Arts & Entertainment

Williamston Pop-up Arts and Crafts Show returns this weekend

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Madison RoseThe Williamston Pop-Up Arts and Crafts Show will take place Saturday, Nov. 13, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. inside Keller’s Plaza in Williamston,

After nearly a two-year hiatus, the Williamston Pop Up Arts and Crafts Show will return to Keller’s Plaza in Williamston on Saturday, Nov. 13, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The show will feature handmade items from a number of local artisans and makers, including watercolor, graphite and acrylic paint artists. “It’s a fun day to get artisans and crafters and people up here,” said show coordinator and The Artisan Alcove Gallery and Gifts Owner Matt Mulford. “It helps rejuvenate us, invigorate us and inspire us to keep at it.”

How COVID-19 affected the show and business

In March 2020, Mulford made the decision to cancel the show for safety reasons without knowing that the pandemic would prevent another show the following year. 

The shutdown significantly hindered the local artists’ businesses as they were unable to sell their work in person for at least six weeks. 

The pandemic forced Watercolorist and Owner of the Michigan Lighthouse Art Gallery Anita Saviko to switch her watercolor classes to Zoom for six months. 

Despite her disdain of teaching online, it was the only way to pay the rent. 

“I had the little gallery over here for about eight years,” Saviko said.

Mayor Tammy Gilroy (left) exchanges kind words with City Manager Corey Schmidt as the council accepted his resignation.
News

Williamston City Council bids farewell to City Manager Corey Schmidt

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Madison Rose(L-R) City Treasurer Rachel Piner, Police Chief Jim Wolf, Councilmember Daniel Rhines, Councilmember Tommy Pratt, Councilmember Brandon Lanyon, Mayor Tammy Gilroy, Mayor Pro-Tem Noah Belanger, two empty seats for the absent Councilmember Terry Hansen and the Councilmember vacancy, City Manager Corey Schmidt, City Attorney Timothy Perrone and City Clerk Holly Thompson. Williamston City Council returns for a meeting for the first time in a month after the cancellation of the Sept. 13 meeting. This cancellation left the council with a lengthy action items list to review. City Manager Corey Schmidt resigns to focus on family

The Williamston City Council meeting featured a more personal touch as council members were tasked with approving the resignation of City Manager Corey Schmidt.