News About People On Mackinac Island

By Jeannette Doud

Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of the Labor Day holiday on Mackinac were the most beautiful days of the summer. Glorious and magnificent fail to describe how great Mother Nature was to the hundreds of guests who visited the Island, with heavenly blue skies, brilliant sunshine, and warm temperatures.

Jazz lovers gathered in the gardens of Grand Hotel to listen and enjoy some of their favorite artists: Ramsey Lewis, Eartha Kitt, Chuck Mangione, Claudia Schmidt, and the famous Grand Hotel Orchestra with Director Alex Graham. It was perfect for an outdoor function. Fans came from far and near to be on hand for one of their very favorite concerts. Sunday morning, September 4, on Grand Hotel’s longest porch in the world, guests were treated to the singing of The Choir Academy of Chicago. What a spectacular weekend it was. Joy and happiness was brought to the many visitors. It was a fabulous time.

At left: Cedarville residents Beth Lysinger (left) and Kathy Hosford attended the Jazz Festival at Grand Hotel Saturday.

Mary and Wes Maurer make the jazz weekend a tradition, never failing to come over from their St. Ignace home. They continue to follow in the footsteps of the late Margaret and Wes Maurer Sr. Great memories never to be forgotten.

Sunday, September 4, at 7 p.m. the jazz band from the Great Lakes Naval Academy in Illinois held a delightful concert on Windermere Point. Visitors and Islanders formed a great audience. The night, once again, was perfect for an outdoor event. The band also played at Fort Mackinac and on the porch of Grand Hotel.

The night display of colorful fireworks Sunday from St. Ignace filled the evening sky with beauty and elegance as seen by many on the Island. A great ending to a fabulous weekend.

Many from Mackinac joined in the annual walk on the Mackinac Bridge, a yearly tradition.

Guests of Brian and Barbara Hellis over the holiday weekend were Mary Lou and Ed Culliton from New York state.

The Glen Young family returned to their Petoskey home Monday, September 5. Jane and Glen are teachers in the Petoskey school system.

The flowers in the gardens all over the Island are as bright and colorful as they were in midsummer, very beautiful. We’ve been enjoying wonderful tomatoes from Tim Timmons’ garden and Mackinac potatoes from Ron O’Neil’s garden.

We give a warm welcome to Kandi and Tim Brice with children Mac and Meggie of Bloomfield Hills, who love Mackinac and return each summer for two weeks. In 2004 they rented the Goodwin Cottage on the West Bluff, and in 2005 they’re enjoying the Davie Cottage on the East Bluff. Avid readers of the Town Crier , they learn of all the happenings and of the many friends they’ve made.

Little Ryan North and his dad, Dave, visited Island friends on Labor Day. A very happy Ryan was delighted to ride on his Uncle Mike’s ferry.

Skip Harrell and his family from Bloomington, Indiana, are vacationing at their Cable Cottage on Lakeshore Drive with its magnificent view of the Straits. Mary Cable, their late aunt, would be very pleased to know that they’re enjoying her home.

Peggy Wickman Bogan of Glenview, Illinois, is visiting her aunt, Helga Doud, and cousins, Anna Mary and Gary Cusack and Franc Doud. Peggy has many happy memories of growing up on Mackinac, when her late parents, Eric and Olga Wickman, owned a cottage on the East Bluff.

Happy birthday September 1 to Eric Cowell, who makes his home with his grandmother, Peggy Cowell, his father, Jim, and brother, Fuller. Both are students at the Mackinac Island Public School.

It was a fun weekend over Labor Day, when they all met once again. Carolyn May from Oakland University, Heather May from Central Michigan University, Richard Chambers from Northern Michigan University, and Lee May of Ann Arbor, where he is employed at the University of Michigan in the graphic arts/housing department. As soon as Lee arrived, he changed into his work clothes and assisted his dad, Marvin May, making candy for their May’s fudge stores.

Peggy Bynoe, a graduate music student from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, joined her family over Labor Day. Peggy is now student teaching in that city. Everyone enjoyed her playing at Ste. Anne’s masses and the lovely voices of Carolyn and Heather May.

