North Creek first-graders look at an adult chicken held by Linda Reilly.
First-graders pet one of Linda Reilly’s adult birds.
Ten adult hens and roosters made a trip from Linda Reilly’s Clear Creek farm in Lyndon Township to North Creek Elementary School Tuesday afternoon and about 125 first graders had a chance to see them, pet them, and ask questions about them in the gym.
As part of a cycle of life lesson for the students, Reilly first brought eggs to the school last month and the children were able to see more than 20 chicks hatch and grow in two first-grade classrooms.
Chickens in a travel cage inside the gym at North Creek Elementary.
On May 21, the students were able to see what the chicks they’d given names like Coco Puff, Ziegfried, Yellowy, Fluffy Chick, Sonic and Fluffels, would grow up to look like.
One classroom had nine chicks hatch and live while another had 13 hatch and thrive.
The students asked questions like how long the hens and roosters will live.
Reilly said about 8-10 years.
She said she has 35 egg layers, 25 Polish and two roosters back on the farm.
The children also wanted to know about how much the grown chickens weighed.
Reilly said some hens weigh about 4-5 pounds but the roosters weigh a few pounds more, depending on the breed.
Some of the chicks that hatched in the first-grade classrooms at North Creek Elementary.
The students wanted to know how many eggs the hens lay each day and Reilly said they lay one about every other day.
The students also wanted to know what the chickens eat and she told them the hens eat layer mash.
“I got these birds from breeders,” she said of the several varieties of small Polish breeds and the larger Speckled Sussex, Black Barnevelder and Americana birds she brought to show the children.
This is the third year in a row that Reilly has brought eggs and full grown birds to the school.
About 125 first graders met full-grown hens and roosters.
Tags: chickens, Clear Creek Farm, Linda Reilly, Lyndon Township, North Creek Elementary School
The Chelsea Area Fire Authority Board continues to struggle with the best way to solve personnel problems within the 12-member fire service ranks while grappling with a review of the documents that govern both the authority and its employees.
The board held both a work session and a regular meeting Tuesday morning and unanimously agreed to have Chief Jim Payeur bring proposals from two different consulting firms to the board that would review the administrative and operations portions of the fire service.
He estimated that the cost for a full review would be about $25,000.
In addition, Payeur brought forth a suggestion to form a citizen’s committee to look into the fire service operations and he asked the board to consider having former CAFA board member and former Lima Township Supervisor Gary Adams serve as its chairman.
Payeur said perhaps an outside perspective was needed to look into the animosity that’s taking place not only among the firefighters but also among new board members who took office following a failed union vote last November. There have been a number of accusations leveled by firefighters against other firefighters as well as against board members.
Following the failed union vote, there have been escalating personnel issues within the department and the board voted last month to take control of the hiring, firing, promotion and demotion of any fire personnel.
A policy, procedure and personnel committee has begun a review of the documents that govern the authority from its incorporation documents to the employee handbook and standard operating guidelines. But it’s been a slow-moving process fraught with accusations that the committee members overstepped the scope of their review. The process has also been derailed by a lack of consensus on procedural issues. This has been compounded by new board members who lack an institutional knowledge of authority processes.
Payeur recently realigned firefighter shifts and in a letter to all CAFA personnel titled “moving forward,” he re-stated the measures he’s taken to “restore harmony and cohesiveness this department has enjoyed in the past.”
He reiterated that he will not “tolerate any acts that serve to continue to propagate, support or build a negative atmosphere within this department. I expect all animosities to be dissolved and sincere, earnest efforts of team building to be undertaken by every individual employed by this department. Anything less is unacceptable and will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.”
He told the firefighters to “put the focus on performing our jobs and serving the citizens of the communities we love. I expect each member to accept personal responsibility for accomplishing this mission.”
On the board side, a work session has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 28 to discuss an undated version of CAFA’s governing documents.
Although everyone loves Chelsea, sometimes taking a trip away from home is fun, too — especially as the weather improves.
The Michigan Department of Transportation‘s (MDOT) new state transportation map is out, just in time to help travelers plan a “Pure Michigan” adventure.
The map can be found online and as a paper map, and is available free at all Michigan Welcome Centers.
“All signs point to increased travel and tourism as residents and visitors alike discover and rediscover all that Michigan has to offer,” said Gov. Rick Snyder in a press release.
“Michigan is blessed with two peninsulas of natural beauty,” he said, adding, “I’ve done a lot of traveling as governor, and I can attest there’s no state with more to see and do than our own great state of Michigan.”
In addition to the paper map, MDOT’s highly interactive mobile site, Mi Drive, offers real-time traffic information, camera views, rest area locations and construction information at www.michigan.gov/drive that travelers can use to plan their routes in advance.
For what’s going on in Chelsea, click here.
Tags: MDOT
Courtesy photo. Norm Colbry accepts a plaque from Richard Dettling.
(Chelsea Update would like to thank Keith Bloomensaat for the information and photos in this story.)
Lions District Governor Richard Dettling recently presented a plaque to Lion President Norm Colbry designating the Chelsea Club as club of the year for Region I of Lion District 11B-1.
