| Issue No. 238 Serving the Entire Business Community June 2004 | ||
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The Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce is helping to kick off the first performance, Jassy Grazz, of the "Music in the Park" summer series on July 8th at the Young Amphitheater in Centennial Park by giving away free tickets for the performance. There are a limited number of tickets available and will be given away on a first come first serve basis to any Chamber member who will commit to a great evening of fun and food. A picnic menu is being determined and there will be a nominal charge. Please call the Chamber office at 574-936-2323 to reserve your free tickets and to reserve your picnic dinners. 38th Annual Marshall County Blueberry FestivalJon Williams Executive Director As we approach the beginning of Summer, plans are being made for the largest four day celebration in Indiana happening in Plymouth over Labor Day Weekend. The 38th annual Marshall County Blueberry Festival will take place at Centennial Park in Plymouth beginning on Friday, September 3rd and concluding on Labor Day, Monday, September 6th. Over 500,000 people are expected to visit that weekend from over a 5 state area and from around the country. The event in 2004 will once again feature over 375 local and national arts and crafters and over 120 food booths, featuring the best in blueberry and non-blueberry items. Entertainment will be featured on three stages during the weekend with local, regional and national acts including: National Country recording artist Suzy Bogguss National Bluegrass recording artist Pine Mountain Railroad National Gospel recording artist The Hoppers Featured activities include the 32nd annual Hoosier Old Wheels Car Show and Swap Meet, the annual Balloon Glow and spectacular Fireworks show, one of the largest shows in the Midwest, and the annual Blueberry Stomp race through the streets of Plymouth. One of the longest running Parades in Indiana, the Blueberry Festival Parade, will kick off on Labor Day morning with over 100 units and 10 local and regional bands. Over 20,000 people will line the streets of downtown Plymouth to watch the units and to welcome the annual Queen and her court to the Festival. In addition, many sporting activities including baseball, tennis, volleyball, softball, and bicycling will be featured during the festival and annual events including the Garden Tractor Pull, Horse Pull, Horseshoe Pitch and Carnival are always favorites. MegaPasses will once again be available this year for $40 for unlimited Carnival rides. Passes will be available in August. The Festival's main goals are to provide family activities at a reasonable cost with a festive atmosphere, provide assorted sporting events, crafts, food, entertainment, parade, fireworks and other activities that encourage participants and families to attend. In addition, another goal is to make an impact in the local community in the areas of fund raising and donations for local non-profit groups. The Blueberry Festival reaches out every year to assist local groups in their fundraising efforts and strives to make a difference in the Marshall County area. To help us in our endeavors, we are always looking for partners for this community event. We would like to thank the following local business partners for their assistance in 2004. They are: Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Northern Indiana REMC's, NIPSCO, Tanimura and Antle, Sprint, Tennessee Pride Sausage and many others! For questions or to participate, please call the Festival office at 574-936-5020. ------------   Fitness Forum1576 Hoham Dr., Plymouth; 574-936-2333; www.holmclinic.com Fitness Forum has a new program called “Body in Balance”. This program focuses on long-term behavior changes in physical activity, nutrition, attitude and self-image. This self-empowering common sense approach to weight management will assist to improve your health, diet and exercise. Starting June 14th, join the group at Fitness Forum on Mondays from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. For more information and to sign up for the program, call 574-936-2333. Standley's Plumbing & Electric936-9873 Congratulations to Jim Standley for receiving the Pilot News first annual “Best of Marshall County” plaque for “Favorite Plumber” in April. Standley's Plumbing & Electric has just added new equipment for better problem drain detection for both residential and commercial-a visual inspection camera. The mini cam has a video hook-up and can make inspections in 1-1/2 to 2 inch diameter drains up to 100 feet. Another new addition is a miniature power auger that can run 50 feet in 1-1/4 to 2 inch diameter drains. The Electric Eel, the larger auger, will reach the 160 foot mark. The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc.www. centerforhospice.org The 11th Annual Camp Evergreen will be held August 13-15, 2004 at Bair Lake Bible Camp in Jones, Michigan. Camp Evergreen provides a fun, safe environment for youth, ages 7-14, who are grieving the death of a loved one, to develop coping skills and gain self-esteem and trust. Camp will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Friday and conclude at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. In addition to campers, adult volunteers are also needed to serve as one-to-one "buddies" for the youth and to help with various activities during camp. There is no charge to attend the camp. Camp Evergreen is nonsectarian and welcomes participants regardless of race or religion. Sponsored by The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., Camp Evergreen is open to youth in St. Joseph, Marshall, Elkhart, LaPorte, Starke, Fulton and Kosciusko Counties in Indiana. Previous involvement with Hospice services is not required to attend. Space is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. For detailed information, call (574) 243-3100 or (800) 413-9083. The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. is a not-for-profit, community-based agency providing comfort and support to all people facing the end of life. Through its offices, Hospice of St. Joseph County, Marshall County Hospice, Hospice of Elkhart County and Hospice House, The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. serves St. Joseph, Marshall, Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, LaPorte and Starke counties, and is Indiana's most chosen Hospice program. J-P Baskets & More13395 7th Rd., Plymouth; 574-936-3734; www.jpbaskets.com A letter we would like to share. Dear Chamber Staff, I wanted to tell you that I am pleased with the response that I get from being on the Chamber's web page as a link. About 35 to 45% of my business from my web page over the last few months has come from people searching the Chamber's web site. It's a great tool and I appreciate the opportunity for the business. Sincerely, Jacqueline Singleton Crossroads Academy1800 Jim New Dr., Plymouth; 574-936-8834 Crossroads Academy is now accepting enrollments for their annual Computer Camp. Students in grades 3-5 are scheduled to attend the week of July 19-23, and students in grades 6-8 will attend August 2-6. Both sessions will meet from 9 a.m. - noon. This summer will be the third time the camp is being held at the Academy, and according to director Chad Barden, parents are already calling to inquire about this summer's session. “I'm glad so many of the students from last year will be attending again,” Barden says, “and we're really looking forward to the first-timers.” Plymouth resident Amy Pratt says her son, Mitchell, attended the 2002 camp, and her daughter is excited about attending for the first time. “Mitchell especially liked the games he played,” she explains, “and he also learned how to put together a PowerPoint presentation at 10 years old - and that is something I have just learned to do myself in the last couple of years…We are fortunate to have a program like this in our community.” Interns Kyle Burnam and Evan Smith will be the instructors for the summer camp. “They're both great instructors, Barden says. “They know how to make learning fun, while at the same time instill in the students why computers and technological skills are important to them now, and why they will be important in their future.” There is a $30 fee per student, and parents may enroll their children for computer camp at the academy. Crossroads Academy is funded by a CAPE grant from the Lilly Foundation, and a grant from the Build Indiana Fund. The facility and its operations are governed by the Marshall County Lifelong Learning Network (Marshall County LLN) Board of Directors, which also governs other local recipients of CAPE funds: Heart & Hands and Ancilla College's Childcare Development Program. Crossroads Academy offers technology training to residents and businesses in Marshall County and neighboring communities, and to students enrolled in the North Central Area Vocational Cooperative. These services include computer repair, laptop and projector rental, Microsoft Office Training and certification, as well as classes leading to certification as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers/Administrators (MCSE/MCSA). ------------ June 2004
------------ June Inserts
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