture on FB.
SALTY SUMMER SOUNDS
W HENRY ST PARKING LOT
Downtown Saline. Free.
Thursdays, June 12-Aug 14, 7-9pm.
Info: visit salinemainstreet.org/calendar or follow Saline Main Street on FB.
MANCHESTER
GAZEBO CONCERTS
WURSTER PARK
215 W Main St
Thursdays, 7-8pm. Free.
June 19: Gemini (6:30-7:30pm)
June 26: Nitpickers
July 10: TBD
July 17: TBD
July 24: Reaction Shell
July 31: Jean Wilson Band
Info: email kdimond@manchesterlibrary.info.
CLINTON
MUSIC ON THE PORCH
SMITH-KIMBALL COMMUNITY CENTER
211 Tecumseh Rd
Saturdays, 6-8pm
June 21: The Jersey Boys
July 19: TBD
Aug 16: Pickin’ Roots, part of SKCC’s 70th Anniversary celebration (starting at 4pm).
Info: visit voc-skcc.org.
CHELSEA
CHELSEA SIGHTS & SOUNDS FESTIVAL AT THE SOCIAL COMMONS
in The Palmer Commons Park
304 W Main St
Friday, July 25, music 7-11pm: 7pm: Magic Bus “Journey to Woodstock” concert show
9pm: The Square Pegz
Saturday, July 26, music noon-4pm and 7-11pm: Noon: Bret Maynard; 1:30pm: Blain Luis; 3pm: Scotty Karate 7pm: Ben Daniels Band; 9pm: The Crasherz
Info: visit chelseamich, call 734-475-1145, or follow the Chelsea Michigan Area Chamber on FB.
BLISSFIELD
MUSIC IN THE PARK
BICENTENNIAL PARK
107 S Lane St. 7-9pm. Free.
Fridays:
June 13: Ol’ Creek Road
June 27: 2 Hour Delay
July 18: The Northwoods Ramblers
Aug 1: Science Dad
Thursdays:
Aug 21: Amelia Airharts
Info: visit blissfieldmainstreet.com or follow Blissfield Mainstreet on FB.
ADRIAN
RIVER RAISIN RAGTIME REVUE’S 13TH ANNUAL RAGTIME EXTRAVAGANZA
Part of Adrian’s Bicentennial PLANEWAVE CAMPUS 1375 N Main St
Saturday, July 5, 2pm and 10pm. Free. Info: visit ragtimeband.org or follow River Raisin Ragtime Revue on FB.
ADRIAN CITY BAND & LENAWEE COMMUNITY CHORUS
Part of Adrian’s Bicentennial ADRIAN CITY MARKET
(Farmer’s Market Pavilion), 115 Toledo St Thursday, July 3, 7-9pm. Free. Info: visit lenaweechorus.org or follow Lenawee Chorus on FB.
ADRIAN THIRD THURSDAY
DOWNTOWN ADRIAN ON EAST MAUMEE STREET Thursday, 5-8pm
June 19: Kevin Wolff; Jaelyn Rain July 17: TBD
Aug 14: TBD
Info: Follow Downtown Adrian on FB.
ENJOY OTHER OUTDOOR SUMMER MUSIC. HERE ARE JUST A FEW OPTIONS TO CHECK OUT (ADMISSION FEES REQUIRED):
FRI & SAT, JUNE 20-21 - Dundee Mayfly Festival
SAT, JULY 19 - Manchester Chicken Broil
TH-SAT, JULY 20-26 - Lenawee County Fair
TUE-SAT, AUG. 5-9 - Manchester Community Fair
SAT, AUG. 9 - Blissfield on Tap
WED-SUN, AUG. 27-31 - Saline Community Fair
By Christine MacIntyre
giftbaskets
Helping you build the perfect gift for that special person: birthdays, weddings, showers, and beyond. Small gifts to furniture. Shop online too.
Helping you build the perfect gift for that special person: birthdays, weddings, showers, and beyond. Small gifts to furniture. Shop online too.
giftbaskets
127 E Chicago Blvd T-F 10-5, Sat 10-4 • 517-301-2380 thematthewshouse@gmail.com
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Personalized fitness partner, 24/7 access, expert coaching, and results you can measure. Discover THE TRAC: our 30-minute, tailored fitness program. Sign up for your FREE intro session.
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123 S Ottawa St Open daily • 517-301-4390 afitnessusa.com
123 S Ottawa St Open daily • 517-301-4390 afitnessusa.com
115 E Chicago Blvd 517-301-4700
115 E Chicago Blvd 517-301-4700 M-Sat 10-5 • Sun 12-4 hopscotchtecumseh.com
M-Sat 10-5 • Sun 12-4 hopscotchtecumseh.com
Fresh
Master your shots on Binho’s perfect representation of a soccer field. Popdarts is the legendary suction cup dart game. Join the pickleball craze with Waboba sets. Fun for all ages.
Master your shots on Binho’s perfect representation of a soccer field.
Popdarts is the legendary suction cup dart game. Join the pickleball craze with Waboba sets. Fun for all ages.
DThese boys of summer transport you to the early days of BASE BALL
on’t expect a modern ball field or the usual crack of a bat under bright stadium lights when you attend a Walker Tavern Wheels base ball (space intended) game. Instead, prepare for a more timeless experience — a grassy patch of open land, a group of ballplayers in 1860s-style uniforms, and a game that takes you back to the early days of base ball.
The Wheels are Lenawee County’s only vintage base ball team. Founded in 2008 through a partnership between the Friends of Walker Tavern and a local base ball historian, the team brings the bygone era of America’s favorite pastime back to life with every pitch, hit, and catch. This year, they are bringing their display of sports history to Adrian’s Bicentennial Celebration on Saturday, July 5, at noon, providing a treat for both the community and players. “A lot of our players live in, grew up in, or are closely connected to the Adrian area, so it really feels like a home game,” said the Wheels’ Field Captain Steve Chase.
The Wheels are not just a local team; they have played nationwide, including in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; at the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa; and for troops and their families at Fort Campbell on the KentuckyTennessee border.
But what exactly is vintage base ball? For starters, the game looks familiar — yet distinctly different. No manicured diamonds exist; instead, games are played on bumpy fields with brush and trees. Players throw underhand and follow the rules of the 1860s, which don't include any restrictions on the speed or height of a pitch. And the game’s strike zone varies based on the batter’s preferred hitting area.
Walker Tavern Wheels continued...
-Garry Clift
The bats are wooden and the base balls are handmade with lemon-peel stitching. The balls are also softer, making for a gentler landing into the players’ bare hands. No gloves are worn. Respect and sportsmanship govern this “gentleman’s game,” where there is no swearing or arguing with the umpire — the “arbiter.” Players must also adjust their approaches, including stopping directly on first base, a significant difference from modern base ball rules. “Not all the rules apply to vintage base ball, or some rules are just different,” said Chase, noting that this is the most challenging aspect for him — forgetting everything his little league coach lectured him about.
While the rules can change depending on the home team’s preferences, the essence of the game remains intact. Chase explained that the rules frequently changed between the 1860s and 1880s as players’ skills developed.
