|
|
| November 2009 |
Vol 4, Issue 11 |
|
|
|
|
| There's One One...You! |
|
The last Farmers' Market Thursday of the season has passed, and the last of the locust leaves have fallen from the tree this year. As I reflect on all that has occurred and been accomplish this year in our community and look forward to all that is to come next year, I am thankful. The many projects, events, and activities all contribute to the uniqueness that only Allegan offers.
There are certainly still many things to be done, projects to accomplish, and events to develop. This month, I just want to take the time to say "thank you" to all the folks that have worked so hard this year to make this the best community possible. It's more than just a tag line; there truly is "Only One Allegan," and you make it so.
Thanks for reading! | |
 |
|
|
| Making Spirits Brighter Than Ever! |
 It's that time of year again: time to make your spirits brighter! All are encouraged to enjoy the holiday season in downtown Allegan with a full schedule of entertainment and activities for the entire family.
The holiday season kicks off in downtown Allegan on November 27, at 7:00 p.m. with the annual holiday parade and official lighting of the downtown Christmas trees. To be a part of the parade or for more information contact Shannen Chamberlain at 269.686.8660.
Festive Fridays:
Once the Christmas trees are lit, the City of Allegan has a jam-packed schedule of events to help make spirits bright! Many downtown shops will offer extended shopping hours. "Festive Friday Shopping Nights" will be December 4, 11, and 18. In addition to extended hours, the downtown area will offer FREE horse drawn wagon rides, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, hot chocolate, and gift wrapping! These events will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
This year, two horse drawn wagons will be making their way through downtown. One wagon will be a non-stop "Downtown Tour" which will depart from in front of City Hall on Locust Street. The second wagon will be a frequently-stopping "Downtown Trolley" and will make stops at the Regent Theatre, the corner of Trowbridge and Water Street, the Mill District, and the corner of Hubbard and Locust Street. Free wagon rides are sponsored by the Allegan Downtown Development Authority and Baker Studios of Allegan.
Visits with Santa will be held inside the B&C Emporium on Trowbridge Street, and Mrs. Claus will be visiting with children of all ages as she shops throughout the downtown area, sponsored by the Allegan Downtown Development Authority and Reflexions Plus. Be sure to bring your camera to take pictures of your child with Santa. Free hot chocolate sponsored by the Downtown Bakery & Deli, Allegan General Hospital, Auto Zone, and Ace Hardware will be available at the Downtown Bakery & Deli on Locust. Free gift wrapping sponsored by Curves will be located at 340 Water Street.
Join us every Festive Friday night as we celebrate the many "Spirits of the Season." On December 4, come downtown to experience the "Spirit of Family". Participating locations will be sharing yummy and healthy holiday recipes, while other locations will provide opportunities for relaxation and other less-stress holiday festivities.
December 11, over 20 shops and 30 artists will join together to celebrate arts and the season with friends and neighbors with "Spirit of the Arts". Community carolers from the Allegan Music Club and the Allegan Area Arts Council will provide joyful music in downtown. You are invited to join in for a fun filled time that will warm your heart. Song sheets will be provided. Community caroling details can be viewed at www.alleganarts.com
The "Spirit of Adventure" will be celebrated on December 18, as over 20 downtown shops and restaurants provide a downtown treasure hunt like no other! The treasure hunt will take place from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., and the more treasures found, the more money will be saved! Participants finding all the treasures will be entered to one of two Grand Prizes. Grand Prizes include "An Evening on the Town" gift certificates and a one year family membership to the Regent Theatre.
Santa Lunches:
Wouldn't it be nice if you could sit down with Santa for lunch and tell him exactly what you wanted for Christmas? Well, you can in downtown Allegan! Santa will be having lunch at different locations throughout the month of December. On December 5, Santa will be having lunch at Minnie Sophronas (269.673.2368). One week later, on December 12, Santa will be at The Downtown Bakery & Deli (269.686.9537). And the final lunch with Santa will be held on December 19, at Pizza Hut (269.673.5555). Tickets for "Lunch with Santa" are $6.00 and include a free Regent movie pass for a 2:00 p.m. show. Please contact the restaurants for reservations for this event.
Griswold Events:
Monterey Center United Methodist Church will also be adding entertainment to the downtown Allegan holiday season. On December 4, at 7:00 p.m. "The Williams Family" will be in concert, followed by the 7th annual "Hometown Christmas" concert on December 5, at 7:00 p.m. at the Griswold Auditorium, 401 Hubbard Street. A free-will offering will be accepted at both performances, with proceeds going to Wings of Hope Hospice.
