Hometown News Lanark, North Leeds & Grenville December 2016

Hometownnews PART OF THE DISCOVER COMMUNTIY NETWORK

Vol. 3

No. 12

YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER - LANARK, NORTH LEEDS & GRENVILLE

DECEMBER 2016

CP Holiday Train making a difference one stop at a time

The CP Rail Holiday Train made its annual appearance in Smiths Falls, Merrickville and Perth on Sunday, Nov. 27th. Large crowds came out to enjoy the live performance from Dallas Smith, and Odds in support of food banks across North America.

Photo Credits: Kathy Botham

SFDCI girls rugby team selling Christmas trees for California trip Smiths Fallls Howaida Sorour-Roberts heddy@pdgmedia.ca They’re excited not just to be travelling, but to be able to represent their school. The Redhawks girls’ rugby team is in the final throws of fundraising for a trip to California to take part in a rugby tournament.

“We chose California because they run an international rugby tournament in March, during our March break,” said Jacob Swarbrick, rugby coach and guidance counsellor at Smiths Falls and District Collegiate Institute (SFDCI).

The trip will cost $2,225 for each team member. It’s not a small amount and the girls have been fundraising for almost a year. The

current fundraiser started on Nov. 22 and has the team selling Scotch Pine Trees from Campbell's Tree Farm for the holiday season.

Each five to six foot tall tree is available from $35 and up. They can be purchased through any of the team members or from Swarbrick at 613-283-0288 ext 2328.

The girls’ rugby program at SFDCI is still very young, just entering its fifth year, but already the program is proving successful.

“Last year our junior team finished in the top four in the province, and we hope to grow over the next couple of years and that should lead us to some OFSA success,” explained Swarbrick.

Already five of the school’s graduates have gone on to play CIS university rugby.

lifestyle For the beer, wine or spirit lover, be sure to read our new column in our food and drink section by sommelier Mark Cochrane Page 18

The young women currently on the Redhawks teams are keen players with lots of camaraderie.

“The team is super close, the girls are all like family and I love the contact and having fun,” says Rachel Streekstra, grade 11 student and rugby player at SFDCI. “Rugby is just a game you fall in love with the first time you play it.”

According to Swarbrick, taking the team away on trips like the one planned to California has huge benefits for the students.

“Trips like these help the kids set bigger goals and see the world as a little bit smaller when they visit a part of it,” he said.

Thirty-seven rugby players and five adults will be going on the 2017 trip. They will spend two days playing at the tournament, one day with the University of

Southern California’s rugby program, one day at the Knottsberry Farm and a day of beaches and sightseeing in Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

“I’m really excited about the trip because it’s my first trip with the school,” said Sierra DeVries, grade 11 student and Redhawks rugby team member.

The Redhawks rugby program is just in its fifth year but is already garnering attention.

Last year the Redhawks Junior Rugby girls placed among the topfour in the province.

Photo Credit: Submitted

BUSINESS

community

For some unique gift ideas, see our feature on 10 Mompreneurs.

Support local business this Christmas Page 19

For a list of events happenning around our region, have a look at our community guide pullout Page 11-14

FIND US ONLINE Facebook/DiscoverPerth Facebook/DiscoverCarletonPlace Facebook/DiscoverSmithsFalls

December 2016

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Page Two

Letter from our Editor

The Elf on the Shelf has made her appearance.

There is snow on the ground. It really is starting to feel like Christmas.

And it is looking a lot like Christmas in the pages of our paper too!

You’ll notice the events section is filled with holiday themed events across the region this month.

On our cover we tried to give you a glimpse of just some of the happenings across the region, and how to get a nice tree and support a good cause at the same time.

When it comes to

Christmas trees — are you a fake or real household? Last year, much to my demise, we were a fake household. I love a real tree but, it can also be a lot of work to get one and maintain it.

The plan was to cut a tree down from our property. My husband and I went for a hike, marked a tree to cut, and the plan was to bring the kids out and cut it down.

It was our first Christmas at our current house, so I thought it would be a great tradition to start. I went into town for about an hour and when I came back, our fake tree had been pulled out of storage and was up. And the kids were ready to decorate it. They didn’t seem to care (or notice) so I just went with it. This year though, will be different.

Another thing I say will be different every year is my shopping habits. I’m

going to scale back and start early. I’m happy to say that this year, I actually have come through on my promise to myself. If you are searching for that perfect gift for someone, consider checking out some of the products from a group of Carleton Place mompreneurs (see page 22).

Or, maybe you’re ready to draw a hard line on all the consumerism of Christmas like Carrie Wynne (read her column on page 7) and say “forget it” to shopping all together.

No matter how you spend the month of December — be it celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or another holiday — be sure to enjoy your time with friends and family and not let the little details, like if your tree is real or not, get in the way.

April Scott-Clarke Editor, Hometown News

A Blast from the Past: From the Lanark & District Museum Collection

To the Editor...

6th November 2016 Dear Sirs

I am writing to say what an inspiring edition of your “Hometown News” that you issued for this November. Your front page story should give a lot of people the message that NOTHING is impossible if you have enough faith in yourself. But I found the story on your back page about Cathie McOrmond even more encouraging. I know from personal experience with what she is dealing. I found her father's aphorism from “As You Like It” so very appropriate to the modern business of working for any organisation. I would like it to become a part of the education of every young person starting in their working world to know what their future might hold.

If you will be kind enough to pass these words along to Cathie I would be very grateful & I will leave it to her to decide if we should meet to discuss our working experiences.

Yours sincerely, Will Jenkins

Christmas Parade down Beckwith Street in Smiths Falls in the late 1950s. This photo was provided to the Heritage House Museum courtesy of Phil Brennan. The parade float out front is "The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe" designed by the Smiths Falls Canadian Tire store. Phil's father operated the store at that time.

Photo Credit: Heritage House Museum

Publisher

Reporters:

Patricia Krotki pmkrotki@pdgmedia.ca

editorial@pdgmedia.ca Kathy Botham Sarah Cavanagh Jane Hobson Chris Must Sally Smith Heddy Sorour

EditoR April Scott-Clarke april@pdgmedia.ca

Photography: Kathy Botham

advertising:

advertising@pdgmedia.ca Toby James-Regional Sales Manager toby@pdgmedia.ca

pdg media:

48 Maple Avenue N, Smiths Falls, ON K7A 2A5 Phone: (613) 206-0708

December 2016

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News

First local Habitat for Humanity home nearing completion in Perth

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NOV 18 - DEC 18

Passport 2 Win A crowd of well-wishers and dignitaries gathered for a ground-breaking ceremony on Sept. 8 to mark the start of construction of the Perth Chapter of Habitat for Humanity’s first Perth home. Photo Credit: Submitted

Perth - Chris Must chris@pd gmedia.ca Students in the construction carpentry program at Algonquin College Perth Campus are combining a fantastic learning experience with the opportunity to give a family a brighter future.

The Perth Chapter of Habitat for Humanity was founded in May, and already construction of the chapter’s first home, located on Arthur Street in the Perth Works subdivision, is well under way.

Algonquin building trades students have already built several homes in the subdivision as part of their curriculum. This is their tenth building project, and their first for Habitat for Humanity.

“We wanted to build with habitat because it’s a good organization,” said Perth Campus Dean Chris Hahn.

“It combines a learning opportunity with social responsibility.”

Habitat for Humanity’s mission is to build simple homes for low income families. But, said Perth chapter chairman Allan Brown, the organization does not simply give away free houses.

Habitat for Humanity is still in the process of choosing a family to live in the new house. In order to quality,

the recipient family must have an income between $39,000 and $59,000 a year, and will be required to pay the mortgage – which will be interest free.

“It’s a hand up, not a hand out,” said Hahn.

“In lieu of a down payment, the family is asked to commit to 500 volunteer hours,” added Brown. This volunteer work may involve taking part in the construction process, fundraising for Habitat for Humanity, or helping other families.

The recipient family will be one with a stable environment, but unable to afford the house through a conventional mortgage. Research conducted by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) showed that 58 per cent of families benefiting from the program reported that they were better off financially, and 65 per cent reported that their children’s confidence had improved.

The value of the new house, which has been under construction since Sept.

8, will be about $250,000.

It will be a two-storey, four-bedroom house with 1,585 feet of living space.

The construction project has benefited greatly with support from members of the Lanark Leeds Home Builders Association who

Chris Hahn, dean of the Perth Campus of Algonquin College, left, chats with second-year construction carpentry student Ryan Dozzi on the site of Habitat for Humanity’s first Perth home. Photo Credit: Chris Must

have donated both materials and labour.

The Perth Habitat chapter also appreciates the assistance of the Town of Perth and County of Lanark. “The town is a really good partner,” said Hahn. “They’re always willing to listen, and they’re always willing to make things happen.”

The town’s contribution has included waiving the usual building and development fees. The project also benefited from an unexpected gift when $10,500 raised in an auction of sculptures produced in a stone carving competition this summer was donated to Habitat for Humanity.

A dozen advanced construction carpentry students have been working on the new home each Wednesday under the direction of college professor Lachlan Oddie. The project is to be completed by the end of April.

“We’re on schedule,” said Hahn. “The target is that before Christmas it’s all closed in so we can work on the inside during the winter.”

Mark Bell, another Perth Campus professor who has been involved in the project while on sabbatical, noted that some of the students have actually volunteered to work outside class time.

“They’re actually giving to the community as well,” said Bell. “I would say it adds an additional feel-good aspect to it.”

The Perth Chapter of Habitat for Humanity operates under the umbrella of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Ottawa, which will hold the mortgage on the new home and provides other infrastructure support.

Current members of the Perth Chapter board, in addition to Brown and Hahn, include Jack Taylor, Karen Wilson, Glenn Tunnock, Julie Stewart, Rick Bugby, Alison Alexander (president of the LLHBA) and Sandra Oey, builds and chapters project manager for the Great Ottawa chapter.

Downtown Smiths Falls

Collect stamps on your passport for every $10 spent at participating downtown businesses. Enter your completed passport (10 stamps) for a chance to win one of the 3 GRAND PRIZE draws.

1st ­ $500 DBA Dollars 2nd ­ $300 DBA Dollars 3rd ­ $200 DBA Dollars For more details, visit www.downtownsmithsfalls.ca/coming ­events/

Stittsville-based company to open Smiths Falls plant Smiths falls - Chris Must chris@pd gmedia.ca A Stittsville-based company that manufactures aluminum dampers is seeking employees for a new Smiths Falls plant.

TAMCO (T.A. Morrison & Co.) placed an ad on Kijiji in late October seeking three assembly line workers for a plant to be located at 101 Rideau Ave. North, a property previously occupied by National Grocers Cash & Carry, and at one time home to the OK

Economy grocery store.

In their help wanted ad, TAMCO stated they are seeking “three motivated individuals who are mechanically inclined and enjoy working with their hands to join the production team at our new plant opening in Smiths Falls.”

According to the ad, the staff will be working Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for an hourly rate of $18.01.

A spokesperson for the company, human resources manager Sarah Mc-

The property at 101 Rideau Ave. North. Photo Credit: Chris Must

Leod, told The Hometown News that the owners are unwilling to comment on their plans, which she described as “uncertain,” at present.

TAMCO entered the ventilation industry in 1955, and began engineering and producing aluminum dampers in 1980. A damper is a valve or plate that stops or regulates the flow of air inside a duct, chimney or other air handling equipment, including heating and air conditioning equipment.

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Discussion to ban skateboarding in front of Ca rleton Place Hig h School cont inues

Council received a request from CPHS vice-principal Brent Brown to amend the Traffic and Parking Bylaw to prohibit skateboarding on Lake Avenue West in front of the high school. Students often skateboard in front of CPHS during lunch hour and many students skateboard to school.

Photo Credit: Jane Hobson.

Carleton Place - Jane Hobson ja n e @ p d g m e d i a . c a Carleton Place council received a request from Carleton Place High School (CPHS) vice-principal Brent Brown that the Traffic and Parking Bylaw be amended to prohibit skateboarding on Lake Avenue West in front of the high school.

“The primary concern is how safe [the students] are when they are here during the day,” said Brown. “We encourage them to skateboard but Lake Avenue is not the place for safe skateboarding, especially while people are commuting at the beginning and end of the day.” Brown said a skate park closer to the school would be wonderful.

Brown’s request came after he received a few complaints from the public about students skateboarding on the street during lunch. Brown and Les Reynolds, director of protective services, have been discussing the problem with OPP since the start of the school year.

“We’re looking at amending the bylaw that already ex-

ists in order to keep students safe,” Reynolds said. The current Traffic and Parking Bylaw prohibits skateboarding in the downtown area, like along Bridge Street.

“I have nothing against the skateboarders,” Brown said.

“The kids who skateboard are really neat, interesting kids,” Brown said.

Brown, who has been

the vice-principal at CPHS since August, said sometimes there are as little two or three students boarding in front of the school, but other times there are up to 12.

Carleton Place council discussed the possible amendment at the Nov. 1 meeting at Town Hall.

Some councillors expressed concern about prohibiting skateboarding in front of CPHS because many students skateboard to school. Furthermore, if skateboarding were prohibited in front of CPHS, it would apply to everyone and not just students.

Despite outside concerns, Brown says banning skateboarding isn’t a slippery slope to banning bicycles and other forms of transportation that students use to get to school because “bicycles don’t seem to be a problem in terms of safety.”

Council asked staff to provide more recommendations before they decide if and how the bylaw will be amended. Reynolds said the discussion will probably continue into the new year since “skateboarding

won’t be a problem in the upcoming winter months anyways.”

Reynolds said the bylaw would be enforced like any other bylaw. “It doesn’t matter if it’s convenient or not, it’s about safety,” Reynolds said.

If the bylaw is amended to prohibit skateboarding in front of the high school, bylaw and OPP officers will provide public education in person, via the website and social media, and issue warnings before they start laying charges, Reynolds said.It’s not known what the fine would be for breaking the bylaw, but if amended the fine would be an amount set by the town, Reynolds explained.

“Safety is the main concern,” Brown said again, adding that CPHS is open to discuss any options that might be put forward, like prohibiting skateboarding on a specified section of Lake Avenue.

“Until we figure out what the bylaw will be, we will continue to meet individually with the students and will continue to keep them safe,” Brown said.

