Press Release – Free Events at Turkeyville

28 08 2009

From a Turkeyville USA press release….

Kids are back to school and the fun is at Turkeyville. With fall in the air, TUrkeyville is ready with free events and free parking. So it’s the perfect way to spend a day with the family.

Labor Day Weekend, September 5,6,7 is a three day Flea Market and Antique Show. Bargains and treasures are sure to be found at this holiday weekend. Saturday, Sunday, Monday with hours from 10 am to 5 pm.

Marshall hosts Historical Home Tours and at the same time Turkeyville is is celebrating the 43rd year of business with a Turkeyivlle history. Join us for a celebration with all kinds of stories, uniforms and memories from the beginnings of Turkeyville.

Coming up on September 19,20, the big Craft Show of the season. Over 150 crafters will be set up with lots of new crafts and traditional crafters with all of your favorites.

With the smell of Autumn in the air, you can walk the grounds and find great deals and enjoy all the colors of the season. So save the dates and stay up to date with us at http://www.turkeyville.com.

While at Turkeyville be sure to have a Turkey dinner and piece of homemade pie. Homemade ice cream is made fresh all the time and so is caramel corn. Fresh baked goods, and sweets are made daily in the bakery.

All events at Turkeyville will be from 10:00am to 5:00 pm from Saturday and Sunday. As always there is free parking, free admission. Please include this in any monthly listing of area happenings.


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Categories : Food News, Press Releases

Courtside Cafe

28 08 2009
  • 101 N. Washington Street
  • Owosso, MI 48867
  • (989) 720-8161
  • Website
  • Menu
The Courtside Cafe on Washington Street in Owosso.

The Courtside Cafe on Washington Street in Owosso.

J and I made a trip to Owosso to conduct a little business.  It took a little longer than we expected and J had to be back in Lansing to get work.  It was pushing noon by the time we were done and we wanted to grab lunch before heading home. 

I did a little research and found a sandwich shop in downtown Owosso. Since we were heading back that way, I put the address in the GPS to get us back to where we needed to be.  My hope was we could get in and get out pretty quickly because we were really pushing the time limit now. 

The Courtside Cafe is in downtown Owosso on the corner of Main and Washington Streets.  It’s a small corner building on a very busy intersection.  We actually couldn’t even find parking near the building.  We ended up having to park a block down and around the corner. 

The Courtside Cafe is not what I expected.  It’s actually a sit down restaurant with servers. I was just expecting a place to grab a sandwich from a counter.  There was a lunch counter and that’s where J and I headed.  We grabbed a server and asked if we could put in a carry-out order.  She said she’d be right back which gave us time to look over the menu. 

The food at the Courtside Cafe is what you expect from this kind of place.  There are a number of sandwiches listed by number on the menu.  There are some salads, soups, quesidila’s, and even some baked goods from Zingerman’s.  No deep fryer which means no fries.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Cafe, Michigan, Owosso, Restaurant, Reviews, Sandwiches

Press Release – Watch The Crosby Mint Farm Eviction

27 08 2009

So, this is  a pretty interesting press release from the Crosby Mint Farm.  There’s some important stuff in there about the business, but the very last paragraph invites you to the farm at 4:00 PM on Friday to watch the eviction.  Not sure what that means.

EVACUATION OF CROSBY MINT FARM, GATHERING FRIDAY AT 4:00PM, OWNER IS EVICTED FROM PROPERTY AT 5:00 PM
PUBLIC AND MEDIA INVITED 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
(MINT CITY, USA/St. Johns, MI) August 27, 2009
Eviction
Peppermint Jim Crosby, owner of the almost centennial, oldest operating mint farm in the United States received a writ of eviction, signed by Hon. Judge Tahvonen on Monday. The following day, Crosby received the notice of eviction to have all property and persons removed by Friday August 28th, at 5 pm, leaving four days for the entire farm evacuation. State and federal government offices have remained silent in supporting the preservation of a national landmark. A request for mediation between Greenstone Farm Credit Services and the Farm Service Agency (FSA), who backs the loans, has been sent by Crosby to Governor Granholm’s office, but no response is received thus far.
Evacuation
Friends and family are gathered at the farm, helping with the evacuation. Farm animals are displaced and homes are being sought for them. The Mint Store, extension of the Get Mint Trading Company is relocated and is fully operating; taking, processing and shipping orders as usual. Costumers can still order products online and through the 800 number. Jim Crosby has been offered a temporary home at an old vacant mint farm in the area.
There will be a foreclosure/eviction sale on Friday at the farm from 9:00AM – 4:00PM.

Right of Refusal
After the signing of the writ of eviction, a First Right of Refusal was issued to Peppermint Jim Crosby. This gives him 30 days to raise the value of $550.000 appraised by Greenstone Farm Credit Services this week. Crosby has faith that he will raise this amount and buy back his farm by the end of the 30 days.

Gathering Friday August 28 2009 4:00PM
Public and media are invited to come to the Crosby Mint Farm at 4:00 pm on Friday August 28th to witness the eviction at 5:00pm that afternoon.


