NEWS ABOUT PEOPLE ON MACKINAC ISLAND
BY JEANNETTE DOUD

It's the month of April, the season of awakening, the time of year when we look forward to saying goodbye to winter, and welcome the promise of spring.

Surprise! Surprise! Thursday, April 5, we awoke to a blizzard covering our beautiful Island, making it a winter wonderland. Beauty reigned once again, trees and shrubs were covered with glistening snowflakes so soft and white. Everyone was very confused, because April means spring. Snowmobiles were once again the mode of transportation. We had a green Christmas and a white Easter.

In walking the wooded path below Grand Hotel, which is so tranquil and lovely, the wee daffodils were starting to peak out of the ground. Owing to the weight of the snow, their blossoms are drooping, reminding one of a snow-covered mushroom. It is truly a wonderful sight to see natural beauty in a wooded area, which includes tulips and narcissus.

Happy 88th birthday April 14 to Ruby Bloswick of St. Ignace and Mackinac. Have a wonderful day.

Deepest sympathy to the Jim Kolatski Sr. family on the death of the their beloved husband, father, and grandfather, who passed away Friday morning, April 6, in Cheboygan. A wake was held at the Kolatski home Tuesday evening, April 10, with the funeral at Ste. Anne's Church Wednesday, April 11, with the Reverend Ken Straight officiating. A complete obituary appears in this issue of the Town Crier. Island friends send deepest sympathy to the family.

Mackinac Island Junior Girl Scouts from Troop 127 present Mayor Margaret Doud with a box of cookies Wednesday, March 14, to promote their annual cookie sale. From left are Kyra Kolatski, Amelia Roe, Hailey Armstrong, Mayor Doud, Meadow Greenlee, Hailey Bean, and Mackenzie Bean. Missing from the photo is scout Adrienne Rilenge. Troop leaders are Sandy Roe, Terrie Armstrong, and Julie Rilenge.

Sad news once again reached the Island Monday morning, April 9, when we learned of the death of Island resident Letha Brodeur, who passed away Sunday evening, April 8, at Mackinac Straits Hospital Long Term Care Facility in St. Ignace. She was the mother of Leanne Brodeur and the late Fred Brodeur, and mother-in-law of Loretta Spata and family. A complete obituary appears in this issue of the Town Crier. Deepest sympathy to the family from Island friends.

Allie McCleary (left) and Beverly Hutton of Wixom spent spring break with their children on Mackinac Island. Out for an afternoon walk as temperatures reached 50 degrees Tuesday, March 13, are (from left) Ainsley Hutton, Mrs. McCleary, wagon riders Olivia McCleary and Abby Hutton, Cole McCleary, Irish McCleary, and, holding Annie Hutton, Mrs. Hutton. The group stayed at the Stonecliffe home of John and Lake Nelson, grandparents of the McCleary family.

Happy anniversary April 22 to Candi and Brian Dunnigan of Grass Lake. Have a wonderful day.

Andrew Doud is busy preparing his Doud's Market for an early opening Friday, April 27. Best wishes for a very successful season.

Anna Mary and Gary Cusack of Petoskey spent the Easter holiday with Anna Mary's mother, Helga Doud.

Best wishes to our friend, Ann Bronfman of New York and Connecticut. We miss you and hope to see you soon back on Mackinac at your lovely Lakewood Cottage.

Dr. Bill and Sue Chambers have returned home from their Florida vacation.

Mellie and Gene Hagenbaugh returned Monday, April 9, from their week's trip to Italy.

Arriving back at their St. Ignace home are Rosemary and Joe Kompsi, who have enjoyed the winter in Englewood, Florida.

Roxanne Pettit spent the Easter holiday with her family. She is a student at Grand Valley State University.

Adam and LeAndra Fisher, parents of a new son, Cullen, enjoyed the Easter holiday on the Island visiting the John Fisher family.

Happy birthday April 20 to John Chambers, Richard La- Pine, Camille Bobinsky, and Ellie Chambers. Have a great day.

Mary Jane Barnwell and son, Willie, have returned from a vacation in Hawaii. They attended the Barry BeDour funeral on the Island.

Judy Bynoe and family returned home Tuesday morning from their vacation on a Caribbean cruise with the Randy McKay family of Chassell. Patty and Brian Schoenborn with daughter, Lily, of St. Ignace, spent the Easter holiday on the Island.

Allison Jones, Liz Burt, Eli Urman, Annie Linn, and Suzanne Munger will all celebrate their birthdays April 21. Enjoy your day.

Jennifer, David, and Lucas Karhoff of Findlay, Ohio, following a week at their cottage on Bourisaw Lane, were returning home Wednesday, April 4, on the early Huron trip to St. Ignace when they were thrilled to see something very special. Suddenly, Captain Duffton started slowing the Huron down to allow the Arthur M. Anderson to cross over to a sheltered spot by St. Ignace, as gale force winds were predicted. To see this wonderful ship so close was a real thrill. Jennifer phoned me from the Mackinac Bridge to tell me this great story. The Arthur M. Anderson is a familiar ship, often passing through Round Island Passage.

Happy birthday to Smi Horn April 15, and to his wife, Mickey, April 18. Happy anniversary to Smi and Mickey Horn April 17. Have a great celebration.

Welcome back to Mackinac to many of our Jamaican friends, who have arrived back at Grand Hotel. Can you imagine leaving the warmth of their country and arriving in a blizzard on the Island?

Sue Chambers and her sister, Dot Gillespie, will celebrate their birthdays April 16. Have a great day.

