Merry Christmas, one and all! Did you know it was the sound of church bells ringing on a Christmas morning that gave Charles Wesley, the great Methodist hymnist, the inspiration for composing one of our most popular Christmas carols? The song he wrote that long ago Christmas day was "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing!" ... Some 90 youngsters from nine Florida counties participated in the annual 4-H State Marine Ecology Event at 4-H Camp Cloverleaf a while back. Two teams from Pinellas County took second and third place in the junior division, which had eight teams competing. The team which was awarded second place was composed of Katelyn Garner, Tricia Gellatly, Kailey White and Cortney Van Haerent. Samantha Witsey, Jozef Soja and Danielle Vacek-Best were on the team which came in third. Hats off to all! ... Congratulations and best wishes to the following couples celebrating wedding anniversaries: Chuck and Sandy Pollick (Dec. 21); Reinhold and Leona Weber, Jesse and Norma Brooks-Parks (Dec. 26); Al and Winnie Subatch, Bill and Judy Bennett (Dec. 27) ... What do Danielle Carter, Judy Horton, Berle Garris, Edward Nelson and Mallory Richardson have in common with Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno? All were born on December 21. Paterno celebrates his 80th birthday today ... Bring out the cake and ice cream tomorrow for Beverly Persson, Maryellen Woods, Betty Adkins, Robert Wiley and Helen Little ... "Happy Birthday" wishes are in order on Saturday for Katie Martin, Joanna Gaudreau, Wiltha Lettington, Jim King, Sharon Murphy, Stephen Mock and Renee Slaughter ... Sunday brings the birthdays of Arlene Wich, Martha Wright, Cindy Parker, Megan Twilley and Donald Lennon ... Be sure to wish Renee Flaharty, Julia Vaters, Judy Charmatz, Deborah McCune, Gay Phillips and Diane Hood all the best on their special day, which is Monday. Singer Jimmy Buffett will be 60 that day ... Judi Fleming, Glenn Harmon, Frances Donberger, Sue Anderson, Thomas Ringley and Janet McMahon have birthdays coming up on Tuesday ... Missy Kenney, Rose Garafola, Amy Indrizi and John Vogt all share the same birthdate: December 27 ... Just learned the birthdays of the following persons have recently come and gone: Diana Galvin, Bree Greff, Delaney Streicher and Nancy Sawyer ... May the holiday season bring you great joy and delight and may the blessings of Christmas be with you throughout the year.