UP AND DOWN TOWN, October 2006

Ambassadors of Delta County

In late April, the Ambassadors of Delta County joined Thrivent Financial for Lutherans (located at 127 North Lincoln Road) for their Ribbon Cutting Celebration.

There were plenty of reasons to celebrate. Owner Brian Pahnke happily welcomed the addition of Financial Associates Deb Pahnke and Diane Shea. They also have just recently completed renovations to add a conference room and make the whole office more spacious. All of this, coupled with the help of Rene Boddy, has Thrivent Financial for Lutherans excited and ready to help you with your financial needs. Stop by and see them today!


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By Jim O’Toole

City of Escanaba residents are invited and encouraged to participate in a community- wide recycling program called “Trash to Treasure” on Aug. 12 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The purpose of the program is to provide a venue for the recycling of reusable household items such as furniture, lamps, electronics, and other working household items. The program is designed to increase awareness in recycling by creating an alternative means of reusing items that would otherwise end up in the landfill.

GUIDELINES
Any resident wishing to participate in the program is asked to place reusable/serviceable items in front of their house on the curb no earlier than 8:00 a.m. on Aug. 12 so that people are encouraged to take what they want.

Remaining items that have not been taken (recycled/claimed) must be removed from the curb side no later than 7 p.m. on Aug. 12.

In the course of the day, people can peruse the neighborhoods of Escanaba and take any items they would like to have.

College students are encouraged to participate in the treasure hunt in that they may find items which will be useful to them in their dormitory or apartment.

Examples of items that can be recycled include lamps, tables, chairs, dishes, etc. Please, no rubbish. Rubbish is defined to mean anything that does not work, is not clean and is not serviceable.

Rain date of August 19 has been established.



Escanaba • Gladstone          back to top >>
NOTHING FISHY HERE
Bays de Noc Area offers REELY great deal!
By Steve Masters

TVisitors and residents alike are being encouraged to take the bait and enjoy
Delta County’s Free-for-All weekend, June 9 – 10. Known as the “Walleye Capital
of the World”, the Bays de Noc offer some of the best fresh water fishing in the United States, so it is certainly fitting to celebrate the statewide Free Fishing Weekend, which waives all fishing license fees (fishing regulations still apply), with many fantastic freebies.

The Free-for-All has something for everyone,additional highlights of the Free Fishing Weekend Celebration include:

• Waiving of boat launch fees in Escanaba and Gladstone

• Free Admission to the DNR Pocket Park at the U.P. State Fair Grounds; families can fish for Blue Gills, climb the Fire Tower, shoot pellet guns and explore the various ecosystems of Upper Peninsula in a fun and educational atmosphere

• Complimentary bus transportation from area motels to downtown Escanaba and Gladstone

• Free admission to the Sand Point Lighthouse and Museum

• Free admission to the Bonifas Fine Art Center and Gallery, featuring more than 100 pieces of artwork by local and regional Upper Peninsula Artists

• Free Saturday tour of America’s only model pet cemetery and pet casket manufacturer
on June 9 at 1 p.m.

• Full access to the always free beaches in Escanaba and Gladstone

* Free discount coupons from Downtown Escanaba and Gladstone Merchants – available
after May 15th at the DDA office or at www.downtownescanaba.org

* Free “Keys to Success” discount coupons by participating Delta County Chamber of Commerce Member Businesses are available after May 15 at the Delta County Commerce Center or at www.deltami.org

Visitors and residents are also encouraged to get out and explore. PROJECT GO – Get Outdoors, coincides with Michigan’s Free Fishing Weekend, together these events celebrate outdoor recreation and the role it plays in improving the quality of life in Michigan. The Delta County area offers residents and vacationers a wide variety of outdoor opportunities to enjoy. From biking, hiking, trail running, camping, swimming, boating or fishing, the experiences are plentiful. Whether enjoying the Free-for-All weekend or just an ordinary day, the Bays de Noc area is an extraordinary place to live or vacation.

With more freshwater shoreline than any other county in America, Delta County has something for everyone: water, woods and warm smiles are waiting for you! For more information on the Bays de Noc area, including fishing reports and more information on the Free-For-All weekend, please visit www.travelbaysdenoc.com.



Downtown Development Authority                                             back to top >>
By Judy Schroeder and Cori Triest

Now that Spring has officially arrived, the DDA is starting with plans to plant flowers around center court and the main intersection at Lincoln and Ludington.
There will also be some new additions throughout the downtown. Watch for banners and flower pots.

The Downtown Policing Program will start soon. This program has been a success in the past and the pressence of uniformed officers builds a sense of security to most. There have been few problems in the past and we look forward to another safe and happy summer.

The Downtown Development Authority has been working feverishly with all of its summer events on the way. The DDA has implemented planning on projects that will take place throughout the summer. The events range from a marathon and band concerts to car shows and sidewalk sales.

Summer events will keep downtowners busy this summer. Every other Thursday night, the DDA will host a band concert. The Krusin’ Klassics Fun Run will be held Friday, June 1st. Sidewalk Sales Daze will be held July 27. Farmer’s Market will be up and running for the summer as well.

The Salvation Army is hosting a 10K Run/Walk, which will aid the homeless in Delta County, on May 26. The Run/Walk passes through the downtown area on Ludington Street. The course has been qualified for the necessary certification so that racing times can now be used to compete nationally. The DDA will be hosting a spaghetti feed for race participants the day before the race.

As many of you have hopefully noticed, some downtown businesses have been reinventing themselves with the help of a DDA Façade Grant. New facades can be seen throughout the downtown at locations such as D & M Subs, Rosy’s Diner,
Sviland’s, Great Smile Dentistry, and Tan’ology. We encourage everyone to take the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful new improvements to our downtown.

