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Family gatherings abound in summer.

Summer in Omena is the time for family gatherings. Frieda Putnam's grandniece's visit from Switzerland was the occasion for a Putnam family event last week. Karen Gardini and her husband Fernando and their three children, Giliana, Gian, and Gina, were in Omena staying with her brother Craig Pavia, from Fenton. Also attending the family get-together were Karen and Craig’s father, Ray Pavia and his wife, and Allen and Janice Peterson from Minnesota and Leland.

Jim and Kathy Miller hosted the wedding reception for Kathy’s brother Frank Kerrigan and Deborah Wurtz, both from Palm Desert, Calif. Kim Kemper’s garden was the site of the wedding ceremony. Family and friends from around the country, including North Carolina, Seattle, and Arizona, fell in love with Omena. Everyone in Omena got to enjoy the sounds of the Fabulous Horndogs carried over the water of Omena Bay. The couple’s three children will be attending camp in Walloon Lake while they honeymoon on Mackinac Island.

The McMenamys, Grosses and Speers, who have shared Omena memories for over 30 years, are having a multi-family reunion over a two-week period. Bill and Paula McMenamy from Columbus, Ohio, are enjoying visits from their daughters and their families. Kristen and Jason Stevens and their daughters, Clara and Lauren, are here from Columbus. Lauren was just born July 2. Carole and Troy Amber and their 6-month-old son, T.J., are here from East Lansing. They will be moving to Columbus soon. Jim and Sue Gross are also in town from Columbus. Their daughter, Karen, is here with her husband Chris Cramer and their children, Matthew and Elizabeth, from Columbus. Martha Speers and all of her children and their families will be at the Parker cottage. Rick and Betsy Speer will be here from England for the first time in four years with their three boys, Andrew, Michael and Peter. Susie Henderson and her children, Elizabeth and Trip, will be here from Alexandria, Va. Her fiancé, Wayne, will also be here. Lisa and Steve Tille, from Birmingham, MI, will be here with their daughters, Jennifer and Katie. Emily and Paul Bedford are coming from the Chicago area with their children Brooke and Blake. Special events will include a wedding shower for Susie and Wayne, and Bay Beverage on the beach.

The annual Craker family reunion will be this Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at the Omena firehouse.

Both of John and Judy Smart’s children, Amy and Adam, are in town visiting from Los Angeles for about a week. Amy’s friend, Branden Willliams, and Adam’s friend, Jennifer Merlino, are also here from L.A. Kathy Heyse and her daughters, Gwen and Laura, from Barrington, Ill., were guests of Kim Kemper and Linda Welch.

Kathy Tilson and Dianne O’Neill from Kansas are guests of Kathy’s aunt, Rosemary Centner, this week. Jack and Anne Kimmerly and their son and grandson, Jim and AJ, all from Battle Creek, were up for a long weekend with Jack’s mother, Bea.

Jack and Bercie Frohman from Cincinnati are here for the month. Their son, Tom, and his wife, Cynthia Moriarity, from Bloomington, Ind., are here with two of their three children, Claire and Daniel. Steve Hessel from Corvallis, Ore., will be at the Rule cottage for about 10 days. Logan and Edrie Robinson from Bloomfield Hills and their daughter, Lane, and her boyfriend will also be there for a few days.

Landscaping 101: How Judy Knorp does it? Just invite friends with a fifth wheeler to come visit and try to park it in your long, winding driveway. She got a favorite young tree replanted in the process. Al and BJ Dumm came from Auburn, Calif., in the fifth wheeler and were joined by Don and Linda Dunton, also from Auburn. The women were quite proud of their ability to refrain from giving advice during the two and half-hour maneuver. Once settled in, the Knorps had a great time with their guests.

Congratulations to Kim Kemper and Linda Welch on the announcement of wedding plans for later this year.

John Ray played a beautiful musical program on his electronic keyboard at the Omena Presbyterian Church last Sunday.

The Omena Historical Society annual meeting is today, Aug. 7, at 4 p.m. at Shady Trails Camp. The Club 21 Bake Sale was a great success this year. Thanks to those who baked and those who bought.

On my wife’s birthday last week, I came home from the hospital and we started harvest. I think that was a pretty special day, don’t you?

Happy birthday to Susan Brown, Samantha Huffman, and Sophia Orsello. Happy anniversary to Ralph and Carol Towne. Aug. 13 is National Lefthanders’ Day.

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