Reader's Choice - 2012

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Page 2 | Midland Daily News

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Thank you for voting for us!

JULIE RATCLIFFEDESIGNER/OWNER

(989) 835-1200

www.designedbyjulie.biz621 S. Saginaw Rd • Midland, MI 48640

Hours: M-F 10 am - 5 pm or by appointment

2581 Wilder Rd.Midland, MI(989) 631-5694

ApplesPearsCaramel ApplesFresh CiderPumpkinsCider Slush

DonutsCaramel CornFresh Made HoneyHomemade Apple ButterNEW 2012: Cider SmoothieNEW 2012: Cookies by CRUMBSCraft Items

BILL & PAT KUEHNE

208 CAMBRIDGE ST. • 835-4853

Thank you for voting us #1Best Place to Buy Shoes year after year.

We appreciate your business.OPEN: Mon.-Fri. 9-8 • Sat. 9-6

IRCLE QUALITY SHOE STOREReader’s Choice winner year after year!

Complete Landscaping Design & Installation

832-0737 4609 Dublin Ave • Midland

Wallace LandscapingCommercial & Residential

Since 1985Specializing In: Brick Pavers

ShrubsRetaining Walls

Creative Landscape DesignsSpring & Fall Clean-Up

Landscape Mulch & StoneSnow Removal

PROMPT • PROFESSIONAL

Lawn Care ServiceGOLD MEDAL WINNER

We Sincerely Appreciate It!

Thank You For Your Vote!

Lalonde’s takes gold in deli category

The word ‘delicatessen,’ according to the New World Dictionary, comes from the French delicatesse, French for fine food or a delicacy, especially a cooked meat, smoked fish, cheese, salad or relish.

The ‘essen’ ending is thought to have come from German, denoting a place.

A delicatessen or deli, then, is the place you go to obtain fine foods, delicacies.

Daily News readers say that’s LaLonde’s Markets; they gave the two stores – distinc-tive personalities with a shared, family-derived philosophy — a gold medal in the deli category.

Deli, though, is just one leg in what Scott MacNellis, who became part of the LaLonde

By Steven Griffin

for the Daily newS

Photo for the Daily News by steve GriffiN scott MacNellis poses in the deli department of his store, lalonde’s Market on Jefferson avenue and sugnet road. with the lalonde’s Market on bay City at saginaw road, it won first place in the Daily News reader’s Choice “best Deli” category. see “laloNDe’s,” PaGe 3

sunday, september 9, 2012 | Page 3

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THANK YOU, MIDLANDI appreciate your continued support

and confidence making me aReader’s Choice winner for lawyer.

I look forward to assistingyou and your family.

The Paper Place

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Best Place to Buy Party Supplies

WWW.PAPERPLACEMIDLAND.COM132 Ashman Circle • Midland • 989-835-4861

Hours: Sat. 9-4 • MTW & F 9-6 • Thurs. 9-8

WE APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS• BIRTHDAYS • GRADUATIONS • SHOWERS • DECORATIONS

• COSTUMES • RENTALS

ALTERATION SHOPBeth’s Alterations 1st GoldAlterations by Laura Lynn 2nd SilverAlterations by Me 3rd BronzeCheryl’s Alterations 3rd Bronze

ATTORNEYMike Carpenter 1st GoldSteve Durance 2nd SilverDan Duke 3rd BronzeDick Handlon 3rd BronzeMark Maddox 3rd BronzeRick Lee 3rd BronzeRobert Bourne 3rd BronzeTodd Gambrell

AUTO BODY SHOPNorthtown Collision 1st GoldGarber Chevrolet 2nd SilverJim Miller 3rd Bronze

AUTO DEALERSHIPGarber Chevrolet 1st GoldFeeny Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep 2nd SilverMidland Ford 3rd Bronze

AUTO DETAILERDetail One 1st GoldMidland Ford 2nd SilverDirk Waltz 3rd Bronze

BAKERYThe Gourmet Cupcake Shoppe 1st GoldHamilton Pastries 2nd SilverMeijer 3rd Bronze

BANKChemical Bank 1st GoldFifth Third Bank 2nd SilverWolverine Bank 3rd Bronze

BRACESBailey Family Dental & Braces 1st Gold

BREAKFAST SPOTBig Boy 1st GoldBob Evans 2nd SilverMcDonald’s Restaurant 3rd Bronze

BUFFETGolden Buffet 1st GoldPi’s 2nd SilverPonderosa 3rd Bronze

BUILDERDoug Cook - Cook’s Homes 1st GoldEd Wallace - Wright Builders 2nd SilverYost Builders 3rd BronzeGerace Construction 3rd BronzeTrevillian Construction 3rd BronzeJohn Long 3rd BronzeClark Carpentry 3rd BronzeMark Hickerson 3rd BronzeCobblestone Homes 3rd BronzeOrvosh Builders 3rd BronzeStan Clark Construction 3rd BronzeDon Varner Builders 3rd Bronze

family when he wed Emily LaLonde, and who with her now owns the LaLonde’s store at Sugnet and Jeffer-son Roads, sees as distinctive lines he calls ‘perishables.”

“Produce, deli, and seafood and meats, they’re what we call our ‘perishables triangle,’” said MacNellis, “and the dis-play in our store is actually shaped in a triangle” presenting customers with a range of tasty items, many created in-house.

And while he’s glad for the Reader’s Choice deli accolades, he said that his other perishables lines are created and presented the same way: “We take great pride in our quality and customer ser-vice. We insist on the highest and finest quality, at reasonable prices. It’s the same set of values: full service.”

MacNellis said changing seasons are reflected in deli and other perishable offerings. “Right now, I’m changing my summer set (of products) to a fall set, in meat and deli and even produce. It’s

football season, so we have chilis and stews. Kids are back to school, so we emphasize our lunch meats and hearty salads. We give it all a personal touch.”

“The overall philosophy of the store,” said MacNellis, “goes with every prod-uct, a common value system. And it’s all handed down from Charlie” LaLonde, who with his wife Joyce founded the store in 1958.

That value system is shared with the Bay City Road store, which Charlie’s son Steve and Bill Albritton co-manage.

The Bay City Road LaLonde’s Market specializes in its hot deli, what MacNel-lis calls “stick-to-your-ribs” foods popu-lar with its lunch customers, 350 to 400 of them each day. “It’s done the same way, everything full-service.” Its loca-tion near The Dow Chemical Company and other plants and offices makes it a favorite with the lunch crowd

Both stores also offer party trays featuring roll-ups, mini-sandwiches, sandwich builders, fruit and veggie trays and more. As the French might well say, delicatesse.

CoNtiNueD froM PaGe 2

LaLonde’s offers lunch meats, and hearty salads and a personal touch


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GOLD MEDAL WINNER

BEST PLACE TO BUY

FRESH MEAT & PRODUCE 14 YEARSIN A ROW

THANK YOU!

Produce Dept. 835-9911 • 2000 S. Saginaw Rd. • Meat Dept. 835-7140

Jack’s Fruit MarketJack’s Fruit MarketProduce Dept. 835-9911 • 2000 S. Saginaw Rd. • Meat Dept. 835-7140

BURGERBoulevard 1st GoldRally’s 2nd SilverWendy’s 3rd Bronze

BUSINESS WITH FRIENDLY EMPLOYEESThe Gourmet Cupcake Shoppe 1st GoldGrounds for a Better World 2nd SilverSimmons Specific Chiropractic Clinic 3rd Bronze

CARAMEL APPLEBayne’s Apple Valley Farms 1st GoldApple Blossoms Orchard 2nd SilverConnie’s Cakes 3rd BronzeGrounds for a Better World 3rd BronzeHeather and Holly 3rd BronzeKroger 3rd BronzeLeamans Green Apple Barn 3rd BronzeMeijer 3rd BronzeSid’s 3rd Bronze

CARPET CLEANERSBear Carpet Cleaning 1st GoldLadies First 2nd SilverStanley Steemer 3rd Bronze

CAR REPAIRAuto Technicians 1st GoldSchneider’s Garage 2nd SilverJim Miller 3rd Bronze

