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Ch-ch-changes in Charlotte area businesses, locations just this year
Joanne Williams Editor (Photo by Joanne Williams/TCJ: Once Mike’s Automotive, then home to Eaton...
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The signs do not reflect the times in Olivet – just yet
Joanne Williams Editor (photo by Joanne Williams/TCJ) What do you want to see in the new year? For...
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Eaton County
Eaton County
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Annual Charlotte Nordic Festival continues to add Viking flare
Joanne Williams Editor (Photo provided: There is a reason it is called the Michigan Nordic FIRE...
Eaton County
Featured Story
Annual Charlotte Nordic Festival continues to add Viking flare
Joanne Williams
Editor
(Photo provided: There is a reason it is called the Michigan Nordic FIRE Festival. The fires help entertain as well as ward off some of the chill.)
There are about a dozen recognized Nordic and Viking festivals in the country, and among the top three, rated online by Google AI are the Norsk Hosfest in North Dakota, the Decorah Nordic Festival in Iowa, and the Michigan Nordic Fire Festival in Charlotte.
Eleven years ago, did festival planners see this coming?
“I am over my shock and awe,” said festival Executive Director Bryan Myrkle.“We had no reason to think this thing was going to work out.”
But, by year three, and a move to a bigger venue, he and original organizers William SaintAmour and Tim “Thor” McCumber had no worries.
“I am happy for the community,” said Myrkle, who worked for about 25 years for the City of Charlotte before moving on to become village manager of Paw Paw in 2024.
The event, now held at the Eaton County Fairgrounds, brings in thousands of visitors in what would normally be a winter devoid of big community festivities.
Charlotte residents only have themselves to blame, and congratulate, for the popularity of this weekend. Fifteen years ago, a community survey (coordinated by SaintAmour) asked what kind of winter festival folks wanted to see. Myrkle said it could have been ice skating, but, thanks to the entertainment and media popularity of all things Viking, this theme was recommended and embraced.
“It’s a lot of fun to put on, and a lot of work,” said Myrkle, which is why true Viking enthusiasts such as McCumber are vital to the event’s planning and growth.
This year, February 27, 28, and March 1, will see the most Viking reenactors ever, said Myrkle. New and returning favorite bands and games, as well as merchandise, food and drink (think mead), and a costume contest are some of the other offerings.
More than 80 vendors, food and beverages spots and a packed activity schedule make this festival popular, even in the mud and snow. Patrons are warned about the weather. It sort of sets the Norse scene. This is a ticketed event.
A popular activity is the ship burning, set for Friday, February 27 at 7 p.m. to open the weekend festival. Fairgrounds open at 5 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.
This year’s symbol is Jormungander, the Midgard Serpent or Great Monster. It is quite the impressive foe. To “bookend” the festival on Sunday, Myrkle said there will be a Yule Bock (Goat) burning (a wooden structure). The complete schedule is on an extensive website – michigannordicfirefestival.com.
There is no parking on the Eaton County Fairgrounds. Shuttles will run from The Beach Market downtown as well as Parkview Elementary School off Cochran and Kalamo. There is also a call for volunteers. For information, email mnffvolunteers@gmail.com.
Charlotte
Charlotte
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Saturday morning ‘help others’ event produces more than 330 lunches, aid for the homeless, those in need
Joanne Williams Editor (Photo by Joanne Williamd/TCJ: Missy Smith (right) and more than 30...
Charlotte
Featured Story
Saturday morning ‘help others’ event produces more than 330 lunches, aid for the homeless, those in need
Joanne Williams
Editor
(Photo by Joanne Williamd/TCJ: Missy Smith (right) and more than 30 volunteers assembled more than 330 bag lunches for the homeless in the area. The effort brought donations in from as far as Flint.)
It all started with a Facebook event post – “Badge’s Pack a Lunch for His Homeless Homies.”
It turned into more than 30 people gathered in the Courthouse Square Museum in Charlotte packing lunches and other essentials for the homeless in Eaton County and Lansing.
Missy Smith, owner and operator of a local hair salon, posted the event, not knowing what the response would be to the January 31 project.
“I hoped we would get a lot of donations, but I didn’t think we’d get this much,” she said. At the end of the day, more than 330 lunches were packed for delivery, as well as coats, hats, hand warmers and other necessities for those without a home. Evelyn Bay donated ham for sandwiches, too, and the Courthouse Square Museum opened the space free for use.
An assembly line built peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, while others assembled paper bags full of other treats, from candy to bottled water.
Smith, along with her husband William, are no strangers to lending a helping hand. She regularly gathers items at her salon to donate to others, and on February 8, she and others will host a free soup and sandwich luncheon from 1 to 4 p.m. at the American Legion Post 42, 1000 W. Lawrence Ave., in Charlotte.
