NEWS ABOUT PEOPLE ON MACKINAC ISLAND
BY JEANNETTE DOUD

Mackinac is a paradise in color. Cadotte Avenue on the way to Grand Hotel is a lilac lane, with every variety ranging from white lilacs, variegated, double whites, and those in the darkest of deep purple. The trees and bushes are heavily laden under the weight. They are magnificent everywhere one looks on the Island.

Owing to the warm temperatures and sunshine, the lilacs have bloomed early. Marquette Park, Mission Point, Harrisonville, and downtown areas are all displaying beauty following the cold days and nights of winter. In the front yard of my home next to the Windermere, one will see a beautiful tree covered with double white lilacs. This particular tree is well over 100 years old. It was planted by the late Patrick Doud. Also on Windermere Point, trees donated by the International Lilac Society are in full bloom.

The Lilac Festival officially opens Friday, June 9, with the crowning of the Lilac Queen in Marquette Park at 5:30 p.m. It's a wonderful time of the year to visit Mackinac.

On Wednesday, June 7, at least 10 full carriages went up Cadotte Avenue for a scenic trip through the Island at one of the most beautiful times of the year. The wooded areas are filled with wildflowers, forgetme nots, trillium, ladyslippers, and lilies of the valley.

Island friends, please remember Woodbluff resident Marsha Kleber, who is a patient at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey following major surgery on Monday. Her husband, Chuck, and daughters from Ann Arbor and Florida are with her. Please send get well wishes to Marsha at the following address: Northern Michigan Hospital, 416 Connable Avenue, Petoskey, MI 49770.

Happy 75th birthday to Lois Findley. John and Lois have been coming to Mackinac for 35 years and spent several winters on the Island when they taught at Mackinac Island Public School. The Findleys operate Small Point Bed and Breakfast at the east end of the Island. Special greetings from your many Mackinac friends.

A very special Islander, George Wellington, will be celebrating his 70th birthday June 11. He is one of the hardest workers imaginable. Having retired from Mackinac Island State Park, he now drives winter taxi and is employed yeararound by Mackinac Island Carriage Tours. George is one of seven children of the late Charles and Helen Wellington. He and his wife, Geraldine, and their two children, George Jr. and Carrie, live in Harrisonville. George really enjoys his two granddaughters, Jennifer Putnam and Sarah Wessel. Have a great day.

Dr. and Mrs. Robert Spitzer of Detroit, along with their family, have been enjoying their beautiful home in Woodbluff, which has a terrific view of the Straits of Mackinac.

Happy belated birthday to Veronica Massaway June 4. Hope you had a good day.

Leo Krzeminski lives in his comfortable residence on McGulpin Street, which previously was the home of his late wife Annie's mother and family. The garden in the front yard of the cottage was planted by Mrs. Marshall and still blooms each summer. On Tuesday, Leo brought me a beautiful bouquet of bright red peonies and pink and white lilacs. This remembrance brought back happy memories to me. Annie and I grew up together on Mahoney Avenue, sharing our friendship for a lifetime. Special thanks to Leo.

Happy wedding anniversary to Dr. Fran and Lorna Straus June 11. Enjoy your day.

Paul Michalke of Sterling and Mackinac will celebrate his birthday June 10. Paul grew up on the Island and taught school here for several years at Mackinac Island Public School. Special greetings from your friends on Mackinac.

The employees of the Windermere Hotel are very excited. The four blue robin eggs that were laid by mother robin in the old nest on the fire

escape hatched this past week and out peaked four darling little robins. Mother Nature is the greatest.

Happy birthday to Don Francis June 11. Hope your day is special.

Muffin Ernster enjoyed a Mackinac visit to her cottage in Hubbard's Annex this past week. She hopes to return a bit later, bringing her mother, Charlotte Sweeney Schmitt, for a visit. It's always great to see Muffy and to hear about her beautiful horses.

Marian King of St. Ignace enjoys the Mackinac Island column. Marian is a frequent visitor to Mackinac Straits Hospital Long Term Care Facility in St. Ignace, where she sees my good friends, Gary and Larry LaPine of Mackinac. Gary and Larry will celebrate their birthday June 17. Everyone on Mackinac sends special greetings. Hope you both have a wonderful day.

Annette and Bob Gillespie had the pleasure of a visit from their two lovely granddaughters, Sydney and Logan Kleinhentz from Harbor Springs. I had a very nice visit with the girls.

Horseback riders from Cindy's Riding Stable on Market Street are seen riding by on their way to enjoy Island trails.

