(Publisher’s note: Attention parents: If you’d like to see your Chelsea High School senior spotlighted on Chelsea Update, please email me lallmendinger@sbcglobal.net.)
Courtesy photo by Mark Bogarin.
Senior captain Grace Sauers capped off her storied Chelsea High School Track and Field career with a fifth place finish in the 300 hurdles, and a new school record.
She now holds five school track records: 300 hurdles, long jump, and the 4×100, 4×200, and 4×400 relays.
In addition, she has 10 all-state top eight finishes in her career
Varsity track and varsity basketball captain and MVP
Drum major
Magna Cum Laude
Student government
Academic and track scholarship to Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois
Favorite high school memory: Winning districts and making it to the regional final game in basketball my senior year.
Advice for freshman: Go to as many sporting events, music concerts, plays, and Company C shows that you can. In the moment, it may feel like there are so many and the little ones don’t matter, but the time goes by so quickly and you will miss being able to be in the student section with your friends and cheer on fellow classmates,” she says adding, “I would absolutely love to stand in the student section at another basketball game and watch the boys win on a last second shot.”
There are so many opportunities in high school, so do not be afraid to branch out from what you have always participated in and try something new. There are so many tremendous clubs and activities to join.
This summer: I will be going to Africa for seven weeks. But first, I will be in Garden Valley, Texas, for half of a week for training and half of a week after my time in Africa to debrief following the trip.
While in Africa, I will be in Zambia for half of the time – about 3 weeks where my team and I will be camping out in tents on the same grounds as the orphans who will be attending a “summer camp” where we will be running Vacation Bible Schools (VBS’s), and spreading God’s love through skits, songs, and just loving on the children.
For the second half of the time, my team and I will be in South Africa serving with refugees and immigrants living in temporary villages there. We will be staying in more of a dorm-style room while we are there, and we will be showing God’s love and hope in practical ways such – as chopping wood, gardening, and plucking chickens for dinner.
I am so excited for what God has in store for the people of Africa, my team, as well as how He will transform my heart.
The future: Attending Olivet Nazarene University in the fall with a major in nursing and a minor in missions/intercultural studies. I will be running track and field there as well.
Tags: Chelsea High School, Grace Sauers
Publisher’s note: I tried some new flowers this year in my hanging basket gardens. Other than the mini sunflowers, don’t ask me what they are, though.
(Chelsea Update would like to thank Jennifer Fairfield for the information in this column. This is part II, the first part ran on Saturday, June 15.)
Keep your gardens weeded.
Pulling weeds out when they are small makes it much easier to get the whole thing and keeps the weed from spreading as easily. I try to fit in a little bit of weeding at a time, while I’m doing other things – like when I am taking the dog out for a walk or feeding the birds – that way I don’t notice that I’m actually working at weeding.
If you’re hoping to grow some new flowers this year, and haven’t gotten those seeds or plants in the ground yet, don’t wait much longer.
If you’re putting in plants, don’t forget to mulch around them when you plant. Mulch is just about the most important thing you can do for your plants – it helps keep moisture in, maintains moderate soil temperatures, and keeps weeds down. If planting seeds, mulch as soon as the plants are big enough not to get crushed by the mulch, and keep them well-watered in the meantime.
Water is just as important to your backyard birds as it is to your plants. Birds need good sources of clean water for drinking and bathing. If there isn’t enough water for your garden, there definitely isn’t enough water for your birds. If you don’t already have one, consider putting out a birdbath for your feathered friends. If you have one, make sure you keep it cleaned out and filled with water.
New flowers.
Replacing the water every day will be as beneficial to you as the birds – it helps keep mosquitoes from laying their eggs in the water. Another option is to keep the water moving.
Birds love moving water, and mosquitoes don’t. Adding a bubbler, fountain, or “water wiggler” to the birdbath will make your birds happy and keep the mosquitoes away.
Speaking of watering, be sure to give your plants about an inch of water each week if Mother Nature isn’t providing that for you. Without enough water, your plants will not flourish, and all your hard work will be “fruitless” (pardon the pun).
