Adorned with blooms to highlight this year's "Flower Power" theme, the Hay Days Parade will proceed through Pickford Saturday, August 2. Parade marshals will be Stanley and Marge Schmitigal of the Pickford Historical Society, honored for their enthusiasm for the area's heritage, beautification of the town, and passion for summer in the Eastern Upper Peninsula.

"Hay Days brings people back to Pickford, where they were raised and went to school," Mr. Schmitigal told The St. Ignace News. The celebration gathers current and former residents for parades, games, and music, after which many enjoy reunions with friends and relatives.

"It's good for us, for our town, and for the area," he said.

Both lifelong area residents, the Schmitigals are dedicated members of the Historical Society, of which Mr. Schmitigal is presi- dent. As they proceed through town, they will pass the society's crowning achievement, the twostory Pickford Area Historical Museum. It is a project Mr. Schmitigal has helped develop and oversee.

The museum is the hospitality center for Hay Days, where people can come in and talk to volunteers about Hay Days events.

The museum is fast becoming a centerpiece in town, Mr. Schmitigal noted.

As a member of the Pickford Quilters, Mrs. Schmitigal and her peers are often seen through the windows, sewing quilts for raffles to support the museum. Their activity draws people from the sidewalk, Mr. Schmitigal said, to see the building's display of artifacts, documents, and pictures of history of the area.

Development of the Historical Society and its projects have been Mr. Schmitigal's passion since his retirement from Sault Area High School in 1993, where he was an English and world geography teacher. He was drawn into the fledgling historical society by Dr. Richard Morrison, who asked him to help form the board of directors.

A lot of satisfying work has ensued since, he said. The ninemember board set up bylaws, achieved tax-free status, and provided a place for people to peruse artifacts.

It is amazing to learn about what people did in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Mr. Schmitigal said. Not so long ago, "people worked a lot differently," he said.

Mr. Schmitigal is veteran of the Korean War, and the museum's display honoring veterans is among his favorite projects. He gives credit to several residents who helped produce its wall of more than 700 names of area veterans of conflicts dating as far back as the Civil War. The display is divided by each war and theater. It includes name tags for the veterans, pictures, and mannequins representing the conflicts.

Mr. Schmitigal has also helped develop displays of logging tools, a school room, an old-time kitchen, and farming artifacts, notably a forge owned by a farmer who repaired equipment for residents who lived too far from town to access its blacksmith services.

Methodist and Presbyterian churches have created displays, also.

Not far away from the site of the Flower Power parade stands the Schmitigal home, known for its bright flower gardens. A project created and maintained by Mrs. Schmitigal, it includes gardens as well hanging baskets that adorn the porch, drawing hummingbirds.

Mr. Schmitigal grows a garden, but the flowers are Mrs. Schmitigal's project. In the winter, she takes many blooms indoors, keeping alive reminders of the summer that Hay Days is celebrating, full swing, this week.

Hay Days Schedule

Wednesday, July 30: 7 p.m. Singspiration in the park, sponsored by Pickford area churches.

Thursday, July 31: 7:30 p.m. Softball game at the park, featuring Pickford versus the Kinross Fire Department.

Friday, August 1: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Arts and Crafts Sale at Pickford Township Hall. For more information, contact Arlene Portice at 647-2582.

Noon Ping Pong Tournament at Pickford United Methodist Church for children 10 years old and older.

6:30 p.m. Line up for Kids Parade, east of bridge on Main Street.

6:30 p.m. Hay Bale Races on Main Street.

7 p.m. Kids Parade. Contact Rae Ann Reinhart at 647-8000 for more information.

7:30 p.m. Coronation Ceremony, outdoor stage at the township hall.

7:45 p.m. Hay Days Program. Featuring local talent on the outdoor stage at the township hall.

9 p.m. to midnight Street Dance, including music by disc jockey Brent Edington.

9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Live Music at the Sundown Lounge with The Flipside.

Saturday, August 2

7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Lumberjack Breakfast at the township hall, sponsored by Northwoods Christian Camp.

9 a.m. 10K Run, 5K Run, and 2K Fun Run/Walk, beginning on Main Street. Registration is from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.

9 a.m. Chainsaw Artist Dan Johnson will be at Wilderness Treasures until noon. At 2 p.m., he will be carving at the township park.

11 a.m. Hay Days Parade. Line up at the township park by 10:30 a.m. Use West gate. To register, contact Dr. Richard Morrison at 647-9395.

11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pickford Lions Lunch at township hall basement

Noon Firemen's Competition

Noon Children's Art Activities in the Park, Sponsored by the Pickford Community Library

Noon Softball Tournament. For more information, contact Ryan Fountain at 495-5533.

Noon Three-on-Three Basketball. Registration forms available at the Pickford Market and at Dr. Morrison's.

12:30 p.m. Beach Volleyball Tournament at the township park.

1 p.m. Horse Pull at the township park.

1 p.m. Lawn Tractor Pull at the township park. For more information, call Bob Rye at 647-6210.

1:30 p.m. Kids Games and Foam Treasure Hunt at the township park

2 p.m. Wood carving by Dan Johnson at the township park.

2:30 p.m. Open Horseshoe Tournament at the township park. This includes two-person teams, for $10 per team. For more information, contact Debra Chapman at (906) 297-6562, or arrive early.

2:30 p.m. Checkers Tournament at Mama Maloza's. All ages may participate.

3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Pickin' N' Grinnin' at the township hall. Local musicians, featuring The Bait Shop Boys.

4 p.m. Youth 8 Ball Pool Tournament at the township hall, ages 9 to 18. $1 entry fee.

9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Live Music at the Sundown, featuring The Flipside.

Sunday, August 3 Final Games of Softball Tournament: Times are to be announced.