SPONSOR THE BIZ BLAST
IS YOUR BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION IN NEED OF SOME GREAT EXPOSURE? 
RESERVE YOUR SPOT AS A BIZ BLAST SPONSOR FOR ONLY $50/per wk. 
THE COST IS AFFORDABLE AND THE EXPOSURE IS HIGH.

For more information, call the Chamber office at 231.547.2101 or email  chamber@charlevoix.org
Holiday Merchant Open House
December 7, 2019
Downtown Charlevoix
All Day
Charlevoix Hot Cocoa Contest
December 7, 2019
Downtown Charlevoix
Noon to 5
The Art of Healthy Eating
December 4
6-8pm

Plant-based hearty “Vegitizers and Potlucks” is the theme of the December 4 th Art of Healthy Eating dinner class at the Munson Charlevoix Wellness Workshop from 6pm-8pm. Come and learn how to make this year’s gatherings a little healthier without losing the flavor. Other classes in this series include: January 8 th “New Year Reboot” and February 12 th “Valentine’s Day Raw Chocolates.” Cost is $25 per person, per class, please call the Wellness Workshop (231) 437-3482 to register. Participants should expect to have a full meal during the class.

Holiday Hope/ Tree Trimming Party
December 6
4-6pm

American House Senior Living Communities host this event each year. Proceeds from this event will assist local seniors in need. This year, with help from Charlevoix County COA we will be assisting 91 seniors in Charlevoix County. Paper Bulbs with Various donation amount will be available. Peter Fetters will be here to perform holiday music from 5-6pm. There will be ornaments with out residents name on them for residents and their family members to place on the tree.

Celebrate Christmas in Atwood with Friske Farm Market
December 7
10-3pm

It’s Christmas fun for the entire family so come deck the halls with us on Saturday, December 7 from 10am-3pm as we celebrate Christmas in Atwood! There will be kids activities, delicious holiday tastings, and deals to dazzles with HUGE STORE WIDE SAVINGS! Save $5 off you purchase of $50, $15 off your purchase of $100 and $50 off your purchase of $250! Be sure to enter our drawing for a $50 Friske Gift Card!

Cookie Walk
December 7 & 8
Sat 5pm | Sun 9:30-12:30pm

St. Mary is having a cookie walk on Saturday, December 7th at 5 pm AND Sunday, December 8th from 9:30 am-12:30 pm. It will be held in the St. Mary Family Center, 1005 Bridge St. Quart size bag $6 and Gallon size bag $12.

Luncheon Lecture: Solo Kayak Trip Along Lake Superior
December 13
11:30am

NCMC Luncheon Lecture will focus on author, traveler and grandfather Tom Renkes’ solo kayak trip along Lake Superior. The lecture will be held in the Library Conference Center on the Petoskey campus. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. and the program begins at noon.

Renkes, who kayaked 1,000 miles along the world’s largest (by surface area) freshwater lake. He will share his observations following a long trip along the most rugged of the Great Lakes. Reservations are required. Call 231-348-6600 or email luncheonlectures@ncmich.edu to reserve your place at the table. Cost is $12 (cash or check only – at door) and includes lunch. 

Christmas Buffet
December 15
11:30am | 1pm | 2:30pm

The Blue Pelican Inn & The Central Lake Community Food Pantry Cordially invite you to a Christmas Buffet! For those attending this years Buffet we ask that you bring someone who may not have been able to make it alone or someone in need. Paying forward the generosity of the Blue Pelican Team. Please call to make reservations for the 11:30, 1;00 pm or 2:30 pm seating, we will be closed for dinner that evening. Everyone welcome and Free to All!

$3 Casa Tuesdays at Red Mesa Grill
$3 Casa Margaritas, $3 Premium Drafts, $3 Food Features
Live Music every Tuesday night, 7-10pm

December 10 | Brett Mitchell
December 17 | Blake Elliott
December 31 | Tic Tac Go
Cafe Sante Winter Biergarten
Featuring a Winter Biergarten menu from 11am to close Wednesdays and Thursdays!
Featuring German food, $5 German beers and piped-in German music. Click HERE for menu!
Dinner Specials!

