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MonthlyBusinessConnection989-845-3055Email: info@chesaningchamber.orgWeb: www.chesaningchamber.orgChesaningChamber of CommerceOctober 2018Together We Are StrongerBoard of DirectorsGreg Bruff,PresidentWaddell & ReedRon EbenhoehVice PresidentGreg Bruff,PresidentMetro MortgageJessie Stewart,SecretarySovis InsuranceSteve Keck,TreasurerH&R BlockJeri BirchmeierChesaning Nursing &Rehabilitation CenterStephanie DominaThe State BankValina JamesThe Silver ThimbleTom LaveryCenturyLinkBobbi McIntyreStudio 124Ron PoyerH&R BlockNick StoddardOctober is Michigan Chamber ofCommerce Month and here at theChesaning Chamber we have beencelebrating our chamber’s past, present and future with a marketing campaign on our Facebook page. Our postshave shared memories as well as educational pieces designed to help thepublic understand the role of theChamber in the community. If youhaven’t been following us on Facebook, please take a look at our pageand lend your support.One of the themes of MichiganChamber of Commerce Month is“Together We Are Stronger”, which iscertainly true when our members partner for the benefit of the Chesaningarea. We celebrated our own partnership with the village at our CommunityService Building Ribbon Cutting andOpen House on Tuesday, October 16.Many members contributed to the day;the Rotary Club donated a beautifulcrab apple tree, Chesaning Nursing &Rehabilitation Center and the Villagesupplied trays of finger foods, and theState Bank brought a lush green indoorplant to brighten the offices. It was awell-attended community affair andwe are happy that the project is complete, bringing so many public servicesinto one convenient space.Finally, strong business communities need a strong work force. Careerand Technical Education helps providestudents with the training that theyneed to be ready for in-demand careers in our area and across the state. Iurge you to get informed about the 1mill request for CTE for SaginawCounty students. Find out more byvisiting the CTE webpage,www.saginawcountycte.com and makesure your voice is heard by voting onNovember 6!Stoddard Classic CarsChristopher TheileSwartzmiller LumberKate WeberExecutive DirectorHappy Chamber of CommerceMonth! Best Regards Gregory C. BruffBoard of Directors President989-845-7699-work or 989-280-4838-cellInside this issue:Member NewsNovember Calendar2CelebratingAnniversaries3Medical InsuranceOpen Enrollment4UpcomingEvents5EducationOpportunities6

October 2018Member News & Community Highlights American Legion Post 212’s famousbreakfasts are back on first Sundays from7:30-11:30. Enjoy pancakes, French toast,sausage, bacon, eggs, hash browns, sausage gravy & biscuits, toast, juice, milkand coffee for only 8/adults, 4/childrenage 6-12 and free for children 5 and under. Proceeds to help support local youthprograms and community service. Chesaning Kiwanis Club has moved theirmeetings to Tuesdays, 6pm at the Riverfront Grille to accommodate their volunteers who work during the day. The meetings last about 45 minutes and anyoneinterested is welcome to come! It’s time for Friday Fish Fry at the K of CHall again! 11 Take-Out orders can bepicked up any Friday, 5-7:30pm, throughthe end of the year. Dine-in meals willbegin after the New Year!The Chesaning Chamber of Commercewelcomes new gold business member A1 Site Development, Inc! Their offices arelocated at 124 3rd Street in the formerUnited Financial Credit Union buildingand you can reach them at 989-3232260. They specialize in commercial excavation, underground utilities, earthworkfor new and expanding businesses andmore! Check them out at their websitebelow. and thank you, A-1 Site Development, for supporting the ChesaningChamber of Commerce!https://www.a1sitedevelopment.com/Page 2The new High Schoolsports conference forChesaning requiresbowling teams to besponsored. A total of 2000 gives eachteam member a shirtand supports localscholarships forseniors, as well aspaying lane fees.Please contact JasonHemegesberg at 845-2040 or Phil Larnerat 989-295-6467 byDec. 