Helga Doud attended the graduation exercises in Petoskey Sunday, June 4, where her great-granddaughter, Kassie Koboski, was graduated from Petoskey High School. Congratulations to Kassie from Island family and friends.

Mark Chambers will celebrate his birthday June 13. I'm sure that little Clara will help you blow out your candles.

Once again, many emergencies were treated at the Mackinac Island Medical Center this past week. Dr. Richard Hodgman of Kalkaska is the doctor in charge in the absence of Dr. Don Weersing.

Happy birthday to Joe Kompsi June 14. Hope Rosemary bakes you a big cake.

Audrey Gallery of Chicago, Ill., is enjoying her cottage in Hubbard's Annex, where she is entertaining houseguests from California.

Vicki Bankard Riel and three guests from South Bend, Indiana, have been the guests of the Windermere Hotel for several days. At this time of year, Vicki always visits the Island cemetery, bringing flowers for her parents' graves.

Tom Corrigan of Glenview, Illinois, spent the weekend at his Island residence on Lakeshore Drive.

Wednesday afternoon, June 7, I was pleasantly surprised to have a visit from Captain Paul Allers of Mackinaw City. He is now retired after more than 50 years of dedicated service to Arnold Transit Company. Although he misses his many friends, he is enjoying his retirement.

Many friends of Congressman Bart Stupak joined him for a golf tournament on Drummond Island Saturday, June 3. The weather was absolutely beautiful for the event.

It was most enjoyable on Saturday to receive a visit from Dr. Dave Zender and his wife, Mary, and son from Harbor Springs. Dr. Dave is from Bay Pines Veterinary Clinic and has many patients on Mackinac. They had a fun time riding their bikes around the Island and later stopping by the Windermere Doghouse for a brat. The weather was perfect for a relaxing day on the Island.

Val Porter and Katie Cederholm are back on Mackinac for the summer months.

Shops all over the Island have fine merchandise for sale. Many windows are decorated for the Lilac Festival.

East Bluff cottager Alice Myron of Port Huron enjoyed being here for the weekend. She returned to Port Huron on Sunday to attend the graduation of her granddaughter.

Bud Bourisaw and Sherry Rayha of Cheboygan returned to Mackinac on Monday for the summer season. They're comfortably settled in their home on Bourisaw Lane.

Best wishes to Jack Shaffer, father of Jeff, who is a patient at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Hope to see you on Mackinac soon.

Mike Gamble of Gamble Roofing is building a summer cottage for Judd Puttkammer and family in Hubbard's Annex.

Father Ted Brodeur, pastor of St. Mary's Pro Cathedral in Sault Ste. Marie, celebrated the 40th anniversary of his ordination Sunday, June 4. His brother, Dennis, and Father Rey Garcia of Ste. Anne's attended the celebration.

The Morello family of Saginaw brought their mother, the late Lois Dufina Morello, home to Mackinac for burial Friday, May 26. Lois, the daughter of the late Phillip and Elizabeth Dufina, was born on the Island and spent her early childhood with her sisters, Mary G. Dufina and Francis Dufina of Inverness, Florida, and one brother, Dennis Dufina of Alpena and Florida.

She later married and spent her life in Saginaw, where she was the mother of six sons and one daughter. A funeral mass was celebrated at Ste. Anne's with burial following in the Island cemetery. Deepest sympathy to the family from Island friends.

Francis Dufina of Inverness, Florida, was on the Island for the funeral of her sister, Lois Morello. She was the guest of her cousin, Judy Bynoe, at her home on Bourisaw Lane. Francis is retired from the federal government.

Looking east from Doud Mercantile corner, one sees the finest display of lilac time on Mackinac. Along with the beautiful yachts moored at the marina, it is a breathtaking sight.

Island friends send warmest wishes to Jim Droskie of St. Ignace, who is a patient at University of Michigan Medical

Center in Ann Arbor. Cards or letters may be sent to him at 8B Room 8423, U of M Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0112.

Bart and Nina Huthwaite of Florida have returned to Mackinac for the summer season and are settled in their beautiful home in Woodbluff.

Paul and Emily Fullerton of St. Ignace enjoyed the Manoogian Art Show Sunday evening at Grand Hotel.

The family of Mary Milton will hold a graveside memorial service for her Saturday, June 24, at 11 a.m. at the Mackinac Island Cemetery.

The family of Meryl Eriksson will hold a memorial service for her Monday, July 3, at 10:30 a.m. at the Little Stone Church, with burial to follow at the Mackinac Island Cemetery.

Enjoy lilac time on Mackinac.