Julia

Sat, Oct 29, 2011 : 2:30 a.m.

Mr. Hoey saying that the Twp. is doing this to him because they don't like him? Mr. Hoey, you're doing this to yourself. Make good choices in how you run your business, and you will eliminate your problems. It's simple. He uses the excuse of people not liking him and therefore doing things to him as an excuse. It's an easy cop-out, and he goes plenty out of his way to make enemies so that he can continue to use excuses to cover his shortcomings. Take responsibility, Mr. Hoey.

Doctor Fang

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 4:19 p.m.

Jenny's has been making donuts on-site for years. Customers can see the donuts being made right through the screen door behind the counter. Yet the article says: "Hoey said he's complying with the state, that doughnuts and apple cider he sells are made off site and brought to the market daily." Eye-witness customers (or former customers) know the truth.

justme2

Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 4:10 p.m.

I've noticed the new signs for Jennys Cider Mill. Strange thing here. It's not a cider mill. Is this just a way to get around charges made to the old name? Hmmm.

Dexter Parent

Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 3:43 p.m.

JMO sounds like he/she is Hoey's lawyer. Maybe JMO could moonlight as a consultant to farm stands every where. I'm not sure how breaking the law for 30 years (if that is how long its been) is an excuse for allowing it to continue or not enforcing it now. Kind of reminds me of the illegal immigant argument....I'm just guessing but I think JMO might need to change his/her affiliation to the Democratic Party. Good on ya JMO. No reason to kick 'em out now. They've been breaking the the law for 30 years, and they are just trying to make a living for their families. It's possible everyone looked the other way when the business was so small it didn't matter. That's not the case anymore. The last time I was there the animals were so dirty and poorly treated I didn't let my kids get near them. I agree that there is a difference between a working farm and a petting farm. If you are running a petting farm it should be clean. Most working farmers don't have 3 year olds running around under foot while they are working. The expectation is different...and it should be. The Hoey's haven't been running a working farm for the 15 years I've been in Dexter. My biggest concern is the "hay maze" that Jenny's puts together. Has anyone ever inspected that for structural saftey? On the most crowded days it can have 100+ people climbing on top of it while little ones are making their way through the tunnels underneath. What comments will we read when the first child is injured/killed in a collapse? The lack of attention in simple cleanliness requirements indicates how little thought is put into any element of the Jenny's farm stand operation. Negligence and inattention to detail is not something to be proud of and it is not part of quaint country life.

Yurmama

Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 4:32 p.m.

There's probably a lot more to this story - I'm not even sure of the accuracy of the account of the wagon incident. Certainly, it's clear Hoey won't have outsiders telling him what to do in any situation. He says he didn't need a lawyer in three court cases. Guess he's smarter than everyone else in the county. I think he is lieing in the bed that he made for himself.

miranda

Sat, Oct 22, 2011 : 4:44 p.m.

This is sad. I have lived down the road from Jenny's for 10 yrs. I won't lie and say that everything there was wonderful. Parking and lack of sanitation are major concerns. But in this economy maybe instead of condemning these people we should, as a community, try to preserve this wonderful idea and let Jenny's become a thriving business. If we close down Jenny's not only will the town see a financial downfall, due in part that Jenny's pulls in business from other towns and if it closes Dexter citizens will have to take their kids to outside sources in other towns. I say we donate time, resources and fund raise to help fix the issues for the communities sake and try to keep it open!!

A Dexter Person

Sat, Oct 22, 2011 : 4:01 p.m.

Mr. Hoey, if you can't stand the heat, (i.e. pressure to follow rules & regulations), get out of the kitchen. Literally!!

Goofus

Sat, Oct 22, 2011 : 2:52 p.m.

Random reflections... 1. Hoey reminds me of the Iraqi Minister of Information with regards to his contention that everything is legit and safe at Jenny's Farm Market. At least he's consistent in his disavowal of everyone else's opinions....(OSHA, The Township, the Public). I don't care if he's "a sweet old man" or a cowardly old coot...if he runs an unsafe market and mistreats his animals, he should be shutdown. Jury is still out, but evidence is not in his favor... 2. Anyone notice the subtle namechange in the road signs littering the county? They no longer say "Jenny's Farm Market" but now say "Jenny's Cider Mill". Did they install a brand new mill when we were weren't looking, or is this in preparation for the inevitable legal battle when the woman who was hurt in the accident sues? 3. Still no reason to ever go to Jenny's with all the other -- actual --- cider mills in the county. 4. I'm noticing increasingly less cars in the parking lot at Jenny's... 5. What's with the invisible shotgun in the article?

Mark

Sat, Oct 22, 2011 : 5:32 a.m.

I've been to Jenny's a number of times, and I found Mr. Hoey to be generous. On one occasion he put an extra doughnut in our bag to be nice. On another occasion he rounded down the amount for the purchase. He also went out of his way to try to make the hayride enjoyable for our children. If Jenny's does get closed, I will miss it.

Bogie

Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 9:22 p.m.

Serious question here. How can all the festivals I attend in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Dexter can have only porta cans, but a seasonal business cannot? I mean, those people giving me food, and drink, probably have to use the same porta can I do. So what gives? One more question, "why was it ok, to sell people unsanitary food, before the young lady's incident; and not now?" I heard Mr. Hoey is not the most friendly person, so this is probably another case of "not kissing the ring finger" of irrelevant township officials. I hope Mr. Hoey wins- just for that alone. Consequently my prayers are with that young woman and her family.

kelpav18

Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 6:50 p.m.

