Happy Birthday Delhi Township yearly summer reading program that rewards summer readers ... The Flat River Big Band ... rockabilly lounge band reminiscent of a time of sock hops and

Fun things to do in Delhi Township

VOLUME 9, #2 • SPRING 2017

A Pu bl ic at io n of De l h i Cha rter Towns h ip • w w w.de l h i towns h ip. c o m • Pr i nted o n recyc led paper

Delhi Township kicked off its 175th Birthday Celebration with recognition and a tribute at the Michigan Capitol, marking the beginning

of a year’s worth of celebration.

On February 16, 1842, Delhi Township was established by an act of the Michigan Legislature, and on the same day in 2017, community representatives commemorated the historical event along with state lawmakers, community stakeholders and other public officials from

the region.

“This is a celebration that looks towards our past and towards our collective future,” said Jacob McCormick, chair of the Holt-Delhi Historical Society. “Local history is an important unifier for all township residents.”

The celebration included a flag ceremony presented by local Girl Scout troops and signed tributes

from Michigan State Representatives Tom Cochran and Sam Singh, and State Senator Curtis Hertel.

Delhi Township Supervisor John Hayhoe told the assembled audience he wanted to keep the community in good shape for his grandchildren so they can enjoy it like he did growing up.

“We talk about how great our physical attributes are in the community, like our trails, but it takes hard work

from good people to make it special,” Hayhoe said.

The celebration will continue all year, tying the 175th celebration with many annual events in the community, including a 175th Anniversary Hometown Festival in August.

You can find plenty to do in Delhi Township as it continues to celebrate its 175th anniversary throughout the year

Happy Birthday Delhi Township

“Local history is an important unifier for all

township residents.”

This special 175th birthday issue of Delhi Neighbor will be

your go-to guide for 2017 events in Delhi Township,

as we celebrate our history and look to the future.

Fun things to do in Delhi Township • www.delhitownship.com222

May4 Preserving Family History

5-6 P.M. • HOLT-DELHI LIBRARYDrop in with an item from your family history collection (document, textile, book or photo) and learn some basic tips for storage and preservation.

6 Public Works Open House and Reuse Rally11 A.M. – 3 P.M. • 5961 MCCUE ROAD

Take a tour and discover how Delhi Township’s infrastructure helps keep our community healthy and safe while using new technology to clean our water and generate power.

Fun games and activities include a Frisbee fish toss, bull’s-eye water race, free concessions, face painting, shoot the rapids and take the plunge with plenty of prizes.

The Reuse Rally is a fun way to help save our planet by donating or exchanging used items to be passed on to someone else.

12 Ram Trail 5K Run6 P.M. • 5780 W. HOLT ROAD

There is also a pancake dinner at 6:30 P.M. Register at gohps.net/5Kand chriscakesfun

13 Downtown Historical Walking Tour 2 P.M. DOWNTOWN

Learn about early Delhi Township and its beginnings while walking through the main business corridor and commerce area.

18 Free Brush Drop-Off 3-6 P.M. • 5961 MCCUE ROADThe Holt Lions and Delhi Township are teaming up to provide free brush and yard waste disposal once a month on Thursdays and Saturdays in 2017.

19 Kiwanis Chicken BBQ 4-7 P.M. • FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

This fundraising tradition helps the Holt Kiwanis Club provide important services for the community.

20 Free Brush Drop-Off 8 - 12 P.M. • 5961 MCCUE ROADThe Holt Lions and Delhi Township are teaming up to provide free brush and yard waste disposal once a month on Thursdays and Saturdays in 2017.

29 Memorial Day Parade and Special Memorial Ceremony 2 P.M.Show your pride in our local veterans at the Memorial Day Parade through Holt. The parade ends at Veterans Memorial Gardens for a special flag ceremony.

