It's hard to believe the last three-day weekend of summer is upon us, Labor Day. There is a hint of fall in the evenings and early mornings, with cooler temperatures. Another sign that summer is waning are the pleasure boats being brought in for winter storage. The new school year begins Tuesday, September 2.

Along with school starting, comes the beginning of school sports. First on hand is the girls varsity volleyball game Thursday, August 28, at 6 p.m. at home, against Rudyard.

A new teacher has been added to the DeTour elementary staff. Ms. Bridget Heuer, formerly of DeTour, will be taking over the kindergarten and first grade classroom. Welcome to Ms. Heuer.

The Community Appreciation Day open house at the DeTour Passage Historical Museum last Thursday, August 21, was successful. Visitors enjoyed seeing changes and improvements at the museum, particularly the new lighting and air-purifying system that has been completed using memorial donation monies. The day ended with a dedication of the new binoculars and viewing platform in the Bob Jones Maritime Park, in memory of Jim Charles. Mr. Charles was recognized for his work in establishing the museum and the park, along with his tireless efforts on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce. Funds to purchase the binoculars were raised by Chamber of Commerce donations, and raffles from the Fourth of July freighter races. Proceeds from the operation of the binoculars will benefit the museum. The viewing platform was designed and constructed by Osborne Materials.

Brian McAdams and his granddaughters use the newly dedicated binoculars, while Garret Vermuelen helps. The binoculars and viewing platform were dedicated Thursday, August 21, in the Chamber of Commerce's Bob Jones Maritime Park, in memory of Jim Charles. (Photograph courtesy of Judy Jones) Among those attending the ceremony were Red Adams, Historical Society board member, who gave the invocation, and Gary Dudeck, Chamber of Commerce treasurer, presenting a plaque of appreciation to Osborn Materials, which was accepted by Brian McAdams, who also shared memories of Jim's involvement with the snowmobile club. Candy Postula, Chamber recording secretary, shared her memories of Jim's work with the Chamber of Commerce, and his dream of having a place in the park where visitors could watch the passing ships.

Jerry Feltner, from the DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society, talked about Jim's involvement with that group, and accepted a flag to be flown over the DeTour Reef Light in Jim's memory, from special guests, Jim's sister, nephew and niece, Phyllis, Sam, and Linda Brown. The binoculars are getting a lot of use since they were installed in early July.

Another event coming up at the museum is the viewing of the Fresnel lens and narrative by lighthouse lens expert Jim Woodward. The event will be Saturday, August 30, at 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and Sunday, August 31, at 12:30 p.m., jointly hosted by the DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society, in celebration of its 10th anniversary, and the DeTour Passage Historical Society. Admission is by donation, and no tickets are required.

The E.U.P. Fine Arts Council will hold a fall luncheon and fashion show, with proceeds going toward the restoration of the Council's Cultural Center (formerly Sacred Heart Catholic Hall), Saturday, September 13. Doors will open at noon, with lunch at 12:30 p.m. The same presentation of fashions will be Sunday, September 14, with doors opening at 12:30 p.m., and lunch to follow at 1 p.m. Fashions will be on loan from JC Penney, Barish Brothers, Wal-Mart (in Sault Ste. Marie), and Billie's in Cheboygan. The models will be local ladies, with David Rhinard as master of ceremonies. Tickets for the luncheon and show are $15 and may be paid for and reserved by calling 297-2787.

Happy Apple Day and the Great Scarecrow Festival will be Saturday, September 20. Spaces for antiques and collectibles, flea market, and crafters booths are still available. Inside spaces are $15, pavilion spaces are $5, and there is no charge for the field and street spaces. To reserve a space, call Judy Jones at (906) 297-3231 or Candy Postula at (906) 297-5885. There will be news of activities for this event in the weeks to follow.

As part of DeTour's Happy Apple Saturday, David and Susie Rhinard will host a vintage fashion show and tea at 2 p.m. at the century-old Huron Street Inn. Styles from the past, dating from the late 1800s to the 1960s, will be modeled throughout the inn. The show will include several vintage wedding gowns donated by local residents. Tickets for the event are $5 and may be purchased at the DeTour village office, or by calling RuthAnn Hudak at (906) 297-8051. Proceeds from this show will support the DeTour Passage Historical Museum and the Botanical Gardens.

A correction is in order from my column in last week's paper, regarding the weight and length of the walleye catch by Diane Corcoran of Caribou Lake. The corrected weight is 6.5 pounds, and the corrected length is 29.5 inches long. An avid downstate reader of The St. Ignace News recognized the error, which we appreciate.

A thought: A good listener is not only popular, but after a while he knows something.