Pam Pondering

Summer. The time of the year when Petoskey's population grows more than ten times it's normal census, when traffic is nearly impossible to miss during the day between 10 am and 5 pm, when you're certain to see a bike rider along the streets at least once every hour, and when the beaches are plastere...
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That's right, summer is on its way! It may not seem like it right now with the cold temperatures, rain, and random bursts of sunshine, but, the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce's event calendar assures us otherwise! The Summer fun kicks off Memorial Day Weekend and wraps up with a big bang on August 20t...
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I had the privilege of sitting down with McLean & Eakin's Bess Bleyeart to discuss just what to look forward to from McLean & Eakin Booksellers this Summer. And, let me tell you, it's going to be good! Bess Bleyeart is a native to the Petoskey region and has lived here her entire life. Sh...
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Trapper's Cabin, located on the lower level of Grandpa Shorter's Gifts, has been under construction since early January. What used to be an oasis for everything "cottage" like, is now a Pendleton retreat in a way. Not many stores in Northern Michigan do very much at all with the Pendleton brand, al...
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The event may have gone and passed, but make sure not to miss Bowling Down Main Street in Harbor Springs next year! The event is held every year around April Fool's Day, so that makes it pretty easy to mark your calendars in advance. The Harbor Springs Chamber of Commerce holds this event each ye...
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Four Unique Ways to Display Petoskey Stones Around Your Home Have you ever wondered what you could do to your home to add some Northern Michigan pizzazz or even just how to uniquely display that collection of Petoskey Stones that you've been adding to for years? Well, if you have, then great! I hav...
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A Way to Refresh This Spring: Shower Therapy Tabs I don't know about you, but this constant change in climate from warm-and-sunny to cold-and-wet really does not play nicely with my sinuses/allergies. Often I walk into work dragging because I can barely breathe out of my nose. Like most, I have med...
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10 Gift Ideas for Easter... or just to celebrate Spring! You may be too old to look for an Easter basket, but you're never to old to give one. This year Grandpa Shorter's wants to help you stuff your Easter baskets with gifts they'll truly enjoy! It was hard to come up with only ten items that cove...
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This week, we wanted to feature our store that does not receive as much of attention, but certainly deserves the love! J.W. Shorter & Son Mercantile is packed with things to make your home even more extraordinary. And, they just received some new and exciting products in for the Spring! Wood...
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On February 29th, 2016 Grandpa Shorter's Gifts posted a video on their Facebook wall, and it went viral. 163K views to be exact. Understanding just a hint of the infatuation with such a structure, led us to conclude that this video would certainly be liked and possibly shared, but not to such an in...
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