Parking issues at VIA station under review Smiths falls Howida Sorour-Roberts heddy@pdgmedia.ca Smiths Falls Via passengers take heart. The parking problem at the Smiths Falls VIA station that has prompted numerous complaints is being addressed. The town of Smiths Falls is looking to implement a slight variance to the planning act to extend the station’s parking spaces.

“We actually reached out to VIA to engage them in a discussion about parking capacity,” said Malcolm Morris, CAO Smiths Falls.

Mylene Belanger, public relations adviser with VIA rail explains that the original parking configuration for the station, which opened on Union Street in 2011, was based on projected ridership at that time. “We can confirm [ridership] has increased since the station opened,” said Belanger, citing a 21 per cent increase in ridership at the Smiths Falls station between 2011 and 2015.

“VIA Rail is currently looking at different options to improve the parking capacity at Smith Falls station,”

said Belanger It’s clear that something needs to be done to improve the situation, but what isn’t clear is who will be footing the bill due to the unique relationship the town has with VIA. The town provides annual snow clearing, cleaning and maintenance of the VIA building but it has no actual stake in the station or the company. In 2015, Smiths Falls awarded a contract worth $28,500 per year for snow removal at the VIA station.

“It doesn’t make sense for the town to be looking after the assets of a crown corporation,” said Art Manhire, Smiths Falls director of community services.

“We’ve checked with Brockville, but they don’t have an agreement like this.”

“The agreement for maintenance and snow removal was executed several years ago at the time the old rail station was abandoned in favour of the new modern one we have today,” said Morris.

According to VIA, the crown corporation has many such arrangement

with towns it serves in Ontario and Quebec.

“The agreement with the Town of Smiths Falls is not unique. In an effort to make better use of the station facility and property for the communities in which we operate, VIA Rail has established a number of partnerships agreements with municipalities who have management and/or ownership of their local station. A few examples of such partnerships are the Town of Napanee, StMarys and Casselman , Ontario and La Tuque, Parent, Rimouski, La Pocatière and Rivièreà-Pierre, Québec,” said Belanger.

Certainly reciprocal agreements for maintenance and snow removal make sense, when the community has a stake in the property. “We own the building VIA uses, they lease half the building and so we take care of the maintenance and snow removal,” said Ray Callery, CAO Napanee, Ont. But in the case of Smiths Falls, the town neither owns the building nor manages the facility. Both are under VIA jurisdiction.

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Archaeological diver shares fascinating news of Franklin ships Smiths Falls - chris must chris@pd gmedia.ca In the spring of 1845, two small ships set sail from England with high hopes of discovering the fabled Northwest Passage through the uncharted waters of the high Arctic. An enduring mystery was about to begin.

After two years, the British Admiralty became concerned about the fate of the expedition led by Sir John Franklin. Other ships were sent in search of Franklin’s ships, the Erebus and Terror, and the 129 men who

made up the expedition. Although more ships were lost during the search, including a vessel named the Investigator, no trace of Franklin and his men was found.

Slowly, clues began to emerge. In 1859 another search party found a note in a tin container on King William Island. The note, signed by officers from the lost expedition, stated that the crews had abandoned their ships in 1848 and that Franklin had died. The ships had entered Arctic waters in the summer of 1845, and

This note is the only surviving document revealing clues to the fate of the Franklin Expedition, after its two ships were frozen in the Arctic ice in 1846. A copy was on display during archeologist James Moore’s presentation at Legion Branch 95 on Nov. 27. Photo Credit: Chris Must.

spent the winter at Beechey Island, circumnavigated Cornwallis Island, and then became stuck in ice on Sept. 12, 1846. Short of provisions and faced with unimaginable hardship, men began dying, including Franklin himself on June 11, 1847.

The note explained that after Franklin’s death, Captain Francis Crozier of the Terror assumed command of the expedition and ordered the 105 survivors to abandon the ships (by then stuck in ice for two years) and make a doomed attempt to reach civilization by heading south on foot.

Other evidence in the form of oral accounts by the Inuit inhabitants of the area has always been available. The Inuit spoke of encountering the expedition’s survivors on their trek southward, having survived by resorting to cannibalism.

Others recalled seal hunters finding a ship frozen in the ice west of King William Island in 1849 and salvaging some items from the ship before it sank without a trace. They also found one dead man on board.

Although these grim accounts were handed down through the many decades since 1845, the exact location of the lost ships remained a mystery until Sept. 2, 2014 when a multi-disciplinary team of searchers discovered the wreck of the Erebus in the frigid waters west of King William Island.

Fascinating details of this discovery and the artifacts that have been found at the underwater site over the

James Moore, senior underwater archeologist with Parks Canada, shared many fascinating discoveries about the 1845 Franklin Expedition with a Smiths Falls audience on Nov. 27. Photo Credit: Chris Must.

past two years were shared with a Smiths Falls audience Saturday, Nov. 27. The presentation was at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 95 and given by Jonathan Moore, a diver and senior underwater archeologist with Parks Canada.

Moore explained that the team of searchers relied on the Inuit oral histories as the starting point for their efforts. The old accounts didn’t pinpoint the actual location of the wrecks, so the searchers had to cover a vast area west of King William Island. However, Moore reported, “Our search for the Erebus was fruitful, and resulted in discovery in 2014.”

Moore noted it was appropriate that the boat used to find the wreck of the Erebus was the Investigator, named after the Royal Navy

ship lost during the original search in the 19th century.

The wreck was positively identified as Franklin’s flagship by comparing sonar images to the original 1839 plans of the vessel.

After a quantity of algae and kelp was cleared away, divers noted that the capstan (used to hoist the anchor) and the stumps of the ship’s three masts can still be seen. Many artifacts have been found, including the ship’s bell, a patent pump, the bronze tiller, a small glass window used to let light shine through the deck, rigging blocks, part of the ship’s wheel, and bronze belaying pins. The ship’s bell has been brought to the surface and is now in Ottawa for preservation.

Divers have found a seaman’s chest on the lower deck, which may also be

raised for examination.

“We’re trying to tease out the nuances of the story of the Franklin Expedition,” said Moore.

The wreck of the second Franklin ship, the Terror, was located on Sept. 3 this year, and positively identified by Parks Canada divers shortly afterward. Once again, sonar surveys and visual inspections were used to compare the wreck to the plans of the original ship.

According to Moore, the wreck of the Terror is “in a remarkable state of preservation” and should yield a treasure trove of archeological finds.

Although 129 men lost their lives the Franklin Expedition actually succeeded in its goal of reaching previously uncharted waters, leading to the Northwest Passage.

Farewell to the County Fair Mall Smiths falls - Kathy Botham Tracey Cooke Merkley organized a photoshoot of some present and former employees of The County Fair Mall. About 50 people arrived in the doorway under the mall’s sign on Sunday, Nov. 27.

It was a great reunion of employees who had stories to tell, some dating back to the early 70s when the building began to take shape.

There was a time that The County Fair Mall was filled with stores and businesses. It was the place to be on Friday nights. Supper at The Skillet then visiting and shopping until closing time.

Saturdays were equally as busy. Holidays such as Easter, Mother's Day and Father's Day,

Thanksgiving and of course Christmas were celebrated with decorations and the mall echoed with festivity.

The future of The County Fair Mall is bleak as plans are for this building are for it to be demolished next summer. As the saying goes, if these walls could talk they would be filled with great memories. Memories for me of growing up in Smiths Falls, my first job, my next three jobs, being Santa's photographer for five Christmas’, fashion shows, buying the best dog I ever had, and always seeing so many people walk through the doors — the same doors everyone stood in front of on Saturday to say farewell.

County Fair Mall past employees gather for final image. Photo Credit: Kathy Botham

The Bham Family - Soria, Cassim, Narg and Bham standing where Bham's Kiosk once was. Photo by Kathy Botham

Debbie Lewis standing in front of the doors that once were Bata Shoes where she was the manager. Photo by Kathy Botham

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community Hockey stick guitar still column: Carleton Place Social Notes on the scene 40 years later Carleton Place - Jane Hobson ja n e @ p d g m e d i a . c a What do a hockey stick and a guitar have in common? The answer is Glen James.

Carleton Place native Glen James built his first electric hockey stick at 19-years-old.

Now 60, James plays the twostring instrument for fun at a Carleton Place watering hole called the Waterfront Gastropub.

“An ex-girlfriend gave me a guitar and when we broke up my buddy told me I had to smash the guitar,” James laughs. “I felt like that guy from The Who.” (Pete Townshend, the lead guitarist for the English rock band The Who, had a crowd-adored habit of smashing his guitar while on stage.)

“I smashed it to bits and a few days later out of curiosity I attached the strings to an old hockey stick,” James says.

And thus the electric hockey stick was born.

James was studying painting, life-drawing and filmmaking at Ontario College of Art and Design (now OCAD University) in Toronto when he built the instrument. It started with one string but eventually graduated to two.

James says in 1975 The Toronto Star photographed him with the electric hockey

Glen James, middle, plays the electric hockey stick at the Waterfront Gastropub in Carleton Place on Wednesday Oct. 26, 2016. Photo Credit: Jane Hobson.

stick and featured him on the front page of the entertainment section. “That’s about as famous as I got,” James says.

Eventually the glow of fame dulled and an overwhelmed, penniless James quit school three quarters of the way through.

“Why did I quit school? I wasn’t mentally able to do it.

People wanted me to do big things and make lots of money with the electric hockey stick but I didn’t want to,” he says.

When he quit school me moved to western Canada and worked in the oil fields for a while before he moved back to his father’s farm in Carleton Place.

“I never wanted to come

back to the farm,” he laughs.

“I was in a grumbly mood for quite a while when I came back — but I’m happy now.”

James continued to make harps and other stringed instruments as he farmed, and he sold a few of them. “People bought stuff here and there but I was never good at the business side of arts,” James says. “It’s hard to make a living as a musician but I like to play for fun.”

James writes five songs per week now, most of which are inspired by whatever he’s reading at the time.

As for his college friend who helped him create his first electric hockey stick, James hasn’t seen in him years. “That’s growing up I guess,” he says.

Carleton Place Sarah Cavanagh editorial@pdgmedia.ca As I sit staring at my screen, the first winter storm of the year blasts outside – snow and wind howl by my window and it dawns on me that there will be no more winter reprieve. The ice and snow is here to stay (at least until the Spring). I’m not a huge winter person. I hate cold wind blowing snow in my face – I hate layers. I am flip flops and sun dresses all the way.

Today I spent in the house with my family – baking cookies, putting a few Christmas decorations out on shelves and thinking about what a blur the next month will be in a house with three kids under six! I may not like the cold but I do love holiday festivities and we have enough happening around Carleton Place to make even Santa fly out of his way. After all Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind.

On Dec. 3 the annual Downtown Christmas Open House is sure to get you in the spirit. All day there are special events in town from meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus at Moore House, hanging with Zip-E the Elf at Carambeck, crafting a gift for grandma and grandpa at the Civitan’s Santa’s Workshop also at Carambeck or visiting the many downtown retailers on the horse-drawn trolley to check out sales samples and special guests.

There is holiday shopping and what could be better than strolling to the unique shops in town with all the Christmas lights a glow and grabbing a cup of hot chocolate at the

Owl Café on the way by.

With the white stuff here to say there’s no better way to enjoy it then a wintery stroll in Downtown Carleton Place — the peaks of snow on our beautiful Town Hall overlooking the Mississippi, the Christmas lights glowing along Bridge St. Remember to keep your hearts full and give to those in need throughout the holidays. Why not swing by the Christmas Hut at 355 Moffatt and let the kids shop for gifts using donations to the food bank? They can pick out something from the hundreds of donated items and have it gift wrapped to go! Volunteer, donate or just attend the annual free Community Christmas Dinner at the legion.

There will be a free meal with all the trimmings, live music, gifts and of course Santa. Bud’s Taxi is offering free transportation to and from the dinner from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There are plenty of events happening to help get you into the Christmas spirit between concerts and caroling and holiday bazaars.

Head over to Carambeck Community Centre on Dec. 10 for an afternoon of carols from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. with the CP Town Singers. There will also be a puppet show, crafts, snacks and a family photo booth! Admission is free of charge, however donations to the Lanark County Food Bank would be greatly appreciated.

On Dec. 16 you can visit the Mill of Kintail for their annual Country Christmas celebrations. A beautiful day of wagon rides, a nature scavenger hunt, campfire stories, carols

and photos with Father Christmas from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Only $15 per vehicle to join in the fun!

St. James Church is also offering an olde time celebration of their own on Dec. 11 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. you can join George Chenier Sr., Christopher Jones, Joe Million and special guests Brownie, Kevin Topping and Anita Lafrance-Topping. Only $10 per person for an afternoon of classic country Christmas music.

Head over to the Prospect United Church on Dec. 18 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for an evening of Olde Time Community Caroling to get your Christmas juices flowing.

The Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum invites you to their annual Christmas open house on Dec. 10 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for live music, hot apple cider, cookies and check out their Carleton Place Christmas photo garland. December is seems is full to the brim in holiday excitement!

“First will make snow angels for two hours, then we’ll go ice skating, then we’ll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse cookie dough as fast as we can and then we’ll snuggle,” is what I’m hearing in my house.

And when we’re done all that, we can skate with Santa himself on Dec. 18 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Beckwith Recreation Complex. However you end up spending this month make sure to spend it with family and friends, be gracious and generous to others, spread kindness wherever you go and ring a lot of bells.

Merry Christmas Carleton Place!

Free Christmas Day Dinner organizers looking for support

Carleton Place - Submitted To Community People First of Lanark County and The Free Community Christmas Day Dinner Committee is once again hosting a free Christmas day dinner for the community.

The dinner will take place at the Carleton Place Legion, from 11 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. This is the 10th year for the free dinner with over 1,150 having benefited.

Since inception, there has been 423 volunteers and over 200 sponsorships.

This year the committee is in need of the following items: · turkey · stuffing · ham · gravy · mix vegetables · potatoes · dinner rolls · butter · pickles · cranberry sauce

· pies or cakes for dessert · beverages (coffee/ tea/juice/water/pop) Outside of food items, the community group is hoping to gather some children’s toys, as well as mittens and hats for everyone. Donations will be taken until Dec.18.

For those interested in donating you can do so by contacting koryearle@hotmail.com or call (613) 451-0051.

