The Trib - December 2022

Starting a Neighbourhood Movement

How many neighbours does it take to change a lightbulb? Answer: not as many as you might think. How many people are needed to create change in a community? When a neighbourhood or city is facing a challenge, what percentage of people can transform and reshape a conversation for the better?

Consider for example if a neighbourhood wanted to rally together to build a new playground, deal with crime, push for a new policy, or create a more welcoming community. Would we need most people to join the movement? Just a few?

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have been working to answer this question and they discovered that if about 25% of people in a community worked together to bring about a change, they would have what it takes to change opinions and practices.

I’ve found this to be true here in Chestermere. A handful of teachers and kids helped change attitudes about bees. A young man and his friends helped make improvements to the skateboard park. A small group of people started a church community. Just a few people redeveloped a youth program. A few dozen people make amazing block parties happen. The list goes on. So many of the exciting community projects that make our city thrive are often started and sustained by a few people with big passion.

Malcolm Gladwell wrote along similar lines, “Look at the world around you. It may see like and immovable, implacable place. It is not. With the slightest push in just the right place, it can be tipped.” You and a few of your neighbours have the power to change your community, to influence the conversation, to start and sustain meaningful social change that has the potential to make a big difference in your life, in the lives of others, and for the wellbeing of your whole community.

The question is, what movement is already starting in your neighbourhood? What good changes are brewing where you live, among your neighbours? We often discover the hopes and dreams of others when we sit and listen, dream, and ask good questions together.

Knowing that it might not take the whole community to make a community better should give us hope. It takes just a few people to begin. May you discover the places and people, your allies, who can work together with you to make vital changes to your neighbourhood and city. May you discover the joy of caring for your place and calling out the best in others. Your neighbourhood is worth the effort, and rallying together for a better community is a hopeful cause. We love our community, and together we can move it forward.

Be Merry and Bright

BY Nikki Fotheringham

favourite thing growing up was the feeling of the festive season. Back then we didn’t put much stock in decorating and gifts, but I loved the shared merriment, and the kindness people showed one another. Kindness is something that made me move to Trent Hills. The feeling of community, the warmth of neighbours and the support people showed strangers when they needed it the most is why I put up with February (it’s worth it!)

The pandemic has somewhat eroded our sense of community, and made strangers of friends and neighbours. This holiday season, let’s do the little things that have such huge ripples in our small communities. Reach out to people and reconnect. Delete that mean comment on a Facebook post. Put the shopping cart back. Be nice on the roads. Find out where to donate to local food banks. Be kind to your neighbour, even if they are vaxxed, are not vaxxed, like a different political party, or religion, don’t do their recycling right, don’t pick up after their dog, or whatever minor transgressions have created a rift between you. There is more that we have in common than what separates us, so love your neighbour!

This newspaper is a statement of love and community. All the people who work on it volunteer. Our contributors take time out of their busy lives to write for us, Dana Harrison makes everything beautiful and our wonderful advertisers keep the lights on. Sarah Stoner does the proofreading every month while a feral gang of helpers distributes the paper far and wide (Sarah Stoner, Zoe Thomas, Bruce Weir and Jill Proudfoot).

I thank you all sincerely. Whatever you’re celebrating, happy holidays. May your days be merry and bright and may you love your neighbours fiercely.

Christmas 1973

By Margaret Santon

We only had one Christmas in our first house in Whitby. The house was a fairly large semi-detached and brand new. We chose it because it offered easy financing terms that basically allowed us to put the deposit on Visa. We lived there a year and a half during what I think of as our chaotic years, long commutes to work, daycare concerns, problematic old cars and always tight finances. My family was spread out across Ontario but they came that year to our place to see the new house and to celebrate Christmas. Nine of them arrived Christmas Eve from Burlington, Orillia, Chesley, and Toronto. My brother Doug rented a room from us and was there with his girlfriend of the week. I had arranged spaces for them all to sleep over. Chaos definitely ensued but a much pleasanter, fun sort than my everyday chaos. A few strange and funny things happened to make it a memorable Christmas. Tanya, who was four and our only child at the time, had asked Santa for a doll's carriage, not just any doll's carriage. It had to be a purple one. I had left it to Rick to find this important gift and he had left the task ‘til Christmas Eve. As soon as we got home from

