OCNA BNC - Special Section circ under 9,999 - Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Christmas Wishes 2018

Christmas Wishes 2018

We wish you and your family a very merry Christmas and a prosperous new year

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Christmas Wishes 2018

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Happy Holidays With Christmas only days away, The Valley Gazette would first like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

This special holiday issue is an opportunity to spread the Christmas cheer with stories about your neighbours, your friends, and your family. But it would not be possible if it weren’t for the support from the many advertisers who share their own Christmas greetings in this issue. Their support year round ensures that stories like these can be shared in the community. Whether you are looking for a last-minute present, or need a service during the year, please support the advertisers here that make this publication possible.

With that, brew up a cup of hot chocolate and snuggle into your favourite chair. This special holiday edition contains stories about Christmas memories, unique holiday articles, letters to Santa from local schoolchildren and so much more. When you are out enjoying everything this magical season has to offer, please be safe and make sure you enjoy all the time you can with your loved ones.

Merry Christmas and all the best in 2019!

Michel Lavigne, Publisher/Sales Mark Jones, Staff Reporter Christine Hudder, Managing Editor Derek Layman Production Manager Gayle Davis Front Desk/Writer

Jennifer Juhasz, Freelance Dan Conway, Sports Columnist Marcia Rutledge, Columnist Dave Goulet, Columnist Helen Trader, Circulation

Hope Your Christmas Is A Classic

MAY THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS FILL YOUR HEART AND HOME WITH PEACE, JOY AND CONTENTMENT.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas trimmed with your favourite holiday traditions.

Our thanks and best wishes for a happy holiday reside with you, our community and friends, Merry Christmas.

pirited S y l l Natura Township of Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards 1 John Street, Killaloe, ON

613-757-2300

Council and Staff of the Municipality of Hastings Highlands

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Christmas Wishes 2018

Page 3

A Christmas story from Arthur Rumleskie

Editors note: This Christmas tale was told by the late Arthur Rumleskie to Dave McBride of Madawaska. Dave recorded Arthur’s memories and submitted them to the Valley Gazette just in time for Christmas.

Arthur was a local historian, who passed away on April 15, 2010, at 92 years of age.

In the 1930s, there were no snowplowed roads in the country in the winter months.

The only snowplowed road through the Valley was the railroad. On Christmas eve, people would ravel to the villages by horse and cutter from their country homes to do their Christmas shopping. The stores were open ‘til 10 p.m. Christmas eve.

Later on, they would go to the church for midnight services. Back then, Charles and Dan Murray owned the original Frank Stafford’s general store in Barry’s Bay. There were 25 horse stalls built behind the old store which extended from Highway 60 to the railway right-of-way. Teamsters would tie and feed their horses there while they went shopping in the stores.

There were crowds of people shopping in Murray’s old general store in Barry’s Bay. It was a busy place in the 1930s around 6 o’clock in the evening. Somebody shouted outside the old store: “The Christmas train is coming! Hear the whistle blowing for the Wilno crossing!”

People went from the store to the CNR railway station, the Christmas passenger train blew its steam whistle once more for Murray’s railway crossing then the train

stopped at the station.

There were crowds of people gathered at the station. Passengers would disembark from the train coaches. People were busy meeting relatives and friends at the station in the 1930s. Men wore the long old fashion overcoats with an inside pocket on the left side of the coat.

One man met his good friend. They shook hands wishing each other a Merry Christmas.

While they were standing having a little chat together near the locomotive engine, one man pulled out a mickey of whiskey in the midst of the steam from the train engine. Even the engineer or Constable Bill Johnson would have hardly noticed the two men having and enjoying a little Christmas cheer near the engine. It was the most joyful time of the year. After the commotion was over, the Christmas passenger train would back down the tracks a short distance to take on water at the water tower for its journey to Madawaska and Whitney.

The water tower was between the station and Murray’s old store. After taking on water, the train pulled up to the station and stopped.

Then, in a few minutes, the conductor shouted, “All aboard!”

The engineer blew two short whistles and rang the bell. The train began to move slowly away from the station on its journey to Madawaska and Whitney. The train blew two long whistles for the Paugh Lake crossing.

The Christmas passenger train began to pick up speed. In less than a minute, the

Arthur Rumleskie was a local historian who passed away in April 2010. Having never married, he donated his entire estate to local charities.

File photo train blew two long whistles for Martin’s Siding Road crossing. The train was gone, bringing with it Christmas cheer to the

people of Madawaska and Whitney.

Fond memories of Christmas eve at Barry’s Bay in the 1930s.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Best wishes to our community members and supporters for a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!

It's our sincere hope that our friends and neighbors here at home and all around the world find peace, joy and love in their hearts and their communities this holiday season.

From the Board, Staff, Volunteers and Auxiliary of the St Francis Memorial Hospital

Trimmed With Our Thanks

This Christmas, we are so grateful for the support and generosity of our kind donors throughout the entire year. Thank you for your support and the significant impact you are making on healthcare needs, close to home. We could not do what we do without you, our valuable partners!!

Very special thanks to everyone who will be helping give the gift of a Life Line this Christmas and support the purchase of 15 new IV pumps to enhance patient care at the Hospital.

Each and every kind gift is very much appreciated!

St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation

Wishing peace and goodwill to all mankind.

John Yakabuski, MPP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke

Constituency Office: 84 Isabella Street, Suite 6, Pembroke, ON K8A 5S5 Phone: 613-735-6627 or 1-800-267-2515 Fax: 613-735-6692 Email: john.yakabuskico@pc.ola.org Web Site: www.johnyakabuski.com

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Christmas Wishes 2018

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

From nunhood to nursing MARK JONES Staff Reporter WILBER LAKE - “I thought growing up, I would be marrying somebody and I’d have 13 children and somebody would take care of me. But that’s not the way it turned out,” Colette Layman said.

She grew up in a French community, Hanmer near Sudbury, going to school in French and going to a French Catholic Church.

“We always went to midnight mass,” Layman said, even as a young child with her sisters and brothers, when it was hard to stay awake.

After the service, there would be a feast at

home, a tortiere and a chance to open gifts.

It was on New Year’s Day that the bigger family celebration took place when her 32 cousins gathered in Espanola.

“We had pretty much kept to our own,” Layman said. “We knew there were other faiths, but we didn’t really interact with them.”

Layman describes her family as prayerful. Later, her father, who worked in instrumentation at the Falconbridge mine, trained to become a deacon at his church.

After Grade 13, Layman went to college to study data processing.

“Computers are coming out, I thought I would go and be at the top of that and just see what I could do.”

She found out after the first year that

Sister Colette teaching a religion lesson to the children of Whitborne, NF. Submitted photo

computer programming was not for her.

She took the opportunity to join the Katimavik program for nine months. It is a youth volunteer program to bring young Canadians together to encourage them to become engaged, caring citizens.

“I didn’t know what to do,” Layman said.

“I thought by doing this, I would find my niche somewhere.”

With Katimavik, Layman had three postings: Estevan, Saskatchewan; Bagotville, Quebec and Destruction Bay, Yukon.

It was the third posting that had the most lasting influence on Layman.

She describes Destruction Bay as small community of 50 in the middle of nowhere on the Alaska Highway.

Layman landed in December with a group of 11 others. They stayed in a winterized trailer.

“It was small quarters, we had to share rooms of course. It was boys and girls,” Layman said. “I think it was one of the most profound experiences of my life. It was a painful experience in many ways because I realized from the environment where I grew up. [I was] living with people who didn’t share my values. I felt, wow, this is really the world here.”

Layman felt for many with her on the project, it was their first time away from home, they had little sense of commitment to the goals of Katimavik or to the group.

“I think a lot of them just wanted to party,” Layman said.

Layman would volunteer to be away from the group. She met Father Cropley, a priest

who served in a number of communities along the Alaska Highway.

She was given permission to stay with him while the rest of the group went to Whitehorse for Christmas.

Serving with Katimavik was Layman’s first Christmas away from home. It was a wonderful experience for Layman. She spent Christmas Day in Haines Junction.

“That was magical, you could feel the excitement. ...Up there a lot of preparations are done. The people that are there, chose to be there...which is why I felt such a magical time because they all accepted whoever was there...There was a strong sense of community. The Anglicans would come to the Catholic service and the Catholics would go to the Anglican service. I thought that was really a spirit of unity. From what I was living with, those kids had no values, to experiencing that, people with values,” she exclaimed. “I felt wow. That’s when something was stirring in me.”

She saw how it didn’t matter which church one belonged to.

“It didn’t matter where you came from,” she said. “The people just came together.

The atmosphere was one of celebration.

You know, we have something here. It was a celebration of their own sense of community as well. I thought, this reflects what they are living on a day to day basis, taking time at Christmas to share that. It was very empowering because I thought, ‘Wow, I’ve never seen this before.’”

When she saw the Anglican and Catholic priests working together it was a revelation.“It doesn’t matter which church you belong to. It is how you go about your faith.”

Story continues on page 5.

Rejoice!

Merry Christmas & A Blessed New Year

Wherever you are, whatever you do, we wish you peace and happiness too.

And when the holiday season is through, may the joyful spirit remain with you!

At the holidays and always, we appreciate kind customers like you, and we wish you a very merry Christmas!

Spect acle Lake LODGE

Family Life Christian Centre FLCC Christmas Concert December 23rd @ MVDHS 10:30 a.m.

Christmas Eve Service December 24th @ Barry’s Bay Legion

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Christmas Wishes 2018

Page 5

The joy of a first Christmas away from home Story continued from page 4.

Colette Layman of Wilber Lake shares memories of Christmases past.

Photo Derek Layman After her work with Katimavik ended in February, Layman worked as a parish clerk in Whitehorse. She lived with five girls in a diocese house, on a stipend.

“Those two years living in Whitehorse were like magical years for me. I felt so grateful that I had that opportunity. Who would have thought someone from Hanmer would have been out here, living this? I have a lot of gratitude for that.”

She learned to play the guitar and would accompany the bishop when he was serving the communities along the Alaska Highway.

“My guitar got me into a lot of places.

Not that I’m a good guitarist, just enough to

accompany me.”

Singing was important in her family and in those small communities Layman became the leader of song.

In Whitehorse, Layman belonged to a choir. Christmas there was always powerful.

The church was always full, booming.

During her time in Whitehorse, Layman met Sister Mary Halder, a Sister of Service, a small and declining Canadian religious order founded in 1922 to help immigrants arriving in Canada. They wore a simple grey outfit, and served in small communities across Canada.

She joined the order in 1982, living and training in the mother house in Toronto.

While she had lessons everyday from the sister who was in charge of her, she also gathered regularly with those training in other denominations, including men.

During her first Christmas in Toronto, Layman went with one of the Sisters of Service, who had trained as a chaplain, to the Don Jail to hold a service for the prisoners there.

Layman found the prison very stark.

“I thought it doesn’t look too much like Christmas in here,” she said. “You see people here at their most vulnerable. They came together and they were very happy to be a part of this...It made a big difference to them.”

She was then sent to Clarenville in Newfoundland to visit families in their homes and help the children prepare for first communion or confirmation.

At 24, without any teaching background, the assignment seemed overwhelming.

“It was a very humbling experience to go

into these people’s homes, sit down in their kitchen. Some of them had nothing but they were willing to share what they had.”

She said it was hard to see families who for generations had lived off the sea, losing their livelihoods to over fishing.

The families received her like royalty, ‘Sister, come and sit.’

“I felt not worthy because they had their life experiences to share. ...My background was very simple. I always felt I was not worthy of the greeting they gave me.”

Then the order moved her back to Toronto where she started a social work course at Ryerson. She also did an intensive chaplain course which involved visits to hospitals.

She was called out to hospitals when patients or family needed support. She also had to give a service in the hospital chapel on Sundays.

“I was such a shy person, this was really making me stretch.”

Layman said that each experience prepared her for the next step.

She then went to Smokey Lake Alberta to join Sister Mary Halder in a small Polish and Ukrainian agricultural community. At first she worked in the bank, but soon explored the idea of working in the community hospital as a personal support worker (PSW). While at the hospital she earned a PSW certificate.

She was leading a full life in Smokey Lake, being leader of song and traveling to different areas, but she felt as though something was wrong.

“I had the image - I couldn’t swallow the life anymore. I had to listen to my body and just say it was time to go.”

Her time in the Sisters of Service had been positive.

“I had a great experience here, I’ve had a great life, met some wonderful people. I’ve really been enriched by all this. But it was time for me to go.”

“When I left the Sisters of Service, I felt I could conquer the world. I felt so empowered and I had been such a shy person.”

Through her service with the sisters she had become a complete person.

“You know, I said when I was growing up, I wanted someone to take care of me, I don’t need somebody to take care of me, I can look after myself. That’s how I came to Pembroke.”

Through a cousin, she learned that Algonquin College had places in its nursing program and Layman could stay with her aunt.

It was an exciting and adventurous change.

Through a fellow student she met her future husband, Kerry, and they were married before she completed her registered nurse course.

Since then she has been a nurse at the Renfrew Victoria Hospital and now works in the complex and continuing care unit.

Layman said the motto of the Sisters of Service is, ‘I have come to serve.’

“I think I have lived that motto for probably all my life. To serve is to empower people where they are. At the hospital you see them at their most vulnerable. It has been a very humbling experience,” she said. “Everybody has their own spirituality and their own way of being. I believe in living it, not preaching it.”

Here Comes

Santa Claus!

Another Christmas is rolling in, and we hope it delivers everything on your wish list!

Thanks for being an important part of our year.

Your friendship and support have made 2018 a great ride for us, and we wish you all the best this holiday season and in the coming year.

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Christmas Wishes 2018

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Pleasant memories of Christmas still live on for Catherine Recoskie GAYLE DAVIS Gazette Staff

BARRY’S BAY - Catherine Recoskie is 92 and grew up in Wilno in a family of five boys and five girls. Catherine was one of the middle children.

When she was 15, she graduated school and got a job in Ottawa as a housekeeper during the winter months. She credits that learning experience with helping her to manage her own home well.

“You learn a lot that way,” said Catherine.

In the summer, Catherine would return to the family farm and help with milking cows and doing other chores.

She remembered coming home from Ottawa at Christmas time and her mother being very busy.

“She was busy making donuts, called ‘kutzelkas’. She would put them in a big bowl and cover them so us kids wouldn’t get into them,” she laughed. “We would dip them in honey. It would be nice and sweet.”

To celebrate Christmas, the family went to church on Christmas Eve for Midnight Mass. At first, they attended an old church that eventually burned down. After that, they started to go to St. Mary’s in Wilno. It was about seven miles to church.

“Sometimes with the horses and sometimes with walking,” Catherine shared. “We used a buffalo skin to keep us warm in the sleigh.”

They often took shortcuts through farmer’s fields, if they were able to.

“We had a path across a farmer’s fields

and sometimes we were kind of scared because there were cattle and there was a bull and if we had something red on our heads, the bull would go after us. So we had to run,” laughed Catherine.

After Mass, they would come home and go right to bed. The few presents that they received were opened in the morning.

There were no stockings, just a few small gifts on the tree. Catherine, along with her brothers and sisters, decorated the tree with homemade ornaments which they made out of paper and crayons together.

At noon on Christmas Day, they would have their big meal. Everyone sat at a long table on benches rather than chairs.

“Grandma lived with us and she was there. Sometimes, aunts and uncles, too,” Catherine said. “Each one had his own place. And [we had to] be quiet. No fooling around. Until we were finished with our meal, then we could fool around,” explained Catherine. The family shared a hearty meal, sometimes of pork or chicken.

We had pigs and chickens. And all kinds of eggs. [on the farm].”

Some of the eggs were taken to the store to be sold.

“Everybody wanted eggs,” Catherine said.

A delicious dessert followed the main course, one that her mother had prepared weeks before, “My mother had a special cake she baked which was called a ‘kutja’, with fruit and icing,” she explained.