December 2016

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community

Peters back at St. Gregory in Carleton Place for 50 days

Temporary principal Brian Peters (left) poses for a photo with secretary Colette Hammersley at the front desk at St. Gregory School. Peters and Hammersley worked together 12 years ago at St. Gregory. Photo Credit:

Carleton Place - Jane Hobson ja n e @ pd g m e d ia . c a For many students who attended St. Mary Catholic School and St. Gregory School in Carleton Place between 1996 and 2004, Mr. Peters was pretty much a household name.

And it seems he is again.

Brian Peters came out of retirement on Oct. 17 and is covering the position of principal at St. Gregory School while Principal Heather Gerber is away on medical leave.

“It felt like coming home, there’s a sense of nostalgia,” Peters says.

“Coming back makes me realize that my passion for education is just as strong as it ever was.”

Peters is at St. Gregory’s until the Christmas holidays start on Dec. 23, making his visit down

memory lane 50 school days long.

“Whenever I leave a school, I cry, so it will be the same,” Peters says, as a student walks by and gives him a peace sign. “Transitions are always hard but I’ve received a lot of wonderful hugs. It makes me feel very welcomed.” He gives the student a peace sign in return. They both smile.

About a third of the teachers that were at St. Gregory in 2003 are still there.

Peters reunited with Colette Hammersley, a secretary at St. Mary and St. Gregory during Peters’ time. She is back at St. Gregory for the 20162017 school year.

“It’s awesome to have him back, it really is,” says Hammersley, adding that staff and students are of

course praying for Gerber’s speedy recovery and return to school.

Peters said it took some time to adjust to being a principal again.

“Some things have changed. Technology has a much more prominent role but it’s still mostly about relationships and connections,” Peters says.

“I still love working and being in a school environment with teachers, support staff and students.”

Peters says the school has revived some traditions from 2003 to make him feel welcome. “A song is played at mass that was part of our ceremony 12 years ago. It ties our histories together as companions on the journey.”

As for his own journey, Peters says he is happy with his life. “Children open our eyes and teach us about the joy of living and about spontaneity.”

So where has Mr. Peters been since he left Carleton Place in 2004?

Peters was the principal at St. Mary for seven years until he moved to St. Gregory School in 2003 when it was built. After that, his career moved down many paths and he spent some time at St. Joseph School in Toledo, Ont. and was the principal of the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario until he retired in 2009.

When he returns to retirement, Peters plans to spend lots of time with his six grandchildren, volunteer in schools and relax in the sunny south.

opinion:

Am I the only one?

Jesus was born in a stable not a mall

If we took the shopping out of Christmas, the holiday might be a bit more relaxing and enjoyable. A friend of mine goes into the stores at the end of November and gathers all her supplies and groceries for the month of December.

She doesn’t re-enter the buildings until after the New Year.

With her as my inspiration, I accepted the backlash I got over my decision to stop Christmas shopping three years ago. I broke the cycle of insanity in my family.

The first year my daughters growled and sneered

like pit bulls chained to a junkyard fence as I quietly stood my ground.

Christmas isn’t about gift giving or gift getting.

Exchanging gifts was just something the department stores made up to stir the economy.

I was getting all stressed out fighting for parking spaces and standing in lineups with overpriced gifts.

Is it good enough? Is it thoughtful enough? Did I spend too much or not enough? Will it fit? Will she like it? The questions went on and on.

Combing the crowded stores to buy something for someone that has everything was the straw that broke the camel’s back. There I was spending money I don’t have on gifts people don’t need or want.

What a waste. We have corners full of stuff we got at Christmas that we don’t use or never wear.

I feel like people are missing the point. Jesus was born in a stable not

a mall. The consumerism is out of hand. The stores take advantage of panicked shoppers by jacking prices and Boxing Day sales aren’t really sales. It’s just a gimmick to sell more stuff. I’m not saying don’t Christmas shop.

I’m saying it’s your choice to make.

I won’t be forced into shopping by my family, society, commercialism, my kids, or anyone else.

I’m literally not buying it.

I’m not a Grinch either. I love Christmas and my heart is open to celebrate the season with family and friends. I just don’t shop. Frivolous spending is a choice, not an obligation.

Now get out your wallet and put that smile on your face. The stores are waiting for you.

S i g n e d , Am I the Only One ?

Carrie Wynne’s column reflects her own opinions and not necessarily those of Hometown News.

December 2016

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community

New twist for Perth Tourism’s fifth annual Christmas decorating contest

Photo Credit:Submitted

Perth - Staff editorial@pdgmedia.ca What a way to end Perth’s 200th Anniversary: showcasing the beautiful homes and businesses in this amazing little Town, all decked out for the Christmas season!

The 5th Annual Christ-

mas Decorating Contest will begin on Dec.1. Perth Tourism encourages everyone living and operating a business in the Town of Perth to participate – large scale or small – by decorating their home or business front with lights and a winter/Christmas theme to

celebrate the season.

There are two categories, residential and commercial, and the rules are as follows: 1. Your home or business must be located within the limits of the Town of Perth (not just the BIA – this is for the whole town!)

2. You must incorporate lights into your decorations, which will display an obvious Christmas or winter theme There’s no registration this year. Instead, people (the voters) will submit the address of their favourite decorated home or business.

Perth Tourism is offering up a $100 cash prize for the first place residential

winner, and a $50 prize for the residential runner-up.

Commercial prizes come from our sponsors: Lake 88.1 FM has donated a pair of Ottawa Senators’ tickets (Tuesday, Jan. 24, 7:30 p.m. against the Washington Capitols) for the first place commercial winner and the Downtown Heritage Perth BIA has donated a $50 gift certificate for the commercial runner-up.

Go to the Town’s website at www.perth.ca and follow the links to the Christmas Decorating Contest. There you can enter the address of your choice for both the residential and commercial contest. The address with the most entries wins!

The winners will be tal-

lied manually the morning of Monday, Dec. 12; only one vote per email will be accepted.

If you don’t have access to a computer or email you can phone and leave a message at 613-267-3311, Ext. 2279 with one commercial and one residential address of your choice.

Perth will be a hub of activity this holiday season, with many great events and shopping specials.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to join in the fun, enjoy the festivities and the scenery, and to shop locally. Check the town’s web calendar for a huge listing of events happening in the community: www.perth.ca.

Sm it h s Fa l l s' C e le br at ion of L ig ht s c e le br ate s f i f t h s e a s on w it h over 70 0 i n at tend a nc e

Smiths Falls -Kathy Botham editorial@pdgmedia.ca Together Smiths Falls began its fifth season of the Celebration of

Lights on Saturday, Nov. 26 in Victoria Park.

Santa arrived in a fire truck just in time to help do the countdown and

hit the master switch to light up the park. More than 700 people came out to celebrate the start of this year's Celebration

of Lights. There was hot chocolate, treats, horse wagon rides, a bonfire and visits with Santa in amongst thousands

of lights and numerous displays. The park will be lit up every night now until Dec. 31. You can walk through Victoria

Park or take a vehicle to see all the displays and lights for this season's celebration.

Photo Credits: Kathy Botham

December 2016

9

community

Roy Brown Society questions CPDMH and CP Chamber hero’s absence from war museum of Commerce team up for

patient care

Regional - Linda Seccaspina editorial@pdgmedia.ca I read an article a few months ago about the Canadian War Museum providing Major-General Sir Isaac Brock’s coat to help a Grade 8 student’s history project.

This is a fantastic way to get our youth to study history, so why can’t Lanark County and Carleton Place’s very own war hero Roy Brown be in the Canadian War Museum too so some student can borrow one of his artifacts.

There are airports, schools and military bases named after Roy Brown. There is a mural on Bridge Street in Carleton Place, yet no artifacts of his are displayed at the Canadian War Museum, and the staff remains mute about the whole subject.

There was even a Hollywood movie made about the incident featuring Don Stroud as Roy Brown, yet Roy Brown’s name remains “an asterisk” on the history books.

I am going to be honest and say I had no idea who the First World War pilot was until I moved to Carleton Place. I write very little about him, as there seem to be endless articles and books, and very few outside the town’s limits understand the significance of what Brown did.

But ask anyone who the Red Baron is, aka the German flying ace Manfred Von Richthofen, and everyone would have their hand in the air.

Brown was the Royal Naval Air Service pilot from Carleton Place, credited with the victory that resulted in the death of the Red Baron.

The Red Baron shot down 80 allied planes, but the fact that Roy Brown shot him down is disputed all over the world.

There was an American witness, but Australia claims it was machine-gun fire from

Photo Credit:Submitted

Carleton Place - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca

The Carleton Place & District Chamber of Commerce and the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Foundation (CPDMH) have teamed up to raise money for patient care equipment with the 12 Days of Christmas raffle.

Starting on Dec. 13 prizes will be drawn daily for

12 days, increasing in value each day for a total of 78 prizes valued at over $5,000.

Each winning ticket is re-entered into the draw for a chance to win subsequent prizes.

You have the chance to win $200 BIA bucks, dozens of gift certificates, a new bike, jewelry, golf putters, snow removal, a full turkey dinner with sides and dessert and more!

With only 2,000 tickets printed, you have great odds of walking away with one of the prizes and with all proceeds going to the CPDMH Foundation, in the end everyone’s a winner. Tickets are $10 each or three for $20. They can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce, Cheddar Stop, Ginger Café or at the CPDMH Foundation office at the Carleton Place Hospital.

Photo Credit: Linda Secaspina

their infantry on the ground that brought Von Richthofen down. Even in Carleton Place, his hometown, the controversy still hangs in the air.

At the Royal Canadian Military Institute in Toronto lies a piece of the tri-plane’s wing, the actual seat the Red Baron sat in, and a cut out of the plane’s actual iron cross — signed by Brown’s flight crew — on display. Brown himself donated it in 1920.

So why can’t people come to a conclusion?

As Rob Probert, president of the Roy Brown Society in Carleton Place said, “As far as we are concerned, it was Roy Brown who shot Von Richthofen down, and it is he who is officially credited.”

For some reason, Canada does not want to give Brown his proper due, and he wasn’t even accepted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame

until this year.

“Many of us are at a loss as to why the WWI story of Roy Brown and the downing of Von Richtofen (The Red Baron) are not represented in some way at all in the National War Museum,” says Probert. “While it is not necessarily the Canadian way to boast of military events, this was a very significant battle that did have an impact on the closing out of WWI. Von Richtofen was very much a German national hero. His downing had a demoralizing effect on their prosecution of the war. We hope that with some time, and education, we can convince the museum to show some meaningful interest.”

“While there has been some questioning of the battle, it is, and has been well documented and should be recognized. Brown was officially accredited with and received appropriate honours for this feat. Medical evidence of the day and a variety of credible eyewitnesses all supported the story of Brown being the pilot who downed VonRichtofen.”

The goals of the Roy Brown Society is to make sure Brown’s story is not lost in time, and to promote the other 14 WWI pilots from the Carleton Place area, many of whom were aces themselves and had incredible stories and post war lives.

“We have been successful this past few years in building a national prominence and in this past year especially there have been several speeches in Parliament recognizing Brown, a large number of recognition events in Carleton Place itself, a number of national newspaper stories and at least 6 radio interviews, including CFRB in Toronto,” say Probert. “We are especially proud of instigating his successful induction into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame this past June.“

g!

Season’s Greetin closed dec. 23 and reopens jan 3

December 2016

10

community

An unforgettable New Year’s Eve, forgotten by one Regional - Linda Seccaspina editorial@pdgmedia.ca I stopped celebrating New Year’s Eve during my seventeenth year on this earth.

That year was so traumatic it cured me for life of participating in any future celebrations. Well, maybe I did do a brief stint in my nineteenth year and it was exactly 33 minutes of participation and no more than that. That was the actual time it took to jam eleven people into a Mini Austin. It was snowing hard that night and people did need a ride home.

For approximately four years in high school I loved a boy — and he was no ordinary boy. He was the golden boy of Cowansville High School. He was blonde, French Canadian and handsome. When he smiled, you could see the stars glimmer from his teeth and when he walked down the hall girls melted into puddles.

Of course I had no chance of ever snaring this magnificent creature as I was about 102 pounds overweight. I smiled, I curled my hair, I used deodorant, yet he would never look my way.

I was so huge he probably thought I was a school corridor column, and not the girl that loved him.

At age sixteen I left school, went to Fashion Design School and all thoughts of Golden Boy left my head.

I worked part time in a

fashion store, lost about a zillion pounds and had the wardrobe any mod in the 60s would die for. That was probably one reason I lost so much weight. It was either food or clothes, and the clothes won out hands down.

Before the year 1968 ended, it found me holding an invite to the coolest New Year’s Eve party around. It was to be held in the basement of an old A&P store in Granby, Quebec and I knew my old school chums would be there.

I was so excited to see them and dressed very carefully. I wore a black velvet Twiggy-style mini dress with a front zipper and white collar, black fishnets and patent cuban heel shoes with a big silver buckle on them.

As I walked down the stairs and into the makeshift teen club people’s mouths dropped and screamed when they saw me. Taking off my long black Dr. Zhivago-style midi coat, I slowly walked up to the dance floor in all my glory.

I happily danced my feet off to a half dozen Creedence Clearwater songs until I was a sweaty mess. To cool off, I went outside to get air and of course icicles started forming on my hair from the cold frigid air.

I don’t smoke so I tried to lean against the brick wall seductively while the icicles

were quickly multiplying in my hair. Maybe this year I could honestly snag a guy to dance with me. I prayed silently, “Just this once God, before I die, let me dance with a real boy.”

Through the haze of cigarette smoke, clouds, and ice fog I saw a shadow following me. He was tall, lean and boy was he blonde. It was none other than Golden Boy. Golden Boy in all his glory was approaching me from 30 degrees north.

The icicles in my hair suddenly started to melt and I became tongue tied as he looked at me and then hugged me. I just couldn’t savour this moment I had yearned for as I was too busy worrying if I stunk from perspiration. He spoke in a low sexy voice that made the earth shatter and the heavens suddenly opened.

My heart was beating on overdrive and I was about to explode as he said, “Linda, you look just fabulous!”

Wait, was he talking to someone else? I looked around and saw no one, so yes he was talking to me.

