Omena is all decked out for Christmas. Thanks to all the elves who showed up to work.

Congratulations to Jim and Kathy Miller on the birth of their first grandchild, Sarah Elizabeth Hoffman, on Nov. 20 in Charlotte, N.C.  The proud parents are Jim’s daughter Heidi and her husband Henry. Jim, by the way, is not to be called ‘Grandpa,” but Kingfish.

Last Friday, Joan and Mike TenBrock and Patty and Doug Sherman hosted a Pantry Party at TenBrock’s home. Twenty-four people from Omena and Northport all brought non-perishable food items, which were taken to our local pantry for distribution. This is their fourth year to do this event.

Jonnie Hodgson fell last weekend in front of her home in Chappaqua, N.Y., and broke her femur near the hip joint. She will be moving to rehab this week when she gets out of the hospital. She is already walking and in good spirits.

Steve and Mary Stanton are spending Thanksgiving with Steve’s daughter, Pattie Dykstra and her family in Wixom.  Steve is also recovering from his recent surgery at Henry Ford Hospital. He is doing well and thanks everyone for their good wishes.

Joining Gil and Annette Deibel this Thanksgiving are two of their daughters, Roxanne and Andrea, and their families, and Ralph and Carol Towne.

Larry and Joey Bensley and all of their family are enjoying their traditional rustic Thanksgiving with Joey’s sister and her family at the family cabin in the pines near Cadillac.  There will be 38 people this year.

Al Flees and family will be attending the Flees family celebration at Nathan and Becky Kalchik’s house.  Mike and Joan TenBrock are having his son and family, Mike and Kelly and their daughters, Claire and Grace, from Hudsonville for the holiday.

Tom Kalchik will be spending Thanksgiving with his son Carter, who is a senior at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.  He is picking up Carter’s mother, Tracy, in Columbus, Ohio on the way out.

Bill and Be Fuertges are having Thanksgiving with their daughter Sheila Cain and her family in Suttons Bay. Jim and Kathy Browning are being joined by Les and Debby Disch and Mary Smith.

Mary Woolford and Alis Robinson are enjoying being neighbors at the Deupree House in Cincinnati. They had an early Thanksgiving dinner together at Mary’s on Wednesday, and then will spend Thanksgiving with their families.

Bruce and Judy Balas are back from their trip to California. They spent 10 days in San Francisco with their son, daughter-in-law and their two granddaughters, ages 19 months and 4 years old.  They then visited Judy’s nephew and Bruce’s sister in Los Angelges, where they also attempted to see the copy of Omena, A Place in Time by Omena author Amanda Holmes, held by the Huntington Museum, but it was closed that day. They visited friends in San Diego, and left 90 degree weather to arrive home to 30 degrees and horizontal snow.

Happy birthday to Debbie Van Pelt. Happy anniversary to Dave and Sandy Colling. I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.

By LESLIE DISCH

Phone/fax 386-5686

eamil: phen.omena.2@gmail.com

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