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Categories : Food News, Michigan

Press Release – Burrito’s for $1 at Panchero’s

25 08 2009

From a Panchero’s Mexican Grill press release…..

PANCHERO’S WELCOMES BACK MICHIGAN STATE STUDENTS WITH DOLLAR BURRITOS

(EAST LANSING, Mich.)—Class schedule? Check. New wardrobe? Check. A full stomach and full wallet? Check and check, thanks to Panchero’s Mexican Grill, where locals can ring in a new Michigan State school year with dollar burritos from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on September 8th at 125 E. Grand River Ave.

The event, which this year will feature a 97.5 FM radio remote and free t-shirt giveaways, has been a staple of Michigan State students’ back-to-school routines for the past 17 years. According to Panchero’s founder Rodney Anderson, it’s just the company’s way of starting the academic year off on the right foot.

“Some people may not realize this but Panchero’s is not a concept with roots in the Southwest: It is and always has been truly homegrown right here in Michigan and our dollar burrito event is just one way for us to thank the people that helped us to get to where we are today,” said Anderson. “We know everyone, especially college students, is trying to save money wherever they can and we’re helping them to do just that without sacrificing the taste they’ve come to know and love at Panchero’s.”


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Categories : East Lansing, Michigan, Press Releases

Press Release – Crosby Mint Farm To Be Evacuated Immediately

25 08 2009

The following comes from a Crosby Mint Farm press release…

JUDGE SIGNS EVICTION NOTICE, CROSBY MINT FARM TO BE EVACUATED IMMEDIATELY.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
(MINT CITY, USA/St. Johns, MI) August 24, 2009. 29th Judicial Circuit Court Judge, the Hon. Randy L. Tahvonen signed an order this afternoon to allow the eviction of Peppermint Jim Crosby from his property known as The Crosby Mint Farm. Neither the Crosbys nor their attorney were aware that the hearing was scheduled to be held this afternoon and was most unexpected. There had been no motion of hearing sent out, the Crosbys and their attorney found out about the scheduled hearing this morning while personally filing an objection with the court to the Writ of Eviction that was filed last Thursday by Greenstone Farm Credit Services.

Eviction
The Crosby Mint Farm has been in foreclosure for a year and was unable to raise the $330,000 needed to redeem the property back from Greenstone Farm Credit Services by August 14th 2009. Before an eviction takes place, the owners have the right to refuse and, according to Greenstone, should be receiving a 30 day Right of Refusal with the price set by Greenstone. However, since judge Tehvonen signed the eviction notice, this goes into immediate effect before the Crosbys receive their 30 days to raise the money to buy back the property before it will be auctioned off and processed by the bank. The latter has yet to step forward and appraise the farm with a set amount.

Government support
Peppermint Jim Crosby states that even with the series of events that have occurred, he will keep supporting and helping the local Michigan businesses he has been working with through the Get Mint Trading Company. He will continue the fight for farm preservation with the company’s growing costumer base, because of all the support he and his family have received since the beginning of this foreclosure process. “There is no need to liquidate this farm”, he proclaims.
Lack of support from the state and federal government demonstrates a true injustice towards the small American farm. Senator Debbie Stabenow’s office was contacted in 2007, but the promised follow up did not come until 2008, when Jim Crosby received a form letter. The letter stated that there were no violations by the Farm Service Agency, which is contradictory to the borrower rights for restructuring and mediation. Other offices that were contacted in 2008, were Senator Crospsey’s, Congressman Rogers’ and Congressman Levin’s, and Senator Garcia’s. The responses that came back were that the situation is “unfortunate”. “As a constituent of these leaders I am disappointed that I have to talk them into supporting and acknowledging us and the value of the farm to Michigan,” Crosby states. “I am not asking for a bail-out, just the time and opportunity to restructure and grow the business to preserve the farm.”
In the mean time, the business, the Get Mint Trading Company remains in operation. Orders are still coming in over the phone and through the website and they are being processed and shipped to costumers throughout the nation.


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Categories : Michigan, Press Releases, St. Johns

Legislator Wants Local Governments To Be Able to Ban Smoking

25 08 2009

It’s been a while since I’ve written about the smoking ban.  The big reason is because there’s been no movement on the statewide bill which I completely support and would rather see a ban including casinos.  There’s 14 months left in the current legislative session and most insiders don’t expect it to get any farther than it already is.

This week, Rep. Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard) is trying to introduce a bill that would allow local governments (ie. cities, villages, counties, townships, etc) to enact bans in their jurisdictions. 

A bill sponsored by Rep. Gary McDowell, D-Rudyard, would let each county, city, township and village decide if people can smoke in local bars and restaurants. Courts have said Michigan law allows only the Legislature to ban smoking in food establishments.

McDowell said that should be changed because he does not think lawmakers will pass a ban on their own.

“It’ll bring the debate back home, to every township and city hall,” McDowell said in an interview. “Once one community does it, it’ll start to spread across the state. It’s hard to imagine which community in Michigan would want the notoriety of being the last to allow smoking in the workplace.”