work, while I began preparations for company, he went off to the Whitby Mall, confident, as he always is, that he'd find what he was looking for. He walked into Woolco and on an end-of-the-aisle display, immediately spotted not just a doll's carriage but a purple one, the only carriage in the store, it turned out. I wonder now if this wasn't another instance of Tanya's extra-sensory perception, whether she maybe asked for purple because she already knew that would be what he'd find. Back at home, sister Heather and husband Dave had arrived and were unloading. One of the presents they'd brought was a gift box containing three bottles of wine. I was admiring it when Tanya came by and pronounced, “There's no fried chicken in that box.” She would not elaborate further and repeated the remark several times throughout the evening. I kept the box for decades, storing Christmas decorations in it. I labelled it “No Fried Chicken.” My parents arrived from Chesley, about a hundred and fifty miles north-west. My mother was in boisterous spirits, happy to be amidst her whole family. By way of background, my mother didn't drink or smoke back then

but, having left the church, was experimenting a bit with wine. She didn't take any drugs, even legal medications of any sort due to her belief in Christian Science and spiritual healing. She must have been feeling very experimental that Christmas Eve because when she heard that Rick had received a gift of two joints from a co-worker, she immediately wanted to try some. Marijuana was new to us as well. We had yet to try smoking it and, as it turned out, we would have to wait awhile longer as my mother got her hands on Rick's gift and smoked it all up all by herself. Then she went around laughing and hooting and insisting, “That stuff didn't affect me one bit.” My dad just grinned as she snuggled up to him on the couch.

Christmas morning offered up its magic. I don't know how I did it all. We stayed up Christmas Eve talking and playing music until way past midnight. Then I was up again, before the kids, to put the turkey in the oven and make coffee for the rest who would be up at eight to open gifts. We ate turkey at noon and my family departed. Rick and I gathered up the gifts for his family and headed off to Scarborough for another turkey dinner. This one was peaceful and lovely, lacking the chaos factor that my family never failed to provide.

Warkworth Legion Donations

- Take a look through the

sees the beauty and wonderment in everything she sees. From the smallest cobweb, to the most delicious meal, the sunrise, the sunset. One who captures images of flowers you can almost smell and images of birds so vivid you can hear their call. Places you now want to visit because of her pictures...all through the eyes, heart and lens of Montserrat. Search Beautiful Images by Montserrat on Facebook.

COVER IMAGE BY MONTSE ALVARADO.

Beautiful Images by Montserrat

lenses of Montse Alvarado who

Branch 380, Royal Canadian Legion Warkworth has recently made several $1000.00 donations to valued organisations in our community. Donations were presented by Karen Deziel, President, and David Papple, Public Relations

For the Campbellford Memoriial Hospital presented to John Russell

For the Seven Hills Community Pantry presented to Rene van Oosten

For the Warkwoth Santa Claus Parade presented to Lana Taylor

Living Rural in Hastings Ontario

by Shannon Preston

It’s December. The 12th month of the year. What the heck?! How did we get here?! Where did August and September go? Are you prepared for another winter in Trent Hills?

Our annual (Hastings) Trail Town Christmas runs from Dec. 1st through to the 4th with local businesses invited to participate in a long weekend of promotions and appreciation.

December 3rd will also include an outdoor market at 14 Front St. E from 11-5, a Christmas Tea at the Anglican Church from 11-3, and the kids will welcome Santa (and the Grinch) to town with a drive-through event from 6 until 8pm at the Field House. People will be finishing the night off with Magic at the Grand Maple! If you missed it, mark your calendar for 2023 and join in on the fun!

