Les Cheneaux
By Helen Shoberg 484-2626 • helenshoberg@centurytel.net

The Les Cheneaux Islands seem to have a lot of tourists around and reports are that fishing too, is very good. The herring are hitting and everyone seems happy.

The picture of the Chris Craft Holly came to me from Jill Bigler, who has been a summer resident here since WW II. Holly has been in the King/Borneman/Bigler/ Minges families since its acquisition in 1937. The late E.J. Mertaugh personally drove her up Lake Huron from the Chris Craft factory in Algonac to his Hessel Boat Works. Ever since Tassier Boat Works opened its doors, she has reposed there during the offseasons. Holly has never let the family down Ms. Bigler said.

Holly's photo recently appeared on the front page of the Minneapolis Star Tribune as part of a tribute to the venerable "old ladies" who still ply the northern waters. It's of interest to our area because Ms. Bigler's sister, Judi Minges, who now lives in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, but grew up in Cincinnati and summered in Cedarville with the rest of the family, submitted the photo as a part of that tribute. According to Ms. Minges, people in Minnesota, itself an antique boat "heaven," have a lot of respect for Michigan's "old ladies" as well as their own. Sad to say, the family will no longer summer in Les Cheneaux, and Holly will be sold.

Holly has been in the King/Borneman/Bigler/Minges families since its acquisition in 1937. The late E.J. Mertaugh personally drove her up Lake Huron from the Chris Craft factory in Algonac to his Hessel Boat Works. (Bigler Family Photograph)

A note from Linda Henderson informed us that the Les Cheneaux Arts Council has recently donated $250 to the Les Cheneaux Community Library "Teens Night Only" for art supplies. The donation was presented to Ronda McGreevy.

Blanche Millon of Cedarville will celebrate her 90th birthday Friday, July 18. Congratulations to her. Mrs. Millon is the wife of the late Tony Millon, who was a barber in Cedarville for many years.

Paul Chouinard, our summertime neighbor and a resident of Tecumseh, has just returned from China, where he was a part of the Lenawee County Chorus of Adrian College, consisting of 28 students and seven adults under the direction of Tom Hodgeman. The group sang at the Beijing Opera House and also the Shanghai Opera House.One of the numbers they sang to a rousing crowd was entitled, "Defend the Yellow River," a World War II era song. Mr. Chouinard was impressed with both Chinese cities, all polished up for the Olympics.

The family of Julie Nye, who grew up in Hessel and is a graduate of Cedarville High School, reports she is chief voluntary officer for Dogs for Autism, a Greenville, North Carolina, nonprofit organization. It is among the first organization of its kind nationwide to breed, train, and match specifically trained dogs with families of children with this disorder. Dogs are trained to walk beside the trainer, jump hurdles, fetch, to learn basic obedience, and build relationship skills. An article about these specially trained dogs appeared in the Greenville Journal July 11.

Miss Nye is the daughter of Norma Nye and the late Harold Nye of Hessel. She resides in Greenville. For more information on this aid for autistic children, one may go to www.dogsforautism.com.

A picnic reception for family and friends was held Saturday, July 12, at the Hessel home of John Causley for his daughter, Lana Causley, a board member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians who was selected as the new vice chairperson of the board. She is the tribe's first female vice chairperson, and was elected by the board of directors to that role July 8.

Foxy Lady Takes First Place in Local Ensign Racing

Ensign Race Results reported by Sheelagh Knapp

Local Ensign sailors started off the 2008 season with a race around LaSalle Island Saturday, June 28. The day started out calm, with just a light breeze from the south, but by the start of the race the wind had clocked around to the west at a nice 10 to 15 knots, enabling the sailors to finish by 3:30 p.m. According to Tom Flood, who was joined on the Race Committee by Chuck Albright and Peg LaBelle, it was a nice smooth race. Eleven racers initiated the season.

Results are as follows:

In the A Fleet, Foxy Lady took first place, skippered by Tom LaBelle. Second Wind, the Joel Birkmeier boat, came in second, followed by Instinct in third place, skippered by Jonas Carpenter. The rest of the A Fleet were, in order, Borealis, Nancy B., Gigi, Chether, Andrea E, Michipezhu, and Gottawanta.

In the B Fleet, Fred Moore on Sunrunner, the only sailor to brave the cloudy day, was the first place winner.

In spite of warnings of severe thunderstorms and high winds, five Ensign sailors entered the race to Mackinac Island Tuesday, July 1. The winds were brisk out of the west, and all sailors made it to the island in just a little over four hours. Coming in first was Andrea E., skippered by Hans Ediger, second was Borealis, skippered by John Birkmeier, third was Kindred, skippered by Bruce Cochran, fourth was Instinct, skippered by Jonas Carpenter, and fifth was Windstar, skippered by Ralph Duman. Only 15 minutes separated the first and last boats at the finish line.

The weather lived up to the predictions of stormy conditions Wednesday, July 2. Race Committee Chair Dick Knapp restricted the use of spinnakers on the open water as the rain and wind were combining to create a potentially dangerous situation. According to Ms. Knapp, most racers at the skippers' meeting seemed relieved to have had that decision taken out of their hands, and agreed it would be prudent to fly their chutes once they entered the west entrance. The weather eased as the race progressed, and about three miles from the west entrance the committee boat signaled the racers that the spinnakers could be flown. Crossing the finish line first was Borealis, followed by Andrea E, then Kindred, Instinct, and Windstar. The Horsburgh Trophy is shared by Andrea E. and Borealis in 2008.