Paula Pirnstill Memorial Health and Safety Fair a Success

The Surrey Township Fire Department interacts with visitors and a young visitor in receipt of a life jacket, fire hat and other safety swag.

Cleaver photos by Angela Kellogg-Henry

The Farwell High School cafeteria doubled as a space to enjoy a free bag lunch, soup, or ratatouille and a presentation by Jerry Becker, Clare County Emergency Manager.

Cleaver photos by Angela Kellogg-Henry

Tom Pirnstill checks in with a booth giving away free bike helmets. The fair is in honor of Pirnstills’ late wife Paula.

Cleaver photos by Angela Kellogg-Henry

Staff from the Northern Michigan Alliance for Children chat with parents and a wee fair goer at their booth in the kids fair.

Cleaver photos by Angela Kellogg-Henry

Smiles on Wheels had this informative visual aid to show how much sugar is soda, energy drinks, and juice.

Cleaver photos by Angela Kellogg-Henry

Posted Friday, April 24, 2026 1:00 pm

By ANGELA KELLOGG-HENRY

Cleaver Managing Editor

A few hours browsing the Paula Pirnstill Memorial Health and Safety Fair is a testament to the committed health and safety professionals in our area as well as local businesses’ commitment to helping local residents’ quality of life. The fair was held on Saturday, April 18. From blood donations to Veterans Services, to free COVID test kits, to any sort of information that might be desired from roughly 50 health services-providing organizations and businesses who offered information for just about any concern.

The fair is broken up in two sections using two gyms at Farwell Schools. One is dedicated to children with vendors such as Northern Michigan Alliance for Children, Surrey Township Public Library, Mid Michigan Community Action Agency, Smiles on Wheels, Members First Credit Union, MSU Extension and more. Smiles on Wheels stood at the ready to clean children’s teeth on site. They travel to schools and other locations to clean and examine students’ teeth and make them comfortable seeing a hygienist or dentist.

In addition, first responders from area fire departments were in attendance with friendly smiles for youngsters to become familiar with their trucks and equipment. The Prevention 1 smoke house experience provided by the Mount Pleasant Fire Department Prevention One unit that provided a smoking house experience.

Inside the main entrance, there was a silent auction of a huge number of wood shop projects for bid by the talented students at Farwell High School.

The health and safety fair is an annual event held in April in honor of Paula Pirnstill. This year marks the 22^nd year the fair was held.