By Derek Kim
Williamston Post staff writer

To say Sandy Whelton is involved in the community is similar to saying Martin Luther King Jr. likes diversity.

Whelton’s activism in Williamston is unparalleled. She is a City Council and Chamber of Commerce member, Northeast Ingham Emergency Services Authority affiliate, Red Cedar Jubilee president, Pyper’s Diapers founder and coordinator, as well as a volunteer at St. Mary Catholic School.

“I don’t know why, it just makes me happy to help people,” Whelton said.

Whelton is popularly known as the Diaper Lady.

“I was in a store a couple years ago with my granddaughter and I saw a lady with two little kids. She had to buy diapers but did not have enough money so she had to put other stuff back. Seeing that broke my heart,” Whelton said.

On that night, Pypers Diapers was born, a diaper donation organization named after Whelton’s granddaughter.

“I began advertising that I was donating diapers and after that, it exploded,” Whelton said.

Whelton said she receives checks in the mail and often awakes to find diapers on her front porch.

“I am amazed by how big it has become. I am so grateful I did it,” Whelton said.

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As the remains of winter flurries set in along the Red Cedar River, we are left with the stunning view of ice-covered trees and glittering snowflakes. Captured in these photos are images that can be found on a walk along the Red Cedar in downtown Williamston. Between the branches and through the snow is where the best parts of the town can be found.

By Derek Kim
Williamston Post staff writer

The Williamston chamber of commerce held ribbon-cutting ceremonies for four businesses on Thursday, March 14.

Facials & More Med-Spa, located at 311 W. Grand River Ave., was first to start off the festivities at 9:40 a.m. The chamber then walked across Grand River Avenue to Tom Donnelly’s Williamston Barbell Club; a fitness center on 350 W. Grand River Ave. Beyond the Fleece owner Jill Blain celebrated its new, larger location at 127 W. Grand River Ave. Finally, The Sweet Cake Company concluded the ceremonies at 10:40 a.m.

Chamber president Teresa Wood said she is excited about the influence the new businesses bring to town.

“It was a party for a couple hours,” Wood said. “(Selph) brings a class act to our city and will draw people from quite the distance.”

Chief ambassador Whit Moncrief was also part of the welcoming committee on Thursday. He said the new businesses increase the sense of community.

“We are becoming a destination you can come to for all your needs,” Moncrief said.

Moncrief anticipates the growth to draw more people from out of town.

Facials & More replaced The Hub Reloaded; a task Selph said was very demanding.

“There were no walls at first, we had to put everything up,” Selph said.

Selph is a licensed aesthetician of eight years. She began her cosmetic career doing laser treatments after graduating from Brighton Institute of Cosmetology. Prior to Facials & More, she was a realtor and stay-at-home mother.

Facials & More offers treatments, such as chemical peels, facials, eyebrow waxing, eyelash tinting, eyebrow tinting and facial and underarm waxing. Laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation and microdermabrasion would be available by June or July, Selph said.

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By Stephen Brooks
Williamston Post staff writer

The exterior aesthetics alone are straight from generations past. At nightly showings, when the original marquee at the Sun Theatre, 150 W. Grand River Ave., lights up, the single-screen movie theater feels like a blast from the past.

The theater is a beacon of nostalgia and has been a staple in the downtown Williamston business scene since it opened in 1947.

Thanks to the efforts by theater owners Dan and Lisa Robitaille, and the generosity of the surrounding communities, the theater won’t have to sacrifice it’s trademark low-cost pricing — a ticket is $4 and a bag of popcorn is as cheap as a quarter — and nostalgic feel as it transitions to a new era of filmmaking.

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By Brytanie Killebrew
Williamston Post staff writer

WILLIAMSTON—Snow and freezing temperatures welcomed icy art to downtown Williamston.

The annual Williamston ice sculpture event drew many spectators with snow-laced eyelashes Saturday, Feb. 2 and Sunday, Feb. 3, to watch sculptor Scott Miller in action.

The event began Saturday morning at West Grand River Avenue and Putnam Street. Miller worked from 10 a.m. to noon and again Sunday from 1-3 p.m.

Miller partnered with Nu Concept Salon, 100 E. Grand River Ave., on the design of a pair of scissors and GLS Heating & Air Conditioning, 123 N. Cedar St., on the design of a ball of flames.

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Fireworks Glass Studios

This locally owned studio features custom made Hot Glass pieces done by veteran glass blower Dave Porter.

Porter started building the studio’s unique equipment in 2006 and opened it in 2007. He has been practicing different styles of glass blowing and Hot Glass for more than 53 years.

Porter’s shop features seasonal and custom pieces that vary in shape, color and style. During the fall the store has beautiful one of a kind glass pumpkins and ghosts. During the winter, unique colored ornaments deck the walls.

The building features a hand-painted mural on one wall and massive ovens on the other.

“I’ve been doing this for years and have perfected my style . . . I’m trademarking several of my designs, especially my infinity ball,” said Porter.

The front of the store features many styles and sizes of what the store has to offer.
Browse the items and watch Porter work with the colored glass and intense heat.
Porter does custom pieces and often features what is in demand in his store’s windows.
Prices can range from $7 to $500.

119 S. Putnam St.
Williamston MI, 48895

517-655-4000

by Dylan Sowle
Williamston Post staff writer

Williamston store owners enjoyed increased business during the annual holiday light parade on Dec. 1, thanks to daylong events and extended shopping hours.

The 16th annual light parade was organized by the Williamston Chamber of Commerce, and focused on getting people into the town and generating interest in local businesses. Events for the gathering started on Nov. 31 and continued through the next day until after the parade.

Holiday activities including gingerbread house decoration, warming stations with hot drinks, and even a carnival, all led up to the parade at 6 p.m. Many local businesses used the opportunity to introduce a new crowd of people to their store.

Dave Porter, owner of the local Fireworks glassblowing studio says that the light parade has been incredibly valuable in drawing in interested customers to his business. Porter has been hosting a “make your own paperweight” session during the festival for the past five years, giving parade-goers a handmade treasure to take home with them.

“It brings people in to participate and it’s usually a family affair,” said Porter. “They’ll do the paperweight and when they see the other things available, they’ll often select a piece for a gift.”

Porter says the parade has been great for introducing his store to people that otherwise might not get the chance to stop by. Tina Brookhouse, owner of a local fitness studio agreed, saying that just being open as a warming center was enough to attract attention.

“We just want to get people into the studio,” said Brookhouse. “We’ve gotten new people to come back for a class after visiting during the parade.”

Even businesses who simply used their space as a venue for other organizations were able to get parade-goers familiar with their store’s location while providing a service to the community. Susan Byrd, owner of Living Arts Dance Studio let Habitat for Humanity use the store for their gingerbread house-building fundraiser.

Visitors to the studio were able to vote on their favorite houses and make donations from 11 a.m- 8 p.m, and Byrd says that the response was wonderful. In this way, businesses like Byrd’s were able to get involved in the parade and benefit the community in a different way.

This strong focus and interest in local business is the intent of the parade, says Barbara Burke, executive director for the chamber of commerce. The parade is hosted in the heart of downtown Williamston, where the majority of stores are located. This gives those visiting the town to explore and visit the shops that are open late for the big event.

“A lot of {the businesses} say it’s their biggest night of the year,” says Burke. “And we’re here to help them.”

The light parade included over forty entries and concluded with the lighting of the town Christmas tree, and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The parade is held annually every first of December and continues to grow each year.

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The parade started at the Williamston Community Center, travelling down Grand River and Putnam, and concluding at School Street