Mackinac Island
By Jeannette Doud 847-3301

AMemorial Day service will be held Monday, May 28, at the Veterans Memorial at 11:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. A memorial Mass will be held in the Mackinac Cemetery at 12:30 p.m. to honor our fallen veterans. Little Stone Church will celebrate Memorial Day Sunday, May 27, with a special service honoring veterans and active duty military personnel. Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a wreath-laying ceremony. All are welcome to attend.

The past weekend, once again, was a busy, fun-filled time for the many people who came to enjoy seeing the Island in springtime. Ferries were busy transporting the bicycle riders for the 18th annual Zoo-De-Mackinac Bike Bash, who liven up the town. Hotels entertained many guests, while Main and Market Street shops offered an assortment of gifts. Let us not forget the candy shops, where fresh fudge is produced daily. It's great to watch the expertise of the candy makers who mold the delicious batches on large marble slabs and big paddles, with the fragrance permeating the air. Folks taking the carriage drive will see the wooded areas covered with a blanket of white trilliums and myrtle. It truly is a breathtaking sight.

We have happy news to report. Our beloved pastor at Ste. Anne's, Father Rey Garcia, S.J., will be coming home to Ste. Anne's following surgery. Father Rey surprised his doctors by his rapid recuperation. Mackinac is a perfect place for him to rest and recover. The living room of the rectory has a beautiful view of the Straits of Mackinac and the harbor, and all of Father Rey's feathered friends that he feeds. His parishioners and many friends give him a warm welcome.

Bishop Alex Sample of Marquette will offer the 5:30 p.m. Mass at Ste. Anne's Saturday, May 26. Father Rey Garcia, S.J., and Father Pat Hussey, S.J., who is a visiting priest at Ste. Anne's, will join him for this service. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Grand Hotel and Mackinac will host the Michigan Knights of Columbus Convention Thursday, May 24, and Friday, May 25. The Knights will be seen wearing their colorful capes and large plumed hats. Many of their festivities will be in the gardens below Grand Hotel.

The many guests of Grand Hotel and visitors going by in carriages will see a magnificent sight, as thousands of tulips in an assortment of colors, which are planted each fall, have burst into full bloom. It's a beautiful display.

Our dedicated members of the Mackinac Island Medical Center are always on duty when needed, day and night, and the emergency medical team responds immediately. The Mackinac Island Fire Department and the Mackinac Island Police Department are always ready to serve our community.

The grass in Marquette Park is picture perfect in a luscious color of green, enticing many visitors stop by to rest and relax following a busy day on the Island.

Happy news: Don Francis, who has been recuperating from his recent heart condition at his winter home in Punta Gorda, Florida, is on his way home to Mackinac with his wife, Gracie. Don will be able to rest and relax at his home at the Mission with a perfect view of the harbor and the Straits of Mackinac. Everyone here at home is delighted to know he's feeling better.

The Reverend Vincent Carroll left for Iowa for several days to attend a book signing at Wheatland Community Library. His second book, "Poems from DaNang," was published by Peppertree Press in January 2007. He also addressed 200 high school students at his alma mater concerning issues of faith and motivation.

Sam and Barb Kovalak have arrived for the summer after celebrating the first birthday of their twin grandchildren in Rockford.

Eric Sawatzki and family from Okemos spent the weekend on Mackinac visiting Aunt Jill Sawatzki, who proudly showed off her two nieces, Haley and Ashlynn.

Adele Lypsinmaa, a longtime employee of the Mustang Lounge, returned to Hancock Sunday, May 20, to be with her mother, who is ill. Best wishes from Island friends.

Peggy Bynoe and Heather May provided beautiful music at both the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Masses Sunday, May 20, at Ste. Anne's.

A note received from Paul Michalke reports that his uncle, Vernon Michalke, is recovering well after his recent illness. Vernon, who was born on Mackinac, would love to hear from his Island friends. His address is: 37134 Charter Oaks Blvd., Clinton Township, MI 48036. Paul, Jo-An, and their son, Frank, live in Sterling, where Frank is on the track team. Happy birthday to Paul June 10.

