Surprises await those who attend the Feb. 6 Taste benefit for CIS when community leaders duke it out in a Family Feud style competition. Pictured above are (l-r): Tecumseh City Manager Kevin Welch; United Bank & Trust CEO Joe Williams; CIS director Susan Reeder; First Federal Bank manager Wendy Pizana; and Tecumseh Schools Supt. Mike McAran.
By DEB WUETHRICH
Communities in Schools of the Tecumseh Area (CISTA) will host The Taste on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, with the theme “Food and Feud: Area restaurants present a culinary experience with community members feuding for kids,” based on the popular TV game show. The Taste will take place at Tecumseh High School from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by United Bank and Trust.
In a break from tradition, a special “Savor the Experience” activity, a beer and wine tasting event, will take place after The Taste, from 8:00-9:30 p.m., sponsored by and held at Cambrian Assisted Living. In previous years, the event was held before the Taste.
“We’re going to lead off with our wonderful, talented high school kids featuring Concert Women, Company Showchoir, and Roadshow, the band that backs up Company,” said Susan Reeder, Executive Director of CISTA. “The Feud part of the event is getting really interesting and I think it’s going to be exciting.” Reeder said that the Feud will begin at 6:40 p.m. with four teams made up of community members challenging each other. Chris Ayotte, who also is an Elvis impersonator, will take on the role of Richard Dawson, The Family Feud’s TV host.
Reeder said that the first teams up will be a United Bank and Trust Team challenging a team from First Federal Bank; then, a City of Tecumseh team will challenge a team from Tecumseh Public Schools. The winners will then challenge each other for the title of Ultimate Champions for Children.
“We surveyed students at our schools for the ‘Survey Says’ questions,” said Reeder, who added that members of Tecumseh Police Officer Kelley Hissong’s unit in Afghanistan also contributed some responses. “We wanted to pay tribute to our troops in some way so we included them,” Reeder said.
During the food sampling portion of the event, 13 area restaurants will be represented. They are: The Daily Grind, The Boulevard Market, Cowboys Grill, Basil Boys, Sal’s Italian Restaurant, Tecumseh Big Boy, Oriental Sizzling, Busch’s, Ember’s Bar and Grill, Evans Street Station, Randy’s Original Roadside BBQ, Catering by Liz, and Sodexho (Adrian College).
A silent auction also will take place at The Taste. Items will include a four-day stay at a luxury condo in Manistee, Michigan, donated by Wendy and Marty Nelson, as well as tickets to many events including: REO Speedwagon, Red Wings, U of M basketball, the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, Wharton Center, the Purple Rose Theatre and more.
Tickets are $25 per person for The Taste, and $30 per person (limited availability) for Savor the Experience, a beer and wine tasting event. For ticket information call 423.7574.
“All the proceeds go to help CIS continue all our great programs,” said Reeder. “There are some wonderful things going on in the schools and some great accomplishments and success have come about through the work we do with kids. We are very fortunate to have a community that supports us.”