More icicles started to melt from my hair as my body overheated. He grabbed my hand and we went inside where we proceeded to slow dance. I could feel his heartbeat and I could smell traces of his Aqua Velva and his Gitanes. We proceeded to dance the rest of the night away and he rode home

Photo Credit: Submitted

with me on the bus, holding my hand tightly. The heavy snow had turned to a deadly freezing rain but he insisted on walking me home.

We walked up the short path to the handmade death defying wobbling concrete steps that were now a skating rink. He took my head in his hands and kissed me.

In fact he kissed me a lot.

Instead of being in lust, angry thoughts suddenly flooded my brain of how badly he had treated me in the past. I suddenly started to rage. If I wasn't 100 pounds thinner he wouldn't be kissing me right now. I got so mad inside I pushed him. In reality I was aiming

for the snow bank on the right, but instead he accidently fell down the icy concrete steps. Golden Boy laid there and was most definitely knocked out.

I called my father and we took him to the hospital. He was fine, except he had one problem — he was having a hard time remembering anything. He somehow could not remember that he had ‘slipped’ and ‘fallen’ down the stairs. Everyone blamed the slippery conditions and no one even thought that a former chubby had given her all that night.

She had given her all for every other high school or

college girl that had loved a Golden Boy once in her life and was treated badly.

After that I never really celebrated New Year’s Eve again. I decided what happened that night was enough for me. Every New Year’s Eve after that I celebrated with Dick Clark.

When I see Golden Boy’s name pop up on Classmates.com, I smile. I smile that same sinister smile the night Golden Boy became not so golden and ‘slipped’ down the wobbly concrete stairs.

I bet after 40 years he isn’t so golden anymore. Frankly I bet he is a tad tarnished.

Smith Falls Youth Centre receives funds from Bell Let's Talk Community Fund

;)

*

*What he said.

Merry Christmas from catscovecommunications.com ~ 613.812.2255

Photo Credit: Submitted

The Smiths Falls & District Centre for Youth was presented with a cheque for $20,000 this week through the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund.

The money given to the youth centre will be used to deliver safeTALK training to youth ages 15-19

throughout the region.

It will enable 1,500 youth to become suicidealert helpers who are able to recognize early signs of people with suicidal thoughts.

These youth will be equipped to help those in distress find the right support. The agency will also implement

mental health first aid awareness campaigns to make two school boards, five communities and 23 schools more aware of and safer from suicide.

The check was presented by Sandy McDonald, regional director, community affairs with Bell.

Discover the communities of Lanark & Northern Leeds Grenville

Visit Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm for some classy country hospitality Advertorial

“Come escape the city, enjoy the landscape, bring your kids and hang out in our backyard for a few months of the year,” said Pam Martin, owner of Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm.

Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm is tucked into the postcard-worthy landscape of 200-yearold Pakenham Village.

The farm was originally settled as a lumber and saw mill in the 1820s.

Now a winter wonderland complete with stone fireplaces and tractor rides, the farm offers free admission for everyone. Visitors just have to pay for the tree they fall in love with.

“We’re more than just trees,” said Martin. “We have sliding hills, bonfires, playgrounds and a restaurant.” Claus Café serves homemade chilli, soup, hot dogs and more, with vegetarian and gluten-free options.

With 114 acre of firs, spruces and pines, the rustic tree farm brings

Season’s Greetings

a sense of nostalgia for Canadian Christmases of the past. The farm will offer classic horsedrawn sleigh rides on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 this year.

“It’s a gem in the community,” Martin said. “There’s a creek that runs through the property with a beautiful covered bridge that makes for some really nice photos.” About five photographers are doing Christmas photo-shoots at the farm this holiday season, Martin said.

Visitors to the farm are also invited to browse for jams, spreads, fudge, ornaments and decorations at the shop on the property. “These things make great gifts Cedar Hill Tree Farm offers free admission for a Christmas, funand add to any holi- filled family adventure in Pakenham. PhotoCredits: Submitted by day meal,” Martin said. Pam Martin.

“We are new owners but Open seven days Head to 951 ConcesCedar Hill is the same a week from 9 a.m. sion 8 South to enjoy great tree farm.” to 5 p.m., Cedar Hill some country hospitaliMartin and her hus- Christmas Tree Farm ty at Cedar Hill Christband, Grant, bought accepts cash and debit mas Tree Farm. Call the farm over a year ago payments.

Grant or Pam Martin at and moved to the propThe tree farm will (613) 256-3029 or visit erty in August. Their be open until 2 p.m. w w w. c e d a r h i l l c h r i s t four sons, Todd, Neil, on Christmas Eve this mastreefarm.com for Adam and Graham, also year. more information. help on the farm.

Shawn & Tracey Pankow wishing you a...

from John Gemmell, Laina Trevena, Eric Devlin, all members and staff of Perth-Upon-Tay, Branch 244, Royal Canadian Legion

Merry Christmas from all of us at Hometown News

merry christmas & happy new year from all of us at Rideau Lakes Building Centre!

Merry Christmas from Santa, Mrs. Claus and all the elves and reindeer.

Your trusted building & hardware supply partner

See you soon!

613-272-0209 rlbc@rideau.net

Events around the region Almonte & Mississippi Mills

December 1

FoSH: The Once Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St., Almonte 613-247-1188 ext.258 Thefestivalofsmallhalls.com

December 1, 8, 15, 22, 31 Jimmy Tri-Tone Band The Barley Mow 79 Little Bridge Street, Almonte dave@barleymow.com 613-256-5669 barleymow.com

December 2

Light up the Night Downtown Almonte Mill Street, Almonte 613-256-1077 www.downtownalmonte.ca

December 3

Almonte Farmers' Xmas Market Almonte Community Centre 182 Bridge St., Almonte

December 3

AiC: Ewashko Singers Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St., Almonte almonteinconcert.com

December 4

Almonte in Concert's Youthful Music Club Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St., Almonte almonteinconcert.com/youthmusic-club musicclub@almonteinconcert. com

December 4

Book Signing/Presentation: Charlotte Gray Mississippi Valley Textile Museum 3 Rosamond St. E, Almonte mvtm.ca info@mvtm.ca 613-256-3754

December 4

Valley Singles Lunch Superior Restaurant 84 Mill St., Almonte 613-622-5693

December 4

Parade of Lights Downtown Almonte Mill St., Almonte 613-256-1077 www.downtownalmonte.ca

December 7

Open Celtic Jam Naismith Pub 411 Ottawa St., Almonte 613-256-6336

December 8

Youth Ctr Grand Opening Mississippi Mills Youth Centre 134 Main St., Almonte info.mmyc@gmail.com www.facebook.com/MississippiMillsYouthCentre

December 10

Kintail Country Christmas Mill of Kintail Conservation Area 2854 Concession 8, Almonte 613-256-3610 613-257-8503 appletonmuseum@hotmail.com

December 10

The Virgin Mary to the Child Jesus Cantata Almonte Presbyterian Church 111 Church St., Almonte jazzn.ca/index.html arnie@jazzN.ca

December 10

Pediatric Cancer Awareness Benefit Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St., Almonte www.facebook.com/ events/1173595472721634

December 11

Book Signing: Claudia Smith Mill Street Books 52 Mill St., Almonte 613-256-9090 Millstreetbooks.com

December 11

Valley Voices Xmas Concert Almonte United Church 106 Elgin St., Almonte

December 11

David Francey Xmas Show Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St., Almonte Davidfrancey.com

December 14

Open Celtic Jam Naismith Pub 411 Ottawa St., Almonte

December 16 and 17

A Mississippi Mills Christmas Carol Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St., Almonte puppetsup.ca/tickets

December 18

Book Launch: Lilly White Heirloom Café/Bistro 7 Mill St., Almonte info@heirloomcafe.ca 613-256-9653 www.heirloomcafe.ca

December 18

Trad Song Session The Barley Mow 79 Little Bridge Street, Almonte dave@barleymow.com 613-256-5669 barleymow.com

December 23

Lynn Miles & Kelly Sloan Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St., Almonte

Carleton Place December • Mondays

Mixed Euchre Royal Canadian Legion Branch 192 177 George St

December • Tuesdays

Cribbage Royal Canadian Legion Branch 192 177 George St

December • Tuesdays

Ladies Drop-In Darts Royal Canadian Legion Branch 192 177 George St

December • Tuesdays Civitan Bingo Carleton Place Arena

December • Tuesdays

Paint Nite Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St., Carleton Place

613-257-5755 www.paintnite.com

December • Wednesdays

Open Jam Night The Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St www.thewaterfrontgastropub.ca

December • Thursdays

Karaoke Night The Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St www.thewaterfrontgastropub.ca

December • Thursdays

Indoor Walking at Carambeck Carambeck Community Centre 351 Bridge Street 613-257-1704

December • Fridays

December 6

December 3

December 7

December 3 to 4

Town Singers Xmas Concert St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church 39 Bridge St., Carleton Place cptownsingers@gmail.com CP Hort: Potluck/AGM St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church 39 Bridge St., Carleton Place cphorticulture.ca

December 8

Jazz at the Queens Queens Hotel 142 Bridge St., Carleton Place 613-257-7639

December 10

December • Fridays

Xmas Open House Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum 267 Edmund St., Carleton Place 613-253-7013

December • Saturdays

Crystal Bowl Meditation Carleton Place Public Library 101 Beckwith Street, Carleton Place

Ballroom and Latin Dance Social Total Rhythm Dance Studio Lansdowne Avenue DJ Whisper The Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St www.thewaterfrontgastropub.ca

December 15

Acoustic Saturdays The Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St www.thewaterfrontgastropub.ca

Perth

Queens Live Music Queen's Hotel 142 Bridge St

December 2

December • Saturdays

December • Saturdays

Music at the Moose The Thirsty Moose Pub & Eatery 20 Bridge St

December • Sundays

Music at the Gastropub The Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St www.thewaterfrontgastropub.ca

December 1 to 3

Mary Poppins Mississippi Mudds Carleton Place Town Hall 7:30 pm Tickets $15 at Carleton Place Hallmark 613-253-3000 www.mississippimudds.com

December 3

Brock Zeman CD Release Carleton Place Legion 177 George St., Carleton Place www.brockzeman.com

December 3

Downtown CP Open House Downtown Carleton Place Bridge Street, Carleton Place downtowncarletonplace.com

December 3 to 4

Xmas House Tour Tour seasonally-decorated homes susanjanetunks@gmail.com 613-257-9717

December 2

Festival of Lights Crystal Palace, Perth Jimmy Tri-Tone Band O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E., Perth www.oreillyspubperth.com 613 267-7994

December 2, 26

Matt Dickson Golden Arrow 71 Foster St., Perth goldenarrowpub.com 613-267-4500

December 2 to 3, 8 to 10 A Christmas Carol Full Circle Theatre 26 Craig St., Perth 613-267-1884

December 3

Algonquin Student Makers Market Algonquin College 7 Craig St., Perth www.algonquincollege.com/ studentsupportservices

December 3

Santa Claus parade Starts at "The Factor Business Complex" on Sunset Blvd Finishes at Queen Elizabeth School Theme: An Old Fashioned Christmas To register a float, contact Sheri Mahon-Fournier 613-812-1215 sherisells@hotmail.com

Author in Store: Gary Smith The Book Nook 60 Gore St. E., Perth thebooknook@bellnet.ca 613-267-2350 Heritage Perth Christmas House 8 Unique Homes in Perth 613-267-7817

December 6

Green Drinks Golden Arrow 71 Foster St., Perth Goldenarrowpub.com Perthgreendrinks@gmail.com greendrinks.org 613-267-4500

December 6, 13, 20, 27

Brock Zeman & Blair Hogan O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E., Perth www.oreillyspubperth.com

December 7, 14, 21, 28

Acoustic Stage w/Dave Balfour O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E., Perth www.oreillyspubperth.com

December 7, 14, 21, 28

Karaoke Golden Arrow 71 Foster St., Perth Goldenarrowpub.com 613-267-4500

December 8 to 10, 16 to 17 Murder by the Book Studio Theatre 63 Gore St. E., Perth 613-267-7469 studiotheatreperth.com

December 9

The Respectables Golden Arrow 71 Foster St., Perth Goldenarrowpub.com 613-267-4500

December 9

Tom Watson O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E., Perth www.oreillyspubperth.com

December 10 and 11

Miracle on Main Street Glad Tidings Pentecostal Church 160 Wayside Dr., Perth 613-267-3295 Gtpcperth.com

December 10

Brea Lawrenson Golden Arrow 71 Foster St., Perth Goldenarrowpub.com 613-267-4500

December 10

December 3

Under the Covers O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E., Perth www.oreillyspubperth.com

December 3

Author in Store: Ron Corbett The Book Nook 60 Gore St. E., Perth thebooknook@bellnet.ca 613-267-2350

December 11

Glass Holiday Open House Current Works of Glass 112 Queen St., Almonte 613-859-0100

4th Annual Photos with Santa Day All proceeds go to Shriner’s Hospitals for Children 27 Gore Street East, Perth

Town Singers Xmas Concert St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church 39 Bridge St., Carleton Place cptownsingers@gmail.com

Nick of Time Artisan Show McMartin House 125 Gore St. E., Perth sites.google.com/site/nickoftimeinperth

December 13

December 4

December 4

Adult Bereavement Group Community Home Support 40 Sunset Blvd., Perth 613-267-6400 www.chslc.ca

December 13

Hairspray!

