Boyne City's 2nd Annual Boyne City PirateFest floats into town this weekend with lots of crazy fun. The greatly expanded schedule includes a pirate invasion, parade, raft ride, The Battle of the Boyne, a beer and wine tent with entertainment, a classic pirate movie, costume contests, a teen dance and the Faygoland Kids Area and more. Here's the website, a flier and full schedule:

> Thursday, Arrrgust 8

> Friday, Arrrgust 9

6:30 p.m. - The Invasion: Pirates invade Treasure Town, by way of a massive flotilla. Bear witness behind Sunset Park in Boyne City as the pirates begin their search for the treasure.

7-9 p.m. - Experience DJs in the Entertainment Tent, Veterans Park. Beer and cider from Short's Brewery and wine from Cherry Republic. Proceeds benefit Char-Em United Way, which is using the festival as its annual campaign kickoff.

9:30 p.m. - Family Movie Night: The Princess Bride in the Entertainment Tent. "It's inconceivable." Bring a camp chair or throw down a blanket.

> Saturday, Arrrgust 10

10 a.m. - PirateFest Parade: Lake Street route begins in SOBO, ends at Veterans Park.

11 a.m.-6 p.m. - FaygoLand Kids Area in Old City Park: Petting zoo, bounce house, Bookmobile, BC Rocks treasure hunt, kids crafts, live music, face painting and more.

11 a.m.-6 p.m. - Michigan Highlander Games: In the Open Space on North Lake Street. Spectators welcome to watch the strongest pirates of them all.

12-3 p.m. - Haunted Pirate River Ride: Explore the Boyne River in an unforgettable raft ride bound to make the whole family shiver their timbers. Sponsored by Jordan Valley Outfitters.

12-9 p.m. - Boyne City Taproom Busker Stage. Jugglers, sword swallowers and performers for all ages will entertain families.

12-9 p.m. - Entertainment Tent: Live entertainment and beverages all day

12-9 p.m. - Pirates, mermaids and buskers all day throughout Boyne City. Tommy Tropic's Busker Mania is a family must-see fer sure.

1 p.m. - Kids Costume Parade: in Old City Park, followed by Kids Costume Contest.

3 p.m. - The Battle of Boyne River: Townsfolk gather in Old City Park and lead a march to drive the pirates out, but not before a zany reenactment of The Battle of The Boyne River.

7 p.m. - Adult Costume Contest in the Entertainment Tent.

9-11 p.m. - Teen Dance Party in the Entertainment Tent. Teens lay claim to the tent fer a parrrty of their own. Come as ye arrr, or come as a pirate.

9-11 p.m. - Stiggs Brewery After Party & Pirate Freak Show.

> Sunday, Arrgust 11th

10 a.m.-12 p.m. - Sunday Brunch at the Shipwreck (Water Street) Cafe. Welcome, all ye landlubbers. Let's gather to enjoy one last meal with all the pirates together - then bid them farewell.

> VOLUNTEERS are needed Friday night and Saturday from 11-6. Call Cindi at  231-675-0115 if you can help out by taking a two-hour shift.

	Full Circle

The final Evenings at the Gazebo concert of the summer will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 114th, with a performance by Full Circle in Old City Park. The  2019 Gazebo concerts are presented by Black Diamond Broadcasting .

Full Circle started playing together in the mid-60's. The original members were John Slough on guitar, Jim Slough on piano, Fred Murray on bass, and Nick Lilak on drums. John and Nick reunited in 2009 with Roger Lilak on bass guitar.  In 2011, Graham F ineout joined as the drummer. These guys have played in many bands throughout the years. They reunited in 2008 to bring their music to northern Michigan. 

They return to Evenings at the Gazebo with their classic sound featuring covers by the Beatles, Rolling Stones and more, plus strong vocal groups, and early rock featuring exceptional guitar work.

> IN CASE OF RAIN , concerts will be held at First Presbyterian Church - Community Room, 401 S. Park St.

> CHARLEVOIX COUNTY TRANSIT offers bus service for the Gazebo concerts on Wednesday nights. Schedule rides in advance by calling 231-582-6900. Thanks to the Charlevoix County Council on Agning, seniors ride free; all other rides at normal posted fares.

Music, fun and pirates will fill the streets of downtown Boyne City for Stroll the Streets this Friday from 6-9 p.m. Anonymous sources tell us the pirate flotilla may be invading Sunset Park arrround 6:30. 

