Mills Community House Association
231.882.0591
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Community Events

Book your next event at the Mills, click here for rental information>
List below only shows events open to the public. ​Private events are not listed.

Mills Community House
Blood Drive

Tuesday, February 7
​11:00 am-4:00 pm

​Mills Community House-Lower Level
891 Michigan Ave.
Michigan Ave., Benzonia
Link to Google map >

Healthy Donors are Encouraged to Attend.
Appointments Preferred and Walk-Ins Welcome!

To Schedule an Appointment visit donate.michigan.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/150215,​call 1-866-642-5663, or scan the ​QR code on the flyer.

Helpful tip: Make sure to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before donating.
​
Thank you for your generous donation!
Donors are at The Heart of Our Community!
Donate Blood Feb. 7, 2023
Click on flyer for a printable (PDF) flyer
Versiti is issuing an EMERGENCY APPEAL for blood donations. We urge you to donate at the drive shown above. With less than a day's supply of available blood, communities throughout the state face a potential crisis as hospitals may not have the blood needed to treat patients. Donations are needed immediately, or patients’ lives could be at risk.

Versiti saw a significant decline in donations during the holiday season, and the downward trend continues into the new year. Unfortunately, the need for blood does not take a holiday, and we are seeing an uptick in emergency room visits and trauma patients requiring mass blood transfusions,
decimating the blood supply. While all blood types are needed, type O negative blood, used to treat trauma patients in emergencies, is the most at risk. Platelet donors are also desperately needed. Your donation is even more important than usual. Make an appointment above.​

Academy Lecture: Revisiting the Sinking of the Ann Arbor #4 100 Years Ago
Presented by Tim Foster
Thursday, February 9th at 4:00 pm
​Mills community House-Upper Level
891 Michigan Ave.
Michigan Ave., Benzonia
Link to Google map >

​One hundred years ago the Ann Arbor No. 4 struck the South Pier at Frankfort.  While some local residents are aware of the event as it is depicted in the mural at the Frankfort Post Office, most don’t know that it was a turning point for car ferry design and safety and for the Frankfort Harbor itself.

​Additional information including Zoom links at benziemuseum.org
Postcard Art of Frankfort Post Office Mural
Postcard Art of Frankfort Post Office Mural
Ann Arbor #4
The video was underwritten by Luedtke Engineering.
Ann Arbor Car Ferry historian Tim Foster will share the events leading up to the incident, a human interest story about Captain Frederickson, and the resulting car ferry and South Pier design changes.
​

A highlight of the program will be the premiere of a video simulation we developed of the event.
Creating the video – it has an Estonian connection – is an entertaining story in and of itself.
​

Tim Foster is a maritime history enthusiast whose family history in Benzie County dates back to 1927.  He is a member of the board of directors of the Benzie Area Historical Society and also The Society for the Preservation of the SS City of Milwaukee.
Tim Foster
Tim Foster

Benzie County Players Presents
Love Letters

Valentine's Day, Tuesday, February 14
​7:00 pm

​Mills Community House-Upper Level
891 Michigan Ave.
Michigan Ave., Benzonia
Link to Google map >

$10.00 Admission
Reserve Tickets and questions 231-409-6686

Facebook.comBenzieCountyPlayers>
Picture

Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser
Benzie Central Schools Girls Softball Program
Saturday, February 11, 2023

4:30-7:30 pm 
 
Mills Community House-Upper Level
​891 Michigan Ave. (US-31), Benzonia MI  
​Link to Google Map>   


MENU: Spaghetti with Meat and Meatless Sauce, Tossed Salad, Breadsticks, Beverage, and Dessert
  • $25.00 FAMILY PRICE
  • $10.00 ADULTS
  • $  8.00 SENIORS
  • $  8.00 CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER
  • FREE   AGE 2 AND UNDER
Dinner will be presented by the Benzie Central High School and Middle School Girls Softball Team
Come enjoy a fun night out with your friends, families, and neighbors. With your help, we will be sending the girls off during spring break week to Pigeon forge, Tennessee for some extensive training with their coaches.

You will also have the opportunity to bid on some fantastic SILENT AUCTION items. Bids will be closing at 7:00 pm on the day of the fundraiser (you do NOT need to be present to win).

