Happy April from the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce…The flower pots will be set out tomorrow. The Banners have already been changed to Spring. The new Brookfield phone books are in so please…come get all you need. And all the Summer Fun Day & Alumni Weekend Craft & Food Vendor forms are mailed. If you would like to participate just contact the Chamber office. Happy Birthday to Zack, my only Grandson, who turns 10 this week!!!
The Recycling Trailer will be back to Wal-Mart on May 5th-12th!!!
Chamber lunch was held today with Greg Gentry & Lisa Hofstetter speaking about the plans for the Linn County Spring Expo this Saturday. Chamber lunch is held at “Step Back in Time” at Noon every 3rd Wednesday. If you haven’t been coming to the Chamber Lunches…please make an effort to attend. The food is great and of course it’s always good company!!! May 19th is the last Chamber Lunch for the Summer.
The 2010 Annual Chamber Banquet & Auction, along with the BAGP Citizen of the Year Awards were held on Thursday, April 1st at the Brookfield Elks Club. Our 2 scholarships of $250 each were awarded to Megan Dorsey & Patrick McCurry. The BAGP Citizens of the Year Awards went to Brock Wright in the Youth Category…Robert Devoy in Philanthropy…Angie Wallace for Leadership…and Reel Time Cinema for Entrepreneurship. A special award called “Reconnecting Brookfield” was awarded to Ryan Jacobs for his outstanding face-lift on the front of Hometown Hardware. The Chamber honors went to H. Tooey Mercantile, (Tooeys) for being in business 150 years and Pershing Memorial Hospital for 50 years of dedicated service to our community. The Annual Banquet & Auction is the Chambers largest fundraiser of the year and over $6000 was raised. Thank you to all who made it possible. The many caring individuals & businesses that purchased tickets and donated the auction items, Mark Smith, our Auctioneer, Keep it Simple & Show-me Flowers for the table decorations, The Elk’s Club and all of you that donated in any way. My many thanks to you all!!!
The Chamber says good-bye to 4 of its officers…Dave Hane, Tom Morris, Rhonda Uptain & Teri Yardley and welcomes in Susie Abeln, Susan Lane, Randall Stonger & Waverly Dixon. The new President will be Kathy McCurry with returning board members Abby Sattman, Becky Fitzgerald (Vice President), Shane Bettes, & Larry Shew. Another great Chamber Board!!!
May 1st kicks off the new Chamber year and we are underway with the Annual Membership Drive. If you don’t belong to the Chamber…we would love to have you…we can accomplish so much more as a team than we can alone. Please contact the Chamber office @ 258-7255 or speak with any of our officers about becoming a member. One of our new members this month is “Monnig Catering” from Marceline. Stan Monnig and his sister Angie have been catering in our area for many years and have catered the last 4 Chamber Banquets. To contact them call Stan @ 788-1821 or Angie @ 413-3987. Another new member is “Fatman Ink” with owners Tammy & Sean Stamphill located in the old Pam’s Furniture Building on W. Hwy 36. Fatman Ink features unique tattooing, skateboards & accessories, motorcycle attire along with gifts and jewelry. You can reach them at 258-3978 or cell #734-0803. Welcome to you both!!!
Ribbon Cutting for “Fatman Ink” will be held on Thursday, May 13th @ 10AM. Please Come.
Life Care Center will have a volunteer dinner with entertainment & prizes on Thursday, April 22nd @ 6:30 pm. Every Tuesday and Thursday LCC hosts an Arthritis Exercise class from 10-11 am. National Nursing Home Week is May 8 – 15. LCC has activities everyday with a Prom on Thursday Evening for the residents. Mother's Day tea and family photos will be on Saturday May 8th. Everyone is invited to come out for the activities and to visit their fantastic residents!!!
The 1st Annual “Linn County Spring Expo” is this Saturday, April 24th from 10-2 p.m. at the Linn County Fairgrounds. There will be many many area vendors and admission is Free!!!
The Marceline City Wide Garage Sale is this Saturday, April 24th and the Brookfield City Wide Garage Sale is May 7th and 8th. We have plenty of Brookfield City maps to help you find your way!!!
Brookfield “DREAM” Kick-Off Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 29th 5:30pm at the Elk’s Ballroom. Brookfield is one of 5 communities in the entire state chosen for this program. The DREAM Initiative helps small and mid-sized Missouri communities access existing State assistance programs to help with downtown revitalization and job creation. The DREAM Initiative allows communities to more efficiently and effectively engage in downtown redevelopment and revitalization as well as attract new private investment into the heart of their communities. Our host speaker Jeremy Hayes says “We will work closely with city officials to identify the retail, cultural and historical potential of Brookfield’s DREAM study area,” Hayes continues. “The intent of this program is to add value to the local partnership of property owners, merchants, and concerned citizens and build a solid foundation for the economic revitalization of the Downtown area.” The DREAM Kick-off Meeting is open to the public and your input is welcome. For more information about the DREAM Initiative go to their website at www.modream.org.
Brookfield Public Library will be having an adult program on Thursday, April 29th at 3:30PM. Donna Haley with the Family Nutrition Education Program, MU Extension will be presenting a program on nutrition. What are proper portions? What are healthy choices? Come and bring your own questions.