June5 Ram Trail Ride bike safety and fundraiser event

6 P.M.

9 Summer Reading Program Begins LIBRARYThe Holt-Delhi branch of the Capital Area District Library holds a yearly summer reading program that rewards summer readers as they reach their reading goals. It ends with a celebration at the end of the summer.

9-10 Relay for Life Event 3 P.M. - 9 A.M. • HOLT HIGH SCHOOLThis community event raises funds to fight cancer and is a commemorative event for those who lost a loved one and for those who continue to fight.

15 Brush Drop-Off Days 3-6 P.M. • 5961 MCCUE ROADThe Holt Lions and Delhi Township are teaming up to provide free brush and yard waste disposal once a month on Thursdays and Saturdays in 2017.


21 Food Frenzy 5-8 P.M. • HOLT FARMERS MARKETThis new event features the culinary delights of mobile food vendors. Expect to find different tastes and options all in one place.

July1 Fall men’s and co-ed softball, youth soccer, pre-K–4th grade

flag football registration begins.

Community Calendar continues on page 4

community CALENDAR

Key: Historic themed event with historical society exhibit.

Fun things to do in Delhi Township • www.delhitownship.com 3

Delhi Township isn’t the only one celebrating a birthday this year.

The Holt Community Arts Council’s Music in the Garden concert series has turned 10 years old, and will celebrate with a time-based theme in 2017. All four acts this summer will be from a specific period of time, including the ’30s/’40s, ’50s, ’60s and ’80s.

Music in the Garden is a series of free concerts in the amphitheater in Veterans Memorial Gardens, a park behind the Delhi Township Community Services Center at 2074 Aurelius Road.

The concerts are funded in part by a mini-grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Arts Council of Greater Lansing. They are also funded by donations from local businesses, individuals, Delhi Township and the Delhi Township Downtown Development Authority.

The series begins on July 6 with Starfarm, a popular band that plays hits from the ’80s; on July 13, the Flat River Big Band will take you back to the swinging big band era of the ’30s and ’40s; on July 20, Magic Bus will arrive with groovy tunes from the ’60s; and on July 27, Billy Mack and the Juke Joint Johnnies will end the series with some serious rock-a-billy, ’50s style. Each of these free concerts begin at 7 p.m.

For more information or to contribute to Music in the Garden, visit holtarts.org or go to the Holt Community Arts Council Facebook page.

Music in the GardenSPOTLIGHT ON:


6 Music in the Garden 7 P.M. • VETERANS MEMORIAL GARDENS

Starfarm – This band brings a “totally awesome” collection of ’80s songs to bring back the nostalgia of the decade of pegged pants, mullets and hairspray.


The Flat River Big Band – This 17-piece big band includes swing and jazz starting in the 1930s, playing music from legends like Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and Count Basie.

16 Maple Ridge Cemetery Historical Tour 2 P.M. • CEMETERY

Gone but not forgotten. Learn about people who helped shape what Holt and Delhi Township are today, including achievements from residents of yesteryear.


Magic Bus – You don’t want to miss this act straight out of the hippie ’60s. Complete with replica bus and groovy tunes.


Billy Mack and the Juke Joint Johnnies – Rock around the clock with this swing-a-billy, rockabilly lounge band reminiscent of a time of sock hops and beboppers.

28 Moonlight Movies 9 P.M. • VETERANS MEMORIAL GARDENS

Watch a family friendly movie under the stars at Veterans Memorial Gardens’ amphitheater. For show listings, see www.delhitownship.com.

August1 National Night Out

6 P.M. • VETERANS MEMORIAL GARDENSA great way to meet neighbors and friends from the Delhi Division of the Ingham County Sheriff’s Department and the Delhi Township Fire Department.





19 Holt Hometown FestivalThe 175th anniversary of the founding of Delhi Township

is a theme that will be part of this annual celebration. A parade, car show, kids area, vendors and a fantastic fireworks show are all part of the fun.

