North Fork Holiday celebrations
North Forkers pose for a picture at Sondreson Hall. (W.K. Walker photo)
Residents of the North Fork celebrated the holiday season with gusto again this year.
In mid-December, more than 20 Christmas carolers, organized by Karina Pettey and family, traversed the community from north to south spreading cheer. Their enthusiasm and harmony get better each year.
The next evening Dawn and Dan Jacobson and Snuffy and Lisa Smith hosted an ugly sweater contest, community dance, and movie night at Sondreson Hall. It’s amazing how creative people can be!
Jim and Lorna Rittenburg hosted a lovely Christmas Open House at their home atop Neneman’s Bluff on December 23. A luxurious spread of tasty treats was followed by holiday singing, accompanied by Ted and Curtis Losey on violin and cornet.
The festive Christmas Day dinner at Sondreson Hall, hosted by Mark and Margaret Heaphy, brought neighbors together for hours of fun. The Heaphys were ably assisted by John and Tami Stone, Bernie & Vickie Wiedmann, and Ray Brown. About 70 folks enjoyed the opportunity to overeat and socialize with friends new and old.
John and Zoë Zardis hosted this year’s New Year’s Eve celebration at the Hall, complete with dancing and late-night fireworks.
There are two community snowshoe softball games coming up, although with the lack of snow they could prove a little difficult and/or amusing.
One person perusing a snowy landscape this month, however, is Bonnie Hankey. Last we talked, she was in the Falklands headed to Antarctica.
Meanwhile, Ed Neneman paid his traditional Christmas visit to family in Nebraska, and the Rob and Trish Rego family enjoyed a leisurely jaunt around Japan.
John and Zoë Zardis hosted this year's New Year's Eve celebration at the Hall, complete with dancing, late-night fireworks, and the crowning of this year's Mrs. Polebridge, Bonny Ogle.
On a somber note, we are remembering the unusually large number of current and former North Forkers who crossed over the Great Divide this year. We remember fondly the following neighbors who we lost in 2023. Alphabetically: Gale Barton, Skip Bartram, Jim Betters, Becky Braunig, Karen Chefas, Mid Connelly, Lee Downes, Linda Franchini, Fern Hart, Allen Jacobson, Joe Lang, Dick Lawrence, Cecily McNeil, Bob Olson, Jim Putnam, Bob Ross, Billy Sapa, and Winnifred Storli. Godspeed to them all!