The Brookfield Sears Store will assist you with the MO DNR Energize Missouri Appliance the Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday... thru Saturday, April 24th. And they are having “America's Greatest Yard Sale” with the lowest prices of the season April 22 thru May 1st. Also, next week April 29-thru May 1st there are really big savings on select Kenmore Appliances.
Rogene Smith is publishing a book on “Old Houses in Brookfield”. She has been working on this project for many years and the deadline is coming soon. If you own or live in an old house built before 1910 please contact Rogene at 258-3123. Pictures, history & stories will be accepted until June 1st, 2010.
First Christian Church Relay for Life team is selling locally made scented candles as a fundraiser and are also having an indoor garage sale on May 7th and 8th. The Ambassadors featuring Gary Hayen, a former resident, will be having a concert at FCC on Sunday Apr. 25 at 2:00 pm, free will donation; FCA - Fellowship of Christian Athletes will be having a Membership Drive at local churches on May 2nd.
Brookfield Bowl has their Summer leagues forming. They have openings for Monday night Challenge League & Wednesday 9 Pin. They will have open bowling every Saturday from 3:00 - 11:30pm. Please stop by Brookfield Bowl for a flyer or call 258-7476 for additional info.
The new porch on the front of the Tillman Museum is looking so good. What fine workmanship is going into its restoration. This past weekend they had a cleanup day and volunteers were everywhere. The plan is to be open by Summer Fun Days. If you are interested in volunteering or becoming a part of the Historical Society contact Rhonda @ 258-7800.
Tony’s Family Restaurant has dressed up their windows with the artwork of Steve Yarborough. It really looks great…and I hear Tony just got married this past weekend, Congratulations!!!
Friday’s Clothing is now a new retailer for Just Jewelry, Avon, Lotions & Shea Butters by Farmhouse Collectibles along with Jamesport Candle Co. Candles. Open 10-6 M-F and 10-3 Sat.
Memory Lane Photography owned by Darcy Lane has moved into the old “Store Next Door” next to Simply Country Café on West Helm. She is open but I don’t have a new #. Next time!!!
Smokin Don’s Bar-B-Que has been open one month, is sporting new signs on the building and from the look of the parking lot every day, is doing a bang up business. Smokin Don’s is open 11 am-9 pm Monday-Saturday and the Phone # is 258-7234 so you can call in for carry-out!!!
Brookfield Farmers Market is almost here!!! The season kicks off 8 am-Noon, Saturday May 1st and continues till October 30th. All growers are welcome…just call the chamber office to get the info!!! It has gone over so well that the 2nd Saturday of each month is again “Customer Appreciation Day”… free hotdogs & entertainment at Tormey Park. Come join us, we’d love to have you...Help us make our 5th year the best!!
Ladies night out @ Reel Time Cinema will be Tuesday May 4th from 6-8pm...business & vendor booths will be set up in the lobby with refreshments & lots of fun just for you ladies!!! For more info or to get space for a booth, contact Wendy @ 258-2444 or Darlene @ 963-2279.
May 22nd will be the “2nd Annual Ceirney’s Ride for Rett Syndrome.” “Full Throttle for a Cure”!!! The 100 mile motorcycle ride starts at the Twin Parks, with registration at 11 am & ride at 1 pm, ending at the Brookfield Eagles around 4 pm with a silent auction, karaoke, and whole hog BBQ. All festivities at the Eagles are open to the public and all proceeds go to benefit IRSF, International Rett Syndrome Foundation.
Brookfield Summer Fun Days will be held June 3rd-6th with the Backroads Cruizers Car Show on Saturday from 9 am-3 pm and cruise on Friday evening. Queen Contest on Thursday night and a Friday night Concert with Farrell Hahn & his Band at the Gazebo. Baby Show starts at 9 am on Saturday along with Arts & Crafts, 5 & 10K run, Sidewalk Sales, a free Talent Show & the big SFD’s Parade. Citizens Bank will be sponsoring a free movie in the East Twin park between 7-10 pm on Saturday night. Showing will be the movie “Blind Side.” It’s a film that’s fun for the whole family so grab your lawn chairs and join us. Sunday morning the Buddy Bass Fishing Tournament finishes up the weekend. We have lost our Carnival for the 1st weekend of June but will have a new one…Jones & Company Carnival…on June 17, 18 & 19. Starting 2011 SFD’s will be held the 3rd weekend in June to coincide with the Carnival.
The Linn County 4H/FFA Fair will be held July 10th-July 17th. The entire schedule can be seen online at http://extension.missouri.edu/linn
The new Alumni Day Event will be the weekend of July 17th. The schedule is out and will be on the website soon. Friday kicks off with the “Brookfield Hometown Golf Tournament” @ the Country Club. 3 pm-Midnight is Alumni registration, Party in the Park with the Mo Wine Tent & a welcome home concert with Alumni Bands scanning 50 years. Saturday kicks off with a 5/10K walk/run and the park will have arts & crafts, entertainment, the Missouri Wine Tent, silent auction and home tours. Both days will have plenty of food booths. There will be Brookfield by Bus tours…the Tillman House Museum will be open…banquet 6-8 at the High School Gym and dance 8-Midnight at the Elk’s Club. Whew!!! Next Alumni Association meeting is on May 23 at 3 p.m. at the conference center. All alumni are invited to attend!!
You can read Fran's entire column in the 04-21-10 edition of the Linn County Leader.
