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INDEX

VOL. 142, NO. 30 THURSDAY, JULY 26, 201275

THE

DEXTERLEADER

Benefit concert to be held

for land preservation

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By Sean DaltonHeritage Media

Between an up-to 1 mill

levy, assuming votersagree with an additionaltax levy on Nov. 6, and anearly warning detectionsystem, Dexter Townshipofficials are directing theircollective attention to pub-lic safety.

Last week, the townshipboard of trustees approvedthe millage, which willraise up to $100 per$100,000 of taxable prop-erty value over the courseof seven years to pay for afire station that will costbetween $1.2 and $1.6 mil-lion. The first year of themillage will raise $287,000,according to TownshipSupervisor Pat Kelly.

The idea of a perma-

nent fire station in thetownship has percolatedfor some time based onthe recommendation ofthe public safety fire advi-sory (committee), Kellyexplained.

The temporary DAFDsubstation on NorthTerritorial Road nearthe Multi-Lakes SewerAuthority has proven

that there is a benefit toresponse time that a per-manent station could bringto the table. Right now thetemporary substation isrun at a cost of $47,000 byDAFD, which has providedtotal township fire cover-age since then, replacingservices previously pro-vided by Chelsea Area FireAuthority and Putnams

fire department.The reviewed data

from that facility provesour predictions that we

would have some prettysubstantial improvementsin response times, Kellysaid. Hopefully the voterswill look at that data andsay yes to better fire ser-vice in the township.

The board also approvedthe expenditure of $370,940to purchase 16 early warn-ing sirens so residentsfrom each end of thetownship will be alertedto disasters such as thetornado that devastatedCarriage Hills and HuronsFarms last March.

Kelly said that residentsof the township have beenclamoring for a morerobust early warningsystem, particularly after

some residents felt thatthey were caught off guarda bit when the Marchtornados tore through the

area damaging hundredsof homes and closingroadways for weeks andin some cases more than amonth.

The township cur-rently only has a singlewarning siren. The newsystem will be connectedto the Washtenaw CountySheriffs EmergencyManagement Divisionssystem, bringing the topcops in the county withineasy earshot of the town-ships citizenry.

Staff Writer Sean Daltoncan be reached at 734-429-7380 or sdalton@heritage.com Follow him in Twitter@seankdalton.

Dexter Daze royalty to head up paradeBy Sheila PursgloveSpecial Writer

Nancy McLeod and ElaineOwsley, who four decades agochaired the first Discover DexterDays that grew into Dexter Daze,will serve as grand marshalsin this years 40th anniversaryparade, set for 10 a.m. Aug. 11.

I cant believe anyone remem-

bers us after 40 years, saidMcLeod, who has lived in Dexterfor 54 years, where her husbandPat, children and grandchildrenall attended Dexter schools.McLeod started a career in realestate 30 years ago and works atthe Charles Reinhart Co.

The origins of Dexter Dazedate back about 45 years, whenMcLeods family owned theMcLeod Pharmacy.

New merchandise was com-ing in and we had to make room.Instead of a sale table inside thestore, I thought it might be funto sell outside, McLeod said. Icontacted other merchants aboutour sale, and others joined in.Some of the merchants did notwant to join in, but around noon,those merchants started puttingout tables.

Sidewalk Days was a successand returned by popular demand.

The next year almost all the

merchants joined in, McLeodsaid. We encouraged churchesand organizations to join in withbake sales and other things.

Preparing for the event was a full-time job.

In 1972, Owsley, who had movedto Dexter the previous year,

teamed with McLeod to co-chairthe first Discover Dexter Days

By Sean DaltonHeritage Media

After purchasing 27 acres ofproperty at 8540 Island Lake Roadin Dexter Township, ZingermansRoadhouse chef and owner Alex

Young is ready to restore theexisting barn structure, beginraising various livestock for theZingermans retail locations in thecounty and offer the property as avenue for weddings, parties andchildrens education.

Young began his farming

endeavors in 2005 with a small gar-den in his backyard on a roughly100-square-foot patch of land,which led to a personal experienceoffering food that he doesnt justcreate in the kitchen, but throughthe whole process as gardener,

harvester and chef before hand-ing the finished product that isentirely his own creation to hiscustomers.

I remember distinctly whatgave me the idea of doing this,Young said. I harvested somefood in mid-July of 2005, brought

the food into the restaurant andgave it to customers and I reallyliked their reaction. It gave megoosebumps to see that they wereso excited that I dug the food outof the soil and brought it in andcooked it for them.

Prior to the Cornmans acquisi-tion from Jennys Farm Marketowner Burton Hoey, Young hadpurchased 18 acres of farmlandcomprising the nearby Lloydproperty, which is contiguouswith the Cornmans land for acombined 45-acre farm dedicated

to bringing the freshest productinto Zingermans. Cornmans willallow Young to expand his live-stock on the farming operation,particularly to produce goats milkthat will be sent to a local creamerto be turned into goats cheese for

consumption by Zingermans res-taurant-goers.

Young already grows items suchas heirloom tomatoes and red pep-pers, which he says are not cur-rently grown locally. As of publish,

Township hopes to double down on safetyHopefully the voters

will look at that dataand say yes to betterfire service in the

township.PAT KELLY

Dexter Township supervisor

Chef expands local food effort with township farmland

Nancy McLeod and Elaine Owsley hold a 1974 Discover Dexter Days flier while sitting outside in down-

town Dexter. The two chaired the first Discover Dexter Days, which grew into todays Dexter Daze.

PLEASE SEE PARADE/3-A

PLEASE SEE FOOD/3-A

Upcoming Purple Rose Theatre season

includes Jeff Daniels play

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