Mackinac Island
By Jeannette Doud 847-3301

On Market Street, Mackinac Island city employees Lindy Mattox and Mike Lee, both of Moran, are sweeping winter sand and debris from streets. The pair are working their way from the Gate House Restaurant on Cadotte Avenue to Mission Point Resort Wednesday, April 25.

Thursday, May 3, was a glorious spring day on Mackinac, and a very special one, too. It was the opening of the beautiful Grand Hotel, celebrating its 120th year in business. High atop the roof peaks and clear across the front of the historic building, with the longest porch in the world, American flags waved proudly in the breezes off the Straits of Mackinac. Guests were ushered over the red-carpeted entrance to the spacious lobby. For many, it was a day to remember. Still another thrill was to be transported up Cadotte Avenue via horse-drawn carriages.

Sadness spread over the Island Friday, May 4, when news was received of the sudden death of Pierce Cunningham, husband of Margaret Musser Cunningham. Services were held in Lansing Tuesday, May 8. We wish to extend our deepest sympathy to the family from Island friends.

The miracle of spring is upon us, when the trees begin to bud and the magnificent flowers are in bloom, permeating the air with their fragrance. There are the golden daffodils and the reds, blues, and purples of the tulips. Let us not forget the wildflowers in the wooded areas, where forget-menots and lilies of the valley can be seen. Having lived under the frozen earth throughout the long winter months, it's wonderful to see them brighten each day with their blossoms. In the wetlands below the highest tee on the Jewel golf course, one can find patches of tiny purple violets.

Our good friend and mayorpro tem, Armand Horn, has been a patient at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey for the past week recovering from his recent surgery. Island friends send best wishes.

Our much beloved pastor at Ste. Anne's, Father Rey Garcia S.J., underwent major surgery Saturday, May 5, at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. Friends may write him at the following address: Colombiere Center, 9075 Big Lake Road, Clarkston, MI 48346. This is the retreat house where he will recuperate. Everyone on Mackinac sends him best wishes for a very speedy recovery.

Longtime summer resident Brian Dunnigan has been appointed interim director of William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan, effective July 1. Congratulations to Brian from Island friends.

Deepest sympathy to Paula Gallagher on the recent death of her mother.

Lake Superior State University students, faculty, and staff chose longtime nursing professor Mary Anne Shannon as the recipient of this year's Distinguished Teaching Award. The award was announced during the commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 5, and was a total surprise to Mary Anne. She and her husband, Pat, have a home in Trillium Heights. Congratulations to Mary Anne from your friends on Mackinac.

A familiar face is back driving the Grand Hotel baggage dray for another season. We welcome Lacal Roberts to Mackinac.

Happy 21st birthday to Beth St. Onge May 17. Have a wonderful day.

Happy birthday May 16 to our good friend, Jennifer Karhoff of Findlay, Ohio. We miss you and hope to see you soon on Mackinac.

Mackinac Island Carriage Tours is all set for the coming season with their tour ready for passengers. The horses that are harnessed to the carriages are frisky and healthy, as they lived all winter on Jim Chambers' farm near Pickford. It's fun to see them arriving from the ferry, led together in a group.

Welcome home to the Pat Pulte family, who have their popular Murray Hotel and Inn on Mackinac open for the 2007 season.

Melly Hagenbaugh and Franc Doud will celebrate their birthdays May 16. Enjoy your day.

The Chippewa Hotel is bustling for the new season. In late fall, a new sidewalk was laid in front of the hotel. It's very nice and a great improvement. Manager Brian Bailey and his wife, Jerri Lynn and family, have arrived for the summer. Nice to see you back on the Island.

Adam Fisher of Mackinac and Saginaw celebrated his birthday May 15. Hope you had a great day, Adam.

Jennifer and Frank Bloswick Jr. have been very busy getting their Mackinac Lapidary shop open for the new season. They've made it much larger and spacious.

Buzz Waggoner is busy getting his La Galerie shop on Market Street open for the season.

Ben Nye of Great Turtle Toys is already flying kites off Windermere Point. The kites are very attractive and colorful.

Our good friends, Pat and Louie Leveille of St. Ignace, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary May 18. Congratulations from Island friends.

The Michigan Historic Preservation Network presented Distinctive Destinations: Preservation's Role in Tourism at Grand Hotel Thursday, May 3, through Sunday, May 6. Summer cottager Frank Pompa was the host of the conference. Walter North and Tom Pfeiffelmann narrated a cruise aboard Star Line ferry Friday evening, showcasing the Round Island Lighthouse and the Mackinac Bridge. The participants of the conference enjoyed beautiful weather and visiting Mackinac.

Welcome home to Annette and Bob Gillespie, who have spent the winter in Arcadia, Florida. Bob is doing very well after his heart surgery this winter.

Joe Plaza has returned to Mackinac for the season and has opened Arrowhead Carriages for the 2007 season.

Bishop Jim Kelsey of the Episcopal Diocese of Marquette was a recent guest of Grand Hotel, and held special services Sunday, May 6, at Trinity Church.