FREE Regent Movies:
Downtown Allegan realizes the holiday season is about family, and money can get a little tight, so the Regent Theatre will be offering free 2:00 p.m. movies while the kids are off from school for Christmas Break. Night at the Museum 2 is sure to get the entire family into the Christmas spirit, and will be playing from December 21 through December 24. The Regent will be closed Christmas Day. Starting December 28 through January 1, Ice Age 3 will be offered as the free matinee.
Downtown Business Happenings:
Several downtown businesses invite you to join them for additional festivities. Open houses and activities include:
* Creative Events, November 27 at 128 Locust Street from 10am-8pm
* Still Point Massage, December 3 at 207 Locust Street from 2pm-6pm
* Reflexions Plus, December 4 at 229A Hubbard Street from 5pm-8pm
* Water Street Antiques, December 5 at 420 Water Street from 10am-6pm
* The Downtown Bakery & Deli will be serving prime rib and offering live entertainment
each Festive Friday from 4pm-8pm. |
| Lamp Posts, Gazebo Roofs, & Directional Maps...Oh My! |
|
 In addition to your spirits, Allegan is making a few more things brighter! The Mahan & Hanson Park gazebos are getting some shiny new shingles to greet you as you go over the river. Three new directional kiosks with downtown maps have been installed. And this winter Water Street will be a little brighter with eleven new lamp posts lighting the way. Thanks to the Allegan Parks Commission and the Allegan Downtown Development Authority for their work on these projects. |
| Allegan Area Chamber Event |
The Allegan Chamber of Commerce is holding its 3rd annual "Feet on the Street" silent auction. It will be taking place throughout Allegan the whole month of November. To place a bid on the item(s) of your choice, you will need to go into the stores or businesses where the items were donated, and while you are there, why not shop around? You are encouraged to visit all participating merchant.
The last two auctions were a huge success, with many wonderful donations: a beautiful glider with ottoman, a Toro two-stage snow blower, car wash tokens, sports passes, movie theater passes, oil changes, a catered dinner for up to eight people with live music, Fossil sun glasses, a BMX bicycle, a quilted table topper, a 175-piece tool kit, and much more.
Remember to watch for the big red foot print in the store/business window. If you have any questions, please call Kandy at 269-806-4629.
For information about the Chamber, membership and activities contact (269) 673-2479 or email mail@alleganchamber.com
|
| Allegan Water Treatment Plant |
|
 The City of Allegan will be receiving a $4.2 million grant to build a new water treatment facility. The money has been granted from the Federal Economic Development Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The upgrade is expected to cost $9.6 million, with the remaining amount coming in the form of a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality loan, with possible stimulus funds added once state-wide funding has been identified.
City officials say the 30-year-old water plant needs to be completely rehabilitated since it's outdated and since operation and maintenance costs and repairs make it no longer cost-effective to run.
Eleven bids were opened November 12, 2009, for the project and are under review with an expected contract to be awarded later in November. |
| Artist Exhibition |
 Friday, November 20, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., artist Wendy Seelhoff will exhibit her portfolio of exquisite water color paintings. Ms. Seelhoff, a Still Life/ Impressionist, finds the obscure object as her focal point, and what is normally consigned to the background of traditional works, becomes the true beauty in hers, with the main subject somewhat an element to be discovered. Her interpretations of Nature's colors are playfully vibrant, rich and enticing to the eye, leaving the viewer with a wonderful sense of calm and well being. Seelhoff's formal studies include the University of Wisconsin - Madison, Martin Luther College in Minnesota, and Western Michigan University. She was profoundly influenced by The Outdoor Encounter Group at WMU where she came into her own as an Artist. Seelhoff has also studied with fellow Artists at the Oxbow Center for the Arts in Saugatuck. Ms. Seelhoff's work will be on display at Baker Allegan Studios in the Historic Milling District in the City of Allegan. Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served. Contact Debbie Leverence, 269-903-6883 or sowspunsilk@yahoo.com |
| Unwanted Medicine Collection |
|
 The Allegan County Health Department and Resource Recovery is working with the local pharmacies and the Allegan City Police Department to conduct the county's first expired and unwanted medicine collection. The reasons for this collection are to get unwanted and expired medication out of homes and away from children and drug abusers and to protect medication from entering Allegan's ecosystems.
Residents can bring all unwanted medications to this event for free collection and proper disposal: Saturday, November 21, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Allegan City Police Department, 170 Monroe Street.
This event will be sponsored by The Perrigo Foundation, Allegan Community Pharmacy, and Value Drugs.
For more information, please contact Ben Williams at 269-686-4559.
|
| Here Comes the "A-Line" |
 A bus route connecting Eastern Avenue with downtown Allegan will begin on Tuesday, October 13. The bus stops include the Eastern Avenue apartment complexes, Perrigo's Corporate offices, Ravines Senior Housing, Village Market, the Perrigo Outlet Store, and the post office. It will be on a continuous loop from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays through December 29.