Thanks You for your support and ....  "GO HUSKIES"
Picture

FRESH COAST SWING II WORKSHOP &
COMMUNITY DANCE 
(Open To The Public)​

Event by Sharron May and Aaron Harris
Saturday, February 25, 2023
Workshop: 1:00-4:00 pm
 (See link below for registration and fees)
Community Dance: 4:00-6:30pm (Suggested donation $10)
Mills Community House-Upper Level
​891 Michigan Ave. (US-31), Benzonia MI  
​Link to Google Map>   


This new approach to the Swing family of dances is similar to West Coast Swing with a Northern Michigan twist! Fresh Coast Swing II is ideal for those who have attended a previous Fresh Coast Swing workshop or those experienced in Co-Creative Dance or other forms of Swing. Unsure? No partner is necessary!

Students are encouraged to put what they've learned into practice at the COMMUNITY DANCE that follows! The doors will be open to dancers of all levels and styles as well as curious onlookers and generous supporters. Suggested donation: $10
HOST: NMi Social Dance Club (NMSDC) 

​​WORKSHOP FEES, REGISTRATION, AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION> 
​Visit Facebook page for payment links

​Paypal, Venmo, CashApp, Google Pay and Cash are all accepted
Learn to Dance poster
Learn to Dance!

100+ Women Who Care
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
​Wednesday, October 4, 2023
5:30 pm (doors open at 5:00 pm)

Mills Community House-Upper Level
​891 Michigan Ave. (US-31), Benzonia MI  
​Link to Google Map>   


ONE HOUR! THREE RANDOM PRESENTIONS AND ONE VOTE!
What local cause will win our members' support?????…
Visitors are welcome to attend, but only members may present or vote.
We put the FUN in Fundraising!

​100+ Women Who Care in Benzie County are starting their 4th year!
They now have 130+ members and have given $132,900 to local charities! WOW!

The women who support this group  are simply amazing!  The Mills truly appreciates the their dedication to helping Benzie County non-profit organizations. 


Visit our 100 + Women Who Care Page for details>
100 Women Who Care logo
EVENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

February
  3 WATER WE DOING? Film screening
  7 ​Blood Drive
​
​  9 Academy Lecture: Sinking of the Ann Arbor #4 100 years ago
11 Spaghetti Dinner: Fundraiser for Benzie Central Girls Softball

14 Love Letters: Benzie County Players
​25 Learn to Dance! Fresh Coast Swing II Workshop

March
​
​  9 Academy Lecture:

Visit Events Page for details>
​Private events are not listed.

VIRTUAL TOUR 
provided by Travers City Tourism

Location


RENTALS: At the MILLS
Visit Facility Use Page for details:
Meeting Space - lower level
Mills Hall - upper level
All areas are handicap accessible with an elevator serving all three floors.
The Middle floor is NOT available as it is leased by the Benzonia Public Library.


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Mills Community House Association
PO Box 421, ​891 Michigan Ave.
​Benzonia, MI 49616
millscommhouse@gmail.com
​231-882-0591

Michelle Leines, House Manager
​Hours by appointment only.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Donna Brown, Ruth Catton, 
Jimmy McLaren, ​Jane Sullivan,
​Colleen Swartz, and ​Samantha Wolfe.

A 501(c) 3 organization
Tax ID (EIN): 75-2977687

Link to Google Map>
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Make an online DONATION to the
Mills Community House Association
using PayPal Secure Checkout.

Click on the DONATE button which
takes you to our PayPal site where you have the option of using a credit card OR your PayPal account. 
​

ENDOWMENT FUND INFORMATION

Our mission is to provide
stewardship and promotion of the
historic Mills Community House
as a venue for events and services
that enrich lives.

Land Acknowledgement
​Benzie county occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of Anishinabek people. The Mills Community house recognizes the Anishinabek of the Three Fires Confederacy, the Odawa (Ottawa), Ojibwa (Chippewa), and Bode'wadmi (Potawatomi); historic Indigenous communities in Michigan; and those who were forcibly removed from their homelands. Benzie County occupies land ceded in the treaty of 1855. We give thanks to the Anishinabek as the caretakers of the Earth and for their relationship to the land.