This is What's the Deal. Grosse Ile, the podcast that explores the people places history and events that may grow co unique. I'm your host Ben Fogle. This episode is coming out on the last day of September in 2021. And it's just in time to fill you in on a month full of activities from our township recreation department. Shed No, Nowak is always the best person to fill us in on the details. So let's get right to it. But first check the Episode Notes for links to everything we talked about. Chad, I'm so glad that we have some of our unique Island events to talk about these here. Thank you for returning to What's the Deal. Grosse
Ile? Thank you, man. It's good to be back talking
to most people, I think they think you were just on because they they're still listening to the island fencer show. So
I heard that at the mobile station the other day somebody goes, I heard that. Yeah, I'm guessing.
Yeah. So the first event that we have in October is paint the town red. Yes. And that's our homecoming celebration. So how did that all get started?
Well, in 2014, we did something called set while I just I did something called centennial celebration. And it was a really big success. We had multiple events going on up and down the street, and it was a lot a lot of involvement and it was a great turnout. So we took a break. And I thought boy, I paint the town red that term is about going out and having fun and kicking up your heels and and partaking in festivities and I thought grow zeal red, you know red gray, and and let's we should paint our town red. So that's how that kind of came about. So in 2017, we started that Angeles a caucus as the GVA director and it was chemotherapy, the rec director was her first year here on the island. So we started out with a three day event, which was exhausting because there was in I believe that year it was really cold. And then another year was really hot. You never know what you're going to get with that October weather last year. So the paint the town red, this will be our fifth one this year, October 8, and nine. And it's really just morphed into its own celebration. And my good friend, Jenna Jones, she came up with the hometown homecoming celebration. And I liked that a lot. And she's also responsible for the new paint the town red logo with a big red splash and everything. So a lot of a lot of people like to get involved with it. But as I say, it's a small group that actually puts this production on. I mean, we went from I know the rotary and john Bergen for two years, we did the Tour de el, which was a violent bicycle. They did and it was a lot. And, you know, we've all been throwing curveballs, the past year and a half. Absolutely. We're happy that we can do this. It's all outside. You know, and when we get to it, I'll explain about the new schedule. But yeah, paint the town red. This is the first part of the fifth one. And we're excited to participate.
What are the official activities that are that are put put on by the rec department? And I'm assuming the DDA is part of that, too.
The DDA budgets the same as the rec puts in a percentage too, but the DDA came on board with Angela and then Tricia Boone was there last year and she you know, we had our committee for further paint the town red. So as far as the finances goes, the costs are pretty minimal. You know, it's like some time rentals and other musicians and then advertising so yeah, it is the GTA and it's the recreation department in Brazil acted as co sponsors this event so
sure. What are the official what part what parts of the event are put on directly by the by the organization? Or the committee? The committee like like the band's stuff in lions park? Yeah.
The Lions all the whole lions Park thing that just seems like the perfect place. The Commons is a little smaller, do that. But remember that the scavenger hunt, I believe this is the second year shout out to kuwana swab. We'll be doing a scavenger hunt on that Saturday also starts at 10am and McComb calm, and goes until two in the afternoon. So we thought Lyons Park was a really good place to you know, have the bands and the Knights of Columbus will be doing their lunch and that Saturday, and it's also where the parade kind of officially starts out the high school too. So but as far as
so there are vendors that are going to be vendors again.
Yes, absolutely. That'll be in the little park sits next to the old Fifth Third Bank property. Okay. Lisa, and Jeff forester in that area. Yeah, we have a handful of vendors coming. Something that people should know if you do have a nonprofit organization or one of the many clubs and grow zeal there's no charge to come down and set up a booth. If you are not a business. On the contrary, we welcome everybody to come down there. You can Get your applications with D'Andrea, milosz at township Hall, or you can call the recreation department at 734-675-2364. And I'm not reading from a script. Like I said, Knights of Columbus, from 11am until 2pm. Is their lunch. They're not going to be the breakfast this year, but they're going to be doing lunch. But when you're ready, let's backtrack to Friday because I don't want to touch all that. Yeah, let's
talk about Friday.
