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Raven Hill embraces the future
while preserving the past
The Animal Room is one of the most popular areas at Raven Hill Discovery Center, and the youngsters at right above are especially interested in watching Sheldon the tortoise. It would be hard to count all the youngsters who were influenced by their Raven Hill experiences, but this edition of the Boyne Citizen includes an in-depth feature story by Geri Dietze with some real-world examples. There's a leadership transition in the works as well.
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Inside this issue...
- Vondra withdraws from Boyne City manager consideration
- Mayor defends city’s hiring process amid online criticism
- “No Kings” organizer’s goal was a “positive, peaceful” protest
- Halloween fun - 19 events from now through Oct. 31
- Resale Store’s annual outdoor pumpkin display brings smiles
- Raven Hill embraces the future while preserving the past
- FERC says Boyne River Dam has no adverse findings
- Warm hearts and 210 warm kids - Dress for Chill project
- "Bear River Boys" clean up Melrose Park
- Patrick McCleary history: Boyne Halloween festivities
- News briefs and Obituaries
- Municipal news: City leaf pickup & paving updates
- Thanks to the donors who keep the news coming!
- Music and entertainment listings
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| | Sheriff Vondra withdraws from Boyne City manager consideration | | |
By Annie Doyle Grove, annie@boynecitizen.com
The city’s search for a new permanent manager hit another setback this week after Charlevoix County Sheriff Chuck Vondra withdrew his application just hours before his scheduled interview.
A special meeting had been called for Wednesday, Oct. 22, for the Boyne City Commission to interview Vondra as a finalist for the city manager position. However, Mayor Tim Nemecek confirmed that Vondra contacted the city clerk earlier that day to remove himself from consideration.
“Chuck decided to pull out,” Nemecek said. “He let us know by email that he was no longer pursuing the position.”
Nemecek said the timing came as a surprise. “It was disappointing,” he said. “We were looking forward to hearing from him and seeing what he might bring to the position.”
Commissioner Marty Moody said the news was unexpected and difficult for the commission. “It’s unfortunate,” Moody said. “There were strong feelings on social media about the idea of him being interviewed, and I think that contributed to his decision to step away.”
Vondra, who has served as Charlevoix County sheriff since 2009, was one of several candidates identified through the city’s search consultant. His interview had been scheduled to be held in open session as part of the city’s ongoing effort to fill the top administrative post.
Nemecek said the commission would continue reviewing other applicants already in the process. “We have several candidates who’ve expressed interest,” he said. “The commission will review those and determine next steps.”
Despite the setback, Nemecek said the city remains committed to finding the right person for the role. “We’ll keep moving forward,” he said. “The goal remains to find the right fit for Boyne City.”
Moody said the commission’s focus hasn’t changed. “We’ve been at this for a while, and everyone’s ready for some stability,” he said. “We want someone who fits this community and understands what Boyne City is about.”
Later Wednesday night, the City Commission voted to move forward with interviews of four of the remaining seven candidates still under consideration for the position.
| | Mayor defends city’s hiring process amid online criticism | | |
By Annie Doyle Grove, annie@boynecitizen.com
During a special meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 22, Boyne City Mayor Tim Nemecek addressed growing social media criticism over how the City Commission has handled its search for a new city manager — a process that has stretched on for more than seven months and included dozens of public meetings.
The meeting had been scheduled to include an interview with Charlevoix County Sheriff Chuck Vondra, who was being considered for the position, but Vondra withdrew before the interview. Commissioners later moved into closed session to discuss other potential candidates.
Before entering closed session, Nemecek read a detailed, two-page memo outlining the city’s timeline and defending the commission’s actions against what he described as misinformation being circulated online.
“The Boyne City Commission has remained consistent and transparent in every step of the city manager hiring process,” Nemecek said, reading from the memo. “Recent social media posts have circulated inaccurate information that misrepresents this process and the intent of today’s meeting.”
The memo, which Nemecek entered into the public record, lists 32 public meetings held since the hiring process began on March 14. Of those, 19 included the city manager search as a formal agenda item. He noted that the city has conducted 10 interviews with a total of 18 candidates, with several receiving second interviews.
Nemecek said all meetings have been properly noticed and recorded in accordance with the Michigan Open Meetings Act, and that closed sessions are only used when candidates have requested confidentiality — a protection allowed under state law.
“Today’s potential closed session is not an attempt to conceal or rush a decision,” he said. “It is a legal and ethical requirement to respect candidates who have formally requested to remain confidential during the application process.”
Commissioner Sandy Pritchard echoed the mayor’s remarks, saying she was frustrated by online claims suggesting the commission has not acted in good faith.
“We’ve reviewed more than 40 candidates and held 19 focused meetings on this search,” Pritchard said. “The implication that this commission has behaved with anything less than integrity is unfair. What’s being said online has not been helpful.”
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“No Kings” organizer Penny Hardy’s goal was a “positive, peaceful” protest
By Annie Doyle Grove, annie@boynecitizen.com
More than 200 residents and visitors gathered in front of City Hall and on Lake Street on Saturday, Oct. 18, for a “No Kings Day” demonstration — part of a series of nationwide peaceful protests organized to promote civic engagement and respect for constitutional principles.
Participants waved American flags and held handmade signs with messages about democracy, freedom and the rule of law. Despite steady rain and cool weather, the event remained upbeat, drawing honks and waves from passing drivers.
The demonstration was organized by Penny Hardy, 73, a lifelong Boyne City resident who began holding local marches earlier this year. Her first event in January drew just eight participants, but attendance has grown steadily since.
“It’s really been about people coming together to express care for our country and its founding ideals,” Hardy said. “We’ve never had an issue with violence or anger — just people standing together peacefully.”
Hardy, whose late father served as a district court judge in Charlevoix County, said she was raised to value fairness and the rule of law, lessons that have guided her involvement in organizing civic demonstrations.
She emphasized that the Boyne City gatherings — which began independently but now align with similar “No Kings Day” events in Petoskey and other nearby towns — are nonpartisan in nature.
“I encourage everyone to pay attention to what’s happening around them, to think critically, and to stay informed,” Hardy said. “The more we talk respectfully about important issues, the stronger our communities become.”
