Oct 23/08 - Christmas Comes Early

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Feature Article - October 23, 2008 Christmas comes early to Bradshaw School HouseBy Julie Druker

Local children perform a skit for the old fashioned Christmas concert at the Bradshaw School House

Lois Webster with the help of many volunteers and her husband Richard put on two Christmas concerts at the Bradshaw School House over the weekend. Both were based on the old style type of Christmas concerts that you don’t get to see in schools anymore these days.

The one-room school house was hung with large, cut out, white paper snowflakes, a Christmas tree and red and white streamers.

The concert was full of old-fashioned charm. There was a series of recitations, songs, plays and skits performed by Lois, her sister Audrey Patrick, Wayne Sheppard, Helen Pike and a cast of local children.

Lois was pleased with the turn out and how things unfolded, given the fact that the cast only got together three times before the first performance.

She was thrilled to find out that Fred Breese, from Westport, who taught at the school in the 1940s was at the Sunday show and she took some time to speak with him before he left.

Lois is extremely keen on keeping these old traditions alive. She is already thinking of making changes for next year’s show and she said, “I already have an offer of help for next year’s show so it’ll be even bigger and better.”

Christmas 2008 - Students Talk about Christmas

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Christmas Edition - December 18, 2008Christmas 2008

Christmas Art Contest

Christmas Cakeby John Diamond

Christmas Messageby Rev. Jean Brown

Christmas Celebrations:a Photo Gallery

Early Literacy:Christmas Books

Festival Of Trees

How Chanuka Saved Christmas

Interview with Maryby Pastor Jeff Nault

Legalese:Holiday Legal Quiz

Prince Charles Students Talk about Christmas

Recipes

Remounting ofa Long Short Story

The Special Giftby Hope Attaway

Prince Charles students talk about ChristmasSome of the students at Prince Charles Public School have written about Christmas. A selection of their letters are reprinted below: Mrs. Cousins grade 2 class

Dear Santa

How are you and Mrs. Claus. Are your reindeer ready? How are your elves doing in the shop? How long does it take to deliver the gifts? I have been very good for the last few days. I love Christmas because I like giving and getting gifts. Please write back soon.

Love Olivia.

Dear Santa

Hi, how are you? Are you ready to ride your sled? Are your gifts ready? I have been good Santa. I like you. You are nice. How long will it take to give all the gifts to the children? I hope the reindeer are ready to fly.

Love Alex

Ms. O’Briens grade 3 class

Giving byCole

Giving means a lot to me.

It teaches me always to share. It teaches me always to be nice to friends so I will have friends because friends are the best.

Destiny

Destiny had just moved to a new house. Her grandma and her were putting up her tree while her pa was putting up Christmas lights. Just then it started snowing. Destiny ran outside and jumped in it. When she came in she said, “that stuff is cold.”

“Yes,” said her pa, “snow is cold.”

Then her grandma asked why did you not help me hang the stockings. Then all of them went out and made a lovely snow woman.

After that Destiny said, “I’m going to name her Catrina.”

Then he threw her into the snow. When she got up she said “It’s too cold for me.”

Pa said we come from Thailand there is never any snow there. It is always too hot and stinky there. It would melt the snow.”

The Christmas Carol byDalton Hurren

When winter comes so does Christmas. Christmas isn’t about getting, it’s about giving and spending time with your family. When you put up your stocking you get candy and clementines, and sometimes a toothbrush.

The feeling of Christmas is happiness. Santa knows when you’re good or bad so be good this Christmas.

Christmas by Sara Fitzgerald

Christmas is a fun holiday where everybody is kind to each other and giving presents too; Christmas is one of the best holidays of the year, when everyone can be happy and meet some new friends. Christmas is a holiday for everyone.

Grade 7

Jingle, Jingle byCale Sauve

“Jingle jingle” was the sound on the streets of Verona on December 5, 2008. Each year the students of PCPS (Prince Charles Public School) walk the streets of Verona all them ringing their bells loud and you might hear some singing from some of the very happy students.

