Engadine
By Julie Freeman 477-6959 jf@portup.com

I'd like to begin my column by sending condolences to the family of Nora Rushford of Newberry, who passed away Sunday morning, January 21, at her residence. Please keep her husband, Ed, family, and friends in your prayers during this time of sadness.

It's beginning to look a lot like winter. I do like making snowmen, and the snow is just right to roll into balls and stack them on each other, then dress them up with a corncob pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of coal. Add an old silk hat and let the magic begin. Kind of sounds like a familiar song, but making snowmen is such a "family fun" thing to do.

Helen Newberry Joy Hospital and Healthcare Center has a variety of volunteer openings available. For more information, call Melissa Ronquist at (906) 293- 9157.

The Engadine Sports Boosters, coaches, and athletes are conducting their annual pizza kit fundraiser. Orders may be placed until Thursday, January 25. Proceeds will support all of the athletic programs at Engadine.

The Tahquamenon Area Friends of the Library are presenting "Wearin' O' the Plaid," a celebration of Scottish poet Robert Burns' birthday, in the Newberry Elks Lodge room Friday, January 26, at 7 p.m. Haggis, a traditional Scottish dish, and refreshments will be served. There will be music, poems, and a chance to win free passes to see Dunkold's Castle at the Taqua-land Theater, if you wear plaid. For more information, call the library at (906) 293-5214.

The Curtis Community Arts Council will have a "Coffee House" featuring musician Dan Flesher Saturday, January 27, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., upstairs at the Park Center. Mr. Flesher sings folk, swing, bluegrass, blues, Celtic, and country, and he plays guitar, harmonica, Irish bouzouki, mandolin, and double bass. Tickets are available at Chamberlin's (906) 586-6000 or at Curtis Service (906) 586-9832 for a donation of $10, and include refreshments.

There will be preschool story time at the Engadine Library every Saturday in January and February at 10:30 a.m. Children will have fun with friends, stories, games, and projects. All area preschoolers are invited at no charge.

There will be a beginner yoga class on six consecutive Fridays starting Friday, February 2, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Newberry Presbyterian Church. Pre-registration is required at the Helen Newberry Joy Hospital Wellness Center at (906) 293-9182.

"Shaping our Future" is an interactive program to help kids ages 7 through 17 learn to control their weight and enjoy healthy living. Open enrollment is now through Tuesday, February 27. For information, call the Helen Newberry Joy Hospital Wellness Center at (906) 293-9182 and ask for Carrie Sevarns.

The Newberry Eagles Club will have a fish fry Friday, January 26, from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the club on M-28 in Newberry.

The Curtis Fish Coop will have an all-you-can-eat chili dinner and auction Saturday, January 27, at 5 p.m. at the Portage Township Community Building in Curtis.

"Blessing of the Snowmobiles," a new event this year in Paradise, will be Saturday, January 27, at 10:30 a.m. at the North Coast Realty, just west of the blinking light. Bring your snowmobile to have it blessed for the 2007 riding season. They will have ordained ministers there to perform the ceremony, along with a radar run up on trail number 452 by Andrus Lake, which will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Take the north trail out of Paradise and proceed on trail number 452 to Andrus Lake, then head back for hot dogs, brats, and a bonfire from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. This event is sponsored by the Paradise Area Chamber of Commerce. Participants may register prior to the race at (906) 492-3538 or (906) 420-9879.

Now is the time to get your favorite pet photographs ready for the fourth annual pet photograph contest sponsored by the Eva Burrell Animal Shelter. Entry deadline is Friday, February 2. Photographs, along with a $5 entry fee for each picture, may be mailed to the Eva Burrell Animal Shelter, 6091 W. U.S. Highway 2, Manistique, Michigan 49854, or dropped off at the shelter during business hours. All pictures must have owner's name and phone number on the back and also the name of the pet(s) pictured. Pictures will be returned to owners if a self-addressed envelope is included with the entry. A panel of judges will pick the top 10 photographs for the photograph board, and votes will be counted by the amount of money placed on the boards.

Businesses that will host the photograph board this year are: Thompson Vet Clinic, People's Store, Pamida, Putvin HealthMart, Petique, and Jack's SuperValu. The board will be in each place of business for one week. All proceeds from the contest help the homeless, but adoptable, pets of Schoolcraft County.

Winter Fest will be Saturday, February 3, at the Tahquamenon Falls State Park, where there will be lantern-lit cross-country skiing, a winter campfire, and guided snowshoe hikes.

Happy birthday to Lesa Baker January 25, Katelyn Pershinske and Max Butkovich January 27, Andrea Miller, Deb Miller, and Father Tim Hruska January 29, and our soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Sarah Price, January 30.

Aspecial happy birthday to Ron Clark, who will be 85 years young January 30.

Happy anniversary to Greg and Diane Krause January 27.

Until next time, take care.