Wednesdays : Italian Night with Lasagna on select dates. House wines $5/glass
Thursdays : Chinese Night
Sundays : Select 2 entrees for $24.05! Choose two: Chicken Wellington, Crab Stuffed Whitefish, Stuffed Pork Chops, Beef Tips, Creamy Garlic Shrimp, or Squash Ravioli! 10% off bottles of wine.
GLCO Messiah Concert
Great Lakes Center for the Arts
December 19 & 20, 2019
Blood Drive
Charlevoix Elks Club
December 23, 2019
Charlevoix Bridge Drop
Downtown Charlevoix
December 31, 2019
Roaring 20's NYE Bash
Castle Farms
December 31, 2019
Charlevoix Circle of Arts
Charlevoix Circle of Arts Annual Circle m AR kE T ! Shop over 30 local artist's handmade gifts, decor, and more! Open daily, Monday-Saturday 11am - 5pm. There's something for everyone!

Coming in January: kids & adult Ballet, Dance Fusion and Tap, plus every Thursday Art classes for anyone looking to Dabble in the Arts!

The Perfect Charlevoix Getaway Sweepstakes
Help CharlevoixCam raise money for the New Round Lake Live Camera! The sweepstakes will run from December 1st - January 31st. One winner will be randomly selected and announced on February 1st. Prizes will be mailed 2 weeks prior to July 4th weekend.

Prize Package: 2 night luxury condo on Round Lake, 2 Sunshine Boat tickets, 2 Mushroom House Tour tickets, $150 downtown dollars, plus...gift cards to these amazing locations: Bridge Street Taproom, Charlevoix Cinema III, Smoke on the Water and That French Place.

$25 for a chance to win! Drawing is January 31st and it is redeemable 4th of July weekend! See flyer HERE!

Magnum Bonus Blitz
For a limited time now through December 15 for every $100 worth of Magnum Hopsitality Gift Cards purchased between November 11 and December 15, receive a $20 bonus certificate to be used a future visit to your favorite Magnum Restaurant. Shop at Red Mesa Grill, Pearl's Cafe or Cafe Sante, or online at MagnumHospitality.com.

True North Interior Designs & Antiques
Make sure to stop into True North Interior Designs & Antiques for your holiday shopping! For every $50 in gift cards spent you will receive $10 free through December 24th!

Gift Local Downtown Charlevoix
Shop for holiday gifts in downtown Charlevoix for a chance to win up to $500 in Downtown Dollars! 1st place= $500, 2nd place = $300, and 3rd place = $100. It's easy! Here's how to enter:
  1. spend $50 on gifts between November 29th and December 24th in 2019 at any of your favorite downtown Charlevoix businesses (receipts may be combined)
  2. Turn receipts into GaGa for Kids + Women Too, The Clothing Company, or The Lake House through December 24, 2019. Receive one entry for each $50 spent on gifts for the holidays. 4,000 entries available.
  3. Winner will be announced on January 3rd, 2020.

Charlevoix County COA December Updates
All of the Charlevoix County Senior Centers and the Commission on Aging Office will be CLOSED on Tuesday, December 24 th and Wednesday, December 25th in celebration of the Christmas Holiday.
 
We will be counting down to Noon on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 (New Year’s Eve) in all of our East Jordan, Boyne City or Charlevoix centers. Join us at 11:30 for appetizers, musical entertainment and fun activities.
 
All of the Charlevoix County Senior Centers and the Commission on Aging Office will be CLOSED on Wednesday, January 1 in celebration of the New Year’s Day Holiday.

Food Safety During the Holidays
With the holiday season upon us, the Health Department of Northwest Michigan wishes to remind you and yours to practice food safety.
 
As dining with family falls into many holiday celebrations, it’s important to remember a few simple rules from the Center of Disease Control to help prevent foodborne illness or food poisoning. Click HERE to see safety tips!
 
  • Wash your hands regularly.
  • Cook food thoroughly.
  • Thaw your turkey safely.
  • Keep hot food hot and cold food cold.
  • Keep foods separate.

Advent Events
Advent begins Sunday, December 1st and there is a lot going on at St. Mary! Check out the flyer of events and join us for these wonderful events! Click HERE to see poster of events!

