Engadine
By Julie Freeman 477-6959 engadinenews@sbcglobal.net

I would like to begin my column by sending deep condolences to the family of Marvin Hauser, who passed away Monday, February 12. Mr. Hauser will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Helen, and their family and friends. Please keep the family in your prayers during this sad time.

The Curtis Community Arts Council ice rink at Curtis Park is now ready to use. The rink is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

The Newberry Eagles Club will host a fish fry Friday, February 16, from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the club on M-28 in Newberry.

The 15th Annual Vintage and Antique Snowmobile Show events will be held in Naubinway, with sleds on display from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, February 17. This year's featured sleds are the "Twin Tracks." There will be a 50/50 cash raffle, food booths, and swap area, and a button drawing that you must be present to win. Friday, February 16, at 9 a.m. will be the "Breakfast Ride" for the antique and vintage rubber track sleds, starting at King's Motel in Naubinway and ending at the Engadine Town Hall for breakfast by the West Mackinac American Legion. Cost is $7. Then at 1 p.m. there will be a six-mile ride for all sleds to the Pipeline Bridge for a bonfire. Participants may bring hot dogs and marshmallows to roast. Other events will include the "Hus-Ski Hustle" and a Friday evening get-together at King's Motel garage. Saturday, February 17, at 9 a.m., will be free registration at King's Motel Spa room, with a 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. display of sleds on main street along US-2, where there were 261 sleds on display last year. There will be food booths and a swap area. From 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. there will be a banquet and presentation by John McGuirk, with information from the Scorpion founder at the Garfield Township Hall in Engadine. This is open to the public. A 50/50 raffle and merchants drawing will also be held; you need to be present to win. For more information, call Charlie and Marilyn Vallier at (906) 477- 6192 or e-mail vallierc@pngusa. net.

The 13th Annual Curtis Winter Carnival will be Saturday, February 17, in Curtis, sponsored by the Curtis Area Chamber of Commerce. Many events on the ice are planned on South Manistique Lake. There will be a chili cook-off, Curtis Fish Coop for ice fishing, music, food booths, bake sale, children's games, cake walk, children's piñata, ice golf, turkey bowling, kid's mini sled challenge, and snow sculptures. There also will be a Curtis Chamber of Commerce raffle drawing. Don't miss the fireworks over the lake at dusk, at approximately 6:30 p.m., sponsored by the Three Lakes Fireworks Council.

Sunday, February 18, the Manistique Lakes Lions Club will have an all-you-can-eat breakfast at the Portage Township Community Building in Curtis.

The Newberry Eagles Club will have pizza night Tuesday, February 20, from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the club on M-28.

The Engadine V.F.W. Auxiliary will meet Wednesday, February 21, at 8 p.m. in the chemistry room of the Engadine School.

Mardi Gras in De Snow, a snowmobile festival of races and games for the whole family, will be held Friday, February 23, through Sunday, February 25, in Paradise. Snowshoe races and a bonfire will be Thursday night, with a variety of races Friday and Saturday, and the parade of snowmobiles Friday night at 7 p.m. Meet at the Yukon Inn for the parade and an evening ride to the groomer barn for food and a bonfire. The awards banquet and dancing will be Saturday evening. This event is sponsored by the Paradise Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information, e-mail Joanne at nicasyltd@ jamadots.com.

It's the second annual Millecoquins Lake Winter Carnival, Saturday, February 24, on the east side of Millecoquins Lake, on the Hiawatha Sportsman's Club east of Engadine. Fishing contest registration is at 8 a.m., youth and open classes. Top prize is a $100 gift certificate from Cabela's. Fishing contest ends, and all fish must be presented before 4 p.m., then from 9 a.m. to noon it's a soup and chowder cook-off, with first, second, and third prizes. Top prize is $75 and a trophy. At 9 a.m., register for the Polar Bear Cross-Country Ski Race, with the race beginning at 10 a.m. Beginning at 11 a.m. there will be concessions and games set up on the ice, youth snowmobile slalom races for age 12 and younger, and a U.P. championship euchre tournament will begin. The chili contest serving and judging will begin at noon, and the predator hunt will close. All entries must be submitted by noon. From noon to 3 p.m. there will be snowmobile radar runs on the lake, and from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. awards will be given out from the day's events. All activities, except the cross-country ski race, will be centered in the Hiawatha Sportsman's Club recreation building on Millecoquins Lake. The ski race will be held at Morrie Allen Field. Contact the Hiawatha Sportsman's Club office at (906) 477-6592 for more information. This winter carnival is being sponsored by the Hiawatha Sportsman's Club, Big Mac Pack, U.P. Snow Gobblers (Wild Turkey Federation), the Two Heart Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the Engadine Athletic Boosters, and the McNeil-Feneley-Nesbit American Legion Post 290.

The Curtis Community Arts Council and Portage Players Mystery Dinner Theater "Murder at the Inn" will be performed Thursday, March 8, Saturday, March 10, and Sunday, March 11, at Chamberlin's Ole Forest Inn in Curtis. Thursday and Saturday evening performances begin at 6:30 p.m., and the Sunday performance begins at 2 p.m. Cost of tickets is $25 donation for adult, and $18 donation for children. All proceeds to benefit Curtis Community Arts Council.

Happy birthday to my wonderful husband, Bob Freeman, who will be 50 February 17, Joe Weber February 18, Nicole Garcia and Doc Belleville February 19, Michael Scott Butkovich February 22, and Gary St. Andre February 23.

Happy anniversary to Don and Cathy Butkovich February 20.

It's Michigan's free fishing weekend, Saturday, February 17, and Sunday, February 18. Contact your local Department of Natural Resources office for more information. Make this a fun family weekend.

Until next time, take care.