Fun fact: In 2019 Hastings was deemed 1 of 9 “Trail Towns” along the Trent-Severn Waterway. To learn more about the program and the other communities with a Trail Town designation, visit tswtrailtown.ca

Hastings really comes together in December. Christmas on Queen will light up the sky throughout the month (behind Esso) with donations (there’s a donation box) given to local and loved charities. The Angel Tree is in full swing with tags available at The Captain’s Table. Pick a tag, buy some gifts, return the unwrapped gifts and tag to The Table ... it’s so easy. Toy and cash donations will be accepted until Dec. 12th so act fast! We also have a Senior’s Giving Program that has been gaining speed for the past 4 years. Visit S(he) Day Spa to pick a senior and buy or make them a wonderful Christmas gift this year. I’m not sure of the deadline for the senior gifts but hopefully by the time you’re reading this everyone has been chosen.

It's very comforting to live in a community that helps each other through the good times and the bad times. People in Hastings have been banding together to help families at Christmas for many years and it’s always so nice to witness. Thank you to the volunteers who work to entertain our kids (and us) and thank you to the elves who spend every December gathering gifts and food for other people.

It takes a village.

DECEMBER

2022 EVENTS LEGION EXECUTIVE MEETING TUESDAY DEC. 13TH AT 6:30 PM LEGION GENERAL MEETING: TUESDAY DEC 13TH AT 7:00 PM

TURKEY ROLL- AFTER THE WARKWORTH SANTA CLAUS PARADE FRIDAY DEC 2ND EVERYONE WELCOME!

BRANCH EUCHRE SATURDAY, DEC. 17TH CLUB ROOM-WARKWORTH LEGION NOON REGISTRATION- PLAY @ 1:00 PM

LEGION HOURS: EVERY THURSDAY, FRIDAY, AND SATURDAYFROM 2:00 PM UNTIL CLOSING (TYPICALLY 7:00 PM) OPEN MOST STATUTORY HOLIDAYS

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY HOURS: FRIDAY, DEC 23RD 2:00 -5:00 PM CLOSED DEC 25TH AND DEC. 26TH

Snailed It!

By Lisa Giraldi

I spotted a card from my mother waiting on the front hallway table when I got home from work recently, and chuckled to myself. Right on time, I thought. The week prior I’d spent the weekend with my family in Prince Edward County for my mother’s 70th birthday. We had rented a cottage, planned dinners, made elaborate breakfasts, visited a local orchard and the Wellington Farmer’s Market; celebrated her birthday together. I knew the card was a thank-you note, documenting each of the things I contributed and what she was thankful for. When I was a kid, my mother would make us write thank you notes religiously. It mattered not whether it was $10 from Aunt Sara at Christmas or $50 from Grandma McCandless for a birthday, we had to write a thank-you card. And not a measly ‘thanks so much for the money!’ scrawled into a blank card either. Sheila Giraldi had a three-paragraph system for thank you cards: paragraph one, thank you for exactly what had been given; paragraph two, this is what I did with it/ plan to do with it; paragraph three, these are a few newsy things happening in my life right now. And as a kid, I hated that three-paragraph system. I would put it off until the third or fourth reminder from my mother – which, inevitably

wound up on the sunniest day of a school break when I wanted to be outside playing. I have a vivid memory of sitting on the front porch of our Fergus house and telling my friend Shannon Kennedy that my mother said no, I could not play with her until I was finished writing that letter. Naturally, I thought my mother was an ogre. Curiously, I now write many snail-mail letters - less of the three-paragraph types, and more of the newsy sort. Over the pandemic I started writing letters regularly, as both a mental distraction and a creative way to keep in touch with friends I couldn’t see as often. Almost three years later, the habit has become routine of writing to almost a dozen friends every month – partly because the charm of snail mail is not easily lost on either writer or receiver. October is always a bittersweet month for me. The colours are stunning, Friendsgiving is my favourite holiday, and the season slows to a pace unseen in months. I have time to myself again. October is also the month my father passed away, twelve years ago this year. He’d been sick for a long time, but his death still caught me off guard – and every October is a reminder of the year I was twenty three, the series of events leading up to his death and the dark months that followed his funeral. Curiously,

