News About People On Mackinac Island
By Jeannette Doud

It’s Monday, August 15, and already we can enjoy another two weeks of the cooler, bright, pretty days until Labor Day in September. Everyone, including the horses and smaller animals, are happy that the extreme hot temperatures have passed. Soon our Island will become an autumn wonderland. Many large conventions will be coming to enjoy the gracious hospitality at Grand Hotel. Many schools do not open until after Labor Day, which is good for the Island economy.

On this very special day on Mackinac, the beautiful light blue bridal carriage, with its white upholstery and drawn by two prancing hackneys, is just leaving the Chambers’ stable en route to escort a bride on her wedding day. The white-coated driver wears a stylish gray derby hat.

Lin Sheppard (left) and Candi Dunnigan celebrate their 50th birthdays at the Yacht Club.

At the magnificent gardens at the east end of Grand Hotel, do stop and admire the beauty of the tall dinner plate dahlias in an assortment of spectacular colors. They’re a breathtaking sight, so decorative and beautiful.

Sadly we report that Mary Gillespie Thompson of the Lilac House on Market and Astor streets suffered a fall, fracturing her shoulder. She was transported to Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, where she received emergency treatment. Mary is back home recuperating. Best wishes to her from everyone. Mary has a jolly personality and delights her many customers at her popular bed and breakfast and friends she meets along the way. Get well, Mary.

Happy birthday August 8 to McKenna Rose McKay and to her brother, Riley, August 14. They are the children of Katie and Randy McKay of Chassell. Their aunt and uncle, Patty and Brian Schoenberg, left on Monday to help the children celebrate.

The white hydrangea bush in the wonderful flower garden of Dwight LaPine on French Lane is bearing blooms larger than a grapefruit. Visitors stop each day while passing by just to admire the variety of flowers of every description.

Special thanks to everyone who assisted at the emergency on Windermere Point Monday afternoon. To the emergency medical team, police officers, and doctors and nurses at the medical center, you’re a very dedicated team.

Islander Mikie Gallagher will reach his big 50th birthday August 24 and we wish him a very happy one. To celebrate, he will entertain his friends August 27 at Wawashkamo Golf Course. Mikie has a very nice wife, Paula, who is employed at Doud Mercantile, where she greets customers each day. Paula and Mikie make their home in Harrisonville. Mikie is always pleased to add funds to the Mark Gallagher scholarship fund, named for his late cousin and avid golfer who passed away several years ago at an early age.

Those of us who admire the local wildlife recently heard a marvelous story from Cynthia Cawthorne, who lives close to the shore at her home at British Landing. She reports seeing a mama duck leading a flock of 29 little ones. Quite a sight.

Marsha Orr of Boston is coming to spend her August 16 birthday with her sisters, Debra and Sandra. Happy birthday, Marsha.

While golfing at the Jewel on Sunday evening, August 14, Virginia and Dan Riordan, Margaret Doud and Charlie Lilliquist saw a blue heron, which was very beautiful. The golf game ended with dinner at The Jockey Club.

A very nice concert by a steel drum band was held on Windermere Point Sunday, sponsored by the Community Foundation.

It was a perfect Mackinac day for a party at the Mackinac Island Yacht Club, where guests could gather on the verandah with its magnificent view of the Island harbor. Candi Dunnigan and Lin Sheppard were both celebrating their 50th birthday by entertaining their many friends. Happy birthday to Candi and Lin.

Don Francis returned from his exciting hunting trip to South Africa. He has many pictures which he hopes to share with readers of The St. Ignace News and Town Crier.

On Sunday we had a very nice visit from Sara and Al Sevener from Petoskey. Sara is the granddaughter of the late Frank J. Dufina, long time pro at the Wawashkamo Golf Course. It was great reminiscing bygone days. Mr. Dufina taught many of the children of summer cottagers. He was a familiar figure, riding to the course bright and early, driven by his helper, Hamlin, in a little horse-drawn surrey. Frank Dufina gave advice to all his students: “Swing easy, hit them long.” Great memories never to be forgotten.

Lucas Karhoff, young son of Jennifer and David of Findlay, Ohio, enjoyed a week on the Island with his parents and rode in the 35th Annual Mackinac Island Horse Show at Great Turtle Park Sunday, August 14, which is sponsored by the Mackinac Island Horsemen’s Association. Lucas, riding on Blaze, won the Western Championship. He was delighted with the handsome ribbon placed on Blaze and also the great trophy which he won. The Karhoffs and Jennifer’s mother, Lois Griffin, are long-time summer cottagers of Bourisaw Lane. They come to Mackinac many times a year and are strong supporters of our annual Christmas Bazaar in December, bringing great prizes for the auction. Lucas is a 5th grade student in Findlay. Come again soon. Best wishes to Mrs. Griffin from Island friends.

