As the mighty Huron steamed into the Island harbor New Year's Eve, it was loaded with folks coming to celebrate the holiday on Mackinac. The scenery was spectacular, as the brilliant sun was shining down on freshly fallen snow. All of the guests quickly found their accommodations at Mission Point Resort, Pontiac Lodge, Bogan Lane Inn, and various apartments and condominiums. How great and wonderful for visitors to see the beginning of the New Year of 2009 on our Island.

We send deepest sympathy to the family of Louie Deroshia of Cheboygan, who passed away Friday, January 2, at Cheboygan Memorial Hospital. Louie and his wife, Maria, and son, John, spent many years on Mackinac, when they operated the Horse and Buggy Drive-In, by the Shepler Dock. Louie was well known for his quick wit and humor. A memorial gathering of family and friends will be held Wednesday, January 7, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Eagles Lodge on North Main Street in Cheboygan.

Following the fresh snow of Friday, January 2, avid skiers Jody and Mark Chambers took to the trails, along with their friends, cottagers Dr. Steve and Mrs. Humphrey, who are spending their first winter on Mackinac. They all had a great time.

Happy 94th birthday January 7 to Adelaide Donnelly Oenning of Chicago. Adelaide was born in the Donnelly home on Market Street, and is the last member of the immediate William Donnelly family. She is an aunt to Kay Hoppenrath of Mackinac and Jack Welcher of Rudyard. Enjoy your day.

Saturday, January 3, the Huron made the final run of the season. It had been a difficult couple of weeks for the boat, battling winddriven ice in the Round Island Passage. The Huron had to go to the north of the Island on many trips. We wish the crew a restful few months.

Father Jim's mother, Kay Williams of Mackinaw City, will celebrate her birthday January 9. Best wishes from Island friends.

Congratulations to Jack Barnwell and Karen Smith, who were married Friday, December 19 (which was the 59th anniversary of Sam and Margaret McIntire), in Denver, Colorado. They arrived in Aspen the same day and enjoyed dinner with Mary K. and Margaret McIntire. They will return to the Island in mid-January after spending time in Boise, Idaho, and Missoula, Montana.

Island friends send get well wishes to Michelle Dean, manager of Harborview Inn, who has been very ill. She is recuperating in Grand Rapids with her mother. Please remember her with a card at the following address: 3597 Charlevoix Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546.

A candlelight memorial service was held at Ste. Anne's Church Sunday, December 14, in memory of all children who died in 2008. Father Rey Garcia led the group in prayer, and John Kissane provided lovely music. It was truly a moving experience and very well attended.

Nic Kutsop, son of Skip and Cindy of Mountainside, New Jersey, is a junior at Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, and plays defensive tackle for the football team, Highlanders. They won the Mountain Valley Conference and advanced to the championship game Friday, December 5. It was played at the Giants Stadium at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. Unfortunately, the Highlanders lost the game, but the thrill of playing football under the lights at Giants Stadium will be a lifetime memory.

Happy birthday to Hailey Bean January 12. Have a great day.

Betty BeDour and her faithful companion, Buddy, left Mackinac Monday, January 5, for her home in Harrison, where she will spend the winter months. Enjoy your time off the Island.

There are still sightings of wildlife on Mackinac. Larry Rickley Sr. and Larry Rickley Jr. saw three bald eagles by Silver Birches this past week. They also watch three otters play in the harbor, as they work at the Fort Mackinac Tea Room. Several people have also seen a very large arctic owl. There is always something interesting to see or watch on Mackinac.

Happy birthday January 10 to our good friend, Tami Erskine of Weber's Floral in St. Ignace. Have a wonderful day.

Mike Doud and Kathy Sliva of St. Ignace left Thursday, January 1, for a winter vacation in New Zealand and Australia. They will be joined by Richard and Mary Doud of Saginaw.

Jason St. Onge's band, Tricky Dicky and the Spoonmen, entertained over the New Year's holiday at Patrick Sinclair's Irish Pub. Jason's parents, Glenn and Deana of Remus, enjoyed the festivities.

Todd Callewaert and sons and Ann and Les Parrish and family spent a few days on Mackinac enjoying the fresh snow and visiting friends.

The Randy McKay family and Patty Schoenborn and daughter, Lilly, joined Judy Bynoe and family for the New Year's holiday.

It was so nice to see Metiever Inn lighted inside for the holiday. Ken and Diane Neyer spent several days at the inn and enjoyed taking pictures of Mackinac in its winter glory.

