On Saturday the 16th of February we held our fourth annual Meatball Mania Fundraiser. This was by far our largest year, and we owe it all to the amazing 13 meatball chefs that took their free time to make some over the top meatballs!

This fundraiser would not work if it wasn't for these amazing people. We determined the best meatballs of 2019 a little differently. Instead of an actual judge, we did peoples choice and whoever had the most donation dollars in their jug was the winner!

MJ Byrne won Best Balls with a stuffed up version, Jack Reed took a classic route and got Better Balls, while Shirley Knaack turned sweetness into Good Balls!

At the end all 13 of the chefs helped us raise over $700. That money was raised by the community to go into a non endowed fund that gives back to the community throughout the year.

In the end, I can't give all of the credit to the chefs because let's be honest deciding which was the best meatball was the hard part! Huge shout out to everyone that came down to visit and taste the meatballs, you are the rock stars that show what this community is really all about...giving back!

I’ve asked for the recipes of this year's and previous year's meatballs, We want to put together a cookbook so that everyone can enjoy the yummy meatballs we all tasted. Keep an eye open for that cookbook release date! 

As you know, we love to support the community!  Another way we hope we're helping is to have ARC volunteers help in the store and courtyard each Thursday morning.  Our volunteers tend to rotate every few months, so you'll see lots of new faces.  Here is Rashad and Kathleen having fun.

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Life in Michigan is, well, kind of like Russian roulette, but with the weather. Nobody knows what will happen next. This last week of January has been unpredictable, from 40 degrees to arctic temperatures. Through this all, though, my amazing employees here at OERTHER'S have faithfully pushed on and allowed us to remain open so no animal has to go hungry or driveway unsalted.
So if you have been thankful we were open during this time, let the employees know, because I can only tell them so many times.

​Stay safe out there and lets cross our fingers the next weather shift is into spring! 

​A few weeks ago I celebrated my 54th birthday and discovered the most desired secret: how to look young forever. 

The Tuesday before my birthday I took my mother to see an old friend, this woman was also with her daughter. When they found out my birthday was that Thursday they began to try and guess my age. The highest age they guessed was 45!  I’m not telling you this to rub it in (especially since I actually just dyed my hair for the first time since I’ve been over 40), but because this rollercoaster of a year had started to take its toll and I felt old. They wouldn’t believe that I was actually turning 54. 

So, I’m writing this to tell everyone that I found the secret to looking young forever, I know some people won’t believe me, but here goes nothing. Laugh all the time. That’s right, it is that simple. You can ask anyone that knows me and they will tell you I love to laugh. When life doesn’t go your way, laugh it off. Instead of letting an issue fester and grow, laugh about it and move on. We have so many options in life and we can choose to react to any situation in any way. You don’t have to get mad and better yet, you don’t have to stay mad.  Life is so short.... wouldn’t it be better if you laughed all the time? I definitely think so and apparently so does my face. 
Surround yourself with people that make you laugh and trust me, not only will you feel better but you’ll stop aging. 

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.” – Audrey Hepburn 

I’ll always laugh with you,
Kathleen

We'd love if you'd leave a review for us on Google, Yelp, Facebook or by emailing us at oerthers@gmail.com!
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A business is built on a dream and survives on customers, but what can make or break a business is its employees.
I have been blessed over the years with some amazing employees. Employees that go out of their way to help customers receive the best service possible. These employees have worked tirelessly helping to improve my business and support the events held at OERTHER’S.

My current and past employees are more than just employees; they become part of our family. My current employees work extremely hard.
 
Joe Caron is the manager of Spruce Street Landscaping.  Thanks to him, I can rest easy knowing that while I’m focused on OERTHER’S, the landscape customers are still being taken care of.  I look forward to another great year with him and our landscaping crew.
 
Our flowers don’t look amazing without help, and that’s why Dora Presecan is here first thing in the mornings, she keeps our flowers watered and looking fresh. 
 
Roger Fast keeps our friendly image afloat with his contagious smile and happy personality. Roger stays in and waits on all the lovely costumers.
 
Gretchen Peters takes a huge burden off my shoulders and does all of my advertising, while at the same time, waiting on costumers if we get busy. I’m blessed with the best.

My husband Mark is the biggest blessing of all. He always supports my crazy business ideas. He’s my handyman and jack of all trades. We all work hard to make this business an inviting happy place where costumers look forward to coming back to shop!  

John Tesh was on the radio the other night and, as I was searching for that perfect song that makes you want to burst out  singing, something he said made me pause. They (whoever they are!) had taken a survey with children asking them to name different types of phones and different types of vegetables, and the one they struggled with. was naming vegetables!   I couldn’t think about my perfect song any more, this was much more important. (You think I’m joking; I’m not.)

When you are driving down the highway, do you see those billboards that say children learn by watching, so make healthy choices?  Well, this time that obnoxious board was right. I did some research and discovered ‘Powerful Plants’!  ‘Powerful Plants’ vegetable and flower seeds are a fun new way to encourage kids to plant their own gardens and teach the importance of a garden.
As 'Powerful Plants’ put it perfectly:  "Look up. Look down. The power is all around you…It’s up to you to use it now”.  The packets come to life through a phone app and talk to you about what type of vegetable it is and also gives some fun facts! 

We just got our first shipment in so make sure to stop by with or without the children and have some fun!  
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 “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow”  -Audrey Hepburn

Thanks for being part of our family.
Kathleen