The negative comments seem to have little impact on this business as it's still quite busy everyday. I have been driving past Jenny's for almost 15 years and stop frequently with my 5 year old. He loves it as do I. I'll agree that it's become a bit run-down over the years but I'm sure that the maintenance costs are fairly high. It burns me when I see people tromp in with food from another establishment, proceed to make a mess and then leave without buying anything. This isn't a public park! It's no wonder Mr. Hoey can get foul! As for safety, my son has had many pony rides and the attendant is always cautious to make sure he is comfortable and safe. Accidents do happen and while it's unfortunate, depriving everyone is not the answer. The township needs to find something else to do besides badger a struggling businessman.

15crown00

Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 6:01 p.m.

Why has it taken so long to do this if it's so bad? Two things are apparent 1.the joint needs to be cleaned up and rules need to be followed 2.the township,the state,and whoever else is out to get the guy maybe they need a total cleanup and an unbiased monitor on sight Every Day to say yes you can or no you can't.

lumberg48108

Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 2:30 p.m.

Wow - this just wreaks of a personal vendetta against a person people dont care for My question is - if the owner was some sweet old man who everyone liked and he was polite and came from the set of the Waltons, would the same people who want him closed now STILL want him closed? or would there be more "he is a sweet old man, leave him alone" comments separate facts and safety (objectively) from personality and your tastes before you decide you want to put someone out of business

dexterreader

Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 1:31 p.m.

This place has been kept "under wraps" for so long ..... it is nice to see the issues finally being brought forth. And there is a reason that 227 people took the time to comment on this story within 30 hours of it being posted. Obviously some people have very strong opinions about this place and have never had a venue in which to voice those opinions. The people who comment here are the potential consumers for this business ..... they are not the government entities trying to shut down the place. If this article does nothing else other than to provoke thought, I am glad to have learned that I am not the only one with concerns because I honestly thought for a long time that it was just me who felt the way I do about the place.

Barb Pickl

Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 12:55 p.m.

I have visited Jenny's only once-the day of the incident. Having cared for my own horses years ago, I was immediately uncomfortable with what I saw. I went to pet one of the large draft horses and noticed none of the harnesses had been cleaned-or therefore inspected- for a very very long time. The bit in the horse's mouth was rusty; something no honest horseperson would ever allow. I was nervous for these large draft horses-three "teams" of two, hooked up to flimsey hay wagons, were staged directly next to the pony ride and picnic table area, a place filled with families, kids, toddlers and infants in strollers. I saw the ill-fated hayride start off and then was paniced to see the driver signal the team to fun off in a full gallop. I stated to my boyfriend, "..someone is going to get hurt." I asked a farm staff member about this and she replied running these huge animals with people onboard over uneven ground was standard operating proceedure. The first rule of "driving" any team of horses: NEVER run them in full harness! This is not a case of Township against a business owner. That statement is a pile of manure. This is a case of outright neglect and lack of any basic sense-as well as basic horsesense. It is pure simple dumb luck numerous people or animals have not been maimed or killed. The horses might be trained, as stated in the article. But their handlers and the owners obviously are not. And the public has been-and will continue to be-in grave danger given the irresponsible attitude and handling of these large "well trained" animals who can easily become deadly if not handled properly.

Yurmama

Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 4:41 a.m.

I'd like to see this place remain open. I don't think that it will - I don't see a history of trust between the business owner and his local government, or the people whom he has employed. I see a situation where problems get compounded by negative attitudes. I think he sees himself as a freedom fighter against the corrupt, interferring officials. Frankly, if he's taking short cuts with the food I would share with my kids, then he's actually a type of domestic terrorist. If he's not taking shortcuts, and it's hard to believe much of what he says, and I base this on the numerous interactions which I and my friends have had with this guy, then- more power to him. All of the zoning issues seem workable, if he would choose to get along with people. Just 'cause you've been there forever doesn't mean you can treat food safety lightly. What is the actual deal with re-labeling food here? Why are there any questions about sanitation? Thumbing one's nose at the public - if that's what it is - is not a wise way to make a sustainable profit .

nicole

Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 4:26 a.m.

I feel bad for Jenny's. However, I went there once and wasn't sure of the safety of the big hay mountain they have with the tunnel running through the middle. I wouldn't let me kid run through it.

shmoopy

Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 4:12 a.m.

My kids have always had fun at Jenny's Farm Stand, and the pumpkin doughnuts are yummy. But I had an exchange with a young man on the phone there one time-strangest exchange I've ever had with any business--that left me both angry AND humored, if that's possible. My son was about 7 and had left his kinda pricey walkie-talkie in the hay maze (yeah, call me a "purell-slapping latte sipping A2 yuppie," whatever). Anyway, I called the same night, after learning what happened. Conversation went like this.: Me: "Hi! I'm calling because my son left his walkie talkie in the hay maze. Did you by chance find it?" Jenny's Market. "Yes." *Click* --Yes! The man immediately hung up on me! I was ticked off but polite when I called right back. Me: "Um, yes. I JUST called. So you have my son's walkie talkie? Can I pick it up tomorrow? Jenny's Market: "He should be more careful with his things." *Click* --Hung up again! Okay then! I guess it worked for the character on Seinfeld...

snapshot

Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 2:38 a.m.