How this event works is the students and staff bring in some non-perishable food items. In exchange they are given bells. All of the food items are given to the less fortunate so they can have a Merry Christmas. I love when it is time for the Jingle Bell walk. I love the idea of helping the less fortunate and I love making noise (and I don’t have to do school work so everyone wins.)

Merry Christmas everyone.

The Jingle Bell Walkby Katie Parr

The whole school went on the Jingle Bell walk today and it was cold. The Jingle Bell walk happens every year with the school. The Jingle Bell walk went through Bank Street and through the bypass. For people who do not have a lot of money and food for Christmas, so they can get into the Christmas spirit,

Jingle Bell Walk byLezlie Smith.

On December 5, 2008. All of Prince Charles’ Public School, including the staff, went on the jingle bell walk around Verona to give food to people who need it.

it was a nice day out for winter.

I had walked with two kindergartens, Owen M and Alexander. It was hard to make them hold hands. I think that it was a beautiful day for the Jingle Bell walk and I had a good time.

Christmas 2008 - A Christmas Message

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Christmas Edition - December 18, 2008Christmas 2008

Christmas Art Contest

Christmas Cakeby John Diamond

Christmas Messageby Rev. Jean Brown

Christmas Celebrations:a Photo Gallery

Early Literacy:Christmas Books

Festival Of Trees

How Chanuka Saved Christmas

Interview with Maryby Pastor Jeff Nault

Legalese:Holiday Legal Quiz

Prince Charles Students Talk about Christmas

Recipes

Remounting ofa Long Short Story

The Special Giftby Hope Attaway

A Christmas messageby Rev. Jean Brown, United Church of Canada

As we busily engage in this holiday season of good-will, is it possible to slow down and to reflect on our Christmas memories? Looking back on Christmas at Manitoulin Island, my home of origin, I recall with fondness buying presents at the one and only local store in our village of 300 people, trying to bravely sing carols at the local out-post hospital with our Sunday School class and experiencing both fear and wonder in that setting, getting up a pageant with our Sunday School teachers and marveling at all the details involved, and, of course, trying to find that one perfect gift for our school bus driver. All of these memories take me back to a simpler time and place when Christmas was so very marvelous. It seemed that it took forever to come, and that it all mysteriously happened while we kids played, anticipated, wrote down what presents we wanted, and tried desperately to be good. With hind sight, now I know all the effort that went into it all, and I'm both amazed and embarrassed at how little we kids actually used to do to get ready and how much was actually given to us – a fabulous dinner, plenty of gifts, family gathering, skating on the frozen lake, lots of laughs and a safe and secure haven in which to grow up. Mostly I'm thankful for the gift of my faith in God, and for the fact that in life, in death and in life beyond death that God is with us all. My Mom insisted on a religious emphasis for every season, allowing us all at a very young age to learn that gifts were given because of the gift of the Christ Child who was given gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and to also realize that family is a gift from God and that sacred family ties must be preserved and honoured.

Now at the advanced age of 58 years, I ponder anew the miracle of Christmas every year, and wonder just how Jesus Christ would like us to celebrate His birthday. In a season when we are tempted to over spend, hide away in eating, drinking, partying; when nerves are frayed and when tensions run high, it is a good idea to pause and to examine that first Christmas when two frightened young parents gave birth to the Saviour in a barn, were visited by shepherds, wise men and angels and then had to flee for their lives. The joyous birth is overshadowed by an element of fear and an element of suffering as the little boy does grow up to face the agony of death on a cross at the tender age of 33 years. It's important to let the Christ child grow up and to let Him handle our fears, and our suffering, and our doubts along with our joys, so that Christmas can become a time of renewal and a stepping stone to guide us through the joys and the sorrows of life on earth. Letting Christ grow up and grow in our hearts frees us to decide and to respond to His ideas and ideals and to risk shaping our lives so they reflect our faith in God. May our Christmas celebrations be a life long process of responding to God and opening ourselves to new possibilities and may God bless us all.

