NEWS ABOUT PEOPLE ON MACKINAC ISLAND
BY JEANNETTE DOUD

May your Easter season be filled with an abundance of happiness and good health.

The earth is awakening from its long winter nap and now we await the birth of springtime. We rejoice in the warm breezes, the beauty each day of bright sunshine, the early blooming crocuses in many colors, yellow, blue, and purples, and the joyful singing of the birds, their sounds filling the air with music.

Sunday morning, April 9, a most beautiful sight was seen high in the bright blue sky, colorful kites being flown over Windermere Point by the Great Turtle Toy Company. The Straits are free of ice floes, thus allowing the big freighters to go sailing by. Bright tulips and daffodils are peaking above ground after a long winter's nap beneath the ice and snow. Although many of us enjoyed the winter scenery and the beautiful snow, we're happy to welcome spring.

Once again our Mackinac Island Medical Center and its staff were pressed into emergency service Thursday, April 6, at noon. Island residents Cub and Kitty Horn were aboard the MV Huron when Cub became very ill and they left the boat to seek medical attention. At the medical center, Cub was found to be having a heart attack. Dr. Christopher Fish of Kalamazoo was the attending physician in the absence of Dr. Don Weersing. Dr. Fish and the staff of nurse Chris Clark, paramedic Rick Linn, EMT Pam Lach, and clinic coordinator Kay Hoppenrath did an excellent job stabilizing Cub. He was immediately transported by North Flight helicopter to Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, where he underwent heart cauterization. After spending several days in the hospital, Cub is recuperating at his home in Harrisonville. He will return to Northern Michigan Hospital in three weeks for further treatment. Best wishes to Cub from his many friends on Mackinac. The Mackinac Island Police Department assisted.

Happy birthday to Duane Drost of Petoskey April 18. Enjoy your day.

Happy 16th birthday to James Dunnigan of Grass Lake and Mackinac April 18. Have a great day.

My good friend Charlotte Sweeney Schmitt of Burr Ridge, Illinois, and Mackinac, sent exciting news. A photograph of her daughter, Muffy Ernster, driving American Royal, hackney pony amateur grand champion for 2005. Congratulations to Muffy and her handsome pony.

Richard LaPine, John Chambers, Camille Bobinsky, and Ellie Chambers will all celebrate their birthdays April 20. Hope your day is special.

Bob and Lorraine O'Keefe of Woodbluff attended the Detroit Kennel Club Dog Show Saturday, March 18, and Sunday, March 19. Their twoyear old boxer, Keefer, swept the boxer breed by winning best of breed on both days and winning third place in the working class. Congratulations from Island friends.

We've just learned that our good friend, Carmen Golden, of Monroe and Mackinac, has not been feeling her best. We're wishing her a speedy recovery. Carmen's love for Mackinac brings her back each summer, where she is employed with Urvana Morse at the Island Scrimshander Shop. Friends may send her a note at the following address: 401 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, MI 48161. Best wishes from Island friends.

Jill Sawatzki loves animals and spent the past two weeks house and dog sitting Bessie, while Leanne Brodeur and Mark "Lou", Morgan, and Darcy were visiting Dennis Brodeur in Naples, Florida. While Betty and Barry BeDour were in Traverse City celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary, Jill took Bessie up to the BeDours' East Bluff cottage to dog sit Buddy. Rest assured that Bessie and Buddy enjoyed a fun time. Jill left on Monday to spend Easter with her family in Lansing. She will return later to start the 2006 season at the Island Bookstore.

Julie and Jimmy Fisher joined Julie's mother, Joan Barch, and they traveled to Iowa, where they celebrated the first birthday of Joan's twin grandchildren.

Happy birthday April 21 to Allison Jones, Eli Urman, Liz Burt, Annie Linn, and Suzanne Munger. Enjoy your day.

Molly and Vince Carroll will be leaving Sarasota, Florida, Sunday, May 7, en route to Mackinac Island, stopping in Iowa to visit relatives before coming to the Island for the summer. The Reverend Vince is the minister at Little Stone Church.

Russ and Jan Sager spent the weekend at their condominium in Leslie Court.

Sam and Barb Kovalak and grandson, Ethan, of Grand Rapids spent the weekend at their home in the Mission. They're very excited about the pending arrival of twin grandchildren in late May.

Glen and Deanna St. Onge visited the Island Friday night and were excited to see Jason and Jennie St. Onge's new home in Stonecliffe Manor. Glen will return soon to help Jason with his house and Deanna will wait for the arrival of the addition to the Eric St. Onge family.

Happy Easter to Gary and Larry LaPine, who are patients at the Mackinac Straits Hospital Long Term Care Facility in St. Ignace. Enjoy your Easter baskets.

Happy 17th wedding anniversary April 22 to Brian and Candi Dunnigan of Grass Lake and Mackinac. We wish you many more years of good health and happiness.

Anneke and Matt Myers are enjoying a vacation to New Zealand.

The 7th Heaven Salon and Spa in The Gate House complex will open for the season Wednesday, April 19.

Wayne Drost, Jeff Davenport, Dorothy Dehring, Tim Horn, and Amelia Roe will all celebrate their birthdays April 22. Have a wonderful day.

Rosemary and Joe Kompsi returned home Sunday, April 9, after spending the winter in Englewood, Florida. Rosemary will be busy getting her Indian Drum shop ready for the 2006 season.

Best wishes to Veronica Massaway of St. Ignace and Mackinac, who is recuperating following recent surgery at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey.

Jennifer and Frank Bloswick Jr. were in Detroit over the weekend, where they attended a jewelry show and found many items for their Mackinac Lapidary store for the 2006 season.

