Mills Community House Association
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Noteworthy at the Mills

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Who Can Vote?  A Brief History of Voting Rights in the US
A travelling exhibition from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

From March 4th through the 29th, Mills Community House had a travelling exhibition on display from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.  The exhibition was titled "Who Can Vote? A Brief History of Voting Rights in the US"  was available for viewing during all public events in March.  This exhibition was on loan for free.

From the Gilder Lehrman Institute:
"This exhibition examines voting rights with an emphasis on the role of the US Constitution and the interplay between the states and federal government in determining who is allowed to vote. Beginning with the founding era and going up to the election of 2000, this exhibition explores the complex history of the right to vote that forms the core of our nation’s democracy. Topics include voting as a constitutional right, women’s suffrage, Reconstruction and Jim Crow era voting rights, the Civil Rights Movement, and the enfranchisement of Indigenous peoples."
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Smithsonian in Benzie

The Smithsonian Museum on Main Street exhibition, "Spark! Places of Innovation", came to Benzie County and was installed in Mills Hall (upper level) from October 14th through November 25th, 2023.  Credit for bringing this amazing experience to Benzie County goes to Benzonia Public Library.  BPL's executive director, Amanda McLaren, applied for the grant and worked with the Mills Community House Association board to provide this opportunity to Benzie County and beyond.  
Monarch Waystation Tiles
Artist: Trish Early

Installed in the upper level bathrooms, these beautiful tiles take their inspiration from the Monarch Waystation gardens on the grounds.  Actual plants from the garden were used by Early to create these 3 dimensional tiles.  

Check them out during walk in office hours on Mondays or when attending an event in Mills Hall.  

​Spring 2023
Kristin Fleetwood, Executive Director
​We are thrilled to announce that we have
​officially hired our new Executive Director.

Kristin Fleetwood moved to the Benzie area in 2010. A graduate of Grand Valley State University, she had been working in the virtual school system since 2015 supporting elementary students and their families. The Mills has been a part of her life in Benzonia starting from her very first summer when she attended a job fair on the upper level, and
since then she and her family have continued enjoying
many of the programs offered here. 
​

​Please join us in welcoming Kristin!
March 2023


AND THE WINNER IS...
Mills Community House!!!

The Mills Board was thrilled to receive the winning vote at the October 6th meeting of the 100+ Women Who Care. The funds will be used to add restroom facilities on the upper level of the building. A huge THANK YOU to this wonderful group of women dedicated to helping Benzie County non-profit organizations. 10/2021
Visit our 100 + Women Who Care Page for details>
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Vice President, Steve Stephens; Director, Samantha Wolfe; Treasurer, Donna Brown; Director, Jane Sullivan; President, Jimmy McLaren; Secretary, Roger Dewey; Director, Ruth Catton; and Director, Duane Nugent. Ruth Catton, Donna Brown, and Samantha Wolfe are also members of 100+ Women Who Care.

Monarch Waystations
The Mills is thrilled to announce our gardens on the south side of the building have ​been registered as  Monarch Waystations. 

Monarch Waystations provide milkweeds, nectar plants, and shelter for monarchs throughout their annual cycle of reproduction and migration. Creating and maintaining a Monarch Waystation ​contributes to monarch conservation and helps assure the continuation of the monarch migration in North America. 

Create, Conserve, and Protect Monarch Habitats
Monarch Waystations brochure (PDF>monarchwatch.org/
Visit www.monarchwatch.org for additional details
​
5/3/21
Monarch Waystation at Mills Community House
Monarch Waystation at Mills Community House
Monarch Waystations logo for www.MonarchWatch.org
Monarch Waystations logo for www.MonarchWatch.org

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Summer 2015
My name is Eryk L. Feala and I started with the Boy Scouts in September 2009 by joining Troop 10 which is chartered in Blaine Christian Church of Arcadia.  I have progressed through all the ranks and am now a Life Scout completing my requirements for Eagle Scout.  I'm graduating from BCHS this year and have also completed a 2 year course of Public Safety at TBA.  I have played football and wrestled for 2 seasons at BCHS. I am currently an officer in the Order of the Arrow, vice chief of Programs; a Boy Scouts Honor Society which helps our BSA camps.  This summer I will be working at Cole Canoe base as a Senior Patrol Leader and taking training as a River Ranger and experienced ATV rider which should be great fun.  In July I will be going on a BSA high adventure to Juneau, Alaska for 2 weeks, hiking a glacier, fishing for salmon, and doing some service work on our National parks.

I chose the Mills Community House Project because I thought it would be a challenging project that had a lot of elements to do for competition.  Painting, sanding, installation of newel posts, installation of bench, restoration of cement work, and lots of opportunity to show leadership and responsibility.  Also, the Mills Community House is a public building and would make a visible impact on the community and let them know what Boy Scouts are all about;  Service to our community.

Eryk L. Feala

A huge "THANK YOU" to Eryk Feala, BSA Troop 10, for refurbishing the front porch of the Mills Community House as his Eagle Scout project.  Eryk did a fantastic job coordinating and implementing much needed repairs and painting.  Stop by & check it out. If you see Eryk, be sure to tell him "Thanks" for a job well done!
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May
1 Live Raptors with Skegemog Raptor Center and Benzie Audubon Society
2 Diane Penning, Soprano and Henry Koperski, Musician/Compser
4 Emergency Fund Concert at the Mills
7 Native Plant Gardening 101
8 BAHS Benzonia Academy Lecture
11 NoMi Ecstatic Dance
12 Scanning Day at the Benzonia Public Library
14 BPL presents Bevin Cohen
16 BPL Tween Club Hangout
19 Cookbook Book Club (one week early)
21 Plant It Wild Program

June
4 Village of Beulah: Public Meeting
8 Emergency Fund Concert at Five Shores Brewing
9 Scanning Day at the Benzonia Public Library
12 BAHS Benzonia Academy Lecture
18 Plant It Wild Program
19 BPL Summer Reading Program
21 Benzie Community Chorus Performance
22 Strawberry Social: 100 Years of Community!
22 Benzie Community Chorus Performance
23 Cookbook Book Club
23 Benzie Community Chorus Performance
​26 BPL Summer Reading Program

​

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Mills Community House Association
​891 Michigan Ave.
PO Box 421

​Benzonia, MI 49616
[email protected]
​231-882-0591

Office Hours ​by appointment.



BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Donna Brown, Ruth Catton, 

Jimmy McLaren, ​Jane Sullivan,
​Matt Varnum, ​Samantha Wolfe


EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Kristin Fleetwood
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A 501(c) 3 organization
Tax ID (EIN): 75-2977687
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Board and Staff
    • History
    • Noteworthy at the Mills
  • Events
    • Upcoming Public Events >
      • January >
        • Burns Night Supper
      • February
      • March
      • April
      • May
      • June
      • July
      • August
      • September
      • October
      • November
      • December
    • Renting the Mills >
      • Venue Photo Gallery
    • Partnerships >
      • 100+ Women Who Care Benzie
      • Benzie Area Historical Society
      • Benzonia Public Library
      • Plant it Wild
      • Versiti Blood Center
      • ZONTA
  • Ways To Give
    • Donate Today >
      • Brick Fundraiser and Capital Campaign
  • Benzonia Area Community Emergency Fund
  • Contact Us