Sept. 24, 2020
Here's how local businesses are coping

We asked our members how they are doing these days, when many of us have had to change how we conduct business. If you’d like to be featured in our Member Spotlight and share some of your ideas and coping strategies, please take this short survey. Then we will share them with our newsletter readers and social media followers.

We've received some great answers!
Amelie Dawson, Harbor Springs Library:

“The library has been on the corner of Spring and Main for 125 years. We lasted through the last pandemic, and we'll make it through this one.”
What have you had to do differently since the pandemic began?  
With such limited space and staff, we decided that the best way to prioritize the health of both our staff and our community is to offer curbside service and keep the library building closed to the public for the time being. Our librarians are staggering their shifts so there is only one person inside the library at any given time. Our patrons check out items on our website or call the library and our librarians fulfill the requests and wear a mask to deliver their items to a table set up outside the library in as contact-free a manner as possible.
We also sanitize all touched surfaces between shifts, perform regular deeper cleanings, and quarantine all returned items for 72 hours before checking them in and reshelving them.

What has worked?  
We've been really happy to be able to get books into the hands of our patrons safely during this time, and our software makes reserving books online, fulfilling requests, and notifying patrons really easy.
We were able to offer regular live-streaming storytimes for our students who were home this spring via Facebook as many publishers lifted restrictions for libraries and schools to read their copyrighted works during the pandemic. We've also purchased Wi-Fi hotspots to lend out to our community members who don't have internet access.
It was really important to us that we protect both our staff's health and income during this time, and we've been able to pay our staff during the closures as well as remain flexible with everyone's level of comfort returning to the building. We've been able to address several back-burner projects while working from home during the closure, and look forward to reopening with a more thoroughly organized system.

What has NOT worked?  
The library has always served as a place for our community to gather, and not being able to do that safely has been heartbreaking. We're happy to be able to serve the public at all right now, but it's been difficult for people that just want to browse our shelves or meet with friends to study. We will return to being that place again, but not until it's safe.
While some of our patrons have been perfectly happy to browse through our online catalog and make their choices or call the circulation desk for recommendations, we're definitely lending out fewer books this year. However, our patrons have been downloading more ebooks and audiobooks via our free digital reading app, Libby.
Amelie Dawson
What is the most important thing you have learned?
The library has been on the corner of Spring and Main serving Harbor Springs for over 125 years. We lasted through the last pandemic, and we'll make it through this one. I think that realizing that big picture has been very helpful in planning for the future and makes it easier to focus on what's directly in front of us: how do we safely serve the public right now? What else can we do to help?

Anything else you would like to share?  
We miss seeing our patrons in the library! We miss catching up with everyone and hearing their stories. Rest assured that we are continuing to purchase new books (including many new juvenile nonfiction books for all the new homeschoolers and virtual students!) and have been lending them out, and soon enough we will be opening the doors back up by appointment. We'll be able to limit the number of people and length of time indoors and sanitize the space in between while finally allowing people to browse the shelves again. We're also moving forward with our historic building restoration campaign and will begin replacing our roof next week. Please visit our website www.harborspringslibrary.org for updates and sign up for our newsletter to hear when we'll be making individual appointments!

> Harbor Springs Library, 206 S. Spring St., 231-526-2531.
Jim Rademaker, WCMU Public Media:

"Our audience numbers for viewing and listening have been strong, but our streaming numbers for TV and radio have reached all-time highs."
What have you had to do differently since the pandemic began? 
In order to protect our on-air staff, we've had to shift to primarily work from home for the rest of the staff. We've scheduled limited time for people to access the building in order to remain as efficient as possible. We've invested in quite a bit of equipment to make it possible for people to work remotely. Fortunately, as part of CMU, the university has provided a great deal of software tools to facilitate remote working.
We've also had to shift television production to a "distance" model and invested in field gear that will allow us to protect our staff and guests.

What has worked?  
Once we got through the learning curve, things have gone pretty smoothly. We continue to refine how we do remote production work, news reporting, and fundraising. I would say we've been very fortunate to have the technical talent and adaptable team to make this work seamlessly for our audience.

