Mackinac is like a budding flower, and each day the petals begin to open wider. The true sign is that it is the beautiful season of spring. On the hillside at the Little Jewel golf course, an abundance of yellow daffodils and white narcissuses are in full bloom, a joy to see. The little crocuses in shades of yellow, blue, pink, and purple are poking their tiny heads above many lawns in town. It's an amazing sight, following an old-fashioned winter with loads of snow.

Wednesday, April 23, we bid farewell to Dr. Don Weersing, as he leaves his position at the Mackinac Island Medical Center. He has given the residents of Mackinac Island excellent medical care for the past seven years. Dr. Don responded to his patients' needs any hour of the day or night. An excellent doctor, he will be greatly missed by his many patients. Warmest and best wishes to Dr. Weersing and his wife, Karen, for continued good health and happiness. Don't forget your many friends on Mackinac, who will greatly miss you.

One of my favorite walks is on the cedar shake paths with towering trees below beautiful Grand Hotel. The spring flowers are just everywhere. There is much natural beauty, with the singing of the birds and the little chipmunks dashing to and fro as they gather their bits of food.

Happy birthday April 21 to Eli Urman, Liz Burt, and Suzanne Munger. Enjoy your day.

Brian and Candi Dunnigan will celebrate their wedding anniversary April 22. Island friends send best wishes.

Cadotte Avenue is a very busy place, as employees arrive to spend the summer season at Grand Hotel. Dray loads of supplies are seen going to the hotel daily.

We give a warm welcome to Steadley, Headley, and Neil, dedicated members of the staff at Grand Hotel. They're busy preparing The Gate House for opening Friday, April 25. It will be great to see all the activity and more lights on Cadotte Avenue.

Happy birthday April 22 to Wayne Drost, Dorothy Dehring, Tim Horn, and Amelia Roe, all of Mackinac, and Jeff Davenport of St. Ignace. Have a great day.

Monday, April 21, was a perfect day with lots of blue sky and warm temperatures. The town is coming alive, as folks began opening their shops and businesses for the season. The mighty Huron makes five trips a day, now that the Straits of Mackinac is free of the heavy ice. Islanders are taking advantage of a chance to visit the mainland.

Saturday, April 19, Jamie Bynoe, an avid Detroit Red Wings hockey fan, was thrilled to have his picture taken, and to receive an autograph from hockey great Gordie Howe. Mr. Howe was at Kewadin Casino in St. Ignace for a few hours.

Mr. R. D. Musser, chairman of Grand Hotel, has arrived for the summer and is busy getting everything ready for the opening Friday, April 25. Island friends wish him a very happy birthday April 29.

Paul Brown and Mila Horn will celebrate their birthdays April 23. Enjoy your day.

A wonderful sight to see each day is the traffic of all the big freighters passing through the Round Island Passage. It's fascinating to watch the big ships sail by Windermere Point.

Great progress is being made at the new Mustang Lounge. Sunday, April 20, workers were busy painting the exterior a nice shade of yellow.

A very happy birthday April 28 to James Brown Sr. of St. Ignace. Island friends send best wishes.

Welcome back to Tony and Loretta Spata, who are busy getting their shops ready for the new season. They were joined over the weekend by their son, Joe Brodeur and his family from Chelsea. Joe is a Michigan State Police trooper stationed in Ypsilanti. Joe joined his brother, Tony, and crew with the painting of the exterior of the Mustang Lounge.

Happy birthday to Joanna Tamlyn April 24. Have a great day.

Special thanks to the crew of Edison Sault Electric, Mark Chambers, Dan Wightman, and Donnie Smith Friday evening, April 18. Because of an accident, they had to replace a transformer in the alley between the Mustang and the Yankee Rebel. They worked until 11 p.m. before they completed the job. The men appreciated Chief of Police Jim Marks and Officer Ken Hardy for their assistance, and Tony Brodeur for the great pizza.

It's great to see Rich Grodecki back on Mackinac, overseeing the opening of their many businesses. We send special greetings to his wife, Pat, who is recovering at their home in Detroit from open-heart surgery. Island friends send best wishes.

Chuck Kleber reports that Mackinac Island received some good exposure on San Antonio, Texas, radio station KLUP Saturday, April 19. Alex Graham, music director at Grand Hotel, was interviewed about his jazz music and accomplishments by Mr. Kleber's son, Drexel Kleber, who is a host of a weekly talk program. Drexel, who knows the Island well, asked Alex about his musical work at Grand Hotel and much interesting Island lore, focusing on Mackinac being named among the top five best islands in the world by National Geographic Traveler magazine. Great publicity for the Island.

