Boyne Citizen - Announcements

March 1

220 Lake Streets hosts Murder Mystery Dinner
Everyone is invited to come solve the mystery as 220 Lake Street Food & Spirits hosts a Murder Mystery Dinner with Inspector Russell on Monday, March 1. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a cash bar and the show starts at 6:15. Prizes will be awarded for the first, second and third-place winners. Choose from three sensational entrees: Mrs. White - broiled lemon pepper whitefish from John Cross with wild rice pilaf and market vegetables; Mr. Buddy's Dead - grilled pub steak filet with Diablo sauce, roasted potatoes and market vegetables; or A Guilty Mrs. Peacock - twin chicken breasts pan seared and served with wild mushroom and parmesan risotto. All entrees include a salad and dessert. There i s limited seating, so call Lura for reservations at 881-0250 or 582-2272. Tickets are $38 per person.

March 6, 10, 13, 27

Boyne City Little League signups
Boyne City Little League sign-ups will be held at the Boyne District Library, 201 E. Main St., at the following times:

* March 6 from 9:30 to 12:30
* March 10 from 4:30 to 6:30
* March 13 from 9:30 to 12

For more information call Cindy Banner, Little League President, at home at 582 9087. Tryouts will be March 27 in the Boyne City High School Gym.

March 9

City Commission considers Main Street / DDA Plan
The City Commission will consider adopting an amended Main Street / Downtown Development Authority Development Plan when it meets Tuesday, March 9, at 7 p.m. in the commission chambers at City Hall. All residents interested in the Main Street / DDA program are encouraged to attend. The City of Boyne City created the DDA in 1994 to help revitalize and enhance the community's central business district. A year later, the DDA created a 15-year development plan listing several projects, funded through Tax Increment Financing, it hoped to accomplish. Boyne City is one of 300 communities in the state that have formed a DDA to revitalize their downtowns. In 2003 the DDA joined the Michigan Main Street Program and since that time has be en known as the Main Street / DDA program. The Main Street / DDA District includes the central business district and the commercial district on North Lake Street from downtown to the public marina boat launch. Since it began, the Main Street Program / DDA has assisted with several projects. They include:

Downtown infrastructure and streetscape improvements on Water, Lake, and Front streets.
Reconstruction of Main and Vogel streets.
Parking lot projects at the library, city hall, and along Ray Street.
Construction of the Boyne River Boardwalk.
New way-finding signage, benches, banners and other streetscape elements.

The Main Street / DDA Program in recent years also helped the city secure more than $2 million in grants for community projects related to the downtown. It has also organized Stroll the Streets, downtown festivals and events, Boyne Thunder, and took over administration of the Boyne City Farmers Market. The Main Street / DDA board began the process last spring of amending its Development Plan and Tax Increment Financing Plan to allow it to fund more projects and programs for at least 15 years. The board held several public meetings in the spring and summer seeking input from the community on projects to include in the plan. Once that was done, it completed a draft plan in early September and submitted it to the City Commission for its consideration. The City Commission held a public hearing on the plan on Oct. 13, but a decision on the plan was postponed until after the November city election to give the new commission the opportunity to become familiar with the proposal . The plan outlines the goals, priorities and projects for the DDA district in the years ahead. Possible projects include the municipal boat launch; preservation of the Dilworth Hotel; infrastructure improvements; marina improvements; downtown gateway improvements; and parking improvements. It is important to note that listing a project in the plan does not mean it will necessarily be completed. What is required, however, is that any project the city might want to accomplish must be identified in the plan. The development plan is a framework for the community and must be flexible to meet the needs of the community as conditions change. For further information, contact the Main Street Program at 582-9009 or mainstreet@boynecity.com.

March 11, 24

School finance input sought at session
Boyne City Public Schools Superintendent Bob Alger is planning a two-part presentation on school finance and the upcoming budget entitled, "The Financial Vision Series." The first session will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 11 in the Performing Arts Center and will be designed to educate the attendees on school funding in its current form, where or how the district currently allocates its revenue, the philosophy or reasoning behind the allocations, and a look into the crystal ball of the future. The goal of this session is for attendees to have a better grasp on the current budget process and be better prepared to understand and make recommendations during the second session. The second session of the Financial Vision Series is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 24. This session will be designed to identify goals and prioritize programs as a critical function of preparing a 2010-2011 budget recommendation for the board in April. Alger strongl y recommends attending Session I for those who plan to attend and participate in Session II.

March 13

Raven Hill Discovery Center
continues its free science activities this Saturday, March 13 from noon to 4 p.m. Thanks to a grant from the Charlevoix County Community Foundation, the Center is offering free admission and special science activities on the second Saturday of each month The focus in March will be Science Magic. Come and experience the magic of science. There will be demonstrations of various "parlor tricks" as performed in Victorian times (before TV and computers) and challenges for families to try some "trick" for themselves. http://www.ravenhilldiscoverycenter.org

March 14

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME begins Sunday morning, March 14. Set your clocks ahead one hour.

March 15, 17

BOARD OF REVIEW for the City of Boyne City will meet (by appointment only) at City Hall March 15 from noon to 3 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m., and March 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. Call 582-6597 to make a 10-minute appointment.

March 17

Irish Heritage Fest planned for St. Patrick's Day
Boyne City will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the third annual Irish Heritage Fest on Wednesday, March 17, at the Eagles Lodge community room. Sponsored by Ace Hardware, Pat O'Brien & Associates Real Estate and the Boyne City Main Street Program, doors open at 5 p.m. with dinner served at 5:30. The event is a celebration of Boyne City's Irish heritage for the entire family with Irish music, song, storytelling, dance, and - of course - food. The Boyne City High School Hospitality Program students will showcase their talent for diversity and excellence with a multi-course meal. There will be a cash bar, and perhaps even some Irish spirits. Revelers will dance to Irish tunes played and sung, and watch traditional dancers perform, listen to storytellers, and get in touch with their Irish sides. Tickets are $20 for adults; $8 for children ages 5-12; and free for preschoolers. They are available at the Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce, Local Flavor, Country Now & Then, and the Eagles Lodge. The event is organized by the Boyne City Main Street Program with assistance from the Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information call the Main Street Program at 582-9009.

March 18

NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION
will kick off the hiking season on Thursday, March 18 by offering local outdoor enthusiasts an opportunity to become part of hiking history. The open house will be held at 7 p.m. at Boyne Valley Fire & Rescue, 2286 Railroad Street in Boyne Falls. As development of the North Country Trail continues, new trail building projects, trail adoption and hike organizing opportunities will be discussed. Part of the National Scenic Trails System, the North Country Trail stretches more than 4,200 miles across seven states, from New York westward to North Dakota. Michigan is home to approximately 1,000 miles, all of which are maintained by volunteers. A local chapter maintains nearly 80 miles of trail, which stretches northward from Kalkaska through the Jordan River Valley, Chandler Hill, and the City of Petoskey. For more information, call Gary Johnson at (989) 289-4477 or vis it the NCTA website.

March 20-21, 26-27

"Oklahoma"
The Boyne City High School Drama Department presents "Oklahoma!," its spring musical, in the Performing Arts Center the next two weekends. Performances are March 20-21 and 26-27 at 7 p.m., except the show this Sunday, March 21,which will be a matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at Local Flavor and the high school.

March 27

FRESHWATER STUDIO presents Steppin' in It in concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 27, at 217 S. Lake St. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. To reserve seats at the advance price, call 758-0387.

March 29

SCHOOL FINANCE Boyne City School Superintendent Bob Alger will present the second in a presentation on school finance and the upcoming budget entitled, "The Financial Vision Series." The program will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, March 29 in the Performing Arts Center.

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