NEWS ABOUT PEOPLE ON MACKINAC ISLAND
BY JEANNETTE DOUD

The season of fall is fast approaching, when the trees in the woodlands take on the radiant colors of yellow, orange, and deep red. The tree in Ken Thompson's yard, on the corner of Market and Astor, is a brilliant red, making a wonderful sight against the blue sky. The most beautiful and spectacular spot to take your camera along is at Point Lookout, looking down on Sugar Loaf Rock. It's a magnificent view, with the blue waters of the Straits of Mackinac in the distance.

Our deepest sympathy to the LaPine, Cowell, and Bagbey families on the recent death of their beloved infant daughter, Alexis Marie Cowell, who passed away Tuesday, September 25, at Cheboygan Memorial Hospital. A memorial service was held at Ste. Anne's Church Saturday, September 29, with Father Rey Garcia officiating.

We recently had a call from Stella Mae Kwolek of Detroit, who reported that her sister, Barbara Ripple Sosmowski, passed away Saturday, and that Barbara's son, Paul, predeceased his mother a month ago. Barbara was a niece of the late Stella King and spent many years on Mackinac with her grandparents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank King. We send deepest sympathy to the families from Island friends.

More than $11,000 was raised to benefit the Mackinac Island Public Library during the gala preview party for Carleton Varney's Antique and Design Fall Festival at Grand Hotel Friday, September 7. The 23rd annual three-day event at the hotel draws premier antique dealers from around the country. During Friday's party, guests, including Marsha Kleber (left) of Mackinac Island and her daughter, Kendra Kleber of Detroit, paid $35 to get a preview of antique furniture, jewelry, art, and other treasures, while served cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. The hotel donates the admission to the library's permanently endowed fund with the Mackinac Island Community Foundation. (Photograph by Jennifer Bloswick)

Happy birthday to Jim Hagenbaugh October 4. Hope you had a great day.

Olivia Chambers, daughter of Mark and Jody, has been a patient at the DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids. She returned home Sunday and is resting comfortably at her home, The Gatehouse at Stonecliffe.

Mackinac Night, the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau's annual year-end party, was Monday, October 1, at the Inn at Stonecliffe. This year's theme was country western, with a costume contest and a live bluegrass band. Winners of the $5,000 raffle were Tom Marx, Ron Steensma, and Paula Starkweather. Showing off their costumes here are (from left) Brian McElvy, Bob Spitzer, Bobbie Benser, Christi Dupre, Mary Jane Barnwell, and Ann Silverman. (Photograph by Jeffrey Dupre)

Barbara and Brian Hellis, with their faithful companion "Rusty," closed their cottage on Market Street and returned to their winter home in Northville Wednesday, October 3.

Happy anniversary to Wayne and Joan Zwolinski of Petoskey October 10. It was great seeing you at the Dehring wedding.

Happy birthday to Rosemary Kompsi and Marie Bunker October 6. Have a great day.

In many locations on Mackinac, we begin to view the large orange pumpkins appearing in windows and on doorsteps. The different carvings are interesting and well done. Here and there, we can find cornstalks decorating businesses on the main street.

Golfer Bill Borst of St. Ignace and Mackinac Island made a hole in one Sunday, September 30, at The Rock on Drummond Island. He made the shot on hole two from 118 yards, using an eight iron. (Photograph from Bill Borst)

A special group of students from Keidan Special Education Center in Detroit visited the Island Thursday, September 20. These students were traveling as part of their community-based instruction, where they were able to put to use the skills they've been learning in their classrooms in a "real-life" setting. Principal Joyce Boyd led the group of 16 students and dedicated chaperones. While on the Island they took a carriage tour, visited the Butterfly House, enjoyed lunch at Grand Hotel, and rode bicycles. Of course, they also visited La Galerie to meet Buzz Waggoner as his daughter, Susan, was one of the chaperones. Susan is a music therapist in the Detroit Public Schools. This was a oncein a-lifetime event for many of these students, and a great time was had by all.

Our good friend, Carol Clifton of Muncie, Indiana, will celebrate her birthday October 7. Happy anniversary to her daughter, Nancy and Tom Cripe, October 10. Have a wonderful day.

Dennis O'Keefe and his friend, Mike, from LaSalle, Illinois, were guests of the Windermere Hotel over the weekend. They enjoyed a carriage ride, dinner at Woods, and relaxing on the front porch of the hotel.

Happy birthday to Dominic Morse October 7. Have a great day.

Many summer cottagers are leaving their favorite Island for their winter homes. Larry and Kay Berke departed Tuesday, September 25, for their home in De Kalb, Illinois. Nancy and Larry Keogh left Thursday, October 4, for their Northfield, Illinois, home, and Rita and Elliot Cohen left Monday, October 1. Have a good winter.

Happy birthday to little Addison Leveille October 4. Hope you had a wonderful day.

The squirrels and chipmunks are gathering the horse chestnuts that are falling from the big trees, making certain to have enough food for the long, cold winter. Many bluejays are stopping by each day at our feeders, as well as many ducks. This is very early, as the ducks usually don't arrive until November or December. In speaking with my nephew, Mark Chambers, I learned the reason is that they're afraid that the many otters around in the bay and lake will attack them. Mark saw this happen one day recently.