Stroll the Streets is a signature summer event for downtown, organized by Boyne City Main Street.  Musical entertainment ranges from contemporary, country, bluegrass, traditional, folk, jazz, to rock. Special activities include magicians, caricature artists, face painting, balloon twisting and more fun activities for kids. Thanks to event organizer Karen Guzniczak of Country Now & Then and map designer Robin Lee Berry of Freshwater Art Gallery. V isit  www.strollthestreets.com  for the full summer schedule and updates. 

  

> Here is the entertainment lineup for this Friday:

• Pirate "ships" invade Sunset Park at 6:30 p.m.!
• Coldwell Banker Real Estate - John & Paul Two Beats
• Harbor House/Boyne River Inn - BCHS Robotics Team
• Harbor House/Country Now & Then - High Lonesome
• Parkside Grill - Twister Joe 
• Bob Mathers Ford - Library Bookmobile
• Boyne City Hardware - The Painted Lady Face Art
• Pat O'Brien Real Estate - Tribe of Chiefs
• Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen - Crosscut Kings
• The Lawn at Lynda's - The Loper Family
• Kilwin's - Jessica Dominic
• Old Sportsman - Randy, John & Gene Jazz Trio 
• Kidd & Leavy Real Estate - Dos Hippies
• Freshwater Art Gallery - Jen Sygit & Sam Corbin
• Lady Barber Shop - Pooch the Magician

This year's Boyne Area Chamber Business & Community Expo will be held Friday, November 1st, in partnership with Boyne City High School in the school gymnasium. The Expo will be held from 3-7 p.m. with exhibitor networking from 3-4 p.m. before opening to the public from 4-7 p.m. More details and registration info will be announced soon.

Other upcoming Chamber events include:

The Boyne Area Chamber will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 20th to celebrate the completion of the Avalanche Preserve mountain bike trail-building project, and to honor the volunteers who made it happen. The ribbon-cutting will be held near the parking lot at the base of Avalanche Mountain. The expert-level "Stroll the Steeps" was the final trail to be completed by volunteers from the Top Of Michigan Mountain Bike Association. The public is invited to attend, bring your bike and ride one of the many trails after the ceremony.  Avalanche trail map .

	Ready for a free plane ride?

If your child is interested in flying, the Boyne City Municipal Airport is the place to be Saturday morning, Aug. 10. Free Young Eagles airplane rides will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon for students ages 8 to 17 to learn about flying and general aviation. The program is offered through the Harbor Springs EAA Chapter and rides are on a first come, first served basis. The airport is located at 1048 East Main Street. Please share this, we would love to see lots of kids out there taking advantage of this great opportunity.

> In the event of poor weather the event will not be rescheduled. For information call Rod Cortright at (231) 675-0393.

Robin and David Bricker of Boyne City were named the 2019 "Week at the Lake" Local Heroes Award winners at the Team O'Brien offices in Boyne City during last Friday's Stroll the Streets event.

The Brickers finished first in an online voting competition that was open to the public. They will be rewarded with a much-deserved "Week at the Lake" featuring a beautiful Lake Charlevoix home with up to 10 friends and family, use of a high performance Tritoon boat from Boyne Water Sports and all the fixings for a final night barbecue jamboree.

"Their decades-long contributions to our schools, students and community have touched thousands of lives and embody the selfless service that this award seeks to recognize," Pat O'Brien said as he made the announcement.

The five finalist runners-up are also winners. They all win a special "Heroes Night Out" courtesy of Team O'Brien and Magnum Hospitality. They were awarded $100 dining cards as recognition and celebration of their efforts.

"All of the finalists were amazing and inspiring. Caring and contributing is part of the lifestyle of our community and we wanted to do something to show our appreciation. We are all actually the winners because of their service," said Nate Jason of Magnum Hospitality.

The new community honor is for residents of Charlevoix and Emmet counties and is supported by Pat O'Brien and Associates of Charlevoix and Boyne.

	Former Carter's Food Center at left;  Great Lakes Energy in background

Demolition of the former Carter's Food Center in Boyne City is slated to begin August 15th. Great Lakes Energy (GLE) purchased the property, which stands adjacent to GLE's headquarters at 1323 Boyne Avenue, early this spring with plans to expand their current office space due to the cooperative's growth in recent years.

