 Epic Holton venue continues to provide some significant scares
By Ken DeLaat 20 years ago, George Bush was in the first year of his second term, the Tigers just wrapped up a season that saw them lose 91 games, New Orleans was still getting over being ravaged by Katrina and YouTube had just begun. And Buffy Murphy and co. began hosting the Trail of Terror in Holton. Over those two decades ToT has garnished many awards for their production and is widely considered to be one of the best of this genre. Their use of special effects and a talented group of fear producers make it a memorable, if a bit spooky, experience. If being scared is your jam, this is not to be missed but be warned…ToT is not the funhouse one sees at the carnival. Take it from a veteran of one of their first efforts years ago, be prepared to have a few shivers sent down your spine. To this day my lovely spousal companion Lil can’t help but break into sustained laughter whenever she remembers our visit. These spontaneous outbursts have something to do with what she calls “a scream reminiscent of a shriek from a Swiftie at the Eras tour” that apparently escaped my lips that night. Opening Night is Friday and they will continue hosting folks each Friday and Saturday through the Big Day (Halloween, of course). They open at dusk and continue until 11pm. It’s 20 bucks ($25 for a V.I.P. pass) and believe me, well worth it. Unless, of course, you possess a less than manly sounding scream while terrorized and wish to keep that part of your persona under wraps.
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 The Dogwood Center presents Third Coast Swing in an intimate Black Box performance on Friday, October 10, at 7:30 p.m. The acclaimed ensemble will transport audiences back to the golden age of swing with their seamless blend of 1930s Hot Club charm and mid-century swing standards. Third Coast Swing features an exceptional lineup of musicians: Chris Tabaczynski on clarinet, Grant Flick on violin, Steve and Kaedin Plummer on guitars, "Ella J" Plummer on vocals, and Tom Knific on bass. Together, this supremely skilled and energized ensemble delivers toe-tapping performances drawn from both the French and American songbook traditions. The group has earned regional and national recognition, having shared the stage with touring acts including Frank Vignola, Denis Chang, Jimmy Grant, and Dave Bennett. Third Coast Swing has performed at prestigious venues throughout the region, including the West MI Jazz Society, Ludington Amphitheater, Ludington Area Center for the Arts, Bell's Kalamazoo, Detroit Jazz Society, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Kerrytown Concert House, Playhouse at White Lake, Ramsdell Theater, and Westshore Performing Arts. This performance is generously sponsored by Jim and Donna Hieftje. Join us and you will experience great live music at the Dogwood! Tickets are $20 and are available online at www.dogwoodcenter.com, at the Dogwood Box Office, or at NCCA-Artsplace in downtown Fremont or just click here. The Dogwood Center Box Office is open Tuesday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. For information, phone 231.924.8885.   War, work, and Rosie the Riveter
Come join us for our last presentation in The Heritage Museum’s Speaker Series. On Thursday the 23rd of October, David Wright will be presenting a talk on Rosie the Riveter and women’s contribution to the war effort. David Wright is the retired superintendent of the Big Prairie Township, local historian, and storyteller. In his retirement he continues to advocate for Lake County, Michigan providing information and services to the public. Mr. Wright was also an early visionary into the creation of Michigan’s Dragon Trail. Please join us on Thursday, October 23rd at 6:30pm at The Heritage Museum of Newaygo County, in downtown Newaygo at 12 Quarterline Rd.  The Dogwood Center is proud to present nationally touring comedian Karen Mills on Saturday, October 4 at 7:30 p.m. on the Main Stage. With over 25 years of making audiences laugh across the country, Mills brings her sharp wit and relatable humor to what promises to be an unforgettable evening of comedy. Mills, a Tennessee native who can be heard daily on Sirius XM comedy channels, has built an impressive career performing on some of the most iconic stages in entertainment, including the Grand Ole Opry. She has toured alongside comedy sensation Leanne Morgan and earned widespread acclaim for her Dry Bar Comedy special "Baby Got Bad Back," which has garnered over 30 million views. Known for her straight-forward approach to the realities of life, Mills is a master at finding the funny in everyday experiences. This self-proclaimed "crazy dog lady" delivers smart, keen observations that keep audiences laughing at themselves as they relate to her stories. Beyond the laughs, Mills has been hailed for her ability to bring humor and inspiration to difficult topics. Now cancer free, she has transformed her personal battle with ovarian cancer into powerful comedy. Diagnosed in 2013 after a routine checkup, Mills took on the disease with hope and humor. In 2016, she was chosen to present her talk, "Cancer is a Laughing Matter" at TEDxChattanooga, proving that even pain can become punchlines in the hands of a master comedian. Tickets are $22.50 and are available online at www.dogwoodcenter.com, at the Dogwood Box Office, at NCCA-Artsplace in downtown Fremont or just click here! The Dogwood Center Box Office is open Tuesday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. For information, phone 231.924.8885.  An interview with comedian Karen Mills who will be performing at the Dogwood Saturday
