Downtown Midland’s Year-Round Fashion Destination

Downtown Midland just got a little brighter — and a lot more stylish.

Located at 132 E. Main Street, Last Season Boutique is the kind of place where everyone can find something they love, no matter the season, size, or style. Founded by Ashley Spivey and Sabrina Sauer, this inviting new shop brings together over two dozen local vendors offering clothing, candles, accessories, drinkware, woodworking, and more — all curated with care, color, and confidence.

The concept behind the name is simple but genius: “Gifts and clothing from this, last, and every season.” That means whether you’re hunting for cozy fall layers, a summer sundress in January, or that perfect game-day outfit, you’ll find it here — always in sizes infant through 3X, and always in a range from affordable to luxury.

The atmosphere feels as warm as the mission. From boho-contemporary racks to handmade statement pieces, the store celebrates individuality and inclusivity. Ashley and Sabrina’s goal? To make shopping fun again — a welcoming space where you can come as you are and leave feeling your best.

As Midland continues to reinvent its downtown, Last Season Boutique adds something the community has been missing: a fashion hub that’s approachable, expressive, and full of heart.

📍 132 E. Main Street, Midland, MI
📧 [email protected]
🌐 Follow @LastSeasonBoutique on Facebook & Instagram

Come as you are — they love you that way.

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Honoring a Lifetime of Leadership, Music, and Mentorship

This month, we’re proud to recognize Mr. Stephen DeRees, Dow High School’s longtime Director of Bands and one of Midland’s most dedicated music educators. Recently named the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) Teacher of the Year for District 5, Mr. DeRees continues to set the gold standard for music education in Mid-Michigan.

A beloved figure in the community and a 30-year educator with Midland Public Schools, DeRees leads the award-winning Dow High Symphonic Band, consistently ranked among the top programs in Michigan. His passion for music extends beyond the classroom — he also teaches band at Jefferson Middle School and Siebert and Woodcrest Elementary Schools, nurturing the next generation of musicians from their very first notes.

DeRees holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Central Michigan University and has been recognized repeatedly for his excellence, including prior MSBOA District 5 Teacher of the Year awards in 2000 and 2008, the Gerstacker Teacher Proficiency Award, and the Saginaw Valley League Teacher of the Year honor in 2011.

Outside of teaching, he serves as Director of the Chemical City Band, performs professionally on saxophone, and has even shared the stage as part of the backup band for Kenny Rogers — a testament to both his talent and versatility.

From concert halls to classrooms, Mr. DeRees has built a legacy rooted in discipline, creativity, and heart. His influence resonates not only in the music his students create, but in the confidence, teamwork, and joy they carry with them long after graduation.

Congratulations, Mr. DeRees, and thank you for reminding us all how powerful a great teacher — and a great song — can be.

Serving others isn’t always easy. Sometimes the world’s needs feel endless, and our efforts seem small. But Scripture reminds us that persevering love is never wasted. Even when no one notices, God most certainly does.

Paul encourages us not to grow tired of doing good because faithfulness produces fruit in its season. Just as a farmer doesn’t see the harvest overnight, the good you do today may bloom in someone else’s life weeks, months, or years from now.

When you’re tempted to give up, remember: you’re sowing something eternal.

Keep showing kindness.

Keep praying for those who don’t pray for you.

Keep shining light where the world grows dim.

The same faith that moves us to help the hurting (as James wrote) also calls us to keep going when love requires endurance. That’s where the truest faith is proven! In quiet, steady goodness that never, ever quits.

Keep planting seeds, my brothers and sisters.

God will bring the harvest.

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A Cozy Twist on a Classic Favorite

Lasagna just got a delicious makeover! These Lasagna Roll-Ups bring all the flavor and comfort of the traditional dish but in perfectly portioned, easy-to-serve rolls. Each one is packed with creamy ricotta, melted mozzarella, and savory meat sauce — rolled up, baked to golden perfection, and ready to impress at any fall gathering.

Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Serves: 12

Cheese Filling

Meat Sauce

Lasagna

Serve with garlic bread and a crisp Caesar salad.
Comfort food perfection — and Yummo!

Brought to you by Yummo!