There was no ice cream to go with it, but they all enjoyed the cake very much,

Catherine Recoskie recounts pleasant Christmas memories. as such a rich offering was quite rare for the family.

After the meal, the family would play cards and sing Christmas songs. Catherine remembers with a smile, “We sang Merry Christmas and Jingle Bells.”

Later in the afternoon, they would have an afternoon tea of refreshments and lighter fare such as sandwiches and small cakes and cookies.

“Mom did a lot of baking but it was nothing fancy. She did it ahead of time and then would put it in pails with a cover on them, so nothing got in.”

Years later, she got married. Catherine

Photo Gayle Davis

and her husband had two children, Dorothy and Andrew.

“When I got married, I went to the farm where my husband was raised. He worked the farm. I milked the cows and looked after the house. [We had] milk, eggs, everything.”

As well as looking after the home and the children, Catherine was also able to drive a team of horses in the bush, which she learned from her father when she was a child - a skill that came in very handy on her own farm.

“Memories of Christmas are very pleasant,” Catherine concluded. “They are still in my brain.”

We’d like to thank our friends so dear for choosing us and stopping here.

At Christmas time and all year through, we owe our success to all of you!

May Peace Joy & Beauty

Surround You All Season

At this special time of year, we’d like to share our best wishes with the friends, customers and neighbors who have made our year simply spectacular. Your support and trust mean the world to us, and we are grateful to be a part of this vibrant community.

Thank you for making us feel so at home here.

We hope your Christmas holiday is simply perfect in every way.

Best wishes!

May your days be merry and bright at Christmastime and throughout the New Year. We hope all of your wishes come true!

Miles Tettemer

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Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Christmas Wishes 2018

Page 7

Christmas kindness transcends the years GAYLE DAVIS Gazette Staff BARRY’S BAY - Busy retiree Bill Cunliffe of Palmer Rapids took some time before the holidays to share some Christmas memories.

Bill and his wife Darlene are from the Brantford area and retired here a few years ago. Bill spent many years working for Bell Canada, setting up telephone service in remote areas of Canada.

He recalled a time, as a teenager, working for the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade in Brantford. At the time, they worked alongside the ambulances but were mainly used for transporting patients. Critical care was left to the ambulance attendants.

“I was young but I could lift the stretcher, so I was able to work,” Bill remarked.

One Christmas, it was announced that the brigade was looking for volunteers to deliver Christmas baskets to the community.

Bill signed up to help.

“You could pull up to a very nice looking house and knock on the door, never knowing how desperate the family was,” Bill remarked. “You had no idea that they were jobless and had no money.”

He remembered being told by his supervisors, “Just deliver the basket and wish them a Merry Christmas, but don’t ask any questions.”

In one especially touching incident, Bill recalled that he visited a family with four small children.

“The looks on their faces - they couldn’t believe we were bringing them something,” Bill said softly. “There would be one bag of apples and one bag of oranges in the basket.

Mom would give each child a piece of fruit and save the rest for Christmas. There would be a turkey in the basket, some vegetables and something for dessert.”

When he left, often holding back tears,

it was apparent that Christmas would be a little brighter.

During the years he worked with St. John’s Ambulance, he recalled that they visited a home for children who were suffering from the effects of Thalidomide.

“They had flippers for hands and some had a very distorted face. But what struck me was how joyous they were. We danced with them, even though most were in wheelchairs.”

Bill recalled having to step away for a few moments, as he was so overcome with emotion at what he saw. One of the nurses found him and said, “Just treat them as you would everyone else.”

Their joy and happiness obviously left a very deep impression on Bill’s heart.

“Those experiences didn’t change the direction of my life, they just confirmed

that I would help others whenever I could, throughout my life.”

When he was younger, the task of buying the family Christmas tree and bringing it home fell to Bill and his brother. Bill’s father would give them some money and instruct them to buy a tree as high as they could reach. Since they had to walk to get the tree, the boys took hockey sticks and rope. They would select the tree, pay for it and then tie it to the hockey sticks and transport it home, stretcher-style.

Bill said they always had to be careful of the size of the tree, as they had very low ceilings in their house. One Christmas they arrived at the tree lot only to find that there wasn’t much selection. They ended up purchasing a rather large tree and brought it home, hoping it would be okay.

“It wouldn’t fit into the house,” Bill

recalled with a smile.

So his dad had to cut it down to make it fit in the room. Once decorated, and in spite of the tree surgery, it looked very nice.

Bill also remembered his Grandma and Grampa coming down from Guelph to the family home in Brantford.

“It wasn’t Christmas without them,” explained Bill.

When the grandparents became older, the family travelled up to Guelph for Christmas.

No matter what, the family always spent Christmas together.

Today, Bill drives for home care in Barry’s Bay, helping seniors get to and from appointments, sharing stories about many things. The pattern was set many Christmases ago. Bill continues to help others whenever and wherever he can.

Local resident Bill Cunliffe shares some very touching Christmas memories.

Photo Gayle Davis

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Christmas Wishes 2018

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Letters to Santa from Sherwood Public School Kindergarten class

Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. I have done these nice things: Helped my mommy, helped my daddy, helped my friends at school. My Christmas wishes are: A baby, Barbies and a game. I hope you enjoy the cookies and milk, Kylie Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. I have done these nice things: I help mommy, I help daddy and I help my friend William.

My Christmas wishes are: Spiderman, Lego and a ball. I hope you enjoy the cookies and milk, Keagan Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. I have done these nice things: Made a thank you card for a friend, I shared my toys with my brother and I made a gift for my mom and dad. My Christmas wishes are: Barbie clothes, play food for my kitchen and Shopkins. I hope you enjoy the cookies and milk, Paitynn Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. I have done these nice things: Eating lunch with my friend Marcas, giving smiles to my family and looking at books with my friends. My Christmas wishes are: Books, instruments and a doll. I hope you enjoy the cookies and milk, Eva Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. I have done these nice things: being nice to my mom and dad, play with my friends,

and going for walks with my family. My Christmas wishes are: A big Marshall, a big fire truck and Lego dinosaurs. I hope you enjoy the cookies and milk, Maximus Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. I have done these nice things: I take care of my dog, I take care of my kittens and I clean my fish. My Christmas wishes are: a flying helicopter, a driving car and a new car. I hope you enjoy the cookies and milk, Nash Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. I have done these nice things: I play with Hudson outside and I got my dog treats. My Christmas wishes are: Laser Tag, a new sled and a Nerf gun. I hope you enjoy the cookies and milk, Liam Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. I have done these nice things: I stayed quiet while my cousin slept and I helped my mom and dad clean up. My Christmas wishes are: a LOL doll, Polly Pockets and a Hatchimal. I hope you enjoy the cookies and milk, Fiona Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. I have done these nice things: I helped my mommy, I play with my puppy and I love Santa. My Christmas wishes are: A Pokemon Ball, a Santa Toy and Lego. I hope you enjoy the cookies and milk, William

Wishes Merry & Bright As we deck the halls with all the trimmings and traditions of Christmas, we hope the joys of the season bring a smile to your face and contentment to your heart!

Thanks for brightening our year with your support and friendship.

It means the world to us!

Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. I have done these nice things: I help people, I pull my friends in the sleds. My Christmas wishes are: A monster truck and new cars.

I hope you enjoy the cookies and milk, Jaxson Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. I have done these nice things: Giving hugs to my brother, playing with my friends and cleaned up my toys. My Christmas wishes are: A snowman costume, snowflake toy (I saw it on a commercial) and a picture of a water bottle. I hope you enjoy the cookies and milk, Talia Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. I have done these nice things: Zipping up a friend’s jacket, helping my brother get up when he falls, and eating all my supper.

My Christmas wishes are: Paint, a purse and dolls. I hope you enjoy the cookies and milk, Paislee

brother Sawyer, giving hugs to my family and sharing with my family. My Christmas wishes are: Nerf gun, RC car and a drone with a camera. I hope you enjoy the cookies and milk, Hudson Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. I have done these nice things: I help daddy clean up, I help grandma make supper and I take care of my cat. My Christmas wishes are: a big Hatchimal, a Barbie dream house and a Barbie dream horse. I hope you enjoy the cookies and milk, Layla

Christmas in the country Photo submitted

Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. I have done these nice things: Helped my brother when he was sad, gave my brother hugs, made a picture for my mom and dad. My Christmas wishes are: A Barbie, a Santa toy and pumpkin and snowflake stickers. I hope you enjoy the cookies and milk, Brinley Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. I have done these nice things: Playing with my

Dennis, Maureen, Hayleigh, Jillian and Russell Conway are all wrapped up in Christmas cheer.

We would like to thank our community for your continuing support.

Season’s Greetings From,

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Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Christmas Wishes 2018

Page 9

Maxie Mintha enjoyed what he got during the holidays GAYLE DAVIS Gazette Staff

BARRY’S BAY - Maxie Mintha, 93, was born right here in Barry’s Bay in 1925.

He grew up on Paugh Lake Road, about four houses down from the main street.

Maxie was the oldest of 10 children and was the first to go out to work. Maxie recalls that his father worked at the sawmill when Maxie was a young boy and his mother was a homemaker.

“Christmas was pretty thin in those days, compared to today,” recollects Maxie. “We had a Christmas tree every year [but] gifts were very small. My dad didn’t make very much money. We weren’t kings but he kept the family going.”

On Christmas Eve, they attended Midnight Mass at St. Hedwig’s, walking home together late at night because they didn’t have a car.

“We slept in a bit on Christmas morning because we went to bed late. Mom got up early, she had a few things bought for us, nothing extraordinary, more of clothing and useful things,” explains Maxie. “After the gifts were opened, you enjoyed what you got. We [also] had some peppermint candy, some cracker jack, stuff like that.We had our big meal at noon on Christmas Day. That was standard.”

Usually, his mom would like to have a goose, but sometimes chicken. Turkey was too big. Normally it was a goose. She would also bake a special cake.

“We didn’t do much after the meal but if

it was weather like this, I had a sleigh and I’d go outside and play with a neighbour boy or two,” Maxie says. “We had a small rink at the back. All we had was a hockey stick you’d buy for a quarter, short sticks.

Somebody had a puck, I didn’t have one.

We just played on the ice with our shoes, like shinny hockey.”

Sometimes his grandparents would come and have Christmas with them, but not often. They lived on the farm. In those days it wasn’t easy to move around - not like today.

“You’ve got a car and good roads. In those days we just had a horse and sleigh,” he recollects. “We drove a homemade sleigh named a jumper. My grandparents spoke both German and Polish. If they had too much wine, they would start speaking in German. My mother would laugh and say, ‘Don’t speak German. I don’t understand’, so they had to go back to Polish. Lots of fun.

Sometimes aunts and uncles would come on Christmas Day. They were a good group.”

There were four children in Maxie’s own family, three boys and one girl.

“I was 30 years old when I got married, I married a farm girl,” Maxie shares.

He ended up being the first manager of the Barry’s Bay’s Stedman’s store and worked there for 26 years.

“I was very good with people,” he said.

The family went to Midnight Mass together on Christmas Eve and opened their gifts on Christmas Day. “We didn’t have much visiting at Christmas in my own family. We were kind of home people. After Christmas dinner,

there was lots of cleaning up to do. Dishes to wash. My daughter, Noreen helped Mom a lot.”

Maxie’s wife passed away about six years ago. They were married for 50 years. Maxie proudly shows a photo of his family - son John is an aircraft engineer, Peter is a pilot with Porter Air in Toronto, Andy has a garage in Madawaska and daughter Noreen

works for an insurance company. Maxie also has nine grandchildren and two or three great-grandchildren. His family is in touch often, now that Maxie resides in the Manor.

Many Christmases have come and gone.

Maxie reminisces with a smile.

“I just remember happy Christmases, from when I was young.”

Maxie Mintha cheerfully shares his memories from the past.

Photo Gayle Davis

HAPPY HOLIDAYS From Our Family to Yours,

FROM OUR

TO YOURS

Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas!

Brightly wrapped boxes… stockings stuffed with surprises… fresh Christmas cookies… twinkling trees all aglow…

Of all the special gifts this Christmas delivers, we appreciate the support of good folks like you most of all.

Taylor Creek III

Thank you for your patronage this year. We look forward to serving you again soon, and we wish you the merriest of holidays. We feel truly blesssed to be a part of this fine community.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Electrical, Plumbing & Heating

Your Kohler Generator Dealer 613-757-2955 Killaloe

Your Friendship & Support Warms Our Hearts & Makes Us Remember How Fortunate We Are To Know People Like You.

Thanks!

Barry’s Bay 306 John St. (613) 756-2007 (800) 463-0262

Combermere 1142A Farmer Rd. (613) 756-2436 (800) 374-2436

Page 10

Christmas Wishes 2018

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Reflecting on Christmas and winter memories with the Pilgrims JEN JUHASZ Freelance

PALMER RAPIDS– “Back then was quite different than it is now,” Ruth Pilgrim, 85 of Palmer Rapids says of her memories of Christmas time.

From her earliest recollections, growing up as Ruth Fleguel with six other siblings, an annual tradition in her household was to get the tree and put it up on Christmas Eve. “We always went to church, it was a program and the kids had parts, there were recitations, the children sang and there was a choir,” Ruth said.

She remembers one concert in particular with another girl named Stella Schutt, (who is now Stella Mantifel), with nostalgic humour.

“We were to sing ‘Joy to the World,’ but when they pulled the curtains we got laughing and we couldn’t sing,” Ruth said doubling over in laughter. “I can still see us there, and the audience full of mothers and dads.”

Following the program, she and her siblings returned home to open their gifts.

“I usually got a new dress of some kind, but I had to open it before the program because that’s what I would wear,” Ruth said.

She recalled her mother being a great cook.

“I can still see her mashing the potatoes, and she used to mash the carrots in a pot separately,” Ruth said.

This past Thanksgiving, Ruth decided to change things up and mash the carrots for her family at their cottage get-together. They

gave her puzzled looks, wondering why she had mashed them.

“I said my mother always mashed the carrots, like at a big meal,” Ruth said.

She said what lingers most was that Christmas dinner was always the big thing, and sleigh-riding in the snow on the hill behind their house.

Early academic schooling was done by Ruth’s mother, and known as government lessons.

“There was no kindergarten of course, but she did government lessons with us all because we were so far from the school,” Ruth said.

By Grade 2, Ruth would make the long trek with her older siblings to school.

They attended Cedar Grove school at the time, which was a two-and-a-halfmile walk from home. The school was in what is today known as Schutt. Ruth said there were eight grades in the one-room school.

She said everyone would take a turn making a fire when they arrived there in the morning. Also, a pail of water was fetched from the creek for use that day.

At day’s end, another task that had to be done was sweeping the floor.

“There was always two designated for that job,” Ruth said.

Edwin, meanwhile, was born in 1928 in Boulter.

“We lived in on the edge of Raglan township and Carlow township,” Edwin said.

Born the second of four children, his mother died when he was only three.

A few years later, his father would remarry, and, along with many others, move away in

Ruth and Edwin Pilgrim, content in their Palmer Rapids home.

Photo Jen Juhasz

search of work in the mines in Timmins.

He was around seven when he started school, and their growing family would come to include two more siblings.

While he doesn’t remember a whole lot about Christmas other than school concerts being quite prominent, Edwin does vividly remember winters, walking to school in the sleigh tracks.

“It was horse and sleigh in the winter time, snow plows were unheard of,” Edwin said.

He said he was living in Schumacher, near Timmins when the War broke out.

“I can remember that in the Timmins Daily Press,” Edwin said.

He had a chauffeur’s license at 14-and-ahalf years-old.

“The driver’s test was two blocks in Timmins with dad’s car, all right-hand turns, not even a red light,” Edwin recalled.

Returning to the area in spring of 1948, Edwin would start the road-building business which the three eldest sons continue to run today, Edwin Pilgrim & Sons Excavating.