A pilot program, the A-Line began as a free service to the riders. It is also "green": more people using a single vehicle will reduce emissions, fuel consumption, and ease traffic congestion.
This project is sponsored by the DDA (Downtown Development Authority), Allegan County Transportation, The Perrigo Foundation, and the Allegan Area Chamber of Commerce. |
| THANK YOU! |
Thank You from Allegan Heroes Care Package Project! It is such a joy to work on a project that brings so much warmth and goodness from home to so many who are away from home this time of year. Allegan is blessed to have such a caring community that comes together to support our Military in this way.
The Allegan Alternative Ed students with guidance from Mark Horn were the top fund raisers this year with $180.00. Additional VIP donations from William Baillargeon and VFW Wood-Laninga Post 3667 along with numerous donations received at The Downtown Bakery & Deli, Riverside Party Store, Auto Zone, Pamida, Bubba's, Ace Hardware, Sherwood's Cove & Rite Aid; all help to cover the cost of the postage for mailing the 32 boxes for our Allegan Heroes.
Our group of 18 volunteers teamed up in pairs of two, while one packed the box the other filled out the necessary paperwork for customs requirements with the United States Postal Service. Miss Allie Siegler, our crowned Miss Teen Allegan and mother Janet were the first on the scene ready to go. Girl Scout Troop 80025 was right behind with great spirit to get the job done. We had Grandmothers and Cub Scouts helping too. Amanda Brouwer and Uncle Aaron produced a beautiful tribute DVD of Allegan to be included in the mailings. What a wonderful experience this is!
It is truly my pleasure to host this event. Every year I am so moved by the family members bringing in names of loved ones with stories of their connection to Allegan. The volunteers show up and make the task at hand a real labor of love. This has been my 9th year of sending care packages and I am looking forward to 2010.
Thanks Again!
Ruth Smith -Downtown Bakery & Deli 116 Locust St. Allegan, MI |
| Looking Good! |
|
 A BIG thank you to the Allegan Area Arts Council for making the tough judging decision for the downtown Halloween Window decorating contest! First prize, a quarter page ad in the Flashes, goes to The Silver Crescent on Brady Street for their "scary" attention to detail. Second prize, two months free advertising on the Regent screen, goes to Allegan Community Pharmacy on Locust Street for outstanding connection with the upcoming Allegan High School play, The Wizard of Oz. Third prize, one month free advertising on the Regent screen, is awarded to Creative Events on Locust Street for the very imaginative use of "creative event" merchandise and presenting a high impact with limited window space.
Thank you to all the downtown businesses that participated!
November's window winner is Dragon's Desire located at 412 Water Street...it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas with this display that shimmers and shines. Dragon's Desire will receive one month free advertising on the Regent screen. |
| Events & Happenings |
|
Allegan High School Presents:
The Wizard of Oz
AHS Performing Arts Center
Nov 19-21 :: 7pm
Beneath the Trees Gallery & Studio
Please join us for our Open House to come and enjoy Holiday treats of food and art
Sunday, November 29th :: 11am - 4pm
807 32nd Street (M-40 south)
Allegan, MI 49010
269-673-7241
Making Spirits Bright Holiday Parade
Downtown Allegan
Nov 27 :: 7pm
Creative Events Open House
128 Locust Street
Nov 27 :: 10am-8pm
Still Point Massage Open House
207 Locust Street
Dec 3 :: 4pm-6pm
Reflexions Plus Open House
229A Hubbard Street
Dec 4 :: 5pm-8pm
Water Street Antiques Place Open House
420 Water Street
Dec 5 :: 10am-6pm
Festive Friday Events
Dec 4, 11, 18
Downtown Allegan
(see article above for details)
Lunches with Santa
Dec 5 - Minnies Sophronas 673.2368
Dec 12 - Downtown Bakery & Deli 686.9537
Dec 19 - Pizza Hut 673.5555
Williams Family in Concert
Griswold Auditorium
Dec 4 :: 7pm
FREE
Hometown Christmas Concert
Griswold Auditorium
Dec 5 :: 7pm
FREE
FREE 2pm Shows at the Regent!
Dec 21-24 Night at the Museum 2: Battle for the Smithsonian
Dec 28 - Jan 1 Ice Age 3 | |
|
Ideas, Suggestions, or Comments. . . The Connector is distributed the third Tuesday of each month. If you have article ideas, suggestions, or upcoming events, or if you would just like to comment on the Allegan Connector, please do! Feedback about the Connector or how to make it better is appreciated and can be emailed to vknuckles@cityofallegan.org Sincerely, Vicki Knuckles City of Allegan Downtown Coordinator |
|
|
|
|
|