two letters were waiting on the front hallway table when I got home from work the day of his anniversary, this year. Both from friends I write to regularly – one who knew much of my bittersweet relationship with October, one who did not; both whom I’ve been writing to regularly for over a year. The one who lives in Sault Sainte Marie, wrote of her life, her kids and the anniversary grief of losing her partner (also in October, years ago). The other, a large animal vet in Elora, a few decades older than me, shared his recent obsession with regenerative farming, the drastic dieback he’s seen in organic pork farming and encouragement to write more about a recent vacation story I’d shared with him in my last letter. I read the letters early in the morning, with my first coffee of the day. I thought about the curious path writing has taken in my life – from the grumpy eight-year-old sitting on the front porch of that home on Elora St, to the grateful thirtyfive-year-old, receiving letters from old friends on a day that is still emotionally difficult. It’s hard to say for sure, but I like to think I wouldn’t have this love of writing without the nudge to write, to be thankful, to construct a three-paragraph letter to Aunts and Uncles and Grandma McCandless, all those years ago.

Trudy Neumeyer – A Dynamo on the South Side of the River

By Marcia Perryman

Along the peaceful south side of the river in a large house with cottages and gardens, there is a woman who is a dynamo of creativity, passion, and care for the community.

Trudy Neumeyer is focused on her new business called The Crafters Circle where she is inviting people to learn and make a craft for a small fee with all the equipment provided. We can paint, model clay, make soap and nurture our inner artist, even if we don’t think we have one.

Trudy Neumeyer was raised initially in Trinidad and then, after her parents’ separation, the family moved to Jamaica. Trudy excelled in school and obtained a scholarship to attend high school. There was the loss of her father and her mother worked, but it was the violence in Jamaica which gave Trudy the motivation to come to Canada on her own at 19.

Trudy started at Proctor and Gamble in Toronto and then worked at Cadillac Fairview, and the Canadian Mental Health Association. She married and had three children, and then they decided to adopt three more. The family grew and started a bakery in Markham in 1978 while Trudy went to college to learn special effects makeup for the theatre, but she quickly decided that the theatre had prima donnas so she pivoted to doing sets. The family moved from Markham to Bradford for safety reasons and Trudy again embraced the change. She worked in the hospital as a cleaner, and then she worked for York region in construction, roads, and various different departments while Finn, her husband was an electrician. Their children had left home and it was time to think about retirement and after a year and a half of searching, Trudy and Finn found their home in Hastings. Since being in Hastings, Trudy has taught computer skills at the library, and supported the social circle. They rent their cottages and now the new business is the next adventure for Trudy to embrace with her typical enthusiasm. The website is TheCraftersCircle.com and the phone number is 905392-7475.

Hospital Foundation Launches 16th Annual Angels of Care Campaign

By John Russell

Martha Hunt, chair of the Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) Foundation, has announced the launch of the 16th Annual Angels of Care Campaign that includes the return of a $150,000 matching gift incentive program.

This year’s Angels of Care Campaign is fundraising for the purchase of everyday essentials for CMH, including beds, stretchers, vital signs monitors, lab equipment and the clinical information system. To help the campaign a group of loyal donors, called The Matchmakers, is returning and contributing up to $150,000 to encourage other community members to support the hospital. Launched during last year’s campaign, The Matchmakers include several individuals, businesses and an estate with many years of dedicated support of CMH. Hunt says, “The Matchmakers were thrilled with last year’s success and want do all they can to encourage support of the Hospital. They hope others will feel the same and make a gift to the 16th Annual Angels of Care Campaign.”

“Each gift made to the Angels of Care Campaign from today until December 15th will be matched up to $150,000”, says Matchmakers spokesperson, Bruce Thompson, “We all love the Hospital and hope the community be inspired once again to join The Matchmakers in this wonderful gift-matching opportunity.”

In a letter being mailed to donors and former patients, Nicole Wood, Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer says, “Like many hospitals across Canada, CMH is seeing an unprecedented demand for our services. What’s more, the effects of the pandemic, coupled with our aging population, means we are seeing more patients with acute and complex conditions.”

Wood adds, “I’ve seen firsthand what a difference donor generosity has meant to our teams at CMH. In these incredibly challenging times, just knowing we have supporters by our side keeps us going.”

Funds raised during this year’s Angels of Care Campaign, will support the purchase of everyday essentials, such as new patient beds, stretchers, vital signs monitors, the Clinical Information System and new laboratory equipment, such as a blood culture system and urine analyzer.

The Matchmakers are Bruce and Betsy Thompson, Joanne Simpkin, Newman Insurance, MacLaren Pharmacy, the Estate of Marlies Freiberg, and two anonymous donors. “We can’t thank The Matchmakers

enough for their loyal support of the Hospital”, says Ms. Hunt. “The needs of the hospital are great and we know this will once again be a popular campaign in the community.”

More than 42,000 area residents are treated annually at CMH. This includes patients requiring a stay in the in-patient unit, a diagnostic test such as an x-ray, have lab work done or a visit to the emergency department. If it wasn’t for financial support of the community many of these critical services and the required medical equipment would not be available. The provincial government does not provide funds for the purchase of new equipment. That responsibility is in the hands of our generous donor community.

If you would

Angels of Care Campaign

advantage of The Matchmakers initiative, please contact the Campbellford Memorial Hospital Foundation at 705-653-1140 ext. 2104 or online at givetocmh.ca.

like to make a donation to the

and take

Nicole Wood

Martha Hunt

Bruce Thompson

Christmas at the Warkworth Library

The holidays are upon us and the Warkworth Library is excited to be offering a number of great community programs to celebrate togetherness this Christmas. Our Children’s Storytime group meets on Tuesdays at 10:30 am and will be celebrating Christmas with stories about elves, reindeer, and of course Santa Claus all month. Storytime is an opportunity for kids ages 2-6 and their caregivers to enjoy stories, crafts and simple games together with our library staff. Drop-ins for this program are always welcome and this program is free for all. We are also thrilled to be hosting a special book launch event for our “Artist-in-Residence” Alex Lowe. Alex is a talented artist and illustrator

who offers monthly watercolour workshops at the library. She can now add author to her resume, as she has published an illustrated picture book “George”. Her book introduces A 20-year-old university student who discovers the grave of a man named George; a soldier from the First World War, who died when he was her age. Putting together the pieces of George’s life from details on his tombstone, a portrait of the ordinary human being he once was begins to emerge. It is a moving tribute to a life that should not be forgotten and Alex will be on hand on Saturday December 10th from 10:30 to noon to talk about her process, share her art and launch the new book. Everyone is invited to this free

event.

The Warkworth Library is going to be open for two special nights during the Magic Under the Stars Holiday Festival in downtown Warkworth on Friday December 9th and Friday December 16th from 6pm to 8pm. We will be hosting a number of kid-friendly activities during these two nights, including Storybook Readings, Christmas Crafts, Magician Jamie Hunt on December 9th, a Christmas Storywalk and a chance to build our huge train set! All activities are geared toward kids ages 3 and up and are free to attend!

