Mackinac Island
By Jeannette Doud 847-3301

Early in the morning of Monday, March 3, many Islanders were awakened by flashes of lightning, along with the rumbling of loud thunder. It seemed unusual at this time of the year. Rain and sleet followed, turning into wet snow until around 2 p.m. In the afternoon, skies cleared and Great Lakes Air was able to resume its schedule. The temperature dropped, and the wet snow is now slippery and crusty. Hopefully, the sun will soon shine again.

Mark your calendar for the big St. Patrick's Day dinner Saturday, March 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Community Hall, benefiting Ste. Anne's Church.

Raffle tickets are still available with prizes of $5,000, two of $2,000, and $1,000. Tickets are $100 each. You may call (906) 847- 3507 or (906) 847-3301 to buy tickets. Come and join in the fun. Students home for spring break are Blisse Beardsley from the University of Michigan, Miranda Mc- Mahon from Aquinas College, Richard Chambers from Northern Michigan University, and Josh Carley from Saginaw Valley State University. It's great to have them back on Mackinac.

Patty and Bruce LaPine are sailing on a Caribbean cruise. Have fun in the sun.

I recently received a phone call from my good friend, Charlotte Sweeney Schmitt of Hubbard's Annex and Bur Ridge, Illinois, giving me exciting news. Her daughter, Muffy Ernster, showed her Hackney pony, "Royal Canadian," in Lexington, Kentucky, where he was judged the World's Grand Champion for 2007. Congratulations to Muffy, who grew up on Mackinac with her family. She learned to ride her pony on the Island when she was five years old. Great memories.

Glenn and Deana St. Onge visited their son, Jason, over the weekend. Happy birthday to Glenn March 10.

Karen and Gary Lennard joined Karen's brother and wife in Mt. Pleasant for the weekend.

It was a very busy weekend on the Island, as many visitors came by plane, while others crossed the ice bridge. At this writing, after a strong southeast wind, much open water can be seen at the bottom of Market Street (Benjamin Lane). Skiing will return as soon as we have a few more inches of snow.

Happy birthday to Cassie Frazier and James (Bam) Bazinaw March 11, and to Melissa Bunker March 14. Enjoy your day.

Our feathered friends need nourishment. Helga Doud enjoys watching a red cardinal and some chickadees at her feeder. At our house, the huge flock of ducks arrives daily, letting us know that it's mealtime.

Nona and Ed Chambers are on a month's vacation, driving out west.

My niece, Nancy Chambers Laborde, and her husband, Jean, have just returned to their home in Crivitz, Wisconsin, after spending six weeks in the western states. They had a great time, but are happy to be home.

Happy birthday to Dr. Fran Straus March 16. Have a wonderful day.

Anna Mary and Gary Cusack of Petoskey visited Anna Mary's mother, Helga Doud, over the weekend.

Wednesday evening, February 27, the Mackinac Island Lakers boys basketball team, coached by Jim Fisher and Craig Bunker, played in the district finals at Pickford. It was a very good game, with a final score of Pickford 67, Lakers 60. Jamie Bynoe, assistant manager of the team, traveled with them to Pickford. Congratulations to the Lakers on an outstanding season.

A note received from Julye McGreevy of Cedarville, told us how much she enjoyed attending the Lakers game in Pickford and seeing so many people from Mackinac. Many people from Cedarville were cheering on the Mackinac Island Lakers.

We wish a happy birthday March 17 to Trish Bunker and Pat Shannon. Have a great day.

We send get well wishes to Pam Lach, who is a patient at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey. Pam is one of our Island dedicated Emergency Medical Technicians.

The former old medical center on Market Street is being renovated by Mike Gamble and his crew, and will be used for city housing.

Julie and Steve Rilenge enjoyed their Florida vacation by attending the WaWa Wackers Golf Tournament. While there, they helped Michelle Stuck celebrate her birthday, which her husband, Randy, organized on a large sailboat. All of the guests enjoyed a great sail on the Atlantic Ocean. A wonderful time was enjoyed by all.

Island friends are sending best wishes to our good friend, Jack Ryerse of St. Ignace.

I recently had a wonderful visit with my good friend, Captain Paul Allers of Mackinaw City, whose heart will always be on Mackinac, where he sailed the many ships for Arnold Transit Company. Paul has now joined his wife, Betsy, in working with the hospice program, where he assists the elderly. Betsy has been employed by hospice for many years, giving wonderful, tender care to all her patients.

We send greetings to Chris Mc- Cready, who will have surgery Friday, March 7, at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital.

Chris was to be operated on Tuesday, February 26, but it was rescheduled. Best wishes to Chris from Island friends.

Jackie and Richard Bolander have just returned to their Island home, following a 21-day Caribbean cruise. Nice to have them back on Mackinac.

Last week, a good friend to people on Mackinac, Dr. Bill Mc- Cullough of Petoskey, passed away at the age of 77. He had many patients on the Island over the years, and he loved visiting Mackinac. Deepest sympathy to his family on their great loss.

Ed McGreevy of Arnold Transit, along with his crew, are doing repairs to the main pier.

Greetings to my friend, James McIntyre of Saginaw, who enjoys both The St. Ignace News and the Town Crier. He will be making his annual visit to Mackinac, opening weekend of Grand Hotel. We give him a warm welcome.

It's Tuesday morning, March 4, and Mackinac is perfectly beautiful under a blanket of pure white snow. The sun is brilliant, sparkling like diamonds. What a very special morning for our students, as they're going to Boyne Mountain for a day of downhill skiing.

Enjoy the beauty of our wonderful Island!