A good rain gauge can take the guesswork out of how much rain your garden is getting.
It is especially important to water your container plants regularly. Soil in containers dries out much more quickly than the in the ground, especially if the containers are in the sun and exposed to the wind. I decided about half-way through the terrible summer we had last year that I was no longer spending so much of my life watering plants – I have way too much to do to stand around with a hose and sprinkler.
So I installed simple sprinkler systems and put them on timers. Now I have more time for weeding.
Happy gardening.
The Chelsea District Library will soon start filming the next documentary in its Stories of Chelsea Community History Project: Vietnam Veterans.
“We’re looking for Chelsea area Vietnam veterans who are willing to share their stories: from the moments they enlisted or were drafted, to their time in Vietnam, and what it was like after returning home,” according to the press release.
Filming will start this month, with a premiere of the documentary planned on Veterans Day.See previous story here.
If you are a Chelsea area Vietnam veteran interested in participating in the film or know of someone who is, please contact Library Director Bill Harmer at 475-8732, ext. 206 or email him at bharmer@chelseadistrictlibrary.org.
Although half of the documentary costs have already been raised $3,500 is still needed to complete the film.
If you are interested in making a donation to help fund this project, please make checks payable to the Chelsea District Library in care of the Vietnam Veterans Documentary. Donations can be sent to 221 South Main St., Chelsea, MI 48118.
The Stories of Chelsea Community History Project documentaries include: One Room Schoolhouses, Village Life, WWII Veterans, and Korean War Veterans.
For more information about the Stories of Chelsea Community History Project, click here. .
Publisher’s note: After a fatal beginning thanks to the frost, my tomatoes, peppers and eggplant are progressing nicely. (Need to do some weeding around them, though.)
Peppers.
(Chelsea Update would like to thank Jennifer Fairfield, owner of The Garden Mill, for the information in this story.)
Spring got off to a really slow start around here, making it hard to know when to do anything. It was cold and rainy, or just plain old cold all the way through May. I usually put my tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, and squash in the garden by Memorial Day weekend, but that didn’t happen this year – it was way too cold.
Those plants are finally in my garden now, and I’m hoping that it will warm up a little more so they really get growing. Our season is short enough in Southeast Michigan without losing all the time we have.
So, what should we be doing in our yards and gardens this month?
Lots of planting can be done in June, in the veggie garden as well as the flower beds.
If you haven’t gotten your warm-weather vegetable and herb plants in yet, you should do that ASAP. Many of them need all summer to really produce, so the longer you wait, the less you will likely get from them.
Tomatoes.
It’s really getting too late to even think about planting these plants from seed in the garden now – there won’t be enough time for them to grow to maturity at this point – so get plants that have already been started. This will give you a jump on the necessary growing time. This is true for tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and squash, and even some cucumbers, though there may be time enough for seeds of those if you hurry.
If you are considering planting seeds, check the seed packet for the “days to maturity.” That’s how long it takes from the time the seeds first come out of the ground to when the plants will begin to produce. Keep in mind that Oct. 5 is the average first frost here.
Strawberries.
Staking and caging. The time to stake or cage your plants is when you are putting them in. If your tomatoes are the type that will do better with staking or caging, doing that now will help ensure that you don’t damage the roots trying to get them in later. Peppers and eggplants also often do better when staked, so put the stakes in when you put the plants in.
However, you can continue planting bush bean seeds for a little longer. Bush beans produce in one big flush over a week or two, so planting some every couple of weeks into late June will ensure that you have a continuous harvest all the way up to first frost.
You can also plant successions of beets, carrots, dill, parsley, and cilantro through the end of July to ensure a prolonged harvesting season.
Cabbage and broccoli can be started at the end of the month or early July for fall harvest. Plant seeds directly into the garden, or start them indoors and transplant the seedlings into your garden by late August. They’ll be ready to eat by late September or early October.
To protect these cool-weather loving plants from the heat of summer, try planting them in a shady part of your garden or where they will be shaded by other plants, or use shade covers to keep them cool.
Happy gardening. And, part II will run tomorrow.