Are there any zoning violations for those unsafe crosswalks, mini stop signs, and enacting traffic ordinances in conflict with state law? How about "red tagging" that bizzare "personal agenda" crosswalk ordinance and really perform a public good.

shepard145

Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 2:01 a.m.

I don't care whether the front yard setback should be 90 feet or 110 feet, Jenny's Farms is a delightful and charming market that is so partially because it does not follow rigid formula "zoning law" and a "professionally prepared site plan". If you want to shop somewhere with an approved site plan, go have fun at Country Market that features acres of paved asphalt and has all the charm of a gravel pit. I would hope wiser folks at Webster Township have the good judgment to grant Jenny's Farms the approvals they need to continue to prosper because PEOPLE ENJOY THE MARKET, a fact that seems lost here. As far as food prep and bathrooms – the department of agriculture knows full well that their rules will put an end to the bake sale feel of the place….. another instance where over the decades, we as Michigan citizens have slowly granted too much power to "the government" to regulate us in the name of "our own good". There should be an exception in the law for such markets and road side stands, which are not a threat to public health and should be left alone.

Joseph Brando

Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 1:25 a.m.

You people act like Jenny's is the bastion of country shopping in Dexter. There are several more in our area. Relax, surf the web and you will find farm's that won't put you and your family's health at risk. In fact, this website has a nice list: <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/parenting/enjoy-the-many-apple-orchards-cider-mills-and-pumpkin-patches-throughout-washtenaw-county/">http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/parenting/enjoy-the-many-apple-orchards-cider-mills-and-pumpkin-patches-throughout-washtenaw-county/</a>

Ron Granger

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 11:24 p.m.

With all of the various allegations in this thread, someone should shoot some video of this operation and post it to youtube. Most interesting would be the proprietor's behavior on video.

huh7891

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 10:13 p.m.

The donuts are great and the cider is too. I could care less where they get them. I have never seen the animals mistreated although I'm not there 24/7.. I didn't see signs of abuse. I would hope there isn't and would report them if I found out. I have had the owner wait on me although he seemed a bit rough.. it's his lifestyle and he runs a farm, not a kids tea party. You don't like it dont go..but to sit on here and slam someone's livelyhood which could ruin his life.. is insane. Let the proper authorities do their part and investigate if need be, but to spread rumors/gossip on here is not productive at all.

average joe

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 9:57 p.m.

First, this place isn't a real farm. I'll say it again, it isn't a real farm, &amp; because the owner doesn't raise, grow, bake, or can the majority(or any?) of the products that are sold there, it is actually a commercial non-farm business, not much differant than whole foods, etc. The place is not at all an agricultural business, and is more like a tourist attraction. I would assume that this is really why the township is forcing the owner to comply with zoning laws required for a commercial business. The township is only making the field level for all businesses, no matter how long they had been there, &amp; no matter how many buildings/projects that were added without required permits. As for the health code violations, yes, most restaurants have a few minor/major violations as listed by jcj, but none of those listed have farm animals a few feet from food items. As suggested above, go to Lesser's . An actual farm that doesn't re-label items to make the customer believe that they produced it.

A Dexter Person

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 9:43 p.m.

If you want the true farm experience, go to a real farm, not an amusement park. Go a few miles further west on Island Lake Rd. to Lesser's Farm for fresh apple cider, made right there on their farm -not bought and resold. (It's the best cider around). They get their apples &amp; peaches off their own trees. Honey from their own hives. Ruhlig's Market sells produce they actually grow on their own land. Rodger's Corners on Dexter-Chelsea sells their own produce plus they have farm animals to pet and look at. Wing Farms on Zeeb sells pumpkins they grow themselves and has a petting zoo. These are the REAL farmers where the whole family works the farm, not &quot;employees&quot;, plus they follow local ordinances and laws! Do you really think Hoey grows, prepares and cans everything he sells???? Read the labels, &quot;Distributed by Jenny'st&quot;, &quot;Packaged for Jenny's&quot;. He doesn't even have a real cider press, yet he advertises that he does! And did anyone notice the line about someone living in the same area food is prepared? Who do you think that could be?? And port-a-potties right next to the walk-in-frig???? Eewww....

JMA2Y

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 9:11 p.m.

I was there years ago thinking about buying a &quot;home made pie&quot;-as they listed them-when I saw in the back a woman scooping pie filling out of a large plastic bucket into a pie shell. Obviously, it wasn't &quot;home made&quot; if another company is making the pie filling and shipping it to them. The donuts were good but the animals did not.

Mike

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 9:02 p.m.

All of the things the &quot;state&quot; found is enough reason to shut them down. Thank you state of Michigan for protecting us. Know I understand why I need to pay taxes. And while you're at it there are lots of other markets and lemonade stands that need you to investigate , fine, and shut them down once and for all. I've had it with all of theses scofflaws. There are also many Amish in this state who sell unregulated products we need to get them too! If you need addresses and locations I can provide them Komrade.....

OLDTIMER3

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 8:36 p.m.

Now it sure is funny when people are complaining about the employees not washing their hands it isn't removed, but when I mentioned it about the LITTLE CAESARS in Saline employess not put on gloves or washing their hands after handling money and driving it was removed. Must be just jump on the little guys.

Ron Granger

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 7:45 p.m.

How dare government regulators intefere with my right to keep farm animals and their fecal waste close to food preparation areas! If you don't like it, stay in the city!

a2baggagehandler

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 6:51 p.m.

I stubbed my toe out there once.

jcj

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 6:24 p.m.

Having said all that let me say I have been acquainted with who Mr Burton is since the mid 60's and have always thought him to be arrogant. But lets be fair and judge his business as we would any others.

jcj

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 6:21 p.m.

&quot;during an Oct. 7 inspection, found six critical violations of food safety rules — including a lack of proper hand washing and bathroom facilities for employees and the sale of food products processed under insanitary conditions. The state also found one non-critical violation.&quot; 6 critical and 1 non critical violations RAVENS CLUB (THE) 7/12/2011 a single inspection revealed 8 critical violations and 5 non critical violations SHEESH 23 critical violations in the last 2 years 40 non critical violations Lets shut down everyone! Do a little research on the places YOU eat before going off the deep end!

jcj

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 6:03 p.m.

To answer one question BD'S MONGOLIAN GRILL OF ANN ARBOR 8 critical violations in the last 2 years BLACKPEARL 15 critical violations in the last 2 years BOBBER DOWN 8 critical violations in the last 2 years BROKEN EGG 6 critical violations in the last 2 years BRUEGGER'S BAGEL BAKERY 4 critical violations in the last 2 years CAFE FELIX 11 critical violations in the last 2 years CHINESE TONITE RESTAURANT Chelsea 9 critical violations in the last 2 years CHOP HOUSE 9 critical violations in the last 2 years Need I go on? I only went through a small portion of the list

say it plain

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 5:55 p.m.

Aren't there laws on the books--besides food safety laws-- preventing people from doing what @valerie claims this &quot;market&quot; does?! Can someone really take like sysco strawberry jam and put it in their own jars that say &quot;Jenny's Jam&quot; with no indication where and by whom it was actually made? I think that's a totally valid reason to boycott...is that *common* among farm markets?! I'd hope not, gee!

L'chaim

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 5:38 p.m.

You eat a bushel of dirt in your life normally. He's just adding a few handfuls of &quot;dirt&quot; to that. Give a guy a break. He doesn't even sell unhomogenized milk (but if pony's could produce it, he would, I suspect). OH, and the accidents, yeah. Well, accident means it didn't happen on purpose, so they better not start spending my tax dollars to regulate the private sector and oppress the small business man or I'll go berzerk and call you all names. I'm calm. I'm calm. Carry on.

julieswhimsies

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 5:33 p.m.

What? What?! WHAT?! This business is an area Fall tradition. This sounds personal to me!....How many people will lose their jobs in this vendetta?!

say it plain

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 5:20 p.m.

Omg, the comment count for the latest Jenny's market 'news' is already over 150 for merely 5 or so hours up on the site!! I don't have a dog in this hunt, but do you think Mr. Hoey should get a cut of the click-thru revenue for these stories :-) !?

W1nner

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 5:14 p.m.

When I first moved to Dexter last December, I was warned by several people to stay clear of Jenny's. Instead, I visited them on 3 different ocassions and was disturbed by lax approach the management of business had to food preparation and overall safety. When they errected the 4 bale high Scarecrow in the entrance, I thought and still think it is another accident waiting to happen. As far as I can tell, there are no steel rods securing each bale to the other and they are starting to sag around the edges. As the article describes the history of Jenny's from a simple fruit and vegetable stand to the sparwling business it has become, without permits or necessary safety inspections, I support the township's decision to issue and order to stop business. Other businesses in Dexter must comply, why oh why should Jenny's be exempt? Oh, and to get around the order, they changed the name of the establishment .... nice work management. Do you need someone from your family to get hurt before you listen?

jcj

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 5:11 p.m.

I doubt 1/4 of those complaining about the unsanitary conditions could pass an inspection in their own kitchen! And how many restaurants in Ann Arbor failed inspections every month? A few places in Washtenaw County with Critical violations in the last couple years BD'S MONGOLIAN GRILL OF ANN ARBOR BIG BOY OF CHELSEA BIWAKO SUSHI (QUALITY JAPANESE FOOD INC) BLACKPEARL BROKEN EGG BRUEGGER'S BAGEL BAKERY CAFE FELIX CHELSEA COMMUNITY HOSPITAL CHELSEA GRILL CHOP HOUSE CONOR O'NEILLS CRAZY WISDOM BOOKSTORE &amp; TEA ROOM DEXTER'S PUB GRATZI HEIDELBERG JOLLY PUMPKIN CAFE &amp; BREWERY LE DOG/DOBOS INTERNATIONAL MELANGE BISTRO WINE BAR MELTING POT (THE) Need I go on? How many of the complainers here will stop going to these establishments?

aareader

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 5:09 p.m.

&quot;Jenny's owner Burton Hoey said township officials are targeting him unfairly and that he has complied with the state's orders regarding food safety. He plans to keep operating unless a court orders the business closed.&quot; The real question that may be posed is how many other small businesses like his are receiving violations from many government sources??? Sanitation rules did not happen because there was nothing better to do that day. If other businesses like his can follow the rules for public safety then why can't Mr Hoey. If not, then he needs to close or be closed for the public good. Is he being unfairly targeted??? maybe a search of the news archives might give an idea if there is are is not a pattern of previous issues.

Nichole B

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 4:28 p.m.

As I have read before and experienced myself, I think the township is justified. I think this owner has a disregard for safety on all levels and should have the proper ramifications for it.

Randy Dieter

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 4:21 p.m.

Another example of government trying to take down another successful business! And they keep saying that we live in a &quot;free&quot; country!! Go figure.

