Don't let school or work get in the way, it's 6-for-1 Day at Boyne Mountain this Friday December 12th! Pack up a vehicle full of friends and don't stop until you reach the slopes this Friday, December 12 from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Our annual 6-for-1 Day pays homage to America's first six person, high-speed chairlift, the Mountain Express at Boyne Mountain, so we offer six lift tickets for the price of one! Boom! In conjunctions with this awesome deal, we will also be hosting a food drive for the Boyne Valley Pantry. For details, visit boynemountain.com.

Its Holiday fun for the entire family, when Little Traverse Civic Theatre's 'Annie' hits the stage live in Petoskey! Friday December 12th - Sunday December 14th at the Crooked Tree Arts Center. Show times are 8 p.m. for Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $18 for adults and children 12 and under are $12. All tickets for Sundays Matinee are only $12 (very limited seating left for Sunday Dec. 14th) Get your tickets at the box office between 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Monday - Saturday or call 231-348-1850, you may also purchase tickets online at www.ltct.org. Don't miss the show everyone will be raving about! More shows Thursday December 18th - Saturday December 20th!

Annual Cookie Walk at Cross of Christ Lutheran, ELCA on Saturday December 13th from 9:00 a.m. - Noon at 1450 E. Mitchell, Petoskey. Spare yourself some baking in the holiday hustle and bustle - let us provide your holiday cookies for you.  You select from the variety available, reasonably priced by the pound, go home with a chunk of your baking done for you.

Bay Harbor Holiday Open house, Saturday December 13th. Ring in the holiday cheer in style at the Village at Bay Harbor Open House! Merchants will have special promotions, appetizers and cheer in their spaces.  Be sure to browse and find that perfect gift to take home with you. Enjoy the special holiday festivities throughout the evening including the Santa Fun Run and Holidazzle Parade as we celebrate the season in Bay Harbor. For more details visit www.villageatbayharbor.com 
 

Lunch with Santa at Stein Eriksen's - Boyne Mountain Resort! Join Santa for lunch this Saturday, December 13th, from noon - 2pm at Stein Eriksen's with a full menu to please every age.  We want your little ones to have dozens of sugar plums dancing in their heads this holiday season, along with jolly memories of having lunch with St. Nick. It will be a dream come true to share their wish lists, sentiments, and most importantly, a yummy lunch with Santa at Boyne Mountain Resort. Plus, it saves you a trip to the North Pole! Reservations are strongly suggested, call Bobbi Jo at 231.549.6854.

LTBHS, in conjunction with Subaru by the Bay, will host a Share the Love event on Saturday, December 13th from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Subaru by the Bay, located at 6432 U.S. Highway 31, in Petoskey. Bring your furry friend to the event to try out the photo booth which will be available throughout the day. There will also be shelter dogs available for adoption hoping to find their forever homes in time for the holidays. A contest will also be held on the Little Traverse Bay Humane Society Facebook page to guess the number of cans of pet food in a Subaru through December 13th when the winner will be announced at the event. For more information, go to www.ltbhs.com or call 231-347-2396. 

4th Annual Holiday Open House at Boyne Mountain Resort This Saturday, December 13th, the Boyne Mountain Village comes alive with a flurry of festive activities, from the holiday tree lighting to caroling with friends and a visit with Santa, from 5-9 p.m. Spread some holiday cheer and earn a FREE Twin Zip Ride, plus lots of other great prizes, deals, and tastes of the season. Celebrate the joy of the season with crafts for the kids, magic shows, a bonfire with s'mores, sleigh rides, and that all important visit with Santa in the Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa lobby. For complete details, visit boynemountain.com.

The Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra will perform 'Christmas Messiah Plus' on Thursday, Dec. 18th and Friday, Dec. 19th at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Petoskey. Reserved tickets are $75, $50 or $35 and general admission tickets are $20. Tickets can be purchased through the orchestra office by calling 231-487-0010 or by visiting www.glcorchestra.org.

