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Organizers heartbroken but 60th Mushroom Festival is cancelled
 Statement from the Mushroom Festival Committee:
We are heartbroken that the 60th National Morel Mushroom Festival will be cancelled due to coronavirus concerns. Festival organizers made this decision after much discussion and concern for their community. The festival was scheduled for May 14-17.
"Our committee has spent the last 9 months planning for a great 60th celebration and we are disappointed that we must cancel," said board member Kim Brown. "The festival attracts visitors from around the USA and internationally and we do not want to expose our guests and community to possible infection."
We will plan to bring our event back in 2021, as it has become a rite of springtime in the Boyne area and we invite anyone interested to join our committee as we make plans for 2021. Email Committee Chair Pam Chipman if you would like to help organize the next festival.
> News-Review story with more details, including Kim Brown pointing out that although the festival is cancelled, there will still be mushroom hunting in the woods of Northern Michigan.
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Dash and Dine Bingo - Easy as 1, 2, 3!
Weekly winners will get a $20 Chamber Check
2. Dash home = social distancing.
3. Comment with photos and/or video of you enjoying your purchase on the Boyne Area Chamber
Facebook page.
Be sure to show your receipt as proof of purchase.
- Repeat until you have a BINGO on the card pictured above.
- A winner will be randomly chosen every Monday.
- Winner will receive a $20 Chamber Check.
- Contest will continue weekly until COVID-19 mandates are lifted.
- READY, SET, GOOOOOOOO!
> Last week's winner was Kirt Ploe, co-owner of Sunnside restaurant.
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WELCOME, NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS!
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 NEED HELP OR INFO?
- Char-Em United Way reminds area residents that 211 call centers are fully operational and able to work remotely, if needed. Anyone without internet access can call 211 and be given vetted information about COVID-19.
Boyne City Main Street provides business resources
Here are some additional resources from the Chamber and Main Street:
Social distancing not enough; Shelter in place is critical -
Health Dept.
Michigan Chamber Coronavirus Toolkit -
Details.
COVID-19 websites that are updated on a regular basis:
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No charge for Charlevoix County Transit essential services
Charlevoix County Transit has announced that under the "Stay Home Stay Safe" Executive Order issued on March 23rd, transit service is considered an essential service. Service hours have been changed to 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Transit will be providing free passenger rides to locations that are designated as essential services (medical, essential work locations, food/grocery locations). In addition to those passenger rides, transit will provide delivery service for the Commission on Aging Senior Meals Program. Residents who'd like to receive a senior meal should call the Commission on Aging office at 231.237.0103 by Thursday to reserve meals for the following week.
Transit will also be providing free service for other types of deliveries as well. Residents of Charlevoix County can call Transit and request that food pantry boxes, student/school meals, groceries and prescriptions be delivered to their homes. All deliveries are free, however, the resident must arrange for items to be boxed/bagged and ready for pick-up and arrange for payment of their items being purchased. There is no eligibility criteria for the free passenger rides and delivery of essentials other than being a resident of Charlevoix County.
"We are glad that we can assist residents during this stressful time and we are offering these additional services at no cost," said transit manager Jill Drury.
>To request a ride or schedule delivery service, call Transit at 231.582.6900 between the hours of 7am and 4pm.
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Urgent Needs Fund to help neighbors impacted by COVID-19
 By supporting local nonprofit organizations, community members can help meet the needs of individuals and families who are experiencing loss of income caused by COVID-19.
Food pantries and human services organizations that provide help with utilities and other necessities will see community needs increase in the weeks ahead. Donations to those organizations will ease the burdens faced by many who are unable to work due to necessary social distancing.
In response to this situation, the Charlevoix County Community Foundation (C3F) has made $25,000 in grants to partner organizations. "Our goal will be to mobilize additional resources from the Urgent Needs Fund and others to respond to the developing COVID-19 crisis that is impacting friends and neighbors across Charlevoix County," said Chip Hansen, president of the Community Foundation. To provide resources to nonprofits over the next weeks and months, and to help ensure funding will be available in the longer term, C3F encourages community members who want to help to make contributions to the Urgent Needs Fund.
Nonprofit partners who are providing critical services to individuals and families who are disproportionately impacted by the instability and economic consequences caused by COVID-19 are eligible for further support as well. "The Community Foundation will be using the Urgent Needs Fund to help partner organizations, though the funding is limited," notes Hansen. "We have provided an Urgent Needs grant application through our website to help partners receive support. We will also work to connect donor advisors - individuals, families, and businesses that have charitable funds here at the Community Foundation - with our community's needs," he explains.
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Spending more time at home? Why not fill out your census info?