Protesters ranged from longtime residents to newcomers, including families, retirees, and college students home for the weekend. Some carried signs reading “Liberty & Justice for All” and “Workers Over Billionaires,” while others simply displayed American flags.
Hardy said the next gathering is planned for November, with hopes of continuing the monthly events through the winter.
“Our goal is to keep conversations going in a positive, peaceful way,” she said. “That’s what democracy is all about.”
| "No Kings" protestors lined North Lake Street on a rainy Saturday morning. | | |
The Boyne City Halloween Costume Parade marches around downtown starting at 4:45 p.m. on Oct. 31.
Halloween fun from now through Oct. 31
> BEFORE HALLOWEEN:
BOYNE FALLS MONSTER BASH - Boyne Falls School invites everyone to join them at their Monster Bash from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. Admission is $8 per person or $20 per family. The event includes Trunk or Treat, a family dance with DJ T-Bone Thompson, dinner and a costume contest. If you are interested in being a trunk contact Meredith via text at 231-675-3340 to register.
HALLOWEEN HOOPLA comes to Boyne Mountain the weekend of Oct. 24-25 with character meet-and-greets, a magic show, face painting, wagon rides, and trick-or-treating across the resort. Details.
SKATE NIGHT - Get ready for a frightfully fun evening at Pied Piper Roller Rink in Walloon Lake as they celebrate Halloween with a special Skate Night & Costume Contest from 2-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 with costume judging at 5 p.m. Roll in your most creative, spooky, or hilarious costume and join them for a night full of music, games, and Halloween vibes for the whole family. Snacks and refreshments will be available for purchase. Admission is $8 per person, and skate rentals are $2 per person. Details.
SPOOKY TRAIL & BONFIRE - The Boyne Area Skate Park in Rotary Park is hosting a Haunted Trail Saturday, Oct. 25, from 4-9 p.m. and a Bonfire Fundraiser from 4-11 p.m. Admission is by donation, which will support the development of the Skate Park in Rotary Park. All donations will receive a ticket and will be entered in hourly drawings for prizes like skate wheels, decks, Tees, merch and posters. Details on Facebook.
TRUNK N’ READ - Boyne City Elementary School is hosting its annual Trunk n' Read Event on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 3-4:30 p.m. at the front parking lot. It's going to be a spooktacular time with trick-or-treating, free books, fun literacy items, donuts and cider, Scholastic Book Fair, the Boyne District Library Bookmobile and more. Parents must stay with their children during this family event.
EAGLES HALLOWEEN FOR KIDS - The Boyne City Eagles are bringing back their Children’s Halloween Party from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.
AVALANCHE BAY WATERPARK transforms into a ghostly aquatic playground for a Halloween-inspired Glow Night from 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. As darkness falls, the waterpark comes alive with an eerie glow. Experience your favorite slides and attractions in a whole new light – or lack thereof. Each guest receives a glowing necklace and bracelet, turning you into luminous spirits of the night. Evening passes for non-lodging guests are $32 for juniors and $36 for adults. Tiny Splashers, ages 2 and under, splash free. Details.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS - Several area bars and restaurants are planning Halloween parties and costume contests on Saturday, Oct. 25, including BC Lanes, Cafe Sante and Red Mesa Grill. Muskrat Distillery is having a Karaoke Costume Contest on the 31st. For details, check our Music and Entertainment listings at the end of this newsletter.
CHALLENGE MOUNTAIN SPOOKTACULAR - Join them for the seventh annual Spooktacular on Sunday, Oct. 26 for an inclusive Halloween celebration. From 1-4 p.m, come out to the old Challenge Mountain Lodge for fun games, crafts, tricks, and treats for all. Plus, the Mud Brothers will be on hand for ATV rides up to the top of the mountain. This event is free, family-friendly, and open to disabled individuals of all ages. See this flyer for contact and additional info. 2205 N. Springbrook Road in Boyne Falls.
> HALLOWEEN EVENTS ON FRIDAY, OCT. 31:
OFFICIAL HOURS - The City of Boyne City official trick or treating hours are 5 to 8 p.m.
BOYNE CITY COSTUME PARADE is set to go, despite some downtown street construction. Area residents are invited to start Halloween night with downtown Boyne City's annual costume parade. Everyone is welcome to join the fun - young, old and four-legged. Bring a chair if you prefer to sit and watch all the great costumes. Line-up begins in front of Lake Street Market, 306 S. Lake St., at 4:30 p.m., and the parade begins at 4:45. It will wind around downtown from Lake Street to Water Street to Park Street, ending at the Boyne District Library.
LIBRARY BOOKMOBILE will be open for trick-or-treating from 5 p.m. until they run out of treats.
TRUNK OR TREAT - Just one block south of the library, the First Presbyterian Church will feature their famous Trunk or Treat on Halloween Night. Organizer Paula Larson encourages people to make Trunk or Treat their first stop, because they usually run out of candy by 6 or 6:30 p.m. “Everyone is welcome to join our trunk line to make Halloween a safe environment for the ghosts, princesses, and Spider-Men in our community” she said. “Folks who would like to participate, please have your vehicles parked along Pine Street opposite the Presbyterian Church with their trunks open by 5 p.m. Plan on over 800 pieces of individually wrapped candy to pass out to the kids.”
BOYNE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT will be giving out treats at Trunk or Treat at the Presbyterian Church.
FIRE AND EMS DEPARTMENTS will be handing out treats from 5 to 8 p.m. at Boyne City Hall.
SPOOKY HIKE - The Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy will host a family-friendly Spooky Hike at the Postle Farm Preserve from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31. There will be trick-or-treating along the trail, apple cider and more. Guests are encouraged to wear their costumes. All ages are welcome, but parents must be present with their children.
BOYNE AREA SENIOR CENTER is hosting a Halloween Celebration and luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at 411 E. Division St., Boyne City. On the menu: Spooky Baked Spaghetti with Eyeball Meatballs, Vampire Garlic Bread, Graveyard Zucchini, Swamp Monster Soup du Jour, Fruit, and a Special Halloween Dessert. Details on their activity calendar.
LITZENBURGER PLACE invites everyone for trick or treating from 5 to 7 p.m. at 829 S. Park St. All ages are welcome to enjoy carnival games with prizes, food and drinks, and a haunted room - "or just come in to rest your feet and relax."
