By Mona Painter
Turnagain Times Hope Correspondent
Museum Open House Fun and Profitable
Cooper Landing is in the hustle-bustle mode of holiday preparations, parties, and events. The two-day museum open house brought many folks into Jack Lean's cozy log cabin heated by a wood stove, decorated with a Christmas tree, and loads of handmade items for sale. Mayme Ohnemus and Jean “Nana” Sether made mini-meat sandwiches and bags of munchies to go with Ladonna Herbert's pluck-its, and other's cookies and candies. Tammy Robinson, Mike Gephardt, Ron and Marilyn Gravenhorst, Ladonna Herbert, Jan Mitchell, and I hosted the two-day party. Mayme's Senior Volunteer calendar and the museum calendar sales helped to net well over $1,000 for Cooper Landing Historical Society and Museum yearly expenses.
Winter Piano Recital Artists Applauded
The annual Winter Piano Recital by piano teacher Virginia Morgan and her students was enjoyed by a multitude of friends and family members at the school on Dec. 4. James Holben, Linnaea Morgan Gossard, Clara LaRock, Jimmy Milne, and Shelbe Holben performed several numbers each during the evening. Christmas music and interesting pieces like “Snorkeling,” and “Runaway Stagecoach,” were applauded enthusiastically. Virginia ended the program with the beautiful Black Hawk Waltz making you want to one…two…three…four across the gym floor.
Community Holiday Potluck Party Enjoyed in Many Ways
It was hard to find a spot to set your plate at Sunrise Inn the next night, Dec. 5, when the community came together for a holiday potluck party sponsored by Cooper Landing Chamber of Commerce, Cooper Landing Emergency Services, and Mary Louise Molenda. Good food of all kinds covered the counter. Christmas decorations brightened every table in the dining room and the festivities extended into the bar area where Ken Green, John and Kendall Thomas, and Erik Route were playing and singing. The shuffleboard was in use, and wii table tennis players and bowlers were swinging their arms quickly and effectively.
Shrew's Nest Christmas Wild Game Party a Tasty Affair
Karl and Cindy Romig hosted a party for the community Dec. 9 at the Shrew's Nest. Caribou Teriyaki Meatballs, Moose Liver and Onions, Baked and Stuffed Lake Louise Trout, and many other delicacies were prepared by Chef Cindy to offer friends and to thank customers. As much fun as it was to taste the various dishes and visit with the partygoers, it was also a shopping opportunity with great sale prices on much of the store's inventory—everything from glue to “gold.” Mary Driefuerst was on hand to help wherever needed.
Quilters Produced Gifts and Decorations
Jeanne Acton was all over the school gym and back and forth to Bearly Threaded Quilting Dec. 11, 12, and 13 for the Community School quilting and sewing retreat as she helped the quilters with various projects. Fifteen women from Cooper Landing, Moose Pass, Seward, and Anchorage worked from early morning to late night on quilts, bags, wall hangings, and other items stopping only to eat an occasional meal. Deb Carlson was the quilt angel with her field corn filled long fabric bags heated in the microwave and placed around the quilter's shoulders or on their backs. Jeanne has more energy than five normal people, I swear.
Church Programs Coming Up Welcome All
Church Christmas programs are scheduled for Dec. 20 with the first at Kenai Lake Baptist Church during the 11 a.m. service. “Twelve Days of Christmas,” under the direction of Dawn Ernst is in rehearsal. Some props are still needed such as seven stuffed cows, seven penny whistles or recorders, and seven metal buckets of any size. Refreshments will be served after the performance.
A Christmas Concert by Dirk and Cheryl Zwiebel is the program for the Cooper Landing Community Church at 4 p.m. , on Dec. 20, at St. John Neumann Catholic Church on Snug Harbor Road. The Zwiebels play several instruments and will perform contemporary, traditional, country, and southern gospel music. They have sung with Barry Manilow, Barry McGuire, and James Blackwood. Sounds like another not-to-miss event. I'll bet there will be refreshments, too. Maybe some of Ladonna's famous cream puffs?
Groomers Needed for Skate and Track Skiing Areas
Call Sandra Holsten at 595-2007 if you can help pull the skate and track skiing groom equipment on loan from the Soldotna Ski Club to groom the Russian River campground. Sandra reports that the Trail Lake Campground near Moose Pass is “really great skate and track skiing right now.”
Merry Christmas!