“We always had bulldozers,” Edwin said.

Ruth would help with the book-keeping and her knack for sewing kept her quite busy making and stitching clothes, drapes etc.

Her seamstress talents became well known in the community for many years to come, with return customers.

Married in 1953, Edwin and Ruth had five children, Terry, Don, Pat, Peter and Sandra.

Their first Christmas it was just the two of them, but by the following year, they had started their family.

Both Ruth and Edwin recalled a funny Christmas memory of their two eldest boys.

Ruth said once the kids were around four or five years old, she and Edwin would hear them whispering at about three o’clock in the morning.

“They had the flashlight at the Christmas tree, looking at the names,” Ruth said with laughter.

“Don and Terry used to get up before we were up to see what was under the tree,” Edwin laughed.

At that time, they were living on Palmer Road, not far from their current homestead, which they built in 1959. Ruth remembers that her kids had a long walk to get to their school too, in Palmer Rapids, “Especially for a kid in Kindergarten,” Ruth said.

The kids would sometimes luck out however, when people driving by would stop and give them a lift.

“People used to pick them up, especially the oldest one, he talked a lot,” Ruth said, saying folks liked that he talked.

When she’d ask Terry at the end of the

day if he was picked up, he responded with a five-year-old’s estimation of distance.

“He’d say he was picked up about two inches from Lentz’s farm. He didn’t know that an inch wasn’t very much. We laughed about that, two inches,” Ruth said with a hearty chuckle.

In addition to the long walk, she said they would often get side-tracked, as curious children will.

“If they got looking in the creek there might be a frog, so they might spend some time there,” Ruth said.

At some point thereafter, Harold Jessup started to drive the first school bus.

Ruth and Edwin, who celebrated 65 years of marriage this past July, said Christmas was much simpler when they were raising their own family compared to now, for getting together.

“We knew there were going to be five kids and us for Christmas dinner. Now they all have their own homes and they want to stay there for Christmas day, so we don’t have much on Christmas day for just the two of us,” Ruth said.

Their extended family today includes nine grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

While it’s not the same Christmas Eve pageant of many years gone by, Edwin and Ruth still attend the Christmas Eve evening service held at Schutt Evangelical United Church, where they have been faithful members for many years.

“I think it will probably be just the two of us on Christmas day,” Ruth said.

Ruth said their sons might drop in, while a shared dinner would happen after their daughters, who both live in Ottawa, come home.

“We’ll make the table big and have Christmas dinner whenever it suits them,” Ruth said.

She said to accommodate different schedules and with some doing shift work, it means more than one dinner.

For instance, their son Don and his wife Pat will host a big family gathering that they will be included in.

“It’s noisy,” Ruth said.

“Now you listen to all the kids screeching,” Edwin said.

Keeping with earlier tradition, they insist on having a real tree, so it won’t go up until the week of Christmas.

“The girls said they wouldn’t come home if we had an artificial tree,” Ruth said.

No matter the season, they are a couple who have lived through lots of ups and downs but are content.

“Our place is not fancy, but we have everything we need,” Ruth said.

Afor YouWish at the

Holidays A

May the wonder and beauty of the season surround you and fill your heart with joy.

Patricia, Barb, Al, Pamela, Sam, Mike and Jamie

At the holidays and always, we thank you for your trust in us, and we wish you all the best.

L AC E T O S ZY P TA CO Y

We hope every moment of your holiday season shines with happiness. May it bring you and your loved ones peace and contentment to last all year.

From our family to yours, Yvette, Mark, Hayden

W

Y HI BA LE I N BARRY`S

Phone 613-756-1333 Toll Free 855-756-1333 378 John St., Barry’s Bay, ON www.pinewoodinn.ca

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Christmas Wishes 2018

Christmas at the Polish Kashub Heritage Museum/Park in Wilno

By Shirley Mask Connolly, Museum Curator WILNO - Every December, Christmas decorations enhance the scenic beauty of the Polish Kashub Heritage Museum/Park in Wilno, even though the museum is closed and snow usually covers the paved walkways.

Evergreen boughs are gathered from the forest and tied with red ribbons and bows to add seasonal colour and contrast with the weathered barn board and logs of the buildings, as well as the brilliant white of the snow.

At night, the setting is dramatically illuminated. Lights glow behind the silhouette of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus in the scooped roof shelter which is perfect as a Christmas creche; as well, floodlights highlight the southern exterior of the pioneer farmhouse and this year, also the gazebo.

Once again, Teenie Mask, Wilno Heritage Society (WHS) volunteer and founding director, has created a variety of beautiful Christmas arrangements. In fact, Teenie has been adding the Christmas spirit to this setting for more than a decade and a half with Christmas helpers who, over the years, have included Ursula Jeffrey and Muriel Murack.

The Polish Kashub Heritage Museum/Park was built and is operated by the WHS and this year being the 20th anniversary for the WHS, volunteers decided to do something special for Christmas by bringing the Museum’s antique cutter out of storage and placing it in the gazebo as part of the 2018 Christmas display.

The red and black cutter with an old patchwork quilt spread over the padded

seat and backrest is a reminder of winter travel in days gone by. The cutter is outfitted with sleigh bells and a lantern, and on the wooden floor, a couple of jugs of something or other that might have helped warm up the occupants.

Also in the Christmas spirit of giving, a boxed present has been left on the seat.

Visitors to the Museum/Park are asked not to touch the display or climb into the cutter or sit on the seat, but may want to pose alongside the cutter for a super photo op or pose on the verandah of the farmhouse beside the little pine snowman with his whimsical grin.

The museum’s antique sleigh cutter is placed in the gazebo as part of the 2018 Christmas display. The red and black cutter, with an old patchwork quilt spread over the padded seat and backrest, is a reminder of winter travel in days gone by.

Page 11

A Season of Wonder.

A Season of Prayer.

May all the treasured blessings of Christmas be yours, and may His love light your way straight through the New Year.

Thanks to all the kind folks who have blessed us with their support and friendship this year. We are truly grateful for neighbors like you.

Merry Christmas from, Erin & Chris Briggs & Staff The buildings at the Polish Kashub Heritage Museum/Park are decorated for Christmas.

Lorraine’s 19566 Opeongo Line, Barry’s Bay, ON • 613-756-2013

HOLIDAY STORE HOURS

Teenie Mask, Wilno Heritage Society (WHS) volunteer and founding director, has created a variety of beautiful Christmas arrangements for the park.

Photos submitted by Shirley Mask Connolly

Sunday, Dec. 23rd...................................11am to 4pm Monday, Dec. 24th...................................9am to 4pm Tuesday, Dec. 25th......................................CLOSED Wednesday, Dec. 26th.................................CLOSED Thursday, Dec. 27th.............................9am to 6:30pm Friday, Dec. 28th.................................9am to 6:30pm Saturday, Dec, 29th.............................9am to 5:30pm Sunday, Dec. 30th.......................................CLOSED Monday, Dec. 31st...................................9am to 5pm Monday, Jan. 1st.........................................CLOSED

Page 12

Christmas Wishes 2018

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Pikwakanagan couple share memories of Christmas past Grotto in the garden

MARK JONES Staff Reporter PIKWAKANAGAN - Carrie and Irvin Sarazin were brought up around Mattawa, before they moved to Pikwakanagan, or Golden Lake, as it was called when they moved there 25 years ago. Irvin was a drug and addictions counsellor and Carrie a daycare teacher aide and cook.

Irvin was the son of a guide and trapper who grew up in the Mackey and Stonecliffe area.

When he was four, a new dam was built on the Ottawa River, his family had to move from the old Mackey as it was flooded.

The family had to move several times due to a series of house fires, one caused by lightening.

Christmas in those days was modest, but his parents always did the best they could, Irvin said.

They used a real Christmas tree. There were no lights, nor did they use candles to decorate the tree. Irvin remembers sitting with his family cutting stars from the foil seals on coffee cans. They made other decorations as well.

They hung socks near the tree as they did not have a chimney.

They lived in a small log cabin with a wood stove for cooking.

The Christmas meal would be whatever meat was available, turkey, grouse or deer.

Irvin remembers once getting a wind-up tank. He was thrilled to have something of his own.

When he showed it to a neighbouring child, the boy asked, “Is that all you got?”

Irvin’s family did not have sleighs or toboggans, but what they had, they made themselves.

“We never suffered,” Irvin said.

“Our parents took care of us.”

Carrie remembers her grandparents had a farm at Eau Claire, where her father would plant a large vegetable garden. He worked in the local mill.

The mill would invite the employees to their Christmas parties and give gifts to the children. Carrie remembers getting a doll.

“I got a lovely little doll. I’d never had a little doll before,” Carrie said.

The mill also sent baskets of fruit and the ingredients for a full meal to the families of employees.

Carrie’s mum made mincemeat pies. As a child she could never understand why.

“My dad liked them, that was the main thing,” she laughed.

Carrie does like Christmas cakes and had the chance to make them with her mother and older siblings.

Her mother would make many Christmas cakes to give to her relatives.

“I remember helping her stir it.

There was a lot of fruit and nuts in it. It was very hard to stir. We would take turns trying to stir it, she would make such a big thing of it. She would make seven or

eight cakes. It was a big thing.”

Carrie remembers one special present that she really wanted, a show projector, but she knew her parents did not have a lot.

Carrie knew where the presents were hidden, so when her mother went out, Carrie found the projector.

Carrie said, “I sat on the bed and I would show it on the wall.

Then I would put it back in the box.”

When Christmas came she had to act really surprised, she said laughing.

“I already knew what it was but I was so excited that I could actually keep it out, go in the room in the dark and put it on and shine little movies on the wall.”

Carrie and Irvin then talked about the grotto in their yard. It started with a journey to see their son who was going to school in Sudbury. Along the way they saw a flea market. In a hut they found a statue of Mary.

She was too beautiful to leave behind, Carrie said. Irvin agreed.

They bought the statue and Irvin built a lodge for her. She has since been joined by other figures.

One is an angel given to the couple on the death of Irvin’s sister, about six years ago.

A friend approached them at the grocery store in Eganville and said she had found the angel while driving along the road. She wanted to give it to them.

Irvin asked Carrie to paint the angel, to use as a kind of memorial for his sister. Carrie could not bring herself to paint the angel for the longest time.

When their dog died last fall, Carrie felt inspired to spend three days painting the angel.

“I wanted her to look right, so she’s native,” Carrie said. “I wanted her to be a representation of our heritage.”

The couple were thrilled to travel to Rome with a number of First Nations members from around this region in 2012 to witness the canonization of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, whose father is Mohawk and mother is Algonquin from this area.

Carrie Sarazin displays her snow Irvin and Carrie Sarazin pose in the grotto at their home on Pikwakanagan. craft and sense of fun.

Angels trumpet in the Sarazin yard.

Photos Mark Jones

Merry Christmas & Season's Greetings 30 Years Healthy

Wishing you & your loved ones a healthy, happy 2019.

From Paul, Caitlin Rivett-Carnac, the boys & all of us at St. Francis Herb Farm®.

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Christmas Wishes 2018

Page 13

Bay nurse sharing Christmas blessings with Toronto’s homeless CHRISTINE HUDDER Managing Editor

time caring for the poor in Haiti, wanted to do something about what she saw on Toronto’s streets. Six years ago, she began putting together blessing bags.

She and her partner Pernell Craftchick visited Toronto on November 24 and 25 this year to hand out blessing bags, consisting of a hat, mitts, chocolates, juice, chips, cigarettes, a lighter, hand warmers, lip balm, Kleenex and a facecloth.

“They are just little bags to enrich the homeless a little bit,” she said.

All of the items are donated by Hovinga.

Last year was the exception, when her friend Tracy Biskup and daughter put together 10 bags to be donated.

While it might come as a surprise to some that a nurse is handing out cigarettes, Hovinga said she has good reason for including them.

“People are picking the butts off the ground and it’s so unsanitary, so I put the cigarettes in there,” she explained.

When she handed out the cigarettes to a group of native men, they were most appreciative.

“They call the cigarettes tobacco, and it’s a blessing for them to get tobacco,” Hovinga said. “They thanked me in their language; said God bless and shook my hand.”

Hovinga said it’s important that she continue the tradition of handing out blessing bags, year after year.

“It’s rewarding,” she said. “Most definitely.”

While she gave out 20 of them this year, her goal is to increase it to 25 in 2019. She wants to be able to help as many people as possible.

“There was one gentleman that we gave the bag to,” she said. “He wanted nothing to do with the hats, mitts and scarves. He only wanted the food. He actually threw the mitts

BARRY’S BAY – A nurse at St. Francis Memorial Hospital is sharing in the Christmas spirit with Toronto’s homeless.

Lisa Hovinga has been a nurse for 33 years; she has spent 30 of those years working at the Barry’s Bay hospital.

She is a frequent visitor to Toronto and has seen firsthand the homelessness problem.

“When I go to Toronto, they are always on the street and begging for money,” she said. “Or, saying ‘I am hungry.’ You see their shoes torn or they are in their socked feet.”

While it would be rare to see someone sleeping on a park bench in a rural community, it’s a common occurrence in Toronto. Many of Toronto’s homeless are not from the city at all; they are from surrounding communities or even refugees from other countries.

According to the City of Toronto, 16,000 unique individuals used the city-administered emergency shelter system in 2016. That’s four times the population of the Madawaska Valley.

“I don’t know how they survive,” Hovinga said. “It was snowing the one night we were there.”

One person was ‘fortunate’ enough to own a tent.

“They were sleeping in a tent on a grate,” she said. “Normally it was cardboard boxes and they are huddled together in sleeping bags. They are on every corner, every little alcove, every heating grate. There is someone laying there in a sleeping bag, covered with cardboard boxes, begging for change or something to eat. They are cold, they are hungry.”

Hovinga, who has also volunteered her

and scarf on the ground. A woman chased him through the Eaton Centre to give him back his hat, mitts and scarf. He only wanted the food.”

Four years ago, she took her nephew Stephen who was 15 years old at the time.

He handed out his first blessing bag to a man who desperately needed new socks.

“He took the socks out of the bag and he took his shoes off which were so full of holes and were soaking wet, and put the socks on,” she said. “My nephew said to his mom, ‘I don’t need those $300 pair of shoes. All he wanted was dry socks.’ He said, ‘I have all kinds of shoes at home, I should bring them down here.’”

He continued handing out the blessing bags for the rest of the day.

“One gentleman, a couple of years ago, we chatted with. He was kicked out of a foster home very young. He found life on the street.

He was 29, and he said at night he sometimes finds shelter in hostels and stuff,” Hovinga recalled. “I asked him, ‘what about a job?’

He said no one will hire you.”

Then there was the time that she had to call 911 because a double amputee was sitting on a park bench, covered in feces.

“I called an ambulance because I didn’t know what had happened to him,” Hovinga said. “He was exposed, there were young children walking around.”

Incidents like these inspire Hovinga to continue her efforts. She often puts $5 in the blessing bags, and doesn’t care how that money is used.

“If they buy a bottle of liquor with the money they are receiving, if that’s how they have to get their fix that day…We can’t judge people,” she said. “We don’t know what they have been through.”

Ultimately, many people who are homeless

have a mental illness and have slipped through the cracks. Hovinga recognizes that this is a problem that needs to be addressed.

She will continue her efforts, and plans on handing out these much-needed blessing bags on Yonge Street in Toronto for as long as she can.

Lisa Hovinga, a nurse of 30 years at St. Francis Memorial Hospital, hands out blessing bags to the homeless in Toronto every year before Christmas.

Photo Christine Hudder

As another holiday season comes swirling in, we’d like to extend our very best wishes for a blessed and happy Christmas.

May all of your dreams and wishes come true!

Wishing you a season filled with every little happiness.

We’re grateful for all you’ve done Thank you for being such great to make our dreams come true in 2016. customers and friends!

We owe our success to kind customers and friends like you.