The “Wheels” team name honors the wagon wheels that once passed through the region and stopped at the Walker Tavern, a key resting point on the old Detroit-toChicago route. That local history is a source of pride for the team, especially when they have the chance to play in Adrian, where base ball dates back to 1865 with the Anchora Club.
After the Civil War, returning soldiers formed teams to represent their hometowns. The Wheels had an opportunity to honor those teams with the unforgettable experience of playing at Gettysburg. Being surrounded by all that history added a layer of significance to each game. For Chase
UPCOMING WALKER TAVERN WHEELS HOME GAMES:
ADRIAN’S BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Sat, July 5•12pm Game at Island Park 1090 N Broad St, Adrian WHEELS INVITATIONAL
Sat, Aug 23•10am-4pm
Walker Tavern 13220 M-50, Brooklyn
and his team, it was humbling and aweinspiring.
But it’s not all somber. The Wheels are a close-knit group that bring joy to the field, with players ranging from ages 16 to their late 60s. Most players have a background in base ball and share a love of history, which enriches their experience. “It’s hard not to get excited to learn about the history while actively recreating it.”
The team has had its share of glory too — taking home the title at the World Tournament of Historic Base Ball, hosted at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, in 2015 and 2022. The two-day tournament is a faithful reenactment of the 1867 World Tournament, drawing the country’s top teams and many spectators.
While national tournaments are thrilling, Chase said there’s nothing like the charm of playing for a hometown crowd. Chase emphasized that, while many spectators are seasoned base ball enthusiasts, just as many are drawn in by the unique allure of vintage play — where the familiar often blurs into the unfamiliar. “It’s very common for spectators to want to interact with a real vintage base ball,” Chase noted, which is precisely why they bring extra balls to share, allowing fans to connect with the game hands-on.
To see the Wheels current schedule, visit wheelsbbc.com. Or, to learn more about vintage base ball, check out vbba.org. n
We are licensed Acupuncturists and Herbalists who use East Asian Medicine to relieve suffering and empower patients. We work together to create real and lasting change in your life. This is Medicine Made for You! Acupuncture • Herbal Medicine • Fire Cupping Gua Sha Massage and more!
Downtown Adrian is now home to a warm and inviting place to gather and indulge in exceptional food and drinks. Offering seasonal plates featuring gourmet-style comfort food crafted from locally sourced ingredients. Guests can also savor local craft beers, small batch cocktails, wines, and an extensive, non-alcoholic menu.
Honesty, service, confidentiality. The firms’ mission is to positively impact their community by providing insurance/accumulation products through well-trained professionals: Life, Health, Group Benefits, and Medicare.
(517) 263-0754
gurdjian.com
311 N Winter St, Adrian info@gurdjian.com
This family-run Tex-Mex restaurant and bar has been serving up the best flavors since 1971. If your spirit animal is a tacosaurus — El Chapulin is the place! Food truck available to set up at a business or event.
(517) 263-9965
elchapulin.net
116 S Winter St, Adrian Tuesday - Saturday 11-8
Cornerstone Real Estate is a boutique real estate firm committed to providing exceptional service to its clients and agents. With a focus on innovation, technology, and personalized support, Cornerstone is redefining the real estate experience.
(517) 759-5129
cornerstonemi.com
105 E Maumee St, Adrian
Dance Masters of America/Cecchetti Council of America teachers provide education for kids/adults. Acrobatics, Ballet, Social Dancing, Tiny Dancer, Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Modern, Musical Theater, Dance Team, Pom/Drill Team.
(517) 902-6614
dancewithheartstudios.com
105 W Maumee St, Adrian M 5-7, T-W 4:30-9, Th 4:30-7:30
ATDthe intersection of history and potential sits Adrian, a city poised for resurgence.
Founded by Addison J. Comstock in 1825 and platted by him in 1828, the city was originally a village before being chartered in 1853. It was first called Logan, but that moniker was soon changed to Adrian, a reference to the Roman Emperor Hadrian, whose reign marked the height of the Roman Empire.
In 1836, Adrian stuck a pin in its place on the historical map when a group of prominent financiers opened a railroad line between Adrian and Toledo. They called it the “Erie and Kalamazoo” after the intended eventual destinations. It was the first railroad in the Northwest Territory — and it was the reason that the Lenawee County seat was moved from Tecumseh to Adrian.
Another boon to the village and an extension of its reach were the tracks laid for the Michigan Southern Railroad, which was built through Adrian to Chicago. Completed in 1851 and running until the route was discontinued near the end of the 19th Century, the rail significantly increased the flow of goods and people into Adrian.
Riding the Rails into the Future
RIAN
By Ann Grahl
By 1860, Hadrian’s namesake was the third largest city in Michigan, boasting 6,000 residents.
All this new activity spurred industrial development along with the related population growth and the need for housing and businesses to support the influx. This necessity prompted the construction of many of the historic homes that still exist today and the distinctive brick buildings downtown.
In the latter part of the 19th and into the 20th Century, Adrian became home to several educational institutions. Adrian College relocated to the city in 1859 and the Congregation of Adrian Dominican Sisters, founded in 1884, opened St. Joseph’s Academy as a girls’ boarding school in 1896 and St. Joseph’s College in 1919 — the latter becoming Siena Heights College in 1939 and a university in 1998.
In addition to these advancements in education, Adrian also experienced progress in the manufacturing realm. Even nearing the end of the 19th Century, when the main railroad stopped service through Adrian and some of the major industrial employers closed or diminished their facilities, the city was able to pivot. It became a leader in the woven wire fence, metal plating and automobile supply, and refrigeration systems industries.
The unique, the silly, the sassy. Find the perfect treat for a friend or yourself. Made in Michigan headquarters. Games, jewelry, purses, home decor, plush, books, kitchen gadgets, Bicentennial swag, and more.
(517) 266-6100
sassgiftshop.com
114 E Maumee St, Adrian M-F 11-5, Sat 11-3, Sun 11-3
(517) 759-3289
thebuzzadrian.com
110 E Maumee St, Adrian M-F 7-6, Sat 8-6, Sun 10-2
Quality is the name of the game at The Buzz Cafe and Marketplace. From scratch-made soups, delicious sandwiches, and fresh salads to handcrafted sweets and old-fashioned fudge, this coffee cafe offers so much more than a great cup of joe! Treat yourself to a visit today!
(517) 759-4757 sauceadrian.com
149 N Main St, Adrian M-Th 4-9, F-Sat 4-10
Sauce is a premium indooroutdoor dining experience offering authentic sicilian cuisine and a mix of classic and modern dishes, including pasta, pizza, seafood, sandwiches, burgers, and a full bar. The cozy yet elegant ambiance makes for a destination worth visiting. They were featured on America’s Best Restaurants.
This firm has a unique, low-pressure approach to personal and professional services. Large enough to offer a wide range of services. Small enough to provide the individual attention you deserve.
(517) 266-2228
donnabakercpa.com
102 E Maumee St, Adrian Monday - Friday 9-5
Bicentennial continued...
