Hartland Family Begins New Adventure Helping Families in Guatamela

The Bindus family of four will leave for a year-long mission trip in February.

With two young daughters, a home and jobs, the Bindus family of Hartland never thought a yearlong mission trip was possible for them at this stage in their lives.  After 18 months of planning, praying and preparation, however, Trish Bindus says her family, which includes husband Craig and daughters Maddie, 14, and Abbey 11, put their faith in God and found a way. On Feb. 1, the local family leaves for the city of Chichicastenango in the mountains of Guatemala for a year serving as mission group coordinators for Pray America. “We love doing missions,” Bindus said. “This is our passion and just really felt that it’s what God called us to do.” Although the family had participated in shorter mission trips in the past, visiting places such as …

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eddy

12:39 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Very nice comment Kelly!   more ›

Hartland Man Loses Eight Year Battle with Cancer

A fundraiser is planned for the family of Todd Brunst who lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday.

In 2005, Kristi Ellis-Brunst married the man of her dreams. A man she calls her "greatest gift" and who was witty, loving, kind-hearted and endearingly old-fashioned. A man she said she waited 40 years for and even just days before his death, still blushed when she talked about. “He has a young soul,” Ellis-Brunst, 48, said last week before her husband's death. “We have a lot of fun together.” On January 15, Todd Brunst, husband and father of five lost his brave battle with cancer after eight years. Brunst leaves behind four adult children, his wife and youngest daughter, 6-year-old Sydney. 2005 was also the year Brunst noticed a lump on his neck. Initially, the 63-year-old Hartland resident was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma, a slow…

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From the Hartland Community

Hartland Hair Stylist Needs Your Support

Friends and family of Valerie Tucker are asking for the community's support in her battle against cancer.

By Fantastic Sams of Hartland The family and friends of Valerie Tucker are uniting to raise money to help with her battle against breast cancer. Please show your support! She does not have health insurance. Please help offset/assist with medical/daily living expenses to alleviate the financial burden. This will help her focus on fighting the fight of her life! My friend Valerie, age 45, felt a lump in her breast so she scheduled a doctor’s appointment to have it checked out. When Val went in for her follow up appointment, nobody thought she would hear the words “It is cancer.” All I could think after hearing the news was, “I can’t believe it. She is way too young, she has no family history of breast cancer, she has more energy than anyone …

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Dionysus Theatre to Donate Portion of Weekend Profits to Local Family in Need

10 percent of profits will also go towards Gleaners Food Bank.

This weekend, a portion of the profits from Dionysus Theatre's debut production Home for the Holidays will go back to the community. Now through Dec. 23, 10 percent of proceeds will go to Gleaners Food Bank to help feed the hungry this Christmas. An additional ten percent of proceeds will to help the Ashinger family. Russ Ashinger was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, so the donation will go to help pay for his medical bills, according to Steve DeBruyne, Dionysus Theatre's owner and artistic director. When the cast of Home for the Holidays gathers for their Christmas Eve performance, Stage Manager, Nick and his wife expect a smooth evening of seasonal fun. What they get is a leading lady who has locked herself in her dressing room, …

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Local Fundraiser Hopes to Bring Joy to Family Celebrating Last Christmas

A spaghetti dinner fundraiser will be held for the Ashinger family on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at the American Spirit Center in Brighton.

Local Fundraiser Hopes to Bring Joy to Family Celebrating Last Christmas

A spaghetti dinner fundraiser will be held for the Ashinger family on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at the American Spirit Center in Brighton.

A local family that has always been ready to help others in the past is now the recipient of kidness from friends and family coming together to help support them.  A spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the Ashinger family has special meaning this time of year since it may be the last Christmas Russ Ashinger, husband and father of two, may be able to spend with his family. Last March, Ashinger, was diagnosed with three types of cancer in his liver, lungs and perineum. After undergoing aggressive treatments of chemotherapy, the family was told in November that Ashinger had four to six months to live. “They were told the treatment wasn’t working,” family friend Dawn Turner said. “They said, however, they could try chemo again to see if they could…

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Kahuna Coffee Fundraiser Raises Money for Injured Motorcyclist

Proceeds from the third-annual Cruise-In Car Show will benefit Eric Zeck who was paralyzed after a motorcycle accident in March.

It was a rare, warm spring day last March when Eric Zeck, 31, decided to take his Ducatti motorcycle out for a ride. Driving home that evening, rounding a corner, Zeck, an experienced rider of 13 years, said he realized he was taking the turn too fast and had to make a split-second decision.  “I knew I was going to crash,” the Clarkston resident said. Zeck made a decision to try and brake, but was thrown from his bike, sliding back first into a metal sign pole, leaving him instantly paralyzed. Months later, although his life has changed drastically, Zeck chooses not to describe his accident as “tragic,” but instead says his perspective has changed and the accident has helped show him what is important in life.  “I’m grateful for that kind …

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Fundraisers Planned for Injured Security Guard

Direct donations being accepted at TCF Bank for Sue Hazzard.

The community is coming together to raise money for the 51-year-old security guard who was injured during an accident in the parking lot of Hartland High School. Susan Hazzard was struck by a teen driver on May 16 while directing traffic exiting school grounds. Hartland superintendent Janet Sifferman said that Hazzard's condition has been upgraded to fair and although she is still in pain due to her injuries, is doing well. "Mr. (Chuck) Hughes and Mrs. (Alice) Lashbrooke and I believe Mrs. (Joanne) Franklin (assistant to Chuck Hughes) went to visit her yesterday and she was conscious and talking to them," Sifferman said. "Obviously in a lot of pain still and has a long way to go but she knew who they were and had good conversations." On …

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Multiple Fundraisers Compete for Time, Dollars This Weekend

The trend is likely to continue, according to Nancy Russo, executive director of the Livingston County United Way.

This week, as I was preparing our Grab and Go Planner and Get Out weekend event guides, I noticed something. There are an incredible number of fundraisers taking place this weekend. Upon reflection, it's understandable. Money is tight everywhere. When I spoke with Nancy A. Russo, executive director of the Livingston County United Way, she wasn't particularly surprised. It seems as though it's a trend that is likely to continue, given the fact that, as she said, "there are a lot of organizations that are hurting for donations because so many people are unemployed." All of the fundraisers are for worthy causes; it's a pity that they are competing with each other for your time, attention and money. Prom Fashion Show One such event, sponsored …

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