Friday afternoon, the parade starts at 430 from the high school, the index to Ireland Fest, this homecoming and paint the town red is the biggest one on the island. All kinds of goodies they the school and the administration have opened their arms for anyone that wants to be part of that parade with a community group and stuff I mean, I know for a long time it was just the floats and and the sports Yeah, but they've really expanded which I think is a great thing. It really excites me when I see people embracing the same that I'm going to mention Lisa row she had something on social media to the day with her one year anniversary for her business. And I just think and it says a lot that she's also highlighted the paint the town ready that along with her anniversary of her business. So thanks Lisa. Um, so and then that night The game starts at 7pm we are playing Flat Rock Whoo. I know everybody I'll be down there it'll be a lot of fun. between four and seven. There'll be a couple of food trucks on Lyons drive which is across from the Fifth Third Bank property and the other corners tails and is oh my gosh what's really cool is the schools reached out to us and they said hey, we'd like to get some food trucks down there. And these people will give us a kick back a certain percentage to the school class the high school classes the ninth 10th 11th and 12th. So
well in Of particular note this has been a very difficult time for those classes to raise money normally they are washes and that require him to be out in the public and
I got tickets and did that too. Yeah. And it's the food vendors. One is called treats Avenue and it looks like they have all these amazing different desserts and ice creams and all kinds of stuff like that. And the other one is called sabor Latino. So that sounds like Greek and some Mexican on here Yeah, really interesting. It's not the usual ones that we have on the island you know and treats Avenue will be the two featured food trucks are their percentages do go to the grocery a high school classes. So come on down on Friday between four and 7pm and support those food trucks and the high school classes.
And so as far as the the events then Do you need any more volunteers for paint the town red
ink, we pretty much got it covered between the GTA people and the recreation commission and shout out to those folks too. And, you know, all the kids will come out but just know the kids are going to be so busy that we can it's good. Everything's running really smoothly right now. No glitches. Let's just hope for some amazing weather like we had last year. Yeah, does drizzle or it rains come out of aways and bring your umbrellas, everything is outside. It's gonna be a lot of fun
in their hands, or their bands is here. Yes, we
have. We have open book theater, we'll be doing a performance between three and four. And then starting at five to seven we have Harlan mercy does a local blues, r&b or r&b blues group, which is Andrew Johnson. He's the lead singer. And he's also the one I'm trying to say here, the music boosters, guy chip boosters. So yeah, we have all kinds of music going on. And then up and down the country, starting around 11am all through the afternoon, there are going to be scattered performers like there were last year like there'll be somebody in front of her dinos. And in front of the new go windows restaurant, that was the tastee freez. Gets Oh, VFW and the VFW halls and we have a big car shop for you dollars to register your car, they have all kinds of cool gift baskets and bury the guitar guy. I'll be down there and I don't want to miss any of the performers. But there will be people performing up and down. We call them street musicians. So yeah, they'll be down I started loving you down and one will be playing at this time and another at that time. And if a group starts to form then they'll play you know, start playing again. And that so yeah, and then lions part is like central for the entertainment later on.
Excellent. Excellent. And then moving on to a couple weeks later. We've got our Halloween parade. We'll do he's going on with that.
That is Saturday, October 23. The parade starts at 1030 at night. school I pretty sure now I can say for sure I can confirm that the real wood tribes of Brazil will be back again. They're gonna they start practice this Thursday, and they're gonna be practicing every Tuesday and Thursday I hardship in that last year I was a witch, Warlock, whatever. A lot of fun. We went viral.
I think we were you were front and center in the viral video.
I had those orange stockings.
It was excellent.
Almost 6 million views. That's a lot. Well,
I think it's well over that now. Is it? Yeah, yeah, it was looking.
And then the trick or treating is from 11am until 1pm. Up and down macom Street. Everyone is welcome. There is something special. Colston, who is the preacher at the Northridge church is going to be doing a trunk or treat over there. They're gonna want to 30 cars, we are encouraging that but we want people to be conscious when they are crossing meridian route. There will be peers out there to help the kids most of the kids are with their parents and stuff. But any little exciting ones. So we want to promote Northridge and their trunk or treat this year.
So that means there will be trigger treating all the way from the hardware store all the way across meridian. So how that's over a mile of trick or treating.
It is over mound trick or treating. And I'm sure there'll be some adult specials along the way to
the absolutely, definitely well. And of course Keith rosinski would would hate it if we didn't mention that they're doing a big thing at the VFW.
Absolutely, that's the first haunted house but they are doing a haunt friendly or I would say that a non haunt a non guide and a scary side
Yeah, so they've got two options and don't make it obvious which which is which there so I
know some of the things that we're putting in there. It's going to be really cool. It's going to be a really good surprise Of course, you know, they're going to use the pipe and drape from festival and put it through the VFW. So yeah, that's going to be exciting. So check out the VFW hall to also shout out to the bight Museum, the old folks Hama Grazia was for both those events too.
Yeah, and for anyone listening that hasn't made it into the museum there it's it's not open all that often. But when you get a chance to go in it is really quite amazing. It's it's packed in there real tight. And you've got bikes from all from just all generations of bicycles in there.