Thanks & Happy

The halls are decked, the lists are checked; Christmas is here, bringing good cheer.

There’s just one thing we’ve left to do: Send our very best wishes to each one of you!

Holidays

From the management And staff at

Keetch’s Building Supplies 613-757-2616 • 6 North Street, Killaloe

Eganville Country Depot

613-628-2272 • Hwy 41- 60 W., Eganville

C.A. Reiche & Sons Ltd.

613-735-4104 • Hwy 41, Pembroke

Thanks to our customers and neighbours all around town for your friendship and support. We wish you and yours all the best at Christmastime and in the New Year. Happy Holidays!

Greg, Ashton, Erin and Katlyn

27 Bay Street, Barry’s Bay 613-756-0066 Toll Free 1-888-580-0137

Page 14

Christmas Wishes 2018

Letters to Santa from Palmer Rapids Public School JK/SK Class

Dear Santa, My name is Henry. I am three years old.

I was very happy this year. For Christmas I would like a blue motorbike. For Christmas I could use a coat. Thank you, Merry Christmas.

Henry Dear Santa, My name is Klae. I am five years old. I was very good this year. For Christmas I would like a snowmobile. For Christmas I could use a coat. Thank you, Merry Christmas.

Klae

Dear Santa, My name is Zachery. I am four years old.

I was very good this year. For Christmas I would like a toy car. For Christmas I could use boots. Thank you, Merry Christmas.

Zachery

Dear Santa, My name is Braxton. I am five years old.

I was very good this year. For Christmas I would like a snowmobile. For Christmas I could use a P.S.P. charger. Thank you, Merry Christmas.

Braxton

Dear Santa, My name is Tanner. I am four years old.

I was very nice this year. For Christmas I would like candy. For Christmas I could use boots. Thank you, Merry Christmas, Tanner

Dear Santa, My name is Izzy. I am four years old. I was very happy this year. For Christmas I would like a book. For Christmas I could use a new Tigger for my sister. Thank you, Merry Christmas.

Izzi

Dear Santa, My name is Austin. I am four years old.

I was very good this year. For Christmas I would like a gun. For Christmas I could use new shoes. Thank you, Merry Christmas.

Austin

Dear Santa, My name is Ethan. I am four years old. I was very good this year. For Chrismas I would like a robot. For Christmas I could use a scarf. Thank you, Merry Christmas, Ethan

Dear Santa, My name is Troy. I am four years old. I was very happy this year. For Christmas I would like pencils. For Christmas I could use a toothbrush. Thank you, Merry Christmas.

Troy

Dear Santa, My name is Katrina. I am five years old.

I was very good this year. For Christmas I would like Lego. For Christmas I could use a toothbrush. Thank you, Merry Christmas.

Katrina

Dear Santa, My name is William. I am four years old.

I was very kind this year. For Christmas I would like a gun. For Christmas I could use new shoes. Thank you, Merry Christmas.

William

Dear Santa, My name is McKinley. I am four years old.

I was very good this year. For Christmas I would like an Indoraptor Lego. For Christmas I could use new mitts. Thank you, Merry Christmas, McKinley

Dear Santa, My name is Landen. I am four years old.

I was very kind this year. For Christmas, I would like a computer. For Christmas I could use boots. Thank you, Merry Christmas.

Landen

Dear Santa, My name is Jase. I am four years old. I was very kind this year. For Christmas I would like Lego. For Christmas I could use a suit. Thank you, Merry Christmas, Jase

Dear Santa, My name is Kenzie. I am four years old. I was very good this year. For Christmas I would like a remote control toy car. For Christmas I could use pretend dough.

Thank you, Merry Christmas.

Kenzie

With a song in our hearts, we thank you for a wonderful year and wish you a blessed holiday.

May the season deliver all the joys, large and small, that make life so special.

Customers like you bring us joy all year, and we truly appreciate your friendship and support. Merry Christmas and best wishes from our entire team!

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Better together Written by the Reverend Canon Susan Clifford, from the Anglican Parish of the Valley and the Valley Interfaith Committee EGANVILLE - Use the buddy system. I can remember swimming at summer camp as a kid.

We were assigned a “buddy”. We were to keep an eye on one another. And at kindergarten, whenever we walked anywhere outdoors, we were to hold the hand of our buddy. Together we were safer.

Think of a team. The closer and more integrated that all the members are makes for a stronger team. Think of a flock or a herd, or even a community. When there is danger they gather together for safety. As nations, we organize our armies to protect our countries, and we have created global organizations such as the United Nations, the Commonwealth and NATO. Together we are stronger as we share common goals and interests But who is the enemy against which we guard? Is it just bad luck or chance?

Is it someone with evil intent? Is it a hungry predator in the food chain? Is it a competitor seeking to win the same prize that we desire? Is it an aggressive neighbour wishing to conquer our possessions? Or is it someone who is just different from us?

And what about ‘family’? Our societies are structured around family units, but what holds families together? Is it fear?

Fear of the unknown, of the stranger, of those whom we perceive to be our enemy?

No. There is much more going on in our human hearts than fear. What holds families together is love, and the recognition that we are brothers and sisters and related in some way. Love fosters a mutual sense of belonging and companionship, and concern for our neighbours. Love compels us to act with care and compassion. It is love that ultimately makes us feel safe and dispels all fear.

All the great faiths teach us to love God and to love our neighbour. They all teach peace. Such teaching stretches our understanding to embrace all people as our neighbour, and sister and brother. To be able to love all people requires respect and acceptance of peoples’ differences.

Such a spirit of unifying Love is what underlies the Ecumenical and the Interfaith movements, who seek to foster healthy, positive relationships despite our many differences and beliefs. The goal of the Interfaith group in the Valley, for example, is to continue to share and grow in faith and understanding.

There is so much pressure in our world today that is causing the breakdown of families and communities. Fear is being used to separate us from our neighbours, and to view others as the enemy. We are entering the season of love and peace and good will towards all. Let us use this Christmas time to embrace the unifying power of Love. Let us learn to celebrate and not fear our differences, for as my Muslim friend said, “Humanity is the family of the All Mighty Creator”. We are all members of one human family. Let us come together in Peace, for we are all better together!

Silent Night Holy Night With exceeding great joy, we bid all of our friends and neighbours a most joyous and harmonious season.

Neil, Connie, Gerard and the staff at Barry's Bay Metro wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

Barry’s Bay

28 Bay Street, Barry’s Bay 613-756-7097 Mon-Sun 8 am - 9 pm CLOSED Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day

Wishing you and your four-legged family members a wonderful Holiday Season and Happy New Year from the Staff at Algonquin East Animal Clinic.

The clinic will be CLOSED for the Holiday Season on Friday, December 21, 2018 and will REOPEN January, 2019.

Ann M. Burkart, DVM 613-756-1984 19162 Highway 60, Barry’s Bay www.algonquineastanimalclinic.ca

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Christmas Wishes 2018

Page 15

Marie Villeneuve-Scott’s Christmas village tells a personal story CHRISTINE HUDDER Managing Editor

BARRY’S BAY – Marie VilleneuveScott’s home on Aylen Lake contains a hockey rink, a church, a theatre and even a ski hill.

She doesn’t live in a ritzy mansion, but she has a comprehensive miniature village right in her very own living room.

It contains 50 structures, a road, a train and dozens of figurines.

The retired nurse worked at St. Francis Memorial Hospital for 33 years, and spent five years in places like Oshawa, Peterborough and Big Trout Lake Outpost Nursing Station on Hudson Bay. Marie started her collection in the 1980s, when she bought herself a miniature skating rink.

“The rest seemed to accumulate over time,” she said. “I loved it when I was young, playing with dollhouses.”

Marie and her husband Wayne raised three girls in the house, who are now in their mid-to-late 20s.

One of Marie’s favourite pieces in her Christmas village is the carousel.

“I have pictures of all my kids on a merrygo-round,” she said. “I always wanted a carousel because it reflects our childhood.”

As the years went on, people began gifting Marie different houses and structures. A friend bought her the train station.

“This village tells a story about our life,” she said.

One piece she found was at Walmart.

It resembled the former Bay Theatre in

The Christmas village takes up several tables and consists of 50 structures.

Barry’s Bay. She purchased a mini ski hill, with moving gondolas, at Canadian Tire – something that reminded her of her love of skiing.

When the family visited the East coast, she purchased a miniature lighthouse.

There’s also a barn figurine, to reflect Wayne’s background growing up on the farm. A beloved hockey rink, with moving players, is nestled in the village.

“I love hockey, I played hockey for 20 years,” Marie said.

There are figurines to reflect Marie’s daughter’s career paths, and a large church with three doors.

“I loved it because of how it resembled St. Hedwigs,” she said.

The village takes a good week to set up, and almost as much time to take down.

“I pack everything in its original box,” Marie explained. “Then I do all the trees separate, all the people separate. I do the snow and the roads separate. I do the lights separate.”

This is the first year that the village has

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been set up in one area. Previously it was set up throughout the living room. Marie condensed it to one area to free up some space.

Last year, the village didn’t go up at all since Marie was in treatment for breast cancer. She feels better now and had more energy than she did at this time last year.

“The kids love it,” she said. “They actually bug me when I don’t put it up.”

She has had the village up for around four weeks now, since it takes so much time to assemble.

“I like to enjoy it,” she said. “I know some people have bigger ones but I am pretty proud of it.”

Her Christmas tree – a real tree – also resembles Marie and her family.

Marie tries to get a new decoration for the tree to reflect the year gone by. There’s the Baby’s First Christmas ornament, handmade pieces, and ones from vacations.

There are 100-year-old ornaments which belonged to her mother, and ones reflecting Marie’s love of the National Lampoon’s

Photo Christine Hudder Christmas Vacation movie.

“I sort of got away from the tinsel and all that because I wanted the tree to represent us,” Marie said. “It may not be as pretty as some of the trees out there but that’s not what it’s about.”

The girls will come home every Christmas and reminisce about years gone by.

“Last year was a very trying year, it was very nice to have everyone home,” Marie said.

Marie thinks her love of Christmas largely stemmed from her father, who died when she was only 10 years old. He would always have Santa visit the kids on Christmas Eve. She is looking forward to celebrating Christmas with her family again this year, and seeing everyone’s reaction to her beautiful decorations.

“I am still here,” she said. “I will take every blessing as it comes. You never know how many more Christmases you have left.”

Peace On Earth

To all our family, friends and valued customers, past, present and...future.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Stuart, Sherry & Family

Team Realty, Brokerage Additions, Renovations and New Construction

Home & Cottage Building • General

Page 16

Christmas Wishes 2018

Letters to Santa from Killaloe Public School Dear Santa, I am wishing for 2 playhouses and a pool.

How do you make the reindeer fly?

From, Brantley Dear Santa, I would like a whoopee cushion and a fake cell phone and a drone and a fake scanner.

How does the sled work? Do you make the toys or do the Elves?

From, Finn Dear Santa, I am wishing for a bus, a peewee playhouse and a bus train.

From, Max Dear Santa, I am wishing for a computer, a doll, hatchimals and a mermaid.

From, Sophia Dear Santa, I am wishing for a toy car, toy fish, a house and a toy soldier.

From, Marcus Dear Santa, I am wishing for a Santa decoration, a pink bicycle, a pink motorcycle and a pink jeep.

From, Kennedy Dear Santa, I am wishing for Star Wars Lego, a drone, Transformer Lego and chocolate. How do drones fly?

From, Aiden Dear Santa, I am wishing for Chopper, C3P0, R2D2 and Star Wars Lego. Do you have a machine at your house?

From, Gabriel Dear Santa, For Christmas I would like Lego. How many presents do you give to people?

From, Bentley Dear Santa, I am wishing for a farm, a wolf, a stop sign and a train. Did you get the letter that I sent to you?

From, Parker N Dear Santa, I am wishing for Elmo, a beebee gun, a monster truck and a remote control boat.

How is Elf on The Shelf magic?

From, Parker K Dear Santa, I am wishing for a dinosaur four-wheeler, a blue four-wheeler, my Dad and my Mom (I want them to get wrapped up so I can open them and hug them). How do you get the rope (reins)?

From, Scarlett Dear Santa, I am wishing for a sea toy, a toy Santa, a rocketship and a house. How do you go down the chimney?

From, Kyper Dear Santa, I am wishing for toy sharks. How do you make the reindeer fly?

From, Myron Dear Santa, I am wishing for a toy plug, pretend clouds and please bring me presents. How do you like the lovely rose I am going to give you when you bring me presents?

From, Caspar

JK/SK class

Dear Santa, I would like a side by side and a remote control snowmobile. I like you Santa. Do you make the toys or do the Elves?

From, James Dear Santa, I am wishing for a lip gloss make-up kit, a picture frame craft, a dress and a magic wand. How do the elves carry such big things?

From, Bella Dear Santa, I am wishing for a unicorn, my sister and a ballerina. How does your sled fly?

From, Rively Dear Santa, I would like a dump truck and a fake cell phone. How do the elves wrap the presents?

From, John Paul Dear Santa, I wish you have a good sleep and I love you and what are your elves doing right now? I love your elves. How do your reindeer fly? I want shopkins and hatchimals.

From, Nessia Dear Santa, I would like Lego, Lego Captain America set, a camping Lego set and Lego basketball. How does your sled fly? Have a good flight and don’t crash.

From, Logan Dear Santa, Are your elves helping you make presents.

I would like dolls, a toy unicorn and new shoes. How many reindeer do you have?

From, Willa Dear Santa, I am wishing for shopkins, hatchimals, a stable and horses. How do the elves wrap the presents?

From, Dakota Dear Santa, I am wishing for a whoopee cushion, chicken head and a lightning monster.

From, Liam Dear Santa, I am wishing for Lego blocks, a car to drive, saucer swing and kinetic sand. Do you still have a long white beard?

From, Xavier

Grade 1/2 class Dear Santa, It’s me, Max. I have tried to be good all year. I was good at school. I was nice. I was good at my house. I was good with my mom. I would really like a bendy pop and a gecko car. My mom would like a neck brace.

Max Grade 1 Dear Santa, It’s me, Corben. I have tried to be good all year. I was trying to help my dad catch a shark. I mowed the lawn with my push mower. I helped my mom clean the cottage. I would really like a tractor, a

We hope the cherished traditions of this special season fill your heart and home with enough warmth and happiness to last all year. Serving you has been our pleasure, and we thank you for making our holiday and our year so enjoyable with your visits.

Merry Christmas, friends!

building and a SMARTBoard. I would like 200 napkins for Phoenix.

Corben Grade 1 Dear Santa, It’s me, Sebastian. I have tried to be good all year. I helped Grandma. I washed the dishes. I helped Ms. Robison with the Reading Bags. I would really like an XBox 9. I really want a little robot. I would like a good Christmas for everyone else.

Sebastian Grade 2 Dear Santa, It’s me, Kalem. I have tried really hard to be good this year. I read to my teacher.

I washed the dishes for my mommy and daddy. I sometimes helped my dad fix some things. I would really like a little skidoo. I would also like a live pumpkin that talks. I want to give Khalil a Lego set.

Kalem Grade 1 Dear Santa, It’s me, Martin. I have tried to be good all year. I have helped to clean up at school and I helped to clean up at home. I have helped to clean up outside.I would really like a toy tractor and I would like a toy trailer. I want Daniel to have a plow truck.

Martin Grade 2 Dear Santa, It’s me, Ella. I have tried to be good all year. I am happy to be back with Saoirse and dad and my dog. I haven’t been at home very often because I have been looked at by your elves when I have been at Ronald McDonald House. They ring bells. I would really like three Pikmi Pops. I would also like a ball that my dog Guinness can’t chew through. I would also like a present for mommy and daddy and Saoirse, too.

Ella Grade 1 Dear Santa, It’s me, Daniel. I have tried to be good all year. I clean the house. Be myself and enjoy playing. I would really like a small toy tractor for Christmas for Martin and me, I want a dirt bike and 30 pokemon cards.

