The five remaining Chelsea firefighters who were hired through a SAFER grant three years ago got some good news at the Chelsea Area Fire Authority Board meeting Tuesday morning: they will retain their jobs, at least through the end of the year.
Fire Chief Jim Payeur made the request of the CAFA board, providing a memo in which he stated he reviewed the authority’s financial information to reevaluate the situation, which “has created a tremendous amount of organizational stress,” and determined that “based on the current fund balance, (which is about $787,000), projections for future millage collections and with proper budgeting and management in place,” that the authority can afford to retain all the firefighter positions “beyond the life of the grant.”
His assessment of CAFA’s financial situation was evaluated by Pat Haniford, CAFA’s auditor.
Originally hired for three years, which was the life of the grant, the six firefighters were told earlier this year that based on financial projections, only three of the positions would continue to be filled after at the end of August.
Currently, five of the six firefighters hired with the grant money are still on staff and one was hired by another fire department. And, the board also voted to fill this open position at least until the end of this year.
“In addition to the financial aspect is the ISO review that was conducted in 2011,” the chief’s memo states. “The higher scores we received were due in part to our staffing level. That score put us in the top 10 percent of fire departments.”
Once another firefighter is hired, the authority will have a captain, lieutenant and two firefighters on each of the three shifts, and retain a minimum staffing of three people per shift if one is on vacation or out sick. This will save on overtime in these situations, the chief said.
Keeping the six firefighters will mean an additional about $62,000 in staff and related costs, which would be paid from the authority’s cash reserve account.
Payeur also was asked to provide the board with a cost estimate for full staffing of the department for 2014.
“I believe the decision to retain current staffing levels is the absolute best option to move the department forward and retain the overall stability and performance of the organization,” his memo states.
In addition, and after much discussion, the Sylvan, Lima and Lyndon Townships Boards and the Chelsea City Council will be sent draft copies of both the revised Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws for comment or approval. The board is expected to discuss both these documents at its July meeting.
The board also voted to move the site of its monthly meetings to Sylvan Township Hall to accommodate the large number of residents and firefighters who have begun regularly attending the 9 a.m. meetings and to revisit changing the time of the meeting from mornings to evenings.
(Publisher’s note: The Expo will open at 5 p.m., so folks can even stop by before the music and entertainment gets started.)
It’s never too early to be on the look out for Christmas or birthday presents and the Ladies Business Expo at The Depot on Thursday, June 20 might be just the place.
The expo will take place from 5-8:30 p.m. (or later) during Sounds and Sights on Thursday Nights.
Stop by for a free massage or check out the jewelry, cosmetics, hair and skin care, nutrition, ceramics, glass art, photography,
and additional handmade items.
Here’s who is expected to have table displays there:
- Teresa Henry with hand painted ceramics
- Stacey Wing with glass art creations
- Rahel Naegele with embroidered items
- Maureen Lochey with handmade pottery (kitchen and serving items)
- Helen O’Toole with handmade greeting cards
- Dona Allan with handmade beaded jewelry
- Heather Heers with Jewel Kade jewelry (charms)
- Jackie Ludtke with hand painted purses
- Theresa Whitaker with Mary Kay Cosmetics
- Cindy Triveline from Hair By Trios with organic hair and skin products
- Judy Usher with Vemma Nutrition samples
- Laura Robinson with Summerfly Massage and her massage chair
- Nia-Avelina Aguirre with her Reflexology foot massages
- Karen Walworth with Side Street Travel
Tags: Ladies Business Expo, The Depot
This is a reminder to visit the first Chelsea History Fest at Timbertown Sunday, June 23 from noon-4 p.m.
The Chelsea Area Historical Society event is free, family-friendly and showcases 1860′s vintage base ball. At 12:30, there will be an exhibition game against community members to be followed by a full game against the Flint Lumber City club at 2 p.m. Here’s a link to a story about the Monitors.
A large pre-1940′s car show is expected along with historical demonstrations to include wool spinning, weaving, vintage printing, chair caning, antique dolls, photograph restoration and conservation.
In addition, there will be old-fashioned games available for the young and young at heart.
Everyone is encouraged to bring a picnic and relax while taking in vintage base ball and other historically entertaining activities. Baked goods, snacks, and beverages will be on sale during the event to supplement a family’s picnic fare.
(Chelsea Update would like to thank Karin E. Rapp for the information in this story.)
There’s a fun, free family event taking place every Sunday through Labor Day at the Pinckney Recreation Area, Silver Lake fishing pier, beginning at 2 p.m.
“We will teach you casting and fishing basics and provide a rod and reel to use,” according to the press release.
Participants under 17 years old do not need a fishing license, however, a Recreation Passport is required for park entry.
And there’s no pre-registration required.
