NEWS ABOUT PEOPLE ON MACKINAC ISLAND
BY JEANNETTE DOUD

Monday, September 4, we celebrate Labor Day. Hopefully, everyone will enjoy a warm, bright sunny day as we come to the changing of seasons. One can hardly believe that the beautiful days of summer have quickly come to an end. During the autumn season, we shall see hearty chrysanthemums in the gardens ranging in colors from bright orange, yellow, pinks, red, and lavender. The apples are gently falling to the ground, their flavor the greatest in apple pies and sauce. Riding around the Island, one shall see the little apple trees along the way, where the squirrels and wee chipmunks are busy gathering their winter harvest.

A happy note to all and especially those folks who have horses on Mackinac. A recent call from my good friend, Charlotte Sweeney Schmitt, from her home in Bur Ridge, Illinois, gave me the wonderful news that her daughter, Muffy Ernster, of Monroe, Wisconsin, and Mackinac, attended the horse show in Louisville, Kentucky, where her grand champion hackney pony "Royal Canadian" was judged best in the world. Congratulations to Muffin from Island friends.

Last week, when emergencies at the Mackinac Island Medical Center required the assistance of the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter from Traverse City to take a patient from the Island to Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, EMT Sam Barnwell was required to accompany the patient. In the wee hours of the morning, Paul Fullerton of Great Lakes Air made sure that Sam got back on the Island. Paul shows many kindnesses to all the Islanders and visitors. Congratulations on Paul's recent election to the St. Ignace City Council.

Happy 22nd anniversary to Carol and Doug Rearick Friday, August 25. The flowers in the Rearicks' gardens are magnificent in an array of beautiful colors.

Helen Powell will celebrate her birthday September 4. Enjoy your day.

Buzz and Carolyn Waggoner will celebrate their wedding anniversary September 3. Have a great day.

Happy birthday to Megan Weber and Brad Horn September 4. Hope you enjoy your day.

We give a warm welcome to Dr. Kathy Rellinger of Bon Secour Hospital in Grosse Pointe and to Dr. Richard Hodgman of Kalkaska, who are the doctors in residence at the Mackinac Island Medical Center when Dr. Don Weersing is away. The medical center is a vital institution on Mackinac. The staff has been busy with many emergencies.

Our good friends, Dick and Dee Czapek of Grand Rapids, will celebrate their wedding anniversary September 6. We miss you on Mackinac. Hope to see you soon on the Island.

We're pleased to report that two of our Islanders who have been patients at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey are doing well. Rob Bynoe returned to his Island home Sunday, August 27, and is recuperating nicely after major surgery. Bud Bourisaw remains hospitalized, but is doing better.

Last week, the two days of rain settled the dust and made everything fresh and green on the Island. The bright sunny days have continued and hopefully will remain through the holiday weekend.

Eric Weber, son of Nona Tacey Chambers and Kent D. Weber, has enrolled at Michigan Technological University in Houghton. Best wishes to Eric. Enjoy your school year.

In one of the recent issues of the Mackinac Island Town Crier, there was a story about the rare bird, Black Crown Night Heron, that makes his home in the maple trees behind the Windermere Hotel. Wednesday, August 30, we noticed two people in our yard, only to learn that they were bird watchers and were fascinated to learn from the paper about this bird. They were able to see it and take pictures of this beautiful bird.

Peggy Bynoe left Tuesday to begin her new position as music instructor at a school in Grand Rapids. Peggy was graduated from Aquinas College in May and is a very accomplished musician. Best wishes to Peggy for a great year.

The Randy McKay family of Chassell is visiting Katie's mother, Judy Bynoe and family.

Emily and Steve Palella, with two little daughters, Shannon and Kaylee, have spent a most enjoyable week at the home of Emily's parents, the Tom Corrigans, on Lakeshore Drive.

Alex Gillespie, son of Bob and Annette, is the new musical director at the Pope John Paul II High School in Boca Raton, Florida. Have a great year.

A party, and what a party it was. The benefit auction for the Mackinac Island Medical Center was held Sunday, August 27, at Grand Hotel's Woodfill Center. At the silent auction, many folks could be seen shopping for a variety of gifts, from gift certificates to homemade maple syrup. Guests enjoyed a wonderful picnic dinner followed by spirited bidding at the live auction for items ranging from handmade jewelry by Frank Bloswick Jr. to a two-night stay on Beaver Island, accommodations in the Masco Cottage at Grand Hotel, and dinners for 10 or more cooked by various Island chefs. It was amazing to watch auctioneer David Levy work the crowd. The 50/50 prize was won by Walter North. The big raffle prize of $5,000 was won by Jim Smith, $3,000 was won by Carol Rearick, and $2,000 was won by Jay Stingel. The net amount raised for the medical center was more than $90,000. A special thanks to the Musser family for hosting the benefit and to everyone who worked, donated, and attended this event for such a vital institution on Mackinac Island.

Thursday, August 24, the Fifth Annual Golf Tournament, which benefits the Mackinac Island Medical Center and the Moses Dialysis Unit at Mackinac Straits Hospital, was held at the Little Jewel and Woods golf courses. It was a beautiful day and everyone had a great time. A delightful dinner was served at Woods, ending a great day.