What has NOT worked?
Two areas we're struggling with are corporate sponsorship and our outreach events that have traditionally been face to face. We're working on how to effectively conduct events virtually.

What is the most important thing you have learned?
This has been a tremendous time of building partnerships for WCMU TV and FM. We've been able to combine our expertise in audio and video content creation with our partners to do exciting new things that we likely wouldn't have tackled had we not endured all the changes COVID threw at us.
Jim Rademaker
Anything else you would like to share?  
Our audience and individual donors have been incredible during this time. We have had a tremendous amount of feedback from people letting us know how important we've been to them during COVID, particularly during the lockdown period. Our audience numbers for viewing and listening have been strong, but our streaming numbers for both TV and radio have reached all-time highs. They have leveled off some as they always do during the summer, but they are still higher than a normal summer would be. Our donors have been amazingly generous through this entire time. Thankfully, their generosity has helped lessen the impact felt by the loss of corporate sponsorship. If it weren't for individual donors, our financial picture would be very challenging.

WCMU Public Media, Jim Rademaker, radem2je@cmich.edu.
The Member Spotlights above were featured in our Sept. 24th Harbor Happenings newsletter. Some other stories from that newsletter are below
Safe Harbor masks and window clings available

Our original order of Safe Harbor face masks sold out quickly, and more are still available at the Harbor Springs Chamber office, 368 E. Main Street from 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Additional masks are available for $10, and Safe Harbor window clings are $3, including sales tax.

HARBOR SPRINGS T-SHIRTS ON SALE! - A few of our popular shirts designed by local artist Mary Hramiec Hoffman of Hramiec Hoffman Gallery are available for $10 (regular price $25). We have one women's large shirt and 3 men's medium shirts remaining. T-shirt illustration.
Chamber Gazebo open Fridays and Saturdays

The Chamber’s Visitor Information Gazebo on the Waterfront near Stafford’s Pier restaurant is staffed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Our “Gazebo Guys” - Fred Tabor, Dave McSherry and Larry Richey - are there to answer questions and give out brochures, maps and information to visitors.

The Chamber office at 368 Main Street is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We ask that you wear a mask if you come visit us, and we'll be following social distancing guidelines. You're also welcome to call us at 231-526-7999.
Campaign underway to ensure Northwest Michigan communities are counted in last month of Census
A campaign is underway in Northwest Lower Michigan in response to a new Census response deadline slated for September 30. Getting an accurate count is challenging under usual circumstances but it is even more difficult during all the disruptions related to COVID-19. The Northwest Counts campaign focuses on boosting responses in the parts of the region with the lowest Census response rates.
The ads will drive traffic to a new web page, NorthwestCounts.com, that will help make responding to the Census easy. The campaign is being coordinated by Networks Northwest, which is serving as the regional Census Hub Administrator for the statewide Be Counted Census 2020 Campaign.

A complete and accurate count is vital for communities and it is important for everyone to fill out the Census including permanent and seasonal residents, renters, college students, and immigrants. Census data is used to distribute funding for road repairs, school improvements, and social programs.
Newsworthy...

Schools will hold two homecoming parades on Friday - Story

City officials warn of stagnant revenues - Story

Coronavirus ignites real estate frenzy in northern Michigan - Story

Rachel Smolinski adapts to personal, professional challenges - Story

League of Women voters to host online forum for state rep candidates - Story
City of Harbor Springs news

City Manager's Sept. 17th report highlights:
  • The City has begun issuing Master Plan update surveys. In total, the City will issue about 16 surveys and they will all be open and available to take on the City’s website through November or December. The City will send out mailings to residents to inform them of the surveys. Hard copies are available for those not able to complete them online.
  • The City applied for and was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Community Foundation in order to help cover some expenses related to COVID-19.
  • The School will be holding two parades on Friday, September 25: the Spirit Parade at 1:00 PM and the Homecoming Parade at 5:30 PM. High school students will be required to mask during the parades and police officers will be on foot patrol ensuring that spectators are distanced and not forming large crowds.
  • Full manager's report.

