The Tay Valley Community Choir presents it's annual Christmas concert titled “A Home Grown Christmas'. The choir is renowned for its warm, cozy country concerts where the audience takes an active part by joining in the sing-a-long songs. Several groups of local musicians will add to the Home Grown joyful celebration of music.

The choir, under the direction of Rebecca Worden and accompanist Mary Lou Carrol, has been hard at work preparing seasonal tunes and two different takes on the Hallelujah Chorus. Local musician and former music teacher Jack Hurd has helped the choir prepare a song that he arranged for one of his high school musicals.

The Home Grown theme continues as individual members of the choir show off their talents. Special guests will be local groups; The Suspects, a local band made up of Jack Hurd, Tim Wynne Jones, Kalil Bailey, Cam Gray, and Frank Vanoort, who will perform two songs with the choir as well as a couple of their own songs; and The Ompah Community Choir who will sing a 50s inspired song along with other Christmas songs.

The Home Grown Christmas concert takes place on Friday, December 1 at 7:00 at the Maberly Hall. Admission is $10 at the door, and food bank donations are welcome. Following the concert, all are welcome to mingle with friends, neighbours and performers over refreshments.

The Ducharme family is pretty busy these days. Not only are they installing thousands of lights at just the correct location in the four acre patch of property that they decorate for Christmas each year, there is also the matter of preparing the Singing Trees.

“We store about 80% of the lights each year and put them up in new locations to keep the display new,”said Greg Ducharme early this week, “and tee Singing Trees are new for us this year. The lights are hooked in to a computer so they respond to the music that is played through the system. It really looks like the trees are singing when you see it in action.”

Ducharme is waiting for the final piece of equipment to come in from Kansas City to hook up four trees, and the singing trees will be the centrepiece of the display at Riverhill farms this Christmas season. The display will be complete and ready for the opening evening, which coincides with the Ompah-Plevna Santa Clause Parade.

Riverhill farms is located on Struthadam Road, which is off River Road. Riverr Road runs between Ardoch Road (near Ardoch) and 509 (at Ompah) in North Frontenac Township.

For the past four years, Ducharme’s past time of putting up Christmas lights, which started in 2008 with the birth of his grand-daughter, has been a public event that is a highlight of the Christmas season in the region.

“We kept adding to it and adding to it as each year progressed, more and more people were coming in the driveway. We tried opening it to the public for the first time four years ago and it has been very successful,” he said.

The lights are turned on each evening between November 25 and New Years, and the Ducharmes keep then lights on until 9pm on weeknights and 10pm on weekends.

For three Saturday evenings during that time (December 2, 9, and 16) between 5pm and 8pm there will be wagon rides, hot chocolate, coffee, donuts, and pancakes and sausage or bacon and home-made maple syrup available as well.

Bus trips for 30 passengers or more can be arranged by calling Greg at 613-282-3276. Please provide one week’s notice.

The entire enterprise is about sharing the Ducharme families’ passion for Christmas lights that bring joy to the cold, dark fall evenings.

“I’ve lived a pretty blessed life,” said Ducharme, “and this is my way to give back some joy and Christmas spirit.”

The Riverhill Christmas Lights Show is free to view. The only charge is for refreshments on the three special Saturday Nights. There is a jar available for donations to help cover costs.

The 15th Annual MERA Christmas Fair is the perfect place to shop locally, support local artists and artisans and to support Community Arts at MERA (McDonalds Corners/Elphin Recreation and Arts) which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. This event is a major fundraiser for MERA. Vendors give MERA 20% of their gross sales, which for some of the larger vendors means they pay more to be in the MERA Christmas Fair than they do in larger fairs in Perth or Almonte. Come and support the vendors who support MERA!

This popular juried show features original one-of-a-kind creations: Hand Weaving (MERA Heritage Weavers & Heather Sherratt Handwoven clothing), woodcraft items, organic Chocolate by Ludwig, Strawberry Cottage beeswax candles & natural soaps, Beth Girdler’s natural honey, paintings, felted creations, soup kits, hand sewn items and preserves, Gift Bag Raffle, Bake Table, the Wizard’s Café, and hand-painted Christmas cards and much more!

Don't miss MERA's Christmas Fair on Saturday, November 18th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

For details about MERA, vendors and directions to MERA in McDonalds Corners go to www.meraschoolhouse.org.

For families with children attending Prince Charles Public School, Christmas for Kids can be a god-send. The group has been putting together Christmas packages for families in need for many years. The packages, which go to somewhere between 65 and 75 children each year, include new socks, underwear, pajamas, at least one new outfit, at least one toy, a book, and toiletries.

