The Creemore
Echo
Echo Food and Toy Drive Until Christmas, The Creemore Echo is accepting donations of new unwrapped toys for the Salvation Army and non-perishable food items for the Clearview-Stayner Food Bank. We are also collecting cash donations for both local charities during regular business hours.
Friday, November 24, 2017 Vol. 17 No. 48 www.creemore.com News and views in and around Creemore
Publications Mail Agreement # 40024973
Creemore planning Christmas weekend Newspaper by Trina Berlo Santa will be making the rounds during Creemore’s annual Christmas celebrations, the weekend of Dec. 1-3. The festivities begin with the annual Tree Lighting on the Friday night at Station on the Green, hosted by the Creemore and Area Ratepayers Association and the Tree Society of Creemore, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Children are encouraged to create their own hats for the crazy hat contest and a chance to win the honour of flipping the switch to light the tree. The best hatters will win prizes donated by Cardboard Castles. Free hotdogs and drinks will be served and there will be carol singing throughout the evening. Fuel up at Breakfast with Santa on Saturday morning at Nottawasaga Creemore Public School. Themed treasure trays will be raffled and the popular kids-only shopping room will be open, where children can purchase gifts for their parents and siblings. The school is still accepting donations for the shopping room. Santa will make an appearance to visit with the children and pose for photos. On both Saturday and Sunday, there will be a Christmas Market at Station on the Green on both Saturday and Sunday morning, with different vendors each day. The Creemore Santa Claus Parade, organized by a subcommittee of the Creemore BIA, is at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The parade will start at the Simcoe County Works Yard on County Road 9, head east to Mill Street, continue south on Mill Street to Edward Street turn on Mary Street where it will pass the nursing home before ending its route. Santa will greet guests at the Creemore Log Cabin after the parade. Hot chocolate and treats will be served. Those interested in entering a float are asked to register online at experiencecreemore.com or just show up at the works yard before 1 p.m.
under new ownership
Staff photo: Trina Berlo
Junior is suited up in plaid, a dress rehearsal for next Saturday’s Santa Claus Parade in Creemore. The miniature horse will be accompanied by Wendy Eagle of Wellspring Equine. Participants and spectators are encouraged to dress in buffalo plaid – black and red check. For full details, see the community calendar on page 2. The Stayner Santa Claus Parade, organized by the Stayner Kinsmen, is also taking place on Saturday, Dec. 2 beginning at 10 a.m. On Sunday, St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Creemore will welcome Howard Jones, who will combine astronomical analysis and modern biblical scholarship to develop a plausible and compelling explanation
for the Star of Bethlehem. Jones has spent over 43 years in the space and robotics industry. In the last decade he has been engaged in planetary exploration projects, involving the search for water and life on other planets. Howard’s interests in astronomy, ancient history and scriptural interpretation came together with his background in celestial dynamics to consider the enigma of the Star of Bethlehem. The presentation begins at 3 p.m. Coffee, Christmas treats and conversation will follow.
by Trina Berlo At the encouragement of the Vandewater family, Creemore Echo publisher Sara Hershoff is taking ownership of the local weekly newspaper. Hershoff began working at the newspaper in 2002 and worked her way up through the ranks. She said the purchase c e m e n t s T h e E c h o ’s commitment to community. “Our family is very excited to be able to sell the paper t o S a r a , ” Sara Hershoff s a i d To m Vandewater. “It’s a vote of confidence, not just for her and her leadership but for all the employees that work at The Echo… Our family always wanted it to be a locally owned, locally run community based newspaper and information service and we think Sara is the best and rightful owner of this asset to the community.” J i m Va n d e w a t e r b o u g h t t h e newspaper in 2006 and after his death in 2009, his son Tom managed the asset. He didn’t have a hand in managing the newspaper on a daily basis but was active as chairman of the board and was always very supportive of the newspaper’s efforts to be an independent source of news and information for the community. He described the sale as bittersweet. “Dad bought it because he loved Creemore and wanted to see the paper continue to grow and thrive, which it has. But he’s been gone eight years now and the time has come for someone (See “Echo” on page 3)
Taking care of buyers and sellers in Mulmur and the Creemore hills for over 40 years
RCR Realty. Brokerage
Ginny MacEachern
B.A., Broker
The Town & Country Agent with the City Connections 1-800-360-5821• 705-466-2607 • maceachern.ginny@gmail.com www.ginnymaceachern.com