In answer to many readers, I did have a wonderful Alaskan experience. The surprising thing is that no matter where one travels, one often finds a little bit of Cedarville or Hessel. On my trip to Alaska during the past couple of weeks, one of the stops was Juneau, when Art and Sandra Dunn met the cruise ship that I was on. Art is the son of Archie and the late Bernadine Dunn of Cedarville. It was so nice to see someone from home so far away. I spent a pleasant day sightseeing with them in that old salmon fishing and gold mining town.

Sandra and Art have a charming home set upon a hill that overlooks the bay. They see all of the cruise ships as they come in, and it’s a beautiful sight. Sandra must be a master gardener. Her flowers and vegetables are phenomenal, and with a greenhouse in the backyard, she can get an early start on anything she chooses to grow.

During my time with them, I learned that Hessel natives Tim and Lee Bickham and Pete Griffin are also in Juneau. I understand that Pete is the head mechanic for Princess Cruise Lines in Juneau, and so it all created a little bit of home away from home.

Knights of Columbus Council 7100 in Hessel conducts a Tootsie Roll drive each year for handicapped children in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Phil Valenti (from left) presents a check for $800 to Laura Aikens, director of Special Olympics, pictured with athletes Alana Witek and Gabby White, Deputy Grand Knight Bob Tunney, and Knights of Columbus Warden Conrad Izzard. (Photograph courtesy of Philip Valenti) After leaving Juneau, we encountered some really bad weather with winds of 90 miles per hour and 18-foot waves. Our scheduled port of call in Ketchikan was cancelled because of weather, but the weather, itself, was quite an experience. During this trip, we saw a lot of wildlife, including moose, elk, whales, bear, and eagles.

Bethel Lutheran Church in Cedarville will have a big garage and rummage sale Thursday, September 24, and Friday, September 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, September 26, from 9 a.m. to noon.

It seems that summer arrived in the Les Cheneaux Islands during my absence, with sunshine and warm temperatures. A little rain, but more warm temperatures are predicted for the next week. While driving north on M-131 and I-75 last week, I noticed many maple trees changing color. It won’t be long until the Upper Peninsula will be a blaze of yellow, orange, and red. If one is planning a color-tour trip, the best weekend up here is usually the first weekend in October.

Matt and Lori Hatch won the Lions Club $100 lottery August 25 and Yvonne McDonald was the lucky winner September l.

Archie Dunn just received a phone call from Art, saying that he had just shot a big moose near Fairbanks, Alaska.

Enjoy the beautiful late summer weather we’re experiencing in this part of the Eastern Upper Peninsula.