By Terry Kovarik

Joel Gunlauggson is looking forward to Christmas because it means he and his wife can take a bit of breather from their Washington Island motel business. The end of the nine-day gun deer hunt, Thanksgiving and the fall color season marks the end of what has been a very hectic year for Washington Island businesses. Gunlauggson says customer traffic picked up in spring and never let up.

Gunlauggson expects the lull to last into February when the ice fishing season and the tournaments it brings starts up. Until then, they’ll be hosting snowmobilers and cross-country skiers.