The Holly Express

Make today a Plow Day!

amy@thehollyexpress.com (Amy Mayhew) — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:17:05 +0000

HOLLY TOWNSHIP, Michigan – If you’re looking for some good old fashioned family fun this weekend, look no further than “Plow Days,” sponsored by Holly Township, and taking place on Saturday May 18 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Holly Heritage Farmstead.

In addition to having vintage tractors, cars and trucks on display, visitors can enjoy a multitude of activities which include watching draft horses as they plow up the garden plot area, farm animals, old fashioned games for the kids, an artifact display from several local archeological digs, crafts, crosscut saw demonstrations, food, music and much more.

Holly DDA director disputes mid-year evaluation process

amy@thehollyexpress.com (Amy Mayhew) — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:00:43 +0000

HOLLY, Michigan – Director Hope Ponsart wasn’t upset about the outcome of her her mid-year job evaluation so much as she was about the “backdoor” way she says it was conducted.

Ponsart read a prepared statement to Downtown Development Authority board members during the May 13 DDA board meeting.

“I understand from (DDA Board Chairman) Dick Rossell that recently a mid-year review was conducted by the board,” Ponsart said. “I don’t object to a review – I do object to the backdoor way it was conducted.”

Holly merchants seek answers on light Ladies Night Out attendance

amy@thehollyexpress.com (Amy Mayhew) — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:09:17 +0000

HOLLY, Michigan – A light turnout at the May 10 Ladies Night Out event in downtown Holly left a few local merchants asking Hope Ponsart, Holly’s director for the Downtown Development Authority, what happened.

The matter was discussed during Monday’s monthly DDA meeting.

Bittersweet Café owner John Van Boemel said his business has always benefited from past LNO events, but this year, sales in his restaurant were down by 40 percent.

“Ladies Night Out has been a great event since the day we showed up,” Van Boemel began. “This year, it was light – have we come to terms with why? Was it funding? Was it participation?” he asked. “Can you help me to understand it, because as a vendor, it helps our business, and I’m curious to see if we can get to the bottom of what it was so light this year.”

HAS announces key administration positions for 2013-14 school year

amy@thehollyexpress.com (Amy Mayhew) — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:02:55 +0000

HOLLY, Michigan – With a little over a month more to go in serving as superintendent for Holly Area Schools, Kent Barnes said his predecessor, David Nuss, has been busy interviewing candidates to fill several key administrative positions in the district for the upcoming school year.

Barnes made the announcement during the May 13 Holly Area Schools Board of Education meeting.

Nuss conducted several interviews with qualified candidates for the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, Barnes said.

Holly back among 217 “Playful City USA” Communities

amymayhew@aol.com (THE Administrator) — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:16:40 +0000

HOLLY, Michigan — Holly has once again been named one of the best communities in Michigan and the nation to play, receiving the designation of Playful City USA for 2013 by the national non-profit organization KaBOOM! for its third straight year.

The Playful City USA program, sponsored by KaBOOM! and the Humana Foundation, serves to recognize communities that are working to address the “play deficit” in our country. The American Academy of Pediatrics indicates that play is a crucial activity for healthy brain development, creativity and imagination, dexterity and physical, and cognitive and emotional space. Yet, only one in five children live within walking distance to a park or playground, and this lack of access and opportunity can have profound consequences for our children: physically, socially and academically.