Please join us for First Federal's Community Day Picnic to be held on Friday July 10th from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at our Alanson Branch Office located at 6232 River St., Alanson, MI.  It is our pleasure to provide a FREE picnic lunch in appreciation of the communities that we are privileged to serve.  The menu includes: Pulled Pork Sliders, Chips & Cookies etc.  There will be fun activities for the children as well.  We look forward to seeing you there.

Stafford's Gallery - Downtown Petoskey. Meet and greet Michigan artist Thomas LeGault on Friday, July 10th from 2 to 8 p.m. He will set up his studio in Stafford's Gallery and create oringial pieces on canvas, and have new paintings to browse.

Huckleberry Groove, will make its anticipated return to City Park Grill in Petoskey on the weekend of July 10th-11th. A longtime favorite of Petoskey music lovers, the band brings its unique sound and unpredictable stage show back to City Park Grill for an annual trip that the band makes to Petoskey each July. For further information, visit www.huckleberrygroove.com

Blissfest, Northern Michigan's award winning folk, roots and world music festival, will take place July 10th-12th, at the Blissfest Festival Farm near Cross Village.

The 35th Annual Blissfest is a celebration of music, culture, art and community featuring a world of diverse and innovative folk, world and roots music and dance at the 120 acre Festival Farm in scenic northern Michigan. It is an unequaled weekend of music immersion to be shared with families, friends and music-lovers of all ages. Headlining this year's festival will be Arlo Guthrie with his 50th anniversary Alice's Restaurant Tour.

Event information and links to all the artists are available through the Blissfest website

For more information about the Blissfest visit us on the web at www.blissfest.org or call 231/348-7047.

Upcoming Event with Little Traverse Conservancy, Eagle Eye Naturalists Program on Saturday July 11th from 10-11:30 a.m. at Thorne Swift. Conservancy volunteer Mary Trout continues to share her love of birds through this monthly bird-themed series for ages 6-12. Field guides and binoculars provided, but please bring your own if you have them. Rain date is scheduled for July 18. No charge! For questions or to register, please call Melissa at 231.347.0991. 

Happy Hour Book Launch at City Park Grill on July 14th from 4-6 p.m. Please join the Wineguys Restaurant Group, McLean & Eakin Booksellers, and Mitchell Street Press as they welcome Stewert James to the City Park Grill on Tuesday, July 14th during Happy Hour from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. He'll be signing his new book, "Writing with Hemingway at City Park Grill", George Colburn will give an update to his movie, Chris Struble will say a word from the Hemingway Society, and there may be an update to the Hemingway statue. Come and join the fun during $2 beer night!

The Bay View Cottage Walk 2015 is taking place on Tuesday, July 14th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit historic Bay View where nine private cottages will be open for tours plus four campus buildings. Music and dramatic performances throughout the day. Tickets are $25.00 in advance, $35.00 day of event. Parking available at Petoskey High School and shuttles to the event. Visit www.bayviewassociation.org for ticket and other information.

Enjoy a Night Sky Cruise with Shepler's Ferry Service on the Straits of Mackinac this summer! The cruises are narrated by Headlands Program Director and star lore historian Mary Stewart Adams and are timed to coincide with optimal viewing of celestial phenomena over the Straits of Mackinac. The next cruise, July's New Moon Cruise, gets under way at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15th. Tickets for the cruise are $25/adult and $10/children. There is a cash bar on board, and boarding begins half an hour before departure, in order of ticket number. For information or to purchase tickets, contact Cindy Gezon at Shepler's Ferry Service (231) 436-5024, or visit their site online at www.sheplersferry.com.

Somebody's Gallery is having three openings this summer! Somebody's is a new gallery on Lake Street in the heart of Petoskey's Gaslight district. We also have jewelry, gifts, earth friendly toys, clothing and functional art. July 18th, 4-6 p.m. Color Theory-Join us to celebrate three local artists, Margie Guyot, Hal Willens and Julie Stoppel who capture the vibrancy of the world around us through an element that speaks straight to our emotions, color. Julie will be giving a demonstration of her pastel painting. Hal and Margie will be on hand to talk about their work. Find out more about this great new gallery, and future openings here!