CAR WASHFirehouse 1st GoldFast Eddie’s 2nd SilverMeijer 3rd Bronze

CARRYOUTApplebee’s 1st GoldAsian Express 2nd SilverPi’s 3rd Bronze

CATERERShirlene’s Cuisine 1st GoldCatering by Rachel 2nd SilverBone Daddy’s 3rd BronzeCafe American 3rd BronzeMolly’s 3rd BronzePat & Jerry’s 3rd BronzeQdoba 3rd BronzeShari’s Gourmet Dining 3rd Bronze

CELL PHONE STOREVerizon 1st GoldRadio Shack 2nd SilverSprint 3rd Bronze

CHIROPRACTORSimmons Specific Chiropractic Clinic 1st GoldRodnick Chiropractic Clinic 2nd SilverJames Dorais 3rd Bronze

COOK/CHEFDan James - Midland Country Club 1st GoldRyan Westergard - Bennigan’s 2nd SilverAndrew - Molly’s 3rd BronzeDave - Bennigan’s 3rd BronzeJess - Creek Grill 3rd BronzePatrick - Midland Country Club 3rd Bronze

CPADennis Hall 1st GoldThomas Harms 1st GoldFred Spiker 2nd SilverKevin Jajo 2nd SilverStuart Wilson 3rd Bronze

Readers: He’s the right guy for a tough job

No one likes the news that it ’s time to get a mouth full of wires that will have to stay in or months. But Daily News readers say when a son or daughter needs braces, dentist Brian Bailey is mostly likely the one they prefer.

Bailey Family Dental & Braces received the top rating in the news-paper’s Readers Choice contest for the best place to get braces. Dr. Brian Bailey is a general dentist rather than an orthodontist, but

he has received much training in the techniques of braces and has been putting them into patients’ mouths for years. In fact, he said, helping patients get the most ben-efit from braces is his passion

“because of the end result that it does for people.

“I had braces for years,” he said. “I was all gnarly.”

The effects of braces can make a difference in people’s job prospects, spouse prospects and self-esteem, he said.

Orthodontists generally see four times as many patients for braces as Bailey does, he said. He believes his patients choose his dental prac-tice because they like the way he follows them up during the process.

“We’re really good buddies with them” during the 18-month-long experience with braces, he said.

Bailey believes the wire material is one reason for patients’ satisfac-tion. He uses nickel titanium wiring

rather than stainless steel.“It ’s a very malleable kind of

metal that has complete memory,” he said. “So it’s a lot more flexible to the teeth than the stainless steel is. It moves the teeth faster with a gentle, light force.”

Nickel titanium costs about 10 times more than stainless steel, but the comfort level is huge, Bailey said.

He ’d always wanted to be an orthodontist, but he was talked out of it. So he took part in a program taught by a University of Detroit professor. He received one-on-one and small-group training as he and

his teacher would visit each oth-er’s offices and work on cases.

In one sense, braces work is one of the easier disciplines, Bailey said.

“The assistant places the wires a n d c a n w o r k s o m u c h i n t h e mouth,” he said. “It’s more brain work than actually digging inside somebody’s mouth.”

A thorough bonding of braces to the teeth is important. Since the 1970s dentists have etched the tooth so the wires can be bonded with a material that holds them fast, Bailey said.

Bailey’s son, Ben, has followed in his father’s footsteps. He, too, has put serious study into the art and science of braces.

Free-lance reporter Cheryl Wade may be reached at [email protected].

By Cheryl waDe

for the Daily newS


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We would like to thank our patients andtheir families for voting us a

Gold Medal Winner for Best Veterinarian.

989-631-02201500 East Patrick Road • www.midlandanimalcl.com

Connie Moll, DVMJanet Sherwood, DVM

Sue Johnson-Wendt, DVM Ashley Elzerman, DVM

Karen Mikols, DVM

CREDIT UNIONDow Chemical Employees’ Credit Union 1st GoldWildfire Credit Union 2nd SilverMembers First Credit Union 3rd Bronze

CUP OF COFFEEGrounds for a Better World 1st GoldThe Gourmet Cupcake Shoppe 2nd SilverBig Boy 3rd Bronze

DELILalonde’s 1st GoldSubway 2nd SilverJimmy John’s 3rd Bronze

DENTISTBailey Family Dental & Braces 1st GoldDr. Carter 2nd SilverDr. Vansteenhouse 3rd Bronze

DESSERTThe Gourmet Cupcake Shoppe 1st GoldBig Boy 2nd SilverTexan Family Restaurant 3rd Bronze

DONUTSDunkin’ Donuts 1st GoldHamilton Pastries 2nd SilverTim Hortons 3rd Bronze

ELECTRICIANLaframboise Electric 1st GoldWoodward Electric 2nd SilverBlasy Electric 3rd BronzeChurch Electric 3rd BronzeVeterans Electric 3rd BronzeHarbron Electric 3rd BronzeValley Electric 3rd BronzeSelect Electric 3rd BronzeTrombley Electric 3rd Bronze

ETHNIC RESTAURANTPi’s 1st GoldGenji’s 2nd SilverChina Palace 3rd Bronze

EYE CLINICMidland Eye Associates 1st GoldMidland Eye Care 2nd SilverMid-Michigan Eye Care 3rd Bronze

FAMILY DOCTORDr. Sara Nadolski 1st GoldDr. Vargas 2nd SilverDr. Lovell 3rd Bronze

FLOOD/WATER/FIRE CLEAN UPPaul Davis 1st GoldBear Water Restoration 2nd SilverHammer Restoration 3rd Bronze

GOLF COURSECurrie 1st GoldMidland Country Club 2nd SilverSandy Ridge 2nd SilverForestview 3rd Bronze

GROCERY CASHIERKroger 1st GoldMeijer 2nd SilverFruitland Market 3rd BronzeJoJo’s 3rd BronzeWalmart 3rd Bronze

steveN siMPKiNs/Daily Newsben bailey and brian bailey of bailey family Dental & braces.


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7300 Eastman Ave.Midland

839-5900www.meijer.com

Car Wash - Bronze Place to Buy Hearing Aid - Silver

Place to Buy Meat - Bronze Place to Buy Pet Supplies - Bronze

Organic/Health - Gold Grocery Cashier - Silver

Place to Buy Groceries - GoldPlace to Buy Produce - Silver

Caramel Apple - Bronze

Midland’s Best...Thank you for your votes!

GYM/FITNESS CENTERMidland Community Center 1st GoldSmitty’s 2nd SilverSnap Fitness 3rd Bronze

HEATING & AIR RP Carder Mechanical 1st GoldReliable Plumbing & Heating 2nd SilverWild’s Plumbing & Heating 2nd SilverBrubaker Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Fireplaces 3rd Bronze

HOTELHoliday Inn of Midland 1st GoldThe H Hotel 2nd SilverMidland Resort 3rd Bronze

ICE CREAM/YOGURTDairy Queen 1st GoldGreat Lakes Ice Cream 2nd SilverBaskin Robbins 3rd Bronze

INSURANCE AGENTIeuter Insurance 1st GoldBrian Holmes - A.S. Arbury 2nd SilverTom Johnson - State Farm 3rd Bronze

INVESTMENT COUNSELORProfessional Analysts LLC 1st GoldAmeriprise - Ben Dollard 2nd SilverHantz Financial - Jason Crockett 2nd SilverChemical Bank - Brenda Rajewski 3rd BronzeStruthers Financial - Clint Struthers 3rd BronzeDaniel J. Gavin 3rd BronzeEdward Jones - Luke Russell 3rd BronzeEdward Jones - Rick Frasier 3rd BronzeHantz Financial - Jason Hall 3rd BronzeEdward Jones - Kevin Spencer 3rd BronzeRalph Brazzo 3rd BronzeSym Financial 3rd BronzeWells Fargo 3rd Bronze

JEWELERJeanne Behmlander 1st GoldKay’s 2nd SilverGinis Goldsmiths 3rd Bronze

KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTMcDonald’s 1st GoldBob Evans 2nd SilverBig Boy 3rd Bronze

KITCHEN CABINETSLeBeau Cabinets 1st GoldNowak Cabinets of Midland 2nd SilverDesigned by Julie 3rd Bronze

LANDSCAPERReder Landscaping 1st GoldDeLisle 2nd SilverRon Kutchey Landscape & Irrigation 2nd SilverServinski Sod Service 3rd Bronze

LAWN CARE SERVICEWallace Landscaping & Lawncare 1st GoldServinski Sod Service 2nd SilverRon Kutchey Landscape & Irrigation 3rd Bronze

LeBeau believes in communicating with customers, listening, too

EJ’s LeBeau’s business is cabine-try, but he says the key its success is something else: communication.

