Weekly Biz Blast

SPONSOR THE BIZ BLAST

IS YOUR BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION IN NEED OF SOME GREAT EXPOSURE?

RESERVE YOUR SPOT AS A BIZ BLAST SPONSOR FOR ONLY $50/per wk.

THE COST IS AFFORDABLE AND THE EXPOSURE IS HIGH.

For more information, call the Chamber office at 231.547.2101 or email info@charlevoix.org

Halloween Crafting with CRA

October 17th, 24th, 31st

Come Join CRA in October for morning Craft time!

October 17th

October 24th

October 31st

No need to Register! Just come and have fun!

At the Community Recovery Alliance Community Center

322 Bay St. Unit 3

Petoskey Mi 49770

crami.org

Live Music at VUE by Hanna von B

October 18th

Don't miss out on LIVE MUSIC at VUE Wine Bar!

This will be Hanna von B's last 2024 performance at VUE! If you have not yet experienced Hanna's cool vibe and amazing covers you are in for a treat!

Stay tuned for more musicians coming soon to the VUE Fall/Winter LIVE Music Line-Up!

vuecharlevoix.com

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Simulcast at Odawa Casino

October 18th & 19th

Join us for two nights of shows of our fan favorite Rocky Horror Show in Victories Sports & Entertainment.

Doors 8PM | Show 9PM

Tickets are $10 - get yours now at: https://mynorthtickets.com/organizations/odawa-casino

Sweetest Party at Lost Cellars

October 19th

Join us this Saturday for our Sweetest Party!

Bring your sweetheart to Lost Cellars from 1-5pm and enjoy mulled wine, fondue and an open mic featuring Leebee Shaner.

lostvino.com

Polymer Clay Jewelry Making

October 19th

12-3pm

With Emily Gladding of Placed By Grace Designs.

charlevoixcircle.org

E.T.- Free Community Movie

October 19th

Join us for E.T. EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL ☆ FREE COMMUNITY MOVIE & FOOD DRIVE in partnership with 4FRONT CREDIT UNION on Saturday, OCTOBER 19 at 10:30.

Doors open at 10:00am. Concessions available for purchase. Bring a canned or dry good to donate to the Rayder Den

charlevoixcinema.com

Charlevoix Elks Club Blood Drive

October 21st

Join us for a Community Blood Drive and help save lives! Donating blood is a simple, powerful way to make a difference for those in need.

Every pint donated can help up to three people in emergencies, surgeries, and critical care. Your generosity could be the lifeline someone is waiting for—let's come together and make an impact!

elks.org

Northern Community Mediation 6th Annual Charlevoix Theatre Party

October 21st

What a deal! Northern Community Mediation's, Charlevoix Theatre Party is $35 per ticket or 2 tickets for $65 gets you a cocktail party at JAX with a cash bar, a movie of your choice at the Charlevoix Cinema and a chance to win one of several door prizes.

Or you can pay a little more and get either a 1/8, 1/4 or 1/2 page ad in the program along with extra tickets by being a sponsor. And, there are discount sponsorships for non-profit organizations. Call NCM at 231.487.1771 for more information.

northernmediation.org

North Country Opera- 40th Anniversary Revival

October 22nd

North Country Opera - 40th Anniversary Revival will be showing Tuesday Oct 22 at 7pm! Tickets on sale soon!

In case you’ve never heard of North Country Opera, here’s what you need to know: It’s a feel-good folk musical. It’s about life and love in a northern Michigan bar. It’s been delighting legions of fans from theater stages across Michigan for more than 40 years. And now, you can see it on a big movie theater screen. (You’ll get a great preview when we release a trailer in a week or so!)

The most recent staging of North Country Opera was recorded before a sold-out audience at The Ark in Ann Arbor in 2022. It features an absolutely stellar cast delivering every musical note and bar-stool wise crack in high fidelity.

North Country Opera Productions donates all profits from ticket or merchandise sales to organizations that promote conservation or the performing arts in Michigan.

charlevoixcinema.com

Folklor Halloween Party

October 26th

EVENT INFORMATION

Boozy Book Fair

October 27th

EVENT INFORMATION

Spooky Swim

October 28th

EVENT INFORMATION

International Lecture: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict — A Short History

October 28th

EVENT INFORMATION

Haunted Gym and Trick or Treating

October 31st

EVENT INFORMATION

Friday Trivia Night

November 1st

EVENT INFORMATION

Trunk or Treat

November 1st

EVENT INFORMATION

Grand Wedding Expo

November 3rd

EVENT INFORMATION

Joppa House Fall Gala

November 7th

EVENT INFORMATION

Regional Small Business Outlook

November 8th

EVENT INFORMATION

Charlevoix Conservation District Annual Meeting

November 14th

EVENT INFORMATION

PETOSKEY SALVATION ARMY EMERGENCY DISASTER SERVICES (EDS) NEEDS ON-CALL VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPORT LOCAL FIRST RESPONDERS

The Salvation Army of Petoskey is excited to announce the enhancement of its Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) program. The first official EDS volunteer training for Canteen Operations will be held at their Community Center on Saturday, October 19th, from 9AM-3PM with lunch provided. Anyone interested in volunteering to be part of an EDS Team that will support first responders such as fire-fighters, police and other emergency crews must register for the training by Friday, October 11th by calling the main office at (231) 347-3531. The goal is to expand The Salvation Army’s EDS services by enlisting a minimum of 9 volunteers to create at least 3 dedicated teams of 3 that will rotate being on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to support local first responders.

https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/petoskey/news/petoskey-salvation-army-emergency-disaster-services-eds-needs-on-call-volunteers/

Pet of The Week-Jett!

Meet Jett! Jett is a high energy dog who loves to play and run.

He does well with other dogs, and he is afraid of cats. Jett still needs work with learning how to sit and lay down, and he will need to be trained not to jump on people.

All in all, he’s a very sweet boy. If you’re interested in meeting Jett you can fill out an application in person at the Charlevoix Area Humane Society or online at charlevoixhumane.org!

charlevoixhumane.org

Crafters- Don't forget to join us on Fridays at 10AM at the Charlevoix Center for crafting fun!

This is a fun group that supports each other while working on their individual crafting projects. Bring your craft project that you are currently working on. All are welcome.

For more information please call Vikki at 231-547-5361

charlevoixcounty.org

Blue Cross Virtual Well-Being Webinars

Open to the public, 30-minute live webinars provide a different topic each week in a discussion-based format with supporting research and downloadable content to help individuals improve their well-being. Weekly guided meditations are also available and last between two and 20 minutes. All webinars and meditations are available on demand.

mibluedaily.com

Applications Being Accepted for New Charlevoix County

Materials Management Planning Committee

Charlevoix County is accepting applications for a new Materials Management Planning Committee (MMPC). The committee will help guide the development of a new Materials Management Plan that the County will be developing with assistance from Networks Northwest.

At the beginning of 2024, the State of Michigan called for an update to County Materials Management Plans, formerly known as Solid Waste Plans. Current Solid Waste Plans focus on disposal capacities, while the updated Materials Management Plans will focus on sustainable materials management, such as recycling and composting, instead of primarily disposal.

The new MMPC will be composed of eleven members who are involved with materials management or elected officials in Charlevoix County. MMPC meetings will be open to the public, follow the Open Meetings Act, and may be recorded for note keeping and review. The Charlevoix County Board of Commissioners will have approval of the committee membership and the Materials Management Plan.

Anyone interested in serving on the MMPC is encouraged to submit an application which can be found at bit.ly/ChxMMPC Further information on Materials Management Plans can be found at bit.ly/MMPguide.

Prost to fall flavors!

Prost to fall flavors! JAX NORTHSIDE presents German Fest, now thru October 20! 🍺🥨 Dive into scrumptious German specials and seasonal sips. Cheers to the best of both worlds!

· Potato Skins | andouille sausage, apple fennel sauerkraut, cheddar beer cheese

· Bavarian Pretzel Sticks | beer cheese and whole grain mustard

· Plath’s Smoked Pork Chop | apple fennel sauerkraut, homemade apple sauce, vegetable of the day

· Gluten-free Roasted Apple Flatbread | roasted apple puree, swiss cheese, grilled bratwurst

Pair them with featured drinks: 2 Lads – Late Harvest Riesling 2022, Ormanni Di Toscana – Sangiovese 2020, Bell’s Octoberfest, and Caramel Apple Spritzer. Open daily 11:30am – 9pm with Happy Hour 3 – 5:30pm. JAXCHX.com | 231.437.6400

Stay Healthy During Respiratory Virus Season

Receive your flu and updated COVID-19 vaccines at the same appointment

Fall is upon us and as the weather cools down, it’s important to keep our health a top priority. Like the annual flu vaccine, the COVID-19 vaccine has been updated with a more recent strain of the virus. As viruses evolve, so do the vaccines to provide the best protection for those who receive it. The Health Department of Northwest Michigan (HDNW) is offering flu and updated COVID-19 vaccines during clinic hours onsite and at community based-flu clinics.

“We ask everyone to consider their own and others’ health. Getting vaccinated is the easiest and best way to reduce the risk of getting sick from the flu or COVID-19,” says Dr. Joshua Meyerson, HDNW Medical Director. “These vaccines reduce the risk of developing severe complications and hospitalization. It is safe and easy to get the flu and updated COVID-19 vaccine at the same appointment.”

It is recommended that everyone ages 6 months and older receive a flu and updated COVID-19 vaccination. People at greatest risk of developing severe COVID-19 and flu complications remain adults 65 years or older, children under 6 months old, residents in long-term care facilities, pregnant women, and those with underlying illnesses.