Tesla

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 4:14 p.m.

Is there any update on the young woman's condition and prognosis?

Mark

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 4:05 p.m.

This story was picked up the the associated press (AP): <a href="http://www.13abc.com/story/15738989/officials-seek-to-shut-market-where-employee-hurt" rel='nofollow'>http://www.13abc.com/story/15738989/officials-seek-to-shut-market-where-employee-hurt</a> with a link back to annarbor.com

Rich Rezler

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 4:04 p.m.

More comments containing unverifiable allegations have been removed.

Marilyn Wilkie

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 3:54 p.m.

Mr. Hoey's comments to the Dexter Leader: <a href="http://www.heritage.com/articles/2011/10/20/dexter_leader/news/doc4ea013f72219e750966603.txt?viewmode=fullstory" rel='nofollow'>http://www.heritage.com/articles/2011/10/20/dexter_leader/news/doc4ea013f72219e750966603.txt?viewmode=fullstory</a>

Mark

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 3:43 p.m.

As a casual visitor to the market for over 20 years, there are some glaring deficiencies in a place that is supposed to be a &quot;farm market.&quot; Situated where it is, it cannot accommodate enough vehicles in its &quot;parking lot&quot; on a busy fall weekend, without causing people to think they should park along the roadside on a fairly busy road. The animals are housed way too close to a place that sells food. I grew up in a rural area, and while there are those who think a lot of the complaints are from city-dwelling, Purell-swabbing, latte-drinkers, I have always felt like the &quot;farm stand&quot; was a bit of a sham. Aside from the unsanitary conditions, there was never any actual farm in view, and the entire enterprise seemed too close to the road, and I guess the Township citations support that observation. The last time we were there, we were looking for Michigan-grown peaches, and what they had didn't look all that great. The guy at the counter gave us a hard time and berated us for not buying any from them. Good way to lose my business forever.

cook1888

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 3:42 p.m.

I don't stop at the market, but I do miss the Percherons and their foals that were always grazing next to the house that is for sale. They always looked well cared for as did the grounds. There is a great cider mill and farm store on Island Lake Road, just west a ways from this location - Lesser Farms. I have passed them many times and just stopped this year. It does not have donuts or a carnival atmosphere, just a peaceful country setting and delicious cider. Also, great farm fresh eggs.

A2Resident

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 3:34 p.m.

For the people who are defending this market...it's no longer about accident incidences happening at the farm. They are being cited for food safety violations. That's a big deal. They don't have proper hand washing facilities...GROSS! It's a farm with all kinds of poop...you need to wash your hands before preparing food!!! The health department doesn't just shut you down, you are cited first and have a chance to correct your violations, after several chances...then you get shut down so it's obvious this owner feels the rules don't apply to him. Plus the number of CRITICAL violations this establishment got makes my stomach hurt just thinking about it.

AANative

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 3:33 p.m.

I strongly believe the owner should work with the township and state, not fight with them. Do what they ask, for the right reasons, to protect the Health, safety and welfare of his customers, employees, animals and community. Whatever it takes. I honestly believe doin so will improve not hurt his business. On the other hand there is probably not a business around that would comply 100% with every regulation imposed by our government after over 20 years in business. Give him the opportunity to correct and comply. It sounds like he would rather fight then cooperate, I hope he changes his mind, there appears to be a need for the kind of business Jenny's provides.

Hisees

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 3:23 p.m.

A very interesting article and well written, giving air time to all sides. I went there a couple of times in 2004 and was treated very rudely by the staff, literally &quot;what do you want?&quot; No eye contact, no smile. I vowed never to go back. When I mentioned this in an letter to the editor in the Leader (there have been many articles about him in the Leader) Hoey called me at home and verbally attacked me. I also spoke at that time to the head of the Humane Society in AA and was told that there are numerous calls to her every year regarding the treatment of animals.

andralisa

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 3:20 p.m.

Fine to have a country market but food safety is paramount - others have to follow rules, do you they! Pretty simple- as for the accidents - they clearly are trying to make $ without concern for saftey, again safety issues. These people cry unfair when other families would have loved this chance and done right by it!

Redleg

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 3:12 p.m.

Well, glad to hear of other peoples food problems with this place-- Helps quash the bitter taste of the MORE THAN A YEAR OLD cider they sold to me a few years back-- Look, I'm all for the pastoral memories a roadside stand of yesteryear envokes in people, but this place ain't it-- Hell, the home made pies aren't even &quot;home made&quot;, not really.

DBH

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 2:40 p.m.

&quot;The June agreement stipulated that a shotgun should be removed from the facility. Hoey said he didn't know anything about a shotgun.&quot; Shotgun? We ain't got no shotgun. We don't need no shotgun. I don't have to show you any stinking shotgun.

sh1

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 2:39 p.m.

Mr. Hoey might be better off keeping his mouth closed. I was neutral until I read his comments in this article.

Dexterdriver

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 2:32 p.m.

My wife sat at a picnic table not long ago and noticed a strong odor. Seems horses had &quot;done their business&quot; right in the spot where the picnic tables were placed for customers to use for food purchased there. This seems to me to indicate, at best, a cavalier attitude towards hygiene and sanitation around Jenny's.

Tesla

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 2:17 p.m.

As a local business owner, I just hate to see this kind of thing. It's depressing and I don't even know what to say to be honest. The glee in some of the posts here is really bizarre.

