Ellsworth Pig Roast – June 17 – 18

CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

East Jordan Freedom Festival – June 21 – 26

CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Please be sure to check out the many happenings listed below.

A few notes –
Tickets are going quickly for the 15th Annual Celebrity Dinner, Monday, May 16 at the Landing. Get to the Chamber for your tickets. Only 100 will be sold!

Business After Hours – Tomorrow Night, Thursday, April 14 at Raven Hill Discovery Center, proudly Co-Sponsored by Raven Hill and East Jordan Public Schools – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

East Jordan Business District Open House of Available Commercial Proprieties For Rent or Sale – Saturday, April 16, 1-3 PM. Pick up information at E.J. Chamber Office or on our website, https://ejchamber.org. Business District Open House List

“Energize, Engage, Enhance East Jordan” Wednesday, April 20, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Free Community Picnic. 6:30 – Presentation by Cheri Najor, 7:15 – 8:15 PM Clubs, Organizations and Festivals Expo. Door prizes. Let’s all reach out to new members of our community and others who are not yet involved in a club, organization or event. Let’s try to enhance our community by engaging more volunteers. “Many hands make less work for all”.

We need your 2016-17 Visitors Guide/Membership Directory ad information, as well as business update information by the end of the week.

Congratulations to the winners of the 35th Annual Sno-Blast Winter Festival –

Bekki Brusse – Belle of the Blizzard
Greg Porter – Winter Knight

Sno-Sculpture winners – Thank you Darlene’s Restaurant for sponsoring
1st Place Sno-Sculpture – Sladick’s Family (Horses)
Tie 2nd Place Sno-Sculpture – Argetsinger Family
Roger Clark

Coloring Contest Winners – Thank you BC Pizza of East Jordan for sponsoring
0-5 – Emma Murray
6-7 – Sakari Anthony
8-9 – Owen Chappuies
Adult – Todd Downing

Softball in the snow winning team – Thank you Essence Salon for sponsoring and Nikki Skrocki for organizing.

Thank you to the Sno-Blast Committee – Connie Massey, Gerry Argetsinger and Shannon Fender.

Thank you Father Chet Collins – St. Joseph Church for performing the Blessing of the Sleds, Little Traverse Conservancy, Jordan Valley Outfitters and Save-A-Lot for sponsoring the snow shoe event. East Jordan Rotary Club for sponsoring the Chili Supper. Wild Game & Foraged Food Dinner at Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center, Jordan River Arts Council for hosting the Annual Winter Party and Dance and the East Jordan Sno-Mobilers for allowing the use of the club and their Sno-Lovers Breakfast.

It truly takes many people to make a festival! Thanks once again!

What a difference a few days can make in Northern Michigan! From considering doing a “snow dance” due to no show and warm temperatures to ” Winter Storm Watches and Warnings”, severe wind chill temps, whiteouts and more! Finally from our Chamber Office windows, we are seeing snowmobiles on the horizon and in our town. Reminder to all drivers, be aware of the snowmobile traffic and pedestrians in our communities. As the white-out conditions continue, it is often difficult to see individuals or sleds.

Our office is a flurry of activity as we prepare for this weekends trip to Grand Rapids for the MI Camping and RV Show and the Annual Auction. Auction items are needed for the Annual Auction on January 30 in conjunction with the Annual meeting/dinner/awards. We are so fortunate to have the famous auctioneer Scott MacKenzie back with us once again this year. Scott is so enthusiastic about our area, the Chamber and people! We greatly appreciate his dedication and talent. Remember – also, we need your diner reservations ASAP!

The 6th annual Pumpkin Festival and the Leaf Peeker Craft Show certainly had every possible weather condition thrown at it this past weekend! Snow, wind, rain, sun and sleet did not dampen the spirits of festival attendees, volunteers and organizations. Thanks to all of our generous sponsors for helping produce another memorable fall family fun event.

Honor Roll of Sponsors –
Twister Joe – Charlevoix State Bank
Music by Kellerville – East Jordan Plastics, Inc.
Commercial Division Scarecrow Competition – Petoskey News Review
Winners: The Insurance Shop
Hall Dental
The EJ Shoppe
Residential/Non-Profit Division – Lynda’s Real Estate
Winners: Girl Scout Troop 4312
David Schweer
Sandy Davis-Webster
Pumpkin Pie Contest – Save-A-Lot of East Jordan
Winners: Cathy Musser
Jodi Kurkpatrick
Carrie Musser
Children’s Games/Popcorn – East Jordan Community Church
Pumpkin Bowling – The Zone
Pumpkins for Children – Dr. Bert DesJardins and handed out by the E.J. Satellite Rotary Club
Children’s Activity – Jordan River Arts Council
Craft Show Vendor Treats – Family Fare of East Jordan & Fast Fill

Thank you to all of our ladies that assisted at the Leaf Peeker Craft Show as greeters: Janet Roberts, Millie Peck, Brenda Chanda, Nancy McWaters, Barb Worgess, Carolyn Zipp, Sue Stallard, Denise Brown and Roberta Nemecek. Thank you to the Pumpkin Pie Contest Judges – Dr. Sara Hall, Tom Fender and Barb Worgess. Thank you to the Leaf Peeker Craft Show Committee Co-Chairs – Shannon Fender & Heather Jackson, Committee Members – Denise Brown-Pajtas, Zach Pajtas, Courtney Fender.