Upcoming city meetings on Youtube:
  • City Council, 7 p.m. Oct. 5 & 19
  • Downtown Development Agency (DDA), 7:30 a.m. Oct. 1.
  • Planning Commission, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 1 & 15. The October 1st meeting will be focused on Master Plan discussion. The city has scheduled a public hearing on sidewalk signs and outdoor displays for the regularly scheduled PC meeting, which is the 3rd Thursday of the month (October 15th).


City website has details, calendar and more information.
Business resources and COVID-19 updates

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus



Covid-19 Resources from the NW Michigan Health Department

Template for a Preparedness and Response Plan for a lower risk business (MS Word)

MEMBER NEWS

Promote yourself... send us your news.
Dave Kring donates meat to food pantries

Dave Kring Chevrolet Cadillac has continued their annual tradition of donating meat to local food pantries. A total of 652 pounds of beef and pork were distributed between Manna Food Project, Petoskey Church of Christ, Brother Dan’s Food Pantry, Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan and The Nehemiah Project. The donation comes from livestock purchased by Kring during the local 4-H Livestock Auction - held virtually this year - and continues a tradition for the Kring family since taking over ownership from Bud Tallberg 33 years ago. Pictured from left in the photo are Amanda Foster (Manna), Betty Jane Johnson (Church of Christ Petoskey), Dave Kring, Sue Foltz (Brother Dan's), Dena Sydow (Women's Resource Center), Megan Swadling (Kring), Bob MacKenzie (Manna), Mike Walker (Nehemiah), Cathy Pickering (Kring), Matt Kring, Eric Foster (Manna) and Kim Baker (Manna).
Pond Hill Fall Fest weekends are now ticketed events

For this season, Fall Fest weekends at Pond Hill Farm will be a ticketed event in which all tickets are sold for $10 per person online ahead of time. This includes 5 activity tickets, admission to the fest for 2 1/2 hours and free parking.Fall Fest weekends are Saturdays and Sundays from September 26th through October 25th. Time slots are 10am-12:30pm, 1-3:30pm, and 4-6:30pm.

We will also be open from 11am-6pm on weekdays with no admission charge. We intend to make cider and donuts, pumpkin bowling, pumpkin smashing and pumpkin skee ball available to guests at times during the weekdays. Activity tickets will be available each day for these games.

Friend us on Facebook for updates as they become available. This system will allow us to be able to control the number of people on property, give us the ability to contact trace in the event of a Covid case and also to provide a safe and enjoyable time for guests. Tickets are not refundable or transferable. The Health Department is requiring all people to be accounted for, therefore guests of all ages must have a ticket. 
College supports free tuition for front-line workers

North Central Michigan College has announced it will serve as a Frontliners Champion to support the Futures for Frontliners program unveiled last week by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

“We believe strongly that those who maintained critical infrastructure during the state shutdown this past spring are heroes and deserve our thanks,” Dr. David Roland Finley, president of North Central declared. “Providing front-line workers who’ve yet to earn a college degree access to tuition-free community college – to pursue their dreams – is a wonderful way to say ‘thank you.’ They certainly earned it.

As a Frontline Champion, North Central Michigan College has committed to making sure area employees know about this exceptional opportunity. Futures for Frontliners offers Michiganders who worked in essential industries during the April 1-June 30 period, but do not have a college degree, free tuition to their local community college to pursue an associate degree or a skills certificate on a full-time or part-time basis while they continue to work.

Those without a high school diploma or equivalency may also participate. These individuals are eligible for services to help them prepare for and complete this credential and go on to a community college or job training program. The application period runs through December 31 of this year with enrollment available beginning in January of 2021.

> Apply and learn more about Futures for Frontliners.
Online session: “What I’ve Learned from COVID-19

North Central Michigan College Corporate and Community Education is partnering with Tip of the Mitt SCORE to offer “What I’ve Learned from COVID-19.” This online session will be presented from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, by Joe Walker of Maple Bay Consulting.

Winston Churchill said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” What will we do differently as a result of COVID? Will we make those changes permanent? Can we improve our businesses and jobs? Our personal lives?

Attendees will get an opportunity to spend an hour reflecting on what we have learned from the COVID crisis. Hear success stories from other businesses that can be applied to your own business, and then commit to a written action plan to capitalize on opportunities that will improve the future of our own lives and the lives of our colleagues, friends, and family.

