tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80903688744236026322024-02-21T10:36:57.408-08:00Let's Go MidlandHope Krotzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12912334508210178616noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090368874423602632.post-34118035222712877222020-01-18T09:45:00.002-08:002020-01-19T05:17:45.698-08:00Safe and Sound Child Advocacy Center<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mission:</b> "To prevent child abuse and neglect and improve the quality of life for children and families."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Vision:</b> "Safe and Sound's vision is a community where children are safe and nurtured. To achieve our vision we are empowering children to tell, we are educating our community to recognize warning signs and we are listening when our children need us most." </span><br />
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She is in those beautiful years, those years of joy and innocence. Not another care in the world besides the toys on her floor and whether or not her cereal will meet the expectations of her taste buds this morning. Her bare feet carry her out to the swing in the backyard. With a giggle she joyfully sits there swinging with her teddy bear, soaking in the warm rays of the sun and feeling the cool green grass on her feet. She is waiting for her mama to come play... and then a crashing sound wakes her up.<br />
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The life she dreams of in survival mode disintegrates like a vapor.<br />
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The sound is familiar yet always startling. The sound of violence in her home. Her home is a home of neglect and abuse. A home where in a brief 6 years she's learned to care for her own needs as well as her siblings'. She cannot wait to get to school each day where, for a little while, the pressure is off and safety is hers to clutch to her chest. Eventually, as time goes along, a teacher discovers the atrocities that she has endured at home, and now in order to begin her journey to a better life, this sweet girl must jump through the horrible memories time and time again as she lends them into the hands of law enforcement, prosecutors, counselors and protective services.<br />
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As if the trauma of abuse is already not enough, now she repeats it to these complete strangers, ashamedly, although the shame should not be hers to hold. She wonders what information she should or should not reveal. She feels the guilt of possibly getting her mother in trouble. She wonders if the interviewers think she herself was the cause of all the problems, maybe if she behaved differently her parents would not get so mad. Her parents never liked the police, and now she needs to hand all her secrets over to an officer. Where is this all going now, what did she do wrong, what will happen to her next? She wonders if it is worth it. The fear was crippling at home, but it is what she knew. She had hiding places there, now she feels exposed. And her siblings, what has all this done to them? How does she speak up for them too, has she forgotten anything, for all the times she has told their story?<br />
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What if it all could have been prevented in the first place? What if someone showed her that law enforcement were her friends? What if someone told her it was OK to tell and just how to do it? What if she was given permission to have boundaries on her body and knew exactly who was safe to share her life with? What if the intervention did not have to be so frightening, daunting and traumatic? Wouldn't it be much less traumatic, even though it is still hard and scary, for her to revisit her story once or twice in a very effective way that could be accessible for the authorities involved?<br />
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This situation is hypothetical, and yet more common than our minds want to admit and one group in Midland County has it on their heart and in their mission to prevent and reduce this trauma as much as possible.<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> </span><a href="https://youtu.be/OgOZHXRSBu8"><span style="color: #e06666;">Safe and Sound Child Advocacy Center</span></a> indeed has such a process that helps greatly reduce the extended trauma that reporting and discussing abuse can add to a young person's already heavy shoulders. Managed by Executice Director, Michelle Waskevich, Safe and Sound's team is doing the difficult, yet necessary work of giving our county's kids the protection they deserve through prevention and intervention. Brittany Pochert, Forensic Interviewer, holds the responsibility of interviewing children and youth referred by law enforcement or Child Protective Services. Desirea Woodworth, Preventative Education Specialist, goes into our community informing children of their rights to their bodies and to empower them to tell when abuse occurs. Safe and Sound interviewed over 150 children in 2019 alone and these are just the cases reported, keeping in mind, when children are not empowered to tell, most abuse goes unreported.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desirea Woodworth, Brittany Porchert and Michelle Waskevich<br />
Staff of Safe and Sound Child Advocacy Center</td></tr>
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After an abuse or neglect situation is reported, the young person and family that has endured so much, is brought into a warm, friendly, bright, clean, home-like center where they can be interviewed through nonthreatening techniques that often involve play and art. The interview, conducted by a well trained, child friendly forensic interviewer, can be recorded live and witnessed from a separate room for those involved in the investigation. This greatly reduces the intimidation and the amount of time the child or youth needs to go through the process of telling their story and in turn helps reduce the trauma of retelling.<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Safe and Sound Child Advocacy Center was known for years as the Midland County Child Protection Council, and they have been a vital part of our community for 40 years. Their mission is critical to helping the children of Midland County live their very best lives. They treat each child with tremendous compassion and work professionally with each family they come in contact with, knowing the process usually effects the family as a whole. Abusers are most often someone the family is familiar with, the process of revealing and healing often involves more than one specific victim. Safe and Sound also specializes in preventative services. They provide car seat education, safe sleep training, dental programs and school based body safety programs that reach out to the community, as well as the <span style="color: #ea9999;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2420058061571397/"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Darkness to Light Stewards of Children Program</span></a> </span>for educators.</span></div>
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It's important to know, not every child that is referred to Safe and Sound is in fact a victim of abuse, and Safe and Sound believes even those not enduring abuse need to go through an interview process that is safe and kind, with their best interest and protection in mind.<br />
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How can we as the community of Midland County help them to reach their potential as a non-profit?<br />
Since Safe and Sound is a non-profit dealing with intense and confidential situations, there is limited availability to volunteer "in-house", but the community can help get the word out about what they do and help fund them. One of the most effective way to fund them perhaps is to participate in their wonderfully creative annual fundraiser <span style="color: #ea9999;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/733034643834806/"><span style="color: #ea9999;">the 7th Annual Art and Advocacy Auction</span></a>.</span><br />
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In the spirit of art being used as a tool of help and healing, for its seventh year now, the Art and Advocacy event will bring a beautiful display of art from local artists. Artists such as Annie Stout of <a href="https://letsgomidland.blogspot.com/2018/07/paper-heart-design.html"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Paper Heart Design</span></a>, Jazzmyn Benitez of <a href="https://letsgomidland.blogspot.com/2019/11/jazzmyn-benitez-art-design.html"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Jazzmyn Benitez Art + Design</span></a>, Amy Mudd of <a href="https://letsgomidland.blogspot.com/2018/03/picture-peddler-photography.html"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Picture Peddler Photography</span></a> and many talented others. The night will feature heavy hor d'oeuvres, silent and live art auctioning, a live painting competition, DJ and photobooth opportunities along with a well known speaker from our community.<br />
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Safe and Sound Child Advocacy Center can be found on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/safeandsoundcac/"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Facebook</span></a>, <span style="color: #ea9999;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/safeandsoundchildadvocacy/"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Instagram</span></a> </span>at<span style="color: #ea9999;"> <a href="https://www.safeandsoundcac.org/"><span style="color: #ea9999;">www.safeandsoundcac.org</span></a></span>. They may also be reached at 989-835-9922.<br />
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In the days to come Let's Go Midland will be focusing on the promotion of this wonderful organization and their upcoming event! For more information please reach out to <a href="http://safeandsoundcac.org/"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Safe and Sound</span></a> today! Get your tickets soon! Enjoy a night of fun while empowering our community to protect our children. Come on.... Let's Go Midland!<br />
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Article By Hope Krotzer</div>
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Photos by Amy Mudd of Picture Peddler Photography,</div>
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and Joslyn Chulski, VP of Safe and Sound Board of Directors</div>
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<span style="color: #99cc00;">REPORT CHILD ABUSE</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #99cc00;">Call 855-444-3911</span></h2>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090368874423602632.post-46693728926616022662019-12-17T19:14:00.002-08:002019-12-18T08:33:19.252-08:00Botanica Modern Market<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PO1zIWH25z4XPHmd8au5GSDQWa03umdu4D1K7xkM6Lku38jVclJ2iYmVvmAgJVeP7i5A1MPWSO4Bc1SQFoPA2ondr5UfVr5hKpi2hwiUZbCFY3zbxIz_eHPiMR6W6xWFXLqIHuWRThc/s1600/20191125_131808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PO1zIWH25z4XPHmd8au5GSDQWa03umdu4D1K7xkM6Lku38jVclJ2iYmVvmAgJVeP7i5A1MPWSO4Bc1SQFoPA2ondr5UfVr5hKpi2hwiUZbCFY3zbxIz_eHPiMR6W6xWFXLqIHuWRThc/s640/20191125_131808.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kayla Moberly and Annmarie Thornton<br />
Co-owners of Botanica Modern Market </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Take the risk. You have no idea what you have to lose or gain until you do it. Remain positive and faithful through it all, even when you don't know the whys. There needs to be a common knowledge of what small businesses truly do for the community. " </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Kayla Moberly</span></div>
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Botanica. The word often is defined in part as a small <span style="background-color: white; color: #303336; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">shop that deals in herbs, plants, candles and charms. But no definition can do justice to this sweet shop nestled securely in the Ashman Plaza. While it certainly entails many of these things, it is so very much more. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #303336; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Botanica Modern Market will dazzle you with its wide variety of products. While you may lean toward thinking the shop favors plant sales, you will be delighted to find that these two owners thrive in the fashion industry right along side of being one of Midland's most loved places to grab a beautiful, trendy plant for your home or a wholesale piece from a handful of local artists. As you step inside this boutique you will see a variety of clothing and jewelry somehow walking hand in hand with household decor and plants in a way that looks effortless.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #303336;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Co-Owners Annmarie Thornton and Daughter Kayla Moberly opened shop in February 2019 and have been rolling along ever since as an active part of our community. These two ladies have a love of hostessing their own special events and bringing people together with their tasteful hospitality. From pop up shops to semi-annual fashion shows, this little shop does anything but sit idle. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #303336;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Working in the market industry had always brought Annmarie much joy and she longed for a place to express her own taste and run a shop in a way she herself had a mind to. Daughter Kayla had similar passions and yet the pair have a distinct difference between them as well, one dabbling more in fashion, the other more in home decor and plants, inspired by husband, and science teacher, Trevor Moberly. Opening shop truly started as a family affair right from the beginning as husband and father, Mark Thornton, headed up the remodel and construction of key elements of the shop such as the quaint trendy lighting, fitting rooms and the pallet counter. Annmarie and Kayla also mentioned how daughter and sister, Jaclyn Sharpe, although living out of town, often adds another angle and eye for fashion and home design that always encourages the family. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #303336;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px;">We often love to ask, what's to love about small business ownership, since we love to see businesses encourage and inspire one another, especially in a box store day and age. These two ladies say they love it because it's their own place. A place they get to set the tone. They get to lead and design and dream as they see fit not being limited by anything. Kayla remarked that being a business owner gave so much freedom to do something different every day. She and her mother love getting to know regulars and meeting new people, stating that it's a joy when customers tell stories of how an item makes them feel or how excited they are when something fits just right in their homes. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #303336;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #303336;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px;">As many entrepreneurs we talk to, the pair note a potential down side of small business ownership being the competition of online shopping. Annmarie and Kayla recognize this and would encourage shoppers to return to the experience of live, here and now shopping in small shops and boutiques. There is so much to be said about tangible markets, observing and trying things on before you buy. Shopping is not all about market and money making, but also about mingling with your community. Not to mention how shop owners work hard to be constantly trending and searching for items that are good quality and a good fit for the community and culture. At Botanica, time is spent getting to know customers and catering to their preferences. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #303336;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px;">The owners of Botanica have always been fans of their hometown Midland. They enjoy the friendly, family oriented atmosphere, as well as outdoor dining and a large variety of events offered. When encouraging other aspiring entrepreneurs Kayla Moberly would say, "</span></span></span>Take the risk. You have no idea what you have to lose or gain until you do it. Remain positive and faithful through it all, even when you don't know the whys." Both shop owners expressed deep gratitude for the Ashman Plaza's business support, and remarked they are thankful for the guidance, support and prayers of their landlords, Aaron and Renee' Deckrow.<br />
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Another wonderful positive business shining in our community. Bringing unique gifts, decor and fashion to our growing midtown! Stop by Botanica Modern Market. With their variety, you will be sure to find something perfect for you or someone you love and you will be greeted by kind souls ready to give you their best in return for your business.<br />
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You can follow Botanica Modern Market on their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/botanicamodernmarket/">Facebook Page</a>. Be sure to like and follow their page to watch for upcoming events and get a peek into the ever changing beautiful items for sale.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Article and Photos by Hope Krotzer</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090368874423602632.post-60039619434680687252019-11-24T13:19:00.000-08:002019-11-25T11:11:14.873-08:00Jazzmyn Benitez Art + Design<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">"I really love to encourage people to love life right where it is. There can be more peaceful moments that way.</span><span style="font-size: large;">" </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Jazzmyn Benitez</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Please visit: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.enjoylifejazzmynbenitez.com/">www.enjoylifejazzmynbenitez.com/</a></span></div>
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"Trust the process" the saying goes. Yet one Midland, Michigan community member and artist pushes us all a bit farther, encouraging others instead to "trust<i> </i>the <i>journey</i>" and "<i>enjoy </i>the process". With her mantra, "enjoy life", she inspires the Midland community to stop, be present and take joy in the small moments of life.<br />
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Jazzmyn Benitez, of Jazzmyn Benitez Art + Design, is not only a unique, talented and multifaceted artist, but also a gift to the community around her with her humble, intentional nature. Having a heart to take art deeper than the surface suits her well as part of her life's mission. Benitez is a born encourager, and with what life has thrown at her, her empathy and desire to encourage others in life, as well as art, has naturally grown. She's a well known barista and day manager at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/liveoakcoffeehouse/">Live Oak Coffeehouse </a>as well as an instructor at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/parkerlanedesignstudio/">Parker Lane Design Studio</a>. Benitez is part of a collaboration of artists, at times the lead visionary, of murals that are beginning to pop up around the City of Midland. One of such being the "People Helping People" mural on the side of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Midland-County-Emergency-Food-Pantry-Network-238929236301846/">Midland County Emergency Food Pantry</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Midland County Emergency Food Pantry</td></tr>
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Perhaps one of her most well known works of art in the community is the mural designed for the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/YACMidland/">Midland County Youth Action Council</a>. Benitez was chosen out of several different submissions entered to design a mural which encourages our younger generation to be world changers, givers and community contributors. The colorful and captivating mural can be found on the side of the Circle Auto Parts store on Washington Street near Patrick Road. The mural ended up creating a beautiful occasion in which community members came together to support the artists that worked on the project, and true to form, Benitez and other artists often allowed community members, young and old, to contribute a few strokes as well.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Completed MCYAC Mural </td></tr>
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A wonderful example of paralleling art with life, Benitez often takes off her eyeglasses as she begins to paint her artwork as to not get caught up in the details of her painting. She prefers to participate with the paint and really get lost in literally feeling the process as opposed to over analyzing the details at first. This mirrors a lesson she has learned in life and a lesson she hopes to portray to others. Not getting caught in the details, the worries and the boundaries, but rather taking off all that over speculates and drives us to focus too intensely on only a small portion of what is in front of us. The inspiration to function in such a way came after reading the book "Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert. The book inspired Benitez to let her creativity truly guide her. Although paint is her primary choice of medium, she often succeeds at any type of art with no boundaries. Visiting her <a href="https://www.enjoylifejazzmynbenitez.com/">website</a> will show you how truly diverse her art can be as you read the stories behind many of her pieces and see the photos of the work as well.<br />
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Although she has many other forms of art such as globes, chandeliers, shoes and wood burning, Benitez claims that she chose painting because it happened to be what fell in her lap. As part of her journey, she ran with it and it soon became a talent, emotional outlet and spiritual tool. In her early adulthood she endured the loss of very dear family members and during this time she rediscovered this healing reason for art. This was the beginning of a spiritual revelation that artwork connected her to God. She claims God is the main reason she continues to paint as He speaks, teaches and guides her in the process.<br />
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Many inspirations have lead Benitez to her successful business and artwork. She credits her father John Benitez as a main inspiration, claiming that her father kept art fun. He made many happy memories with his children often making faces out of numbers and letters. There seems to be a large appreciation of how her dad could bring life and joy out of things so simple. Older brother Jonathan Benitez also is artistically gifted, showcasing the ability to draw his own original comic type images and characters. Mom, Juanita Benitez, is a gifted crafter and sewer in ways that always captivated and inspired her daughter. Younger brother Joshua Benitez, besides being gifted at the art of caring about and loving people extremely well, can paint things like pottery and other such objects and bring them to life in beautiful ways. There has been a long line of art on both sides of her family.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">First Painted Mural Completed with Brother, Joshua Benitez</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Wood Burning by Jazzmyn Benitez</td></tr>
