It’s a horse race for Mayor of Omena! Voting ends at 5 p.m. today so don’t delay. The front runners as of this past Monday showcased the diverse field of candidates. The top candidates included Lucky Bosco, an equine; three felines – Topsy and Turvy Stephenson, running as co-Mayor, and Porsche McKee; two canines, Emmie Tomlinson and Ruby Emmert; and one caprine, Sandra Day G.O.A.T, an Angora goat. But it’s still anyone’s race to win, and the other 12 candidates are campaigning hard.
The other 12 includes two Tuxedo cats, Lenny Kravitz Deal and Birdie Anderson, and 10 more canines. Lenny points to his two years of experience in making demands and getting results. He is also tough on litter! Clyde Joyce, Golden Retriever and grandson of the first Mayor of Omena, Tucker Joyce, is one of the other candidates. Mac Walker, a Black Lab, is following in the footsteps of the late Brit Walker, who was a Village Council member for several terms. Schatzi Putnam, an “All American” breed is currently serving her second term on Village Council.
Schatzi and Bear Woolford, a Chocolate Lab mix, both are touting their skills at keeping geese off of Omena’s beaches. Maxim de Drinan, a Corgi, is promising to bring a touch of British royalty to the position. When Sweet Tart McKee was mayor, she actually received a letter from Tony the pigeon in England who regularly went to work with the mayor of its town. The pigeon was asking Sweet Tart for advice on how it could become mayor itself. Maybe Maxim could renew that international outreach.
After helping Penny, the chicken, get elected to First Vice Mayor three years ago, Jovi Labriola, a German Shepherd – Husky mix, has decided to make his own run for office. Shasta Messer, an Australian Shepherd, is one of the newcomers to Omena politics, but no stranger to Omena. He lives in downtown Omena and loves paddleboarding with his humans in Omena Bay, proudly sporting his shark vest. Storm Putnam, a Silver Lab, wants a chance to demonstrate how he got his name – he looks like storm cloud and acts like a hurricane. The youngest candidate, 5-month-old Pug Mr. Beans Carew, has an ambitious platform for a pup. He says, “Omena needs a mayor who is not afraid to bite off more than he can chew.”
The election of a new Mayor of Omena occurs every three years and is a fundraiser for the Omena Historical Society (OHS). Funds are raised through the voting, which is $1 per vote, but it is perfectly acceptable to buy dozens and dozens of votes. The candidates must be year-round or seasonal residents of the Greater Omena area, but ANYONE can vote! It’s a fundraiser!
Funds are raised by the votes, which cost $1 per vote, but it’s perfectly acceptable to buy dozens and dozens of votes if you are so moved. The candidates and their applications are displayed on the Election Board in front of the OHS Museum in downtown Omena. You can also vote at the Board with cash or checks, or use the QR code on each candidate’s form to voter on-line.
Everything is also on the OHS website. The applications are fun to read. On the website, scroll down past the pictures of the candidates and the voting buttons to the little boxes and click on those to read about each candidate. Then, be sure to scroll back up and vote. The minimum on-line is 5 votes ($5) because of the fees.
This Saturday is a good example of the peak of summer in the Omena area. Cherries, local food, the movies, art, ice cream socials, and politics which are actually fun. Your day could start with the Suttons Bay Farmers Market, which runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., before heading up to Omena for the announcement of the new Mayor at 1:30 p.m., followed by an ice social in the Omena Presbyterian Church parking lot.
All day this Friday and Saturday is the Northport Arts Association’s (NAA) Plein Air event for the 50 artists who have registered. Then, this Saturday evening is the Wet Paint Sale of those works. The event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Village Arts Building in Northport. Tickets are available on the NAA website. You can also read about each of the artists, and future NAA events and exhibits.
Everyone is invited to attend the worship service at the Omena Presbyterian Church this Sunday at 10 am. Rev. Dr. Peter Henry, pastor of Davidson College Presbyterian Church in North Carolina will be preaching. Special music will be provided Evy Elsing, cellist, with Patrick Kuhl on the organ.
Happy Birthday this week to Rick Bryan, Meriwether Eisenhard, Leona Kalchik, John Varley, James Wickemeyer, and to twins Cindy Harris Dailey and Tim Dailey. Happy Anniversary to Dennis and Kim Armbruster, Richard and Dana Colling, and to Dan and Lane Torrington, who were married at the Rule Cottage eight years ago.