Oscar Lavista

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 2:16 p.m.

Excellent reporting, Lisa!

medicine woman

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 2:04 p.m.

I am glad to see &quot;Jennys&quot; under scutiny. If we follow the State of Michigan Cottage Kitchen laws, why shouldn't they? Preparing foods in unclean areas and serving to the unsuspecting public is so wrong. Also, I have noticed myself how poorly the animals are treated and this has bothered me for some time. They even go so far as to cut off the horses' tail because the way they have rigged up the wagon, the driver would get slapped in the face with the tail, so the horse is left helpless to swat flies and insects off it's rear. Not to mention that water for the scraggly looking horses was no where to be found. It seems like inhumane treatment of the animals just to make a fast buck.

Yurmama

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:59 p.m.

I think that they ought to allow gravel or crushed concrete parking surfaces.

little bird

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:40 p.m.

This is a relief. I stopped going there after I saw some of the animals injured and bleeding with and still working the good ol' fashioned hayrides. I checked their reviews online and saw that I wasn't the only one mentioning this. Very depressing.

Mark

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:38 p.m.

@dexterreader We moved here in the last 10 years and I admit that I've been surprised by all the acerbic comments. But finally with this article, there is a printed account of actual violations. Most shocking are the dates and how long the farm has had to comply or even show reasonable progress (which is often acceptable to gain extra time for compliance). I have a feeling the township threw the kitchen sink at him; but that's how the world works. You only get asked nicely so many times and then it's hardball. No surprise there. I think the township is entirely correct to be very clear and quite serious in this matter. Mr. Hoey has always been polite and friendly with me, but I'm not comfortable buying food there until his business passes food safety inspections.

Pam Bethune

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:30 p.m.

This just reeks of personal vendata in a small town.

Denise Oliver

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:28 p.m.

Will miss this fine little country fun place , many years of memories taking my kids there, stuff happens every where! Good luck to the family and local workers who ran a very fun family place!

FredMax

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:25 p.m.

I'd like to say something in the defense of a farmer trying to earn a living, except that in my last visit I saw an employee casually spraying raid to keep down the yellow jackets... only feet from open food containers.

Yurmama

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:24 p.m.

I guess that the Hoeys don't run Dexter anymore.

valerie

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:24 p.m.

I worked at Jenny's Market. The pickles, jams and the such are bought, and we did...we placed Jenny's labels on all the jars. The cider? It came in jugs and I had to open them, pour them into smaller containers while standing at a back counter with dirt, bees and critters. The doughnuts? Well, we cooked those right there in the back kitchen that was dirty and gross. Washing hands? Just look at the workers' hands...you tell me if its sanitary....????? The pony rides? I did that to, the saddles on the ponies didn't really fit, and yes, I actually had a pony bend the carousel trying to get away with a child on his back.

smacks

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:19 p.m.

I think it's pretty clear that there is something strange about the place. I commute between AA and Pinckney daily for the past 11 years, and have stopped in many times. One one hand, the guy who is always there(Mr. Hooey, I assume?) was never very friendly, and sometimes pretty hostile. On the other hand, those hot pickles sure are good! Last fall, I stopped with my daughter for some cider/donuts, and there was a clearly distressed barking dog tied up over by the picnic tables next to the parking lot. It was sort of rainy, and I noticed that a damp paper sign had fallen off the post that the dog was attached to. It read something like &quot;Angry dog, Do Not Approach.&quot; We planted ourselves on the picnic tables and watched as every person who tried to cut through to the parking lot was clawed and nipped by the dog. I figured it was only a matter of time before some little kid was bitten on the face, so I went in to where they were selling the donuts to tell someone. I couldn't even get the sentence out of my mouth when I was cut off by the donut chick - &quot;We know - Don't sweat it.&quot;

clownfish

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:18 p.m.

I have worked with Mr Pindzia and Mr Hoey. I found Mr Pindzia to be respectful, intelligent, knowledgeable of his job and always willing to work with me to achieve solutions that work for the twp and myself. I cannot say the same for Mr Hoey. I cannot post those thoughts as they will be removed due to violations of AA.com policy. What does that tell you readers? Every other business has to follow these rules, why should Burton be any different?

Callie

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:15 p.m.

Jenny's Market is very expensive. I know you have to make money, but come on. And Burt can't be totally innocent as he claims, I'm sure there are issues that need to be taken care of. And yes, I think the animals could have better conditions.

paul wiener

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:11 p.m.

An outrageous, sickeningly stupid abuse of local authority and prejudice based on trivial, small-minded, petty regulations and suburban vanity. This is one of the greatest farmer's markets in southeastern Michigan and should be celebrated - cleaned up perhaps, but still celebrated for its high quality, diverse, local, and often unique offerings. And we wonder why WalMart is becoming the marketing norm.

jcj

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:11 p.m.

Frankly I don't like the cost of food at Plum Market, the yellow jackets at the Dexter Cider mill, the lack of help at Dunham's, How do I voice my displeasure? I DON'T go to these places. Unlike all that have posted here and on a related story that CONTINUED to go to Jenny's for years but now jump on the &quot;politically correct&quot; bandwagon! And I agree the FATHER of the child that fell should be coming forward and admitting HIS failure to keep his child safe while in HIS care!

81wolverine

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:11 p.m.