Daniel Grade 2 Dear Santa, It’s me, Khalil. I have tried to be good all year. I am responsible. I can use the pencil sharpener. Being nice to others like Max. I am helpful to my mom. I would really like new skates, a new binder. I am going to get a sweater for dad.

Khalil Grade 2 Dear Santa, It’s me, Rowen. I have tried to be good all year. I mop the floor, I swept the floor. I made my bed. I would really like a dog, a slime kit, and Payslie would like a bulletin board.

Rowen

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Grade 1 Dear Santa, It’s me, Sholene. I have tried to be good all year. I made my bed. I swept the floor and I mopped the floor. And I also picked up my toys. I would really like slime and maybe a Barbie doll and a robo dog.

Sholene Grade 1 Dear Santa, It’s me, Emmara. I have tried to be good all year. I be good at school. I tried to feed my cat in the morning. I helped Tao stack the firewood in the house.

I would really like a LOL doll, I would like a hamster. I would wan t slime. For somebody else I would want a spy camera.

Emmara Grade 1 Dear Santa, It’s me, Ezra. I have tried to be good all year. I helped my brother. I was good. I would really like hot wheels lego set and a mammoth lego and a grumbly. My cousin might want a robot dog.

Ezra Grade 1 Dear Santa, It’s me, Nathan. I have tried to be good all year. I helped my dad fix his tractor. I helped my mom fix her computer. I helped my brother fix his tablet. I would really like an apple computer and a tablet.

Nathan

Grade 1 Dear Santa, It’s me, Cadence. I have tried to be good all year. I helped my sister get her pajamas on. I helped my brother carry his cup to his fish tank. And I helped my mom do dishes. I would really like an easy bake oven and a pink cat collar. I would like a holiday barbie for Charlotte.

Cadence Grade 1 Dear Santa, It’s me, Colton. I have tried to be good all year. I carried wood. And I be good at home. And I was good every day. I would really like Halo 5 for the XBox 360 or Halo 7 for XBox 360.

Colton Grade 2 Dear Santa, It’s me, Delilah. I have tried to be good all year. I fed the dog. I helped my mom with the dishes. I helped my friends and let them join in with my games. I would really like a robot dog and a robot cat. For Lauren, she wants a rabbit. For Emmara, she wants a hamster. And for Sholene, she wants a tiger.

Delilah Grade 1 Dear Santa, It’s me, Lauren. I have tried to be good all year. I helped my sister with a snowman.

I helped my cat feel better. I helped my cat from getting bullied. I would really like a spy kit and a spy camera and a spy kitten. Could you please get something for my friend Emmara.

Thank you!

Sincerely, Lauren Grade 1

At this wondrous time, we wish you the hope and happiness that are so much a part of this miraculous season.

Asking the Christ Child to Bless you for all your support over the last 30+ years!

Afelskie Shoes BARRY'S BAY

KILLALOE

from the Board, Administration, Staff and Residents of Valley Manor

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Christmas Wishes 2018

Page 17

Kashubian Christmas – overseas and in Wilno to Christmas.

Previously, instead of a Christmas tree, a sheaf of wheat would be placed in the WILNO - Christmas traditions vary corner of the room. It was supposed to be around the globe, even within the same the symbol of abundance and hope that the culture. As David Shulist of Wilno points household will never run out of bread.

After Christmas Eve’s dinner, people get out in his research below, there are several key differences between the Kashubian together to sing Christmas carols. Kashubs have so many of them that they could stay Christmases of Europe and those of Wilno. by the table singing throughout the whole KASHUBIAN CHRISTMAS IN evening. As little as 30 to 40 years ago, in EUROPE According to Artur Jablonsczi from that evening, you could almost be guaranteed Kashubia, Europe, the word Gòdë in Slavic a visit from carollers called in Kashubian, languages means time of joy and of merry. In Gwiôzdczi, Gwiżdże or Panëszczi.

They walked through the village, from Kashubian, Gòdë refers to Christmas time.

Kashubian Christmas begins with Christmas house to house. They would always be up to Eve on December 24 and ends January 6, the some mischief directed at the children and to Epiphany day. This is time when Christian dance with adults. They would wear disguises tradition mingles with the much older pre- portraying animals, people; personify the Christian Kashubian beliefs, primarily devil or death, which for example typically is represented as a figure of a woman dressed associated with the worship of nature.

On Christmas Eve, Kashubian families in white, wielding a scythe. Among the most gather to eat dinner together, where only common animal disguises are the goat, bear, meatless dishes are served. In the past, it stork and a horse. A gypsy and a policeman was a non-festive occasion, and rather just a frequently make an appearance as well. modest meal. On Christmas Eve, meat is not Nowadays, this custom is practised only in eaten. Fish takes the centre stage, typically, some villages.

In all of the Kashubian homes, children sea fish such as herring, salmon, eel, cod or fresh water fish such as pike, vendace, roach, are awaiting a man called Gwiôzdór, a man perch and carp. A traditional dish which is bearing gifts. It is a peculiar character, awealso served is stewed dried fruit compote inspiring and sometimes children are even with plums, pears, apples, all cooked frightened of him. Gwiôzdór is wearing long leather boots and a sheepskin coat. His together.

For more than a hundred years, a attributes are: a mask, bag of gifts for the Christmas tree is set up in Kashubian well-behaved children and a whip for the homes a few days before Christmas. Most disobedient. Adults encourage children to frequently it is spruce or pine. It is decorated approach the window and find the star of with Christmas balls, paper chains and other Bethlehem in the night sky. This is used as trinkets that parents and children often make a distraction, just for Gwiôzdór to suddenly together during long December nights prior appear.

Submitted by David Shulist

After the gifts are handed out, children go to bed and adults go to church to take part in Pasterka - a Midnight mass. Pasterka means literally Shepherds’ Mass after the shepherds, who first found Jesus in one of Bethlehem stables. Christmas is celebrated over two days: 25th and 26th of December.

Christmas Day is rather a day Kashubs spent at home with the close family. Goose is the main dish for the Christmas meal. The celebration continues with food and family.

KASHUBIAN CHRISTMAS IN WILNO As told by the Shulist homestead north of Wilno (Adam Shulist, Monica Burchat and Catherine Recoskie): Between the period of 1858 and around 1940s, the old Kashubian traditions were practised which were brought over from the Kashub homeland of Kashubia Europe.

Today, it is much different where they embraced the North American style of Christmas traditions and Santa Claus.

Back when the Kashubs arrived in Canada, they brought Kashubian traditions with them. The traditions in Canada’s Kashubia were very similar to the Christmas in Kashubia, Europe, the homeland of our Kashubian ancestors.

Christmas started on Christmas Eve and ended on January 6 - Epiphany day, also known as little Christmas. The Christmas Eve dinner was more of a snack with fish being the main dish. Pickerel and trout were the fish of choice. In Kashubia, they had more choices because they had the Baltic Sea and fresh water fish. After the light snack, everyone would fast before going to midnight Mass. Dried apple and plums were also a favourite treats. The Christmas tree of choice was also spruce or pine. The tree was

decorated with pine cones, hanging apples, and popcorn on a thread was used as garland.

At the Shulist homestead farm (home of Christine Hudder’s grandfather, Victor Shulist), a man dressed in old clothing, a long beard which had the texture of sheep wool, whose name was Gwiôzdka / Gwiôzdór, came to visit the children on Christmas Eve. In Kashubia, Europe they used the word Gwiôzdór, where, as in Wilno they used the word Gwiôzdka which translates to The Starman.

Coal oil lamps would line the lane way to make sure that Gwiôzdka would not miss their home. The children were scared when he came to visit because they were going to be judged if they were naughty or nice. They were hoping that they were good so they could get presents. They had to say a prayer (Hail Mary) and promise to be good all year or they would not get a present. When the children heard noises from the outside, they would quickly be down on their knees, and ready for Gwiôzdka. What was also interesting in those days was that Gwiôzdka only spoke Kashubian.

After the gifts were handed out, the children would go to bed and the adults would go to Midnight Mass where the celebration of the birth of Jesus was celebrated. Christmas carols would be sung in church instead of going door to door because the farm houses were too far apart. After the Mass, they would come home and have a snack of Chicken and rice soup. Side dishes such as Kashubian blood sausage (worta) and pickled herring (sledze) were served.

At Christmas dinner, family would gather and feast on a goose dinner with all the trimmings. Because they raised geese on the farms, it was the choice for a Christmas meal.

WISHING YOU A

We are truly grateful for the many demonstrated acts of

Peace & Joy to you and yours!

kindness as we faced the challenges of this past year.

Our heartfelt thank you to our family and friends who supported us in so many ways. We extend our very best wishes to you and yours for a Merry Christmas & a Happy, Healthy New Year.

Eric and Susan

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we rejoice in the many blessings He has bestowed upon us. His precious gifts and the goodwill of our friends and customers here in the community fill us with gratitude during this holy season.

Thank you for your kind support all year, and please accept our heartfelt wishes for a wonderful Christmas.

Cathy and Terry

Eric Coulas Electric Plus Barry’s Bay, ON ~ ECRA/ESA Lic 7003955

Page 18

Christmas Wishes 2018

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

There was always a Christmas for Phyllis Seigel GAYLE DAVIS Gazette Staff

BARRY’S BAY - Phyllis Seigel, age 88, was quietly reading a book when the Gazette dropped by the manor to speak to her about her Christmas memories.

Her face lit up as soon as she began talking.

Phyllis was born in Pembroke but lived in Deacon most of her life. There were two girls in her family and she was the baby. Her sister is 91 and still lives on her own.

Phyllis’ father worked at the army camp in Petawawa while the family lived in Pembroke. But for the early years, there was no work for men. Her father kept pulp in the winter and worked for farmers for potatoes, to feed the family.

“But we had a very happy family life,” remarks Phyllis.

They had a little house in Deacon with a stable, a cow and some chickens.

“We had a pig in the summer and we would make salt pork for the winter. My dad worked in Deacon doing odd jobs, something to keep us going.” remembers Phyllis. “Some days he worked on the roads, a few days here and there. There was no money for anything.”

When asked about her childhood Christmas, Phyllis shared: “For our Christmas, we always had chicken or sometimes turkey. If you could do something for someone, you could maybe get a turkey. We had our own chickens, so most of the time we had chicken. We always had a Christmas.”

How about the tree?

“My dad would take the two of us out to pick a Christmas tree. We went out and found the tree together and cut it down and brought it home. Sometimes my mother was not very happy,” laughs Phyllis. “We used to fix it up. We didn’t have a lot of decorations but we strung popcorn. We made our own decorations. We would put the tree up about a week before Christmas. In my own home, I didn’t put the tree up until later in December.”

Phyllis’ mother always managed to get fruit and nuts and make her special Christmas cake. They always had a good meal and, if very lucky, would get an orange or maybe an apple as a treat.

“If there was a penny around at all, mother always got us some little thing. I can remember one year there was no money, so my aunt came across the river and gave my mother $2. She went to Killaloe and got each of us a little doll.”

On Christmas Eve, the family attended church service at the Gospel Chapel in Deacon.

Christmas dinner was usually shared with her grandmother. Her father’s family didn’t come often in the early days but later, when their children were grown, they all spent Christmas together. It was horse and sleigh in those days and not easy to get around to visit.

On Christmas Day, her mother would get up early and put on the turkey.

“There weren’t many presents,” remembers Phyllis. “But we opened what we had in the morning, when we got up. You know, in those days, you didn’t have very much but we had a lot of company and my mother always managed to have enough for

43 Stafford St, Box 513, Barry’s Bay, ON K0J 1B0 Phone/Fax 613-756-2003 Heubnerfuneralhome.ca

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In this the most joyous of seasons let us reflect on those family and friends who are spending their first Christmas in Heaven.

Anne Young Barbara Murack Franz Wolfstetter Martin Bloskie Miroslaw Lenc Kevin Kluke Delbert Lidtkie Walter Lentz Jadwiga Bujak Patricia Conway John Nicholson Caroline Shushack Annie Dupuis Phillip Olsheskie Lloyd Quade Catherine Prince Isobel Larochelle Edward Rivers Barbara James Sylvester Zelney Mildred Yantha Robert Florent Beatrice Brotton Treisa Wojcik-Coulas Baby Aubrey Blank Jan Kaczkowski Benedict Stamplecoskie Herbert Edenhauser Michael Prince

Paul Latoure Raymond Mantifel Silas Kuiack Margaret Visutski Tomir Balut Robert Millar John Miller Joseph Love Paul Lorbetskie Julia Borutskie Stanislaw Warchulski Leonard Kuiack Connie NeumanShand Esther Hubers Doris Jodoin Celestine (Sally) Goodwin Bernice Higgins Thomas Regan Nick Stamplecoskie Beryl Tomlin Gilbert Berger Lucy Kuiack Stanislaw Bartkowicz Arthur Jircitano Garry Chapeskie Mark Kuiack Esther Liedtke Marion Trafford

Steven Mayhew Bernadette Ostroskie Bernard Hudder Shaun Lapenskie Mary Jean Young Stanley Dombroskie Wilfred Stoppa Barbara Grosklog Scott Jeffrey Duane Bower Elizabeth (Joan) Herron Harold Jessup Mara Kulnieks Annie Sawyer Agnes Pecarskie Alphonse Stamplecoskie Gladys Retza Bernard Babinski Marcel Dionne Anastasia Kuiack William Cameron Ambrose Beanish Kathryn Daly Rudolf Bob Aloysius Lorbetskie Leona Shalla Salme Voorand Peter Mask Carol Pritchard

Manor resident Phyllis Seigel shares happy Christmas memories.

Photo Gayle Davis a meal for everybody. I don’t know how she did it. Everybody really enjoyed the meal.”

After the meal, Phyllis and her sister played together. She doesn’t remember doing anything really special, just being together.

“We always had a good time,” Phyllis smiles. “We played well together. I don’t think we ever had a fight. We still love each other dearly. On Christmas Day, my sister and I would go out and sleigh ride together.

Dad made a set of skiis out of a pork barrel.

He polished them and everything for us. You make do. We had a lot of company. We didn’t have parties or anything, but we had a lot of family visiting. It doesn’t happen anymore.

People [prefer to] phone [today].”

After she was married for a few years, Phyllis and her husband Jack adopted a little boy named Ronnie, who really enjoyed Christmas, too.

“I quit work when we adopted Ronnie, then I went back to work when Jack had the stroke,” remembers Phyllis.

Since Ronnie was an only child, he was used to playing alone. For many years, Phyllis and Jack took Ronnie to her sister’s home for Christmas Day, after opening gifts at home.

Her sister had six children and really enjoyed having a full house of visitors. One year, Ronnie came to Phyllis and asked, “Mom, could we please stay home?”

Phyllis recalls that she never even thought about Ronnie not liking to be away from home. He was used to a quiet home and playing by himself, so the boisterous Christmas celebration was not to his liking.

“After that, we stayed home on Christmas Day. I could see it after he mentioned it, but it just didn’t strike me before that,” reveals Phyllis.

The Siegel Christmas dinner consisted of turkey and dressing, vegetables from the cold cellar, salad and desserts.

“All kinds of food,” recollects Phyllis. “We were in the better times, so we could buy more.”

You could also buy what you needed at the store, which made life much easier.

“I baked Christmas cake and pie. I made meat pies and I used to give some of them to my older friends.”

Before Christmas, they attended a Christmas concert at their church. Ronnie was a participant in the annual presentation.

Looking back on her own childhood, Phyllis remarks, “You know, I honestly think those times were better than today. We’ve got everything [but] do we really appreciate what we have? I really do appreciate it. I am thankful for everything that we have. I am fortunate to be able to walk to the dining room and get a meal.”

Phyllis hopes to spend Christmas Day with her son Ronnie and his partner Louise. They are coming up to celebrate Christmas with her.