Edith Wiarda of the Ann Arbor District Liberia Task Force of the United Methodist Church visited a recent Chelsea Lions Club meeting.
“Edith provided a great program on the work that is being done by the task force through the church in Liberia,” according to information from Keith Bloomensaat.
The club is looking for new members and meets at 6:30 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Chelsea Community Hospital dining room.
Anyone interested should contact Bloomensaat at 734-262-2122.
Courtesy photo. Edith Wiarda and Norm Colbry.
Tags: Chelsea Lions Club
The Alzheimer’s Association will present the “Know the 10 Signs” program at the Chelsea District Library on Friday, May 31, from 1-2 p.m., which explores the difference between age-related memory loss and Alzheimer’s.
The program, which will take place in the McKune Room, also explains what to do if they or someone you know shows signs of the disease, and will include video footage of real people who are living with the early stages of dementia and their families addressing fears and myths associated with Alzheimer’s.
Following the program, all are welcome to stay for “Volunteer Presenter Training” to become trained to deliver this presentation on their own. In addition, you will receive further education about the Alzheimer’s Association, presentation skills, and the technology used.
Refreshments will be provided.
Advance registration is required. If you are interested in learning more about this upcoming program or want to register,
please visit alz.org/mglc or call 800-272-3900.
The Chelsea Board of Education unanimously approved the recommendation of Stacie Battaglia as the new principal for South Meadows Elementary School Monday night.
Current Principal Lisa Nickel will become the new Director of Special Education.
Battaglia has been teaching in the Chelsea School District for 12 years. She was one of three internal candidates who applied for the position said Superintendent Andy Ingall.
“We did an internal search,” Ingall said, adding, “I’m very excited about her passion and knowledge for the job.”
Battaglia has a Master of Education from Wayne State University and has taught 5th grade in the district since 2002.
“Mrs. Battaglia’s interviews showcased her solid record of integrity and her ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with students, parents and colleagues,” according to a memo from Julie Deppner, executive director of instruction.
“Her long-time commitment to this district was validated through conversations with several of her colleagues with whom we spoke,” the memo states.
In her application letter, Battaglia said not only was she a teacher in the district but also a parent in the district and has “great respect for the Chelsea Schools. Living in the Chelsea School District has allowed me to view the schools and staff from another perspective.”
She’ll begin her new position on July 1.
‘Read to Your Library Buddy’ is a new volunteer program at the Chelsea District Library to help boost young readers’ skills and get them excited about reading.
Volunteer to listen to a child read to you every Thursday during our Summer Reading Program, and help them gain confidence and strengthen their reading skills.
A mandatory training session will be held at the library on Thursday, June 6 from 3:30-4:30 pm led by Lisa Kaemming, reading specialist from North Creek Elementary School.
Please register online or by calling 475-8732 ext. 213.
Volunteer applications also can be picked up at the first level information desk.
Tags: Chelsea District Library, Lisa Kaemming, North Creek Elementary School
Courtesy photo by Mark Bogarin.
(Chelsea Update would like to thank head lacrosse coach Joe Koengeter for the information and Mark Bogarin for the photos in this story.)
The great weather and large crowd helped out on Friday night, May 17, as the Chelsea Lacrosse Team won its first playoff
game, downing Temperance Bedford, 10-2 at home.
“It was a great atmosphere during the game as the team feed off of the home crowd,” said Head Coach Joe Koengeter.
This was the first time Chelsea had hosted a playoff game and it was great to get a win, he said.
There were a number of players brought up from JV for the playoffs and every one of them got into the game.
“The kids are brought up for the experience and to get ready for next year, it is always great when you can enhance that experience for them and get them playing time in the playoff game as well,” he said.
This was the first round of the Division 2 state playoffs and Chelsea travels to Tecumseh on Thursday for the team’s next game.
Chelsea scored four goals in the second, two in the third and four in the fourth quarter.
Baily Weatherwax and Christian Clippert both scored four points. Chris Hudson has three goals while Joey Olmsted had two.
Devon Conti and Ryan Hein also had one goal each.
Courtesy photo by Mark Bogarin.
Tags: Chelsea Lacrosse
(Chelsea Update would like to thank Dustin Sunthheimer for the information in this story.)
As part of this year’s Chelsea District Library’s summer reading kick off, the Olive Masonic Lodge #156 will provide a free child identification program on Friday, June 7 between noon-2 p.m.
The child ID program is being provided as a part of the summer reading kick off – ‘Dig into Reading’ event.
Each child who goes through the process will receive a dental impression as well as a CD containing a photo, video, digital fingerprints and their vital information, according to a press release.
Parents or guardians of children who participate must be present and fill out a permission slip for the child.
Children who have already received the service are encouraged to repeat the process every two years to keep the information in the completed packets current.
The Michigan Child Identification Program provides the family with everything needed for the Amber Alert System.
Since 2005, more than 60,000 Michigan children have received this service.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children considers the Michigan Child Identification Program to be one of the most comprehensive of its kind, according to the press release.
For questions or more information about the event, call 989-466-3087 or click here.