If you are a fan of comedy, a semi-regular at Dr. Grins or maybe just someone who enjoys a good laugh now and again, the upcoming Dogwood show featuring this talented lady is right up your alley. In fact, if you listen to the Sirius XM Comedy channels, you are probably already familiar with her and have bought your tickets! We caught up with the busy Ms. Mills for a bit of a Q&A. What got you interested in doing Comedy? I wasn’t really the class clown, but I always loved making people laugh. I was into drama class and sketch comedy, but basketball took up all my time. I went to college on a basketball scholarship, and everyone—including me—thought I’d end up coaching. Turns out, I loved playing a lot more than coaching. After college I moved to Atlanta, took some acting classes, and every time Johnny Carson would have a comedian on The Tonight Show, I’d think, I could do that. Eventually I worked up the nerve to do open mic at The Punchline—and I never looked back. What was your first big laugh on stage—do you still remember the joke? Yes! I’ll never forget it. The first joke that really landed was: “I’m from Tennessee, and I’m a recovering redneck. Every day I fight the urge to drag an old appliance out on the porch.”The audience laughed, and I thought--okay, I’m hooked. Who were your comedy heroes growing up? Any mentors along the way? I didn’t really have mentors, but I grew up loving sketch comedy—Carol Burnett, Gilda Radner. I also watched Joan Rivers closely and studied how she built her jokes. When she launched her talk show on FOX, she held a “Joan for a Day” contest. I wasn’t even doing stand-up yet, but I filmed myself in my living room pretending to host a talk show and sent in a tape. I got runner-up, and they flew me to L.A. to meet Joan, and that was pretty incredible. What’s a moment in your career that made you think, “I’ve made it”? Honestly, I’m still waiting for that moment! But touring with Leanne Morgan and getting to play these beautiful theaters has been pretty special. One that really stands out is The Fox Theatre in Atlanta. I started at The Punchline in Atlanta and always dreamed of performing at the Fox. Opening for Leanne there felt like a full-circle, dream-come-true moment. Another unforgettable one was the first time I played the Grand Ole Opry. Walking onto that stage, standing in the circle where legends like Elvis, Dolly, and Johnny Cash stood—it was surreal. Why is Comedy important? Because without it, we’d all lose our minds! Comedy breaks down barriers—it’s hard to be hateful when you’re laughing. The world feels so heavy and divided right now, and laughter is what keeps us sane. It’s cheaper than therapy and way more fun. If you weren’t doing comedy, what would you be doing? I’ve always been fascinated by forensics, profiling, all the CSI-type stuff. My first thought is that I’d do something in that field—but honestly, I think I’d just want to play that on TV. I always did want to be an actor. Why should people come to the show and what should they expect? Because we all need to laugh and have a fun night out. Life gets busy, stressful, and serious—and sometimes we forget to make time for friends, fun, and just letting go. My show is a chance to do exactly that. If you come, expect to laugh—a lot. Tickets for Ms. Mills’ show are $22.50 and are available online at www.dogwoodcenter.com, at the Dogwood Box Office, at NCCA-Artsplace in downtown Fremont or just click here! The Dogwood Center Box Office is open Tuesday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. For information, phone 231.924.8885.  Local prairie Newaygo County Environmental Coalition fundraising event features music, snacks, a peek at a prairie and more... Newaygo’s diverse and rare native habitats will be highlighted on Saturday, October 11 at the Dogwood Center’s Black Box, 4734 S Campus Ct, Fremont, 49412. The event, “Give Where You Grow: Celebrating Newaygo’s Natural Treasures” is from 4pm – 6pm and will offer presentations about the unique ecosystems in our area, and how to grow the native plants of these habitats in our yards and gardens. A fundraiser for the Newaygo County Environmental Coalition, tickets are $15-$20 and will include hors d’oeuvres, music by local Max Morrison on guitar and cello, and an optional Eco Tour of the Tall Grass Prairie Installation at nearby Fremont Area Community Foundation. More information