Code's Mill 17 Wilson St. E., Perth musictheatre.ca

December 16

Jimmy Tri-Tone Band O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E., Perth www.oreillyspubperth.com 613 267-7994

December 16

Ted Lalonde Golden Arrow 71 Foster St., Perth goldenarrowpub.com 613-267-4500

December 17

Riley White Golden Arrow 71 Foster St., Perth goldenarrowpub.com 613-267-4500

December 21

Nutcracker Suite & Carol Sing St Paul's United Church 25 Gore St. W., Perth

December 23

Danielle Hewitt Golden Arrow 71 Foster St., Perth Goldenarrowpub.com

December 23

Betwixt and Between Dinner Dance BVM Hall 844 Stanley Rd., Perth 613-267-5353

December 23

New Year’s Eve Party w/The Brockolees Golden Arrow 71 Foster St., Perth Goldenarrowpub.com

Smiths Falls December • All Month

Celebration of Lights Victoria Park Campground 30 Lombard St., Smiths Falls info@togethersmithsfalls.com www.togethersmithsfalls.com

December 2

Paint Night Lombardy Agricultural Hall 613-275-1899

December 2 to 4, 8 to 11

Sleeping Beauty The Smiths Falls Community Theatre 8 Russell St. E, Smiths Falls www.smithsfallstheatre.com

December 3

40 Plus Singles Dinner & Dance Civitan Club, #12468 Hwy 15, Smiths Falls Betty: 613-285-5557 40plussinglesdanceglub@ gmail.com

December 3

Chase the Chill Corner of Russell St. E and Beckwith St., Smiths Falls

December 3

North Pole Express Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario 90 William St. W, Smiths Falls

December 3

Annual Christmas Dinner Westminster Presbyterian

Would you like to see your community’s events for next month listed here? Please send details of the events to events@pdgmedia.ca for information on our ads contact advertising@pdgmedia.ca or call (613) 206-0708 The events listed here are submitted to Hometown News, Events are subject to change or may be cancelled after date of publication. Hometown News is not responsible for such changes

Church

December 3

Christmas in the Ridea Gallipeau Centre 361 Queen St., Smiths Falls 613-978-0447 613-656-3591 willoughbybarb@hotmail.com rjstanzel@cogeco.ca

December 3

35th Annual Art Show & Sale, with Christmas Artisan Market Heritage House Museum 11 Old Sly's Rd., Smiths Falls www.facebook.com/HeritageHouseMuseum heritagehouse@smithsfalls.ca 613-283-6311

December 4

Victorian Family Christmas Party Heritage House Museum 11 Old Sly's Rd., Smiths Falls www.facebook.com/HeritageHouseMuseum heritagehouse@smithsfalls.ca 613-283-6311

December 4

Photo’s with Santa Smiths Falls Civitan 12468 Hwy 15 N., Smiths Falls

December 4 and 8

Santa at the Civitan Smiths Falls Civitan

December 5 and 12

Christmas comes to the Heritage House Heritage House Museum 11 Old Sly's Rd., Smiths Falls www.facebook.com/HeritageHouseMuseum

heritagehouse@smithsfalls.ca 613-283-6311

December 6

Christmas Cookie Exchange Smiths Falls Public Library

December 7

Sounds of the Season SFDCI 299 Percy St, Smiths Falls

December 7 to 9

18th Annual Festival of Trees Smiths Falls Civitan 613-283-4915

December 8

Lushes with Brushes 11 Old Sly’s Road, Smiths Falls 613-283-6311 heritagehouse@smithsfalls.ca

December 10

Heather’s Studio Xmas Open House Heather's Studio 2 Gould St., Unit 127

December 10

Smiths Falls Santa Claus Parade Starts at the Youth Arena at 4:00pm Ends at Lower Reach Park

December 16

Steel City Rovers Winter Tidings Concert Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave., Smiths Falls Smithsfallstheatre.com 613-283-0300

December 31

Resolution Run 5km run or walk SportX 11 Chambers St, Smiths Falls

Westport & Rideau Lakes December 3

Logan Brown The Country Cove Inn 2 Bedford St., Westport info@coveinn.com coveinn.com 613-273-3636 1-888-COVEINN

December 3

A Country Xmas w/Shawn McCullough Band The Country Cove Inn 2 Bedford St., Westport info@coveinn.com coveinn.com 613-273-3636 1-888-COVEINN

December 3

Westport Christmas Farmers’ Market 9921 Country Road 42, Westport

December 7, 14, 21

Shawn McCullough The Country Cove Inn 2 Bedford St., Westport info@coveinn.com coveinn.com 613-273-3636 1-888-COVEINN

December 9

Shawn McCullough & Wade Foster The Country Cove Inn 2 Bedford St., Westport info@coveinn.com coveinn.com 613-273-3636

December 10

Jeff Callery The Country Cove Inn 2 Bedford St., Westport info@coveinn.com coveinn.com 613-273-3636 1-888-COVEINN

December 16, 30

Head over Heels The Country Cove Inn 2 Bedford St., Westport info@coveinn.com coveinn.com 613-273-3636 1-888-COVEINN

December 17, 23

Jazz Night w/Spencer Evans Trio The Country Cove Inn 2 Bedford St., Westport info@coveinn.com coveinn.com 613-273-3636 1-888-COVEINN

December 31

A Turpin's Trail New Year's Eve The Country Cove Inn 2 Bedford St., Westport info@coveinn.com coveinn.com 613-273-3636 1-888-COVEINN

December 3

Lynne Hanson Valley Food & Drink Co. 729 Mill St., Calabogie 613-752-2676 Thevalleyfoodanddrinkco.ca

December 10

Jasper December 4, 11 and 18

Sneezy Waters Valley Food & Drink Co. 729 Mill St., Calabogie 613-752-2676 Thevalleyfoodanddrinkco.ca

Montague

December 17

December 28

Dutch Mason tribute Valley Food & Drink Co. 729 Mill St., Calabogie 613-752-2676 Thevalleyfoodanddrinkco.ca

Dalhousie, Lanark December 3 to 4

Open Studio - Living Stones John Schweighardt Studio 1787 3rd Conc. Dalhousie, Lanark

Regional Calabogie

December 3

Karaoke Valley Food & Drink Co. 729 Mill St. Calabogie 613-752-2676

The fiVe Woodwind Quintet St. Andrew's United Church 2585 County Rd 29, Pakenham

Jill Zmud Valley Food & Drink Co. 729 Mill St., Calabogie 613-752-2676 Thevalleyfoodanddrinkco.ca

Pakenham

December 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

December 11

Santa Claus Parade Stewart Community Centre 112 MacFarland St., Pakenham neilcorphomes.com 613-256-1077

Christmas Trees & Santa Visit!

787 Kitley Line 2, Jasper www.blitzenestate.com 613-699-0157

December 4

Annual Christmas Dinner & Dance Montague Centennial Hall on Rosedale Rd 613.283.8482

Maberly December 10 Tay Valley Choir Xmas Concert Maberly Community Hall 172 Maberly Elphin Rd., Maberly

Rideau Ferry December 17

Christmas Bird Count Rideau Ferry alisonbentley@gmail.com 613-273-4428 www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/cbc

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holiday Season!

In this festive season, let’s all take time to enjoy life’s simple blessings and the beauty of each moment.

Warmest Wishes from Robert, Shannon and everyone at Miller’s Bay Farm

millersbayfarm.com

December 2016

14

Catch the holiday spirit at Christmas in Merrickville

Free Fries in exchange for nonperishable food items on Dec. 5 at Valley Fries in Carleton Place

Photo Credit: Submitted

Carleton Place Sarah Cavanagh

editorial@pdgmedia.ca If you are from Carleton Place you probably remember Mike’s Fries and his iconic little white truck with all the windows. Since 1939, Mike’s Fries was a town standard with a perfected secret recipe and of course the CP Original (a medium fry with butter).

The original owner, Mike Molodowan passed away

at age 96 in 2008. There are stories throughout Ottawa and the valley of people travelling great distances just to get a taste of Mike’s fries. In 1979, when Mike was 68 he passed the business onto his son (Mike Jr).

Mike Jr and his wife, Pat ran the chip wagon for 25 years until Mike’s sudden passing as a result of heart complications. Life, as it tend to, slowly crept along and Mike’s Fries became some-

thing of fable and legend.

Fast forward to 2016 and the discovery of this once iconic food truck in a barn on Franktown Rd. Matt Maurice and his wife Lea stumbled upon this gem.

After working as a chef for 20 years, Matt has resurrected (not only the truck) but the Mike’s fries secret recipe and simple menu. He is selling fries and doing it the same way as it has been done since 1934 (with one small exception – he leaves the skin on the potatoes).

On Nov.12, Matt opened the window at Valley Fries and sold out — 300 pounds of potatoes gone in a few short hours. It’s clear that Carleton Place has missed these fries!

Both Lea and Matt are beacons in the community with a calling to help put an end to youth homelessness in Lanark County. You can always find the busy pair volunteering to help out or donating to a local charity and Matt’s new endeavor has wasted no time in keeping up the tradition. On Dec. 5 Valley fries will be giving away a free medium fry to every customer who brings a non -perishable food item for the Lanark County Food Bank.

Matt’s goal is to give his customers exceptional food and service. He hopes to add menu items in the future and will stay open into January and then re-open in

Photo Credit: Submitted

Regional Howaida Sorour-Roberts

h e d dy @ pd g m e d ia . c a It’s magical anyway you look at it, but this year Christmas in Merrickville promises to be even more bewitching than usual. The volunteer driven, day-long celebration will be held this year on Saturday, Dec.3.

As always the event will kick-off at 8:30 a.m. with a hearty breakfast with Santa, at the legion on Main Street.

“The legion members do a wonderful job and it’s probably one of the most popular events of the day,” said Mark Scullino, chair of Christmas in Merrickville.

From there, it just keeps getting better. The usual cookie walk and weigh will be back, as will the silent auction and wagon rides. Children’s activities and face painting starts at 9:00 a.m., and the ever popular Dr. FourFace Extravaganza will back to entertain children of all ages at 2:00 p.m.

The parade will start at 11 a.m. and pictures with Santa will start at 1:00 p.m. Lawrence Street will be closed right after the parade and fire barrels will start to appear, with cider, hot chocolate and snack at various locations. And don’t forget to come out and cheer at the broomball match between council and the firefighters at 2:15 p.m.

Of course this year there are a number of new additions to

the line up of things to do and see.

“The United Church at the corner of Main and St. Lawrence Streets will have a Vendor Market, which is new this year and it runs from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. and Christmas with Elvis at the Sidecar Café is also new this year,” said Scullino.

Elvis will be performing three shows starting at 1:00 p.m. at the Sidecar Café’ off Main Street.

Meanwhile on St. Lawrence Street, Rob Barclay will be tickling his saxophone and entertaining the walkers and shoppers.

“I’m going to be playing a wide range of music from 20s, 30s and 40s slower tempo Jazz – something to stroll and saunter to and enjoy,” said Barclay, musician and Kemptville resident.

The ever-popular chili tent has moved from the post office to the sidewalk in front of Mrs. McGarrigle’s Fine Food Shops. “The chilli contest used to be a contest for restaurants but this year we’ve put a shout out to the village and are opening up the contest to more individuals, but we’ve moved it because we wanted a larger space for Diego the Magician.

He’ll now be performing in front of the post office,” said Scullino.

The Magic of Diego show, has been a staple of CIM for the past four or five years. Recently voted the Nation’s Capi-

tal Best Illusionist, it takes on a busker style outdoor illusionist show for this event.

“The show is very, very interactive and family oriented for the 3 to 303 year-olds!” said Diego, weekend magician and police officer during the week.

Scullino says the organizers are also planning to light up all the parks in the village. Both the Cenotaph Park and Block House Park will be beautifully lit this year with laser lights that will give a kaleidoscope effect in those areas.

Also new this year are glassblowing demonstrations at Gray Art Glass with Michael Gray.

“The horse drawn wagons will pass by Michael’s facility so people can take a peek, as they drive by, but check their website for demonstration times too,” said Scullino.

There’s a shopping spree to be won, and a Spirit Award will be given for the best Christmas hat or outfit. All the stores will remain open late into the evening and there will be carolers wandering throughout the day as well.

The event is also a fundraiser for the Lions Club Hampers and Build a Mountain of Food.

“We depend on donations and sponsors and give the proceeds of the event back to the village,” said Scullino.

For more information about Christmas in Merrickville and a complete schedule of events, visit christmasinmerrickville.ca.

From all of us at Carleton Place Terrace

Happy Pawlidays!

At Carleton Place Terrace, pets are always welcome. It’s just one of the unique ways we make our home your home.

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December 2016

15

lifestyle Pound fitness classes promote Local bride opts to tie knot in fitness for all around the region Smiths Falls after winning big

Regional Howaida Sorour-Roberts heddy@pdgmedia.ca

It’s fast, vigorous and fun.

Pound is a new trend in fitness that combines cardio conditioning and strength training with lightly weighted exercise drumsticks and lots of rhythm.

The moves are inspired by yoga and pilates and it’s guaranteed to make you sweat.

“It’s a quick and fun way to sweat and I enjoy the mental challenge,” said Casey Little, a Pound student in Merrickville.

And a mental challenge it is. When Hometown News approached Katie Weststrate, naturopathic doctor, ND, MScCH, RHN, RYT, and Pound instructor about writing an article on this latest trend, she immediately extended an invitation to participate in a class to fully appreciate the workout.

It was tough. I’m a fairly fit individual, but this writer couldn’t keep up with the speed or level of coordination the class required.

In Pound the upper body is in constant motion and drumming with a set of quarter-pound sticks; this creates constant instability,

engaging all the stabilizer muscles of the core and lower body — muscles that rarely get used in day-to-day life. “It’s an awesome workout. According to the Pound founders you can burn upwards of 900 calories in a single workout if you’re giving it your all,” said Weststrate.

Pound was created by Kirsten Potenza and Cristina Peerenboom, both drummers, music enthusiasts and fitness experts out of California, USA. According to their website, Pound exercise will strengthen and sculpt infrequently used muscles.

“It is cardio and strength at the same time, mostly core and lower body strengthening plus cardio conditioning,” confirmed Weststrate, Having experienced one class and met students who have been at it for at least a year, I can believe it. It is however hard on the joints says Weststrate who says she modifies some of the movements for her older clients.

According to the Pound label the program can significantly improves rhythm, timing, coordination, speed, agility, endurance, and musicality. It will cinch the

waistline, slim the thighs, and strengthen connective tissue and infrastructural muscles with the combination of stability and cardio.

“It’s great and I have rheumatoid arthritis, but Katie has shown me modifications so I can do it, and along with some other classes I do with Katie I’ve probably lost 40 pounds,” says Mary-Pat McKay, Pound regular in Merrickville.

Pound classes in Merrickville are held on Thursday evening from 6:15 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Ahimsa Naturopathic on Main Street. There are also classes available in Perth at the Steward School Gym on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. with other instructors.

“I’m thinking of starting a 50 plus modified Pound class in Merrickville soon,” added Weststrate.

Meanwhile the Perth group is looking to add an early Saturday morning class according to their Facebook page, though that hasn’t been decided yet.

While Pound is certainly not for the faint of heart, it really is a high energy, fun way to stay in shape while rocking out to great music.

For more information about Pound visit poundfit.com.