At The Blue Finch, you will always find something special that you won’t see anywhere else. Cindy Moore focuses on small makers in the USA and Europe as well as a few special artists. Vintage items, home decor, baby goods, and gifts.
(630) 234-0495
thebluefinchadrian.com
112 N Main St, Adrian Th 11-5, F-Sat 11-3
Adrian Insurance is proud to be the 19th agency to represent Auto Owners Insurance in MI. They help clients determine policies to best fit their needs. Independent insurance agents Chip Moore and Mike Buku offer economical solutions to business, farm, and personal policies.
The Engine House was erected in 1885 and renovated in 1989. It’s now a registered Michigan Historic Site.
These offices are located in the Engine House No. 1. 126 E Church St, Adrian
With compassion, advocacy, and integrity at the forefront, Attorney Nicole Underwood helps her clients navigate their legal needs and challenges. Practice areas include divorce, custody, estate planning, estate administration, and criminal law.
(517) 260-1576 underwoodlawpllc.com
M-Th 9-4, F 9-12 Evening appts
(517) 265-2196 adrianiins.com
114 N Main St, Adrian Monday - Friday 8:30-5
Putting community first. Bruggeman Law Offices, P.C., has called Lenawee County home and has been honored to serve the citizens of this amazing community since 1968. With experience in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law, Agricultural Law, Probate Law, Personal Injury, Litigation, Medicaid, Elder Law, and more, this firm stands ready to assist you with all your legal needs.
(517) 263-7897 • info@bruggemanlaw.com bruggemanlaw.com • M-Th 8:30-4:30, F 8:30-12
Beginning in 1898 as the Deerfield Farmers Telephone Co., D&P Communications is now an Internet provider offering services in Lenawee/Monroe. Their Adrian location is a new build honoring the surrounding historic architecture.
(734) 279-1339
d-pcomm.com
100 E Church St, Adrian Monday - Friday 8-5
Elevate your evenings at Chaloner’s. Three stories of historic charm, hand-crafted cocktails, premium cigars, live music, and elegant spaces set the tone for relaxed nights or refined private events.
(517) 263-9803
chalonerscigarhouse.com
108 W Maumee St, Adrian M-W 3-10, Th-Sat 1-12am
By the second half of the 20th Century, however, Adrian, like many other cities, was riding the country’s economic rollercoaster. The 1980s were especially challenging, as manufacturing facilities closed or downsized, moving their operations to less-expensive locations in the South or in other countries.
Amid all the ups the city has enjoyed and the downs it has endured, much of Adrian’s history has remained, and it has served as a backdrop for the significant strides toward recovery in the last 10 years, aided by targeted redevelopment and reuse of historic properties.
Today, Adrian stands poised for revitalization, with a series of innovative, community-focused projects set to launch.
The multiple endeavors share the same goal — to transform the city’s core into a dynamic, must-visit epicenter. A bustling gathering space will take center stage, with an enhanced pedestrian and cycling infrastructure playing a supporting role. These initiatives, including the Town Square, the Park House, the Winter Street Walk and Bike Loop, and Winter Street Housing, will open the heart of the city to the beat of renewed energy and purpose.
The Town Square will occupy the space of the building formerly located at 166-120 S Main St, the former Maiden Lane, and the former Jean Christopher property. A band shell will host music and
517-902-5918 adrianarmory.com 230 W Maumee St, Adrian eventswithannette@gmail.com
The Adrian Armory offers a stunning historic setting with the modern amenities you need to host weddings, galas, fundraisers, corporate events, and celebrations. Call or email Annette today.
entertainment events, a gathering spot with outdoor fireplaces and a recreation area will welcome families and friends, micro-retail shops will provide homes for entrepreneurs, and a public art space will allow for creative expression. The goal of this project is to kick-start activity downtown multiple days a week.
The Park House, whose name reflects the history of the building, which was once the A.B. Park Department Store, will be located across from the Town Square on Main Street. This private development project will transform a blighted historic building into a mixed-use space, featuring fast-casual food options, light retail, and a classroom on the first floor, along with 36 loft apartments on the upper levels. The project is expected to be completed in late summer.
The Winter Street Walk and Bike Loop aims to enhance intermodal transportation in downtown Adrian by adding bike lanes and pedestrian safety improvements along Winter Street. The bike loop will connect the Kiwanis Regional Trail to downtown Adrian.
(517) 265-1040
danmaloycpa.com
150 N Main St, Adrian Monday - Friday 9-5
Dan Maloy has been providing Lenawee County the highest quality service since 1989. He specializes in individual and small business taxes, plus accounting and payroll services. This company can even serve as your virtual accountant, handling functions ordinarily performed by an in-house bookkeeper. Services are customizable to meet your needs.
The Park House
The Town Square
The Winter Street Walk and Bike Loop
Bicentennial continued...
Home of the podcast Rad Raptor Radio and your friendly neighborhood comic slingers. DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman), Marvel Comics, (Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America), Red Room, and more!
(517) 759-4102
radraptor.com
209 N Main St, Adrian T,Th 11-6, W 10-7, F-Sat 11-7
(517) 438-8532
mammothdistilling.com
108 E Maumee St, Adrian
See website for current hours
Mammoth Distilling in Adrian is now pouring a new cocktail menu built from the ground up — featuring house-made ingredients you won’t find anywhere else. Perfect for a night out, a group event, or anyone looking for an experience that goes beyond the expected. Ask how you can blend your own custom whiskey.
Serving Lenawee since 1856 in sale and distribution of natural gas. Now reaching 18,000 residential/ commercial/industrial customers.
Their Home Smart plan protects you and your home from costly repairs. They repair AC units, furnaces, water heaters, fuel lines, ranges, dryers, and fireplaces. Free estimates. Their energy is aimed at serving customers in the best way possible.
(517) 265-2144
citizensgasfuel.com
127 N Main St, Adrian
Monday - Friday 8-4:30
Bicentennial continued...
The project will provide a pedestrian feel to Winter Street and bring a more consistent look to the corridor. It will also support economic development and access to local businesses.
The Winter Street Properties include the former buildings of the Daily Telegram, the Access, and the Eagles, as well as a residential house. The properties
(517) 265-2029
sielerswater.com
136 E Maumee St, Ste 11 Adrian Monday - Friday 9-5
“Best Water Conditioning
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With over 40 years experience, they offer:
Water Softening Systems
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Together, these interconnected projects comprise a comprehensive approach to the revitalization of downtown Adrian. By creating a central gathering space, enhancing connectivity, and redeveloping historic structures, the implementation of these projects will breathe new life into a storied city while honoring the chapters that have already
Winter Street Properties
Under new ownership. Brand name shoes like Topo, Mizuno, Saucony, Brooks, Asics, and 361. Also track spikes, socks, athletic apparel, and hats. Family fun runs to 5K races, they’ve got the information you’ll need.
(517) 266-6344
www.runningwithes.com
146 N Main St, Adrian M 10-5:30, T-F 10-6:30, Sat 10-2
Want to learn more about Adrian’s history? Or research your family tree? Check out our historical newspaper archives. We have the Daily Telegram Collection 1893-present, along with earlier newspapers such as the Michigan Expositor and Adrian Daily Watchtower, dating back to 1849. Contact us for more information.
