OMP News & Photos: Power Outage, Market Guys, Cal Jamieson, OMPS Kids at Lyon’s Farm, Jan Schavey & More

Here’s a roundup of recent news and photos around the Old Mission Peninsula…

With Great Power… We’ve had pockets of outages around the OMP due to a fierce windstorm last week, and here on Bluff Road, I always seem to be the first to go and the last to get restored. It’s disconcerting to look at the Consumers outage map online and always be right in the middle of a tiny sliver of dark blue outage. It came back on a few times, but was off for most of the week. One night, it came back on and then it was off again for about five hours the next day. Sheesh. Apologies to anyone who got to hear me whine about it.

When your main source of income (this Gazette) depends on power and Internet, I just can’t be without power for days on end every time the wind blows, not to mention having to figure out what to do with a freezer full of food. So after procrastinating on it all year, I plunked down the cash for a generator, which hopefully should be here in the next couple weeks, since we’re going into Power Outage Season. Now I just need to find a licensed electrician to install it. Any takers? Call or text me, (231) 590-4715.

I will also be getting someone from Consumers on the phone for an interview – let me know what questions you’d like me to ask, starting with, “Why do we lose power out here all the time?”

A couple photos from this week… They blocked off Bluff Road for that tree that came down, and then after three days of no Consumers trucks in the neighborhood, all of a sudden, a whole fleet of them showed up on the same night.

Cal Jamieson and Others Honored at Old Mission Legion. At their meeting on Sept. 20, the Old Mission Legion held an Appreciation Night to honor some of their longtime members and volunteers. Thank you to everyone who keeps this community treasure viable through the years.

Those honored include Cal Jamieson, who joined the Legion Post in 1972 and became Post Commander in 1996; Dan Dyer, who recently served as Post Commander, his wife, Cindy (Mikesell) Dyer and their son Jeff Dyer; Secretary-Treasurer Mary Shultz and her husband, Dave Shultz; Chaplain Mike Achorn; Tom Petzold, Adjutant Vice Commander; Chef Raja Asava and his wife, Assistant Chef Dawn Asava; Tom and Kathy Obrecht; Carol Holmes; Diane Shaffer; Ellen Kerr; and Dave and Donna Tuttle.

Here’s a photo of the crew… I also have video of this, which I’ll upload to the Gazette YouTube channel when I get two seconds. Along with Tim Carroll’s tour of the Ogdensburg Cemetery and the library program on hearing loss (I’m so behind on stories, it’s ridiculous)…

These Guys… Have you seen these three around Peninsula Market lately? Most of you probably know that my sis-in-law (one of the other three Jane Boursaws) retired as manager of the store earlier this year. Taking her place is Aaron Smock, who’s in the middle of this photo, with Ian Hooper on the left and Ben Holstad on the right.

Jan Schavey Goodman on the OMP. I always love it when Jan Schavey Goodman comes back to visit because, well, she’s just so fun! She grew up in “the hollow” of Smokey Hollow Road – on the left at the bottom of the hill when you turn off Center Road and before you get to Boursaw Road.

Here’s a photo of her then and now. On the left is the recent photo. On the right is Jan with Joan Schavey (her sister) and Mary Schavey (her mom) at the War Memorial at Lighthouse Park in 1951. Her dad, Lorrie Schavey helped build the Memorial, and I’m still hoping to get my hands on their home movies of the dedication ceremony.

And here she is with Bryce Boursaw and Jane Boursaw (Tim’s uncle and mom), and Tim Carroll at the Boursaw house on Bluff Road.

OMPS Class Visits Lyon’s Farm. OMPS teacher Kaile Bartnick sent me some pics of her class visiting the Lyon’s farm. Under the guidance of Frank Lyon, she says they picked apples, made cider and had an all-around great time. A few pics below…

Also, if you’re an OMPS alumni, join the Facebook page here. Abbie Whisner says they will be posting different events and opportunities so everyone can stay involved.

And! Mary Jo (Solomonson) Lance is organizing an OMPS Class of 1963 reunion. If you’re interested in participating, reach out to her on Facebook or leave a comment in the comments section below this story.