Using Ripstix (lightly weighted drumsticks) Katie Weststrate, naturopathic doctor and Pound instructor leads a class in Merrickville in this latest fun, high energy trending fitness program. Photo Credit: Howaida Sorour-Roberts

The winner of the grand prize at Always and Forever Wedding Show held in Smiths Falls, Emily Bowick accepts $11,000 worth of gift certificates for all things wedding from show co-founder and organizer Jackie Stanzel.

Photo Credit: Howaida Sorour-Roberts

Smiths Fals Howaida Sorour-Roberts heddy@pdgmedia.ca It’s supposed to be a very special day, and for Emily Bowick of Smiths Falls it’s turning out to be a dream.

As the winner of the $11,000 grand prize at Always and Forever Wedding Show in Smiths Falls, Bowick is thrilled with the variety and generosity of the package.

“I didn’t believe it. I never win anything. It was amazing. I’m so grateful,” says Bowick.

An easy-going, vivacious young lady, Bowick even changed her wedding date so she could take full advantage of the prize.

“There was a stipulation that the winner had to get married between Nov 1, 2016 and April 30, 2017 as it’s a less busy time for most of the vendors,” says Jackie Stanzel, show organizer and co-founder.

For some couples this could have been a stumbling block, but not for Bowick.

“We had planned to get married in Oct 2017 and I was just about to send in my contract for the Crystal Palace, but then I won,” said Bowick. “Now we’re getting married on April 29, 2017 at the Gallipeau Centre.”

And instead of getting married in Perth, Bowick and her fiancé Travis Seed, have now learned that everything they could possibly

wish for is available right here in Smiths Falls.

“We moved the wedding to the Gallipeau because it was one of the prizes, but I didn’t know before that people could have weddings there,” says Bowick, who will be turning the ballroom at the Gallipeau into an enchanted forest with a pastel pink and gold theme.

The grand prize package consisted of 20 gift certificates ranging in value form $100 to $3,500 and covered everything from a wedding dress, to venue to music, photography, wine, catering, invitations, officiate services, jewelry and wedding favours, to name a few.

Many of the grand prize donations were from local businesses such as Magnolia Catering, Rideau Winery, JS Creations, the Gallipeau Centre, and Swissmiss Bridal.

“I’ve already got my dress picked out at Swissmiss Bridal. [The owner] is so great. She is helpful and so sweet, and had donated $500 towards the dress,” said Bowick, adding that because of the gift it allowed her to have more choices and still stay on budget.

From a vendor point of view, the grand prize gift simply makes good business sense.

“A lot of the brides who came to the show had never been in my shop, so it gets my name out there,” says

Rebecca Nolan, owner of Swissmiss Bridal. “It also draws people to the wedding show, and we want to draw people from Ottawa and Kingston, so yes I would do that again next year.”

Stanzel says that she was amazed at how easily vendors jumped on the idea of giving away a bridal package.

“When I approached people they were very happy to donate, they all thought it was an excellent idea,” she says.

Only in its second year, the show included 34 wedding vendors and saw more than 200 attendees, and over 80 brides. “We had people coming from all over the place, Rockland, Orleans, Gatineau and our own region,” says Stanzel.

Next year’s wedding show is already in the planning.

Stanzel who also owns JS Creations, which specializes in wedding cakes and wedding dessert bars, explains it takes about a year to plan.

“I’m already thinking of ways to make next year’s show better, so I’ve started planning it and I’m going to contact more vendors this year to see if they’ll donate to next year’s grand prize,” she says.

So brides of the region, keep your eyes peeled for next year’s show in the fall of 2017. You could be the next grand prize winner.

December 2016

16

lifestyle

Mental Health

New local service for kids with ADHD and autism

Amanda Neadow, standing with her sons Jason and Dawson, recently opened the JDN Center for Children in Perth to provide ABA therapy and parent coaching support to children diagnosed with ADHD, autism and cognitive deficit disorders.

When Amanda Neadow discovered her two sons were diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), she felt both relief as well as an immediate desire to fix the problem.

And she did a lot of it on

her own.

“We used the sources that the school offered, but the majority of sources and support we used was based on our own research,” Neadow explains. “I am a fixer by nature and I was determined to understand

what ADHD was, how to treat it and how to ensure that my boys would be successful. I spent many days and nights researching, reading, trying, failing and trying again.”

Neadow learned that she needed to be her children’s advocate all while listening to her children to know what they needed to feel supported. But she knew more help was needed. Her son’s educational assistant at school made a life-changing suggestion: try applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy.

ABA therapy explained ABA places emphasis on functional skills that are meaningful in day-to-day life that will, over time, increase or decrease targeted behaviours. These principles can help to decrease maladaptive behaviors such as aggression, self-stimulatory behaviors, and self-injury. The therapy is useful for children diagnosed with ADHD, autism or cognitive deficit disorders.

“The results were amazing!” Neadow explains.

“My son learned how to identify his feelings and he was stopping and thinking before physically reacting to a situation. He had gained self-control and

confidence.”

But accessing these services meant two things for Neadow: driving into Ottawa three days a week for two months and missing work as a result. She’s adamant the reward outweighed the commitment.

Bringing ABA therapy to Perth Neadow wanted to bring these same solutions to other families, because she knew she wasn’t alone. According to the Centre for ADHD Awareness in Canada, it’s estimated that five to 12 per cent of adolescents have ADHD. Neadow recognized the need and convenience to have such services offered locally. So, in September 2016 she opened the doors to the JDN Center for Children at the Elliot Street Medical Clinic in Perth. The center offers one-on-one ABA therapy for children in JK to grade 8 as well as parent coaching and social skills development.

Since they opened,

Neadow says they instantly realized just how much this service is needed within the community.

“We are so happy that we can bring solutions to families,” says Neadow, adding they now have one senior therapist and four instructional therapists on staff.

In the New Year, the JDN Center will host a social skills group to help children engage in positive peer relationships while parents can also access guidance as their children undergo the ABA sessions.

Medical community welcomes therapy options Local physician Dr. Beth Anne Van Noppen says she’s thrilled about the new service.

“I was really excited when Amanda came to me with the idea of an ADHD centre. I have seen Amanda work sacrificially to get the care she needed for her boys. I now see that determination and courage as she embarks on the start-

ing of the JDN Center,” Van Noppen says. “It’s easy to take medication. It’s not easy to work through these difficulties. It takes a lot of effort and commitment. I think JDN will be a great asset in helping both parents and kids as they develop new responses to different situations.”

And that’s exactly what Neadow wants to offer with the JDN Center.

“There are many children who have ADHD, ASD and cognitive deficits who struggle every day and their parents and caregivers want their children to be happy and healthy,” Neadow says. “It is a real-life struggle and worry.

So if the JDN Center can help parents start or continue their journey with more resources, information, and support than my family had, then our job is done.”

Submitted by Amanda Neadow - JDN Center for Children

From studies and research, we now know that our brains can change, based on what we read, watch, and hear. This changing of the brain is called neuroplasticity.

Because our brain can change, this means we can control the process by choosing the right information to input into your brain. This is where MindFit comes in!

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December 2016

17

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December 2016

18

lifestyle

Tastes

Food & Drink of the

Region

eat, drink, write...

Tasteful treats for allergy sufferers Howaida Sorour-Roberts heddy@pdgmedia.ca The smell of freshly baked treats never fails to bring out the child in me. Walking into Dolly Doll Cupcake Co.’s shop in North Gower, I am immediately drawn to the displays of scones, muffins, and cinnamon rolls whose mingling aromas assault my brain. Like a child, I want one of everything but have to make the difficult decision of picking just one treat OK two!

While I am there, I try a locally roasted coffee and a melt-in-yourmouth shortbread hedgehog with filling – mmm.

“The hedgehogs are filled with chocolate ganache and they’re vegan and dairy free, ” Shelly Jones, the owner tells me

with pride, as she watches my evident enjoyment.

That’s what makes Dolly Doll stand out from the crowd. It is an allergen-free, vegan bakery.

“We hand make butter every day out of coconut oil and we drive every week to Upper Canada Village to pick up freshly milled flour from a circa 1800 steam powered mill,” explains Jones.

The idea to open up a bakery that is free of tree and ground nuts, dairy, eggs, soy, preservatives and food colouring came about in response to Jones’ son who has 22 allergies.

“I wanted to support other families that were struggling with food allergies,” says Jones.

While the idea of vegan and allergen-free baked goods conjures up images

of dry and tasteless fair, that is definitely not the the case at this bakery.

“People don’t believe that it all tastes exactly the same, but it does – all my recipes come from my German family and they own bakeries throughout Germany,” she says.

Certainly the two treats I tried — the hedgehog and a cranberry scone — were absolutely heavenly. The scone is light but has the flaky substance of butter without the butter.

The hedgehog is just out of this world – rich, meltin-your-mouth shortbread with just the right amount of chocolate and the slightest hint of coconut on the finish.

As Jones explains there are five main ingredients in all her baking to which she adds fruit, allergen-free chocolate and

Photo Credit: http://dollydollcupcake.com

various spices for flavouring.

“We have so many customers who are gluten intolerant but we’re able to cater to them too,” says Jones.

One of the reasons she says is that she uses heritage flour that hasn’t been modified. “Grains in Canada are so modified that you’re less likely to get heritage grains, and protein in flour has

Beer Wine and Spirits My name is Mark Cochrane and welcome to my first of hopefully many wine reviews in Hometown News. Together we will explore the world of wine in a fun and sometimes humourous way while providing you with informative choices on a variety of wines, craft beers and whiskeys.

I have been a wine enthusiast for long time. I like wine so much that I became a sommelier in 2012, and started a wine blog:markun-

corked.com. I have also worked at the LCBO, hosted wine tastings and assisted with tastings at the annual Ottawa Wine and Food Show.

My philosophy or mantra as a sommelier is to discover quality wines at a good price.

Sure you can purchase an expensive Brunello or Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and not be disappointed but I find it far more exciting to find that “gem of a wine” at an exceptional

2014 Trius Riesling VQA, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario It’s a crisp dry Riesling with aromas of lemon zest and tropical fruit. The finish is slightly effervescent, which works well with most turkey dinners as the meal has a tendency to be heavy so this wine will compliment the meal nicely.

(LCBO 303792 - $12.95)

price point.

I will also be looking at the craft beer scene, which is absolutely exploding in the Ottawa area, as well as the breweries that are popping up in the small towns like Almonte, Perth and Carleton Place.

So let’s get started.

December is a busy month with lots of parties, family gatherings and dinners to attend.

Whether it’s picking a wine out for that huge turkey dinner, a hostess

gift or simply a wine to sip on a cold winter’s eve there is a huge inventory available to you.

You don’t have to buy an expensive wine to impress your neighbour with his fancy wine cellar, which is really a basement closet that nobody uses. The LCBO or your local grocery store (if available) stocks a good selection of quality wines in the $10 to $20 range. Here are some suggestions for the holiday season

gone from 20 per cent to 80 per cent, and our bodies are unable to process all that additional protein,” says Jones.

In a world where food allergies seem to be on a steep rise, Dolly Doll is filling that universal need for safe sweet treats. So much so that Jones is hoping to move to a larger space in North Gower.

This vegan, eco-con-

scious store is the first of its kind with a delivery service in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.

Dolly Doll is closed on Sunday and Monday but open Tuesday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is located at 2333 Church Street in North Gower. Jones can be reached via the webiste at dollydollcupcake. com or by phone at 613986-5926.

Mark's guide For more of Mark’s suggestions, visit his blog at www.markuncorked.com or follow him on Twitter @markuncorked

A little something for that New Year’s Eve celebration So you’ve cleaned up after Christmas, stepped on some toys, threw out some wrapping paper and noticed that the TV remote is now missing. Don’t worry, it’s time to relax and end the year with a pop. What better way to welcome in the 150th year of Canada than with a nice glass of bubbly.

Whether it’s a Cava from Spain, a Champagne or Cremant from France, a Prosecco from Italy or a sparkling wine from Ontario there’s plenty to choose from. Here is a nice Prosecco for your New Year’s Eve celebration.

Bottega Vino dei Poeti Prosecco

2013 Phanto Ridge Pinotage Robertson Winery, South Africa An excellent example of the new style Pinotage coming out of South Africa.

The wine is dark red in colour with rich aromas of an earthy mocha and dark fruit combination. The richness and fruit-forward flavours continue with a long finish of cherry and dark chocolate. This wine pairs well with beef stew or a cheese platter.

(LCBO Vintages 278424 $17.95)

DOC, Veneto Italy A nice Spumate Brut made from the Glera grape. It’s light and straw yellow in colour with aromas of apple and citrus. Pleasant bubbles with a dry refreshing finish.

December 2016

19

Sports

Almonte Thunderbolts at EOSSAA

613-229-2371

Perth Blue Devils EOSSAA basketball champs The Almonte Thunderbolts faced the St. Francis Xavier Coyotes in the Perth and District Collegiate Institute gymnasium on Nov. 12 during the Eastern Ontario Secondary School Athletic Association girls basketball championship tournament. Photo Credits: Jane Hobson

The Perth Blue Devils pose for a trophy photo in the PDCI gymnasium after winning the EOSSAA basketball championship for the second year in a row. The Blue Devils beat the Opeongo Wildcats 60-21. Photo Credit: Sumitted by Kevin Bellamy

The Perth Blue Devils won the Eastern Ontario Secondary School Athletic Association

(EOSSAA) basketball championships Nov. 17 with a 60-21 victory over the Opeongo Wildcats from Renfrew.

It’s a back-to-back

EOSSAA win for our junior girls basketball program, said Coach Kevin Bellamy.

PDCI hosted the EOSSA girls’ basketball championship.

Regional - Jane Hobson ja n e @ p d g m e d i a . c a

TEAM

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Carleton Place

31

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126

80

412

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Hawkesbury

31

20

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0.645

108

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30

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Perth Blue Wings

24

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Richmond Royals

26

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Arnprior Packers

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Athens Aeros

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Smiths Falls CCHL REGULAR LEAUGE STANDINGS Cornwall Robinson Division

CCHL2 REGULAR LEAUGE STANDINGS Westport Rideaus Brockville Tikis Richardson Division Renfrew Timberwolves

December 2016

20

culture Perth Inside Out:

by Terry O'Hearn

Jack Walker and the HMCS Haida replica - Part III Jack Walker was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1943 to 1945. He was well known in Perth, and marched to the beat of his own drum.