(517) 265-2265
adrian.lib.mi.us
143 E Maumee St Adrian M-Th 9:30-8, F 9:30-5:30, Sat 9:30-3
(517) 759-4334 downtowndempseys.com
136 E Maumee St, Adrian M 11-2:30, T-Th 11-2:30 & 5-8, F 11-2:30 & 5-9, Sat 5-8
Outdoor Seating is Now Open!
Experience the charm of beautiful downtown Adrian on our dog-friendly outdoor patio at Downtown Dempsey’s! Come relax and enjoy the season with us!
Big C Lumber congratulates Adrian in celebrating their Bicentennial and is honored to have continued the fine tradition of Stevenson Lumber Co. for 10 years. Since 1873, this location has provided highquality building materials with unmatched service to Lenawee County. They look forward to continuing to serve you for many years to come!
(517) 265-5151
bigclumber.com
501 Division St, Adrian M-F 7-5, Sat 8-12
Running Shoes & Apparel
A
LAURA
aura Smith Haviland (fondly referred to locally as “Aunt Laura”) was a woman whose life’s work revolved around advocating for others. She viewed it as both an obligation and a calling.
“Whatever privilege … I claim for myself, I claim for every other human being in the universe, of whatever nation or color,” she once said.
Throughout much of her 89 years, she selflessly served those who were enslaved, those who society perceived as lacking worth, and those who were left to fend for themselves without bootstraps by which to pull themselves up. She was an abolitionist, a suffragette, and a social reformer.
Laura Smith was born on December 20, 1808, in Kitley Township, Leeds County, Canada West (now Ontario), to Quaker parents, Daniel Smith and Asenath “Sene” Blancher, who had immigrated from the United States shortly before her birth. She was an inquisitive and spiritual girl who was taught at home to read and write. In 1815, when Smith was still a young child, the family returned to the States, taking up residence in Cambria in Western New York.
While Smith’s spirituality informed much of her life’s pursuits, she would sometimes find herself at odds with her Quaker faith. Regardless of some of her “un-Quakerlike” experiences, though, she would always have a deep and personal relationship with God.
On November 11, 1825, Laura Smith married Charles Haviland in Lockport, New York. Four years later, they settled in Raisin, Lenawee County, in the then Michigan territory. It was not long before Laura became active in the fight against slavery.
In1832, she and others living in the Raisin community helped Elizabeth Chandler organize the Logan Female Anti-Slavery Society. It was the first anti-slavery organization in Michigan. During that time, Raisin was a center of abolitionist activity because of its proximity to the Ohio border and to Detroit.
In 1837, Laura and Charles established a school for “poor house” children. The Raisin Institute taught basic literacy and religion, as well as farming to the boys and homemaking skills to the girls.
The Institute admitted any child of good character, regardless of race, religion, gender, or patrimony, becoming the first integrated school in Michigan. As expected, their practice of admitting Black children was full-throatily opposed by both their neighbors and the government. But the Havilands persisted, and the pupils in their care learned to get along and to accept their differing racial identities.
The Raisin Institute was also considered to be the best teacher-training school in Michigan, implementing the Oberlin plan (from the Oberlin Institute, now Oberlin College, in Ohio) to train future teachers.
By 1845, the Haviland family had grown to include eight children. In the spring of that year, however, they would suffer grave loss, as an epidemic of erysipelas spread through the region and claimed the lives of Charles, their youngest child, Laura’s parents, and her sister Phebe. Two years later, Laura would experience the loss of her eldest child as well.
Still, even in the face of overwhelming tragedy and having narrowly escaped death herself, Laura proceeded with her abolitionist work. Laura’s home became a safe house for escaping slaves, though she would often find herself cursed at and threatened by slave hunters, known as “patrollers.” In fact, at one point during her career as an Underground Railroad “conductor,” a $3,000 bounty was placed on her head.
The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, which required runaway enslaved people to be returned to their owners, even if they were found in free states, and imposed penalties on those who aided their escape, forced abolitionists to increase their efforts to help “self-freed” (as Laura would call fugitive slaves) people make their escape to Canada. Laura, herself, would face prosecution but manage to evade legal punishment — thanks to a judge who was sympathetic toward abolitionists.
Eventually, the Raisin Institute became financially unstable, and Laura closed its doors. She put her newly found free time to use by helping to start a school in Toledo, Ohio, to educate free and self-freed Blacks. She and her daughter Anna both worked as instructors at the school. She followed that up in 1851 by spending a year working to establish the Refugee Home Society in Windsor, Canada, and she stayed on there as the settlement teacher.
In 1856, she returned to Raisin and was able to reopen her Institute after raising sufficient funds. It would eventually close again, however. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Laura switched gears and volunteered to care
for soldiers as a nurse, assisting and advocating for prisoners of war. One example of Laura’s continued passion for helping those being mistreated was her actions on behalf of the 3,000 Union soldiers that were imprisoned at Ship Island, a military prison near the Unioncontrolled port and city of New Orleans. She fought to get these soldiers, who were being held in poor conditions for minor offenses, freed by advocating her way up the army chain of command. She was successful and the soldiers were released and returned to their regimens.
from speaking truth to power — including to the powerful in Washington, D.C. — in support of the causes in which she so passionately believed.
Her work as a nurse was necessary and her services were in demand, but at her core she remained committed to fighting slavery.
In 1865, General Oliver O. Howard, the commissioner of the newly created Freedmen’s Bureau, named Laura inspector of hospitals. She spent two years traveling through Virginia, Kansas, and Washington, D.C., distributing supplies, organizing refugee camps, establishing schools, and volunteering as a nurse in freedmen’s hospitals.
Afterthe Civil War ended, the Freedmen’s Aid Commission acquired the former Raisin Institute and renamed it the Haviland Home. They converted it into an orphanage for Black children. It initially housed 75 homeless children whom Haviland had brought from Kansas. As the number of children at the orphanage increased, many white taxpayers, who felt Haviland was burdening them, demanded that the Haviland Home be closed. The protest reached a fever pitch in 1867, when the American Missionary Association purchased the orphanage, closed it, and threw out the orphans.
Laura was working in Washington, D.C., at the time but returned to Michigan to help the impacted children. She managed to purchase the orphanage and run it herself. But, by 1870, she was in dire straits. And, at her urging, the state took it over, renaming it the Michigan Orphan Asylum.
That setback would not deter Laura from continuing her advocacy work and
As she was closing in on the final years of what was a remarkable and meaningful life’s journey, she penned her autobiography, “A Woman’s Life-Work.”
Laura Smith Haviland died on April 20, 1898, in Grand Rapids. She is buried in Raisin Valley Cemetery in Adrian, next to Charles. Befitting her legacy, both the choir that sang at her service and the pallbearers chosen to carry her casket were integrated.
After her passing, accolades would come Laura’s way.
A statue honoring her, which was originally erected in front of Adrian City Hall in 1909, now stands in front of the Lenawee County Historical Museum.
