Mackinac Island
By Jeannette Doud 847-3301

The Island is very beautiful, nestled in the Straits of Mackinac's frigid ice. Freezing temperatures each morning, often below zero, have made the ice bridge between the Island and St. Ignace very busy. Many contractors are busy hauling necessary supplies, Island folks are enjoying their favorite sport, and many snowmobile safaris visited the Island over the weekend.

Traveling on our snowmobile, from the east end by Marquette Park, we experienced lovely winter scenes beneath a silvery moon. The red glow of the lights from the Arnold Pier across the frozen harbor is spectacular. There still has been a lot of freighter traffic, with many of the Canadian ships being escorted by U.S. Coast Guard cutters Mackinaw and Mobile Bay. The glorious sunrises and sunsets are truly indescribable in color.

Happy birthday to David LaPine March 17. Enjoy your day.

Come and join in the fun at the St. Patrick's dinner Saturday, March 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Community Hall. Chef Tim Leeper will prepare prime rib, whitefish, and his famous twice-baked potatoes. Raffle tickets are still available by calling (906) 847-3507 or (906) 847- 3301. This event is for adults only.

My nephew, Pat Chambers of Muskegon, enjoyed a winter visit to the Island. He had fun snowmobiling, visiting with family members, and taking winter pictures. He is a good friend of Dr. Don Weersing. Pat is a professional photographer.

Happy birthday March 19 to Steve Moskwa and Patty Satterlee, and Jane Simmons March 20. Have a great day.

Students home on spring break are Emma Chambers from Ferris State University, Roxanne Pettit from Grand Valley State University, and Lake Sweet from Albion College. Enjoy your vacation on Mackinac.

It truly is a small world. Karen Riordan, daughter-in-law of Virginia McIntyre Riordan of Marietta, Georgia, was being oriented for her new job at the UPS center. The presentation showed the different ways UPS is delivered, including a section on deliveries on Mackinac Island, showing pictures of the Island with the horses and dray. This is wonderful publicity for Mackinac.

Friends, please continue to send cards to Pam Lach, who is still recuperating from pneumonia at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey.We send best wishes to Pam.

Happy birthday March 23 to my good friend, Jackie Bradley. Have a wonderful day.

Kevin Leveille watched six otters jumping from the breakwall to the lighthouse. They're very entertaining.

We are very saddened to learn that our dear friend, Aunt Lou Riley, Dr. Rex Orr's sister, has suffered a serious stroke at her home in North Carolina. Aunt Lou came to visit her nieces, Sandra, Debra, and Marsha Orr, each summer.

She loved to play bridge, and bake pies and goodies for her many friends. Acharming lady, we always had a fun visit with her and sharing a meal at the French Outpost. We're thinking and praying for Aunt Lou and her family.

Tuesday, March 4, Mackinac Island high school students enjoyed a day of skiing on the slopes at Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls. Making it even more special, they were greeted by Carolyn May, who is employed in the office at the resort. Greetings to Carolyn from Island friends.

Christine McCready is at her home in Cheboygan, recovering from surgery Friday, March 7. She would love to hear from her many friends on Mackinac. Her address is: 520 Cleveland Avenue, Cheboygan, Michigan 49721.

Happy birthday March 23 to Jean LaBorde of Crivitz, Wisconsin, who is married to my niece, Nancy Chambers LaBorde. Have a great day.

Happy 90th birthday March 30 to Bill Terwilliger, former cottager of the East Bluff. He and his family spent many happy summers on Mackinac. Please remember him with a card at the following address: 187 River Road, Columbus, North Carolina 28722.

We received the sad news that Olive Archambault, 79, of Kincheloe, passed away Saturday, March 8, at War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie.

Olive was born on Mackinac Island. Acomplete obituary is printed in this issue.

Mike Iles has returned from his vacation in Ireland, and reopened the 7th Heaven Salon in The Gate House. We give Mike a warm welcome.

Terry Andress, who was injured in a snowmobile accident earlier in the winter, underwent more surgery on her arm Tuesday, March 4. Best wishes to Terry for a speedy recovery.

Congratulations to the Mackinac Island Lakers boys basketball team on winning the Northern Lights League Championship Saturday, March 8, in Manistque. This is the second year that they've won this award.

The Lakers girls basketball team was third overall in the tournament. This was the first year for girls basketball; the team had a very successful season.

We just had a nice visit from Captain Mike North of St. Ignace, who snowmobiled over the ice. He was delighted to visit his friend, Bushy, and many friends on the Island.We look forward to seeing him on the Star Line boats this spring.

Sunday morning, March 9, about 12:30 a.m., the tones went off on the scanners, alerting the Mackinac Island Police Department, Mackinac Island Fire Department, Mackinac Island Medical Center, and emergency medical technicians that there was a snowmobile accident on the ice by Sunset Rock. John St. Onge, who was found by Loren and Gabe Cowell, had been thrown off his snowmobile and was seriously injured. He was transported to the Mackinac Island Medical Center, where he was stabilized and later transported to Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey. Sunday morning, he was flown to Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids. John is now stable and is recovering from his injuries. Island friends send best wishes for a speedy recovery. The Mackinac Island police and fire departments, EMTs, and Mackinac Island Medical Center did an excellent job in response to the serious accident.

In talking to John Hulett of Grand Hotel, I learned the hotel officially opens Friday, May 2. Spring certainly is right around the corner.

Board of Review will be held at the City Hall Monday, March 17, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Tuesday, March 18, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Mackinac Island Public School will be on spring break Monday, March 31, through Friday, April 4. School resumes Monday, April 7.

Arial Leeper was the winner of the poetry recitation contest at the Mackinac Island Public Library Friday, February 15. There were 11 finalists from different grades in the competition.

As the winner, she was eligible to attend the state competition Saturday, March 8, at the Michigan Library in Lansing. Michi Mullings came in second place on Mackinac Island.

The judges were Trish Martin, Dan Seeley, and Pam Finkel. Congratulations to Arial and Michi.

Skiing is still very good, and many folks enjoy a daily ski through the beautiful wooded trails. The winter scenery glistens under brilliant sunshine. In Hubbard's Annex, the colorful cottages make a great winter picture, especially with their rooftops and cedar hedges blanketed with clusters of freshly fallen snow.

The big project at the Mustang Lounge is coming along well.

Although the temperatures are cold, the sun is bright.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!