“They are going to make Christmas dinner and pick me up and take me over to a chalet they are renting for three days,” Phyllis says with delight. “I’ve had a very happy life, to tell you the truth. I’ve had so much to be thankful for. Everybody has always been good to me.”

Christmas in the country Photos submitted

Cheryl Kauffeldt’s boys admire the Christmas tree in Quadeville.

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Christmas Wishes 2018

Page 19

Letters to Santa from St. John Bosco Catholic School Senior Kindergarten/Grade 1 Class

Dear Santa, My name is Nicholas. I am 5 years old.

I would like a toy machine gun. I have been good this year by helping by mom and dad. I will leave you some chocolate chip cookies and a Pepsi.

From: Nicholas Dear Santa, My name is Willow. I am 5 years old. I would like a L.O.L doll. I like petting my dog Jazzy and helping to look after her.

I will make some gingerbread cookies for you. Thank you for the gifts that you gave me last year.

Love, Willow Dear Santa, My name is Kayden. I am 5 years old. I like to play with toy cars. Can you bring me a new red toy car? I have been good by listening to my mom and dad and being nice to people. I will leave you some chocolate cookies.

From: Kayden Dear Santa, My name is Kenzie. I am 5 years old. I would like a L.O.L doll. I will leave you chocolate cookies and milk. Thank you for bringing me lots of toys last year!

From: Kenzie Dear Santa, My name is Alex. I am 5 years old. I would like a L.O.L doll with blonde hair.

I will leave some chocolate cookies and milk for you.

From: Alex

Dear Santa, My name is Arianna, I am 5 years old. I would like a L.O.L doll named Rosa with blonde hair. I have been good by playing gently with my brother. I will leave you chocolate chip cookies and milk. Thank you for bringing me the big kitchen last year.

Love, Arianna Dear Santa, My name is Sarah, I am 6 years old. I have 5 brothers and 2 sisters. I would like a set of fairies that can fly. You are so nice to give everyone presents. I will leave you some cookies. What kind do you like? I am good by helping my family tidy up. I love you Santa.

From: Sarah Dear Santa, My name is Jackson. I am 4 years old. I like your reindeer that I saw at Santa’s Village. Please bring me a Romeo truck with a robot. I will leave you lots of treats to share with your reindeer.

From: Jackson.

Dear Santa, My name Chailyn. I am 5 years old. I would like a pink flying fairy. I like all of the presents that you brought me last year. I am good by helping people. I will make you some chocolate chip cookies.

From: Chailyn Dear Santa, My name is Natalie, I am 5 years old.

You are so nice to bring me lots of presents. Please bring me a new DS. I will be good by helping my mom, dad,

grandma and grandpa. Please bring my brother a new Pokemon too.

From: Natalie Dear Santa, My name is Rosa. I am 5 years old. I like your big white beard. Please bring me a L.O.L doll or the second set of Enchantimals. I am going to be good by helping mom and dad watch over my baby brother. Please bring my brother a dump truck or a bulldozer. His name is Caleb.

From: Rosa Dear Santa, My name is Jack. I am 6 years old.

I would like a BeyBlade. I like your reindeer. I will leave treats for them. I will be good by listening to my parents.

From: Jack Dear Santa, My name is Jacob. I would like a telescope. I like your elves who make presents. I will leave you some chocolate chip cookies to share with your elves.

I will be good by helping mommy and daddy.

From: Jacob Dear Santa, My name is Anna. I am 5 years old. I would like a Baby Alive. I am good by helping my family. I like when you hide treats for me. I will leave you some cookies.

From: Anna Dear Santa, My name is Olivia. I am 5 years old. I would like L.O.L doll with whitish-blonde

hair. I have been good by helping my mom make my bed. It makes her happy.

I will leave chocolate chip and sprinkle cookies. Thank you for the gift that you brought last year.

From: Olivia Dear Santa, My name is Madison. I am 5 years old.

I have been a good girl by helping my mom look after my sister. I would like an American Girl doll with a blue dress and brown hair.

I will leave you some chocolate chip cookies.

From: Madison Dear Santa, My name is Hannah. I am 6 years old. I have been pretty good this year. I help people get up when they are skating. Please bring me a blue or purple Hatchimal. Thank you for giving presents every year. I will be really good by helping people. I will leave chocolate chip cookies and milk. And some carrots for the reindeer.

From: Hannah Dear Santa, My name is Cheyenne. I am 5 years old. I have been good by making my mom bacon and eggs in bed. I would like a purple Hatchimal. I will leave you some vanilla cookies. Thank you for bringing me play dough and lego last year. Please bring a race car for Luke, a L.O.L doll for Alexis and some Lego for Colin. And bring my mommy a necklace and my daddy a work set.

Love, Cheyenne

Wishing You Peace at the Holidays May your home be blessed and your heart filled, by the beauty and spirit of this inspiring time of year.

CHEERS to the Madawaska Valley from the...

We know you inspire us in so many ways, and we are truly grateful to have neighbours like you. THANKS!

M.G. DALY Funeral Home Ltd.

200 Old Hastings Road, Maynooth, ON

Claudia, Dirk and the MKC Crew

P: 613-338-3259 E: dalyfuneralhome@bell.net W: www.dalyfuneralhome.ca

Page 20

Christmas Wishes 2018

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Pregnancy Care Centre gives Christmas back GAYLE DAVIS Gazette Staff

BARRY’S BAY - Ever wonder how hope can be restored in a completely hopeless situation?

The Bancroft Pregnancy Care Centre is just one of a network of faith-based pregnancy and family care centres throughout Canada that works to give hope, help and support to women and families facing a crisis pregnancy and other life and family challenges. Located at 35 Sherbourne Street in Bancroft, the centre’s doors and services are open to all who come for assistance, both material and emotional, or just need a place to land and someone to talk to.

Everyone is welcome. All the services are free.

Executive Director Jen Foster noted that what they do happens all year long but, as Christmas can be harder on families that are struggling, the need increases, especially at Christmas.

“It’s really hard to pinpoint just Christmas, as this goes on all year,” Foster added.

She says of the clients, “They worry about how they are going to give their kids a Christmas.”

The Pregnancy Care Centre works all year round to help those in need, but at Christmas they share their many donations of toys and clothing, diapers and formula to help ease money worries for basic things.

“Our desire is to help them so that they can maybe provide a better Christmas for their children and themselves,” explains Foster.

The Pregnancy Care Centre works all year

round to help those, in need.

“So many of the people we see are lost and looking for a place to just be themselves,” said Foster. “To be accepted and loved, no matter where they have come from, no matter what their circumstances are.”

As well as material and emotional supports, the Pregnancy Care Centre offers programs for clients. Rather than being in competition with the many other programs in the Bancroft area, they provide programs that act as a compliment to what is already out there. They connect people with a program or agency that can assist them with their immediate needs.

“We don’t want to duplicate what’s out there,” comments Foster. “The programs that we offer are different from what is being offered in the community.”

The Centre also receives generous support from members of the community who contact the centre and ask what is needed and how they can help.

The closest Pregnancy Care Centre to Barry’s Bay is located in Pembroke.

“We have a few clients that do travel down from the Barry’s Bay/Combermere area, but many in need do not have the transportation or may even be unaware that we exist,” said Foster.

They often hear from these clients that there is nothing like this in Barry’s Bay. There aren’t these kinds of resources in that area, where they can get help if they are struggling.

“But,” remarks Foster, “they know that they can come here and get that kind of support.”

“It would be wonderful to have [a

Executive Director Jen Foster with one of the many little visitors to the Bancroft Pregnancy Care Centre.

Photos Gayle Davis pregnancy care centre] in Barry’s Bay, at least one day a week, because there is a need there. [It could} possibly be a satellite of the one in Bancroft.

It would be much easier for them if they didn’t have to drive 45 minutes to Bancroft or an hour and a half to Pembroke to get assistance. It would be awesome to have a satellite office there [Barry’s Bay] with someone who could run it one or two days a week, a couple of hours a day. That’s something that we’d have to look into, [to see] if there’s any interest. Perhaps the local churches might help us [get started].”

In talking with Foster, it became obvious

that some people do not have any support from family or friends. All they have is the centre.

“Relationship building is the key part of what we do, to show people the hope they can have in their lives,” explained Foster, “That they have a friend to talk to, without judgment. We are pro-life, for sure, but regardless we are here, no matter where they are in their lives. We don’t walk their walk. We are non-judgmental. We are here to support them, no matter what.”

Leslie, whose name has been changed

Story continued on page 21.

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Story continued from page 20. for privacy reasons, is a current client at the centre. She spoke to me about her journey and how the centre is helping her through not only Christmas but also the challenges of life.

Leslie, a suddenly single mom, had one daughter. Finding herself pregnant once again, Leslie shared, “I had left a relationship so I had nothing. I wasn’t in a financial position to buy the things that I needed.

I started to freak out.” At the urging of her sister, she found that the centre was there to help without judging her.

Leslie speaks fondly of one volunteer named Jill.

“Jill and I started talking and the next thing I knew, one, then two, then three hours had gone by. When I left, I felt so ... I just didn’t feel alone anymore,” shared Leslie. “She is very much non-judgmental. My friends know that [if they can’t find me] I am at the centre with Jill,” she laughs.

Things were not going well financially for Leslie and her family. Her partner could only find occasional work and Leslie, who was on sick leave with a high risk pregnancy, was trying to support the family on 55 percent of her income.

“It just didn’t work,” recalls Leslie. She was stressed because she shared, “I couldn’t buy wipes because it was, if I buy these in preparation for the new baby, that’s dinner for my other daughter right now. So it was, [do I] provide for my three-year-old or prepare for my newborn.”

One day, while visiting the centre, Client Services Director Karis Regamey gave Leslie a diaper bag full of everything she would need for the baby. And when the

Christmas Wishes 2018

baby was born, the centre provided some additional items.

Leslie tears up, “I didn’t have to choose which kid I could provide for.”

Leading up to Christmas, due to the generosity of the centre, Leslie has been able to buy things for her three-year-old daughter as well as find things for the baby at the centre which she will be perfectly happy with.

“I don’t have to spend $20 on a toy [for the baby]. I can put that money towards the three-year-old.

“I found a beautiful fancy dress for the baby, for a wedding. Something that would run me $30-$40 in the store, just to wear for a couple of hours. She wore it. I washed it and brought it back for someone else to use,” explains Leslie.

Many of the mothers recycle items back through the centre in a ‘pay-it-forward’ gesture. The centre operates like a giant recycling operation according to Foster, who laughed at the thought.

“I really like that, when I bring something in, there’s a good chance that I could be helping out the mom who is standing next to me in line at the grocery store,” enthuses Leslie.

Just knowing that she can come any time she needs to talk to someone is something she values very much.

“Obviously, that is worth more than any dollar value.”

As for Christmas, Leslie is really enjoying the season this year.

“I am not stressing about it because in the back of my mind, I know that if there’s anything I need for my kids, somebody would [probably] be able to find it for me.”

I am much happier coming into the holidays [this year]. Financially, I am struggling and

May the spirit of Christmas fill your heart and home with peace, joy and contentment.

Our thanks and best wishes for a happy holiday reside with you, our customers and friends!

From all of us at

KRANZ Brokerage

Your Insurance Broker Understands

G.

Insurance & real estate Limited Box 310, Killaloe • Office 613-757-2515

Page 21

The Bancroft Pregnancy Care centre all decked out for Christmas [the centre] just helps so much. “ I am not a religious person ... so I really didn’t think I would be welcome here. But, I was wrong. I don’t feel like I am being pressured [into anything].”

The groups they offer here have helped me get out of the house. Having groups to go to keeps me getting up out of bed, especially during the winter months.

Every single year, you worry about dinners and this and that, family, presents.

But this year, with the help and support of the pregnancy care centre,” Leslie concludes, “It’s almost like they are giving me Christmas back.”

For more information about services and programs, check their website: www. bancroftpcc.ca. You can also contact the centre directly at 613-332-4673 or send an

e-mail inquiry to Executive Director Jen Foster at director@bancroftpcc.ca.

Client Services Director Karis Regamy works with clients and develops programs for clients

Merry Christmas from

YANTHA ENTERPRISES and YANTHA BACKHOE & TRUCKING Marie, John & Lynne, Fabian, Jody, Jonathon and Staff

Page 22

Christmas Wishes 2018

Turkey four ways

‘Tis the season for turkey dinners and all the trimmings! If you find yourself with more leftovers than you can chew, or are looking for a different spin on a traditional turkey dinner, whip up a few of these unique meals.

Turkey roulade with cranberry chutney Serves 6

Turkey roulade

Ingredients - 1 sheet puff pastry - 1 pound turkey meat from turkey breast and/or thigh meat, cut into 1-inch chunks - 3 eggs - 1/2 cup chicken stock - 1/4 cup Marsala - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter - Unbleached all-purpose flour, for the pastry - 1/2 cup celery sliced on the diagonal

- 1/2 cup sliced button mushrooms - 1/2 cup Cranberry Chutney (see below), plus more for serving - Fresh parsley sprigs for garnish Instructions 1. Following the instructions on the package, thaw the puff pastry. This will take 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the type of pastry. You should be able to unfold it without it breaking.

Set aside.

2. Pulse the turkey in a food processor until it is the consistency of ground beef. Add 2 of the eggs, the chicken stock, the Marsala, and the butter. Pulse again briefly, until just combined.

3. Roll out the puff pastry on a floured surface until it is a 12- or 13-inch square.

Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the pastry on top.

4. Form the minced turkey mixture into a log and position it down the center of the prepared puff pastry. Make an indentation down the length of the turkey and place the celery, mushrooms, and cranberry chutney along the indentation. Cover the indentation with the meat, forming a log once again.

5. Wrap the puff pastry around the turkey, neatly folding the ends and top together, rolling or tucking the edges together, and pinching to seal any gaps. Make the pastry-covered log as round as possible, like a Yule log - try to avoid a flattened version, like a strudel.

6. Preheat the oven to 450 F. 7. Combine the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl or cup.

Stir well until completely mixed. Brush the

We hope this holiday season delivers peace on earth and contentment in your heart.

With gratitude in our hearts, we wish all of our friends and customers here a blessed and Merry Christmas. Your trust and kindness remind us of what’s important at the holidays and all year. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!

GERRY'S SEPTIC PUMPING AND PORTABLE TOILET RENTALS 3115 Letterkenny Road, Wilno, ON

Phone 613-756-0235 or 613-757-0235

roulade with the egg wash, being careful to brush every bit of the exposed pastry.

8. Bake for 10 minutes at 450 F, then reduce the heat to 375 F. Continue to bake for 30 to 45 minutes longer, until the pastry has risen and is a toasty, golden color and the turkey has reached an internal temperature of 165 F. Generally speaking, once the pastry has cooked, the meat will be cooked, too. Remove the roulade from the oven. Transfer it to a serving platter, using the parchment paper to help you. Allow to rest for about 10 minutes.

9. Slice and serve, garnishing with the parsley and accompanying with a bowl of extra cranberry chutney.

Cranberry Chutney Makes 3 cups Ingredients - 1 1-pound bag fresh cranberries - 2 navel oranges, unpeeled, cut into 6 wedges and then into thin slices - 1/3 cup golden raisins - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon - 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves - 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt - 1/2 cup apple cider - 1/2 cup honey, preferably cranberry honey - 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar Instructions 1. Pour the cranberries into a 2-quart pot.

Add the oranges, raisins, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, salt, apple cider, honey, and vinegar.

Bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the chutney thickens, about 20 minutes.