In conjunction with the Harbor Springs community-wide yard sales, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council will host its 7th Annual "Whale of a Sale" fundraiser from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 18^th at the Irish Boat Shop storage building, located behind Meyer Ace Hardware in Fairview Square on State Road, Harbor Springs. The large rummage sale features many donated items include boats, kayaks, canoes, life vests, water toys, fishing gear, water skiing equipment, anchors, rope, and much more. If you would like to donate gently used, saleable water related items in good condition or you would like more information about the Whale of a Sale, please call the Watershed Council office at (231) 347-1181.

A Little Night Music at the Headlands on Saturday July 18th at 8:30 p.m. at Heritage Village Pavilion. Climb the silver ladder of the moon to the singing sky with the magical music of Mozart, featuring the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra Ensemble. Bring camp chairs and blankets and enjoy the meeting of Venus and Jupiter just after sunset, set to the six movements of "Eine klein Nacht Music", interspersed with the poetry, the history, and the stars that inspired the music! The Heritage Village Pavilion is located directly across the street from the Headlands entrance. For more information, please contact Headlands Director Mary Stewart Adams at (231) 348-1173, or at darksky@emmetcounty.org.

Raven Hill Discovery Center ready for Fun & Games at Summer Magic festival July 18th. Guests can enjoy a friendly game of shuffleboard, tic-tac-toe or checkers.  DJ, Roger Coates, will entertain with music and more. Hors d'oeuvres as well as wine, coffee, tea or lemonade, is available for guests as they explore the grounds and browse the spectacular silent auction. On this one night, Raven Hill is reserved for adults only. Tickets are $30 per person and are available in advance or at the door on the day of the event.  Call (231) 536-3369 to make a donation or reservation, or send an email to info@ravenhilldiscoverycenter.org. More information is available at www.ravenhilldiscoverycenter.org 

The Charlevoix Area Community Pool is once again participating in the famous Venetian Games!  On Monday July 20th we are hosting the Venetian Swim Meet with Coach Phillip Marihugh.  We will be sponsoring 8 events, 6 age categories, male and female over 13 years.  There will be 4 events and 3 age categories for those under 13 years.  This is a great FUN meet for all ages.  Each event is $4.00/$7.00 for relays for pre-registration, $8.00/$10.00 for relays the day of the event.  Warm-up begins at 3:15.  First event begins at 4:00 pm.  Registrations forms can be picked up at the Charlevoix Area Community Pool or on the Venetian Games site at http://www.venetianfestival.com/venetian-games.html.  If you have any questions, please call the pool at 231-547-0982!

Here is just a few of the McLean & Eakin Events for July - be sure to check www.mcleanandeakin.com for more! Ann Patchett, Monday, July 20th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. to discuss some of her favorite reads and what's happening in her writing world. Aaron Stander  & Peter Marabell, Tuesday, July 21st from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.  Their latest books, Murder in the Merlot - eighth Ray Elkins mystery (Stander) and Murder on Lake Street, second Michael Russo mystery (Marabell). Bob Downes, Thursday, July 23rd from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. signing Travels with My Wife. For further information, call McLean & Eakin Booksellers at 231.347.1180 or send an email to www.mcleanandeakin.com

Crooked Tree Arts Center Coffee @ Ten with Steve Van Dam on Tuesday, July 21^st. Trained as a wooden boat builder in the early 1970's with one of the pioneers of epoxy and wood boatbuilding, Steve is the President and Team Leader at Van Dam Custom Boats. This presentation is in conjunction with the summer exhibition Wind & Sail. The Coffee @ Ten series is free and open to the public, no reservations necessary, and all lectures begin at 10 a.m.  Crooked Tree Arts Center is located at 461 E. Mitchell Street, Petoskey, Michigan. For more information, contact 231-347-4337 or visit www.crookedtree.org. 

Ernest Hemingway Birthday Celebration. Thursday, July 21st, 6 p.m. Calling all Hemingway Aficionados! We cordially invite you to the 1st annual Hemingway Birthday Celebration at Stafford's Perry Hotel. Guests will enjoy a five course Hemingway inspired dinner, music by Tom Kaufman & Robin Lee Berry, dine alongside Hemingway Historians including the President of the Michigan Hemingway Society - Christopher Struble, and enjoy an exclusive studio preview of the film: "Young Hemingway: Finding His Muse in Northern Michigan," presented by George Colburn. $50 per guest, plus tax. 231-347-4000 for reservations.