The site will be fenced off prior to construction. Construction crews will work to dismantle the building in sections, beginning with the interior and then moving to the exterior and frame of the building. The project is expected to take approximately one month. Plans for construction of a new structure are still to be announced but may begin as soon as 2020.

Truestream, GLE's new fiber internet and voice network, plays a vital role in the need to expand. Launched in 2018 in rural parts of Emmet, Charlevoix and Cheboygan counties, Truestream brings high-speed internet - with speeds up to 1 Gig -  and voice services to homes and businesses that have long been without broadband connectivity. Truestream has created local employment opportunities, and with them, a need for more office and warehouse space. 

"We are excited to begin the initial demolition work and first steps toward expanding our current headquarters in Boyne City," said Bill Scott, President and CEO. "This is not only the first step in providing much-needed space to better serve our members but will also increase our capacity to provide more employment opportunities within the local economy." 

GLE's board of directors approved the purchase of the 36,450 square foot building, which has stood vacant for approximately 15 years.

The Charlevoix County Planning Commission and Parks Committee are in the process of updating the County Recreation Plan. There are two open house opportunities to provide public input to assist county officials in updating the plan:

> Monday, August 19th - drop in any time from 7-9 p.m. at Whiting Park Log Cabin.

> Thursday, September 19th - from 5-7 p.m. at the Charlevoix Public Library Community Room A.

The county has also developed an online community survey concerning county parks and recreation facilities. Click here to take the survey, which will be open until September 13th. 

For further information or questions, contact Kiersten Stark, County  Parks & Planning Director, (231) 547-7234, starkk2@charlevoixcounty.org .

> Flyer with details about the open houses and the survey. Hard copies of the survey can be picked up at Charlevoix County Parks & Planning Department, 301 State Street, Charlevoix.

	The Pride of Baltimore II on its last visit to Boyne City in 2016.

The Pride of Baltimore II tall ship will be returning to Boyne City for a week in mid-August. The 157-ft. ship will will pass through Round Lake Channel in Charlevoix the morning of Friday, August 16, and will be docked in downtown Boyne City at the 1 Water Street Pier Friday through Wednesday. The ship will be hosting a number of free deck tours. You can also sign up for one of five two-hour sails on Lake Charlevoix with an admission fee of $40 for adults and $30 for children ages 12 and under.

The ship has visited Boyne City several times in the past, thanks to a connection with local Realtor Wally Kidd, whose father was one of the founders of the nonprofit organization that built the original Pride replica ship in Baltimore in the 1970s. Kidd's family in Walloon Lake typically hosts the crew for some R&R when they come to Boyne City, and they will do so again this year. Pictures from 2016 visit to Boyne City .

Here is a synopsis of the ship's itinerary in Boyne City:

> Full schedule and links to purchase tickets for the sailing trips on Lake Charlevoix.

Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark at Boyne Mountain Resort is hosting a school supply drive in partnership with the 12th Annual Char-Em United Way Stuff the Bus campaign. From August 13 through September 2, park-goers can receive $5 off a single-day pass with the donation of two or more school supplies. 

Recommended school supplies include #2 pencils, colored pencils, pencil boxes, art supplies, backpacks, construction paper, chalk, crayons, erasers, folders, glue bottles and sticks, highlighters, dry erase markers, notebooks, rulers, scissors, and tissues. Items should be new and in original packaging.

School supplies will be donated to students in need within the Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District. Each year the program delivers over 10,500 items to help students prepare for the new school year. 

	Volunteers read water gauges and text the readings for hydrology project.

The Boyne River's citizen-science project - where people read water height and water temperature gauges from the shore and text message the reading into project organizers using their smart phones - has reached an important milestone. The scientists who organized the projects have finished a working version of the high-performance computer model of the river using local residents' text-messaged readings.

Now, they want to update the community about the project, share the model details, and then hear your thoughts about the model and your advice for the accompanying website they are building. The update will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday August 14 in the Boyne District Library Community Room.

First, there will be a 30-45 minute update about the project, the model, and the accompanying website. Dr. Chris Lowry (University at Buffalo), Dr. Darren Ficklin, and Dr. Pedro Avellaneda Lopez (Indiana University) will give a PowerPoint slide-presentation about the project's progress. Immediately following the talk, the organizers want to hear from you. "We have six questions that will help us determine (a) how to make the model and (b) website more useful to the needs of Boyne River users and managers," they said. 

