Saturday, April 20, 2013
The community came together to give back to those who helped them.
The first Dexter Tornado Run/Walk took place in March at Hudson Mills Metropark, and featured prize giveaways, music, entertainment, and a 5K run. The 5K was planned a year after a powerful EF3 tornado wreaked havoc in parts of the Dexter community. Proceeds were donated to Faith in Action, Hudson Mills Metropark, and Poured-Out.org and the Dexter Knights of Columbus to say thanks for their help in the past year. You can view images and video in the YouTube video, above. What was your Dexter Tornado Run/Walk experience like? Tell us in the comments.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Trees from Mary Spence's home, one of the hardest hit in Dexter's tornado last year, have been turned into hand-made picture frames.
Mary Spence's yard was heaped with cherry trees that fell at her Westridge neighborhood home during last year's tornado in Dexter. "Our lot I think was one of the hardest hit. There was $21,000 worth of damage to it, but it was livable," she said. She said the storm took out about one acre of the lot and only left around 12 trees standing. She said she didn't want the wood from the trees to be wasted. "But we couldn’t afford to have the lot cleared," she said. A co-worker told Spence about Michigan company Urban Ashes, which creates hand-made furniture and frames out of salvaged wood from urban settings. Spence said it sounded like a win-win situation and she invited Urban Ashes owner Paul Hickman to assess the trees. [Read more about …
Hundreds of families stopped by LaFontaine Chevrolet on Friday to spend time with their neighbors during the 1-year anniversary of the Dexter tornado.
The Dexter community's defiant spirit shone through overcast skies on Friday as hundreds of families came out to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Dexter tornado at Lafontaine Chevrolet. More than 300 people attended an open house titled "One Year Strong" at the auto dealership that included food, games, and a chance for families to share stories with neighbors. Residents Richard and Melissa Barnabo attended the event with their children Elle and Tyler, to celebrate moving into a new house in the Orchard River Hills subdivision. "It doesn't seem like it's been a year since the tornado," Melissa Barnabo said. "To see everyone celebrating together is a blessing. The love of this community has brought everyone so much closer. It's one…
Friday, March 15, 2013
View a community gallery of photos from last year's tornado and submit your own pictures to Patch of the tornado, the damage done, or relief efforts since then.
On March 15, 2012, a Category F3 tornado tore through homes in Dexter Township. It destroyed or damaged more than 200 homes, ripped massive trees out of the ground and caused more than $9 million in damage. Share your photos of the tornado, the damage done, or relief efforts since then. Simply click the gray and green button above to get started. Bob and Katie Jazwinski's home was badly damaged after the tornado hit Dexter Township. They were among the hardest hit, their home almost completely destroyed. Read about how they were finally able to move back into their home. Huron Farms resident Sharon Carty shared her reflections on living through the tornado: "I totally missed the house that was leveled 10 doors up from mine. Walked right …
The Dexter Relief Fund committee and other area organizations invite the community for volunteer sign-ups, food, games and more today at LaFontaine Chevrolet.
In honor of the Dexter community's resilience following the tornado of last year, the Dexter Relief Fund committee, with the help of organizations across the community, is hosting a "Dexter: One Year Strong!" open house 3 to 7 p.m. today at LaFontaine Chevrolet in Dexter. At the event, there will be: Everyone is invited. For more information, call (734) 426-7002 or visit Faith in Action's website or Chelsea/Dexter Faith in Action's Facebook page. This information was provided by the Dexter Relief Fund committee and Chelsea/Dexter Faith in Action.
Patch blogger Sharon shares her reflections on the Dexter tornado.
The first annual Dexter F3.1 Tornado Run/Walk is 7 p.m. at Hudson Mills Metro Park. Let's bring the community together for a positive and rewarding healthy event.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Bob and Katie Jazwinski of Dexter Township moved back into their home on Horse Shoe Bend Court in February.
It was a celebration on March 6 for one Dexter family that has been waiting 11 months to move back into their Horse Shoe Bend home. On March 15, 2012 Bob and Katie Jazwinski's home was badly damaged after a Category F3 tornado tore through their neighborhood in Dexter Township. It destroyed or damaged more than 200 homes, ripped massive trees out of the ground, and caused more than $9 million in damage. The Jazwinskis were among the hardest hit, their home almost completely destroyed. "The tornado took out more than half of the house, and there was significant damage to the other 20 percent," Bob Jazwinski said. "It was a lot more traumatic then we let on." For the past year, the family has been living out of hotels and rental homes as …
Families affected by the Dexter tornado can sign up for tree replanting services at Lafontaine Chevrolet on March 15.
In honor of the resilience of the Dexter community following its recovery from a tornado that struck neighborhoods last year, the Dexter Relief Fund committee will host an open house on March 15. The event will take place at LaFontaine Chevrolet from 3 to 7 p.m. Throughout the evening, residents can fill out applications for tree replanting that will begin in April. Tree samples and site evaluation consultation will be available. In addition, applications will be accepted for lawn and glass remediation problems. Volunteers can sign up for the replanting process, and teams of people are needed to help with numerous homes in Dexter Village and Dexter Township. Food will be provided by LaFontaine Chevrolet, and Dexter High School students …
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
More than 40 trees that fell during last year's tornado in Dexter have been salvaged.
One year after a tornado hit Dexter, some of the fallen trees have been transformed into wooden frames. Michigan company Urban Ashes used wood from trees that fell during the tornado to create the handmade decorative items. Urban Ashes owner Paul Hickman said a homeowner contacted him about a month after the tornado asking if he could do something with the six damaged black cherry trees in her backyard, which she didn't want to be burned or turned into mulch. "We got them out of there within six weeks after the tornado," he said. The homeowner then connected Urban Ashes with Hudson Mills Metro Park, which had some of the most fallen trees in the area. Six to eight weeks after the tornado, some of the trees were taken from the park and sent…
Paul Hickman
10:34 am on Sunday, March 17, 2013
To learn more about Urban Ashes' labor force and manufacturing partner, Work Skills Corporation of Brighton, MI, go to http://www.wskills.com/about-wsc/ Regarding the location of the planned tree memorial, we are still looking for an appropriate site. Hudson Mills Park is one location we are targeting as well as within the Dexter Park system. The Urban Ashes website will be posting updates on the… more ›