Sunday, July 18, a foggy, rainy evening, out of the fog appeared a beautiful sailboat from Hong Kong named Beau Geste, the first boat to cross the finish line in the 86th sailing of the Pure Michigan Bayview Mackinac Race. It was truly a magical sight. When the fleet departed Port Huron Saturday, July 17, at noon, a bagpipe band played. The St. Andrews band has been doing this for 40 years, a wonderful tradition. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Hollyhock escorted yachts up Lake Huron and anchored in the harbor at the end of the race. It was a fast finish, with all boats arriving at Mackinac by Monday evening, July 19. The sailors were happy and it was time to celebrate a great sail. Many yachts departed Mackinac Tuesday, July 20, bound for Chicago to compete in the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, which began Saturday, July 24, at noon.

Wednesday, July 14, family and friends gathered for the dedication of the Richard and Jane Manoogian Art Museum in the Old Indian Dormitory. The museum is a wonderful addition to our community with a great display of artwork, much of it by local artists. It will be a great place to take the little ones to enjoy art activities. The Manoogians displayed great generosity in making this dream become a reality. In conjunction with the dedication, everyone was invited to attend an antique appraisal at Grand Hotel. People came from far and near with their treasures to be appraised. Leigh and Leslie Keno, appraisers known to many from their television appearances, were thrilled to visit Mackinac for the first time. At Grand Hotel, I was greeted by Richard and Jane Manoogian. Mr. Manoogian looks forward to receiving both the Mackinac Island Town Crier and The St. Ignace News each week, keeping up on the news.

Horses strut down Main Street during the Festival of the Horse parade Friday, July 23. (Photograph by Mary Wojcik) Wednesday evening, July 14, Elizabeth Kelly, mother of Margaret Horn, drowned off Bois Blanc Island, where the family has owned a cottage for more than 40 years. Mrs. Kelly was laid to rest in the Mackinac Island Cemetery Monday, July 19. Deepest sympathy to Margaret and her family from Island friends.

It is so nice seeing Marti Carey of the Cloghaun out walking with her beautiful Springer Spaniel, Maggie.

The hollyhocks all over the Island are in full bloom. They are absolutely beautiful by the Chambers barn on Cadotte Avenue, in Jeff Shaffer and Dwight LaPine’s garden on French Lane, and many other areas around the Island. The hollyhocks are so colorful and so typical of Mackinac. The painting by Marlee Brown Musser on the cover of the Mackinac Island cookbook depicts the Mackinac hollyhocks.

Friends on Mackinac extend deepest sympathy to Danny Robbins and his family on the death of his beloved wife, Luzma Gomez Robbins, Friday, July 9, at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey. Danny and Luzma spent many summers on Mackinac.

Happy 50th wedding anniversary to Richard and Jackie Bolander July 30. They celebrated Wednesday, July 14, with family and friends at a special Mass celebrated by Father Rey Garcia and Father Jim Williams, followed by lunch at Grand Hotel. Congratulations from Island friends.

Happy birthday to Karen Barnwell July 21. Hope you had a great day.

Gregg Sutherland, husband of Sara Bunker Sutherland, continues his long recovery from a serious motorcycle accident in Orlando, Florida. He would appreciate hearing from his many Island friends at the following address: 1616 Bridgeview Circle, Orlando, Florida 32824.

The annual LaPine family reunion was held Saturday, July 17, and Sunday, July 18, in St. Ignace. They gathered Sunday at the American Legion Park for great food and conversation. Special guests were Lyle Horn, son of Smi and Mickey, who flew in from Denver, Colorado, and Cindy Cadotte, daughter of Patsy, who traveled from her home in Tennessee. Everyone had a wonderful time.

Special birthday greetings to Captain Paul Allers July 30. Island friends send best wishes.

Dr. Jeff Chambers and family from Minnesota are visiting Dr. Bill and Sue Chambers and the Brad Chambers family on Mackinac.

Stella Mae Kwolek of Detroit has returned to Mackinac for a visit and is enjoying her home on French Lane. It’s nice to have her back on the Island.

It’s nice to see John and Lois Findley of West Lafayette, Indiana, back on Mackinac. They own Small Point Bed and Breakfast at the Mission.

Kay Berke celebrated her birthday July 26. Hope you had a wonderful day.

We give a warm welcome to Elliot and Rita Sue Cohen, who arrived on Mackinac Thursday, July 15. Brad Conkey accompanied them to the Island and his family joined him for the weekend. The Cohens are enjoying the magnificent view from their Hedgecliffe cottage.

Kitty Bourisaw Schadel, with her daughter, Mary Beth and family, returned to Arcade, New York, Friday, July 23, after vacationing at the Bourisaw home on Bourisaw Lane.

We send special birthday greetings July 29 to our dear friend, Max Clifton of Muncie, Indiana. Max and his family spent many summers on Mackinac. Please remember him with birthday greetings at the following address: 1403 N. Maddox Drive, Muncie, Indiana 47304.

Mark Chambers and his daughter, Clara, recently spent a weekend in Crivitz, Wisconsin, visiting Nancy and Jean LaBorde and Mark’s mother, Joyce.

Paul Wandrie and members of the Chapman, Dankowski, St. Onge American Legion Post 299 cleaned headstones in the Mackinac Island Cemetery Sunday, July 25. Any donations to this great project would be appreciated.

Happy birthday to Mark Bunker July 21. Hope you had a great day.

Congressman Bart and Laurie Stupak attended the vintage base ball game Saturday, July 24, at Fort Mackinac.

The Tom Corrigan family of Chicago is enjoying their lovely home on Lakeshore Drive.

Happy birthday to little Jack Kaminen July 26. I’m sure his sister, Anna, helped him blow his candles out.

The summer concert series at Ste. Anne’s began Sunday, July 25, at 2 p.m. with the Northern Michigan Flute Choir.

Jill Sawatzki will celebrate her birthday July 28. Have a wonderful day.

Brother Jim Boynton, S.J. will be on Mackinac Saturday, August 21, and there will be a square dance at 6:30 p.m. at Ste. Anne’s. He will bring his fiddle and will also call the dances. Come and join in the fun. Refreshments will be served.

Happy birthday to Drew Cope July 27. Drew is attending Grand Rapids Community College, where he was on the dean’s list. He will transfer to Grand Valley State University in January.

Happy birthday to Will St. Onge July 29. Have a great day.

The Brian Murray family of Lansing are enjoying a vacation at the Murray home on Mackinac.

Roxanne Pettit and Robert St. Onge will celebrate their birthdays July 31. Enjoy your day.

Brian and Barbara Hellis are entertaining Brian’s niece, Hazel Sullivan, and her husband, Tony, from Devon, England. It’s nice to have them visit Mackinac for the first time.

David, Jennifer, and Lucas Karhoff of Findlay, Ohio, recently enjoyed a week at their cottage on Bourisaw Lane. Lucas will attend the Boy Scouts 100th year Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, with more than 43,000 Boy Scouts in attendance. President Barack Obama will attend the gathering and parade in Washington, D.C.

Lt. Commander Ken Thompson recently spent a week on Mackinac visiting his wife, Lorianne. Ken is stationed in Maryland, but travels all over the world.

Mary Jane Neuman of Royal Oak left Mackinac Monday, July 19, after spending a month at the Windermere Hotel. She has so many friends on the Island, especially her Tuesday night bingo fans, Rosie Charnes, and the staff at the Windermere Hotel. We will miss her and hope that she will return in September for another visit.

Happy birthday to Stanley Gugin, Sr. July 26. Hope you had a great day.

Author Garrison Keillor recently vacationed at the Masco Cottage at Grand Hotel.

It’s great to see Adele Lypsinmaa of Hancock back working at the Mustang Lounge.

Leroy and Mary Lou Francis Pruitt of Wichita, Kansas, visited Mackinac Tuesday, July 20. Mary Lou was born and grew up on the Island and always likes to return to visit family and friends.

Happy belated birthday to Kristi Gough, who celebrated her 16th birthday July 19. Kristi, the daughter of Dale and Jodi, was the last baby born at the old Mackinac Island Medical Center.

Joe Abbey of Traverse City was the guest of Margaret McIntire for the opening of the Richard and Jane Manoogian Art Museum Wednesday, July 14.

Cammie Hart is vacationing on Mackinac with her mother, Janey. While here she will visit her brothers, Mike, of Mackinac and Clyde and Betsy Hart of St. Ignace.

It was great to see Alex Gillespie of Middleton, Wisconsin, son of Annette and Robert, who recently visited Mackinac for a week. Alex, who is music director at a large Lutheran church, really enjoys his position.

Riding around the east side of the Island, one comes to the property owned by Mike Bradley, with its well-groomed grass, fruit trees, and a beautiful garden. In the fall, his orange pumpkins will be huge and the children will love them. Mike is the custodian at the Mackinac Island Public School.

Jim Horn, an employee of the City of Mackinac Island Maintenance Department, has done a wonderful job painting the Mackinac Island Public Library. Last year Jim made some white benches, which have been placed all over Market and Main streets. Many visitors are enjoying the benches.

Mark your calendar for the annual Mackinac Island Medical Center Auction Sunday, August 29, at Grand Hotel. Any donations would be appreciated and may be dropped off at the medical center.