Daisy Troop 5123 surprised the residents of Mackinac Straits Long Term Care Tuesday, December 16, with handcrafted Christmas ornaments. The girls presented the ornaments to the residents, who then asked that they be hung on the main Christmas tree for all to enjoy. The troop will earn a Community Service Patch for this project. Pictured are (back, from left) Treasa Paquin, recreation therapist, Lois Grooms, staff member Heidi Carlson; (middle) Luella O'Brien, Marlee Huskey, Clare Burmeister, Skylar Dumas, Ilene Talentino, Helen Keil, Addison Cheeseman; (front) Lauren Lee, Alma Glazier, Drew Stockero, and Elvira Peake. (Photograph courtesy of Treasa Paquin) "It's the most wonderful time of the year!" Christmas is here, and it's a time for family gatherings and a time for giving. This is one of my favorite times, when we gather around the tree and reflect on the past year, as we hand out our gifts. It is also a time to see family members we haven't seen for awhile, to spend time with each other, and enjoy each moment.

Laurie Steiner is enjoying having her son, Brendon, home for Christmas. He's been home since Thursday, December 11, from Western Michigan University, where he is studying business. Laurie said the first thing he wanted to do when he got home was to get his buck, so he went hunting with his dad, Dean, and brother, Lewis. Brendon got a five-point buck, while Lewis bagged an eight-pointer. Good job, boys!

Brendon Steiner (left), of St. Ignace shot a five-point buck Saturday, December 13, while home for Christmas from Western Michigan University. His brother, Lewis, a senior at LaSalle High School, shot an eight-point buck the next day. (Steiner family photograph) The Oja family enjoyed spending time together at the Oja family Christmas party. Cynthia (nee Oja) Wright hosted the gathering at her home Friday, December 19. All of her siblings, Jeff Fogelsonger, Sheri (nee Fogelsonger) Gould, Kathleen (nee Oja) Tamlyn, and Matt Oja and their families showed up. Cynthia's daughter, Danika (nee Harrison) Kableman and her two children, Abigail and Andrew, were also visiting from Port Huron. Cynthia especially got a kick out of seeing her nephew, Josh Gould's little boy, Jaxson Gould, who was trying to figure out the television by turning it on and off. Everyone enjoyed the good food and good company.

Another Christmas celebration took place at Zion Lutheran Church Friday, December 12, as Martin Bell's students performed their annual winter concert. There were a variety of songs performed in jazz, pop, country, and traditional Christmas style. Performers included John Evashevski, Katlyn Frosland, Eileen Getzen, Kathy Lawnichak, Gary Nitz, Susan Reid, Hilda Ryerse, and Will Springsteen. John Evashevski and Will Springsteen each performed their own original songs.

There are still giving opportunities before Christmas that can extend beyond the holidays. The

animal shelter can always use donations of paper towels, bleach, dog toys, cat toys, dog collars, and leashes. Ginger Valentine, Mackinac County Animal Shelter manager, reminds us that if temperatures are dropping rapidly, please bring pets inside, and don't bring your pet on errands and leave it in the cold car. She says that animals can freeze to death outside in the cold winter air. Ginger invites everyone to come check out the shelter and visit the animals.

Another opportunity for giving is to donate items such as flour, oatmeal, pasta, sugar, salt, syrup, cooking oil, canned goods, toilet paper, mustard, cereal, and ketchup to the St. Ignace Food Pantry. The food pantry is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Hope Chest has adult clothing, children's clothing, and baby items. They also have kitchen items. If you would like to donate items to the Hope Chest, remember to go around to the back door, as all donations are taken there. The phone number for the Hope Chest and St. Ignace Food Pantry is 643-7360, and the hotline number is 643-6780.

The St. Ignace Public Library has the St. Ignace pictorial history books available for $19.99 plus tax, and librarian Cindy Patten says that there are still plenty of books left in time for Christmas. Proceeds of the volunteer project benefit the library. The St. Ignace Public Library will be closed Wednesday, December 24, Thursday, December 25, Wednesday, December 31, and Thursday, January 1, to observe the holidays.

Belated happy birthday to Jackie Lee and Jared Fenlon December 15 and Gene Clark December 22. Birthday wishes to Annette Bloswick December 24, Cheryl Sheehy December 26, John Bloswick December 27, Kathy Kittell, Kathy Wells, and Ruby Schaffer December 28, Jim Durm December 29, and Martin Donajkowski December 30.

Enjoy your Christmas and have a happy New Year!