News Briefs: Girl Scouts Honor Chelsea, Dexter Volunteers; Chelsea Plans Jazz Fest

Local volunteers honored for service

Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan (GSHOM) recently recognized four women from Chelsea and Dexter for their dedication to Girl Scouting. The volunteers were honored May 5 at the Ann Arbor Regional Volunteer Recognition Ceremony, held at Grace Bible Church in Ann Arbor.

Michelle Hoxie of Dexter received the honor pin from Girl Scouts of the USA. Liza Gray of Chelsea and Diane Singer of Dexter were honored as outstanding leaders. Sheila Wortmann of Dexter was honored as an outstanding volunteer.

Hoxie brings her experience with Girl Scouting in the military to her volunteer position as Dexter’s area manager.

"Her hard work and organizational skills have resulted in more girls earning the Silver and Gold awards, many girls and adults placed in troops and donations from community groups," said Char Luttrell, communications specialist for the Girl Scouts Ann Arbor Regional Center.

As a troop leader and troop organizer, Hoxie coordinates Thinking Day, Halloween Hop and other Girl Scout events in Dexter. Hoxie also organizes service projects and helps with Girl Scout roundup recruitment events. She is a substitute teacher in Dexter Community Schools and a religious education teacher at .

In the past eight years as troop leader, Gray has reorganized the food drives for Faith In Action. She also coordinates the annual luminaria ceremony during Chelsea’s Hometown Holiday weekend, organizes Girl Scout cookie booths and serves as the liaison between the Girl Scouts and her church.

Under Singer's leadership, six of the 10 girls in her troop have received the Gold Award — the highest award in Girl Scouts — and four others will complete the requirements this summer.

Wortmann has given 10 years of service to Troop 40580 in Dexter as treasurer and product sales manager.

“Now that the girls are seniors, she has adapted her leadership style to allow the troop to be truly girl-led,” Luttrell said. "Wortmann advises the girls on how to budget and plan for their activities. Her organizational skills have helped the girls earn badges and awards."

Chelsea Center for the Arts Plans Jazz Celebration

The Chelsea Center for the Arts is partnering with Silver Maples of Chelsea and the Chelsea District Library to present Jazz Bites on May 20. The Maple Room at Silver Maples will be temporarily turned into a jazz club, featuring performances by students, faculty and alumni of the CCA voice and guitar programs.

Lisa Hinz-Johnson, the CCA’s director of music programming, is excited about the jazz activities planned.

“Jazz is such an integral part of our American culture, and we have some outstanding programs at CCA," she said. "This is a perfect opportunity to showcase some of our advanced jazz students and even give some of our youngest musicians the chance to experience their first jazz performance."

The event will take place from 6-8:30 p.m. There will be a raffle at 8:15 p.m. of some baskets with music-related items, including a Thelonius Monk gift basket, an iTunes gift card, a Detroit Institute of Arts membership package, guitar and voice lessons and Mindo chocolates.

Along with jazz, blues and standards from the American songbook, participants will enjoy desserts, appetizers and beverages, provided by CCA families and Silver Maples.

“We really want people to have a relaxed, good time. The food will be delicious, and the music transcends generations and brings us back to the age of some of the greatest music ever written," Hinz-Johnson said. 

For more information, call 734-433-2787. The cost to attend is a suggested $10 donation at the door.