Hessel Home Bakery workers (from left) Michelle Bonnee of Kinross and Molly Thompson of Hessel load freshly made bread into the bakery's bread case. Mrs. Bonnee is the daughter of Pastor Tim Rader of Fundamental Baptist Church, which operates the Maplewood Baptist Academy that is slated to receive profits from bakery operations this year. Hessel Home Bakery reopened May 4, much to the delight of local residents and visitors who missed snagging an early morning pastry or lunchtime pasty in the summer months.

The bakery is serving the same products it has for years, with one slight difference. The bakery operation has become a nonprofit project of the Maplewood Baptist Academy parochial school in Kinross. Profits realized while the bakery is under Maplewood management will now benefit programs and activities at the school. The school, which was founded in 2001, has 87 students in grades kindergarten through 12, and is affiliated with the Fundamental Baptist Church of Kinross. Students pay tuition to attend the school, which is on the same Kinross campus as the church and Baptist Pioneer Mission project.

Two high school students, Janna Pisarski (left) and Sarah Bew, both of Pickford, work on decorating a cake at Hessel Home Bakery, which is now being operated as a nonprofit project to benefit the Maplewood Baptist Academy in Kinross. Bakery owner Bud Lowers of Hessel, a member of the Fundamental Baptist congregation, came up with the unique management idea after closing the bakery and taking a position with the Les Cheneaux Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Association. At 66, Mr. Lowers cited his health and age among the reasons he decided to leave the bakery business after he and his wife, Shirley, operated Hessel Home Bakery for nearly a decade.

They bought the bakery in 1998, and Mrs. Lowers has since taken a position with Wal*Mart in Sault Ste. Marie, while Mr. Lowers started working for the Chamber and Tourist Association last year. The bakery has been for sale for a year and while working full-time, Mr. Lowers has not been able to operate it. He recognized the void it left in the community after a summer of being closed.

"For me personally, I fretted all winter on how to get it open again, and this (business relationship) came to mind," he said. "I'll be there to assist and train them in their venture, and it's good for the

community if it's no more than creating a cycle to put money back into the economy."

Mr. Lowers proposed the idea to Fundamental Baptist Pastor Tim Rader, and volunteered his time and expertise to training the staff in how to manage the bakery. Mrs. Lowers has also volunteered time to work on accounting and payroll for the bakery.

"Bud approached him with the idea, asked us to think about it, and we did for about two weeks before we decided to do it," said Michelle Bonnee, the pastor's daughter and current manager of the bakery. Two of Mrs. Bonnee's three children attend Maplewood.

The church has signed a oneyear lease agreement with Mr. Lowers, and established a bakery management committee. If things go well this year, the school may sign on for another year, unless the business is purchased by someone. This will be Mrs. Bonnee's first stint as a bakery operator, and so far she has enjoyed her work.

"Every day seems to get a little more busy than when we first opened," she said.

Another aspect and intention of the business is to use it as a sort of work skills training ground for students of Maplewood Baptist Academy. Mrs. Bonnee said the bakery will not only provide valuable work skills for the students working there, but will also help students raise money for an upcoming trip to Thailand.

Mr. Lowers said about half of the bakery jobs have traditionally been held by high school students on summer break from school. In keeping with the mission of teaching students job skills and work ethics, positions at the bakery were first offered to students and staff of the school, then to the public. Three students and one teacher from Maplewood were hired, while two Pickford High School students and local residents round out the staff. The bakery employees 13 people on its various shifts, including the early morning baking shift that starts at 3 a.m.

The bakery opens for business at 6:30 a.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays until Memorial Day, when it will be open Monday through Saturday. The bakery closes at 3 p.m. daily.

Staff will continue to prepare items the bakery has become well known for, including breads, pastries, cookies, pies, and pasties, all "made from scratch," Mrs. Bonnee said.

"Even the dog biscuits are made from scratch," she added.

The bakery also offers beverages, decorated cakes, and fills catering orders for parties, receptions, and events. Special orders should be placed well in advance of the event.