This Saturday is the Sixth Annual Winter Carnival at Braman Hill Park in Northport. It’s a lot of fun for all ages, and starts at 11 a.m. with registration for the Snowmobile Poker Run. The dedication of the Nagonaba Foot Path is at 11:30 a.m., followed by a Native American blessing. The chili tasting is from noon to 2 p.m., so come and vote for your favorite chili. Chili entries need to be registered at 11:45 a.m.

Races run from 11:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., and you need to register for most events. The event is sponsored by the Northport-Omena Chamber of Commerce. More details can be found at www.northportomenaevents.com.

There are also just days left to buy your Northport Promise Winter Warm-Up Raffle tickets, with a top prize of a $2,000 Tom’s certificate. The drawing is at 3 p.m. at the Winter Carnival and tickets will be on sale there as well.

Need a good laugh when you’re up to the wazoo in lake-effect snow? And your car is covered in ice? And the locks of your car are frozen? And the snowplow has once again closed off the end of your driveway? Bruce and Judy Balas did, and they found a great remedy. They met Bruce’s brother, Clark, and his wife Diane, from Kalamazoo in Traverse City, where they all enjoyed the Comedy Festival last weekend. This was the first year of the event, conceived by Michael Moore and Jeff Garlin. Of the more than 25 shows, all were sold out. The Balases spent the weekend in TC, and saw three of the stand-up comedians – Mike Toomey, Whitney Cummings and Garlin. They also saw a sneak preview of the movie Douchebag, and Michael Moore also spoke about the history of the State Theater and the Traverse City Film Festival. All of the events had everyone roaring with laughter, and the four Balases agreed they want to do it again next year.

The Balases also had a chance to see former Omena residents Gary and Carol Silverman while they were in town. The Silvermans had just returned from a wonderful 40-day cruise where they went halfway around the world on the ship Queen Elizabeth II. They debarked from New York City to England, and from there to the Mediterranean, and then through the Suez Canal, which they said was an amazing experience. In Egypt, they saw the Pyramids, and visited Luxor and several other cities. They then traveled to southern India and from there to Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. They went through the Gulf of Aden, of pirating fame, where they were escorted through the international corridor by military gunboats of several nations. They visited Oman and Dubai, and then Hong Kong. They left the cruise in Hong Kong, and spent several days there before flying home. Carol said it was absolutely fabulous. She saw places she never thought she’d see. Although the stops in each port were short, the tours were outstanding and very informative. They were amazed at the level of development, education, and progress that is happening in all of these spots.

John and Judy Smart are back from a wonderful, sunny, relaxing trip to Puerto Vallarta in Mexico. Judy needed to get rested up, because, back home, Lucky, their English cream retriever puppy, was waiting to take her cross country skiing.

Esther Johnson is settled into her new apartment in “fabulous” Ferndale, Mich. Her mother, Maria, and brother, Erik, helped her move in and furnish the apartment. She just started a job with the Army Corps of Engineers in downtown Detroit. Esther is a graduate of Northport High School, and received her degree in civil engineering from Michigan Tech.

Frieda Putnam reports that she is recovering well from double knee surgery in San Antonio. That’s right, she had both knees done at once. Her daughter, Helen, said that is becoming more common. Frieda said she’ll be out walking the Point in May. An Olympic effort on her part!

And yet another opportunity to shake off the winter blahs – there will be an Omena Community Euchre Tournament on March 14, starting at 3 p.m. at the Putnam Cloud Tower House. Posters will be going up in town this week. You don’t need to be a pro to come. It’s just a lot of fun.

If you attended Northport School any time in the past, mark your calendars for July 31 for the All School Reunion. If you know of alums who might not get the word, please let them know, too. Talk about a party!

Happy birthday to Janet Dickerson, Ron Tonneberger, Alison Biskupski, and Molly Smith. Happy anniversary to Bob and Diane Joyce.

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By Leslie Disch
Phone/fax: 386-5686
email: phen.omena.2@gmail.com