Residents and visitors of Les Cheneaux will enjoy brightly lit trees, gingerbread houses, and contests during the Old-fashioned Christmas event taking place during two weekends, November 27 to November 29, and December 4 to December 6. The Old-fashioned Christmas is the brainchild of Rose Miller, who developed the idea to aid the economy and amplify the spirit of Christmas. The program began last year, and many local businesses requested it again, Mrs. Miller said.

New Events One of the new activities is a dress-up contest, Mrs. Miller said. Prizes will be awarded to those with the best "old-time" Dickens-style clothing. Those interested in registering may call Mrs. Miller at 484- 2519. Entries must be received by Friday, November 27.

Many businesses will be festively decorated for the weekends, as well. Judges will award prizes to the best. The businesses will conduct other events including open houses, sales, door prizes, and drawings.

Tree Lightings

Tress will be decorated in three locations. The first will take place in Cedarville in front of Cedarville Foods on the corner of M-134 and M-129 Friday, November 27, at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is invited. A second lighting ceremony will be Saturday, November 28, in Hessel at 6:30 p.m. on the corner of M- 134 and 3-Mile Road. Both ceremonies are sponsored by the Les Cheneaux Advisory Community. The final tree lighting gathering will be Sunday, December 6, at Cedar Cove Assisted Living on Mary L Street at 7 p.m., which will be accompanied by carolers.

Bringing in the cut trees to Cedarville and Hessel, along with decorating them and adding the lights, takes about a full-day's worth of work, said Margie Denoyer, head of the Les Cheneaux Advisory Committee. Mrs. Denoyer calls around for volunteers to aid in the effort.

Elementary art students from Les Cheneaux Community Schools will make decorations for the Cedar Cove tree, Mrs. Denoyer said, of pine cones, seeds, fruit, and dry cereal that will be safe for animals to eat. Students made decorations for the tree last year, as well.

"They did a wonderful job," she said.

Lights for the Cedar Cove tree can be purchased for $5 in memory of or in honor of a loved one. Purchases can be made by calling Cedar Cove at 484-1001 until Wednesday, December 2. Proceeds from the lights benefit Cedar Cove Assisted Living.

Santa Sightings

The jolly one will be present during all of the tree lightings, dropping in by boat and making himself available for visits with children. After the lighting in Cedarville, Santa will drop by the Great Lakes School of Boat Building in Cedarville. He will also make an appearance at the Classic and Antique Boats store in Hessel after the lighting November 28 and after the Cedar Cove tree lighting December 6.

On Friday, December 4, Santa will drop by Autore Oil on M-134 in Cedarville from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Santa will sit down to a breakfast Saturday, December 5, at the Cedar Cove Assisted Living building from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Visitors can enjoy a hot breakfast free, Mrs. Miller said, but donations are accepted to benefit Cedar Cove.

Santa will also attend the Clark Township Community Center's Christmas party in Cedarville Sunday, December 6, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Auctions, Library Happenings,

and Living Nativity

The Les Cheneaux Historical Museum on Meridian Road will host its annual silent auction of decorated Christmas trees beginning Friday, November 27. Bids will be accepted Sunday, December 6. Winners will be announced between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. that day.

The historical museum is open Friday, November 27, and Saturday, November 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, November 29, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can also stop by the museum Friday, December 4, and Saturday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, December 6, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Gingerbread houses will join the books at the Les Cheneaux Community Library in Cedarville during Old Fashioned Christmas. Gingerbread house craftsmen can register their entries Saturday, November 28, between noon and 2 p.m. There are four divisions, for children younger than 8 years old, children 8 to 17 years old, and amateur and professional divisions for adults. All entries will be on display until December 12 at the library. The gingerbread contest was popular last year, Mrs. Miller said, with even residents who had never visited the library dropping by to view the creations.

The library will also host a holiday book story hour Saturday, November 28, and Saturday, December 5, at 10:30 a.m.

A living nativity scene, complete with live animals, will be performed at the Clark Township Community Center in Cedarville Saturday, December 5, at 7 p.m. Local children will perform.