Denny and Jackie Rippett hosted their annual New Year's Eve get-together at their condominium, where 16 neighbors and friends welcomed the new year at midnight, and promptly departed the premises, at 12:06 a.m. As always, it was a time for visiting and good food.

Mary Carney and Warren Cunningham enjoyed a Christmas visit from Warren's son, Chris Cunningham, and his friend, Julie, from Columbus, Ohio. The weather was not conducive to cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, but a good time was had in spite of the rain that fell during their visit.

Mary Carney spotted a snowy owl last week, at the top of the spruce tree in her yard. There is still a hawk hanging around, looking for a meal of the birds congregated at the feeders.

Dot Glashaw hosted her annual Christmas party last Monday at her home on Epoufette Bay. Everyone enjoyed good food and good conversation.

Dot reports her brother-in-law, Charlie Dowd, had a new stent inserted to help with blood circulation. Charlie and his wife, Helen, live in Niceville, Florida. Get well wishes go out to Charlie, and prayers for both Helen and Charlie.

Tom and Joyce Gustafson spent the Christmas holiday in Saratoga Springs, New York, visiting with Steve and April Lynn Campbell and their family. Joyce and Tom are continuing to renovate the former community building on Schoolhouse Road in Brevort.

Mary Beth and Fred Jasmine are at their home on Worth Road, visiting the area for the holidays.

Former Brevort resident Owen Jorgensen has suffered a broken hip. He is recuperating comfortably at his home in Gaylord.

Allen, Jacob, and Danielle Becker are vacationing at the home of their grandparents, Pega and John Kennedy. Their father, Dan Becker, left for his Navy base in Lemoore, California, Monday, January 5.

Kathy Reid reports pine grosbeaks at her feeders.

Mark and Joan Spencer's family, Bob, Candy, Matt, Jennie, and Jessie Humphreys of Traverse City, Tammy Spencer of St. Ignace, and Mark, the younger, of Brevort, all gathered at the home of Mark and Joan.

Jim and Kathy Christopher spent New Year's at their condominium.

Thora and Jack Shepard hosted a family dinner at their home Saturday. Guests were Barb Merchant and Jim Smith of Indian River, and Michael and Helena Shepard with Tucker, Tabitha, and Tessa, of Gros Cap Road.

Jack and Thora still have their holiday lights up. They are beautiful.

Jamica Diamond is doing her artwork, and also working on the accessories for the Opal automobile she is assembling, to be finished by 2010. She is also stripping lodge poles for the Indian teepee she hopes to erect this summer in conjunction with Indian lore and artifacts.

Susie Nesberg loves her sporty little red car.

Dave and I joined Dick and Jean Bentley for dinner and a movie New Year's Eve.

On New Year's Day, Jake and Mary Weiss, Rick and Gloria Weber, Dave Jr., and Tracy joined Dave and me for dinner, with football on television for the guys after the meal, and Yahtzee for the women, after the dishes were cleared.

Ken and Sharon Smith are back home after a Christmas holiday on the road visiting family, Carol Fay and John Watson in Kansas City, Mark and Jen and family in Denver, Tom and Lisa Smith and Lisa in Tucson, Arizona. They had dry roads all the way there and back, thanks to monitoring the weather channel. Sharon mentioned they did have snow in Tucson.

Pastor George Kaiser is the interim pastor for Zion Lutheran Church in St. Ignace and Trinity Lutheran in Brevort until a permanent pastor is found, which may take some time, as there are many churches in our synod with empty pulpits.

Since I don't plow, and very rarely shovel, when it gently snows, I enjoy it. I don't mind walking Chippy.

Happy birthday to Jackie Rogers and Tammy Shepard January 1, Horst Daemmrich January 5, Joe Van Troos - tenburghe January 9, and Thora Shepard January 10.