Christmas 2008 - A Long Short Story

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Christmas Edition - December 18, 2008Christmas 2008

Christmas Art Contest

Christmas Cakeby John Diamond

Christmas Messageby Rev. Jean Brown

Christmas Celebrations:a Photo Gallery

Early Literacy:Christmas Books

Festival Of Trees

How Chanuka Saved Christmas

Interview with Maryby Pastor Jeff Nault

Legalese:Holiday Legal Quiz

Prince Charles Students Talk about Christmas

Recipes

Remounting ofa Long Short Story

The Special Giftby Hope Attaway

The remounting of “A Long Short Story”by Julie Druker

Cast of "A Long Short Story" Corwin and Adrienne Sabourin, Connie and Pastor Will Kellar and Wendy McMahon

Will Keller, lead pastor at Harrowsmith’s Free Methodist Church, was happy to be able to present two more performances of the drama “A Long Short Story” to members of the church and the community this past weekend. The drama was presented at Easter earlier this year and was so well received that Keller decided to present it again.

Keller came across the drama on the Willow Creek Community Church’s website and he liked the story. The play has been adapted to fit the Harrowsmith church and the community.

Basically the drama is a quick, comical and modern summation of the Bible story. It moves very quickly and there are a lot of one-liners and timely jokes that kept the audience amused last Saturday night (December 13) in Harrowsmith.

The four actors, Pastor Keller, his wife Connie, Corwin and Adrienne Sabourin played multiple roles with the help of single prop costumes.

The action mostly took place in front of a backdrop. Behind the backdrop was Wendy McMahon, who ensured that the 170 props that were used in the production all made their appearance at the right time and in the right place.

Adrienne Sabourin narrated the story beautifully and the other three actors were animated throughout and stayed very much in sync with one another, which is a big part of the play. Plainly put, there was never a dull moment.

The players have been rehearsing the show on and off every week since the fall and their hard work definitely shows in the show‘s smooth running at break neck speed. Pastor Keller admits “We really enjoy doing it and the play never feels old.”

The free drama was sandwiched in-between two free Christmas dinner buffets that were also offered to members of the church and community and prepared off site by volunteers on the night of the performance.

Others who helped with the performance included Jim Buffet who did the sound, Brian Young who did the lighting and Alan Mills who contributed the artwork,

Credit goes to Keller and his crew and their accomplished performance that is both educational and enjoyable for all ages. If you didn’t get a chance to see it this time around, we can hope that it will return sometime again in the near future.

Legalese - Holiday Legal Quiz

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Legalese - December 18, 2008Christmas 2008

Christmas Art Contest

Christmas Cakeby John Diamond

Christmas Messageby Rev. Jean Brown

Christmas Celebrations:a Photo Gallery

Early Literacy:Christmas Books

Festival Of Trees

How Chanuka Saved Christmas

Interview with Maryby Pastor Jeff Nault

Legalese:Holiday Legal Quiz

Prince Charles Students Talk about Christmas

Recipes

Remounting ofa Long Short Story

The Special Giftby Hope Attaway

Holiday Legal Quiz

The lawyers at Rural Legal Services scoured the law books and put their heads together to come up with the 2008 Holiday Legalese Quiz. We hope you have fun and do well (in that order). All the Best of the Season from the staff at the Legal Clinic.

Question 1: The Christmas Carol Jingle Bells with its “dashing through the snow in a one-horse-open sleigh…” is more than a fanciful song to make “spirits bright” over the Holiday Season because on Ontario highways the horse must have two bells attached to its harness or two bells fastened to the sleigh. True or False?

Question 2: There are legal regulations on the shape of a Christmas tree for retail sales in Ontario. True or False?

Question 3: Santa is more than a little irritated. It’s been a long night and after going down your chimney he is appalled at the soot on his pristine red outfit! He leaves you a note demanding that you clean your chimney, or else! Oh, and you don’t get that new electric drill, either. Is Santa just being grumpy or does the “or else” mean more than being on next year’s “naughty” list, as well?

Question 4: A customer at a dollar store purchased $5 worth of gifts. He gives the clerk a bag of 500 pennies to pay the bill. The clerk at the store is not required to accept the 500 pennies because:

The pennies have not been properly rolled;

a seller is not required to accept more than one pound of currency per transaction;

pennies are legal tender only for transactions not exceeding 25 cents; or

the pennies will not fit in the cash drawer.

Question 5: This Christmas if you give someone a gift card, the person who receives the gift card must spend it within two years. True or False?

Question 6: When the wrapping paper is put in the appropriate recycling container, you realize that Auntie Matilda, for the fifth year in a row, has bought you the box set of The Best of Frank Sinatra! Not to worry! Just like last year you know you can return it, and maybe pick up that new Nickelback CD instead. Right?

Question 7: Mrs. Claus can act as a guarantor for Mr. Claus, if he were applying for a Canadian passport, (assuming they were Canadians living in Canada). True or False?

Question 8: Torts have always been part of the Holiday Season. Tort law is concerned with:

a) organized crime;

b) injuries for which one may legally recover damages; or

c) cakes, often chocolate ones.

Question 9: Santa Claus completes his world tour and arrives back at the North Pole to find Mrs. Claus in a tizzy. Seems she takes care of the bookkeeping and this year the Elves want more than a few extra candy canes and sugar plums for keeping the operation going and putting away the sleigh and stabling the reindeer on Christmas Day, as well as Boxing Day! Since we all know that the North Pole is just a northerly extension of Ontario, how does Mrs. Claus determine what to pay the Elves for their work on these public holidays?

ANSWERS

Answer 1: True. Section 77 (1) of the Ontario Highway Traffic Act states that“Every person travelling on a highway with a sleigh or sled drawn by a horse or other animal shall have at least two bells attached to the harness or to the sleigh or sled in such a manner as to give ample warning sound.” The penalty for not having the two bells is a fine of not more than $5.

Answer 2: True. Ontario legislators have addressed the festive question of how tapered a Tannenbaum should be. There is a regulation under the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act, 1990, which delineates different “grades” of Christmas trees. One of the criteria utilized is what sort of “taper” the tree has.

For Christmas trees that are Douglas, or Balsam fir, Black, White, Red, or Norway spruce, a “normal taper” means that the base of the tree is more than 40 percent and less than 70 percent of its height. If the kind of Christmas tree is of the genus pinus, (i.e. Scotch pine, or Red pine), then a “normal taper” forms a cone where the base is more than 40 percent and less than 80 percent of its height. A “flaring taper” means the Christmas tree forms a cone, where the base is more than 70 percent of its height, (if the tree is of the genus pinus, the base is more than 80 percent of its height). A “candlestick taper” means that a Christmas tree forms a cone, where the base is less than 40 percent of its height.

Answer 3: Seems Santa knows his chimneys! A dirty chimney can be a fire hazard and under the regulations to the Ontario Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, known as the Fire Code, every chimney is required to be inspected at least once a year and cleaned as often as necessary to keep them “free from accumulations of combustible deposits” (O.R. 213/07, Division B, Part 2, Section 2.6.1.5). Best not to get Santa mad, or worse, have to explain to the Fire Department, the Fire Marshal’s Office or your insurance company, why you didn’t obey the law!

Answer 4: c) Section 8 of the Currency Act sets out limits on the amount of currency a seller must accept from a buyer depending on the denomination of the currency tendered by the buyer in payment. For example, if one cent coins are tendered the amount of the purchase cannot exceed twenty-five cents. If five cent coins are tendered the amount of the purchase cannot exceed five dollars, etc. However, an agreement between seller and buyer will determine what is acceptable. For example, stores are often glad to accept coins beyond the mandatory amounts, particularly when they are wrapped and labelled.

Answer 5: False. The Consumer Protection Act, 2002, sets out that no gift card shall have an expiry date, and if it does, it shall be effective as if there were no expiry date specified. This section of the Consumer Protection Act is effective as of October 1, 2007. Some exceptions to this rule are gift cards that are issued by a supplier for a charitable purpose, or gift cards that cover only one specific good or service.

Answer 6: Well, even if your Aunt also gave you the purchase receipt, you may not be able to return “old blue eyes”. Consumers often believe that they have an absolute right to return goods to retailers, but there is no such right in our law. Most retailers have a fairly clear policy on returns and some, but not all, will accept returns to promote good customer relations. When making a purchase it is wise to check out the store’s return policy. Provided it is prominently displayed in the store, or printed on the receipt or invoice, that return policy is generally accepted as part of the contract of purchase and sale. While consumers do have legal rights to sue for defective goods, for most consumer purchases the store’s return policy is, for all practical purposes, the rule. Taking into account the current economic downturn, don’t be surprised if retailers are a little more “picky” and a little more “Grinch” like about accepting returns this year. They may even charge a restocking fee.

Answer 7: True. Immediate family members may act as a guarantor for passport purposes, provided that the individual is otherwise eligible.

Answer 8: b) The basis of a legal action in tort is that someone has sustained a loss or harm as the result of some act or failure to act by another person. A successful tort action will result in damages being awarded by a court to the harmed party. This is in contrast to the situation where there is a contract between the parties in which case the action would be based on a breach of contract.

Answer 9: No wonder Mrs. Claus is a little upset – it is a simple question with a complicated answer. First of all, there are some classes of workers who are exempt from special pay for working public holidays- taxi drivers, for instance, as well as special rules for some industries. Then there are union workers who will be governed by the terms of their contract. Most of the rest of the people in Ontario who work Christmas Day or Boxing Day, or both, are covered by the provisions of the Employment Standards Act that deal with holiday pay for the province’s nine public holidays (we used to call them Statutory Holidays). The Act sets out two basic options: the employee can be paid regular wages for the public holiday worked plus be given another day off for each public holiday worked, with “public holiday pay”, or the employee must be paid “premium pay” (what used to be called “time and a half”) plus public holiday pay. Calculating public holiday pay is a bit confusing, and is based on wages and holiday pay accumulated in the four weeks prior to the public holiday, and then there is the ability to reduce payments to lazy Elves who miss the last shift before the holiday or fail to show up for their shift immediately after the holiday and so on. Santa seems to have foreseen the confusion and gives his spouse a new notebook computer already set to go to a website with the answers: www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/guide/guide_8.html

Legalese is a column of general information and opinion on legal topics by the lawyers of Rural Legal Services, Box 359, Sharbot Lake, ON, K0H2P0, 613-279-3252, or 1-888-777-8916. This column is not intended to provide legal advice. You should contact a lawyer to determine your legal rights and obligations.

Christmas 2008 - Interview with Mary

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Christmas Edition - December 18, 2008Christmas 2008

Christmas Art Contest

Christmas Cakeby John Diamond

Christmas Messageby Rev. Jean Brown

Christmas Celebrations:a Photo Gallery

Early Literacy:Christmas Books

Festival Of Trees

How Chanuka Saved Christmas

Interview with Maryby Pastor Jeff Nault

Legalese:Holiday Legal Quiz

Prince Charles Students Talk about Christmas

Recipes

Remounting ofa Long Short Story

The Special Giftby Hope Attaway

Interview with Maryby Pastor Jeff Nault, Verona Free Methodist Church

Following is a “fictitious” interview Luke had with Mary (For a complete copy of the of the fictional interview, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

In Luke chapter one, Luke indicates that he did a thorough investigation of the events surrounding the life of Jesus. He says “I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning”

To get the detailed information that is contained in this history, Luke may have interviewed Mary, and written down the account. It would explain his quoting of her hymn of praise to God.

Many years have gone by since the birth of Jesus. Luke catches up with Mary at the home of the disciple John.

Luke: Can you tell me the events leading up to the birth of your son?

Mary: I was in my home. I was daydreaming about Joseph. I had just got my younger brothers and sisters down for a nap, and out of the blue, an angel appeared.

Luke: Did the angel identify himself?

Mary: Yes, he said his name was Gabriel.

Luke: What exactly did he say to you?

Mary: He said. ‘Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’

Luke: What were your thoughts and feelings about this, at the time?

Mary: I was scared. My first thought was “Have I done something wrong?” Then, I wondered to myself “What is this angel really saying?” Then I thought “I wonder if he can read my mind?” I knew there was some meaning behind the greeting, but at the time, I wasn’t sure what was implied. I was bursting with mixed emotions. But really, what Gabriel said next was the shocker.

Luke: What did the angel say next?

Mary: Well, first he said, “Don’t be afraid.” (He saw I was distressed.) Then he said, “Mary, you have found favour with God.” He said my name. He knew my name, and that really spoke peace to me, deep down inside. And something deep down began to well up in me, and I started feeling a tremendous sense of purpose and meaning and clarity and trust. He said “Mary, you have found favour with God.” And then the message came. The real message came. He said “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” I was stunned.

Luke: How did you respond?

Mary: I guess you could say I was puzzled. I told him straight up. I said “I’m a virgin.” I know how babies are conceived, and well, it was a bit embarrassing. I said “How’s this going to happen?”

Luke: How did Gabriel respond?

Mary: He said, and I will never forget “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the son of God.”

Luke: What did you do next?

Mary: Gabriel said “Nothing is impossible with God.” I fell on my face and whispered “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

Luke: Looking back to the birth of Jesus, what would you like your grandchildren and great grandchildren to remember?

Mary: I would like them to understand that we knew Jesus as a boy, as a man, and we came to believe in Him as God. I would want them to understand that Jesus was a friend to ‘sinners’. We didn’t realize when he said that he had come to ‘set the captives free’ that he meant you and me. That, even though I was his mother, I was also a captive to sin. I needed freedom, and life, new life that only the Holy Spirit can impart. I would want my grandchildren and great grandchildren to be, as Jesus said, born from above.

Luke: What struggles have you had as a result of this miraculous event?

Mary: Honestly, the visit of Gabriel heralded the beginning of a new and exciting adventure, full of promise and loss, anxiety and hope.

There was the terrible pain of seeing my son Jesus die. As every parent knows, losing a child is one of life’s most heart wrenching sorrows. But from the ashes of despair, He brought beauty beyond my wildest dreams. As I look back to his birth, I am constantly overwhelmed with the sense of mystery and awe, that Jesus was God, that he walked among us, that he was Emmanuel.

I learned that my struggles were his threshing floor; that in those times when I despaired, He was there to comfort me, to hold me, to offer me mercy and hope. That in His mercy, he is working all things together for His purposes, for those of us who love and follow him.

Christmas 2008 - How Chanukah Saved Christmas

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Christmas Edition - December 18, 2008Christmas 2008

Christmas Art Contest

Christmas Cakeby John Diamond

Christmas Messageby Rev. Jean Brown

Christmas Celebrations:a Photo Gallery

Early Literacy:Christmas Books

Festival Of Trees

How Chanuka Saved Christmas

Interview with Maryby Pastor Jeff Nault

Legalese:Holiday Legal Quiz

Prince Charles Students Talk about Christmas

Recipes

Remounting ofa Long Short Story

The Special Giftby Hope Attaway

How Chanukah Saved ChristmasBy Alexis Diamond

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a crisis.

What kind of crisis?

Well, the land ran on oil. Oil flowed through the streets, the houses, the moving machines, the stationary machines, the factories that pumped out treasures of all shapes and sizes made from, well, oil.

You might think that sounds perfect. Like a little bit of heaven, is what you might be thinking. This land sounds like a land of plenty, you might be saying to yourself.

So what’s the crisis?

Well, the oil. There wasn’t plenty of it. Not any more. The party was, so to speak, over. The land was running dry.

Everyone was terrified. “What will we do?” the people of this land asked each other. “Where will we go?” For the drought was spreading beyond the land’s borders, creeping like a virus around the globe.

To make matters worse, Christmas was approaching. Everyone was alarmed. What if there were no oil-based treasures to purchase for loved ones and family members? The very social fabric of their land could well unravel under the strain.

Luckily, in this land, there were some Jews who celebrated Chanukah. Chanukah, some of you may know, is a minor Jewish holiday that usually falls somewhere vaguely around Christmas.

“What would the Maccabees do?” the Jews asked themselves.

You don’t know who the Maccabees are. They are the Jewish version of just, virile and scantily clad superheros. A whole family of them.

The story of Chanukah is long and worthy of an action movie, like an updated version of the Ten Commandments, but maybe starring some very hot, young, internationally coveted Jewish—and non-Jewish—stars...

But I digress.

Suffice it to say, in Judea 200 years before J.C., Judaism was outlawed by an oppressive regime. This was very bad for the Jews, as we like to say. The Holy Temple in Jerusalem was sacked and looted by the occupying forces. This was even worse for the Jews, as the eternal light that burned in the Temple, the soul of the Jewish People, was extinguished.

At this outrage, a revolt rose up, led by the mighty Maccabee family, a father and his five strapping sons. They eventually vanquished their foe, and repossessed the Temple. But it was polluted, and had to be cleansed and put right.

There was only one problem.

Oil.

But not the regular variety.

Olive oil was needed to rekindle the Eternal Light in the Temple; however, it took eight days to process a new supply. The people scoured the Temple high and low, looking for any oil that had been spared, but none was to be found. Except one tiny vial, with one tiny drop of precious oil, just enough to burn for one day.

Then a miracle occurred! That one drop burned for eight days, just enough time for more oil to be prepared.

The Jews in this land pondered over the story. Could it fuel a solution to their present crisis?

They decided to get together for latkes, potato pancakes fried in ... oil. They invited their non-Jewish friends over too, to help with the brainstorming. Everyone discussed the Chanukah story at length. Some suggested that they re-enact the story to find its true meaning and discover the miracle. Some suggested they try running olive oil instead of the other oil through the system. Some suggested they go to sunny Jerusalem for a holiday.

Meanwhile, the children were playing dreidl. The dreidl is a spinning top, and playing dreidl a gambling game. The children were squealing with delight and trying not to eat all their Chanukah gelt, dreidl gambling currency, when something strange happened. The dreidl wouldn’t stop spinning. It just kept going, and going, and going. It started to drill through the floor. It started to drill through the subfloor, but it didn’t stop there. It drilled right down until it disappeared from view.

Adults and children watched in disbelief.

A second of stunned silence. Then another.

Then, and this is true, a miracle happened.

Pure, black, sweet oil shot up through the hole drilled by the dreidl. Oil rained down on the astonished people of this land. The drought was over!

The people rejoiced and sang and danced and ate a lot of oil-drenched latkes. Soon, dreidls were spinning across the globe.

And that’s how Chanukah saved Christmas.

Early Literacy - Christmas Books

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Early Literacy - December 18, 2008Christmas 2008

Christmas Art Contest

Christmas Cakeby John Diamond

Christmas Messageby Rev. Jean Brown

Christmas Celebrations:a Photo Gallery

Early Literacy:Christmas Books

Festival Of Trees

How Chanuka Saved Christmas

Interview with Maryby Pastor Jeff Nault

Legalese:Holiday Legal Quiz

Prince Charles Students Talk about Christmas

Recipes

Remounting ofa Long Short Story

The Special Giftby Hope Attaway

Christmas Booksby Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist, HFL&A ‘Twas the days before Christmas When all through the house Came excited wee wishes From a small little mouse….

The season is upon us. And helping us to explore the celebrations, excitement, and meaning of this special time of year is a whole cast of children’s book characters. Mice, reindeer, bears, dogs, children and even gingerbread babies are preparing for the holiday season.

Modernized versions of traditional poems, songs or tales are popular. Beginning readers especially find these new-old stories appealing. Their familiar rhythm, words and storyline help children feel more confident that the words they are reading are correct.

“Christmas Wishes” by Tony Mitton is an adaptation of “The Night Before Christmas”. This time, however, it is two mice that are waiting and watching the night sky for Santa on Christmas Eve.

“Twelve Hidden Days of Christmas”, illustrated by Macky Pamintuan, is a story that could be sung. On the first day of Christmas, the reader is told, Santa hides one thing in the house. On the second day of Christmas, Santa hides two more things; on the third day, three more things. At the end of the book a two-page picture unfolds into a large picture with many more objects to search for. In all there are more than 350 items for your child to seek and find in this book.

Jan Brett, renowned for her richly illustrated children’s books, has created another adventure for the Gingerbread Baby. In Brett’s version of The Gingerbread Man called “Gingerbread Baby” the refrain “I’m the Gingerbread Baby, fresh from the pan. If you want me, catch me if you can” is sung out as the newly baked cookie races to safety ahead of line of hungry critters.

In “Gingerbread Friends” the lonely Gingerbread Baby takes off on another adventure. At a bakery his hopeful but unsuccessful search for friends is suddenly cut short by a hungry fox. Once again Gingerbread Baby escapes to the safety of his home where he unexpectedly discovers newly baked cookie friends. On the illustrated sidebars of each page Brett draws ingredients and baking directions to make cut-out cookies. “Gingerbread Friends” is fun to read, talk about, and to use for making cookies with your child.

For children and parents who love dogs, “12 Dogs of Christmas” claims to be the “paw-fect gift for all dog lovers.” This rhyming rebus reader includes twelve silly dog tales with photos and illustrations on touch-and-feel pages.

“Why I Love Christmas” may be the most simply told and endearing book of all. Available in both a touch-and-feel board book, and a slightly more detailed paperback version, each page of these books contains the words of a child who explains why he or she loves Christmas.

Stories, traditional or brand new, can be an important part of children’s preparations for Christmas, Hanukah, or any other special day. Reading with your child may not be expensive to do, but sharing books and stories together is a gift that can last a lifetime.

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32)

Christmas 2008 - Christmas Cake

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Christmas Edition - December 18, 2008Christmas 2008

Christmas Art Contest

Christmas Cakeby John Diamond

Christmas Messageby Rev. Jean Brown

Christmas Celebrations:a Photo Gallery

Early Literacy:Christmas Books

Festival Of Trees

How Chanuka Saved Christmas

Interview with Maryby Pastor Jeff Nault

Legalese:Holiday Legal Quiz

Prince Charles Students Talk about Christmas

Recipes

Remounting ofa Long Short Story

The Special Giftby Hope Attaway

Christmas Cakeby John Diamond

My mother used to make about a dozen Christmas cakes every year. She would give them away as gifts: to the mailman, to the milkman, to the nice lady at the bank. So packed with ingredients, one piece was the equivalent of eating a vat of porridge. One winter, many years ago, I was included in a youth group trip to New York City. Mother insisted that I bring one of these cakes to give to the family where I was to be billeted. I could not decline to do so; but I really did not want to. It was so nerdy.

We were to travel by overnight train. The group consisted of about 20 of us and included youth leaders who were to make sure we behaved. We had our own car complete with a porter who had expected a drinking party. He had a supply of ice and mixers. We were not what he had in mind. He looked disappointed and a little amused. Our car was the last one on the train and maybe the heat did not work as well as it should have or maybe it was the excitement of going to New York, but by midnight I was cold, hungry and awake.

My berth mate was Harold Segalowitz. I had told him about the Christmas cake. He wanted to know if I was sleeping and if the cake was handy. He too was feeling peckish.

I brought it out. Soon we were devouring this brick of a cake. Others heard the sound of our euphoria. By Albany, New York, the cake was gone.

We arrived at Central Station not well rested, but with very full stomachs.

I never did give my billet the Christmas cake and I do not remember what I told my mother.

As for Harold Segalowitz, I have not seen him since.

Dec 11/08 - Christmas Parades

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Feature Article - December 11, 2008 Christmas Parades in High GearParades in Parham, Tichborne Sharbot Lake, Denbigh and Northbrook rounded out the weekend.

Above: Young parade fans in Harrowsmith, Photo Julie Druker.

Left: "Christmas Redneck Style" entered in the Denbigh parade. Photo: Angela Bright

Below left: "A Native Christmas" float in the Northrook parade. Below right: " How The Grinch Stole Christmas" in the Parham-Tichborne Parade