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ALBION, MI – Michigan Week is celebrated annually the second week in May. Communities throughout the state explore and celebrate their local history and resources through their participation in this week-long event.  This year, Albion is participating in Michigan Week through a series of events and activities that observe and acknowledge the merits and resourcefulness of our community.

In Albion, we decided to call this celebration “Albion Week”, in recognition of the people, the businesses, and the social interactions that enable our community to succeed.  For example, did you know T-ball was invented in Albion? Come and watch kids play T-Ball on Saturday, May 16th at Victory Park (and relive a bit of your own childhood). How about Mother’s Day? Did you know that was invented here too? Join Jim Seidl at the Gardner House for a History of Mother’s Day on Wednesday May 20th. And, did you know Albion stands at the hub of three major hiking and biking trails that crisscross the mid-west? These trails are the Iron-Belle Trail, the Great Lake-to-Lake Trail, and the North Country Trail. We will celebrate our “trail history” by picking up our bikes and taking a bicycle ride around town on Saturday May 16th!

 Please use the “Albion Week” schedule (above) to keep track of the events occurring throughout town, May 15 – 23, 2015. I fervently hope that you will celebrate Albion Week by attending one or more of the events listed below. Enjoy!

 FRIDAY:

Albion Week starts with the Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau’s Eggs & Issues meeting, Friday May 15 @ 7:30 AM. Eggs & Issues is the Chamber’s signature monthly business meeting. It provides a forum for discussing current issues and events in Albion. May’s Eggs & Issues meeting will focus attention on some of the unique products produced by some of our local manufacturers – Caster Concepts, Team 1 Plastics, and World Corrugated will be in attendance. May’s Eggs & Issues meeting is being held at Upper Baldwin Hall on the Albion College campus. Albion College has graciously offered to treat us to breakfast. While breakfast is free, reservations are required. Please call the Chamber to RSVP: 629-5533.

 On Friday May 15th and continuing through May 30th, celebrate Albion with “Dinner and a Movie”, courtesy of Danny Lopez of Lopez Taco House, LLC. Bring your Bohm Theatre movie ticket receipt to Lopez Taco House and receive 20% off your meal. Tickets may be purchased at the box office 30 minutes in advance of the first showing in the evening and/or online at www.bohmtheatre.org.

 During the first few days of Albion Week, the American Legion Hall Post 55 will be selling Poppies as part of a fundraiser to help local veterans residing in our community. If you see a member of the American Legion during your Albion Week frivolities, please stop and buy a poppy. Veterans in our community depend on you!

 SATURDAY:

Saturday, May 16th starts with a whole slurry of events occurring throughout town. To keep track of all of the events and all the opportunities you have to participate in the hustle and bustle, the Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau has created a schedule (located in this newspaper) that you can cut out and post on your refrigerator, if you would like.

 Citizens to Beautify Albion will begin planting flowers throughout town at 9 AM Saturday morning. If you would like to participate, please start your day at Kay Knight’s house (933 W. Erie) where you are likely to pair up with a planting partner, obtain a set of instructions and a map of town, and a flat (or two) of flowers. Citizens to Beautify Albion was founded in 1985 by Richard and Elverta Weatherford. Red, white and blue petunias are planted along main entrances to the city and within the business loop of Albion. The Weatherford Garden is also maintained along with permanent flower planters in the downtown business district. Community volunteers plant and maintain the flowers during the summer season.

 Bicycle helmets will be given to children (ages 5 -12) who register and participate in a FREE Bike safety class offered by the Albion Public Safety Department on Saturday morning May 16th (10-11:30 AM). Please RSVP at www.albion.recdesk.com. Event to be held in the parking lot at Cass/Oswego.

 At 11:45 Saturday May 16th, the City of Albion invites the public to a FREE Community Bike Ride (for all ages) that starts in the parking lot near Cass/Oswego and concludes at the French Market in Stoffer Plaza 45 minutes later. Ride some of the trails Albion is famous for – the North Country Trail, the Iron-Belle Trail, etc., through town and learn about our pivotal position in the trail riding.

 Also occurring on Saturday May 16th, the Albion Farmer’s Market, 211 Market Place, downtown Albion, is being converted to a French Market, hosted by the Sister City Committee and the City of Albion. The French Market will feature fresh produce, prepared food you can buy and snack on, plants, handmade items, baked goods, books, antiques, and live music. As a fundraiser for the Sister City Committee, $2 raffle tickets are currently being sold by members of the Committee (and at the Chamber of Commerce). Raffle tickets will also be available at the French Market on Saturday. Drawing to occur at 2 PM: need not be present to win. The winning ticket holder will receive a “Taste of Albion” basket of local goodies (value = $150).

 After attending the French Market, stroll over to Victory Park and watch our local children play T-Ball at 2 PM. Albion is known as the home of the first organized “T-Ball” game.  This unique program was designed to introduce boys (yes only boys – at that time), ages 6 to 8, to the basics of baseball without the nuisance of learning to strike the ball thrown by a pitcher – hit the ball on a batting tee and watch your ball fly! Saturday’s game is FREE for children (ages 5-8) upon registering with the Albion Recreation Department: 629-5535. All preregistered children will be provided with juice boxes, protein bars, and fresh fruit during the game, courtesy of the Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau.