THE BROOK OF BOYNE CITY invites all ages to join them for trick or treating from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 701 Vogel Street.
> SATURDAY, NOV. 1:
SPOOKY MIDDLE SCHOOL - Boyne City Middle School will host spooky Halloween parties from 5:30-7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, for fifth and sixth graders, and from 7:30-9 p.m. for seventh and eighth graders. Dress in your Halloween costume and dance the night away with your friends. Start by walking the always popular haunted hallway that leads into the spooky cafeteria. Eat pizza, drink cider and enjoy a variety of homemade treats. This year they are adding carnival games to go with the glow light DJ dance party. There will be prizes for the best costumes. Suggested donation is $5. Parents are asked to check their emails for Sign-up Genius. Details. Have questions? Email bcmsramblers@gmail.com.
> ADD YOUR EVENT to this list - email jim@boynecitizen.com.
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Challenge Mountain Resale Store’s annual outdoor pumpkin display brings smiles
For the third year in a row, the Challenge Mountain Resale Store is bringing creativity and festive fun to the community with its outdoor pumpkin display, a colorful tradition that began as a volunteer appreciation event.
The display started in 2022 with a whimsical twist - pumpkins painted to resemble Minions from “Despicable Me.” The positive response from the community was overwhelming, inspiring staff and volunteers to make the rotating displays an annual feature. This year, the Challenge Mountain team took the tradition to new heights, painting 125 pumpkins, up from 100 the previous year.
“Each pumpkin is a little work of art,” said Alaina Farrington, Resale Store assistant manager. “It’s so much fun to involve our volunteers and to share their creativity. Every Minion is unique, and the whole display brings joy to people heading to work and school.”
Over the past three years, the pumpkins have taken on a variety of themes, including football, volleyball, homecoming, water tubing, and even playful ghosts for Halloween. They also continue to participate in Boyne City’s annual Harvest Festival — this year as a rock band. Collaboration with the Boyne City High School Rambler Sports Network will bring the pumpkins to life once again with the second annual Minion video. “Watch Facebook for links to the video in late October,” Farrington said. New this year, Resale Store volunteers constructed the world’s smallest suspension bridge — just one of the evolving themes. “It was amazing,” she says.
The Challenge Mountain Resale Store is the primary funding source for the organization’s adaptive recreational programs, making these festive pumpkins not just about fun but also about supporting a meaningful mission. Every display draws the attention of passersby, with community members anticipating what new theme will pop up each year.
“We get comments all the time about how much the display makes people smile,” Farrington said. “It’s become something that everyone looks forward to, so watch for the evolving theme throughout the month of October.”
> Learn more about Challenge Mountain at challengemtn.org. The Resale Store is open Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Donations of gently used household goods, clothing, sporting equipment, furniture, boats, bikes and cars are accepted on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:30am until full. Call 231-582-6966 for information.
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Raven Hill’s leadership triumvirate, from left: Brandon Hill, Hiring Committee chair; Cheri Leach, founder and program director; and Haley Breniser, executive director.
Worlds away, just down the road: Raven Hill embraces the future while preserving the past
By Geri Dietze, gdietze27@gmail.com
Last summer, the Boyne Citizen announced a big change for Raven Hill Discovery Center, the expansive, eye-popping educational site in the wooded hills southwest of Boyne City: For the first time since its founding in 1991, Raven Hill will be under the guidance of a new executive director, Haley Breniser, who joins founder and now Program Director Cheri Leach. Leach, a science educator, along with husband Tim, created the learning center for hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math experiences, along with the arts, for kids and adults. Clearly, the Leaches were ahead of their time, as today, schools everywhere call this combo STEM, and now STEAM, with the addition of an arts component. (Tim Leach passed away in 2013, but his presence and influence are felt everywhere throughout the property.)
Impact across the generations
Raven Hill has been a go-to resource for area schools since its beginnings, whether it involves field trips to the 170-acre site, or in-school events, and Boyne City has benefitted in ways big and small from involvement with Raven Hill programs. Fourth grade teacher and 2025 Rambler Impact Award recipient Roger Coates has taken his students to Raven Hill “about 10 to 15 times” in his 23-year career at Boyne City Elementary School.
“The students' reactions are always filled with wonderment,” he says. “When we go to the reptile room, I can imagine kids thinking, ‘Yes, this is what I want to do when I grow up.’ Or when we walk into the room with REAL elements from the [wall-sized] periodic table, my future chemists are imagining the possibilities…”
Raven Hill actually captivates all ages: a visiting chemistry professor once spent hours with the giant display.
From childhood wonder to career path
It would be hard to count all the youngsters who were influenced by their Raven Hill experiences, but there are some real-world examples.
Boyne City High School graduate Brie Van Dam spent several summers immersed in Raven Hill activities. “She loved the science-based classes, and wading in the stream with Tim Leach,” her mother Jean Van Dam remembers. Today Brie uses her doctorate in atmospheric chemistry in Finland, where she studies peat restoration and climate change.
Caroline “Libby” Talsma Simon, MD, is assistant professor of pediatrics and perinatal pathology at U of M’s Michigan Medicine. She is a resident of Ann Arbor and spent her summers in Northern Michigan. “The summers…at Raven Hill resulted in my love of science and my career in medicine. Cheri and her team were magic, providing me hands-on experience in the science of how things work,” she explains. “Raven Hill nurtured a love of learning in me that has lasted a lifetime. This summer, I was delighted to return to the center [to] introduce my two little boys to the magic that only happens at Raven Hill.”
And, Andrew Sasso, son of board member Holly Sasso, found his future calling as a child at Raven Hill. Today he uses his masters of science degree as Senior Project Geoscientist for mining giant Rio Tinto in Santiago, Chile.
What’s happening out there?
Raven Hill’s indoor and outdoor spaces are about connections - those crucial links between art, history, and science that inform our culture, illustrate our past, and generate the kind of critical thinking and investigative curiosity that produces lifelong learners. For those unfamiliar with the Raven Hill magic, the center might seem like an exercise in collecting gone wild, but that would be incorrect. Every item is an artifact; every artifact is both a treasure and a link to a larger idea. “Someone referred to the collections as antiques,” Cheri Leach explains, “but they’re not antiques, they are points in time.”