My next door neighbor's on that Roger and Karen Gauthier. I helped run and stuff and it's really something to see I think there's over 200 bikes in there which and it's a beautiful building up and it's a beautiful building. And if you have in there Halloween and fall decor is in the window, check out the bike Museum, the old folks home it's pretty cool. The skeletons on the bicycles and all that.
Yeah. And hopefully we'll get them on the on the show here here pretty soon so
and I will be at the parade for a hot second, but then I have to get down to the big hangar because it's all party Saturday, October 23 is on an hanger part three, and this is a 21 and over event. The recreation department's putting it on anybody that's been in that big hangar knows that it's it's a really cool venue to do things and we encourage people to buy their tickets in advance because of catering. You know, I own the caterers and all that right? does include a TJ Mani productions is doing the sound and the visuals and I say visuals because they have this huge led while they put in there. There's laser lights bouncing all over the place fog machines, it's very cool. And then grotto Robert SIRs grotto will lead you in the catering this year, there will be spirits as in beverages. gyra will be getting partial proceeds of the beer sales from this event. So that's a really cool thing too. And then a donation will be going to the Veterans Memorial Garden. And this is all part of the October 23 adult party at the haunted anger.
All right, and where do you go to get tickets.
Tickets are available at the Grosse Ile activity register page or you can go to Brazil. Recreation calm that site should be back up in the next day or two. You can buy them at TJ money productions in South Gate you can buy them at varying companies so on a wind out and you can buy them at the Corrado and Trent. So there's three off Island locations to where we still have that bridge thing that we're not going to talk about in this podcast. Somebody else about but through. We're hoping it's going to be a good time to set a 40,000 square foot facility. So there's plenty of room to move and, and breathe and I have a couple of things I'd like to mention. Oh yeah,
go for it.
If we're in the Fall Fall Festival. We are doing a fall festival Saturday, October 16 which is from one to 330 at the farms. We have a petting zoo. Children's crafts at Children's gardens will have hayride cider and donuts. Pumpkin patch with big pumpkins not little ones big pumpkins, gj music and children's games that's it Centennial farm is $5 per person at the gate and that's a lot of fun two arms is a great venue to do things and you know I really want to say this I I'm not sure if everybody's aware but let's rock Gardens is no longer doing their haunted hay rides ran out of the bowl say sits on the rec commission with me and he mentioned that two meetings ago but we're sad to see that go because we love going there but that's so was there with the weather as you know. Absolutely. So Fall Festival Saturday October 16. And then this is the first one we're doing now is called fall family fun night. This is also at the farms it's the last Friday of October October 29 from seven to 930 in the evening and you can come out and your costume they'll be costume contest we're going to show a movie out there we're gonna have bonfires and hay rides to that is the fall family fun night Friday October 29. So we have something oh and then
weekend in October every weekend in
October Yeah, I'm going on so look at your new profile I was gonna hold this magazine up I think so look at that profile magazine that came in your mailbox and try to save that but at the side somewhere you know and and that way you can go to that for reference for all that so yeah I'm looking here golf outing on the ninth in the morning and then you know we hit the paint the town red and trigger trees around after summer but it's not
Yeah, if only we had an apple orchard you wouldn't have to leave the island all of October.
Oh boy. Good fine. Yeah.
Yeah. Since we made it all the way to the end of October How does I know it's not your area? But how does how does gruesel Township handle Halloween? As far as trick or treating beggars night sort of stuff?
It is it's always on 31st and no last year it was a little you know there was a lot of challenges but once again I saw something on the news just tonight that on Halloween trick or training is ago so I believe is the 31st on a Sunday on Sunday. Yeah, yeah, so I mean those little kids are gonna be all jacked up on sugar and stuff aren't
they are going to be a teacher on November 1.