On Wednesday December 7th, starting at 3:30 and running until 6pm we are holding a special event to build community in the library centered

By Patrick Muldoon, Branch Supervisor, Warkworth Library

on letter writing and making Christmas cards for seniors at local nursing homes. Spearheaded by community member Lisa Giraldi, the Library will be the home base for a workshop for community members of all ages to spread love and reach out to residents that may need connection at this time of year. Bring your family, invite a friend or a neighbour to spend a few minutes at the library to create a card, or write a short letter to let someone know that they are valued and acknowledged. Your small effort could make a real difference this Christmas. The library will be supplying all of the materials, including the use of our Cricut machine for the event. Feel free to drop in for a few minutes during our event,

or feel free to contact the library for more information. The Library will be closed on December 24th and opening up again on Tuesday, January 3rd – so mark your calendars and stock up on books for some great holiday reading!

Thank you forhaving trust in our business!

We feel grateful to have ser vedyou this year. People likeyou whosuppor tlocal businesses are areal asset to our community. We will be closed on December 23 cl rd at 4pmand reopen on Januar y3 4pma on rd From management and staff

The plaque, commemorating Bruce's spectacular achievement of raising $1180 for the Seven Hills Pantry features his letter that he received from the Queen, a photo she sent from Balmoral Castle and a photo of the mug that Bruce created to commemorate Her platinum jubilee. The framing was completed by Scott Newman and hangs proudly in the Warkworth Library for the community to enjoy! Bruce's exploits garnered national attention this summer, as he was featured, along with Monica from Frantic Farm Pottery on CBC News. Bruce has long been a great supporter of community events in Warkworth and the library has been thrilled to support Bruce in his efforts!

Time for Performance, Celebration and New Dreams

By Donna Bennett

December at Westben is a time for performance, celebration, and announcement of new dreams. I know December can be challenging for many and my hope is that Westben’s concerts online and in person can bring some comfort and joy. As we launch the ‘Christmas at The Barn’ concerts December 3rd and 4th I’m reminded of the joy of bringing people together to explore the magic of song and spoken word. If you miss the show, you can always access the 21 Digital Concerts at The Barn on Westben’s YouTube channel including the beautiful ‘Tree of Light’ concert written by local author Christopher Cameron, starring Warkworth’s Frank Moore, Dave Mowat of Alderville, and the Westben choruses. Steve Dagg is the genius videographer behind these digital concerts and Andy Thompson is the master of the sound. We are so thankful to have these talented artists in our own community. Continuing that theme of gratefulness, I encourage you to explore the short videos of the ‘Dare to Share’ series on Westben’s YouTube channel.

This series showcases some of the area’s talented farmers, businesses and artists. These include Frantic Farm,

Centre & Main Chocolate, Friesen’s Smokehaus, Humble Herb, Sper, True Saffron, Lenni Workman and Art Farm, Little Farm that Could, Andy Thompson and Northumberland Music Studio, Capers, Antonia’s, Sans Kitchen, GreenMoxie and others. The ‘Dare to Share’ series developed during COVID as a spinoff of the in-person ‘Dare to Pair’ series at Westben concerts.

These were food and wine pairings with local chefs and sommeliers with storytellers interweaving the food, wine and music with the concert of the day. Watch ‘Dare to Share’ and stay tuned for more to come. I’m sure you’ll agree we live in an incredible area. December is also traditionally the time we launch the new summer season to Westben Members. Westben’s Artistic Director Brian Finley has been working for months with various advisors in the business to research, program and confirm concerts for the spring and summer season. 25 concerts of classical, Broadway, jazz, folk, rock, fiddle and comedy to be held at The Barn, Willow Hill Amphitheatre and around the campfire. Nature walks, Dare to Pair wine and food pairings, annual gala fundraiser have been coming

together slowly over a multimonth period. The annual international Performer-Composer Residency will be a hybrid version this year with some in person and online activities.

Behind the concert programming there is grant writing, sponsorship and membership development and I’m happy to announce the reigniting of community programming. Westben, through the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, was able to hire a Community Connections Associate. annais linares will be exploring creative community dreams, hopes and needs as a way to co-develop public programming at Westben. If you’d like to share your ideas with her, email annais@westben.ca. For me, the goal is the same as it was 24 years ago. I want to work with community to help bring the joy of music to as many people as I can. To share in the emotional and awakening journey of music making, music appreciation, music exploration, in nature, and here in this community.

