Snow, snow, and more snow! We have a lot of beautiful, clean, fluffy powder covering the Island. Mac - kinac is absolutely sparkling under the fresh blanket of snow. The Christmas lights glow through the falling flakes, making a beautiful Christmas scene. Mackinac will truly have a white Christmas, for the first time in several years. The Island is a winter wonderland.

Wednesday, December 24, at 8 p.m., bells will ring and carols will be sung at Ste. Anne's Church. Everyone is welcome to attend this special service. Refreshments will follow in Ste. Anne's Hall.

Happy belated birthday to Father Rey Garcia December 10. Father Rey will leave Mackinac Monday, January 12, for a two-week vacation to visit his family in the Philippines.

The mighty Huron, bedecked for the season, has been having difficulty getting out of the harbor in St. Ignace on the first run in the morning. The very cold, calm evenings have been making ice, but the Huron still glides into the Arnold Pier every day, providing great service for all of the residents.

Happy second birthday to little Kennedy Taylor, who celebrated December 14. A gathering of family and friends was held at Ste. Anne's Hall to celebrate the occasion.

The visiting eagle enjoying lunch at Mackinac Island. Photograph by Dr. Richard Hodgman The Island community sends deepest sympathy to Dennis Bro - deur and his family on the recent death of his brother, Chuck, in Detroit. Chuck and his wife, Vera, were frequent visitors to Mackinac and spent many winters with Dennis in Naples, Florida.

We continue to send get well wishes to Paul Brown.We understand that he is at home with his wife, Meg, in Ann Arbor, but will still have to undergo further treatment.

We give a warm welcome to everyone visiting Mackinac for the holidays, which includes all of our Island students, especially Kyle Sweet from Michigan State Uni - versity and Jason Pettit at Grand Rapids Community College.

Saturday, December 13, Dr. Richard and Karen Hodgman were looking out the window of their third-floor apartment, when what did they see but a big bald eagle eating a very large lake trout in the Mackinac Island Medical Center parking lot. Dr. Hodgman took some great pictures. The eagle was down by Mackinac Island Public School Sunday, December 14, and Tuesday, December 16, it was on Windermere Point. There is always something special to see on the Island.

We send deepest sympathy to Nancy Kriss of Trillium Heights on the recent death of her beloved sister.

Our dear friends, Max and Carol Clifton of Muncie, Indiana, will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary December 23. Best wishes from your many Island friends.

The Village Inn reopened Friday, December 19, for the season. Ron Dufina continues to recuperate at his Island home, following his recent surgery at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. It's nice to see him driving his snowmobile, so he is making a good recovery.

We are happy that George Bodwin is back at his home in Manton, following open-heart surgery at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. His daughter, Jackie Bradley, reports that her father is making a very nice recovery. Island friends send him very best wishes.

It certainly is a pleasure to do Christmas grocery shopping at Doud's Market. Andrew has the store very well stocked, and Sunday, December 21, he offered a 20% discount to everyone. It was a great Christmas present to all his customers.

We give a warm welcome to Deb Muter, a registered nurse at the Mackinac Island Medical Cen - ter. Deb arrived this week, bearing homemade goodies for all of her friends.

I wish a very happy birthday to my godson, James P. Chambers, December 29. Have a wonderful day.

Kathy (nee Cronan) Feher of Montrose, originally from St. Ignace, attended the Christmas Bazaar and had a great time. She took many pictures of the Island during her visit, and one was a great picture of George Wellington, driving the taxi in front of the Arnold Dock. She had it made into a 2009 calendar and mailed it to me to give to George. It truly is a small world.

Nancy Clifton Cripe of Indian - apolis, Indiana, is making a remarkable recovery from double knee replacement. Island friends send best wishes.

The Life Science class at the Mackinac Island Public School and their teacher, Mary Patay, made a beautiful quilt and donated it to the Christmas Bazaar for the big auction. We are very proud of our students and they did a fine job on the quilt. The class is appreciated for their generous donation.