 Have you received letters saying it's time to complete the U.S. Census online? If you're spending more time at home these days, this would be a great time to go online and complete the census questionnaire. Officials say it is a short 10-minute process. It is critical that everyone do this so their hometown and the State of Michigan get their fair share of federal resources over the next decade. To fill out the online census form, you will need you individual Census ID which comes on the letters sent to each household. Then you can respond at my2020census.gov. Anyone with questions can call the Census Bureau directly at 1-844-330-2020.
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Hospital seeks donations of critical medical supplies
In light of the national shortage of medical supplies, McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation is seeking critical medical supplies to protect the frontline caregivers in the fight against COVID-19.
McLaren Northern Michigan currently has the appropriate medical supplies to properly protect employees and medical staff, as well as care for the patient. However, in the coming weeks, medical supplies will continue to be in short supply as increased cases of COVID-19 continue throughout the nation.
To safeguard our medical staff, employees and patients, McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation is seeking community donations of:
- New, unused masks (including construction grade).
- Medical grade gloves.
- Hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes with an alcohol content of 60% or more.
- Non-contact forehead thermometers.
- Homemade fabric face masks - visit the McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation Facebook page or call 231.487.3500 for more information.
Please call the Foundation at 231-487-3500 to arrange a drop-off time for your donation. Donations will be accepted in Petoskey and Cheboygan. DO NOT bring your donations directly to the hospital or emergency departments - we are restricting visitors at this time.
McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation also established the Emergency Response Fund to ensure that the hospital has the resources and flexibility to meet critical and emerging needs in times of crisis. Gifts to the McLaren Northern Michigan Emergency Response Fund will provide local support for:
- The purchase of masks, gowns, gloves and other essential personal protective equipment required to ensure the health and safety of our healthcare team.
- Medical supplies and equipment for the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, or other clinical areas as a result of high demand.
- Patient assistance.
- Programs, services, staff education, and other critical needs that develop during a health-related crisis.
> To make a donation to the McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation Emergency Response Fund, click here.
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Boyne Free Clinic open for consultations and refills on Fridays
 The Boyne Area Free Clinic, Inc. will be open normal hours from 8 to 4 on Fridays for phone consultations and some medication refills during these trying times. We do not want our patients to go without their blood pressure or other medications. Patients should call our office, and keep trying if it is busy, even if they are in the parking lot. We will do our best to help them. We will have providers in the office to consult with patients. Call (231) 582-4605 for information. The clinic is located at 624 State Street. Website.
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 Food pantry distributes to 65 families; Donations are needed to meet increased demand
The Good Neighbors food pantry distributed pre-assembled food boxes to 65 families, representing 233 individuals last Tuesday. We will do everything we can to continue providing food to our neighbors in need. Thanks to our generous community, we have been receiving donations and offers of help. Items currently most needed are: packs of individual string cheese and other non-sweet snacks for children; tuna fish; soups; and shelf-stable milk. We are asking those wishing to volunteer to call (231) 497-8677 and leave a message rather than coming to the pantry, since we are limiting the number of people inside the building as advised by the CDC.
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Main Street façade grant applications are available
$20,000 to be invested into rehabilitation and improvement of downtown
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The Banner Law office received a facade grant last year.
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Applications for Boyne City Main Street's 2020 façade grant program are now available. The façade grant program provides matching funds for Main Street District property owners and tenants to improve the facades of their buildings, in order to maintain the architectural character and economic viability of downtown.
To begin the process, interested property owners or tenants must review the
Facade Grant Program Guidelines
, and meet with representatives from Boyne City Main Street to discuss the scope of the project. An application must then be submitted by noon on April 30. After a competitive review process by the Design Committee and Boyne City Main Street Board, a decision will be made on which projects receive funding.
For every dollar awarded, the applicant must spend an equal amount. Individual grant amounts will be up to 50 percent of a project's cost. A total of $20,000 is available for the 2020-21 cycle.
> For more information about Boyne City Main Street and the façade grant program or to schedule your meeting with Main Street representatives, visit www.boynecitymainstreet.com or email [email protected].
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 Truestream coming soon to the Boyne Area
It's official! If you're in Great Lakes Energy/Truesteam's Boyne City 1, Boyne City 2 or Boyne City 3 area, you should have received an email with your service agreement and site plan.
www.jointruestream.com.
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Barden Lumber is open for essential business
 From Barden Lumber: Per Governor Whitmer's Executive Orders, we have been advised to remain open for essential business. Priority is given to personnel of critical infrastructure organizations, such as medical, government, utilities and others listed in the Executive Order. OPEN: Monday - Friday: 8AM-5PM; Saturday & Sunday: Closed. Drive-thru and deliveries only. Call (231) 582-9961 or e-mail [email protected]. Check our Facebook page for updates.
