The Mantyboyz are back!! The 15th almost (because of COVID) annual spring gettogether of a group of guys who are friends and family of Omena seasonal resident Dale Manty are in Omena for March Madness and to enjoy some hiking, eating, and camaraderie. This year’s 10 attendees were multi-generational, from four states, and a variety of professions. They came from Columbus, Ohio; Cheverly Maryland; and Washington, D.C., and all around Michigan from the UP to Ann Arbor, East Lansing, and Traverse City. The group included engineers, scientists, journalists, architects, pastors, and social workers.
As a result, there were a lot of different perspectives and conversation was lively. There was an abundance of University of Michigan graduates, but also representatives from Michigan State and The Ohio State University, so March Madness was an exciting game-by-game time. They enjoyed hikes in the unexpected snowfall, and wound down with board games and cards.
Last, but not least, were the culinary highlights, including rouladen stuffed with carrots and pickles, buttered apples and sweet kraut, Italian spaghetti and Mantyboyz meatballs with garlic bread, and sous vide pork chops with mushroom risotto, and lemon pie. And, of course, local pasties. Maybe I’ll have to cover this story in person next year.
Congratulations to Dale and Joan Blount’s grandson, Dan Brown, for his success at the recent Gender and Sexuality Moot Court competition held at Michigan State University. Dan is a second year law student at MSU. A moot court competition is a simulated court hearing where law students argue a hypothetical case, developing their legal skills and advocacy abilities. Selection to a moot court team is competitive within the law program. MSU had two two-person teams in this year’s competition. MSU Law was ranked No. 1 in the National Moot Court Competitions in 2023-24, for the second time in four years.
For last week’s competition, participating teams from law schools around the country were presented with a hypothetical statement of facts and lower court procedural history early this year. They did extensive research, then submitted appellate briefs representing their team’s assigned party, and ultimately presented oral arguments to panels of judges at the competition.
The first day of the two-day competition determined the eight teams that would advance to the quarterfinals. Dan’s team advanced and was seeded number one. On Day Two, they advanced to the semi-finals, where they lost to a team from Georgetown University by just .1 of a point. Dan and his teammate, Hannah Mahn, received the second place award for best brief, and Dan received the First Place award for Best Oral Advocate.
As I reported last week, we didn’t think that we had the luck o’ the Irish with the weather for the St. Patrick’s Day parade. Little did we guess how much worse it would get. I guess the Irish eyes were smiling after all.
Happy Birthday this week to two April Fool babies – Christopher Orsello and Ed Hallett. Happy Birthday also to Julie DeWitt, Pat Bourdo, Kathryn Browning, Kelsey Wick Hood, Linda Kemper, and to Dan Ziegeler, who is having one of those milestone birthdays.
Happy Anniversary to Shep and Sandy Tate.
Happy April! Surely, spring weather must not be far behind.
