04/19/2026
Sharp woods closed!!
LONG BUT WORTH A READ.
I had court on my birthday! For the misdemeanor of disturbing the peace for trying to make wooden items in my garage for all of the amazing customers and friends.
THE GOOD NEWS, all charges were dismissed and received a no contest. ( this means I did not have to plead guilty or not guilty, more or less that I did not commit any crime)
THE BAD NEWS, the law has not changed for noise ordinance. Essentially in Raisin Township how the law is written ( you can go outside and clap your hands and if someone finds it annoying they can report you for a noise violation) you read that correctly. Now even though I did everything correctly; I have a llc through the state of Michigan, I pay business taxes, I paid for and was approved for a home occupational permit in raisin township.( allows me to operate my business from my home in the township)
NONE OF THIS MATTERS ONE BIT.
A mouse is not allowed to fart in my garage for fear of making too much noise.
Essentially my charges were dropped this time but the way it sounds is I am no longer allowed to officially operate my business from my home.
NOBODY, will actually come out and tell me this because they know it's wrong but this is what the township wants so they no longer have to deal with this.
Long story short, I am out of $ to do anything more about it. This one issue cost me a few Thousand dollars in court cost lawyer fees and what have you. So Sharp woods business is closed at the end of April officially!
NOT THE END, JUST A NEW ROAD
This last 6 months has been a roller coaster. I have learned so much and grown. I have experienced alot of emotions from rage, hate, sadness, hate, anger, depression, relief, laughter, love, and excitement.
At first I could not believe this was happening to me, woodworking was not only my side gig business that allowed us to go on a vacation, pay for my son's new baseball bat, and take my wife to a surprise dinner. It was also my therapy, my calm in the crazy. One of those things, that after a very hard shift or just a bad week I could go to the garage and start working with my hands and all of it was lifted.
Now that had been taken from me. The thing I didn't understand was why? When I received handwritten letters from 15 of my neighbors to give to my lawyer stating that I was one of the best neighbors ever, and that my woodworking never bothered them. That they never felt like any of it was too noisy. How could all of them say these amazing things about me. It made me feel so happy in the massive amount of anger I was feeling.
Then the court date was pushed back farther so I would have to wait even more. At this point when I had no therapy of my woodworking to rely on, things were bad. I was just an upset person to be around.
3 months into this mess still with no answer or court appearance I was lost. Woodworking became my identity, it was who I was. The tall guy that woodworks. I lost part of me. I was sad.
In losing this it gave me alot of free time to reflect.
I FORGOT!!! I AM A DAD, HUSBAND, SON, FIREFIGHTER, FRIEND. I forgot because one thing was taken. I was only looking at that. When I opened my eyes and looked I saw everything else. Then I felt happy and was able to think clearly.
I am sad to let sharp woods go. But I have so much more that can never be taken. I will figure the rest out.
Sharp woods will rise again!!! I promise you that!!! I am way too stubborn and driven to let it fail forever. I need time though, I don't want to mess up this opportunity to explode into something more , bigger , better! The plan…. We have options just trying to figure them out. We may buy a new house or build a home somewhere with lots of land that I can run around and clap my hands as loud as I want. Maybe I find land I can just build sharp woods headquarters at. Maybe I change sharp woods into something different like a home remodel woodworking business. All I can say is I promise you I am not out. I stood back up after being knocked down. I just want to make sure the next move is the correct one. It may take time. In the meantime I will concentrate on family, fire dept, and friends. Exciting times to come.
I will be selling all of my stock items I have already had made at amazing prices to clean the house. Make sure you grab one before you can not. I will also woodwork for friends and family now and then. If a friend wants a coffee table made then I can make something for a friend. So keep that in mind now and then I will do something custom. You all know how to contact me.
Thank-you to everyone who has ever purchased anything from me. It makes me happy that so many of my items are out in the world.
“You will never find a hater who is doing better than you. It's not possible. Confident creators focus on their craft, not trying to bring others down. Haters despise themselves because they are scared that no matter how hard they work they can never achieve what you have, and that's why they take their anger out on you.”
-Lewis Howes
