May pleasant thoughts of family and friends warm your heart during Thanksgiving.

Early Sunday, November 22, the radiant sun rose in the east, making a wonderful warm, sunny day for all of us to enjoy. Lilies were budding in the garden in front of Ste. Anne’s. November has had October weather, which has been truly delightful. Folks have enjoyed walking in the woods, riding around the Island, and enjoying the wonderful sunsets. It will definitely shorten the winter.

Friday, December 4, the Mackinac Island Christmas tree will be lighted, to the delight of the little children. Following the tree lighting, an “Early Bird Special Sale” will be held in the Mackinac Island Fire Hall. Hot dogs, soda pop, and brownies will be available.

The Christmas Bazaar at the Community Hall will open Saturday, December 5, at 11:00 a.m. Debbie’s famous nachos will be on the menu plus many other goodies.

Unpacking city decorations Wednesday, November 18, as Mackinac Island prepares for Christmas celebrations are treasurer Rick Linn and mayor's assistant Kelly Bean. Holiday events begin Friday evening, December 4, at 4:30 p.m. with a hayride, and a tree lighting ceremony and carol singing on Main Street at 5 p.m. Attendees also can catch an early bird Christmas Bazaar sale at the fire hall. The Christmas Bazaar gets underway Saturday morning, December 5, at 11 a.m. at Community Hall, with Santa arriving about 1:30 p.m. The bazaar runs through Monday, December 7. Booths will offer a variety of gifts and baked goods and both live and silent auctions are planned. People may also purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win a new Polaris snowmobile, $500 in cash, or $100 in cash. The event benefits the Mackinac Island Medical Center, Ste. Anne's Church, Little Stone Church, Trinity Church, and the Mackinac Island Bible Church. There will be many interesting items for Christmas shopping. Sunday, December 6, everyone will enjoy a prime rib dinner and desserts made by Lori Myer, pastry chef at the Iroquois Hotel. Lunch will be served Monday, December 7, and bargains will be available. The raffles will be drawn around 3 p.m. It should be a fun weekend.

Frank Bloswick, Sr. got a fivepoint buck the first day of deer season, and his brother, Clark, shot a six-point buck the second day. They were hunting in the Perkins area of Delta County. Clark’s faithful companion, Pal, stayed with his mother, Ruby, and was pampered.

Happy birthday November 27 to Bev Benjamin. Have a wonderful day.

Entertaining at the Mustang Lounge for the Christmas Bazaar weekend is the band “Armin’s Army” featuring Jason St. Onge, Tom Chambers, and Myk Rise. They will play both Friday, December 4, and Saturday, December 5.

Father Jim Williams and Brynn LaPine will celebrate their birthdays November 29. Enjoy your day.

We send best wishes to Lula Belle D’Arce, who remains a patient in the intensive care unit at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey.

Please remember the Gathering Harvest food drive, which will continue until Monday, November 30. The need to help others is very important, especially this year. You may drop off items at Ste. Anne’s Hall or Doud’s Market.

Woody Beardsley has arrived on Mackinac to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with his mother, Tess. Woody attends Michigan Technological University in Houghton.

Dr. Bill Chambers will celebrate his birthday November 30. Have a great day.

Mark, Jody, Maggie, and Clara Chambers will travel to Clark Lake to join Richard and Robert for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Ellen Putnam and her daughter, Sarah, joined Jennifer Putnam and Luke Shellhorne with little Owen Richard in St. Ignace Sunday, November 22, to celebrate Owen’s first birthday. Carrie Wellington also attended the celebration. Everyone had a great time.

Betty BeDour will travel to the Detroit area to her brother’s home for Thanksgiving.

Happy birthday December 1 to Jen Glashaw of St. Ignace. Enjoy your day.

Joan Slater traveled to Minnesota to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with her mother and other family members.

Dr. Richard Hodgman of Kalkaska was the doctor at the Mackinac Island Medical Center over the weekend while Dr. Karen Miljour enjoyed deer hunting with her husband in Powers.

Anthony Rickley got a six-point buck and Tim Horn got a deer on Bois Blanc.

Be sure to stop and see the bright red Polaris snowmobile on display at Doud’s Market. It will be raffled off Monday, December 7, at 3 p.m. Tickets are available at Doud’s Market, First National Bank, and Mackinac Island Medical Center. You may also purchase tickets from Sylvia Perault.

Baked goods are needed for the bake sale at the Christmas Bazaar Saturday, December 5, and Sunday, December 6.

Robert “Porky” and Caroline LaPine are spending the Thanksgiving holiday with their son, Milton Bazinaw and family in Fremont.

Mack Trayser will celebrate his birthday December 2. Have a great day.

Dan Seeley will join his family in Boyne City for Thanksgiving.

We have a new horseback rider in town. Clara Chambers, fiveyear old daughter of Mark and Jody, had a wonderful weekend riding Blaze, the 4-H pony. The weather was perfect and Mark assisted Clara as they traveled all over the Island. Blaze had a great time, receiving many treats of apples and carrots.

We send special Thanksgiving wishes to all our friends in the Long Term Care facility in St. Ignace, Geraldine Wellington, Gary and Larry LaPine, Clayton St. Onge, and Georgiana Gustafson.

Sunday, November 22, it resembled a day in summertime. Andrew Doud and Nicole Smith greeted everyone as they entered Doud’s Market.

Don’t forget to watch the Purina Dog Show after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. The Musser’s dog, Sadie, will be featured.

Gene and Mellie Hagenbaugh will join their son, Jim, in Lapeer for Thanksgiving.

Chief Jim and Nancy Marks will celebrate Thanksgiving with family members in Roscommon and Warren.

Mike Gamble’s crew is busy putting new roofs on Bogan Lane Inn and the Robert Gillespie home on McGulpin Street. The weather has been perfect for outdoor work.

Alice and Trish Martin will travel to Alma to join the Jim Martin family for Thanksgiving.

Frank and Jennifer Bloswick left Friday, November 20, for a two-week cruise to the Hawaiian Islands. We wish them a very happy anniversary December 2.

Jackie Bradley will join her parents, George and Almeda Bodwin, for the Thanksgiving holiday. Island friends send best wishes to Almeda, who has not been feeling her best.

John and Beth Chambers will join the Jim Ball family at their lovely home in Woodbluff for Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving!