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Vol. 11, No. 5, Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Christmas comes to Chipman
Michelle Pinon Editor
The Christmas season kicked-off in fine festive style on Saturday, Nov. 21st thanks to the Chipman Agricultural Society which hosted a fun-filled family event that had something for everyone. Children enjoyed the craft make it and take it event at the Chipman Golden Seniors Centre, Sleigh Rides courtesy of Randy Hollar and Karen Calvert, as well as decorating the community Christmas tree in Chipman Memorial Park prior to the official light up around 5:30 p.m. During the afternoon, many folks shopped at the craft sale which was held at the Chipman National Hall. One of the best attended events was the turkey supper, which fed more than 250 people. The evening capped off with the reciting of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas by members of the Chipman Junior Players and the story of Chipman in 1934 by the ever entertaining and extremely imaginative storyteller and actor Bruce McGregor. Reid said volunteers peeled, cut, cooked and mashed 120 pounds of
potatoes. A total of seven (25 lb.) turkeys were cooked and stuffed with about five gallons of gravy. Around 20 lbs. of peas and carrots were cooked as well as 10 lbs. of cranberries. Around 10 lbs. of coleslaw was mixed, 300 buns made from scratch, and a nice assortment of desserts. A silver collection was taken during supper. A total of $1,162 in cash was collected as well as four large bins of donations for the Lamont County Food Bank. “We would like to thank everyone for coming to our event. We are really happy we had such a good turn out,” said Scott Reid, President of the Chipman Agricultural Society. “We were very pleased to see our MLA Jessica Littlewood and her husband stop in for a visit as well as our Mayor Jim Palmer who did the official light up of the town tree.” He went on to say, “As with every event, you need volunteers, and we had the community step up to volunteer in a large way. I could only estimate that we had between 25 and 50 volunteers. From kitchen help to helping kids make decorations for our
These were just a few of the youth who were busy decorating the community tree in the Chipman Memorial Park before the official light up by Mayor Jim Palmer.
town tree, to our friends that drove the horse wagons, and the kids putting on the play. There are so many of them to thank for their time. We even had volunteers work through the pain of back problems or leg problems. How do you thank them enough!” Reid says many of them were already talking about what they can do to make next year’s event even better. “It is so great to see people get out from behind their computers or from in front of their TV’s to join
their neighbours for an evening of fellowship.” There were great comments on the food and organization of the event, added Reid. “I have only been in the Chipman area for six years now, and each year I get to know more and more great people through these events. It’s amazing.” Reid says he personally cannot thank everyone enough for the spirit of giving. “Merry Christmas to everyone from the Chipman Agricultural Society.”
MICHELLE PINON PHOTOS
Local crafters Marty and Mariah Barter display some of their creations at the Chipman Christmas Craft Sale on Saturday, November 21st at the Chipman National Hall.