August 8 2008

E-Newsletter from the Executive Director
August 8, 2008

What's In This Issue

• Ironworkers Festival Schedule & Walk of Fame Groundbreaking
• Mighty Mac Golf Outing Winners Announced
• Chamber Member News
• Community Notes
• August Calendar

Ironworkers Festival Schedule & 

Walk of Fame Groundbreaking 

The annual Ironworkers Festival will take place August 8th - 10th, 2008 behind the public school on W. Central Ave.  Events include knot tying, rod tying, rivet toss, spud throw, column climb (field event), and the World Championship Column Climb.  For more information and event details visit http://www.ironfest.com/.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8th 
Noon - 5:00pm Registration and booth set-up
4:00 pm Ground Breaking Ceremony - Ironworkers Walk of Fame (See more below)
6:00 pm Live Band / Dancing

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9th 
10:00 am Parade from Star Line Dock north to Central and down to the School.
11:00 am Kids Events
12:00 noon Skilled Events
6:00 pm Live Band / Dancing
10:00 pm Raffle Drawing

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10th 
10:00 am World Champion Column Climb
Will Follow Old Timers Events
Will Follow Awards Ceremony 

The Village of Mackinaw City, Michigan is proud to announce the commemoration and introduction of the Ironworkers Walk of Fame with an official groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, August 8, 2008 at 4pm.  The groundbreaking site is on North Huron Avenue, between Colonial Michilimackinac and Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.

Ironworkers from the United States and Canada are arriving in Mackinaw City to participate in the celebration and to attend the annual Ironworkers Festival. The groundbreaking ceremony is open to the public and a reception will immediately follow at the site.  Senator Jason Allen will also be in attendance and will be presenting a proclamation for the Ironworkers and the Village of Mackinaw City.

The Village of Mackinaw City will dedicate North Huron Avenue to the creation of the Ironworkers Walk of Fame and create a living history tribute to honor the heroic workers that have built North America.  This extraordinary tribute will fill the avenue overlooking the Mackinac Bridge with a monument site and specially designed and engraved bricks imbedded in the sidewalks, creating an exceptional recognition of these modern day heroes.

Mighty Mac Golf Outing Winners  

Congratulations to all the winners of the Annual Mighty Mac Golf Outing held at the Mackinaw Club. We had a beautiful day for golf, delicious food prepared by the Mackinaw Club.  Everybody enjoyed the networking and fabulous prizes. 

Thank you again to all of our sponsors which include: Big Stone Bay Fishery, Darrow Bros. Excavating, Inc., Doc's Plumbing & Heating, Fort Fudge Shop, Fran Murdick's Fudge, Mackinaw IGA, Straits Area Printing, Audie's Restaurant, Econo Lodge at the Bridge, Kewadin Casino, Krueger's Fish Market, Mackinaw Building Center, Mackinaw Kite Co., MacKenzies on the Ave, North Country Gardens, Sault Printing Co., Scalawag's Whitefish & Chips, True North Books, Vindel Motel, A-GA-MING Golf Resort, Black Lake Golf Club, Cheboygan Golf & Country Club, Chestnut Valley, Grand Hotel - The Jewel, Hessel Ridge Golf, Mackinaw Club, Wild Wood Lakes.

1st Place Men's - Billy Borst, Ron Steensma, Doug Rearick, & Rusty Preston
2nd Place Men's - Cub Horn, Mark Bunker, Al Arbib, & Justin Lents
1st Place Women's - Syndee Borst, Sue Chambers, Sandra Orr, & Debra Orr
2nd Place Women's - Cheryl Schlehuber, Ruth Visnaw, Nancy Brown, & Clarlyn McKinnon

Other Winners Include:
Longest Drive - Justin Lents & Sandra Orr
Closest to the Pin - Ron Steensma & Sue Chambers
Closest to the Pin in 2 shots - Cub Horn
Longest Putt - Brian VanOrman
Closest on Hole # 8 from 185 yds - Syndee Borst
50/50 Drawing Winner - Denny Martin Cub Horn's Team

Chamber Member News

Volunteers are still being accepted for the Corvette Show on Saturday, August 23rd in the Mackinaw Crossings Mall.  Needed are: parking attendants, poker walk staff and registration help. If you can spare some of your valuable time please contact Kelly at 436-5574 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jack Pine Lumberjack Show & Mackinaw Trolley Co. tour.  Make your evening complete with a Mackinaw Trolley trip to the new Jack Pine Lumberjack Show featuring log rolling, pole climbing and much more, followed by a Sunset Cruise across the Mackinac Bridge, all for one low price.  Wednesdays & Fridays, Adults $18, Children $12.  For reservations call 231-436-7812.

Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum open for tours daily from 10 am to 8 pm.  http://www.themackinaw.org/

Mackinaw Crossings Mall has continuous entertainment throughout the season.  Visit http://www.mackinawcrossings.com/ for more information.

North Country Gardens is open every day for your gardening needs: Annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs.  Need help planting or maintaining your flower beds? Just give us a call.  New for 2008:  Flower and balloon bouquets available for delivery. 231-436-5169. Located between Mackinaw City and Carp Lake across from Mackinaw Club Golf Course.

