The farmers market in Mackinaw City is changing its location for the second time in six weeks. The market will now be in two back-to-back sessions at different locations on Sundays in the northern Lower Peninsula village.

The first half of the market will be held in Conkling Park, as it was last year, from 8 a.m. to noon. Vendors wanting to continue selling their products in the afternoon can do so on the front lawn of The Butcher's Shoppe on Nicolet Street from noon to 5 p.m.

The market was moved completely to the butcher shop at the April 16 Mackinaw City Village Council meeting so store owner and certified market master Val Willis could operate her business and oversee the market. The location was moved back to the park at the Thursday, June 4, village council meeting because many of the vendors wanted it switched back to the park.

"I listened to my farmers. We had a discussion and they said they would like to go back there," Ms. Willis said. "They wanted a shorter market because it's a long day. They can go to both; I'm leaving it up to them. Most markets are only four hours. I have a long market, and I allow vendors to stay longer if they choose to."

Said Village Manager Jeff Lawson: "Last year was the first year that we had the market and I think it worked out pretty well."

Village reappointments

Village attorney Tom Evashevski, harbormaster Dave Paquet, and library board trustee Susan Krueger were all reappointed to their positions for another one-year term.

The appointments were to be made at the April 16 council meeting, but were delayed to allow the council more time to review the appointments and because Village President Ron Wallin did not attend the May 21 meeting. The annual appointments are traditionally made by the president.

The village council also appointed Edward Whipkey and Rosada Mann to the Mackinaw City Village Planning Commission, and Sandy Planisek to a Trails Committee to work with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources trail division to complete a trail improvement plan by the end of August. Recently, the village was selected to receive $900,000 in federal transportation enhancement funds to improve trails in and around the village, which will likely include paving a portion of the trail, landscaping, signs, and constructing a restroom at the trailhead next to the Mackinaw Crossings parking lot off Nicolet Street.

In other news, special events permits were approved for the Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Run Monday, September 7, and the Rendezvous in Mackinaw and Trade Fair Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2.