20 End-of-Summer Reading Party 1-3 P.M. • VETERANS MEMORIAL GARDENS

September1 Youth Floor Hockey registration begins

1 Holt Education Foundation Pre-Game Cookout

11 911 Hero 5K RunThis annual 5K run commemorates the heroes lost from

the tragic events of September 11, 2001.


22 Kiwanis Chicken BBQ 4-7 P.M. • FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

This fundraising tradition helps the Holt Kiwanis Club provide important services for the community.


30 Maker Expo 10-4 P.M. • VETERANS MEMORIAL GARDENS

This daylong celebration of innovation brings together creative individuals from different artistic and technical disciplines, hobbyists, students, and others. The event will be family friendly, educational and interactive, as makers will be prepared to demonstrate their creations and answer questions from the public. This will also be the kickoff day of the regional Lansing Maker Week event schedule

30 Beer Works 4-8 P.M. • VETERANS MEMORIAL GARDENSPresented by the Holt Community Arts Council,this fun beer tasting event will include samples from regional and local brewers who want to show how good a brewed beer can be.

Community Calendar continues on page 6


Hometown FestivalThe Holt Hometown Festival is a

yearly event that is known for its family friendly activities,

parade and spectacular fireworks.

The 2017 version will incorporate Delhi Township’s 175th Anniversary of being chartered by the state Legislature, and will include some newly expanded events, like the Hot Rods and Hogs car show and contest and local business exhibitor booths.

Of course vendors and a kids’ area with inflatables and the popular Touch-a-Truck® event will return, along with live

entertainment all day and up until the fireworks show.

Started as a local business

showcase in the Holt Plaza parking lot 18 years ago, the Hometown

Festival has blossomed into a

community event with participation from businesses

and organizations throughout Holt.

Festival Director Chuck Grinnell said sponsorship opportunities range from $50

to $1,500 and up. A business or personal contributor can be listed on high-visibility road banners, participate in the parade with a float or banner, advertise in the TV-47 campaign, or be a vendor on the day of the festival.

Applications and more information can be found at www.holthometownfestival.com. Contact Chuck Grinnell at (517) 930-2655 or Lori Underhill at the Delhi DDA at (517) 699-3866 with questions about getting involved in the fun this year.

The main day of the festival will be August 19, but local businesses have been encouraged to join in the fun for the entire weekend.

SPOTLIGHT ON:


October1 Registration begins for Pre-K–2nd grade basketball

12 Delhi Fire Department Open House


21 Free Brush Drop-Off 8-12 P.M. • 5961 MCCUE ROADThe Holt Lions and Delhi Township are teaming up to provide free brush and yard waste disposal once a month on Thursdays and Saturdays in 2017.

22 Pioneer Cemetery Tour 2 P.M. • PIONEER CEMETERY

Learn about the pioneers of Holt and how they established Delhi Township in the days of territorial expansion.

28 Halloween at the Farmers Market 9 A.M.-2 P.M. • HOLT FARMERS MARKET

29 Trick or Treat in the Park 2 P.M. • VETERANS MEMORIAL GARDENS

This family friendly event is a safe, fun alternative to traditional trick or treating and is held during the day.

November1 Registration begins for 3-6th grade basketball

29 Holiday Tree Lighting 6:30 P.M. • VETERANS MEMORIAL GARDENS

This event is the ultimate holiday party. Hot chocolate, carol sing- a-longs and a visit from Santa Claus help keep the cheer going after the children pull the lever and the large holiday tree is officially lit.

29 Library Holiday Open House 7 P.M. • HOLT-DELHI LIBRARY

29 Farmers Market Open House 7 P.M. • HOLT FARMERS MARKET

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!“Like” Delhi Township on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to find out the latest news and events!

Historical exhibits and presentations will be presented at many special events in Delhi Township this year, as part of our 175th

Anniversary celebration. Look for the 175th Anniversary logo next to scheduled events in the community calendar.

A film that includes interviews from local World War II veterans and was created through community donations will be presented this year by the Holt-Delhi Historical Society at a special screening yet to be scheduled. Keep an eye on the 175th Anniversary Facebook Page for more information.