The Mackinac Island Lakers boys basketball team remains undefeated. Jamie Bynoe is an assistant to head coach Jim Fisher, and Nicole Smith is an assistant to Mary Patay, the girls coach. Go Lakers!!

The Island children enjoyed a wonderful Christmas party Sunday, December 14, at Community Hall. More than 45 youngsters were thrilled with a visit from Santa, and enjoyed hot dogs and hot fudge sundaes to end a festive afternoon. American Legion Post 299, Mac - kinac Island Fire Department, and several of Santa's elves made so many children happy.

Richard and Pat Cebelak of Grand Rapids traveled all the way to Mackinac to attend the Christmas Bazaar. Pat is employed by Grand Hotel during the summer and thoroughly enjoys the Island. So nice to see you again.

Harold and all the employees at the Mission Point Resort did a great job helping to clean up after the Christmas Bazaar. The help was very much appreciated.

John Hulett of Grand Hotel had a wonderful time at the Christmas Bazaar doing a lot of Christmas shopping. He really enjoyed the auction.

Great news! Larry Parel arrived back at his Island home Monday morning, December 22. This is truly a Christmas miracle that he made such a remarkable recovery from his critical illness. Welcome home, Larry, from all of your friends on Mackinac.

Congratulations and best wishes to CEO Rod Nelson of Mackinac Straits Hospital and everyone who is working so hard on the new hospital. We are so grateful for the excellent care that the hospital and Long Term Care facility provides for Island residents. Merry Christmas to Gary and Larry LaPine and Bette Emmons.

Congratulations to Donald "Duck" Andress, on the acceptance of his walking sticks into the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. He will present his walking sticks to the museum Satur - day, January 31, in Washington, D.C. Island friends and family are very proud of him.

Sarah Dehring will join her parents, Jack and Dorothy, for the holidays. Sarah and her parents will leave Mackinac Saturday, January 3, for a two-week vacation in sunny Hawaii. When Sarah returns, she will start a new job as assistant volleyball coach at Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana.

The Bynoe family will join the McKay and Schoenborn families for Christmas in St. Ignace.

Cross-country skiing is excellent. All of the avid skiers are thrilled with the conditions. The woods are so picturesque, as the skiers glide over the fluffy snow. It will be great for everyone who gets new skis from Santa.

If you would like to see a wonderful Christmas display, walk up Bogan Lane and view the front yard of Dr. Bill and Sue Chambers, which is ablaze with Christmas lights, Santa, a large rocking horse, lighted trees, and a large decorated horse in the corral. Santa will ask you if you have been naughty or nice. Take time and enjoy the Christmas scene.

Early Monday morning, a freighter covered with ice was gliding slowly through the Round Island Passage as the frigid temperatures caused the Straits to steam. It reminded everyone of a ghost ship. A very interesting sight.

Tim Hickey of Green Bay, Wisconsin, will join the Gene Hagenbaugh family for the Christ - mas holiday.

Dr. Steve Miljour of Powers will join Dr. Karen on Mackinac for the holidays.

Eric and Megan Weber of Traverse City and Ann Arbor are visiting Kent Weber and Ed and Nona Chambers for the holidays.

Helga Doud would enjoy hearing from her many Island friends. Her address is: 1 Hiland Drive, Room #2, Hiland Cottage, Petoskey, MI 49770.

Luke Shellhorn and Jennifer Put - nam with little Owen of Echo Bay, Ontario, will join the Putnam and Wellington families for the holidays.

The Tom Lockwood family is enjoying the holiday at their lovely cottage in Woodbluff.

Margaret McIntire joined her daughter, Mary K., in Aspen, Colorado, for the Christmas holiday.

There will be a winter art show Tuesday, December 30, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Mackinac Island Public Library.

What could be finer on Christmas Eve

Than singing as you go your way,

"Joy to the World" and "Silent Night"

To the trot, trot of a horse pulling a sleigh?

Merry Christmas to everyone from Mackinac!