​From: Thomas Arbanas, Human Resources Director, St. Louis Center
 
Saint Louis Center, located in Chelsea, MI will be hosting a “Trunk or Treat” event for the 50 residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities who call the Center home on Thursday, October 28, 2021. Community members are invited to set up a treat station from the “trunk” of their vehicle and pass out sweet treats to the residents. The event will take place around 6 PM and will run until approximately 7:30 PM. All trunks will need to be ready to visit by 6:00, however an earlier arrival may be necessary to set up your area. Costumes and trunk decorations are never mandatory, but are highly encouraged. Community members are welcome to bring family members and friends to participate in trick or treating alongside our residents.
To sign up for this spooky and fun event, donate candy, or for questions related to the event please contact Thomas Arbanas at (734)475-8430.
 
 
St. Louis Center was founded in 1960 and is a residential community for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Currently, 50 men and women from age 18 – 80 live on our 180-acre campus. They have a variety of conditions, including Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, metabolic disorders and autism. They attend school until the age of 26 and after graduation, go to work in the community, participate in occupational training programs, or, for those who are more physically or intellectually limited, participate in the Center’s Day Program where they enjoy a wide variety of crafts, cultural programs and activities. St. Louis Center is dedicated to providing residents a full, active and meaningful life and the opportunity to be integrated into the local community. Residents participate in regular on- and off-campus activities, including adaptive movement, music therapy, pet therapy, social gatherings, art and music activities. They also spend time at home with their families. In non-pandemic times, they volunteer at local social service agencies and community events, and enjoy regular outings to the zoo, sporting events and parks. An on-campus recreation therapist facilitates ongoing activities like basketball, walking and other sports, to keep residents active and healthy.

By: Kitty Golding

​An 1850 Greek Revival home received  a new addition and a renovation when we teamed up with Ryan and Rebecca Olivier of Whitmore Lake.  They had lovingly restored much of their historic home by themselves and were ready to tackle an 800 square foot expansion of the kitchen and the 2nd floor master bedroom.   After interviewing the clients and seeing their love for color and pattern, we set out to bring these new spaces to life by starting with a colorful toile – The same pattern but different color was used in the kitchen and the bedroom as the inspiration.  We asked them what they found most enjoyable about the process of their interior design project,  and Rebecca, a fabric fashionista replied that seeing all the options of textiles and samples for the space was indeed one of the best parts.  She chimed in to say, “I love fabrics, patterns and colors and enjoy looking at the samples and options. Our home has a very specific aesthetic and Kitty and team really were able to honor this look while still pushing it a bit in a new direction.”
This was the first time this busy couple worked with an interior designer – both of them experiencing a different perspective this time around -  Rebecca was not the one sewing the custom draperies and Ryan was not installing the trim.  
We took the opportunity to layer textures, color, lighting and patterns – paralleling the layers of history and character  experienced in each room of this old home.  Rebecca was excited about the two different cabinet colors in the kitchen.  She mentioned that she  never would have selected the natural cherry, and had been thinking of green cabinets but loves the custom blue color we ended up with – all which came together during the design process. We also designed a very traditional and fitting tile backsplash using Pratt and Larson tiles, bringing in the colors of the cabinets and the window treatments, and spanned the cabinets with a subtle blue quartz soapstone countertop.
The style, cohesiveness and longevity of design style were all aspects of their project that had to be foremost in the details. Rebecca wrapped up by saying, “ having a finished project that was layered and interesting and timeless and made sense with our home's overall existing aesthetic was definitely accomplished."
 
 

A custom brewed event from the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce – RETURNING OCTOBER 9th!
We’ll have multiple Michigan brews, and a special cocktail from both The Crazy Diamond and Ugly Dog Distillery. We’ll have food from Smokehouse 52 BBQ, The Lakehouse Bakery, and Thompson’s Pizza. The Palmer Commons will be filled with FREE to play games including Giant Beer Pong, Giant Flip Cup, Cornhole, Giant Kerplunk, Slammo, Fricket, Giant Yantzee, Giant Ring Toss, Bulz I Bucket, Giant Snookball, Giant Jenga, Giant Connect 4, Giant Darts, Washer Toss, Kan Jam, Playing Cards, and Fowling!
$5 per person at the entrance. No advance ticket sales.
Thank you to our presenting sponsors – Devil’s Haircut & The Crazy Diamond.
Don’t miss out on this awesome event!

​From: D&B Strategic Marketing
 
Halloween is one of the most celebrated holidays of the year! Love for Halloween is spine-chillingly strong, so during “Shoptober” you will find unique, creepy, and fun Halloween and Fall decor. There are also several haunts where you can forage for food and beverage to maintain your vampire strength.
#shopchelseamich merchants have an abundance of devilish Halloween goods and treats to carry away on your broomstick. Ranging from not-your-basic witches to sweets, scarecrows, indoor and outdoor pumpkins, jack-o’-lanterns, seasonal-trendy clothing, toys, books, vintage goods, beautiful plants, and flowers to enjoy throughout the haunting season and so much more to set your hair on end! 
Enjoy a seasonal brew, glass of wine, or your favorite cocktail to ward off the werewolves, and bone-chilling air. Check out participating restaurants at www.shopchelseamich.com for their latest fall menus.
Chelsea businesses are practicing safe shopping and dining - so let’s show our local business community some zombie love and hair-raising attention! Spook up your home, and any place you may inhabit these days for Halloween.  The list of participating locally owned businesses can be found at this link to their website  www.shopchelseamich.com.  

