A local Tecumseh family recently donated money to the City of Tecumseh. Tecumseh’s Fire Department, Parks and Recreation, and Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) were all recipients of donations from Rick and Diana Ruhl, in memory of Rick’s parents Harold and Jean Ruhl.

On November 13, 2020, Tecumseh Fire Department received a generous donation from the Ruhl Family to be used toward the purchase of a Lucas Chest Compression Device.  This device is used to perform chest compressions during a cardiac arrest event and delivers consistent compressions, which frees up personnel to perform other functions.  This will be the second chest compression device for the department and will provide Tecumseh Fire Department with a Lucas device on both licensed medical units.  “The members of the fire department would like to thank the Ruhl Family for their generosity in memory of Harold and Jean Ruhl,” stated Tecumseh Fire Chief Joe Tuckey.

Tecumseh Parks and Recreation also received a considerable donation that will make summer afternoons at Cal Zorn Park much easier for families to enjoy. Ruhl, in honor of his parents, donated toward Splash Pad improvements and a bathroom that will be located at the east end of Cal Zorn Recreation Center. The well-used Splash Pad has been in service for 15 years and is need of upgrades including a new water element, more shade and seating, in addition to a small bathroom building. “A bathroom and Splash Pad improvements have been on the ‘dream big’ list and now that is looking more promising because of the Ruhl’s gift,” says Sarah Gilmore, Parks and Recreation Director. “This gift will make it easier for families to spend more time at the park enjoying the Splash Pad instead of searching for shade or trekking across the soccer fields to get to a bathroom,” adds Gilmore.

Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) was the third department to receive a donation from the Ruhl Family. The funding will be used in several projects at the theater. The first will include upgrades and improvements to the Dressing Rooms complete with art murals, updated furniture and equipment. The second project will go toward the construction of a partially enclosed sound booth at the back of the auditorium, creating a more polished look to the area. “The generosity and support of Tecumseh families like the Ruhl family is truly inspiring,” stated Kelly Jo Gilmore, TCA Director. “The Ruhl Family’s support will make a positive impact on the arts in our entire community for generations to come.”

Tecumseh Center for the Arts has chosen Sous La Ciel to paint the murals inside the TCA Dressing Rooms. Michigan artists Adrienne Pickette and Kellie Bambach will transform the TCA Dressing Rooms into a visual landscape that allows us to peek inside the creative minds of TCA performers. 

The City of Tecumseh is excited to move forward with these projects and is grateful for the contributions of citizens like the Ruhl Family who give back to the Tecumseh community. 

Happy Holidays from the TCA,

December 2020 has finally arrived and what a year it’s been. The theater’s 40th season looks much differently than we had anticipated. Tecumseh Center for the Arts, like you and many other organizations, have seen its ups and downs this year. It’s been a year of stress and worry as well as love and compassion. 

The Arts continue to be an essential component in our community, regardless of the circumstances around us. Many of us find comfort and strength from the Arts whether in the form of music, dance, visual or performing arts. In Tecumseh, we are blessed to be part of a giving and collaborative community. 

Even though the theater has remained closed most of 2020, we have celebrated some shining moments. First, we dreamt big this year, creating and installing the new TCA Street Art Trail. The community-inspired art murals continue to lift our spirits as we hope to expand the art trail in 2021. In addition, we announced plans for the new Mary Jo Mensing Sculpture Garden to be unveiled during the summer of 2021. Finally, we received a donation from a local family to update the dressing rooms and sound booth. We are thrilled to see these projects come to life in the coming months. The theater is also busy working on the boiler and air conditioning units. We spent most of 2020 developing a plan with a Mechanical Engineer. Thanks to grant awards by the Elizabeth Ruthruff Wilson Foundation and Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA), we hope to begin the project this coming spring.  

Despite these positive steps forward, the theater is still unfortunately closed. Though we have eliminated many expenses due to not having events, we still have the cost of utilities and ongoing maintenance at the theater. This season, we are looking for creative ways to replace lost income from canceled shows. Right now, patrons can purchase an engraved nameplate to be installed on an auditorium seat from now through Christmas. The campaign called “40 Seats in 40 Days” runs from November 16 through Christmas. Seats can be purchased for a discounted price of $100. If interested, please contact us and we will help you select your seat. 

We are also offering a special, limited-edition 40th anniversary ornament this year! Available to the first 25 individuals to donate $100 or more this season, we hope you will love this handmade anniversary ornament, created by local artists Debi Bailey and Gregorio Perez of Quiet Heron Studio, as much as we do. Donations can be made online through our website at www.thetca.org/donations. We hope to mail out all ornaments before Christmas this year. 

The TCA staff hopes to open our doors once again very soon and looks forward to the day we can welcome each of you back to the TCA. Blessings to each of you for a happy and healthy holiday season! 

Cheers, 

Kelly Jo Gilmore
Director | Tecumseh Center for the Arts | [email protected]