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Inspired to keep going and growing in her artwork with a fearless attitude, Benitez is not one that is afraid to fail, she knows there are lessons in all things. She gives a large amount of credit to people in her life that push her forward. One such person being Dacia Parker, owner of Parker Lane Design Studio. Dacia has challenged her to be a better artist, to look at things differently and to push herself to create more. Dear friend Renee' Deckrow has helped her redefine "giving grace" and has shown her how to indeed extend grace to others, but to just as importantly extend grace to herself. These two friends have shown Benitez what believing in herself really looks like and how the trials in life reveal her actual strength and worth.<br />
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Benitez gives credit to many other friends who have contributed to her success by building into her life and faith. Friend Gessica Garber taught her what it looks like to hear and listen to the Lord. Through time spent together and good conversation, Gessica brought her to a spiritual place she had been longing to be in. Emmy Montgomery was a key person in leading her to the written Word of God. She taught her that God did indeed have a voice in her life and that she was worthy to hear that direction from Him. Star Gust was a constant reminder to her that she was loved by God and that He loved her right where she was in her walk in life. Star was a reminder to her that she was indeed enough for God. Best friend and partner of 7 years, Kate Stuart, encouraged her to be free, spunky and sporadic without caring about the opinions of others. Benitez states that Kate is courageous and hilarious and brings tremendous joy and reassurance to her life.<br />
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When asked what she loves about Midland, Benitez stated that she appreciated the easy going nature of Midland compared to the fast paced Orange County that she hails from. She loves that community members are for the most part encouraging and friendly. "Midland has a small town feel, with big town opportunities" she notes.<br />
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Jazzmyn Benitez is surely a valued treasure in our community. Full of talent, generosity, sincerity, loyalty and intention. Her art can be fun, it can be custom, it can teach, it can carry a message and it can inspire. She pushes us each to change our own atmosphere and be real. With the true heart of an artist, she is indeed another entrepreneur that makes Midland an amazing place to grow, work and live. </div>
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To get in touch with Jazzmyn Benitez Art + Design for a custom mural at your business, nonprofit or home or any other piece of custom art work, visit her webpage at <a href="https://www.enjoylifejazzmynbenitez.com/">www.enjoylifejazzmynbenitez.com</a> </div>
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or email her at <span style="background-color: white; color: #1f1f1f; font-family: "europa"; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">enjoylifejzb@gmail.com</span></div>
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"Enjoy life, and what art adds". </div>
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-Jazzmyn Benitez</div>
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Article By Hope Krotzer</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090368874423602632.post-21581937370563450272019-10-15T19:42:00.001-07:002019-10-16T09:29:22.893-07:00Fill Up Your Cup-Great Lakes Bay<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Founder, Jaime Krueger<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"I'm a strong believer in empowering women, because if no one would have done that for me, I wouldn't be sitting here today. I have a passion to see women show up for each other." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- Jaime Krueger</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Very often women find themselves in lonely places of disconnect and the solitude runs deeper as time goes on. It can be a difficult place to be, especially with no common place to connect that feels safe and nonjudgmental. Women are beautifully emotional and relational. Continuing to be able to connect is so crucial to their overall well being. Jaime Krueger came to understand this when she found herself in this very position of wanting to connect, and she knew she was not alone. In 2018 she created a place of belonging for all women, to connect. A judgment free zone to create and foster friendships. A place where women can see how much they actually do relate to and need each other. And the beautiful thing is, this "place" goes with Jaime like an umbrella that protects from rains of isolation and brings women from our community together in a safe huddle... around a cup of coffee.</span></span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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Jaime realized there had to be something common that could draw women together, and it occurred to her a cup of coffee was just the thing. Coffee, or any hot beverage for that matter, can give us a sense of security and it can break down barriers as we meet new people. It's our boost of energy, it warms our core, it's something we huddle around like a warm campfire on a cool fall day. It unites us. But Jaime also loved the symbolism of filling our own cups with self care, hence the name "Fill Up Your Cup". As many a flight attendant has reminded us, it is hard to assist others when we don't take care of ourselves first and in this unique setting women have an hour or so to get away and do just that. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXb7Wcq_PVThiUQvyYSEZYG2u0xRLMEP8maAoHGs0hUzhxneee5h9N46dflG1tIRS_VmmZ7OfnfY8WH6R4gInaYUNgOGnyPp3j4QZihue9Z8Re8bC0V65OqVwMhgRqGY6RTAxw3t5mmE/s1600/72300190_908185389554299_2020534877270573056_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXb7Wcq_PVThiUQvyYSEZYG2u0xRLMEP8maAoHGs0hUzhxneee5h9N46dflG1tIRS_VmmZ7OfnfY8WH6R4gInaYUNgOGnyPp3j4QZihue9Z8Re8bC0V65OqVwMhgRqGY6RTAxw3t5mmE/s400/72300190_908185389554299_2020534877270573056_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Connecting Over Coffee</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">One of the most lovely things about Fill Up Your Cup meetings is how women automatically bring each other into the fold. It is by no means exclusive. Jaime has created an atmosphere of women who beautifully encourage each other and look to get to know each other. Each monthly gathering has a new venue to meet at and a new topic. The topics chosen are so fruitful and informative to those who attend. Not only are you building friendships, but you also are learning so much about things that relate to building up your own confidence and well being in the process. Meetings vary in size, anywhere form 5 to 30 women and ages from 18 to 65 have attended with no one feeling they are out of place. Each generation and type of woman supports the other. Jaime is always at peace with that, trusting each month will be just as it needs to be. She remarked it is more about the "quality of the meeting time than the quantity of people that attend". Of course she believes the more the merrier, and yet at times more deep connection can happen with only a few on hand.</span> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8osOzFIM3cC7tzrWiCuWqy4aJ8JGnO6lNVJPKnwVwuSMSVfYx6tBjT5E15guHvqF2jPbLjj-uMAm3D3_J3rtlJLEJSCn7VmFtHES20bFqxnUzcK4K2unwF63g9MD0FQFyJXMcpN7t0w/s1600/73322473_457896611752355_1274822726690799616_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="932" data-original-width="1240" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8osOzFIM3cC7tzrWiCuWqy4aJ8JGnO6lNVJPKnwVwuSMSVfYx6tBjT5E15guHvqF2jPbLjj-uMAm3D3_J3rtlJLEJSCn7VmFtHES20bFqxnUzcK4K2unwF63g9MD0FQFyJXMcpN7t0w/s400/73322473_457896611752355_1274822726690799616_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee and Connection Event at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/irongrindcoffee/">Iron Grind Coffee House</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ladies Night Event with</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/giftofhopeboutique/"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Gift of Hope Boutique</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Events are usually free or very low cost (in a situation like a paint or craft night, for supplies, a cost may be included) as Jaime believes there should be as few barriers as possible so all women that want to can attend. These events are carried out in varying locations, each so unique and diverse that you almost get your own amazing tour of Midland as you meet women who are making a difference all over our town. Visiting the events page on the </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/fillupyourcupglbrwomen/"><span style="font-size: small;">Fill Up Your Cup - Great Lakes Bay Facebook Page</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> will show you the many events that have already been held. Events have been held at places such as coffee houses, local boutiques, studios, parks and health facilities. October's event was held at Keri Kenney's </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Alignment8YogaCycle/"><span style="font-size: small;">Alignment 8: Yoga and Cycle</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> where participants discussed positivism and nutrition with Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Taylor Schomaker of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EnlightenedNutri/">Enlightened Nutrition</a>. Participants also joined in a workshop to learn to create some healthy snacks.</span> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall Into Wellness Event and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Alignment8YogaCycle/">Alignment 8: Yoga and Cycle</a> </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Healthy Snack Food Prep at Fall Into Wellness Event</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF59FIJaZSjywoX8qZt-SaD21yus8UF4mXSMQk3K2Ag_nXWBhosA4ocGzAlVvf5bhXHqaImrYFJu81LM87tDeBO3OffWitC0_FJ8RJKG1Ws76AGif_IIwZW0K9V3EFWIHO5SWytU6BH7w/s1600/72298225_1476287535856969_4093632947289063424_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF59FIJaZSjywoX8qZt-SaD21yus8UF4mXSMQk3K2Ag_nXWBhosA4ocGzAlVvf5bhXHqaImrYFJu81LM87tDeBO3OffWitC0_FJ8RJKG1Ws76AGif_IIwZW0K9V3EFWIHO5SWytU6BH7w/s640/72298225_1476287535856969_4093632947289063424_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keri Kenney, Owner of Alignment 8, Jamie Krueger and Taylor Schomaker, RDM, <br />
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When Jaime was asked what makes her small business unique, she said it is simply that there is no agenda or unknown element propelling it. It is simply for women to feel known and worthy of each other's time. Nothing motivates these gatherings except knowing women are out there that desire to connect and gather with other women. Jaime wants women to know they are capable of great things. "Connection needs to be beyond social media" she states, "where we can see the realness in each other and share our stories, memories and what makes us up. Social media has added so much fear and shame. We need to be in physical community and not do things alone". Jamie identified Shannon and Patrick McElgunn of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/grovetealounge/">Grove Tea Lounge</a> as some of her first mentors. The McElgunn's brought Jaime into healthier living and the health coaching community which helped her through some trying times and brought her back to the confidence she needed. Through community members and friends such as them, and people like Lisa Thompson of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SelfLoveBeauty/">Self Love Beauty</a>, Jaime's passion to serve people and show them the value they have, deepened quickly. She felt her call to move forward out of what was her current demanding job in health care and into her own brave journey in small business ownership and she has been quickly growing and giving women a place ever since. <br />
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At Let's Go Midland we ask all Midland's small business owners what they like about Midland, since part of our own mission is to lift up the good in our town. In response Jaime said Midland is a place that is usually based on community over competition in the small business arena. In her opinion, that is something our town needs to keep ignited. Most small business owners around our town know and support each other and that is one reason we often succeed. <br />
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So how can you support Jaime!? Below is a graphic that explains ways you could aid in making sure these meetings stay funded so that nothing could dissuade a woman from attending . Maybe you have a space you would like to offer up for a meeting. Perhaps you can inspire and inform with speaking at an event. As Jaime moves forward and builds this year's events she would be thankful for your partnering with her to empower local women. <br />
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More than any sponsorship, Jaime wants women to know, they can come off social media, out of solitude and quickly into real time friendships and community... huddled around a cup of coffee, while they fill up their cups. I highly encourage you to attend, support or do both. You will not be sorry as you take your place, know your worth and give place to others as well. You will not walk away empty. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos provided by Fill Up Your Cup - Great Lakes Bay and Hope Krotzer</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sponsorship Graphic designed <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PaperHeartDesign/">Paper Heart Design</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Written By: Hope Krotzer</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090368874423602632.post-45040104103185913482019-06-02T21:01:00.000-07:002019-06-03T10:26:53.658-07:00Miranda Lynn Photography<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"When other people see happiness and bright colors, it makes <em>them</em> feel joy too" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> - Miranda Wieber </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Owner of Miranda Lynn Photography</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are a lot of picture takers out there, especially these days, but then there are actual photographers, and Miranda Wieber is one of the best. As Miranda and I talked, I brought up how I personally love photography, but I am not a photographer, I am a picture taker. I have not spent the hours of training and apprenticing that it truly takes to become a photographer. I don't know how to use my camera professionally. But Miranda was quick and kind to say, "well, we really all just start out as picture takers." This humility and kindness is just part of what makes Midland, Michigan's Miranda Wieber, owner of Miranda Lynn Photography, such a phenomenal choice for wedding and family photos. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Miranda has been a professional photographer for 7 years now, but her passion started in middle and high school. She loved to take pictures, yes, she too was a picture taker, and she loved to see how the film would turn out. She started out, as most picture takers do, by taking pictures of just about anything, but she was quick to realize she enjoyed photographing people the most. She truly enjoys the emotional connection of taking pictures of people and capturing life's most precious moments of weddings and families growing through the years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Eventually Miranda's, then fiancé, now husband, gifted her with her first digital camera, the rest is history. She loves how digital photography has opened up a whole new set of opportunities for the photographer as well as the client. The photographer can learn faster and perfect their craft with the quick results and the client can instantly have their trust built as they can get instant sneak peaks of the photographer's work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The handful of gifted photographers Midland County boasts of are all so very different in style and approach. Some more dramatic, some black and white, some enjoy playing with filters. Some pose, some capture emotion in action, some do both. Miranda is a digital photographer who shoots manually. This means in short, she knows how to use her camera, the tool of her trade. This is something you certainly want in a photographer. She does not count on the camera getting the shot for her, she knows the shot she wants in her creative mind's eye and she makes her camera do exactly what it needs to in order to grab the perfect picture. Miranda is drawn to a clean, bright style as you can see in her photos. She is drawn to happiness and knows how to shoot lovely romantic and emotional photographs. She also loves getting to know her clients so they feel at ease working with her. Her years of experience have also helped her to know how to help clients relax and take beautiful, natural pictures. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When asked what keeps her going as a small business owner Miranda says it's definitely the end product. She loves to see how people are quick to share their images of special occasions. Scrolling through social media she often sees her images and just loves that she is able to capture such special moments for people to share. Miranda also believes that being a small business owner helps her to be able to structure her time in a way that fits her family. She loves that her children see her work. Working from home while she edits, her children will see she has a valuable trade that is a talent and contributes to the family, this is important to Miranda. She is hopeful she will spark passion in their hearts by involving them and letting them watch the process. Miranda encourages other business owners to not be afraid to grow slow. Also she states "don't be afraid to make mistakes and keep learning. If you are not making mistakes from time to time, you are not trying anything new".</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Miranda was asked what she enjoys about Midland. She said she enjoys the perfect size of the town, not too big or too small. Also that with venues like Dow Gardens and the Chippewa Nature Center she does not have to go far for great settings for a shoot. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Getting to know Miranda myself I will say she is very easy to talk to and get to know. She is someone people have ease around, this is an important quality at events such as weddings. She is gifted in being able to help bring peace in situations that can tend to be high stress. She also is extremely organized, has beautiful ideas as you can see from her pictures, and she is extremely knowledgeable. Miranda Lynn Photography is a trusted photographer. Taking pictures of special occasions is never wasted money when you have such a delightful professional to work with. You can check out more about Miranda and her beautiful work at <a href="http://www.mirandalynnphoto.com/">www.mirandalynnphoto.com</a> or the Miranda Lynn Photography <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mirandalynnphoto/">Facebook Page.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Miranda can also be reached at</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(989) 492-0445 and <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="mailto:mirandalynnphoto@gmail.com?__xts__=" id="u_jsonp_9_1">mirandalynnphoto@gmail.com</a>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Get in touch soon as this amazing photographer is well known! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Article By: Hope Krotzer</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Photography By: Miranda Wieber (of course!) </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090368874423602632.post-71661391952887218662019-04-11T21:05:00.002-07:002019-04-12T13:27:36.302-07:00Sanford Pizza <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roger and Pam Riggie, Owners<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>"Go out of your way to know your customers, if someone new comes in, get to know them as well and appreciate them, if it wasn't for our customers, we wouldn't be here." -Pam Riggie</em></span></td></tr>
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When community shows compassion toward each other, amazing things happen, and it can all start with grandkids, pizza... and bad circumstances. </div>
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Let me set the stage. </div>
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Several years ago two very hard working, compassion filled, home health care workers were ready for a change after a combined 40 years of experience in caring for others. They poured their hearts and souls into others wonderfully, and life seemed to be giving them an open door to a new adventure. Little did they know a drive through Midland's village of Sanford would turn into a life changing moment for them as they saw that Sanford Pizza was for sale. It didn't take much convincing as Roger has a passion to cook and bake and Pam deeply loves people. A great combo if you ask me. After looking the place over a few times, they were sold and opened for business on May 3rd, 2013.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0f3cSXPrQtxpx3hlnKK-Z61pwhXPX8bLluSVETg6aEc5l-TAXgHiUZPKJPOmo2TNx69IN_s2taZJooGPBVlFRVtbiiC4SBKdsUpAicLsNSBIuRi4AbflfTvQCVV2nsCJqiDRXOvPs5o/s1600/56685901_600017333836099_1728362442695639040_n+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="987" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0f3cSXPrQtxpx3hlnKK-Z61pwhXPX8bLluSVETg6aEc5l-TAXgHiUZPKJPOmo2TNx69IN_s2taZJooGPBVlFRVtbiiC4SBKdsUpAicLsNSBIuRi4AbflfTvQCVV2nsCJqiDRXOvPs5o/s640/56685901_600017333836099_1728362442695639040_n+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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After buying Sanford Pizza from Fred and Nancy Lyons who owned it for about a year, Roger and Pam knew they needed to continue in home health care for a while as they watched their business grow at first. This meant some very long days, but when entrepreneurs want something, they make it work. </div>