2. Remove from the heat and serve warm or, if you prefer, chill and serve cold.

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Turkey vegetable pot pie with whole-wheat crust Serves 6

For the crust: - 1 cup whole-wheat flour - 1 cup all-purpose flour - 1/4 teaspoon salt - 2/3 cup corn oil - 1/3 cup orange juice For the filling: - 1 carton condensed cream of chicken soup (organic preferred) - 1/2 cup low-fat milk - 11/4 pound boneless, skinless turkey breast, thinly sliced into bite-size pieces - 1 cup thinly sliced carrots (or frozen sliced carrots, thawed) - 1 cup leeks, quartered lengthwise, then thinly sliced crosswise, using white and pale green parts only

Continued on page 23.

Wishing you all the best this Holiday Season The Yuill Family and Staff

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Continued from page 22.

- 3/4 cup thinly sliced celery - 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed - 3 tablespoons whole-wheat flour - 2 teaspoons dried herbes de

Provence (or 1Ú2 teaspoon each thyme, rosemary and basil) - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper - 1/4 teaspoon salt To make the crust: Combine flours and salt in a medium bowl. Pour in oil and orange juice and stir until moistened. Press dough to flatten and chill.

To make the filling: Blend soup and 1/2 cup of milk in a large bowl. Mix in the remaining ingredients.

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Divide dough into 2 balls, one slightly larger than the other.

Roll the larger ball between 2 large sheets of waxed paper until it is 1Ú8-inch-thick or until it fits in the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan. Remove the top sheet of waxed paper.

Turn dough over and carefully place in the pie pan, removing remaining piece of waxed paper. Press out any bubbles and patch holes with scraps of dough. Pour filling into the prepared pan. Roll remaining dough and lay it on top. Cut any excess dough hanging from the edges and crimp the crust between your thumb and forefinger to seal. Cut a heart into the center to allow steam to escape.

Place the pie on a sheet pan and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until center of crust becomes golden and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the pie’s center reaches 165 F, covering browned edges only with foil about halfway through cooking.

Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to rest for at least 5 minutes before cutting.

Christmas Wishes 2018

Spicy lime and cilantro turkey fajitas

Makes 4 servings Ingredients: - 1 tablespoon paprika - 1/2 teaspoon onion salt - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper - 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme - 1/4 teaspoon white pepper - 1 pound turkey tenderloin, butterflied - 1 lime, squeezed for juice - 1 cup nonfat sour cream - 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions - 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro - 1 can (4 ounces) green chiles, drained - 1 plum tomato, seeded and finely chopped - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper - 4 large pita rounds - 1/2 cup shredded lettuce Instructions: In a shallow flat dish, combine the paprika, onion salt, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, fennel, thyme, and white pepper.

Rub mixture over the turkey; cover and refrigerate for one hour.

Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking.

Grill the turkey, 4 inches from the heat, 5 to 6 minutes per side, turning the turkey tenderloin halfway through the grilling time.

Cook until a food thermometer registers 165 F in the thickest part of the tenderloin.

Place on a clean serving plate and squeeze the lime juice over the tenderloin. Slice the

Page 23

turkey, crosswise, on the diagonal into 1/4inch slices.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the sour cream, onions, cilantro, chilies, tomato, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.

Fill each pita half with the turkey and top with the cilantro sauce. Add shredded lettuce.

Turkey, vegetable and oat minimeatloaves with marinara sauce Serves 6

Ingredients:

Expeller-pressed canola oil spray - 1 8-ounce package crimini (baby bella) mushrooms (about 2 1/2 cups) - 1 small yellow onion, cut into eighths - 4 cloves garlic, minced - 1 tablespoon extra-virgin oil - 1 cup dry rolled oats - 2 large eggs

- 1 pound lean ground turkey - 1 3/4 cups pasta sauce, divided - 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar - 1 tablespoon Italian herb seasoning - 1/2 teaspoon salt - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Instructions: Preheat oven to 375 F. Coat a 9 x 13-inch baking pan or 6 mini loaf pans with spray.

Pulse mushrooms in a food processor until finely chopped and add them to a large bowl. Repeat with onion and garlic.

Place a large frying pan over medium heat and add oil. When oil is shimmering, add vegetables and sauté for 7 minutes or until water releases and evaporates completely, lowering the heat as necessary.

Set aside.

Process the oats until they are of a fine consistency. Whisk the eggs in the bowl used for the vegetables. Add processed oats, turkey, 3/4 cup of pasta sauce, cooked vegetables, vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper and stir together with a fork until blended.

Scoop the mixture into 6 mounds on the pan or into each mini-loaf pan, about 3/4 cup each. Shape each mound into a 4 x 2-inch loaf. Spread remaining 1 cup of pasta sauce on top of the loaves, distributing evenly. Bake on middle rack for 25 minutes, turning pan midway through cooking, until loaves are firm or a thermometer inserted in the middle reads at least 165 F. Allow loaves to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Recipe Notes: You can finely chop vegetables with a knife rather than using a food processor if you prefer. Whole oats can be added to the meat mixture for a more rustic texture.

Wishing You A Model YeAr As another year hits the road, we’d like to acknowledge all the people who have been key to our success and wish you all a very, very merry season and a truly memorable year.

We’re chiming in with our best wishes for a happy and harmonious season!

May the sights and sounds of the holiday fill you with resounding joy.

Thanks to our loyal customers for your friendship and support.

We look forward to ringing in the New Year with all of you!

HELPING PEOPLE TO HEAR BETTER www.theeardepot.com 12 Dunn Street, Barry’s Bay 613-756-9550

Thanks for your valued business and we look forward to seeing you again in the new year.

613-332-1410 / 1-800-55VANCE

www.vancemotors.com

Station & Hastings St, Downtown Bancroft

Page 24

Christmas Wishes 2018

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Lifting winter spirits through song Physical and mental benefits of being in a choir

MARK JONES Staff Reporter KILLALOE - “Your heart starts to beat in unison, the experience lifts your mood. It is something beyond the benefits of social interaction.”

Those are the words of Linda Archibald who formed the Dark Times Choir which is open to everyone, meeting on Monday evenings from 7 to 8:30 at the Community Resource Centre (CRC) at 12 North Street in Killaloe throughout the winter.

Born in Hamilton, Archibald is a social worker at the Rainbow Valley Health Centre in Killaloe, who came to the area in the 1970s and returned 15 years ago.

She suggested to the Ottawa Valley Creative Arts Open Studio (OVCAOS) the idea of a winter choir. When the short days are dark, we tend to stay indoors more.

“I see a clear connection between singing in a choir and physical and mental benefits,” Archibald said.

She gives a big thank you to OVCAOS for its willingness to support the arts.

It’s a very relaxed atmosphere when you arrive at the North Street venue.

People come in from the cold and sit in a circle around the Choir Leader, Schroeder Nordholt.

Nordholt trained under Maestro choir leader Uwe Lieflander and has run many choirs himself. He has earned his living for

Dark Times Choir meets every Monday evening at 12 North Street, Killaloe. New members are always welcome. The choir limbering up, clockwise, starting with Choir Leader Schroeder (nearest the camera, with two hands up), Linda, Jackie, Cheryl, Sandy, Iris, Patrice, Sigrid, Liz, Duncan, Bryan and Neil.

Photo Mark Jones almost 20 years giving private voice, guitar and piano lessons in this area.

Nordholt leads the physical warm up and then the voice warm up before the singing begins. He gets people laughing and in the mood to sing.

“The idea is not to perform, so people feel comfortable attending regardless of singing ability or experience,” Archibald said.

Nordholt said the music is chosen to meet with the overall objective of the choir:

to have fun. Songs range from three part Beatle harmonies to simple gospel songs.

He said winter is a time when we can slip into feeling blue or even depression. He says there is a lot of science to show the link between singing and stimulating the good chemicals in your brain.

Plus, it is a chance to meet people and have fun.

The CRC has been generous in donating the space to the choir.

OVCAOS wants artists to be paid. So there is a donation box.

The group began meeting last year and has a core of eight to 12 singers, but on some evenings there can be as many as 20.

There is no registration, so people are free to drop in when they are able.

Nordholt said, “Come and sing and we will get through these dark times.”

“I come back from the choir each week energized and positive.” Archibald said.

Happy Holidays from Management and Staff

CIBC Killaloe

Monday to Friday 9:30 am - 5:00 pm 613-757-2910

Serving Folks Like You Is A Real Treat For Us!

We couldn’t have asked for a better batch of friends and neighbours than you!

Happy Holidays!

157 Queen Street Killaloe, ON

Banking that fits your life.

19407 Opeongo Line, Barry's Bay

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Christmas Wishes 2018

Page 25

Family time in the Valley Schwiegs recall Christmases gone by

JEN JUHASZ Freelance COMBERMERE – Shared Christmas traditions started for Brad and Sharon Schwieg of Combermere 42 years ago when they started out as a young married couple.

While Brad is originally from Combermere, Sharon, along with one older and three younger sisters was born in south western Ontario, in the city of Kitchener. Her parents however, both born and raised in Barry’s Bay, were intent on ensuring their family’s connection with Madawaska Valley was kept intact. As a result, Sharon recalls spending a lot of her childhood in the area, with fond memories.

At 13 she would make the move to Combermere with her family, following her parents’ purchase of the big white building across the street from the Post Office in Combermere. She said at the time, it was a store and gas station.

Sharon’s parents would continue to run this business until switching over to a laundromat business a few years later.

Sadly, Sharon lost her mom when she was only 16. She and Brad had met a couple years before that, and Sharon said that both her mom and dad loved him, but with her sudden passing, Brad was left with the regret of not making his deep affection for her daughter known before her passing.

“Brad felt so bad that she didn’t know how he felt about me. I’m sure she did,” Sharon shared.

Shortly after, his intentions were more than clear as the couple became engaged and were married a year later.

Brad had already moved away to work at the Ford plant in Oakville, which is where they would continue to live for the next 30 years, working and raising their daughter Crystal and son Bradley, and eventually preparing for their retirement.

Over time and as they could afford to, they built a house in Combermere, where they continue to live today.

SHARING HOLIDAYS As with many couples, they have shared the holidays with each others’ families on alternating years, but ultimately, they have always come home at some point to Combermere for Christmas.

“We would spend one year with my dad

A familiar and friendly couple in the community: Sharon and Brad Schwieg.

Photo Jen Juhasz and sisters and the next year with Brad’s mom and dad and family,” Sharon said.

A couple years into their marriage, they were able to purchase a small building which would become their cottage. Brad’s grandfather built a wall to separate a living and bedroom space.

“We loved having our own place. It wasn’t fancy, but it was ours,” Sharon said.

While they had electricity, they had to haul water from Brad’s granny’s place next door. When nature called, they made their way out back, to the “two-holer” outhouse, in true cottage-style living.

They loved being there and spent every holiday and summer there.

Christmas was an even more special time in their small home away from home.

They would do their shopping early on in December. The plan was always the same; try to make their way up before Christmas in their jam-packed vehicle.

“We would bring a tree on the roof, or take the kids and cut one down here,” Sharon said.

One of their funniest memories of bringing a tree back from the city happened when they couldn’t get away

until the weekend of Christmas. They stopped at a place selling trees but by then there wasn’t much left to choose from; until they spotted a beautiful blue spruce.

“The tree came from down east, Nova Scotia, and came at a price of $40,” Sharon said, noting that that was a lot of money, especially in the early 1980’s.

“That tree should have been made of gold,” Sharon said.

They didn’t have much choice if they wanted a tree in time for Christmas, so purchase it they did, and Brad and one of the workers went ahead to secure it to the roof of the family van.

All arrived in Combermere, safe and sound, with their tree still intact. Sharon and the kids proceeded to unload the van.

At this time Brad untied and brought down the tree, along with, to their dismay, half of the needles.

“We stood there shocked and upset because of the money we spent for it,” Sharon said.

They went ahead and used the skeletal tree, but their enjoyment was short-lived.

The day after Christmas, down came that costly tree because the rest of the needles by then had also fallen off.

JUST NOT CHRISTMAS WITHOUT SANTA The Schwieg’s said that Santa always made an appearance when their children were small, usually surprising them with a peek in through the window. He would shake his bells and sometimes they would hear him stomping on the roof.

“Santa would shout ‘Ho ho ho,’ and Crystal and Brad (Junior) would make a mad dash to bed,” Sharon recalled.

Both of their kids have since grown and married and have a child each, Aurora 5, and Jacob, 2, with a baby sister for Jacob expected in April.

With their grandchildren living so far away, it means alternating Christmases, one year with them, and the next the youngsters spend with their other grandparents.

“We do get to see them every year when we drop into their homes for a day or two,” Sharon added.

The arrival of grandchildren in Brad and Sharon’s lives has been a blessing and a delight, increasing everyone’s joy for the holidays.

Sharon said that having grandchildren brings special and magical memories every Christmas.

“This year they are with us which means the tree is real the decorations are colourful, the food is plentiful, our hearts full, our love is real, and the happiness and excitement is what it’s all about,” Sharon said.

While their extended family has grown, Christmas remains all about family for the warm and friendly couple. Each year they try to attend a Christmas dinner in Kitchener with their aunts and uncles, cousins and all their kids.

“It’s always a special time to see how everyone is doing,” Sharon said.

They also have a big dinner with Sharon’s sisters in Combermere or surrounding area, which involves a meal, gift exchange, playing games and enjoying each others’ time together.

As well, they have always enjoyed wonderful dinners with Brad’s mom and dad and families, sharing in the dinner preparations and hosting duties. After a satisfying meal, they usually end their meals with a friendly care game of Pass the Ace. “We are blessed with the most special family and friends and Christmas is always the best time of year to show our love with them all,” Sharon said.

Whatever the season, their loving and generous spirits have been enjoyed by the community as well, with their involvement for many years with the Palmer Rapids and Area Lions Club, Sharon for 13 years and Brad for 11.

Christmas is a time to celebrate the people we most appreciate. Thank you to our clients, real estate representatives and colleagues for allowing us the opportunity to serve you in 2018. Your support is appreciated. May you all enjoy a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year and we are looking forward to serving you in 2019.

Tidings of Peace, Comfort & Joy to every man, woman, girl & boy We’d like to thank everyone for generously supporting our Food and Toy Drive. Your donations made all the difference!

Micheline J. Leveque Barrister and Solicitor Email: Micheline.Leveque@bellnet.ca 11 Fairway Boulevard. P.O. Box 1361. T: 613.332.0406 Bancroft, Ontario K0L 1C0 f: 613.332.0609

Page 26

Christmas Wishes 2018

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Grieving during the holidays It’s okay to have hot dogs for Christmas, grief counsellor says

CHRISTINE HUDDER Managing Editor BARRY’S BAY - Dorothy Corbeil lost three family members in a plane crash earlier this year. Rich Fleming’s father died of cancer five years ago.

Two completely different grieving journeys, but grief nonetheless.

They both attended the November 25 Hope for the Holidays event held in Barry’s Bay for support during what can be a difficult time of year.

It was led by Dawn Cruchet, a grief educator and counsellor, and Karen Wagner, palliative care nurse. Ten trained palliative care volunteers also assisted with the event.

Participants learn about coping techniques during the holidays and have the opportunity to make memorial candles that can be burned in honour of those that have died.

“It gives people the option to honour their loved one that has died,” Cruchet said. “Holiday times are hard because not only is the person who died missing but also the holiday they knew is missing.

It’s a double whammy.”

The holiday season can be long – starting right after Halloween until January.

“We really wanted to come together and give people a chance to honour the memories of their people by making a candle and doing a candle lighting service, and acknowledging what a hard time it is,” Cruchet explained DOROTHY’S JOURNEY Dorothy Corbeil of Deacon did not want to go to Hope for the Holidays. She was thinking of every excuse in the book.

“It’s still pretty raw,” she said.

But she figured that she needed to be around others in her grief journey.

“I have learned that every little opportunity to get help on the journey is good. Even through I know in my head what is going on, it’s my heart that has to catch up,” Corbeil said. “I have learned in my life that if something is so strong that it doesn’t want me to do it, I have to do it. To weaken it; to go in there and shine the flashlight on it.”

