Chamber honors community leaders, installs board at Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting award winners, from left: Courtney Angell Sumpter, Young Entrepreneur Award; Chuck Vondra, accepting Volunteer of the Year Award on behalf of his late father Ed Vondra; Jill and Jim Habasco, Entrepreneur of the Year (tie), Bob Grove, Sally Roselli Leadership Award; Mark Warner, Entrepreneur of the Year (tie); Asuka Barden, accepting Heritage Award for her grandfather Ed Barden; Kyle Marshall, accepting Heritage Award on behalf of Mary Palmer; Susan Conklin, Community Pride Award for Good Neighbors Food Pantry.

A crowd of 335 people attended the Boyne Area Chamber Annual Meeting at Boyne Mountain, enjoying great food and drink, entertainment and the presentation of awards to community leaders and organizations. The Chamber Board of Directors was installed with Karen Guzniczak honored for completing her year as president and Emily Wilmot starting her year as the incoming president. Full board.
> Petoskey News-Review story and photo.

The award winners are:

> Volunteer of the Year - Ed Vondra, long-time member of the Boyne City School Board, who died unexpectedly in September at the age of 66.  Ed is remembered for his extensive capacity for caring and involvement in many community events - especially those related to our schools. Accepting the award was Ed’s son, Chuck Vondra.

> Community Pride Award - Good Neighbors Food Pantry for starting a new, larger community pantry, which is open every Tuesday. Director Susan Conklin created a partnership with the Boyne Free Clinic, which provided a great space for the pantry.

> Young Entrepreneur of the Year - Courtney Angell Sumpter of Northern Michigan Equine Therapy. Her work with at-risk young people through the non-profit organization she started is dramatically changing lives.

> Entrepreneurs of the Year - A tie vote: Jim and Jill Habasco started Big E’s Smoke Shack in Boyne Falls. Right after they opened, they won first prize in the Green Light East Jordan Business Model Competition for their unique new store. The Smoke Shack sells smoked fish, shrimp, pulled pork and homemade fish and salmon dips.

Also honored was Mark Warner of Northern Table, which brought a fresh new idea – “farm to table” - to the area. Upstairs, the Boyne Pub is a sports bar specializing in wood-fired pizzas.

> Heritage Award - A tie vote:

Ed Barden of F.O. Barden & Sons Lumber has donated countless hours and properties to the community and schools. You would need to look for a long time to find a family that has been a pillar of the Boyne business community for as long as the Bardens. Ed’s granddaugher Asuka Barden accepted the award on his behalf.

Mary Palmer of Magnum Hospitality - It was 1997 when Mary and her partners supercharged the Boyne City dining scene by opening Red Mesa Grill. Five years ago they opened Café Sante just a couple of blocks away. Kyle Marshall accepted the award for Mary, who is celebrating her recent retirement vacationing in Europe with her husband Don.

> The Sally Roselli Business Leadership Award (presented by Sally's sister, Julie Wellman) - Mike Dow and Bob Grove purchased the lakefront land across from Family Fare and offered it to the city at their cost so it can be preserved as open space. The city is leasing the property for $1 and exploring grants and other funding options.

New Boyne City Bakery coming in March

Tom Greetis and Rebecca Harris

The Johan’s Bakery building at 110 S. Lake Street was acquired by Boyne City Bakery LLC on December 30. New owners Rebecca Harris and Thomas Greetis are busy renovating and updating the building with plans to open in March. In addition to having full-time baking tenants, they will provide a commercial kitchen to other food entrepreneurs, offer community food education and other hands-on events.

“Our vision is to bring back a working bakery and facilitate entrepreneurial food-based businesses with an emphasis on local ingredients. It is so exciting to be part of downtown Boyne City. Tom and I love this community and look forward to helping shape its future. We believe in a collaborative and competitive downtown environment,” Harris said.

“Tom and Rebecca are very passionate about Boyne City and they will make such a positive impact on our downtown. We are extremely lucky to have them invest in our community and bring their vision, passion and extensive knowledge to a new business venture. They will help drive the excitement and growth on South Lake Street,” said Lori Meeder, director of the Boyne City Main Street Program.

Harris noted that “We are waiting to announce who the baking tenants will be, but their well-established and loved products are going to thrill the community. Customers will be able to take home products or they may sit down inside or out seasonally on both Lake and Front Streets.”