Saturday, August 26, Lorma and Jim Kolatski Sr. were treated to a ride in the Grand Hotel carriage with their son-in-law, Ben Mosley, as coachman driving two prancing hackneys. They thought that they were going to Grand Hotel for dinner to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Instead, at the end of the tour, they stopped at the Mackinac Island Community Hall, where 50 years ago they had their wedding reception. Their children, Jim Jr., Lorna, Tim, Norman, and Louann, and their families, surprised their parents with a wonderful gathering of family and friends. The highlight and a total surprise to Jim and Lorma were two Japanese exchange students, who had attended Mackinac Island Public School and lived with the Kolatskis, and a brother of one of the students, coming all the way from Japan for the celebration. Jim and Lorma were married at the Little Stone Church September 1, 1956. They live on Mackinac surrounded by their children, grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; their son, Gary Kolatski, is deceased.

Congratulations to the Kolatskis from Island friends.

With the perfect weather that we've been enjoying, we look forward to a busy Labor Day and the Mackinac Bridge Walk. Grand Hotel will be hosting its annual jazz concert, one of the biggest events of the season.

Chris LaTocha, D.D.S., of Mackinaw City recently returned from the University of Chicago Hospital, where he received a clean bill of health. He is doing great and attended the Upper Peninsula Dental Conference at Grand Hotel.

Happy birthday to Ann Timmons September 9. Enjoy your day.

Dr. Mike and Jane Bacon will celebrate their wedding anniversary September 9. Best wishes from Island friends.

Just walking along the street and bidding folks good morning, I've met so many interesting folks. Tuesday, August 29, a gentleman from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, stopped by to admire the flowers in front of Geranium Cottage nurtured by Kevin Leveille. He could not believe how healthy the plants were. Still another family from Hamilton, Ontario, stopped by to inquire about Mackinac. They were Green Bay Packers fans en route to Green Bay for the game on Friday night. The grandson was wearing his grandfather's first Packers Super Bowl ring, going back 40 years. You really meet people from all over the world.

School opens Tuesday, September 5. Everyone is invited to a barbecue picnic at noon at the school. It will be a good way to welcome the new school superintendent, Roger Schrock, and his wife, Linda, to our community. Happy birthday to Burton Gough September 5. Have a great day.

Karen Huisman of St. Ignace, who works at the La Galerie, will celebrate her birthday September 5. Enjoy your day.

Three Island ladies, Debbie Bradley, Loretta Spata, and Carmen Golden, will celebrate their birthdays September 7. Hope you all have a very special day.

Special thanks to Nancy La Ferier, manager of LaChance Cottage, who shared an article from the Jacksonville, Illinois, paper describing Mackinac and Grand Hotel in a full-page color spread in the travel section. Wonderful coverage for the Island.

Recent houseguests of Audrey Gallery of Hubbard's Annex were Leo Sherwood from San Francisco, California, Kent Sherwood from Malibu, California, and his friend, Vicki Laken, from Bel Air, California.

Congressman Bart and Laurie Stupak were honored at a fundraising gathering at Grand Hotel Tuesday, August 29. Many friends came from Sault Ste. Marie, St. Ignace, Menominee, and the Island to thank Congressman Stupak for all his hard work.

Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hesslin of Manistee spent their annual weekend at Windermere Hotel. They enjoy the Island and love the porch at the hotel.

It was wonderful seeing Maggie Sweeney of Grosse Pointe along with her son, Ted Jr., his wife, Amy, and children, Maggie and Ted III, at the medical center auction. They were enjoying their Trillium Cottage in Hubbard's Annex with its beautiful view of the Straits of Mackinac.

Marsha and Chuck Kleber were enjoying the annual medical center party. Marsha looks great following her recent surgery.

Out-of-town friends having a great time at the Sunday auction were Walt North, Judge Tom North, Pat and Dave Ramsay, Janis Holle, Paula McNamara, Wes and Mary Maurer, Jack Welcher, and Ollie Boynton.

Marilyn McCready of Cheboygan enjoyed the 50th anniversary celebration for Jim and Lorma Kolatski.

Happy birthday to Marvin May September 8. Happy wedding anniversary September 10 to Marvin and his wife, Christy. We wish you many more years of good health and happiness.

Pam and Lee Finkel will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary September 3, and also Lee's 55th birthday with a special gathering at Woods Restaurant. Congratulations from Island friends.

Margaret Doud recently was pleased to hear from an old friend of Windermere Hotel, Robert Manning, of Marquette. He informed the mayor that his employer, the owner of the beautiful performance sailing catamaran Cerulean, would like to invite her to dinner at the Carriage House with other guests sailing on the Cerulean. Robert Manning, veteran of the Chicago Yacht Club's Mackinac Race Committee, learned the owner of the Cerulean and some of the guests had never been to Mackinac Island. With the encouragement of mutual friends from Marquette, Dr. John and Retha Weiss, the yacht was moored at the Yoder dock for a few hours to allow time for the guests to bicycle and hike around the Island. Dr. John Weiss is employed at Marquette General Hospital and is affiliated with Mackinac Straits Hospital. Mr. Manning is now serving as the licensed master of S/Y Cerulean. A wonderful evening was enjoyed by all.

Betsy Chase celebrated her 75th birthday on her favorite Island. Her three children, Lori, Ross, and Jeff, accompanied her to Mackinac. All three children worked for many summers on the Island. Joining them for the celebratory dinner at the Carriage House were Nancy May and Brad Conkey, longtime friends of the Chase family.

The Brad Conkey family of Sylvan Lake visited the Island this past week.

Enjoy your Labor Day weekend.