The season of abundance is at hand, when natural beauty can be seen everywhere, which comes with the summer sun. Monday, June 2, was a glorious morning on Mackinac, with brilliant sunshine in a heavenly blue sky. Folks could be seen taking the carriage ride. Drivers could be heard giving the history of our Island.

The picturesque sunrise to the east is a breathtaking sight as it slowly ascends, bringing another perfect day on Mackinac. On a leisurely walk each evening on the boardwalk, one can view the sunset to the west, behind the Mackinac Bridge, in shades of brilliant reds and pinks. Riding a bicycle around the lakeshore, visitors can view the wildflowers in bloom. Yellow is the summer color, which can be seen in the buttercups, daisies, and ladyslippers.

Happy belated 40th birthday to officer Andy Dziobak May 21. I'm sure that Brooke helped blow the candles out.

Following the heavy rains of the past week, the lawns are like green velvet, and many gardens are starting to grow. The Island is so fresh and bright.

Multi-colored tulips stand tall in front of historic City Hall on Market Street. The grounds of Mission Point Resort are truly a sight to see, with different colored tulips scattered all over the area.

Our good friend, Paul Michalke of Sterling, celebrated his birthday June 10. Paul grew up on Mackinac, in the Michalke home on Market Street. Island friends send best wishes.

The Wolfgang Studio on Market Street is open for the season, displaying Richard Wolfgang's many paintings of Mackinac, and the new annual poster for the Lilac Festival. We give Richard and Helen a warm welcome.

Mary K. McIntire and her friend, Julie Bacon of Harbor Springs, left Wednesday, June 4, for 10 days in Fes, Morocco. They will be attending the Sacred Music Festival.

Anna Rogers Stott's daughter, Samantha, will be attending Michigan State University in the fall. She will spend 11 weeks this summer in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua, to teach English and to take Spanish classes. This will be a wonderful experience for Samantha. She is the granddaughter of Cal and Mary Rogers.

Wednesday, May 28, and Friday, May 30, students of the Mackinac Island Public School in grades four through seven, entertained everyone with the production of "The Magical Land of Oz" at Mission Point Theatre. It truly was a treat to sit back and enjoy the music, talent, dedication, and hard work of all the young people. They are to be commended for their excellent performance. Director was Karen Allen, music was under the direction of Kathleen Peterson, and sets were done by Seth Baker and the performing arts class. It truly was a memorable evening.

Happy birthday to George Wellington June 11. Enjoy your day.

Candy Smith and Vanessa Hardy entertained family and friends at a reception Sunday, June 1, honoring Desiree Nordstand, who was graduated Friday, May 23, from LaSalle High School in St. Ignace. It was nice to see Tammy Frazier back on the Island. Everyone enjoyed a relaxing afternoon.

Leo Krzeminski and his daughter, Julie, have arrived back on Mackinac and are comfortably settled in their home on McGulpin Street. Leo is so happy to be back on the Island, where he can visit his many friends.

Happy anniversary to Dr. Fran and Lorna Straus June 11. Have a wonderful day.

Jane and Richard Manoogian and Amelia and Dan Musser hosted a lovely reception at Grand Hotel Saturday evening, May 31, for the exhibition of photography entitled "Above and Beyond." Guests enjoyed the wonderful photography.

Nice to see Toby Murray back on his favorite Island for two weeks. He and his friend, Mark Chambers, brought Mark's sailboat, Windermere, over from St. Ignace.

Jay and Janet Stingel have arrived at their Brigadoon Cottage for the summer. They have brought four beautiful black Friesian horses with them. Mike Carley of S7S Lawn Care has been busy preparing the grounds of Brigadoon for the summer season.

Mark Chambers will celebrate his birthday June 13. I'm sure Clara will help blow the candles out.

We send deepest sympathy to Bonnie Schoenborn of Grand Rapids, on the recent death of her husband, Emmett, Wednesday, May 28. Emmett was a regular visitor to Mackinac. Brian, Patty, and Lily Schoenborn of Mackinac attended the funeral Saturday, May 31.

