The Northport Promise Speakeasy event at the Willowbrook Inn this past Saturday was a flapping success. The event raised funds for scholarships for Northport Public School graduates. The Promise was founded in 2007 and gave out its first scholarships in 2008. Since then, Northport graduating students have received over $400K in scholarships for post-secondary education.
The Speakeasy event got its start several months ago at one of the monthly Promise board meetings when Gloria Thomas presented the idea of doing something different than their normal “Follies” program this year. From that initial conversation, they brought to life a Bingo Night with a Roaring 20’s Speakeasy vibe, music, food, drink, and secret passwords. The presenting sponsor was The David and Sally Viskochil Charitable Fund. Sally was one of the small group of founders of the Northport Promise, and has remained a strong supporter.
The theme was, at least in part, inspired by a unique table that Gloria saw at David Chrobak’s Pot of Gold shop this summer.
Mimi and Joel Heberlein, owners of the Willowbrook Inn, added their magic touches to the space and to the evening. Vocalist Karen Haygood and guitarist Bill Plachetzki provided the music for the evening with delightful performances of ‘20’s era tunes. They had invited a special guest, pianist Gary Potter, to be part of their ensemble, because, as Bill put it, you can’t do ragtime without a piano. Gary is an Associate Professor Emeritus from the Jacobs School of music at Indiana University. He lives in Traverse City and is a frequent performer at the Alluvion. He and his wife Christine, who is a cellist, play regularly in the Old Town Playhouse orchestra pit.
Scott Bufe did a great job calling the Bingo, assisted by his wife, Tracey Towne. The bingo set-up was provided by AJ from the Silver Spruce Brewery. The food at the delicious buffets was provided by Folgarelli’s and The Cheese Lady, with the desserts provided by Northport’s own Kate LaCross, owner of The Bakers Gamble.
Congratulations to event Chair, Gloria Thomas, and to Northport Promise president, Ryan Blessing, on a fun and successful evening.
This week, Omena resident Ralph Kalchik celebrates his 90th birthday. He was recently sharing one of his memories with Allan Dalzell. In late 1962, as part of his goal to increase physical fitness in the United States, President John F. Kennedy challenged the U S Marines to walk 50 miles in 20 hours. This duplicated a challenge that President Theodore Roosevelt had made to the Marines. But the real impact of the 50-mile hike was that many Americans took the hike as a challenge from their president to everyone.
In March, 1963, Ralph was one of six Omena men who accepted that challenge. Allan found the March 7, 1963 Leelanau Enterprise article about it. Two of the six men finished the hike. They were Chatham Brown, 51, and John Putnam, 50 – the two oldest of the group. Their route started in Omena, went to Suttons Bay, then Lake Leelanau, Cedar, then Leland and back to Omena via 626. It took Chatham just under 14 hours and John Putnam about 14 ½. The other four were Ralph, Keith Brown, Robert Von Holt, and Hartford Hallett, who was also accompanied by his dog, Eric. Chester Hallett accompanied them in a car.
That summer, two summer residents, Chris Verdery and Rink Smith, both successfully completed the challenge. Chris, who was 16, walked to Traverse City on August 6. He walked to one of the drug stores that had a lunch counter, where he had a hamburger. Chris remembers that when he stood up after lunch, he had trouble getting his legs moving. Chris did it within the 20 hours, starting in Omena at 5 a.m. and getting back about 1 a.m.
About a week later and a week before his 14th birthday, Rink left Omena on a rainy, drizzly day at about 6 a.m. His sister Debby was in the old Munson Hospital at the time, so his hike was also down M-22 to Traverse City. Rink’s father, Tom Smith, did bring him dry socks and some water once along the way. His father had also figured out the miles and knew that to Munson and back wasn’t quite 50 miles, so Rink walked back to M-72, where Tom picked him up and took him back to Munson to start back again. Not much was understood about hydration back then, so Rink was mighty thirsty when he got to Keith Brown’s Harbor Bar in Omena about 10 p.m., finishing in about 16 hours. Keith offered to treat him to soft drinks and Rink quickly consumed three orange sodas.
One special memory that Rink has always had is going through Peshawbestown on his way back. It was already getting dark since it was an overcast day, so he had his flashlight on. He was join by two or three other boys about his age who walked with him for a while. They chatted while they walked, and they called him “Flashlight.” He has always wondered if he has actually gotten to know them as adults, never knowing about the “flashlight connection” Congratulations to Isabel Kricher, who won the pumpkin decorating contest at Northport Highlands. Highlands residents voted on the clever pumpkins done by staff members. Isabel’s pumpkin Hedgehog had hundreds of real candy corns glued to it. She said her dog was no help as it ate every one that hit the floor.
Happy Birthday this week to Hayden Treece, Dakota Mokanyk, Marsha Holtz, and to Ralph Kalchik, who turns 90.
Courtesy photo Courtesy photo