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There is so much to tell about this wonderful business. Of course I want to touch on the delicious food. I truly believe it is some of the best in our county, and I know I'm not the only one. As I sat interviewing the Riggies a customer near by told Roger "You'll have to stop making these pizzas so good! I just can't stop coming back!" Roger said with a smile... "That's the point, we <em>want</em> you to come back!" </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZITrUp1SLzXCeRO6EMrEhgVT-f8nBy0dNNV6ExgIgdMC3OhX9eFjfPe5VSHuMxMIm8RmGQbj5BHdvSaS0fRtt777jB5gy8qnN0T7x17nilWma3O4DX4Do0ryuS4A-LyHiLFcZT8h0r0/s1600/56319250_1285612638271873_7550392136584134656_n+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="987" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZITrUp1SLzXCeRO6EMrEhgVT-f8nBy0dNNV6ExgIgdMC3OhX9eFjfPe5VSHuMxMIm8RmGQbj5BHdvSaS0fRtt777jB5gy8qnN0T7x17nilWma3O4DX4Do0ryuS4A-LyHiLFcZT8h0r0/s640/56319250_1285612638271873_7550392136584134656_n+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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One unique thing you will find at Sanford Pizza... is the same cooks every time. You know you will get quality, delicious food prepared just as it should be by experienced hands. Roger and Pam pride themselves in that. They also have many components of their pizza that are homemade. Roger makes the dough every day and the sauce... well that is Grandma Hansen's secret recipe, just the right blend to make just the right taste. Along with your traditional pizza choices there are different monthly specialty pizzas, this month it is Chicken Cordon Bleu, other months have been Chicken Caesar, Pork Carnitas, Roast Beef and Cheddar, Italiano or Dill Pickle Pizza! What an adventure! Not only is the pizza perfectly crafted, but the pasta dishes on "Pasta Tuesday" range from a variety of lasagnas to delicious goulash, alfredos or Swedish Meatballs over egg noodles. And oh boy, on "Wing Wednesday", be ready to have your socks knocked off with some of the very best boneless or bone in wings you have ever eaten, with amazing variety. Tropical Rum, Kentucky Bourbon, Korean BBQ, Garlic Parmesan, Sweet Chili, Sweet or Spicy BBQ, Buffalo, Ranch, Blue Cheese and homemade sauces of Funky Chicken, Maple Bacon, Alabama BBQ and Jack Daniels BBQ. I mean, come on!! Oh and the rest of the menu... soups and sandwiches to die for and Roger bakes up some great sweet treats to go as well! </div>
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The atmosphere at Sanford Pizza is so very relaxed and family friendly. A revamp on the tables with beautiful work by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wascher51/">Ron's Custom Woodwork and Design</a> has brightened up the dining room wonderfully. There are always coloring books and games on hand to keep the customers busy and happy during the short wait for their food and sometimes live music entertains as well. And, what pizza place would be truly complete without a little arcade action!!? Pam and Roger have done a great job making Sanford Pizza a place anyone can belong and feel comfortable. <br />
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<em>But now for my favorite part of all of things Sanford Pizza</em>.</div>
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Rarely have I seen a business with such wonderful hometown love for people. As I sat interviewing them, Pam greeted every customer that came in by name. She even knew what was going on in their lives. Pam would ask how family members were doing, how vacations went and so on. And when I introduced myself and gave her my name, with a lovely smile she said, I already knew your name. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7rOzpfxcjuVrxkMO1jh36YYBSW2mSH6pL6dh0J-UpdoEr-o8OKvK5EJOfhBGM9lmKIytDwiuXwUHSFPUEsmNXWRFiGqMn9B2UFrzt8s5bxW_xqH_LwRHvn9VhNQGhuiM2E8bAzn63wk/s1600/55881979_325960264731844_1286374814327504896_n+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7rOzpfxcjuVrxkMO1jh36YYBSW2mSH6pL6dh0J-UpdoEr-o8OKvK5EJOfhBGM9lmKIytDwiuXwUHSFPUEsmNXWRFiGqMn9B2UFrzt8s5bxW_xqH_LwRHvn9VhNQGhuiM2E8bAzn63wk/s640/55881979_325960264731844_1286374814327504896_n+%25282%2529.jpg" width="244" /></a>One Christmas day, the Riggie's grandkids asked if they could go to the restaurant with them to make some pizza. Obliging, as grandparents do, they headed in, although they were closed for the holiday. Before too long they heard a knock at the restaurant's front door, it truly is something like a Hallmark movie, only better because this is real. They opened the door to a family looking for a bite to eat and a place to warm up... and being touched by their experience serving this family, Roger and Pam have opened every Christmas day since. They realized that people need a place open on Christmas. People still need each other, maybe people ESPECIALLY need each other on the holidays. Whether it is simply friends that want to get together, neighbors going through a hard time, or community members that have no friends or family around, the Riggies opened up their arms and became that place on Christmas, no questions asked, where all are accepted and fed and enjoyed for who they are. But there is even more. One morning as Pam was filling the ice machine before opening, she turned around to see the oven on fire. Thankfully she was able to act quickly and put out the flames, but the oven was ruined. A quote to fix it was between 6 and 10,000 dollars... more than they could imagine. Roger and Pam were certain they were done serving the community they loved so much. But soon news stations showed up due to an anonymous call and they were quick to tell the story. <a href="https://www.abc12.com/content/news/Community-comes-together-to-support-pizzeria-after-oven-fire-410153005.html">(click here to read one news story)</a> As word got out, miracles and kindness started to return to Pam and Roger in a way that touched their hearts forever. One loyal family, the Weingartz, came in with their three little boys in tow, stating they had been praying for the Riggies and they emptied every cent out of their piggy banks to help however they could. Also, one evening a gentleman knocked on the restaurant door. They let the man by the name of Don Chambers in, and heard him out. He was a retired serviceman who fixed kitchen equipment when active and after he retired he worked servicing a popular pizza chain's ovens. He took a look and soon found the problem. He could fix the issue, but couldn't reach it and the parts were still a bit costly. The community rallied and raised enough funds quickly and the Riggie's friend, Wesley Stewart, climbed right in the oven, fixing every part as Don instructed . The oven has been working fine since and the community and friendships grew stronger than ever, interesting how hard times bring good people together.</div>
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These acts of kindness propelled Roger and Pam to reach back even more now to the community that loved them in their time of need. Pam said one thing she loves about Midland, and especially Sanford, is that it is a very giving and caring community. She encourages fellow small business owners to sincerely get to know their customers and care about them. Caring for each other is what makes the world go around. The Riggies continue to open each Christmas Day from noon to 5:00. Friends come help serve and the community brings toys and clothes for families in need that may show up on Christmas Day. Pam said she was able to give out every item that was donated last year and any excess goes places like the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CGNPANTRY/">Caregiving Network</a> or area <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FosterClosetOfMichigan/">Foster Closets.</a> </div>
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<a href="https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Sanford-Pizza-offering-holiday-meal-cheer-on-6902186.php">(Read more about Christmas Day at Sanford Pizza by clicking here)</a></div>
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We highly recommend you take a drive in to the Village of Sanford. There is a lot of great food. And a great place where you belong. Sanford Pizza is a wonderful part of the Sanford and Midland community. The care between the customers and owners really tells the entire story. What goes around comes around. If you're just in small business ownership for profit the customer knows. But when you are in it for the good of the people in your community, the customers know that too. When you give, you receive. We all need more Sanford Pizza's in our lives, or maybe the world just truly needs a few more Pam and Rogers. </div>
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Sanford Pizza can be found in the heart of Sanford, Michigan at <span class="_2iem">335 W Saginaw Rd</span>, </div>
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on <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/335%20W%20Saginaw%20Rdhttps://www.facebook.com/SanfordPizza/">Facebook</a> or </div>
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at (989) 687-4992. </div>
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You can dine in, or carry out. </div>
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You really should try them. Trust Grace, we give them 5 stars too!!</div>
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Article and Photos by Hope Krotzer<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090368874423602632.post-5240560663809252602019-02-12T13:01:00.002-08:002019-02-12T13:01:50.686-08:00Pudgy Puppies Grooming<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXagP9eRGmtEUcUQgG9FJakxmZFS-wYLerIohuXDRMtCn8hwmoPt4cIlMQ6Oc2RQpA9fJfbND7luJw_d412eKFzdmCDQg8UtY_gK6Xpwbn5W_UesVPUkcZIyHAU_3zgI0gxO3M2iAdu5k/s1600/PudgyPuppies.Laura+and+Freya+UNK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="879" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXagP9eRGmtEUcUQgG9FJakxmZFS-wYLerIohuXDRMtCn8hwmoPt4cIlMQ6Oc2RQpA9fJfbND7luJw_d412eKFzdmCDQg8UtY_gK6Xpwbn5W_UesVPUkcZIyHAU_3zgI0gxO3M2iAdu5k/s640/PudgyPuppies.Laura+and+Freya+UNK.jpg" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laura Bejcek, Owner of Pudgy Puppies Grooming, with Freya</td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">“I love that people allow me to spend time with their animals.” -Laura Bejcek</span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> Laura Bejcek is full of passion, she’s a dreamer, a creative, and she is humble. Self-described as socially awkward (I disagree), any supposed lack of communication skills with humans is certainly not apparent when it comes to the canine species. If you believe in empaths or simply that some people have a distinct calling in life—Laura has it with dogs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Pudgy Puppies Grooming is a full-service dog grooming business owned and operated by Laura out of her home. It’s a drive out of town, but easy to find (us townies really like our 2-3 square miles). Walking into Pudgy Puppies is any dog-lovers dream; on interview day Laura had two boarders making her pack a solid seven that day—all different sizes and personalities. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The newest member of her pack is a sweet Australian Shepherd puppy, Lola. Laura’s love for dogs is so strong that when she found out that Lola was deaf, only after bringing her home, she refused the previous owner’s offer to return the pup. Laura recognized that her pack will be good for Lola and is researching the best ways to communicate with her newest love. Another family member is a tiny little cutie named Muffin. Muffin was a one-time grooming client and when the owner stated that she was going to have to get rid of her, Laura said “she can be part of our family.” Rumor has it she is a daddy’s girl. Harley, a sweet Golden, was one of Laura’s oldest rescues and his pudgy frame was the inspiration for the business name. Unfortunately, he crossed the rainbow bridge last year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A life-time dog person, Laura didn’t start out with any intention of working in the grooming business (to be fair it wasn’t really a ‘thing’ like it is today). Laura has had a lot of jobs over the years, because unlike some people who think a job is a means, she truly believes a job is a dream. She had been chasing that dream all over Michigan, Florida, California, Montana, Las Vegas, and back and it was just a few years ago that she figured it out. While working in a retail shop washing dogs she made a great friend, Laurie, the now-owner of Looking Pretty Pet Grooming in Freeland. She saw the talent Laurie had with the dogs and learned a lot from her style and approach, Laura considers Laurie her mentor. What Laura (and Laurie) didn’t like about their jobs at the time was the focus on numbers—get the dogs in and out—she saw how stressed they were and that they did not thrive in those conditions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Laura started grooming for a few friends, a Golden and a Bichon, it would take her hours because she only had a few pieces of equipment. After that, Laura continued to groom a bit on the side, but necessity meant she had to work other jobs. Laura quickly became a lifelong student of Google University, using the world wide web to learn techniques and approaches best-suited for each breed. And, you guessed it, thanks to these friends and a solid word-of-mouth advertising she was able to take the plunge and make grooming her full-time gig. Those two dogs who served as her guinea pigs are still grooming clients, today (it goes a little quicker than it used to). Her unwavering belief that passion comes before a paycheck came true! Goose. Bumps. Laura is such an inspiration and, I don’t know about you, but that is the kind of passion I want when I surrender the care of my three children (yes, they are my children) to someone else. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Laura’s big goal is for her clients (the dogs) to have a stress-free experience. So much so, that she books extra time for new clients to get to know her (again, I mean the dogs). She wants you, the parents, to know they are safe in her care. She is not in it for the money, she’s in it because she loves to do this, and she loves animals. Her promise to them (and you) is that she devotes all her attention to the animal until they leave her care. Oh, and when they leave, they will have an adorable bow, flower or bandana as a memento.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> Laura has had to turn away a few clients when the fit wasn’t right, but she will give it her all and even recounting the stories of bad attitudes, bites, horribly matted fur, etc. she still “feels like a jerk” when she must turn them away or tell the parents that she won’t be able to see them again. She gets a lot of tough clients because she is so patient. Laura does a little bit of boarding too but requires a pre-meet to make sure the animals will get along in her pack. Her family is on-board with this and loves to play with the dogs—grooms too. I guess it would be difficult if they didn’t because Laura currently works out of her home, using her kitchen sink and bathroom tub to wash and a mudroom to do the groom. Her big dream is to build a shop in their barn and you guys, it’s going to happen, I just know it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A few points of wisdom Laura has learned and would love for puppy parents to appreciate too:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Start grooming right away, when they are puppies. If puppies are groomed, it’s less stressful for them as they grow. She even offers a “Face, Feet and Fanny” discount for puppies under one. This means she will wash their face (you know the tear stains) and will wash and groom their feet and fanny. This sets them up for success for full grooms as they get older.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Tell her what the finished product looks like. Is a light trim half an inch or 3-inches? Do you want your dog groomed like the standards suggest or do you have something else in mind?</span></div>
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<div class="m_5278749253021974844gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Tell her what you are <b><i>really </i></b>bringing to her. “I just need a good brushing for Lassie.” Okay but, a “brushing” of a dog is not the same as a de-matting of a dog. The time commitment and charge would be vastly different so just be honest and Laura will be honest right back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Parents are parents and dogs are <s>a lot like</s> kids; i.e., you should not be there so the dogs will let Laura do her thing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Holiday time for dog groomers is just like hair stylists—everyone wants to look their very best for those family photos. AKA-she’s busy, so book early or if you don’t care about the family photos; if it’s just because you had time, book after the holiday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> Laura does everything from simple nail clipping to a full groom by appointment only Monday-Thursday and Saturdays. Like all of us, Laura loves the community and how they look out for each other. She is so grateful that people gave her a chance and is so thankful for the people she has. If you want to be one of Laura’s people, she would love to have awkward conversation with you and a deep relationship with your dog. <br />
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Contact Laura via <span class="m_5278749253021974844gmail-MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/pudgypuppies17/&source=gmail&ust=1549982975402000&usg=AFQjCNHV8kAnYqgDDQtWk9T3JgWZc0OuFg" href="https://www.facebook.com/pudgypuppies17/" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span> or text at (989) 430-3420. <br />
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Pudgy Puppies Grooming is located at 1629 S. 4 3/4 Mile Road in Midland, Michigan.<br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: small;">Article and Photography by Joslyn Chulski</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090368874423602632.post-2853325087387733462019-01-07T11:41:00.001-08:002019-01-07T12:11:21.781-08:00Wellington Ltd. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFLfxpseyKVMRFJGy7pUhsANPCTMQ_J5-XZZIE3sJ5TJo0DqJ5PseSSJaeeshzFtOuDBa5lqtE8blmG4ILySDxgVyUtSobxIy9idHGSoYIbNSu82VHaN_aT0mWJv2mweKE4mTChUOenI/s1600/Wellington-Geri+and+Laurie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1515" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFLfxpseyKVMRFJGy7pUhsANPCTMQ_J5-XZZIE3sJ5TJo0DqJ5PseSSJaeeshzFtOuDBa5lqtE8blmG4ILySDxgVyUtSobxIy9idHGSoYIbNSu82VHaN_aT0mWJv2mweKE4mTChUOenI/s640/Wellington-Geri+and+Laurie.jpg" width="604" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geri and Laurie</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><em><strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “We are always going to put people first, and
in the way they need.” – Geri Horsley<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">If you are reading this, you probably know
there is something special about our little town of Midland. A little larger
than Mayberry and surely not quite as wholesome—the sense of community and
family is strong here. It’s that unique appeal that brought Geri (pronounced
Gary) Horsley back from a big job out east and it’s why we are lucky enough to
have Wellington Limited in our little town today.</span></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><a href="http://www.wellingtonltd.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Wellington Limited</span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> is a
true Midland treasure, nestled in Midland Plaza you will find high-quality
gifts for both personal and business use. Need a YETI® or Polar Camel with your
business logo? Trying to create a portrait on a piece of jewelry? Building a
service program or custom award for your employees, corporation, or special
occasion? Just need a unique gift? Wellington can help! It’s their
customer-first focus that has been the cornerstone of their success</span> and why
they have been in business in this town since 1974.</span></span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Interview day was not the first time I’d met
Geri, but only the second. When you meet him, you know he’s in it for the
relationship not the sale. He even said that to me, that he didn’t want to seem
cliché, but that people walk in strangers and he wants them to leave as
friends. With a personality like his and his first-mate, Laurie Kramer—you
cannot help but become a Wellington family member and you will be glad for it.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO4maeSnm0JG-VnOXitvJuJ8Egl0vZYxyJ8NmFd9uj2efyjvJopH06oMww1ctOikhkRaPi59NEAU5MsmSY5hoTVE1PnxpIC8E6ZLPNYOYQqG6AS68dHn7k60nEs6DWpWj6eTO0Wn3nFI/s1600/Wellington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO4maeSnm0JG-VnOXitvJuJ8Egl0vZYxyJ8NmFd9uj2efyjvJopH06oMww1ctOikhkRaPi59NEAU5MsmSY5hoTVE1PnxpIC8E6ZLPNYOYQqG6AS68dHn7k60nEs6DWpWj6eTO0Wn3nFI/s640/Wellington.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Geri likes nostalgia, you can feel it all
around from the Horsley’s sign on the wall, to some of their most challenging
pieces on display to his U of M memorabilia in his office. Getting nostalgic
about the origin story of Wellington was a true pleasure for me and I think you’ll
feel the same</span>.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PzqN-qz2UnczgcMzX3OIlNN0OcXdQ4luHK3VCpkrn1M6jmIsS74rOnsQyRd_7bT0vG1fGGzwFQtPhp7Pqo48Baup_OQpM_Db-wLb-LBNj8lvKx8Lu9Pbnw3Gm0wZwG_rytjQggCfE7Y/s1600/Wellington_Nostalgia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PzqN-qz2UnczgcMzX3OIlNN0OcXdQ4luHK3VCpkrn1M6jmIsS74rOnsQyRd_7bT0vG1fGGzwFQtPhp7Pqo48Baup_OQpM_Db-wLb-LBNj8lvKx8Lu9Pbnw3Gm0wZwG_rytjQggCfE7Y/s640/Wellington_Nostalgia.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">As Geri would say “Many, many years ago…”
Horsley’s was a floral and gifts business run by the Horsley children (four in
all) and their parents, it was the predecessor to what we now know as Village
Green. He recalls helping to carry the cement blocks that laid the foundation
of the building. Geri’s father worked at Dow and the entire family worked at
Horsley’s. Geri would later head off to Ann Arbor to earn a business degree
and, “after university,” spend time out east working for Alcoa and then in
sales for a medical supply company. A phone call from his brother would lead to
a brainstorm about a business venture for the two of them: What if we opened a
smoke shop and specialty store for men? The vision was strong enough to bring
Geri back to Midland, but as I already mentioned, it was also that Midland
magnetism that played a heavy hand. And so, it began, a 600-foot corner of
Horsley’s was carved out for Wellington Limited to be born. They carried
top-of-the-line articles from Cartier, Dunhill, Marc Cross leather, and George
Jensen pewter. Wellington held pipe smoking competitions at the old Holiday
Inn—entire families came to watch. If you are curious, as I was, as to what a
pipe competition entails each competitor held a pipe with exactly 3.3 grams of
tobacco and whomever could keep the pipe lit the longest would be the victor.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUBWTrXV0tCNgz9BYi6vhkAMSoMpsNymmTTTvoVWcVCyqbCUSnUxOtKRZhmAlFVJMZkba01Ha5utMTq9vM9R0RISsYd9gaOO0doUyWp3ALOj6SwnhdZS8OIjDXguCZ_C1jyOr9Fz-sVM/s1600/The+Heatstamper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUBWTrXV0tCNgz9BYi6vhkAMSoMpsNymmTTTvoVWcVCyqbCUSnUxOtKRZhmAlFVJMZkba01Ha5utMTq9vM9R0RISsYd9gaOO0doUyWp3ALOj6SwnhdZS8OIjDXguCZ_C1jyOr9Fz-sVM/s640/The+Heatstamper.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heat Stamper</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">As is often the case in our small town, The
Dow Chemical Company became an important part of the Wellington story early on.
