These are the Strobel men today constructing a Manitoulin Island trademark, a snake rail fence. We were told it keeps snakes off your property.

SUN FUND HEADED FOR THE MOON We've rocketed past a record $150,000 already. Our new target is $260,000 by New Year's Eve. Suddenly it doesn't seem like pie in the sky. The winners are Variety Village's kids including campaign chairkid, Madison "Madi" Ambos. Today's column:

$2 MILLION OR BUST! As my Sun Christmas Fund for Variety Village weathers the mail strike en route to a donations landmark, here's a look at some of the thousands of generous souls who got us this far. sunchristmasfund.ca

ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE — in Ben's World Ben Haslam, 8, has a wheelchair... and an encyclopedic mind. We'll all work for him someday. My Sun Christmas Fund for Variety Village now navigates a mail strike. You can donate direct at sunchristmasfund.ca Please pass the word.

"WHAT!? I'M IN THE SUDBURY STAR?!" Yes, Tulip, Bonnie Kogos has done a terrific column on your book, VIKING CAT - Saga of Tulip the Brave on Manitoulin Island. Here's the online version. (In Tuesday's paper.) thesudburystar.com/entertain…

Former Toronto City Hall star Karen Stintz will bid to join team Poilievre torontosun.com/news/former-t…

$139,210! A record tally for my Sun Christmas Fund for Variety Village. Good news for some great kids. torontosun.com/news/local-ne…

WELCOME BACK, MAVI In the emergency ward, Maverick Valle "died in my arms," says his mom, Janna. His eyes glazed over. "I started screaming and they scooped him up..." ....Mavi emerged from a coma and is on the journey back... My column in the Sunday Sun. torontosun.com/opinion/colum…

If your boy had Down syndrome, like Maclean O'Connor, you'd wish it away, right? Not so simple. Sure, you'd spare him the ills of a disability, but without it, Maclean wouldn't be Maclean. 'We wouldn't have it any other way,' says his dad. Today's column: torontosun.com/news/local-ne…

CATNIP OF A READ Tulip is engrossed in her new book, VIKING CAT - Saga of Tulip the Brave on Manitoulin Island. It's an adventure tale for animal-lovers of all ages, and a perfect last-minute X-mas gift. Sales benefit Variety Village. Order at northchannelpress.com #cats

VIKING CAT has landed...in the St. Nick of time for Christmas. The saga of my cat, Tulip the Brave, in the wilds of Manitoulin. In the spirit of The Incredible Journey and Watership Down, a tale for animal lovers of all ages. Sales benefit Variety Village. northchannelpress.com

BEWARE STELLA'S STINK EYE Rett syndrome has taken 6-year-old Stella Butler's ability to speak, walk or even use her hands. So she communicates in other ways. My Sun Christmas Fund for Variety Village column in today's Toronto Sun. torontosun.com/news/local-ne…

At 10, Ruby Stevens was so distraught over her failing body, she asked her mom to end her life. Swimming saved her. Now, Ruby is paying it back. She's a Parapan Am Games champ. My Christmas Fund for Variety Village column in the Toronto Sun this week. torontosun.com/news/local-ne…

"I WAS BORN THIS WAY" — Marshall Ku, 8, gets a kick out of life at Variety Village. My Sun Christmas Fund column for Tuesday. torontosun.com/opinion/colum…

George Guinto, 12, can't walk, but he knows his way around a punchline. "Some days I wish I didn't have it (Friedreich's ataxia, but I think it adds to my character... (drum roll)....and it means we get great parking spots." Today's Christmas Fund column: torontosun.com/opinion/colum…

The Christmas Fund for Variety Village is off to the races, cheered on by Madi Ambos, 10. She has cerebral palsy. When I met her, age 3, she could not stand unaided. Look at her now. My campaign launch column in Sunday's Toronto Sun. torontosun.com/news/local-ne…

IF LOOKS COULD KILL So, this is why they call 'em "grouse." Ruffed grouse are ferociously protective of their babies, called cheepers. This mom charged me today a second after this warning glare. Manfully, I dodged her and ran for my life. #manitoulinisland

FUREY RISING Ex Toronto Sun colleague Anthony Furey is sneaking up the mayoral byelection ranks. Mainstreet has him top-five out of 102, beating Hunter and Bradford, closing on Matlow, Saunders and Bailao. Will he emerge as the alternative to Olivia Chow? toronto.ctvnews.ca/toronto-m…