NEWS ABOUT PEOPLE ON MACKINAC ISLAND
BY JEANNETTE DOUD

Spring is the season of awakening on Mackinac, when everything becomes alive following an old-fashioned winter that brought loads of snow and frigid temperatures. The Island was so beautiful, resembling a winter wonderland. Snowmobiling and skiing were at their peak.

The miracle of springtime is when our feathered friends begin their joyful songs and the daffodils and crocuses peek their tiny heads above the ground after a long, cold winter nap. Some blossoms have been spotted at Mission Point Resort. Folks are beginning to return to prepare their shops and hotels for the season.

The Mackinac Island community is very saddened to learn that Dr. Don Weersing will be leaving the Mackinac Island Medical Center Wednesday, April 23. Dr. Weersing has provided the Island with excellent medical care for the past six years.We wish him and his wife, Karen, the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Happy birthday to Tom Bunker and Cynthia Cawthorne April 11. Enjoy your day.

We've been enjoying the first week of April, with bright sunny days and a radiant blue sky. Snowbanks have begun meeting with the warm temperatures, but heavy ice still remains in the Straits of Mackinac.

Pat Andress of St. Ignace was the guest of honor at his 75th birthday celebration Saturday, February 16, hosted for family and friends by his children at the Village Inn in St. Ignace.

The big news of the week was the first trip of the Arnold Transit freight boat Mackinac Islander Thursday, April 3. The boat left Mackinac, with Captain Ed McGreevy, and it became beset in the ice off of the Mackinac Island Public Library. He turned around and headed to the north of the Island and made the first round trip freight run of the 2008 season. Friday morning, April 4, the mighty Huron left St. Ignace at 7:30 a.m. and had to go to the north of the Island because of heavy ice. She left Mackinac at 8:30 a.m., completing the first trip of the 2008 season. We give a warm welcome to Captain Keith Duffton, Ron Halberg, Ben Belknap, and Jim Webster. It was a perfect day for sailing, and a lot of the Island folks enjoyed the trip to the mainland. Bob and Paul Brown of Arnold Transit opened the 2008 season. Since the harbor in St. Ignace was blocked with very heavy ice, a Ryba Marine tug from Cheboygan assisted in freeing the Huron for her first trip.

Lorne Cowell (second from left) and his brother, Gabe (to his left), were recognized at the city council meeting Wednesday, March 26, for saving the life of John St. Onge March 8 on the ice bridge between Mackinac Island and St. Ignace. Mr. St. Onge was severely injured in a snowmobile crash. The brothers came upon his sled and, finding him nearby, called for emergency services. He was taken to a hospital and is now recovering. Flanking the two brothers are Police Chief Jim Marks and Island Mayor Margaret Doud.

We send special birthday greetings to Lindsay George April 12. We look forward to seeing you and Fritz back on Mackinac.

Speaking of heavy ice, it has caused problems in the Soo Locks and the St. Marys River. The U.S. Coast Guard cutters have been kept busy escorting the freighters. Last week, the Cason J. Calloway was west bound beyond the Mackinac Bridge. The American Republic was beset in the ice. The Cason J. Calloway went to assist the American Republic and the heavy ice shoved the two ships together. Both boats were damaged, and the American Republic was escorted to the Sturgeon Bay shipyard for repairs. What a joy it is to see the great ships passing through the Round Island Passage. We have a very special view from Windermere Point.

Bois Blanc Island school's entire student body, two elementary students, and 25 community members attended Mackinac State Historic Parks' Outreach Program for a glimpse of 18th century life and natural history in the Straits of Mackinac in February. Interpreters Jim Evans and Dennis Havlena, and naturalist Jeff Dykehouse travel to as many as 60 schools each winter to present the program. (Photograph courtesy of Mackinac State Historic Parks

Mike and Deb Carley and Brenda Bunker and Clay Fuller returned Friday, April 11, after a fun trip to Naples, Florida. Happy birthday to Mike April 13.

All through the cold winter nights, we enjoyed the light on the old Round Island Lighthouse, sending its beam across the Straits of Mackinac. It's a beautiful sight with the Mackinac Bridge in the distance.

Special birthday greetings to Ruby Bloswick of St. Ignace April 14. Have a wonderful day.

It's great to see Bill Porter out riding his bicycle after his recent illness. Happy birthday to Bill April 14. Enjoy your day.

Our good friend Pam Lach has been ill at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey. We are pleased to report that Pam has returned to the Island and is doing much better.

Paul Fullerton and his crew at Great Lakes Air served the Island throughout the long winter months. Passengers arriving this year enjoyed the beautiful new terminal built by Larry Rickley Sr. and Larry Rickley Jr., employees of the Mackinac Island State Park. Both are ardent fishermen who had a great time ice fishing at the end of the boardwalk. They caught some beautiful lake trout.

Happy birthday to Smi Horn April 15 and to his wife, Mickey, April 18. Special wedding anniversary wishes to Smi and Mickey April 17.

Jody, Mark, Maggie, and Clara Chambers spent the weekend in Marquette visiting Richard, who is a senior at Northern Michigan University. Richard will be home soon for the summer, where he is employed at the Chippewa Hotel.

