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

Hello, everyone. This week started a little cooler. It makes working outdoors nice, but it's a little chilly for beach weather.

The Curtis Community Arts Council presents the play "On Golden Pond" by Earnest Thompson, performed by the E.U.P. Fine Arts Council, at the Erickson Center in Curtis Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July 19, at 8 p.m. This is a play filled with laughter and tears. It is the touching love story of Norman and Ethel Thayer, who are returning to their summer home on Golden Pond for the 48th year. Tickets are an $18 donation, and are available in Newberry at the Old Bank of Shops, and in Curtis at Curtis Service and Chamberlin's Ole Forest Inn.

More than 40 people turned out to help work on the Newton Township playground Monday, July 14. Bulldozers, dump trucks, rakes, shovels, and many folks, young and old, got together to build a playground for all to enjoy. The Newton Township playground is in Gould City, where the old school was located several years ago. It's a special place for those who attended school there, in their younger years, and now is a nice place to bring their children and grandchildren to play.

Jeremy Loebach (left) and his brother, Jacob Loebach, formerly of Engadine, recently opened a restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Heaven McGahan, a student who got the ball rolling for the project, is proud of what is being accomplished.

"We're trying to fix up the park so kids can play in it, instead of being lazy," she said. It's a good idea, because no one has done anything for the park for about 20 years. I am happy with everyone being here today, because it really helps, and makes the day go faster."

Brianna Zimmerman, who also was helping with the playground project, said, "This is a great idea, where the whole community can get into something and do together as a community."

Both girls live in Gould City, and are in the seventh grade at Engadine school.

There are new swingsets, a sandbox, a new floor base on the merrygo round, a new tower with a slide, and the basketball court has new sealing with freshly painted lines.

"By the end of the week, a new big monkey bar set will be here; it has eight different things on it. This should be a fun set to play on, along with everything else," said Heaven's mother, Shelly (Hines) McGahan.

At the Newton Township playground in Gould City, more than 40 people from the community got together to fix up the old playground Saturday, July 12, including this group of youngsters: (front, from left) Danny Buskirk, Trevor Brawley, Jeremy "J.J." Buskirk (holding a football), Justin Lumsden, Raymond Buskirk, Charlie Buskirk; (back row) Heaven McGahan, Allison Margherio, and Brianna Zimmerman.

The volunteers have raised $2,500, and the township is matching $1,100. The playground has many trees, making it a nice shaded area for families and friends to enjoy in the hot summer months.

Remember "Village Pizza" in Engadine? Jeremy and Deanna Loebach, who ran it here a few years ago, recently opened "Doughgodz," in Charlotte, North Carolina, June 11, along with Jeremy's brother, Jacob Loebach. Deanna told me their new restaurant has the same recipes and the same breadsticks.

"The name Doughgodz comes from a piece of fried dough that our mom makes," Jeremy said. "The name just seemed to fit with the pizza business." Jeremy and Jacob are the sons of Marianne King of Engadine, and Deanna is the daughter of Jeanne Matchinske of Charlotte, North Carolina, formerly of Engadine. They're all graduates of Engadine schools.

The 33rd annual Swampers softball tournament will be Friday, July 18, through Sunday, July 20, in Curtis. Jeff Burton can be reached for registration information at (906) 586-8046.

The Newberry Eagles Club will have a fish fry Friday, July 18, from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the club on M- 28 in Newberry.

The American Legion Post 290 in Engadine will have a breakfast Sunday, July 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the VFW Hall in Engadine. The cost is $6 for persons age 10 and older, $3 for children age six to nine, and free for children age five and younger. There also will be a 50/50 raffle.

Happy birthday to Dave Chapman, Cheryl Taylor, Kristyn Emery, and Patrick Sullivan July 17, Charlotte "Sweet Pea" Wedge, Sharon Spencer, and Fred Bryant July 18, Terry Davis and Paula Anderson July 19, Loren Hins, Rich Ocko, Amanda Mast, Jeff Slack, Jennifer Brooks, and Bryce Frazier July 20, Courtney Aldrich and Andrea Fulton July 21, John McNeil, Keely Fuller, and Mike Leveille July 22, Charles Haapala, Jeff Keller, and Dan Hood July 23, and John Krenek July 24.

Happy anniversary to Jeremiah and Jessica Clark and Sam and Carol Norman July 17, Glenn and Carolee Frazier July 18, John and Jeanne Krenek July 21, Brent and Shelly Gouza and Aaron and Nancy Fulton July 23, and Danny and Ginger Price July 24.

George and Cindy Tremblay will celebrate their fifth year in Gould City Saturday, July 19.

Until next time, take care.