Today is Monday, May 2, one of the most beautiful months of the year. Our little Island is beginning to appear as a budding spring flower, with its petals opening each day. Main Street is awaking from its long winter nap. The big barrier has been removed from across the front of the Chippewa, a fresh new look with a complete new overhang on the front of the building. It is very attractive. Much interior and exterior work has also taken place at the Chippewa. Thus is true of the Mighty Mac and Joann's Fudge, all freshly painted and ready for the new season of 2005.

Paint brushes are swinging, shutters have been removed, and many improvements made. Since Grand Hotel opens completely Friday, May 6, most of the shops and restaurants will do likewise. The Orr sisters' new business in the former Bogan Building will be named "Sea Biscuit." A crew of contractors have worked in the Lake View throughout the winter, which includes a new outside front. It is very attractive.

The Island mourns the loss of one of its residents, Victor Beaune, husband of Terry and longtime employee of the Mackinac Island Carriage Tours. A complete obituary will appear next week.

A hillside of blooming yellow daffodils welcomed guests to the pre-opening celebration of Mission Point Resort, Tuesday, May 3.

We learned this week of the death of another dear friend and summer cottager, Vernon Eriksson of Fort Myers Beach, Florida, who passed away Tuesday, April 26, following a brief illness. He was 92 years old..

Arnold Transit Company's Straits Express has started running for the 2005 season. Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry has also started for the season.

A very beautiful new sound system has been installed in Ste. Anne's Church, which will be a wonderful addition for services and concerts. The parishioners at Ste. Anne's are most grateful.

Dennis Brodeur Jr., son of Loretta and Tony Spata and the late Fred Brodeur, a vice president of investments and financial advisor of Raymond James Associates, has been named to the firm's 2005 Presidential Club, in recognition of proven dedication to his clients and a continued desire for professional growth. Dennis joined Raymond James in 2000 and has more than 12 years of experience in the financial service industry. Congratulations to Dennis from Island friends.

A very happy birthday to City Clerk Karen Lennard May 2. Hope you had a great day.

Patty LaPine of Mackinac and Frank Allen of Colorado will be celebrating their birthdays May 10. Enjoy your day.

Welcome back to Wally Peck Jr. of Manistique. Nice to see you on Mackinac again.

Congratulations and best wishes to Jeannine McGreevy, daughter of Julye McGreevy of Cedarville and Robert McGreevy of Mackinac Island, who received all A's on the honor roll at Cedarville High School. Jeannine is a junior.

Many guests were at Grand Hotel over the weekend, where they enjoyed a wonderful Grand buffet in the main dining room. The beautiful hotel is getting ready for the official opening date of Friday, May 6.

We learned this week of the death of another good friend to the Island, Dr. Orville C. Krause, DVM, owner of Krause Veterinary Clinic in Armada and longtime community leader, who died Wednesday, April 27, following a heart attack. He was 81 years old. A graduate of Michigan State University's School of Veterinary Medicine in 1949, he also served as an adjunct professor at Michigan State University and Macomb Community College. We have happy memories of the good doctor, who was the Island veterinarian for two summers. He was so gentle and kind to the animals.

My good friend for a lifetime, Jean Coyne of Garrett, Indiana, has been ill and in the hospital suffering from pneumonia. She is now at home where friends may write her at: P.O. Box 295, 0727 County Road #60, Garrett, IN 46738. Jean is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ray Davis, owners of the J.W. Davis Store on Mackinac, now the Big Store. Jean made her home on Mackinac with her grandmother and Aunt Florence in the lovely home on Cadotte Avenue, now the property of Marvin May. She and I were always together on Mackinac.

Mike Corrigan and daughter, Kelly, of Detroit visited their Island cottage on Mahoney Avenue this past week. Mike brought the sad news of the death of his uncle, Ralph J. Corrigan, 95, in California.

Family and friends joined Margaret (Peggy) Bynoe for her senior piano recital Saturday, April 30, at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. Peggy is a very talented pianist who will share her beautiful music with everyone this summer at Ste. Anne's. Carolyn May, Ron and Mary Dufina, Cindy and Pete Komblevitz, Judy, Patty, and Rob Bynoe, Brian Schoenborn and members of his family, the Sam Kovalaks, and Jill Sawatzki and family members all enjoyed a wonderful evening. Marvin Lee May designed Peggy's program. Congratulations to Peggy from all your friends on Mackinac.

Welcome back to the Star Line crew, Captain Mike North, Terry Faley, Mike Welch, Chris Barker, and Tom Bushman. Great to see you all again.

Happy birthday to Deb Carley May 10. I hope your day is special.

Seen going up Cadotte Avenue May 2 were many horses that had just returned for the 2005 season for Jack's Livery Stable, Gough's Taxi, and Cindy's Riding Stable. The animals were frisky and in wonderful shape after the winter.

Stephanie McGreevy celebrated her birthday April 29 and she was treated by Andrew and daughter, Anna, to dinner at the Jockey Club and dessert in the main dining room of Grand Hotel. They were all having a great time.

Chris and Martin Tuckett of St. Ledger Island in Les Cheneaux enjoyed the past weekend on the Island at the Hotel Iroquois.

Sam Barnwell is our newest volunteer on the ambulance. He took the EMT class this past winter, crossing the ice to St. Ignace twice a week. He has just received word that he passed his national exam. Sam works as night manager at the Iroquois Hotel. He is the son of Becki Barnwell. Congratulations, Sam.

We're very proud of the Island students at Mackinac Island Public School. Emily St. Onge, Melissa Bunker, and Christine McLain returned home on Sunday after spending a week in Washington, D.C. with the Close-Up Program. They had a great time.

Cindy Schad, reservation manager at the Iroquois Hotel, has arrived for the 2005 season. She has a new puppy, a red and white King Charles spaniel named Jasper. Nice to see Cindy back on Mackinac.

Mark Chambers drove to Marquette on Tuesday to bring his son, Richard, back home for the summer. Richard will be a sophomore at Northern Michigan University in the fall. Robert went along with his father to pick up his brother.

The Paul Wandries, with son, Paul Martin, visited Mandy's dad, Bob St. Onge, over the weekend at his new home in St. Ignace.

Keith Leverton, dock porter at the Iroquois, has broken a bone in his foot and has to delay his arrival on Mackinac. The many guests and friends who have been greeted by Keith for more than 20 years will miss his warm smile. Hopefully, this is a temporary setback and we look forward to his return to the Island. You can write to him at 22121 W. Village Drive, Dearborn, MI 48124.

Rodney Marciniak of Bay City has returned to Grand Hotel, where he is employed in night security.

Mary K. McIntire recently had foot surgery in New York. She was very pleased on Friday to receive a visit and a dinner date from Tom and Kathy Lewand and Kristi and Alex Graham. On Sunday night the group was joined by Kristin McTigue and friend, Andy. They all enjoyed a great time.

Island contractor Mike Gamble Sr. has been kept very busy in his roofing business, having just finished a fine new roof on the Grand Cottage. He is now working at Surrey Hill.

Jack Barnwell will be graduated with honors Saturday, May 14, from the University of Montana in environmental studies. He is involved in an internship with a "green" builder as a carpenter. He will be on Mackinac for three weeks, planting the gardens at the Iroquois. Emory Barnwell is finishing his junior year at the University of Montana in the Parks and Recreation Management Program. He will also be on Mackinac for a month before he goes to Canada, where he is program director at Camp Bil-O-Wood in Blind River, Ontario.

Welcome home to Mimi and Pierce Cunningham, who are just in time for the official opening of Grand Hotel Friday, May 6.

Home from college for the summer are Sara Wessel, Roxanne Pettit, Jill Kamphuis, and Josh Carley. More students will arrive this week.

Vic Callewaert is recovering well from his recent knee replacement surgery. He plans to come to Mackinac on Thursday for five days. It will be nice to have Vic back on the Island.

Murdick's Fudge Kitchen is open for the season.

Sharron Lasley will retire Thursday, May 5, from her job with the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians. There will be a retirement party at Little Bear East Arena in St. Ignace, Thursday, May 5, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. We will miss seeing Sharron on Mackinac and wish her all the best in her retirement.

Nancy Keogh wrote from her home in Northfield, Illinois, that she and Larry will once again be in their Crosstrees Cottage on the East Bluff over Memorial Day. While Nancy was reading the Wall Street Journal, she came across an interesting review about the musical, "Light in the Piazzi." The "Light in the Piazzi" is part of the Lincoln Center Theatre's 109th Production. A member of the cast is Glen Steven Allen, who spent many summers at the East Bluff cottage of his his grandfather, Judge Glenn Allen.

What's new!! It's Monday, May 2, and it's snowing large wet snowflakes.

Christy and Marvin May have returned to their nice home on Cadotte Avenue. Marvin will be busy opening his May's Candy Shop.

Buzz Waggoner of Wyandotte is busy getting his La Galerie Gift Shop on Market Street open for the season. Carolyn was up for the weekend.

Greetings to our good friend, Jack Ryerse of St. Ignace. We miss seeing you, Jack. Keep well.

Happy belated wedding anniversary to Sally and Walt North of St. Ignace. Bushy sends his best wishes.

Tyler Finkel sends his very best wishes to all of his Island friends. He has been an exchange student in Osaka, Japan, for a month. He will be there for nine months in all, returning just in time to celebrate the New Year on Mackinac Island. His host family, the Nambaras, are the parents of Hiromi, who was an exchange student on the Island a few years ago. He reports they lead busy lives. They work long hours and have little leisure time. Tyler is teaching himself the guitar, as well as Japanese. Both are fun but challenging.

The city of Osaka is large, comparable to Chicago. Tyler and his classmates use trains to go everywhere. Bullet trains are for long distances and he has not been on one yet. It is quite rare for people his age, 16, to have the use of a car, especially in the city. Tyler enjoys the food, but misses butter and still goes out to McDonald's. All of his classes are in Japanese with the exception of Bible class, which is in English. He says the translation they use is simpler than the King James, and he prefers it.

This is Tyler's second exchange visit to Japan. He went last year for a three-week exchange, as have a number of other Island students. He is the first, though, to undertake a full year program. His family is thrilled for his opportunity, but miss him daily.

Enjoy spring on Mackinac.