> Register here for the October 1st session. There is a $49 fee.
Cummings Quartet to play free recital Sunday

The Great Lakes Center for the Arts is thrilled to be open and presenting limited capacity, socially distanced, live events. Attend with confidence and your mask. The Center has worked hard to create a responsible space for staff, volunteers, artists, and patrons. Each show will be socially distanced and limited to 132 patrons.

  • Sunday, Sept. 27 – Cummings Quartet Recital, 4 p.m. Free admission but tickets required. The quartet is the resident ensemble of the Dorothy Gerber Strings Program, an educational program of the Center. Members David Reimer, Iuliia Fetysenko, Trisha Berquist, and Elizabeth Bert are professional musicians who perform regularly throughout Northern Michigan, including for the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra and Traverse Symphony Orchestra. This recital will debut the newest member of the quartet, Trisha Berquist. The quartet is a major artistic presence in the Petoskey area, providing several concerts for the community each year. In addition to performing, the Cummings Quartet enjoys mentoring students through the Dorothy Gerber Strings Program, teaching privately and in the public schools. Register.
  • Sunday, Oct. 18 – Canadian Brass, 4 and 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Nov. 7 – Etienne Charles & Creole Soul, 8 p.m.

This weekend at the Lyric Theatre
Last chance for The Way I See It & A Chef's Voyage. Cakes of Versailles & Kajillionaire join TENET this Friday. Vinyl Nation & The Keeper open 10/2!
Karen Rolfes gallery open Fridays, Saturdays thru Oct. 10

Oil Paintings and Art Gallery by Karen Rolfes is open Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. until October 10th, which will be her last day of the season. Then Karen will take her paintings to her winter home in Cincinnati. She will reopen her Harbor Springs gallery next June. 

Karen is allowing the chamber to use one of her paintings entitled “Float Your Boat,” pictured here, on the Safe Harbor Heroes Certificates of Appreciation.
Kiersten's Ride sponsors two-day suicide prevention training

Kiersten's Ride, a 501(c)3 suicide prevention nonprofit organization, is sponsoring a two-day workshop in suicide intervention skills. The ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Training) will be held from 8 am-4:30pm Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 10-11 at the Odawa Hotel in Petoskey. The training is sponsored by Kiersten’s Ride and Kiersten’s Ride and the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation. To register, email your name, cell #, role in community and county you live in to KierstensRide@outlook.com. Flyer with details.
Learn more about ASIST and see the evidence. Questions? Call Lisa 231-675-5047. Info flyer.
Our Restaurant Guide is updated online

Harbor Happenings is moving our Restaurant Guide online. We will continue to update it and provide any restaurant news here in our newsletter with a link to the online guide. It includes info on 24 restaurants offering both dine-in and take-out service. The latest update:

> Restaurant managers are asked to send updates to jim@harborspringschamber.com.
Chamber members: help us promote you!

Let us know about your business news, promotions and events - it’s a free benefit of membership.

> REACH 750+ WITH YOUR AD or press release in Harbor Happenings. You’ll get great local exposure - our newsletter goes out to nearly 1,800 people and is opened by more than 750 each week. Here are your advertising options:
  • Display ad and web link at the top of the newsletter - $60.
  • Exclusive e-blast featuring your business - $125

We can create your ad or give you the specs to have your people do it. We invoice you after your ad runs. To send us your news, reserve your ad or ask questions, contact jim@harborspringschamber.com.
HELP WANTED
One post lists your jobs on chamber website and North Central Michigan College
> Chamber members are invited to post their job openings on our Jobs Page. Log in to post, or email angie@harborspringschamber.com for assistance.

NEW... when you send us your job posting, North Central Michigan College will automatically post it on their jobs board!

> We have jobs listed below from 16 employers. Also check our Jobs Page for new listings.
CUTLER'S, INC - Full time/ part time Sales Associates, Shipping and Receiving. Details.

LEGS INN - Line cook and servers for fall color season. Details.

ACE HARDWARE - Freight Room Manager and Sales Representatives. Details.

BIRCHWOOD INN - Front desk receptionist. Details.