First time trying beets in a basket.
Courtesy photo by Mark Bogarin.
Mark Bogarin captured these images of singer Kari Holmes from Sounds and Sights on Thursday Nights, June 13.
Take a look here to see more of his work.
Courtesy photo by Mark Bogarin.
Tags: Sounds and Sights
Courtesy photo. Harvest Art Market at Silver Maples.
Silver Maples of Chelsea has opened up the application process for all artists who wish to have a booth at the annual Harvest Art Market planned for Oct.12.
Organizers are again looking to offer a variety of mediums and price range.
The 6th annual show will feature over 20 Michigan area artists and craftsmen showing watercolor, folk art, pottery, fiber arts, glass works, original photography, vintage art and more.
Our goal is provide a nice “market-mix” of art. We’re looking for basket makers, jewelers, potters, fiber artists, photographers, folk artists, wood workers, and more, says Shawn Personke, marketing director at Silver Maples.
Artists interested in demonstrating their work are encouraged.
The show also features live entertainment and a bake sale of some of the best cookies, cakes, pies, and breads around, according to the press release.
Applications are requested by Aug. 13 and are available here, at Silver Maples, 100 Silver Maples Dr. or by emailing Shawn Personke at spersonke@silvermaples.org
Courtesy photo. Back row: Chris Burby, John Aldighieri, Noah Kizer, Instructor Mike Trester, and Mark Brennan. Front row: Robin Stockwell and Wendy Lineweaver.
(Chelsea Update would like to thank Rebecca Trester for the information in this story.)
Two local students — one from Manchester and one from Chelsea — recently received their level of Commando Krav Maga student certification.
Noah Kizer of Chelsea and Wendy Lineweaver of Manchester successfully earned their Student Level 1 Certificates in Commando Krav Maga (CKM), which is a reality-based, self-defense system developed by Moni Aizik, a former Israeli Special Forces Commando.
Kizer and Lineweaver have been training under Level 5 CKM Instructor, Mike Trester at Commando Krav Maga Chelsea.
Qualifications for completing each CKM level involves demonstrating verbal de-escalation skills when confronted with an adverse situation and performing a variety of self defense techniques in order to survive life-threatening scenarios. They include chokes, hand-to-hand attacks, knife and gun disarming, and ground survival.
There are 8 levels of student certificates and each level offers more advance techniques as they progress.
For more information on self defense classes at CKM Chelsea, click here.
Tags: Commando Krav Maga Chelsea, Noah Kizer, Wendy Lineweaver
Several mayors from the Ukraine stopped by and visited the Mule Skinner Boot shop on their tour of the United States last Thursday.
They has also been to Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Ann Arbor, according to Pam Conn, of the Mule Skinner.
“They had lots of questions for Mac (Leonard McDougall) about his military service and police service,” she said.
When asked what kind of questions they had for the former Chief of Police, he said, “They were curious about the police department rankings.”
And although bigger police departments do use a star ranking where four stars would be the chief, it’s not that way in Chelsea.
He said that the visitors had been in Lansing to see how government works and that they’d stopped in Chelsea to have dinner at The Common Grill, then went to the Mule Skinner.
McDougall said the mayors did not speak English, rather asked questions through an interpreter.
McDougall said he frequently meets people from Europe when he is out on foot patrol in downtown Chelsea.
“I’ve met them from England, Scotland and Ireland,” he said, adding that he had stopped by the downtown business as a courtesy call and happened to meet the visitors inside the store.
When asked if the Ukrainian visitors asked about crime in Chelsea, he said that they had not, but the people he’d met from other European countries had asked.
“We gave them the tour of all the exotic boots. They purchased handmade leather belts made here in Chelsea, by the Mule himself,” Conn said.
Tags: Common Grill, Mule Skinner
This Saturday at the downtown Farmers’ Market, learn more about allergy and special diet considerations. The market is open from 8 a.m.- noon in the library lot on Park Street.
Are you gluten-free, lactose-intolerant or low-sugar – visit Tasty Bakery to learn how they make their tasty treats so you can indulge healthfully?
