Attractions Salon is one of those businesses that instantly makes you feel at ease — the kind of place where you’re greeted by name, listened to closely, and leave feeling genuinely better than when you walked in.

Located on North Water Street, Attractions Salon blends polished, modern beauty services with a welcoming, down-to-earth atmosphere that reflects the best of Bay City itself. Their philosophy is simple but powerful: every guest deserves to feel heard, comfortable, and confident — every step of the way.

Led by owner Cassidy Bouchard, the salon is home to a diverse, talented team of stylists and nail artists who each bring their own expertise while sharing the same commitment to quality and care. Whether it’s a Men’s haircut, Women’s hair cut, nails, or a full Luxury Blowout, the focus is never rushed or transactional. It’s personal.

What sets Attractions Salon apart isn’t just technical skill — it’s intention.

This is a space built for real people with real lives. The team takes time to understand what you want, what works for you, and how to help you feel like the best version of yourself — not someone else. That creates trust you can feel, and it shows in their loyal following and growing reputation.

You’ll feel it the moment you sit down:

Attractions Salon proves that you don’t need to drive to a big city to get a refined, professional experience. Sometimes, the best places are already right here — quietly raising the bar.

📍 810 N Water St, Bay City, MI 48708
📞 (989) 799-8988
📧 [email protected]

Follow Attractions Salon on Facebook or on Instagram

Hours:
Mon–Thu: 10AM–7PM
Fri: 9AM–5PM
Sat: 9AM–2PM (2nd Saturday or by appointment)
Sun: CLOSED

If you’re looking for a salon that pairs style with sincerity — this is one worth knowing.

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Inspiring Curiosity, Creativity, and a Love of Learning

This January, as a new year begins and fresh goals take shape, we’re proud to recognize an educator who reminds us what learning looks like when it’s done with joy, imagination, and deep care.

Jessi Koehler is an elementary STEM teacher at Freeland Community School District, where she has become known for creating classrooms that feel less like rows of desks and more like worlds waiting to be explored.

Recently honored with the Michigan Lottery’s Excellence in Education Award, Jessi’s work stands out because it meets students exactly where they are — and then invites them to dream bigger. Her classroom often transforms into immersive learning environments: a post office, a veterinarian’s clinic, even a space station. Through dramatic play, open-ended exploration, and thoughtful questioning, students aren’t just learning facts — they’re learning how to think, collaborate, and problem-solve.

What makes her approach especially powerful is that it never feels forced. Curiosity leads. Creativity follows. And confidence grows naturally.

Those who nominated Jessi described a classroom filled with laughter, engagement, and excitement — a place where children come home not just talking about what they learned, but how much fun they had learning it. She encourages students to wrestle with ideas, try new solutions, and see challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles.

With 24 years in education, including the last eight in her current role, Jessi brings both experience and enthusiasm into every day. She credits her own parents, coaches, and teachers for inspiring her path — and now, that legacy continues through the countless students she influences each year.

As we step into a new calendar year, Jessi Koehler is a powerful reminder that education isn’t just about preparing students for tests — it’s about preparing them for life.

Thank you, Jessi, for making learning magical, meaningful, and memorable for Mid-Michigan’s next generation.

» Read the full story: Saginaw County Educator Wins Excellence in Education Award from the Michigan Lottery

January carries a quiet promise.

Not the loud kind of optimism that fades by mid-month — but the deeper assurance that real change is possible. Scripture doesn’t frame new beginnings as something we manufacture through willpower or resolutions. It tells us they come from transformation.

In Christ, renewal isn’t symbolic. It’s actual, tangible, and real.

The past does not get the final word. Old patterns, old failures, old labels… they are not the authority over your future. God doesn’t simply improve what already exists; HE makes something new.

That matters as a new year begins.

Some of us enter January hopeful. Others enter it tired, carrying things from last year we wish we could leave behind. This verse speaks to both. It reminds us that identity isn’t anchored to yesterday — it’s anchored to what God is doing now.

New doesn’t always mean easy.
New doesn’t always mean instant.
But new means possible.

And it means purposeful.

As this year unfolds, may we walk forward not pretending the past didn’t happen… but trusting that it no longer defines us. In Jesus Christ alone, what’s ahead is not a repeat. It’s a renewal.

All things have become new.

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Simple. Comforting. Always a crowd-pleaser.

January calls for meals that feel warm, familiar, and deeply satisfying — the kind of dishes that bring everyone to the table without a lot of fuss. This Chicken Parmesan does exactly that.

It’s crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, layered with rich marinara and melted mozzarella, and finished with just enough Parmesan to make every bite comforting without being heavy. No fancy ingredients. No complicated steps. Just a timeless classic that never disappoints.

Why We Love It
This is one of those meals that works just as well for a quiet weeknight as it does for a Sunday family dinner. The chicken stays juicy, the coating adds texture without overpowering, and the baked finish pulls everything together into something cozy and dependable — exactly what January cooking should be.