My family and I have been going to Jenny's for some years now and have always enjoyed the experience. But reading this article and comments has been pretty eye-opening. It sounds like there have been many issues simmering over the years that have not been resolved. And although I think there's a place for quaint road-side stands, there ARE certain minimum health standards that should be followed if food is being prepared and served. The animal health and welfare issues are very serious though, if true. I really hope that Mr. Hoey and the the planning/health people reach some sort of agreement during the off-season to keep Jenny's running in some fashion. I do think it adds something good to the Dexter area.

Sallyxyz

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:06 p.m.

The one time I visited this place a few years ago was the first and last. It was a dirty place where the food was sold, the animals were poorly cared for, and the clerks were unfriendly. It's too bad it took a tragedy to finally close up this place. Having decades to get their act together and still in violation of health and safety codes is unbelievable. Close it down, the sooner the better, before there is a public health tragedy with the unsanitary food or animals are harmed further. The area doesn't need more unsanitary food processors and sellers.

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:03 p.m.

what jumps out at me is.... &quot;Hoey said..... "We went to court three times and they lost every time, and I didn't even have a lawyer,&quot; If,if,if that is true it says something to me . As to the food violation, that certainly doesn't look good at all. On the other hand I think I remember a time when the old Ann Arbor News stopped indicating the critical/noncritical violations in their Health department reports of area restaurants. They stopped if memory serves me because they felt it was insufficient information that might be misinterpreted by readers and unfairly impact a business. Maybe another old fart can confirm or refute my memory on that.

jcj

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:01 p.m.

Good point lumberg48108 How many that have expressed their displeasure with the signs will go on record and complain about all the Realtor signs, Political signs or Church signs?

lumberg48108

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 12:53 p.m.

I know this guy can be a nuisance to some but most of the folks hating on him are for reputation purposes ...the posts above speak to his personality issues in many cases. You want to close him down because of a sign violation????? Please, people, get a grip. If every politican or realtor was closed down for sign violations ... you get the idea. Food safety issues? These are routine and everyone gets them but they are rarely shut down for them. Safety violations? Well, that is a concern (though I fail to see how a child falling off a horse is his concern or how it even made it to the media unless the child was gravely hurt) ... so Dexter (or Webster) - go ahead and hate on the guy or business - but have a little common sense when it comes to shutting him down and make sure you are on the side of a maintaining a free society and simply not imposing your tastes on someone you dont approve of ...

dexterreader

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 12:47 p.m.

@Charlie Brown's Ghost ... Excellent point. I would be willing to bet the majority of the business this place gets comes from people who have moved into the Dexter area within the last 10 years. Many of the rest of us have already made a decision not to shop there based on either past practices or an unpleasant personal experience.

rainy

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 12:43 p.m.

It's easy to say that the farm stand should be shut down, but think of how this affects small businesses. I encourage the township to look for a &quot;win-win&quot; that was suggested. Apparently the local governments aren't supportive of small businesses because they require them to have paved parking lots (lots of $$) and other requirements that are unreasonable. However, there are some requirements that are just healthy, and those should be enforced within a reasonable time span. Don't be too hasty to &quot;shut it down&quot; - that could be your small business, and thousands of other small businesses that support families and keep the economy growing. In such hard times, we should be looking for ways to grow the economy right here instead of quash any attempts to keep what little economy we have left from growing or thriving.

Charlie Brown's Ghost

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 12:42 p.m.

The funny thing about the &quot;Maybe you should just stay in the city&quot; sentiments is that if we stop coming out there and spending our money Deter will be nothing more than a muddy puddle in a dirt road.

G. Orwell

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 12:42 p.m.

The two accidents were just that, accidents. Accidents can occur anywhere. The violations cited by the state and township had nothing to do with the accidents. The township should work out any outstanding violations with Jenny's and leave them alone so they can go back to serving the community. Fixing Jenny's to shut down is very heavy handed.

PLGreen

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 12:32 p.m.

Same old story; Mr. Hoey does as he pleases and the Township fails to follow through with its citations. If the Township is not persistant, In a few short years Mr. Hoey will have a Market that will rival Eastern Market in Detroit. If nothing else this Market is a traffic hazard; yes the traffic has increased over the decades since &quot;the Hoey's came to town&quot;, just as zoning regulations have changed. The Market must go.

dexterreader

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 12:31 p.m.

Thank you for publishing some of the history of this place so that &quot;newcomers&quot; to the Dexter area can at least be informed and make informed decisions as to whether or not to shop there. I disagree that the township is &quot;picking on&quot; them. There does seem to be a long history of &quot;questionable&quot; business practices. And yes, I was around in the early 90's when much of this was just starting up. There is no excuse for businesses who do not follow the rules or run a safe enterprise.

lovekids

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 12:29 p.m.

We have done our preschool field trips there several times. At that time we reported that the person (s) were driving the tractors WAY to FAST. We will talk with them they stated, however, next time we came it was even worse. I myself almost fell off cause they didn't wait to see if everyone was even on. Then we had a pregnant mothers on board and that didn't even matter either. Our students were very scared &amp; so were parents. So unfortunately someone got hurt, had they stopped that wild driving awhile ago maybe this would of never happened. And inregards to the other sanitary stuff, we have gotten things there several times &amp; to be honest it makes me sick to think stuff is not being done the right way. So come Jenny's Farm, get up to code, clean up your place &amp; act. Train drivers &amp; other employees so that you can stay around. But if you don't wanna do this for the safety of everyone &amp; the benefit of your &amp; all your employees then thats to bad as well as your loss. Time will tell what you've decided.