Tom Greetis moved to Boyne City in 1974 to work at Courter Products now Honeywell. As a project and manufacturing engineer he enjoyed a rewarding career spanning 36 years. He has served on Friends of the Library, Boyne City planning commission, and volunteered as Challenge Mountain treasurer for over 15 years.

Rebecca moved to Boyne City in 1991 and worked at Harbor House Publishers until 2011. Since 2012 she has managed the Boyne City Farmers Market. She has been involved in many organizations, projects and initiatives, including Challenge Mountain board, Main Street Design Committee, Walkabout Sculpture Tour, SOBO Arts Festival, Stroll Through History and the Historical Walking Tour.

Harris stated that “the last four years with the market have been some of the most rewarding in my life. I have had the opportunity to learn from the market’s charter farmers (over 34 years) and experienced the addition of five new first generation farmers. We have held fundraising events, raising over $34,000 towards the permanent winter home for the market. Had I not become involved with the market, local farmers and the local food movement I don’t think we would have taken this path,” Harris said.

The bakery will be open early morning until mid afternoon. More details will be announced in March.

MEDC approves million-dollar grant for the Dilworth Hotel

All smiles after the MEDC grant was approved are, from left: City Manager Michael Cain, MEDC staffer Dan Leonard, Dilworth owner Bob Grove, Mayor Tom Neidhamer and City Commissioner Hugh Conklin.

Officials at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Strategic Fund Board have unanimously approved a $1-million community development block grant for job creation and blight elimination for the Dilworth Hotel in Boyne City. Officials from Boyne City including Michael Cain, City Manager; Hugh Conklin, City Commissioner; Tom Neidhamer, Mayor; and Lori Meeder, Main Street Director, joined Bob Grove to offer support of the project to the MSF board.

The community development block grants (CDBG) were created to help encourage private development in underutilized and vacant buildings. Redevelopment projects like the Dilworth Hotel have extraordinary costs above and beyond normal development costs such as environmental remediation of lead and asbestos, selective demolition and façade stabilization, as well as major upgrades for barrier free access and fire suppression systems compliance.

Without support from funding options like CDBG, Brownfield and Local Reimbursement programs, investments in historic renovation projects would not be possible.

“The need for public and private partnership is key to community development. Financial support from the state and local level is critical to make this investment financially feasible,” said Michael Cain, City Manager of Boyne City.

The Dilworth Hotel sat vacant for more than seven years and there has long been vigorous public support for bringing this community asset back to its original glory. It is a landmark with strong ties to Boyne City’s history. Its location at the entrance and main corridor into downtown has kept this a top priority for the community for many years.

“This is really a catalyst for future projects and redevelopment and will help spur economic development in and around the community. We are so fortunate to have someone like Bob Grove who has a keen interest and passion for bringing the Dilworth back to the way it was 100+ years ago,” added Lori Meeder, Main Street Director.

Work has begun to stabilize the brick façade and the roof system before winter with window repairs to begin soon. “The plan is to fix all of the existing windows instead of replacing them. My goal is to renovate the hotel with historical integrity. I have studied all of the original features and attributes and will work to keep the Dilworth true to its original character,” said Bob Grove, owner and developer.

The 103 year old Dilworth Hotel opened in 1912 and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since the mid-1980s. Once completed, the three story, 28,000 square foot hotel will provide much needed accommodations with 26 rooms, a restaurant, a banquet room and a pub. Discussions have begun with a management group to operate the hotel.

> For more information, contact 231.582.9009 or email mainstreet@boynecity.com.