It’s not a unique move.  Most states that ban smoking do so after a number of municipalities enact local bans.  Again, my experience is with the Illinois ban.  I know several communities banned smoking before the statewide ban went into effect.  Some refused to enact a local ban preferring a statewide ban.  

I’m not a fan of these types of bans.  Especially in a city like Lansing.  You would really need Lansing, Lansing Township, Delta Township, East Lansing, and Okemos to work together and pass a ban.  All of the studies the anti-smoking ban groups use are from these local bans…not statewide bans.  I mean, yeah, if you could drive a few blocks and be able to smoke in a bar, you probably would. 

I know it sounds big brother-ish, but smoking is an issue that the government should be involved with.  You’re not just effecting your own life, you’re altering everyone’s life around you.


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Categories : Michigan, Politics

End of an Era for Crosby Mint Farm

25 08 2009

It’s a sad day in St. John.  Via WLNS

A local farmer is forced to walk away from his property. Jim Crosby says and he and his family are packing whatever they can. A Clinton County judge signed formal paperwork which forces the Crosby family to leave their mint farm for good.


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Sophia’s House of Pancakes

24 08 2009
  • 1010 Charlevoix Drive
  • Grand Ledge, MI 48837
  • (517) 627-3222
  • No Known Website
  • Menu
Sophias House of Pancakes just off M-43 in Grand Ledge.

Sophia's House of Pancakes just off M-43 in Grand Ledge.

Ah….lazy Sunday’s.  We didn’t have much to do other than grocery shop, so there wasn’t any hurry to get moving in the morning.  We needed to make a trip to Walmart and Horrocks, so I thought it was time to finally try a place in Grand Ledge that has been recommended several times in the past.

Sophia’s House of Pancakes is right on the edge of town if you’re coming from Lansing on M-43.  Even though we didn’t get there until a little before one o’clock, the parking lot was packed.  There was just one spot left which I beat another car to.  I figured a packed parking lot at one o’clock was probably a pretty good sign.

When we got inside, we found a short wait for a table.  The entire restaurant was hopping.  There was a group of seven waiting and another couple.  The couple was seated first then we got the next smaller table that opened up.  They had a lot of seating for two, but seating for large groups was limited which seemed weird to me at a place like this.  Sophia’s is definitely one of those places you take the whole family after church. 

We were taken to a table for three near the back of the restaurant.  There are a lot of booths, but not many tables.  J and I got what was probably one of the few tables that were not intended for large groups.  We started looking over the big menu and looking around us to see what everyone else was eating.  Everything that came out of the kitchen looked delicious and most of it was still breakfast.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : breakfast, Grand Ledge, Local Flavor, Michigan, Restaurant, Reviews

Sonic Drive-In – Birch Run

23 08 2009
  • 8650 Main Street
  • Birch Run, MI 48415
  • (989) 624-4700
  • Website
  • Menu
Sonic Drive In on Main Street in Birch Run.

Sonic Drive In on Main Street in Birch Run.

A few weeks ago, I put up a press release about Sonic opening a store in Birch Run.  I knew it was just a matter of time before we would find an excuse to make the trip east.

The Sonic in Birch Run is the chain’s fifth Michigan store.  It’s located on Main Street in front of the Prime Outlets.  You can see it as soon as you get off the Interstate.  The store has an exit and entrance from Main Street which was actually closed off when we first went by because of a lot of traffic, but most people will actually enter off Beyer Road in the back. 

When we took a trip to Flint just a few weeks after the Sonic opening there, we actually had to wait in a line to get a stall.  I assumed the same thing would happen in Birch Run.

We finally made our way to Sonic a little before six o’clock.  The main entrance is accessible from Beyer Road.  Since we were coming from the Outlet Mall, we were already close.  We pulled in to the drive way and I noticed a stall right away.  Instead of having two rows of stalls on one side of the building, they have one row on either side of the building.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Birch Run, Chains, Fast Food, Michigan, Restaurant, Reviews

Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland

22 08 2009
  • 25 Christmas Lane
  • Frankenmuth, MI 48734
  • (989) 652-9931
  • Website
Bronners CHRISTmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth

Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth

Christmas has always been a pretty big deal in my house.  It’s the one holiday where I do whatever is humanly possible to get home for.  We’re not a super religious family, but Christmas has kind of been that one holiday where we actually have tradition and everyone is a little reluctant to change it. 

Last fall, my parents came to visit over the Labor Day weekend.   On their way here, they saw signs for Bronner’s on I-94 and asked how far it was.  Since it’s only a little over an hour or so, J and I decided to take them.  They loved it.  They could have spent hours looking at everything.  Last Christmas was my parent’s first as grandparents, so they bought a lot of “Baby’s First Christmas” and “Grandparents First Christmas” ornaments.  J and I were a little bored.  The store was neat, but we didn’t need to spend as much time there as we did. 

Since we’re getting married this year, J wanted to get some ornaments that not only commemorated our first Christmas as a married couple but also something to remind us of Michigan should we ever decide to leave.  We decided to make a day of it and so some shopping in Birch Run and check out a few restaurants after our trip to Frankenmuth. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Frankenmuth, Michigan

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