Easter Sunday was a bright, beautiful, sunny day as many gathered at the 11 a.m. service at Ste. Anne's. Our much loved pastor, Father Rey Garcia, was hospitalized at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, so lay readers Jim Ball, Ed Pfeiffelman, Claudette Roth, Karen McCabe, and Steve Moskwa conducted a very beautiful service. The Trinity choir provided very special Easter music. Thanks to everyone who assisted in the absence of Father Rey. The altars of historic Ste. Anne's were radiant with lighted tapers Easter lilies and spring flowers decorated the sanctuary. The radiant sunshine illuminated the stained glass windows, dedicated to parishioners dating back many years. It was a day to remember, with so many people gathering together for a very special service. Refreshments followed in Ste. Anne's Hall. Loads of laughter and fun could be heard from the little children as they found Easter eggs in the snow out in Ste. Anne's Shrine.

Happy anniversary to Lulubelle and Victor D'Arce April 16. Enjoy your day.

To Father Rey Garcia, prayers and good wishes are being sent to you in the hospital. You are a very special friend and a dearly loved pastor at Ste. Anne's and to the entire community. You can recuperate very well in your comfortable rectory with its magnificent view of the Straits of Mackinac. Father Rey was taken ill when he was on the mission trip with Brother Jim Boynton and his group in Honduras. Father spoke from the altar about what a great experience it was, and how great the young people from Mackinac worked to make the trip so successful.

Many people remember Bill Corbley of Naples, Florida, who worked for many summers on Mackinac at the Chippewa and Island House. Bill is very ill at his Florida home. Island friends send him very best wishes.

Tammy, Tony, and Cassie Frazier of Mackinaw City were the guests of Ed and Nancy Pfeiffleman and the Candy Smith family over the Easter holiday.

Happy birthday to Ron Dufina April 17. Have a great day.

My nephew, Richard Chambers, a junior at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, was unable to come home for the Easter holiday owing to the terrible blizzard which they received. He was disappointed, and so were all his family members, but his mother sent him a care package.

Deb and Mike Carley, Brenda Bunker, and Clay Fuller arrived home from their twoweek vacation in Florida Thursday, April 5. They landed in Flint, and it took three hours to drive to Gaylord. They enjoyed a fun time and are happy to be back home on Mackinac. Josh Carley, a student at Saginaw Valley State University, joined his parents over the Easter holiday.

James Dunnigan of Grass Lake will celebrate his birthday April 18. Enjoy your day.

Eric Cowell, a student at Saginaw Valley State University, joined his family on Mackinac for the Easter holiday.

The Peter Marabells of Pointe Nipigon, near Mackinaw City, are on the Island getting their summer shops ready for the 2007 season.

A very happy birthday April 22 to Wayne Drost, Jeff Davenport, Dorothy Dehring, Tim Horn, and Amelia Roe. Enjoy your day.

Dr. Jesus Neri of Mackinac Straits Hospital in St. Ignace was the doctor in residence at the Mackinac Island Medical Center over the Easter holiday. Dr. Don Weersing and family spent the Easter holiday in Holland.

Very early Easter morning, a very large Easter bunny was enjoying a snack of bird seed on our deck. It was truly a picture to watch him. We have a large flock of tiny birds that eat each day at the feeders.

Paul Brown and Mila Horn will both celebrate their birthdays April 23.

The 2007 season is fast approaching. We welcome Chef Hans and John Hulett of Grand Hotel, who are back for the season.

Many merchants have begun to arrive on Main and Market streets. Loretta and Tony Spata are busy preparing their gift shops and Martha's Sweet Shop, which will be relocated to the Horse Corral Mall for an early opening. Jack Landress, owner of Lilacs and Lace and Victorian Summer, which will be relocated to the Michalke House on Market Street, is busy preparing for the 2007 season.

Happy birthday to Susie Raisch and Chris McCready April 26. Enjoy your day.

Jill Sawatzki of Lansing attended the funeral service for Barry BeDour Tuesday, April 10.

Happy belated birthday April 8 to Jack Welcher of Rudyard and Mackinac. I was on my way to school, Jackie, when news spread around the Island that you had arrived at Grandpa Donnelly's home on Market Street.

Joseph Brandonisio of Troy, son of Diane and Joe, owners of the Island Bookstore, is a National Merit scholar and will be attending Hope College in the fall.

Happy birthday to Blisse Beardsley April 27. Have a great day.

Dr. Dave and Grace Armour of Pennsylvania joined their daughter, Marian and family, touring Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown over spring break and tracing where Dave's great grandfather fought in the Civil War.

Just a few words to describe the beautiful sunrises and sunsets that bring much beauty to everyone, shades of pinks, golds, blues, and orange.

Gwen Bagbey and Frank Massaway of Mackinac, and James Brown Sr. of St. Ignace will all celebrate their birthdays April 28.

Glancing across at the lilac tree in Marvin May's yard following the snowstorm, a beautiful robin was perched on a branch. In spite of the snow, it was truly spring.

Sara Bunker Sutherland of Orlando, Florida, returned to Mackinac this past weekend with her nephew, Anthony Rickley. They enjoyed a wonderful Caribbean cruise. Unfortunately, Sara suffered an accident when she was on in-line skates. She is doing fine, and healing well. She is spending time with her family on the Island.

Happy birthday to John Nelson Massaway April 30. Have a great day.

An informational meeting will be held Tuesday, April 17, at 10 a.m. at the Community Hall for all business members. Everyone is urged to attend.

A benefit dinner will be held Wednesday, May 9, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Community Hall to help with medical expenses for little Mason McLean.

The Seabiscuit Restaurant opened for the season Wednesday, April 11.

A very special lady, Ann Bronfman of Connecticut, and owner of Lakewood Cottage on Lakeshore Drive, phoned me to say how disappointed she was not to be able to attend Barry BeDour's funeral. Ann was very grateful to Barry and his crew for all the excellent work they did on her cottage.

Today is Wednesday, April 11, and we're expecting another winter storm.

Happy Spring!