The 9th Annual Blissfest Winter Solstice Concert will celebrate renewal and the winter season at the Emmet County Fairgrounds Community Building Saturday December 20th. The annual event brings the warmth of music, community light and cheer during the darker part of the year as we honor the beginning of increasing light in the yearly cycle of life. There will be a pre-concert winter feast and potluck starting at 6:00 pm, a silent auction and a kids craft area. Tickets are $20 in advanced or $15 for Blissfest members in advance. Students $8 or $5 for student members. Children 12 and under are free. Tickets are available in Petoskey at The Grain Train and Crooked Tree Arts Center or by calling 231-348-7047 or at www.blissfest.org.

December Dark Sky program at the Headlands wraps 2014 programming on Saturday, Dec. 20th with "The Meteor Shower of the Great Bear". Emmet County's Dark Sky Park staff will examine the role of cultural traditions in informing scientific research and discovery, and the role of healthy imagination and spontaneous ceremony in meeting the mystery of the season. The program will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Headlands, two miles west of downtown Mackinaw City. The program will begin indoors and then proceed outside for viewing as well.  As always, the program will take place rain, snow or shine and reservations are not required. There is no charge. If you have questions about the program, call Adams at (231) 838-8181 or email darksky@emmetcounty.org. 

Holiday happenins' at the Charlevoix Area Community Pool!

Giving Tree: Our lobby Christmas "Giving Tree" is decorated with Gift Certificate "ornaments" for swim lessons, aqua exercise, and Pool passes. We'll package for easy gifting! We are also inviting everyone to place non-perishable food items under the tree for local foo pantrys. Discounts: Between December 15th and January 15th, any 12 month pass, family pass, and 20-punch passes are 10% off! Helping you keep off holiday punds and keep New Year's resolutions! Visit our web site for price information. BEACH BASH! Friday, December 26th, from 6-8 p.m., bring your friends and family to the Pool for a beach-themed Open Swim. Smoothies, games, and more! $5/person Questions? Call or email the Pool - 231.547.0982 or info@charlevoixpool.org. www.charlevoixpool.org

The American Red Cross invites you to give the gift of blood donation on Friday December 26 from 11:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. at the American Red Cross on Mitchell Park Drive. All who donate can enjoy lunch, courtesy of Jimmy Johns and can enter for a chance to win hourly draings of gift certifciates and coupons from area businesses. For info or appointment, www.redcrossblood.org (sponsor code PARC) or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

New Year's Eve at Vernales, December 31st, reservations available at 5:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 8:30 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. - $50 meal includes appetizer, salad, entree, and dessert. Live music 7:30 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. by James Greenway & Company and 9:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. by Disasteroid. Some seating may be available in the Sports Bar with limited menu and children's items as necessary.Call Joe or Abby at 231-242-4777 for more information and to make reservations.

Modern Day Masquerade, a New Year's Eve Ball at Castle Farms. Join us at Castle Farms on New Year's Eve as we usher out the old year and celebrate the new with the brilliance of a Masquerade Ball! Wednesday, December 31st, 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. Ticket price includes open bar, heavy appetizers, photo booth, music entertainment, and a fire spinning performance. We'll celebrate the unmasking at midnight with a toast of champagne as the New Year begins! Prizes will be awarded for the best women and men masks. Modern Day Masquerade tickets available online at castlefarms.com or at the Castle's Welcome Center. $45 per person (when purchased in advance). For more information, call the Castle at 231.237.0884

Knot just a bar is bringing in the New Year Knot style! Celebrate New Year's Eve with us. Party begins at 10 p.m. Tim Nixon will be spinning the tunes. Admission is $25 at the door.  Includes dancing, appetizers, party favors, and champagne toast at midnight. We are Knot black tie. We are also having a 3 course New Year's Eve dinner from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. for $25 per person. Entrees include Surf and Turf, Prime Rib, Chicken Piccata, and Lobster & Crab Lasagna. Reservations for dinner are encouraged. For an extra $10 you can stay for the New Year's Eve Party. The Knot is also booking your holiday parties now. Contact John or Tina at 231-439-2770 and we will customize a great party just for you!