In the 70’s you could smoke just about everywhere, even at Dow corporate. As
the Chairman of the Board was retiring, a special project was presented to the
Horsley men: we need this 18-karat gold Dunhill lighter engraved with the
Chairman’s initials. There were no engravers locally at the time. Geri, as he
will still do today, said he would figure it out and came upon a hand-engraver
in New York City. Dow flew Geri to New York where he hand-delivered the lighter
to a man in Manhattan, returned three-hours later to retrieve it and flew back to
Midland. This is where Geri realized Midland needed engraving. They purchased a
heat-stamper that they still have and use to this day (albeit less often than
their laser and sandblasting machines).</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSoyqyF_uoMFEYYXSrHaf2g6yBhXqmtUXSw28zAmiP4KO6FPheQWGwXYQcVpg82DrA7Y8n3Berf-00dKu-Amyoo8GpqjW_78J2wU4gEy9__bcURlE1JCw5PO-466oJosOjydeGz7z-og/s1600/Wellington+Laser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="1600" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSoyqyF_uoMFEYYXSrHaf2g6yBhXqmtUXSw28zAmiP4KO6FPheQWGwXYQcVpg82DrA7Y8n3Berf-00dKu-Amyoo8GpqjW_78J2wU4gEy9__bcURlE1JCw5PO-466oJosOjydeGz7z-og/s640/Wellington+Laser.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laser Machine</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As is true for all businesses, they needed to
evolve and grow. Wellington became a big retailer of travel accessories,
carrying the Hartmann luggage line. When Dow AgroSciences (then located in
Midland) approached Wellington for 50 attaché cases their corporate business
began booming. It was this corporate focus that allowed Wellington to thrive.
At one-point Wellington employed more than 30 people. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once the Horsley’s business was sold to
Village Green, Geri moved Wellington to Dartmouth and Cambridge into an 1800
square foot space. They worked all day in the original space and built the new
space by night.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b><i>Fun fact: around this time, Wellington also had a shop
inside the lower level of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island—it was the first
shop of its kind in what’s now a multi-store boutique shopping space</i></b>.
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wellington spent 18 years at Dartmouth and Cambridge and later headed to
Eastlawn Plaza where the Chinese buffet now resides; when their lease was up,
they found out Walgreens would be built out front and decided to move on. They
landed at their current location in Midland Plaza and have been there ever
since.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">You know I love origin stories for business names.
Where did “Wellington” come from? Geri and his brother wanted a strong English
name (as was their heritage). They started with Churchill’s—one of the
strongest and most well-known English names, which was already taken—so they
selected Wellington. The first Duke of Wellington (an original writing of his
hangs in the store), was an impressive figure serving twice as Britain’s Prime
Minister and a decorated military man.<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></span></span><br />
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<div class="m-1197397557615441073ydp26b1780dyiv4836642210msonormal" style="line-height: 106%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We talked for longer than I’d planned but it
wasn’t labored conversation. It was friendly and casual. Geri and Laurie
ordered in pizza and salad, treated me to that lunch. They also laser engraved
a few Let’s Go Midland articles for me to take (so nice!!!). We chatted through
their upcoming deadlines—busier this time of year than usual. We talked about
the ‘right now’ world we live in and how people sometimes pop in and expect
things to be engraved immediately like some other shops can do. I, myself, am
certainly guilty of this ‘right now’ expectation sometimes: Not willing to
wait; Waiting too long and making it someone else’s problem; Not willing to
venture outside of my house for a truly unique gift. Of course, sometimes
Wellington can oblige a last-minute request, but other times they have an order
of 100 for a corporate client in line ahead of the last-minute customer. A
friend recently told me about a great experience with her own last-minute
request for a Bible engraving—the team came in on a day off to complete the
gift</span>.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8So7bjgY-wXPIa7USeLtjNzb29WVHXjlOgfqFNltOUYORbF_KInShdI49QU5W2XZbflM3xDl_9JNIi276yJ4BgJO6NhSS3LZE8ANLV6Rnzve0KtET6JId3Q_9W2q4hNE6iZibOFQp3w/s1600/Wellington_gifts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1530" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8So7bjgY-wXPIa7USeLtjNzb29WVHXjlOgfqFNltOUYORbF_KInShdI49QU5W2XZbflM3xDl_9JNIi276yJ4BgJO6NhSS3LZE8ANLV6Rnzve0KtET6JId3Q_9W2q4hNE6iZibOFQp3w/s640/Wellington_gifts.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wellington Gifts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Geri speaks fondly of Midland, when I asked
what has kept Wellington going for these 44 years? He said “Friendships;
staying true to Midland; and loving this community the way we do.” As for
competition besides the Internet, competition isn’t something that Geri worries
much about because they don’t say ‘no’ very often. If they must, Wellington
will work hard to find a local business that can say ‘yes.’ They aren’t afraid
to help other businesses, keep it local and make it easy for the customer
(we—at Let’s Go Midland—LOVE this!).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqyOg2bLDap4CiWaF8BRbZrRwa1ZejfOjLUtkQf_-ZFGm4rqxT1ltLgX0QnXj2Dl4x5NlBhjI0r0SpyEOyf7sAh-QxpxC5KwAiHQODew4C5tHZRxX6ZznD79OErps4OQ7XgScget6dD8/s1600/Wellington+letters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqyOg2bLDap4CiWaF8BRbZrRwa1ZejfOjLUtkQf_-ZFGm4rqxT1ltLgX0QnXj2Dl4x5NlBhjI0r0SpyEOyf7sAh-QxpxC5KwAiHQODew4C5tHZRxX6ZznD79OErps4OQ7XgScget6dD8/s640/Wellington+letters.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wellington Letters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Geri is complex—he’s got a keen business
sense and a bias for results for his customers that is unmatched, but he’s also
a super sweet man. He said, “I have to get romantic for a second” saying that
Laurie “has completed life.” The Northwood grad who once worked at Horsley’s
entered his life years later and became his love and partner in business. You
can sense a quiet satisfaction in the almost 45-year journey and as he
prepares, in the next few years to retire, his daughter Natasha and son-in-law,
Scott, will take over. The Horsley legacy and Wellington Limited will continue
to thrive and grow in Midland—full of love for their craft and for this
community. The meaning of the Wellington surname is “a prosperous estate”—I
daresay it’s certainly held true for this small Midland business.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geri Heat Stamping</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Whatever your gift-giving needs, Wellington
can help; from the Baggallini line to travel accessories or small leather goods
to beautiful vases and scenic framed photographs, Wellington provides more than
just engraved products. Wellington also tries to use as many Michigan and
United States artisans as possible in their vast offering of merchandise; they
carry many unique Michigan-made gifts including Petoskey stones and other
products native to Michigan. So, next time you need a gift (engraved or not)
make sure you check out Wellington Limited at 1900 South Saginaw Rd., Suite K,
Midland, MI 48640, Monday through Friday from 10AM until 5:30PM, they are open
for a few hours on Saturday for last minute gifts, just drop in between 10AM
and noon. They are closed on Sundays. Follow them on Facebook at <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/wellingtonltd/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">@wellingtonltd</span></a></span>
or visit their website <span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #0563c1;"><a href="http://www.wellingtonltd.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1;">www.wellingtonltd.net</span></a></span></span>.
Have a question? Call them at (989) 631-5270 or shoot them an email at <span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #0563c1;"><a href="mailto:wellingtonltd@yahoo.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1;">wellingtonltd@yahoo.com</span></a></span></span>.
Tell them Let’s Go Midland sent you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Article and Photography By Joslyn Chulski</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090368874423602632.post-20001983802821025782018-12-05T19:46:00.001-08:002018-12-05T19:59:35.994-08:00Shine of Midland"Create a business that will impact those who work for it."<br />
-Mark Haskin, Owner<br />
"We help our customers, because it truly is good to help, it's not a sales tactic."<br />
-Brad Lackie, General Manager<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Brad Lackie, General Manager Mark Haskin, Owner</td></tr>
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Taking a bit of a different twist this time around, Let's Go Midland sought out a highly esteemed franchise in our town. We found out that indeed some franchises are "small businesses". Many start out as just that, a dream in one community that eventually branches out to others. And while we may not be huge fans of the big box stores, we are huge advocates for success, and when a small business alights into other communities, we are big cheerleaders for that growth! So, lets talk about Shine.<br />
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The <a href="https://www.shine-windowcleaning.com/about-us/our-story/">story</a> of how the Shine company began, and propelled forward, is one that truly inspires many. Starting 20 years ago in West Michigan it is now thriving throughout the <em>country</em> with many franchises. This business truly is doing wonderful things and much of that is due to the company's amazing core <a href="https://www.shine-windowcleaning.com/why-shine-/our-values/positive-energy/">values.</a> Merely reading through these on their webpage (which we highly recommend) is truly inspiring, but meeting with the leaders of our own town's Shine, just added to the inspiration.<br />
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Shine came to Midland in April 2013. That is when those big lettered red trucks first caught your eye. It all started when Jim and Mary Reif saw an opportunity to bring a beneficial business to Midland and saw potential in their son in law Mark Haskin to manage the business. Mark worked for Shine in Zeeland and enjoyed the outstanding values and atmosphere, as well as what the business had to offer. He and His wife Lauren were excited to see the business come to Midland and for a chance to live near family in Lauren's hometown. Mark now owns Midland's Shine and runs it alongside General Manager, Brad Lackie of Sanford.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkml7EMfkOxy0w-wKfuylkbvbI81lNE8v2koD6yscjPLm5UwbR42p8rZfXCAq6WtHK0dCuACJERHimMeG11zrE5R3_jx8q9AvpPy8SXHvAaxIlsmIweu81G2cTqVc9HCI76kI8Du-1Dpg/s1600/47287554_2251652198457937_5071256925077766144_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="617" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkml7EMfkOxy0w-wKfuylkbvbI81lNE8v2koD6yscjPLm5UwbR42p8rZfXCAq6WtHK0dCuACJERHimMeG11zrE5R3_jx8q9AvpPy8SXHvAaxIlsmIweu81G2cTqVc9HCI76kI8Du-1Dpg/s640/47287554_2251652198457937_5071256925077766144_n.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>
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When asked what makes Shine a unique business, great qualities were mentioned. Honesty, straightforwardness, hardworking, guaranteed, quick response, integrity, transparency and fair pricing. If you talk to anyone who has hired Shine in our community they will likely back up that these qualities are indeed true. I have had them in my home and I was stunned by their professionalism and kindness, and the price was indeed fair! Yet I would go farther to say that what makes Midland's Shine unique is that they know why these qualities are important and... they love this town. Mark stated that the service community at times gets a wrap for being unethical and to him it is important to flip that perception. Mark and Brad want people to feel greatly at ease and respected when Shine employees are on their property. They remind employees that customers are "inviting" Shine into their homes, not just their houses, and that is to be respected. Also, Shine prides itself in finding employees that truly care and have a heart to serve with compassion in all situations.<br />
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So who inspires Mark to keep going when Small Business get's hard? He says it's the original vision of the Shine company along with what it offers employees, a chance to grow themselves and provide for their families, amongst other benefits. Brad says the good days make it all worth it, when teamwork and positive energy are growing as well as simply knowing you are genuinely helping people, some whom cannot safely do certain things for themselves anymore.<br />
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Small business ownership is indeed a double edge sword according to Mark. In many ways it offers the flexibility to be available for your family, but some days it certainly encroaches on time outside the shop as well. Yet being a part of something that is so helpful to customers as well as impactful to employees, he humbly says, is a good feeling. Mark is quick to make it clear that it really is not about how <em>he</em> feels. He also commented their is a great opportunity in business ownership to strengthen the community by providing positive employment and the healthy franchise structure in this case, offers wonderful community support as well.<br />
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The difficulties of running a small business according to Mark is the many hats that often need to be worn such as counselor, financial planner, HR, marketing, equipment manager to name a few. Mark and Brad both seem to feel that the positives far outweigh any negatives however. Positive energy is a main core value to the entire Shine company and Mark and Brad exude that exact energy fittingly. They shared with me that true success for Midland's Shine comes from the crew leaders' dedication and their employees honest, servant hearts. Mark stated "(success) is not necessarily about marketing" in reference to how integrity and trustworthiness spread by word of mouth more rapidly advertising. Midland's Shine truly values what the customers value, clear honest communication and integrity. They instill in their employees to have a mentality of thinking what they would expect out of a window company if they personally hired one, and meeting that vision.<br />
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We often like to ask Midland's business owners what they like about Midland. Brad, who is also very involved in his home town of Sanford, shared he enjoyed the small town feel Midland offers and the many "interwoven connections" the small businesses have. Mark agreed saying Midland has the unique quality for being a great town for small businesses to start and succeed because there is a wonderful "element of support" among a new generation of small businesses in our town. He also adds that Midland has a wonderful amount of resources that it can pour into itself with its many foundations.<br />
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It is indeed a great time of year to feature Midland's Shine because beyond windows, they do much more. They also do pressure washing, gutter cleaning, certain aspects of home detailing and... holiday lighting! Right now is a wonderful time to call Shine and get on their schedule to have your lights put up while there are still openings. Shine provides the lighting for you, consisting of various styles of high grade LED lights for your roof tops, trees and shrubs. I could not think of a better business to do the job personally.<br />
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Shine has been in town long enough that Mark and Brad enjoy telling stories of how regulars have touched their lives with things as simple as always having cookies available at the end of the job, to certain regulars requesting specific employees that they seem to have made a connection with. They also take to heart the many notes sent from customers thanking them for a job well done. This business gave me such a positive upbeat feeling, on the job and in the interview. Their genuineness and integrity was top notch. This is a business you need to check out, the prices are wonderful and the staff, even better. You will feel safe and respected with a business like Shine in your home. What a perfect addition they have been to the Midland community.<br />
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Article written by Hope Krotzer<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090368874423602632.post-13654728566093204742018-10-23T21:04:00.000-07:002018-10-24T09:59:20.543-07:00Live Oak Coffeehouse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Live Oak owners, Aaron and Renee' Deckrow<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Conversations over a cup of coffee can be life changing" </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Renee' Deckrow</span></div>
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A vintage light bulb, a record player spinning with reminiscent music, a soft embracing chair and artwork from local masters of the trade. Historical nooks echoing with years of business in days gone by are now shifting to the laughter of friendships, the listening ear of family members, the glow of a laptop and progress being made. The ambiance of Live Oak Coffeehouse bids one to come, and feel they belong and can find solace inside. Never was there a shop that so truthfully proclaimed that its heartbeat is to "love people" so well. To me, walking into "trendy" locations has always been intimidating. I am not the type to sit in a coffee shop, I don't fit the prototype, whatever that even is. And then came a different vibe on our very own Ashman Street, an everybody type of place. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRCrR9mZ3INSB-dLn5LWqFpxL4ZAu1lzMEqbDUqKpaVn-nbzKyX85thlr0SHTe4HdhtA2bCXRWpuEvDh5Ys3tR85uUcG5hcyNXD1KDCW31EaiY7uwcZq608a36-3iSAU5C0eIuIuQoW4/s1600/20181024_113501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRCrR9mZ3INSB-dLn5LWqFpxL4ZAu1lzMEqbDUqKpaVn-nbzKyX85thlr0SHTe4HdhtA2bCXRWpuEvDh5Ys3tR85uUcG5hcyNXD1KDCW31EaiY7uwcZq608a36-3iSAU5C0eIuIuQoW4/s320/20181024_113501.jpg" width="320" /></a>Art Deco Ashman Plaza has quite a history, originally the Knights of Columbus and known for serving some wonderful fish fries, it eventually became the HQ for many other places of business and entertainment. For example, KC Bowling came on the scene with the bravest of live pin setters. Later, Ashman Plaza became known as the "The Blue Light Building" in 1966, booming with wedding receptions and teen dances. The building is rich with history, always a place that brought people together from groceries, dance lessons, Coupie's Butcher Shop, boy scout meetings, a bike shop, retail shops and the Secretary of State. It is now alive again, restoring that glory with businesses that not only bring people together, but help them thrive in every aspect. You can go to Ashman Plaza to find help in building your business, receive professional counseling, get your hair and nails refreshed, learn life skills, get fresh air for your lungs, have a photo shoot, exercise your body, let your kids play while having some parent-community time, learn to paint, learn to use your camera, have a trivia date night or learn to crochet... oh yes, and my main reason to visit... drink coffee. Ashman Plaza has been redeemed, to say the least. Although the entire building is intriguing and full of businesses to explore, Live Oak was my main focus for this visit. I wanted to hear the "what and why" behind the captivating little shop that is more often than not brimming with people. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumOsXw17Z298wgiBlGiQeyQNtFzXdbOAGMjPCHX-Yja196C-_pNYbE_jKiBo2H__uvCezfX-wgI8IFyT7XNPYUZAZYPUDEQMQwrkTDrYgWhBe0JopESm7v_RGjg7tIFblP_F0gNQweDs/s1600/LiveOak-076020182018+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumOsXw17Z298wgiBlGiQeyQNtFzXdbOAGMjPCHX-Yja196C-_pNYbE_jKiBo2H__uvCezfX-wgI8IFyT7XNPYUZAZYPUDEQMQwrkTDrYgWhBe0JopESm7v_RGjg7tIFblP_F0gNQweDs/s640/LiveOak-076020182018+%25283%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzB16g9CFNhMX5EnUPyD1gnuWh7Q89FvfiQydxk-NFwCwXjPQO-XnNpYIlejJ4Owbz5Jd34tkEmfBXQMgcDwXDSTCbfKyRieFdRnecDKGZxyLokEqVnTeRSRiyqB9isHNqjkHG9G70K44/s1600/20181024_102826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzB16g9CFNhMX5EnUPyD1gnuWh7Q89FvfiQydxk-NFwCwXjPQO-XnNpYIlejJ4Owbz5Jd34tkEmfBXQMgcDwXDSTCbfKyRieFdRnecDKGZxyLokEqVnTeRSRiyqB9isHNqjkHG9G70K44/s640/20181024_102826.jpg" width="310" /></a>Owned by Aaron and Renee' Deckrow and opened in 2017, their hand on this building has gone from transforming the building, to touching midtown. Renee's vision of Live Oak was to create a space for "makers, dreamers and doers", to do their thing, meeting and growing together in a positive atmosphere. Also, to form a place for friends and family to have those special, critical, memorable moments. She states "conversations over a cup of coffee can be life changing" because "meeting over coffee is so approachable". Live Oak was created to be a gateway to those important conversations, a gateway to good things happening in the community and a gateway to the other life breathing businesses in the building, allowing the employees and owners to come together and encourage one other. <br />