Congratulations to Tracy Quinter and Gabe Cowell on the birth of their daughter, Kaylee Rose, Wednesday, May 28. Little Kaylee weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces, and measured 20 inches in length at birth. Proud grandparents are William and Debra Fisher, Gwen Bagbey and the late Richard Bagbey of Mackinac, Lorne and Annie Cowell of St. Ignace, and Dennis Quinter of Ohio. Great-grandparents are Robert and Caroline LaPine of Mackinac and Edna and George Cowell of the Detroit area.

News received recently from Pam Lach brings a welcome message that her health is improving each day, and she hopes to visit Island friends later in the season. Pam has been a wonderful member of the emergency medical team on the Island. Best wishes to Pam for continued good health.

Congratulations to Michael Gamble of Mackinac, who won the individual title in a second hole "sudden death" dual at the Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference Golf Championship at The Rock on Drummond Island Thursday, May 22. Michael also won first place in the U.P. Finals Golf Tournament Friday, May 30. There were 21 teams in the tournament. The Mackinac Island Golf Team consists of Woody Beardsley, Paul Fisher, Tymon Horn, Thomas Rilenge, Michael Gamble, Maggie Chambers, and Marie Bunker. They had a great year.

Happy birthday to Joe Kompsi June 14. Enjoy your day.

So nice to see Cindy Francis Gough back on Mackinac. She is the bookkeeper this summer for Jack's Livery Stable. She and her husband, Bill, make their home in Cedarville in the winter. Cindy worked with us for many years, when we had the Arch Rock Curio Shop.

Many visitors and Islanders are fascinated by the boat traffic in the Straits of Mackinac and Round Island Passage. Big ore freighters are carrying loads of ore to the steel mills in Gary, Indiana. Last week, while we had thick fog, the sounds of their blowing signals could be heard all over the Island.

We send best wishes to Dale Gallagher, who is a patient at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey. He would appreciate hearing from his many friends on the Island.

Big preparations are being made to welcome the 100th running of the Chicago to Mackinac Yacht Race Sunday, July 20, through Tuesday, July 22. Members of the race committee visited Mackinac Monday, June 2, making arrangements for the big event.

Congratulations to Jennifer Bloswick on her new position as head of human resources at Grand Hotel. Best wishes from Island friends.

Muffy Ernster enjoyed being at her cottage over the Memorial Day weekend with all of her children and their families.

Jeff Shaffer, of London Square Gift Shop, accompanied by his mother, Sharon, from Gwinn, has been on a buying trip to Atlanta, Georgia.

Audrey Gallery of Chicago has opened her cottage in Hubbard's Annex for the season. Mark Renzel and Jennie Silvernale have returned to Mackinac from their home in the state of Washington. They join Audrey at her cottage for the summer.

The Ray Clark family has returned to Mackinac, after spending the winter in Colorado. Chris has returned to her nursing position at the Mackinac Island Medical Center.

Joe Rogers of St. Ignace is visiting his Island family, Deb, Mike, and Josh Carley, and a good friend, Joe Gugin.

Beverly Green from Billings, Montana, is here visiting her daughter, Kathleen Rickley and family, for two weeks.

Congratulations to Tom Bunker Jr., who was graduated with honors Thursday, May 8, from Alpena Community College as an electrical technician.

The 2008 Lilac Queen, Jane Finkel, was crowned in Marquette Park Friday, June 6, at 5:30 p.m.

Wallace Mugg of Holland, Michigan, a longtime guest at the Windermere Hotel, visited the Island Saturday, May 31, to celebrate his retirement. Among the 15 family members joining him was fivemonth old Thompson Kent Mugg, making his first trip to the Island.

Congratulations to Lily Porter, who was graduated from CheboyganHigh School, and Maureen Bacon, who was graduated from Petoskey High School.

We give a warm welcome to Michigan State Police Trooper Matthew Waters and his family from the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Post. Trooper Waters will be part of the Mackinac detail this summer.

Enjoy the lilac festivities!