Prince Charles’ Public school is a key partner for the program. The school identifies families that might benefit from Christmas for Kids, and then approaches those families first to see if they want to participate. If they do, details about clothing size and interests of the children involved are determined and the Christmas for Kids Team takes it from there.

Packages are delivered in December.

“The packages cost from $120 to $140 per child, and we need to fund raise for those dollars,” said Nicole Van Camp of Nicole’s Gifts, one of the Christmas for Kids Committee members.
This year the committee needs extra money because one of the sources of dollars, Sisters by Heart at Verona Free Methodist Church, has disbanded.
“They used to cover the cost of socks and underwear, which is about $20 per child,” said Van Camp.

Christmas for Kids has a number of events planned for the next month, including a Christmas for Kids shopping night at Nicole’s Gifts on November 10, a bottle drive at the Verona Foodland on November 18, and a dance that raises funds for Christmas for Kids and its sister charity in the Sydenham and Perth Road areas, the Loughborough Christmas committee.

The date for the dance will be announced in the coming weeks.

Christmas for Kids accepts donations of money, un-wrapped toys and other new items, at any time. Donations are accepted during regular business hours at the Verona Hardware store, Nicole’s Gifts, and Asselstines Hardware, and tax receipts are available for monetary donations. Donation jars are also available at most stores in the Verona area.

For further information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The story you are about to read is true. No names have been changed to protect anyone’s privacy. It reveals a truth that has lasting effects.

As a newly-divorced father of three girls ages 14, 12 and 3, living in a small town of barely 4,000, I was fretting over how I would financially make our first Christmas as a new family unit a happy one. Christmas day beginning at noon, the girls would spend the holiday with their mother; but how do I make Christmas Eve a joyful time? Bribing them by saying: “how many children get to have TWO Christmases” seemed rather lame.

I purchased a “Charlie Brown” tree a few days earlier and we trimmed the tree in our best tradition: a few ornaments purchased at the local hardware store for under $3.00; zoo animals collected over the years; two rows of mini-lights, one that twinkled; several strings of fresh-popped popcorn and much more popcorn in our collective tummies; and tinsel, lots of silvery, shiny tinsel.

No presents were under the tree, just a special tree blanket left over from my marriage. The girls knew Santa always came on Christmas Eve, after I had gone to bed. They knew because I was as surprised as the girls were on early Christmas morns, seeing the small bounty beneath the decorated fir.

This particular December 23, I felt rather depressed about facing a Christmas without a mother and a wife. Appropriate music was filling our home during the afternoon, and snow fell in that storybook way, light, fluffy and gentle. The Briard dog, and cats, curled up in their favorite spots, doing what they did every day, enjoying their worry-free lives. One of my daughters suggested we should go caroling. And a tradition was started.

Not wanting to disturb people during their suppers, a little after 7 pm. we donned our winter togs, found some sheet music, leashed up the dog and tromped across the kneehigh snow (we were not aware of the caroling etiquette of using the sidewalks, this was our first time!) to John and Katie’s house next door.

John was the head of the local High School’s History department and his white/gray beard, balding pate and deep gravelly voice brought instant respect from the students. But we knew him like Wilson from “Home Improvement”! None of my daughters had the courage to knock on the door, so I took the lead and rapped firmly. John was very surprised to see the family outside his home and I told him we wanted to sing a carol for him. His wife Katie joined him wearing a bulky, wool sweater protected by a well-stained apron and our little choir broke out into song; tentatively at first, and then full throttle by the last chorus.

The smiles from Katie and John grew larger with each verse. I could see John’s eyes roving back and forth over my daughters and the gruff teacher melted away to a satisfied senior, relishing a rare moment. Four hands clapped in genuine appreciation as my daughters and I turned to go, happily shouting “Merry Christmas”. We sang at three more houses before returning home to hot chocolate and flannel pjs.

The girls sat around the kitchen table, with bright red cheeks, hands clasping their warm mugs. They chatted excitedly about the faces of the folks they had just entertained. The conversation was animated, happy and joyous. I noticed the reaction of the people we had just sung for. They, too, had been given an unexpected gift: a gift of time, a gift of song and a gift of peace.

In that moment I realized that what my parents had tried to instill in me as a young boy, had come full circle. In a strange, but simple way, the gift of giving was the greater gift. Our caroling tradition continued for another 10 years. The original circle of four grew to 22 adults and children. At reunions the talk invariably recounts ‘the time when the Llewellyns caroled around the neighborhood.’

No financial burden; no emotional stress; no “keeping up with the Joneses” anxiety. Laughter, song, comraderie and love! Christmas memories, that’ll snap you out of a depressing funk!