SEE ORIGINAL RECIPE →

Downtown Saginaw has found its rhythm again, and at the heart of that revival is Sarah’s Café, a Motown-inspired gem at 216 Federal Avenue serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with soul, style, and a whole lot of heart.

Co-owners Omar Linder and Kenya Millege dreamed of creating a space that felt like home — where every dish carries a story, every plate is made with love, and every guest leaves full in both body and spirit. Named after Omar’s grandmother, Sarah’s Café brings the warmth of family cooking to the energy of downtown’s resurgence.

Step inside and you’ll feel the groove — the Motown soundtrack, the laughter, and the aroma of slow-smoked meats drifting from the kitchen. The menu blends comfort classics with southern flair: smoked brisket hash, fried chicken and waffles, catfish and grits, and hot honey chicken sandwiches that will make you rethink what “fried” can mean. For dinner, the spotlight turns to soul-food favorites — fried catfish, pork chops, collard greens, mac and cheese, yams, and cornbread dressing — each dish seasoned to perfection.

Sundays are extra special with their now-famous Soul Food Sundays, often selling out before the evening rush. Desserts come courtesy of Millege’s Kenya’s Tasty Treats, featuring banana pudding and homemade cakes that perfectly complete the meal.

From the first note to the last bite, Sarah’s Café isn’t just about food — it’s an experience. It’s faith, family, and flavor served up with a smile.

📍 216 Federal Ave, Saginaw, MI 48607
🕒 Mon, Thu–Fri 7:30 a.m.–9 p.m. | Sat 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | Sun 12 p.m.–8 p.m. (Soul Food Sundays!)
🌐 Follow @SarahsCafe on Facebook

Good food brings people — and at Sarah’s Café, they come for the love, stay for the flavor.

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Looking for the perfect gift for a homesick Michigander — or just someone who loves great snacks? The Made in Michigan Snack Box from Shawn’s Sweet Treats (Caledonia, MI) delivers a bite-sized tour of the Great Lakes State, all wrapped up in one delicious, hand-packed box.

Each box is filled with Michigan-made favorites from beloved brands like Kellogg’s, Kar’s Nuts, and Great Lakes Potato Chip Company, plus regional classics like Vernors Ginger Ale and Rice Krispy Treats straight from Battle Creek. It’s nostalgia, comfort, and hometown flavor all in one.

Every snack box includes an assortment of ten fresh, full-sized treats — from kettle chips and trail mix to cookies, crackers, and cereal — and even comes with a personalized message printed inside the lid. Each order is made to order, ships fast and fresh, and arrives ready to gift.

Whether you’re sending it to a college student, gifting a taste of home to family out of state, or treating yourself to a little Michigan-made joy, Shawn’s Sweet Treats has you covered.

📍 Assembled in Caledonia, Michigan
💌 Available on Etsy: Shawn’s Sweet Treats
💲 $30 | Free Priority Shipping
⭐ Rated 5 Stars | 800+ Happy Customers

From Vernors to Great Lakes Chips — it’s Pure Michigan, one snack at a time.

ORDER A SNACK BOX NOW →

How Midland County’s map found its final shape

In November of 1874, the Midland County map changed forever. That month marked the official formation of Edenville Township, a peaceful riverside community that grew out of what was once the now-vanished Egbert Township.

When the U.S. Postal Department requested a new name for the local settlement—then known simply as “Camp 16”—postmaster Henry “Burt” Church looked out his window over the calm waters and rolling woods. “It must be as beautiful as the Garden of Eden,” he said, and with that, Edenville was born.

Edenville’s creation that November officially ended Egbert Township, reorganizing the county into the sixteen townships we still recognize today. Over the next decades, neighboring communities followed suit, each carrying a story in its name: Hope, where residents once joked they could only “hope” the mail would get through; Lincoln, founded two weeks after Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration; and Larkin, named after Midland’s own John Larkin, whose 1864 home still stands.

From sawmills to schoolhouses, these townships tell the story of grit, growth, and gratitude. And every November, when the leaves fall and the rivers slow, we can remember how one community’s simple faith and beauty gave us Edenville—and helped define Midland County’s heart.

Sources: Midland Daily News archives, Floyd Andrick for the Midland County Historical Society

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