The 6th Annual Smart Commute Week is coming June 1st through 5th. Smart Commute Week is an event that encourages people to walk, bike and carpool to work and raises awareness of the health, environmental and community impacts of commuting choices.  Last year, as a community, we burned 131,500 calories, saved 325 gallons of gas, and reduced our CO2 emissions by 6,488 pounds. Our goal is to keep growing this community-wide event and get more people smart commuting year round. We have great sponsorship opportunities available, click here for details. If we receive your commitment by April 10, we can include your business name and logo in all our advance publicity. Please contact Karen McCue kmccue70@gmail.com or the Trails Council if you have additional questions.

Annual owl-banding and stargazing nights at the Headlands International Dark Sky Park set for April 11th-12th at the Headlands International Dark Sky Park from 8 to 10 p.m. each evening, rain, snow or shine. Each year, Emmet County partners with the Straits Area Audubon Society at the Headlands International Dark Sky Park for an evening of learning about the rare and wonderful Saw-whet owl. The program takes place both indoors and out. Due to the nature of habitat and weather, event is by reservation only, 231-348-1713. Please note that the Saturday night event is now full; there are still spots available for the Sunday event. If you have questions, call Adams at (231) 348-1713 or email darksky@emmetcounty.org.  

Eagle Eye Naturalist Program is Tuesday April 14th from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. at Round Lake Nature Preserve, Harbor Springs. No charge, but please pre-register with Little Traverse Conservancy at www.landtrust.org or by calling 231.347.0991. This program offers kids an opportunity to discover the intriguing lives of birds, their role in the environment and connection to the natural world. Through a combination of presentations, stories, nature hikes, fun activities, technology and crafts, kids will explore northern Michigan bird life & more with bird enthusiast Mary Trout. For kids of all ages. Field guides and binoculars provided, but please bring your own if you have them. Make-up date April 21, 2015 if cancelled due to weather.

The Original Pancake House, Special Announcement! The Original Pancake House in Bay Harbor is under new management and currently undergoing renovations. It will be the same great OPH menu but with a fresh new look and a few yummy additions! Grand Opening is April 15th - come back and visit us then. 

Did you know Pinterest reaches more women customers online than any other media? Register now to reserve your spot. Online Opportunities on Wednesdays, Noon to 1 p.m. $10/session includes materials. Sommer Poquette, professional blogger, social media consultant, and author of My Mommy is a Blogger, will help you boost your markets using free web programs.  April 15th: Pinterest Marketing. Use Pinterest to market your business/brand effectively, drive traffic to your website for sales and to convert visitors into customers and loyal fans! April 22nd: YouTube and Video Marketing. How can you use video marketing to make money and market your brand/business?  Learn tips, tools and advice for ways to use YouTube and other online video sites. More details on our website www.ncmich.edu/cce.  

"Critical Leadershift" Conference, Thursday April 16th. This program is pre-approved for 7 strategic business recertification credits.  It is sponsored by Northern Michigan Society for Human Resource Management (NMSHRM at nomi.shrm.org), in partnership with the Cadillac Area Human Resource Association (CAHRA) and the Traverse Area Human Resource Association (TAHRA).  It will be held on Thursday, April 16, from 8:30am - 4:30pm at the Park Place Hotel in Traverse City. The cost is $189 for NMSHRM members, $239 for CAHRA and TAHRA members, and $289 for non-members. This event is open to the public.  To learn more and/or to register, see http://nomi.shrm.org/programsevents. 

The 5th annual Instant Wine Cellar is scheduled for 7p.m. Friday, April 17th, at the Perry Hotel in Petoskey. A fundraising event that supports volunteerism in Emmet and Charlevoix Counties through Char-Em United Way's Volunteer Connections. Entry to the event is either a ($15 value) bottle of wine, a six-pack of craft beer, or $15. With the purchase of raffle tickets, guests have a chance to win an "Instant Wine Cellar" from the donated beverages, as well as many other fantastic prizes. There will be live music throughout the evening along with a silent auction, Stafford's hors d'oeuvres, and cash bar. The night will feature a chance to win one of several large collections of wine or craft beer, including 99 bottles of Shorts brew.

Lucky 7 Builder Raffle Run on Saturday April 18th. Participants will travel to different locations throughout Petoskey, Boyne City, Gaylord, Indian River, Harbor Springs, ending at Bay View Inn in Petoskey. At each location, participants will enjoy networking with each of the area businesses hosting the event. Three lucky winners will be drawn during dinner! Proceeds to benefit The Nehemiah Project. Registration: 12:00 p.m. at Petoskey Pro-Build. Cocktails & Dinner: 6:00 p.m. at Bay View Inn. Entertainment: K&J DJ Service. Tickets can be purchased from any Professional Women in Building member or by contacting the Home Builders Association of Northern Michigan, 231-348-9770. Tickets are $50 and must be purchased prior to the event as space is limited!

It's the perfect time to recognize and celebrate the thousands of men, women and young people who volunteer in communities across the country. National Volunteer Week is April 12th - 18th!Hospice of Northwest Michigan wants to honor all those who are dedicated to providing care and support for patients and families in our community who are nearing the end of life's journey. We are always looking for volunteers and a NEW volunteer training will be coming up soon.  To learn more about volunteer opportunities, please call our office. NOTE: Hospice of Northwest Michigan's adult grief and bereavement support group beginning on April 20th will begin at 1:00 p.m. not 11:00 a.m. as previously noted. Contact us at 231-547-7659 for more information.