Carrie Smith (no relation) is another local willing to lend a hand. She learned about children attending Charlotte schools living in cars with their families. She began to gather items to donate to help. “You should see my spare bedroom,” she said. She also keeps an eye on the wooden food pantry on Lansing Road near Beacon Auto Sales. She sometimes brings hot food there, she said. She would be bringing items from the event there that day, too.
Big Badge V has made it his mission to help others. A formidable presence himself, he travels around Lansing to feed the homeless, wherever they are. He spent hours Saturday handing out the donated goods. He does the same thing three or four nights a week after work.
He wrote on Facebook about the Saturday event, “Thanks to a group of incredible people from my hometown that worked together as ONE, these folks got some full bellies last night!”
There are no official shelters in the Charlotte area, and few tolerant warming centers. People such as Missy, Carrie, Badge, and about 40 others noticed and did something, something anthropologist Margaret Mead foresaw: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
———–
Clarification
In the February 7 edition of The County Journal, inaccurate information was presented in the story “Saturday morning ‘help others’ event.”
The story said there are no official shelters in the Charlotte area. Siren/Eaton Shelter is the homeless/domestic violence shelter for all of Eaton County and primarily located in Charlotte. The shelter provides emergency housing for homeless families in Eaton County.
The event, which provided food, brought it to unhoused people in Eaton and Ingham counties.
Two services now occupy the 520 Robinson Street address – SIREN/Eaton Shelter and the Eaton Clothing and Furniture Center. Both organizations are accepting donations but do have guidelines. Call SIREN at 517-543-0748 to find out its policies.
Olivet
Olivet
Latest
Ch-ch-changes in Charlotte area businesses, locations just this year
Joanne Williams Editor (Photo by Joanne Williams/TCJ: Once Mike’s Automotive, then home to Eaton...
Olivet
Featured Story
Ch-ch-changes in Charlotte area businesses, locations just this year
Joanne Williams
Editor
(Photo by Joanne Williams/TCJ: Once Mike’s Automotive, then home to Eaton Clothing and Furniture Center, now a business hub, anchored by Valhalla Value and Liquidations, 135 S. Washington St., Charlotte.)
Who cares what Punxsutawney Phil says about winter! Dairy Queen opens Saturday, February 7 in Charlotte.
And there is a lot going on in the surrounding area in terms of small business news.
Dan Riedy retires with a farewell party on February 8 at Riedy’s, 219 S. Cochran. The restaurant closes its doors after 46 years – once with three locations.
B’s Artistic Studio is now in downtown Charlotte at 111 W. Lovett. The move took place just after the holidays.
Bella Grande clothing and more consignment boutique closes in March after almost two decades of success. Until the doors are locked, there are sales and deals inside 227 S. Cochran. Current owner Angel Fulkerson took over from founder Betsy Smith and has created lasting relationships with customers and consignment providers.
Deadtime Stories: The Sequel, opened in the Courthouse Square Museum in June 2025. Despite being open during festivals and concerts, there was not enough traffic for it to remain. The store closed before the new year, but the original Deadtime Stories flourishes in Lansing.
There is a new director at the Eaton County Humane Society Danielle Constant, who was recently a manager at the Northland Animal Hospital in Rockford.
The former Soldan’s pet supply, recently sold to Feeders Pet Supply, closed at the end of October 2025 in the Charlotte Plaza. A former manager wrote on Facebook that the staff was great, sales were underperforming, costs of brick and mortar were a factor, and other Soldan locations remain open.
Yes, it’s true, the former Reflections store at 129 S. Cochran is now Vikings’ Edge, an axe-throwing venue. Sneak a peek during the Wine Walk on February 12 (tickets required), or wait for the opening, February 27. As the Wood Turns owner John Laupp and neighbor from the Groomery, Capri Brown Dixon, are owners. Six lanes and unique designs are featured.
Richard’s Appliance, a mainstay in Charlotte at 630 W. Lawrence Ave., since 1983, is now Morton’s Appliance, offering appliance sales and repairs. Longtime owners Robin and Janice Richards retired and sold the building to Brad and Terri Morton.
The Riverside Café, a grand community spot, has been closed for about a year in Bellevue. Asking price is $300,000 for a spot by the riverside.
The former Bellevue Car Wash is now Steph’s Buff and Wash, and since owners Justin and Stephanie Keiffer took over in November 2025, changes and upgrades have been in progress.