Grand Hotel's Jockey Club opened for the season Thursday, May 17. Customers there are greeted by longtime waiters Headley, Steadley, Clive, and Randolph. Outside, there is a handsome new flagpole, which is illuminated at night. It's a great addition to the Jockey Club.

Jessie Doud has opened her famous Chuckwagon Restaurant for the season. Jessie spends the winter in Grand Rapids, where she enjoys her one-year-old grandson, Anthony Stephen.

The grounds of Mission Point Resort are beautiful with tulips of every color in full bloom, a very impressive sight.

Ann and Bill Taylor of Delta, Ohio, longtime guests of the Windermere, spent the weekend on Mackinac celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary. Congratulations to the Taylors from Island friends. We look forward to your next visit in October, when Ann always does her Christmas shopping. Ann and Bill, who are avid snowmobilers, even drove over to Mackinac when we had an ice bridge. They attend the snowmobile convention in Sault Ste. Marie every winter.

Fort Mackinac is open to the public. Folks stopping off at the Avenue of Flags will see a special treat, as a variety of blooming tulips, in a blaze of color, border each side of the walkway.

The winter shutters have been removed from the historic McNally Cottage on Main Street, and family members have come and opened the popular bed and breakfast for the season. For many years, the late Miss Catherine McNally welcomed guests to her charming house. McNally Cottage has a lovely view of the harbor and Main Street.

A phone call received today from Chris LaTocha, D.D.S., of Mackinaw City, gave us an update on his treatment for cancer. He has been enrolled in a clinical trial experimental drug for chemotherapy at the University of Chicago. He is very excited with how well he has done in the program, and he told us the doctor said the drug worked beyond expectations. He was one of 50 people in the United States to receive the drug. While taking the treatment, he was able to maintain his dental practice. He will receive a stem cell transplant Wednesday, May 30, at the University of Chicago. While he's in Chicago, visiting dentists will cover Straits Area Dental. Dr. LaTocha said he appreciates Dr. Fran and Lorna Straus and Dr. Chris Straus for all of their care. Island friends and patients send best wishes to Dr. LaTocha for a speedy recovery.

Following his retirement from the Mackinac Island State Park, Glen and Deanna St. Onge made their home in Remus. When they left the Island, they took along an Island lilac bush. Last week, while visiting their son, Jason, they brought lilacs from their Mackinac bush to Margaret and me. They were beautiful, and the fragrance permeated the air. We appreciate Deanna and Glen for remembering us.

The Brian Dunnigan family of Grass Lake spent Memorial Day weekend on the Island.

Vic Callewaert opened his Starbucks coffee shop Saturday, May 19, for the season.

Two seniors, Kristi Kamphuis and Scott Roguska, was graduated from Mackinac Island Public School Friday, May 25, at 7 p.m. Best wishes from Island friends.

Congratulations to Robert Chambers for breaking the Mackinac Island School record in the 400-meter dash. He ran it in 58.5 seconds. Robert has qualified for the State Finals in track and will compete in Kingsford Saturday, June 2. We wish him good luck.

Christy, Carolyn, Heather, and Marvin Lee May have been very busy helping Marvin get his May's candy shops open for the season. It's great to see your lights in the neighborhood.

We send best wishes to Bob Green, who is a patient at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey.

So nice to once again see lights on in the Bourisaw home on Bourisaw Lane. Sherry Rayha came from Cheboygan, and Kitty and George Schadel came from New York. They will be joined by other family members over Memorial Day weekend. The Bourisaw family is one of the oldest on Mackinac.

The Mackinac Island Police Department held its bicycle auction Saturday, May 26, at 10 a.m. on the steps of Community Hall on Market Street.

PJ, Tanya, and little Hugo Pulte of Colorado are visiting PJ's parents, Pat and Alice, and his sister, Mar. Hugo is 13 months old and very active. Nice to have you back on Mackinac.

Margaret Doud and I recently had the pleasure of going on a delightful carriage ride with Mac Armstrong and Mike Carley, up and through the wooded area of our Island. One of our stops was at Arch Rock, where my late parents owned and operated a souvenir shop dating back to 1910. My two brothers, Gunn and Pat, and I spent many happy summers playing in the woods surrounding Arch Rock. There were many happy memories of years gone by.

Helga Doud is visiting her family in Petoskey for a week.