On November 25, the University of Waterloo held the first Ontario Winter Camping Conference with over 400 people in attendance. People of all ages are realizing that camping in the winter need not be a hardship but can be very enjoyable. The woods are much quieter in the winter and the smell of snow is very relaxing and comforting. Again this winter Bob Miller and Mike Procter will lead a Saturday overnight camping adventure near Sharbot Lake as part of the Frontenac Heritage Festival activities. The date of the camp will not be on the Heritage Festival weekend but will be chosen by the participants keeping in mind the weather forecast and the schedules of the participants, likely in late January or early February. This winter we have 3 returning campers confirmed and we can accommodate another 4 people so anyone wishing to inquire about joining us for the free one night camp is required to contact Mike at 613-279-2572. All meals will be supplied and we have some blankets and other gear you can borrow. If you have never tried winter camping please consider it as a way to actually enjoy our great Canadian winter. While you are enjoying this Christmas season think about making 2018 a year to remember.

Sunday in Sharbot Lake featured the seventh year of Ecumenical Carol Service put on by six ministerials in the area.

“This is our second time here at St. James Major,” said Rev. Mark Hudson. “We rotate around the different churches.

“We’d like to hold it outside like the summer service at the beach but you never know what the weather’s going to be.”

Hudson said when they started out, they held the Carol Service on Saturday nights “but the seniors seemed to prefer we hold it in the afternoon.”

“It’s a popular service with good representation from many faiths and participation from a lot of lay people.”

For example, Richard and Lois Webster greeted guests as they arrived and did the offering (which goes to the Food Bank), Hudson did the welcome and opening prayer, George Weiss read Isaiah 7:10-14, Nelda Whan read Isaiah 11:1-10, Art Shaw did a solo, the Kids Zone Ministry did Shout it Out, Irene Hawley told the Legend of the Candy Cane, Lois Webster read Luke 2:8-20 and Father Jonathan Askwith gave a message and the closing prayer.

Christmas Carols included Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Joy to the World and O Little Town of Bethlehem.

Bob Miller also performed a couple of carols.

“I’ve sorta gravitated towards the best unknown carols there are,” he said.

Refreshments and fellowship followed the service.

Participating ministerials included St. Andrews Anglican Church, St. James Major Catholic Church, Parham Free Methodist Church, Sharbot Lake Centennial Pastoral Charge, Sharbot Lake Pentecostal Church and the Praise Church.

On Saturday afternoon, Mary Murphy and her crew were busy as bees setting up nativities in the St. Patrick’s Church hall in Railton for Sunday’s Nativities Display.

“This is our 10th year and it’s grown every year,” she said. “We have about 250 so far.

“Many of them are little ones so there’s a lot of rearranging to do.”

Murphy said they started out “very small” 10 years ago and it’s grown every year.

“We wanted to have some different from Santa, whom everyone loves,” she said.

It’s “so neat” to see all the different interpretations of the Nativity story that depicts the birth of Christ, she said.

“We have some very old ones like the one that came from my husband’s aunt that we became the caretakers of,” she said. “And Father Bill has this one from 1947.

“And we have this one from around 1830 but we can’t tell if it’s bone or ivory.”

But that’s not all.

“We have a Lego one, a puzzle one, one of all teddy bears,” she said. “We have scenes from Mexico, Chile, Austria, Kwanda and Quebec and the ladies from the Cole Lake Nativities display sent down several from their ‘permanent collection.’

“Also, the students at St. Patrick’s in Harrowsmith sent in some of their Nativity projects.

“We have some with lights, one with Charlie Brown characters and even two made from Popsicle sticks.”

Also, they always set up a kids activity table with books and “things that kids can touch and play with.”

Over the years, she’s picked up on some of the finer point of Nativity display.

“Well, the biggest crowd comes right after mass on Sunday,” she said. “But maybe the most important thing we’ve learned is to keep some of the more tempting ones at the back — out of the reach of little hands.”

On November 25, the University of Waterloo held the first Ontario Winter Camping Conference with over 400 people in attendance. People of all ages are realizing that camping in the winter need not be a hardship but can be very enjoyable. The woods are much quieter in the winter and the smell of snow is very relaxing and comforting. Again this winter Bob Miller and Mike Procter will lead a Saturday overnight camping adventure near Sharbot Lake as part of the Frontenac Heritage Festival activities. The date of the camp will not be on the Heritage Festival weekend but will be chosen by the participants keeping in mind the weather forecast and the schedules of the participants, likely in late January or early February. This winter we have 3 returning campers confirmed and we can accommodate another 4 people so anyone wishing to inquire about joining us for the free one night camp is required to contact Mike at 613-279-2572. All meals will be supplied and we have some blankets and other gear you can borrow. If you have never tried winter camping please consider it as a way to actually enjoy our great Canadian winter. While you are enjoying this Christmas season think about making 2018 a year to remember.

It’s trivia time. Answer the following questions. Check your score to see how clever you really are….

Which Christmas movie is based on a children’s book that was first published 60 years ago?

Which story was published in 1960 on a $50 bet that an entire book could not be written using only 50 words?

What author combined his experience as a World War II veteran, cartoonist and writer to pen more than 40 children’s books?

Keep in mind that if your score is 0 you are in the company of thousands who have fabulous readiness to learn skills! A score of 1 means you are ‘in the know’. A score of 2 or 3 means that either you are a librarian or you’ve read “The Seuss, The Whole Seuss and Nothing but the Seuss” by Charles Cohen.

Let’s discover the answers to these little known and rarely asked questions.

Though still enjoyed by thousands of readers, “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” children’s book has become a classic Christmas movie. I am reminded of the popularity of this story every December at my friends’ annual carolling party. It is our tradition to sing “You’re a mean one Mr. Grinch” around the bonfire before our voices give out and our stomachs give in to food and treats indoors.

The character of the Grinch first appeared in 1955 as an eleven-line poem called "The Hoobub and the Grinch”. Two years later that same self-serving Grinch re-appeared, this time in the lives of the Whos down in Whoville. “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” was published by Random House in 1957 – 60 years ago.

Leo Geisel is best known by his penname Dr. Seuss. His ability to write with very few words was put to the test in 1960 by Bennet Ceff who bet Seuss $50 that he could not write an engaging children’s story using only 50 words. Seuss won the bet with the publication of “Green Eggs and Ham”.

Seuss began his career as a cartoonist and writer. During World War II he entered the army and created documentary films for soldiers. These life experiences flavoured his work as a children’s author and illustrator. Many of his children’s stories contain a gentle moral message using expressive cartoon images and playful words. Seuss wrote and illustrated more than 40 books for children. He wrote many more stories as well that were illustrated by others.

Dr. Seuss engaged early readers with storylines that bounced with rhythm, rhyme, repetition, and humour – elements we now recognize as highly effective in helping children learn to read. His stories were also infused with his passion for creative thinking, empathy, and kindness to others and the environment.

More than hundred years after Leo Geisel was born, the movie industry, the book industry and readers of all ages still feel the impact of this one man. We find ourselves inspired to say along with Seuss…

“The more that you read,
The more things you will know.
The more that you learn,
The more places you’ll go.” (Excerpt from “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut”)

 Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

These bucket drummers were representing Rural Frontenac Community Services, youth division at the Santa Claus Parade in Sharbot Lake on Saturday afternoon,. The mild weather meant there was not snow, but no frozen fingers either. There were parades in Northrbook, Harrowsmith on Saturday morning, the Sharbot Lake Parade at 1pm and the Denbigh Parade in the evening (6pm). On Sunday, the Tichborne to Parham parade is set for 1pm as well.

Santa and Mrs. Claus came to Sydenham on Saturday the 25th of November. The little bit of rain sure didn’t dampen the spirits of those who lined the streets to see them arrive.

The floats were fantastic, lots of smiles and laughter to be had and many memories made. Thanks to all those participants who helped to make the parade a success.

Parades this coming weekend
The parade season hits high gear
this weekend. There are parades
on tap in Harrowsmith, Sharbot
Lake, and Northbrook at 10am on
Saturday, December 2; in Denbigh at
6pm on December 2; and in Parham/
Tichborne at 1pm on December 3rd.
For a complete list of events this
weekend, visit the event listings on our sister site: Frontenac Live.

The knitting continues.

We have donated over 11,800 articles in the last ten years. This past year we sent knitting up north with the Anglican Church Bales in the spring and recently Marge Taylor from Ompah took a hundred and thirty more toques, afghans, sweaters, mitts, socks, dolls and teddy bears to go north of Igualuit.

Many thanks to knitters Yvonne Leblanc and Liz Bruce from Sydenham and Val Kennett from Perth for their continued support. Also thanks to Bev Murdock and Jackie Saville for their generous donations of yarn. Best wishes to all during this Christmas season and keep knitting.

For info call Peggy Beckett at 268-2443.

You know Christmas is coming when you can smell a variety of flavours coming out of the Grace Centre in Sydenham on a Saturday afternoon in late November.

And this year is no exception as Leslie Reade and Josey Steel once again organized Vision Soup, a community fundraiser which is a joint project for the Christmas Food Basket, Loughborough Emergency Relief Fun and Southern Frontenac Community Services.

This year was the 12th annual and very little has changed from the first one Reade and Steel organized.

For $20, you choose a handmade bowl donated by local potters and fill it with a variety of soups. When you’ve had your fill, you get to keep the bowl.

“Well, the one thing that’s changed a little is that I think we get a little more support every year,” said Reade. “I think this is the most variety of soups we’ve had, 21, everything from spicy Thai soup to chicken Noodle (and in between there were things like Italian wedding and coconut curry lentil).”

The weather wasn’t especially great but there was a lineup into the parking lot when the doors opened and every seat was filled within minutes.

“People are such good sports,” Reade said. “No, it’s not a nice day but we appreciate everyone coming out, including the volunteers, who are mostly friends and family.”

Reade said this is a strong community but there are some who need a little help at Christmas time.

“That’s why we started this in the first place,” she said. “And we’re very thankful for the community’s support.”

At the latest induction of new members into the Frontenac Catalyst Leo’s Club, District Governor Bill Zwier issued a challenge to the young Leo’s. Lion’s members were challenged back in 1925 by Helen Keller to be “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness” and now the torch for this crusade has been handed to the young club.

DG Bill has challenged the Leo’s to collect 100 pairs of gently used eye glasses to be redistributed to people in need. And the group has graciously accepted!! There is a donation box for glasses at the Central Frontenac Municipal office lobby and it will remain there until the end of November. The Sharbot Lake Lion’s breakfast in support of the Salvation Army Christmas basket programme is on November 25th at the Soldiers’ Memorial hall where you can drop them off as well. Please support our efforts and give the gift of sight! If you are a youth between the ages of 12 and 18 and are looking to get involve in your community you can contact any Lion’s club member or call Lion Lesley Merrigan at 613-279-3144 for more information.

Our next meeting is scheduled for December 7 at the Royal Canadian Legion in Sharbot Lake and folks are welcome to come and sit in and see us in action. Thanking the community in advance for your continued support of our youth programme.