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I happened to be browsing through the nominees for the annual “Red Hot Best of Northern Michigan” awards hosted by Traverse Magazine/MyNorth.com, and was shocked to see that someone nominated me for “Best Newspaper Reporter” – and they even mentioned Old Mission Gazette! I feel like Steve Martin in “The Jerk” when he sees his name in the phonebook. I’m someone!
Honestly, I usually don’t pay much attention to these types of contests because, well, I’m too busy being a newspaper reporter for Old Mission Gazette. But hey, since someone nominated me, and since I love both the Gazette and the Old Mission Peninsula, I consider it my sworn duty to spread the word and get people to vote.
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I’ve taken the liberty of perusing the categories to look for other Old Mission Peninsula people, places and businesses (even though I know many of you are shouting at me right now, saying, “Jane! Do not bring more people out on the Old Mission Peninsula!”)
But if it helps some of the other businesses out here, I’m all for it. We’re all in this together. I will, however, try to steer people away from Haserot Beach.
Here’s the list below, with all the nominees who are either on the OMP or have some connection to the OMP. You’ll find me nominated in the “Best Newspaper Reporter” section under “PEOPLE”).
If you want to print this story out and then go vote, there’s a green icon at the top of this story with a printer on it. Click that to print. Since you can only vote for one in each category, you’ll have to choose when there’s more than one OMP nominee.
There are two rounds of voting: Round One, vote through Feb. 20. Round Two, vote March 1-10. (I’ll let you know if we make it past Round One.)
Click HERE TO VOTE!
If I’ve missed any nominees with an OMP connection (which I’m sure I have), please tell us in the comments section at the bottom of this story. Without further ado, here are the OMP nominees…
OMP Nominees in MyNorth’s Red Hot Best of Northern Michigan 2018
EVENTS
ENDURANCE EVENT: Bayshore Marathon (a well-run foot race that takes place on the Old Mission Peninsula)
FOODIE & DRINK FESTIVAL: Mission Peninsula Mac & Cheese (We’ll let the “Mission Peninsula” slide, MyNorth People; however, for future reference, it’s always “OLD Mission Peninsula”)
PLACES
ADVENTURE EXCURSION: Fishing Charter – Jake Anderson, Two Brothers Sailing Adventures (Jake is related to the Nevingers, who used to own the Old Mission Inn and Campground. He and his family also lived on the OMP for many years.)
ART GALLERY: Bella Galleria (inside Old Mission Tavern), Tinker Studio (in the Seven Hills Road complex)
BEACH WITH LITTLE KIDS: Haserot Beach (although we’d all be grateful if you voted for Bryant Park or Power Island instead). 🙂
BIKE SHOP: McLain’s (Kris McLain used to be Kris Solomonson, daughter of Jack and Vi Solomonson, who owned the Peninsula Telephone Company).
CONSERVANCY PRESERVE: Pyatt Lake Nature Preserve
ISLAND: Power Island
GIFT SHOP: Secret Garden at Brys Estate, The Red Dresser (lifelong OMPer Marge Long is one of the vendors there)
HAIR SALON: Salon Verve (my pick – my stylist Kelly Watrous is going on a hair journey with me – read about it here).
HIKING TRAIL: Mission Point Lighthouse
HISTORIC HOTEL: Old Mission Inn
LANDSCAPE COMPANY: Garden Goods (owners Gordy and Julie Sovereign started their business in the Mapleton complex), Old Mission Associates. (Owned by Jordan Valdmanis, this company is located on Center Road in the spot formerly occupated by Cluff’s Well Drilling.)
