Two corrections to last week's information: the Arts Council presentation of Chicago is Thursday, August 20, to Sunday, August 23, and the Health and Safety Fair at Union Presbyterian Church is Tuesday, August 18. The lady identified as Sharon Quigley in last week's column is actually Gwen Julin by the pond in the Botanical Garden.

Speaking of the garden, I received the final information on the Home and Garden Walk too late for last week's column, as sometimes happens with Saturday and Sunday events, so saved part of the story for this week, when I had more information from chairperson Julie Rucker. According to Julie, more than 200 persons visited DeTour Village Saturday, July 18, from as far away as Ohio, New York, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and Arizona in the United States, plus visitors from France and Germany. The participating homes and gardens, which were toured by most of the visitors to the Botanical Garden, included the home and garden of Frank and Barb Taylor, the home of Dave and Leslie Henderson, the garden and gazebo of Jon and Dawn Hamilink, the garden of Jerry and Olive Warner, and the home and garage boat building workshop of Chuck and Sue Ballus. Each home and garden is beautiful in its own way. As I talked to visitors the day of the walk, it was obvious that they were impressed and thankful that the homeowners would open their properties for tours. Bob and Sandy Wytiaz opened their home, and Sandy and her crew provided a wonderful luncheon, but the home could not be toured when the luncheon was forced inside by the weather. Norma Andree provided the Master Gardener information at her tent in the gardens, and Doug McCulloch, the garden's founder, offered a wonderful pictorial history. Businesses donated the raffle door prize gifts, which were won by Joan Boedy, Susan Heilman, Jean Peterson, Barb Maclaren, and Toni Schopp.

As promised last week, here is the Music at the Marina schedule: Saturday, August 1, "The Hixx," Saturday, August 15, "Delirium," and Saturday, August 22, "The DeTour Band." There is no charge for the concerts and everyone is invited to bring lawn chairs and enjoy the music.

The DeTour Friends of the Library continues the summer series with Graham Mackintosh's slide presentation on his adventures in Baja, California, and Mexico Wednesday, July 29, J. Ryan Fenzel, author of "Inherit All Things," a mystery quest for treasures that unfolds across Michigan Wednesday, August 5, and Great Lakes photojournalist, Christopher Winters, presenting his book, "Centennial," a photo journal of the Steamship Challenger Wednesday, August 19. All Author Series programs begin at 6:30 p.m. at the library. Another important annual event for the "Friends" is the fifth annual "Sea Fever Gear," a benefit presented by our summertime neighbors, Pixie Houghwort and Ralph Folsum. The pair will be selling bags, garments, gifts, and gear made from recycled sails at the big red barn at 444 South Ontario Street in DeTour Village from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, August 9. All profits from the sale of the items support the Friends of the Library.

The Union Presbyterian Church Bazaar, quilt show, and luncheon are Saturday, August 1, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Each year quilt show chairperson, Cornelia Miller, displays quilts from around DeTour that are both beautiful and unique, and often historically significant. Also, the word is that "Presbyterian cooks make the best luncheons around," so everyone may come out Saturday, August 1, to see if this is true.

There is an important DeTour Area school board special meeting Wednesday, July 29, at 6:30 p.m. at the DeTour school. Order of business includes discussion on the best course of action following the resignation of Superintendent Rod Goehmann from the DeTour Area and Les Cheneaux School districts, and a proposal by Principal Angela Reed to allow Drummond Island sixth grade students and parents the choice to attend the DeTour Middle School or remain on the Island in a fourth, fifth, sixth grade split class. This action would create a grade K- 1, 2-3, and 4-5 in DeTour and a K-1, 2-3, and 4-5-optional 6 on Drummond Island. Total projected enrollment in grades kindergarten through fifth in DeTour would be 44 students and 43 students on Drummond Island. If all six projected sixth graders remain on Drummond Island, the 4-5-6 split class would have 18 students. Currently the largest split class at either school is 17. The projected savings would be the salary and benefits for one teacher. The proposal would require some teacher reassignment, but no layoffs. The proposal was presented at the Wednesday, July 22, Finance Committee meeting on Drummond Island, but there was no recommendation made by the committee.

One group supporting our school programs is the committee from the DeTour Museum and Botanical Gardens planning the September 19 Happy Apple Day Antique Festival. The group will soon have buttons, featuring the winning design by Mary Firack, available for sale. Profits will be split between Festival expense and the DeTour Area Schools Art Program. Although there has been no cut in the budget for that program, according to teacher Russ Livingston, there was no budget increase and the enrollment in the art program has increased, so the extra funds will be helpful. Watch for buttons on sale in area businesses as the Festival date gets closer.