To view or leave comments on this story, click HERE.
Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do during a crisis. Hard to not feel helpless with everything going on in the world, and the uncertainty of the future due to ongoing worries over the COVID-19 virus sweeping the globe. Now that Gov. Whitmer has issued an executive order for all Michiganders to “Stay Home, Stay Safe,” things feel even more foreboding, don’t they?
But there are still plenty of things we can do to help ease worries, and one of those is to help support our local economy right here on the Old Mission Peninsula. That means figuring out who has what and how we can acquire it and help support our neighbors.
Old Mission Gazette is Reader Supported.
Click Here to Keep the Gazette Going.
Below is a round-up of offerings on the Old Mission Peninsula. I know this is just a handful, so if you have something to add to the list – could be anything, not necessarily even food, maybe people need some cheery artwork – feel free to add it in the comments section at the bottom of this story, or email me at [email protected].
Note: The Jolly Pumpkin and Mission Table are closed until further notice. The Boathouse is closed, but planning to re-open on April 14, 2020. Old Mission Tavern is currently closed, but planning to re-open on April 13, 2020, though I’m sure they’re being flexible, depending on how things are going by then.
Old Mission Maple | Between the Bays – Warren Orchards
Farm Stand: 2705 Island View Road
The Warrens have opened the doors on their (newly painted!) stand on Island View Road. They have eggs, honey and jams, along with maple syrup, maple cream and maple candy from Old Mission Maple (maple cream and maple candy are in the egg refrigerator). For questions on maple items, call (231) 633-3410. Also, a few notes from Wendy Warren on Facebook:
- #BeKind. We are self-serve, making it difficult to limit quantities. We strongly encourage you to purchase only what you need for now, we’re working daily to keep our tables stocked, and the chickens are still laying. #WereInItTogether
- We are able to take electronic payments! There are forms located at the stand so we can send electronic payment requests to you at the end of the day. Please complete the form in its entirety and drop in the pay safe.
- If you have any questions or need something, please do not come to the door. Call us at (231) 590-2363 or send us a message on our Facebook Page. We are working very hard to limit all contact due to weakened immune systems.
- Thank you for supporting our family and our small businesses. Can’t wait to see you all this summer (and hopefully sooner)!
Secret Garden at Brys Estate
3309 Blue Water Road (shop not yet open)
Need hand sanitizer? Secret Garden at Brys Estate has you covered! While the Secret Garden shop on Blue Water Road has not yet opened up for the season, you can buy their products on their website. Their hand sanitizers – Lavender Pure Hands and “B.E. Clean” Pure Hands – are in high demand right now, and they’re working overtime to keep the stock replenished.
The Centers for Disease Control recommend using hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol, and Pure Hands contains 62 percent ethyl alcohol, along with glycerin (helps moisturize and counteract the drying effects of alcohol), aloe vera (helps prevent dry, cracked or peeling skin), vitamins B5 and E (for healthy and great feeling skin), lavender essential oil and lavender fragrance oil.
You can shop for sanitizers, soaps and lotions on Secret Garden’s website. And if you’re local and would rather pick up your order at Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery at 3309 Blue Water Road (keeping social distancing in mind, of course), email them at [email protected] to set that up. Also stay up to date on their Facebook page.
Oliver & Company | Little Fox Farm
Oliver & Company and Little Fox Farm are Old Mission Gazette’s newest advertising partners (welcome!), and we will write more about them separately. But I wanted to give a big shout-out to this OMP family and their services. Nate McManus (Tom McManus’ grandson – yes, if you know Tom, you know that Nate has “hard work” wired into his DNA) runs Oliver & Company, a landscaping business specializing in everything outdoors, including landscaping, light excavation, tractor services, tree removals, irrigation, spring/fall maintenance, hauling, storm cleanup, snow removal and everything in between. They work on projects for both residential and commercial customers.
Nate and his wife Erin have two kids, and this spring they’re also opening a new business called Little Fox Farm, just off the Hogsback (on Center Road, just north of the Smokey Hollow Road intersection). Little Fox Farm will offer local perennials, flowers, trees and shrubs.