Essentially, Raven Hill is a wide-ranging examination of the world, much of it interactive and hands-on. Through a collection of dedicated structures, outdoor exhibits, and a full roster of classes, workshops, and summer programs for kids, the center connects the world for our benefit.
From fine art exhibits to reptiles, from the Vintage Schoolhouse to the Evolving Technology building, Raven Hill embraces knowledge in all its forms. From kid-size models of the Sphinx and Stonehenge to the Wetlands Boardwalk, to the found objects in the Music Garden; from an ancient Olmec mound to a Kenner Easy-bake Oven, circa 1963, Raven Hill has it - and for a reason. Cheri Leach estimates that the indoor and outdoor exhibits and experiences together number over 200, enough to create a sense of wonder at any age.
Reaching out, through technology
Raven Hill was birthed before the arrival of the internet, and it embraced new technology as it developed, but today’s tech motivates the new leadership as well. That positions Raven Hill for the decades ahead, as a viable self-supporting business through marketing, media, and expanded outreach. Executive Director Haley Breniser describes her main goal going forward as “capacity building,” the process by which an organization is able to function smoothly and continue to grow. Breniser plans to “Strengthen internal systems, expand donor engagement, and increase strategic partnerships to ensure long-term support and sustainability.”
And Brandon Hill, Raven Hill board member and spokesman, will use his tech background to optimal effect. Hill’s experience in social media led him to co-found an award-winning marketing agency in 2012, combining the stunning reach of technology with the human element that grounds every good marketing campaign. Among his agency’s work are Times Square billboards and Super Bowl halftime shows, so expect Raven Hill to significantly broaden its reach and its star quality under his guidance.
Making it all work
Twenty-five percent of the Raven Hill budget is generated from earned revenue, including admission fees paid by on-site visitors. Leach estimates that Raven Hill sees 8,000 to 10,000 visitors every year, including people of all ages through both onsite visits and outreach programs that visit schools, libraries, festivals, and organizations. The remainder of the funding comes from grants, memberships, and a wide variety of individual donations (51%) of all sizes, from a core group of 200 donors both near and far, including East Jordan and Boyne City, northern Michigan and around the world.
Leach explains, “Some people give to the annual campaign, while others give as part of their end-of-year allocations.” Support also comes from the Petoskey–Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation and the Charlevoix County Community Foundation, plus a wide range of family and corporate foundations.
Building the volunteer base
An additional component of capacity building is increasing the number of volunteers, especially the younger generations, to join the 50 or so current volunteers who help out, when needed, in a variety of ways, from once or twice a week, to donating specialized skills and filling in during special events. Director Breniser plans to build upon this core group to add a number of docents, or volunteer guides, as visitors move from era and epoch, century and millennium, among the indoor and outdoor exhibits.
Boyne City’s Ed May and his wife Pat have been volunteering at Raven Hill for about 20 years. “They were the most rewarding times one can imagine,” Ed May says. The Raven Hill experience is “direct and first-hand. Participants are encouraged to do it themselves.”
Into the future
Breniser emphasizes the community role in successful nonprofits. “The bottom line is, community matters,” she says, adding that from Traverse City to St. Ignace, people recognize Raven Hill. “They say, ‘I love that place!,’ and that sort of community response in the nonprofit world is unique. You can’t make that up; it’s the real deal.”
> Head to www.miravenhill.org to get the full scope of Raven Hill, its mission, and its programs, including dozens of ready-to-go STEM and STEAM projects to do at home or in the classroom. Learn how to donate and to volunteer. Or… plan your nuptials. Raven Hill has even hosted a wedding on its beautiful grounds. Raven Hill is located at 4737 Fuller Road, East Jordan, MI 49727, phone 231-536-3369. From Labor Day to Memorial Day, it is open on weekends only - Saturdays 12-4 p.m. and Sundays 2-4 p.m. The center is also open by reservation.
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These girls are froggin' in the Raven Hill pond.
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Raven Hill is a learning center for hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math experiences, along with the arts.
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Kids get up close and personal with all kinds of animals, including this corn snake.
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| Tricia Wilcox's son Oliver likes what he sees in a floor-level mirror at Raven Hill. | |
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FERC says Boyne River Dam has no adverse findings
By Jamie Baumann, jamie@boynecitizen.com
An engineer with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission notified Boyne USA on Oct. 14 that its updated Emergency Action Plan, Dam Safety Surveillance and Monitoring Plan, and Dam Safety, Surveillance, and Monitoring Report comply with the annual reporting requirement and that the Boyne River Hydroelectric Project "is performing adequately with no adverse findings."
Kevin Griebenow, an engineer for the Chicago Regional Office of the Division of Dam Safety and Inspections, requested that Boyne USA include the following items in the 2025 Dam Safety Surveillance and Monitoring Report due April 1, 2026:
1. The data from active instrumentation should be evaluated. The evaluation
should include a statement that the data shown by each instrument is consistent
with reasonable design assumptions or, if not, list the instruments that are
inconsistent, why actual performance is not consistent with design
assumptions, and the action(s) required to investigate or an explanation to
accept the inconsistency.
2. A headwater elevation should be measured and recorded while the observation
wells are read. All readings should be relative to a common horizontal datum
for comparing to threshold limits and previous readings.
3. Time vs. readings plots should be included. Plots of all data should be
developed to illustrate long-term trends.
4. A plan drawing of the project structures showing instrument locations should be included.
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Team members from Pat O’Brien and Associates visited the Dress for Chill “Dress Day” at the Boyne City Elementary School. After watching the young children admiring themselves clad in their new winter gear in the full-length mirrors, the realtors presented Boyne Eta Nu Charities with a $6,500 donation to jump-start next year’s project. Pat O’Brien and Associates have supported this project for many years, and since their first contribution, they have donated a cumulative amount of over $75,000.
Warm hearts and 210 warm kids - Eta Nu completes Dress for Chill project
While we may not be ready for the snow to fly in Northern Michigan quite yet, more than 210 children at Boyne City Elementary School and the Early Learners and Head Start programs will be prepared when it does. Boyne Eta Nu Charities recently completed their 2025 Dress for Chill Project. This program, now in its 18th year, provides all new outerwear – jacket, snowpants, boots, hat and mittens – to children preschool age through fourth grade whose families apply for this assistance.
