Donna Pope would like to remind everyone of the 94th annual turkey dinner Thursday, November 5, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the LaSalle High School cafeteria, sponsored by the St. Ignace United Methodist Women.

Sarah Pope recently enjoyed a visit with her parents, Dan and Mary Pope, in St. Ignace. She was on her fall break from the University of Michigan, where she is attending graduate school to become a family nurse practitioner. Also home were their other daughter and family, Carrie and Chris TerVree and sons, Isaiah and Isaac, of Fruitport. Mary and Isaac celebrated their birthdays together while in St. Ignace.

I received a phone call from Robin (nee Peters) Bahr of Mount Pleasant mentioning the new Brevort Township fire hall open house Saturday, November 7, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The ladies of Zion Lutheran Church of Allenville will serve food, with donations to Zion Lutheran Caring and Sharing Program. The silent auction is held each year and was started in 1969 by Pete Peters and Harold Peterson. The fourth annual “fireworks” show, in memory of Pete Peters and George Litzner, will start at 7 p.m. at 1820 West Dukes Road in Moran. A special salute will be given for Trish Litzner’s 80th birthday. The events in Moran are open to the public.

Chairs for Charity proceeds were donated to Legacy House and the Hope Chest Thursday, October 22. St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce representatives Yvonne Della-Moretta and Janet Peterson presented checks of $600 each to the organizations. Pictured are (from left) Connie Litzner, Tom Penner, Mrs. Della- Moretta, Mrs. Peterson, and Kathy Lawnichak. (St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce photograph) Our Hope Chest store is going strong, and Gert Dunn is happy to be a cashier there each Saturday morning.

Tracey McCluskey of St. Ignace was named Parent Coalition Advocate of the Year for Mackinac County Saturday, October 10, at the Great Start Parent Appreciation Day. She was chosen because of her dedication to the Great Start Parent Coalition. She is an active advocate for autism awareness and early intervention. She traveled to Lansing for the Parent Coalition and Star Power rally this spring, where she met with State Senator Jason Allen and State Representative Gary McDowell on the funding of early childhood programs. She has helped with the building and recruitment for the parent coalition by attending all Mackinac County meetings, offering feedback, and attending and supporting all coalition events, said Heather Bird. Mrs. McCluskey supports other parents by sharing resources and information that she is knowledgeable about.

Gary and Susan Croad of Rudyard won the Kiwanis Club Best Decorated Trunk for their “Skeleton Van” during the Trunk or Treat Saturday, October 24, in St. Ignace. Pictured are Gabrielle Croad (left) and Kayla Weber. (Photograph courtesy of David Goldthorpe) Leonard Gamble of Mancelona, who grew up in St. Ignace, stopped by The St. Ignace News office Wednesday, October 28. His brother, Duane Gamble, and sister, Marvel Walker, still live in town. Mr. Gamble recalled climbing on St. Anthony’s Rock downtown with his friends as a youngster. He moved south in 1966. He recalls Barrett’s sawmill, he said, where the Shepler’s boat docks are today.

Father Pawel Mecwel (second from left) was installed as pastor at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in St. Ignace and Immaculate Conception in Moran in a ceremony Sunday, October 25, in St. Ignace. Participating in the ceremony are (from left) Deacon Don Olmstead, Fr. Mecwel, Father Ted Brodeur of Brimley, and Deacon Tom McClelland. About 120 people from both parishes attended a potluck dinner following the installation. “While in town visiting relatives, it brought back memories of the boats making their trips across the Straits, and of pop, ice cream, and smoked fish being sold on the docks at that time,” he said. “The bay was full of fish shanties in the winter time. You could even drive out to Castle Rock and see the lake on the way out there. In the evenings, some people even went out to the dumps to watch the bears.”

Tracey McCluskey was named Parent Coalition Advocate of the Year for Mackinac County. Pictured are (from left) Jennifer Olmstead, parent trainer; Kristie Chambers, Chippewa County Parent Advocate winner; Tracey McCluskey, Mackinac Parent Advocate winner; Matt Gullard, advisor; Heather Bird, Mackinac/Luce County parent liaison; Ashley Butkovich, Luce County Parent Advocate winner; and Sarah McDowell, Chippewa County parent liaison. (Photograph courtesy of Heather Bird) His father, the late Roy Gamble, worked on the rail ferry Chief Wawatam. Mr. Gamble enjoys taking photographs of the area today when he visits, including the Chief’s former dock.

“It looks great,” he said of a recent view of the dock. “The only thing missing in the picture is a big black boat.”

I received a pleasant call from Lynne Piippo. She and Jerry will celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary Saturday, November 7. The couple were married at the home of her parents on Mackinac Trail.

Jackie and Jim Hardy of Saline were recent visitors in St. Ignace. They were among those I named last week who attended the memorial service for Hazel Decker Saturday, October 24.

There will be a Christmas gift sale Friday, November 6, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Catholic Center on Spring Street in St. Ignace.