and registration can be found at Newaygo Natural Treasures. Also visit Facebook: NCEC2/events for the registration link, scan the QR Code below, or contact [email protected], 231-519-3419. Sarah Pregitzer will take guests on a virtual tour of our Newaygo Habitats as they evolved from glacier retreats to the growth of forests, lakes, rivers and prairies. She will highlight the native plants that support the insects and other pollinators that are so vital to our environment. Sarah is Board Chair of the Newaygo County Environmental Coalition (NCEC) and Co-Founder of Newaygo Invasive Plant Species. Connie Crancer will share the view of native plants from a gardening lens as well as an ecological perspective. She will show how community members can support the struggling butterfly and pollinator populations by growing the very plants they rely on in our yards and gardens. Connie holds an MS in Terrestrial Ecology and worked for the U of M Botanical Gardens and Arboretum for 26 years. “Newaygo is rich with habitats often unknown to our community members”, states Pregitzer. “Scientists and nature enthusiasts from all over the country come here to see our Sand Prairies and Oak Pine Barrens, in addition to all of our lakes, rivers and streams. We have more diversity of habitat communities than almost anywhere else in the state.” Sarah adds, “Our habitats are unique also because they are relatively untouched compared to other places in Michigan. But they and their populations of plants, animals and insects are threatened. We want our community members to learn about and love the places that we have that are so special – and to help us protect and restore them.” A Silent Auction will also be available for guests. “We are gathering a wonderful array of local art, garden services, ecological tours, as well as practical items to bid on,” states Sally Wagoner, Vice Chair of NCEC. “We are grateful to our local artists and businesses for their generous donations. We are still inviting donations for the auction, so please contact me if you are interested. We will showcase your business on our Sponsorship Board!”. Ms. Wagoner urges community members to attend Give Where You Grow: Celebrating Newaygo’s Natural Treasures. “You won’t want to miss this great opportunity to learn more about where we live. And to enjoy a lovely autumn afternoon with friends at the Dogwood and in the Tall Grass Prairie,” she adds.
Thursday parade, beer tent to kick off the festivities
This area rocks when it comes to autumn and for a fun fall festival one needn’t go any further than Fremont next week when the Harvest Fest is welcomed in by one of those outstanding Fremont parades. As we have said many times before, few places put on a parade like Fremontonians and we are as certain as the kids on the sidewalks with empty sacks that this Thursday will be another epic one. I mean, seriously, we’re talking 109 entries in the parade meaning those candy bags will likely be stuffed and since it's not an election year it's more than likely we won’t be seeing the vote seekers out in force. We’re still about a month or so from the world famous…well, famous in this part of the world… Jingle Mingle. However if you are an aficionado of craft shows there’s a doozy on Saturday with 53 vendors plying their wares. Oh and there’s a beer tent on Thursday. The tent will be showing the Rams/Niners game for those who like a little football with their beer. The Chamber always hits a home run (Tigers could use a few right now) with this annual homage to autumn, particularly with the vast array of hay art infusing the area. The Hay Art is a contest/food drive with voting via non-perishable food items that will be donated to the folks at True North for distribution to those in need. Get the skinny on this, the many other Festival activities as well as a Hay Art map so you can prowl the area looking for your favorite creation by following this link: www.fremontcommerce.com/harvestfestival No better way to kick off October, so we’ll see you at the parade. And maybe the beer tent. Always important to check out the beer tent.  Latest Book Inspired by Local True Crime Case The Fremont Area District Library is excited to welcome back hometown author Jennifer Graeser Dornbush for a special pre-release celebration of her latest thriller, What Darkness Does, on Tuesday, October 7th at 6:00 p.m. What Darkness Does is the 5th book in the series and continues the Emily Hartford legacy. Dr. Emily Hartford is called to investigate the murder of a young mother in a small Michigan lake town, and to uncover the mystery of a missing baby. But as with every book in this series, the crime is only part of the story. This one also delves into trauma, PTSD, and what it means to keep searching for justice even when the path forward is anything but clear. The story is inspired by a true crime case that took place in Newaygo County. To highlight the real-world connections, Dornbush will be joined by a panel of local experts, including Times Indicator Editor Rich Wheater and former TI reporter Micki Hillibrand, to discuss the case and its impact. Event highlights include: Series Set Giveaway Book Signing with Jennifer Graeser Dornbush Special True Crime Panel Snacks & Homemade Chai Tea Books will be available for purchase during the event. This is a unique opportunity to hear directly from the author about her creative process, her ties to Fremont, and the real events that inspired her storytelling. Don’t miss this exciting evening of books, conversation, and community! For more information, please contact the Fremont Area District Library at 231-924-3480 or visit www.fremontlibrary.net.   