Christmas Is . . . was the theme for this year’s Festival of Trees.  All entries showed creativity and great talent.  Winners were two-fold: those who entered an item, and those who took it home!

Large Trees: North Frontenac Little Theatre won 1st prize for their tree “Beautiful Music” and the lucky winner was Sherry Wilson. The 2nd prize went to the Friday Night Ladies for their creation “Stockings hung by the chimney with care”, taken home by Kelly Greenstreet. The 3rd prize was Mike Dean’s Super Foods Store “Home Made” which was won by Katie Gable. “For Family” decorated by W.A. Robinson Asset Mgt. Ltd. went to Brian Gilpin. Township of Central Frontenac’s tree “All About the Children” was won by Jane Neadow and “The Joyful Sounds of Music” by St. Lawrence Employment Services went to Candy Thompson.

Small Trees - First prize entry by CF Railway Heritage Society “A Ride on the Polar Bear Express” was won by Logan Chiasson; 2nd prize by Medical Centre Fitness Class, “Fun in the Snow” went home with Ashley Desrosiers; and 3rd prize winner, “Love” by Subway went to Alice Knox. “Family Love” by RBC to  Elizabeth & Maddy Whan-Corkum; “Family Traditions” by Sharbot Lake Pharmasave to Elinor Bailey; “Family” by NFCS to Kathy Scott; “Love” by George Allen to Brandon Hawley; and “Sharing Traditions” by NFCS Youth Program to Liz Bonser.

Mini Trees:  The Parham United Church Sunday School won 1st prize for their entry of “The Day of Love” which was won by Toots Harvey.  “A Christmas Vacation” took 2nd prize by Community Living NF went to Sophie Shelley.

Gingerbread Creations: First prize went to “Steaming into Town” by Anne Howes & Heather Card and was won by Martha MacLeod. Second prize, “Is for Believing” by Steve Duggan’s Law Office went home with Fern Marwood.

Wall Hangings: Martha MacLeod was the lucky winner of the 1st prize “The Gift of Love” by Arden Batik; 2nd prize “Being with Friends” by Ann Howitt went to Lori; and Janice Anderson 3rd prize winner “Christmas Holly” to Joan Hollywood. The winner of “Christmas Cardinals” by Carol Raymo was Margo McCullough; “Snowfall Magic” by Helene Riddell went to Sukhi Kaillon.

Wreaths: “Peace on Earth” by Arden Seniors received 1st place and was won by Judy McClure. The 2nd place wreath, “For Kids”, entered by the Sharbot Lake Dental Office, went home with Wendy Crain; and 3rd place, “Sweet” by Sharbot Lake Karate to Ryan Conboy.

Anything Goes: “Greeting Friends” created by Nancy Harding and Stephane Cliche received 1st prize in this category and was won by Susan Willby. “Family Traditions” by Seeds & Company took 2nd prize and was won by Joyce Lemke. The 3rd prize, “Frosty Feeding Feathered Friends” by Sharbot Lake 39’ers went to Courtney Meeks.  “An Adventure on the Track” by the Treasure Trunk was won by Angie Mallette.  “Christmas Kicks” by Community Drop was won by Doug Steele and “Welcoming you Home” by Linda DeVries was brought home by N. Bellamy.  “Decorating your Home by Ram’s Esso went to Tammy Parks; Goodfellow’s Flowers “A Beautiful Thing” to Cheryl Ellerbeck and Linda Moland’s “Christmas Dinner is the Centrepiece of the Day” will be decorating Dawn Hansen’s table.

Baskets – “Partying With Friends” by Friends of Arden took 1st prize and was won by Frances Smith; “Time to give a Latte Thanks” by the Cardinal Cafe won 2nd prize and went home with  Julia Muth; 3rd prize, “Time at the Rink” by the St. Lawrence Employment Services to Joyce Burke. “Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store.  Maybe Christmas, perhaps, is a little bit more.” by the North Frontenac Telephone Company won by Rosemarie Bowick; “Reading a Good Book” by Lakeside Readers to Carrie Laporte; “About Spending Time with Family” by Maples to Rob Richardson; “Sharing a Meal” by Sharbot Lake and District Lions to Theresa Lowey; “Coming” by Masonic Lodge to Homer Card; “Cosy” by Lake District Realty to  Judy McClure; “Warmth and Comfort” by the Black Kettle Popcorn Company to Theresa; “Chilling at Home” by Canadian Legion went to Kathy Byrnes; and “Full of Shine” by Sharbot Lake Country Inn to Sue Wing.

Gift Certificates – The Gibson’s Garage gift certificate for an Oil Change was won by Ashley Klatt, and the Amazing Dollar Store certificate went to Lillian Barker. The food hamper, put together by Villages Beautiful, was won by Linda Cook.  Children from various schools visited the Festival on Friday and were asked to guess the correct amount of chocolate balls in a jar. There was a tie; the winners were:  Alexis from St. James Major and Elizabeth from Claredon.  Each won a jar of 350 chocolate balls.

The People’s Choice Award went to “Partying with Friends” by Friends of Arden.  The Children’s Choice Award went to “All about the Children” by the Township of Central Frontenac.

Each year Villages Beautiful recognizes a person or persons who have contributed their time and effort to the festival over the years. This year that recognition went to Barbara England.

Many others must be recognized too: there are those who, instead of making an entry, contribute “in kind”, either financially or through services needed by the festival. Villages Beautiful thanks the following: Woodwark Legal Services; Sharbot Lake Marina; Sharbot Lake Dental Office; Robinson’s Excavating & Trucking; Donna’s Sign Shoppe; Home Hardware; Gray’s Grocery; RTR Tree Service; Angelo Dicienti; Mike Dean’s Super Foods; Tarasick Carpentry, Sydenham Veterinary Services; Leonard Fuels; Goodfellows Funeral Home; and Ken Young. 

Thank you to all the volunteers that made this year another success.  The theme for next year is: “A Canadian Christmas”.

It was a full house at Bellrock Hall as the Frontenac Women’s Chorus held their annual Christmas Concert on Saturday night.

The event was held by donation and guests were asked to bring along an item for the food bank.

The chorus sang a wide array of holiday classics including favourites like “Let it Snow,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Sleigh Ride.” They also covered a number of less known but equally charming classics like the traditional Jewish folk song, “Mi ze Hidlik.”

Special guests, Toute Ensemble (Anne Archer, Debbie Twiddy and Melanie Fyfe) and Val Hamilton took the stage for a few special songs throughout the night.

The audience was even encouraged to get involved at times and sing along to a few popular holiday classics. Lyrics to songs like “Frosty the Snowman” were provided in the night’s program for audience members to refer to as they participated in the fun.

The beautifully decorated hall made for a cheerful, warm place for the audience to enjoy their favourite holiday tunes.

Many of the performers even stuck around after the show to enjoy refreshments and conversation with the audience.

The Frontenac Women’s Chorus celebrated their 20-year anniversary around a year and a half ago.

Director Patty Smith has been with the chorus since last September. She took over the position from Betty Wagner who had previously directed the chorus for approximately 15 years.

When accompanist, Kate Van Allen approached her about the directing position, Smith jumped on the opportunity.

She had taken directing workshops in Toronto and was looking to branch out and further widen her music career. “They have been really patient with me,” she says.

Smith has been involved with music for most of her life. She grew up with her father playing all different types of music. She started singing lessons at 19 and has been fairly involved in the music community ever since.

“I started enjoying choir music as I got older,” she says. “I don’t have as much of a need to be the star performer anymore so it’s kind of fun to just work with a bunch of voices and work to blend them together.”

“It’s like being a sculptor… you’re making an aural sculpture out of [the voices],” says Smith.

The chorus is made up of many incredibly talented women. There is a lot of time and effort put into creating the perfect harmony with their voices to make successful shows like this possible.

The group gets together every Monday night at 7:00 p.m. at Trinity United Church in Verona to rehearse. They encourage anyone with a passion for singing and the ability to sing in tune to come out to rehearsal.

This is a simple craft, that can be adapted to make snow angels, snowpeople, gingerbread people, birds and anything else your heart desires. I like the idea of using old newspapers, flyers or wrapping paper to re-use, but I encourage you to use whatever you like. The Angel chains can be hung up above windows, on a tree, or used to decorate gifts. I’m making them in memory of Jule Koch who loved paper crafts and whose love and determination held the paper together these past 16 years.

You will need: 1 pair of scissors, 1 pencil, clear tape, 1 newspaper or printer paper or any paper of your choosing

1. Cut out one page of the paper, then cut that page in half.
(I like placing one of these halves over the other and folding them at the same time, but one at a time is easier for your first angel chain)

2. Fold page in half lengthwise.

3. Repeat twice, you should have a small rectangle.

4. Draw the template of one half of a head, 1 wing, an arm, and a robe. Make sure to have the wings and arm pointing towards the open side of your folds.

(I also included ruffles along the bottom of the robe and wings, a little circular mouth and a half heart for fun)

5. Cut along your lines, making sure not to cut too much on the folded side of the rectangle.

6. Using the clear tape, attach rows of angels together

The finished product!

