Community expo returns at THS to ‘Celebrate Tecumseh!’

Tecumseh Public Schools is looking forward to the second annual Celebrate Tecumseh! expo on Thursday, April 16, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Last year’s community showcase at the high school was a resounding success, according to Angel Mensing, assistant principal at Tecumseh High School (THS) and committee member for Celebrate Tecumseh!The partnership of Tecumseh Public Schools, the City of Tecumseh, and Tecumseh Area Chamber of Commerce created an event that highlighted programs and services in the area offered by the school district, local businesses and service organizations. The 112 vendors were visited by 2,000 people, twice the amount the committee expected to attend the event.“When you are celebrating a great community you have a great event,” said Mensing. “We looked at each other and said, ‘Wow, did that really happen?’”The set up on April 16 follows last year’s design, with vendors in the THS gymnasium and other activities throughout the high school. This year, there are already 70 businesses signed up for Celebrate Tecumseh!When visitors enter the gym they will find the first row is the event’s sponsors, including Brindamour Photography, Inc., City of Tecumseh, Hantz Group, Indian Creek Campground LLC, Living in Lenawee Realty, O’Hara Chrysler, Radant’s Electric LLC, Tecumseh Missionary Baptist Church, Tecumseh Neck and Back Family Chiropractic, and The Sports Hut.“We are working hard to improve upon last year. The sponsor section is full,” Mensing said. “We are so grateful to those folks.”School employees will show and demonstrate what the schools have to offer the community. The Parent and Child class will have a whole wing of the building filled with activities and crafts for families to enjoy, all revolving around the theme of “Under the Sea.”“I look forward to lots of neat demonstrations with kids. Our kids are our greatest performers,” said Mensing. “There are all kinds of things for people to do and experience.”For Tecumseh Public Schools the event was a way to thank local businesses for all the ways they support the district every year. “We have so many businesses that give and give and give,” Mensing said. “This is our opportunity to give back to them.”Vendors are able to set up a table at no charge. Most of the businesses were surprised that the event was free not just to the visitors but also to the vendors. “Our sponsors help cover the costs we incur,” said Mensing. “Some people were shocked they didn’t have to pay anything.”The only requirement for vendors is not to sell anything during the evening, rather to focus on services available. Last year businesses brought coupons and freebies to hand out.Visitors will receive a punch card when they enter, and anyone visiting all the vendors on the punch card, is entered into a drawing for free prizes.Vendors wishing to participate in the punch card promotion do pay a small amount that goes toward purchasing prizes. Those sponsors include Carter Rehabilitation and Aquatic Centers, Edison Chiropractic, Handler Funeral Home, Indian Creek Campground LLC, O’Hara Chrysler, Raisin Valley Golf Club, Stevenson Water Hauling LLC, and Tecumseh Missionary Baptist Church. There are still openings for businesses interested in being a punch-card sponsor.Last year, with no real frame of reference, local businesses had to go on faith participating in the event. After the success of Celebrate Tecumseh! the very next day the committee received requests from businesses to participate this year.Vendor set up for Celebrate Tecumseh! is right after the school day ends. During the day, the high school works to get things ready in the gym, with help from the physical education teachers and classes.“The teachers used the setup as a teachable moment,” Mensing said.Vendors are allowed in the building after 2:46 p.m. Last year THS students, athletes and club members watched for vendors coming in the parking lot and helped them get their materials inside the building for set up.“I was really happy to see our kids participate,” said Mensing.The committee started serious planning in November 2014, although talk about the event began the week after last year’s Celebrate Tecumseh! Mensing is joined by committee members Kim Schmidt, Melissa Hilton, Craig Freestone, Alison Hunt, Jackie Whiteley, Mary Tommelein, and Carrie Northrup.Applications for vendors can be found on the Tecumseh School District website at http://www.tps.-k12.mi.us/index.html. Mensing is also able to fill out forms over the phone or mail them to interested vendors. She can be reached at 423.6008.