These events do not “just happen” – it takes many willing hands and positive attitudes to create a “fun experience” Thank you all!!

Ambassadors Needed!
The East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador program is currently recruiting volunteers to become an ambassador for the Chamber. Ambassadors are needed to assist at Chamber events including Business After Hours, ribbon cuttings, Annual Meeting and Auction. Interested members please contact Mary for more information at 231-536-7351

DCF 1.0

Congratulations to the Winners of “Green Light East Jordan!”
$10,000.00 – First Place – “Big E’s Smoke Shake” – Ethan Habasco
$3,000.00 – Second Place – Business Center Plus – Barbara Ann Worgess
$2,000.00 – Third Place – Bluestem Ferments – Mary Brower
$500.00 – Crowed Vote – EJ Catering – Gretchen Bender

A very special Thank You to our Sponsors!

Pure Michigan
Spartan Innovations
Castle Farms
Porter Creek Fish House
Short’s Brewing Company
EJ Public Schools
Royal Farms – Farm Market & Winery
EJ
EJ Plastics, Inc.
Burnette Foods, Inc.
A Matter of Taste
The Landing Restaurant
North Central Michigan College
North Central Michigan College Foundation
Charlevoix County Community Foundation
Charlevoix County News
Jordan River Arts Council
Valley Graphics Printing

Thank you to Green Light East Jordan Committee Members – Nancy Carey, Mary Faculak, Clif Porter, Matt Stevenson, Tom Cannon, Lori Fischer, Paul Jacques.

An amazing event and to think this is just the beginning! Looking forward to many wonderful results! Congratulations to the Top Ten Finalists on their great presentations! Thank you to our judges: Dr. Cameron Brunet-Koch – NCMC President, Terry Vandercook – MEDC, Jack Poindexter – CFO EJ, Matt Drake – Short’s Brewing Company and Ron Jolly – Radio Host – WTCM News Talk 580. Thank you to all who attended this spectacular event! The positive comments and energy continues to be heard at our Chamber Office. Looking forward to 2016 State Finals is March in East Lansing and our event in October 2016.

If you didn’t attend last weekend’s East Jordan South Arm Classics Boat and Car Show and Micro Brew Tent featuring the Bridge Street Tap Room’s mobile unit, you missed alot of spectacular cars, boats and fun with family and friends at the tent!

Congratulations and THANK YOU to the East Jordan Lions Club and the East Jordan Freedom Festival for sponsoring the three events! Thank you to Boat Show Chair Darrin Podskalny and his committee, Car Show Chair Dan Miller and his committee and Billie Jo Tracey – Micro Brew Tent Chair and her committee for their time, energy and organization of these three signature events. Also, special thank you to all of the businesses, individuals, clubs and organizations who helped sponsor a car class, donated a door prize, etc. It truly takes an entire community working together in harmony to produce a first class event! If you are interested in being part of next year’s South Arm Classics, contact the Chamber for more information – 231-536-7351 or info@ejchamber.org.

Our “East Jordan is Open Late ‘Til Eight” on Wednesdays, got off to a great start last week! See our photos at ejchamber.org! We have added 3 more names to our list, Crossroads Resale Shop, East Jordan Community Center and Jordan River Arts Council will be open ’til eight along with Books N Things, Picker’s Exchange, Karen Walker Studio, Billie’s Floral and Boutique, E.J. Shoppe, The Zone Sports Lounge, Sodalicious, Busy, Bridge Gift & Antiques, Murray’s Bar & Grill, EJ Visitor Center, Subway, Marty’s Cones and Carry Out, The Mallard Golf Club, Jordan Valley Outfitters, The Barn, BC Pizza and Rustic Ali. Thank you to our entertainers who graciously shared their musical talent and gift of song – Patrick O’Connor (Owner of A Natural Talent) and Anora O’Connor of “Acoustic Tribute”, Such fun! Please spread the word on this retail/restaurant/attraction promotion – East Jordan’s Open Late “Til Eight on Wednesdays thru August 12!!

It’s a beautiful night to create an adventure in East Jordan! Come by car, boat or cycle.