Mackinac Island
By Jeannette Doud 847-3301

Sunday, January 14, was a perfect day on the Island. Folks were seen riding their bikes or strolling along on bare sidewalks. During the wee hours of Monday morning, January 15, old man winter paid us a visit, turning Mackinac into a perfect winter scene. A winter wonderland brought happy faces to many as they jumped aboard their snowmobiles for a ride. School children could be seen on their way to school happily riding along. Beautiful pure white snow covered the land, with the sound of snowmobiles in the distance. Winter has finally arrived. Trees and shrubs are draped with the soft white snow. Once again, it's wintertime on Mackinac.

Happy birthday January 21 to Harold Jonas, head of security at Mission Point Resort. Enjoy your day.

Eric St. Onge of St. Louis sent on an informative and wonderful bit of news on Mackinac. The son of Glenn and Deana and brother of Jason, Eric is a lawyer in Lansing. Every Saturday morning, he has breakfast with James Austin Vanderbeek of Alma, who is very interested in the Island. Last week Mr. Vanderbeek brought Eric a great article about Mackinac in a lifestyle magazine called Michigan Blue, which featured Mackinac during the winter. The photographs were breathtaking. Grand Hotel is featured in wintertime as an off-season adventure. There are wonderful pictures of the ice-covered harbor, the mighty Huron, and a view from Fort Mackinac looking west. One caption reads, "The Island slumbers all winter in a tranquility that's disturbed only by shifting ice, distant sleigh bells, howling night blizzards, and crunching snow on long night walks.

Brian Bloswick will celebrate his birthday January 24. Have a great day.

A very special Islander, Bob Benjamin, celebrated his birthday January 14 at his winter home in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and we wish him a very happy one. Bob was born in the Benjamin home on Lakeshore Drive. He and his lovely wife, Bev, come back each summer to operate their businesses, Benjamin Kodak and the Picture Shop on Main Street. We look forward to your return in the spring.

We've learned that our good friend, Bob Gillespie, suffered a heart attack Friday, January 12, and underwent bypass surgery Monday, January 15. Island friends send very best wishes for a speedy recovery. Please remember him with get well wishes at the following address: 12865 SW Highway 17, Arcadia, FL33821.

Happy birthday to Janice Green January 25. Have a wonderful day.

It was a very exciting weekend at the Mackinac Island Public School, where the Mackinac Island Lakers hosted the Islanders of Beaver Island in volleyball and basketball. It was homecoming weekend, so there were lots of festivities during the weekend. Woody Beardsley and Kristi Kamphuis were crowned king and queen at half-time. A dance ended the evening.

Olivia Chambers returned to Mackinac Thursday, January 11, after a four-day stay at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.

Carol Ruddle will celebrate her birthday January 27. Have a great day.

Mark Chambers alerted me Friday, January 12, to hurry and see the beautiful sight as the brilliant sun was setting to the west, causing its rays to illuminate the blue waters of the Straits. It was a breathtaking sight at this time of the year.

Adam and Leandra Fisher of Saginaw enjoyed spending the weekend with Adam's family at their home in Harrisonville. They enjoyed homecoming at the school.

Members of Trinity Church will host a potluck and movie at the parsonage Wednesday, January 17. Everyone is welcome.

The Island is very peaceful these days following the hustle and bustle of the Christmas and New Year holidays. It's a time when we can get together with our neighbors and friends.

The new kitchen project at the Iroquois Hotel is progressing each day. So far, the weather has been cooperating for the contractors.

We received word Monday evening that our good friend, Robert Newman of Royal Oak, passed away Sunday, January 7, at Beaumont Hospital. Bob and his wife of 64 years, Mary Jane, loved Mackinac and spent many happy summers walking the trails of the Island, enjoying the Tuesday night bingo games, and sitting on the Windermere porch. Friends may write to Mary Jane at the following address: 2807 Ardmore, Royal Oak, MI 48073. Deepest sympathy from all your Mackinac friends.

It's 10:20 a.m. on the frigid morning of Tuesday, January 16, and the temperature is five degrees above zero. "Big Ray" Card, the driver for Mackinac Island Service Company, just stopped by with some UPS packages and his team had icicles on their whiskers. Just another story about life on Mackinac.

Let it snow!!