News About People On Mackinac Island
By Jeannette Doud

What a glorious weekend it was for the many brides, weddings, receptions, bridal showers, and gatherings of many sorts. The weather was the nicest and best of the summer. Ferries brought crowds of visitors and everyone who wishes to spend their vacations on Mackinac. It truly appeared to be the busiest time of the season. Let’s hope that it will continue. Monday, August 8, just another perfect summer day. One of the most popular places in town is the wonderful swimming pool at Grand Hotel, a great way to exercise and relax.

The flower gardens all over the Island are at their peak, absolutely beautiful with everything in full bloom. Even the vegetable gardens are producing healthy crops. Our good neighbor, Ron O’Neil, who has a very nice garden in his backyard, has been treating us to delicious squash, cucumbers, and green beans. We’re told that the cherry and apple trees in the Traverse City area, along with the vines loaded with hearty grapes, are the best ever.

Vanessa Smith was the guest at a delightful bridal shower Sunday afternoon, August 7, at Ste. Anne’s Hall, hosted by her aunts. Vanessa received many beautiful gifts. She will be married to Ken Hardy Jr. October 14 at Ste. Anne’s. Many relatives and friends from St. Ignace and other cities joined Vanessa on her happy day.

S. Andrew Doud, of the Detroit area, visited his grandmother, Helga Doud, and his brother, Franc, Monday, August 8. Andrew recently enjoyed a visit to Ireland. He was happy to see all his Island friends on Mackinac.

Happy birthday August 11 to Becki Splett, of Bloomer, Wisconsin, longtime guest of the Windermere, with her husband, Nate, an avid reader of the Town Crier . Hope you had a fun day, Becki. Hope to see you again next summer.

When Marilyn McCready celebrated her birthday anniversary August 6 at her home in Cheboygan, she received quite a happy surprise. Franc Doud and Jason St. Onge went down and took her out to breakfast. Marilyn was for many years the bookkeeper at Doud Mercantile and now for Jason St. Onge with his painting business. Hopefully, you enjoyed a wonderful time, Marilyn.

A phone call this week from James Dunnigan was inquiring about St. Helena Island, near St. Ignace. He and his father, Brian, had the extreme pleasure of recently visiting the Island, when they went ashore in a small boat to explore and visit the lighthouse. His question to me, was the fact that I could tell him that my late mother, Ella R. Chambers, was born on St. Helena, which fascinated him. Thanks for your call, James.

Donald Francis and his neighbor, Jim Sprengel, left Friday, July 29, for two weeks of bow hunting in South Africa.

Gracie Francis’ daughters, Michele and Robin, and grandchildren, Jillian, Corey, Christina, and Chance, were on the Island for 10 days. They live in Plano, Texas, and come to Mackinac each year.

Jim Lenfesty, summer cottager of the East Bluff, shared with me a scary experience he had recently. Jim and his son-in-law, Jim Kublin, would like to thank the Arnold Line ferry captain, who apparently waited to help if needed as Jim and his family kayaked back from Round Island Friday, August 5, in a sudden squall, with two children aboard. Fortunately, all reached Mackinac safely. Jim’s grandchildren, Gus and Henno, had quite an adventure.

Candi Dunnigan and Lin Sheppard, summer cottagers, celebrated their 50th birthdays Friday, August 12. A cocktail party was held at the Yacht Club. Happy birthday to Candi and Lin from Island friends.

Kathi Wightman is recuperating well from her recent hip surgery and is out and about with the aid of her cane. Happy birthday to Kathi August 11.

Dan and Barbara Huge, of Fisher, Indiana, spent a few days with Rosie Charnes. Barbara stayed on to join the rest of the late Duke Charnes’ “Mackinac mamas.” This is their sixth year staying at Mission Point Resort, where Duke made their first reservations. They love to eat, shop, and take in all of the beautiful flowers. The ladies belong to a book club, of which Rosie is a member.

Dave Pulve, longtime employee of Doud Mercantile, celebrated his birthday August 7 and we wish him a very happy one.

The blackout Sunday evening, August 7, was quickly repaired by Edison Sault Electric employees Dan Wightman and Mark Chambers.

Peyton and Betty Hutchison are looking forward to the arrival of their son, Jonathan, and their friends, Leonard and Linda Misso, this coming weekend. They will all be coming from Oregon to spend a week on the Island with the Hutchisons at Lesley Court. Sunday, August 28, the Central Regional Officers of Sigma Pi Phi will hold their executive meeting on Mackinac. Peyton is one of the executive regional officers and is acting as host for his fraternity brothers and their wives.