New and festive downtown décor is being considered to brighten up the downtown area. Flowerpots and banners for the light poles are a couple of the projects being researched.

Interested parties will still find published vacancy lists for vacant downtown buildings. The response that the DDA has received has been wonderful, and the vacancy list will continue to be published. It can be viewed on the DDA website at downtownescanaba.org.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome a couple new businesses to the downtown. R.U.M.T. and Sign Up! have both located at the corner of 12th Street across from Wells Fargo. We wish both businesses the best of luck in all of their endeavors!

The DDA & D.E.B.A. will be hosting another summer concert series. This year, the concerts will be held on Thursday evenings
from 6:00-7:30 P.M. If you are interested in performing for one of the vacant dates, contact Cori at the DDA Office at 906-789-8696.

The DDA is continuing the development of angle parking and a central retail core, which were recommendations from the DDA’s recent Market Study created by Anderson Economic Group. The dimensions for angle parking and the retail district are such that it will range from 9th-14th Streets with the possibility of expanding. Finalization and approval are the next steps.




By Kathryn Morski                                                back to top >>

Look at the Bonifas Arts Center’s May-June Exhibit to see whose work hangs in the Bay Area Arts Association’s Annual Membership Show.

Members of the area’s premiere grassroots arts organization are invited to show up to three pieces in any medium, so the show is always a mix of painting, pottery, quilting, carving and more.

“I call it the ‘Friends and Neighbors’ show because it’s so nice to know the artists, and enjoy such quality work from our local area,” said Kathryn Morski for the Bonifas.

The exhibit opens with a reception on Thursday, May 17, at 7 p.m. The public is invited at no charge, and awards are presented.

The Membership Show is up through Thursday, June 14. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information call 786-3833.

Missoula is actually coming to the Bonifas this year! The Missoula Children’s Theatre program which gives 60 area children a week-long plunge into theater had been tentatively cancelled for the week of June 18.

“When we checked, though,” Mollie Larsen, Executive Director, said, “it would cost us as much to cancel as to present the performance, so of course we opted to continue.”

Larsen said the Bonifas had received funding in an approved grant written by Players de Noc and approved by CUPPAD, but State Arts funding freezes meant that the money will not be forthcoming.

“We may raise the ticket prices a dollar or two, we will charge $5 for children to participate,” she said. “But we’re committed to providing this year’s group the best theater experience we can.”

Auditions for Tales of Hans Christian Andersen will take place on Monday morning, June 18, from 10 a.m. to noon. Students must stay for the entire audition, with rehearsals for the cast following a short break.

Call the Bonifas for more information at 786-3833.



Delta County Jaycees                                                                   back to top >>

By Jenny Baulmer

VIVA DUCK VEGAS! Congratulations to Brigitte Brady for winning this years Duck Race slogan contest. With this year’s theme being “Las Vegas”, Brigitte’s slogan is the perfect start to yet another fun-filled and exciting event!

Stay tuned for updates on the Duck Races. Currently we have $5000 as the top prize and a (5) night trip for two, to Las Vegas, as second prize. If anyone is interested in becoming a sponsor of the Duck Races or would like to donate a prize, please contact Sara Ault 280-4951 or Nickie Bowman 420-2983 or email deltaduckrace2007@yahoo.com

Are you between the ages of 21-40 and interested in helping out your community, having fun and forming life long friendships/business contacts? Check us out!! Contact Lisa Broman, Membership VP for membership info at lbroman@jobforce.org.

Meeting Date: 2nd Wed of every month.
Time: Social hour 5pm-6pm; Meeting 6pm at Ferdinand’s

Jaycee Creed:
We believe....
That faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life;
That the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations;
That economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise;
That government should be of laws rather than of men;
That earth’s great treasure lies in human personality;
And that service to humanity is the best work of life.



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EDA Delta County

Your Economic Developement Alliance at Work
by Mary Feldhusen

The Delta County Board has authorized the sale of approximately seven acres of land in the Red Pine Industrial Park. It also authorized County Administrator
Joe Erickson to proceed with a land survey and work with attorneys for the sale of the property.

The business looking to go into the industrial park would make a $2 million to $3 million investment in facilities alone, said Ann Jousma-Miller, director of Delta County’s Economic Development Alliance.

The property involved is owned by the county south of the Delta Area Transit Authority bus garage. Officials representing the company making the purchase requested confidentiality for all terms and conditions until a final agreement is executed.

County commissioners expressed concern in granting permission for the sale, not knowing what type of industry might be built on the land.

“It’s not any type of industrial plant,” Jousma-Miller said. “It’s more in the trucking area.”

The Fortune 500 company wants a site with access to Class A roads, said Jousma-Miller. And it didn’t want any wetlands concerns with the land. The site in the industrial park appears to meet the company’s needs.

“It looks like they have their ducks in a row as a company,” Commissioner Dave Schultz said.

“We’re still in negotiations with the developer on a purchase agreement,” Jousma-Miller said Monday. “We’re working on the survey right now.”

If the company goes ahead with the purchase, the investment initially represents at least 20 jobs in the county, possibly 40, Jousma-Miller said.

“We’ve had inquiries about this land in the past,” Erickson said. “The property is timbered with mainly Norway and Scotch pine and small amounts of red pine.”

Value of the acreage could not be released because negotiations are in process sale of the property, Erickson said this morning.

Sale of the property would leave the county with approximately five acres north of the Michigan Works! building for future needs and preserve the snowmobile trail, Erickson said. Pine trees remaining will create a buffer between Michigan Works! and the new construction.