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The handsome tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
by Diane Gray Constable This dapper bird with its steel blue back and snow-white front is one of the first songbirds to return to the Stockbridge area each spring. The open farm fields dotted with trees and ponds are a favorite habitat for them. When they arrive, they break out of their flocks and search […]
My childhood on the farm
by Dorothy Craft In 1945 when I was an infant, my father took on the job of dairy herdsman at the Westfall Farm on M-106 a couple of miles east of Stockbridge. My family lived there until I turned 16. I have such wonderful memories of my childhood: Bottle feeding baby lambs who’d been rejected […]
Staff Spotlight: Alexis Dyer: Strong hometown ties have led to a long career in the district
by Amy Haggerty Teaching middle school / junior high school students is one of the more challenging jobs in teaching, and Alexis Dyer has been doing this since 2003. She works with seventh and eighth grade students who are located in the renovated and specially designated area within the high school building. A hometown girl, […]
Congratulations to Jane Marthaler, of Gregory: Our Garden of the Month Contest winner
As the Grand Prize winner for our Third Annual Garden of the Month Contest, Jane Marthaler, of Gregory, will receive a $50 gift certificate to Tulip Tree Gardens funded by Dorothy Craft’s Sewing and Alterations and Tulip Tree Gardens. The second–place winner was Masoud Golshan, of Waterloo Township, and Todd Schray, of Grass Lake, came […]
Books to pick up in April as spring signals better times ahead
by Jenna Chapman The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, and we might be turning a corner with the pandemic coming to an end soon. I am hopeful for this time of renewal, fresh air, and fresh starts. If your interest in reading is starting to bloom, here are some books that […]
Recalling the good old days in Stockbridge
by Mary Lou (Shellenbarger) Clifton Old folks, of whom I guess I am one, often throw out the phrase, “the good old days.” But just for a moment, put aside the computer, the smartphone, the iPad. You get the idea. In 1947, my dad accepted a teaching position in the Stockbridge Schools. So my parents, […]
Recalling the good old days in Stockbridge
by Mary Lou (Shellenbarger) Clifton Old folks, of whom I guess I am one, often throw out the phrase, “the good old days.” But just for a moment, put aside the computer, the smartphone, the iPad. You get the idea. In 1947, my dad accepted a teaching position in the Stockbridge Schools. So my parents, […]
StockBIZ: Stockbridge landscaping businesses gear up for a long, busy season
by Mary Jo David This is a great time to be in a landscaping business. According to an August 2020 CNBC article, the online Houzz home remodeling platform reported a 58% annual increase in project leads for professionals in June 2020. Of those, professionals working on outdoor spaces saw the biggest increase in demand. Additionally, […]
A glance in the rearview mirror: April 1921—Mumps. Prunes. Olives. And women feeling their oats.
by Mary Jo David The following excerpts are from April 1921 editions of the Stockbridge Brief-Sun newspaper. A SELECTION FROM SCHOOL NOTES: “Possibly you have noticed that the school bell taps about five minutes before time for the last bell. This extra exertion on the part of the janitor is to avoid a rush on […]
Ask an Expert: Teaching your teen to drive safely
by John and Theresa Kightlinger Is your teen ready to drive? If so, teach them to become a safe and responsible driver. But first, make sure your teen is mature enough to drive. Talk with your teen about the responsibilities of driving a car. Visit the Michigan Secretary of State’s website at michigan.gov/sos to learn […]