In the News

Daily Beast ranks Saline High School in America's Top 300

Daily Beast Wednesday, May 15, 2013

And yet another set of national stats on public high schools, this one from Newsweek's Daily Beast, puts Saline High School, Chelsea High School, and Ann Arbor's Community, Huron, and Pioneer in the nation's top 1,000, with Skyline High School just a few slots behind.

See the full list here.

Jiffy mix has baked-in business success

policymic Wednesday, April 24, 2013

At age 83, the Jiffy mix company is rather vintage, but there's a reason it's had such a long run. And the muffins are still fresh.

Excerpt:

"Anyone who has dared venture down a grocery store's baking aisle or opened their grandparent's cupboard has probably seen one of the timeless white and blue "Jiffy" boxes that haven't changed much since the mixes were first invented by Holmes' Grandmother in 1930. What I didn't know until I did some homework, was just how great of a company is behind Jiffy mix. After a 16-minute long chat with the Jiffy mix CEO, and 11 years of studying business and economics, I knew I had discovered one of America's last great businesses. Here is seven reasons why...

5. Jiffy mix staff find meaning and purpose through their work.

When I commented on Holmes' decision not to sell off even part of his multi-million dollar company, he said "What would I do if I sold-out? Spend my life vacationing somewhere?!" The CEO of Jiffy has the right attitude. Our occupations, in balance with our relationships, give our lives meaning. To work a job just for money or to escape from community and family responsibilities is shallow at best. A visiting reporter from Fortune magazine described Jiffy mix as "a decidedly chipper workplace, with friendly employees who seem to be genuinely enjoying their jobs. They greet Holmes warmly, he appears to know virtually all of them by name, and none of it feels phony."

More here.

Chelsea record collector launches online store

DexterPatch Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Vinyl records prove the Peter Allen song true: "Everything old is new again". Though LPs represent less than one precent of the recorded music business, a Chelsea collector sees good potential for a return on his investment.

Excerpt:

"Branham, a longtime resident of Chelsea, has been collecting records since the 1970s. When he's not fulfilling his duties to Sylvan Township as township treasurer, he travels around the state "picking" through estate sales and personal collections, on the prowl for rare discs by obscure bands like The Kegs and The Phantom 5."

Read the rest here.

Indiana blogger goes on Ann Arbor beer tour

The Elkhart Truth Wednesday, February 20, 2013

An Indiana writer visits Ann Arbor and, lo and behold, discovers our community's magic elixir. Many compliments ensue.

Excerpt:

"In addition to all the great pubs in town, there are a number of great breweries to choose from as well. Arbor Brewing Company is one of my favorites (and just down the street from the Blue Nile). While grabbing a quick lunch, I tried a Listenership Smoked Pale Ale (5.3% ABV, IBUs 40). This was brewed in commemoration of Ann Arbor radio station WCBN’s 40th anniversary. It is an English pale ale brewed with American smoked malt and English hops. The appearance is a hazy golden color with pale malt and subtle hops on the nose. I enjoyed the pleasant flavors of citrus hops, with a nice subtle smokiness, making this a very nice session ale."

Read the rest here.

NEA Magazine features Chelsea's Purple Rose Theatre

NEA Arts Wednesday, January 16, 2013

The magazine for the National Endowment Of The Arts not only decided to write a profile of Chelsea's Purple Rose Theatre they created an audio slide show.

Excerpt:

"Chelsea, Michigan, is a small town with a thriving arts scene. That's thanks in no small part to the Purple Rose Theatre Company (PRTC), founded by actor, and Chelsea native, Jeff Daniels. Starting out in a garage with a skeletal staff, PRTC has flourished into a first-rate theater company, developing local talent, nurturing Midwestern voices, and providing a cultural hub in this corner of Michigan. Artistic Director Guy Sanville, who has been with the company almost from its inception, explains how PRTC was a game-changer for Chelsea."

Listen to the slide show here.

