Weekly Newsletter

[John Helge]

Manistee County Democrats!

We hope you have had the chance to see the Manistee County Democratic Party's billboard on northbound US31 on the right side of the road just after the bridge.  This message will remain until the end of October thanks to the generosity of donors who have provided funding for this billboard and the digital billboard that will be going up on the southbound side of US31 near Chopo's Northside Bar this week.  We will be able to change the digital billboard message often during the weeks leading up to the November election.  We have some great messages to share with voters passing through Manistee County!  We welcome additional donations using this GoFundMe link: https://gofund.me/c392c2c2f. If you prefer to donate by check, you can mail it to MCDP Billboards POBox 65 Manistee, MI 49660.

The "BLUE TSUNAMI" float for the National Forest Festival parade on Saturday, July 4th will be the talk of the 2026 parade season.  I have seen the work in progress and can assure you that this float will be one of the most impressive in the 2026 parade. We want to invite you, your family, friends, and neighbors to join with your fellow proud Democrats in this parade.  We have always been cheered on and well received by the crowds along the route due to our messages of positive change and hope for a better future for all people. We will be joined by our local and regional candidates as well as candidates running for US Congress. We will stage for the parade along Division or Clay Street starting at 9am on July 4th. We will have room on the float for riders as well as several golf carts on a first come/first served basis for those who may not want to walk the entire parade route. Make plans now to join us!

The ORANGE CRUSH PARTY will also be in full swing during the July 4 parade.  The River Street office will be open, and we will be offering Orange Crush pop to parade watchers.  We hope they will all catch the symbolism of our desire to support candidates who we will elect to go to Washington and Lansing to CRUSH the ORANGE MAGA cult followers and work for all of us, not just their big dollar donors!  We are getting some great donations of Orange Crush pop, but we still need you to help us by donating a 12-pack or even a 24-can case!  We will have over 5000 thirsty parade watchers lining River Street so we must continue to ask for more donations.  Please drop it off at the 319 River Street office or if you want to make a donation you can use this link:  Donations - Manistee County Democrats or mail a check to ORANGE CRUSH, PO Box 65, Manistee, MI 49660.  

Michigan Secretary of State and candidate for Governor Jocelyn Benson will be in Manistee on Monday, July 6! She will be here from 1-2pm to listen to your issues and concerns and answer your questions.  Please plan to join us to learn more about this candidate prior to making your decision in the August 4 primary.  For security reasons, the Benson campaign is asking us to use this link to register, and the location on River Street in downtown Manistee will be provided to you 48 hours before the July 6 event.  https://secure.jocelynbenson.com/a/070626manistee.

The 23rd Annual Don and Marge Jennings Awards Dinner and Fundraiser will be here before you know it. (Saturday August 15 at the Manistee National Golf Resort)  Items are now being collected for the Silent Auction, which is a significant part of the event, and crucial to raising the funds that will allow us to support our candidates.  Your help is needed in making sure we have a successful silent auction by donating, and, if you will be attending, bidding high and often!   While all donations are appreciated, in looking at past auctions, the items which garnered the most bids, or the largest amount over minimum bid fell into a few categories: consumables (food items, gift certificates to local restaurants), recreation (golf, football tickets, a charter fishing trip - do we have any generous charter boat captains in our midst?), gardening (yard art, gift certificates to nurseries), and art identifiable as specific to the Manistee County area (beaches, local landmarks, architecture).  Of course, all donations will be welcomed!  Please contact Diane Van Aken to arrange pickup of any donations, or to discuss ideas you may have for a donation.  She can be reached at dkv...@aol.com or phone/text 517-243-0368. 

Nominations for the 2026 Don and Marge Jennings Award are now open.  If you know someone who has worked tirelessly to improve social justice for all residents in Manistee County, please nominate them for this prestigious award.  You can access the nomination form using this link:

Jennings Award Nomination Form - Manistee County Democrats 

Nominations will close on July 11, 2026.  The award dinner will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the Manistee National Golf Resort.  It is not too early to buy your ticket using this link:  

Don Jennings Event - Manistee County Democrats  or you can mail a check to Jennings Dinner, POBox 65, Manistee, MI 49660. 

We certainly hope you are finding this weekly newsletter informative and useful.  Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any ideas or suggestions to improve this newsletter.  We do this to serve the residents of Manistee County and to help them make better decisions at the ballot box!

John M. Helge

johnm...@gmail.com

616-915-2403