After more than a week away, Dawn Hamelink and I are both glad to be home. Europe was wonderful, but as Dorothy said in the “Wizard of Oz”: There’s no place like home.

If buildings can have a birthday, then the home to Sune’s Grocery just had a big one. The 100th birthday of the building was celebrated last week. Fifty bags of groceries were given away as well as cooler bags to Ben Liltz, Jeff Bosley, Hayley Warner, Danielle Woods, Patty Munro, Lee Fussman, and Rohnda Post; mirrors to JoAnn Stefanaski and Rick Polk; gift certificates to Russel Goetz, Phyllis Ames, Verna Fountain, Bob Turner, Ted Glynn, Jean Bloom, Nick Brady, Diane Nettleton, and Sue Bosley; a wreath to Shane Mickelson, and a quilt to Mary Rogers. The grand prize, a gas grill, was won by Martha King. The original business at the corner of Ontario and Midway Plaisance began more than 100 years ago as the DeTour Supply Company, owned by a partnership of Lehman, Lewis, and LaMere. The store was operated for only a few years by the partnership and then closed. Their butcher, Jacob Schopp, then opened his own business in the same location. He then built the current centennial building at the present site and changed the name to Central Market. Bricks from the old building were used in several places in the new building, which was a true general store carrying meat, groceries, clothing, shoes, and all sorts of items a family might use. In 1946 Jacob’s sons, Linton and Byron, bought the store and Linton continued to run the business with help from his wife, Elaine, and children, Bud, Judy, Nancy, and Joan after the death of Byron in 1955. The Schopps sold the store in 1971 to Sune Bucht, who remodeled the building. Further remodeling took place after the purchase of the business by Vince and Ruthie (nee Bucht) Klamerus in 1993. During the last remodeling, the entrance to the building was moved from the front to the side, adjacent to the newly constructed parking area. Bricks from the original building were used in the entry of the remodeled building. This building is one of the few remaining structures from DeTour’s early days, when the big ships stopped here for refueling.

High school basketball season has started and our athletic department needs support. Efforts are underway to reestablish the DeTour Sports Boosters group under a new name, Raider Varsity Club. Dues are $25 per person and will include a Tshirt showing support. Money generated by the group from dues and other activities will be used to help with travel expenses, uniforms, and the many other items needed by the teams. If you are interested in becoming a member, just stop by the school and pick up a form from Terry Tominac or call Craig Hoffman on the island. Volunteers are also needed to help in the concession stand and other areas during the games. If you can give some time, even for one game, call Terry at the school. Support from the community means a lot to these young athletes.

Congratulations to Angie Reed, our new DeTour Area Schools superintendent/ principal.

Plans for the Village Christmas Friday, December 4, Saturday, December 5, and Sunday, December 6, are moving along and the event will be here before we know it. If you have craft items you would like to sell, there are still spaces available. Call Kathy Shiplett at 297-6003.