In the 1950s, he had started his own boat-building business called Tay-Craft boats, and later started Walker Boats in Port Elmsley. He specialized in St. Lawrence skiffs, and many of his boats are still plying the Rideau and St. Lawrence systems.

Walker is also remembered for his working replicas of Canada's Tribal-Class destroyers, and the most famous of all, the Haida, earned him an award at Expo '67.

The replica Haida story continues on July 8, 1971, when The Perth Courier announced the following: “At a special meeting of town council Tuesday evening, Jack Walker announced that the Haida will soon be back in the Tay River basin after several months of controversy involving Mr. Walker, the Town of Perth, and the Ontario Government.” He had received government permission to build a boat house, repair shop and a residence in North Elmsley Township on the Tay River.

Walker was asked by Deputy Reeve Gerry McInnis when the Haida was going in the basin, and he replied: “As soon as you and Reeve (Art) Daines help me lug the three-ton craft down there!”

Then on June 8, 1972 The Courier carried a letter to the editor that Walker had fired off about a story concerning ownership of the Haida: “As to the story in the Courier last week with regard to ownership (when

it stated that the Haida was Town-owned), never at any time since the vessel was built did anyone except ourselves have more than 20 per cent of its total cost in the replica and each year from 1967 till 1974 this percentage gets less. In future, I would ask the Private ‘I’ to get the true facts of any story from the person concerned.” Not long after, another letter appeared in the July 27 edition concerning a Courier editorial on town planning: “If there is no limit to this so-called planning, the whole area becomes a ‘concentration camp’ like Perth is heading for fast.” Walker went on to say that tourists and residents alike were asking why Haida was in “mothballs” in the (Tay) basin, and people he talked to all agreed that “restrictions have got away out of hand. The Haida can still be put in shape and made ready to go anywhere on two-hour’s notice.” He had already visited other area towns that year, and hundreds of people visited his little one-eighth scale ship.

The dicey relationship between Walker and all of officialdom is chronicled for a few more years, and he often gave advice both solicited and not concerning the workings of the Rideau System and specifically the Tay. One of his pet peeves was the low bridge clearances to prevent most cruisers of any size from getting into the Tay Basin.

In June, 1975, the Perth Chamber of Commerce decided that they couldn’t afford to pay $30 per day to have the Haida replica on display in the Tay Basin for the summer. Walker was still willing and able to com-

mand the Haida, and he advised Town Council and the Chamber that the daily fee would cover the costs of maintenance and protection of the ship. Chamber President Bob Peskett said the members would like to have the Haida on display in Perth again, but it was not possible due to budget restrictions. Peskett said “It (the price) seems fair enough, but unfortunately we cannot afford it this year.”

It seems the Haida had one more busy summer in 1976, and it was reported on June 24 that the destroyer replica was being made shipshape for an extended cruise. She was featured on the CJOH TV program Regional Contact before the start, and then proceeded to Ottawa for Canada Day festivities on July 1. Haida also was the escort vessel for a sailing yacht regatta, and in July was in Kingston as part of a Department of National Defence, Maritime Command display.

Then it was onward to a U.S. Navy demonstration in the 1000 Islands area, and back in Ottawa in August for a federal government display at the National Arts Centre pier where she was manned by sea cadets.

John Weston “Jack” Walker passed away on Dec. 10, 2009, at age 85 in his beloved hometown of Perth. And so the story ended for Walker, with a private service held at his request. As you will see, the story of the replica Haida does not end, and the story of the de-commissioned original Haida in Hamilton also continues with a refit scheduled to be completed this year.

Email: terry@pdgmedia.ca

Boat builder Jack Walker with his famous replica of the HMCS Haida tribal-class destroyer.

Photo Credit: Terrance O'Hearn

Ottawa Valley Opry Christmas Show rocks on despite snowstorm

Joining singer Cheryl Adrain onstage at the Ottawa Valley Opry Christmas Show at the Perth Legion were, from left, Wayne Mills, Peter Dawson, and Steve Piticco. Photo Credit: Chris Must

Perth - Chris Must chris@pdgmedia.ca The Perth Legion was the place to be Sunday, Nov. 20 for the 2017 Ottawa Valley Opry Christmas show and dance.

The show featured traditional country music, with The Electric Cowboys: Steve Piticco on Fender Telecaster; Jack Denovan on piano, Terry Kittmer on drums; Peter Dawson on fiddle; John McElroy on bass; and Wayne Mills on saxophone. Special musical

guests were Freddy Dixon, Lucky Ron Burke and Cheryl Adrain.

Burke, who has been presenting sold-out one man shows at the Lafayette Hotel in Ottawa’s Byward Market for decades, delivered a high-octane performance including faithful renditions of hits

by Stompin’ Tom Connors and Hank Williams.

Perth native Adrain, who said she “grew up” on the stage at the local Legion hall, shared a couple of her

favourite seasonal melodies, including Silent Night and Daddy Looked a Lot Like Santa.

Although the first snowstorm of the season resulted in a smaller audience than normal, Dixon’s trademark blend of outlaw country and classic rockabilly hits filled the dance floor.

Dixon, Burke, Dawson, and master of ceremonies Charlie Kitts are all members of the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame.

A Christmas Carol returns to Perth at Full Circle Theatre Perth - Submitted

BarnDoor Productions' (BDP) adaptation of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol is returning to the stage in Perth on Dec. 2. First produced in 1997, the show combines drama, choral work, Charles Dickens' marvellous words, music from five centuries, a cast of nearly 20, and what may be the most boisterous jig you'll ever see.

Putting together a fresh approach to a classic is always tough, but BDP's original version of the oft-adapted story succeeds beautifully. The show is fast-paced, funny, moving and, above all, entertaining – an all-round crowd pleaser. It's a true ensemble work, with its cast taking on the 50 characters in Dickens' book, as well as turning the narrative parts of the book into an exciting montage of voices and sounds. Those voices also adapt themselves to music that ranges from 14th century four-part harmony to some decidedly modern beats.

Those who are interested in exciting holiday entertainment won't want to miss this production. This staging of Charles Dickens' beloved classic will be both familiar and fresh to its au-

A rousing, boisterous version of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol starting Dec 2 at Perth's Full Circle Theatre. With music, dancing, lots of laughter and Dickens's own words, this unique adaptation has been a crowd-pleaser in previous productions. The show runs until December 11.

Photo Credit: Submitted

diences — familiar, because there is probably not one person in North America who has not seen or read at least one version of the story; and fresh because BDP is using the text of the book itself, bringing Dickens' own words back to the tale.

Of course, A Christmas Carol without Christmas carols would be unthinkable and there will plenty of music present, from the silly (The Boar's Head Carol and Wassail All Over The Town) to the tender (Lullay, Thou Little Tiny Child, and Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming) to stirring numbers like Torches, Torches.

These traditional tunes get some contemporary treatment that is sure to be both

surprising and exciting.

BDP's trademark high-energy performances, Dickens' wonderful story and the beautiful intimacy of Perth's 102-seat Full Circle Theatre will make Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol a memorable, entertaining and notto-be-missed evening.

Performances will be Dec. 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 at 8:00 p.m. and Dec. 4 and 11 at 2:00 p.m. at Full Circle Theatre, 26 Craig Street, near Last Duel Park in Perth.

Reserved tickets will be $20; $22 at the door.

Students and children are $10. For information or to reserve tickets, call 613 267 1884 or go to www.barndoorproductions.ca.

December 2016

21

culture

Smiths Falls band formed by high school friends releases new CD

Photo Credit: Chris Must

Smiths Falls - Chris Must chris@pdgmedia.ca It was a long time coming, but it was worth it!

Deep Fried, a band formed 30 years ago by a group of Smiths Falls high school students has just released a brand new CD of 10 origi-

nal songs.

The CD, released on Friday, Nov. 4, serves up a solid blast of good old rock ‘n roll. “It’s blue collar rock and roll,” said lead singer Jamie Lavier. “It’s different than anything that’s out there. It’s great driving music.”

Many of the songs on the

CD take the listener back to the days of ’70s and ’80s rock, reflecting the band members’ original influences, which include Led Zeppelin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Rolling Stones, and the Beatles.

The members of Deep Fried are vocalist Lavier,

lead guitarist Bill Pepper, rhythm guitarist and bassist Kevin Salter, and multi-instrumentalist Pat Campbell, who handles drums, bass and keyboards. Now in their 40s, the guys started playing together when they were students at Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute.

Pepper and Salter acted as producers in the production of the new CD, entitled “High Cholesterol.”

The musical project began in July of 2015 when Pepper and Salter wrote a bunch of riffs, and turned to Lavier for help in writing lyrics.

The process of putting the CD together was complicated by the fact that although Lavier and Campbell still live in Smiths Falls, Salter and Pepper have moved to Richmond and Newmarket, where they have set up their own recording studios — Salty Sounds Studio, and Ghost Pepper Studio. Facilities at both studios were used in the production of the CD. Modern recording technology means that a band can record songs without ever being in the same room.

Thanks to modern recording software, said Lavier, “They’ve got the equipment where Bill’s guitar can sound like any guitar you want, going through any amp you want.”

Lavier came forward with the majority of the vocals

and the band worked together to finish the 10 songs in total.

Lavier recalled that one song, Pablo the Carney, seemed to come out of nowhere. “I wrote it going up the steps to have a shower.”

Like many songwriters, Lavier gets ideas just from observing other people – and he’s not out of ideas yet.

“We have tunes in the bank that could have gone on this one,” he said, adding that he would like to continue recording.

Of the current CD, Lavier said, “We were kind of happy and surprised with the way it turned out.”

The band decided that their work should be shared with more than just their friends. The songs are available on CD Baby, an online music store.

The band has a Facebook page (@deepfriedrocks) and a YouTube Channel. A video for the song Here We Come Running can already be viewed on YouTube.

“I’d like to ask everyone to like, share and subscribe to our YouTube channel,” said guitarist Pepper.

Sleeping Beauty pantomime comes to Station Theatre in December A villainous villainess, two fabulous felines and a host of funny characters brought together in a zany slapstick comedy. That, in a nutshell, is Sleeping Beauty, the British- style pantomime playing at The Station Theatre from Dec. 2 to 11. To make it easier to bring along the youngsters, there will be matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Evening performances are at 7.30 p.m. In the best tradition of British pantos, the audience is encouraged to get into the act by heckling the villains and urging on the good guys. Kids and adults alike love it!

As the curtain opens, Princess Aurora is about to be christened and royals, assorted fairy godmothers, and people of the land are gathered to celebrate and bestow their gifts. But it appears that someone has been forgotten and soon Carabosse storms in with her disreputable feline companion, Spindleshanks; they are not happy.

Things go from bad to worse when Carabosse puts a curse on the princess to die on her 18th birthday.

In classic pantomime the "Dame" (Queen Dorothy) is played by a male actor, in this case veteran Mike Adams. The beautiful and awfully tired

Princess Aurora is played

by SFDCI grade 11 Bethany Duberville; her handsome but slightly bewildered prince is SF graduate Justin Yanosik.

Krista Duff takes on the supremely evil Carabosse and traditional comic antics are provid-

Photo Credit: Submitted

ed by Billie the Butler (Ursula Rice-Leech) and King Norbert (Stef Robar). Rounding out this stellar and experienced group are newcomers Jennifer McCloskey as Spindleshanks and Maya Gordon as Kitty. Heather Mitchell Adams re-

turns to the stage as fairy Peaceful and her magical sisterhood is completed

by Lela Fox-Doran, Emily Chatwood and Caitlyn Lesnick/Hayley Allan.

A talented group of high school students and area veterans makes up the versatile chorus,

performing music by Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake and Pentatonix.

Tickets for the show are $20 for adults and $10 for children and students. Special group rates are available. Tickets are available from Seasons

Greetings, 8 Russell St. E., for cash only; smithsfallstheatre.com (Paypal/ credit card), by phone 613-283-0300 (credit card) and at the door 1/2 hour before the performance (cash only).

Submitted by The Station Theatre

December 2016

22

business 10 mompreneurs with gift ideas for your family Carleton Place Sarah Cavanagh editorial@pdgmedia.ca Carleton Place is a town of industrialists, of artists, trailblazers, visionaries and entrepreneurs. In a community burgeoning with young families, mompreneurs are setting the town ablaze with creative innovation and intuitive services. These women are not just finding a way to earn money and spend more time with their families but are also seeing gaps in the current market and filling a need. They are using creativity and innovation and leveraging the power and popularity of social media to set an example for a whole new generation.

They are a group seen visibly in the community donating to fundraisers, volunteering and offering encouragement and support to their fellow mompreneurs.

As we head into a season of gift giving let’s focus on supporting this group of business folks in the community.

Do you need a Christmas card, New Year’s Party invite or unique birthday card?

Melissa Mason’s M&B Paper Crafts offers unique handmade cards, exploding box cards, banners and invitations individualized for the customer and their event.

Custom cards are $5 each for a 5x7 card with envelope which is on par or less than most of the mass-marketed store bought cards. Mason and her husband moved to Beckwith Township two years ago and she is now a stay-at-home mompreneur with a beautiful 18 month old daughter. A hobby crafter, she decided to handmake her daughter’s first birthday party invitations and décor – after a post on a Facebook

mom’s page garnered a lot of positive attention, she decided to make her hobby into a career. For more information on custom décor banners (at only $1.25 per letter/graphic) and other offerings visit M&B Paper Crafts at http://facebook. com/mbpapercrafts.

Not sure what to get that “hard to buy for” person on your list? Kaitlyn Moyes may have just the answer!

Her company Joy-Filled Gift Baskets aims to fill houses, offices and hearts with personalized handcrafted gift baskets. As many other parent-run company’s, JoyFilled Gift Baskets started when Moyes was home with a newborn. She spent time exploring local businesses with her new baby boy and realized that finding personalized items and gifts for family and friends can be tricky. Harnessing her own creativity and seeing a need in the gift giving market she set off to create the perfect gift baskets for her customers. They are completely customizable, contain useful items and are geared to any budget or occasion. To see examples of her beautiful work or to order yours visit https://www.facebook.com/ Joyfilledgiftbaskets.

Have you met Bree (Breanne Rheault)? The genius mom behind our very own children’s salon – Munchkin Chops. A licensed hairstylist, this wife and mother found herself looking at the end of her maternity leave and dreading going back to work and leaving her babe.