Paul Wehr

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 12:27 p.m.

I wonder if the business would have elicited more community support if it had not chosen to spam the entire county with illegally placed yard signs year after year.

Tiffany

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 12:26 p.m.

Its about time! My husband and I stopped at Jenny's a couple of years ago to look at some of the flowers that they were selling. We noticed a baby calf tied up on a very short leash to a pole with no food or water. The calf was only able to move about 2 feet. The canned pickles appeared to be store bought, the labels removed and re-labeled with a Jenny's Market label. I will never go back!

JustMyOpinion

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 12:25 p.m.

I am so tired of all the character attacks and personal anecdotes about what a rotten person Burton Hoey is here. How well you like the man is 1) irrelevant and 2) gossip. I think the vendetta some have shown here is simply sad and shows their own vengeful nature. People may not like Burton Hoey, but it's irrelevant. Being disliked is hardly a crime. Jenny's Market is not some yuppy market, farm stand or anything else close to perfect. It's one family, trying to make a go of their land, the best way they know how. Are they flawed? Yes, but so are we all. They don't make themselves out to be anything more than what you see, so why is everyone expecting them to be more? Selling pumpkins, Christmas Tree's, donuts, cider and pre-canned pickles is hardly the stuff for a Normal Rockwell legend, nor should it have to be in order for them to continue in their farm Apparently they have some health violations, which should, I agree, be taken care of. The zoning red card from Webster Township, however, is beyond the pale. The place has been there for 30+ years, operating in the open, available to be seen daily, &amp; is now being shut down for zoning violations? I can almost see a lawyer salivating over this one already, the Township will lose. Letting it go for so many years and then trying to enforce a zoning law on an existing farm will cost them, and it should. Its the Hoey's farm, the buildings haven't changed much lately, so this cannot be reasonably considered a &quot;new change&quot; to anyone. The denial of livelihood in delivery of the red card is simply unfathomable to me. Taking a mans means of earning a living away is one of the most serious things any government can do, and should not be done lightly or without fair hearing. This action is outrageous in both its severity and suddenness. Neither citing has anything to do with people getting hurt there, but are obviously being used as tools to punish them none the less. Its just wrong, and bull

MuckRaker

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 12:03 p.m.

INsanitary conditions! Bwaa haa haaaa! I knew that place was crazy.

J Johnson

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 12:01 p.m.

How about if the government township folks work with the business owner to resolve the problems and come up with a win/win situation rather than just trying to shut it down? It is nice to have a business like this in the area (our kids liked to visit there when they were younger) and it seems like it would benefit the community financially and otherwise if things were improved in a mutually beneficial way.

zax

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 11:55 a.m.

yeah, lets just put a McDonalds there instead. no more of this one of a kind country market for us, we don't trust it

Steve Pepple

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 11:39 a.m.

A couple of comments containing unverifiable allegations have been removed.

aasalineparent

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 11:35 a.m.

My family used to go there, until we witnessed them spraying Raid over the apples to get rid of a few bees that were in the vicinity. After that incident, we chose not to go there anymore. I was recently talking about this incident with a friend, and they said that they just witnessed the same thing.

Charlie Brown's Ghost

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 11:27 a.m.

Mr. Hoey, have you set up a fund for the paralyzed worker yet? It seems like you want to be seen as some sort of community hero. That might be a good place to start.

buzz

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 10:57 a.m.

Jenny's Farm Stand has had decades to clean up their act. We'd all love to have a great place for a home-town hayride and to buy our pumpkins by the roadside but this isn't it. The problems we hear about year in and year out just keep coming, and this latest accident is the icing on the cake. Clearly, for whatever reason, the owner isn't able to operate a safe place for employees, animals, visitors to the sight or customers who buy the products. Please, PLEASE, Webster Township, step up and do your job! Jenny's Farm Stand needs to close.

vg550

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 10:55 a.m.

It's a COUNTRY MARKET people .. yes its grown, and so has Dexter and Chelsea. 35 years ago you were lucky if you saw more than 3 or 4 cars driving between the two towns. Yes, it is indeed, a tragedy about the young girl and the hayride accident, an absolute tragedy. Unfortunately, acidents happen ... that's why they are called accidents. &quot;a 22-month-old child fell off a pony while his father walked beside it&quot;... now come on ... who's fault was that. The father should never have taken his hands off that small child in the first place. I've been, and taken my granddaughters to the market, several times. Thats what makes the &quot;country&quot; unique, apple orchards, road stands, and country markets.

Smart Logic

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 10:55 a.m.

Sale of food items processed under unsanitary conditions? Isn't it a, uh, farm? Sorry, but produce isn't generally grown in a sterile environment by people using Purell hand sanitizer every 15 minutes.

Elaine F. Owsley

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 10:54 a.m.

Over the years the Humane Society of Washtenaw County has found problems at Jenny's as well. Care and treatment of the various animals has been called into question.

nixon41

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 10:45 a.m.

What a shame. We've enjoyed stopping there on many occasions.

Chip Reed

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 10:41 a.m.

How long has the Hoey family lived in the area? Dexter was smaller than Delhi Mills when they got here. If Webster Township needs more problems to solve, perhaps they might try to figure out how to save what is left of the Ann Arbor Country Club.

eone

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 10:40 a.m.

about time!!!!! now he can take all his litter in the form of temporary signs along Jackson rd median down also!!