Meg Brown will be celebrating her birthday May 22. She attended the Win-Some Women conference Monday, May 14, at Grand Hotel.

Adele Lypsinmaa of Hancock, longtime employee of the Mustang Lounge, has returned for the 2007 season.

Mission Point Resort hosted their opening party Tuesday, May 1, for the Mackinac community. Owner John Shufelt and his wife, Jeanie, and manager David Sanderson and his wife, Susan, greeted guests as they arrived for the festivities. It was a great gathering, meeting friends who had returned for the season. Wonderful food was sampled by all the attendees. As the guests approached Mission Point Resort, a beautiful sight met their eyes. The hillside was covered with beautiful yellow daffodils in full bloom. Many thanks to Mission Point Resort for a very nice evening.

Happy news! Jennifer Bloswick, director of the Mackinac Island Community Foundation, recently was able to say a few words to our good friend, Garfield Slowly, who was injured in a very bad automobile accident in November 2006. Garfield was a dedicated waiter at Grand Hotel's Jockey Club for many years. Island friends send him special greetings.

Jackie and Richard Bolander are visiting Japan for a week.

Kay Hoppenrath will celebrate her birthday May 23. Enjoy your day.

Ken and Diane Neyer of Traverse City are busy getting the Metivier Inn and Hart's Haven ready for opening.

Home from college for the summer are Blisse Beardsley, Richard Chambers, Josh Carley, Miranda McMahon, Jill and Sam Kamphuis, Eric Cowell, Melissa Bunker, Roxanne Pettit, Eli Urman, and Tyler Finkel. Enjoy your summer vacation.

Members of the Bourisaw family from Buffalo, New York, here recently were Raymond and Robert Schadel and a friend, and Ricky Schadel and friend, Lennie. Their parents, Kitty and George Schadel, will arrive after Mother's Day and will spend a month in the residence on Bourisaw Lane. They will be joined by Sherry Rayha of Cheboygan.

Members of the senior class, Kristi Kamphuis and Scott Roguska, are enjoying their senior trip to Hawaii with chaperones Karen Allen and Chris Roguska.

Betty Vieau of Mackinaw City is back at the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau on the Island. We give her a warm welcome.

Anneke and Matt Myers recently visited Anneke's parents, Dr. Dave and Grace Armour, in Pennsylvania.

Dick Rulison of Pelkie has returned for another season, where he is employed at Mackinac Island Carriage Tours. On his way to the Island, he spent the night with Randy Hall in Pickford. He reports that Randy is recovering very well after his serious accident this past winter.

Fort Mackinac has opened and is receiving many visitors. Director Phil Porter and his staff are busy preparing for another season.

Congratulations to Walter North on receiving an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree during the commencement exercises at Lake Superior State University Saturday, May 5.

Dr. Fran and Lorna Straus recently spent a week on Mackinac preparing their gardens for the summer. Their son, Christopher Straus, attended the Historic Preservation Network conference at Grand Hotel the first weekend in May.

Sandra and Debra Orr have returned to the Island from their winter home in Naples, Florida. They're preparing their businesses for the summer.

Judy Bynoe and family and the Brian Schoenborn family of St. Ignace attended the first communion and confirmation of Riley and Katilyn McKay Sunday, May 13, in Chassell. They are the children of Randy and Katie McKay.

Nicki Griffith of Ann Arbor has returned to Mackinac and is enjoying her lovely cottage in Hubbard's Annex. Nice to have you back on the Island.

Congratulations to Heather May, daughter of Marvin and Christy, who was graduated from Central Michigan University Saturday, May 5. Heather received bachelor's degrees in music education and music performance. She shares her musical talents with many people at the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. masses at Ste. Anne's Church in the summer.

Bob and Bev Benjamin have returned to Mackinac from their winter home at Hilton Head, South Carolina. Their daughter, Jane Young, and son, Tom, joined them for the weekend. They're preparing Benjamin's Photo Shop for opening.

Sara Chambers is kept very busy these days handling all of the United Parcel Service packages that arrive daily on the Island.

Lois and Bill Lenaghan, while attending a meeting downstate, visited Father Rey Garcia at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. They reported that he was doing very well after major surgery Saturday, May 5. He misses all his friends on Mackinac.

I had the pleasure last week of meeting Tom and Joann Sullivan of Wolverine Lake, who have been coming to Mackinac for more than 28 years. They're planning to build a home at Stonecliffe Manor II in two years. Mr. Sullivan was attracted to the yellow umbrellas on Windermere Point and discovered that they were made by his company, Arden Companies in Southfield. It's a small world. They enjoy having lunch at the Windermere Doghouse.

The Island House is open for the 2007 season.

Ken Thompson and his wife arrived from Hawaii, where Ken is stationed in the U.S. Navy. His wife will be managing the Lilac House for the 2007 season.

Joan Barch of Lansing is comfortably settled in her home in Woodbluff. She was here over the weekend visiting her Island family.

We send greetings to Donnie and Gracie Francis in Punta Gorda, Florida, where Donnie is making a nice recovery after his recent heart procedures. They will return in mid-June to the Island.

Enjoy the warm spring Mackinac days and all the blooming flowers!