This meeting has been scheduled to fit with the Friends of the Boyne River's Annual Meeting and Potluck in Veterans Memorial Park at 5:30pm. It  is a public event and all those interested in the Boyne River and/or this citizen science research project are welcome.  Until then keep texting those readings - especially in crummy weather.

> News-Review story about the project.

    Boyne Valley Trailway work still expected this year - Story

    M-75/U.S. 131 intersection safety audit slated for this week - Story

    Kaila Kuhn is U.S. team's youngest aerials skier - Story

    Bella Vita restaurant "If you love us, you will be back" - Story

    Snocross star Inanna Hauger named one of "20 fascinating people" - Story

Boyne City will celebrate its autumn bounty at the Harvest Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, and vendor registration is now open. This family fun day will include music, crafts, children's activities, food and fall produce in the downtown area from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. As the extended Farmers Market will be moved downtown from Veterans Park, portions of Water and Lake Streets will be closed to traffic. There will be a Scarecrow Contest organized by the Boyne Area Chamber. Children's games and activities will be sprinkled around downtown. The festival is sponsored by Boyne City Main Street. 

The Boyne Area Free Clinic is alerting local residents to save the date for a fundraiser/silent auction to benefit the clinic on Sept. 28th at the Eagles Lodge. There will be food and drink and local music. 

The Free Clinic is located at 624 State Street in Boyne City and is open on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free Clinic board member Britta Cornell said, "If you are uninsured or underinsured, meaning you have not met your deductible, then we would love to have you come and see us, so we can help you with medical care and informational care as well. We have X-ray capability, ultrasound, and a dedicated staff headed by Dr. Richard Mansfield. Please come to our fundraiser and support a wonderful cause."

The women of Boyne Eta Nu Charities presented a check for $3900 to the Boyne City Fourth of July Festival Committee. Eta Nu collected donations at three Farmers Market, two Stroll the Streets and the morning of the Fourth of July parade. In exchange for a donation supporters could select patriotic beads, a pinwheel or flag. Eta Nu would like to thank the community members and visitors to the city who so generously gave to support our dazzling fireworks display and the Fourth of July Festival.

The Going PRO Talent Fund began in 2013 to provide funds to companies for short-term, in-demand training leading to an industry-recognized credential. Training can be provided for existing employees, new hires, or registered DOL apprentices for occupations in several industries, including but not limited to; manufacturing, construction, IT, landscaping, healthcare, hospitality, non-profits, food production, and more.

The application period for Talent Fund grants is expected to begin in mid-September. Prior to the start of the application period, Northwest Michigan Works! is holding Employer Information Sessions to help businesses learn about the fund. The Petoskey session will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 14 in the North Central Michigan College Library Conference Room.                                                                                                  

Businesses planning to attend the information session should register here. Call (231) 348-6613 for additional information or to set up an appointment for assistance.

Charlevoix County Transit has made available a public opinion survey to gather input concerning public transportation needs and services in the county. This survey is part of community outreach efforts for a study that will result in a Transit Master Plan.

Click here to take the online survey.

Individual survey responses will be kept confidential, and will not be identified by the name of the respondent.

Paper surveys are available at the Boyne Area Senior Center (411 E. Division Street), Charlevoix County Offices (301 State St., Charlevoix) and Commission on Aging Office (218 W. Garfield, Charlevoix), as well as the senior centers in East Jordan and Charlevoix. 

> For more information on the plan or the survey, contact Jill Drury, Director of Charlevoix County Transit, at jdrury@cctransit.org or 231-582-6900.

	The Sunset Park Log Cabin, photo by Mike Cain.

The Boyne Area Chamber and the City of Boyne City  have launched the Log Cabin Volunteers group to give out information from the Sunset Park cabin this summer. 

So far, 11 local people have volunteered as part of a group that is providing visitor information in the log cabin formerly occupied by the chamber. 

> VOLUNTEER! If you are interested in volunteering at the log cabin for a couple of hours, you can click here to sign up for the final shift of the summer during Stroll the Streets from 6-8 p.m. on August 23.

The Chamber/Main Street E-News comes to your inbox each Thursday morning. If you submit news for next week, please send it by Tuesday to jim@boynechamber.com. More than 1,300 people open our newsletter each week, and you can reach them with your news release (no cost for Chamber members) or advertising message and a link for as little as $50. We have ads available starting August 22nd.

