Community News

By Alex Cash JTV Contributor Making the shift to state legislator came very naturally to Julie Alexander. Having a career as a farmer for 31 years as well as a teacher, she was used to habitually putting in seven days’ worth of work in a week. Being up early tending to farm responsibilities and staying up late grading papers, time spent working was nothing that Alexander shied away from.   Working hard is what she has continued to do in her 18 month stint as member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 64th District. With six months left in her first term in this office, she truly loves what she does. Her job is not a typical nine to five. As she answers the question of what she likes to do for fun, it is evident that service to her constituents is imparted on nearly everything that she does. “Recently I went out for dinner with my husband and another couple. The other couple was having some issues with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). That meant follow-up calls to the DEQ the next day.” Though Alexander has weekly office hours she serves her constituents wherever they are,…

By Alexandra Cash                                                              (Courtesy Photo) Staff Writer As temperatures are beginning to rise, students in Jackson County will be gearing up for spring break. With a week off from school, parents may be looking for interesting things to keep their child busy and entertained for the week of vacation. For those staying in Jackson, look no further than Funday’s Family Fun Café. April 2nd, marks the first year of business for Funday’s. Owners Jenny and Drew Cochran have enjoyed their first year of business and learned a lot this past year. “It's been fun, exciting, satisfying and overwhelming all at the same time! It's been a rollercoaster ride and we've been learning a ton about what works well, what doesn't, what we need to change and what we could add into the mix,” said Jenny. This spring break, Funday’s will be expecting lots of children excited to play. Their indoor play space is equipped with a 40-foot double decker play structure, special places for toddlers and babies, an artist’s corner,…

By Alex Cash                                             (Photo Courtesy of Dahlem) Staff Writer In the middle of a cold, harsh winter, images of spring can seem far into the distance. But, soon enough birds will be singing, trees will be green, and the fruits of the Earth will be growing again. Gardening can calm the nerves, quiet the mind, and provide a sense of accomplishment when growing something that is useful. However, gardening takes space, resources, and knowledge. If those aren’t available out your backdoor, consider the community gardens at the Dahlem Conservancy. For a $40 yearly membership fee gardeners can rent a 20 x 20 plot of land located on the site of the historic Wickwire Farm, 1427 Wickwire Road, on Dahlem’s property. Resources such as healthy soil, a deer and rabbit fence, water, hoses, hand tools and more are available as part of the rental fee. What’s more, is the knowledge and know-how brought by fellow gardeners in this communal space. Ben Dandrow, Executive Director of the Dahlem Conservancy, thinks this is an excellent community resource. “It gives people an opportunity…

By Alex Cash                 (Courtesy Photo) Staff Writer When children run around the grounds of YMCA Storer Camps, playing game of tag, they aren’t just having fun and getting exercise-they are learning about ecological systems. To play the game of Predator Prey, players take on the roles of squirrel, skunk, wolf and more; just like animals found within a specific ecosystem. When players tag or prey on other animals to get them out, they can see just how a food chain works. Later, they discuss how small changes in the ecosystem can have major effects. This is just one of the many activities that happen at YMCA Storer Camps in Napoleon where every year more than 13,000 students and teachers spend time in the great outdoors learning and having fun. The game of Predator Prey is an example of STEM-based outdoor education, which allows students to learn about science in a practical, hands-on way.   Recently, Storer received the opportunity to strengthen their STEM-based education by receiving a grant from the DTE Energy Foundation. The grant allowed the camp to create a new staff position; one that shows their dedication to staying in the…

By Alex Cash, JTV So far, it has been a confusing fall season. Hot one day, cold the next. Cold rain followed by high humidity. Nonetheless, fall is here.   Gary Beck, President of Beck’s Flower Shop and Gardens agrees. “We’ve had a strange fall. Normally we’ve had one or two freezes, leaves changing and dropping. But we are enjoying a nice long summer.” The odd weather we’ve been having effects what our plants do and what kind of plants we can buy.   Many of us have seen colorful hearty mums on people’s front steps, gardens, and porches mimicking the beautiful Michigan fall colors. Now is the time to get your potted mums to add that gorgeous color to your fall or Halloween themed home decoration. Though Gary says they are at the end of their growing season, it doesn’t mean you can’t get five weeks or so of enjoyment out of a potted one. To those among us who weren’t born with a green thumb, this may be all the gardening we are capable of.   Though fall is lovely, some of us might want to look forward past the winter to spring. Now is the time to…