Learn Advanced Beekeeping on Thursday, July 23rd, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bear Creek Organic Farm in Petoskey. Meghan Milbrath returns to guide more advanced beekeepers in the art of hive inspection. Learn how to keep hive records, monitor colony health, check for signs of disease, determine if the queen is of quality and performing well, and if there is sufficient food and space for the colony to grow. Bee yard attire is required. $30 - REGISTER ONLINE

Humane Society Cause for Paws Fundraiser to take place July 23rd. The 9th annual Cause for Paws will be held on Thursday, July 23rd from 6-8:30 p.m. and will benefit the homeless animals at Little Traverse Bay Humane Society.  This elegant evening will take place at the former Kimberly Country Estate located on Bester Road in Harbor Springs, now the home of Lisa and Paul Fairbairn and Ann Phillips.  Dinner hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and live music will make this evening one to remember.  Tickets are $225 each.  To purchase your tickets, please stop by the shelter or call 231-347-2396.  Tickets are limited for this event, so be sure to purchase them soon.

"Jazz up the Night" is the theme for Christ Child Society of Northern Michigan 's BASH (Building a Service Heritage), July 26, 5-8 pm at the Bay Harbor Yacht Club, Lange Center. The fundraiser will include a live auction, silent auction, themed Red Wagons, Diamond Bar (donated by Arlington Jewelers), entertainment by the Pine River Jazz band,  and a gourmet dinner with open bar. Tickets are $125.00. For more information and to purchase tickets online please visit christchildsocietynorthernmichigan.com. In 2014 we served 3,712 children in Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Emmet counties due to the success of our event. We need your support to continue our work.  Please join us on July 26.  "Serving infants and children in need since 1983."

Free Brain Health lecture on Thursday, July 30th from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express, Petoskey. In His Garden LLC presents, Dr. Kyl Smith. Author, speaker, educator and inventor. Do you want better focus and mental energy? How is your memory and concentration? Are you moody and irritable? Is your energy level strong and consistent? Learn the science behind foods, nutrients and exercise that improve focus, concentration, mood, memory and mental energy. Dr. Kyl will teach a FOUR-STEP program that will dramatically improve your mental performance and boost your brain power! Call today to reserve your seat and join us for this FREE

Festival on the Bay is right around the corner and the YMCA of Northern Michigan is hosting its inaugural Color Fun Run! Your participation directly supports the Y! The Color Fun Run is an un-timed event to enjoy with your family, friends, teams or groups.  Join us for some healthy fun while helping your local YMCA!  Prepare to get showered with eco-friendly, safe color-based corn starch, so be sure to wear your white shirts! Online registration available at goo.gl/848SOG. Early registration ends July 31, 2015. Looking for a team building experience for your crew - Fun and unique sponsorship opportunities are still available for the YMCA of Northern MI 4.9770k Color Fun Run.  Deadline for sponsors is July 17th. Contact Robyn@harborbrenn.com for details.

To commemorate its 10-year anniversary, Comfort Keepers of Northern Lower Michigan has created the Golden Wishes program. The purpose of Golden Wishes is to honor local, deserving seniors who have given of themselves by offering a chance at receiving the wish of a lifetime, something on their bucket list, something they may have thought it was too late to pursue. A nominating friend or family member can request a number of different types of wishes. Nominations will be accepted July 1 - August 17. Comfort Keepers is committed to making a difference in the lives of area seniors and is thankful for the trust instilled by local families to care for their loved ones since 2005. For more information or to nominate, visit www.goldenwishesupnorth.com.

Tickets are on sale for the 15th Annual Cash Raffle, a fundraiser for Friendship Centers of Emmet County, Council on Aging. Ten cash prizes, including a $10,000 grand prize, will be awarded at the Cash Raffle Party on Thursday, September 10 at the Fairgrounds Community Center. Early bird drawings are on July 22 and August 12. Get your ticket now for a chance to win $150 and still be entered into the grand prize drawing. Tickets cost $150 and may be purchased at the Petoskey Friendship Center or by calling (231) 347-3211. Sponsors for this year's fundraiser are American House Senior Living Communities, Angel Heart Home Care, Bay Street Orthopaedics, Comfort Keepers, Independence Village, Korthase Flinn Insurance & Financial Services, and Mallard Cove Assisted Living.