> SPREAD THE NEWS - We'd love to send you and your friends the weekly Boyne Business News. To subscribe, just  email us .

The Boyne Country Community Center is presenting the Toronto Classic Legends concert as its next fund-raiser at 8 p.m. Saturday, August 10th, at the Boyne City Performing Arts Center. This is the fourth visit by this tribute company from Toronto. The Legends concert features seven performances reliving rock and country superstars who have collectively sold over one billion albums. An evening with seven Legends of Rock and Country, performed by Toronto's best Tribute Entertainers. All of them are backed by a four-piece live band. This is truly a Las Vegas Quality show starring Neil Diamond, Shania Twain, Freddie Mercury, Madonna, Blondie, Patsy Cline and Garth Brooks. Everyone over 40 will likely know every song. There is no prerecorded music or singing in this live concert. All ticket holders will also receive a 10% discount on their bill when they show their ticket at seven popular Boyne City restaurants on August 10:  Boyne City Tap Room,  Cafe Sante,  Friggy's SOBO Pub,  Lake Street Pub,  Red Mesa Grill,  Stiggs Brewery and Kitchen, and  Water Street Cafe.

> Reserved seat tickets are available online at boynecc.com or at Boyne City Hardware.

Boyne Boat Yard will be hosting a Summer Celebration Cookout at their waterfront launch location at noon, Friday, August 9. Located at 448 Front Street in Boyne City, they will be featuring a fresh grilled chicken wrap bar with salads and beverages. All are welcome and they look forward to seeing everyone there.

The Annual "Rally By The Bay" Open Class Car Show and Flea Market is coming to Veterans Memorial Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 10 and 11. Spectator admission is free for this popular event on the shore of beautiful Lake Charlevoix. The Boyne City Firefighters Association sponsors the auto show, which is "open class" this year. Entry fee is $20, and there is no pre-registration. Hot rods, custom cars, rat rods, antique vehicles, motorcycles, firetrucks and hearses are welcome. More than 40 vendors are expected for the flea market, organized by the Firefighters, who also operate the food concession. For further information, contact Boyne City Fire Department, 319 N. Lake St., Boyne City MI 49712, phone 231-582-3642. 

Other Boyne Area car shows:

Aug. 30 - Classic Car Show during Stroll the Streets, 6-9 p.m. 

Aug. 31 - Boyne Kiwanis Car Show, Veterans Park, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sept. 1 - Labor Day Drag Races, Boyne City Airport.  Pre-register now and save $5 at  www.bcdragrace.com.  On race day, registration will open at 8:30 am, and a driver's meeting will be held at 11:45 am. Racing will begin at noon and run until 5 pm. Volunteers are needed; email Mike Cain if you'd like to help.

	Perseid meteor shower is easily seen with the naked eye.

The long-lasting Perseid meteor shower will be the backdrop to some sweet events taking place at Young State Park and other state parks this month. The local event will be held from 9-11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13.  Park staff are putting out a buffet of s'more supplies and inviting people to gather and have fun making the summer staple of graham cracker-chocolate-marshmallow perfection.

The Perseid meteor shower is one of the best opportunities to see shooting stars with the naked eye. Park staff recommend that you bring blankets, seating, bug spray and snacks and enjoy a night of stargazing - campers and visitors are all welcome. Complimentary s'mores and campfires are part of the celebration. S'mores are available while supplies last. Meet at the baseball field across from Loop 4. 

> MLive story; Young State Park is #16 on the list of 18 participating parks.

Provisions Wine Lounge, the new wine bar at 123 Water Street, has been delayed a bit. Owner Ed Brehm reports: "The new water main installation (required for the building's new fire suppression system) has been pushed out for several weeks. Much to our dismay, this will delay our opening until approximately Labor Day weekend. If we're able to open sooner than that, we certainly will." Brehm recommends following the Wine Lounge on their new Facebook page for updates. The Wine Lounge will be managed by Provisions employee Chloe Chaffee and is located next door with a connecting doorway to the Wine Emporium and Deli and Boyne Country Provisions.

North Central Michigan College will present a lecture featuring Canadian conservationist Joanie McGuffin on Wednesday, August 21 from 8:30 - 10 a.m. in the gym in the Student and Community Resource Center. Cost is $10 and includes breakfast.  McGuffin is a public speaker, educator and one of the founders of the Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy (LSWC). She is the author of 8 books with her photographer husband Gary. Six are photographic books chronicling their long-distance paddling voyages and two are illustrated instructional paddling guides.   