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Church of the Nativity is open for online worship Sunday
You're invited to join the Church of the Nativity for worship by means of a Facebook live-stream. Just search for @EpiscopalBoyne and you will get to our church Facebook page. We are live every Sunday morning at 10am. Our building at 209 E. Main Street is closed until May 10, but the Church - the people of God in the world - is open and active. And we encourage your donations in this time to Good Neighbors Food Pantry, PO Box 35, Boyne City, MI 49712.
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Acts of kindness - and some fun stuff, "pandemic or not"
From Boyne City Bakery's Facebook page: We would like to thank the kind and generous patron who paid it forward this week. The donor bought $250 in gift certificates to be used to pay for anyone making an in-store purchase until the funds were used up.
We are seeing extraordinary acts of kindness all around our community, and the country as a whole. Of course, as far as Boyne City goes, we are not surprised by the solidarity and community spirit that is ingrained in the residents and on display year round - pandemic or not.
 Hoppy Hound Coffee and Dog Bakery owner Ivette Lopez: " Thank you to our hospital staff and first responders who wake up everyday & kick ass!" Ivette put out a sign asking for donations to take them some goodies and had raised $65 by Thursday.
"I will be making a delivery of coffee, iced tea and food on Friday evening to hospital staff in Petoskey and Charlevoix and first responders in Petoskey. BC Pizza in Petoskey has generously donated two medium pizzas and Boyne Avenue Greenhouse has donated flowers. If any other restaurant would like to donate food, please message me."
Boyne Avenue Greenhouse is offering free flowers to all first responders, firefighters, police and nurses. "Feel free to stop on by and get something special as a way for us to say thank you for all you do." And of course curbside pickup is recommended.
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Under The Moon: Lara and Erik VanHorn
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Stay Home, Stay Safe Date Night - Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen and Under The Moon (pictured at right) are combining for a Date Night live on Facebook from 6-7 p.m. Saturday. Join us in support of local businesses who support our live music scene in Boyne City! Grab some takeout specials, the best burgers in town, your favorite brews from Stiggs and enjoy live music with Under the Moon while you feast - from home. Event page.
Right after that, you can tune into another Facebook Jam at 8 p.m. Saturday with Jedi Mind Trip. That's the great band that has played Paint the Town Red and the Mushroom Festival. They were booked to play for the Craft Beer Block Party at this year's festival, but that was just cancelled. So you can sit back in your living room and pretend you're at the Mushroom Festival. You can even make a donation to support the band, which has probably lost several paying gigs with all that's going on. Event page.
And check out the story below for two local businesses that dropped everything and stepped up to fill a void as a result of the corona virus outbreak...
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Shaggy's, 1-800- Stencil retool to make face shields
As the nation battles the effects of COVID-19, two Boyne City businesses are joining the effort to keep healthcare workers healthy and safe. Shaggy's Copper Country Skis and 1-800-Stencil are now focused on making tens of thousands of protective face shields for those in hospitals, clinics, and labs that desperately need to avoid infection and stay healthy. If you are in need of face shields, call Shaggy's at 231-459-4323.
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Comfort Keepers continues meal delivery program
Comfort Keepers Northwest Lower Michigan
has been preparing for the growing challenges related to the coronavirus for the past several weeks. We want families in the area to know that we have been deemed an essential business by the Governor and we are prepared to assist seniors in their homes at this time. Our employees are trained home health care workers, and we are following all guidelines created by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
To meet the nutritional needs of seniors in the area, we are working with our partners at North Central Michigan College to ensure our meal delivery program is uninterrupted. We are now offering the meal plan on a weekly basis for people who may need this support short-term.
> Please contact Comfort Keepers at 231-929-9044 for more information.
Website.
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Charlevoix County News offers free listings, help wanted ads
For the next few weeks (or however long the coronavirus pandemic lasts) the Charlevoix County News will be offering a free listing to businesses affected by the shutdowns - for example: Restaurants, Retail.
The directory listing will include business name, address, phone number, hours, website and if they are offering delivery or pickup or take-out.
If any of these restaurants or retail businesses want to advertise a special during this period, the cost is just $1 per column inch (1/4 page ad would be $30, Business Card size ad $4).
For businesses that are hiring during this period we are offering free classified Help Wanted ads.
Deadline for the Charlevoix County News is 5 p.m. Monday. For details, email
Dave Baragrey,
[email protected].
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Out of town? Check out our live webcams
> Lake Charlevoix Live/Sunset Park, Lynda's Real Estate Service - Webcam.
> Downtown Boyne City, Brett Binkley/Pat O'Brien office - Webcam.
> Camp Michigania, Walloon Lake - Webcam.
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Newsletter readership increases as more people stay home
Readership of the Chamber/Main Street E-News has increased substantially in the last couple of weeks. Apparently more people are interested in local information and updates relating to the COVID-19 outbreak. Or perhaps people just have more time to read because they are staying home. About 1,400 people were opening our newsletter in recent months, but the last three newsletters saw 1,518 opens on March 18, 1,575 opens on March 20 and a record 1,635 opens on March 23.
