Join the Fun with the Great Victorian Book Club

The year is 1869. Well, not really. Bookworms dust off your tomes and join the fun at The Great Victorian Read Book Club on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at 7 p.m.

Be In On the Decisions with the DDA

Help plan the direction of Downtown Mt. Clemens with the Downtown Development Authority. The Mt. Clemens DDA holds monthly meetings in the Second Floor Conference Room of City Hall on the first Wednesday of each month at 3:00 PM.  The public is welcome at these meetings. Mount Clemens City Hall is located at One Crocker Blvd.

The Fashion Factory Featured in Local Business News

Check out the feature, video and photos on The Fashion Factory, located in downtown Mt. Clemens. See how owner Toni Davison took a leap of faith that paid off.

New VinoTalk Online Now

Wine lovers, be sure to check out the new edition of Vino Talk with John Jonna. This episode features two favorites: pairing wine with cheese.

The Fashion Factory Now Offers Online Classes

The Fashion Factory, located in downtown Mt. Clemens, now offers an online membership club, so you can make fashion, make friends and have fun at home. The woman-owned business teaches people age 7 to 107 how to sew and design their own fashion.

It’s all included:
Supply kit
Four hours of live instruction
Access to online learning platform
Detailed instruction sheet
Collectible fashion charm

Check out the online membership club.

Music Store Wins Local Recognition

Ardis Music won the WDIV Vote4 the best contest. The shop, which is located on Walnut, finished second in musical instruments and third in lessons for the entire metro Detroit area. Ardis Music offers music lessons, instruments and more.

New Food Service Supplier Named for Mt. Clements Community Schools

Southwest Foodservice Excellence has partnered with Mt. Clemens Community Schools to provide delicious, fresh-from-scratch meals and the widest menu variety in the K12 industry at breakfast and lunch.

Southwest Foodservice Excellence will also bring top onsite support, as well as fun, interactive nutrition education classes and events—all designed to get students excited about food. The company exclusively serves in K-12 school districts; and brings a fresh, culinary approach that contrasts with that of traditional school cafeterias, where meals are traditionally pre-packaged and highly processed.

Children’s Hands On Museum Gets the Vote Aug 15

The Macomb Children’s Hands-On Museum’s Board of Directors is scheduled to vote Aug. 15 on a 10-year lease for a site in the former Art-O-Craft building on Macomb Place a few blocks east of Southbound Gratiot Avenue.

The museum proposal calls for interactive math and science exhibits and S.T.E.A.M.-based programs for children up to age 12.

In the meantime, museum boosters launched a Museum Without Walls campaign. It involves volunteers bringing out pop-up mobile and interactive demonstrations of educational exhibits to promote the museum’s mission and grow its base of donors.

The Museum Without Walls will be on hand for the St. Clair Shores Farmers Market 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Aug. 25 at Blossom Heath Park, 24800 Jefferson Avenue.

Welcome to City News! Through City News, I’m hoping to connect with each of you, to bring you closer to your community and maybe even tempt you to try something new.

Supporting local businesses is so important to a thriving community. Often, it’s the small business owners who support school functions, civic clubs and sponsor city events.

These entrepreneurs are critical to the health and wellbeing of our communities. It’s wonderful to support these folks and I hope you’ll join me in celebrating them through City News.

I’d like to know what bits of info interest you the most: Upcoming events? New businesses? A little of everything?

Reach out!

Rebecca Calappi
citynewseditor@localbiznews.net

No August Primary Election

The next election in Mount Clemens is Tuesday, Nov. 5, for the following races: mayor and three city commissioners. There will not be an August primary election this year.

Please call the City Clerk’s Office at 586-469-6818, ext. 3 for questions about the election.

Farmers Market Celebrates 40th Anniversary

A Mt. Clemens mainstay, the farmers market has been bringing in fresh produce and supporting local farmers for decades. Join the fun in celebrating at the 40th Birthday Party on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the North River Road Parking Lot.

In more farmers market news, The Mount Clemens Farmers Market returns to Downtown Mount Clemens for a weekly Wednesday market now through September. Don’t miss the opportunity to shop for the freshest, certified locally grown produce right in downtown every Wednesday from 1 to 5 p.m.

The market is located in the Roskopp Parking Lot, adjacent to the Anton Art Center at Macomb Place and Southbound Gratiot. Parking is free for shoppers.

Crocker House Hosts Tea Party

Join in a celebration of the Crocker House turning 150 years old.

Joshua Dickinson had the beautiful Italianate home built in 1869 when his only surviving child Katherine became engaged to George Crocker. The following year, in September of 1870, George and Katherine were married.

This year partygoers can celebrate their engagement and the anniversary of the home. Joshua and Katherine Dickinson and George Crocker will be celebrating along with a few other characters. Each attendee will be given a name with information about that person, so participants can role-play.

Ranka Mulkurn will delight with hammered dulcimer music from that era, and a full tea will be served including Three Wives Tea, a variety of scones, tea-sandwiches and desserts.

Tickets are limited, non-refundable and cost $40 for members and $45 for non-members of the Macomb County Historical Society. ​For more information or to make reservations for group tours and special events please call 586-465-2488.

Apply for a Mount Clemens DDA Facade Grant

The Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority offers Facade Grant to businesses or property owners in the Downtown Development Authority Tax Increment Funding district to renovate and rehabilitate building facades.

