Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
LOCAL RESIDENTS eating chow at the Mill Street Garden and socializing on Tuesday afternoon. Seated from left and progressing clockwise are Jeff Betlewski, Pearce Graham, Tom Erickson, and Ernie Chernak, back to the camera, the best short stop in Bessemer little league history according to Erickson.
By IAN MINIELLY
Bessemer - There is a hidden location - similar to a restaurant but not a restaurant, - in Bessemer providing healthy chow to seniors citizens and others four days a week. The establishment is located on the side of the Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency building, behind the Bessemer Commons building off U.S. 2.
When walking into the Mill Street Garden in Bessemer, Donna Lepske is likely found behind the register and counter. Lepske takes care of the suggested donations for the meals and helps people to their seats, while filling guests in on how the operation works.
Being part of a senior nutritional program means a local millage and government grant provides the meals for the community and pays the salary of the employees working. It is an example of people helping people, with a dosage of government on the side, providing a place for people to congregate, fellowship, and eat chow at the same time.
The Mill Street Garden is open Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Every third Friday they host a breakfast buffet from 9 a.m. to noon, which is an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. The suggested price for over 60 folks Monday through Thursday is $3.75 and for those under 60, $6.25. The Friday buffet for the over 60 crowd in $5 while the under 60 pay $7.50.
Donna Heikkila, administrative assistant, said they usually serve about 75 local residents on a daily basis and another 150 every third Friday. The program is designed to provide a healthy and nutritional meal to senior citizens through the Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency.
