Please help! The Shoe Club has just launched our fundraising campaign for this year’s project: a multi-component sustainable agriculture system that includes everything from a hoop house to a composting system called EJ Seed to Salad. Take a sec to learn more about this project and make an online donation today! Thank you

YouTube Video https://youtu.be/oA4oO7uK-tk

Go Fund Me https://gofund.me/0573309f

Mother Nature has finally delivered the much needed SNOW for East Jordan’s 41^st Annual Sno-Blast Winter Festival set for Saturday and Sunday, February 19^th and 20^th. The festival offers activities and events for all ages to enjoy. You don’t need to have a snowmobile to participate in many of the activities. The popular Sno-Sculpture Contest with this year’s theme “Fun and Games” allows families, clubs, classes and individuals a chance to get outside and create works of show art! The top three winners will receive cash prizes. This annual event is sponsored by South Arm Café. For those individuals who prefer to stay inside and admire the snow through the window the Coloring Contests for adults and children are always a huge hit. Winners will receive prizes from the contest sponsor BC Pizza. Another popular indoor event is the Grand Story Hour held on Saturday at Books N Things. Crafts, snacks and two stories are read to reading enthusiasts by East Jordan’s Citizen of the Year, Luanne Reed.

The East Jordan Sno-Mobilers Clubhouse in the location for a majority of Saturday’s   events. Beginning at 9:00 AM, the Classic and Antique Snowmobile Show will show a number of spectacular sleds of the past for spectators to enjoy. The Blessing of the ORV’s and sleds will be held at 10:00 AM. ORV owners and enthusiasts are invited to participate in the ORV Obstacle Course event scheduled for 10:45 AM. There is a $5.00 entry fee, must be 18 and over and wear a helmet for the event. New this year, the 1^st Ever Frozen pancake Olympics will run from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Also new this year a Chili Cook-Off sponsored by the EJ Sno-Mobilsrs will take place from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. At noon, the very popular SnowStuds Bikini Radar Run – Breast Cancer Fundraiser will find 25 plus participants on the track to help raise money for local breast cancer patients. Following the Bikini Run, snowmobile Radar Runs will be offered from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Participants must be 18 years or older and wear a helmet (no side by side racing). There is a $10.00 entry fee for the Radar Runs.

Also, a major highlight of the festival is the Crowning of the Belle of the Blizzard and Winter Knight will be held on Saturday morning at 9:30 AM at the Sno-Mobilers Clubhouse. This year’s candidates for Belle include Jaleesa O’Neal, Maegan Chamberlain and Dorothy Warrington. Winter Knight Candidates are Jason O’Neal, Josh Chamberlain and Stewart Warrington. Candidates who raise the most amount of money are crowned Belle and Knight. Proceeds help to promote the festival.

A new event on Saturday evening, “Winter Luminary Stroll and Sip” will take place at the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center on M-66 in East Jordan. Participants are invited to hike, ski or snowshoe by candlelight from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

The festival concludes on Sunday with the famous Sno-Lovers Breakfast at the Sno-Mobilers Clubhouse from 7:00 AM to Noon. Immediately following the breakfast the winners of the South Arm ORV Club Raffle will drawing and announced. Raffle tickets are on sale now from any club member or at the East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce Office. Tickets will also be sold throughout the festival.

Throughout East Jordan there are many opportunities to enjoy winter at no cost. The East Jordan Tourist Park is home to two ice skating rinks, there is the East Jordan Lion’s Club disc golf course at East Jordan Community Park, and both snowshoeing and cross country skiing is possible at the Community Park and Little Traverse Conservancy’s Rogers Family Nature Preserve. Experience the new Jordan Art Walk. Take a stroll in Memorial Park across the “Joining Jordan” pedestrian bridge to Sportsman’s Park and check out the sculptures.

The community of East Jordan is a snowmobile friendly town and offers dining opportunities in its downtown, a wine cellar and shopping.

For more information contact the East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce, phone 231-536-7351, email info@ejchamber.org or see a full schedule of Sno-Blast events and a Jordan Art Walk Map on the East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce website at www.ejchamber.org.

The Cummings String Quartet from the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra (GLCO) will perform a free concert on Sunday, Feb. 20, at 4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 501 E. Mitchell Street, Petoskey.

The public concert is part of GLCO’s Sunday Series, which features small orchestra ensembles performing free concerts in churches around Northern Michigan.

The Cummings String Quartet features David Reimer, first violin; Elizabeth Bert, cello; Trisha Berquist, viola; and Iuliia Fetysenko, second violin.

The ensemble will perform Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s String Quartet No. 17 in B-flat major, K. 458, nicknamed “The Hunt,” and Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96 “American.”

The concert will begin at 4 p.m. No tickets or registration are needed for this free, public concert. For more information, visit www.glcorchestra.org or call 231-487-0010.

It’s that time of year when we encourage you to take a look around our community at the many individuals that are so deserving of being Citizen of the Year. Nomination forms need to be filled out and returned to the Chamber Office by Friday, December 17th.

Citizen of the Year Nomination Form

“Mingle and Jingle” set for Saturday, November 27^th

East Jordan’s newest event “Mingle & Jingle” is ready to celebrate the upcoming holidays on Saturday, November 27^th! Starting at 4:00 PM everyone is invited to help Mayor Mark Penzien and Citizen of the Year Luanne Reed light the community tree located on the corner of Spring and Hammond Streets. Following the tree lighting get ready to participate in East Jordan’s largest Christmas Caroling event around the lit tree with Mark and Luanne leading the songs. After the caroling head to The Boathouse on Lake Charlevoix, located at 204 Water Street to the First Ever “Jubilee of Trees for 501-C3’s”, Twenty-five decorated trees have been donated by local businesses, organizations and individuals for this unique silent auction. Winning bidders will select the local 501-C3 from a list to make their donations to. Over 25 local 501-C3’s have signed on to be in the donor list.

The Jordan Valley Community Band will perform a musical program from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM and there will be light refreshments available. The East Jordan Co-Op Nursery’s popular Holiday Bake Sale is taking place from 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM at The Boathouse.

After viewing and bidding on the trees, pick up your shopping passport card, be sure to get it punched and then get ready to shop, dine and celebrate our local businesses that evening and throughout the season! A huge community business basket will be given away to a lucky winner. To be eligible to win, passport cards must be turned in to the Chamber Office by December 3^rd. drawing will be on December 6^th. You must make five purchases and get your passport punched by the business at time of purchase. Participating businesses throughout East Jordan will have spectacular sales, promotions and refreshments that evening. To see the list of “Mingle and Jingle” businesses – visit the Chamber website at www.ejchamber.org. Also that evening the Jordan River Arts Council will be open at 301 Main Street with their Gift Shop and Holiday Gift Market and will be giving a free ornament to children that evening. After 8:00 PM the Holiday Cheer Jingle Trail will be taking place at downtown participating restaurants and wine bar. See Chamber website for complete details.

“Mingle and Jingle” is being bought to the community to kick off the upcoming holiday season and to showcase all of the fabulous products and services the East Jordan businesses offer. No supply chain shortage, great selection and excellent customer service is available. Support the businesses, organizations and professionals who support your activities, special events and lifestyle throughout the year! Remember…every $100.00 spent locally instead of on-line shopping, $68.00 of it stays locally!

For more information, contact the East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce at 231-536-7351, e-mail info@ejchamber.org or on our website at ejchamber.org