LeBeau, owner of LeBeau Cabinets, said his staff listens closely to custom-er needs and expectations, and clearly explains the process of cabinet design, manufacturing and installation.

The result? A second consecutive first place in “Best Place to Buy Cabi-nets” from Daily News readers.

“If we’re all on the same page, things go smoothly,” said LeBeau designer Denise Thomas of the pro-cess of matching customers to the perfect cabinets for their kitchen, bath or entertainment center, or large or small commercial installations.

LeBeau said it helps that his is both a manufacturer and a retailer. “If there’s a problem, we can usually take care of it right here. We have the expertise and the equipment, and we’re the last (cabinetmakers) in Midland with a full service busi-ness.”

Describing the evolution of his busi-ness, the native Midlander said, “I’ve always built things.” While attend-ing Kirtland Community College, he worked in the cabinet shop of Three Rivers Construction, at that time owned by his uncle, John Bartos.

LeBeau earned a degree in aviation, but a love of the area and cabinetry drew him back to Three Rivers and in 1993, to open his own business, first housed in a 12- x 24-square-foot garage. He next rented a Sanford building and, in 1999, built a manu-facturing facility on Eastman Road.

LeBeau opened a retail showroom in

2001, and in 2007 bought his current building at 608 S. Saginaw Rd., in the Center City district.

LeBeau’s wife Krista, a Bay County native, handles bookkeeping, assists the designers and provides a contact point for customers.

Two designers complete the show-room staff; the manufacturing shop on North Eastman Road has a crew of four.

The company provides design consultations and custom designs, including counter tops of granite, Corian, quartz and laminate; fixtures and lights. Cabinet brands also avail-able include Dynasty, Omega and Diamond Cabinetry. LeBeau offers Delta, Kohler and Moen faucets, and sells and installs high-end home appliances from Sub-Zero, Wolf and Asko.

Sometimes LeBeau handles instal-lations, sometimes they provide cabinets for contractors to install. If cabinets are to be part of a larger project, LeBeau helps match custom-ers to contractors.

Communicat ion with custom-ers, LeBeau said, includes “lots of detailed (cost) breakdowns, so that people know what they’re paying for; people in the information age, want to know.”

How does LeBeau explain back-to-back Reader’s Choice wins? “We try to make sure that everyone is 100 percent satisfied.”

Krista LeBeau said, “We send out a letter after each job is completed, thanking the customer and ask-ing them to remember us in the future,” when considering more home improvements, or referring friends to the company.

By Steve Griffin

For the Daily News


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802 ASHMAN ST., MIDLAND • (989) 832-1866

The Mattress MAN.comTHANK YOU

FOR YOUR VOTES!GOLD MEDAL WINNERBEST PLACE TO

BUY A MATTRESS

Dan Dan

LOCAL HARDWARE STOREAce Hardware 1st GoldGilroy’s 2nd SilverLowe’s 3rd Bronze

LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSThe Gourmet Cupcake Shoppe 1st GoldGrounds for a Better World 2nd SilverMidland Sabourin’s Pharmacy 3rd Bronze

MASSAGE THERAPISTDoreen Herring - Rodnick Chiropractic Clinic 1st GoldCamile Gerace - Angel Heart Studio 2nd SilverRob Randall - Rodnick Chiropractic Clinic 3rd Bronze

MORTGAGE LENDERScott Strouse - Prime Lending 1st GoldMike Kahl - Glacier Financial 2nd SilverChemical Bank 3rd BronzeWolverine Bank 3rd Bronze

NURSERY/GARDEN STORELowe’s 1st GoldRoy Kutchey Greenhouse 2nd SilverHome Depot 3rd BronzeMaple Hill 3rd Bronze

NURSING HOME/ASSISTED LIVINGTendercare 1st GoldBickford 2nd SilverStratford 2nd SilverKing’s Daughters 3rd Bronze

ORGANIC/HEALTH FOODMeijer 1st GoldNature’s Gift Organic Market 2nd SilverHealth Hut 3rd Bronze

PARTY SUPPLIESPaper Place 1st GoldDollar Tree 2nd SilverGFS 3rd Bronze

PASTOR/CHURCHL. Cecile Adams - Mapleton United Methodist Church 1st GoldFather Pete - Blessed Sacrament Church 2nd SilverJoel Stocker - Christian Celebration Center 3rd Bronze

PERSONAL/FAMILY COUNSELORDr. Tracey Allan 1st GoldCovenant Counseling 2nd SilverEric Ozkan 2nd SilverTerri Stephenson 2nd Silver

PET GROOMERPetsmart 1st GoldMidland Animal Clinic 2nd SilverZach’s 2nd SilverAnimal Pal 3rd BronzeHowl a Day 3rd BronzeLori Blalock 3rd BronzeMarianne’s Pet Salon 3rd Bronze

PHARMACYMidland Sabourin’s Pharmacy 1st GoldRite Aid 2nd SilverWalgreen’s 3rd Bronze

PHOTOGRAPHERWarner Photography 1st GoldMorley Portraiture 2nd SilverCaptured Photography 3rd BronzeThomas Photography 3rd Bronze

steve GriffiN | for the Daily NewseJ lebeau, owner of lebeau Cabinets


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Thank You!We appreciate your votes!

CHIROPRACTORSilver Medal Winner

MASSAGE THERAPIST/LOCATIONDoreen Herring - GoldRob Randall - Bronze

Rodnick Chiropractic ClinicSaginaw • 6165 Bay Rd. • 989-792-7246 / Clare • 135 S. McEwan • 989-386-5437

Midland • 4604 N. Saginaw Rd. • 989-832-5433

2904 E. Ashman St. • Midland • Open 6 am - 6 pm M-F • 832-8588

Thank you for voting us the #1 Preschool!

• ENROLL NOW FOR THE 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR (33 MO.-12 YRS.)• 2s & 3s, 4s & Young 5s Preschool Classes

• Before/After School Care and Transportation• Low Child/Teacher Ratios • Nutritious Meals Provided

• Large, Shaded Playground •Fantastic Field Trips

Providing over 20years of quality

childcare inMidland

FamilyFriendly

Rates

PIZZAPizza Sam’s 1st GoldJet’s Pizza 2nd SilverDomino’s 3rd Bronze

PIZZA DELIVERYJet’s Pizza 1st GoldDomino’s 2nd SilverPizza Sam’s 3rd Bronze

PLACE FOR HOME DECORATINGMarshall’s 1st GoldHome Depot 2nd SilverLowe’s 2nd SilverAmish Reflections 3rd BronzeBed Bath & Beyond 3rd BronzeDesign Within 3rd BronzeGodwin’s 3rd Bronze

PLACE FOR OIL CHANGEValvoline 1st GoldFast Eddie’s 2nd SilverAuto Technician 3rd Bronze

PLACE FOR PHYSICAL THERAPYRodnick Chiropractic Clinic 1st GoldPhysical Therapy Rehab 2nd SilverIn Home Rehab 3rd

PLACE TO BUY CARPET/FLOOREverett Carpet 1st GoldSupreme Floor Covering 2nd SilverD&R Floor Covering 3rd BronzeLowe’s 3rd Bronze

PLACE TO BUY CHRISTMAS TREEDoumel Tree Farm 1st GoldWalmart 2nd SilverHome Depot 3rd BronzeRoy Kutchey Greenhouse 3rd Bronze

PLACE TO BUY A BICYCLERay’s Bike Shop 1st GoldWalmart 2nd SilverBicycle HQ 3rd Bronze

PLACE TO BUY A HEARING AIDMiracle Ear 1st GoldAudio Rx 2nd SilverBieri Hearing 2nd SilverMeijer 2nd Silver

PLACE TO BUY A MATTRESSDan Dan the Mattress Man 1st GoldGodwin’s 2nd Silver

PLACE TO BUY FRESH FLOWERSAwesome Blossoms 1st GoldSmith’s 2nd SilverLil’ Pear Tree 2nd SilverKutchey’s Flowers 3rd Bronze

PLACE TO BUY FURNITUREGodwin’s 1st GoldAmish Reflections 2nd SilverStanley’s Furniture 2nd SilverAaron’s 3rd BronzeDenno’s 3rd BronzeGoodwill Industries 3rd BronzeMarshall’s 3rd Bronze

Stepping Stones is named the best preschool

Patience, love, and skill are the hallmarks of this Midland preschool and daycare.