The rec area is located at 8555 Silver Hill Road in Pinckney.
Tags: Pinckney Recreation Area
File photo of a previous food drive.
(Chelsea Update would like to thank Bonnie Hartsuff for the information in this story.)
Boy Scout Troops 476,425,413 and Pack 435 collected about 1,200 items during the combined troops’ food drive for Faith in Action recently.
“In terms of money collected, this was the most successful food drive I’ve participated in,” says Bonnie Hartsuff of Troop 476, who estimated more than $3,200 in items were collected thanks to the generosity of shoppers at Polly’s Country Market.
A total of 26 scouts and parents worked in this food drive, including:
- Troop 476 – 12
- Troop 425 – 11
- Troop 413 – 1
- Pack 435 – 2
A staff member from FIA emailed Hartsuff following the food drive and was told the “Scouts are Unbelievable.”
She said the infusion of food and goods was a great way to get FIA “off to a good start this summer. What a blessing you all are.”
Hartsuff wanted to thank everyone who gave of their time last Saturday to help make this food drive a huge success.
Courtesy photo. The Monitors Base Ball Club of Chelsea.
They go by the names “Irish” and “Deke,” Stonewall,” and “Hawgcooker.”
There’s “Crusher” and “Ice Box,” “Grizzly” and “Walleye,” ”Quickstep” and “Stick Boy.”
Then there’s “Squirrel Bait”, ”E-Rev”, “Kid”, ”Hands”, “Gear Head”, “Moonlight”, “Lumberjack”, “Professor” and “Freight Train.”
Meet some of the members of your Monitor Base Ball Club of Chelsea, who will be hosting a vintage baseball exhibition game as well as a match this Sunday, June 23, as part of Chelsea History Fest at Timbertown.
Vintage baseball, says team captain “Honest Jon” Van Hoek, is fast becoming a popular pastime in the Midwest. And, after playing the game elsewhere, when he moved to Chelsea, he decided to start a team here.
Three years ago, Van Hoek formed the Monitor Base Ball Club, and it’s one of more than 30 clubs in Michigan.
Van Hoek says vintage baseball is “gentlemanly base ballists playing by the rules of 1860.”
There are special uniforms and rules, (some negotiated by team captains depending on the field on which the team’s play) and combines a gentleman’s game of base ball with historical reenactment.
The Monitors (yes, in the 1860’s, there was a team by this name in Chelsea) will play an exhibition game against members of the community at 12:30 p.m. and a match against a new team, The Lumber City BBC of Flint at 2 p.m.
Van Hoek says that both Michigan and Ohio are “hotbeds” for vintage base ball and the Chelsea team has a roster of players that spans more than 50 years with 4-5 players in their 60′s. In fact, one player is 68 years old, he says.
“Everyone can contribute,” Van Hoek says, because the style of play is very inclusive. It’s similar to modern baseball, but not quite.
Players do not use gloves to catch the ball, and good plays are cheered by members of both teams.
“The ball can be caught in the air or on a bounce, which adds a realistic strategy,” Van Hoek says.
And, some of the lingo used back then is incorporated into the game they play today.
All the Monitor players are members of the Chelsea Area Historical Society, and not only do they promote history, but also offer a family-friendly event for the community and their fans to see.
The Monitors have a rather ambitious schedule this year, which includes a number of tournaments, and team holds weekly practices so as many interested players can get involved in this game that’s built on sportsmanship.
Yes, the players want to win and they play hard but Van Hoek says he stresses sportsmanship, not gamesmanship.
Before the match, the captains get together and negotiate the ground rules — based on the type of field that they play on. The Monitors have a rather wide open expanse of grass at Timbertown and try to place the fans as close to the action as possible.
They play 9 innings and the base paths are 90 feet, but players cannot overrun first base. “We have to stop on a ground ball,” he says.
Plus, players have to negotiate how to catch the ball without a glove.
Van Hoek says the team has played on fields with trees in the center or on corn fields with ruts.
Vintage baseball has been around about 20 years, he says and he hopes its popularity continues to increase so there is a cluster of teams in the area. That way, no one would have to travel that far to play. Just like in the 1860’s when every little town had a club and they’d challenge their neighbors, Van Hoek says.
Dexter recently formed a club with his help and he hopes other neighboring towns will follow suit.
For more specific information about vintage base ball, click here.
For more information about The Monitors, click here or go to and like the club’s Facebook page.
“We’ve had such a great first two seasons, and have a good following around town,” he says. “But I’d like to be able to get the word out to even more members of the community.”
Tags: 'Honest Jon' Van Hoek, Monitor Base Ball Club of Chelsea
Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights continues its free summer concert series in downtown Chelsea on Thursday, June 20 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Professional artists perform at ten staged areas and feature music, comedy, family entertainment, and dance.
