Following two recent windstorms, the trees all over the Island have shed their leaves in a variety of colors, making a delightful soft cushion underfoot. There have been unbelievable sunrises and sunsets, casting beams on the Straits of Mackinac, and Monday, November 2, a beautiful full harvest moon lit the Round Island Passage. Traffic on Cadotte Avenue is slow as the majority of Grand Hotel’s crew has left for the season. We are now looking forward to the winter season, when the Island will be covered with a blanket of pure white snow, announcing the holiday season.

The Mackinac Island community sends deepest sympathy to Laurie Stupak on the recent death of her mother, Elaine Olson, in Escanaba.

Dan and Kathi Wightman departed Mackinac Monday, November 2, for Lansing. Kathi had surgery Tuesday, November 3, for her second knee replacement. Best wishes to Kathi for a speedy recovery.

Island friends send deepest sympathy to the Evashevski family on the recent death of their father, Forest Evashevski, in Petoskey. Mr. Evashevski’s obituary is published in this issue of The St. Ignace News.

Happy birthday to Ed Chambers and Becki Barnwell November 12. Have a great day.

Jill Sawatzki departed the Island Wednesday, October 28, for Lansing, where she will visit her parents and brother, Eric, and family.

We send congratulations to Richard Chambers, who was hired by Echo Global Logistics in Chicago. He started work Monday, November 2, and is excited about his new adventure.

Emily St. Onge and Pam Finkel will celebrate their birthdays November 13. Enjoy your day.

Donations for the Christmas Bazaar would be appreciated. Items may be mailed or dropped off at the Mackinac Island Medical Center. Raffle tickets for the Polaris snowmobile are available at Doud’s Market, First National Bank, or the Mackinac Island Medical Center. You may also purchase tickets from Sylvia Perault.

Happy birthday to Erin Bagbey Beck November 16. I’m sure TJ will help you blow your candles out.

Sarah Wessel enjoyed a vacation in Texas to visit friends. She is employed at Doud’s Market.

Wednesday, November 11, is Veterans Day, when we will all honor the men and women who have served or are in harm’s way today.

Many local merchants will attend the 44th annual gift show in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Saturday, November 14, through Tuesday, November 17.

Many children had a great time trick-or-treating Halloween night in Harrisonville, especially at Dennis and Jackie Bradley’s haunted house and Bruce and Patty LaPine’s home, where Bruce was dressed up like a doctor. It was an adventure for all the ghosts and goblins.

The Mackinac Island Public School was closed for three days last week because many students had flu-like symptoms. The Mackinac Island Lakers volleyball team played Monday night, November 2, in DeTour Village.

Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31, we experienced another gale from the southwest. Arnold Transit went to the north of the Island. The Mackinac Island Fire Department helped with removing fallen trees, and Edison Sault Electric was called out for two trees over power lines. Owing to the heavy winds we’ve had recently, tree trimmers have come to Mackinac to remove several trees on Cadotte Avenue and in several other locations.

Vic Callewaert and family members have left Mackinac and returned to their winter homes in Grosse Pointe.

Phil and Val Porter are enjoying a vacation touring Italy and Ireland. Monday, November 2, they met their daughters, Suzanne and Katie, in Dublin.

Cindy Schaud, reservation manager at the Iroquois Hotel, left Mackinac Sunday, November 1, for her home in Grand Rapids. The McIntires and Barnwells celebrated Cindy’s birthday Friday evening, October 30, at the Village Inn.

Happy birthday to Sarah Dehring November 8. Have a great day.

Tony and Loretta Spata are busy closing their businesses for the season. They sold the Leather Corral to Ben Nye. Tony and Loretta will leave the Island Wednesday, November 4, for their winter home in Traverse City.

Morgan Brodeur-Bunker will celebrate her birthday November 9. Enjoy your day.

Jennifer Bloswick, director of human resources at Grand Hotel, left Mackinac Thursday, October 29, for Argentina and the Philippines, where she will begin recruiting employees for the 2010 season.

Dr. Al Sibinic left the Island Wednesday, November 4, for his home in Charlevoix. He will later travel to Arizona, where he will spend the winter. Island friends send him best wishes for a restful winter.

Dr. Mike Bacon will celebrate his birthday November 11. Have a good day.

Bill and Kathy Lake departed Mackinac Friday, October 30, for their winter home in Indiana. Bill was employed at Orr Kid’s Bikes and Kathy at Doud’s Market. At their residence on the Island on Mahoney Avenue, they had a statue of a goose in their front yard, which Kathy would dress up for different holidays. Everyone just loved it.

Happy birthday to Nicole Smith November 3. I’m sure Penny Lane will help you eat your birthday cake. Have a great day.

The Marvin May family left the Island Monday, November 2, after closing their May’s Candy Shops. They will spend the winter in Petoskey.

Margaret Horn was a patient at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey. She is now recuperating at home on Mackinac.

Our good friend, Bill Taylor of Delta, Ohio, was so kind to transport the Polaris snowmobile from Houghton Lake to St. Ignace for the Christmas Bazaar raffle.

Enjoy your week!