The 2012 Readers Choice for Best Pre-school is Stepping Stones Preschool and Daycare. Stepping Stones opened in down-town Midland in 1984, and moved to its current location on Ashman Street 20 years ago. Stepping Stones provides preschool and day care for children ages 2 years and nine months old to 12 years old. Emily Squires is the owner and director.

“When you see the kids happy and safe, and the parents have piece of mind. We know we are doing what we’re meant to do,” Squires said.

Squires brought a lifelong love of children to the preschool. She earned a business degree at Saginaw Valley State University, and went back to school for early childhood development classes.

“I started babysitting when I was 12 years old, and all the way through high school and college,” she said.

“I just love being with kids,” she continued.

“I decided to look into day care, and this opportunity came along.”

Stepping Stones has seven full- and part-time staff. The lead caregiver and lead teacher both have child development associ-ate credentials.

Squires said it takes someone with special qualities to work with children.

“Someone who is outgoing,” she said. “Someone who is patient and kind.”

Each day is different at Stepping Stones. The children learn through a combination of play and curriculum. The day includes playing and learning through puzzles, sen-sory items, computers, and arts and crafts, and more. The children also go on field trips, have lunch and snacks, and if younger, take naps.

“We take pride in teaching them what they need to know to go to kindergarten, both academically and socially,” she said.

“It is very important. It helps these kids be successful in school,” she continued.

Stepping Stones prices vary according to

By anGela e. GamBrel

for the Daily News

see “stePPiNG stoNes,” PaGe 9


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Midland County 1703 S. Saginaw (across from K-Mart)Mon - Fri 9 am - 5 pm, Sat 9 am - 2 pm

Open until 6 pm on Thursday(989) 835-6265

STOCK the ReStore - SHOP the ReStore

Thank you, Midland,for voting us one of your

favorite Second Hand Shops.

PLACE TO BUY GROCERIESMeijer 1st GoldKroger 2nd SilverWalmart 3rd Bronze

PLACE TO BUY KIDS’ CLOTHESKohl’s 1st GoldWalmart 2nd SilverTarget 3rd Bronze

PLACE TO BUY MEATJack’s Fruit & Meat Market 1st GoldLalonde’s 2nd SilverMeijer 3rd Bronze

PLACE TO BUY PAINTLowe’s 1st GoldHome Depot 2nd SilverAce Hardware 3rd BronzeSherwin Williams 3rd Bronze

PLACE TO BUY PET SUPPLIESPetsmart 1st GoldSoldan’s 2nd SilverMeijer 3rd BronzeWalmart 3rd Bronze

PLACE TO BUY PRODUCEJack’s Fruit & Meat Market 1st GoldMeijer 2nd SilverFarmers Market 3rd Bronze

PLACE TO BUY SHOESCircle Quality Shoes 1st GoldKohl’s 2nd SilverPayless 3rd Bronze

PLACE TO BUY TIRESDiscount Tire 1st GoldBelle Tire 2nd SilverSears 3rd Bronze

PLACE TO GET PICTURES FRAMEDMichael’s 1st GoldHangups 2nd SilverI’ve Been Framed 3rd Bronze

PLACE TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY PARTYThe Gourmet Cupcake Shoppe 1st GoldMcDonald’s 2nd SilverMidland Community Center 3rd Bronze

PLACE TO WORSHIPTrinity Lutheran Church 1st GoldBlessed Sacrament 2nd SilverMapleton United Methodist Church 3rd Bronze

PRINT SHOPQRP 1st GoldMcCreadie Sales 2nd SilverMidMichigan 2nd SilverPrintex 2nd SilverRush 2nd Silver

PLUMBERBig Randy 1st GoldBrubaker Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Fire Places 2nd SilverGrosteffon Plumbing 2nd SilverReliable Plumbing & Heating 3rd BronzeWild’s Plumbing & Heating 3rd Bronze

PRESCHOOLStepping Stones Daycare & Preschool 1st GoldTrinity Lutheran Church 2nd SilverMontessori 3rd Bronze

seaN ProCtor | [email protected] at the stepping stones Preshool and Daycare celebrate enjoy some time outdoors.

what the family needs. Squires said she works with the family so they can afford quality day care and preschool.

“Our goal has always been to be there for

the family,” she said. “We work with them to provide a quality program at a reason-able cost.

For more information, call Squires at (989) 832-8588.


Stepping Stones named Reader’s Choice top preschool


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THANK YOU!!!For Voting

Firehouse Soft Car WashGold - Best Car Wash

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REAL ESTATE AGENTChristine Morley - Ayre Rheinhart 1st GoldBrad Vandervliet - Park Place Homes 2nd SilverAshley Bromley - Ayre Rheinhart 3rd Bronze

RESTAURANT FOR FRIENDLY SERVICEBig Boy 1st GoldBob Evans 2nd SilverShirlene’s Cuisine 3rd Bronze

RESTAURANT FOR HOME COOKIN’Shirlene’s Cuisine 1st GoldBob Evans 2nd SilverAlex’s Railside 3rd Bronze

RESTAURANT FOR LUNCHBig Boy 1st GoldBennigan’s 2nd SilverApplebee’s 3rd BronzeCafe American 3rd BronzeSubway 3rd Bronze

RESTAURANT FOR ORIENTAL CUISINEPi’s 1st GoldAsian Express 2nd SilverChina Palace 3rd Bronze

SALADBig Boy 1st GoldYaYa’s 2nd SilverRuby Tuesday 3rd Bronze

SEAFOOD/FISHLong John Silver 1st GoldLaLonde’s 2nd SilverRuby Tuesday 3rd Bronze

SOUPBig Boy 1st GoldRiverside Family Restaurant 2nd SilverBennigan’s 3rd Bronze

STEAKLogan’s Roadhouse 1st GoldApplebee’s 2nd SilverPonderosa 3rd Bronze

STYLISTRose Stover - Magnifique Salon & Spa 1st GoldChyan Horneber - Magnifique Salon & Spa 2nd SilverPatrick Manning - Patrick’s Hair Design 2nd SilverPaul Kuipers - Borics 2nd SilverBeth Olney - Elegante 3rd BronzeCarol Trombly - Studio 121 3rd BronzeChaina Marley - Angles 3rd BronzeCindy Hage - Hopfensburger’s 3rd BronzeDeanna Bork - Magnifique Salon & Spa 3rd BronzeDeb Keene - Connies Country Curl 3rd BronzeDebbie Paxton - New Hairizon 3rd Bronze

TRAVEL AGENCYAAA 1st GoldCircle Travel 2nd SilverDelta 3rd Bronze

THRIFT/SECOND HAND SHOPSalvation Army 1st GoldGoodwill 2nd SilverHabitat For Humanity 3rd Bronze

VETERINARIAN / OFFICEMidland Animal Clinic 1st GoldAnimal Medical center 2nd SilverNorthern Animal Clinic 3rd Bronze

WAITRESS/WAITERHillary Hierholzer- Pi’s 1st GoldKatie- Big Boy 2nd SilverOscar Pickering- Bennigan’s 3rd Bronze

Dairy Queen the Reader’s Choice for ice cream

MIDLAND — A decades-old recipe keeps people coming back to Dairy Queen, and it also netted the shop top honors for ice cream in this year’s Midland Daily News Reader’s Choice survey.

“Dairy Queen has been around for over 70 years, so they’ve perfected their ice cream over the years,” said Erin Dunn, shift leader.

Still, there was stiff competition in Midland.

“It’s an honor to be voted No. 1 ice cream, I know that much,” Dunn said.

