Grounds for Thought, a cafe and bookstore, lost its founder, Sandy Wicks, on Jan. 28 at 79 years old. The cafe hosted a celebration of life on Feb. 7. The event was held from 4 to 6 p.m., with people from around the community gathering to celebrate her life.

Wicks earned her Master’s in education from Bowling Green State University and began working as a substitute teacher soon after. Later, she worked to bring her idea to life with Grounds for Thought. When she opened Grounds for Thought in 1989, it started with a dream of combining a used bookstore with a cafe. It has turned into a place where people of all ages cancome for a peaceful environment filled with books and treats.

The Cafe has hosted various intimate concerts within its space. Her son, Kelly Wicks, and his wife now own Grounds for Thought, which she sold to them back in 1991. Even after selling the coffee shop to her son, she continued to be involved with the community on a large scale.

Wicks was a former city council member and first chairperson for the Black Swamp Arts Festival. She was known for standing up for what she believed participating in many downtown protests.

Grounds for Thought’s Facebook page was swarmed by sincere messages and heartfelt memories of the founder. With the celebration of life, bringing people together to remember and share stories of the late founder.