This newsletter normally comes to your inbox each Thursday morning. In this time of rapid changes, we will send newsletters whenever it seems most beneficial, and sometimes more than once a week. Send your news and business updates to [email protected]. You can reach our readers with your advertising message and a link for as little as $50. Ad space is available for all future weeks.
> SPREAD THE NEWS - We'd love to send you and your friends the weekly Boyne Business News. Click here to subscribe
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HELP WANTED
Check the listings on our
Jobs Page
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Looking for staff? Make a job posting!
Chamber member businesses looking to hire staff are encouraged to post their jobs on the chamber website job posting page. You can do this with your member log-in with just a few simple steps. If you need assistance with your log-in, email [email protected]. These jobs are all listed on the Jobs page now:
Direct care worker at Alternative Services Inc. - Details
College Student Summer Interns at Northern Lakes Economic Alliance -
Details.
Part-time cook, no weekends, at Charlevoix Senior Center - Details
Park rangers and park maintenance staff for Charlevoix County -
Details
Assistant Harbormaster
for the City of Boyne City -
Details
> CANCELLED - April 4th Northern Michigan Hiring Event in Gaylord. Organizers plan to reschedule.
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FUN, FOOD, EVENTS, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT -
Special events
Boyne Appétit! "Small town, epic food" |
Website
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Facebook
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Restaurant booklet
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 You can print our updated list of eateries offering take-out, curbside pickup and meal delivery
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Performers announced for expanded Gazebo concert season
 The Boyne Area Chamber has announced its Evenings at the Gazebo schedule, and we are excited to offer an extended season with 10 concerts this summer. The 2020 series is presented by Black Diamond Broadcasting with concerts held in Old City Park on Wednesday evenings beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Concerts are made possible by additional support from local businesses and individual sponsors. Seven of the 10 concert sponsorships are still available. Band sponsors are featured on a logo banner displayed at all concerts and they get to introduce the band on concert nights. Sponsors also have their name or logo included on all promotional materials, listed on our website, listed in our weekly newsletter, and on Facebook.
> New this summer, concessions will be available each week! Challenge Mountain will begin the season on June 17. Sunnyside will then be there every Wednesday for the rest of the summer until August 19. Stay tuned for all the delicious details..
 > Here is the 2020 summer schedule, sponsored by Black Diamond Broadcasting. Details on each band are online at
www.gazeboconcerts.com:
June 17 - Full Moon Jam Band
June 24 - Calamity Jane
July 1 - 1000 Watt Prophets
July 15 - Wyatt & Shari Knapp
July 29 - Mike Dhaseleer
August 5 - Awesome Distraction
August 12 - Full Circle
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 Individual concert tickets go on sale April 3rd for Lavender Hill summer series
Lavender Hill Farm has released its concert schedule for Summer 2020. Individual show tickets go on sale at noon Friday, April 3rd. The Series at Lavender Hill Farm is a live music concert series held in our beautifully renovated, multi-use barn starring some of the best talent from across the United States and beyond.
The bands are carefully selected to uniquely represent a wide array of music styles and bring unexpected variety to Northern Michigan. Guests arrive early and enjoy picnicking with friends on our lawn overlooking fields of lavender. Our venue, built in 1920, has been skillfully adapted with historical theater seating, lighting, sound and stage.
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| EASTER EGG HUNTS sponsored by First Presbyterian Church, Young State Park, Community Church of Christ and Boyne Mountain have been cancelled. |
| 300 SF OFFICE SPACE for lease for $300/month. Convenient location at the corner of Front & Main Streets in downtown Boyne City. First floor of the Atrium Inn with private exterior entrance. Includes heat, A/C, electricity and trash, shared restroom. Nearby public parking. Contact Lee at LE Design, cell phone: 317.258.1419 email: [email protected]. |
OFFICE SPACES AVAILABLE - 800sf, 1,430sf, 1,440sf, or 3,670sf of office space available. Located in a beautiful building, center of town with lake views and natural light on One Water Street above Cafe Santé. $12/sf/yr includes common area maintenance (excluding utilities, internet, and trash). Call 989-732-9722 or www.cattdevelopment.com.
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RETAIL AND/OR OFFICE SPACE available on Lake Street in downtown Boyne City. Approximately 2000 sq.ft. Public parking lot adjacent. Call 517-230-0914.
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 VISITORS GUIDE
- The Boyne Area Chamber's Visitors Guide/Business Directory is available as a digital magazine as well as a beautiful 4-color printed magazine. It contains interactive content, including page-turning, links to websites and video, as well as a full search function. To view the digital publication,
click here
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