With Christmas just weeks away, most of us are caught up in the pre-holiday hustle and bustle. That means shopping for the perfect gift, a skill I have never managed to master.

Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. will hold auditions Dec. 15-16 for its spring musical, “Legally Blonde,” to be presented Feb. 26 through March 1 and March 5-8, 2026.

This musical, directed by Preston Pelegrin, calls for male and female cast members, ages 15 and up.

When looking for a unique holiday tree this season, consider adding a plant you can enjoy now and throughout the year. Select a larger specimen to use as a floor plant, adding dramatic scale to your indoor décor. Smaller plants can be placed on tabletops throughout the house to add a bit of extra cheer in any room.

The Boys and Girls Club of Shawano’s afterschool program at Hillcrest Primary School has won the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wisconsin’s 2025 Outstanding Program Award for its “Magical Donut Shop” program.

For years, I took vitamin C and vitamin E every morning with breakfast. It felt like the healthy thing to do.

Vitamin C was supposed to keep colds away, and vitamin E was often promoted as good for the heart. But newer research is showing that these supplements may not do what we thought — and, in some cases, they can actually cause harm.

The Birnamwood Middle School 2025-26 first trimester honor roll has been released.

A Honor Roll

Sixth Grade: Aidan Carlson, Izabelle Chaffey, Kaitlyn Clough, Brooklyn Cotter, Ayla Frisch, Ava Fritzel, Addison Fuller, Elise Traut, McKenna Underwood, Kendyl Vlietstra, Maximus Waldvogel.

Seventh Grade: Kailyn Fischer, Melaina Gottschalk, Carter Rew, Kayla Szews, Ellie Wamboldt.