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Sitting with Renee', anyone will walk away inspired. Her passions reach deeply into her soul and she is sincere to the core. She is a thriving business owner, and yet will be the first to sit down and compare notes and be real that the journey is not all roses. "Owning a small business is not for the faint of heart" she notes, "but it can be very worth it". When asking Renee' to share with other business owners what she felt was the most difficult about owning a small business, she remarked with a gentle smile, "all of it". She continued, "all life is hard. Work is hard, being patient is hard, relationships are hard. We have to really embrace that to move forward with any of it". The phrase "do what you want and you won't work a day in your life" is not the most realistic perspective, in Renee's opinion, although the sentiment holds some truth because it's wonderful to do what you love, there is still always going to be a grind to it. "Being willing to have difficult conversations with others you work with is not easy" she shares, "and neither is being at the mercy of public opinion". To be a successful business owner these are some of the things Renee' believes one will have to wrap their mind around, as well as always watching for trend changes in their niche. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-nO2TPZvjAkobfkTan99qbwNPfKprZxoirV9iZx0cV_HRclaIdDaJp0bj4b8gxUfuHmxP87G9HL7W6TDVufbiwmx1iSQOM_T419F2Qtd9FRs9pN-bXRi9ndt-6SOqwD2YoE0isAJwvC0/s1600/44816323_1974266815983486_7629969548342460416_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-nO2TPZvjAkobfkTan99qbwNPfKprZxoirV9iZx0cV_HRclaIdDaJp0bj4b8gxUfuHmxP87G9HL7W6TDVufbiwmx1iSQOM_T419F2Qtd9FRs9pN-bXRi9ndt-6SOqwD2YoE0isAJwvC0/s640/44816323_1974266815983486_7629969548342460416_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXx6zO2unEUyXhXvVbQ4ocTHDsVRNRzcGHWRCruXlr_Om_5H8AA6r7V8Wjg1UAWoFno-krowgsJHH7Gsucv5JRm1AqtmuoMAwGLxjjBvx2oOHEiJlgofpM6bd3IGqW4CqsiMyGFJ507Q/s1600/20181024_102842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXx6zO2unEUyXhXvVbQ4ocTHDsVRNRzcGHWRCruXlr_Om_5H8AA6r7V8Wjg1UAWoFno-krowgsJHH7Gsucv5JRm1AqtmuoMAwGLxjjBvx2oOHEiJlgofpM6bd3IGqW4CqsiMyGFJ507Q/s640/20181024_102842.jpg" width="310" /></a>Yet the Deckrows are not people that dwell in the hard stuff. Renee' says her husband, Aaron, has been the greatest source of encouragement to her in the hard moments, always telling her to simply focus on doing the "next good thing". Perhaps Renee's most inspiring encouragement is to remember, "even dreaming is hard, but it is so important, it's like exercise". "Discipline is hard, but accept it and let it help grow you". Problems are "soil for a fresh idea" she says, and encourages that small business owners should take the growth of their businesses on their own shoulders instead of solely blaming trends, business partners, locations or employees. She states you can either run from the problems of business ownership or be flexible, come together and resolve them and be resourceful. <br />
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When asked what she loves about business ownership Renee' stated, she adores serving the community, this is seen in the way she and Aaron intentionally fill the building with businesses that breath life into people. It can also be seen in their ongoing of presence at community happenings, involvement in developing Midtown Midland Neighborhood Association, support of local food vendors,"Coffee Blitzs" that give exposure to other local businesses and organizations, and special events that bring community together like this fall's "Gather at Grove". Renee' and Aaron also cherish their employees deeply and know without a doubt that their employees are the heart of the business and the first to touch the community. Renee' also remarked she absolutely loves that Live Oak is a place for everyone. She is pleased that people can feel welcome and know when they enter the building, that no one is excluded. The environment truly is a mirror of their slogan to "Like Coffee, Love People". I noticed easily when I was there that it was a judgment free zone. Employees always greet everyone warmly, by name when they can, and serve with such positive energy. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJBTkHAy5x18jr4qJxqcbPoowsQr5hokIgxB_8WMdAlJz1i_pa-1gLkW0-jQUKch-S9V0iHzAVQRPzuIU537eCM2IAI4WOoln4tU6asEUxOlLy0rEyOzDXBNll43FoqfhjF71_DbYuFU/s1600/44607404_2064477543865052_1872278275569483776_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJBTkHAy5x18jr4qJxqcbPoowsQr5hokIgxB_8WMdAlJz1i_pa-1gLkW0-jQUKch-S9V0iHzAVQRPzuIU537eCM2IAI4WOoln4tU6asEUxOlLy0rEyOzDXBNll43FoqfhjF71_DbYuFU/s640/44607404_2064477543865052_1872278275569483776_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel Terhune, General Manager</td></tr>
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Live Oak has been overseen by general manager, Daniel Terhune, from the start. Daniel abounds with the talent to run the show and is also a gifted expert of deliciousness. He is the sole creator of the menu at Live Oak, abounding with ideas from sandwiches, to "no-nonsense bars" all the way to creating the very syrups the coffee shop uses which make Live Oak such a very original experience. Day Managers Jazzmyn "Jazz" Benitez and Sean Bartley are gifted baristas who know the grind well and are known for their skill, likeability and hospitality. They, along with an average of 12 employees, make Live Oak thrive. Remembering names, remembering "the usual" and always smiling and serving with vivacious hearts.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day Managers, Jazz and Sean</td></tr>
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Getting lost in the inspiration of these business owners, I realize I have lacked really doing any "product" review. Which is fitting in a sense, as Live Oak is so much more about connections and people. But that said, with the same passion they have for seeing people connect, they are passionate to see that the people of Midland are connecting over products that are not only, worth while, but of highest quality imaginable. The skillfully made drinks are made with utmost consideration of the consumer, because the consumer is instantly friend, neighbor and family so their opinions and insight are richly valuable to the Live Oak team. <br />
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Along with their own delicious and original line of drinks and foods, Live Oak has a passion to link with other local businesses. Some businesses from our very own Midland, and others from throughout the state of Michigan. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreatLakesChips/">Great Lakes Potato Chip,</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Northwoods-Soda-137753756245189/">Northwoods Soda</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mindochocolatemaker/">Mindo Chocolate Makers,</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theglutenfreebar/">GFB Bars,</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/frasertea/">Fraser Tea,</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EschRoad/">Esch Road Foods,</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fruitbelt/">Fruitbelt,</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CulturedKombucha/">Cultured Ferments Co.,</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/creation.coffee/">Creation Coffee,</a> <a href="https://www.liveoakcoffeehouse.com/news/2018/10/10/meet-our-friend-katie?fbclid=IwAR1FiU-w8DlEIKbwVN2a39ici1MwajBJkoIXP17U8QcZ1Dy-JixcIJyUGS4">Katie's Kitchen,</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MyCheekyCheesecakes/">Cheeky Cheesecakes,</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mittenprints.me/">Mittenprints,</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/simplybloomphotography/">Simply Bloom</a> and fresh produce, milk, and cider is used from local growers as often as possible as well. We highly encourage you to seek out and support these other wonderful businesses as we know Live Oak would encourage it as well.<br />
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Among the lovely staff and products of Live Oak, there is another iconic characteristic we have all taken in, the stunning mural by Mark Piotrowski at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/markedarts/">MARKed ARTS</a>. The mural alone has changed the feel of Midtown, as it reminds us of the importance of enjoying moments of rest in life in order to be restored so that we are ready to let our dreams grow. It is also a great reminder that the effect of our dreams sends ripples into the lives of others as we are reminded of in Mother Theresa's quote "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across waters to create many ripples."<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When asked what she treasures about Midland, Renee' was quick to say there are so many great opportunities in a town that is small, in the fact that you can easily connect and see people you know whenever you are out, but there is also the "culture and aesthetics" of a larger town. She also enjoys the way Midland cares about the community with so many opportunities like wonderful schools and many great parks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Live Oak is a place made by dreamers, for dreamers. A place deeply inspired by world changers, for world changers. As a gorgeous tree filters the scorching rays of the sun to expose the healthy warmth of a place to gather safely in the shade, Live Oak and Ashman Plaza have begun to do the very same for the town of Midland. Providing a place to rest, relax and dream as dreams take flight. And although we are proud to claim that Live Oak's roots grow down into our great city of Midland, its branches are soon to be reaching to our neighbors in Uptown Bay City too! What a great opportunity for another great town to be blessed by the presence of positive small business!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">#meetmeinmidtown</span><br />
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#meetmeinuptown too! <br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Live Oak currently can be found at 711 Ashman Street in Midland</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(989) 423-1800</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/liveoakcoffeehouse/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Facebook</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Article by Hope Krotzer</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Photography by Michelle Delzer and Hope Krotzer</span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090368874423602632.post-73340007361497077752018-08-30T19:31:00.002-07:002018-08-30T19:31:46.987-07:00Red Threads Custom Apparel Printing<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>“People filled with the Spirit of the Creator, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em> should have the best creations.”</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em> -Josiah Blackmore</em></span><br />
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Josiah Blackmore is a no-nonsense kind of guy, I gleaned that within our first few minutes together. It’s easy to understand when you hear his dream and how he got to where he is today—he’s keenly focused, on a mission, and I have no doubt his dream will come true.</div>
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Josiah is the owner of Red Threads, a screen printing, vinyl heat pressing and embroidery print shop. You might think someone with a company like this simply aspires to be the biggest, the best, and the most profitable. He does, but here’s why: Josiah’s purpose in life is to spread the Word of God. He wasn’t necessarily trying to be the best at screen-printing, but, as hard work and dedication would have it, he just is.</div>
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Josiah was brought up in a Christian family, but he struggled, as many young people do, with his purpose and faith. He regularly went to church but wasn’t a steward. In his late teens and early twenties, he got into some trouble and wasn’t sure what was next in his life. He was searching for answers, building a worldview and he came upon the revelation that God and the Devil are both very real. It was a visit to Chicago with a friend that changed things. They were watching a Christian documentary when God came to Josiah and said “you have never lived for me a day in your life. That ‘Christian’ life you’ve been living is not a Christian life—dude.” Josiah felt that this served two purposes: to show him he was living a lie and that what came next in life would be greater and more exciting. He felt the darkness move away and light come in. The next seven days he said were a ‘euphoric and peaceful experience.’ Josiah dug his nose in his Bible and that Book confirmed that what was happening to him was exactly what it said would happen. This was his spiritual birth. At 21 Josiah became a Christian. He was ready to give his life but now he needed orders, he wondered if he should be a pastor or build mud huts in Africa.</div>
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One day, he felt compelled to cover a shirt in the Word of God. As he described it “it was big, loud and dorky” and, as a result, he received questions and comments and it opened conversations. An idea was born. What if he could cover a shirt in God's Word in all languages? And that is the passion project. Someday shirts covered in the Word will be sold all over the world in different languages. He showed me a pilot run of a shirt with the book of John. It’s beautiful in its simplicity. It’s so tiny, you can’t easily read it, but people will say, “what does your shirt say?” This is the goal. He painted a picture of people at Dow wearing a nice button up that from afar looked patterned, but it was covered in the Word of God. He sees an opportunity to have a higher quality Christian apparel company in the market and Red Threads will be that provider. As he put it “people filled with the Spirit of the Creator, should have the best creations.”</div>
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Josiah admits he has been blessed by the kindness of others—several times thousands of dollars of equipment was donated to him to help him get started or to expand. For six months he worked rent-free and then a year-and-a-half low-rent thanks to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/incuba8LABS/">INCUBA8LABS</a>. He had to learn to run a business, first, and thankfully, it laid on his heart to start this business in Midland. This has been a tool for character development and to perfect the craft; and, as it continues to grow he can focus on pursuing the truly global vision. Josiah did not know much about printing until he attended the "University" of YouTube. Yep, Josiah is self-taught. His dedication to a quality product is second to none. He has developed a network of professionals and mentors to continue to learn and grow. In fact, he said if your prints crack after 25 washes, you need a new printer. He had me feel a sample shirt and it was soft, almost like the print was sewn in by the garment maker; not plasticky like we are used to.</div>
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Midland is a haven for small businesses, this has been a huge blessing because they support each other and make up a significant portion of Red Threads client-base. Josiah lit up when he described one such customer—rare and amazing—this client even gave he and, his wife, Abbi a wedding card.</div>
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Red Threads is unique in this business because of their dedication to customer service. They are focused on bulk orders and when you spend that kind of money, you expect a lot. Josiah is determined to rise to meet, or exceed, that expectation. Customers sit with Josiah at the very table where I interviewed him, and they work together to bring their ideas to fruition on the computer screen.</div>
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Why the name Red Threads? Josiah’s favorite color is red, and this is an apparel-based business after all—clever. But, really, it’s because Jesus is the Red Thread, mentioned in every book of the Bible—without Him, there would be no Christianity.</div>
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As we were wrapping up, office manager, Abbi Blackmore and Chief Marketing Officer, Chili (pictured below), arrived. This dynamic trio will surely thrive, and you should watch it happen by following them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/RedThreadz/about/?ref=page_internal">Facebook</a> or by visiting <span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><span class="m_-1940121656423028208gmail-m7756849758070707125m-1231076367250544494m5538059553483786513m6181692037629951946gmail-msohyperlink"><span style="color: #0563c1;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.redthreads.com/&source=gmail&ust=1535765573956000&usg=AFQjCNGvi_LlXwyTjCHv8k2SGC1gqzualA" href="http://www.redthreads.com/" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank">www.redthreads.com</a></span></span></span>. </div>
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Red Threads is located at 616 Haley Street and can be contacted at 989-600-8540 </div>
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Article and Photography by Joslyn Chulski</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090368874423602632.post-44208761251410081262018-07-28T07:17:00.003-07:002019-08-16T19:53:06.883-07:00Everyday Life and the Rural Community Health Worker Network Training Center<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Training opens a person's eyes to how they can help others so