MOST SCENIC LIGHTHOUSE: Mission Point Lighthouse
OUTDOOR GEAR: McLain Cycle & Fitness (see above re the Solomonson connection)
PETOSKEY STONE BEACH: Old Mission Lighthouse Beach
PLACE TO TAKE A SCENIC PHOTO: Chateau Chantal, Hawthorne Vineyards, Hogsback, Mari Vineyards, Old Mission on Center Road overlooking Power Island (i.e. Winery Hill), Old Mission Peninsula
RESTAURANT YOU CAN BOAT TO: Boathouse
ROADSIDE/SCENIC PULLOVER: Old Mission Scenic Turnout by Chateau Grand Traverse (i.e. Winery Hill)
TEENSY TOWN: Old Mission
U-PICK: Buchan’s Blueberry Hill, Secret Garden at Brys Estate
WEDDING VENUE: Chateau Chantal Winery & Inn, Jolly Pumpkin, Mission Table/Jolly Pumpkin/Peninsula Room
FOOD, DRINKS & RESTAURANTS
BEST SALAD: Cherry Chicken Salad, Jolly Pumpkin
BEST WINE TASTING ROOM/PATIO: 2 Lads, Bonobo Winery, Bowers Harbor Vineyards, Brys Estate, Chateau Chantal, Chateau Grand Traverse, Hawthorne Vineyards, Mari Vineyards, Peninsula Cellars
BEST BREAD BAKERY: Old Mission Multi-Grain, Potters, Pleasanton (all have Old Mission connections)
BRUNCH SPOT: Boathouse, Jolly Pumpkin
CHERRY PRODUCT: Cherry Juice Concentrate from King Orchards (longtime friends who used to have a cottage in Old Mission), Cherry Port from Chateau Grand Traverse, Hot Rod Cherry Wine from Peninsula Cellars
COCKTAIL LOUNGE: Boathouse
LOCAL BREW PUB OR TAP ROOM: Jolly Pumpkin
FRENCH FRIES: Jolly Pumpkin, Peninsula Grill
LOCAL HARD CIDER: Bowers Harbor Vineyards’ Spirit Cider Peach Apple; Jolly Pumpkin’s Nomad
LOCAL PIZZA: Peninsula Market
LOCAL RED WINE: Too many to list! Browse through this category for all the OMP wineries.
LOCAL WHITE WINE: Ditto!
LOCALLY DISTILLED SPIRIT: Chateau Chantal’s Cinq a Sept Oak Aged Brandy, Jolly Pumpkin’s Civilized Spirits
MAC & CHEESE: Mission Table, Jolly Pumpkin
OUTDOOR DINING: Boathouse, Mission Table/Jolly Pumpkin
RESTAURANT WITH A VIEW: Boathouse, Jolly Pumpkin, Mission Table
RESTAURANT WITH THE BEST BURGER: Boathouse
SPARKLING WINE: Too many to list! Browse through this category for all the OMP wineries.
WHITEFISH: Boathouse, Old Mission Tavern
PEOPLE
BUILDERS: Anderson, Jake – Two Brothers Contracting, Minervini & Minervini Contracting
CHEF: Eric Nittolo, Bonobo; Jim Morse, Boathouse; Shawn Johnson, Patisserie Amie (Jane’s nephew); Nate Kaufmann, Peninsula Grill; Zak Pater, Peninsula Grill; Paul Olson, Jolly Pumpkin; Perry Harmon, Chateau Grand Traverse.
DENTIST: Aylworth (Misty), Old Mission Dentistry
FISHING CHARTER BOAT CAPTAIN: Ron Dohm, Jr. – Mega-bite Fishing Charters
LOCAL AUTHOR: Jerry Dennis, Karen Reiser, Kristen Haines (Jane’s BFF whose last name is actually Hains), Kristy Kurjan, Lisa Maxbauer Price
LOCAL BAND OR SOLO MUSICIAN: Allen Jankowski, Jeff Haas (frequent pianist at Chateau Chantal)
NEWSPAPER REPORTER: Jane Boursaw – Old Mission Gazette (pick me!)
PHYSICAL THERAPIST: Todd Neinhouse, CBIS, CPT
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER: Scarlett Piedmonte (Jane’s longtime family photographer who also lives on the OMP)
REALTOR: Christopher Linsell, Northern Great Lakes Realty, Berkshire Hathaway; Cindy Anderson, Berkshire Hathaway; Leslie Young, Coldwell Banker; Marcia Minervini, Re/Max Bayshore Properties
RESTAURANT SERVER: Ardy Huey, Peninsula Grill; Johnny Rock, Peninsula Grill
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: Beth Still, Old Mission
SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper.
Because Old Mission Gazette is a "Reader Supported Newspaper" -- meaning it exists because of your financial support -- I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks our way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the OMP. In a time when local news is becoming a thing of the past, supporting an independent community newspaper is more important now than ever. Thank you so much for your support! -Jane Boursaw, Editor/Publisher, Old Mission Gazette
To keep the Gazette going, click here to make a donation.
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