Ferndale Chamber Celebrates Community Love
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 20, 2019)
Ferndale, MI – Members of Ferndale’s thriving business community gathered Thursday evening for their annual party, this year called “Celebrate Ferndale.”
Under a ceiling dripping with sparkly chandeliers and strings of glow in the dark stars, surrounded with plush decor in red and purple of Boogie Fever, members of the Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce mingled, sampled food from local restaurants, bid on auction items, and a few even danced.
It’s been a big year for Ferndale, including new leadership in the city, a fairly new Chamber Director starting to implement her ideas, a new DDA Director Lena Stevens,  construction beginning on the Dot parking deck, and the community now in a regional spotlight as former Mayor Dave Coulter is serving as County Executive.  The party was a pleasant place to process – and celebrate – all these changes and more.
But it was also a way to remember the basic goodness of the community.  While this year the Chamber nixed the annual awards, there was one certificate Chamber Director Joy Wells felt good about giving.
A “Certificate of Friendship” was given to Jason Caudill, a man who inspired the best in so many earlier this year.  Caudill had been in an accident eight years ago, leaving him disabled physically and cognitively.  He lives in a small group home with the son of Jennifer Allen.  Allen got to know the man, and hosted a lemonade stand at the Rust Belt Market so he could meet people and make friends, as well as raise money to fit the home with accessories needed to help with his mobility. “So many people came and met Jason,” Allen said.  “It was more than we could have expected and it meant a lot to him.”
She also helped him find his biological father, and a whole family he didn’t know he had.
Wells fought back tears as she presented the certificate to Jason in front of the crowd, and he beamed with happiness.
Another delight of the evening was live artwork creation by Dave Santia, who paints on a spinning canvas to the tune of classic rock songs, often with the subject only becoming clear at the end. An image of Prince was among the items auctioned off at the end.
The Ferndale Seniors Group was on hand to help with refreshments for the event, and new Board Members were sworn in by Board President Dale Vigliarolo and Mayor Dan Martin.
The Chamber hosts regular Coffee Connections and Business After Five networking opportunities.  Events like Celebrate Ferndale help fund scholarships and public art projects. Learn more at www.ferndaleareachamber.com.