Morerecently, she was inducted into the National Abolition Hall of Fame & Museum in Peterboro, New York, on October 20, 2018, along with Frances E.W. Harper and Reverend Samuel May.
And she was forever stamped in history when the U.S. Postal Service launched stamps honoring “the shining beacons of the underground railroad” and included her among them. The stamps were issued on March 9, 2024, to shine a light on the “courageous men and women who helped guide enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad network of secret routes and safehouses in use before the Civil War.”
Aunt Laura is remembered as a woman whose convictions to freedom, equity, and humane treatment for every person dictated her choices in life. Over the years, she would join with peers, including Elizabeth Comstock, Elizabeth Chandler, and Susan B. Anthony, in the fight for other’s rights as well as for their own.
Throughout history, there have been countless examples of marginalized individuals seeking others on the margins and pulling them into the safe space they are working to create. And it serves us well to remember their strength, wisdom, and sacrifice. n
QUALIT Y GRANITE AND BRONZE CEMETERY
saturday, July 5
13TH ANNUAL
RIVER RAISIN REVUE RAGTIME
By Cashmere Morley
SAT, JULY 5 2PM-DARK
iver Raisin Ragtime Revue (R4) will bring their bright, bouncy, rhythmically playful melodies to their 13th Annual Ragtime Extravaganza on Saturday, July 5, from 2 to 10pm, at Adrian’s PlaneWave Campus. The musical ensemble is dedicated to preserving and performing ragtime, America’s original popular music, and their mission is rooted in history and entertainment. R4 brings historical compositions to life using a vast archive of original orchestrations. Founder William Pemberton says R4’s mission is to “educate and entertain audiences through history” and notes that, last year, the Ragtime Extravaganza drew about 7,500 people.
Ragtime, also written as “rag-time” or “rag time,” is a musical style that dominated the American music scene between the 1890s and 1910s. It is best known for its distinctive syncopated, or “ragged,” rhythms that place an accent in the melody where it’s not likely to be. This lively and innovative
style gained widespread popularity in the early 20th century thanks to influential composers like Scott Joplin, James Scott, and Joseph Lamb.
“Last year, we had thousands of kids just having a great time, and at the same time, there were senior citizens enjoying our songs. It’s just such a broad example of our community,” said Pemberton.
“When we started, it was really primarily a celebration of the ragtime vaudeville and burlesque eras. We had a vaudeville house and an emcee. John Neville Andrews from U-M, a pretty famous actor who was on the faculty there, would emcee and have just the goofiest vaudevilleera jokes representative of the time. And we had burlesque,” explained Pemberton.
“We did that for quite some time before we moved our focus to Adrian, because we used to do this primarily at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor,” he continued. “About three years ago, we partnered with PlaneWave in Adrian, on the arts and science
campus there, and we’re currently renovating an old historic 1881 chapel into our home. It’s going to be a 300-seat theater and home for our archive.”
R4 has built a strong reputation over the past 23 years, captivating audiences across the region and beyond. They’ve performed at prestigious local venues such as Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford Museum and have opened for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to over 10,000 people.
Most recently, the group composed a brand-new song titled “The Maple City Rag” in celebration of Adrian’s Bicentennial. In conjunction with the new tune, R4 launched a contest for the single’s cover art, inviting local artists and creatives to participate in a piece of history themselves.
Pemberton notes that ragtime music has “something for everybody” and encourages those who have not experienced ragtime to attend the extravaganza. Admission is free.
Jeanie DeCocker
Saturday, July 5 Celebration
ADRIAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Adrian Center for the Arts (ACA) celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with a diverse range of art experiences for the community, including live music, artist demos, and hands-on activities for both kids and adults. Founded a decade ago by artist and visionary Pi Benio, ACA’s mission was simply to make visual arts more accessible and foster a collaborative community of artists in Adrian. With its location on the historic campus of the former Adrian Training School, ACA has since blossomed into a vital part of Adrian’s cultural identity, offering a unique space where art, education, and community intersect.
Today, ACA has expanded to a membership of over 250 artists, spanning five counties. The center houses a variety of studios — from ceramics and metalwork to painting and printmaking — offering both emerging and established artists opportunities to grow their practice, share their work, and teach others.
As ACA celebrates its 10th anniversary, it’s marking the occasion in a big way, as their celebration will coincide with two other iconic local events: Adrian’s Bicentennial and the River Raisin Ragtime Revue’s Ragtime Extravaganza. These events, which take place on Saturday, July 5, from 1 to 10pm, merge to offer a daylong celebration that
highlights art, music, and community spirit. ACA will feature outdoor demonstrations and exhibitions all day. Demonstrations will include glass blowing, ceramics, painting, and more.
“We wouldn’t have survived 10 years if it hadn’t been for the outpouring of community support,” said Val Herr, executive director of ACA. “And this is just one small way that we can say ‘thank you’ to the community.”
Looking ahead, ACA is focused on expanding its facilities; enhancing its studio spaces; and deepening its partnerships with schools, community organizations, and fellow arts institutions. Plans are in motion for new workshops, gallery shows, and artist residencies that will further connect the public to the transformative power of the visual arts.
From its grassroots beginnings to its current role as a cornerstone of Adrian’s creative landscape, ACA continues to be a hub for artistic expression, education, and community collaboration — proving that, when artists gather, vibrant things happen.
“We want to make sure that, when people come out here, they have an outstanding experience,” said Herr. “We want to continue to expand our offerings. We’re always looking for additional collaborations and partnerships,” she added. “We’re just stronger when we work together.”
PLANEWAVE OPENS THE UNIVERSE TO ADRIAN
PlaneWave Instruments is passionate about inspiring the next generation of science and telescope enthusiasts — as is Chris Miller, their special projects consultant — and they’re doing it right in Adrian.
Through public science tours and community collaborations, such as tours on Saturday, July 5, to coincide with Adrian’s Bicentennial celebration, PlaneWave is making the cosmos more accessible here on Earth, one telescope at a time.
PlaneWave is the global leader and manufacturer of high-tech observatory-class telescopes. Their clientele generally includes people who are doing serious research, using telescopes for commercial applications in space or for defense work, or those who need to communicate with satellites, space flights,
How is such an instrument made? Take a public tour through PlaneWave’s facility
1-10PM
Adrian Center for the Arts
1375 N Adrian Hwy, Adrian adriancenterforthearts.org
1-10PM
PlaneWave Instruments
1375 North Main St, Bldg #1, Adrian planewave.com
to discover for yourself. Tours are carefully tailored to different audiences, ensuring each group — from elementary school field trips to adult learners — has a meaningful and memorable experience.
In addition to science education, PlaneWave also fosters a strong connection between science and art. The company hosts local organizations like the Adrian Center for the Arts, the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute, and the River Raisin Ragtime Revue right on campus. Together, they create events that blend creativity and exploration.
“We love the idea of letting younger students see what’s here, what happens behind the scenes, what we can do with these incredible instruments. We know that an inspirational experience when you’re young can often change the course of your life, or bring you to a spot that maybe you didn’t anticipate. And that kind of discovery can be very good. And so, we’re really interested in inspiring young people to pursue science careers and arts careers as well,” said Miller.
