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Going for the Gold!
This year, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary — the semiquincentennial— of the United States of America. A pretty big accomplishment. Closer to home, however, this year marks our 5oth anniversary!
Terry and I were married Sept. 10, 1976, during America’s 20oth anniversary year. Our bicentennial license plate is featured in one of our wedding photos! It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating our 25th anniversary the day before that fateful day: 9/11.
We had decided to take our first full three-week vacation in order to celebrate our 25th anniversary. Instead of heading straight to Orlando at the beginning of September, we first went to visit longtime friends in Richmond, Va. From there, we headed over to Atlanta, where we once lived and worked during our early married years.
The Capital of the South held special memories for us. We had a leisurely dinner the night of our anniversary at the Gwinnett Place Marriott where we had acquired a taste for white zinfandel and fine dining. The following day, Sept. 11, with CDs playing our favorite ’70s songs, we jumped on I-75 South toward Orlando.
Somewhere south of Macon, Ga., I got a page from Margie Smith, who was filling in for me at the Grosse Pointe News. She asked if I knew what was happening. I didn’t have a clue. After filling me in, she asked, “What do you want us to do?” The obvious was to contact the police, schools, church leaders, etc., which the Grosse Pointe News staff did admirably.
We spent the night of 9/11 in St. Augustine, Fla. Everything was closed. We found hotdogs for dinner at a party store. Of course, we called family to let them know we were OK. It was eerie being in Orlando following 9/11. With air traffic grounded, we had Disney World practically to ourselves. Disney characters had no one to hug and take photos with. We will never complain about Disney crowds again!
Hopefully our Golden Anniversary this year will be not so eventful!
Please join us in celebrating not just our 50 years together but also 250 years of America!
As always, be sure to patronize our many loyal advertisers, businesses and institutions, without whom this magazine would not be possible and living in the Pointes not so unique. There is no place like it!
John Minnis
Publisher
The stretch from September 1 to January is my favorite time of the year. In fact, (as I suspect many people do), I treat September 1st as a sort of New Year.
Though the heat lingers well into the month, school is back in session and I pretend the cozy season is already upon us. I ready sweaters, pick out haunting reads, check where my favorite fall movies are streaming or find them among my DVD collection (here’s to physical media!). And I update my calendar.
We are spoiled for choice of autumn and Halloween events in the Pointes. How many communities can boast trick-or-treating in a historic mansion or at an estate on the water? How many have their own award-winning family-friendly haunted attraction in the middle of their neighorhood?
Our family’s musts include Little Goblins at Ford House, Halloween Spooktacular at The War Memorial and the Haunted Garage. I’m hoping to score tickets to the immediately sold out Murder Mystery Party in the Main Residence of Ford House this year.
An event now in its third year, Grosse Pointe Witches Ride was started by my friend Sarah Cottrell. I have been fortunate enough to participate since the inaugural ride. There is certain magic in donning a witch’s hat and cackling with a coven of bike riding witches all the way down Kercheval (usually to the delight of passersby).
This will be the first year we donate to a local charity, Michael B’s Cafe, and we are so looking forward to another witchy bike ride from High Pointe to Cabbage Patch. Read more about it on page 20.
I also want to bring to readers’ attention the addition of a new host on our Pets page. Where our beloved Molly’s photo had been for nearly 13 years, we now introduce Mabel.
A two-year-old former racing greyhound from Australia, Mabel is our shadow, constantly at our side. As I write this, she’s curled up at my feet.
We are currently debating what to dress her up as for Halloween. I’ve had fun scrolling through ideas like Sherlock Holmes, a spider, a Greyhound bus. My Harry Potter-reading son suggested a thestral. We hope she’ll be gracing the Pets page for years to come.
Happy Halloween!
Lauren McGregor
Editor
The Happiest Day in Grosse Pointe!www.facebook.com/124303337591975/videos/292240332790704/
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