Dr. and Mrs. Richard Hodgman spent a happy holiday on Mackinac with their daughter, Mary Deb, and her husband and their three children from Kalkaska. Dr. Hodgman was the doctor on call at the Mackinac Island Medical Center while Dr. Weersing was on vacation.

Friends joined Congressman Bart Stupak and his lovely wife, Laurie, as they welcomed guests to his fundraising party at Grand Hotel Tuesday evening.

Happy birthday August 30 to Eric Weber. Best wishes to him. He is the son of Nona Tacey and Kent Weber.

Mackinac Island is responding to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. A benefit party was held at the community hall Thursday, September 8, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Donations will be made to the American Red Cross. Please join in this urgent cause. It’s very difficult to see on television the great suffering in our country.

Brian, James, and Claire Dunnigan spent the holiday weekend with Candi at their Easterly Cottage. James and Claire are already in school at Grass Lake. Candi left with her horses Tuesday, September 6.

So nice to greet, over the weekend, Dr. and Mrs. Ed Wallon, longtime cottagers of Hubbard’s Annex, who now make their home in Rochester Hills. They attended the Largo wedding at Little Stone Church.

Welcome home to his birthplace on Mackinac to Ronald (Cushion) Bazinaw, who is visiting family members. He now lives in Arizona.

The Paul Wandrie family gave a red hat to their good friend, Rosie Charnes, which she wore Saturday at the Jazz Festival at Grand Hotel, looking very sharp.

At the Lasting Impressions Gift Shop on Market Street, passersby stop to admire the O’Neil’s dinner plate Dahlias, with beautiful yellow flowers, which are nine to 10 inches in diameter. Ron’s secret is the Mackinac compost mixed with Island soil.

Our deepest sympathy to Mary Wellington of Sault Ste. Marie on the recent death of her sister, Beatrice McDonald of Pickford. Beatrice and her husband, Ron, were well known by Island residents. As customers, they were often greeted by them in the former A & P Store in St. Ignace.

Mike, Jennifer, and Owen James Powell of St. Ignace enjoyed the jazz concert on Windermere Point Sunday evening. Owen had fun eating at Windermere Dog House, especially his hot fudge sundae.

Brian Findley and family were happy to be back home on Mackinac, where he spent many of his growing up summers, along with his brothers and sisters. His parents, Lois and John, will be leaving their Smallpoint Cottage Thursday. They hope to soon be semi-retired. We shall miss them, especially at Ste. Anne’s. Best wishes to them from Island friends.

John and Judy Lore and Bill and Cam Liebold enjoyed the Jazz Festival at the Grand.

Nick Haan of Haan’s 1830 Inn spent Labor Day on the Island from his teaching duties in Illinois.

School on the Island opened Tuesday, September 6, with a welcome-back picnic for all of the students, as well as friends and family.

Sheldon and Sue Smith of Washington, D.C. vacationed at Grand Hotel over the holiday. Sheldon is a former chairman of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission.

Rena and Vic Callewaert entertained at the Ice House at the Island House Hotel Monday evening, September 5, an annual tradition and a perfect summer night.

Welcome to Mackinac, Jean and Dr. Steve Humprey of Columbia, South Carolina, who are owners of Swan Cottage on Woods Golf Course.

There are still many large conventions coming to Grand Hotel during September, bringing good business to the Island.

Smi Horn and his daughter, Melinda Porter, walked the bridge Monday morning, September 5.

Happy birthday to Mary Callewaert Monday, September 5. Hope your day was special.

Mike and Linda Konicki of Cheboygan attended Vic Callewaert’s party Monday evening.

Monday evening, September 5, at 6 p.m., a very impressive ceremony was held at the Veteran’s Memorial in the city park to honor all the veterans by the American Legion Post 299 under the direction of Commander Paul Wandrie. Smi Horn was master of ceremonies and guest speaker was the Reverend Vincent Carroll, Captain, U.S. Navy Retired. Music was provided by the Mackinac Island singers. What a beautiful Labor Day evening and a very fitting way to end the summer season. It was very nice to see veteran Mary Thompson at the ceremony. She is recovering from a badly broken shoulder.

Dan and Virginia Riordan, Barbara and Brian Hellis, and Mary Lou Culliton walked the bridge Monday morning. They all agreed about the beauty of the day.

Enjoy the beautiful weather.