HIGHLAND HIDEAWAY BED & BREAKFAST - Housekeepers, $13/hour. Details.

PRESTON FEATHER BUILDING CENTER - Building Material Sales Counter. Details.

ROOF RENEW OF MICHIGAN EXTERIOR PROWASH - Outdoor workers. Details.

CARPENTER, Experience preferred - Adelaine Construction, Inc., 8555 Commerce Court Harbor Springs, Experience Preferred. Details.

DELI CLERK, NIGHT STOCK, STARBUCKS BARISTA AND SERVICE CLERK - D&W Fresh Market, 1163 US 31 North Petoskey. We offer competitive wages (most positions beginning at $12) and flexible scheduling. Anyone interested can apply at Spartannash.com/careers.

CAREGIVER - Angel Heart Home Care, Petoskey. Details.

CLINIC ATTENDANT/MEDICAL ASSISTANTS and other positions - Bay Street Orthopaedics & Spine, Petoskey. Details.

RADIOLOGY TECHNICIAN - Bay Street Orthopaedics & Spine, Petoskey. Details.

PART TIME SALES ASSOCIATE - New Beginnings Resale Store, 650 West Conway Road Harbor Springs. Details.

PERRY FARM VILLAGE - Resident Assistant Positions - We currently have 2 Full Time positions open. Twelve hour shifts, one Midnight ( 6:30pm – 7am ) Position and one Daytime position ( 6:30am – 7pm ). We will also consider Part-Time employees. I worked part-time at Perry when I was a Nursing Student at NCMC. It was a wonderful learning experience working in an Senior Independent Community and segued nicely with my class schedules. People can apply directly online at PVM.org by clicking on careers and then search for Harbor Springs.

HARBOR WEAR of Petoskey and Harbor Springs is seeking enthusiastic part-time sales associates for our casual family clothing stores. Experience is not necessary but we are looking for friendly people who will enjoy working with customers. Please apply in person at Harbor Wear at 161 State St, Harbor Springs (231-526-6922, contact Candace) or 319 E Lake St, Petoskey (347-2664 contact :Judith or Katie).

PINEVIEW COTTAGE Assisted Living and Memory Care is looking to hire full and part-time caregivers - second and third shift. $500 sign-on bonus for full-time, $250 bonus for part-time. Our luxury assisted living/memory care community is looking for caring, compassionate, detail-oriented and dependable caregivers. Position includes assisting our residents with bathing, dressing, grooming, medications, activities and meal service in our fine dining room. Premium wages, and comprehensive benefits, paid time off & paid holidays. Call Dean at 810-516-8928.

PINEVIEW COTTAGE - We are looking for a beautician one or two days a week. Call us if you love working with our elderly. Ask to speak with Brooke, 231-412-6069.

PIERSON’S GRILLE & SPIRITS is hiring year-round staff. Looking for positive, high-energy, outgoing, friendly professionals to join our team! Call 231-526-2967 or fill out an application online at www.piersonsgrille.com.

TURKEY'S RESTAURANT is now hiring for all positions. Come in to 250 E. Main Street and pick up an application or call Jeff or Sara at 231-526-6041.

BC PIZZA of Harbor Springs is now hiring delivery drivers. Please call 231-526-2424 or email lorilwathen@gmail.com to inquire. 930 State Street, 231-526-2424.
Thank you, new Chamber members!

These local businesses and organizations have joined the Harbor Springs Chamber in recent weeks. We'd love to have you join them - and us!

  • Cutler's
  • Law Offices of Daniel J. Harris
  • Bank of Ann Arbor
  • HUZZA
  • Admired in Harbor
  • Emmet Brick & Block
  • Thomas & Milliken Millwork
  • Highland Hideaway Bed & Breakfast
  • Pleasantview Winery
  • Bar Harbor
> Call 231-526-7999 or email us.
SPREAD THE NEWS - We'd love to send you the weekly Harbor Happenings newsletter. To subscribe, unsubscribe, advertise or submit your news, email info@harborspringschamber.com.
Disclaimer: Information presented in the HSACC Newsletter does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce or its membership. It is provided here as information only, as provided by member businesses & local organizations.