Her brother, “my baby brother,” she reiterated, sister-in-law and niece were killed in a place crash in July 2018.

Joseph Robertson, Anita (both 58) and their 24-year-old daughter Laura boarded a plane that Joseph was flying, destined for Prince Edward Island.

The family from Niagara-on-the-Lake never reached their destination. The plane crashed in Maine, killing all on board. Anita and Joseph’s two adult sons, Taylor and Clark, were not on the plane.

“We had just been at their house the night before and the Saturday before,” Corbeil said. “Young, vibrant contributing people in the world. Joe was a careful pilot. It was so senseless.

The anger was greater for that. We don’t know why it happened. We won’t know for another five or six months.”

This will be the first Christmas without them. While the family usually celebrated in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Corbeil said everyone gathered in Deacon last year to celebrate the holidays.

This isn’t her first time on the grief

path. Her husband Pierre died of cancer 10 years ago. He died at home, and the couple had the opportunity to talk about the process.

“We were preparing for it,” she said.

“But this one was total shock. I had to contact everybody. I can’t remember how I told some people. I was in such a state.

I knew it had to be done.”

She speaks to her nephews frequently, taking on the matriarch role to guide them through the grieving process. She extended an invitation to her nephews to spend Christmas in Deacon, however, the men will be spending the holidays at Niagara-on-the-Lake. They did visit the cottage during Thanksgiving.

“The cottage was the heart and soul of their family,” she said.

Cruchet said giving grievers options is incredibly important.

“It’s very empowering to give them the choices,” Cruchet said. “This is a big family who all love the three people who died and yet each have their own paths and they each have to be true to themselves.”

It is important that each loss be treated as uniquely as the individual.

“One loss awakens another,” Cruchet said to Corbeil. The sudden tragic difficult loss has awakened the loss of your family [which] has awakened the loss of your husband. They are very different losses. You had time to prepare with Pierre. Every loss is different and they all have to be honoured as that. You can’t just mush them together.”

“

Dawn Cruchet, Dorothy Corbeil and Rich Fleming want grievers to know that everyone has a different journey, and that it’s okay to not be okay during the holidays.

Photo Christine Hudder He found the process of being with other grievers therapeutic, so much so that he attended again this year.

The first Christmas without his father was terrible, he admitted.

Everyone’s experience will be different, Cruchet said.

“The first Christmas can be a blur,” Cruchet explained. “Then they come to the second Christmas and the numbness has worn off. It’s harder for them the second time. Now they are not so numb.”

Cruchet said by acknowledging the loss, it could help ease the pain. That’s

I have learned that every little opportunity to get help on the journey is good. Even through I know in my head what is going on, it’s my heart that has to catch up,

”

– Dorothy Corbeil on deciding to attend Hope for the Holidays event in Barry’s Bay. RICH’S JOURNEY Rich Fleming’s father Al died five years ago, and kept his feelings about his father’s passing bottled up for several years.

He would cry alone in his room, and even listening to his father’s favorite Christmas music would hurt.

Fleming, who lives in Palmer Rapids, knew he needed guidance. So he attended his very first Hope for the Holidays last year, in addition to grief support groups held twice per year in Barry’s Bay. “The first year [at Hope for the Holidays] was very emotional for me, I didn’t really know what to expect,” he said. “I did a candle for my father. He has been gone five years now. I started to burn it right on December 1, and I burned it daily. Right up to the New Year, to help think about him when I burnt it.”

what Fleming said he had to do. Now, he hangs a special ornament on the tree, pours a glass of wine for his dad, and listens to the music his dad used to.

There was a lot of guilt that Fleming was holding onto, since his father died when Fleming was not in the hospital room. By attending grief support, Fleming was able to see it from another way; that perhaps his father might have wanted to die alone.

“It bothered me for a long time that I wasn’t there but I am in acceptance of it,” Fleming said. “That’s what I learned from going through this grief and the groups.”

Cruchet leads the grief support groups in the spring and the fall.

“I always love having men in my groups because it dispels the notion that men don’t grieve. In my experience, and I don’t like stereotyping people, but I

have found that it is dependent on the individual. I find sometimes, women tend to emote and men tend to act. They do things, they have to chop wood or do something physical. Certainly in our groups, it is equal pain,” she said.

SUPPORTING A GRIEVER There are many ways for loved ones to support a griever; the first is to acknowledge the elephant in the room.

“Talk about it,” Cruchet said. “I’ve learned that you can’t upset a griever anymore than they are already upset. It’s easier to share family grief than not share it. The larger the family, the more grief paths. I always suggest to families that they use the ‘I’ word - I need this. I can’t bear to do that.”

If no one wants to have a turkey dinner because it’s just too difficult, that’s okay, too. No one should feel obligated to take over if the grief is too hard to bear.

“It’s okay to have hotdogs for Christmas Day,” she said. “There are no rules, but we are a very rule-driven society. And people judge.”

People shouldn’t avoid the griever at the grocery store or say things like, “haven’t you gotten over it yet?” It’s alright to admit that you don’t know what to say. Avoidance is the worst option, and condolences should always be expressed face-to-face or over the phone.

Corbeil, a retired nurse, said in the last few generations, we have become a death-denying society.

“Death is part of life. Grieving is the other side of love. If you love deeply, you are going to grieve deeply,” she said.

“It’s a human experience. It’s life. Life isn’t something that is still and stays the same. It’s a dynamic, ever-changing not always happy experience. It’s life. Death is a part of life.”

To lessen the pain, it’s important to go deep into one’s grief, Cruchet explained.

“Grief is a universal experience, one that we all know we are going to encounter and one that we know least about,” Cruchet said. “This is a really good example that it doesn’t work by avoiding it. The only time you get growth is when you go into it.”

For more information on Hope for the Holidays or grief groups, contact the Madawaska Valley hospice at 613-7563045 Ext. 350.

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Christmas Wishes 2018

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Letters to Santa from St. Andrew’s Catholic School Kindergarten class

Dear Santa, Some of the things we do before Christmas are: We have a big supper with all of our family and also go sledding with our parents. Our friends and I go door-to-door singing Christmas carols about Jesus to celebrate his birth. We are very grateful for all the stuff we already have but what we would like for Christmas is a new sled and some new toy such as Barbie dolls. We have some questions. How is Mrs. Claus doing and is the reindeer ready to pull the sleigh? I hope you have a safe drive on the sleigh ride here. My parents and I will leave some cookies for you.

Kinley and Adelene Dear Santa, My name is Luke, I am four years old and I have a twin sister. The way my family prepares for the birth of Jesus: We go to my aunt’s for dinner and opening gifts.

My family has a beautiful real Christmas tree. For Christmas I want a fire truck, a toy train set and motorbike. I have a few questions I would like to ask you: What is your favourite type of cookie, do you own a boat and do you have any puppies? I will hope you visit me this Christmas.

Luke Dear Santa, How is Rudolph? Do you still have your pipe? At Christmas, my family puts up a tree that talks. It’s name is Douglas.

He has eyes too. For Christmas I would like an excavator made by Paw Patroller.

Merry Christmas.

Michael Dear Santa, How are the reindeer? We don’t have pets. My name is Jackie. At home I like to open presents on Christmas. I would like an LOL doll and a water gun. I would also like a unicorn baby. I would also like one more thing for Christmas. A Baby Alive Doll. How are you doing? I know God’s birth is on Christmas. It is a special day. Have a good Christmas Santa, Jackie Hello Santa, My name is Kaydance. I have two questions for you – what are your favourite cookies? And what reindeer is your favourite? One thing I do before Christmas is me and my family put up our Christmas decorations to prepare for Jesus’ birthday and to prepare for you to come. There are two things I want for Christmas – a drone and a babysitting doll set. Thanks Santa!

Kaydance Dear Santa, I have been a very good girl this year.

Here are a few things I would like for Christmas. First thing, I would really like a marble run. I would also like a toy penguin and lastly, a fort maker. One of our traditions is on Christmas Eve, all of my aunts, uncles and all of my family on my mom’s side open some gifts together and after they are gone, I go to bed.

In the morning, I open presents from mommy and daddy. What kind of cookies do you like? I also want to know if the reindeer want carrots. Merry Christmas!

Hailey Santa, I have been really good this year and this is what I want.

1) Five LOL Surprise toys 2) A music disk player with a microphone 3) A really big doll 4) One Cinderella doll 5) A giraffe puzzle Hey Santa how are you doing in the North Pole? Is it really cold this year?

How are all your reindeer, is Rudolph

doing ok? What kinds of cookies do you want? Chocolate chip, gingerbread, or sugar cookies? I hope you have a safe sleigh ride around the world. Love you, Chelsea Dear Santa, Merry Christmas Santa, how are you?

How many elves do you have? How many reindeer do you have? Can you bring a real horse to the school? For Christmas I would like a Friends horse set and I would also like a school Lego set. One of my family traditions is baking cookies.

I also would like a loft to sleep for Christmas. I would like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (if that is okay with you.) One more thing I would like is some playdough that changes colour. Thank you Santa for giving me presents last year.

Merry Christmas.

Carley Dear Santa, Hello Santa! How are you? For Christmas I would like a rainbow pencil case. I would also like a white toy horse Christmas. We put up a Christmas tree and put all sorts of sparkly decorations, we put lights on it, we also put glass balls on our tree, and my dad puts the star at the top of the tree. How many presents do you have in your bag? What’s your favourite colour?

How big is your beard? That’s all the questions I have to ask this Christmas.

Good luck!

Ella Santa, I have been really good this year and this is what I want.

1) Five LOL Surprise toys 2) A music disk player with a microphone 3) A really big doll 4) One Cinderella doll 5) An elephant puzzle Hey Santa how are you doing in the North Pole? Is it really cold this year?

How are all your reindeer? Is Rudolph doing ok? What kinds of cookies do you want? Chocolate chip, gingerbread, or sugar cookies? I hope you have a safe sleigh ride around the world. Love you, Nevan Dear Santa, How are you? How are the elves? What are your favourite cookies? What kind of toys do the elves make? I hope the elves aren’t too tired from making toys. How do you make the toys? Before Christmas, my family all likes to write letters and send them to you! For Christmas I would like: A gas four wheeler, Lego skidder, Lego set, King Kong, iPhone. I’ll see you soon, Santa!

Allan Dear Santa, How many cookies do you eat every Christmas Eve? What reindeer do you like the best, Santa? The Christmas traditions I like to do with my mom every year is, we make cookies every year and I decorate the tree. I prepare for Jesus’ birthday by getting ready for Christmas to come. What I want for Christmas is a Lego Jurassic World set, I also want a Lego set with trucks and race cars please and thank you, Santa.

Csaba To Santa, I have some questions to ask you: What’s your favourite kind of cookies?

What’s your favourite thing to do after Christmas? My family’s tradition is making cookies and decorating the tree with my Olaf and Elsa decorations. I wish for a Fingerling and baby Hatchiman.

Thank you Santa, have an amazing day!

Danica

Dear Santa, My name is Evan. I want to ask you, what is your favourite reindeer? Mine is Prancer, because Rudolph likes Prancer. Also I would like to know, what is your favourite kind of cookie? Mine is chocolate chip, because I like them.

Before Christmas, me and my family and Chad and his family, go to my grandpa’s for dinner. We also have two trees, a big one and a little one. For Christmas this year, I would like a digger, I would also like a toy dirt bike and a big John Deere tractor.

Evan Hi Santa and the Reindeer, How are you? Do you have fun in your sleigh and some things I do with my family – we decorated our tree this year. This year I would love to get 20 presents. I would like: A remote control gun, a remote control ar and bus, can you get my mom a baker toy? Can I have an iPad? Remote control door, I want a remote swamp, remote control dozer, remote control dump truck, remote controlled TV, remote controlled excavator, remote controlled army truck, remote controlled lite and a dirt bike.

Thank you, I love you, thank you for Christmas, Isaac Dear Santa, How are you? This year I’ve been a very good girl! I have been wanting to ask you a few questions. I have been wondering where you keep your reindeer? What cookies do you prefer so I know what to make – chocolate chip, gingerbread or shortbread? Also if I don’t have a chimney how do you get into my house?

This year, I have put up my Christmas tree and decorated it. I have already went shopping for some presents but I haven’t wrapped them yet, when I do I will put them under the tree. This Christmas I would like a robot puppy, a ladybug squishy, a cheetah stuffy, and a puppet centre with some puppets too. I hope you have a great Christmas, love, Adrienne Dear Santa, My name is Harper, I am currently in Kindergarten and would wish to have multiple things but would mostly like is a LOL doll to share with my sisters and play together plus a Polly Pocket to play with. I was wondering if the sleigh and reindeer was ready to fly on Christmas Eve? I am also gonna leave a nice gift of milk and cookies when you visit my house.

I also have three sisters and a dog that would love for you to come to our house. We share our Christmas Day with grandma and grandpa to share the job of the gifts they give us.

Harper Dear Santa, How are you? I have been wondering what your favourite cookies are? Do you like colouring? Where do you feed your reindeer? To celebrate Christmas, I go to Grammy and Grampy’s house. Also, I bake cookies to give to my friends and play in the snow. This Christmas I would like a little four wheeler, candy and a mini stick with a ball. Thank you for reading my letter, Merry Christmas.

Chad Dear Santa, My name is Cameron. I was wondering how are your reindeer doing? I was also wondering how your elves and Mrs. Claus were doing. One of my family traditions is decorating my tree with my mom and sisters. For Christmas I would like a dirt bike, big cat bicycle and a new sweater.

Cameron

Dear Santa, I have some questions I want to ask you: What’s your favourite elf’s name?

Is Rudolph your favourite reindeer?

The tradition we do is cut down and decorate our tree together. We also make chocolate chip cookies for Santa! I wish for a ski sled, cool emoji stuffy and Fingerling. Have an amazing Christmas Santa.

Grace Dear Santa, Hey Santa! How have your reindeer been? I hope they’ve been good! Is Mrs. Claus doing well? Our cut down our own tree for Christmas to hand all the ornaments! For Christmas I want: - a yo-yo - letter puzzle - Barbie dolls - A Christmas book - Clothes - Magnets Brooklyn Dear Santa, How are the reindeer feeling this year?

Hopefully well enough to fly! I also would like to know how you feel too! This year I would like…

- A toy bunny - Clothes - A book - Play-Doh - Chalk and Chalkboard - iPad Xannah Dear Santa, Santa, how are the reindeer? And how are the presents going? Me and my family always decorate the Christmas tree together. Santa for Christmas I would like a remote control car and a new sled please.

Keaton Hi Santa and Rudolph the Reindeer, How are you? How are the reindeer and this is what I want for Christmas: - A mote control Monster truck bus - 187 Hot Wheel cars in a big box - A robot that shoots bullets out and a car to eat - Mote control race car - Monster truck race car - Bridge that opens and 10 cars and slime water and a boat - A remote control Christmas tree - 2 army trucks.

Some of my traditions are that we cut down a Christmas tree and decorate it.

Riven Dear Santa, How are you? I’ve been a really good girl this year! I’ve been wondering how do you know how to find my house? Also how many elves do you have? I haven’t put up my tree yet but I’m going to soon. Each year my family gets together and we have a French fry supper. We go sledding at my grandma and grandpas. This year I want Kitty Squishy, puppy robot and a baby and a dress for it. I hope you have a fabulous Christmas. Love, Chloe Dear Santa, How are you? What is your favourite cookie? Where do you keep your sleigh?

At Christmas we buy presents for our family and then open them at Grandma and Grandpas. We bake cookies for you too. This year I would like a Tonka tiny set, a Jurassic World Lego set, some tractors and a loader. I hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Julian

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Christmas Wishes 2018

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,” the angel answered, “and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God.” - Luke 1:35-36

Icon by the hand of Janusz Charczuk

May you rejoice in the miracle, the gift and the promise of Christmas.

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