Brevort

The Swedish-American community of Brevort has been awarded a 2010 Michigan Heritage Award for continuing the tradition of the Swedish midsummer pole in Brevort. This is the 25th year of the Michigan Heritage Award program. It is designed to honor individuals and groups who have mastered a folk tradition and continue it with excellence and authenticity. The awards also honor the communities themselves. A panel of three cultural specialists and folklorists met in January to decide on the awards. The Michigan Heritage Award ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, August 14, at the Great Lakes Folk Festival in downtown East Lansing.

Dave and I, along with Tracy and Dave, Jr., traveled to Gaylord Saturday, January 30, to visit with Barbara Jorgensen. Barb and Owen lived in Brevort for a time, then moved to Gaylord. Owen has since passed away. Les and Carol Jorgensen were also there. It was a very pleasant afternoon.

Dan Becker called his mother, Pega Kennedy, from Thailand Sunday, January 31. It was his 36th birthday. Happy birthday, Dan. Dan is stationed at the air base in LeMorre, California. His family also lives there.

Jennie Rose of the Traverse City area will have surgery this week. Her mother, Jerri Rose, is with her. We wish Jennie a successful operation.

Lee Foster and Beamer, the family’s dog, hiked the North Country Trail this past week.

Continued get well wishes to Thora Shepard, who is recovering from hip surgery and doing nicely.

Shari Baron is home on the Pine River with her husband, Ray. Shari has spent time with her mother in Livonia. Sharon Nelson, of Superior, Colorado, called Shari this past weekend to report she is feeling fine, in spite of continuing chemotherapy treatments. We hope to see Sharon and Del in the Upper Peninsula this summer.

Jimmy and Kerry Lamoreaux and family of Munising visited Jim’s uncle and aunt, Charlie and Gayle Lamoreaux, Saturday, January 30, at Pte. Aux Chenes.

Trinity Lutheran Church of Brevort had the annual meeting at the church Sunday evening, January 31. After the business meeting, we got down to the good part, a potluck dinner. We will be interviewing a pastoral candidate for Zion Lutheran Church in St. Ignace and Trinity in Brevort the second week of February.