If you need help with spring cleaning, landscaping projects, shoreline erosion issues or anything outdoor-related – including a virtual quote – give Nate a call at (231) 233-8836. Check out their website and Facebook page, and Little Fox Farm’s Facebook page here. Posted on Facebook…
Peninsula Grill | Bad Dog Deli
14091 Center Road
Although their dine-in options are closed due to the Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s orders, they remain open for carry-out orders. You may either place your order by phone or in person.
- For Bad Dog Deli Orders: Call (231) 223-9364. In addition to their sandwiches, soups and salads, they also offer pizza to-go now. The Deli is open Monday through Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm. Check out their menu here.
- For Peninsula Grill Orders: Call (231) 223-7200. Their full menu can be found at tcpeninsulagrill.com Take out orders are available Monday through Friday, 4-8 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 12-8 pm. Check out their Facebook Page for daily specials.
Peninsula Market
14111 Center Road
Manager Jane Boursaw (my sis-in-law!) and staff are doing a spectacular job of keeping the store stocked with everything that OMPers might need. Also, Pearl Carson Brown of Old Mission Bakery said they’re keeping the Market stocked with delicious bread! If you have questions about anything, feel free to call Peninsula Market at (231) 223-9500. As a reminder, due to the current pandemic, a few notes:
- No bottle returns at this time
- No personal reusable grocery bags
- Children must be accompanied by parents at all times
- Coffee is still available, but you must ask a cashier for one
- Lunch (specials, soup and pizza) are available, but you must ask kitchen staff
- Limit of 2 (two) on Morton Salt bags up front per week
- Limit of 2 (two) on orange juice
- Limit of 2 (two) on eggs
- Limit of 2 (two) on milk cartons
- Limit of 1 (one) on milk gallons
- Limit of 1 (one) on large toilet paper packs
- Limit of 2 (two) on small toilet paper packs
The Farm at Cherry Hill
13200 Center Road
Run by Annika Seibold Lorenz, The Farm at Cherry Hill offers blueberries, cut flowers, and flower subscriptions during the summer season. They’re gearing up by posting photos of cheery flowers on their Facebook page, and Annika is also doing some giveaways for the upcoming season on Facebook, as well as Instagram. Visit their website for more info, and check out this splash of sunshine and color from Facebook…
Old Mission Flowers
16550 Center Road
Ginny Coulter is also starting to dig around in her garden at Old Mission Flowers, and can’t wait to open, hopefully by May 1, 2020, if the daffodils are bloomin’. Stay up to date with her website and Facebook page. Here she is on Facebook the other day…
https://www.facebook.com/OldMissionFlowers/posts/2544121965906696
OMP Makers and Creators
Need something cheery in your life? Here are a couple of OMP makers who might have just the bit of sunshine you require right now…
Marge Long – The Red Dresser: My lifelong OMP friend is one of the most creative people I know, and she has a spot at The Red Dresser at 956 W South Airport Road in town. While The Red Dresser is currently closed, they are featuring their vendors on their Facebook page, taking phone orders at (231) 929-8150, and placing items on hold for you until they re-open again. Here is yesterday’s post featuring Marge’s sweet items. The pillows and inspirational signs – created before the pandemic – are especially apropos right now.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10158490421537845&type=3
Eleanor Jones Studio: My pal and neighbor Heidi Jones crafts amazing and beautiful jewelry. I love that she names all of her pieces, and they always *look like their name. Below is Martha, posted on her Facebook page yesterday. Visit her website to purchase pieces.
I know there’s a lot of other OMP businesses out there that folks would love to know about. Feel free to give a shout-out to yours in the comments section at the bottom of this story, or email me at [email protected] and I will add them.
SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper.
Because Old Mission Gazette is a "Reader Supported Newspaper" -- meaning it exists because of your financial support -- I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks our way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the OMP. In a time when local news is becoming a thing of the past, supporting an independent community newspaper is more important now than ever. Thank you so much for your support! -Jane Boursaw, Editor/Publisher, Old Mission Gazette
To keep the Gazette going, click here to make a donation.
To view or leave comments on this story, click HERE.
[…] few days ago, I posted a roundup of OMP businesses that might have just what you need in these dire times, and one of those is Old Mission Maple, run […]
[…] Help Support OMPers – Maple Syrup, Hand Sanitizer, Take-Out and More […]