Rayder Christmas Foundation
We have officially started our school-wide Rayder Christmas Foundation Project! Last year our amazing students helped raise $11,000 that supported ALL LOCAL families during the holidays! This year, we are hoping to raise $15,000 and help even more families! Collection dates: Nov. 18 - Dec. 11.

Our students love getting to raise funds, purchase, and deliver the gifts. They are truly involved in every step of this project, that stays within our community. Please let me know if you, your business, or your family are interested in helping our students reach their goal, and make an enormous impact on so many lives this holiday season! Contact Erika at emitchel@rayder.net

Giving Tuesday for Local Sailing Program
For GivingTuesday 2019, we are asking for help to replace our aging sails. Donations will go directly to buying new jibs and spinnakers for our JY15 and C420 sailboats. Sail Charlevoix (Lake Charlevoix Mariners, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable educational organization, dedicated to supporting the development and access to youth and adult sailing opportunities for our community. Since 1985, we have served hundreds of students every year, many of whom wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to access Lake Charlevoix without our affordable programs. www.sailcharlevoix.org/support-us

Char-Em ISD Schools add Behavioral Health Providers
With $294,000 of new funding from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District schools have partnered with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan to secure additional school-based mental health providers at districts including Harbor Springs, Charlevoix, Boyne City, Boyne Falls, and Ellsworth. Char-Em is also partnering with Alcona Health Center to expand mental health services in the Public Schools of Petoskey by utilizing these funds.

The partnership pairs the educational resources and expertise of the ISD with the implementation expertise of the health department, which operates eight school-based wellness centers across Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties. For additional information about the Behavioral Health Expansion through the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, call Erin Luckhardt at (231) 347-5628 or visit nwhealth.org or the ISD’s Communications Coordinator Beth Anne Piehl at (231) 547-9947.

Local Toys For Tots Drop Off Locations
Toys may be donated at the following locations during normal business hours: 4 Front Credit Union, ACE Hardware, Charlevoix City Hall, Charlevoix Crossfit, Charlevoix High School, Charlevoix State Bank - Main Branch, Coldwell Banker Schmidt *NEW PARTICIPANT 2019* Corporate Settlement Solutions, Dollar General, Edward Jones - Downtown Edward Jones - South Family Fare, Family Farm and Home, Fox Ford Fox Chevrolet Fox Chrysler - Jeep, Harbor Industries, Harwood Gold, Holiday Gas Station, Northern Michigan Sports Medicine, Pigs Eatin' Ribs, Ricks Chiropractic, Stafford's Weathervane Restaurant, Walgreen's Pharmacy, and Wojan Windows. Also, monetary donations can be made in collection boxes located at the Bay Shore Market and the Holiday Gas Station.

Contact for businesses interested in setting up a coin, toy collection container, or making a larger donation can contact Richard Grosberg with the Marine Corps. League and Toys for Tots at (231) 675 - 0495.

North Central Michigan College Named Top Five
Nursing Programs in Michigan


The program ranking is based on the percentage of North Central graduates who passed the NCLEX-RN® examinations administered between April and September 2019. NCLEX-RN® is the test that qualifies graduates to practice as registered nurses. North Central’s first-time pass rate was 97 percent, and 100 percent overall. Nurses in the Class of 2019 were assisted by a generous donation from the Borra Family Foundation, which helped launch North Central’s NCLEX Success Program. The program covered the cost of a live NCLEX training session and provided financial support for students to take the exam and secure their nursing licenses if they followed a prescribed path to complete the NCLEX shortly after graduation.

North Central’s nursing program is an accelerated, two-year program with a competitive application process. A regional nursing shortage, coupled with popular demand, prompted the college to expand its nursing cohort from 46 to 64 students effective with the Fall 2019 semester, the first increase since 2006.


Have a business or member success story? We want to hear it! Hitting a growth landmark, meeting a personal or financial business goal, being awarded industry certifications or recognition's… we want to share that accomplishment. Member Success is a new section in our Biz Blast where we will highlight stories of member businesses and employees. Submit your information for the newsletter on our website submission form.  
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call the Chamber at 231.547.2101 or chamber@charlevoix.org for more information