Historical Fun Facts• Until very recently, state law allowed

township residents to turn a rat head into their township clerk for a bounty. The bounty was five cents and the heads had to be disposed of by burning.

• The “Hogsback,” a large glacial esker, once cut through Delhi Township. In the early to mid-1900s, gravel companies mined the esker for gravel. The mining and excavation resulted in the many large gravel pits between Holt and Mason. Mount Hope Cemetery and Maple Ridge Cemetery are part of the original hogsback.

• Matthew King, a pioneer resident, owned the eastern half of the community of Delhi Center at one point. In his first winter here he lived in a cave that he carved out of the Hogsback.

• In 1864, township residents voted in favor of raising $2,100 to pay US Army volunteers $100 each for volunteering to enlist. There were 34 men that received the bounty for their service in 1864.

• The first marriage in Delhi Township was that of William P. Robbins of Alaiedon Township, and Lydia M. Wells of Delhi on July 6, 1842. Miss Wells was Delhi’s first school teacher.


AGAINThe township’s iconic fish on wheels, Gill, is getting rebuilt this year as part of Delhi Township’s 175th Anniversary. Gill came on the scene years ago as the official mascot for the Delhi Township Department of Public Works. His message of the importance of recycling and keeping our water clean has been a staple since he first started swimming. Gill almost always makes an appearance at township events and has been featured in several parades here and across the region.

The goal is to have the new Gill complete in time for the Hometown Festival Parade on August 19. Gill was originally built by the community andits volunteers and will be again this year. A laundrydetergent jug drive has already started, and a special Gill buildwill take place at events throughout the spring and summer so that everyone has a chance to be part of his new look.

Build Gill EventsMay 6 POTW Open House and Re-Use Rally 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.July 6 Music in the Garden 7 p.m.July 13 Music in the Garden 7 p.m.July 20 Music in the Garden 7 p.m.July 27 Music in the Garden 7 p.m.

Build Gill…

Help complete Gill in time for the Hometown Festival

Parade on August 19

Fun things to do in Delhi Township

Delhi Charter Township2074 Aurelius RoadHolt, MI 48842

Fu n th i ngs to do i n De l h i Towns h ip • w w w.de l h i towns h ip. c o m

The Delhi Township Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony is an annual tradition that

keeps growing in popularity.

Held the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving in Veterans Memorial Gardens, the ceremony starts with a carol singalong with the Holt High School band and choir while snacking on cookies and keeping warm with hot chocolate.

The crowd gathers around the biggest tree as the countdown begins, and after the switch is thrown children prepare for a special visit from Santa Claus himself.

The fun doesn’t stop with the tree lighting – it marks the start of more holiday fun:

Holiday Tree LightingSPOTLIGHT ON:

• Children can send a letter toSanta Claus with our special mailbox in the township hall.

• The Holt-Delhi Branch of theCapital Area District Library hasa holiday open house.

• The nearby Holt Farmers Markethas a holiday open house.

• Live reindeer also make anappearance.

• Veterans Memorial Gardens hasspecial lighting that can beenjoyed throughout the season.

Delhi Township BoardJohn Hayhoe, SupervisorEvan Hope, CMC, ClerkRoy Sweet, TreasurerPat Brown, Trustee Stuart Goodrich, TrusteeTom Lenard, TrusteeDiAnne Warfield, Trustee

The Township Board of Trusteesmeets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Delhi Charter Township Community Services Center Board Room (2074 Aurelius Road). Meeting agendas and minutes are available on the Township website, delhitownship.com

The Parks Commission meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m.

the Township Planning Commissionmeets the 2nd and the 4th Mondays of each month at 6:30 p.m.

5/1/17 1:30 PM

Documents

Happy Birthday Delhi Township yearly summer reading program that rewards summer readers ... The Flat River Big Band ... rockabilly lounge band reminiscent of a time of sock hops and