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Fete de la Musique 2014

Fete de la Musique Albion was held in the Farmers’ Market in 2014. A number of musicians played at Stoffer Plaza, where the French Market was also being held. There were also musicians in planned places downtown. This traditional event was first held in France, and Albion was one of the first cities in the U.S.A. to participate. The Sister City group and the Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce were heavily involved.

The Fete de la Musique Albion Facebook archive page is here:

https://www.facebook.com/fetedelamusiquealbion

and the event Facebook page for 2018 is here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/239389980140072/

 

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Fete de la Musique, Albion Michigan

Musicians and music lovers are encouraged to come to downtown Albion Michigan this Thursday, June 21, 2018
for the Fête de la Musique, also known as “World Music Day.”

Musicians are encouraged to come and share their musical gifts for free, and there is no admission. In some cities, the announcement of the concept turned the celebration into something of a musical flash crowd.

The first day of summer was chosen as a day on which the world celebrates the magical gift of music and promotes music as a universal language.

Thursday, June 21, 2018 – come and stroll the streets of Albion.

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French Market

The French Market in Albion often takes place on the second Saturday in June, at Stoffer Plaza. The images below are from the 2017 event. Visit the Google Calendar of big Albion Events to learn more about the French Market, and more.

Albion’s French Market is a relatively new event. The 6th annual Albion French Market took place on Saturday June 10, 2017 at Stoffer Plaza. Dozens of vendors were there, as well as many of the usual Farmer’s Market Vendors. In recent years the French Market has become a place for musicians, artists, and chefs to share their arts.

See an aerial tour of this same day by clicking here.

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Juneteenth Celebration in Albion

Juneteenth is a celebration of the end of slavery in the United States.   It is a celebration of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Many black families came to Albion 100 years ago to work at the Malleable foundry.

Albion celebrates Juneteeth on the Saturday before Father’s Day starting at Albion City Hall on Cass Street with a proclamation and words from the mayor at 11 a.m.  Then there is a processional walk to Holland Park where there will be a day of fun and festivities.

There will be games for children and and adults, face painting, a story tent, Old school music, Line dancing, basketball and our Public Safety Department will be there with the fire truck and fire house to show our young people how to be safe when there’s a fire.

There will be a food court with a bar-b-que, friends, music and art.

The day will conclude with a Rememberance Circle and a Gospel Fest starting at 5.

This is a part of America’s History just as Memorial Day and the 4th of July are. Let’s find ways to celebrate our achievements together.

Everyone is invited to come, have fun and fellowship!

Learn more about some even earlier Albion black history from this post on AlbionMich.COM by Albion Historian Frank Passic:  19th CENTURY BLACK HISTORY IN ALBION

A quote from that article: “ In looking through the Census records of the period, we find that the majority of Albion’s early black men listed their occupations as either barbers, such as a Richard Randolph, who lived in Albion Township. Some were listed as housekeepers. One is listed as a “calciminer.” No, he didn’t mine calcimine, but that was the term for a “white-washer” of walls in the days of dirty fuel sources for heating homes. This particular person was listed later as a paper hanger (wallpaper).” 

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Ribbon cutting Albion Malleable Brewing Co. Albion

Albion Malleable Brewing Company official ribbon cutting on Monday May 21, 2018.

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Ride the River – 2018 Albion Community Bike Ride Program


The weather was surprisingly cooperative for the Albion Community Bike Program Launch on Monday, May 14, 2018. The next ride is Monday, May 28, 2018, for the Brewery Ride, starts from City Hall at 5:30 and will also tour the Albion River Trail and end up at a new destination in downtown Albion.

Future rides are scheduled for:

Monday, May 28, 2018,  Memorial Day – Brewery Day 5:30 pm – Meet at Albion City Hall

Saturday, June 9, 2018 Community Ride – 10:00 am – City Hall

Saturday, June 23, 2018 Community Ride – 10:00 am – City Hall

Saturday, July 7, 2018 Community Ride – 10:00 am – City Hall

Saturday, July 21, 2018 Community Ride – 10:00 am – City Hall

Saturday, August 4, 2018 Community Ride – 10:00 am – City Hall

Saturday, August 18, 2018 Community Ride – 10:00 am – City Hall

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Brewery Open House Spring 2018

Albion Malleable Brewing Co. was one of the businesses in the 400 block of S. Superior Street to open its doors for the open house on April 17, 2018.  Community members enjoyed getting a preview of the new developments coming to downtown Albion.

 

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Art of Seasonal Gardening

 

It is a time we dream of summer, and sometimes feel a hint of it in the wind.  We plan our growing season, gather our seeds and prepare the soil.   The season of Spring is upon us, and extends through the Summer Solstice on June 21.  The art of seasonal gardening was created for General Guide XXXI. It shows a timeline of the growing season.  In the distance there is also a visual road map of the connected communities between Battle Creek and Jackson, connected by I-94 highway, and in other ways as well.