1st if you areinterested in helping.November 2018SunMonTueWedRepeating Meetings/Events: Rotary Club meets at noon on Tuesdays, Riverfront Grille Am. Legion Queen of Hearts Raffle is on Tuesdays at 8pm, Pintown Kiwanis Meets at 6pm on Tuesdays at Riverfront Grille K of C Take-Out Fish Fry, Fridays 5-7:30pm4Am. Legion Breakfast7:30-11:30am5Candlelight WalkMeeting 5pm67:30pm Village Council7Chamber MarketingMeeting 8amThuFriSat1 Zion Luth. Morningswith Mommy-10:30amChes Nursing Long TermCare Planning 6pmCACC Fall Banquet 6pmLibrary Novel Writing 6pChes. Twp Board7:30pm238 Chamber Board ofDirectors Meeting 8am910Trinity Free CommunitySupper 5pmLibrary-Writing a NovelClass, 6-7pm11Turkey Bingo 6-9pmSt. Peters Parish Hall1812Chesaning AreaHistorical SocietyMeeting 6:30pm atMuseum1314Noon Chamber Raffle15 Zion Luth. Morningswith Mommy-10:30am6pm DDA MeetingLibrary-Writing a NovelClass, 6-7pm1920217:30pm Village Council7pm Library Book Club7pm Sports Boosters22 5th Annual GregWirgau 5er’s 5k - 8amIn-Stitches Knitting@ Library 11am1617Tonight’s K of C TakeOut Fish Fry also includes a Bake Sale!5-7:30pm23 Music Boosters andSt Peter Parish CraftShows 10a-5p24 Music Boosters and StPeter Parish Craft Shows10a-4pSanta’s Village 12-7pm35th Annual Christmas Candlelight Walk25Santa’s Village 12-7pm26277:30am Task ForceMeeting28Noon Chamber Raffle29Library-Writing a NovelClass, 6-7pm30

October 2018Page 3Harris Insurance Celebrates 80 YearsHarris Insurance Agency was establishedin 1938 by Lloyd C. Harris when he beganselling insurance out of his house inChesaning on Washington Street. Lloyd beganhis career selling auto insurance for StateFarm, fire insurance through Fremont Mutualand wind insurance through State MutualCyclone. In those days, one company usuallydidn’t sell multi-line insurance. Throughoutthe years Harris Insurance has representedseveral companies and today they serviceseveral lines of business including homeowner’s, automobile, business, farm, recreational vehicle, and bonds with companiessuch as Pioneer State Mutual, FrankenmuthMutual, Safeco Insurance, Progressive Insurance, and Foremost to mention a few.After Lloyd passed away in 1959 and hisson, Elwin assumed the agency, it was movedto a small building that was located next thepost office, the same that later housed theChamber ofCommerce!Photo credit goes to Olli Pesola,a Finnish exchange student toChesaning in the 1960’sWhen the business outgrew that location, it moved to what is now Jeff Roy’sBarber Shop. Later the agency made itsfinal move across the street. The growthof Harris Insurance can be linked to several purchases, including the ClarenceSchaffer Insurance Agency in 1959, theKennedy Insurance Agency (1962), theLoren McDonagh Insurance Agency(1970), and the Wayne Woodbury InsuranceAgency in 1980 (Wayne had purchased theErwin Blakeslee Insurance Agency so that wasincluded in the Harris portfolio as well).This Chesaning family-owned businesshas seen three generations join its staff. Dennis Harris, Elwin’s son, came into the agencyin 1973 and Elwin’s daughter, Jolee (Harris)Dankert joined the agency in 1981. Both continue the tradition of friendly home-townservice to this day. Lois Harris, Elwin’s wife,also worked for the agency but retired several years ago. Elwin passed away in 2006.Throughout the years the agency has beenblessed with wonderful staff including theirnewest employee, Nancy Chappell, whosesister, Pat Howell, worked for the businessback in the 1960’s. Pat is pictured in thephoto sitting behind a desk.The Chesaning Chamber congratulatesHarris Insurance Agency on generations ofsuccess and service to the Chesaning area!Thank you, also, for your support of the community