Start the New Year off on the right foot and join the Petoskey Area Junior Chamber, supported by the YMCA of Northern Michigan, and the McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation for the inaugural 'View of the Bay Polar 5K'. This fantastic new event is designed for both competitive runners and family fun. Bring your trail running shoes or snowshoes and join us for a day of fun in the snow! Event Date: Thursday, January 1st, 2015. Sign-in & Registration at 11:00 a.m. Race start time at 12:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.ymcanm.org; to register online visit www.runningintheusa.com. Advanced registration is $25 per participant. The course will run through the Bay View Association. Registration and post event activities will take place at the Terrace Inn (1549 Glendale Avenue).

1st Annual Winter Wine Dinners at Petoskey Farms Vineyard & Winery

Come Enjoy a Four Course Dinner with Wine at Every Course! January 8th Italian Theme, February 5th Cilantro Marinated Flank Steak, March 5th Stuffed Chicken Breast, April 9th Pork Tenderloin. Only 24 seats available so call now to Book your Reservation 231-290-9463. Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m.  http://www.petoskeyfarms.com Don't forget we are still doing wine gift baskets, the perfect Holiday Gift!

Congratulations to the November MacGregor Cares winner, Good Samaritan Food Services! MacGregor Cares - Monthly Community Giving Program December's MacGregor Cares participants are: Dress For Chill Project, Camp Daggett, Petoskey Club. One of these fine groups will win $500 from MacGregor Plumbing & Heating. Click the link below to vote! Do you know of a group, organization or fundraiser that needs help in the community? We're here to help them reach their goals. Nominate by clicking the following link! http://www.macgregorplumbing.com/macgregor-cares 

Petoskey District Library's Food for Fines program is back! Celebrate the season of giving this December at the Petoskey District Library.  Now through December 31st, patrons can donate cans of food or other non-perishable items and the Library will waive their overdue fines.  Fees incurred for lost or damaged items are not eligible.  All proceeds benefit our local food pantries. 

The 2015 travel booking season is in full swing. From Patty at Alaska and Beyond: Get $100 Community Cash (spend like cash at any Chamber biz!) for any small ship cruise/expedition booking made by Dec. 31. (Un-Cruise Adventures, Alaskan Dream Cruises, National Geographic, etc.) See glaciers, whales, and much more up close. Join Patty on the May 11 Alaskan Dream (only 42 passengers) for an unbelievable 7 day cruise of the Inside Passage, from $2564pp. Also includes Mexico, Hawaii, Antarctica and the very popular river cruises worldwide. Did you know it costs the same or less to book with a local agent vs online, and you get friendly professional service! Call for brochure or more details 231-753-8530 or visit www.alaskaandbeyond.com.

The perfect gift is easy to find!  Symons General Store proudly offers customized gift baskets using endless combinations of our artisanal and Michigan-made products, candy, wine, liquor, cheese and more. Our baskets are customizable within any price range and we will create a gorgeous basket on any budget. Even your clients and loved ones living afar can enjoy a Symons gift basket. We ship! To place your basket order, please contact Symons General Store at (231) 347-2438.

It's Time for Grinder of the Month Gift Packs! Give the gift that keeps on giving all year long - only $30! Parents, grandparents & teachers LOVE these! Come see us to purchase yours before they're gone! And don't forget that you can now order lunch and dinner ONLINE at www.MancinosNorth.com!

Dear fellow Chamber members, looking for Holiday gift ideas for your employees? Maple Moon Family Sugary is offering a 20% discount on in stock maple syrup if you mention this add. You may call (231) 487-9058 or visit us at our farm store, 4454 Atkins Rd.  We are open on Saturdays from 10-5 and ON DEMAND. We live on the property and we are happy to serve you 7 days a week.

Create a new holiday tradition and join Sagamore's Dining Room at The Inn at Bay Harbor for Christmas Eve Dinner. Relax with family and friends over a sumptuous dinner of prime rib or gingerbread glazed ham. There will be classic favorites like garlic buttermilk mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and festive holiday desserts. Dinner is served from 6-9pm. Visit http://bit.ly/ibhchristmaseve to view the complete menu. The cost is $31 per person and $14 for kids 12 and under. Reservations are recommended, 231.439.4059.

Let us take the "stress" out of your holiday shopping. Get your personalized gift baskets at The Trophy Shop in Cheboygan. Create your own or choose one from the many displays in our store. Located just past the Cheboygan Industrial Park - 1320 W. State Street. Hours:  8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday.

