Free Fishing Derby For Kids - Brighton Michigan

Saturday, June 8th, from 8:30-11:00, the Brighton Optimists will hold their annual Free Fishing Derby for Kids in Downtown Brighton, at the Millpond.  Registration starts at 7:30am.

Bring your rod and reel and a bucket for the fish. This is a catch and release event. We also have a limited number of loaner poles and buckets.  Free bait while supply lasts.  We will provide free pizza to the kids and the local jump rope team (Jumpin' Allstars) will be performing prior to awards.

While you’re downtown for the fishing derby on Saturday, be sure to check out the Farmer’s Market.  The kids will enjoy the Imagination Station, too.  And if they get warm, you can cool them off at Jack’s Custard, the Dairy Queen, or the Yum Yum Tree.  Plenty of options!  For a complete list of downtown events and businesses, check out the downtown Brighton web site!


The Brighton Optimists are looking for community service-minded individuals. If you have an interest in making your community a better place to live, contact them at info@BrightonOptimist.org.

Support The Troops - Rush Time!

Hey, Livingston County! One of the Brighton Optimists, Donna Campbell, is helping a friend collect items to send over to the troops in Afghanistan.  She'll be collecting items Thursday morning at the Bauery Restaurant at Mt. Brighton, during the weekly Brighton Optimist Club Meeting.  An excerpted list of items that are wanted are:

lotion, sunscreen, deodorant - all travel size; chap stick, soap, eye drops, disposable razors; individual packets of trail mix, beef jerky, and general munchies; disposable cameras, small toys like beanie babies that the troops can hand out to the kids over there; zip lock bags and holiday decorations, duct tape, writing paper. Optimists, let's fill her vehicle up THIS THURSDAY - then go ring bells for the Salvation Army. Bring your stuff to Mt. Brighton at 7:30 am Thursday, December 1st.

All Livingston County residents - if you can stop by with some of these items, please do so.  Stick around for breakfast on the Brighton Optimist Club if you wish.  If you can't make the early hour, drop your items off at Campbell's Collision on Grand River just east of Whitmore Lake Rd.   Let's help make the Holidays a little nicer for our troops!

Holiday Fundraiser Gives Both Ways



courtesy Dutchman Tree Farms

 I’ve been an active member of the Brighton Optimist Club for many years. They are a community service group under the Optimist International umbrella and their motto is, “Bringing Out The Best In Kids.” Over their 35 years of existence, they’ve done a lot of great things for the community and its youth.


But these projects take money, so fundraising is needed. Their annual Holiday fundraiser is called Green2Green, in partnership with Dutchman Tree Farms in Michigan. Dutchman sells container grown evergreens, balled and burlap trees, holiday wreaths, and both 7’ cut and 3’ tabletop Christmas trees.

We’ve been getting their wreaths and they are outstanding – pleasing to the eye, fresh, and lasting well past the holiday season. Friends and family that have purchased trees have been very happy with them, too. For every purchase made with the Brighton Optimist Club’s promo code, a donation is made by Dutchman Tree Farms to that organization. Dutchman ships across the USA and they guarantee that if you are not happy with the product upon delivery, they will get you a replacement within a business day. No hidden fees and prices include delivery.

Please consider supporting a Michigan business and this local community service organization by making a purchase this Holiday season. In return you’ll be getting a great product AND you’ll help a community group to continue their work. To order, just click this link - http://www.dutchmantreefarms.com/organization/OCBRMI

12 Days of Gleaners

Last year, local radio station WHMI (93.5 FM) in Howell, Michigan, began a program to raise money for Gleaners Food Bank of SE Michigan. WHMI partners with the Howell Soft Cloth Car Wash for the 12 days prior to Thanksgiving to raise funds. With Gleaners’ buying power, $1 will feed 1 person for 1 day.


Volunteer organizations each take a day and solicit change from the customers at the carwash. Today is the day that I help out with the rest of the Brighton Optimist Club. We’ll be on site from 10am to 6pm. My shift is from noon to 1pm.

WHMI was pleased with the contribution level in 2010, their first year, but hope to do even better this year. Gleaners of Livingston County cannot meet the needs of the county on their own, and regularly food from other Gleaners locations have to be brought in. If you live in Livingston County, consider stopping by today between 10am and 6pm to make a small monetary donation. No family should have to go hungry and the needs are more acute during the holiday season.

Kudos to WHMI and the Howell Soft Cloth Car Wash for their efforts, as well as to the Brighton Optimist Club and other community groups that each take a day for service to those in need.

Brighton Optimist Golf Outing

The Brighton Optimist Club will have its annual Charity Golf Outing on Saturday, July 16, 2011 at the Jackal Golf Club in Brighton, MI at 11am.

The Brighton Optimists have given tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships to local students over their 34 years, and have spearheaded such large community projects as Brighton’s Imagination Station playground and what is now called the Meijer SELCRA skate park. At this year’s Free Fishing Derby for Kids (Brighton Millpond, June 11th) they are donating a youth-oriented piece of artwork to the City of Brighton, which will be on year-round display.

Golf fees are $85/golfer and include all course fees, a lunch, steak dinner and door prizes. There will be raffles, a chance to win a car at the hole in one station, a Vegas Hole, Beat The Pro driving contest and more. Foursomes that register and pay together online get a discount.

There are opportunities to donate raffle prizes, and hole sponsorships are available for $110 each. Executive Hole sponsorships are available for $380 and include the holes sponsorship and golf for four. What a great deal!

