Sunday, August 23, was a picture perfect day on our beautiful Island. The warm temperatures and bright sunshine brought many visitors to Mackinac. Buck Sharrow took his wife, Alice, granddaughter, Makayla, and myself on a great carriage ride with Willie and Charlie. The flowers in front of Grand Hotel are absolutely awesome in a wide variety of colors. Traveling up through the Annex, everyone can see several homes have the large white hydrangea bushes, and down by Mission Point Resort, there are flowers of every description. It is truly a breathtaking sight. Continuing our tour around the shore of the Island, the scenery was so picturesque, with calm winds, wildflowers blooming on the roadside, people enjoying a dip in the cool Straits, and others leisurely strolling along. Out in Round Island Passage was a yacht in full sail. There is always something special to see. We had a wonderful ride.

Dr. Dave and Grace Armour celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, August 29, at their home in Grove City, Pennsylvania. They were joined by their four children and their families, Anneke and Matt Myers of Mackinac, Arthur and Rebecca Armour with their two sons, Sam and John, of Portland, Oregon, David and Joanna Armour with their three sons, Davey, Keith, and Mikey, of Seattle, Wash - ington, and Marian and Randall Gemmen with Angelyn and Ellena of Morgantown, West Virginia. The Armours hosted a family reunion Sunday, August 30, with relatives from Ohio, New Jersey, Virginia, and Georgia. What a wonderful gathering of family and friends to commemorate such a special occasion. Congratulations from Island friends. Folks wishing to send greetings may do so at the following address: 432 West Washington Blvd., Grove City, PA 16127.

Dining at the Village Inn on Mackinac Island Friday, August 21, was Detroit Red Wings left wing Tomas Holmstrom, shown here with employees Jarod Zacharko (left) and James Dewey. Happy birthday to Christy May August 29. Hope you had a wonderful day. Happy birthday to her husband, Marvin, September 8. Hope you have a great day.

Jason Horricks (right), head golf professional at Grand Hotel, and his assistant, John Bramble, were responsible for setting up The Jewel for the Mackinac Golf Tournament. We extend deepest sympathy to the family of Bette Emmons of Mackinac, who passed away Tuesday, August 25, at Mackinac Straits Hospital Long Term Care in St. Ignace. An obituary is published in this issue of The St. Ignace News.

Robert Jeffery Chambers celebrated his 19th birthday September 1. Friday, August 28, his parents, Mark and Jody, drove him to Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, where he will be a freshman.

Sherry Rayha of Cheboygan and her family from Traverse City, Dr. Jay Klein and family, recently spent two days at the Windermere Hotel. Everyone had a great time.

Happy birthday to Alice Martin September 4. Have a wonderful day.

Everyone who participated in the Music Festival thoroughly enjoyed some great music. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate for outdoor festivities.

Happy anniversary to Buzz and Carolyn Waggoner Sep - tember 3. Enjoy your day.

Mark and Clara Chambers traveled to Crivitz, Wisconsin, Thursday, August 20, to visit Mark’s mother, Joyce Chambers, and his sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Jean LaBorde.

Happy birthday September 4 to Helen Powell, Megan Weber, and Brad Horn. Have a great day.

Skip and Mary Warp are enjoying their lovely cottage on the West Bluff with its magnificent view of the Straits of Mackinac and the Mackinac Bridge.

Happy belated birthday to Heather May August 16. I hope your day was special.

Mackinac is in the news once again. In the September/October issue of Midwest Living magazine, there is an article entitled “Autumn on the Straits” with pictures of the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse in Mackinaw City, beautiful fall photographs of Mackinac Island featuring Grand Hotel, Round Island Lighthouse, Sugarloaf, Main Street, Fort Mackinac, and Mill Creek.

Friday mor - ning, August 21, Mackinac Island was mentioned on the “Today Show” as one of the top 10 vacation destinations. It is great publicity for our region.

Happy anniversary to Dick and Dee Czapek September 6. Have a wonderful day.

The eighth annual Guns-n- Hoses Softball Tournament was Sunday, August 23, at Great Turtle Park. It was a picture-perfect Mackinac evening with clear skies, calm winds, and crisp temperatures. The teams were fired up to play ball. It was a great game, with the Mackinac Island Fire Department winning over the Mackinac Island Police Depart - ment. It was just like attending a real softball game, with hot dogs and popcorn available to everyone. It was a fun time, and more than $1,800 was raised for the Mark Gallagher Scholarship Fund at the Mackinac Island Community Foundation.

Happy birthday September 5 to Burton Gough and Karen Huisman. Enjoy your day.

My good friend, Jean Coyne, celebrated her 91st birthday July 8. Last year her 90th birthday celebration included a trip to her beloved Mackinac, where she visited friends. Jean is currently in the Lake Orion Nursing Center. She is undergoing rehabilitation and will be there for at least two months. She would love to hear from her many friends on Mackinac. Her address is as follows: Lake Orion Nursing Center, Room 227-1, 585 East Flint Street, Lake Orion, MI 48361.

Many of our Island students have left for college. Arial Leeper and Danielle Wightman will start their freshman year at Michigan State University, Mike Gamble will attend Saginaw Valley State University, Darcy Brodeur- Bunker and Levi Porter will attend Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, and Fuller Cowell will attend Ferris State University. Good luck to all of the freshmen.

Lorma Kolatski is recovering at her home in Harrisonville from her recent hip replacement surgery. Best wishes from Island friends.

Kate Koboski and her family of Petoskey have enjoyed spending the summer on Mackinac. Kate worked at Little Luxuries gift shop on Main Street and Marlee’s Art Gallery at Grand Hotel. Her husband, Jack, worked for the Mackinac Island Police Department as a public service person. Kate is employed at Central Elementary School in Petoskey, so she is already back to work getting ready for school to open Wednesday, September 9.

Skip Harrell and his family from Bloomington, Indiana, have been enjoying the Cable Cottage.

The cool, crisp nights have been spectacular, with the moon high in a pink sky as the sun descends behind the Mackinac Bridge. It is a magnificent sight from the veranda of Grand Hotel.

Guests of Mike Iles at his home in the Mission were his mother, Carole, and brother, Jim, who celebrated his birthday Sunday, August 23. They reside in Kalamazoo.

We continue to send best wishes to Bart Huthwaite as he recovers from his recent accident.

We’ve had several people come to the backyard of the Windermere Hotel to view the black crown night herons high up in the maple trees. There are three birds and they are fascinating to watch.

Emma Chambers returned to Ferris State University Sunday, August 30, Kyle Sweet and Tyler Finkel to Michigan State University, and Woody Beardsley to Michigan Technological Uni - versity. Good luck to all of the students.

Monday, August 24, I had the pleasure of visiting with reporter Karen Gould of The St. Ignace News and Mackinac Island Town Crier, who brought along her son, Shawn. He is in his fifth year at Mundelein College, where he is studying for the priesthood. I really enjoyed the visit.

We send best wishes to Rita Sue Cohen, who is a patient at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.

Brad Conkey and his family are vacationing at the Cohen home, Hedgecliffe, on Mackinac.

Kitty Schadel of Arcade, New York, and her daughter, Cathy, of Chicago are vacationing at their home on Bourisaw Lane.

The Cottage Inn bed and breakfast on Market Street will be open December 18 through February 21, 2010. The new managers are Rich and Marge Lind of Grand Rapids with their eightmonth old American Cocker Spaniel named “Joe.” They enjoy the Island and are looking forward to spending the winter on Mackinac.

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend.