More than 100 people attended a Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes fundraiser Sunday, hosted by Cherry Republic, The event included an inspiring Beach Bards program that told the history of the Sleeping Bear Dunes area in stories, songs and poems.
Highlights from the program included many original songs and stories written by the performers; Chris Skellenger, Patrick Niemisto, Norm Wheeler and Anne-Marie Oomen. “Winds of Peace,” written and performed by Oomen; “Leave Some Behind,” written by Skellenger; “The Captain,” written by Les Dalgleish, and the “Last of the Leelanau Schooners “ by Paul Koss were some crowd favorites.
In the tale, “A Stone That Rises,” written by Oomen, and performed by Oomen and Wheeler, Oomen superbly played the role of the pioneer woman, Elizabeth Burfiend. Her husband, Carsten Burfiend, was played by Wheeler who also accompanied their funny spousal banter on the trumpet. Humor mixed with sorrow had the audience riveted as the actors told of the hard work, enginuity, and perseverance the Burfiends needed to build a home and raise a family as the community of Port Oneida was created. They described the fishing nets and important household items lost to pirates and the death of young children. Through it all the Burfiends continued to build and thrive in their new home.
Bob Sutherland, President and founder of Cherry Republic, spoke about the early days of the national park and being part of the Friends organization when it was first created in 1994.
“Hosting is the least Cherry Republic can do as a friend of the Friends. We look forward to other opportunities to help get these wheelchair bikes out on the trial and we hope others join us in making the Heritage Trail accessible to all,” Sutherland said.
The program was closed out with the song, “Sand,” written by Niemisto.