The April Swirl is Thursday, April 23rd from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Barrel Back Restaurant will be serving mouth-watering appetizers and wine, and Jeff Pagel will be entertaining with his acoustic guitar melodies. The Annual CTAC Youth Art Show will be up for viewing in the galleries, as well as an exhibit of Marilyn Stockwell-Colestock's work. Swirl tickets are $15 in advance and $20 per person the day of the event, when available. Swirl Wine Tastings typically sell out, so it is suggested that tickets are purchased in advance. For more information and to purchase tickets, contact the Crooked Tree Arts Center at 231-347-4337 or visit www.crookedtree.org. The Crooked Tree Arts Center is located at 461 E. Mitchell Street, Downtown Petoskey.

The state of transit in Charlevoix and Emmet counties will be discussed at a Transit Summit April 23rd in Petoskey. The event will run from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Emmet County Fairgrounds and is being sponsored by Networks Northwest, Charlevoix County Transit, Straits Regional Ride, the Disability Network of Northwest Michigan, and Friendship Centers of Emmet County. The Summit will include a discussion of trends in transit ridership, future needs, regional transit, and challenges in transit service. The event includes lunch. There is no cost to attend, but RSVPs are required at nwm.org/charemtransit or by calling Angie Lemon at 231-929-5077.

Petoskey Bands present Jazz Concert/Dinner on April 24th. The Petoskey High School Jazz Band is presenting their annual Bay Harbor Concert and Dinner at a new location. This year's event is one night only, Fri. April 24th, in the Lange Center at the Bay Harbor Yacht Club. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7:00.  Tickets are $60/person and can be purchased at the Petoskey High School office, the Petoskey Middle School office or at the Sunglass Shoppe in Downtown Petoskey.  Proceeds benefit the Petoskey High School Jazz Band. 

North Central Michigan College's Lecture Series program, featuring Marvel Comics Creative Director Bill Rosemann, has been changed from Wednesday, April 15th to Wednesday, April 29th. The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. and doors will open at 6 p.m. Tickets are free and North Central will honor all tickets with the April 15 date. Attendees must have a ticket to enter. Tickets are available at all North Central locations. The lecture will be held in the gymnasium in the Student and Community Resource Center on the Petoskey campus. Rosemann's work can be seen in the recent blockbuster movies Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: Winter Soldier. For more information, call 231-439-6225.

North Central Michigan College's Corporate and Community Education department is offering a wide variety of spring workshops in Petoskey and Cheboygan - from genealogy and lifelong learning to seed saving, beekeeping and yoga. Please register for workshops in advance to guarantee enough students and materials. For more information or to register, visit www.ncmich.edu/cce2 or call 231-348-6705. CCE also offers customized workshops at your business. We'll tailor the content, materials, and schedule to your needs. To learn more, please call 231-348-6613.

Congratulations to the March's MacGregor Cares winner, Veterans Education Initiative @ NCMC! MacGregor Cares - Monthly Community Giving Program April's MacGregor Cares participants are: Tip of the Mitt Quality Deer Management Branch, Local Family Sustains Fire Damage to Home, and Boyne Falls Loggers Enrichment Program. 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

Bay Tennis & Fitness has created the Business Advantage Program designed for members of Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce! Get together with 5 or more PRCC members and start receiving the benefits! Benefits include price breaks on 3, 6, or 12 month memberships* Memberships include Fitness, Tennis, or Combo. Great for seasonal staff, or business with less than 5 staff members. Please see our website for the many programs we offer (including discounts offered to members). www.baytennisandfitness.com Contact Deb McCall at deb@baytennisandfitness.com for more information.

In addition to fire extinguisher sales and service Conway Professional Services now offer a full line of fire suppression services that include installation and service of kitchen fire suppression equipment, exit and emergency lighting, automatic sprinkler systems, fire pumps, back flow devices, special hazard systems, fire alarm systems and fire safety training. Call us today with to schedule services or a quote! (231) 487-9300 or visit us at  www.conwayprowash.com.

Sandra Lee Photography Studio & Gallery at 318 E Mitchell Street in Petoskey is offering local businesses a special photography/marketing package that is sure to give you the exposure you need to take your business to the next level. This package includes professional photography for your business, professional business portraits of each member of your team, and professional images of your products/services. There are many bonuses in this package so call Sandra Lee for your consultation and let her customize a photography/marketing package for your business. Contact Sandra Lee at 231-622-2066 sandraleephotography@hotmail.com, www.sandraleephotographystudio.com 

Each year during the week that includes Earth Day, the Petoskey-based Outdoor Lighting Forum recognizes effective outdoor lighting choices by business owners, municipalities and residents at a celebratory luncheon that features guest speakers in the lighting industry and astronomy. If you have a business, organization or person to nominate for an OLF 2015 Dark Sky Advocate Award, email your nomination to Mary Stewart Adams, Headlands Dark Sky Park Program Director, at darksky@emmetcounty.org or call (231) 348-1713. In your email, clearly state the reason for your nomination and how we can contact the nominee in the event they are selected for an award. More details: www.emmetcounty.org

Comfort Keepers of Northern Lower Michigan now offers a 24-hour care team at both American House of Charlevoix and American House of Petoskey. This team provides around the clock medical care and other assistance including medication management, personal care services, mobility assistance, diabetic care, and nursing. American House Senior Living Residences offers apartment living in a dynamic senior community and provides residents with fine dining, maid service, recreational activities, social enrichment, transportation and more. With Comfort Keepers on site twenty-four hours a day, residents have ready access to any additional services needed, whether for a short-term recovery, or to meet ongoing. To explore your options, or for more information about Comfort Keepers, visit  www.comfortkeeperspetoskey.com.