It wasn’t a landslide of the proportions about which sagas are told, but it was quite the spectacle for residents on Omena Heights and others trying to drive around Omena Point Road this past Sunday. And, as if rainfall heavy enough to cause a mudslide wasn’t enough, later that day, lightning struck a tree in Nana Kennedy’s yard, sending it across Omena Point Road.
The rainfall on Sunday totaled 3 inches, as recorded by Rink Smith on Omena Heights. Also per Rink, three inches of rain is almost two gallons per square foot, and weighs almost 700,000 pounds per acre.
The storms aren’t keeping Omena residents from enjoying the arrival of Spring and the many fun and interesting activities that it brings. April celebrates both poetry and the earth, wonderful escapes from lingering piles of snow and early spring storms. The Leelanau Township Library in Northport is holding its annual Poetry Month Open Mic night on Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m. Bring a poem to read or just come and listen.
The library also offers many other events including a monthly book discussion group and lots of activities for kids. Check out their website to learn more. They are participating in the Leelanau County Reads Together event with a discussion of Catherine Newman’s book, Wreck, on Wednesday, May 6 at 1:30 p.m. at the library. You can also meet the author and enjoy a discussion with her in person on Saturday, May 2 at 7 p.m. at The Barn at French Valley.
Dog Ears Books is hosting a reading and discussion with poet Fleda Brown on Saturday, April 25 from noon to 1 p.m. She is a former poet laureate of Delaware who now lives in Traverse City.
For many Earth-y things to do, check out the Leelanau Conservancy website for hikes and other events in April.
Robert Bayer’s photography is currently on exhibit at the Northport Arts Association (NAA), Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m., through April 24. The NAA has also started a very interesting Third Thursday Art Social series starting tonight from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. with the presentation Your Brain on Art — neurographic art activity.
Things start to pick up even more as we head into May. Mark your calendars for the return of the Northern Michigan Brass Band in concert on Sunday May 3 at 3 p.m. at the Northport Performing Arts Center auditorium in Northport School. The NPAC is pleased to be able to bring back one of the region’s premier performing bands. This 31 member group has something for everyone as they cover numerous musical genres. Tickets are $20. At the request of the band, all students pre-K to college are free. Residents of Northport Highlands are also free. Tickets are available at the door (opens at 2 p.m.) or at the northportperformingarts. org website. It was a huge success last year, so you won’t want to miss it.
On Saturday, May 9, Hallstedt Homestead Cherries is sponsoring a clean-up of M-22 on the stretch through Omena from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Contact Phil Hallstedt at [email protected] to volunteer.
We have special birthdays across the ages to celebrate this week. Londyn Cooper becomes a teenager birthday this week. Happy 16th birthday to Charlotte Lichtel, and Happy 21st to Xander Roman. Happy 60th Birthday to Cheryl Huffman, and very special birthday wishes to Joan Blount on her 90th birthday this week. Happy Birthday also this week to Karon Smith, Caryn DeVries, Julie Golding, Teddy Buzby, Elena Sica Mosher, Roger Edgley, Aimee Harris, Abby Van Dusen, and Cindy Tomlinson.