Details and registration are available at:

http://www.golfdigestplanner.com/18882-optimists/index.html

Preview Properties - Walk For Warmth

Preview Properties has a Community Service Committee that meets to choose various charities for whom we raise money. Every month is a new community group.  Fundraisers vary, but the most popular is either a breakfast or lunch, pot luck style, where agents and staff bring in a dish, then pay to eat!

Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 25th, the beneficiary is the Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency's (OLHSA) 'Walk For Warmth' campaign. And the food theme is 'Chili Cookoff'.  This is a favorite of mine. Not to brag (too much), but I won the last chili cookoff. 1st out of 9 entries was pretty good for me.  Plus I got to rub it in to an agent buddy that is pretty darned proud of his chili. It's all in good humor and of course, the money raised goes to a great cause.

I'll be making my special 'Sweetwater Chili' recipe today because it is slow cooked for a long time and is even better the next day. No matter how I fare this year, Walk for Warmth will certainly win.

And speaking of that program, Erica Karfonta, Director of OLHSA, will be the guest speaker at this Thursday's Brighton Optimist Club Meeting. Erica is coming to talk to us about that program specifically.  The Optimists do wonderful things for the youth in the County, but they also support a lot of other community service and charitable organizations, too. 

If you're interested, feel free to pop in to the Bauery Restaurant at Mt. Brighton at 7:30 am this Thursday, January 27th. First time visitors get their breakfasts free. The Brighton Optimists have an ambitious roster of activities to complete this year and are always looking for like minded residents to join in and help.

Camel Race - February 5,2011

They're at it again! The Brighton Optimist Club is sponsoring its 3rd Camel Race at Crystal Gardens Banquet Center in Howell, on February 5th, 2011. A different kind of Millionaire Party licensed under the Charitable Gaming Division of the State of Michigan (License #M55856), this event will keep you talking for weeks.

Camels that have been adopted by businesses and decorated uniquely, race 6 at a time in 8 different heats. Wagering is pari-mutuel syle, and there are door prizes, 50/50 raffles and giveaways between the race heats. There is also voting for the best decorated camel. $30 admission gets you dinner, drink tickets for either draft beer or house wine, and an evening of fun. Doors open at 6pm and festivities conclude at 11pm. Proceeds are used to support the Brighton Optimist Club's youth and community service activities.

Doors open at 6pm and festivities conclude around 11pm. Tickets can be purchased online via a secure system at the event web site, http://www.bigcamelrace.com/. For more info, email info@BigCamelRace.com.

Great Fun & Community Support!

The Brighton Optimist Club has awarded tens of thousands of dollars in its 33 year history. They do great things for the community and especially for its youth.  This event is a major fundraiser that helps them continue their grat work.

The Brighton Optimist Club is presenting their 3rd Camel Race on February 5, 2011 at Crystal Gardens, in Howell, MI.  Doors open at 6pm, dinner at 6:30pm, and festivities immediately after dinner.

What kind of festivities? Well, as part of your $30 admission, you get the dinner and drink tickets for both draft beer and house wines. Cash bar is available for other drinks.  There will be 50/50 raffles, door prizes and betting on the camels.  There will be opportunities for losing bettors to win 'consolation prizes' between the race heats, too. Early bird? Not worry, this even is usually over around 11pm.

You will get caught up in the betting and racing action. Tickets can be purchased online at the Camel Race web site, or the Brighton Optimist web site, or feel free to drop me an email.

License #M55856 issued through the State of Michigan Charitable Gaming Division. Proceeds go to the general fund of the Optimist Foundation of Livingston County, a 501 c3 organization.

Hear The Bell? It May Be Me!

On Thursday, December 4th, I’ll be joining my colleagues from the Brighton Optimist Club to ring bells for the Salvation Army. We’ll be in front of Taorello’s Market Place, 1007 E. Grand River, Brighton 48116, from 10am - 8pm.

If you’re in the area, stop by and say “Hello!” to an Optimist – especially if it’s a cold day. We’ll be working in one hour shifts, and I can tell you that standing for an hour on a cold day is a challenge. My time slot is from 3-4pm, and I’d especially love to see you and exchange greetings of the season!

This year’s campaign kicked off on November 14th, and the goal is $145,000. The Salvation Army also runs an Adopt-A-Family program to make sure that nobody is forgotten during the Holidays.

This is just one of the many community service projects that the Brighton Optimist Club undertakes each year. Sometimes your time and energy is as important as a monetary donation (or more so!).

Contact me to find out more about the Brighton Optimist Club and the programs it conducts for the youth of the area.

Brighton Optimist Club - Free Fishing Derby For Kids - June 7th

This Saturday, June 7th, the Brighton Optimist Club will be holding its 22nd annual Free Fishing Derby For Kids at the Brighton Millpond.

Free to kids under 16, there will be awards in various categories across three age groups, free bait, a Lil' Anglers event for children 4 and younger, and a casting contest. A large display tank will show some of the better catches that day.

Bring your rod and reel and a bucket for the fish. There will be three weighing/counting stations available, and all fish are to be released after being recorded. There are some loaner rigs available and free bait, while supplies lasts. The first 400 kids registered will also get a tee shirt.

Registration starts at 7:30 am and the Derby runs 8-11 am. Souvenier picture fishing licenses are also available, but pictures must be taken prior to 10:30 am. Pizza will be served to the kids at 11. While results are being tallied, a local Jump Rope Team, the Jumpin' Allstars, will entertain the crowd. This event is totally FREE!

The Brighton Optimist Club is celebrating its 30th anniversary of "Bringing Out The Best In Kids" this year. This is the longest continually running fishing derby in the State of Michigan. Feel free to contact me with any questions about either the Fishing Derby or the Brighton Optimist Club.