Archive - Mar 26, 2008

On Monday, March 24, employees and board members from TLC Community Credit Union broke ground for the future home of TLC located next to Naugle Plumbing and Heating on W. Chicago Boulevard in Tecumseh.

Over 35 people attended the groundbreaking ceremony. Randy Smith, President and CEO of TLC thanked everyone in attendance and announced that the newest branch of TLC is expected to open in the fall of 2008. The facility is located on one floor with 4,983 square feet. The building will contain seven offices, and four drive-up lanes.
“TLC wishes to thank the member-owners for their membership, and recognizes their efforts in growing TLC Community Credit Union. This ranges from and includes the initial group of dedicated individuals who founded the original Credit Union in Tecumseh to all of the individuals who are currently associated with TLC today,” Smith said. TLC serves over 36,000 members who live or work in Lenawee, Monroe, Jackson, Hillsdale, or Washtenaw Counties.

By DEB WUETHRICH

Tecumseh Public School currently is reviewing an option to bring a Young Fives program to the district as early as next fall. Sutton Elementary School Principal Deb Langmeyer outlined a plan that would allow children who are not yet developmentally ready for regular kindergarten to attend classes geared toward their unique needs.

Langmeyer said the plan would include doing away with the half-day kindergarten option which received parent interest of only 14 out of a total of 251 kindergarten registrants last year. The proposed full-day program would, however, have some flexibility to allow some students to leave the class at 1 p.m. after lunch and before an afternoon session of enrichment activities for those whose parents who believe the half-day is still the best choice for their child.

Langmeyer said the district could accomplish the goal of adding the Young Fives program for approximately $23,000. She said there has been a recommendation to site the program at Patterson Elementary School, and said First Student Transportation has assured the committee that has been studying the issue that there would be no additional cost to the district to run shuttles from local elementary schools to Patterson.

“Each child would go to their neighborhood school and then be shuttled to the school where the program is located,” said Langmeyer. She said in order to allow for this, the Young Five program could begin at 9 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m., and dismiss at 3:25 p.m. instead of 3:45 p.m. Parents also would have the option of transporting their own children.

A driving force behind studying the program is the fact that the district lost at least eight students last year who attended neighboring districts that have Young Fives programs.

By DEB WUETHRICH

Tecumseh School Board held a Meet the Candidates night on Monday, March 24, at 6 p.m. just prior to its regular board meeting. Three trustees will not be seeking reelection. They are: Matt Oren, Jody Manes, who are vacating two-year posts, and Mark Wolfe, who was serving out a three-year seat.

Candidates Karen Januszek and Kevin Packard are seeking the four-year posts and Jason Sines has filed as a write-in candidate. Superintendent Mike McAran served as moderator and asked each candidate a series of questions. The following constitutes only a portion of comments provided by each prospective board member.

Karen Januszek worked as a business educator for 32 years and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Eastern Michigan University. Her husband, Bob, is also a retired teacher. Januszek said that one daughter, now a medical student at Michigan State University, graduated from Tecumseh High School in 2002. Januszek also has a grown step-daughter. Januszek also works part time as a Donor Services and Information System Coordinator for the Lenawee Community Fund.

She decided to run for the board because she views Tecumseh Public Schools as a great school district. “I think we have the best district in the county and it’s a great privilege to be on the board to oversee the decisions of this district,” she said. Januszek noted that board members need to work together as a team and also to look to school administrators for getting information in order to make decisions. As to working with parents, she said, “I feel I will be a good listener,” and invites people to contact her.

The Tecumseh Center for the Arts, in collaboration with The Tecumseh Players and the TCA Big Band and VocalAires, is proud to present its production of the WTCA Radio Show. Back by popular demand, this show harkens back to the days of the Golden Age of Radio, with great live swing-era music, drama, comedy, sound effects, and commercials.
Performances on March 28 and 29 will include songs of the World War II era, such as White Cliffs of Dover, Time Was, Saturday Night, Sentimental Journey, and Kalamazoo, as well as a radio comedy entitled, Hare Dryer, a western, Hawk of the West, and the conclusion to our detective story from last year’s radio show, Rick Lowell, Private Eye. The WTCA Radio Show is proudly sponsored by WLEN Radio, with support from Bonner Hills, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for The Arts.

As in days gone by, the audience plays an integral part of the WTCA Radio Show experience. Johanna Walker, TCA Executive Director commented of the 2007 performance, “Audiences truly enjoyed the stories and were amazed as they watched the cast create all the terrific sound effects live on stage. Along with the fabulous music of the TCA Big Band and VocalAires, this show really takes you back in time.”
Robert Soller, long-time Lenawee County resident and veteran director of countless shows both at Tecumseh Center for the Arts and The Croswell, is back as director of the show, and boasts a cast of 32 actors and three sound effects artists. Adrian College Director of Bands, Dr. Marty Marks, along with Jim Rice, again lead the 22-piece TCA Big Band and VocalAires.

The cast of the comedy, Hare Dryer, includes an award-winning, gargling bunny, a persistent dog, and a whole host of characters trying to “help” their neighbor. Based on an urban legend, this story has twists and turns to entertain audiences of all ages.