The Conservancy has approached the protection of the Lake Superior through a watershed approach that acknowledges that water knows no boundaries. In 2019, LSWC launched Canoes for Conservation, a program  that engages people and their communities in an ecological and cultural heritage connection to the world's largest freshwater lake. 

Reservations are required; call 231-348-6600 or email willcall@ncmich.edu to reserve a seat.

HONEYBEE WORKSHOP - On August 15 from 6 - 9 p.m. Mel Disselkoen, a 40-year veteran beekeeper, will present: "Farming Honeybee Livestock for Next Year's Bees."  Learn how to maintain a healthy and productive hive. Sponsored in conjunction with the Little Traverse Bee Guild. Disselkoen was born on a big farm in South Dakota and has studied honeybee behavior for 47 years. He has operated hundreds of colonies and is familiar with all types of beekeeping, commercial and hobby issues. Register here. 

The 4th Annual Lake Charlevoix Association Poker Run will be held Friday, August 16th. Card pick-up runs from 11 am until 3:30 pm. The Reception Social Hour begins at 4:30 with Poker hand turn-in, live music and silent auction bidding, and will be followed by a full buffet-style meal, card hand reveal, and auction winners announced.  The reception will again be held at the Boyne City Waterfront Pavilion at Veterans Park concluding at 7:30 pm. Prizes will be awarded for best, second, third and worst poker hands.

This event sold out last year, so don't delay. Registration fee goes up August 10th and the final deadline is August 12th. The donation for participating this year is $30 per poker hand and $30 per person for the reception and meal. 

During the Poker Run, boaters pick a card from 5 of 8 locations on the lake: East Jordan City Dock, Holy Island Bay, The Landing Restaurant, Irish Boat Shop, Charlevoix City Dock, Horton Bay Club Dock, Boyne City City Dock, and Sommerset Point Outer Dock. Register here.

Kiersten's Ride, the 7th annual fundraiser for suicide prevention programs in Northern Lower Michigan, will be held Saturday, August 17th at Chandler Hill Campground in Boyne Falls. Participants have a choice of a 10 a.m. Horseback Trail Ride, a 12 noon 1.3-mile Nature Walk, or a 2 p.m. ATV Ride. Lunch for participants is from 1-2 p.m. and prizes will be awarded at 1:30. Early registration is $15, or $25 after Aug. 10. Registration flier has more details. For more information, For more information, call 231-675-5047, email KierstensRide@outlook.com or visit www.KierstensRide.org. 

Boyne District Library welcomes August with events and programs for all ages. Most events are free and open to anyone interested in attending. Information for all BDL events and programs can also be found at www.boynelibrary.org. To RSVP (register) for any events:www.boynelibrary.org/programs choose Children, Teen, Adult and then select RSVP for the event from those listed. 

USED BOOK SALE sponsored by the Friends of the Boyne District Library will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, August 10th in the Library Community Room. Adult books, children's books, hardbacks, paperbacks, CD's, DVD's - we have it all!

SUMMER READING PROGRAM ends with our SRP Finale Ice Cream Social on Thursday, August 8 th from 6-7:30pm . 

Join us Thursday, August 15 th 6-7pm for GET CONNECTED@BDL . Bring your devices and learn how to connect to Overdrive and Hoopla for eBooks and audiobooks, how to access our magazine app Zinio for free magazines, and an overview of our website and all the information and resources on the site. RSVP required or call the library 231-582-7861 for more information or to register.

Join us Saturday, August 17 th at 2pm for a very special program by Ben Cohen , Michigan Seed Library and guru of all things seeds, as he presents "SEED SAVING AND SHARING" in our Community Room. For anyone who has used our seed library, or anyone interested in saving and sharing seeds, this is a great presentation.

Join our lunchtime BROWN BAG BOOK CLUB. Our next meeting is Tuesday, August 20 th at 12-1pm. Come late, leave early, but plan to spend your lunchtime with us to discuss our book of the month. August's book choice is "Summerland" by Erin Hilderbrand .

Attention crafters, scrapbookers, quilters... on one Saturday every month from 9am-12 noon, BDL has reserved our Community Room as a CRAFT OPEN LAB. Bring your materials, spread out and enjoy conversation and complete some of those projects on  August 24 th . RSVP online or call 231-582-7861 for more information.