Happy birthday to our friends who are celebrating their birthday anniversaries in August: Laurie Gough August 9, Ed Horn August 10, Edson Pfeiffelman August 11, Bob Gillespie August 12, Charlie Thompson August 13, Pollyanna Smith and Melinda Porter August 15, and Almeda Bodwin August 16. All of you nice folks enjoy a wonderful day.

Nial Djuliarso, pianist at Grand Hotel, played in the jazz festival in Geneva, Switzerland, and placed third in the jazz competition.

Greetings to my good friends, Steve and Mariane Evans, of Royal Oak, who are avid readers of the Town Crier . Whenever they come to Mackinac, they stop by at the Windermere Dog House to see me.

We’re most thankful that we have such a wonderful medical facility with its wonderful staff, who are always on hand to treat the sick and needy. Saturday of the past weekend was a very busy time for the staff, working into the late hours.

Ronda and Julye McGreevy were part of the chorus for Les Cheneaux Education Foundation’s production of “My Fair Lady” in Cedarville. Julye will be going to Grand Marais each weekend in August to help at Maeve’s Campbell Street Gallery. Rose Bud McGreevy, of Marquette, is planning on joining Julye there for the arts and music festival. She so enjoyed being there last summer. Julye’s daughter, Jeannine, is leaving for a year Thursday, August 18. She is an Ambassadorial Exchange Student through the Sault Ste. Marie Rotary Club. She will be near Osaki, in the town of Iwade, and is hoping to meet up with Tyler Finkel before he returns.

Vacationing at the Windermere this past week were Lynn and John Leone of Macomb, along with family members. The Leones, who are avid readers of the Town Crier , have been coming to Mackinac for the past 25 years, mostly making their stay at the Windermere. The Douds enjoy having them so very much. This visit was a very special one for them, and an event that would make the family so very happy would be to read about it in the upcoming Town Crier . Mrs. Leone said that she would save the article to put in her granddaughter’s scrapbook. Along with their older children this past weekend, the Leones brought with them a brand new granddaughter, the second generation to reside at the Windermere. Grace Lynn Militello, 18-month-old daughter of Grenna and Steve Militello, spent most of her time waving to the “horsies” and chasing seagulls on Windermere Point. The family loved the outing, especially introducing the little one to the Island.

Welcome home to Mackinac, another very lovely lady, Ethel Ryba, who is enjoying her apartment above the Star Line dock with its magnificent view of the Island harbor and all the ferries coming and going. It would not be summer to Mrs. Ryba if she couldn’t be on Mackinac. Best wishes, Mrs. Ryba, for continued years of the best of health and happiness.

A very special note was sent to me from Cynthia Terwilliger, who gives us the latest news about her mother, Harriet Terwilliger, longtime summer cottager of the East Bluff. Her mother had been gravely ill in the hospital, which was a great worry to Cynthia. She called Trish Martin and asked that prayers be recited at Trinity and also at the Little Stone Church. Cynthia sends her thanks to the Island community and the power of prayer. Her mother is home from the hospital and doing very well. The Terwilliger family is very sad that their time (35 years) on Mackinac has come to an end. Please do send cards and letters to the family. They will be most grateful to hear from their Island friends.

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 3, I had a most joyful experience. It appears that the carriage drivers, while passing by, point out the little yellow house on Market Street as the home of the mayor, who was not home at the time. The dad and mother of four beautiful little children said that they would settle for the mother of the mayor, should I be willing to come out and have a picture taken with the family. As we engaged in conversation, I learned that the daddy was a U.S. Marine in the Infantry Division from Cheboygan, Craig Morris, who had been in the service for the past 20 years. He and his wife, Dana, are the parents of Jacquelin, age 5, Chole, age 4, Tiffany, age 3, and Quentin, age 2. Such beautifully mannered little children, they won my heart immediately. Craig had just spent 20 months in Iraq with 14 months in Faluji. Following their vacation, the family will be in Yorktown, Virginia, where Craig will be stationed. I was truly touched and moved to be able to make them happy through their camera. They gave me their e-mail address and also their phone number so that we could keep in touch. Craig was pleased when I told him that we, too, had a Marine in our family, who is now the registered nurse at the medical center, Ed Chambers.

The Mackinac Island Medical Center auction will be Sunday, August 21, at Grand Hotel. Any donations will be greatly appreciated.

Jo Helen Schneider and family from Laurel, Mississippi, and Margaret Kappa, from White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, are enjoying a week’s vacation on Mackinac. Both Jo Helen and Margaret are former Grand Hotel employees. It’s so good having them back on the Island.

Many folks enjoyed the Mackinac Island Community Foundation celebration at the Community Hall Monday evening, August 8. Wes Maurer, chairman of the foundation, gave a very informative welcome to all the people in attendance.

The guns and hoses softball game was a very spirited event. It was a beautiful evening and everyone had a great time.

Enjoy the beautiful summer days on Mackinac.