Wilderness Golf Course has "Glow Golf" every Saturday night at dark.  Call 537-4973 for more info.

JR's Tailgate Pub & Two Amigo's Mexican Kitchen feature:
Karaoke - Fridays at 9:30 PM; ½ off pizza Wednesdays.  Happy Hour 4-7 PM 
Entertainment Schedule Saturdays starting at 9:30 PM: 
August 2 - The Dinosaurs; August 9 - Matt Tredesko; August 16 - Month of Sundays; August 23 - The Zelenka Project
Downtown Mackinaw City at the Light 436-8540

Guest Complaint Policy and Forms are available at both Chamber of Commerce offices and by clicking on the link to the policy &/or form.  Overall area complaints have been on the decline in the past 4 years.  Keep up the good work!  Happy guests return time and time again.

Bluegreen Resorts, located in the Mackinaw Crossings Mall, offers local attraction discounted tickets.  All the information is available from one of their sales associates by calling 231-675-5951 or on their website http://www.bluegreenonline.com/ 

Community Notes

Leader Dog for the Blind will be visiting Paws Fur Fun, in the Mackinaw Crossings, on Saturday, August 23rd from noon until 5 PM.  Ann and Frank have been with the Leader Dog program for many years and have raised numerous puppies that have gone on to be service dogs.  They will be bringing three goldens with them - Angel, a retired breeder, Tesa, their current breeder and little Star, the newest golden in training.   Also on hand will be Rubie, a  career change dog that now lives up here in Mackinaw.  Please drop in to say hi and get some golden wags and wiggles (and some info on how to become a Leader Dog puppy raiser, too)!

Please note that the bus fare for the Labor Day Bridge Walk is $5.00.  Line up is still held at Conkling Heritage Park.

The postmaster of Mackinaw City requests all businesses and residents get your mail prior to the 12:30 lunch hour.  After 1:30 they have a staff of one.

St. Ignace Bayside Farmers Market - Saturdays 10 am to Noon at the St. Ignace Marina.  Brought to you by the St. Ignace Events Committee, MSU Extension, and St. Ignace Farmers' Market Vendors Association. 906-643-7307.

August Calendar

Every Tuesday in August 8 PM - Straits Area Concert Band - Conkling Heritage Park

"Book Bingo" - Mackinaw Area Public Library.  For anyone up to age 15.  Earn a prize for each 'bingo' completed, and earn a special prize for filling up the whole card.  For more info call 436-5451.

3-9   Cheboygan County Fair  http://www.cheboyganfair.com/

4-13  Mackinaw Area Public Library Silent Auction.  Open house is on August 13 from 6-8.  All bidding closes at 8.  Contact Sarah Allaire at 436-5451 for more information.  http://www.mackinawareapubliclibrary.org/

8   John Anderson with Aaron Tippin live in concert at the Odawa Casino Resort.  http://www.odawacasino.com/

8-10 Ironworkers Festival

9   Music in Mackinaw Free Concert Series presents "Edye Evans Hyde" - 8 pm, Conkling Heritage Park

9   Les Cheneaux Antique Wooden Boat Show - Hessel

10  Benefit for Robert "Bubba" Thompson - Audie's Restaurant Banquet Room.  Doors open at 6 pm.  Featuring a chicken dinner, local entertainment, 50/50, raffles and prizes.  $8.00 pp.

11   Madeline Okerman Adie, author of a postcard history book on the Mackinaw City area, will present an illustrated program titled "Michilimackinac, a Historical Timeline," to the Mackinaw Area Historical Society on Monday, Aug. 11. The presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the meeting room of the Mackinaw Area Public Library, located at 528 West Central Avenue in Mackinaw City. Refreshments will be served.

15  The Northmen Gospel Singers are performing at the Cheboygan Opera House. 7:30 pm.  Tickets $8.00.

16   Music in Mackinaw Free Concert Series presents "Womens' Woodland Singers of Little Traverse Bay" - 8 pm, Conkling Heritage Park

16  Case Knife Show & Collectors Event - Coffman Hardware

19  Wind Energy Siting and Policy Issues workshop - 6-9:30 pm - Little Bear East, St. Ignace. Contact Michelle Walk, Mackinac County Extension Director, Michigan State University Extension, (906) 643-7307 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

22  John Secada live in concert at the Odawa Casino Resort.  http://www.odawacasino.com/

22-23  Corvette Crossroads Auto Show  - Volunteers are still needed for parking attendants, poker walk staff and registration help. If you can help, please contact Kelly at 436-5574 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

23   Music in Mackinaw Free Concert Series presents "Rich Eddy's Rockin' Oldies" - 8 pm, Conkling Heritage Park

23-24   Mackinaw Fine Arts & Craft Show

25  Zips 45th Parallel Harley-Davidson 105th Ride Home Party

29-Sept. 1  51/50 Celebration: Sock Hop in the Mackinaw Crossings Mall, Fireworks, Live Entertainment at Conkling Heritage Park and the Bridge Walk. http://www.mackinawcity.com

If you have information that you would like shared in the next newsletter please send to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  for consideration.

Dawn Edwards, Executive Director  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Kelly Vieau, Administrative Assistant  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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