Spring has definitely sprung with lots of fun things to do in and around Omena.
This Saturday is the start of the Northport-Omena Spring Restaurant Week, which runs through Sunday, May 5. Each participating establishment will offer a special multi-course prix-fixe menu. Check the websites, or contact the restaurants individually, to find out their hours of operation, if reservations are recommended, and if the Restaurant Week special is available for take-out.
Also this Saturday is Kids Fishing Day at the Mill Creek Pond. Sponsored by the Northport Sportsmans Club, the event runs from dawn to 2 p.m. Doughnuts and hot dogs will be available.
Congratulations to Omena’s own Chrysti Duffiney, who was recently promoted to Leelanau Township Postmaster, with responsibility for both the Omena and Northport Post Offices. Chrysti began her career with the USPS in 2015 as the clerk in the Omena Post Office. In May of that year, she became the clerk at the Northport Post Office, although she still filled in in Omena when needed. She assures us that we will still see here as she makes sure things are humming in Omena.
It was a great turn-out last Tuesday for the M-22 Adopt-AHighway Clean-Up that includes the Omena area. That stretch of M-22 is ‘adopted’ by Hallstedt Homestead Cherries of Northport. Many thanks to Phil and Sarah Hallstedt for their work organizing and participating in that effort. Thanks also to the crew who showed up to clean up the roadside. The 10 volunteers who helped the Hallstedts were Zach Bennet, Marsha Buehler, Jane Gale, Ann and Doug Juliens, Dick McCulloch, Paula Peterson, Mary Robertson, and Kathy and Ty Wessell.
With a twist on the old saying, many hands make for less work and more fun. There are two more clean-ups this year, July 17 and September 21, both at 9 am.
This Friday is Arbor Day. The Northport Tree Committee is holding its third annual Arbor Day Tree Planting to celebrate Northport’s designation as a Tree City. The planting will take place at 10 a.m. at the south end of South Beach Marina Park in Northport.
The history of Arbor Day goes back 150 years. As pioneers began moving into the Nebraska Territory, the lack of trees was felt deeply. Arbor Day was officially proclaimed in 1874 by Nebraska’s Governor, Robert W. Furnas, and the day was observed April 10 that year. Prizes were offered to counties and individuals for the largest number of properly planted trees on that day. It was estimated that more than 1 million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day.
In 1885, Arbor Day was named a legal state holiday in Nebraska, and April 22 was selected as the date for its permanent annual observance. By 1920, more than 45 states and territories were celebrating Arbor Day. Today Arbor Day is celebrated in all 50 states. The most common date for the state observance is the last Friday in April, but a number of state Arbor Days are at other times to coincide with the best tree planting weather, from January and February in the south to May in the far north.
Leelanau Reads, a joint effort by the libraries across Leelanau County, is hosting a Community Read of William Kent Krueger’s latest book, “The River We Remember.” Krueger will be at the Northport Performing Arts Center on Saturday, May 18 at 7 p.m. to discuss his book. Local discussions will also be held at each library in advance of the author’s presentation. The Leelanau Township Library discussion is on Wednesday, May 8 at 7 p.m. Contact your library to register for the May 18 event and to get a copy of the book.
As its final event in Poetry Month, the Leelanau Township Library is hosting its annual Poetry Open Mic Night this coming Tuesday at 7 p.m. Bring a poem to share, or just show up to listen.
Happy Birthday this week to John Sommavilla, Richard Huffman, Bob Mosher, and Penelope Wood, who turns 5. Happy Anniversary to Stephen and Meriwether Eisenhard.
