OMP Cancellations and Closings Due to COVID-19 Virus

If you’ve got any sort of big or small event coming up, it’s probably canceled. Everything seems to be canceled or closed on the OMP, all due to the COVID-19/Corona Virus that’s put the entire country in lockdown.

I wrote up an informational story yesterday about the virus, with guidelines from our local Grand Traverse County Health Department, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Read that here.

Since I published that story, there are nine new cases of presumptive COVID-19 reported in Michigan, bringing the state total to 25. None of these cases are in Grand Traverse County or northern Michigan. The nine new cases are:

• An adult male from Bay County with a history of domestic travel.
• An adult female from Charlevoix County with a history of international travel. (NOTE: SHE WAS NOT IN CHARLEVOIX WHEN TESTED, AND HAS NOT RETURNED TO CHARLEVOIX – SHE’S DOWNSTATE AT THIS WRITING.)
• An adult female from Detroit with a history of international travel.
• An adult male from Macomb County with a history of international travel.
• Two adult females and an adult male from Oakland County, one with a history of international travel, two with unknown travel history.
• Two adult females from Wayne County, one with a history of domestic and the other with no history of travel.

OMP CANCELLATIONS AND CLOSURES

As mentioned, if you have an event coming up on the Old Mission Peninsula, it’s probably canceled. Call ahead to make sure before heading out. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ordered that all K-12 public and private schools are closed until April 5, and any gathering of 250 or more is banned, as well.

Peninsula Market remains open and ready to serve! However, they are limiting the large packs of toilet paper to one pack per customer. The small four-packs are limited to two per customer. And as far as I know, Peninsula Grill, Bad Dog Deli and Boathouse Restaurant will remain open. I believe the wineries are open, as well. I have not heard otherwise.

Here is a current list of OMP cancellations and closures. We’ll keep it updated as new info comes in. If you have cancellations or closures to add, email me at [email protected].

Peninsula Community Library: The library is currently closed indefinitely, and all programming, including Pageturners Book Club, has been canceled through April 15. Check the library’s website, Facebook and Instagram pages for updates. If you have questions, call the library at (231) 223-7700.

Old Mission Peninsula School: The school is closed from March 16 to April 5, per an order from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Stay updated on their website.

American Legion Dinners: The March 17 community dinner has been canceled. They are planning on having the regular dinner on April 7, but will assess the situation as the date draws closer. Stay up to date on their Facebook page.

Old Mission Peninsula United Methodist Church: Following the guidelines from the Bishop, there will be no in-person gatherings for the rest of March. This means no Sunday worship services, Bible study, ad board meetings, after-school kids’ programs or Lenten Soup Suppers. Pastor Zelphia Mobley is available during this time; call the parsonage at (231) 223-4141. Stay updated on their Facebook page. Note that they also have a drive-up prayer box on their south driveway. Feel free to write down your prayer concerns and drop them in that box so the church can pray for you. The church is located at 16426 Center Road.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse: All worship services, events and meetings are canceled until April 5, at which time they will assess the situation. They are working to have a live-stream in place by Sunday, March 22. If you have questions or would like support of meals or check-ins, email Pat Light, [email protected]. or call the church at (231) 947-3117. Stay updated on their website.

St. Joseph Catholic Church: By mandate of Bishop Raica of the Diocese of Gaylord, all public masses are suspended until April 6 or until further notice. The liturgies will be streamed, however, on the church’s website and on their Facebook page. Funerals may occur, provided there are a limited number of persons present – immediate family and a few friends. People in attendance should sit in a way that respects the “social distancing” guidelines. If this is not possible, consider postponing the funeral or memorial Mass to a later date. Weddings should observe the same protocols.

Old Mission Congregational Church: All worship services and programming is canceled through April 5.

First Congregational Church: Worship Service is canceled for Sunday, March 15, along with Rooted Middle School and High School Youth Groups, and the Easter Egg Stuffing after worship. Stay up to date on FCC cancellations here.

Old Mission Women’s Club: The next two meetings are canceled – March 19 and April 2. At this writing, the group will plan to meet for the April 16 meeting, which is the Appropriation Awards meeting. As the annual calendar is now condensed, the April 16 meeting will also include election of officers, presentation and approval of projects and fundraisers for 2020-2021, sign-up sheets for hostess committees, projects, fundraisers and committees, along with the Bayshore Marathon Cookies (May 23) and Garage Sale.

Tinker Studio: The art studio located in the office complex on Seven Hills Road reported on March 15 that they will be closed until Tuesday, April 7. That includes the gallery and all open studio sessions and scheduled classes.

Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society: The April 2 meeting and presentation by Scott Schwander, Memorial Officer for the Sons of Union Veterans, “Experiences in Researching, Cleaning and Providing Memorial Headstones,” has been canceled. Stay up to date on upcoming meetings on the Historical Society’s website.