Grand Hotel closed its doors for the season Tuesday, October 27, at 10 a.m. Monday, October 26, 450 guests watched as the hotel was put to bed for the winter. It was an exciting evening and fascinating for the visitors. It’s always sad to see Grand Hotel in total darkness, but we look forward to May 2010. We wish the Musser family and all the staff a restful and relaxing winter.

Father Jim Williams of Mackinaw City was the guest of R.D. Musser, Jr. for closing night at Grand Hotel.

Friday, October 23, Mackinac experienced a strong storm from the southeast. Star Line and Arnold Transit suspended service to Mackinaw City and guests were taken to St. Ignace and transported across the Mackinac Bridge in buses. The waves were so big they were splashing up on Main Street. Many large trees were blown down, so the Mackinac Island Fire Department assisted with tree removal. The “Gales of November” came in October this year.

Our Island is known for growing fantastic yellow pumpkins. Folks riding around the east side of the Island saw a lovely home and a wonderful garden filled with beautiful pumpkins. This belongs to Mike Bradley, custodian at the Mackinac Island Public School, who had an outstanding garden this year.

We send get well wishes to Lulabelle D’Arce, who is a patient at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey. Island friends are thinking of you.

Happy birthday to Cindy Schaud of the Iroquois Hotel and Roger Horn November 3. Have a great day.

Congratulations to Brenda and Jim Pettit, who celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary Monday, October 26.

Mark your calendar for the Christmas Bazaar Saturday, December 5, through Monday, December 7. The bright red Polaris snowmobile prize is on display at Doud’s Market. Tickets are available at Doud’s Market, First National Bank, and the Mackinac Island Medical Center. You may also purchase tickets from Sylvia Perault. Any donations for the bazaar may be mailed or dropped off at the Mackinac Island Medical Center.

Jennifer Bloswick will celebrate her birthday November 4. Have a wonderful day.

Albert “Buck” and Alice Sharrow left the Island Tuesday, October 27, for their winter home in Charlevoix. We enjoyed a delicious dinner with them Sunday, October 25, at their delightful apartment over Mike Young’s stable. We hope to see them at the Christmas Bazaar.

Willie Doud of St. Ignace visited friends and relatives on Mackinac Sunday, October 25. Willie worked on the 1,000-foot Indiana Harbor from March until Thursday, October 8.

Happy anniversary to Mary and Cal Rogers November 6. Enjoy your day.

We say goodbye to Wally J. Peck of Manistique, who left Saturday, October 24, for his winter home. He worked all summer for the Chippewa Hotel. Have a good winter, Wally.

Happy birthday to Vanessa Hardy November 4, and to her husband, Ken, November 9.

We wish a good winter to Fritz and Lindsay George, who will spend the winter in Port Huron and Florida. We look forward to seeing you in the spring.

Tom and Phyllis Corrigan of Chicago spent the weekend at their lovely home on Lakeshore Drive.

Diane Shea left Mackinac Monday, October 26, for her winter home in Atlanta, Georgia. She enjoys the fall on Mackinac and loves to walk in the woods with her beautiful collie dog.

Congressman Bart and Laurie Stupak enjoyed Sunday evening, October 25, at Grand Hotel. Congressman Stupak was holding town hall meetings in the area.

There will be a community Halloween party for the little ghosts and goblins Saturday, October 31, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the little gymnasium at the Mackinac Island Public School.

Sunday, October 25, the following hotels and bed and breakfasts closed for the season: Bay View, Iroquois, Metivier Inn, Hart’s Haven, Cloghaun, Market Street Inn, Cottage Inn, Harbour View Inn, Chippewa Hotel, Lilac Tree, Main Street Inn, and Mission Point Resort. Main Street will get very quiet now.

Star Line and Shepler’s closed for the season Sunday, October 25. We wish all the crews a good winter with rest and relaxation.

Mike Konicki of Rehman Robson attended the City Council meeting Wednesday, October 21.

Vic Callewaert attended the football game between University of Michigan and Penn State Saturday, October 24, in Ann Arbor.

The Poorman’s Ball was held at the Mackinac Island Public School Wednesday, October 21, to benefit the senior class. Everyone enjoyed great food and prizes.

Tuesday, October 20, Barbara Cope Ryerse (the late Jack Ryerse’s daughter-in-law), Darlene Belleville, Darla Litzner Leonard, and Ruth Eby Paquin of St. Ignace enjoyed spending the night at the cottage behind the Jacob Wendell House. They had a great time shopping, and enjoyed lunch at Grand Hotel’s Carleton’s Tea Store, dinner at the Seabiscuit, and breakfast at the Chippewa Hotel.

Grand Hotel hosted the fall gathering of the Win-Some Women Wednesday, October 21, and Thursday, October 22. More than 1,000 ladies were in attendance.

We send best wishes to Almeda Bodwin of Manton, who has been a patient at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac.

Grand Hotel and the Musser family hosted an appreciation cocktail party Tuesday, October 20, for the Island community. It was a delightful evening with a nice attendance.

Buzz and Carolyn Waggoner closed their La Galerie gift shop Sunday, October 18, and departed Mackinac Monday, October 19, for their winter home in Brownstown.

Diane Neyer has prepared all the beautiful gardens at Metivier Inn and Hart’s Haven for the winter months.

Glen Woulfe, dock porter at the Windermere Hotel, departed Mackinac Friday, October 23, for his winter home in Bradenton, Florida.

Bob and Annette Gillespie departed for their winter home in Arcadia, Florida. En route they visited their son, Alex, who lives in Middleton, Wisconsin. They celebrated Alex’s and Annette’s October birthdays. Have a good winter.

The Steve Harpers, frequent visitors to Mackinac, spent closing weekend at Grand Hotel.

Saturday evening, October 24, great Halloween parties were held at the Pink Pony, Horn’s Gaslight Bar, Patrick Sinclair’s Irish Pub, The Gate House, Mustang Lounge, and Goodfellows. There were costumes of every description prowling the streets. One group that stood out were the folks from 7th Heaven Salon. They won a prize at the Pink Pony. This followed a road run in the morning, which attracted about 1,400 runners. Everyone was in the Halloween spirit.

Happy Halloween!