The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Torch is passing for Apple Daze 2008
By Sean Dalton, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: October 9, 2008
The organizers of this year's Apple Daze celebration have a close eye on community attendance and support, and how well their plans take form.
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The Dexter Area Chamber of Commerce is attempting to divest itself of community events, but in a fashion that preserves the kinds of events that area residents have enjoyed for years.
Members of the chamber and the Dexter Area Lions Club have jointly chaired the Apple Daze committee, with the hope that the Lions will be able to take full grasp of the baton next year.
"This year's event is a joint effort between the Lions Club and the Chamber, the purpose (of which) is that the Lions are considering taking this on as an annual event," said committee co-chair Village Councilman and Lion Jim Carson.
"We're doing this so we can learn what exactly is required and that's exactly how it's been formatted."
Carson recently joined member the service club, but says he and the Lions are eager to see if they can lead the way with Apple Daze, both in terms of managing the logistics and juggling the financial responsibilities.
The Lions Club typically holds a pie-eating contest that draws large crowds to watch the sometimes comical and sometimes inspiring journey of contestants' faces through a barrage of delicious pies donated by Busch's and the Grand Traverse Pie Company.
Other sponsors include DAPCO, LaFontaine Automotive Group, Thomson-Shore, Dexter Academy of Dance & Music, and Dancer's Edge.
Apple Daze will be held at Monument Park, where the Grand Traverse Pie Company will have available to eat just about everything made of or with apples, including pies, turnovers, dumplings and more.
Take a hayride with a container of cider, browse the craft booths and enjoy entertainment including local country favorite Kaylyn Pace from 12 to 1 p.m., dance by Dexter Academy of Dance until 2 p.m. and the music of Untitled from 4 to 5 p.m. The pie-eating contest is from 2 to 3 p.m.
Also available are face painting, Putt -n-Glow Golf, a petting zoo, Clydesdale horse rides, hay rides, Xtreme bounce zone, pony rides, and lots of games and prizes.
"I wanted to belong to a service club and the Lions Club guys are the hardest-working I've ever known or come in contact with," Carson said.
He is certain of the Lions' capability to meet the challenge and the work involved behind Apple Daze.
"They work very hard to raise money and happily support so many different areas in our community - the students, bus service, scholarships - and they donate money to the needy," Carson said.
'They raise a hell of a lot of money every year and they spend every penny of it in our community. I wanted to be a part of that."
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