Buzz (and I) say thank you to the Chelsea community

I can’t begin to adequately thank this incredibly caring community for all of the messages Buzz (and I) received following my disclosure that he had (hopefully in the past tense) Lyme Disease.

Almost everyone who sees me out and about in town asks how Buzz is doing. He and I both are humbled by everyone’s concerns.

What’s encouraging about this unexpected disease is the number of people who have told me they’ve talked to their dog’s veterinarians about protection for their dogs against Lyme Disease. If disclosing this has helped one dog avoid this disease, I can say something good has resulted.

Buzz’s treatment number two is complete. He continues to be on tick preventative and he’ll also be vaccinated against these nasty little critters at the end of the month. In six months, we’ll test him again.

He seems to be handling the treatment and his recovery like a champ. We’ve resumed training for upcoming dog shows and the countdown is back on for the Rally National Championships at the end of June.

In the meantime, I continue to annoy him by hugging him very tightly every chance I get.

In addition to this, the last few months have been beyond hectic for me. Although I’ve done so in the past, I’ve failed to send out handwritten thank you notes to donors. I apologize to the groups and individuals who have generously donated to my efforts publishing Chelsea Update in recent months. Please accept a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Publishing Chelsea Update for all of you on a daily basis is more than just covering and photographing stories or editing stories from the community. Please know that every word, every headline, every photo has had my fingers on them. Nothing appears on Chelsea Update without first being edited by me.

This spring, the coverage has expanded further due to an increased number of commission meetings — groups of folks appointed by the City Council to research areas of resident interest such as housing, parks, traffic and sustainability. We’ve been there in those council seats covering them for you so you don’t have to be.

I’ve returned to my roots as a sports writer slowly enhancing Chelsea Update’s high school sports coverage in what I hope you’ve found is unique and useful way for the non-sports minded (and of course, the sports minded as well). This is all in an effort to keep you in know and start your day the Chelsea Update way.

Lisa Carolin, Crystal Hayduk and I work very hard to bring you the most accurate and useful information possible seven days a week. I could not publish all the stories Chelsea Update offers to you without their amazing efforts. This spring, Burrill Strong and Alan Ashley have been behind the lens of many of the photos you’ve seen. Their ability to tell a story with an image is outstanding, and I am truly blessed to have them both willing to share their creativity with Chelsea Update, and in turn, with you, the readers.

If you’ve appreciated our collective efforts, (yes, everyone is paid) please consider (yup, here it comes … my least favorite part of publishing Chelsea Update) making a donation toward my efforts as I continue to put 95 percent of my time toward bringing you all the news that’s fit to post about Chelsea. (The other 5 percent of my efforts go toward loving and training Buzz and Ryan).

Donations of any amount can be made out to Chelsea Update and mailed to Lisa Allmendinger, 18829 Bush Road, Chelsea, MI 48118 or you can donate via Paypal. Please understand that these donations are not tax deductible.

It would be amazing if everyone who reads Chelsea Update would donate even a small amount after reading this column. It would sure cut down on the number of times I need to publish what I call “begging columns.”

Below are a list of the kind folks who have supported Chelsea Update in the last few months. And although you haven’t received a thank you note, I hope that you know just how much I appreciate your support. I could not do this without you. And thank, of course, to all of my loyal advertisers, please patronize them whenever possible as they are all local.