Boyne Eta Nu Charities is a leader in several projects throughout the year that support the residents of Boyne City, but Dress for Chill is their most intense and most costly annual undertaking. After having run the project for many years, the group has refined the inventory process, the shopping needs and purchasing, the storage of the new clothing and the actual “dress the children” days. It is the work of many dedicated women.
The beloved program is funded solely by donations from local businesses, organizations and individuals, along with some locally sourced grant money. The group is now beginning to seek funding for the 2026 Dress for Chill Program.
The women of Boyne Eta Nu Charities are grateful for all the support they have received over the years from the close-knit Boyne community. If you would like to donate to this project, you may send a check to the group at P.O. Box 133, Boyne City, MI 49712. To donate online, visit Boyneetanu.org.
| | Eta Nu members are getting local children "dressed for chill." | | |
"Bear River Boys" clean up Melrose Park
The Melrose Township Park in Walloon Village received the gift of more than 100 hours of volunteer labor from the residents at Bear River Health during the week of October 13 - shown in photos above and below. They call themselves the Bear River Boys, and during the summer they have been regular visitors to the park and were appreciative of having such a wonderful space to enjoy. Manning rakes, shovels and other hand tools, they removed grass and weeds from the play areas, beach, and volleyball court. The many hands made short work of the big task. They quickly disposed of grass and weeds by wheelbarrow loads.
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ROBOTICS OPEN HOUSE & TAILGATE - Planning on attending the last regular home football game on Friday night? Stop by at the robotics room and meet the team, grab some grub and see what Boyne City Blaze is all about. Details.
FINAL TACO TUESDAY - North Country Cycle Shop has announced that their last Taco Tuesday event of the season is set for Oct. 28 - wheels rolling 5:30ish, tacos served 6:30ish at the Boyne Forest Trail - Old Horton Bay Lot. The ride and taco production line will be starting a bit early for this one to beat the sunset. There will be parking lot lights for those wanting to kick it a bit longer. Costumes encouraged. Organizers invite everyone to “ride bikes, eat delicious tacos, hang out with your buddies, meet new people, and raise funds for future trail development.
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS - Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors of Boyne City is hosting the Boyne Area Chamber Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, at 231 E. Water St. The business networking event is co-sponsored by Red Mesa Grill and Chicago Title. Appetizers and drinks are provided, and there is no admission fee. Those attending can enter to win a gift basket from Boyne Provisions.
CHRISTMAS WREATHS - The Boyne Valley Garden Club’s annual Holiday Wreath and Garland Sale continues through Nov. 1. This sale is the club’s biggest fundraiser and they need to raise about $8,500 to cover the cost of flowers and soil additives for next summer’s gardens throughout the city. “We hope you will continue to support our efforts to create a ‘Beautiful Boyne’ again in the summer of 2026,” said club president Mary Foucard. Order forms are available from Garden Club members and at the Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce and can be dropped off there. You can also order online. Orders are due Nov. 1. Anyone with questions may email monica@monicaross.com.
TURKEY DRIVE - Good Neighbors Food Pantry is kicking off its annual “Let’s Talk Turkey” campaign to help put Thanksgiving meals on the tables of families in need. For every $20 donation, the pantry will provide a household with a complete Thanksgiving dinner, including a turkey and all the fixings. Donations can be made in several ways:
- Drop off cash or checks at Pat O’Brien and Associates Real Estate in Boyne City throughout November.
- Mail a tax-deductible check to Good Neighbors Food Pantry, P.O. Box 35, Boyne City, MI 49712.
Donate online at www.goodneighborsboyne.org.
FRESHWATER CONCERT SERIES will start Saturday, Oct. 25, with the return of Steve Poltz. Call Freshwater Art Gallery and Concert Venue at 231-582-2588 to reserve tickets for $45.
BOYNE AREA SENIOR CENTER is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and serves daily lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For seniors ages 60+, the donation is $3, for ages 59 and under, $8, and for children 12 and under, $6. Starting Oct. 1, the 59 and under meals are $10, and the 12 and under meals are $8. All 60 and older meals are staying the same at a $3 suggested donation for each meal. Here is the October lunch menu, and the October activity calendar.
| | City of Boyne City Municipal News | | |
City leaf pickup: Mondays and Fridays through Nov. 14
The City will collect bagged leaves on Mondays and Fridays from now through November 14. After that time, residents are responsible for their own disposal.
Set bagged leaves curbside any time after the first day of pickup. City crews will collect bags as time allows. If your bags have been out for a while and haven’t been picked up, call City Hall at 231-582-6597.
Leaves must be in biodegradable paper yard waste bags (available at local hardware stores or other suppliers). These bags are not strong enough for sticks, sand, or stones, so please bag leaves only.
No plastic bags — leaves in traditional trash bags will not be collected.
Brush will not be picked up, but residents can take brush and leaves (bagged or loose) to the North Boyne Compost Site at the end of Robinson Street. Residents, please contact City Hall at 231-582-6597 before using the site. Commercial businesses may use the site with their City-issued permit.
Work continues on street projects
Water Street, Main Street, and Front Street – Milling was scheduled for October 22, with paving to follow October 23-25, weather permitting.
Please use caution when traveling through work zones and be mindful of crews and equipment. Thank you for your patience as these important street improvements are completed.
OFFICES CLOSING - City Hall offices will be temporarily closed on Wednesday, October 29, from 10-11 a.m. for the purpose of an all-staff educational meeting. Normal operations will resume after 11a.m.
MAPLE LAWN CEMETERY - As we prepare for the colder months ahead, please note the following important updates for the Maple Lawn Cemetery:
- Cemetery water service has been shut off for the remainder of the year.
- All real and artificial flowers, decorations, and arrangements will be removed beginning November 1 as part of our annual winterization.
- If you wish to keep any items placed at gravesites, we encourage you to collect them before November 1.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS - The City of Boyne City has received the ballots for the November 4, City Commission Election and has mailed them to voters on the Permanent Absentee Ballot List. Absentee ballots can also be issued to voters wishing to vote absentee through Monday, November 3, at 4 p.m. All absentee ballots must be returned by 8 PM on Election Day to be counted. Find important dates and a sample ballot online.
- The City-Wide General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 4. Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
- The Boyne City F. Grant Moore Municipal Marina closed for the season on Wednesday, October 15.
