A Kenosha grocer is honoring a Hollywood icon with a creative tribute in its bakery section this week.
Stinebrink’s Piggly Wiggly is offering donuts, cupcakes and cookies to celebrate the life of Betty White, the beloved Golden Girl who died on Dec. 31 just two weeks shy of her 100th birthday.
“We wanted to do something to bring a smile to everyone’s face,” said Brenda Lois, the store manager at Stinebrink’s Piggly Wiggly, 2801 14th Place. “(Betty White) was an icon. Everybody could connect with her on some level.”
Lois contacted store bakery manager and cake decorator Yvonne Goins and asked if she would be able to do something creative in remembrance of White.
Goins was thrilled to be able to use her baking skills as a tribute to one of her TV heroes.
“I’m a Betty White fan and a Golden Girls fan,” said Goins, a 2009 Indian Trail Academy graduate. “(Lois) texted me the other night and thought it would be a good idea to make some donuts in honor of Betty White.”
Goins took it one step further and created a variety of baked goods with famous Betty White-inspired designs and popular sayings such as:
“Stay Golden.”
“Be True to Yourself.”
“The older you get the better you get, unless you’re a banana.”
“Get at least eight hours of beauty sleep, nine if you’re ugly.”
Goins’ finest creation was a 12-cupcake tray with a White portrait on top.
“People have come in and taken a lot of photos,” Goins said. “I like doing stuff like this. It’s fun to do tributes and creative things like this.”
The special Betty White baked goods will be available at both Stinebrink Piggly Wiggly stores, including its location at 7600 Pershing Blvd, through Saturday, according to Lois.
“We’re short-staffed, so we’re making them (at the northside location) and transporting them over there,” Lois said.
White on the local big screen
Betty White fans can also celebrate her life on the big screen on Monday, Jan. 17, as Tinseltown Kenosha and about 900 theaters across the country are scheduled to host a one-day showing of “Betty White: 100 Years Young.” Producers said the film, originally scheduled to play her 100th birthday, will be shown as scheduled.
According to the statement from producers Steve Boettcher and Mike Trinklein on the Fathom Events website: “During the many years we worked with her, we developed a great love and admiration for Betty as a person, and as an accomplished entertainer. We are thankful for the many decades of delight she brought to everyone. Betty always said she was the “luckiest broad on two feet” to have had a career as long as she did. And honestly, we were the lucky ones to have had her for so long. … We will go forward with our plans to show the film on January 17 in hopes our film will provide a way for all who loved her to celebrate her life — and experience what made her such a national treasure.”
The movie, according to the website, “is a celebration of America’s sweetheart” and “an opportunity to remember Betty White’s amazing life and career.”
“It’s a time to come together and enjoy Betty’s classic moments on The Golden Girls, SNL, Hot in Cleveland, The Proposal, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, among others. Drawing from her final interview, this film provides a backstage look at her career, and insights into what was most important to her. Plus hear from the friends who loved her, including Ryan Reynolds, Carol Burnett, Valerie Bettinelli, Jennifer Love Hewitt — and dozens of other celebrity friends who offer their tribute to this beloved icon.”
The movie will show at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. on Jan. 17, at Tinseltown Kenosha, 7101 70th Court. You can purchase tickets HERE.
Erik Brooks contributed to this report.