through your Chamber membership!Did You Know?Trinity MethodistChurch’scommunityfood ministry isnow known asManna FromHeaven! Visitwww.chesaningtrinityumc.comfor moreinformation!American Legion’s Toys for KidsThe “Toys for Kids” program is up andrunning again this year. There will be collection boxes for new, unwrapped toys at thefollowing locations in town: Chesaning AceHardware, Ed Rehmann & Sons Clothing, Citizen's Bank, Pin Town Pizza & Lanes, PNCBank, Frank's Supermarket, LaClair Sales,Chesaning Chamber of Commerce Office,Chesaning Nursing and Rehabilitation Center,Broad Street Pharmacy, and Mel Ervin Ford.Please consider donating to this great program. Monetary donations can be sent to thefollowing address: Chesaning American Legion Post 212, ATTN: Toys for Kids, PO Box521, Chesaning, MI 48616.Know someone who needs extra helpthis Christmas? Application information canbe found on the Community Calendar for theweeks of October 22-26 and November 5-9,or by clicking HERE.“The power of a chamber is directly related to the strength of its ability to connect people.” Frank Kenny

Coming Attractions!October 2018Halloween Fun For The Little OnesOct. 20, 4-6pm—Trunks of Treats at Christ Lutheran ParkOct. 24, 6-7:30pm—Chesaning Comfort Care Trick or TreatingOct. 27, Noon-2pm—Trick Or Treat at Chesaning Nursing & Rehab.Oct. 31, 6-8pm—1st Church of the Nazarene Trunk or TreatRiverfront Grille—October 19-20, Friday & SaturdayPage 5

Michael WheelerDrawn byJanet StollChesaningManufacturingOctober 10Mike BuecheConstructionDrawn byJolee DankertHarris InsuranceAgency On October 25, the MI-SBDC is presenting a How to Buy or Sell a Business Workshop, where consultants and industryexperts will share tips, tools, and tacticsto help ensure the success of your transaction and the transition process. Theworkshop will also include a Panel Discussion of industry experts and businessbuyers and sellers who will share theirknowledge and experiences. Lunch andresource materials are included. Registration begins at 8:30AM and conference willconclude at approximately 2:30PM. Register Online at y 50380076. The cost is 75 per attendee but Chamber memberspay only 50 with the discount codePARTNER50!Chesaning Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is offering a Long Term Care Planningworkshop on Thursday, Nov. 1 from 68pm. Many topics will be discussed including Wills vs Trusts, Power of Attorney, Taxes and avoiding scams. CallMichigan Estate Planning Law Center at800-990-6030 to reserve you spot at thisvaluable seminar! November is NANOWRIMO (NAtionalNOvel WRIting MOnth). To help you takeon the challenge of writing your own50,000 word novel, come to River RapidsLibrary’s 'Come Write In' programs eachThursday night from 6-8pm. Encourageand be encouraged as you interact withother NANOWRIMO authors. See https://nanowrimo.org for more information.As part of the graduation-required SeniorIntegrated Project (SIP) class, ChesaningHigh students complete a project and acorresponding research paper, which arethen used in a judged. Would you like tobe a panel member in the evaluation ofthese final presentations? Your Chamberdirector and several local business members have been involved in past yearsand find it to be a rewarding experience!Presentations will take place on November 15 and 16 with each presentationtaking approximately 10 minutes. Evaluation forms will be provided and studentportfolios will be available for your observations. If you are interested in participating, please contact Amy Sholtz atChesaning High School, 845-2040, oremail asholtz@chesaning.k12.mi.us. Orclick HERE for the online form!Please Note Our New Address:September 26Opportunities For Education and InspirationChesaning Chamber of Commerce218 N. Front Street Suite BChesaning, MI 48616Raffle Winners:October 2018ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTEDPage 6