- The Fish Cleaning Station will be closing for the season on Friday, October 31
- Boyne City Trick or Treat hours are from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, October 31.
| | SIGN UP FOR CITY ALERTS - The City of Boyne City has launched a new Alerts feature on our website to help you stay up-to-date on projects, notices, and other important things happening around town. It’s designed to be a quick, easy way to get real-time updates, as they become available, directly to your email or phone. Sign up at: https://www.boynecity.gov/enotify/index.php. | | |
CITY MEETINGS – Click here for board information, agendas, and minutes.
> City Commission's next regular meeting is at 12 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28. Agenda page.
| | |
THROUGH THE HISTORIAN'S LENS
Early Boyne Halloween festivities: costume balls and elaborate house parties
By Patrick McCleary, Throughthehistorianslens@gmail.com
The Charlevoix County History Preservation Society
Halloween 2025 is fast approaching - a tradition that dates back some 2,000 years and is still celebrated today. Ireland, the United Kingdom and much of France celebrated this day annually on November 1st. This day marked the end of summer, end of harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31st, they celebrated the Celtic “Samhain,” when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.
As Christianity spread, the Roman church made November 2nd “All Souls Day” or “All Saints Day.” This was considered a day to honor the dead. It’s widely believed today that the church was attempting to replace the more Pagan festival of the dead with a related, church-sanctioned holiday. All Souls Day was celebrated in a very similar
manner - big bonfires, parades and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels and devils. All Saints Day celebrations were also referred to as “All-Hallows” or “All-Hallows Mas.” And the night before it, our traditional October 31st night, began to be called All-Hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.
Halloween traditions in America have, perhaps, the most diverse cultural background of any celebrated event here in the United States. The first celebrations included “play parties,” which were public gatherings held to celebrate the harvest. Neighbors would gather, share stories of family members and friends who had passed away over the past year, eat, dance, sing, and tell fortunes. Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and the mischief-making of the imps and fairies who were generally blamed for the antics provoked by the storyteller him/herself.
As immigrants from all countries began to populate the American landscape, we began to borrow from European traditions. Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today’s “trick-or-treat” tradition. Young women believed that on Halloween they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings, tea leaves or mirrors. In the late 1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers than about ghosts, pranks and witchcraft.
| | Some early children's Halloween costumes - clowns, a wizard and Little Bo Peep. | | |
At the turn of the last century, “stag parties” were quite common occurrences with both women and couples. The amusement came in dressing like the opposite gender as seen in this party of Boyne City “gents.” Photograph courtesy of the Patrick McCleary Collection.
At the turn of the 20th century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season, and festive costumes. Parents were encouraged by newspapers and from community leaders to take anything “frightening” or “grotesque” out of Halloween celebrations. Because of these efforts, by the early 20th century, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones. Don’t misunderstand - witches, warlocks, devils and the like still reigned as popular costume choices - they were simply no longer viewed in an evil or malicious way.
Costumes themselves were rapidly changing as well. Before the days of pre-packaged, store-bought masks, papier mâché faces were decorated and worn with everyday clothing or a simple bedsheet covering. Sometimes an actual pumpkin was carved with a scary or comical face and worn on the head! For those with the means (and the talent) costuming itself became much more elaborate.
Boyne City was no stranger to Halloween festivities. In the early days, costume balls for the adult population were often combined with fundraising events for various fraternal groups, the fire department and the building of schools and parks. The Wolverine-Dilworth Hotel was a popular party destination and hosted many elaborate Halloween gatherings. Many of these were connected with the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches, as the majority of the hotel’s stockholders were of these faiths.
Newspaper accounts also document the elaborate house parties hosted by members of these church congregations. Many of these parties, including the church events, are said to have included the reading of crystal balls, Tarot cards and tea leaves - all in fun.
As the 1950s approached, town leaders had successfully limited pranks of sheer vandalism, and Halloween had evolved into a holiday directed mainly at the younger generation. Due to the high numbers of young children being born during the 1950s baby boom, parties moved from town civic centers into the classrooms, churches and homes, where they could be more easily accommodated. Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old practice of trick-or-treating was also revived. Trick-or-treating was a relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration.
In theory, families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the
neighborhood children with small treats. What began in simpler days
as homemade treats such as cookies quickly grew to mass-produced candy and
other sweets, purchased rather than made at home.
| | |
Looks like a nice group of folks and a fun party venue too… right here in Boyne City. I know that a closer look will allow some of our readers to name some or all of the men and women who appear here. The only known individual at this time is Arthur K. Rouse - second from the left in the back row of men. This photo was found among a local family’s collection and donated to me for use in helping to document Boyne City’s remarkable local history. I couldn’t do this project without your assistance. Email Patrick - Throughthehistorianslens@gmail.com.
| | Another Halloween party to occur here in Charlevoix County- this one c1910. It appears that there is only one witch (seated next to the flag with witch’s emblem and the younger members of the group clad as ghosts. Anyone with knowledge of who these ladies are or the name of the group, please make contact (Throughthehistorianslens@gmail.com) and share. Photograph courtesy of the Patrick McCleary Collection. | | > Patrick McCleary is a Certified Genealogist affiliated with the Charlevoix County History Preservation Society (CCHPS), 12555 Taylor Road, Charlevoix, MI 49720. The CCHPS promotes the understanding and appreciation of the heritage of the people of Charlevoix County and its townships by seeking out, collecting, preserving, and interpreting artifacts of historical and cultural significance. For further information, contact Patrick by email: Throughthehistorianslens@gmail.com. | | |
Thank you to the generous donors who are supporting local journalism and the Boyne Citizen!
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2025 Donors
This week's new donors are listed in bold.