Are you a vegetarian or do you want to learn more about heart health – visit MamaMo for a lesson in seitan and hummus, and its benefits for those avoiding higher fat proteins.
For high-fiber whole grain ideas, visit La Baguette or Stonehearth Bakery and check out their whole grain options.
Natural, grass-fed animal products and produce options abound. Many vendors, such as Greystone Creamery, Back Forty Acres, Zatkovich Pastures and Tantre Farm, to name a few, sell animal products and produce grown with your health in mind. Ask any vendor about their growing practices, and they’ll be happy to tell you all about them.
Don’t forget, vendors accept the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program at the market, also known as Bridge Cards. So visit the market information table for specifics on the program.
Also this week, Erin Olberg, will have a fundraiser for the Michigan Multiple Sclerosis Society walk at Hudson Mill in June at the non-profit tent, please support this effort buy buying some baked goods there. 
This week’s music will be provided by Keith Parmentier, starting at 10 a.m.
Here are some of the featured vendor offerings this week:
* Ruhlig’s Produce will have green onions, bok choi, kale, collards, Swiss chard, kohlrabi, zucchini and summer squash
* Kapnick Orchards will have … strawberries … but get there early, before they run out.
* Country Hills Pottery will be back.
* Tantre Farm will have arugula, asparagus, beet greens with baby beets, collard greens, garlic scapes, garlic, green curly kale, lacinato kale, red russian kale, lettuce, loose leaf mix, lettuce head, oyster & shiitake mushrooms, green onions, radishes, rhubarb, spicy greens, spinach, turnips, and yukina savoy greens.
* Back Forty Acres - Meats/poultry/eggs, all raised naturally
* Beverly’s Crafts and More – Pillows, baked goods, body cream, soap, granola
* Chandra June – Jewelry and garden art
* Frog Hollar Farms – Produce, home-baked breads and cakes, crafts, cut flowers, and more
* fresh – Locally roasted coffee beans
* Greystone Farm & Creamery – Cream cheeses, Camembert style cheeses, feta, and gouda, and manchego style cheeses from the sheep’s milk.
* H & H Sugarbush – Maple syrup, maple cream, maple candy, maple nuts, popcorn
* Heim Gardens – Perennials, annuals, hanging baskets, planters, produce (vegetables, raspberries, strawberries)
* Janet’s LLC – Herbs and spices, blends and grilling rubs, flavored nuts, chocolate, jams, dolls and greeting cards
* Kapnick Orchard – Fresh fruits, from strawberries and raspberries to apples and cherries. (depending on the season)
* La Baguette – French breads and baked goods 
* Mama Mofoods – 17 varieties of hummus, 8 varieties of seitan and pesto
* Merkel Gardens & Greenhouses – Hanging baskets, flats and produce
* Myer’s Blackberry Farm – blackberries, raspberries, jams and vegetables
* Ruhlig’s Produce – Wide variety of vegetables and cut flowers
* Stone Hearth Breads and Bakery – Artisan breads, bagels, favo, pepperoni rolls, cookies
* Tantre Farm – Organic vegetables and cut flowers
* Tasty Bakery – Gluten-free baked goods
* Zatkovich Pastures – Grass fed beef, eggs, poultry
Daily Vendors:
* Anna’s Handmade and Homegrown
* Aunt Rena’s Bakery – low-sugar cobblers and pies
* Country Hills Pottery – pottery
* Honey Bee Happy Products – Soaps
* Hollow Hill Farm – Asparagus, maple syrup, eggs, herbs and honey
File photo of Senior Center.
Mark your calender for “Blogging 101″ on June 24 from 1-2 p.m. at the Chelsea Area Senior Center.
Join instructor Michelle Rogers from Heritage Newspapers for a free and informative workshop on blogging.
She plans to talk about: What is a Blog? How to choose the best platforms and topics to write about; and how to share what you’re writing about with the community.
Preregistration is required, so please email chelseaseniors@aol.com, call 475-9242 or click here to sign up now.
For other events taking place in Chelsea, click here.
