September 2008

E-Newsletter from the Executive Director
August 29, 2008

What's In This Issue

• Corvette Crossroads Auto Show Re-Cap
• Chamber Member News
• Community Notes
• September/October Calendar

Re-Cap of the 19th Annual Corvette Crossroads Auto Show 

Committee Chair Marian Harrison from Citizens National Bank sends a big Thank you out to everyone involved in this year's 19th annual Corvette Show.  "It takes a lot of volunteer hours and sponsors to make this event a successful show and fundraiser for the Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce. Everyone's commitment to the Corvette Show keeps our corvette owners coming back." Next year will be the 20th Corvette Show anniversary.

There were almost 200 cars registered in spite of the heavy rainfall all morning. The sun was out for the awards presented by Patrick Dolan, President of the National Council of Corvettes.  181 cars participated in the parade through Mackinaw City and over the Mackinac Bridge.

Please visit and support our business sponsors:  Depot Restaurant, Del Sol, Admiral's Table, Straits Area Federal Credit Union, Ember's Restaurant, Jack Pine Lumberjack Show, National City Bank, Dixie Saloon, Blue Water Grill & Bar, Picture this Photography Studio, Merle's Lock & Trophy, O'Brien's Shirt Shop, Speedway Sports, Mackinaw City Popcorn Factory, Arnold Transit Co., Mackinaw Trolley Co., Vindel Motel, Citizen's National Bank, Admiral's Table, Audie's Restaurant, BC Pizza, Candy Corner/Windjammer Gifts, Fort Fudge Shop, Fran Murdick's Fudge, Krueger's Fish Market, Mackenzie's on the Ave., Mackinaw City Big Boy, Mackinaw Clothing, Mackinaw Kite Co., Mackinaw Pastie & Cookie Co., Mancino's, Marshall's Fudge, Pancake Chef, Sophia's of Mackinaw, Teysen's Gallery, Teysen's Gifts, Top Hats of Mackinaw, Trails End General Store and Treasure Chest Gifts.  

Event day support volunteers and businesses include: Belinda Mollen, Ron Gwilt, Dick and Carol Perlick, Donna Beach, Carole Reynolds, Sandy Dunn, Kelly Vieau, Dawn Edwards, Dick Hunt, Jim Halleck, Jessica Macha, Connie Strouse, Margaret Paquet, Chris Herald, Marian Harrison, Sarah Grant, Ron Vieau, Gene Cooley, Gary Engle, Arnold Line Transit Company,  Courtyard Inn and Suites, DNR, National City Bank, Village of Mackinaw, Mackinaw City Police Department, Mackinaw Outfitter's and Mackinaw Crossings Mall and staff .

Thank you one and all!

Chamber Member News  

Last call for the Jack Pine Lumberjack Show.  Friday, August 29, 7 pm, Saturday & Sunday, August 30 & 31, 2 pm & 7 pm.  Rain or shine.  Covered Grandstands. Thank you Dan for bringing this exciting and entertaining show to our area.

Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum is 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 fall 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.

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
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/ 

The Chamber of Commerce extends to Sherree Hyde, previous owner of the Brigadoon B & B, best wishes on her new endeavors in Indiana.  Sherree played a major role in the funding for the Music in Mackinaw Committee.  Mackinaw City will miss her!

Travel down the streets of Mackinac Island with artist/author Mary Lou Peters as she shares her insights of how the charming scenes on the pages of "MACKINAC ISLAND MEDITATIONS" remind readers of the ways in which God has shaped their lives.  Enjoy revisiting familiar scenes through her lovely paints on each of the 32 pages in this hardcover book, available for $14.95 plus tax at area book stores, retail shops, and from the author herself:  Mary Lou Peters, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or P.O. Box 855, Mackinaw City, MI 49701.  Please add $3.00 shipping for a single book.

Sophia's of Mackinaw - Starting Wednesday, September 3rd, 25-50% off storewide.  Open 9-5 Monday -Thursday, 8-10 Friday-Sunday.

Community Notes

Booster Raffle Tickets are available from any committee member that includes: Belinda Mollen, Gene Cooley, Jerry & Sandy Prior, Marian Harrison, Sue Brant, Rob & Judy Most and Connie Strouse.  Tickets sell for $160 and includes one dinner.  Extra dinner tickets are $20 each.  The dinner and raffle is on Friday, October 3rd at Audie's Banquet room.

Thank you Mackinaw Crossings Mall and the Harley Davidson store for the great turn out of "Hog" riders.  Hosting this event on Mackinaw Crossings Dr., put Mackinaw City on the map and a created a great gathering place for riders on their way to the 105th Harley Davidson Celebration in Milwaukee, WI.

Mackinaw City Farmers Market is held every Sunday until October 15th.  Located at Conkling Heritage Park. 9am to 5 pm.

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.

The new school year starts on Wednesday, September 3rd at 12:30 pm.  Remember to support Project Close Up for their trip to Washington DC.

Thank you to the 50 Community volunteers who are staffing the Labor Day bus tickets and the Bridge Walk certificates.  We couldn't do this without you!

From the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council.  The future of our waters and our quality of live ultimately depend on what we do today to protect them.  In order to continue to protect and enhance water quality in our region, the watershed Council depends upon individual members, like you, for strength and financial support.  For more information visit their website at www.watershedcouncil.org.

Win a trip to the top of the Mackinac Bridge.  The contest, sponsored by Travel Michigan, and the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce, will use a drawing to pick one person and a guest to get a tour of the Mackinac Bridge, including the towers.  The only places to enter are at the St. Ignace Welcome Center off I-75 near the bridge toll booths, or at the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce, 560 N. State St.  Deadline is Oct. 31 and the drawing will be held Nov. 1.

Last call for nominations to be considered for Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. It is a 3 year term; October 2008 to September 2011.  Deadline: Tuesday, September 2 at Noon.  Call 436-5574 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   with your nominations for committee consideration.

September/October Calendar

51/50 Celebration: August 29-Sept. 1
Friday, Sock Hop in the Mackinaw Crossings Mall: Doug Thomas will be performing a 50's and 60's show starting at 5:00pm. 
Saturday, Mackinaw Crossings Mall:  Barry the Banjo picker from 1:00pm-3:00pm and then Pinky Lee from 5:00pm-9:00pm.  Fireworks at dusk staged from the end of the State Dock.

August 31 - The Northmen Gospel Singers will be in Concert at Conkling Heritage Park at 10:30 am with a community worship service starting at 11 am.  Everyone is welcome.  In case of rain, both concert and service will take place at the Church of the Straits.

1   Labor Day Bridge Walk.  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 restaurants that we've heard from that are opening early on Labor Day are as follows:  Admiral's Table 6 am; Audie's indoor dining 6 am, outdoor menu, 7 am and lounge 9 am; BC Pizza 8 am; Darrow's 7 am; Ember's 8 am; Cunningham's 7 am; Big Boy 7 am; Pancake Chef 5 am; KFC 5 am.

1   DALMAC Bike Tour

5-6  Historic Depot Happy Hour Hopps of Fun.  Located in the Mackinaw Crossings Mall.  Friday the 5th 5:00pm-11:00am and Saturday 1:00pm-11:00pm. Entertainment is as follows: Friday Eddie King Band 5:00pm-7:30pm The Dinosaurs 8:00pm-11:00pm.  Saturday: The Billy Jewell Band 2:00pm-6:00pm Uncle Ugly 7:00pm-11:00pm.

5-7   Side Walk Sales in Mackinaw City

6    Chip In for the Arts at the Cheboygan Opera House.  The stage will be converted into a Vegas style Casino for a period of three hours while people take their chances at Black Jack, "Sit and Go" Texas Hold 'Em, Let-It-Ride Poker and Double Down Roulette.  7:00pm and 11:00pm.  Tickets for the event are available through The Opera House Box Office at $10.00 advance. At the door, on the evening of the event, tickets will be available for $15.00. The Opera House Box Office is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:30am until 4:30pm, or call 231-627-5841 to order by phone with MasterCard or Visa.  Join us for an evening of fun and support the Opera House as we begin our 25th year since the restoration of this historic theatre.

6   Billy Ray Cyrus performing at the Ovation Hall in the Odawa Casino Resort.  Visit www.starticketsplus.com for more info and to order tickets.  www.odawacasino.com

8   Mackinaw Woman's Club meeting: 1:00 pm, Annual Potluck Picnic & Games.

8   Mackinaw Historical Society: Winnay Wemigwase, Director of the Odawa Tribe Cultural presenting Native American Crafts.  Beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the meeting room of the Mackinaw Area Public Library, located at 528 West Central Avenue in Mackinaw City.

12  1st Annual Mackinac Bridge Antique Tractor Parade.  Starts at 12 Noon down Central Ave. to the approach to the Bridge.  For more information visit www.owossotractorparts.com

12-14  Annual Big Truck Show in St. Ignace.  Parade of Lights, Saturday at dusk.

13-14  Big Mac Shoreline Fall Scenic Bike Tour & Ride Across the Mackinac Bridge.  Volunteers are needed for this event.  Please contact Kelly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 436-5574.

27   Jason Aldean performing at the Ovation Hall in the Odawa Casino Resort.  Visit www.starticketsplus.com for more info and to order tickets.  www.odawacasino.com

October Calendar

2 The Northern Michigan Employer Forum Committee invites you to its 6th annual business workshop: "Laws of Attraction: The Right Personnel + Repeat Customers = High Profits," from 9 AM - 4:30 PM at the Otsego Club & Resort. The $20 registration fee includes a light breakfast, lunch and two informative sessions. For additional information, log on to www.employerforum.org or contact your Michigan WORKS! Business Liaison, Angie, at 231-439-5213, or contact Jeanie at 989-785-4054.

3   Mackinaw Boosters Fundraiser at Audie's Restaurant

6   Mackinaw Woman's Club meeting: 7:00 pm.  Program by Greg Yoder with Halloween pumpkins.

8   Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner

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
To change your subscription or unsubscribe contact us