Last week, the Omena Women’s Club (OWC) hosted a special tour of the former Timber Shores property led by New Community Visions (NCV) Board President and Vice President, John Sentell and Beth Verhey. Everyone was very impressed by the property and what this project will be preserving. NCV’s partnership with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) has been an important part of getting to this point. It was recently announced that GTB received a multi-million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to protect key parts of this property as a nature preserve in perpetuity.
The GTB has a robust and fully- staffed Department of Natural Resources and is admired for its expertise throughout the region on environmental stewardship and restoration initiatives. The natural features of the former Timber Shores property, and the surrounding fisheries, are important ecologically as well as culturally and spiritually to the GTB. This special landscape will benefit greatly from their permanent stewardship of the 187 acres that will include the future nature preserve.
The OWC tour group was particularly impressed by what they learned about the Ennis Creek Watershed. Ennis Creek, which runs through the property, is one of only seven designated cold water trout streams in the West Grand Traverse Bay Watershed. They also learned that experts identified over 40 species of birds on the property this spring. Several participants expressed gratitude that this project will ensure that this property is there for future generations.
The project is, in fact, very close to making that a reality. The NOAA grant put them within $2 million of their goal. Just days after the OWC tour, NCV was able to announce that a donor has made a $1 million matching grant. You can go to newcommunityvision.org to learn more about the property, schedule a tour, and — hopefully — make a pledge to help secure the matching grant.
The Omena-Traverse Yacht Club hosted an afternoon sail last week on the Inland Seas 77-foot schooner. The ship accommodated 35 passengers and was a wonderful way to enjoy an afternoon on the water and learn more about the Inland Seas Education Association (ISEAS) programs. ISEAS mission and vision are to inspire a lifetime of Great Lakes curiosity, stewardship, and passion in people of all ages, and to foster Great Lakes resiliency for future generations through educational experiences. You can learn more about the organization and opportunities to take a sail or participate in one of their educational programs at their website, schoolship.org.
Omena residents Dennis and Kim Armbruster have a enjoyed a special summer with two of their grandsons. Dennis and his 12-year-old grandson Aiden Armbruster, from Lansing, recently traveled to Arizona for a fun 9-day trip. While Phoenix was very hot, they soon went north to cooler Sedona to enjoy the beautiful red sandstone area, including taking a jeep ride through the beautiful but rocky back country. Montezuma Castle National Monument cliff dwellings and the Chapel of the Holy Cross, which is built into the red rocks, were amazing. They went to the south rim of the Grand Canyon, enjoying the splendor from above. The highlight of the trip was later rafting through the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River for 37 miles, sometimes through wild rapids. At one spot along the river, they climbed up the canyon rocks into a beautiful hidden waterfall cave. After the end of the rafting trip, they were taken by helicopter out of the canyon. It was quite the adventure, and something Aiden will remember for a long time.
Aiden’s older brother, Isaac, 16, spent most of the summer with Dennis and Kim, earning money and gaining experience from working at the Knot Just a Bar restaurant. While Dennis and Aiden were in Arizona, Kim got to spend time with Isaac — in between his busy working schedule. Isaac just returned to Lansing last week, and Kim and Dennis are definitely missing having him around.
It’s hard to believe that we’re already reporting on the summer in past tense. This Friday is the second to last Music in the Park in Northport.
Brenda Anderson reports that the filming of Freaky Friday 2 at her home in LA has been a “total immersion” experience for her husband Tom and herself. Meeting Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis has been fabulous fun, as has having “young creatives” all over the house been. Can’t wait to see the movie!
Former Omena Mayor, Rosie Disch, will be the Grand Marshal at the Cedar Polka Fest Parade this Saturday at 1 p.m. Come one, come all! It sounds like a day packed with fun things to do, starting with a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m., Classic cars and motorcycles starting at 9 a.m., Ultimate Air Dogs competition starting at 10 a.m., Polish Pooch Pageant 10:30 - to noon, and the parade at 1 p.m. And then music all afternoon and evening. In fact, it sounds like days of fun activities and music. It kicks off Thursday evening and goes strong until 5 p.m. on Sunday. Saturday afternoon is Kids Day, with lots of activities plus the renowned Scottsville Clown Band. You can go to cedarpolkafest. org for all the information.
The Omena Presbyterian Church welcomes everyone to their worship service this Sunday at 10 a.m. The Rev. Melissa Anne Rogers from First Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor will be preaching this week. Patrick Kuhl will be on the organ, and the special music will indeed be “special” this week. There will also be a baptism at the church. This will be the second to the last worship service of the 2024 season.
Happy Birthday this week to Bill Loveless, Mary Ziegeler, Nancy Groesser, Rat Renz, Georgie Disselkoen, Ashley Mayer, and Ernie Pearson.
Happy Anniversary to Dave and Cathy McDowell, and to Bob and Sylvia Bullinger.