The Dogwood Center is proud to present an unforgettable evening with Carlos and Audrey on Saturday, September 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Black Box. Carlos and Audrey’s partnership began after they met in 2019 and they have been playing together since. They quickly bonded over their shared love of music and began exploring the possibilities of blending their unique talents. One of their first collaborations involved Carlos teaching Audrey a meaningful Venezuelan song, which they recorded and shared with his family—a testament to the power of music to connect people across distances. Carlos’s musical journey began in the 4th grade when he picked up the cuatro, Venezuela’s beloved national instrument. His passion quickly expanded to include guitar, congas, and bongos, showcasing his versatility and deep connection to Latin American rhythms. Audrey’s musical foundation was lovingly laid by her grandma, Phyllis Jansma, who introduced her to the piano at the tender age of four. This early connection sparked a lifelong love of music, leading her to begin violin lessons in the 4th grade with Ella Villa. Audrey’s background in classical music and the influence of her grandmother provides a delicate and graceful contrast to Carlos’s traditional folk expertise. Together, Carlos and Audrey bring a unique blend of musical backgrounds and shared passion to both familiar tunes and classic Venezuelan songs, Carlos and Audrey are sure to leave a lasting impression on the audience. This concert is generously sponsored by Richard and Sherrie Harris. Tickets are $12.50 and are available online at www.dogwoodcenter.com, at the Dogwood Box Office, or at NCCA-Artsplace in downtown Fremont, or just click here! The Dogwood Center Box Office is open Tuesday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. For information, phone 231.924.8885.  Headliner Skerryvore closes out Saturday’s performances  A bagpiper entertaining passersby along Muskegon Lake
Photos and Story by Tara Hefferan Music festivals are balm for the soul, summer camp for the community, an immersive shared escape, just for a weekend, from normal responsibilities. For over 25 years, the Michigan Irish Festival has celebrated Irish culture and heritage, with the 2025 festival taking place September 11-14 at Heritage Landing in Muskegon. This year’s festival featured 26 musical acts and entertainers from Ireland, Scotland, and the United States, including several acts from West Michigan. Spread across five stages, the high energy performers showcased the diversity of Irish and Scottish music, from traditional ballads of emigration and struggle to rollicking jigs and reels to eclectic fusions of punk and rock. Among the highlights:
The Michigan Irish Festival celebrated more than just music, though, by hosting an array of Irish cultural activities. A gallery walk explored Irish baseball players and their impacts on the game. Prominent Irish religious sites, saints, and music were featured in another exhibit. Several classes also were offered, including an introduction to the Irish language, how to prepare Irish food and drink, hand drum workshops, and storytelling. The Michigan Hurling team provided live demonstrations of the traditional Gaelic sport involving bats and a ball. For those who like to shop, an “Irish Market” and “Irish Store” offered a variety of Celtic-inspired products for sale, including derby hats, kilts, and sweaters. Overall, the “craic was 100” at the Michigan Irish Music Festival, as the Irish might say, meaning that the fun and merriment were peak. The lakeside location provided stunning views of sailboats and sunsets, while attendees sporting Celtic-inspired outfits moved in and out of the impressive performance tents. Traditional Irish foods, including fish and chips, Shepards Pie, bangers and mash, and potato soup were available for purchase, along with pints of stout and shots of whiskey and Irish cream. The festival grounds were immaculate, and golf carts ran regularly to shuttle attendees from their parked cars to Heritage Landing and back again. In all, the 2025 Irish Music Festival provided West Michigan the perfect musical weekend escape.  The Grand Rapids Police Pipe Band Making their way through the festival grounds
 Festival volunteer Darcy serving up pints in Duff’s Tavern |
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