Stay Healthy

Here are some ways to prevent the spread of germs:

· Stay up to date with vaccinations,

· Practice good hygiene (ex: hand washing for a full 20 seconds)

If you are feeling sick, here are things you can do to help keep others around you healthy:

· Stay home, except to seek medical care,

· Get tested, if you have a fever of 100 degrees or higher,

· Take care of yourself, drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest,

· Get vaccinated, the best form of prevention.

Vaccine clinics are scheduled in Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego counties with appointments for children and adults. The clinics are running now, through the end of October. Visit our website to view the clinic dates in your county: https://nwhealth.org/adult-immunizations/ and call our local staff at 800-432-4121 to schedule an appointment. For more information on respiratory virus season, visit https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/keep-mi-healthy/chronicdiseases/seasonal-respiratory-viruses.

Michigan-born Tenor Glenn Seven Allen Debuts The American Tenor Concert

Brand-new Show Features Crossover of Opera and Theater on November 2, at Great Lakes Center for the Arts

Acclaimed Michigan-born tenor, Glenn Seven Allen, returns to his home state to debut The American Tenor, a first-of-its-kind classical crossover concert blending opera and theater. Co-presented by the Great Lakes Center for the Arts (GLCFA), the November 2 performance will also be recorded as a live album and video special.

Glenn Seven Allen has performed on Broadway and with major opera companies across the U.S. Now, with The American Tenor, Allen brings a new, high-definition production that bridges the gap between opera and theater. With comparisons to artists like Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli, his performance offers something fresh, blending vocal mastery with theatrical storytelling of many familiar favorite songs.

Accompanied by a 22-piece orchestra composed of top Michigan-based musicians, Allen will perform new interpretations of beloved classics in Italian, French, and English. Highlights include U2’s With or Without You, sung in Italian, and Bring Him Home from Les Misérables, performed in French. He’ll perform the classic Michigan movie theme song from Somewhere in Time in English and Italian, as well as other traditional favorites, including Danny Boy, How Great Thou Art, and Nessun Dorma.

“I am thrilled to return to my Michigan roots and share my deep passion for theater and opera on the Michigan stage,” said Glenn Seven Allen, an East Lansing native and part-time Mackinac Island resident. “This debut performance is a dream come true, and I hope it’s just the beginning of many more opportunities to bring world-class performances back to the state that shaped me as an artist.”

In addition to the music, Allen will offer personal insights and anecdotes throughout the concert, making the performance an intimate and engaging experience. The performance will also feature renowned Broadway conductor Isaac Hayward and a high-definition light show that brings theatrical flair to the concert stage.

“We are incredibly excited to partner with Glenn for the debut of The American Tenor,” said Matthew Kacergis, artistic director of the Great Lakes Center for the Arts. “Glenn’s extraordinary talent and unique ability to blend opera and theater will bring an unforgettable experience to our audiences. This bold and unique concert exemplifies our mission to present exceptional performances across the full performing arts spectrum.

To schedule an interview with Glenn Seven Allen, contact Mixed Media PR at 616.560.4726 or angela@mixedmediapr.com.

EVENT DETAILS:

What: The American Tenor featuring Glenn Seven Allen Conductor: Isaac Hayward

Where: Great Lake Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor, Michigan

When: Saturday, November 2, 2024

7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

Tickets: $62 / $52 / $47 / $42 / $32 / $10 Student

Available at Great Lakes Center for the Arts

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NCMC SEES NEARLY 5% INCREASE IN FALL 2024 ENROLLMENT

New degree programs, transfer pathways, and student support initiatives help drive enrollment growth

North Central Michigan College's Fall 2024 enrollment has increased by 4.83% compared to Fall 2023, marking two consecutive years of growth in credit and contact hours and reflecting positive momentum in the college's ongoing student success initiatives. Both new and returning students contributed to this growth, with notable gains in key student demographics.

Among the highlights of Fall 2024 enrollment:

A 5.57% increase in dual-enrolled students, as more high school students in North Central’s service area choose to get a head start on their college education
A 7% increase in students aged 22 and older, highlighting the college’s appeal to adult learners
A 12.28% increase in full-time students, signaling stronger persistence and engagement

Additionally, the college saw significant increases in male student enrollment, up 17.39%, and in out-of-state contact hours, which grew by 16.29%.

North Central has seen consistent enrollment growth from Fall 2022 to Fall 2024, with headcount increasing by 4%, credit hours by 8%, and contact hours by 8% during that period.

Associate Dean of Institutional Research and Assessment Erin Sonneveldt noted that such increases are a key driver of student success.

"The increase in credit and contact hours is a strong indicator that our students are building momentum toward degree completion," Sonneveldt said. "When students take more credit hours each semester, they’re not only accelerating their path to graduation but also staying more engaged with their studies, which significantly boosts their chances of successfully completing their degree."

Research indicates that students enrolled full-time — 12 or more credit hours per semester for NCMC students — are significantly more likely to persist in their studies and continue their enrollment year after year. According to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, full-time students starting in Fall 2022 had a retention rate of 74.5% and a persistence rate of 82.9%, compared to part-time students, whose rates were significantly lower at 45.7% and 52.3%, respectively.