Dan and Marlee Musser attended the funeral of Helga Doud and enjoyed several days at their West Bluff cottage in Hubbard's Annex.

Mike Iles of 7th Heaven Salon is visiting friends in Lansing for 10 days. The shop will reopen Thursday, January 15.

Summer cottagers seen enjoying New Year's on Mackinac were Sam and Barb Kovalak, the Anding family, Howard and Jane Burdette, the Tom McGovern family from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tim and Sherry Plutchak of Stephenson, Dr. Fran and Lorna Straus of Chicago with son, Francis, the Michael Straus family of East Lansing, Dr. Don Goeckel and his wife, Dr Diane Weidner, with friends from Bay City, and the Robert Spitzer family from Detroit. Everyone had a great time bringing in the new year.

Mackinac Island was listed in USA Today Friday, January 2, as one of the top 10 tourist destinations. It's great advertising for the Island.

Thursday, January 1, Larry Parel hosted a Mackinac ladies party at his home in Edgewood to celebrate the New Year. It was a lovely afternoon with lots of laughs, great food, and good conversation. Larry is doing amazingly well after his serious illness. He was thrilled to be able to have his annual gathering.

Tony, Tammy, and Cassie Frazier and David LaPine and Janice Green were guests of Bruce and Patty LaPine and Ken and Vanessa Hardy over the holiday. Nice to see you back on the Island.

Monday, December 29, Allied emergency medical technicians held a Christmas dinner at the Village Inn. It was a nice evening to say thank you for the great work they do in our community.

Jackie Noffze visited her friend, Nicole Smith, over the New Year's holiday. They worked together at Grand Hotel.

Saturday, January 3, a birthday party was held at Ste. Anne's Hall for little Dakota Horn, who celebrated his birthday December 29. Family and friends joined in the festivities.

People attending the funeral for Helga Doud were Jack Wellington with daughters, Nancy and Jeannie, of Sault Ste. Marie, Mary Alice Wellington of Kalamazoo, Mike and Sister Doud of St. Ignace, Jessie and Tony Doud and the Brent Powlus family of Grand Rapids, Catherine Gilbert of Boyne City, Carl Hartman of the Detroit area, Kathy and Jim Smith of Cheboygan, Jim Murray of Petoskey, John Murray Dennany of Gaylord, Sandra Bogan of Chicago, Denny McCullough and friends from Petoskey, Paul and Emily Fullerton of St. Ignace, Lynelle Doud with sons, Frank and James, of St. Clair Shores, Bob Brown of St. Ignace, Dennis Cawthorne of Lansing, Mandy Taylor and family from Grand Rapids, and many other folks who came to pay their last respects to Helga.

Albert "Buck" and Alice Sharrow of Charlevoix visited Mackinac Wednesday, December 31, and attended the funeral of Helga Doud. Alice is a retired schoolteacher from Petoskey and she taught all of Helga's granddaughters. Wonderful to see you back on the Island.

Alice and Trish Martin left Mackinac Monday, January 5, for Alma. Alice will visit her son, Jim and family, for a month during the renovation of the kitchen at Bogan Lane Inn.

Nancy Marstiller, Mary Jane Barnwell and Willie, Lauren Seabalm, and Carol Erbel joined Betty BeDour for the New Year holiday.

Students returning after the holidays are Blisse Beardsley, Sara Porter, and Ben Horn to the University of Michigan, Woody Beardsley to Michigan Technological University, Richard Chambers to Northern Michigan University, Emma Chambers to Ferris State University, Roxanne and Jason Pettit to Grand Valley State University, and Tyler Finkel and Kyle Sweet to Michigan State University, and Emily St. Onge to Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City.

Paul, Mandy, and Paul Martin Wandrie entertained Wandrie relatives from Detroit over the holiday.

Brita Rogers of St. Ignace joined Cathy Andress on Mackinac for New Year's.

Jack, Dorothy, and Sarah Dehring are enjoying a 10-day vacation in sunny Hawaii. Have fun in the sun!

Greta Van Susteran of Fox News was thrilled to receive some Mackinac fudge for Christmas. She called Margaret Doud to thank her and said that it would be on the menu for Christmas dinner. Greta and her family, from Appleton, Wisconsin, visited Mackinac for many years and stayed at the Windermere Hotel and dined at Wandrie's restaurant. Great memories, and so nice to share a little bit of Mackinac with Greta.

The Andrew McGreevy family of Petoskey enjoyed a few days on Mackinac over the holiday and attended the funeral of Helga Doud.

Keep warm in the January freeze!