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

Close To Home: A Storytelling Fundraiser To Support Housing North

October 2nd

Housing North and Here:Say Storytelling are staging a storytelling event titled “Close to Home” at Gypsy Distillery in Petoskey, MI on Wednesday, October 2nd from 6-8PM. This show will feature selected performers telling true, first-person stories that celebrate the many meanings of “home.”

We are putting out the call for people who have a “close to home” story to tell. Think of stories that you naturally tell in your everyday life – stories that have a beginning and an end, stories draw people in whether they are laughing or crying or feeling really invested in how it turned out. Rather than speeches about your work or memoirs of your journey, look for the story of something important that happened to you. If you are interested but have questions, please email Karen (Kabie) Stein at karen@heresaystorytelling.com.

For more information about this event, email Heather Spooner our Events Coordinator at Events@housingnorth.org

Beethoven's Night

October 5th

Celebrating the masters of classical music with Beethoven’s Symphony No.7 and Violin Concerto featuring Dmitri Berlinsky.

Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra is thrilled to bring internationally acclaimed violinist Dmitri Berlinsky to our northern Michigan audien

ces performing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto!

Mr. Berlinsky arrived on the international scene as the youngest winner in the history of the Paganini International Violin Competition in Genoa, Italy. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia into a family of musicians, Mr. Berlinsky began studying the violin with his father. At a very early age he appeared as soloist with the St. Petersburg Symphony and the Moscow Philharmonic. Since, he performed with most prestigious orchestras worldwide.

The Los Angeles Times describe Dmitri as “Pyrotechnically impressive and fiery…”

The concert will also feature Beethoven’s Symphony No.7, which Beethoven himself remarked that it was one of his best works. The second movement, “Allegretto”, was so popular that audiences demanded an encore!

glcorchestra.org

The Happy Troll Puzzle Event

October 5th

Come join us at The Happy Troll Deli & Pub for an evening filled with brain-teasing puzzles and fun challenges.

Test your wits and compete against fellow puzzle enthusiasts in a friendly and lively atmosphere. Tickets are only $10 per person and includes a glass of our Happy House Wine or a Draft Pint. Individuals can compete or Teams up to 4 persons.

Whether you're a seasoned puzzler or just looking to have a good time, this event is perfect for all skill levels. Grab your friends and family for a bite to eat & a memorable night of teamwork and problem-solving.

Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to showcase your puzzle-solving skills and win fantastic prizes. Mark your calendars and get ready for an evening of laughter and brain-bending challenges at the Happy Troll Puzzle Event!

thehappytroll.com

Howl-O-Ween

October 6th

Get ready for a spooktacular time at Howl-O-Ween, presented by Camp Daggett and the Little Traverse Bay Humane Society!

Bring your family, friends, and pets for a fun-filled afternoon featuring a costume contest open to pets AND people, trick-or-treat scavenger hunt, tasty snacks, and the chance to meet adoptable pets. We are also thrilled to have Pet Pantry from Harbor Springs have a booth at this event!

This free community event, sponsored by Bearcub Outfitters, supports some incredible local organizations! Donations are welcome for activity participation, and while pre-registration will be available, it's not required.

Mark your calendars and join us at Camp Daggett for a howling good time on October 6th from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM!

campdaggett.org

Secret Michigan: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

October 8th

Are you looking for new and different Michigan travel destinations? Need some new trivia for your next party? Just love Michigan history?

Author Amy Piper will present interesting stories from her new book Secret Michigan: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure, that will answer these questions. Amy will be selling and signing books after the program. No registration required.

charlevoixlibrary.org

BCBSM An Exploration of Whole Health for Employers Webinar

October 9th

Speakers from BCBSM will discuss the importance of the whole health care journey for your employees.

The webinar will focus on how the benefits and condition management programs included in your medical plan, along with dental, vision, and financial protection, impact overall health and outcomes. Additionally, we will share information and resources that are available to help employers make open enrollment an easy and informative experience for employees.

Fall Wine Dinner

October 9th & 10th

Kick off Apple Fest with Lost Cellars at our Fall Wine Dinner!

TWO nights in a row for those of you who missed the last one. Join us October 9th and October 10th at 6:30pm.

Menu:

- 1st course: Harvest Appetizer

- 2nd course: Butternut Squash Soup

- 3rd course: Orchard Salad

- 4th course: Wellington Style Cornish Hen

- 5th course: Bourbon Apple Pastry.

All dishes will be paired with Rebar distilled spirits and Lost Cellars wine. Cost is $70/per person.

