Show Will Draw Top Skaters to Little Bear East Next Week
Ice Follies To Raise Funds for Abuse Prevention

Top-level figure skaters will give audiences at Little Bear East Arena in St. Ignace an outstanding Ice Follies show, said organizer Mary Pemble Swiderski.

"We are really excited about the skaters who are coming this year," she said. "This is going to be a fabulous year for the show."

The third annual ice skating show will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday, January 20, raising funds for prevention programs for child abuse and neglect in the county.

Lyndsay Schrader, a senior ladies level figure skater, will be the highlight for the two-hour program. Ms. Schrader is a two-time gold medalist in the National State Games of America competition and is a member of the Northern Michigan University figure skating team in Marquette. She also coaches the Marquette Figure Skating Club. Ms. Shrader is retiring from figure skating competition this year, but will continue to coach.

The Twin Bay Figure Skating Club of Traverse City will also be a part of this year's Ice Follies. The 26-person group is a top-level award winner in figure skating, ice dancing, and pairs skating. The club is a two-time champion of the National Showcase in Fort Collins, Colorado, and will feature its award-winning figure skating production of "Hairspray" at the Ice Follies as the closing of the show.

Gold medal synchronized figure skaters of the club will perform, as will its top solo figure skaters, who have performed at the National Showcase Competition in Balencia, California.

Also performing are local figure skating sisters Katie, 15, and Linda Raynard, 9, of Pickford, members of the Hiawatha Skating Club in Sault Ste. Marie. Katie has been skating for 11 years and is at the novice figure skating level, while her younger sister has been skating for six years and is at the preliminary level.

St. Ignace City Manager Eric Dodson will be the event's master of ceremonies.

Advance tickets are $5 per person and $20 per family (up to eight family members). Tickets are $6 per person and $26 per family at the door. Tickets are available at the St. Ignace Recreation Department in Little Bear East, the Chamber of Commerce, U.P. State Credit Union in St. Ignace and Cedarville, B-n-L Cafe, Central Savings Bank in St. Ignace and Pickford, First National Bank main branch, D&D Mobil Mart in Engadine, and at the Michigan State Extension (MSUE) office in the annex building of the county Courthouse.

The Ice Follies is sponsored by the Mackinac County Child Protection Roundtable. Call Mrs. Pemble Swiderski at the MSUE office at 643-7307 for more information.