By: Alyssa Ochss | St. Clair Shores Sentinel | Published September 6, 2024
ST. CLAIR SHORES — Apple Pie Week has taken place for a very long time, and it’s enjoyed by everyone, including Senior Activity Center members and staff.
Betty Bladdick, a longtime member and an original Apple Pie Week participant, said they started Apple Pie Week when the current center first opened.
“Because they were in a school before they moved here, and I’m sure they were making apple pies then,” Bladdick said. “So I’ve been here ever since.”
Bladdick also said what made her want to join in were the people she met at the center.
“They all were into doing apple pies, so I joined them, too,” Bladdick said. “I’ve been here at Apple Pie Week (for) at least 50 years.”
She added she loves Marti Marques, the cook at the Senior Activity Center for 16 years. She has a lot of fun participating and talking with people. Different participants take on different tasks with some peeling, coring, mixing the apples with other ingredients and much more. Marques bakes the pies in the convection ovens in the kitchen.
Bladdick said she sees the same amount of people from year to year with some new faces as well as repeat participants. They have enough people to fill around 20 tables with 10 seats each.
“It’s quite a nice group,” Bladdick said.
Bladdick said the community always lines up to get the pies that cost $14 each this year. Matthew Hubinsky, director of the Senior Activity Center, said all the money they raise goes toward the center’s food program.
“Since I’ve been here, it raises about $10,000 each year for the food program that goes back to the food costs which as we know are rising,” Hubinsky said. “It’s very helpful in that sense.”
Marques said around 1,000 pies are baked during the week with anywhere from 200 to 250 pies sold per day. Around 80 bushels of apples are used. Hubinsky said the apples are supplied by Brookwood Fruit Farm in Almont and they’ve had a great relationship since before he came to the center.
But the type of apples they receive depends on how the season goes, Marques said.
“It’s funny because people will ask you what kind of apples you’re using,” Marques said. “You’re using what they have.”
Due to the apple changes from year to year, the seniors and Marques adjust the recipes they use. They write down any recipes they use for the next year.
Marques also says the community is happy to help the center.
Before, they sold the pies at an art fair, and the previous Senior Activity Center coordinator made some changes.
“When I started here, they would make the pies, hold out until the weekend of the art fair and sell them at the art fair,” Marques said.
With the change to sell them at the Senior Activity Center, they showcased the center, had fresh baked pies daily and avoided the bees surrounding the pies. They also previously sold the pies in bags before they switched to boxes.
“We had a sell out the very first time we did this,” Marques said.
She went on to call it a good idea.
“I think it’s been nice because there are people that didn’t even know the Senior Center was here,” Marques said. “So (you) have to come here to pick up a pie. It’s worked out really, really well to bring some notoriety.”
Hubinsky said everyone has a fun time.
“Everyone’s laughing, having a good time,” Hubinsky said. “It’s a great social event, too.”
Bladdick said there’s a lot of camaraderie during Apple Pie Week and she has fun while working.
Marques loves working at Apple Pie Week, calling it a great community project. She hopes it continues on.
“I can’t imagine it not going on because I think everybody loves it so much and I think they look forward to it,” Marques said.
Apple pies will be available starting at 2 p.m. on Sept. 10 until they are all sold out. There are no presales and pies will be sold curbside. Cash and check only are accepted and people are limited to two pies the first couple days of the sale. The Senior Activity Center is located at 20100 Stephens.