Posen hosts another enjoyable weekend of festival fun

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

The 59th annual Posen Potato Festival came to a close Sunday evening as the polka music that had echoed throughout the village for three days, became silent again, but only for the next 362 days. That should be enough time to recover from the 2010 festival. There were three days of dancing, eating, carnival rides, shopping at the flea market, parades and tons of entertainment. ?I thought it went very well,? said Posen Chamber of Commerce president Randy Idalski. ?The numbers were what we expected at most of the events.? Idalski was pleased with the crowds on Sunday, which was easily the better of the weather days.

?I talked with Terry Schmidt from T.J. Schmidt Amusements and said he usually shuts down by 6:30 p.m. (Sunday), but at 7:30, he still had three-quarters of his midway full, so they kept going.? The bump and run Sunday was a huge success. ?We had a big crowd out there,? said Idalski. Josh Mischley of Alpena, who won the first of nine heats, was the feature winner. The top five placers all were from Alpena.

Idalski doesn?t believe the rain Saturday dampened things; however, the threat of rain may have kept some away. ?We didn?t get the rain some areas got. In other areas around us, it really rained hard, but we didn?t get that. The weather didn?t hurt us in the halls at all.? Festival camping areas were all full. The 2nd ever motocross racing was a disappointment and will be something to look at next year. ?We?re going to have to figure something out there. We?ll discuss that in October.? The Knights of Columbus (K of C) reported nice numbers at 700 meals served for their Saturday brunch, which is almost identical to 2009. The food stands in the pavilions also were busy Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Presque Isle County Council on Aging (PICCA) had a ?great day,? according to Barb Nagi, director of the Presque Isle County Council on Aging. They served 639 meals, which is down from 769 in 2009.

?It?s still a lot of meals,? said Nagi. ?We have a wonderful staff and volunteers.? Veterans of Foreign Wars Post (VFW) 7804 sold 508 (540, 2009) meals for Saturday?s dinner and 420 (460,

2009) for Sunday?s breakfast. Post commander Gerald Donajkowski said there were ?no complaints and a lot of repeat customers? who never want to miss their meal. The St. Casimir Rosary Sodality served 1,150 potato pancake dinners on Sunday and an additional 75 to kids. THE GRAND parade, led by grand marshals, Marcia and Ron Urban, as well as queen Lindsey Bartz and her court, had 92 entries, which is what they had last year. Sally Goupell, mistress of ceremonies, was joined by some of her granddaughters, for the singing of the national anthem and then asked all parade attendees to join her for ?Amazing Grace.?

The parade winners are as follows: ? Most beautiful: Carmeuse Lime & Stone; honorable mention, Miss Rogers City. ? Best musical float: Posen Village float; honorable mention, C and R Variety Band. ? Most humorous: Rick Snyder bus; honorable mention, kiddie parade entries. ? Most original: Miss Posen and court; honorable mention, Glen?s Market of Rogers City. ? Most patriotic: Posen VFW 7804 and auxiliary; honorable mention, VFW 3890. ? Judges? choice: Wolverine Power; honorable mention, Ron Freel. ? Best entry service organization: Posen Post Office; honorable mention, Knights of Columbus, Posen. ? Most appropriate theme (Potato or Polish heritage): Posen Auto Parts; honorable mention, Herb Produce. ? United We Stand (special theme): AM Vet, Alpena; honorable mention; Rogers City Servicemen?s Club. Next year?s festival is Sept. 9, 10, and 11.