The first Dairy Queen opened in 1940. There now are more than 6,000 of them in 20 countries.

Favorite items vary somewhat by the age of the customer, Dunn said. Older folks tend toward the chocolate and nuts. Turtle items with caramel also are popu-lar.

Kids, she said, go for candy and cookies.“Ice cream cones are always popular

and Moolattes, which are our frozen coffee

drinks, are really popular, too.” Moolattes come in mocha, cappuccino, French vanilla and caramel varieties. Other frozen drinks include shakes, malts and frozen hot chocolates.

Then there’s the Blizzard, which blends vanilla ice cream with cookies, candy or other goodies.

“The Blizzard treats are the most popu-lar item we sell,” Dunn said. “It would be like an ice cream sundae all blended together.”

The most popular varieties of Blizzard are Oreo, Reese’s and cookie dough, Dunn said. There are more than 20 blends avail-able, including banana split, French silk pie, mint Oreo and strawberry “Cheese-Quake.”

The Eastlawn Plaza Dairy Queen, 917 South Saginaw Road, also is an Orange Julius, offering fruit drinks and premium fruit smoothies.

Hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. The store has a drive-thru and offers a 99-cent chili cheese dog special from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays.

By Beth Bellor

for the Daily News


11

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Dairy Queenwas voted by readers to have the best ice cream/yogurt.


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Best chiropractor: Simmons says ‘we put patients first’

The owner of Simmons Specific Chi-ropractic believes that his business was chosen best chiropractor because “we put the patients first.”

“We are definitely here for the patient’s satisfaction,” said Steven Simmons. “Everything we do is to benefit them.”

“You’re not a condition, you’re a patient to us.”

The business at 5108 Eastman Ave. is in its 13th year of operation.

Simmons’ wife, Vanessa, is the office manager, and the other chiropractors on staff are Melanie Waskevich, Stanton Couch and Eric Selle, a Midland native and H.H. Dow High School graduate. Five other staff members deal with record-keeping, insurance and other office matters.

The “specific” in the name of the busi-ness is because each patient’s needs are unique and specific.

“Everyone is getting what they need,” he said,

According to the Simmons website, “Just like no two fingerprints are the same neither is any one spine the same

[as another]. That is why in each par-ticular case we have created a specific chiropractic adjustment.”

Simmons uses a digital “spinography” system that is designed to not only relieve pain but locate the cause of the pain.

He said his team is “constantly striving to make our best better.”

“We want to be Midland’s chiropractor,” he said.

Simmons, a Kawkawlin native, got his training at the Palmer School of Chi-ropractic in Davenport, Iowa, which he called “the fountainhead of chiropractic.”

He said the “main thing” for patients who come to his office is to “keep on open mind.”

He said chiropractic is “different from mainstream medicine” but that there is a “time and place for everything.”

Simmons doesn’t claim that chiroprac-tic can cure every problem.

“There is no one cure-all for every-thing,” he said.

Simmons said his office “only accepts cases we know that we can help.”

He tries to maintain a balance between

By roGer Bryant

for the Daily News

see “siMMoNs,” PaGe 13


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everett Carpet has been named as the 2012 Midland Daily News readers’ Choice best Place to buy Carpet/flooring.

Everett Carpet offers large amount of stock, has own installers

Don’t let the name fool you, Jim Everett says Everett Carpet Co. sells a lot more than carpets.

Luxury vinyl tile, for example. Hardwoods. Area rugs.

That selection impressed voters, who named the store the best place to buy carpet and flooring in the annual Midland Daily News Reader’s Choice survey.

Jim and brother Dan are the third generation of Everetts. Their father,

Tom, owns the store, and their grand-father founded it in 1950.

“Grandpa used to work at Skaff ’s in Flint and decided to make the move to Midland,” eventually buying out his original partner, Jim Everett said. “We have expanded many times over the years.”

Probably the most notable expan-sion was in 1974, adding a warehouse in back and a “track rack” for carpet-

By Beth Bellor

for the Daily News

see “everett,” PaGe 15


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ing and rolled goods, “probably in the range of 120 rolls just in the show-room,” he said.

“They’re easy to pull out. We can stock quite a bit in a small place,” he explained. “People can see large swatches of what they’re going to possibly purchase.”

A variety of qualities is offered, as well as special orders.

“We carry better goods, and we always have,” Everett said, adding that because the store buys so much, they are able to come by exceptional deals and offer great value. “They range from very, very reasonable to high end, even in our stock program.”

An even greater range of quality, pattern and style is available by spe-cial order. Owners of Alden B. Dow houses, for example, often find they must order carpet to replace what gets worn.

“You’re not going to find a lot of carpet lines designed around bright, primary colors,” which Dow favored, Everett said.

One woman had a rich purple so custom that it had to be dyed to match. Fortunately, the store had kept a sample of her original order.

“We had some cuttings from many, many years ago,” he said. “That was sort of an unusual case.”

It might have been installed by some of the same people as well. Everett’s installation crew leaders

have been with the store for 25 to 40 years.

“On the installation side of it, we’ve always had our own installers. We don’t subcontract,” Everett said. “That’s one place that people usually don’t want to cut on.”

Current trends include LCL carpet, or level cut loop, which is a cut pile carpet with a tracery pattern — solid color but with a pattern in it.

On the environmental side, renew-able or recyclable floors are popular. Even before they were in vogue, though, there had been carpets made from pop bottles. Now there is one manufacturer who even takes old carpet tiles that are returned and turns them into new products.

Everett said another trend is LVT — luxury vinyl tile, very high end and highly durable.

“As they’ve matured, they’ve got-ten more realistic looking,” he said. “Some of the vinyl tiles, if they were installed, people would be hard pressed to tell it from a wood prod-uct.”

It was developed in response to laminate flooring, which was appeal-ing in many ways. However, some people complained about the hollow sound to the floating floor, and the high maintenance.

LVT offers the wood look while eliminating those problems, Everett said. “That’s probably the biggest benefit to them, the water issue is a non-issue.”


Everett has lots of stock in a little place


16

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ryan Carder won the reader’s Choice for heating and cooling

systems for the second time.


17

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Carder gets top award for heating, cooling

In Michigan temperatures vary wildly over the year so the residents take both their heating and cooling systems very seriously.

When the Midland Daily News readers were polled on who’s the best in area for heating and air they choose the local RP Carder Mechanical. The Midland-based company is owned by Ryan Carder. His company is no stranger to being the MDN readers’ choice. It previously received the honor two years ago.

“It feels good,” Carder said of the honor. “It was the efforts of a lot of good custom-ers and the support of family and friends to be able to have this opportunity.”

Carder has a small staff, just him and one other employee, but they are skilled. He personally has 15 years of experience in the business and has had his business organized as a limited liability company for the last four of them. He added he was licensed as a contractor in 2001 and is a state-licensed boiler installer.

Carder said the number of customers he handles each week varies depending on what each job entails. He added he can see up to eight to 10 customers a day throughout the Tri-Cities at times but on other occasions could end up working jobs that take all week.

Carder’s company handles heating and air conditioning projects of all sizes all the way up to large commercial equip-ment. No matter what the size of the project he said he enjoys being in action.

“I prefer to be busy,” Carder said. “I don’t like to let a bunch of grass grow under my feet.”

Carder said his favorite part of the job

is working on service calls as he gets to meet new people and see new places and equipment. He said about 90 percent of his jobs are fixing something for a cus-tomer.

“I thoroughly enjoy being a problem solver,” Carder said. “It’s the most fun.”

In addition to maintence RP Carder Mechanical also sells heating and cooling systems. Carder said he sells American Standard forced air heating and air conditioning services and is also a dia-mond contractor with Mitsubishi, the company’s highest standard, for work on ductless heating and cooling systems.

“I am a branded dealer,” Carder said. “We get to offer a lot more to an indi-vidual than an average company.”

Carder finds his sales have benefits for his customers as he can offer better than standard warranties with financ-ing available. His strong connections with the brands also allow him to get additional training to stay up to date, he said he spends 200 hours every year in training to work with new equip-ment.

Carder said the summer season is the busiest time for his business. He added this is due to the amount of construction that is ongoing at that time of year.

“There are so many different parts to the construction atmosphere,” Carder said.