Looking to the future, PlaneWave has
lofty goals. The company is working toward the development of its own observatory on its Adrian campus, which will serve both as a research facility and a community learning hub. PlaneWave also continues to bring new, innovative products to their already robust lineup, and they aim to add more staff and facilities in the future as they continue to expand.
“We’re also going to bring star parties to the community, which happen at night. People can bring telescopes or we can lend them telescopes, and they can look through a really big telescope to see the night sky, which is a remarkable experience,” explained Miller.
By combining innovation, education, and community, PlaneWave is helping to put Adrian on the map — not just because of their pursuit of the perfect telescope but because the space allows for imagination and inquiry to thrive side by side.
“We are interested in creating something really unique for the community,” said Miller. “And the [PlaneWave] campus is very unique. It’s globally unique. There’s nothing quite like it on the planet.” n
of July 5
9am-1pm July 6 9am-noon
AdrianParadeofHomes.org
Tickets: $30 (must purchase in advance)
PaAdrianrade Homes
By Renee Lapham Collins
o celebrate its 200th anniversary, Adrian is opening its front doors — literally. The city’s first-ever Parade of Homes, Saturday, July 5, 9am-1pm, and Sunday, July 6, 9am-noon, part of a weekend of Bicentennial festivities, invites the public to step inside some of the most architecturally and historically significant residences in the city. Spanning more than a century of design, the tour showcases everything from Greek Revival grandeur to the clean modern lines of a mid-century Usonian gem.
But this isn’t just a house tour — it’s a journey through time. Dr. Peter Barr, art historian and professor at Adrian College, is leading the way. Barr, a native of Pennsylvania, earned his bachelor’s degree from Penn State and his master’s and doctorate in art history from Boston University. He was a long-time art history professor at Siena Heights University and now teaches at Adrian College. His passion for architecture is reflected in his website, adrianarchitecture.org, where he curates the history of Adrian, its many stately homes, and its architectural identity.
“All art history is local,” Barr said. “I just felt that people here in Adrian and in Lenawee County have a lot of rich visual culture history that they didn’t recognize. And so, I wanted to educate people about looking around and saying, this is what
this looks like. This is the style. These are the associations with this style. This is what was happening at this time.”
For Barr, architecture is a portal through which people can connect their everyday surroundings with the larger story of a place. “It’s a way of taking people from what they see to understanding the history, the context that goes with it,” he said. “That’s always been my approach to all media visual culture that I teach with.”
The Parade of Homes tour begins in the 1840s with the Governor Charles Croswell House, a stately example of Greek Revival architecture. From there, the journey winds through the romance of Italianate styles, the exuberance of Queen Anne, the symmetry of Classical Revival, and finally the thoughtful innovation of mid-century design.
Governor Charles Croswell House, c. 1843 228 North Broad Street
Henry/Gertrude Pronnet House, c. 1899 124 North Clinton Street
Raymond-DeMots House, c. 1900 449 State Street
Charles B. Palmer House, c. 1900 632 State Street
Alfred H. Wood House, c. 1865 433 State Street
Hart-Cavallero House, c. 1856 430 Dennis Street
Francis Faulhaber House, c. 1958 1261 West Westwood Drive
Pruden-Smith House, c.1852 438 Dennis Street
Edward Oliver House, c. 1937 219 North Scott Street
The featured homes span nearly every major architectural movement since Adrian’s founding, each offering insight into the tastes, technologies, and aspirations of its era. Adrian’s history comes alive through its architecture — from the early builders who brought the styles of their East Coast roots to the forests of oaks, maples, and pines in Michigan, creating new lives for themselves before Michigan was even a state.
A public architectural tour isn’t a new idea for Barr. A few years ago, after launching his website, he began offering free walking tours during the Artalicious Fine Arts Fair. “I would just meet up with whoever showed up at the historical museum and we’d walk around the city,” he said. “We’d walk through the historic district and I would teach everyone about architecture. It was always fun to do and people seemed to be really appreciative.”
When those events started to draw consistent interest, Barr partnered with the Adrian Center for the Arts, offering paid tours that allowed for deeper exploration. “I thought it might not be as popular,” he said. “But there’s an interest in this and it’s always sold out.”
Switching to a ticketed model also opened up new possibilities. “The reason I suggested we switch over to that kind of model, which is something that they have done in Tecumseh, is that I wanted to get out of the historic district and look at some of the cool houses that were outside,” Barr explained. “Like the Faulhaber House over on Westwood, or the Oliver House on the north side of town. So, in order to reach out in that way, we had to adopt a different model than just a guy walking you from house to house.”
The Parade of Homes is about more than beauty or rare access. It invites the visitor to spend time taking a closer look at the places people call “home.” Each house captures a moment in the city’s evolving identity — with stories of economic highs and lows, shifting families, changing fashions, and the people who left their mark.
The Parade of Homes is a self-paced tour, so visitors can take their time at each stop. Guests are asked to provide their own transportation between the houses. Tickets are $30 each, with all proceeds supporting the Adrian Center for the Arts. Attendance is limited, and tickets must be purchased in advance.
In opening the doors, these homes invite the sojourner to look not just at where Adrian has been but where it might go next. n
Christmas Candlelight H me Tour
The Oliver House
Included in the Adrian Parade of Homes
By Renee Lapham Collins | Photos by Nanci Bridget
ex and Linnie Crist were drawn to the Oliver House at 219 N Scott St almost from the moment they stepped through the front door.
“I just always loved this house,” Linnie said.
Built in 1937 by engineer and entrepreneur Edd C. Oliver, the home is one of Adrian’s most striking examples of Tudor Revival architecture. The exterior captures the storybook charm of the style, with its steeply pitched gables; tall, narrow, multipaned windows; and decorative brickwork. Inside, that charm carries through in the form of exposed ceiling beams, original built-ins, hardwood floors, and an elegant sense of proportion.
The Crists have lived in the house for two years.
The main living area, spacious yet cozy, encompasses nearly half of the lower level. It is defined by banks of windows overlooking the front porch and the yard beyond. A grand fireplace is flanked by original bookshelves, now overflowing with titles that reflect Linnie’s taste in modern literature. “Oh yeah, those are all mine,” she said, laughing. “You know what? It fit all of my books perfectly. All of them. So it was meant to be.”
The spacious living area flows into the kitchen, where a sunroom filled with plants juts out to the north. The kitchen itself has been updated with Viking appliances and sleek, built-in cabinetry that conceals even the refrigerator. A generous island offers plenty of space for entertaining and cooking. Throughout the home, the couple’s love for antiques and quirky
gadgets is on full display, giving each room a dose of personality. Downstairs, they’ve added a sauna and are finishing tile work.
The couple hadn’t been planning to move when they spotted the listing online. “We would always go on realtor. com and look at houses, even though we weren’t going to buy one,” Linnie said. “We still do that,” Rex chimed in.