This week, Michigan Academy of Dance & Music (MiADM) debuts at Sounds and Sights showcasing performances by students ages 3 years old to adult and dance genres including jazz, ballet, bollywood, lyrical, tap, and hip hop. The Dance Company earned high accolades and awards this season at regional competitions and will feature their 2013 competition season pieces during their two-hour performance.
The diverse music lineup this week includes the rock band Los Dingos Del Norte, acoustic singer-songwriter Mitchell Curley, Cajun & Zydeco musicians Creole Du Nord, the alternative rock band Liquid Plasma and the pop-rock quintet Anthony Lai Band.
In addition to music, there is something for the whole family including 3 Generations Entertainment balloons and the children’s entertainer, Eric the Juggler.
The Chelsea District Library’s Comedy Showcase continues its four-week series with Tim Walkoe, a grand prize winner from ABC TV’s “America’s Funniest People”.
Visitors are invited to experience the new installation of SculptureWalk Chelsea, a self-guided walking tour of 12 juried sculptures.
At dusk, SRSLY outdoor cinema presents “City of Ember” (PG).
For a list of performers and stage locations click here.
Council Member Rod Anderson and his new bike after a recent City Council meeting.
Council Member Rod Anderson poses with his new motorcycle.
Tags: Rod Anderson
Courtesy photo. Sally Wingle and Sam Vogel.
(Chelsea Update would like to thank John Knox for the photo and information in this story.)
The Kiwanis Club of Chelsea made a donation to the Chelsea Community Preschool to support scholarships for those families in need.
Buzz, the mascot-in-training with market manager Ashley Miller Helmholdt.
The Bushel Basket Farmers’ Market will take place Wednesday, June 19 from 2:30 to 6 p.m. in the back of the parking lot near the Chelsea Wellness Center.
Kapnik Farms: Strawberries, asparagus, fudge and baked sweet rolls. (Blueberries coming at the end of the month.)
Sprouted Alive Bakery: whole grain, raisin, sprouted and gluten-free bread.
Kapp Farms: baked goods, pretzels, and rolls, maybe rhubarb, onion rolls, olive twists, cinnamon rolls.
Lutchka Angus and Farm Market: onions, eggs, Bok choi, radishes, maybe spinach.
Oak Hill Farm: honey, bee pollen, lotion bars, candles, gift bags with assorted honey products.
Mark’s Farms and Greenhouse: hanging baskets, herb plants, succulents, assorted vegetable plants, maple syrup, Bok Choi, kale, chard.
Golden Fleece Farm, LLC: grass fed lamb products including chops, leg, shanks, stew meat , and eggs.
Greystone Creamery: feta, possibly ricotta, Man-chel cheese, possibly cow Gouda, Chelsea-cam, Rosy-cam, blue Man-chel, sheep Gouda, butternut, garlic pepper and plain cream cheese.
Pregitzer Farm Market, LLC: Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, tomato, pepper, egg plant, cucumber, herb plants, cabbage, broccoli, annual flowers.
Janet’s LLC: grilling rubs, jam, flavored nuts, suckers, U-M and MSU “dammit dolls,” and greeting cards.
T. J Farms: roses, lilacs, hydrangea and other perennials, nursery stock plants, trees and bushes.
Tasty Bakery: wheat-free, gluten-free bars, cookies, bread and scones, including Michigan cherry scones, mini zucchini bread, berry bars, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, vegan chocolate chip cookies, lemon bars, fudge brownies, berry bars.
Parker Kitchen: banana, white and zucchini bread, cookies, catnip toys, afghans and quilts.
Mama Mo: hummus and seitan. Hummus flavors include ginger squash, tan/cran orange, sesame chive satay, kalamata rosemary, black pepper walnut, roasted pepper, horseradish, roasted garlic, traditional, lemon zest, curry lime, tomato basil, onion dill, roasted beet, wasabi, jalapeno, chipotle. Seitan flavors include: nuggets, traditional, fajita strips, Italian fennel sausage, breakfast sage sausage, vegan BBQ, BBQ, roast.
Hollow Hill Farm: asparagus, ruffle scarves.
Stone Hearth Breads and Bakery: pumpernickel, German rye and German rye seeded, Italian Milano, honey whole wheat, San Francisco sourdough, assorted cookies and buns, four-cheese pepperoni rolls, spinach feta cheese bread, multi-grain bread, country loaf, cheese bread, rosemary herb and tomato basil bread, four-cheese bread sticks, jalapeno cheese bread and assorted sweet breads — including cinnamon, cinnamon raisin, strawberry white chocolate, peach pecan, wild blueberry cream cheese, Reuben rolls, and bacon cheddar beer bread.
