While I am enjoying this beautiful spring season, it does seem like things are picking up speed as we head into summer. Cherry and apple blossoms have been in full bloom for the past two weeks, and now beehives are in the orchards. Farm vehicles are appearing in the fields and on the roads, as is more traffic from returning residents and visitors. Snowbirds are heading north, and the seasonal residents are making appearances to open up their homes.
Migrating birds are arriving at bird feeders. If feed birds, remember to keep their feeders clean. The Petoskey stones have arrived back on the beaches, and I saw people on Van’s beach in Leland netting the wild Leland Blue.
The Northport Arts Association (NAA) is celebrating the opening of its 2024 season with a reception tonight, May 16, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Village Arts Building in Northport.
The opening exhibit features the talents of students from Northport High School. Beginning in January, students at Northport Public School have been working with art teacher Jen Evans on a creative school wide project. With the theme “J is for Juxtaposition”, these young artists have explored the fascinating world of contrasting elements, creating visually stunning and thought-provoking paintings and collages.
Then Friday, May 24, the NAA’s annual Photo Exhibit opens with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Over 30 photographers will be on display.
This Saturday at 7 p.m., William Kent Krueger will be discussing his latest book, “The River We Remember,” at the Northport Performing Arts Center. The event is hosted by Leelanau Reads, a joint effort by the libraries across Leelanau County. Contact your library to register for the event.
The annual Newland Cottage Opening Boys’ Week was this past week. Tom and John Newland flew into Woolsey International Airport from South Carolina in Tom’s plane. Greg Landa flew in from Memphis, where he had been on business, and Rick Keye, Tony Griffin, and Dudley and Chase Yetter drove up from downstate. Chase was the first of the next generation to join the event. Lots of cleaning, putting boats and docks into cold water, a warm fire in the evenings, cold beer, and pet dogs. Or should it have said ‘hot dogs’? You never know with autocorrect. And lots of fun. They managed an outing to the Knot, where they bumped into old friends. John Newland will be here into July.
Bill Kulick and Bill Loveless were here the week before also doing all the opening chores, and getting in some fun, as well. They were part of the Knot Funny team that place second that Wednesday at DJ Trivia at the Knot.
Mark and Marian “Manie” Powell, were in Omena last week to call on Omena’s canine Mayor, Rosie Disch. They were also visiting with Manie’s brother and sister, Rink Smith and Debby Disch, and their families. They were on the return leg of a 6-week, almost 9,000-mile cross-country driving trip, starting from their home in Mukilteo, Washington.
The main reason for the trip was a golf week with three other couples who have met every year for several years. Last fall, they were in Omena. This year, they met in St. Augustine, Florida . The men played at four golf courses in the area, and the wives enjoyed shopping, sightseeing, and combing the beaches for sharks’ teeth (none found).
They then drove up the East Coast, with stops in the Carolinas and Virginia to see friends, and then on to DC and Annapolis to visit several museums and learn more Naval history. Mark is a retired Navy Captain, and they had several postings in the East.
They then headed West, with several days in Cincinnati to see family, including Manie’s sister and brother-in-law, Jo and Carl Robertson, cousins Luke and Lee Robinson, and their wives Rachel and Ann, Manie’s aunt Rat Renz and cousin Laura Renz. They enjoyed a Rule family Kentucky Derby party.
While en route to Omena, they stopped in Lafayette, Indiana to see Mark’s cousin, Linda Sorensen. They arrived in Leelanau County in time for peak blossom time for the tart cherry trees, and they also saw some spectacular trillium and marsh marigold displays. They helped bring in a first place finish May 8 at DJ Trivia at Knot Just a Bar. Unfortunately, the Northern Lights were not visible while they were here. Mark got in one morning of golf at Bahle Farms Golf Course.
On their way back to Mukilteo, they stopped for a quick tour of the Herbert Hoover Library and Museum in West Branch, Iowa. They spent several days in Bend, Oregon to see two of Mark’s high school friends and their wives for….more golf !
The Omena Presbyterian Church will hold its first service of the season Sunday, May 26.
My apologies to all of the birthdays and anniversaries in the first half of May. There are two significant birthdays this week — not to say that every birthday isn’t significant. Nathan Cooper turns 16, and Harold McKee turns 80. Happy Birthday also this week to Noah Phillips, Jan Morgan, and to twins Jayla Colling Peterson and Hadrian Colling Peterson, who turn 19. Happy Anniversary to Peter and Trish Van Dusen, and to Dan and Chrysti Duffiney.