​From: D&B Strategic Marketing
Ballet Chelsea is embarking upon their second annual Digital Fundraising Campaign beginning October 19 through October 29. Last year’s campaign raised $41,000 with a whopping 85% of the fundraising done by students and studio dancers.
 
Ballet Chelsea begins this performance year with renewed feelings of hope and optimism. Last year, the organization faced the pandemic with determination and confidence that they would somehow find a way through the crisis, emerging a more vital, more resilient organization. While Covid-19 continues to challenge everyone, nonprofit arts organizations represent a sector hit particularly hard; all face much slower recovery. Nevertheless, ballet Chelsea remains grateful for the community help that has supported the organization in many ways. Generous financial support provided necessary resources which enabled Ballet Chelsea to continue to educate, create and share dance with the public. 
 
“We’ve set a $30,000 goal to raise funds needed to keep our organization moving and viable,” shared Jean Delwiche, Director of Business Management. “We continue to work diligently to create an instructional curriculum that maintains our commitment to high-caliber dance instruction while also remaining flexible to ever-changing circumstances due to COVID-19.”
 
Throughout this long pandemic, Ballet Chelsea pulled from their deepest creative artistic selves to create unprecedented productions. These productions were innovative, creative, empathetic, compassionate, and artistically relevant at low cost or free to the public. Peruse photos from some of these events at this link, and click the links below to learn more.  

• Ballet Chelsea joined the rest of the world in learning to “zoom” and, in doing so, connected with students and colleagues locally and beyond. Staff delivered a flexible curriculum that would allow students to continue their dance education in their own spaces.
• BC leaders collaborated with the Chelsea Fairgrounds to offer their annual Summer Dance Intensive in an open-air barn. The organization allowed many students to learn and move safely while providing work for staff and alumni.
• BC’s talented Adaptive Dance staff served at-risk students by creating Adaptive Dance Videos that could be safely shared with a broad constituency across many school districts. To learn more about ADP, visit balletchelsea.org/adaptive-dance-program-adp.
• BC’s artistic team created A Very Merry Nutcracker by filming outdoors in the magically transformed Chelsea Fairground’s barn to offer a family-friendly holiday drive-in movie. View the trailer on their YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-xtlf7V-xg
• Through rich collaboration with other arts organizations and staff, BC presented two virtual performances that the public could view free of charge, fulfilling one of Ballet Chelsea’s most cherished goals of sharing art free of charge with our communities. Ballet Chelsea and the Chelsea Chamber Players partnered for a collaborative production Reflections -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoJjULTFFtc. This collaboration honored Ballet Chelsea alumna Lauren (Mitchell) Wolffis. A nurse, wife, daughter, and friend, Lauren, diagnosed with cancer. Lauren’s community gathered to support her.
• Ballet Chelsea re-imagined the classic fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty, offering a family-friendly performance in the beautiful outdoor amphitheater at Robin Hill Farms.
• Ballet Chelsea presented families an opportunity to see student progress in person, showcased in a Year-End Class Celebration. This event brought Ballet Chelsea full circle, returning to the Chelsea Fairground Barn that provided the first backdrop for their creative strategies.
• Ballet Chelsea performed at the Sounds & Sights celebrations, sharing dance with the community.

 
While the pandemic continues to challenge Ballet Chelsea, they push forward with new, exciting collaborative material. They have already started planning for their next season. Artistic Director Wendi DuBois reached out to Sara Cumming, the Director of Chelsea Chamber Players, to create a project for young, talented musicians to accompany a new work created for high school dancers.
 
Once again, the holiday favorite, The Nutcracker, will be performed at Potter Center with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra. And next spring, Ballet Chelsea will present new work, Little Women, and other exciting contemporary pieces created by Ballet Chelsea alumni. Ballet Chelsea’s Board of Directors is committed to raising funds to provide scholarships for students with financial needs. “We’re committed to remaining a source of joy, empowerment, health, and well-being for our community,” shared Board President John Shea. 
 
“None of our work would be possible without you. Your support is crucial for continued development. Ballet Chelsea has learned to work on and through multiple platforms and remains committed to growing our community connections into the future. Our commitment to excellence in dance education for all who wish to dance remains at the forefront of our mission. Ballet Chelsea’s deep investment into the communities we serve will continue to result in the access to movement and music for all.” Wendi DuBois, Ballet Chelsea Artistic Director. 
 
Ballet Chelsea needs your support during this critical time. During the upcoming Fundraiser, please consider making a gift to Ballet Chelsea by going to balletchelsea.org. or Text BALLETCHELSEA to 44-321, follow the link, and help us come back to the stage and studio stronger than ever!
 
“Ballet Chelsea is seeking financial underwriting from leaders invested in the well-being of our community. We need your support in bringing this unique art experience to life. If you are interested in supporting us, please contact me, Wendi DuBois, at wendi@balletchelsea.org. Thank you!”