The Bynoe, Schoenborn, and McKay families attended a family wedding in Detroit over the weekend of April 4 and 5.

We send greetings to Stephanie Arbib in Hollywood, Florida. She is recuperating well from her recent surgery and making a very nice recovery. Island friends send best wishes.

Happy birthday April 16 to two sisters, Dot Gillespie and Sue Chambers. Enjoy your day.

Lulubelle and Victor D'arce will celebrate their wedding anniversary April 16. Have a wonderful day.

Dr. Bill and Sue Chambers arrived home Tuesday from their annual Florida vacation. En route, they enjoyed a golf game with Janet and Jay Stingel.

Mimi Musser Cunningham arrived Thursday, April 3, at her cottage on Lakeshore Drive. She is busy preparing the shops at Grand Hotel for the season.

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

Soon we shall see signs of spring on the side of the hill near the Jewel Club House, when the daffodils will be in full bloom. Also watch for the hundreds of wee violets in the swamp area, below the spring near the 7th hole.

Special get well wishes to Dale Gallagher, who is recuperating in St. Ignace from recent knee surgery, and to John St. Onge, who was recently released from Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. He is currently staying with his son, Nathan. His address is as follows: John St. Onge, c/o Nathan St. Onge, 1584 Geraldton Place, Traverse City, MI 49686. John is doing very well and gets around in a wheelchair.

Rodney Myers is making a steady recovery from his recent accident at his home on Mackinac.

Duane Drost of Charlevoix and James Dunnigan of Grass Lake will both celebrate their birthdays April 18. Enjoy your day.

Spring is definitely arriving, when we find the first Canadian geese resting on Windermere Point.

Mary K. McIntire, who has spent the winter in Aspen, Colorado, returned to her home on Lakeshore Drive this past week.

Katie Cederholm, who is employed with Mackinac State Historic Parks, enjoyed a wonderful trip to Jerusalem. While there, she met Heather Kalmbach and toured the area. The weather was bright and sunny.

Happy birthday to Camille Bobinsky, John Chambers, Richard LaPine, and Ellie Chambers April 20. Enjoy your day.

Brother Jim Boynton, SJ of St. Ignace represented North America during the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus in Rome in January. Brother Jim is back in Detroit, and we look forward to him spending time at Ste. Anne's this summer.

Jason St. Onge, Craig Bunker, and Harold Jonas of the Mackinac Island Fire Department attended a three-day firefighting training school in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Debra and Sandra Orr, who have spent the winter months in Naples, Florida, will be returning to Mackinac very soon.

Dr. Richard Hodgman will be the doctor in residence Friday, April 11, at the Mackinac Island Medical Center. He will cover for Dr. Don Weersing, who will spend the weekend in Grand Haven.

Trish Martin returned to her home on the Island following a delightful visit to Scotland and England.

Happy anniversary to Jim and Nancy Marks April 12. Enjoy your day.

Jamie Bynoe received an early birthday present Thursday, April 3. His sister, Peggy, surprised him with tickets to a Detroit Red Wings game in Detroit.

Jamie is a big Red Wings fan and was thrilled to attend the game. His brother-in-law, Randy McKay, a former Red Wings player, took Jamie after the game to meet some of the players, where he got some autographs. Everyone had a wonderful time.

Greetings to Chris McCready of Cheboygan, who is still recuperating from recent surgery. We hope to see her back on the Arnold Dock very soon.

A call recently received from Rosie Charnes in Indianapolis, Indiana, told about Jessie Doud and Suzanne Munger visiting her. They had a great visit, with lots of laughs.

Betty BeDour has returned to her East Bluff home after spending the winter in Harrison. She is back at her position at the Mackinac Island Medical Center.

Helga Doud has a feeder near her picture window, where she enjoys many birds and a special little red squirrel. She is fine at age 101, and has many hobbies to keep her busy, especially watching the Detroit Red Wings.

Lorne and Gabe Cowell were honored with a resolution at the City Council meeting Wednesday, March 26, for their heroic efforts in saving John St. Onge's life following the accident he suffered on his snowmobile. The Mackinac Island community is very proud of Lorne and Gabe for their life-saving efforts.

Jill Sawatzki sent me an article out of the Lansing State Journal entitled "Doing It For Dad, Grand Ledge Junior Dedicates Season to his Deceased Father." John Fitzgerald, grandson of Lorabeth and the late Judge John Fitzgerald of the East Bluff, had an outstanding swimming season, which he dedicated to his late father, Frank Fitzgerald, who passed away in December 2004 at the age of 49.

It was a very nice article about John and his family.

Mary Marquis is back at her job, dispatching for the Mackinac Island Police Department. Nice to see you back on Mackinac.

A spring wedding will be held Saturday, May 10, at the Carriage House Dining Room, uniting Margaret "Megan" Winkel and Edward McNulty Jr. Congratulations to the happy couple from Island friends.

Two big power lifts for painting the front of Grand Hotel were transported Tuesday, April 8, to Mackinac Island.

It's Tuesday, April 8, a dreary, foggy, damp, and rainy day. The Huron went to the north of the Island to dodge heavy ice in the Straits.

The freighters are blowing their whistles.

Enjoy the season of changing from winter to spring, when the snow and ice will leave us for another season.