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Founding Donor
$5000+
Charlevoix County Community Foundation
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The Hill Donors
$1000 - $4999
Kirk and Lynne Jabara
Cortright Family Community Fund
Pat and Jane O'Brien
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Avalanche Donors
$500-$999
Stowe Family Fund
Frank and Chris Carleton
Lynne Ross
Bud and Nancy Shear
Ashley Cousens
Richard Bergmann
Jim and Jamie Baumann
Howard and Marcia Newkirk
Paula Larson
Sally Hara
Lake Charlevoix Donors
$100 to $499
Bekah Rutz and David Osterhouse
Karen Colburn
Monica Peck
Karen S. Mertz
Betsy and Steve Schnell
Gary Coffer
Robin Stanley
Brett Binkley
Andy Schmittdiel
Gow Litzenburger
Ken Schrader
Terry and Marilyn Neilsen
Leslie Neilson
Lawrence Organek
Kyle Roberts
Gregg and Dee Smith
Ward Collins
Jo Ellen Rudolph
Gayle Harbaugh
Kristine Brehm
Christine A. Judd
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John Hoffman
Glen Catt
Beverly Neville
Jim and Kathe Carter
Penny Hardy
Jeanine Larsen
Cindy and Bill Binder
Richard Wright
Bill Aten
Jo and Ron Danczak
Marilyn A. and Jock Rader
Marcia and Howard Newkirk
Velma and Wes Dilworth
Gail and Ron Van Horn
The Frykberg Family
Tom Schraw and Pam Cislo
Richard M. Hodgson II
Miriam Hollar
Don Ryde
Catherine Bowers
Carl and Sally VanDomelen
Nord and Pat Schroeder
The Tosch Family
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Carol Ross
Roger and Pat Jacobson
The Tripp Family
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Steve and Carole Drake
Caren Peltier
Al and Susan Newville
Linda Knibbs
Donald and Laurie Owen
Judith Gardner
Linda Burnham
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Ann Knutsen
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Heaton Veterinary Hospital
John Princing
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Mike Sheean
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Lynn Smith
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Bruce Krauskopf
Bill and Barb Bryant
Dean and Fran Solomon
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Kevin and Diane Krenn
Randy Parker
Mark and Pam Mathisen
John and Jane Rozycki
Jane Burger
Craig and Terri Reynolds
Matthew Blandford
Jane Stieber Amato and Tony Amato
Leon W. and Wendy J. Stadt
Richard and Paula Paul
Jim and Nancy McKinstry
Corine and Craig Babb
Gary and Kim Roberts
Randy and Betty Hackney
Catherine Pumford
Patti Jasper
Carol and Steve Persons
John Van Etten
Nancy Blandford
Anne Nemes
Charles Gremel
Mike and Liz Durbin
Rachel and Rocky Swiss
Ralph Gillette
Kathleen Warner
Karen Reynolds
Kimberly Altobello MacNaughton
Mike and Cheryl Delahanty
Diane M. Winchell
Nancy Cunningham
The Spang Family
Bob and Jackie Wollenberg
Stephen Wickens
John G. Jessup
Lisa and Ian Whitelaw
Susan Coyle
Elizabeth Jensen
Betsy and Steve Schnell
James Richman
John Stimpson
Larry Taylor
Carol Hanes-Nason
Skip Simms
Rob and Danielle Swartz
Carolee and Jeff Macfarlane
Richard and Maureen Shipley
Peter Moss
Gregory Damman
Polly Stillson
Anonymous
Rolf Bates
Robert SontagLauren MacIntyre
Cameron O'Keefe
Cheryl and Joe Wald
Ralph and Kathleen Galbraith
Tom and Debbie Neidhamer
Linda Burgert
(continued next column)
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Lake Charlevoix Donors (continued)
$100 to $499
Lynda Christensen
Ed and Cindy Grice
Mary Jane Cargill
Scott and Kelly Kennedy
Karen and Glenn Mertz
Christopher Jones
Brian and Charlotte Battjes
Kyle Marshall
Dave Skornia
Barbara and George Ellwanger
Beth and Jeff Freeman
Nancy and Steve Weber
JoEllen Rudolph
Derek & Michelle Shankland
Janice Salisbury
Mary Foucard
Sunset Beach Donors
$60- $99
Linda Larsen
Jack Laurent
Annabelle Hay
Kecia Freed
Kirk Kujawski
Vera Post
Polly Stillson
William Conklin
Marilyn Cousineau
Rebecca Miller
JoEllen Rudolph
Lynn Hall
Hylon Heaton III
Cheryl J. Leach
Julie Haase
David J. Graham
Julie Tokar
James Graves
Ken Allen
Clarence Rivette
Pat and Emil Nelson
"Friends of the Boyne Citizen"
Wirt-Rivette Group & MOXIE Development
Terry and Betty Desmond
Kathy Breedlove
Louis Califf
Paige Crim
Linda Wallace
Eleanor West
Bill and Dee Kelly
Dana Lorian and Ryan Hoenicke
Sharon Kemp
John Betts
Capt. Bob Goodenough
John Nantau
Aaron Nemec
Rob Stout
Monica Ross
Gary and Nicolette Blakeslee
Ashley Nosek
Paul and Colleen Kuehl
Mary Kaselitz
Kevin Wolfe
Matt and Maribeth Janer
Monica Peck
Pat and Nicole Little
JoEllen Gilbert
Gow Litzenburger
Alison and Jeff Williams
Perry Irish Hodgson
Julie Tokar
David Graham
Peggy and Jim Anthony
Eric Gold
Lynn Hall
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Peggy Kerr
Peninsula Beach Donors
$5 to $59
Deborah Schira
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Joel Epstein
Brian and Emily Tappan
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Cheryl Alger
Carole Shane and Michael Shell
Lucy Hartlove
Mitchell and Carly Klooster
Michelle Archer
Josephine Roberts
Kathy Fruge
Rodger and Janet Smith
Mark Christensen
Janice Salisbury
Jim Nielsen
Lynne Johnson
Richard and Gayle Bouters
John Miett
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Ron Pool
Babette Stenuis Stolz
William H. Gilbert
Mary Jean Larsen
Jeanine A. Larsen
Nancy Newman
Clark and Jill Vellis
Candy and Bob Greene
Marc Ressler
Ken and Nancy Visser
Philip Conklin
Bob and Bedonna Perish
Steve and Erin Zucker
Don Kaegi
Karen Jarema
Zachary Shalz
Jenell Kelsey Pawlus - A Storage Closet
David Mengebier
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Mary Clare Glabowicz
Lesley Pritchard
Cindy Simpson
Diana Winchell
Shelli Duff
JoAnn M. Smith
John George Martin
Nancy Dwan
Cheryl Tournaud
John McCahan
Mary Grayson
Jeanne and Denny Phelps
Joan and Vasco Zucchiatti
Kenneth Graham and Eileen Couchman
Frances Wolf
Lisa and Randy Zipp
Richard Persiani
Nancy Newman
Bill Schumann
Ronald and Susan Ludgin
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MUSIC, ARTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT
Please email your special events and music information to jim@boynecitizen.com.