generations to come, people can live on their own wings.” </span></span></em></span></em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><em>- Shannon Lijewski</em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><em>Founder and CEO of Everyday Life and The rCHWn Training Center</em></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">There is something to be said about good steady bridges. They get us from where we are, take us over an obstacle, to where we long to be, or more importantly where we <em>need</em> to be. Here, right in our very own county, are men and women working to be bridges in many different ways, each way just as important as the next. They are Community Health Workers, or CHWs as you will hear them called. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">In many urban communities CHWs are becoming very well known for the work they do, but in a predominantly rural county like Midland, Michigan, many people often don't know that CHWs are starting to make effective connections</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> in the neighborhoods and communities outside the city limits as well. There is an overwhelming need for bridge builders in the country.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">CHWs come in many forms. A workforce that started predominantly in the medical field is now seen as successful and effective in many other facets. A CHW is an individual who helps to bridge the gap between community members in need and the professionals that can help meet those needs. For example a CHW could be a liaison between a medical professional and a community member. They help the community member navigate through the questions the doctors or nurses would ask in a way that may be more understandable and less intimidating. And now CHWs work way beyond the medical field. As Shannon Lijewski explained, just as there are different types of doctors and teachers, there are different types of CHWs. Some help with integration into society after an addiction, some help with those who fall victim to human trafficking or abusive relationships, yet others are first responders, equine therapists, school paraprofessionals, and faith workers. Many CHWs are busy neighbors who simply see a need to break a cycle in their</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">very neighborhood and help with community gardens, visiting neighbors, food pantries and little free libraries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Community Health Workers know the culture of the area they work in, usually because they too live in that exact area and have for quite some time. They understand the lingo, the nuances, and the socio economic norms for the area very well, better than many doctors, judges, parole officers and DHS workers would, who are usually from different areas and circumstances. Also, a <i>rural</i> community health worker would pick up on things that an urban CHW might miss in the same situation, and vice versa. Even in a town as small as Midland, the cultural differences from Center City to the county lines can be vast. <span style="font-family: "arial";">Community Health Workers are known for carefully using a nonjudgmental approach. This way of connecting with people breaks down barriers so those that are receiving assistance feel little to no intimidation accepting the help offered to them. CHWs don't provide a hand out, or a hand down, they provide a hand <i>over</i> to their very neighbors, simply helping, connect and educate. And what can fuel their fire to do so, besides their already tremendously beautiful hearts, is incredible, quality training.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">More than 10 years ago Shannon Lijewski, started her consulting firm "Everyday Life". A name thought up as she and her husband Keith discussed the importance of helping people in their community navigate through the ins an outs of the very place they all live, work and play... in their every day lives. Shannon grew up the child of an entrepreneur father who strictly hired parolees in order to better their lives and a mother who was a corrections officer, it was in her blood to have a passion to help break cycles and help people see their full potential. Seeing a great need that was going unmet in rural areas, she also began the Rural Community Health Workers Network (rCHWn)Training Center. The training center is located in the village of Sanford within Midland County.<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Although she is the founder and CEO, Shannon is incredibly humble and runs the business with a view of her employees as complete equals. <span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Along with Shannon, the team at the rCHWn Training Center consists of Andrea Burton, Director of Training and <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Outreach with a Bachelors in Marketing, and Jessica Murrell, Creative Marketing Director with a Masters in Business Administration. As a team they fit like a "perfect storm" as Shannon refers to them. The wonderful thing about networking, even with your own employees, is that you all can work together incredibly well when you are each contributing in the areas you are talented in. They all bring their own incredible strengths into play which makes a thriving and effective small business</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The rCHWn Training Center started in April and is the only known <em>rural</em> CHW training center in the nation. The need for such a place in our community and country has been confirmed by their 400% growth rate from April to July alone. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The Training Center offers a very high quality training, preparing CHWs around the state and the nation to effectively work in their communities and make a difference. Training is a 6 week course, 2 days a week, a schedule that offers CHWs time to process what they are learning, but also allows them to continue a somewhat normal work week at there places of employment. Training focuses on many skill sets and aspects such as "motivational interviewing" and "nonbiased thinking". The training truly empowers people who at times are doing the work of a CHW and are not aware of the position they are already play in the community.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So what sets apart this Training Center from others? Mostly the great balance of diverse talents available in the team. Jessica mentioned, rCHWn and Every Day Life is a great place to work, everything is always new,
every day something positive happens, and although they are not faith based in their actual training, employees are free to talk about God and
pray about situations they encounter. The Training Center is hugely inclusive, drama free, safe atmosphere for employees, trainees and members of the community. As Andrea says "it is not about your knowledge, but about the connections you make. This is a workforce where individual experts grow with maturity so they can be equipped to respond to situations effectively without creating more trauma".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Director of Training and Outreach, Andrea Burton, is a very highly sought after trainer. People from near and far have come to receive training especially from Ms. Burton</span><span style="font-family: "arial";">. She is one of only 10 individuals in the entire state that have completed the core competency to be a trainer. Andrea has received additional training through </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MichiganACE/?hc_ref=ARQ6cfoCcnG_RkKD7BKG_sk0scwqRTnS9wMFTbLxb0_qkKIv3e0WQznawIPckckiaYo&fref=nf" style="font-family: arial;">Michigan ACEs Initiative</a><span style="font-family: "arial";"> giving the rCHWn Training Center recognition as a "Community Champion". She is also a recipient of the Shining Star Award from the </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/UnitedWayMidland/" style="font-family: arial;">United Way of Midland County</a><span style="font-family: "arial";">. Her training sessions are known to be full of her engaging charisma and confidence, but most of all for her passion to help others see how they can influence their communities effectively. Her passionate message to fellow rCHWs throughout the country is that "training is available, necessary and valuable". She desires to help those in other communities realize they </span><em style="font-family: arial;">are</em><span style="font-family: "arial";"> CHW's. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">As often time happens for CHWs, Andrea did not realize that she was doing the work of a CHW until Shannon pointed it out to her, then through training she went beyond her potential in understanding and effectiveness. Andrea has always had a natural passion to help others. Working on the truancy team for Bullock Creek Public Schools, she could see clearly that so many issues rural community members deal with, go much deeper than many people realize and her desire to do more grew continuously. She is now the visionary and creator of a program of The Rural Community Health Workers Network Training Center known as C.O.R.E (Community Outreach Resource Extension). The program's proof of concept site is based at Midland Missionary Church, a local church in the Lee Township area. This program has many successful facets to help in the community, including a community garden, food pantry and little free library.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">The rCHWn Training Center </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">just recently gained its non profit status and is currently building up their board of directors. Shannon Lijewski currently serves as the interim president, Keith Lijewski, also a CHW in the community, serves as treasurer, and Jessy Bordeau serves as secretary and is a passionate community advocate that is willing to stand up for those under served in the community. A goal is set for a future board of 10 members with at least 51 percent of directors being CHWs. It is important to the team that the board is constructed by those who know the heart and work of a CHW. A steering committee will also soon be organized.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are a CHW, are interested in the work of a CHW or even just wanting to stay connected to how CHWs are growing and the differences they are making, you're encouraged to become part of the network! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To do so please visit </span><a href="http://www.everydaylifechw.com/join-now"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">www.everydaylifechw.com/join-now</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Rural Community Health Worker Network Training Canter in Sanford, MI is available as a free space for all CHWs to work and gather. This is an incredible resource as many CHWs do not have budgets to allow investment in personal offices or work spaces, and the aspect of being together with other CHWs is powerful.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To learn more about Every Day Life and the rCHWn please visit</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.everydaylifechw.com/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">www.everydaylifechw.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">or their </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/EverydayLifeCHW/?ref=br_rs"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Facebook Page</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Center location</span>: </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Article and Photographs by Hope Krotzer</span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090368874423602632.post-85134150832421317622018-07-15T22:00:00.001-07:002019-07-30T19:44:05.526-07:00Paper Heart Design<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-1b73d2f1-a172-69f9-a481-fa802eb37273" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmYZxNzU7J9YVHUcl82pvBuFkfJh6y4ppiGUHtdbdMgJQoCmQX-Ijlnv7nhgLft0jsSmN7urCoXKe1-F0YRBZkRzQRm8I8rlbqVAw76BjfLGqlxwszO5M7kLHHuy2haCmT2FecNp65bM/s1600/received_748461652254448.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmYZxNzU7J9YVHUcl82pvBuFkfJh6y4ppiGUHtdbdMgJQoCmQX-Ijlnv7nhgLft0jsSmN7urCoXKe1-F0YRBZkRzQRm8I8rlbqVAw76BjfLGqlxwszO5M7kLHHuy2haCmT2FecNp65bM/s320/received_748461652254448.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</span><i style="font-family: calibri; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I get to be a tiny part of other people’s big dreams…of their stories.” - Annie Stout</span> </i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are anything like me the second you meet Annie Stout from Paper Heart Design, you want to be like her when you grow up. Yes, I sort of like design but that is not why I want to be like her, it’s because she said to me that she has her dream job. One day she realized “oh my gosh, all of the things I wanted have come true.” She wanted to be a mom-check. She wanted to be an artist-check. And she can do all of this because she has the support of her best friend and husband, Jerod. Goose. Bumps.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ready to be impressed? You have seen Annie’s logo work all around Midland—Live Oak Coffeehouse, Captured Community, Serendipity Road, RE Krotzer Construction and Let’s Go Midland—to name a few. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the best things about small business owners is finding out how they got where they are. So, let’s do that. How did Annie come to have her dream job, her dream life?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Annie has always been an artist. Almost every time her mom, Diane, would ask her what she wanted to be when she grew up, it was some form of artist—except that one year she thought she might be a professional soccer player. Her mom said she had to buy a new box of crayons every other week.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">GEEK-OUT MOMENT:</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; text-indent: -72pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I had to ask: What is your favorite Crayola® 64 color? Cerulean. I gasped because I had been saying Cerulean in my head (ok, I was mispronouncing it in my head, but it was the same color). FYI it’s: [səˈro͞olēən].</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Not only did her mom keep her stocked up with supplies, she was one of her inspirations. She was supportive, helping Annie to write stories and cut pictures out of magazines; she even took Annie to a course about being an entrepreneur at the age of 10. She sat with Annie for hours as she sold handmade book marks and those Rudolph candy canes with the googly eyes. Annie shared that her mom is also an amazing sewist/quilter and used to do woodworking regularly. Today, her mom is really into nature photography so, it’s clear she is creative at heart too. Same with her dad, Allan. He might not seem creative in a traditional way, but his support was endless. He was really into music and would spend time with Annie looking at album cover art while they listened to Joni Mitchell and Jimi Hendrix. One time he rented the VHS ‘Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller’ from the library, so she could see the original to help her with her dance performance. Annie said, “My parents did a good job of letting me be who I was and encouraging what I was clearly meant to do.” They sure did, and for that, we are thankful!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYNGPD9ff1QNcpAdYr7_wPQOE3r4VZ3lMz5QV9l-EkWh0SGgJgkfGMJOvdSLCAhqrc_XtayT11H9ONV2O-h0I_ps40gAMlwJM-o6k6fEgPB2eFihqsXztdBxsqYcLMV8cjZ9T-f2T35c/s1600/AnnieatWork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYNGPD9ff1QNcpAdYr7_wPQOE3r4VZ3lMz5QV9l-EkWh0SGgJgkfGMJOvdSLCAhqrc_XtayT11H9ONV2O-h0I_ps40gAMlwJM-o6k6fEgPB2eFihqsXztdBxsqYcLMV8cjZ9T-f2T35c/s320/AnnieatWork.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Annie went to CMU to study and finished with BAA in Graphic Design, Sculpture, and Art History. Turns out she was her own first client. For a final school project, she created her wedding invites. This started a small side gig where friends and family members were asking for invites for weddings and parties. She opened Paper Heart Design on Etsy in 2008. She worked odd jobs through the years; chain store photography manager, in-house graphic artist at a print shop, marketing manager, but she always comes back to Paper Heart Design. Her heart is in freelance. Having the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom to her two daughters, Allison and Madeline, has afforded her the time as they have gotten older, to focus back on her design work. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aAzH-FezDwWFb33n-O4wkHf4TaBJrL_7S1UBRELSo0QDMtOokhS7PbG_jr8BQoU30kLBtR5BLwaNH-X95V5FReSIf8IunJg27MmzaEKTZWI5UvWP_aI7_gc5TvOR5ndSJiRc8aUrJ44/s1600/IMG_4884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aAzH-FezDwWFb33n-O4wkHf4TaBJrL_7S1UBRELSo0QDMtOokhS7PbG_jr8BQoU30kLBtR5BLwaNH-X95V5FReSIf8IunJg27MmzaEKTZWI5UvWP_aI7_gc5TvOR5ndSJiRc8aUrJ44/s320/IMG_4884.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHAT ABOUT THAT NAME? Annie has always loved Stone Temple Pilots and her favorite song at the time was “Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart.” She didn’t want the name to be obvious. Mission. Accomplished. Well, until now…the secret is out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Annie has been doing this for 10 years, but she feels like 2016 is when she started legitimately. An acquaintance (now friend and business partner, Mirandy) posted on Facebook asking if there were any creative moms out there looking to make extra money as a painting instructor once or twice a month. It was for Captured Community, which is part of Captured Studios. By the end of the first meeting/interview she was asked to help complete the design for their logo. They had a good idea of what they wanted, they just didn’t have the programs to make the professional vector art files needed—they entrusted Annie with that task. When she started teaching at Captured Community she said it just felt right— “I’m supposed to be here.” </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoHlFbwJd93AI19b03rFfms4qlom3f8mibgYiu8JXq2Nc3FDawq-ZRtmG44v5-UodHS7LpZymhMO_dInsucXqimkisKCisjRYWhk2fLbd9P2jP80YDp8aH_Ta9II9G-ot4VkN4ufOM2k/s1600/Annie3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoHlFbwJd93AI19b03rFfms4qlom3f8mibgYiu8JXq2Nc3FDawq-ZRtmG44v5-UodHS7LpZymhMO_dInsucXqimkisKCisjRYWhk2fLbd9P2jP80YDp8aH_Ta9II9G-ot4VkN4ufOM2k/s640/Annie3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As you can imagine, this is how she came to design that iconic Live Oak logo and then word of mouth led her to create logos for so many other local Midland businesses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As with many small business owners she really isn’t selling her business, she is selling herself (she is the business): “people don’t want to just fill out a form, they want a connection.” She wants that collaboration, she wants to help small business owners get what is in their head out and create a piece unique to their vision. Annie might think that a design is perfect at round one or two, but she will revise until the owner is completely satisfied—it’s going to represent them and their business. Annie’s work is so important, as she said it: “the logo is your first impression.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Annie’s biggest challenge as a small business owner is time. With a young family and a one-person shop, she has had to take sabbaticals now and again from her work to refresh or focus on family. But this woman is on fire, not only is Paper Heart Design up-and-running she is co-owner to two other small thriving businesses: Mittenprints (that Midland map on Live Oak’s wall and a ton of other Michigan inspired goodies) and Wildflower Trust (a faith-based apparel and accessories company that donates 50% of its proceeds to charity).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another challenge is simply awareness but the small business community in Midland and Mid-town, in particular, is so supportive. Word-of-mouth business has been fruitful. She said to me “Nobody goes into small business because they feel indifferent. They do it because it’s their heart and soul. They put everything into it.” That is what Annie does and she wants to help her clients, she loves hearing the passion people have for their businesses and that she can help them look professional in a way they could not do on their own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Annie is special person; her passion and talent radiate from her. Annie would love to be part of your small businesses' creative process. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://paperheartdesign.com/">paperheartdesign.com</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/paperheartdesign/">Instagram</a> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PaperHeartDesign/"><span style="font-size: large;">Facebook</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Annie Stout, Graphic Artist</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paper Heart Design</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">989.600.2104 | </span><a href="mailto:paperheartdesign@gmail.com" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">paperheartdesign@gmail.com</span></a><br />
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Article written by: Joslyn Chulski</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090368874423602632.post-4343364504210964532018-04-30T19:40:00.001-07:002018-04-30T20:54:47.206-07:00Smith's Flowers and Gifts<h3>
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Mark Smith could have talked for days about his family's passion and history. He exuded joy and looked off pensively as he recounted stories of Smith's Flowers' (almost) 70 year history. He discussed how fortunate they are to touch people's lives at a time when they need love, joy and uplifting. "You are so involved with families, it's almost like an extension of your own." "We are involved in all the important aspects of peoples lives - all celebrations: births, weddings and funerals (celebrations of life)." The Smiths feel blessed that people have allowed them this honor. This is something small businesses offer that their big box competitors simply cannot match. <br />
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It all began with Rolland Smith who worked at the Ford Plant in Detroit. Rolland had a passion for growing. In fact, he would sell his delphiniums to flower shops down river. Rolland's mother lived in Midland, where the family decided to open up shop. In May of 1948, Smith's Flowers was born in a building just behind their current location. Mark said he remembers his dad, Donald, telling him they would just play cards that first summer because they had not much else to do yet. </div>
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Mark literally grew up in this building. His dad was 18 when they moved up to Midland. Rolland still worked at Ford and came up to Midland on the weekends, so his Dad and Grandma mainly ran the shop. Mark remarked that his Grandma went to floral design school, but he never once saw her design. When I asked what she did he said, "she was the buyer and (through a chuckle) the heavy hand."</div>
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Smith's was the second flower shop in town, behind Lapelle's which was part of a funeral home at the time. It was the tragic plane crash in 1949 which took the lives of Willard H. Dow, his wife and three others, that brought Smith's Flowers into the fold. The Dow family became good customers from then on. One day while visiting Alden Dow's Post Street home, Alden said to Rolland and Donald Smith, "someday I'm going to design you a building", and that he did. The building they still occupy today was opened to the pubic in May 1956, one week before Mother's Day. <br />