It is hard to believe the transformation of the Windwalker Gallery front on 125 S. Cochran in Charlotte. Once an art, design and musical showplace, the Marketplace Studio Gallery is chocked with an eclectic mix of items from local folks, from herbs to clothing, mugs to jewelry. The back is still set up with a piano and stage and has been used for musical events. The Windwalker Antiques and Underground Gallery was started by the late Richard Turbin and his son, Rick, in 2012 and operated as such until Richard died in 2024.
Also a part of the Marketplace is The Corner Market and Pantry, moving in from just down the road from its former location at Lovett and Cochran.
Seasonal Inspirations was a charming gift shop and community support for Olivet. Jamie Kita was the owner and operator, as well as one time Olivet Chamber of Commerce president. Ill health has forced her to close her shop.
When one business leaves a building, another moves right in. That’s the prosperity of the WestEnd Hub in Charlotte. Natural Journey to Health moved in with Agape Salon on Lawrence Avenue, leaving space for the newest West End Hub occupant, RK’s Unique Boutique to move right in at 517 W. Lovett. The shop should be up and running soon, says owner Randi-Kay Stine.
And still more moves in the West End, where Valhalla Value and Liquidations, which has done nothing but grown since its beginnings about four years ago, moves to 135 S. Washington, as Eaton Clothing and Furniture moves out and into space on 520 S. Robinson St., next to SIREN/Eaton Shelter.
Valhalla will not be alone in the budling as it is large enough to house multiple businesses, many fostered under Valhalla’s roof.
Bellevue
Bellevue
Latest
Ch-ch-changes in Charlotte area businesses, locations just this year
Joanne Williams Editor (Photo by Joanne Williams/TCJ: Once Mike’s Automotive, then home to Eaton...
Bellevue
Featured Story
Ch-ch-changes in Charlotte area businesses, locations just this year
Joanne Williams
Editor
(Photo by Joanne Williams/TCJ: Once Mike’s Automotive, then home to Eaton Clothing and Furniture Center, now a business hub, anchored by Valhalla Value and Liquidations, 135 S. Washington St., Charlotte.)
Who cares what Punxsutawney Phil says about winter! Dairy Queen opens Saturday, February 7 in Charlotte.
And there is a lot going on in the surrounding area in terms of small business news.
Dan Riedy retires with a farewell party on February 8 at Riedy’s, 219 S. Cochran. The restaurant closes its doors after 46 years – once with three locations.
B’s Artistic Studio is now in downtown Charlotte at 111 W. Lovett. The move took place just after the holidays.
Bella Grande clothing and more consignment boutique closes in March after almost two decades of success. Until the doors are locked, there are sales and deals inside 227 S. Cochran. Current owner Angel Fulkerson took over from founder Betsy Smith and has created lasting relationships with customers and consignment providers.
Deadtime Stories: The Sequel, opened in the Courthouse Square Museum in June 2025. Despite being open during festivals and concerts, there was not enough traffic for it to remain. The store closed before the new year, but the original Deadtime Stories flourishes in Lansing.
There is a new director at the Eaton County Humane Society Danielle Constant, who was recently a manager at the Northland Animal Hospital in Rockford.
The former Soldan’s pet supply, recently sold to Feeders Pet Supply, closed at the end of October 2025 in the Charlotte Plaza. A former manager wrote on Facebook that the staff was great, sales were underperforming, costs of brick and mortar were a factor, and other Soldan locations remain open.
Yes, it’s true, the former Reflections store at 129 S. Cochran is now Vikings’ Edge, an axe-throwing venue. Sneak a peek during the Wine Walk on February 12 (tickets required), or wait for the opening, February 27. As the Wood Turns owner John Laupp and neighbor from the Groomery, Capri Brown Dixon, are owners. Six lanes and unique designs are featured.
Richard’s Appliance, a mainstay in Charlotte at 630 W. Lawrence Ave., since 1983, is now Morton’s Appliance, offering appliance sales and repairs. Longtime owners Robin and Janice Richards retired and sold the building to Brad and Terri Morton.
The Riverside Café, a grand community spot, has been closed for about a year in Bellevue. Asking price is $300,000 for a spot by the riverside.
The former Bellevue Car Wash is now Steph’s Buff and Wash, and since owners Justin and Stephanie Keiffer took over in November 2025, changes and upgrades have been in progress.
It is hard to believe the transformation of the Windwalker Gallery front on 125 S. Cochran in Charlotte. Once an art, design and musical showplace, the Marketplace Studio Gallery is chocked with an eclectic mix of items from local folks, from herbs to clothing, mugs to jewelry. The back is still set up with a piano and stage and has been used for musical events. The Windwalker Antiques and Underground Gallery was started by the late Richard Turbin and his son, Rick, in 2012 and operated as such until Richard died in 2024.