Holiday Celebrations. The perfect holiday fit for groups of all sizes. Bring your office for a holiday celebration at Stafford's Bay View Inn or Stafford's Perry Hotel for $19.95 per guest. To book your holiday party, contact our Sales Department, 231-348-6017 or angiew@staffords.com

ReStore Gift Certificates - The Perfect Stocking Stuffer! $50.00 gift certificate is ONLY $40.00, $25.00 gift certificate is ONLY $20.00 and a $10.00 gift certificate is ONLY $7.50. Available now until December 23, 2014. Gift Certificates are good for 1 year. Proceeds go towards helping build homes for partner families in our community. On behalf of the staff, at the ReStore, we would like to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving.  

Book your company celebration at Chandler's Wine Cellar this holiday! Treat your colleagues to an evening of amazing food, drink and good cheer, in a cozy, one of a kind ambiance. The Wine Cellar accommodates private dinner parties up to 54 with menu customization available. Please call 231.347.2438 for more information or to secure your date.

Downtown Petoskey proudly introduces the first annual holiday catalog! Shop treasures from the shores to the stores from the comfort of your armchair this holiday season. Share with out of town family and friends too! Check out this wonderful catalog now Downtown Petoskey Holiday Catalog

The holidays are a great time to host a party and Bill and Carols can help you plan. If it's beer or wine you need, we have a huge selection. Many current wines are discounted 20%. Purchase 6 or more bottles of any wine and receive 10% off. We have the largest selection of holiday spirits and all prices are set at State minimum. Bill and Carols also has a full deli with daily lunch specials and party platters made to order. Take the chill off this winter and stop in for a cup of homemade soup or chili. You can find us on Facebook at Bill and Carols or call 231-347-2741.

Keep Calm and Welcome Winter! Yes, winter is here, but don't worry Maple River Pub will be open to keep you company. This season we will be featuring dinner specials every night. Don't forget: We are serving breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Visit our website to view our full menu. We are CLOSED on Mondays and Tuesdays and Major Holidays. Book your holiday parties. Only a few dates available in December. We are now booking for January. Email us at party@mapleriverpub.com.

The YMCA of Northern Michigan has just kicked off its Annual Campaign and we need your help! Thanks to the strong support of local people just like you, the YMCA has been offering quality programming to hundreds of local area children and families for the past 10 years. Summer camp, soccer, Y Winners basketball, karate, archery, horseback riding, and First Lego League are just some of the important programs from the Y's 2014 line-up. Y participants engage in meaningful learning experiences that last a lifetime, they make new friends, and they get exposure to healthy living opportunities. To find out how to donate, check out our website www.ymcanm.org, call our office 231-348-8393, email CSmith@ymcanm.org, or stop by our office at 434 E. Lake Street, Petoskey. 

Char-Em United Way's 2014-15 Community Investment process has begun. Non-profit agencies which provide programs and services meeting the health and human service needs of Charlevoix and Emmet Counties are encouraged to submit a Letter of Intent to apply for funding.Our funding priorities and eligibility criteria can be found on our website, www.charemunitedway.org.  If the project for which you are seeking funding meets these guidelines and you wish to apply for United Way funding, please submit a very short letter of intent by 4 p.m., Monday, January 12, 2015. The CEUW Investment Committee will review these letters and invite eligible agencies to submit full applications. New applicants are requested to call us first to discuss your program.

Camp Daggett is celebrating 90 years of character-building experiences for children and adults with their 2015 pictorial calendar "Camp Daggett Spirit: Then and Now." The 2015 calendar is filled with historic and current photos of campers and camp activities, dates to remember and inspirational quotations. The calendar is available for sale now and all proceeds will benefit scholarships at Camp Daggett. This would be a great item for employee or customer holiday gifts.  And the gifts are tax-deductible!  Calendars are $10 each plus shipping and handling ($3.50 for one calendar). You can order online at www.campdaggett.org or call 231-347-9742 to reserve yours today.