Carder added his business in the spring and fall are more routine maintence and annual service where issues can be addressed before a problem ever arises.

“It’s making sure everything is working properly for when the cold months come around or it finally heats up,” Carder said.

By eriCh t. Doerr

for the Midland Daily News


18

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Bayne’s has the best caramel apple, readers say

FREELAND — Patti Bayne Tom-czak was “very honored” that her business was credited the best caramel apples by voters in the annual Midland Daily News Read-er’s Choice survey.

She wasn’t surprised, though. A lot of thought goes into the cara-mel apples at Bayne’s Apple Valley Farm, 5393 Midland Road, which she has owned for 28 years.

“They’re made fresh every day,” she said. The shop only is open seasonally, from August through the end of December, and becomes “extremely busy” beginning Labor Day weekend, she said.

For caramel apples, they will go through a bushel of 115-120 apples daily. The apple variety changes throughout the season and always is posted.

“We change depending on what is the freshest and what is the firmest because we want a nice, hard crisp apple,” Tomczak said. “So it’s a con-stant process and we are constantly evaluating the process.”

The caramel has changed names over the years but used to be Kraft, and Bayne’s has used it for 48 years. “We’ve stayed loyal with them and we’ve found for us that’s the best caramel.”

For nuts they are loyal to another area business, St. Laurent Brothers in Bay City.

There’s a lot more to the caramel apples than with or without nuts, though.

“I come up with new varieties

all the time, so we have 10 or 12,” Tomczak said. Adults especially like an all-pecan variety, while children love the Dirt Ball — an apple coated with Oreo crumbs, and with a sour gummy worm coming out of it.

She often hears people saying they plan to take specialty apples back to the office, and she has several tags made up just for Boss’ Day, ranging from “You’re my inspiration” to “You put on your big girl panties and deal with it.” Her favorite gift tag is the one that reads, “Remember this next time I screw up.”

Bayne’s also decorates apples for breast cancer awareness, covering them with peanuts and pink and white sprinkles. Tomczak said the inspiration struck her in the middle of the night a couple of years ago.

“A l l o f u s a r e a f f e c t e d ,” s h e explained. Bayne’s began working with the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer annual walk, and in the first year raised $200 — enough for three mammograms.

This year the Saginaw Making Strides walk is Oct. 27. Bayne’s will have its “Think Pink” week Oct. 21-28, with profits from everything it makes, bakes or dips with pink going to the cause. Last year, $1,000 in profits benefited local women.

“To me that’s huge. I heard sto-ries that I felt very honored that people felt comfortable to tell me,” Tomczak said. “My staff, they were on board with it, and they were so proud of what we were able to do, one little business.”

By Beth Bellor

for the Daily News


19

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Allan enjoys helping people get better

Dr. Tracey Allan had a simple motivation for becoming a psycholo-gist.

“I like helping people get better,” said Allan, who was named voters’ favorite personal and family coun-selor in the Midland Daily News’ Reader’s Choice survey. “It’s a won-derful opportunity to see a meta-morphosis when they really come back alive.”

Her practice includes ages 7 to 97, she said. She has specialties in children, adolescents and adults, with a doctorate in psychology from the University of Michigan, a year of postdoctoral work at U-M and another two years of postdoctoral work at Northwestern University. She worked in the Chicago area for two years and Ann Arbor for five

before coming to Midland, where she has had her practice for 20 years.

“I work with a lot of people around divorce, depression, relationship problems,” she said. “Some people who are bipolar, personality disor-ders.”

While she does receive many refer-rals, she also welcomes people to call her office (835-1174) on their own. “I really enjoy meeting new people, getting to know them.”

She appreciates the transforma-tion she sees after people have been coming to her and begin to take care of themselves again.

“If you see somebody when they first come in and they’re downtrod-den, miserable, you work with them for a while and they start looking better,” Allan said. “They do some of the things they need to do to have a better quality of life. It’s just very gratifying.”

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A business of their own, and a gold award, too Business is brisk at Awesome

Blossoms, largely because of its own-er’s and manager’s philosophy, which can be summed up in five words: “it’s all about the people.”

The store with a catchy name opened in late November 2011. After it was in business for just eight months, Daily News readers voted it the best place to buy fresh flowers in Midland. Manager Penny Row-les said she was ecstatic when she learned that Awesome Blossoms was chosen to receive the Reader’s Choice Gold Award for 2012.

“I had always wanted to have a place of my own, and I was given that opportunity,” Midlander Rowles said. “Meg (Eastling) is the owner. She and I met six years ago.”

Eastling’s only sister died of cancer in 2006, and Cancer Services helped her a lot during her illness. Eastling wanted to give back to the agency. On the counter at Awesome Blossoms is a ceramic pig, where customers may donate to Cancer

Services if they choose to. Rowles has had a total of 14 years

of experience working at floral shops. Eastling also works at the shop sev-eral days a week, and there is one other employee.

In addition to selling fresh flow-ers, gift baskets and plants of all kinds, Awesome Blossoms sells a variety of handcrafted items, which Rowles and Eastling accept on con-signment. They have about 15 con-signers, Rowles said. Currently on display in the store are infants’ cloth-ing items, wooden toys, twig furni-ture, bird houses, home decor items, handmade note cards, fabric hand-bags and jewelry.

Everything is arranged in an attractive manner in the spacious store. Rowles painted a stylized black tree with curving branches on one wall.

“We wanted the store to have a homey feel,” she said. “We try to cater to people’s needs and ideas. I enjoy people. I’ve built a lot of friend-ships over the years. Meg and I want people to feel they’re not just another number – they’re friends. It’s about them. Our customers have been very loyal.”

Awesome Blossoms is a member of the Teleflora network. People can either come into the store or phone in orders, Rowles said, adding that she enjoys talking to people in per-son, to find out what kind of floral arrangement they have in mind. That makes it easier to decide which would be more appropriate – an in-store arrangement or one of Teleflora’s.

The business delivers orders of all price ranges, and most delivery charges to local homes are $5 to $7. Deliveries to funeral homes in Mid-land and to MidMichigan Medical Center are free.

Awesome Blossoms is located at 104 W. Wackerly, on the northwest corner of Wackerly and Jefferson ave-nues. People may find them online at www.midlandmiflorist.com. Through the Midland Area Chamber of Com-merce, Awesome Blossoms has online coupons for various specials. (www.macc.org/florists).

Business hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturdays. The store’s phone number is 832-8755.

By KriS winterton

For the Daily News

brittNey lohMiller | [email protected] blossoms, located at 104 w. wackerly in Midland, is a floral and gift shop makes a variety of flower arrangements for any event.


21

Magnifique Salon & Spa

FULL SERVICE SALON605 E. Wackerly Rd.

989-631-4747

Midland’s BestStylists

Thank You For Your

Votes!

Gold Medal Winner ROSE STOVER

Silver Medal Winner CHYAN HORNEBER

Bronze Medal Winner DEANNA BORK

Specializing in: Hair Color & Razor Cuts Manicures, Pedicures, Acrylics Massage Facials Brow Tinting Lash Extensions Lash Perms Body Waxing Body Wrap

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a clean sweep in the stylist category.”Owner/bronze medal winner

Deanna Bork(Now accepting new clients)

Penny rowles of Midland put the finishing touches on a floral arrangement at awe-some blossoms thursday morning. rowles first job was working at a floral shop.brittNey lohMiller | [email protected]


22

From design to decor, it’s all about simplicity and ease of use. With Diamond cabinetry you’ll always find ways to store more with style along with fingertip features that suit you.Visit our showroom and let our experts help you start planning your ideal space.

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Thank you for voting us Gold Winner. Best Heating & Air Conditioning.

Dow Chemical Employees Credit Union checks in as area’s best

When the Midland Daily News readers were polled about what was the best credit union in the area they selected the Dow Chemical Employ-ees Credit Union and not for the first time.

Credit union president Dennis Han-son noted the organization works hard to satisfy its members and as such they have been selected as the reader’s choice several times before.

“We feel very good about that,” Hanson said. “We work very hard on behalf of our members and our employees are very committed to (exceptional service).”

