Mackinaw Parasailing will lease one of Arnold Line's parking lots for this summer's operations rather than its former location at the Mackinaw City Municipal Marina, which owner Jim Rizzardi has used for the past four years. Owing to rules related to upgrades to the marina paid for by state grants, the site is no longer eligible for use by private businesses this year, said Village Manager Jeff Lawson.

This presents a problem for Mackinaw Parasailing, however, because a local zoning ordinance requires all new commercial operations to provide paved parking and Mr. Rizzardi would have to pave six spaces for his business at the Arnold Line parking lot, an expense between $6,000 and $7,000.

Owing to the village council's hand in securing the state grants that subsequently barred the parasailing business from the marina, however, the board voted to allow Mackinaw Parasailing to use the gravel parking lot for one year. Mr. Rizzardi may be able to return to marina property next year, council members noted.

Council has approved solo performances by harpist Anne Brege to be conducted outside on Central Avenue for donations. She is a fourth-year performance harp student at Wayne State University who has come to the area for the past three summers to practice. In her request for permission to return this year, she said the experience "has been invaluable to my development as a musician."

The Kite Festival, hosted by Mackinaw City Kite Company for 20 years, will welcome kite flyers to Conkling Heritage Park Saturday, June 17, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, June 18, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Store representative Cheri Horvath said the company will provide demonstrations of small and exceptionally large kites and will include kids' games and free watermelon.

A group of 30 horse riders will make their first visit to Mackinaw City Sunday, June 11. The event, organized by Shore to Shore Trail Ride, Limited, has received permission to camp at Mackinaw Historic Village Saturday, June 10. This is the first time her organization has traveled this far north, representative Virginia Franklin told Council.

The riders will follow a Department of Natural Resources trail from Mackinaw City south. The trail had been previously marked for use by the Michigan Trail Riders Association for a ride Saturday, May 20.

Arbor Day was celebrated Friday, May 12, by third grade students from Mackinaw City Elementary School and members of the Village Council. Mr. Lawson explained the event to the youngsters and helped students plant 50 white pine saplings at Mackinaw City Historic Village.