Ingredients

How It Comes Together
The chicken is lightly breaded, quickly pan-seared for a golden crust, then baked with marinara and cheese until bubbly and perfectly cooked through. Serve it over hot spaghetti, alongside roasted vegetables, or with a simple salad and crusty bread.

This is comfort food in its truest form… familiar, filling, and worth making again.

If your New Year includes more home-cooked meals and fewer takeout boxes, this one’s a great place to start.

SEE ORIGINAL RECIPE →

Brought to you by Yummo

Small-town pub food done right

Sebewaing might be a small lakeside town, but when it comes to comfort food with real flavor, Beeter’s Brew Pub punches well above its weight.

This is the kind of place locals swear by — unfussy, welcoming, and consistently good. No gimmicks. No trends. Just hearty pub food, cold drinks, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to stay a little longer than planned.

Beeter’s Brew Pub has built a reputation on doing the basics exceptionally well. Burgers are thick and satisfying, wings come out hot and sauced exactly how you ask, and the fryer turns out everything from cheese sticks to pickle chips the way pub food is supposed to be: crispy, indulgent, and unapologetic.

What really sets them apart is variety without chaos. The menu covers all the classics — burgers, chicken sandwiches, fish, wings, baskets, soups, and sides — while offering an impressive lineup of house-made and specialty dipping sauces that turn simple food into something memorable. Whether you’re in the mood for BBQ, buffalo, garlic parmesan, honey mustard, or something with a little heat, there’s a sauce that fits.

The vibe matches the food:

If you’re passing through Sebewaing, grabbing dinner after a long day, or just craving something familiar and filling, Beeter’s Brew Pub delivers every time.

📍 Sebewaing, Michigan
📞 (989) 883-2170
🍴 Dine-in & takeout available
📶 Free Wi-Fi
🕒 Open 7 days a week

Some places try to reinvent pub food.
Beeter’s Brew Pub just gets it right.

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Maple-sweet granola made right here in Michigan

If you’re looking for a Michigan product that brings authentic local flavor to your breakfast or snack game, this one’s a winner.

Bonz Beach Farms Maple Pecan Granola is a simple but delicious blend of oats, maple goodness, and crunchy pecans — crafted to be just as tasty with a spoonful of Greek yogurt as it is straight out of the bag. The maple flavor is rich but not overpowering, letting the pecans and whole grains shine.

Granola like this isn’t just fuel — it’s the kind of food that makes chilly January mornings feel a little warmer and brighter.

Why we love it:

📦 Size: 12 oz
💲 Price: $9.00
👉 Order online: bonzbeachfarms.com/collections/maple-granola

Whether you’re meal-prepping for the week or just want a wholesome snack, this granola earns its spot on the Michigan Made list.

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Why it took far longer than Michiganders thought it should.

Michigan’s journey to statehood wasn’t quick, smooth, or polite. It was stubborn, political, and — at times — defiant. And that’s exactly why it still feels so Michigan.

After periods of French and British control, the land that would become Michigan was placed under U.S. authority as part of the Northwest Territory in 1787. That mattered because the Northwest Territory established the official pathway to statehood: population growth, territorial governance, and eventually admission to the Union.

In 1805, Congress formally created the Michigan Territory, naming Detroit as its capital and appointing William Hull as its first governor. For the first time, Michigan had defined borders, leadership, and a federal identity.

By the early 1830s, settlers were pouring in. Congress required a minimum population of 60,000 for statehood. Michigan’s census came back at over 85,000.

By every measurable standard, Michigan qualified.

So territorial leaders didn’t wait.

In 1835, delegates gathered to write a state constitution — a necessary step for joining the Union. Voters approved it on October 5, 1835, and Stevens T. Mason was elected governor.

Michigan was operating as a state in practice — even though Washington hadn’t approved it yet.

(Historical note: like most states at the time, the convention and voting rights were limited to white men — a reality clearly documented in Michigan’s own educational records.)

Michigan’s statehood stalled for one reason: a border dispute with Ohio over a narrow strip of land near present-day Toledo — later called the Toledo Strip.

Both states wanted it because it controlled critical trade routes and economic access.

The so-called “Toledo War” (1835–1836) was mostly political posturing, but it wasn’t harmless:

Congress refused to admit Michigan until the conflict was resolved.

The federal government offered a deal:

At the time, many Michiganders believed the Upper Peninsula was worthless wilderness. The compromise was widely unpopular.

Michigan initially said no.

But financial pressure mounted. The territory was running out of money, and Congress held all the leverage.

Eventually, Michigan accepted the deal.

On January 26, 1837, Michigan was officially admitted as the 26th state in the Union.

Ironically, the land many residents didn’t want — the Upper Peninsula — would later prove invaluable, rich in timber, iron, copper, and long-term economic significance.

Michigan didn’t enter the Union quietly.
It pushed ahead before permission was granted.
It argued with a neighboring state.
It resisted a federal deal — then endured it.

And in the end, it emerged stronger, larger, and uniquely its own.

That spirit still defines Michigan today.

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Serving all Residential & Commercial Clients within a 30 mile radius of Wenona Street in Bay City, Michigan!