GENEALOGY: USING PHOTOGRAPHS for Family History Research:  Sunday, August 25 th , 1-3pm join us as local historian and genealogist Patrick McCleary teaches participants how to use family photographs to do genealogy research. RSVP requested.

	Charlevoix County Senior Picnic & Health Expo.

The Charlevoix County Commission on Aging invites the entire community to the 40th Charlevoix County Senior Picnic & Health Expo being held on Tuesday, August 13th at the Harvest Barn Church in East Jordan. You must have a ticket to attend. Tickets are sold at the Boyne City, Charlevoix and East Jordan Senior Centers. If there are tickets available, they will be sold at the door Tuesday. Tickets are $5 for a Senior (60+), and $8 for others.

This year has a Vegas theme with great games and entertainment planned. Doors open at 9 a.m., so come early and enjoy the musical entertainment of Frank Sinatra by Billy McCallister beginning at 10. We have 29 Health Expo vendors and prizes to complement the fun. We are grateful to have the Boyne City Rotary and East Jordan Lions once again cooking their famous grilled chicken to complement our amazing COA cook's creations. The Grand Door Prize is a $250 Visa Gift Card, and your picnic ticket puts you in the running to win.

Rides can be coordinated through Charlevoix County Transit (231-582-6900).  For more information contact Theresa at the County Commission on Aging, (231) 237-0103.

> Print our calendars, "Like" our Facebook Page, and look all the other goings-on either on the Senior Hi-Lites Newsletter page or the Menus / Calendars and Activities pages of our website.

Interested in learning more about gardening with native plants, and attracting pollinators? Join the Charlevoix Conservation District for an informative Native Plant Workshop on Thursday, August 29th, from 4-6pm with Vern Stephens of Designs by Nature. Learn the values behind planting native on local fauna, soil and your groundwater. Other interesting topics include site preparation, installation, maintenance and examples of different native plants. The workshop will also be an opportunity to pre-order your plants for the plant sale the following week.

The Native Plant Sale will be held on Friday, September 13th from 3-6pm.

Both events will be held in the Charlevoix Conservation District's Community Room. The workshop is free, but space is limited; RSVP by contacting Alison at 231-582-6193. 

PRE-ORDER YOUR PLANTS by Aug. 29 with this order form now or at the workshop. Prices are $6.50/qt for wildflowers, $7.50/qt. for woodland species, $70 for garden flats and $60 for single species flats. The plant sale is for those who pre-order, but the public is welcome to purchase any available extra items. For more information, stop by office or call 231-582-6193.

Joan Tebo is the featured artist at the Boyne Arts Collective gallery. "I reside in northern Michigan on majestic Walloon Lake, where the ever-changing seasons inspire all of us to absorb all that we can of the wondrous surroundings!"she said. "Watercolor is my favorite medium to capture the color, energy and rhythm of life."

Joan credits wonderful art teachers who inspired her to become an art teacher herself. Joan's junior high art teacher inspired her with this quote: "An artist is not a special kind of person, every person is a special kind of artist." (Quote by Meister Eckhart, born in 1260).

The Boyne Arts Gallery is located at 214 Water Street.

League season is right around the corner for BC Lanes and we've got some meeting dates and times to share:

If you are returning from last season, interested in joining a team or just bowling as an individual you're asked to either attend the meeting of your choice or contact Kirk at the center at 231.582.6353.

The 4th Annual Paddle 4 The Pool fundraising event for the Charlevoix Area Community Pool will be held Saturday, August 17, at Ferry Beach in Charlevoix. Estimate your elapsed time for this paddle event, and if you finish the closest to your prediction, you are the winner. Students, seniors, everyone can enjoy this event. This is not your typical race, but it definitely is a contest. Grab your kayak, canoe or stand up paddle board and join us on Lake Charlevoix. Choose the two-mile or four-mile course. Please, obviously... no time pieces on board. Last year all participants for the 4-Mile Course finished under 1 hour and 30 minutes and the fastest time was 46:02. The winner was 5 seconds away from his predicted time.

Entry fee per watercraft (single or double) is $25 by August 9th, and $35 after that date. After you paddle, enjoy live music by the Crosscut Kings and tasty food from the Pigs Eatin' Ribs Food Truck. 

> Website with details and registration is www.paddle4thepool.com.   Event flyer.