?07 Nautical Festival concludes, numbers mixed

by Peter Jakey– Managing Editor

What began with an entertaining evening of excitement at the Nautical City Queen?s pageant July 27, ended with a weekend of activities capped by a dazzling display of fireworks Sunday as Nautical City Festival 2007 concluded. Nautical Festival committee members organized a fine week of entertainment for the annual community festival.

?I think we had a wonderful week,? said executive director Kammie Dennis. ?To me, everything went off pretty much without a hitch. It was a flawless set up, a wonderful week, and take down was very smooth. There were absolutely no complaints.?

GRAND MARSHALS Dan and Cathy Wisniewski, along with Miss Rogers City Ashley Basel and her court, led the parade through throngs of sun-basked parade-goers. All activities reported good crowds to the different meals served by local organizations, the softball tournaments, and to the dancing and entertainment at the tent.

?This is all preliminary, but we think we are up,? said Dennis. ?In the tent all week, the bands were wonderful and did a good job. It just seemed the combination of bands was great.?

Even the teen night dance was a huge success, said Dennis. There were some areas where the numbers were down slightly, including Schmidt Amusements. ?They were down this year, where last year they were up and did the best they?ve ever done,? said Dennis. The parade entries were down with the event finishing up in less than an hour, while the juried arts and crafts and Sportsmen?s Club chicken dinner were not sell outs in ?07. The arts and crafts were 11 vendors from selling out, but have half of this year?s entries signed up for 2008. ?I don?t think that is bad, with the way the economy is,? said Dennis. ?Everyone is struggling.?

THE SPORTSMEN?S Club sold 860 dinners, with 30 to 40 left at the end of the day. The Club may consider dropping that number down by about 50 meals next year. They used to sell about 1,000 meals every year. The winner of the 2nd annual Texas Hold?em tournament was

Joe Burlager of Fraser. He took home the $1,000 grand prize, along with a gold bracelet. Connie Smolinski of Posen was second and took home $250, while Jerry Wagner of Harrison Township was third, good for a $100 check.

The parade winners include: most nautical, Knights of Columbus; best musical, Rogers City High School band; most original, DARE; most humorous, Hair It Is; judge?s choice, Power Source Communications (Daniel J. Plaza float); best local commercial, Richard?s Clothing. Dennis said he teamwork displayed by local organizations, businesses and residents is what makes the festival a success every year.

?Everybody works together, everybody knows what needs to get done,? she said.

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