Here’s a roundup of photos from around the OMP ‘hood lately.
Helen Mumford and Kids. Helen (Lindsey) Mumford has been looking after kids at Old Mission Peninsula United Methodist Church since I was a kid (I still play my violin there every Sunday, fyi).
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Helen follows in the footsteps of her mom and dad, Lucile and Bob Lindsey, lifelong members of the church who hosted Bible Study at their house (the old Mapleton School, which burned down many years ago).
Check out Lucile’s recipe for her beloved peanut butter cookies here. (She was also a cook at Old Mission Peninsula School.)

New Assistant Principal at OMPS. Beth Simon was recently hired as the assistant principal at Old Mission Peninsula School. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Iowa in Vocal Performance and Elementary Education with specializations in Reading and Music.
For the last seven years, she’s been teaching second and third grade as a classroom teacher and PreK-5th as a technology teacher in Houston, Texas. She obtained her Masters of Education in Instructional Technology from Sam Houston State University, as well as her Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership and Administration from Colorado State University.
Here she is with OMPS Principal Rick Couturier in front of the OMPS trophy case. Welcome, Beth!

Legion Hall Pig Roast. The 24th Annual Legion Hall Pig/Turkey Roast took place on August 17, 2019. For more about the history of the Legion Hall and the challenges facing the Old Mission Legion Post (and how we can help), click here.





New Parks Committee Member. Mary Beth Milliken was recently appointed as a new member of the Peninsula Township Parks Committee. Read more about Old Mission Peninsula Parks and the Parks Committee here.

Paint Grand Traverse Artists Visit Old Mission Flowers. The Crooked Tree Arts Center recently hosted their 3rd Annual Paint Grand Traverse, a week long plein air painting festival featuring artists from across the country.
Some of the artists painted at Old Mission Flowers, and below is a photo of artist Kathie Odom with garden owner Ginny (Dohm) Coulter. I believe Kathie won an award for this painting.
By the way, the term “plein air” comes from the French “en plein air,” or “in open air.” Artists work outside, in natural lighting conditions.

And just for kicks, I stopped by and took a picture of Ginny in the same spot that Kathie painted – with the Coulter’s house in the background (which, by the way, used to be owned by the Ladds, for which Ladd Road was named).

Diana and Steve Morgan at Bob Roberts’ Summer Jam Session. After many years of not being able to attend, Tim and I finally made it out to our buddy Bob Roberts’ annual summer jam session in Leelanau County. Bob used to live on the OMP and played bass in the church band at OMP United Methodist Church.
As is usually the case, any time we leave the OMP, we run into people who either live here or used to live here. Such is the case with Diana and Steve Morgan, who took to the stage at the jam session. Turns out they live off Peninsula Drive.



And oh yeah, this guy played, too. The guy behind him on guitar was at various times the sound man for the MC5 and the manager for Grand Funk Railroad. We’re friends with Mel Schacher, the bass player for Grand Funk. It really is a small world.

Father Fred Ride 2019. The 27th Annual Ride for Father Fred Foundation hosted by Classic Motor Sports in Traverse City took place on Sunday, August 18, 2019. Here they are heading south on Center Road between Old Mission Road and Swaney Road.

Last Truck out of Johnson Farms. Cherry season ended a few weeks ago, and here’s the proof. My niece Heatherlyn Johnson posted this photo of the last truck out of Johnson Farms Cooling Pad/Receiving Station, headed to Peterson Farms downstate. Next up: apple season.
