1. On this day in 1941, Japan attacked the Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, prompting America’s entry into World War II.
The total casualties that day amounted to about 2,400 dead and more than 1,000 wounded.
Currently, there are only about 2,500 survivors who are still alive, the youngest being in their 90s.
For the first time, the Japanese Prime Minister is set to visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial with President Obama at the end of the month.
2. It’s been a great year for Coach P.J. Fleck and the Western Michigan Broncos, and it’s about to get even better by Fleck being nominated for “National Coach of the Year.”
The Football Writers Association of American named him and four other finalists for the top spot. Nick Saban from Alabama, Chris Petersen from Washington, and coaches from Penn State and Colorado are in the running for the award.
Coach Fleck led the Broncos to their first undefeated season in school history.
“Coach of the Year” will be announced on December 15.
3. It’s hard to cram in all of the holiday fun on the weekends, so its a great time to go to the Winter Wonderland Open House at the Downtown Market in Grand Rapids.
Kids can meet Santa, and they’ll be able to mail their letters to the North Pole. There will also be cookie decorating, Christmas movies, and Dickens Carolers.
For the grownups, there will be a holiday cocktail bar. There will also be an opportunity to donate clothes to Degage Ministries.
The Winter Wonderland is going on from 4 to 8 p.m.
4. Hundreds of Santas will be running around Paw Paw on Saturday.
The Area Rotary Club is hosting it’s sixth annual Santa Run. Each paying participant gets a five-piece Santa suit that can be worn during the event and get a medal at the end of the race.
A new addition to the race this year is the Reindeer Romp, a short course around Paw Paw Middle School for kids 8-years-old and under.
5. A Christmas tree was going for over $1,000 in New York’s Post Greenwich Village neighborhood.
Someone already bought the pricey tree, but the business that sold it also has less expensive trees including mall ones for less than $60.
The business said they charged $1,000 for the tree because of dry summer weather, which required lots of extra water to keep the tree growing.