We are pleased to announce that NORTH COAST IMAGEWEAR is now a division of PERSONAL GRAPHICS, INC. We will still provide the same great quality and service, plus all of the services available from PGI, such as Ad Specialties, Commercial Print Services and Truck/Trailer Vinyl Graphics. Please stop in to see our experienced manager, Bambi Potter. She can help you with an existing account or start a whole new promotional line for you. We do everything from t-shirts to business cards. Come by 610 W. Sheridan, Petoskey or call 231-347-3016 ext. 4. We hope to see you soon!

North Central Michigan College and the Top-of-the-Mitt Writing Project are now an official site of the National Writing Project. Top-of-the-Mitt and North Central Michigan College join 11 other universities in Michigan as part of the National Writing Project.  North Central is the only community college in Michigan to participate, and one of only four community colleges in the entire country. For more information on the National Writing Project, visit www.nwp.org. For information about the Top-of-the-Mitt Writing Project, contact Toby Kahn-Loftus at 231-330-5804 or tobykahnloftus@gmail.com.  For more information about Red Cedar Writing Project, visit rcwp.msu.edu or contact Janet Swenson at 517-884-7424 or jswenson@msu.edu.

Downtown Petoskey Holiday Window Contest winners! The tradition of a holiday window decorating contest in Downtown Petoskey dates back to 1963. In years past, the judges were the new school teachers in town, and it has since evolved into a secret panel made up of different non-profit volunteers or community members. Thank you to this year's judges, and congratulations to the 2014 Window Contest Winners! Best of Show - Grandpa Shorter's Gifts, Most Creative - Ciao Bella! Home, Most Traditional - Gattle's, Most Holiday Spirit - Gattle's & J.W. Shorter & Son Mercantile, Most Whimsical - Ciao Bella! Home, Most Original - J.W. Shorter & Son Mercantile and Honorable Mention - Mclean & Eakin Booksellers.

Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council is doing a research project regarding water quality and the local economy, funded by the Charlevoix County Community Foundation.  We invite you to take our survey!  It will take less than 5 minutes, and will add your important voice and opinion to the research.  Here is the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TIPMITTBIZSURVEY 

In the United States, 48.5 million people are living in poverty housing and the percentage of people without access to decent, stable housing is on the rise. We need your help to build decent, stable housing for deserving families in Emmet County. By swinging a hammer, providing a meal, or lending a helping hand and positive voice on the jobsite, you can help make the dream of home ownership come true for local families. Call TODAY to make this dream come true, 231-348-6926 or email mandy@northwestmihabitat.org! You'll never feel more appreciated (and you can learn new skills, too!). View our volunteer schedule here: www.northwestmihabitat.org/volunteer 

Ameriprise Financial advisors, employees and clients recently came together to help ensure over four Northern Michigan counties area families have nutritious meals to share this holiday season. Organized by OsborneKlein and Shaun M. Osborne CFP®, CRPC®, CFS®, Financial Advisor, several staff and clients volunteered at all the area grocery stores to collect food for the hungry in our own community. This effort was centered on helping the one in six Americans who struggle with hunger.

The Home Builders Association of Northern Michigan (HBANM) recently announced that registration for the 2015 Northern Michigan Regional Home Show is now open!  The Home Show, which is entering its 39th year, is the official home show for the building industry in Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet and Otsego Counties and draws attendees from across the state of Michigan.  HBANM members are represented in many of the display booths but participation is open to any business that is in the building industry. This year's show will be on March 13th and 14th of 2015 and will again be hosted by North Central Michigan College in Petoskey.  Registration information can be found by visiting the HBANM web site at www.HBAnorthernmichigan.org or by calling the HBA office at 231-348-9770.

HerbAura introduces HerbAura infusions products. Each product contains all natural ingredients and are "infused" with Calendula, grown in my garden. Calendula is highly nourishing and soothing for the skin - known as the skin-healing herb. It is anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory. Products available for purchase:  Calendula cream with Lavender essential oil: This cream is thick, and slow to absorb, making it wonderful for dry winter skin. Good for feet and hands. Available in unscented as well. All-Purpose Healing Salve: An all-natural Vaseline, this product will help cracked cuticles, sore knuckles, and dry cracked feet.  Lip Balms - these help keep moisture in as well and are not "waxy" feeling.  Available in: Spear Mint, Pomander and Cold Sore Care. Call Dawn Keck to learn more 231-373-2025.