According to Hanson the credit union serves about 56,000 mem-bers who fall into four stakeholder groups. The first two are the employ-ees plus their families and the retir-ees of The Dow Chemical Co. and Dow Corning Corp. Other members are those involved with Select Employee Groups, businesses aligned with help-ing either of the Dow companies, and those who have an ownership interest or own stock in Dow Chemical.

The cred-i t un ion ’s care of its m e m b e r s h a s p a i d off as Han-son noted the credit union is one of the area’s highest per-formers as r a t e d b y t h e R a d -don Finan-cial Group s u r v e y o f credit unions, always finishing in the top 10 percent . Hanson also added each year the organization does its own internal survey of its members.

“Each year the results put us at around 98 to 99 percent (of our mem-bers as being) satisfied or very satis-fied,” Hanson said. “We’re very proud of that.”

Members have a good reason to pleased as the credit union has done well at returning its investments.

According to Hanson each year the organi-zation pays back a loan i n t e r e s t r e b a t e t o m e m b e r s every year. He added o v e r t h e l a s t y e a r the credit union has given back

$7.2 million in profits to

its various members and over $60 mil-lion during the last 10 years.

Hanson credits some of the credit union’s success to its mission state-ment that says “we are a principles-based financial cooperative committed to exceptional service, convenience, value and security.”

“I think part of it is we constantly apply and live out our mission state-ment,” Hanson said. “It’s something we’ve applied for the last 75 years.”

Hanson believes the credit union idea offers a better business model than a normal bank for three rea-sons, including that the members are also technically both the owners and customers. It also means they have a volunteer board of directors, leaving “no financial incentive to do the wrong thing.” He added that each member is also entitled to one vote, meaning a small minority of larger sharehold-ers are not going to be the only ones running the organization.

According to Hanson, the credit union has just a single main branch location in Midland. He added it cur-rently serves members worldwide but that the predominant share of them are in the Great Lakes Bay region.

Hanson closed by noting the credit union continues to work to develop new programs to increase convenience to its members. He said the latest example is a new banking platform for mobile devices. More than 6,000 people have signed up since it was launched on July 23.

“We’ll continue to try and work on services through our self-service channels,” Hanson said.

By eriCh Doerr

for the Daily News

Dow Chemical employees’ Credit union has been named as MDN’s reader’s Choice contest as the best Credit union.


Nationwide store appeals to locals for kids’ clothes

When it comes to children’s clothes, a good sampling of Midland-area read-ers turn to a nationwide store, Kohl’s.

Kohl’s won the Daily News’ Readers Choice Award for best place to buy children’s clothes.

In its information to investors, Kohl’s touts its “private” and “exclusive” brands. When an advertisement states “Only at Kohl’s,” it refers to the idea that the company carries merchandise made for its customers. The company believes these brands make it stand out in the market, and the company has “significant control” over produc-tion and manufacture of these brands so Kohl’s can offer more flexible pric-ing.

The company states these clothes are competitively priced, durable and well made so they may be worn for years to come.

Before launching one of these brands, Kohl’s says it conducts significant consumer research to gain insight

about brands, trends and strength and awareness of its products. The Chaps brand has been a “model of success”

since its launching in 2005. the brand includes boys’ and girls’ clothes and newborn, layette and children’s wear.

FILA SPORT makes accessories for men, women and children and was

launched at Kohl’s in 2008. Jumping Beans is a private brand that carries clothes for infants through little boys and girls. It was launched at Kohl’s in early 2008. Urban Pipeline is billed as a modern classic brand in young men’s and boys’ apparel.

Kohl’s says it works to deliver its merchandise quickly. Three years ago, it took 45 weeks from the start of a product’s development to the time it was delivered into the store. Now, it’s been cut to 20 to 32 weeks, with fast-est brands delivered in 12 weeks and re-orders in four to six weeks.

The company’s practice of “disci-plined inventory” keeps Kohl’s from having a glut of products from the pre-vious season as, for example, summer changes to fall. The company prides itself on friendly and knowledgeable associates, wide aisles, convenient parking, shopping carts and strollers and fast checkout.

The Daily News was unable to get an interview with Kohl’s corporate staff in time for publication.

By Cheryl waDe

for the Daily News

23

Thanks for voting me aReaders’ Choice winner for

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Neil blaKe | [email protected]’s is one of the top clothing department stores in Midland. it was named as the best place to buy kids’ clothing in the Midland area.


24

For over 90 years, Chemical Bank has remained committed to community involvement and personalized service. Chemical Bank is helping communities across Michigan grow and prosper by providing its customers with the capital, tools, and resources needed to effectively thrive in today’s economic climate. Visit ChemicalBankMI.com or stop by one of our 142 offices for more information.

THANK YOU FOR VOTING CHEMICAL BANK, BEST BANK!

RELATIONSHIPS.MADE IN MICHIGAN.

Garber No. 1 , but getting faceliftGarber Chevrolet speeds to vic-

tory in reader’s choice polls as top dealer

It’s been one year since the last time the Midland Daily News polled its readers about what is the best car dealer in the area but their opinion has not changed. Once again the readers choose Midland’s Garber Chevrolet as the best place to start their engines.

“We’re very honored to be chosen,” Garber General Manager Mike Weinert said. “We strive to take care of our customers.”

According to Weinert Garber was the number one Chevrolet dealer in the Great Lakes Bay Region by its volume of new car sales in 2011. He added the dealer is “tracking well” in that area again in 2012 and he believes the dealer’s family atmosphere helps set it apart from other dealers.

“If you come in here you can feel

it,” Weinert said noting the dealer intends to not be a high-pressure environment. “We’re here to help guide the customers in their pur-chase.”

Weinert said part of that fam-ily atmosphere is because of the organization’s mission statement; “We’re only are doing our job prop-erly when we create an experience that makes the customer return to do business with us again.”

“We follow the mission statement and treat our guests like family,” Weinert said. “You take care of the customer and they will take care of you. Garber Chevrolet has a very high percentage of repeat and referral business because of how we treat our guests.”

According to its website, The Gar-ber Automotive Group started sell-ing cars in 1907 with Saginaw’s Garber Buick, today the o ldest family-owned Buick dealer in the world.

The company expanded over the

years and moved into Chevrolet sales in Midland in 1991 when it took over the Bandeen Chevrolet dealership. Today the dealer is a supporter of many local events including sponsoring the Great Lakes Loons, Weinert said.

“We’re huge community support-ers,” Weinert said.

Garber sells an average of 85 new vehicles and 55 pre-owned vehicles each month. Both the new Chevy Malibu and the Volt hybrid-electric car have been selling well, noting Garber is the number one seller of Volts in the Great Lakes Bay region and the number three seller in the state of Michigan, Weinert said.

“Chevrolet has a killer lineup for 2013,” Weinert said. “They have come so far in the last 10 years and even the last 5 years.”

In addition to sales the dealer also has a busy service department and body shop. According to Wein-ert the department handles about

1,600 repair orders each month for both types of cars they sell and oth-ers they do not such as Lexus and Range Rover.

“There’s an old saying sales sells the first car, service sells the next five,” Weinert said of his pride in the department’s performance.

Despite the success Garber is not sitting on its laurels, as construc-tion is beginning this month on a major remodeling of the dealer. While GM is requiring some face-lifts at many of their dealers Gar-ber is going “above and beyond” the requirements in its rebuilding to create a ‘better flow’ within the dealer, Weinert said.

Once completed the dealer i s going to have a showroom that is 50 percent larger than the current one. There is also going to have a new customer lounge with a quiet zone work area and larger restrooms.

“We’ll have more space for our guests,” Weinert said.

By eriCh t. Doerr

for the Daily News


25

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Mike weinert and office staff at Garber Chevrolet.


26

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big boy staffers (standing, from left) Jenn Crego, elaine Mon-

sion and Carolyn Popp attend to Pat russell (seated left) and steve lucas, both freeland res-

idents. russell said he’s been a regular big boy breakfast

customer, “since 1993, every thursday, except when i’m

on vacation.” although lucas, originally a Midlander, moved

to freeland, “i still come here. you know everybody; it’s like

family”


27

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Just a ‘regular’ day at the Big Boy

Editor’s Note: Full disclosure: freelance writer Steve Griffin is one of the regular morning customers at Big Boy.

