Thanks to the cast and the behind-the-scenes workers for another wonderful, entertaining summer production here in DeTour Village. The romantic comedy, "The Fantasticks" was a sellout for all three performances, plus a revue Wednesday evening.

Besides the very talented cast of eight performers, David Rhinard, Karen Hughes, Ben Helmke, Dr. Richard Morrison, Dan Harris, Mike Kasper, Bob Zahara, and Phillip Quinn, we must give credit to the others who worked so diligently to bring this production together: director Dave Rhinard, producer Dawn Hamelink, assisted by Holly Grover, music director Karen Hughes, accompanists John Ignatowski, Mary Lou Hughes, and Ben Helmke. Stage director Yoshiko VanVoorhies was assisted by Jon Hamelink, Jay Dudeck, Kurt VanVoorhies, Sharon and Jim Quigley, Olive Warner, Mary Volkers, Jennie Brussow, Ruth Ann Hudack, Dave Rhinard, Bob Zahara, Ben Helmke, Richard Morrison, Bill Mordecai, Sean Rhinard, and Chuck Lanning. Art work, design, and painting were by Renee Norton, Darrol Kraai, and Yoshiko VanVoorhies. Costume director was Judy Jones, assisted by Roxanne Harris, Olive Warner, Jennie Brussow, Diane Karsh, Claire Schultz, and Elna VanHouten. Props director was Kathleen Shiplett, assisted by Dawn Hamelink, Ralph Shiplett, Jeff Bosley, Dave Rhinard, Yoshiko VanVoorhies, Olive Warner, and Angie Reed. Sound was by Dave Rhinard and Gary VanAlstine. Lighting technicians Jerry Warner, Mike Kasper, and Dan Harris. Light board was operated by Holly Grover. Spotlights were operated by Murray Fountain, Kathleen Shiplett, Ralph Shiplett, and Sandy Wytiaz. Posters, playbills, and tickets were by Kaye Birkmeier. Advertising/marketing were by Sandra Kraai and Dotty Witten. Hospitality director was Janelle Dudeck, assisted by Sandy Wytiaz. Makeup was by Candace Postula, Donna Barrett, Tracy Miller, and Debbie Fountain. Bartenders were Yoshiko VanVoorhies and Rene Norton.

Our community will look forward to another great production in the summer of 2007.

Mother Nature wasn't kind to us Saturday, August 19, for the

First Annual DeTour Passage Fine Art Festival. Nancy Mordecai, who planned and directed this festival, is to be commended for the wonderful showing of exhibits. Nancy, in spite of the weather, was not discouraged, as the turnout was more than expected for such a bleak morning. There will be more information regarding the artists in next week's column.

News from the DeTour Passage Historical Museum informs us the annual high tea will be Wednesday, August 30, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend. There are special displays, such as a scale model of the Drummond Island ferry made by Art Kelly, loaned to the museum by Norma Andree. There is also a display of old-style dresses, including a wedding dress. Everyone is invited to stop by and try to guess the era they're from. There are logbooks from the DeTour Light, the Justice of the Peace, a grocery store, and a church as well as scrapbooks with family histories and centennial books of the area, DeTour, Drummond Island, Goetzville-Raber, and Pickford.

The museum is funded on donations and memberships only. You may mail your membership fee or donations to: DeTour Passage Historical Museum, Attn: Membership, P.O. Box 111, DeTour Village, Michigan 49725. If you would like to volunteer your services, call Elna VanHouten at (906) 297-8151 or the museum at (906) 297-3404.

The first day of school is right around the corner, Tuesday, September 5. The football and basketball games will start in advance, with the first football game being held Friday, September 1, at Cedarville, with players from DeTour joining the Cedarville Trojans.

The first girls basketball game of the season will be in Mackinaw City Tuesday, August 29, at 6 p.m. The first home game will be Thursday, August 31, at 6 p.m. Give your support to our young people by attending the games.

Welcome to Rod Goehmann, the DeTour Area Schools new superintendent. Mr. Goehmann will be sharing his time on an equal basis between DeTour schools and Les Cheneaux schools.

A thought: A wishbone isn't a substitute for a backbone.