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The building is nearly the same today as it was then, with a few exceptions. The wall color is no longer original and the bright green carpet was originally pea gravel, which did not mix well with the typical lady's fashion of the time. The mid-century modern façade hints at the building's style and once you enter, it does not disappoint. It's as if the building is somehow bigger inside. If you enter the Ashman Street side, you see the unique staircase and hear the serene babbling fountain which sits inside of a koi pond. Contrasts of curved lines and straight edges make you appreciate the conventions of architecture mixed with nature, which was Dow's signature. A business building cannot commune with nature amid a concrete exterior, but when that business is nature, it brings what is normally outside, in. </div>
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Before the bigger box merchants entered the scene, Smith's was also a small department store carrying high-end goods such as cookware, linens, towels, diamonds, gold, jewelry, and collectibles. They also carried German stereo equipment and were the first Sony dealership in Michigan. Today, they are proud to carry unique gifts from local artists and business owners on consignment in "The Circle Gallery". They also carry gifts for any occasion: dream catchers, picture frames, vases, stuffed animals, baby gifts, candles, art, table décor, serving trays, blown glass, original art and signs. For those of you with a brown thumb, they even have artificial flowers and plants. </div>
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What sets them apart? They try to be the best. Mark initially joked "arrogance", but thought about it and retracted the joke. "Every small business owner needs some arrogance to fight the fight." They are the oldest family owned flower business in town. In fact, they have been a training ground for some of their counterparts. Smith's strives to say 'yes', to go out of their way to make the customer happy, even if they don't make a good market rate. "If we can solve their problem, we will at least attempt to do it."</div>
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Challenges? Mark didn't hesitate to say 'family'. This is a holiday industry, so there are 3-week stretches where they don't see family around the holidays. During Valentines they didn't leave the shop for 3 days straight. Not only does Mark recall that his dad was, always at work, he was the same. He has been slowly passing the reins to his daughters, stating he will never be too far away. He remarked that his daughters are really good floral designers and really great people. All in the family, 88-year-old Donald still helps during busy seasons.</div>
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Like most small businesses, the Smiths must wear multiple hats at the same time: design, plan, inventory and tech. They cannot compete on price with the big box stores, but they can compete when it comes to quality. People will call to price check, but they aren't asking the real questions when it comes to quality, like how the flowers are processed and stored. "People think a flower is a flower and it's not," said Mark, "that is like saying hamburger and filet mignon are the same." "We pay a lot of attention" Mark posited, "when your name's on the building, maybe you pay more attention to every aspect."</div>
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When pondering his competitors, he had this to say: "we are seven businesses doing the same thing seven different way, we have our favorite flowers, our favorite styles."</div>
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I asked Mark what his favorite flower was, perhaps my most difficult question. He could have given me a list. He conceded that 5+ years ago it was a Gerbera Daisy and that was kind of the theme flower for the shop. Currently, number one on his list is the hydrangea because it's unique.</div>
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Mark is also an orchid collector. I couldn't help but ask if they are difficult and delicate. No!(This brown thumbed writer is thrilled.) He once told a customer with an orchid she was 'killing it with kindness' and she shouldn't water it so much. He even used to have an orchid in the bathroom that he didn't water for three years (don't misunderstand, it got plenty of moisture in there).</div>
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Mark's absolute favorite part of the business, "the way I've changed, or maybe, the way the business has changed me." "Trial and failure is a presence in any small business, but if you learn a lesson, it's worth it." Mark used to avoid customers. He could hide in the back with his flowers. Over the last 10-15 years teaching his daughters morphed into teaching his customers and has become his favorite thing to do. He also enjoys teaching and sharing with garden clubs, walk-ins, kindergarten classes and girl scout troops. He used to kind of feel like if he shared secrets, he was giving up control, but learned that teaching is a way to share joy. The only way to impart this love into other people and keep the passion going is to share it with them. </div>
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A theme that carried through Smith's long history and perhaps contributed to it, is their ability to adapt to changing times while maintaining a respect for the past. They cannot count on 300 Easter corsages like they once could, only 3 this year. They dabbled in coffee and were successful but they were a bit ahead of the current coffee boom. They didn't have a drive up window and eventually they realized they should just focus on flowers. Once catering to the upper echelons with their department store appeal and clientele, Smith's is working on outgrowing a reputation for being the most expensive in town. Being floral focused is one of the ways they are working to continually change that perception. The last 10 years the gift industry has changed so much that dabbling no longer serves the business well and so Mark and family have focused on the flowers and plants and things that go with them. </div>
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He couldn't really pin down a favorite event they have been involved with and was sensitive to client privacy, but he did share that his favorite was just being involved with the Midland families for so long; their longest standing event is the Dow Stockholder Meeting, 69 years now. </div>
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Smith's is Midland, Michigan's "oldest, yet most progressive", full service, family owned and operated florist. They deliver daily to all Midland, Sanford, Freeland and Auburn, Michigan, including the Dow Chemical Global Headquarters and corporate offices, including BBC and plant locations. Smith's takes great pride in providing the highest quality fresh products available, and service beyond compare. </div>
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If you aren't already part of Smith's extended family, it's never too late! </div>
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Smith's flowers turns 70 in May! Help them celebrate and tell them we sent you! </div>
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Visit Smith's at 2909 Ashman Street. Monday- Friday 8:00am - 5:30pm</div>
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Saturday 9:00am - 1:00pm</div>
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<a href="https://www.smithsflowers.com/">https://www.smithsflowers.com/</a></div>
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(989) 631-0470</div>
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Email: <a href="mailto:sales@smithsflowers.com">sales@smithsflowers.com</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/smithsflowersandgifts/?ref=br_rs">https://www.facebook.com/smithsflowersandgifts/?ref=br_rs</a></div>
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Article and Photography by Joslyn Chulski</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090368874423602632.post-90587179648635180402018-04-16T17:51:00.000-07:002018-04-17T07:58:01.538-07:00An Antique Boutique<em></em><br />
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<em>"It's a business started by faith, and that is how it's maintained." </em><br />
<em>-Andrea Burton</em><br />
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</em><em></em><em><em>"We want to share our blessings with our community."</em></em><br />
<em><em> -Rhonda Krotzer</em></em><br />
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Take a drive out of town with me, just ten miles out and I promise you, you will find a gem of a small business. Anyone can walk into an antique store and feel the nostalgia of years gone by, but at one of Midland's best kept secrets, you feel that, as well as a love for people and community that runs deep in the veins. And the secret is out at 2199 West Isabella in Midland County. <br />
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Co-owners, Andrea Burton, Rhonda Krotzer, Laurie Krotzer and Ellen King recently started "An Antique Boutique" on December 2, 2017. With a love for seeing old pieces regain beauty and find a new purpose, these four lovely ladies have filled the old Chapin Feed Store on M-20 with beautiful items. A few people have walked through the door still thinking they will find feed but instead they take a step back in time. The eyes of those caught by surprise dance with joy for days gone by. One customer walked in and stated "whoa, where's the apples!" Well, the apples and carrots are gone, but the feed store is indeed not empty. <br />
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After bursting at the seems and gaining popularity as the "Farmhouse Finds" vendor at a large antique store in Shepherd, the owners knew it was time for a move and things fell together quickly. The group of women knew opening a store was something they all wanted to do long term and a great location on a main drag became available which sealed the deal. With the help of some special guys, Jim Krotzer, Rob Krotzer and Jerry Burton (Jerry they have very thankfully sited as their manager of facilities as well as inventory transportation), the place is freshened up and brimming with goodies! Laurie Krotzer said it all came together as "an answer to prayer" in perfect timing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wc3Rhvm1rOHadhGMJOq2OsHKzRJSlVxVNQVB4_vTyl9RgiyizpjvDCyIV7myWwBKPpLvmNKpg9Y318JghKm5PQhc018CbcPH9ORtrVKJHq-AeciKLfBCnePTTP7q3FTa9ERlVI1cIio/s1600/DSC_9827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wc3Rhvm1rOHadhGMJOq2OsHKzRJSlVxVNQVB4_vTyl9RgiyizpjvDCyIV7myWwBKPpLvmNKpg9Y318JghKm5PQhc018CbcPH9ORtrVKJHq-AeciKLfBCnePTTP7q3FTa9ERlVI1cIio/s640/DSC_9827.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Great buys abound in this happy little store, from larger antique pieces, like cabinets, dressers and farm tables, to old games and antique dolls. Along with these beautiful items, many crafted pieces are available as well. Featuring both whimsical and beautiful craftsmanship. Dealing in antiques and crafting is nothing new to this group of ladies who also hope to soon sell custom made furniture and offer refinishing of your own pieces from home. Andrea and Rhonda have each successfully ran two similar stores in the past. Krotzer's Kountry Krafts had a good successful run in the mid 80's. Rhonda Krotzer was even featured in the Midland Daily News in a series featuring successful woman business owners. In the late 90's Andrea Burton's "Primitive Blessings" also did great at bringing in the crowds to her 11 mile store with primitive items as well as weekend activities and featured artists and local talent.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogju8Ot26ydvqRTieWIZ7pZobpvp4tLxBq48nWbHXyh9dYDtJniw4vYSyOyUw3LI9U8xkvweHd7YZFs0eL9vMddkfYqhR2OvV_s3-4ptHOs6eP1m79PKwIL5KC8THLeoOiAaQ6sHsqNQ/s1600/DSC_9844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogju8Ot26ydvqRTieWIZ7pZobpvp4tLxBq48nWbHXyh9dYDtJniw4vYSyOyUw3LI9U8xkvweHd7YZFs0eL9vMddkfYqhR2OvV_s3-4ptHOs6eP1m79PKwIL5KC8THLeoOiAaQ6sHsqNQ/s400/DSC_9844.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Besides the unique vibe you get at this hidden diamond, you will also pick up on other qualities that make it unique. Along with quality antiques you will also find shabby chic items and primitives. For those well versed in antiquing it will be obvious that prices are kept low. The team at An Antique Boutique aims to carry one of a kind quality finds that are easy to attain at reasonable prices. They love the joy in customers eyes when they are able to purchase a piece they have always dreamed of. To the owners of this shop, it is more about theses joys than the profit. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3fqmXbjVsURLfEDflpR88DxZh1-EIxxPxJuFm1nUEDLEiKqBzJNy3RQu1lZxwsSkQVICCiLp_pnSZMze-Nycz3O-i3mI8fs3AJD-jJbFAW5KsyiGjnmh1rahu4kb6Fzg3agW1cGNwpg/s1600/DSC_9830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3fqmXbjVsURLfEDflpR88DxZh1-EIxxPxJuFm1nUEDLEiKqBzJNy3RQu1lZxwsSkQVICCiLp_pnSZMze-Nycz3O-i3mI8fs3AJD-jJbFAW5KsyiGjnmh1rahu4kb6Fzg3agW1cGNwpg/s640/DSC_9830.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtNR-T7ZgM9WDietMjYboPcROEETaIHidHX9tV1JP_IIIWygX13OU25GELcuD9jQ32FaZuQrhPmZQkMEXU4mPSmeXQxFSo4WbDA7ddiP8gnzOZqv90fmf-3wa9oHKz2kKPsGvdCOCj08/s1600/28468521_835300009990693_2147059921729355858_n+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtNR-T7ZgM9WDietMjYboPcROEETaIHidHX9tV1JP_IIIWygX13OU25GELcuD9jQ32FaZuQrhPmZQkMEXU4mPSmeXQxFSo4WbDA7ddiP8gnzOZqv90fmf-3wa9oHKz2kKPsGvdCOCj08/s320/28468521_835300009990693_2147059921729355858_n+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a>Along with their own wares, An Antique Boutique offers a space for vendors to sell their own specific items and there currently is vendor space available. This offers such variety throughout the store as each vendor has a different taste or specialty. Another feature not in a standard antique store is a small thrift shop. In a quaint corner room, you may be able to find an outfit, accessory, children's item or DVD you are sure to need, among other things in the ever changing selection. It's a great little corner to revisit often as the well priced, like new items move fast. <br />
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This great team of ladies and their vendors have a fun desire to create beauty out of pieces others might see as unredeemable. They like to bring out "unique qualities" in pieces that others might overlook. They restore pieces so people can see the useful beauty that is still there after a little TLC. Yet, this passion goes beyond "pieces", they also love to do the same in people. An Antique Boutique hosts monthly "Getting Crafty" sessions where individuals and groups can come together and learn to paint or craft. This is a fun time for groups to see their abilities. People who think they have no artistic gift often come to these events and leave realizing they also have unique qualities and abilities that they didn't realize were there. The team of ladies running the "Getting Crafty" sessions are encouraging and fun and make the time together joyful and not intimidating. These sessions are just what a person might need to be restored and refilled with some "me time".<br />
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To encourage other small business owners, the owners would say "believe in yourself, push past any red tape to make your dreams happen and don't get discouraged". These ladies contribute their success to God, prayer and giving back to the community. Profits from the business go toward buying seeds to aid in community gardens at Midland Missionary Church, and little free pantries in the community. An Antique Boutique has supplied the cabinets as well as the food in such pantries where people can come, no questions asked, and take food items they might need to get them through a tight time. It is inspiring to see a business pour out so much love. Just speaking with the ladies in the store it was so easy to see the love they have for people. They want to spread joy, meet needs and see people believe in themselves. Their desire to spread happiness and hope was contagious. <br />
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On these beautiful upcoming spring days when you get an urge for a drive with a little garage saling and antiquing, put An Antique Boutique on your list. Many garage sales pop up on M-20 and in the neighborhoods that connect to it. The 10 mile stretch from the city of Midland to An Antique Boutique is certainly doable for the die hards, as well as those that just want a little 10 minute drive to some good finds and even better people. An Antique Boutique is also hoping to feature out door flea markets soon. Keep an eye out for these fun events! <br />
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You can keep up to date with all that is going on by visiting this link to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/An-Antique-Boutique-779065802280781/">the "An Antique Boutique" Facebook page</a>. Be sure to like their page to get updates. Also you can reach An Antique Boutique by phone at 989-488-3612.<br />
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Take a drive and give this great shop a look, as well as a return visit or two. Each time you do, you are supporting your community and supporting a small business that cares about building up people and serving those around them. <br />
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An Antique Boutique is waiting for you and unique finds are calling your name. <br />
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Article Written By: Hope Krotzer<br />
Photography By: Amy Krotzer<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090368874423602632.post-28186747107346129932018-03-29T20:50:00.001-07:002018-03-30T11:45:03.449-07:00Picture Peddler Photography<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">“I tell my camera what
it is going to do. I don’t work for my camera; my camera works for me.” <span style="font-family: "calibri";"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I love to freeze time and memories forever.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– Amy Mudd</span></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">You rarely find those old souls who still believe in living
off the land. People full of joy, sincerity, wisdom, peace, laughter and know
how. Amy Mudd, owner of Picture Peddler Photography, is one of those amazing
finds, with a passion for looking at the beauty in simple things and seeing the
world for what it truly is. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In our current world we can so easily play photographer with
all our apps, cropping, filtering and photo shopping, but where has the true
artistry of photography really gone? It is certainly hard to know, when looking
for a good photographer, if you are getting someone who is self-taught and
hoping to give you good quality after hours of editing, or if you are truly
getting an artist with a gift and years of experience. I am convinced I have
found the latter in this phenomenal photographer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUAeAtSoKkA2FEKR8L_Sn0d_RObPKd4oDaXDUZVWqmEVX2xn8C2mLnuznlSAa1RroUYIZu1ifTmG17w9X84ERE43dKY_xEWYzfrzyKQy6v4jnuAu4zW-H9HxxZGAUOedINd9wRBl0dEo/s1600/28277166_10214962675762605_4050138449454961264_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="556" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUAeAtSoKkA2FEKR8L_Sn0d_RObPKd4oDaXDUZVWqmEVX2xn8C2mLnuznlSAa1RroUYIZu1ifTmG17w9X84ERE43dKY_xEWYzfrzyKQy6v4jnuAu4zW-H9HxxZGAUOedINd9wRBl0dEo/s200/28277166_10214962675762605_4050138449454961264_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Amy Mudd, a certified photographer with Professional Photographers of America, prides herself in what I would call, organic
photography. A manual photographer, who prefers working with natural light as
well as film, she believes a true photographer can make their camera do the
work, with little to no editing needed. Although she currently works with
digital photography most often, she plans to go back to her roots in film
again. The unique beauty of how portraits turn out is one value Amy sees in film
photography, with smoother color transitions and less of the hard lines that
digital photography presents at times. Mostly Amy is intrigued by the challenge
of capturing beautiful photos without instantly checking them on a digital
screen. She believes it reveals the truth about an artist’s true ability. This
is what makes Amy stand apart from other photographers. She can simply get back
to her studio and upload photos and not involve photo shopping and she uses
minimal editing. Also, she works with original ideas that come from her
artistic talent instead of relying on popular, often overused, online ideas. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Her organic look at life seems to permeate all she does. In
speaking with her, it’s evident that she is a woman of the earth who likes to
do things the way they were originally intended to be done. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her studio is in a primitive log cabin surrounded
by woods in west Midland county. It is filled with her own personal charm and ideas.