Having worked in a children’s hair salon previously she decided to start her own in her home and Munchkin Chops was born. It’s a fun exciting home-based salon.

There is a car chair to sit in, a TV, Xbox and a play

area for siblings and waiting customers. Her mission is to have fun and make your child’s haircut a pleasant experience. With newly added services for moms and dads (ranging from $20-30) why not give the gift of a new family ’do? For more information and a full list of services and prices check out her page at https://www. facebook.com/munchkinchops.

Does someone on your holiday list have the need for legal advice? Jenna Deforge moved to the area with husband a few years ago. A paralegal, she spent a few months applying to different law firms in Ottawa and Perth but no one was hiring. She had done a market analysis of the area and saw a clear need for her services. In February 2013 she opened an office of her own in Perth. Life happened, as it does and Deforge made the tough decision to close her office and work from home. It ended up being a positive move for her family as she is also able to be a fulltime mom to two boys (2.5 and 7). Her firm Corrective Justice Legal Service offers services to most of Eastern Ontario in small claims, landlord and tenant board and traffic tickets. For more information visit them on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/CorrJust.

When she’s not crafting or working at a local hospital this mom is doing her best at being a mom and being the fun wife her husband married. Katrina Dagenais started a home-based vinyl design company, CKP Designs, as way to explore her creative side. It was a hobby that quickly turned into something more. Dagenais’ designs can be found in a handful of stores in Carleton

One of the Christmas baskets created by Joy-Filled Gift Baskets Photo Credit: FaceBook

Place, Almonte and Gatineau or you can visit online (www.facebook.com/CKPDesignsOttawa) to arrange your custom order. Perhaps one of her custom mugs, signs or shirts would be the perfect pick for someone on your list?

What about a one of a kind wood sign or growth chart, pyrography art piece or essential oil education?

Face painting for a party?

Kate Mountenay is a mom of all trades. A mother of four who hails from Almonte, Mountenay spent almost 10 years in Australia where she met and married her true love. They returned to this area 16-months ago and three months ago she started Down Pinery Road.

She uses Ontario-grown and milled White Cedar from a local family owned and operated mill and locally sourced beeswax to finish most of her products.

She also offers essential oil workshops and owns Freckleberry Face Painting with her husband. Face Paint-

ing services start at $75/hr and they take bookings 6 months in advance. You can find out about all of these great products and services at downpineryroad.com and freckleberry.ca.

Have an animal lover on your list? What about the gift of some Pet Care Services? Tracy Larock relocated to our area four years ago with her husband and son. Wanting a country life with a big yard for her big dog and small son to play in, Carleton Place offered the perfect setting! Even as a little girl, Larock was an animal lover and so once her son started Junior Kindergarten she thought it was time to turn her passion for caring for pets into a career.

Little Wet Noses Pet Care was born! Larock offers dog walking, Cat and Puppy home visits, pet waste removal, home care services and will be adding pet sitting, dog training and pet photography in the future.

Her dream is to one day house a dog rescue for our

area. Her services are very reasonable starting at $20/ half hour and would make the perfect gift to the animal owner on your list!

We have creative and artistic genius in some local handmade favourites like Waffle Kisses (www.facebook.com/WaffleKisses), Four and Twenty Blackbirds (www.facebook.com/ FourTwentyBlackbirds) and 3rd Life (www.facebook.com/3rdlifeDesigns).

You won’t go wrong visiting these ladies online stores whether you’re shopping for a baby or a granny – there is literally a one of a kind gift on these pages for everyone!

There are so many talented mompreneurs in our midst that there is no reason that you can’t complete all your shopping right here at home. These women work hard to balance being a parent, a friend, a partner and a business owner and it is clear that they all have such a passion for what they do.

New orthodontist in Carleton Place hosts Chamber mixer Carleton Place - Jane Hobson ja n e @ p d g m e d i a . c a Newly opened Kirk Orthodontics hosted the Carleton Place and District Chamber of Commerce’s Movers and Shakers event on Nov. 10. Movers and Shakers is a networking mixer for chamber members.

Carleton Place Mayor Louis Antonakos attended the event along with Donna MacDonald, chair of the chamber, and Jackie Kavanagh, the chamber manager. About 30 Chamber of Commerce members chatted over refreshments

in the pristine new dental clinic.

“It’s awesome that we get to host because members get super excited about this event,” said Dr. Danae Kirk, referring to Movers and Shakers.

“We joined the chamber because it’s a great way to network and get more familiar with the town,” she said.

Antonakos and MacDonald gathered with Dr. Danae Kirk and Dr. Chris Kirk, the owners of Kirk Orthodontics, for an inaugural ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of the practice seven weeks ago.

The Kirk’s said they decided to open in Carleton Place where they are the only local orthodontic practice.

“We see patients from Carleton Place, Smiths Falls and the other small surrounding towns,” Danae said.

“We’re very excited to be here.”

The practice is currently open Monday to Wednesday but Danae and Chris said they hope to extend their hours in the future.

Kirk Orthodontics is located beside Giant Tiger and Greco Fitness off McNeely Avenue.

Mayor Louis Antonakos (middle) poses with Dr. Danae Kirk and Dr. Chris Kirk (second from left) along with Deputy Mayor Jerry Flynn (third from right) and Chamber of Commerce Chair Donna MacDonald (second from right) and staff for a photo at the inaugural Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on Nov. 10, 2016.

Photo Credit: Jane Hobson

December 2016

23

business

the

VALUE

Helping add some shine Stay Free golden with Travelyears Insurance toRisk your

of advice Shawn Pankow CFP.CLU

Heading away on vacation?

You have planned your perfect vacation.

You have waited for this opportunity to escape our long, snowy Canadian winter. The kids will be fine. The pets are looked after. A friend will be checking your house every day. You are packed and ready to go. Sun, surf and miles of beautiful beach. What could go wrong?

You get to the airport and that nagging feeling in your stomach tells you something isn’t right.

What did you forget?

Then you realize you forgot to arrange your travel insurance. The plane boards in minutes. Do you miss your flight? Do you go online and arrange it when you reach your destination? Do you simply hope you won’t need it?

The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) provides very limited coverage for Ontarians travelling abroad and, according to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, it should not be relied upon to cover healthcare expenses incurred while travelling.

OHIP will pay very limited amounts for physician services and hospital/health facility services, and only if certain conditions are satisfied. It will pay only for insured, emergency out-of-country health services that are rendered to an insured

person and to qualify as an 'emergency', a number of criteria must be satisfied : • the treatment must be medically necessary, and • the treatment must be performed at a licensed hospital or licensed health facility, and • the treatment must be rendered in relation to an illness, disease, condition or injury that : • is acute and unexpected, and • arose outside of Canada, and • requires immediate treatment.

These provisions are intended and designed to provide a very limited amount of funding for the medical treatment of insured residents of Ontario if they incur an unexpected illness, disease, condition or injury while they are outside of Canada. If the illness, disease, condition or injury arises before you leave Canada, or if it is not acute or unexpected, no payment can be made.

OHIP strongly advises residents of Ontario to purchase additional health insurance every time they leave Canada to cover any expenses in excess of the limited funding provided. It is also critical you check with your supplementary health insurance provider to determine if there are restrictions relating to pre-existing health condi-

tions.

Although OHIP will pay the actual cost billed by the out-of-country physician or the cost of the same physician service in Ontario, whichever is less.

Physician services in Ontario are usually rendered at a significantly lower cost than those billed at out-of-country health facilities.

• For outpatient emergency room services, OHIP will pay $50 CDN per day.

• For inpatient services, OHIP will pay $200 CDN per day, or up to $400 CDN per day for some specialty services.

So while OHIP may provide some financial assistance at a most critical time, the actual cost of a serious medical event could total tens of thousands of dollars more.

Travel insurance can help preserve your savings and your financial security should the unexpected happen. However, it is vitally important to ensure you arrange coverage well before departure and ensure the insurance will meet your needs.

Although some people may have a tendency to be less than completely honest about medical conditions when applying for travel insurance, the risk of non-disclosure could be financially devastating. Every travel insurance policy contains a pre-existing condition limitation period. This

provision eliminates the insurer’s liability, throughout the full duration of the policy, for any expenses related to a condition that was present during the defined period prior to the policy’s effective date. This generally refers to any medical condition for which the traveller had symptoms, saw a physician, had treatment, took medication or was referred for treatment yet to be completed during a specified period of time such as 90 or 180 days prior to the effective date of cover-

age.

Furthermore, some insurance companies will not provide coverage if you do not arrange it before departure and those that do will also enforce a waiting period before making coverage effective.

Travel insurance is very affordable at younger ages and for shorter trip durations.

Premiums rise as we age and pre-existing medical conditions can become an issue. When managed effectively, many medical con ditions can be covered.

Complete and full disclosure of one’s medical history and travel plans is absolutely necessary to ensure your insurance is actually in-force and will be there when needed.

Vacations can be a time of rest and relaxation, or an opportunity for adventure and adrenaline-pumping activities. Regardless, leaving Canada without effective travel insurance is a risk too great to consider.

Shawn Pankow is a Certified Financial Planner with Pankow Financial Solutions in Smiths Falls.

New Carleton Place BIA admin support settling in with warm welcome Carleton Place - Jane Hobson ja n e @ p d g m e d i a . c a There’s a new face in downtown Carleton Place.

Kate Murray is the new admin support contact at the Carleton Place Business Improvement Association (BIA). Murray volunteered with the BIA a few times before applying for and accepting the position. She started in October.

“I’ve never come to a new place and felt such a warm welcome – the people are truly amazing,” Murray says. Murray moved to Carleton Place in March with her husband and 4-year-old daughter when her husband accepted a job in Ottawa.

The family lived in Regina before this.

“It was really important

to me to continue the small town theme after leaving Regina,” Murray says. For her, supporting downtown is important because it’s the pride of any community. If people can say they love the town they live in, it’s better for everyone, she says.

Murray lives off High Street and is excited to plant her roots in Carleton Place. “I love to jump right in,” Murray says. “I love to be involved and to find the people who have spunk, the people who are determined.”

Murray is excited for what the future of the BIA looks like, adding that she thinks her role as admin support is a great fit for her and the BIA members. “I want to hear about their dreams and visions for their business and then take their needs

to the board.” Murray said she is prepared to do a lot of listening. “Listening is very important for the success of our downtown.”

The long-term goals of the BIA will be carved out by the membership and what they need to succeed as a team, Murray said. “The thread to latch onto in the future is that all of our members want to do well – we all want success.”

The admin support position is responsible for managing the Downtown Carleton Place BIA phone number and e-mail address and directing inquiries to the right contact - like social media or event planner.

Murray is also responsible for record keeping and other admin support duties assigned by the board.

“We’re so close and I think it’s 100 per cent possible to take our town’s downtown to the next level,” Murray said.

Murray says her door at the BIA is always open and she encourages people to get involved and share ideas.

She loves chatting and meeting new people.

Murray was born in Toronto and raised in Saint John, New Brunswick. She majored in philosophy with a minor in psychology at Acadia University in Nova Scotia. She said she has always loved learning about the way people think and said the hardest and most awesome thing about people is that everyone thinks differently.

“I’m very happy. I love my job,” Murray said, smiling.

“It’s hard, but I do love it.”

Kate Murray is the new admin support contact for the Carleton Place BIA. She started at the BIA in October. Photo Credit: Jane Hobson

December 2016

24

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Meraki Collective to create a co-work hub for professionals in Smiths Falls Smiths Falls Howaida Sorour-Roberts heddy@pdgmedia.ca Jessica Webster and Jeff Depatie are new to the area.

He’s with the armed forces and she’s a marketing professional from San Diego.

Together they are opening Meraki Collective, a cowork centre in downtown Smiths Falls.

“One thing I found in Smiths Falls is a lot of grit and hope. In spite of all the closures people don’t want to leave, they want to stay,” says Webster.

That, combined with the town’s proximity to Ottawa and infrastructure that positions the town perfectly for growth made it a no-brainer for the two to create this space.

“Being someone who has grown up in mega cities, we fantasize about a place like Smiths Falls,” says Webster.

The couple have bought the Knights of Columbus building on William Street and they’re in the process of transforming it. “The idea is to create a space that feels like you’re in a summery environment. There will be a living wall and we’re bringing in special lighting that mimics sunlight. There will be different zones to accommodate people who like to stand at their desks, or sit, or lounge on a sofa, or on the floor. There will be common areas and space for people to walk around,” says Webster.

She says design is extremely important, but often ignored in many co-

work centres, to their detriment. “I’ve seen co-work centres that are just cubicles packed into an uninspired space,” says Webster.

With her partner, Webster want to create a space that’s designed to welcome and inspire, with all the modern facilities that professionals who work remotely expect and need.

“People who work within the innovation horizontal are professionals and aspiring professionals who support the new economy (for example, skilled workers in the creative, design, marketing, engineering, knowledge services) who have high-value jobs that are at the core of any industry,” writes Webster in her blog.

According to Webster, these skilled profession-

als rarely relocate with the outsource exodus, but have the ability to stay at home for several reasons: first, their skills transcend their industry, so they can easily work from home, secondly their job by nature can be performed remotely.

To attract and accommodate them, Webster and her partner will carefully design the space and equip it with high speed wi-fi, and a media room with podcast and video equipment. She also envisions knowledge sharing and workshops where professionals with particular strengths in one area share their knowledge and strengths with the rest of the collective.

Webster believes there is a market for this type of collective, because profes-

sionals working from home often feel isolated and of course are not engaged in the downtown economy.

Both are problems that leave the professional less satisfied with their life and at the same time removed from the economy of the town.

“When people work downtown they tend to be more engaged with the town, whether buying a coffee or going out to lunch or just walking through the town,” she says.

Meraki Collective aims to be far more than just a co-work space she explains. It’s more about encouraging urban revitalization by offering a collaborative space designed to recruit and retain talent

in the creative, technical, innovative, and knowledge services, she explains.

“This hub will keep money within the town, harness the assets of local institutions, encourage work/life balance, and empower the community to support the continued economic success of the area and its exceptional way of life,” writes Webster.

The Meraki Collective aims to open in Feb. 2017, not accidentally about the same time that County Fair Mall will be shuttered.

“I hope our launch can counteract the pain of the mall closing,” concludes Webster.

For more information check out their website at merakicollective.ca