Now Air Conditioned

Rent THE HERTH for your next gala, reception, soiree or banquet.
Contact Catherine Allegrina
for more info.

231.409.5454     callegrina42@gmail.com

Your rent payment helps
save the building.
 

Tom Vranich has photo-documented the demise of 215 Dexter Street. Here are a few of his excellent photos.

Northwestern Bank announced that in response to the recent passage of the Elk Rapids Schools technology bond, and in keeping with their commitment to supporting children and education, they have donated $300 worth of iTunes credits to Elk Rapids Schools.

“We’re very happy to receive this support from Northwestern,” said Stephen Prissel, superintendent of Elk Rapids Schools. “Their generosity will truly benefit our students and teachers.”

The technology bond allowed for the purchase of iPads for teachers and students, but state law does not allow the school to purchase application software with bond money for the devices. With this gift, Elk Rapids teachers will be able to purchase important teaching and educational applications for the newly acquired iPads.

Northwestern Bank was chartered in 1955 and is now the largest independent community bank in northern Michigan. A growing financial institution with more than $850 million in assets, the bank is one of the leading mortgage, consumer, and commercial lenders in the region. Based in Traverse City, Northwestern Bank offers complete banking, investment and trust, and employee benefit services from 28 offices throughout northern Lower Michigan. Northwestern is known for its “I can do that!” approach to service, which empowers employees to make decisions on the spot to meet customer needs and exceed their expectations.

For more information on Northwestern Bank, go to nwbank.com or call 264-5512.

(Source: Chamber press release)

Wednesday, June 27 marks the beginning of the popular Evening on River Street that brings weekly summer fun to the streets of Elk Rapids.

Every Wednesday through August 15, the weekly “street fair”  from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. features entertainment from musical artists such as Swallowtail, The Three B’s, Mark Sanders Band, Common Cents, Brett Mitchell Band, Dominic Fortuna, Miriam Pico, and Blue Shadow Band. Also scheduled to appear throughout the summer are Bodywise Zumba for kids, Jeff Manley-cartoonist, face painters, and visits from favorites Gramps and Shoestring.

In addition to the musical and comic entertainment, there will be weekly food vendors, story tellers, and a “fish pond” for the kids to “fish” for prizes. (Source: Chamber press release)

“…a small group of women is proving that it’s possible to start a high-growth technology company and have children at the same time. They are dispelling the image of the tech entrepreneur as a single, usually male, wunderkind. Consider Jennifer Fleiss, 28, co-founder of Rent the Runway, an online dress and accessories rental site with 2.5 million members. She gave birth to a daughter, Daniella, in December.”   NYT

Nice article in GTI about the hall. Local writer Karin Beery interviewed HERTHA President Jerry DeGrazia and penned an excellent update on what is going on as well as what is to come.

Dave Lein provided an excellent photo of the front of the hall, complete with the new flowers that have been planted by the Elk Rapids Garden Club. And note the fascinating Tom Vranich photo of Scott Allman spraying foam insulation in the attic. Looks a bit like ‘zombie apocalypse.’

“Part of preserving the town hall is to make sure we have the operational funds to do it,” De Grazia said. “We want to support the operation of it through renting the facility for weddings, meetings and such. Those events allow us to pay the utilities and keep up the maintenance.”    (Grand Traverse Insider, 6/10/12, pg. 3-A)

The Michigan Public Service Commission said Thursday it has approved annual rate increases of $118.5 million for electricity and $16 million for natural gas by Jackson-based Consumers Energy Co.

The electric figure is less than the $195 million rate increase request by Consumers and represents a $4.28-per-month jump for residential customers who use 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month

The rates are 3.3 percent higher than the previous electric rate case.

The gas figure is less than a $23 million hike the company put in effect in March.      Detroit News

Shannon Schmidt, daughter of Ron and Irene Schmidt of Elk Rapids, has established a thriving and savory personal catering business in the area. She is prominently featured in the Food section of yesterday’s Record-Eagle.

Air conditioning is coming to the town hall this month, but there still is a long way to go.

Upcoming projects include:

• Replacing the original wood floor in the main hall.
• Replacing the condemned fire escape with a replica tall window, similar to what was originally there.
• Creating a Master Plan of existing plans as well as new design/decorating specifications for the entire building, lower-level repurposing and ADA compliance as well as technical theater/presentation planning.
• Purchasing comfortable and durable chairs.
• Replacing the front entranceway.

to name just a few. You can help in several different ways: rent the hall, donate money, serve on the HERTHA board or a committee or volunteer at special events. For more information, visit www.ertownhall.org or search for HERTHA on Facebook.