Oh my goodness. Right. So I want to I know you had asked about the township and you know it is always on the 31st and I think it was letters or the briefings you sent me and asked about how did I celebrate
because I've lived here for a few years? Yeah, how was it was Halloween
I lived around was 50 years, five years. So we're pushing 50 years. I remember I grew up in the Church Road West river area and biomar Gardens back there and stuff and Brent there were always so many kids I mean, and we didn't care how cold it was or where we would go from house to house to house but I remember my dad always having shots of cinnamon whiskey or something like that the door almost everybody that came to that door partook in that little shot of something and of course they're walking and stuff right? Are we talking like this on your podcast? I
mean whatever I make the rules
because I'm pretty well known around town for my jello shots
yes that's what I've heard. Yeah, that's the number of reason to join that's number one reason to join the witches
Well, I mean for every event and and even you know I do things out on the water all summer long and stuff but so I'm just wondering if maybe that was planted inside my head when I was a kid back in the day that because dad was no not the shots of whiskey at the door now I'm with the Vampire blood and the jello shots and all that and always has a different name for every event so But yeah, I mean I love doing the trigger treaty here we had so many old trees around in my neighborhood and the leaves and running around and you know of course you were wearing masks that like sucked in your face that are 110 degrees and right that kind of stuff so but you know, tripping over your costume, but
Well yes, he has always had a little bit of a hunted element to it between some of the older folks that lived up up on the you know, on the shore you know, their their stories of you know, the old old man that lived in this house or that house you've got
Yeah, well we have a ghost in my knowledge. You know, I'm in this old mansion down or spirits and they get kind of a little hectic around this time of year and we guess this past week and she wanted to hear the ghost stories and I get yelled at sometimes for telling those stories, but here is the family stories and I get the scary stories. But yeah, you can look at there's all kinds of history of scary things from the bird sanctuary up at the north end all the way down to things on up island on the south.
And so when it was seemed to me that the the wonder well had sort of an element of Enos to it so
he cites a stinky smell of eggs. Over down there. Yeah, that's I believe there's homes being built down there now isn't there?
Yeah. The the place where it is, I don't think you can find where it was now. So it's, uh, yeah, it's all gone. But, but it lives on in our memory,
that's for sure. Absolutely. Absolutely.
So then, you know, we get to that traditional part of the interview here where where I get asked for a wish you're going to be the first person to answer a wish twice. Oh, yeah. So So when when you were on for Island Fest, you wish that everyone would have a safe, safe time and come out and enjoy themselves, but but be safe about it? So do you have another wish to share with the island? It doesn't even have to do with with any of the events if you don't want it to?
I wish I would be asked back a third time.
Well, we'll take care of that. Right. As soon as we're done with this because we need to talk about your house for sure.
Yeah, yeah. There's some good history here at this house. I think a lot of people have enjoyed the events at our place here too.
Yeah, absolutely. And even before you were there,
yes, yeah, ransom old Oldsmobile. This was his summer home, you know, and just being homeless East Lansing, and that's a whole nother podcast. But yeah. Oh, gosh, you know, I just wish for everyone once again, to be safe and and have a great season. We're looking forward to openings of more than just the bridge and right. I just wish that for everyone can be a little more patient and respectful of each other, too.
I think everyone can can back that. That's for sure. Yeah. Yeah.
I wish you wanted to have a hauntingly good. spooktacular season for the month of October because we have a lot going on starting the first weekend of the last week.
Well, I can tell you I I sure hope that you you're able to maintain your energy throughout the week. I know that you will. I hope everybody that's around you is able to maintain enough energy. Yeah, get through the eye. The rec department has to be just November 1 will be a day of sigh of relief. And we
plan till next Easter to the recreation department. And
we're going to talk more about those here. Not too long. So yeah, yeah,
I'm going to come back and do some holidays Christmas. Is that for sure. Yeah, but anytime October Yes, it's gonna be a great month.
Excellent. Well, it's always a pleasure to talk with you. I love seeing you around the island. I've gotten to know you a lot better in the last couple years so and while 20 2020 and 2021 have had had to be some of the most difficult times to try to provide recreation to the island and in the township. I sure appreciate that you and the rest of the team has really gone through and not given up and you've adapted and made things happen. And, and and well beyond that, I appreciate you and it's always good to see you around.
Then thank you and I want to thank everybody in the community that comes out and helps me it doesn't take a village it takes an island to to to do this. And if I may, I'd like to give a shout out our three new commissioners are Keith luzinski, Stacy Gannon and Marissa nicely. Also Wendy Kearney as our secretary. She brings it all the time, how to both say from westropp Gardens, as Ethel yobs is our senior correspondent, and then cannot fail the rec director and David, our liaison. We just we have a great group. I just appreciate to have all of them helping me and being there. So thank you. Start. Hey, and thank you for what you did at St. Thomas this summer. Oh,
I appreciate that. It was it was a lot of fun. We'll talk about that sometime. At some point. Thank you. Well in my rearview mirror.
Thank you so much.
Isn't it great how our little community can pack so many things into the 31 days of October. Make sure to let Chad and the recreation department know how much it's appreciate. The episode notes are full of links to where you can see schedules and register for tickets. The second season of this podcast is rolling right along with some more great episodes. Check the Episode Notes for way to stay in touch and share with your friends and neighbors. What's The Deal? Grosse Ile is a production of fote Media productions LLC, and is edited by me then folks. Thanks for listening to What's the Deal. Grosse Ile
