Coast Guard seaman Tyler Wirick decorates the St. Ignace station's Christmas tree with a bulb. Seamen Tonya Holladay and Patrick Hogan (not pictured) also helped decorate the tree in the station mess hall Friday, December 5. "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas," and especially when walking downtown in St. Ignace. The evergreen garland lightly hugs the lamp posts while the colorful Christmas lights give off a shiny twinkle. The snow now covers the ground with a blanket of sparkling white.

The downtown merchants will be hosting a ladies' shopping night Friday, December 12 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. This is an opportunity for the women to take part in special offers just for them. Shops will also be hosting a mens' shopping night Friday, December 19 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The St. Ignace PTO is having a pancake dinner at McDonald's Thursday, December 11, from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. This is a fundraiser for the PTO.

The St. Ignace Elementary and Middle School Christmas program will be Thursday, December 18, at 6:30 p.m. with students in kindergarten through sixth grade performing.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Joe Bellant of St. Ignace accepts a U.S. Army commendation Saturday, November 1, from Major Jeffery Carter in recognition of a mission he had performed. Sgt. Bellant, who is stationed in Vogelweh, Germany, is the son of Fran and the late Joyce Bellant of St. Ignace and a 1998 LaSalle High School graduate. (Bellant family photograph) The LaSalle music program was held Thursday, December 4 with a prelude by the adult steel band and the Squirts of Steel and Saints of Steel bands. The sixth, seventh, and eighth grade bands performed in addition to the LaSalle High School band. The high school choir, youth chamber chorus, St. Ignace Community Children's Chorus, and Music Appreciation Class percussion also performed. Jason Byma reported that more than 150 children are involved in all of the groups.

Secretary Julie Moore reports that the Gros Cap school Christmas program will be Friday, December 12 at 1:30 p.m. Performing will be all students through eighth grade with songs, finger plays, and sign language songs. Cookies and refreshments will be served, and Santa will visit.

Al Colegrove of St. Ignace Masonic Lodge 369 presents a check for $200 to Wendy Colegrove, co-director of the Mackinac County Children's Toy Drive. The money will be used to purchase Christmas toys, clothing, and food for area families in need. By Wednesday, December 3, the drive had received about $3,500 in donations, with a goal of $8,000. Drop boxes for donated toys are located around the community. Financial contributions can be mailed to: Wendy Colegrove, 152 Bertrand Street, St. Ignace, Michigan 49781 or The St. Ignace News, P.O. Box 277, St. Ignace. St. Ignace residents serving in the military include John Coveyou, Dan Coveyou, David Durm, Karen Moses, Joseph Bellant, Nicole Woodward, Michael Green, Brian Cahill, Jesse Piippo, Brian Fitzgerald, Alan Klein, Tim Reiner, C.J. Helfrich, Jimmy Faleris, and Jesse Faleris. Please remember them in your thoughts and prayers,

A prominent St. Ignace businessman, Jack Ryerse, is celebrating his 90th birthday Thursday, December 11. Mr. Ryerse is retired from First National Bank on Mackinac Island, where he worked for 26 years. He also owned Ryerse Sales for 25 years. He is an avid Saints fan and was a high school and college referee for many years. His family includes three children, 14 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren. Jack's family will be celebrating his birthday with him and the other residents at Cedarbrook Senior Living in Mackinaw City. They plan to have cake and ice cream, according to his daughter, Jackie Laver. Happy 90th birthday, Jack!

The St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce treated volunteers and ambassadors to a holiday social at the Pavillion Thursday, December 4, in recognition of the time and energy they donate to the organization. Welcoming the honorees with hors d' oeuvres and cheer were Chamber board members and staff (from left) Yvonne Della-Moretta, Cheryl Schlehuber, Janet Peterson, Elizabeth Brown, and Eileen Evers. Missing from the photograph is Lora Brown. Some of the volunteers seen in the background are Sue Dionne, Lori Strich, and Judy Bonello. A farewell open house for Pastor Tari Stage- Harvey will be held Sunday, December 14, at the Zion Lutheran Church. Pastor Tari and her family will be heading to the Shepherd of the Valley Church in Juneau, Alaska. She and her family will be missed by the church and the community.

Coast Guard Machinery Technician First Class Bryan Kaseman secures an inflatable penguin to the bow of a rescue boat. The boat, decorated with holiday lights and the penguin, was to be towed by a truck decorated with lights in the St. Ignace Christmas parade Friday, December 5. Carol Conguy is happy to be home recuperating from a long illness. She had been in the hospital in Ann Arbor from the end of September until just before Thanksgiving.

Paula McCrory is recovering after undergoing surgery at War Memorial Hospital in Sault Saint Marie November 10.

Sympathies go out to the Ron Rickley family during their time of loss. A spaghetti dinner benefit was held at the VFW November 30. All proceeds will go to help the family.

I recently paid a visit to my friend Jennie Hart. She enjoyed her Thanksgiving at the home of Bonnie Ledy with Bonnie's daughter, Darcy, and son-in-law, Jack McLean. Jenny loved the traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner and side dishes. She was happy to be invited and not to have to cook.

Coast Guard seamen Patrick Hogan and Tonya Holladay put lights on the St. Ignace station's Christmas tree in the mess hall Friday, December 5. Happy belated birthday to Alysse Bentley December 7. Birthday greetings go out to Denise Orr December 13, Violet Gustafson and Sally Oeffner December 14, Donna LaLonde and Trevor Blair December 17, and Dustin Wilcox December 18.

Happy anniversary to Gerard and Sally Oeffner December 9.

If you see any of these folks, be sure to send happy wishes their way.