Tiny chipmunks feed out of Jeff Shaffer and Dwight LaPine's hands at their home on Market Street.

Virginia Riordan of Marietta, Georgia, will celebrate her birthday October 10. Her friend, Bushy, sends special greetings.

The Christmas Bazaar will be held Saturday, December 1, Sunday, December 2, and Monday, December 3, at the Community Hall. Raffle tickets for the new 2007 Polaris snowmobile will be available from Sylvia Perault, First National Bank, Doud's Market, and the Mackinac Island Medical Center. Any donations for the bazaar will be greatly appreciated and may be sent or dropped off at the Mackinac Island Medical Center.

Our good friends, Tom and Virginia Alexander of Mackinaw City, celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary October 4. Congratulations from Island friends.

In the Sunday travel section of the Detroit Free Press, there was an article about the MS Columbus, the beautiful cruise ship that recently stopped by Mackinac. Because of the falling lake levels, it's the last time that the 423-passenger ship will cruise the Great Lakes. The Columbus has sailed from Chicago and Toronto through the Great Lakes in the autumn for many years, stopping at Mackinac Island, Traverse City, and Sault Ste. Marie with its load of mainly German tourists. Now plummeting lake levels have made navigation unsafe for the ship, the Hamburg, Germany, company Hapag-Lloyd has announced. Its last cruise is the week of October 8. This is sad news, because cruise ships are special to our area, and a unique way to see the beauty of the Great Lakes.

Happy anniversary to Patty and Bruce LaPine October 6. Patty's brother, Ron O'Neil and his wife, Gwen, from Naples, Florida, are visiting Mackinac for a few days.

The Karhoff cottage on Bourisaw Lane is looking mighty fine in its new bright coat of yellow paint. Jennifer, David, and Lucas haven't enjoyed the past month, as they've suffered through a dreadful flood in their town of Findlay, Ohio, and Lucas suffered a painful bicycle accident, which fractured his kneecap. He is still on crutches. Island friends send best wishes and hope to see them at the Christmas Bazaar.

Nancy and Brad Chambers will celebrate their wedding anniversary October 6. Enjoy your day.

Dr. Richard Hodgman of Kalkaska and his wife, Karen, spent the weekend at the Mackinac Island Medical Center, where Dr. Hodgman was the doctor in residence. He and his staff were extremely busy Saturday and Sunday. Dr. Kathy Rollinger of Grosse Pointe will be the doctor for the week of October 1 while Dr. Don Weersing attends a conference in Chicago.

It has been a very interesting summer, meeting folks from all over the United States and the world. Monday, October 1, I had the pleasure of speaking with visitors from Iowa and California, who stopped to admire the abundance of summer flowers still in full bloom. They were amazed how healthy and large the red geraniums grew, which can be seen all over Mackinac. The nasturtiums are plentiful, as are the colorful impatiens.

Grand Hotel will remain open until Wednesday, October 31. The hotel has hosted guests and dignitaries from all over the world, bringing exceptional business to our Island. The hotel's flowers continue to be attractive, bringing joy to all who view them. This late in the season, the hotel caters to many tours of senior citizens, who enjoy a wonderful time.

A guest of Margaret Doud Tuesday, October 2, and Wednesday, October 3, was her college roommate at Central Michigan University, Elaine Noffze. She is a retired teacher from the Waverly district in Lansing. Her cousin has been employed this season at Margaret's Garden at Grand Hotel.

Saturday and Sunday of the past week was very busy on the Island, resembling a day in summer. Many were taking advantage of the fall sales.

Kitty Bourisaw Schadel has spent the past six weeks at her home on Bourisaw Lane, where she has been visiting Sherry Rayha and her friend, Adrienne Coyne, in St. Ignace. Monday, October 1, she returned to her home in Arcade, New York. She was accompanied home by her daughter, Mary Beth, and friend, Justine Moran, both of Buffalo, New York.

Judy Bynoe, with Patty and Lily Schoenborn, met the McKay family in Sault Ste. Marie Sunday, September 30, where Dawson and Riley McKay were playing hockey.

Congratulations to the Mackinac Island Lakers soccer team, which is undefeated. Best wishes for the rest of the season.

It has been a marvelous season for gardening of fresh vegetables on the Island. Brian Bloswick had a wonderful garden, as well as Marc Bobinsky, who grew magnificent pumpkins from just two organic seeds. It reminds me of years gone by when the late "Cannon Ball" Bill Chambers would come to town with his little horse and wagon laden down with vegetables and strawberries grown right on his property at British Landing. Wonderful memories.

Carol and Doug Rearick have closed their Lakeshore cottage and have returned to their home in Brighton. We shall miss their light in the neighborhood.

Happy birthday October 12 to Ashley Gough and Frank Bloswick Sr. Enjoy your day.

The Little Stone Church will close for the season Sunday, October 14. The Reverend Vincent Carroll and his wife, Molly, will return to their home in Florida. On a perfect winter night, coming down Cadotte Avenue, it's a most beautiful sight to see the interior lights of the church, with its historic stained-glass windows glistening in the darkness.

Another special East Bluff friend is summer cottager Alice Myron, who is back home in Port Huron after spending a nice summer in her cottage with its magnificent view of the Straits.

Enjoy the beautiful fall colors!