The May meeting of the Omena Women’s Club kicked off the 2025 season with two events in Leland. The day began with a wonderful lunch at The Cove, where 19 members enjoyed getting reacquainted with friends who’ve spent the winter in warmer climates.
After lunch, they made a visit to the Leelanau Historical Society and Museum in Leland. The Society was established in 1957 and is the oldest historical organization in Leelanau County. When the former county jail became available in 1959, the museum found its first home. A museum building was built in 1985 in its current location and has been expanded twice. Executive Director Kim Kelderhouse introduced them to the museum’s history, current exhibits and those to be unveiled later this year. The extensive exhibit on the history of Sugar Loaf Resort brought back many memories. There are two permanent exhibits: Shipwrecks of the Manitou Passage and the Traditional Anishinabek Arts Room. The museum also houses a research center and extensive archives.
Dog Ears Books in Northport recently hosted a poetry reading and discussion with Fleda Brown, former poet laureate of Delaware and recipient of many well-deserved literary prizes. She is now living in Traverse City. She read from her new chapbook, Doctor of the World, which is a delightful collection of poems. It was interesting to hear about her time as Poet Laureate and about what inspires her poetry.
Congratulations to Omena resident, Dean Hulett, who received the Omena Club 21’s Geneva Putnam Smith Memorial Scholarship at Northport School’s Awards Night. He is headed to MSU in the fall, and can be seen working at Around the Corner in Northport this summer.
Rob Tubbs, of suburban Omena, traveled to Vienna, Austria, for 12 days this spring, along with Leland resident and historian, John Herbst. While there, he learned a lot about Viennese history, culture, and cuisine.
Vienna was the home of Wolfgang Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Sigmund Freud, and Gustav Klimt. Concerts are given nightly in the Vienna Opera House. There is a Freud Museum. Klimt’s paintings can be seen in art museums around Vienna.
Sightseeing highlights were the Hofburg Palace, the Sisi Museum (Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sisi, was the Princess Diana of her day), the Schönbrunn Palace, the Belvedere Palace, the Austrian State Library, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Vienna is known for its coffee house culture, and they enjoyed pastries and coffee in various cafes around the city, as well as Wienerschnitzel and a few beers at outdoor restaurants in the Naschmarkt, Vienna’s amazing outdoor market.
While in Vienna, Rob and John met up with Michael Huey and his husband, Christian Witt von Dörring. Michael is a graduate of Leland High School who has been living in Vienna for the past 30+ years. He has written several books, including “Straight as the Pine, Sturdy as the Oak” about his family’s founding of Camp Leelanau for Boys, the Leelanau School, and The Homestead. The book contains a great collection of historical photographs and provides a wonderful insight into a part of Leelanau County history.
Michael has also written a book on the life of Christian’s uncle, Count Felix von Schaffgotsch. Von Schaffgotsch, an Austrian aristocrat, was enlisted by Averill Harriman, chairman of the Union Pacific Railroad at the time, to find property out West in the US suitable for a ski resort. Von Schaffgotsch found property near Ketchum, Idaho, which was subsequently developed into Sun Valley. Von Schaffgotsch later became involved in the Nazi Party, joined the Waffen-SS, and was killed on the Russian front in 1942. The book is completed, and Michael is currently looking for a publisher of this interesting history.
Rob also enjoyed side trips by train to Bratislava, Slovakia, and Prague, Czech Republic. While on the train, he met people from many different countries. Rob said that part of the fun of traveling for him is getting the different perspectives of people from outside the United States.
Tom and John Newland are in town to open the Newland Cottage. Joining them in the annual “Boys Opening Week” are Rick Keye, Tony Griffin, Greg Landa, Duddy Yetter and his two grandchildren, Chase and Lem. Newland neighbor, Bill Loveless, is also always a participant in the work hardplay hard week.
The Northport Art Association’s (NAA) Photo Exhibit will be open through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. each day. It is a great show with a wide variety of high quality photography from over 40 photographers.
Mark your calendars for the Opening Reception for the NAA’s 2025 Members’ Art Exhibit on Friday, June 13 from 5 to 8 p.m. The exhibit runs through Saturday, July 5.
The Northport location of the Leelanau Farmers Market opens tomorrow! The Suttons Bay location opened in May, and all of the other locations — Empire, Glen Arbor and Leland — will open this week as well. All markets are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Rev. Dr. Peter Moore will be preaching at Omena Presbyterian Church this Sunday. The special music will be provided by soloist Emily Culler from the Interlochen Arts Academy, and Patrick Kuhl will be on the organ. Everyone is welcome to attend this community wide worship service on Sunday at 10 am.
After much investigation, it was determined that the Omena News was lost in the Omena Triangle last week. So, belated birthday wishes to Bob DeVries and Whitney Cooper.
We have two 16th birthday celebrations this week – Payton Cooper and Kaiden Makowski. Happy Birthday also this week to Nana Kennedy, Mia Ballard, Jacquie Johnson, Linda Auer, and to Ellie Stephenson and her daughter Cathy, who share the same birthdate. Happy Anniversary this week to Calvin and Danica Korson, to Ron and Mary Tonneberger, and to Cody and Ashley Mayer, who are celebrating their 15th anniversary.
