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GROUP HOPES TO DEFUND BERGMAN
A group of progressives spread across northern Michigan has organized a campaign to put pressure on their congressman, Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet).
Members of the group first wrote and called Bergman’s office and urged him to concede that the 2020 presidential election had been fair and legitimate, but Bergman did not respond, said Owen Goslin, founding member of Center for Change in Cheboygan.
Goslin said that the group came together even before the election because they were concerned about the tone of politics; since Bergman won’t respond, the group now hopes to put pressure on businesses and individuals that support him and they’ve launched a website, defundbergman.com, where those groups are listed.
Unchain That Melody
You know that infamous scene in Ghost where Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze’s characters enjoy some sensuous clay shaping as a prelude to some Righteous passion? Well, the act is called wheel throwing (not that act, man; the prelude part), and you and your spiritual soulmate can take an introductory shot at it in a 2-hour workshop at ClaySpace TC. (Warning: You’ll each work at your own pottery wheel and will be joined by up to four other students, so save the clay-covered caresses for after class.) The per person cost is $35.00, which includes clay and instruction in wheel throwing techniques, as well as glazing and firing. (Finished pieces will be available at a later date and time.) Open to folks of all experience levels, the introductory workshop — called “Try-It Wheel” — is scheduled 6pm8pm Feb 19, March 5, March 19, and April 9.
Rather stay home? Take part in “Valensteins” on Feb. 12. For $30 per person (age 21+), you’ll get some take-home clay, a voucher for a to-go beverage from Little Fleet, plus a twohour online lesson in hand-building techniques to make your own steins together. Surprise your sweetie by enrolling in either clay class at www.clayspacetc.com.
8 Be My Valentine dine inside dine oUtside take oUt Stuff we love Beaver Dam Olympics
Finally, an Olympics our pandemic-induced couch-potato training has readied us for: Otsego Resort’s annual Beaver Dam Olympics. A four-part relay of sack race, corn hole, beer pong, and plank skis, this one-hour competition pits you and three friends against other teams of four in one of the loveliest snowy settings in Gaylord. Check-in at 1pm; event starts at 2pm and ends at 3pm. $100 entry fee per team. Prizes are available for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams. Visit otsegoclub.com/event/beaver-dam-olympics-2 for more information and to register.
Though the family owned Tabone Vineyards has been quietly tending to its grapes for nearly two decades, their tasting room didn’t open until spring of 2019. Less than a year later, the world around all of us changed, but it seems this young winery’s patience proved a formidable virtue, as it went on to scoop up two Taster’s Guild golds in May — one for its 2018 Bubbly Chardonnay, a fruit-forward apple-nosed medium dry so delicately light it made us weak in the knees, and the other for its buttery, nutty, almost cookie-like 2018 Estate Chardonnay Oaked. Freshly re-opened this February — with limited indoor service plus igloos and heated patio seating — Tabone wowed us with its 2017 Estate Red, a blend of Baco Noir, De Chaunac, and Marechal Foch grapes grown right next to its patio. Rich, dark, and with a hint of smoke and sweet that pairs well with dark chocolate, we believe it’s the ideal partner for a romantic Valentine’s day. We bet this guy (above) agrees. Walk-ins permitted, reservations recommended — or stay home and have it all delivered. Until the end of February, Tabone is offering penny shipping on all orders. Now that’s love. Find Tabone Vineyards at 14916 Peninsula Dr., Traverse City. (231) 223-4101, tabonevineyards.com.