Also a part of the Marketplace is The Corner Market and Pantry, moving in from just down the road from its former location at Lovett and Cochran.
Seasonal Inspirations was a charming gift shop and community support for Olivet. Jamie Kita was the owner and operator, as well as one time Olivet Chamber of Commerce president. Ill health has forced her to close her shop.
When one business leaves a building, another moves right in. That’s the prosperity of the WestEnd Hub in Charlotte. Natural Journey to Health moved in with Agape Salon on Lawrence Avenue, leaving space for the newest West End Hub occupant, RK’s Unique Boutique to move right in at 517 W. Lovett. The shop should be up and running soon, says owner Randi-Kay Stine.
And still more moves in the West End, where Valhalla Value and Liquidations, which has done nothing but grown since its beginnings about four years ago, moves to 135 S. Washington, as Eaton Clothing and Furniture moves out and into space on 520 S. Robinson St., next to SIREN/Eaton Shelter.
Valhalla will not be alone in the budling as it is large enough to house multiple businesses, many fostered under Valhalla’s roof.
Vermontville
Vermontville
Latest
Recycle, reuse holiday items, including the tree, live garland
Joanne Williams Editor (Photo by Joanne Williams/FAN – Check with local recycling centers...
Vermontville
Featured Story
Recycle, reuse holiday items, including the tree, live garland
Joanne Williams
Editor
(Photo by Joanne Williams/FAN – Check with local recycling centers and tree farms, even zoos and animal rescues to recycle live Christmas trees.)
There is nothing sadder than seeing a Christmas tree abandoned on the side of the road. It has been stripped of its former beauty and laid bare, without purpose or trim.
Yet live Christmas trees still have so much to offer.
Numerous recycling centers will accept them – check with yours! Grand Ledge, Delta Township and Sunfield will do so.
If you are handy, you can chip your tree and use it for mulch.
If you love wildlife, mammals and even fish find use for the nutrients and cover of a fir. Some zoos and animal rescue organizations accept them, too.
You can also check with local tree farms. They may also use them to produce mulch.
For Eaton Rapids residents, according to Granger Waste Service, “Thanks to initiative taken by the City of Eaton Rapids, Granger and the City of Eaton Rapids have an agreement to help you RECYCLE MORE. Each resident of Eaton Rapids who has Granger trash service is eligible for street-side recycling at no additional cost. That’s right—you can have recycling collected at your house for no additional fee, just for being a Granger trash customer and living in the city limits of Eaton Rapids.”
And it’s not just recycling time for trees. Non-working string lights are also being recycled at Olivet, Sunfield and other locations through January. Be sure to check with your local recycling center and be aware of holiday hours as well.
Unfortunately, much of the gift wrap used to decorate presents and such is not recyclable. If you are in doubt, check with your local recycling center. If the paper is coated, decorated, or shiny, it will have to go in the garbage.
In Olivet, the town recycling center on Butterfield Highway, just west of the city, now has new hours for residents – Wednesdays, 2 to 6 p.m. No more morning times. The city also has a composting site available for residents, where trees, grass, yard waste and leaves may be deposited, also on Butterfield Highway, to the east of Main Street.
Potterville
Potterville
Latest
Recycle, reuse holiday items, including the tree, live garland
Joanne Williams Editor (Photo by Joanne Williams/FAN – Check with local recycling centers...
Potterville
Featured Story
Recycle, reuse holiday items, including the tree, live garland
Joanne Williams
Editor
(Photo by Joanne Williams/FAN – Check with local recycling centers and tree farms, even zoos and animal rescues to recycle live Christmas trees.)
There is nothing sadder than seeing a Christmas tree abandoned on the side of the road. It has been stripped of its former beauty and laid bare, without purpose or trim.
Yet live Christmas trees still have so much to offer.
Numerous recycling centers will accept them – check with yours! Grand Ledge, Delta Township and Sunfield will do so.
If you are handy, you can chip your tree and use it for mulch.
If you love wildlife, mammals and even fish find use for the nutrients and cover of a fir. Some zoos and animal rescue organizations accept them, too.
You can also check with local tree farms. They may also use them to produce mulch.
For Eaton Rapids residents, according to Granger Waste Service, “Thanks to initiative taken by the City of Eaton Rapids, Granger and the City of Eaton Rapids have an agreement to help you RECYCLE MORE. Each resident of Eaton Rapids who has Granger trash service is eligible for street-side recycling at no additional cost. That’s right—you can have recycling collected at your house for no additional fee, just for being a Granger trash customer and living in the city limits of Eaton Rapids.”
