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.

Community Blood Drive at the Mills
Tuesday, July 12,
11:00 am-4:00 pm

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

When is the last time you gave blood? Each pint can save up to three lives and stays within our community to support the health and well-being of our neighbors.

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

To Schedule an Appointment visit   
https://donate.michigan.versiti.org/.../drive.../148820, cal
l 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 and receive a limited-edition Versiti t-shirt, while supplies last.
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Summer Reading 2022 with Benzonia Public Library
Oceans of Possibilities!

Thursdays at 3:00 pm, June 23-July 28

Weekly Puppet Shows, Activities & Crafts
Mills Community House-Upper Level
Benzonia Public Library
891 Michigan Ave.
Michigan Ave., Benzonia
Link to Google map >
  • Register at Benzonia Public Library beginning June 1st.
  • Read books and fill out reading logs.
  • The more you read the more chances to win!
  • Win Exciting Prizes from Awesome Sponsors!
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​Join BPL for a summer of learning and FUN as we sail the seas. Together we will learn and have fun exploring the mysteries of the deep!

  • ​June 30 - Sailing the Seas...and Lakes: Explore the history of traveling across the waters and the diversity of boats around the world. Test your skills by building your own boat from natural materials.
  • July 7 - Mysteries of the Deep: Join us on a deep sea adventure to seek the amazing and strange creatures that live in the darkest depths of the oceans. Then, design your own unique, mysterious deep sea creature!
  • July 14 - Coral Reef Discovery: Strap on your mask and snorkel to admire the colorful beauty of the coral reefs! Learn about these important, fragile ecosystems and build your own coral reef structure.
  • July 21 - Sea Creature Showdown: Learn about and compare similar sea life, then choose your favorites! Sharks vs whales. Squid vs octopus. Which side will you take? Complete the showdown by crafting your favorite.
  • July 28 - Finale Party: Celebrate a summer of discovery and fun with exploration stations, imaginative play and aquatic crafts!

Plant Diagnostic Clinic
10 am-2 pm, 2nd Tuesday of the month

July 12, August 9, and September 13
​Benzonia Public Library level
891 Michigan Ave.
Michigan Ave., Benzonia
Link to Google map >
​

Bring us your bugs, weeds, and plant diseases,
for identification and recommendations!


Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) will once again host a Plant Diagnostic Clinic at the Benzonia Public Library.   Staffed by MSUE employees and Extension Master Gardeners the diagnostic clinic will assist residents with plant pests and diseases, lawn, bug or weed identification and recommendations.  For questions about the MSUE diagnostic clinic, call 231-256-9888 or email waltonn2@msu.edu.
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Benzonia Academy Lecture​
“The History of Trapp and Sons Celery Farm”
Presented by Ned W. Edwards
Thursday, July 14, 7:00 pm

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

Many do not realize that the Trapp and Sons Celery Farm in Beulah was the largest employer in Benzie County between 1930 and 1970, producing celery, cabbages, lettuce, radishes, and onions that were marketed and available in grocery stores from Petoskey to Manistee in Michigan and Escanaba to Milwaukee across the big lake.
The story of Martin Trapp and his sons who established this very successful industry will be the focus of the Benzonia Academy Lecture Series at Mills Community House in Benzonia on July 14 at 7:00  P.M. given by a former employee and Trapp family member, Ned W. Edwards.
Also available to be seen on Zoom, the lecture will feature photos and news articles from the 1930’s, and beyond that tell of the 150 acre farm that was built on the Golden Rule and the advice of Henry Ford.
The Rev. Dr. Ned W. Edwards was born in 1934 in Kansas City, Missouri, and came to Crystal Lake for the first time in 1935, as the grandson of Austin Wolfe, who, along with his brother, Arthur Wolfe had purchased 55 acres of forest and lake frontage on the North Shore of Crystal Lake in 1903.  During his college summers, Ned was employed by Trapp and Sons Celery Gardens to deliver produce to all grocery stores in Petoskey, Charlevoix, Traverse City, Northport, Beulah, Frankfort, Manistee and points in between.  In 1956 he married Barbara Trapp (Howard and Muriel Trapp’s oldest daughter) who accompanied him to Scotland to attend theological seminary in Edinburgh.  He received his Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School and his Ph.D. in Education from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.  After retirement in 1992 from a 30-year ministry in Cleveland Heights, OH, he and Barbara retired to the family cottage on Crystal Lake, but his retirement was short lived.  In 1995, he became the founding pastor of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church on Eden Hill in Beulah, from which he retired again in 2002, having completed their church building on Lincoln Road, overlooking Platte Lake and Lake Michigan.  Ned has served on the Board of BACN, as president of Frankfort Rotary, president of Benzie Home Health Care and vice president of Benzie Senior Resources.

​Zoom Link: 
https://zoom.us/meeting/89722188829#:~:text=https%3A//us02web.zoom.us/j/3638608007

Additional information at benziemuseum.org
Trapp Farm celery field
Trapp Farm Celery Field
Celery Assembly Line at Trapp Farm
Celery Assembly Line at Trapp Farm

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​Used Book, Puzzle Sale
and Craft Sale

Saturday, July 16, 2022
10 am-2 pm

Benzonia Public Library
Mills Community House-Lower Level & lawn
​891 Michigan Ave. (US-31), Benzonia MI  
​Link to Google Map>   
  
Excellent Selection! Great prices!
Crafts by Repurposeful Librarians bake great gifts!

Proceeds benefit  Benzonia Public Library.
Sponsored by Friends of BPL.

Repurposeful Librarian craft booth from a prior year
Repurposeful Librarian craft booth from a prior year

100+ Women Who Care
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
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

June 2022
30 Summer Reading Program



July 2022
  7 Summer Reading Program
12 Community Blood Drive
​12 Plant diagnostic clinic

14 Summer Reading Program
16 Used Book & Puzzle plus Craft Sale
21 Summer Reading Program
28 Summer Reading Finale Party

27 100+ Women Who Care 
30 Yid Vicious Concert

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

100+ Women Who Care 2022
5:30 pm Wednesdays as listed (doors open at 5:00 pm)
April 27, July 27, and October 5
​Visit our 100 + Women Who Care Page for details>

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, Roger Dewey,

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


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.