Thanksgiving was a time for families to get together and count their blessings. Our family was fortunate enough to have a visit from Vern and Karen (nee Wester) Perry, former St. Ignace residents, over the holiday. They were glad to get out of snowy Marquette to "balmy" St. Ignace. We enjoyed a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

Cynthia (nee Oja) Wright and her son, Fred Wright, traveled to Port Huron to visit her daughter, Danika (nee Harrison) and son-inlaw, Andy Kableman. She enjoyed a great Thanksgiving day meal, along with spending time with her two grandchildren, Abby and Andy. Her father and his wife, Ralph and Therese Oja, will be heading to Orange Beach, Alabama, soon to join some friends.

During this holiday season, please take time to remember the elderly people, Mackinac Straits Hospital Long Term Care residents, and adult foster care residents, some of whom do not have family. Many of these people would appreciate a card, letter, phone call, or visit. The churches in St. Ignace provide Sunday services for the long term care residents. The staff at Long Term Care, area adult foster care homes, and also home health care workers provide much help to those in need.

This week brings many Christmas programs and festivities. The downtown Home for the Holidays parade and open house will be Friday, December 5. The parade starts at City Hall and ends at the St. Ignace Marina, where the lighting of the Christmas tree will take place at 6 p.m. Following the tree lighting, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for photographs in the Pavillion Mall. The Youth Choir will also perform there after the tree lighting. Allied EMS will have tours and treats available in the First National Bank parking lot after Santa's visit. The Colonial House Inn, along with many other downtown businesses, will be open for touring and shopping from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Many businesses are offering a chance to win a $500 shopping spree.

There are many other opportunities to participate in holiday festivities this week. The Gros Cap Church sing-along will be Thursday, December 4, at 7 p.m. at the Gros Cap Church on Gros Cap Road. Refreshments will follow at Silver Mountain ski hill lodge.

The 47th Annual United Methodist Church Musicale will be Sunday, December 7, at 7 p.m. at United Methodist Church. There will be at least 10 performances, including individual musical acts, adult choirs, children's choirs, plus some new performances, reports Karen Fowler, show coordinator.

The fifth grade class at Gros Cap School will have its DARE graduation program Tuesday, December 9, at 7:30 in the school gymnasium. The program is a drug awareness and resistance education program that is available to all fifth grade students in the area. Gros Cap students who completed this program are Tristan Calcaterra, Ben Doran, Jaina Dunikowski, Cole Garen, Andrew Goldthorpe, Angela Nowack, Tiffany Obeshaw, James Pollard, and Taylor Schnicke.

The LaSalle High senior class will have a fundraiser for the All- Night Grad Party. They will serve a pancake breakfast at the Mackinac Grille Sunday, December 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children 12 and younger.

There will be a book sale at the St. Ignace Public Library Saturday, December 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Belated happy birthday wishes to Kerry Freier November 21 and to Richard Bentley November 30. Happy birthday to Connie Cullip, Dorothy Clement, and Prentiss Brown Jr., all on December 5. Happy birthday to Brandon Horn December 8, John Mundt December 9, and Jack Ryerse December 11.

Happy anniversary to Ed and Donna Ryan December 6.