Good morning, Marquette.

The Lions Club invites community members to ring Christmas bells and carol to support the Salvation Army today from 1-3 p.m. at Westwood Mall in Marquette Township, with organizers aiming to surpass last year’s $500 goal.

Up North Lodge in Forsyth Township will host its sixth community Christmas dinner on Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free meals, including turkey, ham, and pumpkin pie, will be served for dine-in + carryout with FedEx delivering meals to those in Gwinn unable to attend.

Marquette residents are invited to a New Year Community Potluck featuring a clothing swap, food bank area plus live music by the Make-Believe Spurs.

Volunteers will help with set-up from 10a and attendees are urged to follow donation and labeling guidelines.

The West End Health Foundation awarded $15,000 to support local groups addressing food insecurity & holiday needs across the West End.

The grants of $5,000 to the Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul and $2,500 to Ishpeming and Negaunee Senior Centers will boost essential meal programs and outreach efforts.

Local bookseller Phoebe Billups of Bromley's Books, at 813 N.

Third St., was named one of 600 winners in James Patterson’s Holiday Bookstore Bonus program, which honors booksellers across the country. This national recognition spotlights her contribution to the local business community.

Lundin Mining merged its U.S. branch with Talon Metals, transferring Eagle Mine and Humboldt Mill in a definitive agreement signed Thursday night (for 275.2 million shares equivalent to $83.7 million).

The merger is expected to boost local operations in Michigan and Minnesota.

GasBuddy predicts a national average of $2.79 per gallon on Christmas Day, down from $3 last year and saving motorists over $500+ million during Christmas week as refinery maintenance ends and increased oil production eases prices for holiday drivers in Marquette.

Marquette County secured a $400,000 EPA grant to assess abandoned properties across the county, focusing on Ishpeming and Sawyer.

The funds, available since Oct. 1, will support environmental evaluations, cleanup planning, and community outreach (the county’s third EPA grant).

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity awarded $1 million in Going PRO Talent Fund grants to 27 U.P. businesses for workforce training in 2025, with funds set to upskill employees & support long-term job growth.

President Chuck Blaksmith of the Rotary Club of Marquette donated $7,500 to help Marquette Junior Hockey replace its aging Zamboni at Lakeview Arena, and the team has raised about $140,000 of its $180,000 goal to benefit local skaters with a reliable & pollution-free ice resurfacer.

Marquette played Calumet in the High School Bowl and won 330-50 among 36 schools from the U.P. and Northern Wisconsin.

The team will face Sault Ste. Marie on Feb. 7 + local fans cheer the victory.

Winter Solstice Celebration with The Make-Believe Spurs

4-10 p.m. — Ore Dock Brewing Co. — Free admission — Celebrate the winter solstice with enchanting performances by The Make-Believe Spurs.

A Classical Christmas with Darrius Morton

An evening of classical Christmas carols sung by tenor Darrius Morton at St Paul’s Episcopal Church. 7:00 pm