To track down the celestial event that occurred 2000 years ago that might be interpreted as the Star of Bethlehem, we must have a reasonably accurate idea of when Jesus Christ was born.  Theological historians place the birth of Jesus in September or October in 3 or 2 BC.  They researched several historical facts derived from biblical accounts in Matthew and Luke to arrive at that date.  These facts included the date of the census taken at that time, who was ruling Judea and Syria and the death of Herod in 1 BC. 

First, it must be noted that in ancient times the word ‘star’ could be interpreted several ways.  It could be any bright object that traveled across the sky.  We can discount a meteor shower or Supernova as the Star of Bethlehem.  Accounts require that the bright object appear in the eastern sky, cross the starry background and move before the Magi to Judea.  Meteors travel quickly across the sky and a shower lasts only a short time.   No Supernova was reported during the period we are investigating.  We can also discount comets because they were considered to be signs of evil and bad omens.  That leaves us with planets or groupings of planets to match the biblical description and there are a series of conjunctions that roughly fit our time period.  A conjunction is when 2 or more planets and/or stars come close to each other.

Matthew relates that the star appeared in the rays of the rising Sun.  On August 1, 3 BC, Jupiter rose up in the light of dawn.  At 5 AM on August 13th, Jupiter and Venus were very close together.  A few days later on the 18th Venus and Mercury appeared at dawn in a conjunction.  On September 14th Jupiter was in conjunction with the very bright star Regulus.  Jupiter and Venus, the 2 brightest planets in the sky, were so close, they appeared to fuse together.  A grand conjunction of planets occurred on August 27th when Jupiter, Mars, Mercury and Venus were a tight bundle at sunrise.  By mid October the Magi saw Jupiter above Bethlehem.  Jupiter had reached its farthest point west and stood still against the stars high in the sky above Bethlehem.

Many will argue for other astronomical explanations for the Star of Bethlehem. For me, the above series of conjunctions best explains the brightness in the sky that guided the Magi.
I have given you an astronomer’s explanation of the symbol of the Star of Bethlehem shining with all the stars in the heavens above. I leave it to you to mix your faith with the wonderful miracles of the universe. To me this star symbolizes all the wishes for hope and joy and friendship during this holiday season.

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

Data released by Kids Help Phone has shown that the period between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve can be a troubling time for kids in Canada, with the number of ‘crisis calls’ – calls that can include disclosures of abuse, self-harm, or thoughts or plans of suicide – increasing by as much as 23 per cent.

“The holidays are a wonderful time of year for many as we spend time celebrating with friends and family. But for those young people who’ve had a hard year, or have a challenging home life, this time of year can feel especially difficult, even overwhelming,” said Jennifer Murdoch, Association Vice-Present, Counselling Operations, Kids Help Phone.

“In fact, for some young people who have experienced issues such as abuse, depression or thoughts of suicide, the holidays can be a triggering time that can dramatically increase their need to access a crisis support services like ours.”
Kids Help Phone is always open 24 hours a day, seven days per week and receives more than 500 contacts per day over the holidays, many from young people who are in crisis or have nowhere else to turn.

“When kids contact us during the holiday season, they’re often in a heightened state of crisis. We receive calls from kids who are contemplating suicide, kids who are experiencing abuse, kids under a lot of pressure or stress who are trying to cope any way they can, and kids who are contemplating self-harm,” said Murdoch.

“Young people can access our service no matter where they are or what time it is. Our counsellors are trained in handling crisis situations and are open to any conversation, nothing is off limits.”

Suicide and thoughts of suicide represent eight per cent of all counselling sessions at Kids Help Phone and twenty-eight per cent of counselling sessions are related to mental and emotional health issues.

“Kids Help Phone is a trusted ally to youth, from stress to bullying to thoughts of suicide, young people can talk to us about any problem or concern they have. During the holiday season, it’s crucial to let young people know that we are always open for them in every moment of crisis or need, that we’re always there,” said Murdoch.

Six in ten Canadians will make a donation this holiday season, giving over $5bn dollars to support critical charities like Kids Help Phone.

“The holidays are when we need donations the most. We rely on these donations to provide our critical service – a service that kids have been turning to for help during their most difficult challenges for more than 25 years,” said Murdoch.

About Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone is a charity that provides counselling and referrals in both official languages as the only national helpline for young people. Since 1989, Kids Help Phone has offered kids and teens hope and support through its confidential and anonymous service. As an organization that speaks with young people every day, Kids Help Phone works to share their perspectives and improve their emotional health and well-being. Kids Help Phone raises the majority of its revenue from individuals, foundations, corporations, and community fundraising.