Edyn Nettleton (from left), Sue and Riley Schultz, and Mariah Reed enjoy an afternoon of skating at Big Bear Arena in Sault Ste. Marie as part of a reward for elementary school participation in the Happy Apple Scarecrow Festival. DeTour elementary students, teachers, and parent volunteers recently enjoyed an afternoon of ice skating at Big Bear Arena in Sault Ste. Marie. Many students had little skating experience and used support, but soon moved onto the ice independently. The group had such a good time that they plan to have another skating field trip next semester.

Parent volunteers are working to raise funds to make field trips and purchase of special supplies and technology equipment possible. The group has an ongoing project of collecting box top labels, with redeemable coupons found on a variety of products, from cereal to toilet tissue. The coupon is a small red logo with “Box Top” written on it and a yellow pencil underneath with “Education” on it. There is a “Box Top For Education” redemption box in the library and the elementary school as well as the Village Hall. The program has an October and February redemption period so you have plenty of time to get labels in before the next batch is sent. Sue Schultz, who is coordinating the effort, would be glad to answer any questions.

You can also help the school volunteer effort by supporting the Field Trip Café during the upcoming Village Christmas. They will be selling fresh cinnamon rolls from the Raider Room at the school. The rolls will be available to enjoy there or you may purchase them by the half dozen to take home. Anyone who remembers the rolls from the basketball games in the 1980s knows how good they are. Watch for more Café activities throughout the school year.

The regular monthly meeting of the Lower St. Marys Chapter Habitat for Humanity took place last Tuesday, November 17. The group has elected officers and committee chairs. The following people will serve on the Board of Directors: Bill Mordecai, president; Eldon Seaman, vice-president; Bud Schoop, treasurer; Family Selection, Jennie Brussow, chair; Fundraising, Julie Rucker and Verna Fountain, cochairs; Construction and Site Selection, Jeff Bosley, chair; Church Relations, Dave Henderson and Judy Arnold, co-chairs; North Star Relations, Dave Henderson, chair; Public Relations, Judy Jones, chair. Some posts remain unfilled. This group is dedicated to the task of partnering with a deserving family to build a home in the DeTour, Drummond Island, Goetzville, or Raber area. If you have some time and are interested in filling one of the unfilled board positions, or if you would like to volunteer in any of the above areas, call Bill Mordecai at (906) 297-2341. The next fundraising project is a holiday giving program. If you would like to make a special donation in honor or in memory of a friend or relative, call the Habitat number at (906) 297-2341.

If you have not yet purchased your raffle ticket for the quilt being raffled by DeTour Passage Historical Society members to benefit the museum, it’s not too late. Tickets are sold at Sune’s Grocery, Central Savings Bank (where the quilt is currently on display), and Fisher’s Restaurant. They will also be on sale at the museum booth at the school during Village Christmas. The drawing for the quilt, created by members of the DeTour Quilters group, will be Saturday, December 5, at 3 p.m.

Congratulations to the DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society (DRLPS) members. After negotiations, the Society and the State of Michigan finally came to terms on a finalized draft of the bottomlands agreement. Discussions to obtain rights to the bottomland under the DeTour Reef Light have taken place for more than four years and will finally allow the transfer of ownership to the Society. According to DRLPS President Dave Bardsley, this agreement will pave the way for lighthouse preservationists throughout the state to obtain ownership of their properties.

I hope each of you has the opportunity to spend time with family and friends during this Thanksgiving holiday.