Ann Arbor's "human capital" is tops for small metros

The Atlantic Cities Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Business leaders call them "human capital," economists call them educated people. Either way you slice the tomato, both consider it a key factor in regional growth and development. Richard Florida takes a look at what human capital in suburban vs urban settings looks like.

Excerpt:

"Perhaps not surprisingly, college towns predominate when we add smaller metros (with populations of less than one million) to the list. With nearly 70 percent of adults holding bachelor degrees, Ann Arbor comes in first, followed by State College, Pennsylvania (69.2 percent), Iowa City (55.9 percent), Bloomington, Indiana (54.8 percent), Corvallis, Oregon (53.1 percent), Boulder, Colorado (50.9 percent), Columbia, Missouri (50.4 percent), Madison, Wisconsin (48.1 percent), Lawrence, Kansas (47.6 percent) and Champaign-Urbana, Illinois (47.4 percent)."

Read the rest here.

What's for dinner? Let's check the trash.

The New York Times Wednesday, August 03, 2011

The Ann Arbor area foodie movement expands the notion of what makes a good veggie. From stems to root, trimmings can make for some damn fine eatin'.

Excerpt:

"LAST week in Chelsea, Mich., as people wilted and vegetables flourished in the intense heat, Anne Elder ran through some of her favorite summer ingredients: pearly garlic "rounds" that flower at the top of the plant in hot weather, the spreading leaves of the broccoli plant, yellow dandelion flowers that she dips whole into batter and deep fries."

Read more here.

Ann Arbor, Chelsea get 5 stars for entrepreneurial growth

University of Michigan-Dearborn Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Lots of cities and communities like to talk about how they're "open for business" and ready to help companies wherever they can. Ann Arbor and Chelsea now have the credibility to back up those claims. The two burgs were listed as 5-Star Cities (top rankings) by the University of Michigan-Dearborn iLabs program for their efforts with listening to local businesses and acting upon their needs. See the whole list here.

Chelsea's Bearclaw Coffee growing up and out

The Detroit News Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Starbucks maybe on the retreat, but local coffee brewhouses are advancing. Chelsea-based Bearclaw Coffee is one of these local chains that is picking up where Starbucks left off.

Excerpt:

There may be fewer Starbucks in Michigan these days, but locally owned coffee chains are slinging more espressos and cappuccinos than ever.

East Lansing-based Biggby Coffee reported its best year in 2009, with revenue topping $40 million, even as food and beverage retailers across the state reeled from a 4 percent drop in sales. Biggby recently opened new stores in Birmingham and Ann Arbor and has eight more in development.

Although a Coffee Beanery franchise closed in Southfield two years ago, the Flushing-based company opened 12 stores last year, including one in Miami and three at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and more are in the works.
Read the rest of the story here.

And Ann Arbor-based Bearclaw Coffee Co. has 12 new stores in development and recently opened a mobile unit in Radcliff, Ky.

Read the rest of the story here.

Chelsea's Bearclaw Coffee looks overseas for expansion cash

The Detroit News Wednesday, March 31, 2010

The folk's behind Bearclaw Coffee have gotten really creative with their financing so they can continue to expand their growing business.

Excerpt:

When she needed investors to help grow her Bearclaw Coffee Co. franchise, Debi Scroggins looked to the Middle East.

The founder of the Ann Arbor-based coffee company has recruited nearly a dozen Iranians -- with more to follow -- to open mobile coffee carts in the United States at $180,000 a pop.

"These are candidates who are cash-ready," Scroggins said. "I've had so many candidates (in the United States) who have $30,000 to put down and cannot get financing because they lost their home equity and they lost their 401(k) and, oh, by the way, their credit has nicks in it."

Read the rest of the story here.

Sleeping Bear Press moves to Ann Arbor

Chelsea Update Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Sleeping Bear Press, a downtown Chelsea staple, has made tracks over to Ann Arbor.

Excerpt:

Sleeping Bear Press will be leaving the Chelsea Clocktower on Friday.

Heather Hughes said the move was a result of the changes made when the Press became part of Gale Publishing in 2002.

"The Chelsea Clocktower became our home 10 years ago as a publisher with three separate divisions," Hughes said in a written statement. "When Gale acquired Sleeping Bear Press in 2002, just the children's division was included and the other two parts of our business were sold separately."

"This left us with many open offices and too much space. When our lease came up for renewal we were fortunate to find a wonderfully suited space that fits us perfectly."

Sleeping Bear will be moving to 315 E. Eisenhower Parkway in Ann Arbor, across from Briarwood Mall.

Read the rest of the story here.

Bearclaw Coffee, Askar Brands hope co-branding will spark sales

Crain's Detroit Business Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Chelsea's own Bearclaw Coffee is getting innovative with its expansion plans.

Excerpt:

Two Michigan companies are joining forces in an effort to drive down costs while raising volume and sales. Chelsea-based Bearclaw Coffee Co. and Commerce Township-based Askar Brands, parent company of Mr. Pita Sandwiches, Stucchi's Ice Cream, Papa Romano's Pizza, and CJ's Brewing Co. hope a co-branding agreement will give franchisees more leverage in the marketplace by expanding product offerings and boosting sales in what were the slow periods of the day.

Read the rest of the story here.

Chelsea Robotics team places high nationally

The Chelsea Standard Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Chelsea's Robotics team is going places and is coming back from one big competition, too.

Excerpt:

The Chelsea High School Robotics team recently traveled to the FIRST National Robotics Championship in Atlanta. After a day of practice and two days of competing, they finished with a 5-2 record and placed 17th out of 87 teams in their division and were the 10th best team from Michigan.

While in Atlanta, they were also able to tour the Coca-Cola Museum and the Georgia Aquarium.

After their return from the championship, the team held a banquet thanking all the donors and mentors who supported them throughout the 2008-2009 season.

Outgoing seniors Cody Robbins, Jake Kitchens and Nick Worthington were given special recognition for their years of service and contributions to the team. The banquet was held at the Chelsea Proving Grounds and graciously hosted by the Chrysler Corp.

Read the rest of the story here.

Chelsea's Platt making it in Hollywood

The Chelsea Standard Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Other people from Chelsea not named Jeff Daniels are making their mark in Hollywood.

Excerpt:

Chelsea High School graduate Tara Platt has made a name for herself in the Ann Arbor's Performance Network, Chelsea's Purple Rose Theatre and the Williamston Theatre in Williamston. Now add Hollywood to the list.

Platt has worked with the artistic directors of all three professional theatres, and is now moving ahead with a successful career in Hollywood. Platt and her husband, Yuri Lowenthal, are making their way as actors, screenwriters, filmmakers and even authors in Hollywood. The couple will be special guests at this weekend's Kids Read Comics convention in Chelsea.

Often billed as "The Power Couple of Voice Acting," Platt and Lowenthal are known for the cartoon, anime and video game characters they voice. Wonder Woman (from the video game Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe) and Superman (from the Saturday morning series Legion of Super Heroes) are two of their well-known characters.

Read the rest of the story here.

Chatting with � Jeff Daniels, Tony nominee

Detroit Free Press Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Jeff Daniels has an answer or two in this Q&A but does he have a Tony Award awaiting him?

Excerpt:

Sure, Jeff Daniels is curious about whether he'll win the prize for which he has been nominated at tonight's Tony Awards. But for the Chelsea-based actor, currently on Broadway in "God of Carnage," the real anxiety came months ago.

"The nervousness and stress was leading up to the nomination," says Daniels, nominated in the category best performance by a leading actor in a play. "The stress of opening night and the critics and when is the New York Times there. That was a lot more stressful than now. Now you just feel great because you've been invited to the big dance."

Read the rest of the story here.

Chelsea : In the News