And it’s not just recycling time for trees. Non-working string lights are also being recycled at Olivet, Sunfield and other locations through January. Be sure to check with your local recycling center and be aware of holiday hours as well.
Unfortunately, much of the gift wrap used to decorate presents and such is not recyclable. If you are in doubt, check with your local recycling center. If the paper is coated, decorated, or shiny, it will have to go in the garbage.
In Olivet, the town recycling center on Butterfield Highway, just west of the city, now has new hours for residents – Wednesdays, 2 to 6 p.m. No more morning times. The city also has a composting site available for residents, where trees, grass, yard waste and leaves may be deposited, also on Butterfield Highway, to the east of Main Street.
Eaton Rapids
Eaton Rapids
Latest
Eaton Rapids’ old? Yes. Historic? YES!
Deb Malewski Contributing Writer (Deb Malewski/FAN: This is the old Daniel Gould Home (1850s) and...
Eaton Rapids
Featured Story
Eaton Rapids’ old? Yes. Historic? YES!
Deb Malewski
Contributing Writer
(Deb Malewski/FAN: This is the old Daniel Gould Home (1850s) and was the first brick house in Eaton Rapids. It was also the site of the first schoolhouse (1840-53) and was the home of Dr. Charles Stimson.)
Last November, representatives from the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) walked the streets of downtown Eaton Rapids, taking in the Island City Historic District, an area officially recognized on the National Register of Historic Places in August 2012. Their visit was more than a tour; it was an opportunity to see the town as a layered place where history still quietly shapes daily life.
The Island City Historic District encompasses nearly the entire downtown island, framed by the Grand River and the mill races that once powered its growth. This is the heart of Eaton Rapids, where commerce, industry, institutions, and homes have long converged. Yet the story does not stop at the district’s borders. Surrounding neighborhoods, many just as historic, hold their own narratives; and those stories that deepen the character of the community and remind us that history rarely fits neatly within mapped lines.
Knowing local history helps explain not only how Eaton Rapids came to be, but why it feels the way it does today. It tells us why the Grand River mattered, how streets like Montgomery, Knight, and Hamlin earned their names, and why certain industries and traditions took root here. That knowledge gives shape to identity. When we understand the lives of those who worked, struggled, and built this place before us, the town becomes more than a collection of buildings. It becomes a shared inheritance, and neighbors become part of a larger, connected story.
That story continues in very real ways. Eaton Rapids is home to the great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren of its earliest residents. You might pass the descendant of a Civil War soldier on the sidewalk without ever knowing it. George, who waves to passersby downtown, is the great-great-grandson of Albert, who served in the Civil War, just as Mayor Pam Colestock’s ancestor, Charles, did. Many residents can trace their family roots back to the 1800s; some are even connected to the town’s original settlers.
Ken Nicholas, vice president of the Eaton Rapids Area Historical Society and a lifelong resident, sees local history as a foundation, one that helps people understand where they are headed by knowing where they have been. The past, he believes, offers perspective and possibility.
Retired Eaton Rapids Public Schools superintendent Bill DeFrance finds that history is never far from view. He and his wife live in one of the city’s historic homes and appreciate how the past remains woven into everyday life. “It’s fun to walk around and see interesting homes and buildings,” he said. “We love looking at historic houses and the downtown business district, especially with the façade work taking place.”
For Rick Loftus, a recent transplant from New York City, Eaton Rapids offers something increasingly rare: continuity. “It means people sitting in a Main Street coffee shop admiring historical photos on display, then stepping outside to see that the profile of the buildings is much the same today,” he said. “The town is growing, the awnings sometimes change, but respect for our predecessors, those who made Eaton Rapids, is everywhere. Where the past, the present, and the future meet, there is a comfort and a promise that everybody wants and needs.”
Eaton Rapids is more than old.
It is historic—and still very much alive.
Discover your local history at the Miller Farm, 635 State Street; at the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall and Museum, 224 South Main Street; and upstairs at Eaton Rapids City Hall, 200 South Main Street. History of Eaton County in general can be found at Courthouse Square Museum, 100 W. Lawrence Ave., in Charlotte.
Sunfield
Sunfield
Latest
Recycle, reuse holiday items, including the tree, live garland
Joanne Williams Editor (Photo by Joanne Williams/FAN – Check with local recycling centers...
Mulliken
Mulliken
Latest
Vietnam Veterans Annual Picnic
Christi Whiting Editor (Photo Provided) This year’s picnic is planned for August 26 at...
Dimondale
Dimondale
Latest
Recycle, reuse holiday items, including the tree, live garland
Joanne Williams Editor (Photo by Joanne Williams/FAN – Check with local recycling centers...
