The weather for the past few days has been beautiful and, according to the weatherman, more of the same is on the way. What a relief it is not to have to shovel snow or wade through snow drifts. It seems such a short time ago that that was true. Sunday was a great day for a cookout, and that is exactly what our family had at our home with traditional potato salad, hamburger, soda pop, beer, and a good fire.

It was nice to see Bob and Marian Cox back for the summer, as well as Mary and Tom Flood. Many others have returned too, and so another busy summer is beginning.

On a sad note, we have just learned of the unexpected death of Marian Pladies, mother of Ann Lee, who has written to me and contributed to this column several times. Marian, who loved the Les Cheneaux Islands and their summer home on Haven Island, had just arrived to spend time here, feeling well and happy, when she suddenly passed away. Marian was 88 years of age. The Pladies, who are from Kentucky, first came up to the islands in 1955 and purchased Haven Island in 1964, where they have spent their summers ever since. Many will miss her.

Another unexpected death last week was that of Verne Shoberg. Verne, the son of the late Tigner and Frances Shoberg of Pickford, and a nephew of my husband, Con Shoberg, passed away on Saturday at his home in Globe, Arizona, where he had been working as a pharmacist for the past several years. He leaves a son, Clifford, in Kinross, and a daughter, Sandra Sumerville, who lives in Georgia.

The Lions Club winner May 30 was Stephen Sanney, who won $100.

Another memory of times past, this one from Jack White who resides in Superior, Wisconsin, told of a vaudeville show that came to Cedarville many years ago for about three years. As he recalls, it was called The Bozo Show. It consisted of a group who performed in a big tent that was set up near the town hall in Cedarville. They sold candy in boxes and had a popularity contest. Jack recalls that as a young lad, he thought they were pretty good and kept the crowd entertained.

Jack also recalled that many of the young boys in Cedarville and Hessel made good money during the summer months caddying at the golf course, in the days before golf carts, for golfers from the Les Cheneaux Club. Several of the boys were able to go to college as a result of this great summer job. Jack, by the way, is a cousin of Blanche White Markey of Cedarville.

Our young track stars performed exceptionally well once again at the U. P. Finals in Kingsford last week. Many of these same young people are now enjoying many historical and unusual sights of the Orient as our outstanding high school band visits places of interest in China, where they were invited to perform.

The spring concert and art show at the Cedarville High School last week was wonderful and goosebumps were prevalent in the audience during the band's rendition of Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever." While introducing the numbers, band director Alan Jacobus said that the Chinese requested some American patriotic marches to be on the China program.