The Maple Syrup Festival attracted nature-lovers young and old to observe how maple syrup is harvested from local trees. Held at the Fenner Nature Center, the festival included demonstrations in its Maple Grove, a book sale, face painting, crafts and the opportunity to purchase maple products as well as specialty nature items created by local artists. Community members were also invited to take part in guided bird walks and tree identification walks. Others took advantage of popcorn and maple syrup Read more [...]

A Chai Tea Date, complete with authentic Indian cuisine, music and decor, was hosted at the Turner-Dodge House. The public was invited to partake in traditional fare such as samosa, dhokla with chutney, and masala chai. For dessert, treats like carrot barfi and gulab jamun were served. Classical Indian music was performed by Nagraj Kota, who sang and played mood-enhancing melodies on an instrument known as the veena. Those in attendance were able to enjoy the tastes and sounds of India while learning Read more [...]

Professional and executive women dined while dawning dazzling cowboy hats at the Zonta Club of Lansing’s 2010 Inter City Dinner. Held at the Country Club of Lansing, the theme for the evening was “Denim and Diamonds — Headin’ West to San Antonio,” due to the fact that Zonta’s International Convention will be held in San Antonio, TX, this year. Zonta is a global organization that promotes the advancement of women and girls on local, national and international levels through service and Read more [...]

The MSU Pavilion was filled with hundreds of landscaping and remodeling exhibits during the Lansing Home & Garden Show, the largest expo of its kind in Mid-Michigan. Complete with a dozen beautifully crafted gardens, the show featured four free seminar stages and vendors focusing on construction, kitchens and baths, retail garden centers, pools, spas and other home services. A Standard Flower Show titled “Floral Fantasy — Fairy Tales & Fables” displayed a variety of floral designs, Read more [...]

TJ Coe and his team of supporters, TJ’s Thunder, held a dinner at Webberville’s Cultural Center in order to raise funds for children who suffer from arthritis, a disease that affects more than 10,000 children throughout Michigan. All of the proceeds from the evening went to the Arthritis Foundation for Juvenile Arthritis Prevention and Research. Family and friends from Webberville and the surrounding area attended the dinner in order to help the cause and support TJ and his family. Read more [...]

Irish melodies filled the All Saints Episcopal Church in East Lansing during a night of traditional Celtic music performed by renowned duo Suisan O’Rourke and Zig Zeitler. A second generation Irish American, O’Rourke’s vocals and guitar successfully blend her Irish and American roots together, creating a unique flavor that is complimented beautifully by her partner. With a background in blues and world music, Zeitler creates rhythms and melodies that he brings to life by playing the banjo, Read more [...]

It took years for Eaton Rapids resident Sandy Bailey-Bristol to come across the career that she would come to adore. Although she’s disappointed it took her so long to become an associate broker, she’s glad she finally did. “I look at it like this — I started this at a good time because our daughter had graduated from high school, and I needed something more to fill my time and jumped into real estate to fill my void,” said Bailey-Bristol. “And I just never really got bored with Read more [...]

With her knowledge, the proud owner of K2 Boutique is on a quest to make sure that the women who come into her store are confident and comfortable in the outfits that they walk out with, fixing one fashion faux pas at a time. “You have to dress the part if you want people to pay attention to you and respect you,” Myles said. A native of Lansing and mother of six, Myles is always running around; sometimes she barely has the time to cook a family dinner. Despite their differing schedules, Read more [...]

Without her hands, Barbara Hranilovich’s joys in life would change dramatically. “I like my hands in stuff: dirt, clay, knitting, dough, on the computer or piano keys,” said Hranilovich. “Everything is on the creative end.” The next thing Hranilovich wants to get her hands on is learning to play the French horn. Although she used to dabble with the guitar and banjo, currently she only plays the piano. “I like experimenting with different things and not knowing where I’m going,” Read more [...]

To have a friend, you have to be a friend. These are words that Diana Folleth believes in. Friends have been family for Folleth, who lost her husband Tom five years ago to brain and lung cancer, and is a breast cancer survivor of 13 years herself. “I feel truly blessed with the friends I have,” Folleth said. “When you lose a spouse of 43 years, you immediately think you are done; the couples you socialized with will no longer be interested in having you around. Not so. I still do a Read more [...]

Life coach. Career coach. Wellness coach. The world of professional coaching has “grown up” and exploded in both the personal realm and the business world. Ten years ago, the conversation was about what coaching is; today, the conversation leans more toward the training and experience of the coach and what results he or she has delivered. The leading global coaching organization, the International Coach Federation (ICF) has grown to 16,000 members since its inception 15 years ago. Six thousand Read more [...]

There are so many clichés when it comes to being beautiful. It’s in the “eye of the beholder” or it’s “only skin deep.” I say that no matter what is on the outside, it shouldn’t compare to what's on the inside. There are so many ways to show beauty in this world. I think it’s beautiful when I come to work and see people giving their best effort in everything they do. The initiative that separates someone from the next guy really is a beautiful trait. The person who accepts responsibility Read more [...]