Saturday, June 22, 2013

Boyne City Main Street reflects on 10 years of progress, achievements

Main Street Manager Hugh Conklin
From the Petoskey News-Review: With music, food and lots of congratulations to go around, Boyne City Main Street invited the community to their 10th anniversary celebration in Old City Park on Wednesday. More than 500 people, young and old, attended the festivities, and listened to the roots music of Horton Creek. Kelly Larson, now a design services architect for Michigan Main Street, was the first Boyne City Main Street manager. She spoke fondly of her memories of how Boyne City made the Kansas girl feel welcome. “I don’t think I truly appreciated what was going on here 10 years ago,” Larson said. “Now, at the state, I have a much better appreciation for this community and the hard work that has gone into it. Boyne sets a high standard for every downtown in Michigan.” Brian Conway, Michigan Historic Preservation officer, pointed out that Boyne City has been accepted in the National Registry of Historic Places and received a governor’s award for its restoration of the 1910 Water Works Building. “We hold Boyne City as an example of what other communities can strive to become,” Conway said. Full story. Photos.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Bruce Janssen's work is a sign of functional art

From the Petoskey News-Review: Boyne City sign artist Bruce Janssen’s work and influence can be seen throughout Charlevoix and Emmet counties. His style is as varied as the customers’ desires, with each sign uniquely designed to enhance the client’s home or business, yet blend in with the surroundings. In Boyne City, where Janssen’s business The Wood Shop is located, virtually three-quarters of the signs are designed by him and the rest show his influence. Signs at Local Flavor, the Boyne Air Industrial Park and all the new businesses at the end of Water Street are his handiwork, including CafĂ© Sante and many others. In 2010, Boyne City’s Main Street Program was named one of the best in the state of Michigan, based in part on the downtown design. Janssen’s signs are an integral part of that downtown design. “Northwestern Michigan downtowns are known for their beauty,” Janssen said. “This is not only a function of good architecture and zoning laws and beautiful streetscape, but the signage has to enhance the businesses.”  Full story.  Photo gallery.