 Starting Saturday May 16th and continuing through May 23rd, the Albion District Library is holding an Art Contest for children and teens. Do you have what it takes to create artwork?  This is a chance to design artwork based on any book of your choice for display in the Children’s Room or the Teen Space at the Albion District Library.  Entry forms available in the Children’s Room of the Library. Art supplies provided — take them home or work at the library.  Finished projects must be submitted by 5pm on May 23.

 SUNDAY:

On Sunday, May 17th, join Swingin’ at the Shell for a FREE concert at the Bohm Theatre at 6 PM, courtesy of Parks Drug Store, Team 1 Plastics, Caster Concepts, the Albion Community Foundation, and the Michigan Council for the Arts. Brian Vander Ark, lead singer, guitarist and principal songwriter for The Verve Pipe will play starting at 6 PM.

 MONDAY:

On Monday, May 18th, the Albion District Library invites you and your child to play with them in the Children’s Library Room from 5 – 6:30 PM. Called the “Drop-In Community Playgroup” (ages 0 – 5), there is no registration necessary. Parents must attend with their child. For questions, please call the Albion District Library at 629-3993.

 At 7PM Monday, May 18th, the Albion City Commission will proclaim Albion Week and recognize the special value our community holds within Calhoun County. Citizens are encouraged to attend and/or watch this meeting from home on public access TV.

 WEDNESDAY:

At 12:15 PM, Wednesday May 20th, the Albion District Library invites you to attend their FREE Brown Bag Lunch series featuring Neil Shubin, paleo biologist, who will discuss “Your Inner Reptile” a thought-evoking program that will trace our hair, skin, teeth, jaws and sense of hearing back to reptilian ancestors.  Coffee and cookies provided.  

 The Albion District Library invites anyone who is interested in buying or building a new home to attend a FREE workshop called the Homebuyer Education Workshop on Wednesday May 20th. There may not be “gold in them there hills” but there IS money available that can make home ownership more affordable!  Learn about the home buying process, such as, available loan and financing programs, planning and budgeting techniques, your credit score, credit repair solutions and negotiating a sale. This workshop is from 5:30 – 7:30 PM, Wednesday May 20th.

 On behalf of the Albion Historical Society, Jim Seidl, Board Member of the Gardner House Museum, will be providing a FREE History of Mother’s Day program on Wednesday, May 20th. Learn about Albion’s unique claim to fame: how Mother’s Day started at the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Albion in 1877 and other interesting facts. This event will occur at the Gardner House at 7 PM.

 FRIDAY:

On Friday, May 22nd, Substance Abuse Prevention Services will be announcing the winners of the “Cross Ages Mentoring – Teacher of the Year Awards” at 4 PM at the Albion Public Schools. Teachers at the Albion Public Schools teaching 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grade will be recognized for their hard work and effort to elevate our children to success.

 On Friday May 22, the second in a four-part series of concerts called “Almost Famous” will hold a comedy showcase at 8 PM in the Kellogg Center “Stacks” at Albion College. Winners of the Almost Famous showcases will obtain contracts to play during Festival of the Forks, Saturday September 19th in downtown Albion. May 22nd‘s event is a comedy showcase features special appearances by last year’s “Famous @ the Forks” tween contest winners Ar’teast & Code Blu Steel. Tickets ($5 in advance/$7 at the door) are available at Parks Drug Store, the Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce, The Studio of Albion, and at First Merit Bank.  Doors open at 7 PM.

 SATURDAY:

On Saturday May 23rd, the Albion Farmer’s Market will resume selling fresh and locally produced fruits and vegetables (in season) from 9 – 1 PM. Early products are “hoop house” grown fresh lettuces, kale, salad greens. Throughout the season, the Albion Farmer’s Market offers fruits, berries, melons, assorted vegetables, plants, processed poultry, soap, baked goods, jams and jellies…. along with an ever-changing variety of home grown/farm produced foods and artisan goods.  The Albion Farmer’s Market is located at 211 Market Place, downtown Albion.

 Kids ‘N’ Stuff Children’s Museum is GROWING! Come play with us. Opening Saturday, May 23rd, Kids ‘N’ Stuff is pleased to invite your child to play with its newest science exhibit “Eat Well, Play Well” from 10 – 4 PM. This exhibit allows children to explore what is in the food we eat.  Are fruits and vegetables important? Can everyday activities burn calories? Let your children explore healthy eating habits through this unique nutrition and fitness exhibit.

 Schuler Arts Creativity Retreat Center, 1201 Maple Street, invites you to attend an open house called “Spark Your Creativity” from 10 – 3 PM, Saturday May 23rd. Experience a variety of art activities, displays and demonstrations throughout the day.   Enjoy portrait renderings, watercolor painting demonstrations, glass fusing, potter’s wheel skills, Raku firing in an outdoor kiln, and hands-on activities for guests to express and explore their own creativity. Join us when you can, enjoy, and then leave when you must. We welcome you to create with Schuler Arts!

 

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