Help OMPS Build a New Roof. From the Old Mission Peninsula Education Foundation, the nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and enhancing quality educational programs on the OMP:

“Over the last few years, Traverse City and the Old Mission Peninsula have experienced an influx of young families – no doubt for the incredible quality of life the region offers. With favorable teacher to student ratios, a sprawling campus for kids to explore, and a school mission to emphasize acts of kindness, Old Mission Peninsula School has also seen an uptick in enrollment.

“After five years of operating as a Charter school, OMPS is continuing to thrive and grow. One of the biggest growing pains has been the financials; in particular, taking on its own building maintenance fees. At the moment, the school is undergoing long overdue roof work. But at a cost of $100,000, it’s more than the school can expect families of the student body to cover.

“We would love to have the cost of the roof covered before the end of the year! However, if we can have it paid off by June 2023, we will still be thrilled. Ongoing donations are crucial to keeping the school funded and running smoothly; marked for long term investments, emergency funds, and paying off the current roofing project (an urgent need).

Donations can be made in various ways, including online, IRA asset donations, gifts of stock, corporate giving and, of course, classic paper checks. Information on all of these donation methods can be found by visiting https://www.ompef.org.

Also, Old Mission Peninsula Educational Foundation is in the process of forming an Advisory Board to make sure the school has a navigational map toward continued growth and success. This board would be a wonderful place for Alumni and community members to take a leadership role on. If you’re interested in serving, email [email protected].

Mary Ellen Byrne Honored by Father Fred Foundation. I have been wanting to write about Mary Ellen Byrne forever, and spotted this on the Father Fred Facebook Page. She is also a member of the Old Mission Women’s Club, where she serves as our parliamentarian on meeting protocols. She is a practicing attorney and graduated from law school (University of Detroit, class of 1963) when women were not that prevalent in the field of law. If I’m not mistaken, she may have been the first – or one of the first – to graduate from that law school. From Father Fred…

“The Father Fred Foundation is celebrating Mary Ellen Crusoe Byrne for 25 years of service. Twenty-five years ago after moving to the area from Royal Oak, MI, Mary Ellen became a Father Fred volunteer. She started out working with the Tuesday food pantry crew and spent 15 years in that department until a knee surgery interfered. She then volunteered in the business office, where she continues to support the foundation today with data entry and filing needs.

“She’s seen a lot of changes over the years while volunteering. She shared that when she first began helping in the business office, everything was done on paper. Mary Ellen has worked as an attorney for 59 years and continues to practice law today.”

Thanks for all you do, Mary Ellen!

Chestnuts! Get Your Fresh Chestnuts! Here’s a new entry into the OMP Farm Stand News. Amanda and Colin Seguin – his parents are Jack and Paula (Elzer) Seguin – have property at 12288 Peninsula Drive which includes 40 mature chestnut trees. They just started harvesting this year, and Amanda says they have a great crop, so Colin built a farm stand by the road.

“He always talks about having a small raspberry stand growing up at his Grandpa Elzer’s property, so he thought it would be good for our girls to do as they start to get older,” she says.

Chestnuts are $10/bag, and you can pay via cash or venmo @chestnuthillOMP. Also find them on the web at ChestnutHillOMP.com.

OMP Historical Society Celebrates 30 Years. The group had a celebration in the community room at OMP United Methodist Church, where Mary Morgan presented a great slide show and video – put together, I’m sure over many days, by Ann Swaney and her son, Steve – about when the Hessler Log Home was moved to Lighthouse Park and restored by a group of dedicated volunteers. Mary sent me a copy of the video, which I’ll upload to the Gazette YouTube Channel, along with all the other stuff I need to upload (see above).

In the meantime, here’s my brother Dean Johnson and our lifelong pal, Ginny (Dohm) Coulter, who also owns Old Mission Flowers on the corner of Center Road and Ladd Road. (She has wrapped up for the season.)

Township Seeking PDR Committee Members. The Township Board is accepting letters of interest to serve on the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Selection Committee per PDR Ordinance 23, Amendment 3. The committee consists of five members, each serving three-year terms, and includes residents and/or property owners of Peninsula Township chosen to provide equitable representation of geographical and agricultural interests. Submit letters of interest to Director of Planning Jenn Cram via email, [email protected], or mail to Peninsula Township, 13235 Center Road, Traverse City, MI 49686. The deadline is end of business day, November 30, 2022.

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