Bob Miller had breakfasted on the other side of town for years when he moved toward the southeast side about 20 years ago and came to the Big Boy of Midland for his early-morning coffee and breakfast.

He’s been a regular ever since.Jerry Landosky had been meeting

work buddies for breakfast at another local restaurant when, one day in 1989, the owner/server/cook dropped a stack of menus on the table with a take-it-or-leave-it snarl.

“That did it,” said Landosky. Before he retired in 1996, and ever since, has been coming to the Big Boy nearly every morning.

“They make sure we have the door open at five minutes to six,” said Caro-lyn Popp, Big Boy senior manager, of Miller, Landosky and a clutch of other regulars.

The restaurant opens at 6 a.m., and there’s always customers waiting to get in, part of a daily breakfast crowd that earned the restaurant “Best Place to Eat Breakfast” among a sackful of other awards from the Daily News Readers’ Choice competition.

Popp, a Big Boy employee for 16 years, 15 of them mainly mornings, said, “I like the people and making their day, the first thing. They make my day, too.”

“We have their coffee poured before

they even get to their seats,” said Popp. And yes, the regulars have their appointed roosts, although they’re genial about moving if someone beats them to it.

Most are greeted by name — more than a few, by nickname earned there. Some who now sit together daily were strangers before they began coming to Big Boy.

They come for breakfast specials, including the Senior Special and Pick-Your-Own Blockbusters, with a choice of both number and items. Weekend and holiday buffets draw crowds, “always a big seller,” said Popp.

Miller said he likes the restaurant’s “nice waitresses, and all friendly people

to talk to,” with whom he stays up to date on wild berry crops, soup-making and canning, and other matters.

Waitress Jenn Crego has worked full-time at Big Boy “a while,” which turns out to be about 18 years, nearly all mornings. Her mom, Bev Murdock, had worked there for 10 years.

“I like seeing the same people in the morning,” said Crego. “Tuesday, this guy comes in, Wednesday it’s so-and-so, the Bible group comes this day.”

It’s a comfortable pattern. Nor is the family trend unusual. Elaine Monsion has worked at Big Boy, mornings, for 30 years (“but who’s counting?”), including stints with her daughters Amber and Laken.

Midland’s Big Boy also won gold medals for Best Breakfast Spot, Best Salad, Best Soup, Best Restaurant for Friendly Service, and Best Restau-rant for Lunch; silver medals for Best Waitress (Katie) and Best Dessert; and bronze medals for Best Cup of Coffee and Most Kid Friendly.

By Steve Griffin

for the Daily News“They make sure we have the door open

at five minutes to six,” said Carolyn Popp, Big Boy senior manager, of Miller, Landosky and a clutch of other regulars.

Page 28 | Midland Daily News 28

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Circle Quality Shoes has little door, big selection

The Reader’s Choice Best Shoe Store is Circle Quality Shoes. If you’re travel-ing down Saginaw Road and think “Oh, you’re in that ‘little‘ store, you wouldn’t be alone, according to store manager, Dorann Schott.

That little door is really the back door. The front door is on 208 Cambridge, “but no one knows how to give directions to the store using the Cambridge Street address,” Schott said. .

Barbara Swift was there trying on shoes. She’s been getting her shoes at Circle Quality Shoes since they opened in November of 1980. Swift said, “I used to drive to Bay City, but since I’ve been coming here, I wouldn’t go anywhere else.” She continued, “I like the personal attention and I never have to worry about not having my size. I have foot problems and I can always find the right kind of shoes for my feet.”

Kim Johnson, Schott’s sister and co-manager of the store, said, “We pride

ourselves in the personal touch. You won’t find our shoes in big box stores. We provide quality shoes that last and customer service that keeps people com-ing back.”

Schott says they try to have as many American made products as possible. But she added, “We carry quality no matter what country they come from.” She pointed to sections of the store, each representing a country which included Romania, Spain, Portugal, Germany,

Israel, Mogadishu, and the United States. She was proud of the American made

line. They had to really wait to carry the S.A.S. line of shoes because stores in the surrounding areas carried it. They had to wait until someone stopped carrying it – that wait took 26 years.

Children’s boots protecting little feet to 30 degrees below zero, classy eye-catching shoes for teachers and health care workers who are on their feet a long time, shoes with classic style for the professional, those you can slip your own orthotics into, are just a few of the hundreds of styles carried in the store.

Schott and Johnson just returned from a shoe buyer’s convention in Livonia. Schott said, “We had appoint-ments every half hour for two days. We’d finish one day, go to a reception and do the whole thing over the next day. We still didn’t get to see all the ones we wanted to.”

She admitted to making buy or two over the years which just didn’t pan out. She pointed to a perky little light

brown Hush Puppy leather flat with little holes all over the side. She said, “I looked at that little shoe and fell in love with it. I bought shoes in all sizes and widths and here they sit. It’s a lovely looking shoe, but who’s going to wear them in winter with all those cute little holes?”

Johnson said that over sixty percent of their clientele are people with foot prob-lems. “We carry styles here that people can slip their own orthotics into as well as a variety of widths.”

Schott said that about eighty percent of their customers are women. “The men who come in just seem to buy shoes for weddings or funerals or when they have a hole in them. The one style them seem to gravitate toward is the “Jungle Moc” – a shoe with no laces, straps, or buckles – just slip into them.”

Store hours are Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. to 8:00, Sat 9:00 – 6:00 and closed Sunday. Andy McGee and Kim Carrier complete the store staff. The store is owned by Bud and Dorothy Thayer, though they are now retired.

By CinDy warriCK

for the Daily News

NiCK KiNG | [email protected] popular women’s shoe made by alegria at Circle Quality shoes in Midland.


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NiCK KiNG | [email protected]


30

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Midland’s Chemical Bank a community bank

When the Midland Daily News asked its readers to choose what is the best bank to do business with they went with the local choice.

The reader’s choice honor this year goes to Chemical Bank, a firm originally founded in Midland.

“It ’s a great honor and real ly attributable to our employees,” Chemical Bank’s Community Bank President for Midland Bob Rathbun said of the award. “They provide great customer service.”

According to Rathbun the honor comes this year as Chemical Bank celebrates its 95th anniversary. He added the bank was originally founded in Midland as the Chemical State Savings Bank before expand-ing throughout the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Today Chemical Bank has 11 locations in Midland County alone including six in the City of Midland.

Rathbun said this is not the first

time Chemical Bank has received the Reader ’s Choice honors. He credits his bank’s ongoing success to three factors: customer service, employee dedication and commit-ment to the local area.

“Most people that bank with us would agree they do so based on our quality customer service and our commitment to the communities,” Rathbun said.

When it comes to customer service

Rathbun said all of the company’s employee receive ongoing training in that area to assure quality. He added service is a very important part of setting his bank apart from others as most provide s imilar money services.

“They are the biggest part of it,” Rathbun said of his employees and the company’s success.

Rathbun added Chemical Bank’s ‘community banking philosophy’

also plays into its success as it works with many area non-profit groups and charities as a way of giving back. He added the bank works with all kinds of community organizations such as the United Way, various volunteer boards and the Chamber of Commerce. The bank’s employees also do their part by volunteering at events through-out Midland, including the Relay for Life and planting flowers for Midland Blooms.

“Our offices and employees are deeply involved with the commu-nity,” Rathbun said.

According to Rathbun there are no big changes coming to the banks in the near future.

“We’ll continue to provide quality customer service,” Rathbun said.

In addition to being the local com-munity bank president Rathbun is also Chemical Bank’s eastern regional president. In addition to Midland the region he oversees also includes Clare, Gladwin, Owosso, Bay City, Sanford and the Thumb.

By eriCh t. Doerr

for the Midland Daily News“It’s a great honor and really

attributable to our employees,” Chemical Bank’s Community

Bank President for Midland Bob Rathbun said of the award. “They provide great customer service.”


31

Please stop in and become a part of our Trinity family!3701 Jefferson Ave., Midland, MI www.tlcmidland.org

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the members of Chemical bank in Midland. Chemcal bank won the Gold Prize in the banking category in the readers’ Choice contest.


32

Thank you, Midland!We value your votes.

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