The program offers a Façade Matching Grant Program: The DDA will provide a 1/1 matching grant for the cost of eligible and approved façade improvements. The matching grant shall not exceed $10,000 dollars.

The Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority Facade Committee administers the Facade Grant Program. Applications are available online.

This grant will be offered on an ongoing basis as funding permits until terminated by the DDA. The award amount is based on available funds, applicants and other variables. The grant will be allocated to façade, signage, awning, and other eligible projects, and is available to tenants, business and property owners. Larger grants may be considered at the discretion of the DDA Board only.

Who can apply for funding?

Any building owner or store proprietor/tenant with lease authority or authorization from the owner can apply for funding. Eligible properties can be commercial, including non-profits, or residential as long as they are located within the DDA District.

New friends,

Welcome to City News! Through City News, I’m hoping to connect with each of you, to bring you closer to your community and maybe even tempt you to try something new.

Supporting local businesses is so important to a thriving community. Often, it’s the small business owners who support school functions, civic clubs and sponsor city events.

These entrepreneurs are critical to the health and wellbeing of our communities. It’s wonderful to support these folks and I hope you’ll join me in celebrating them through City News.

I’d like to know what bits of info interest you the most: Upcoming events? New businesses? A little of everything?

Reach out!

Rebecca Calappi
citynewseditor@localbiznews.net

Essential Oils and Sewing Workshop at the Fashion Factory

Have you ever wondered what the hype is about essential oils? Would you like to learn how to use them, which one to use and the health and wellness benefits? Do you want to create an atmosphere in your home, workplace or car that offers peace, calming and happiness?

On July 30, you are invited to the Fashion Factory for an introductory meet-up from 6 to 8 p.m. on how to use essential oils to naturally support every system of your body while sewing an essential oil diffuser sachet pillow.

Participants will receive a free sample of Young Living essential oil to apply to the sachet.

What’s included in the workshop?

• Essential oil education by Michelle Soltman of Young Living
• Learn-to-sew safety session
• Use of computerized, speed-controlled sewing machine
• Use of tools needed to complete the sachet
• Complimentary essential oil sample

This workshop is great for kids, teens, and adults of all experience levels.  The cost is $15 per person. You will be contacted after signing up to select either the 6 to 7 p.m. or 7 to 8 p.m. time slot.

Tickets on Sale Now for the Golden ArtParty Celebration

Join other lovers of art for an evening of dining and entertainment to support the community at the Golden ArtParty Celebration on Thursday, Sept. 26.

This year’s 50th anniversary outdoor gala features mouth-watering delights from 25 local restaurants, a special silent auction with original artworks, 50/50 raffle and complimentary bar.

Voted Macomb County’s Best Local Event two years running, the annual ArtParty is a longstanding event showcasing the Anton Art Center as a cultural hidden gem in the community.

For tickets and sponsor info, visit theartcenter.org/artparty.

Exercise Your Rights While Avoiding the Polls

With the passage of Proposal 18-3 in 2018, Michigan voters can now vote by absentee ballot for any election without a reason.

To make this process even easier, the city clerk’s office maintains a permanent absentee voter list for those voters who would like to vote by absentee ballot regularly.

Watch for a mailing coming soon with detailed information about voting by mail and being added to the permanent absentee voter list.

Shutterbugs Needed for Website

If you always have a camera on you, think about lending a hand to the city. Mt. Clemens is looking for pictures of the city to use on its website. If you have photos that you would like to showcase, please email them to the city manager’s office at JGigliotti@cityofmountclemens.com.

City Seeks Members for the Historic District Commision

Mt. Clemens is currently seeking members for the Historic District Commission.

The ideal candidate is a resident who is a graduate of an accredited school of architecture, who has two years of architectural experience, or who is an architect registered in the State of Michigan. These requirements allow the city to meet a state rules for membership.

Members provide regulation of alterations proposed in the city’s historical district and also approves Certificates of Appropriateness for alterations.

The Historic District Commission meets the fourth Tuesday quarterly at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

Dial-A-Ride Available

Need a Ride? Mount Clemens Dial-A-Ride offers transportation services within the city limits to stores, doctors’ offices or places of employment.

The service is available five days a week, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fares range from $1 to $3.

Call 586-469-RIDE to schedule your lift, or visit www.cityofmountclemens. com/dialaride.

Residents Needed to Make a Difference in the City

Mt. Clemens is seeking residents who want to make valuable contributions to their community  by volunteering to serve on a board or committee.

There are currently openings on the following boards:

• Beautification Commission
• Board of Zoning Appeals
• Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
• Downtown Development Authority
• Historical Commission
• Local Officer’s Compensation Commission
• Traffic Safety Committee

Please visit www.cityofmountclemens. com or contact the city clerk’s office at 586-469-6818 x3, or email the city clerk at lborgacz@cityofmountclemens.com for more information.

More Materials Available at the Library this Month

The Mt. Clemens Public Library announced beginning in July there will be a drastic increase in the amount of new materials the library will purchase.

The increase will help lower the wait times for many new books and movies, including through Overdrive.

Be sure to make suggestions for purchase at the Circulation Desk or use a special form on the new website where suggestions can be made.