Anna Mary and Gary Cusack of Petoskey visited Anna Mary's mother, Helga Doud, this past week. Helga will join them in Petoskey for Easter.

Happy birthday to Paul Brown April 23. Enjoy your day.

Rena and Vic Callewaert visited their Island home on Lakeshore Drive for several days this past week. They will return soon to open their businesses for the 2006 season.

It's wonderful to see Jim Roe back in his office on the Arnold Dock, where he is employed by the Mackinac Island Service Company. Jim, you look great.

Patty and Brian Schoenborn with daughter, Lillian Rose, spent the weekend in Grand Rapids with Brian's family. Bonnie and Emmett Schoenborn enjoyed seeing their granddaughter.

Happy birthday to my good friend, Mila Horn, April 23. Hope you have a great day.

Greetings to Alice Myron, summer cottager of the East Bluff who has spent five weeks in Florida. We look forward to seeing you on Mackinac.

Marian Petersen remains a patient at Northern Michigan Hospital, recuperating from her recent accident. Island friends send best wishes and warm greetings for a speedy recovery.

Dr. Christopher Fish of Kalamazoo, who was the doctor on call at the Mackinac Island Medical Center recently, described our emergency room as "state of the art." He was very impressed with the modern facility.

Dr. Steve Humphrey of Columbia, South Carolina, enjoyed his home on the Woods Golf Course over the weekend. Dr. Humphrey will retire soon, so he plans to spend a lot of time on the Island.

Cadotte Avenue is a busy area with much traffic to and from Grand Hotel as many employees are helping to get the beautiful facility ready for opening Thursday, May 4.

The Chris Szabo family is having the pleasure of a visit from Chris's parents from Chicago over the Easter holiday.

Andrew McGreevy of Mackinac and Petoskey is busy helping to get everything ready for Grand Hotel's opening date.

Mary K. McIntire visited the Island Monday, April 10.

Happy birthday to Jimmy Gillespie and Joanna Tamlyn April 24. Enjoy your day.

Great news for the economy. A recent newspaper clipping headline read, "Shipping at the Soo Locks Starts the Busiest Since the Good Old Days." Twenty-four ships were counted in line on opening day of the Soo Locks. Many of the big ships have been passing through Round Island Passage, a wonderful sight. Boat watching is not only exciting, it is fascinating.

Father Rey Garcia, S.J. of Ste. Anne's recently attended the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral in Marquette with Bishop Alex Sample as celebrant.

Andrew Doud, manager of The Gate House, is busy getting the new restaurant ready for opening Friday, April 21.

The popular Sea Biscuit Restaurant is open for the 2006 season.

Chris McCready will celebrate her birthday April 26. Have a wonderful day.

What a surprise Sunday, April 9, to meet my good friends Cindi, Skip, McKenna, and Nicholas Kutsop from Mountainside, New Jersey, who are the owners of a Shipwatch condominium at the Mission. They just love Mackinac and will return later for a two-week stay.

Pat Pulte of Ann Arbor visited his Island home recently and will return soon to open the Murray and Inn on Mackinac.

The recent tornado which devastated Tennessee also gave Virginia and Dan Riordan a scare at their home in Marietta, Georgia. They were awakened at 4:30 a.m. in the morning by the sound of many sirens and a six-hour power outage. The terrific wind struck many buildings and did considerable damage to the area. Virginia and Dan are fine, but it was a very scary experience. Dan, I hope you found your flashlight. We look forward to seeing you in June.

Mimi Cunningham of Grand Hotel arrived Monday to prepare the Grand Hotel shops for the 2006 season.

R.D. Musser, chairman of Grand Hotel, arrived Tuesday to oversee the opening of the hotel for the 2006 season.

The St. Onge Latex and Groove paint crew is busy preparing Grand Hotel for an early opening of the Millennium Wing Friday, April 21, and the grand opening of the hotel Thursday, May 4.

Jane and Leonard Johnson of Fort Myers, Florida, have spent and enjoyed being on Mackinac during the summer for the past 14 years. Leonard was night auditor at the Lake View Hotel and Jane was employed in a gift shop in the Horse Corral Mall. They were on the Island this past week saying goodbye to their many friends. Sadly, they will not be on Mackinac this summer. Best wishes to Jane and Leonard from Island friends.

The huge flock of mallard ducks that we've been feeding all winter continue to be very healthy. Should we be late feeding, some come up on the patio and peak in the window.

The city crew started back to work Monday, April 10. They're getting the Island ready for the 2006 season.

Adopted from the Mackinac County Animal Shelter in St. Ignace, Annabelle is very happy in her new home with Jody and Mark Chambers, where the children love their new pet.

Rosie Charnes of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Mackinac has become a greatgreat grandmother. Little Kyara Samantha Weaver was born Saturday, March 18, weighing 8 pounds, 8 ounces. She is the daughter of William and Stephanie Weaver of Carmel, Indiana. Rosie is on cloud nine.

Palm Sunday services were celebrated at Trinity

Episcopal Church with the Reverend Anita officiating. Father Rey Garcia, S.J. celebrated mass at Ste. Anne's.

Happy Easter to Aunt Lou Riley of Naples, Florida, and to my good friend, Jean Coyne, of Garrett, Indiana.

Each day brings spring closer and closer. Many folks are busy getting their businesses open for the season. Soon, the wildflowers, trilliums, daffodils, and tulips will cover the Island and the songbirds will be joyful and happy. Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful. They're sunshine, food, and medicine to the soul.

Happy Easter.