Main Street kicks off crowdfunding campaign for Boyne River sculpture

The Boyne City Main Street Program is organizing an exciting new project called "The Last River Draw." A life-size bronze sculpture of a logger will be placed on the edge of the Boyne River pulling a log with a pike pole used in the early lumbering era. The idea for the sculpture came from Tony Williams, who asked Martha Sulfridge, a local sculptor, if she would be willing to create and build it. "This will be a wonderful representation and reminder of our lumbering heritage and an engaging way to bring art to our public spaces," said Lori Meeder, Main Street Executive Director. "This project ties in with our Walkabout Sculpture Show installed in June, 8 temporary pieces on loan from Michigan artists. This will make our first permanent piece."
"The Last River Draw" project is being spearheaded by the Main Street Design Committee. The committee is currently building awareness and financial support for the sculpture project. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has approved a matching grant through its "Public Spaces, Community Places" crowdfunding initiative. Once a short video is produced outlining the project, it will go live through an online fundraising platform known as Patronicity (www.patronicity.com). This social media mechanism of fundraising allows community members to make individual contributions of any size through an online campaign. The total project cost is $50,000 and if the community can raise $25,000, the MEDC will match the $25,000.
Tony Williams, a sub-committee member whose grandfathers were both lumberjacks in the Boyne Valley, pointed out that "We have already received support from a number of local residents and from the Charlevoix County Community Foundation. We are very grateful to all who have supported this and see the value of such a timeless piece of art that will be enjoyed for years to come. We welcome and appreciate all donations toward this effort. For every dollar someone donates, the MEDC will match that with a dollar. It's a great opportunity to leverage our local support." Lori Meeder added, "What makes our community really special is caring and compassionate people that help every day with their financial support, time and talents. We are extremely fortunate in that regard."
> Anyone wishing to donate or learn more can email mainstreet@boynecity.com or call 231.582.9009.

Boyne Appétit! initiative starts with Wine Wednesdays

The Boyne City Main Street program and Chamber of Commerce are collaborating on a new initiative to promote the exceptional restaurants and other food establishments in this area. Called "Boyne Appétit!," the program is run by a steering committee consisting chefs, managers and community volunteers interested in promoting the Boyne City area as the "foodie" destination in Northwest Michigan. They have developed a logo and aFacebook page. Soon you will be seeing window clings featuring the logo and website on the windows and doors of local restaurants and food businesses. The Boyne Appétit! Committee has been meeting since October and its coordinators are food writer and volunteer Cynthia Janssens and Alana Haley, the marketing manager of Porter Creek Fish House. 

Boyne Appétit! will kick off  in 2016 with Wine Wednesdays, set to begin January 6. On the first Wednesday of each month, from 5-7 p.m., local restaurants and wine purveyors will have wine tastings and serve complimentary appetizers. Those currently participating are the Boyne Pub, Café Sante, Northern Table, Porter Creek Fish House, Red Mesa Grill, Boyne River Inn, Lake Street Market and The Wine Emporium. Nate Jason from Café Sante and Mark Warner from Northern Table are coordinating Wine Wednesdays and inviting other area restaurants to participate. "We plan to issue a punch card and once participants have visited all of the restaurants, they will be eligible to win a prize," adds Warner. 

A Boyne Appétit! website is being developed (www.boyneappetit.com) and will contain extensive information about each restaurant or retail business (everything from detailed hours to whether or not they cater) -- information that is not now available in any one place for visitors to our community. It is anticipated that in the spring a brochure will be printed containing all of this information to distribute to visitors to the Boyne City area. Funding is being sought to print this brochure. The initiative involves restaurants and retail food purveyors in Boyne City, Boyne Falls, Advance and Walloon Lake.

> For more information on Boyne Appétit!, contact Cynthia Janssens at 989-942-7265, cynthia2248@msn.com, or Alana Haley at 231-350-2962,  alana.haley@sommersetpointe.com.

Forty Acres Tavern opens at Boyne Mountain

It has a taste for every appetite and a beer for every acre. Introducing Forty Acres Tavern at Boyne Mountain Resort. Sit slopeside on Saturday, Dec. 12,  from 5-9 p.m. for the Grand Opening Celebration of this newly renovated tavern - equal parts watering hole and refueling station. Learn the story behind the name and sample the menu - elevated pub fare with a roster of 40 beers. Register to win a Ski & Stay package that includes dinner at Forty Acres Tavern with the winner chosen at 9 pm. It's forty-acres-worth of fun! Menu, details and the story behind the name.

Fustini's store opens in downtown Boyne City

Manager Charlene Hunt, right, and
assistant manager Michelle Sulak.

Although they are currently open, Fustini's new Boyne City store will be celebrating their grand opening on Saturday, Dec. 12th at noon. They will be sampling tasty appetizers Fustini's style, and are giving double bottle points on existing Frequent Buyer Club accounts. The new Boyne City location will be managed by Charlene Hunt with the assistance of Michelle Sulak. Charlene is currently the manager of the Petoskey location and has been with the company for over six years. Michelle has been with the company for five years. Both have many years experience in the food industry and are passionate about food and flavors. Stop in and see them anytime for recipe, flavoring, and gift ideas. www.fustinis.com