My good friend, Lucas Karhoff of Findlay, Ohio, and Bourisaw Lane on Mackinac has a new black Scottie puppy named Yoder. We will see Yoder on Mackinac this summer.

Our good friend, Chris Mc- Cready, and Susie Raisch will celebrate their birthdays April 26. Have a wonderful day.

I knew that Barbara and Brian Hellis were at their Emerson Dufina Cottage on Benjamin Lane, as their American flag was flying in front of their home. They're enjoying a week vacationing on Mackinac with their dog, Rusty.

Lake View Hotel, The Island House, Mission Point Resort, and Grand Hotel will all open for the season Friday, May 2.

Marty and Paul Carey have arrived for the season and are busy preparing the Cloghaun Bed and Breakfast for opening.

In the March/April issue of Michigan History magazine, there was a very interesting article entitled "Interlude on Mackinac Island." It was taken from Memories by Sylvia May Burrell Brooks, and edited by her daughter, Erin Brooks. It brought back wonderful memories to me, because Wilfred Brooks worked with my late husband, Robert, when he was superintendent of the Mackinac Island State Park. The article reflects on life at Fort Mackinac and on Mackinac in 1939. The Doud and Sawyer families are mentioned, as well as Doud's Market and Dr. Cook, who was the Island physician. It was very enjoyable.

Debra Orr returned to Mackinac Wednesday, April 16, and left Sunday, April 20, to attend a memorial service for her late aunt, Lou Riley. She and Sandra will return to Mackinac very soon.

For all of the chocolate lovers, Murdick's Fudge opens Friday, April 25.

Blisse Beardsley will celebrate her birthday April 27. Enjoy your day.

Dwight LaPine is getting his garden ready for planting on French Lane. It's always a showplace for all our visitors to enjoy.

Saturday afternoon, April 19, a lovely baby shower, hosted by Anne St. Onge, Sara Wessel, and Jennifer Bloswick, was given for Emily St. Onge at Ste. Anne's Hall. A delicious lunch was enjoyed by all the guests, followed by Emily opening a wonderful assortment of gifts. Everyone enjoyed a great time.

Catherine McGreevy has returned to her Island home after spending the winter months with the John McGreevy family in Cleveland, Ohio. It's nice to have another light in our neighborhood.

We wish a happy birthday April 28 to Gwen Bagbey of Mackinac and Frank Massaway of St. Ignace. Have a great day.

A very nice little boy, Owen James Powell of St. Ignace, picked me a lovely bouquet of pussy willows and sent them over to me. I appreciate the thoughtfulness of Owen James. He and his brother are invited to have lunch at the Windermere Doghouse.

Pat and Maryann Shannon spent the weekend at their cottage in Trillium Heights.

Horn's Gaslight Bar will open for the season Friday, April 25. Jason St. Onge's band, Tricky Dicky and the Spoonmen, will perform Friday and Saturday nights.

Dr. Fran and Lorna Straus have just returned from a two-week tour of Greece. We look forward to seeing them on Mackinac soon.

It's nice to see Bob Tagatz, concierge and historian at Grand Hotel, back on Mackinac for the season.

Rosemary and Joe Kompsi have returned to their homes in St. Ignace and Mackinac, after spending the winter in Englewood, Florida.

The city crew returned to work Monday, April 21. They will be preparing the streets and sidewalks for the season.

Jerry Toney, reservation manager at Grand Hotel, and Stephanie McGreevy will celebrate their birthdays April 29. Hope your day is special.

In speaking with my good friend, Sherry Rayha of Cheboygan, I learned that two of her cousins from Rogers City were aboard the U.S. Steel Cason J. Calloway when the ship collided with the American Republic, 50 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge in heavy ice. Both ships were damaged, and the men returned to Rogers City for two weeks while the ships were repaired.

Deb, Mike, and Josh Carley spent the weekend in St. Ignace with Deb's parents, Mary and Cal Rogers. When the Carleys returned to Mackinac, they brought their niece and nephew, Mary and Joe Rogers, with them.

Happy birthday to John Nelson Massaway April 30. Have a wonderful day.

Frances Ball reports that the little hepaticas (mayflowers) are blooming in the woods. They have a wonderful fragrance, and certainly signal that spring is here.

Enjoy the warm spring days!