Interested in joining us? Call or text 231.499.4755 for details and reservations.

lostvino.com

COLOR PENCIL DRAWING: Blue Skies & Fall Color

October 10th

THURSDAY

Time: 6 - 8pm

CLASS FEE: $60, or $54 for members

FORMAT: IN-PERSON

This class is perfect for adults and even ages 12 and up!

With northern Michigan artist Sarah Tule May.

More class details coming soon!

All materials included.

Sarah is a watercolor and colored pencil artist from Northern Michigan. She is self taught and has been working professionally for over a decade. Sarah draws her inspiration from the endless beauty around her and can often be found snapping photos on a trail or along the waterfront. Her studio is located in Cedarville, Michigan where she shares a space with other creatives.

More details coming soon.

Space is limited & Pre-Registration is required.

Minimum # of Participants to hold class = 3

Maximum # of Participants = 10

charlevoixcircle.org

Sip & See: Charlevoix Applefest

October 12th

EVENT INFORMATION

Applefest Fun Run 2024

October 12th

EVENT INFORMATION

Charlevoix Conservation District Annual Meeting

October 12th

EVENT INFORMATION

Camp Daggett Fall Fest

October 13th

EVENT INFORMATION

Polymer Clay Jewelry Making

October 19th

EVENT INFORMATION

Northern Community Mediation 6th Annual Charlevoix Theatre Party

October 21st

EVENT INFORMATION

Stay Healthy This Flu Season with Blue Cross Blue Shield

Be smart about employee health this flu season. Staying healthy prevents a burden on both employers and employees. As flu season approaches, help promote our toolkit that employers can use to encourage employees to get their flu shot, and read a quick article for answers to your flu and flu vaccine FAQs.

bcbsm.org

Huntington Charlevoix Has Positions Open

If you're looking to work for a great company with amazing culture, this is it.

Apply for a position with Huntington TODAY! Starting pay is $20/hour + benefits!

huntington.com

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-Miss Flower!

Meet Miss Flower!

This absolute sweetheart of a cat ended up at the shelter as an owner surrender. Flower happily will ask for attention from the staff members, and she is quite the talker. She is not quite sure of her friends in the cat room yet, but the staff believes that with time she can become more comfortable with them.

Flower would do well in most homes, she is very affectionate and very sweet. If Flower sounds like the perfect cat for you, fill out an application in person at the shelter or online (charlevoixhumane.org) today!

charlevoixhumane.org

Book your Holiday Party at Folklor!

Host a holiday celebration for your family, book club or employees at Folklor Wine & Cider. Rent their cozy winery space and host a unique and authentic holiday gathering.

E-mail hello@folklorwinecider.com or call 231-758-4740 to inquire about rates and dates.

NLEA Strategic Planning Survey

To deliver the most effective services and ensure an economically resilient region, the NLEA must continue finding ways as your economic development organization to improve, grow, and innovate. This is where we need your help. We're in the midst of a six-month strategic planning process that will result in a 3-Year Strategic Plan for the organization. We've conducted community feedback sessions, business roundtables with business leaders spanning industries, staff and board planning sessions, stakeholder interviews, and surveys. If you haven't had the chance yet to engage, but would like to, please fill out the stakeholder survey! The NLEA strategic planning efforts have been generously supported by the Fund for the Community of the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation and the Cheboygan County Community Foundation.

NLEA Strategic Planning Survey (jotform.com)

Join us THIS THURSDAY, October 3 for the John Cross Fisheries 4-course 4-wine Dinner at City Park Grill at 6:30pm

City Park Grill takes pride in partnering with local farmers, producers and artisans to bring you the freshest, locally-sourced dishes!

This time, we’re teaming up with the legendary John Cross Fisheries, serving up classic fish courses with perfect wine pairings (I. Smoked Whitefish Chowder – Raventos i Blanc ‘Blanc de Blancs’ II. Cured Lake Trout Salad – Maysara Pinot Blanc III. Sautéed Walleye – Artuke ‘Artuke’ Rioja IV. Pan Roasted Salmon – Left Coast Estate Pinot Noir). Since 1945, John Cross Fisheries has been family-owned, delivering the freshest fish and seafood. $75/pp (plus tax & gratuity). Reservations required: 231.347.0101 or online.

Join us for our Annual Fall Gala!

Join us as we celebrate 10 years of ministry at our Annual Fall Gala!

Enjoy a full dinner catered by The Wine Guys, live & silent auctions, special speakers & entertainment and much more as we celebrate our residents and the recovery community!

joppahouseministries.org

Consumers Energy Sending Electric Lineworkers to Virginia to Restore Power After Hurricane Helene

About 60 Coworkers to Leave Michigan on Wednesday

Consumers Energy is sending about 60 coworkers to Virginia on Wednesday to help those states recover from historic damage caused by Hurricane Helene.

“This hurricane has caused catastrophic damage that has leveled entire communities. Consumers Energy hopes we can contribute and make a difference for so many people in need,” said Chris Laird, Consumers Energy’s vice president of electric operations. “Our lineworkers have trained for conditions like these, and they will work around the clock to help get the lights back on.”

Consumers Energy will send 48 lineworkers – 15 three-person crews three individual service lineworkers, field leaders and others, as well as equipment. They could remain out of state for as long as two weeks.

As of Tuesday afternoon, about 65,000 homes and businesses in Virginia remained without power from the hurricane. Over 1.5 million customers in five states were still affected.

Southern energy providers made the crew request via a collection of regional mutual assistance networks. Consumers Energy has accepted help from neighboring states during major storms and has sent help to other states, most recently dispatching crews to Northern Indiana after storms caused outages there in July.

“The strength of our industry is that energy providers like Consumers Energy are willing to help each other in times of need,” Laird said. “We will be thinking of our Michigan lineworkers when they’re helping restore power in these states and look forward to their safe return.”

Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.

consumersenergy.com

Sail Charlevoix + Sea Bags + Aloha Collection + Online Auction

Sail Charlevoix is excited to announce our upcoming online auction featuring a variety of bags and totes from Sea Bags and from the ALOHA Collection. We have kept old sails out of the landfill by trading the sailing school’s worn sails for merchandise from Sea Bags, Charlevoix. We are also thrilled to have received a variety of new ALOHA Collection bags from a generous donor. From October 7 through October 21, you can bid on these unique bags made out of recycled sails and from splash-proof tech material. Top bids for each item will go directly towards furthering our mission of sailing education and offering our community access to sailing opportunities.

HOW TO BID • Scan the QR Code in the flyer. • Visit our website or social media pages on October 7 to begin placing your bids. HAPPY BIDDING!

https://sailcharlevoix.betterworld.org/auctions/2024-online-auction-sail-charlev

Northern Community Mediation 6th Annual Charlevoix Theatre Party

We are back, and the prices are the same.

Set aside Monday, October 21 for Northern Community Mediation's sixth annual Charlevoix Theatre Party. The evening will begin at JAX Restaurant at 5:15. There will be a fantastic array of appetizers, door prizes and a 50/50 raffle. On top of that, each ticket holder will be given a voucher to go to the movie of his/her choice either that evening or at a date of her/his choice.

This is a great deal for only $35 per ticket or two tickets for $65. Contact NCM at 231.487.1771 to arrange for tickets

Bird in Otsego County Infected with West Nile Virus

Tips on how to protect yourself

Monday, Sept. 30, the Health Department of Northwest Michigan (HDNW) was informed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that an American Crow, collected in Otsego County, tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). This follows reports from earlier in the month about birds in Antrim County that tested positive for WNV and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).

WNV is the leading cause of mosquito-spread disease in the continental U.S. About one in five people who are infected, develop a fever and other symptoms, while others do not feel sick. It is a potentially serious disease that can affect anyone, people over age 60 are more likely to get the severe form of WNV illness. Those at greatest risk of being bitten from infected mosquitoes are those who work or play outdoors.

Protect Yourself

To protect yourself from mosquito bites:

· Apply insect repellents that contain the active ingredient DEET, or other U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved products, to exposed skin or clothing, and always follow the manufacturer’s directions for use.

· Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors. Apply insect repellent to clothing to help prevent bites.

· Avoid being outside during peak mosquito activity between dusk and dawn.

· Use windows and doors with well-maintained screens.

· Empty water from mosquito breeding sites around the home, such as buckets, unused kiddie pools, old tires, or similar sites where mosquitoes may lay eggs.

· Use nets and/or fans over outdoor seating areas.

To protect animals:

· Put farm animals in the barn during peak mosquito activity from dusk to dawn.

· Check with your vet on whether EEE vaccinations are available for your animals.

· Use an insect repellant on the animals approved for the species.

· Again, eliminate standing water on your property.

HDNW and the DNR encourage residents to report sick or diseased birds or other animals by going to https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/ors/Survey/4 or calling (517) 336-5030. Follow the instructions on the DNR website and do not move the bird. HDNW does not collect birds for testing.

“Resident’s reports are monitored on a regular basis and if the DNR wishes to test the bird you have reported, you will be contacted,” says Dan Thorell, HDNW Health Officer. “While not every bird will be tested, these reports are important to monitor overall wild bird health.”

Have a business or member success story? We want to hear it! Hitting a growth landmark, meeting a personal or financial business goal, adding to your team, being awarded industry certifications or recognition's… we want to share that accomplishment!

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.