Each community has a symbol.

  • The Michigan Central Railroad Depot (Clara’s Restaurant) for Battle Creek.
  • The Heatherbrook Farm mural  just west of Marshall. near Marshall, Michigan at M115 highway was once a part of Stuart Farms.
  • Brooks Fountain in Marshall, that is the location for several annual events.

We’ll post more about each of these community landmarks later, and also more about the gardening clubs and projects in each community.

Note from Albion enews.  (Sign up for Albion Enews here!)
SIGN UP FOR THE ALBION COMMUNITY GARDENS NOW

Albion Community Gardens will hold sign-up sessions for 2018 garden plots on Friday, April 6 (5:30-7PM), Saturday, April 7 (10am-2pm, Friday, April 20 (5:30-7pm), and Saturday April 21 (10am-2pm).

Garden plots are available at three sites: Pearl and center (SW corner) Albion and Erie (NE corner) and Vision of Life (1009 N. Jefferson)

You should go to the site most convenient for you to sign up. In case of rain, the sign ups will take place at St. James Episcopal Church, 119 W. Erie St., Albion.

Plots, seeds, and plants are free if you volunteer 20 hours per year with the Community Gardens or a comparable community organization.

There are tools that you can use at each site as well as gardening information.

Sign up will be at St. James Episcopal Church, 119 W. Erie St., Albion on April 6 if there is inclement whether, as well as at the Albion Winter Farmers Market Saturday.

If you have already signed up for a plot, a member of Albion Community Gardens will be in touch with you by April 6.
For more information, contact Trisha Franzen at 517 629-5618.

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Albion College Graduation

Albion College Graduation Memories Scrapbook

2018

Note from Albion enews.  (Sign up for Albion Enews here!)

Physician/Developer Shaheen to address Class of 2018 at Albion Commencement

PHYSICIAN/DEVELOPER SHAHEEN TO ADDRESS CLASS OF 2018 AT ALBION COMMENCEMENT

Several local community champions and College boosters, including trustee Sam Shaheen, ’88, will be on hand as Albion College celebrates its 2018 Commencement Saturday, May 5, at 1 p.m. in the College Quadrangle.

Physician and entrepreneur Sam Shaheen, ’88, will deliver the Commencement address and receive an honorary doctorate. Currently serving as executive director of Medical Education Partners and professor of surgery at the College of Medicine at Central Michigan University, Shaheen is also president and CEO of Shaheen Development, which initiated the development and construction of Albion’s newly-opened Courtyard Marriott. A member of Albion College’s board of trustees since 2011, Shaheen is also a founding member of the Albion Reinvestment Corporation.

Albion will also award honorary doctorates to history professor Wes Dick and his wife, historian Leslie Dick, and civic leaders Bill AND Karen Knudson Dobbins, both 1974 graduates of Albion College. A Briton Medallion will be given to Bruce and Peggy Sale Kresge, ’53.

Albion’s Commencement is free and open to the public, except in the case of inclement weather, when tickets will be required. For more information, see www.albion.edu/commencement, or contact the Campus Events office at 517/629-0242.

 

2017

A lovely day for Albion College graduation in 2017.

Students excited to be moving into a new chapter of their lives.

2016

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Albion College Commencement ceremony took place Saturday May 7, 2016 on the Quad in front of Kresge Gymnasium. This photo shows how the time before the graduation ceremony has looked in years past, with the seniors ready to line up for the big event. The students in the class of 2016 have seen quite a lot happen in Albion in their time here.

Just to name a few of the things that this class can remember and talk about –

  • The appointment of Dr. Mauri Ditzler as President of Albion College in 2013, and the President’s home on Michigan Avenue refurbished for his arrival in 2014.
  • A line storm that was likened to a tornado with thousands of trees destroyed in Albion Sept. 11 2013,
  • Watching changes in the City of Albion with the public schools struggling, and eventually emerging with the choice to be annexed with Marshall Public Schools, beginning the summer of 2016.
  • Demolition of a city block in downtown Albion with the announcement that a new hotel, a Courtyard Marriott will be built in downtown, with ground breaking coming next week.

This graduating class studied hard, had a little fun, networked, traveled, and did what it took to get a sheepskin from Albion College. They will join fellow Briton Alumni with their fond memories of their time here, their degree and framable diploma, their friends and associates, and something more. They gained knowledge, but they learned how to learn and to enjoy the continuing quest for wisdom that will help to make the world a better place.

Congratulations to the Albion College class of 2016.

Thank you for all that you have done, and for choosing Albion.

 See the 2016 gradation ceremony slideshow.