AMERICAN LEGION Post 228 - 302 S Lake St., Boyne City, (231) 459-4188.
Bingo every Tuesday, open to the public, refreshments provided. Doors open at 3 p.m., play starts at 5, ending at 8.
BC LANES/THE VENUE BAR & GRILL - 1199 M-75 S, Boyne City, (231) 582-6353.
> Open bowling: 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays, 3-10 p.m. Fridays, 7-10 p.m. Saturdays, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays.
> Halloween Bash on Saturday, Oct. 25:
- Trunk or treat 4-7pm
- Walk the decorated laser tag arena pathway for kids
- $3 bowling games from 4-7pm
- Raffle for best kids costume
- Prize for best decorated car
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Adult party 8-11pm - prizes for best men's and women's costumes, drink specials and live music featuring Peril. Details.
BOYNE ARTS CENTER - 1 Water Street, Suite 203, Boyne City. (231) 622-2073.
> Upcoming classes and exhibits:
BOYNE CITY FARMERS MARKET - Indoors at the Veterans Park Pavilion, 207 N. Lake Street, Boyne City. (231) 582-9009. Open Saturdays, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM - 220 S. Lake St., Boyne City, (231) 459-4487.
Mondays, - Trivia
Thursdays - Adam and the Cabana Boys
Fridays - Patrick Ryan and Josh Raber
Saturdays and Sundays - college and NFL football. Food and beverage specials during games.
BOYNE MOUNTAIN - 1 Boyne Mountain Rd., Boyne Falls, (855) 688-7024.
> Weekly schedule of events and entertainment at all Boyne Mountain venues.
BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS - 05325 US 131 S, Petoskey, (231) 373-2090.
> LIVE MUSIC
Friday, Oct. 24 - Chase & Allie (4-7:30)
Saturday, Oct. 25 - Michelle Chenard (2-6)
CAFE SANTE - 1 Water St., Boyne City, (231) 582-8800.
> LIVE MUSIC
Mondays, 6-10 p.m. - The Shifties
Friday, Oct. 24 - Michelle Chenard, 7-10 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 25 - Halloween Tomfoolery Party featuring Sean Bielby. Ghoulish cocktails and a costume contest with gift cards for $75, $50 and $25. Register for the costume contest between 6 and 7:30 p.m. with judging at 8 p.m. Must be 18 to enter.
Friday, Oct. 31 - The Fridays, 7-10 p.m.
CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER - 461 E. Mitchell Street. Petoskey, (231) 347-4337.
> See website for updated art shows, entertainment, and children's activities.
> DOWNTOWN SOUND - Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) is proud to announce the Downtown Sound Performing Arts Series schedule for 2025-2026, running through March in the Petoskey area. This season features an eclectic mix of local, regional, and national talent, plus CTAC School of Ballet’s beloved fall and holiday performances. Downtown Sound tickets range from $10 to $60 and are available at www.crookedtree.org/downtownsound or by calling (231) 347-4337.
FRESHWATER GALLERY & CONCERT VENUE - 217 S Lake St., Boyne City, (231) 582-2588.
> Steve Poltz will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, to open Freshwater’s fall/winter concert series. Call to reserve tickets for $45.
GREAT LAKES CENTER FOR THE ARTS - 800 Bay Harbor Drive, Petoskey, (231) 439 -2600.
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Oct. 25 - Pace Live presents A Taste of Ireland. Experience the rhythm, spirit, and heart of Ireland - live on stage.
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Nov. 1 - Cantus. Exalting the Human Spirit Through Unmatched Vocal Harmony
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Nov. 15-16 - Tinsel & Tunes holiday concert with the Northern Michigan Chorale
- Nov. 21-22 - Great Lakes Dance Academy Presents A Christmas Carol: The Mixtape
- Dec. 6 - A Christmas Carol - Allen Fitzpatrick returns to the stage with his one-man adaptation of the beloved Dickens story.
- Dec. 11-12 - Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra presents Messiah by Candlelight
- Dec. 13 - Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra presents Family Holiday Pops Matinee, A Festive Concert of Carols, Classics, and Holiday Cheer for All Ages
- Dec. 15 - Dorothy Gerber Youth Orchestra presents A Holiday Strings Celebration
- Dec, 20-21 - Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet Presents The Nutcracker, A Holiday Classic Performed by Young and Professional Dancers from Northern Michigan
- Dec. 23 - Midtown Men Holiday Hits. Stars from the Original Broadway Cast of Jersey Boys
- Dec. 27 - An Evening with Graham Young of Michigan Rattlers. Intimate & Acoustic
LAKE STREET PUB - 202 S. Lake St., Boyne City, (231) 497-6031.
> TRIVIA NIGHT - Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m.
MUSKRAT DISTILLING - 121 Water St., Boyne City, (231) 268-0178.
> KARAOKE - 8 to 11 p.m. every Wednesday
> LIVE MUSIC:
Friday, Oct. 24 - The Shifties, 8 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 31 - Halloween Karaoke Costume Contest, 9 p.m.
PROVISIONS LOUNGE - 123 Water St., Boyne City, (231) 582-2151.
LIVE MUSIC, 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays.
RED MESA GRILL -117 Water St, Boyne City, (231) 582-0049.
LIVE MUSIC 6-9 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 25 - Halloween Party with David Cisco
Tuesday, Oct. 28 - David Lawston
STIGGS BREWERY & KITCHEN - 112 S. Park St., Boyne City, (231) 497-6100
> Nov. 5 and the first Wednesday of the month - Open Mic Nights hosted by Nelson Olstrom, 6-9 p.m.
> Nov. 8 and the second Saturday of the month - Karaoke with DJ T-Bone Thompson from 8-11 p.m.
WALLOON WATERSHED - 4128 M-75 , Walloon Lake, (231) 535-6048.
Live music 6-9 p.m.:
Wednesdays - Pete Kehoe
Thursdays - Laura Crowe
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