Besides photography, Amy is also gifted in drawing, painting and pastels, among
other art mediums. She often is creating artwork to donate to charities of her
choice. This “Picture Peddler” uses her talents to make a living, but she feels
that helping others comes first. She often is found helping others in her home
community of Bullock Creek in various ways. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Amy has been a portrait photographer for 20 years, covering engagements,
weddings, maternity, newborns, team photos, graduates and family photos. She
also has worked in the corporate setting very successfully. Although she truly enjoys every type of photography, weddings are her favorite.
She enjoys how fun weddings are, as well as the uniqueness of each family and
setting. Amy has a passion for capturing moments in time that families will
truly always cherish. She also loves helping others see the beauty that can be
captured in themselves. Making others feel good about who they are seems to be
Amy’s heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A strong proponent of small businesses, you will often find Amy
Mudd a patron of family owned operations before you find her in larger
franchises. She is fiercely loyal to the small business community. When asked
what she loves about owning a small business, she said she loves the freedom.
Amy has a free spirit which is easy to see and quite contagious. Running a
small business goes well with free-spirited people who are paired with a strong
desire to persevere. She encourages small business owners to not give up in the
pursuit of their dreams stating “it is worth doing what your passions are and
having control of your life”. It is worth fighting through the difficult and
slow seasons, in her opinion, in order to see dreams, become reality. She
contributes her success to having a good support system of family and friends,
great return customers, as well as a good flow of new customers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Amy is the type of person encouragement seeps out of. She
makes it her life’s purpose to lift others up, whether it is in her photography,
art work or her words and deeds. She enjoys encouraging and coming alongside
other photographers and teaching them more about their cameras and abilities.
She encourages them to learn their cameras and tap into their artistic eye
without going straight to an editing application. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Picture Peddler Photography has all you need in a passionate,
talented and highly skilled photographer. Amy is easy to work with and has a
huge heart for her community. Her God given talents serve the Midland community
well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Another highly skilled small business owner we are honored
to have in Midland County.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
You can see more of Amy's work on her Facebook page. <br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Picture-Peddler-Photography-1444282045880148/">https://www.facebook.com/Picture-Peddler-Photography-1444282045880148/</a><br />
Or contact her at 989-513-8945<br />
<br />
Written by Hope Krotzer<br />
Photography by Amy Mudd, Picture Peddler Photography <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8090368874423602632.post-24586561240849200592018-03-13T20:14:00.000-07:002018-03-14T08:15:01.940-07:00Cohoon's Elevator<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>“We want the customer to be the success story when they
leave here.” </em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>-Sheryl Cohoon</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As I stood at the counter at Cohoon’s Elevator, which is
underlain with pictures of history, trophy hunts, farm and wildlife photos of cherished customers, I felt like I melted right into a place back in
time. It certainly brought back childhood memories, but beyond that, it is simply
a place that each person that enters is treated like family. I felt it
immediately myself. Remember that hometown, familiar feeling? Well, you can’t always
get it at chain stores. Will our children even know what that’s like?
Taking them to Cohoon's certainly will secure that possibility. Aquarium after
aquarium will captivate children. The
wooden seed bins, the old scale, the walls full of pet treats and birdfeeders are all things captivating to the senses. Sheryl
remarked that often time her favorite thing to watch is a child's expression
when they enter the store because the sights and SMELLS both offer a sensory overload that they are not always prepared for. Children also love "Prancer", who
Tom’s Grandpa used when he sold saddles at the store. People could place their
saddles on Prancer before purchasing them, in order to check for a proper fit. Cohoon’s
does not sell saddles any longer, but Prancer continues in good fashion,
charming every child who notices him. And yes, kids really can sit on him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Walking into the store, one is surrounded by an array of
unique items. This store has wonderful character that you will not find in
comparison at any box store in town. Pet supplies literally up to the ceiling
and unique items for the bird lover abound. An impressive knowledge of gardening
and farming ooze out of Tom and Sheryl Cohoon, as well as their son Dan Hagen, who’s
work ethic seems to be a hopeful glimmer that Cohoon’s will continue into the 4<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
generation. As far as the physical aspects of the store, what always has captivated
me most, are the wooden bins full of seeds. This part of the store reverts
you automatically to a historic general store. A time before things were
prepackaged in factories and sent off to stores with looming isles and well
meaning, but often underqualified employees. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The Cohoon family is still successful because they take
tremendous care of their customers. They take time to listen to them and give
knowledgeable advice, and they also take time to lean on the counter and laugh
and share stories with them. It is obvious that customers are the backbone of
the business and never hurried out of the store. On a Friday mid-day when one
might think a small business would be slow, there was hardly a lull in the
customers coming in and out. Tom Cohoon had a kind greeting for each of
them and knew many of them, which was evident by such
comments as “hey, how are the pigs doing”. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">For those of us captivated by Midland County history, there
is quite a story to tell, and no doubt Tom can tell it better than anyone. The elevator started in 1929 by Tom’s grandfather
Dave Cohoon and his sons Dean and John. Originally the Elevator was on Ann Street downtown, back then
called “Midland Farmer's Elevator”. Dave raised his kids on a farm in West Branch
and the elevator was started likely due to a perceived basic need that this
farmer saw not too far off in Midland county. In the 1940’s Mr. Cohoon purchased "Laur’s
Elevator" which is where Cohoon’s Elevator currently sits. Right snug against
the railroad in its early days, Cohoon's faithfully received coal off the train to sell
to citizens, who back then primarily heated with it. At an angle across the
road, still sits the old depot. Still standing, but now boarded up, most Midland County residents don't even know the depot is still in existence. This is
truly a unique part of town that is often overlooked. Standing on the edge of Townsend you can almost
hear the stories of long ago bouncing off the buildings. Tom has priceless pictures of people standing at the depot
waiting for the train, photos of the original elevator as well as photos of family members who worked
together to keep Cohoon's Elevator going. After Dave Cohoon ran the elevator with his sons, it
eventually was placed in their hands and then handed down to Tom, who is currently keeping it running, and his Brother Steve who has since retired. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The original wooden elevator at the Townsend location burned
in the 1940’s and was replace with the current elevator that is still
functioning today. It indeed is not just a historical part of Midland… but it
still serves its purpose. The front part of the store is still original, the
back portion had been reconstructed after a fire in 1958. Such stories of
success mixed with loss should inspire fellow business owners. The Cohoon family is a true story of the blood, sweat and tears that go into small business ownership. They are an inspirational story that tells us that successful family businesses do not give up at the first sight of trouble, or competition for that matter. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9wpNhl68hbQqQkXT7RBMRMUWASJvRFPFQZkTnk_OjjpABC0UaK-j5mvS1E3fBLJcnzOSNI9QDg0u3FaKS4xRd7X_9oFnVnXgKSJN5jY8IRO_gPaTJm0STKInReuFNaJZhsbeA3z1crs/s1600/Cahoons2018-Cahoons2018-IMG_9336a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9wpNhl68hbQqQkXT7RBMRMUWASJvRFPFQZkTnk_OjjpABC0UaK-j5mvS1E3fBLJcnzOSNI9QDg0u3FaKS4xRd7X_9oFnVnXgKSJN5jY8IRO_gPaTJm0STKInReuFNaJZhsbeA3z1crs/s320/Cahoons2018-Cahoons2018-IMG_9336a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The long running success of the business is mainly due to staff caring
intentionally for the customer. They pride themselves in training their 5-8
employees to take time with customers and to do their best to answer their questions,
and be honest with them if they don’t have an answer at hand. Tom believes
customers know when a business is being honest or dishonest, and it is always
better to let a customer know when you have to find an answer instead of
pretending to know something you don't. Although I would have to say, the odd's of Tom, Sheryl or Dan not having an answer is pretty slim. Many of the seeds and feeds they sell are mixed and bagged fresh and on site. This is a rare thing to find these days and the guaranteed ingredients and freshness make stopping at Cohoon's a worthy trip. Tom will readily tell you, success of the business is also attributed to years of family
dedication and loyal repeat customers and he and Sheryl credit Dow for the success of not only theirs, but many other small businesses in the area saying there would really be no Midland otherwise<span style="font-family: "calibri";">. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Cohoon’s is not on a main drag in
Midland. Unfortunately it is surprising the amount of people who have not heard of this hidden treasure. Even with it’s towering elevator it can be easily missed. But word of
mouth of the astounding service through generations has kept it thriving. When
asked, Tom and Sheryl said one of the more difficult parts of being a small
business owner today is when people call or stop by for product advice, but
then go elsewhere, usually larger stores, for the very product they recommended, thinking they are getting a better deal when most often they are not. They mentioned partly due to them packaging
and producing many of the products right on sight, prices at Cohoon's are
comparable, if not lower, than large competitors. For the most part however, the
Cohoons believe a majority of customers are extremely loyal, and even those who are not,
they will treat them just as good. Although it’s discouraging when people seek advice and
leave to purchase at other locations, they are glad they could help with what
they could. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfVonwuTbRZnMikq9rF-k0KfZ-GUVrVNQz1jJnX0RVFweUB8Q2bUbFDjW6e1WavY_G11F9AOFFep_humhAeaxqQ4Fe9I08zLxPn6cOnGpo8JW36hIhhaQusOBIyjcZ53pGL7cOVnujJM/s1600/Cahoons2018-Cahoons2018-IMG_9300a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfVonwuTbRZnMikq9rF-k0KfZ-GUVrVNQz1jJnX0RVFweUB8Q2bUbFDjW6e1WavY_G11F9AOFFep_humhAeaxqQ4Fe9I08zLxPn6cOnGpo8JW36hIhhaQusOBIyjcZ53pGL7cOVnujJM/s320/Cahoons2018-Cahoons2018-IMG_9300a.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmveDPM5iv3QwfcyrZ7stSW7gjxgOa82G75Yb79yKFl7Tcp3QC-dkRZ44DtM6XvYb7sJObn6cJOEJVMKoZDyMCcFIHcCBqeMsppCrCSOB8i22wSI7aDy3OK3ITi5PcAplvuMJnFF5wHw/s1600/Cahoons2018-Cahoons2018-IMG_9332a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmveDPM5iv3QwfcyrZ7stSW7gjxgOa82G75Yb79yKFl7Tcp3QC-dkRZ44DtM6XvYb7sJObn6cJOEJVMKoZDyMCcFIHcCBqeMsppCrCSOB8i22wSI7aDy3OK3ITi5PcAplvuMJnFF5wHw/s320/Cahoons2018-Cahoons2018-IMG_9332a.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">When asked how he could encourage other small
business owners, Tom said three things. First of all “always take care of your
customer", be honest with them, and find them the answer and the product they need. Secondly, be aware of your own costs before you get going, too many
businesses now days rush into things without taking overhead into account.
Lastly, keep your prices fair. Tom laughed as he recalled a loyal customer that
once told him “You can take off the top of my pocket time and again, but you
will only take off the bottom of my pocket once”. That has stuck with him,
knowing customers will return for fair treatment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In a few weeks Cohoon’s will be brimming in activity, often
lined up to the door as gardeners and master gardeners grab theirs seed, plants, advice
and supplies, including a variety of organic seeds and heirloom plants. As mentioned, all the
feeds, seeds and plants are local. There is even a sunflower seed supplied from
Midland County itself. Tom and Sheryl try their best to work hard at supporting
local businesses to purchase their seeds and grain used for feeds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">You certainly must have the honor of standing at the Cohoon’s counter
too. You will not be sorry that you did. But if you want to peek before you
come in, you can find them at <a href="http://www.cohoonselevator.com/">www.cohoonselevator.com</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> o</span>r
call at 989-835-7724.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Also on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Cohoons-Elevator-116477431723817/">https://www.facebook.com/Cohoons-Elevator-116477431723817/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I highly recommend you support this small business. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">They are set apart by expert advice and fresh homemade and local products. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Take their
advice, then come in, shake a hand, enjoy the sights and smells, and BUY LOCAL.
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Written by Hope Krotzer</span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Photo Credit: Michelle Delzer</span></o:p></div>
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