NEWS ABOUT PEOPLE ON MACKINAC ISLAND
BY JEANNETTE DOUD

Beautiful spring days have arrived on Mackinac, making everyone happy that the snow and cold temperatures have finally passed. Buds on the trees are showing signs of opening. The lilacs are very healthy and should produce a wide variety of blooms in many shades of lavender. Their fragrance will permeate the air as many visitors attend the Lilac Festival. Daffodils, narcissus, and lilies of the valley are in full bloom. With a few more warm days, the thousands of tulips in every color of the rainbow will burst into bloom, just in time to welcome the Michigan State Knights of Columbus Convention Thursday, May 22, and Friday, May 23, at Grand Hotel.

Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4, the Georgia Southern Classic Golf Tournament was televised. Scott Parel, son of Jack and Paige Parel, took fourth place in the tournament and won $30,000. Scott has a brother, Dr. Robert Parel. His uncle, Larry Parel, gave me the information. Congratulations to Scott from his many Island fans.

We send special greetings to Pam Lach, who continues to recuperate from her recent illness. Pam has moved, to be with her sister and family in Merrillville, Indiana. We wish Pam all the best. Please remember her with cards at the following address: Pam Lach, c/o Laurie Matteli, 8812 Harrison Street, Merrillville, IN 46410.

Happy birthday May 16 to Melly Hagenbaugh and Franc Doud of Mackinac, and to Jennifer Karhoff of Findlay, Ohio. Have a wonderful day.

Pat and Louie Leveille of St. Ignace will celebrate their 51st wedding anniversary May 18. Enjoy your day.

Ed and Linda Horn's eldest grandson, Anthony R. Horn, son of Jennifer Horn Price, will be graduated from White Cloud High School Sunday, May 18. Congratulations from Island friends and family.

Graduation at the Mackinac Island Public School will be Friday, May 23, at 7 p.m.

This week, Grand Hotel hosts the large gathering of Win-Some Women. Meg Brown is one of the leaders of the convention. Happy birthday to Meg May 22.

Charles and Bea Hudson of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Skip and Kay Beth Harrell of Bloomington, Indiana, arrived on Mackinac Monday, May 5, to open the Cable Cottage for the season. Charles brought me a magazine called Country Extra. On a page entitled, "Candidly Country," it showed favorite family photographs and the stories behind them shared by readers. There was a picture of the front porch of the Windermere Hotel with the heading, "Come Sit a Spell." It truly is a small world.

Kay Hoppenrath, clinic coordinator at the Mackinac Island Medical Center, will celebrate her birthday May 23. Have a great day.

Walter Kitter of Hemlock has returned to work for Mackinac Island Carriage Tours for the season. Nice to see him back on Mackinac.

Welcome home to Mackinac to Fritz and Lindsay George. Fritz is the golf pro at Wawashkamo Golf Club, where they're preparing for a busy season. Great to see them back on the Island.

Best wishes to Randy Marshall of St. Ignace, who suddenly became ill Wednesday, May 7, while working on Debra Orr's project. He was transported to the Mackinac Island Medical Center and later transferred to Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey. Island friends send greetings to Randy for a speedy recovery.

Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Haan of Geneva, Wisconsin, owners of Haan's 1830 Inn, visited the Island recently, preparing the Inn for the season. The Haans have been coming to Mackinac for 34 years. Nice to see them again on the Island.

Deepest sympathy to the Nelson Massaway family of St. Ignace, on the recent death of their beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Veronica. A complete obituary is published in this issue.

The popular Yankee Rebel restaurant on Astor Street opened for the season Friday, May 9. Owners Patti Ann and Steve Moskwa welcomed their many guests.

Congratulations to Tony Brodeur and Jason Klonowski, who opened the Mustang Lounge Friday, May 9, where they welcomed family and friends, and a very special guest, Tony's grandfather, Dennis Brodeur, who owned and operated the famous lounge for many years. The building looks very handsome on the exterior, painted in a soft shade of yellow. The interior is rustic, with original logs showing. Maverick Construction, under the direction of Rob Fraser and Jack Perault, completed the work on this large project. The Mustang has always been a popular gathering place on Mackinac.

Happy birthday wishes May 17 to Beth St. Onge of St. Ignace. Have a good day.

Father Ted Brodeur of Brimley and Bay Mills was the visiting priest at Ste. Anne's Church over the weekend. Father Rey Garcia visited Brimley and Bay Mills. It was great to see Father Ted back on Mackinac, where he grew up. In his early days, he worked at the famous Wandrie's restaurant. Great memories.

I sent special greetings to my good friend, Frank Allen of Denver, Colorado, who celebrated his birthday May 10. I received a card from him recently, and he told me that he has not been feeling his best. Island friends send best wishes. We have lots of wonderful memories.

Island friends send deepest sympathy to Mary Wojcik of St. Ignace on the recent death of her brother, George. Best wishes to Mary.

We welcome the Reverend Vincent and Molly Carroll back to Mackinac. Reverend Carroll is the rector at Little Stone Church during the summer months. Little Stone Church opens at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 18. It will close for the season following the service Sunday, October 19.

Ann and Tim Timmons arrived back on Mackinac Wednesday, May 14, from their winter home in Palm City, Florida. It's nice to have another light in the neighborhood.

The Mackinac Island Lakers golf team hosted a tournament Monday, May 12, at the Little Jewel golf course. More than 60 young people from surrounding schools participated in the event. Everyone enjoyed a great afternoon.

Mary and Wes Maurer and Roberta Droskie of St. Ignace visited Lexington, Kentucky, for the Rolex Three-day Event and horse racing at Keeneland track, where they were treated to southern hospitality by Tourism Director David Lord and his wife, Sara. Mary and Roberta Droskie won the trip during the Feast of Epona silent auction, held during Lilac Festival to benefit the D. Rex and Elizabeth C. Orr fund for the Care of Animals at the Mackinac Island Community Foundation. At a cocktail party for the Lord's Michigan friends, the trio met Janet and Ben Kaufmann, who won a reciprocal trip to Mackinac Island at a fundraiser in Lexington. They will be the hosted by Mackinac Island Tourism Director Mary McGuire Slevin and her husband, John, during Lilac Festival.

Also at the party was Fran Taylor, executive director of the Keeneland Foundation, who enjoys visits to Traverse City, and Robbie and Nancy Nickerson, who have a cabin at Carp Lake.

Nancy Nickerson is the sister of Shirt Tails owner Cissy Springate of Mackinac and Harbor Springs, who grew up in the Annex at the summer home of their grandmother, Marie Funk, who operated the Colony Shop at Grand Hotel and Et Cie Marie shop at the Chippewa Hotel. That cottage is now owned by Nicki Griffith.

The Lords will be staying at the Nickerson cabin near the end of June and will visit Mackinac Island.

Enjoy your week.