“We liked where we were living, and we saw this one come up, and I was like, ‘Oh, let’s just go look at it because I want to see what it looks like inside,’” Linnie continued. The very next morning, they toured the home. “And we both just fell in love when we walked inside.”
“It was kind of quick — it was fast,” Linnie recalled. “I said to Rex, ‘I love this. Yes, I love it. All the wood, it’s beautiful.’” In addition to
the woodwork, Linnie pointed out Rex’s lovely office. “Our bathroom, our closets are built in — we have a big closet — and the staircase is beautiful. It’s not too big, either. It’s just big rooms. And upstairs are the kids’ rooms and the kids’ bath.”
Between them, the Crists have five children, though only the youngest is still living at home.
“We don’t even have to go upstairs, which is nice,” Linnie said. “At our old house, we had to walk upstairs to our bedroom.”
Neither Rex nor Linnie knew much about the house when they first visited. That changed quickly. “There’s a book that tells the story of the house,” Rex noted. He pulled out a hefty scrapbook, lovingly assembled and filled with original blueprints, photographs, and notes that chronicle the construction of the home from its earliest stages in the late 1920s.
“When we looked at the house that day, this book was on the counter in the kitchen,” Rex said. Flipping through the pages, he pointed out early photos of the property: flower gardens, bridges, and wide expanses of lawn. “It was a huge thing. There’s Edd’s wife — they called her Itty Bitty. This is the area before. And then it goes to when they started building. This is the actual house being built.”
The Olivers lived in the house next door while their new home took shape. The scrapbook documents every phase, from the basement being poured to the framing going up. Several architectural drawings, preserved for decades, now hang framed on the walls of the main floor. In 1974, the home passed to Steve and Sally Hickman, who added their own touches, including custom woodwork and a backyard pool.
That scrapbook, it turns out, sealed the deal for the Crists. “That first day, we said, ‘We’ll take it, but we want the book,’” Rex said. “They had other offers,” he added. “The young couple who lived here before us had only been here about four years. She went to the historical society and dug through everything to put the book together. And, because we wanted the book, it told them we really loved the house and wanted the house.” So, the Crists moved in. Going forward, the most ambitious plans are reserved for the outdoors. “It’s four acres, so we are putting in a pond and gardens with water features,” Rex said. “We don’t do a lot of entertaining, but this is what people call a happy place. This is our happy place.”
Take a tour of this home on July 5 and 6. Further info on adrianparadeofhomes.orgn
By Gayle Hazelbaker
enawee County is fortunate to have many fine libraries. The largest is Lenawee District Library (LDL), formerly Lenawee County Library, which includes branches in Addison, Britton, Clayton, Deerfield, and Onsted. The County Library became LDL in 2012 after a 2013 millage was voted on and passed. In 2023, the 1.5 millage was renewed for another 10 years. The passing of the millage not only ensures that the library will remain open for years to come but also provides a stronger budget, allowing for new materials, a larger literary collection, extended hours, and more programs.
Although LDL is supported by the people in its service district, nonresidents may use LDL’s computers to access the internet as well as for research, may attend programs, and may join the weavers’ group, the writing group, or one of the book groups. But they are not allowed to check out materials unless they acquire a district card at $30 per year or $15 per six months. While nearly everything LDL offers can be found in
a resident’s home library, there is one exception — a bookmobile. LDL is the only library in the county to offer mobile library service using a bookmobile. Bookmobile service began in 1949. The bookmobile averages over 4,100 visits per year with over 3,100 items circulated. It visits daycares, schools, retirement communities, and any place else it is invited, schedule permitting. Because the current bookmobile is out of order, the library staff have been using a delivery van to keep up the service, though admittedly it is not the same. Rest assured, though, an official bookmobile will be back making the rounds soon, as a brand-new one is on order and should arrive by summer. Many people around the county have fond memories of the bookmobile, and they love seeing and patronizing it.
Bookmobiles are especially important in communities with limited access to traditional library services. By bringing the library’s resources directly to communities, they extend a library’s reach to rural, urban, and underserved areas, overcoming barriers like poverty, distance, and isolation, to provide
access to information and lifelong learning resources.
Bookmobiles have proven transformative for literacy rates, educational opportunities, and community engagement. Through their branches and bookmobile, LDL provides access to every corner of the county.
“We serve all residents in the county who do not have a home library,” said LDL Director Trevor Van Valkenburg. “If someone doesn’t know which library they may use for free, we find it for them,” he continued.
Van Valkenburg is an Adrian native and a graduate of Madison High School. He received his advanced library degree
from Wayne State University. He grew up visiting Lenawee County Library and has enjoyed serving the community as the director of LDL for over 12 years. As for the future, Van Valkenburg reports, “Our funding looks good. Soon we will be conducting a long-range strategic plan. A couple things on the horizon include a new HVAC system in the meeting rooms and a possible boiler replacement. Our aim at LDL is to serve our community to the best of our abilities.” n
Lenawee District Library 517-263-1011 • lenawee.lib.mi.us 4459 W US 223, Adrian
Lenco has proudly served our community since 1970. Not a member? Join us today so you can grow along with us!
“Is She
Really Going Out with Him”
Sophie Cousens new book, “Is She Really Going Out with Him,” is a fun read. A columnist for a local publication, Anna Appleby is divorced, 38, and the mother of two. Her boss wants her to write a column on dating. Something she is not ready or willing to do. Dating, that is. When her boss suggests her office rival might want to take over the column, our gal Anna becomes desperate. So, she pitches the idea that she write seven columns about dating from an unusual angle. She will find seven dates, all offline and chosen by her children. This novel is laugh-out-loud funny, smart, and tender. I became so engaged by Anna and her adventures, I almost forgot it’s summertime. Yes, it’s that good! Don’t miss it.
“Listen for the Lie”
If you’re looking for the perfect beach read, look no further than “Listen for the Lie” by Amy Tintera. This top-notch thriller is a brilliant mystery with plot twists you won’t see coming. Our lead, Lucy, is a complex, prickly woman, with a razor-sharp wit. She’s been accused of killing her best friend, but no evidence has been found. And Lucy can’t remember a thing about that night. Five years later, a true crime podcast has decided to pick up the pieces and finally put the puzzle together of that fatal night. I laughed, I gasped, I couldn’t put this book down! It was an allconsuming read.
Gayle ’s top 5 picks for
Summer Reads
“The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County” by Claire Swinarski is the perfect escape from the crazy times we live in. Esther Larson firmly believes that there is nothing that happens in her community that can’t be fixed by one of her good casseroles and an apple pie. And she has been solving problems with that method for over 50 years. But, when she falls for an internet scam, she must let her community and family help her. Throw in a Crock-Pot, a pile of recipes, and a mysterious young man and you’ve got a story that flies by. By turns tender and funny, this uplifting novel celebrates friendship, small town life, and family.
“The White Lady” by Jacqueline Winspear is the kind of historical mystery I like to curl up with on a cloudy, rainy day. Our heroine, Elinor White, is a former British spy living a quiet life in the English countryside. When her neighbors are ambushed by a notorious London crime family, Elinor finds herself using her considerable skills to ward them off. Unbeknownst to her, she has opened a box of government corruption. Throughout this thrilling novel, Elinor is forced to confront the demons of her wartime experiences. This character-driven story ably explores the lingering effects of war and trauma and is a worthwhile read.
