Les Cheneaux '50s Theme Honors Mackinac Bridge

At right: Les Cheneaux Islands Association members (from left) Dave Robertson, Jan Williams, Trip Abnee, Phyllis Rush, and Dick and Sheelagh Knapp, were among the group dressed like "inspectors" to honor the association's tradition of property inspectors who keep a close eye on Les Cheneaux homes and cottages while members are away for the season. The group won third place in the Les Cheneaux Chamber of Commerce parade entry contest.

Les Cheneaux Chamber of Commerce distributed awards to winning entries of the Independence Day parade Wednesday, July 4. The parade's theme was Celebrate the 1950s to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Mackinac Bridge.

The float that best represented the parade's theme was the Green Thumb Lawn and Garden Center's "Green Thumb Diner." The float set a scene inside a diner with customers dressed in 1950s era costumes. It also commemorated the Green Thumb's 45th anniversary in business.

In the general category, the chamber gave first place to Spring Lodge of Cedarville, which featured patriotic, red, white, and blue decorations.

At right: A bright red, vintage 1956 Ford pickup truck towed a 1950s era Lonestar boat from Barefoot's Resort in Cedarville. Grandson of the resort's founders Chris Pearson, with (from left) his son, 8-month old Ross, his wife, Laurie, and his daughter, Audrey, 4, rode the vehicles through the parade to reflect the theme, "Celebrate the 1950s."

Second place went to Taylor Lumber of Cedarville, which created a small version of the Mackinac Bridge on the back of a truck. The display was complete with people tossing necklaces at the crowds lining Hodeck Street.

Third place went to the Les Cheneaux Islands Association. Dressed as "inspectors" and carrying magnifying glasses to help them pick up clues along the route, the group honored past and current property inspectors David Janz, Bruce Cruickshank, John Cason, Dave St. Onge, Vaughn Rye, Steve Fountain, Larry Sherlund, and Jonas Carpenter.

The chamber gave a special plaque to the Law-White Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7958 in appreciation of members' service over the years. The group of veterans and its Ladies Auxiliary always lead the Les Cheneaux Independence Day parade.

Gina Augugliaro and her grandfather, John Duncan, ride horses through the Cedarville Independence Day Parade Wednesday, July 4.

A horseshoe tournament at Snows Bar in Cedarville attracted four teams this year and was won by Matt Hatch and Steve Patson, both of Cedarville.

Other teams and their participants included Jim and Dan O'Neill, both of Holland, Michigan, Terry Cox of Hessel and Phil Stevenson of Stalwart, and Randy Hatch of Hessel and Mike O'Neill of Holland.

The Green Thumb Diner float took the award for best theme representation at Cedarville's Independence Day parade Wednesday, July 4. On the float before the parade, siblings Jan (nee Hicks) Causley and Steve Hicks (back row), with (from left) Jennifer Terrill and her children Hannah Terrill, 9, and Colin Terrill, 3 (front) act out a scene from a 1950s-style diner. Mrs. Terrill is the granddaughter of Ron and Ida Hicks, founders of the Green Thumb. The float celebrated the 45th anniversary of the Cedarville business and the parade's theme, the 1950s.