Audrey Gallery is enjoying her lovely cottage at Hubbard’s Annex, which she has owned for 35 years. She recently entertained her nephew, William Emory, wife Jayne, and their three children, Katie, John, and Andrew, from south of London, England. Everyone had a great time, enjoying Audrey’s gracious hospitality.

Monday, August 15, Audrey described the day as pristine. Cottagers of the West Bluff, Mary and Skip Warp, invited her to join them aboard their Chris-Craft cruiser FOG, which belonged to Skip’s late father, Harold. FOG stands for Flex-O-Glass, which is the Warp business in Chicago. They all enjoyed swimming off the sand beach on the other side of Round Island. A great time was had by all.

Family members joined Will Barnwell, son of Mary Jane and the late Roman Barnwell, as he received his First Holy Communion at the 9 a.m. mass at Ste. Anne’s, celebrated by Father Rey Garcia Sunday morning, August 14. Congratulations to Will. We’re all very proud of you.

Adrienne Coyne of St. Ignace was joined by her stepson, Dennis Coyne, Sunday, August 14, as they visited their friends, Sherry Raya and Bud Bourisaw.

It was fun to see and welcome the High Wheelers to our Island each summer. They were all dressed in period costumes. They were guests at the Murray Hotel.

Many attended the art show and reception at the Mackinac Island Public Library Saturday, August 13. Beautiful paintings by local artists were on display.

The Robert O’Keefes of Oak Brook, Illinois, are vacationing at their cottage in Woodbluff with its magnificent view of the Straits of Mackinac.

Island friends would like to send warmest and best wishes to their friend, Dr. Robert Holle of St. Ignace, who always gave his Island dental patients a warm welcome to his office. We sincerely hope that you and Janis are enjoying a happy summer.

Bev and Bob Benjamin have just returned from their great vacation, which took them to Russia and the Scandinavian countries. They had a wonderful time. Bev described seeing the Danish folks hand painting the beautiful Royal Copenhagen china, my favorite.

The healthy vegetable gardens on the Island are producing wonderful tomatoes, potatoes, green peppers, cucumbers, and everything imaginable. It’s the best crop we’ve had in many years.

Jack Edward Dehring III is visiting his parents, Jack and Dorothy, and sister, Sarah. He and his friend also attended the Barch and Fisher wedding Saturday, August 6. Jack is a teacher in the Evanston, Illinois school district.

Alice Sharrow is enjoying the summer with her husband, Buck, who is employed by Mike Young, summer cottager of the West Bluff. Buck is in charge and the driver of all the Young’s horses.

Mary and Cal Rogers of St. Ignace visited Island relatives and friends over the weekend.

We’re sending best wishes to Paul Michalke, who with his wife, Joan, and son, Frank, now make their home in Sterling. We missed seeing you on Mackinac this summer.

Brother Jim Boynton, S.J., Director of Vocations at the University of Detroit, returned to his duties this week after spending the summer months at Ste. Anne’s, where he’s a great help to the parish, assisting Father Rey Garcia. We miss you already, Brother Jim. We look forward to seeing you in September.

The Brandonisio family is spending the summer in their cottage on Spring Street.

John Shufelt, owner of Mission Point Resort, is spending a week on the Island.

Dick and Dee Czapek of Grand Rapids are visiting Dee’s sister, Candy Smith, and family. It’s great seeing you back on Mackinac.

Melinda Porter of Harbor Springs celebrated her birthday August 15 with family and friends at the Hack-Mi-Tack Inn in Cheboygan.

Jennie Shanku and Jason St. Onge spent the weekend in the Detroit area.

Margaret Horn and Pete Komblevitz accompanied young students on a rafting trip down the river in Indian River Monday, August 15. They had an exciting and enjoyable time.

Remember to attend the Mackinac Island Medical Center Auction Sunday, August 21, at Grand Hotel. Any donations would be appreciated. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and raises money for the Mackinac Island Medical Center. Tickets for the big raffle are $100 each and may be purchased at the medical center. Prizes are needed for the big auction and for the silent auction. Please drop them off at the medical center.

Enjoy the cooler days.