Even more amazing than this weather was the sight of a sailboat on Omena Bay on Saturday – and again on Sunday. As far as I know, this is the first sailboat of 2010 on the bay. I’m betting it set some kind of a record for earliest non-ice sailboat on the bay ever – but I don’t know who’s keeping track. Dave Dickerson and his kayak and canoe still own the non-sail category.
DAVE FLONES of Royal Oak gets a head start on the Omena Bay sailing season last weekend.
It turns out the brave – and confident – sailor was David Flones, Walter and Bev Gaudette’s son-in-law. He was sailing Walter’s Snark, a lightweight craft made of coated Styrofoam, so it was easily “launched.” David and his wife Julie were in town from Royal Oak along with almost all of the family to celebrate Bev’s 80th birthday, which was on March 4th. Joining them were the Gaudette’s other two daughters, Jeanette and Nick Maylen from Birmingham and their daughter Libby, and Jennifer and Tom Wood of Royal Oak and their son Andy, and his girlfriend Lauren. Grandson Trevor Maylen and his girlfriend, Katie Sulau, who live in New Orleans, were unable to make the trip. Bev said they had a wild weekend, but I haven’t heard any complaints from neighbors.

Eric and Kristi Hallett are back from their travels to both the Southwest and Southeast. They went to Scottsdale, Ariz., to visit Kristi’s father, Jay Craker, and also Eric’s mother, Laurene Kolberg, in Mesa. They drove up to Sedona and really enjoyed the scenery there. After Jay returned to Northport, Eric and Kristi went to Siesta Key, Fla. There they saw Eric’s sister, Heidi Hallett Treece, and her husband Doug and son Hayden. They came over from Orlando to be with Eric and Kristi in Siesta Key. Eric said they had best weather in the area in two months – mid-70s, mostly. Just a week earlier, it had been in the 40s (I think that it was warmer here that week).

Bea Kimmerly enjoyed a wonderful week in North Carolina with her daughter Karol Berwald from Layton, Utah. They stayed in the mountains near Brevard, which was beautiful. Bea’s cousin, Eunice James lives near there, and she joined them every day. They toured the Biltmore Estate, where Bea saw all four floors plus the basement, although the elevator only goes to one of them. She said that was a bit of an effort, but well worth it. The gardens were beautiful, but not in bloom yet. She would love to go back when the rhododendrons are in bloom. They traveled the Blue Ridge Parkway for a bit, and went to a Blue Ridge Arts and Craft Center, with a lot of the local crafts. They saw the famous white squirrels of Brevard. It was a great trip.

Bob Mosher went downstate this past weekend to see his father. While he was there, his high school’s ice hockey team was in the finals of the Division 3 state tournament. Bob had played hockey for Cranbrook, now called Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood, and was team captain. On Saturday, they won their 15th state ice hockey championship.

The March 9th Omena Potluck had a St. Patrick’s Day theme. Sunny Colling and Diane Joyce, along with Bea Kimmerly in absentia, were the hostesses. Some of the decorations that Bea provides were handed down to her from Fred Gorham when he moved away years ago, so they have decorated Omena Potlucks for quite some time.

The first of the 21st century Omena Euchre parties was a big success. There were five tables in the “tournament.” Mary Tonneberger was the winner with the most points, and Ruth Steele Walker took the lowest points category. Well, someone had to. Everyone had a great time, and there is talk of an April event, as well as resurrecting some of the features of the “old” (20th century) Omena Euchre parties, such as the clothespin passing and door prizes. I wonder what the 21st century version of a clothespin is?

Bob Krist is recovering well from his knee surgery. Dale Blount is recovering well from his broken foot. Dale broke his foot a couple of weeks ago on, unfortunately, the day that he and Joan were supposed to leave on a road trip to visit Civil War battlefields and sites. I think Mother Nature took pity and at least provided some of the weather they might have had. It’s actually been a good time to be here.

Who would have expected temperatures in the mid-50s in early March – at all, let alone for over a week at a stretch? Al and Margo Ammons started tapping their maple trees on March 8, about two weeks earlier than normal. A year ago on March 8 was the 18-inch snowstorm that socked us. It is more than a little worrisome for farmers if trees and plants start to bud and then get hit with a freeze. It’s hard to imagine that spring is here to stay.

Happy birthday to Al Cherne, Sarah Viskochil Lichtel, Bill Biederman, and Jackie Bojarski. A belated happy 21st birthday to Michael Warner last week.

Happy first day of spring!

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