“Any Trope but You”
Beloved romance author Margot Bradley has a dark secret: she doesn’t believe in Happily Ever Afters. She secretly writes alternate endings for her books that swap weddings and babies for divorce papers and the occasional slashed tire. When her Happily Never After document is hacked and released to the public, she finds herself canceled by her readers and dropped by her publisher. She flees to Alaska where she hopes to reinvent her writing career. There she meets a man who checks all the boxes of a rom-com hero. And that’s when the real fun begins.
“Any Trope but You” by Victoria Lavine is a great escape read. n
Hidden treasure seekers and bargain hunters mark your calendars for the weekend of Friday, Aug. 8-Sunday, Aug. 10.
Each year during “Michigan’s Longest Garage Sale,” which stretches over 180 miles from New Buffalo to Detroit, folks take the opportunity to clean out their attics and declutter their basements, all in an effort to unearth valuables for the curious and the collectors among us. From antiques to apparel, figurines to furnishings, toys to trinkets — there will be something for all ages and interests.
Clinton’s leg of the US 12 Heritage Trail Garage Sale will extend through town and beyond. As part of the event, the Clinton Historical Society will be hosting sales on Saturday and Sunday. They will also be accepting donations (excluding electronics, electrical items, and large furniture items) at the American Legion, 115 Jackson St., the Thursday prior to the sale from 9am to 3pm.
Garage sales will take place all along “this road meant for Michigan memories” — at homes, farms, and businesses as well as in parking lots and fields. As shoppers traverse the trail, not only will they discover a plethora of great finds, they will also be privy to some incredible stories, as those hosting sales share the history of items along with tales of those who once possessed them.
The US 12 Garage Sale Map, which serves as a useful tool as participants plan their shopping itinerary, will be available one week prior to the sale.
And keep in mind that, while the US 12 Heritage Trail Garage Sale is the main event of the weekend, sales will also take place throughout Clinton. So, stay alert for the signs and be ready to veer off-trail. n
Vintage • Antiques Home Decor • Resale Consignment
This woman-owned consignment shop has what you need for your wardrobe! Dresses, tops, shoes, purses, and more! 209 N Main St, Adrian Tuesday-Saturday 11-6 stitched.consignment@gmail.com
FORGOTTEN GENERATIONS ANTIQUE MALL
Multi-vendor mall brings timeless and one-of-a-kind pieces from the past. Antiques/vintage, furniture, decor, etc. 111 S Horton St, Jackson (517) 879-8732 • Open Daily 10-6 fgam.net
etc.! 103 W Adrian St, Blissfield (517) 486-2236 • T-Sat 10-5/Sun 12-5
CHELSEA ANTIQUES
We buy silver, gold, and coins! Inspiring those passionate about vintage home and antiques. chelseaantiques.net
407 N Main St, Chelsea (734) 475-7131 • W-Sat 10-5/Sun 11-4 chelseaantiques@att.net
ANTIQUE MALL, INC.
39 years, 7 days a week, and over 50 dealers that specialize in current community needs. 201 N Jackson St, Jackson (517) 784-3333 M-Sat 10-5:30/Sun 12-4:30
5,800 sq ft of well-organized consignment, vintage, antique, and this n’ that of every sort for any occasion. Working soda fountain here too! 117 S Lane St, Blissfield (517) 260-3511 • M-T 3-8/W-Sun 11-8
41 vendor booths, quality antiques, collectibles, vintage farm relics, paintings, and mid-century modern treasures. New merchandise every day! 1178 S Main St (M-52), Chelsea (734) 562-2190 • T-F 10-5, Sat 2-6, Sun 11-4
Your source for antiques, local art, natural body products, candles, seasonal home decor, gifts, vintage items, and Melissa & Doug toys. 138 E Main St, Manchester (734) 649-2993 • W-F 11-5, Sat 11-4
vintage finds, home decor, and so much more!
146 1/2 N Main St, Brooklyn (517) 938-8147 • Th-Sat 12-6/Sun 1-5 idkcreativedecor.com idkcreativedecor@gmail.com IDK CREATIVE DECOR
Women’s/men’s clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories, and seasonal home decor.
104 E Middle St, Chelsea (734)
THE COTTAGE RABBIT
An eclectic array of vintage, antiques, home decor, re-purposed and upcycled furniture, ladies clothing, and jewelry. 115 W Middle St, Chelsea (734) 562-2084 • T-Sat 10-5/Sun 12-4 thecottagerabbit.com
517.592.4011 • thetalebearerbookstore.com 102 N Main St, Brooklyn • Choate Marketplace Monthly book club too!
he secret to successfully spinning wool into yarn is this: knowing when to let go. If the wool passes through one’s fingers and onto the bobbin too quickly, it remains nothing but weak, worthless fluff. If one holds the wool too long, it mangles into twisted, angry knots. Yarn is created when one masters the precise moment of when to let the wool slip through one’s fingers. This is the art of letting go.
For the past year, I have had a growing and sickening dread that I would have to soon practice this art of letting go in more ways than with wool. A health issue has made it increasingly more and more difficult for me to care for the
T-Th 11-7, F 9:30-4, Sat 9:30-5
animals and gardens and property of Strawberry Blue Farm. Over the past year, I’ve caught glimpses of what might happen should I hold onto the farm too long, small foreshadows of what twisted knots might form from a whiteknuckled grip. Yet I held. This little farm has been my deep inhale of belonging and the relieved exhale of finally being home.
This homestead is nearly 200 years old and has enfolded so many families within its history. Living here, I always felt that I was simply a steward of it for a time. It has been such a privilege to be one of the families who share in the history of this magical place. Yet our stewardship here is almost
complete. As I write this, we are in the process of selling our beloved property. In a moment, I will have to release my grip and practice the art of letting go.
The business of Strawberry Blue Farm will continue. Our wool and flowers will now be sourced from local farms, and I will continue to transform flowers and wool into our well-known dried florals and handspun yarn. It is a bit exciting to know that I’ll actually have more time dedicated to creating once the chores are no longer mine. And it’s exciting to work with other small farms. I’m trying hard to focus on this, the good. But the truth is, in these last days on the farm, my heart
seems to be cracking in a new place every few moments. I’m finding this art of letting go to be absolutely brutal.
So I try to remember the lessons I’ve learned here: the lessons about yarn, the lessons about life, the lessons of letting go. In doing so, I’m trying to hold these last days as tightly as I can before this beautiful land slips through my fingers. In these last days, I try to remember that it’s actually in the letting go that something altogether new is formed. That’s when puffs of wool become yarn — something strong, something useful, and something that is ready to be woven into beautiful new things. n
Strawberry Blue Farm began as a fiber and flower farm located in Tecumseh. Their yarn and dried florals can be found for purchase at The Matthews House Shop in downtown Tecumseh. strawberrybluefarm.com