Full Listing of Winners from the 41st Perfect Pie Contest!

Congratulations to all the wonderful winners of this year's Perfect Pie Contest!

Fruit

Sponsored By: Jeannine Back Talk Café

Winner: Jennifer Little

Honourable Mention: Heather Greenly

Apple

Sponsored By: The Village Pantry

Winner: Marie Glover

Honourable Mention: Heather Clarke

Meringue Top

Sponsored By: The Warkworth Business Assoc. Winner: Sue Ellen Parrott

Honourable Mention: Joel MacCharles

Maple Syrup

Sponsored By: The Mrs. R. M. Potter Trophy Winner: Allie Ryken

Filled

Sponsored By: Laver Farms

Winner: Mary Lynn Williams

Honourable Mention: Mary Jane Moffett

Pumpkin

Sponsored By: Victory Trophy (Lesa Donaldson)

Winner: Heather Clarke

Savoury

Sponsored By: The Warkworth Golf Course Winner: Lisa Meekes

Seniors - 65 & over

Sponsored By: Lana Taylor Antiques & Folk Art Winner: Marie Glover

Honourable Mention: Jacqueline Beamish

Junior - 12 years & Under

Sponsored By: Frantic Farms Gallery Winner: Elijah Quinn

Honourable Mention: Ivan Easter

Men's Open

Sponsored By: The General Winner: John Mahoney

Pecan

Sponsored By: Memory of Orville Scott

Winner: Heather Clarke

Honourable Mention: Barb Yatsula

Youth - 13-18 Years

Sponsored By: Percy Agricultural Society Winner: Jacob McKenzie

Best Pie from Local Ingredients

Sponsored By: Memory of Norma McCleary Winner: Laura Easter

Warkworth Chapter Members Trophy - Chapter 279

Winner: Jean Bryon

Percy Agricultural Society Members Winner: Marie Glover

Perfect Pie

Sponsored By: Campbellford Chrysler

Winner: Lisa Meekes

Christmas Chores Traditions on Our Farm

By Stephen Nelson

Every dairy farmer has to milk their cattle, even on holidays like Christmas. On our farm, the evening chores for Christmas day were special. Whether our family Christmas celebrations were on the farm or at my grandparents’ place in the city, you couldn’t skip a milking or feeding the cattle.

After opening the presents in the afternoon, we had a family Christmas tradition which lasted until Dad sold the farm. The men in the family would return to the farm from the city or go to the barn to “help” Dad and me with the milking. We would feed some cows a full pail of grain on top of the ensilage put in their part of the manger where they ate. Other cows were portioned half a pail of grain and some weren’t fed any grain. Well, one person helping us took over my job of feeding the grain. I was happy to be relieved of the work, until I realized he was giving every cow a full pail of grain. When I quietly told Dad about the mistakes, he told me to ignore it. I mentioned to him that he didn’t like it when I made the same mistake, but he smiled and said, “It’s Christmas.” The person would feed a cow, and then he would wish her a “Merry Christmas” as he rubbed her forehead.

Between two tied-up stanchioned cows, we had round bottomed water bowls that were large enough for a cow’s nose to fit in to press the valve to release water to drink. Hay and other cattle feed can get in the water bowl which floats in the water. One person helping us would give the cows a “treat” as they said, by clearing out the water bowl by hand and depressing the plunger by hand to dispense clean water. If a cow drank immediately after the water bowl was cleaned out, the person would say “You’re welcome.” to the cow.

Another person always cleaned the clock and radio we had in the barn. The fly specks cleaned

off the clock made it easier to see where the hour and minute hands were. The cleaned up radio looked much better and we would tell the person that the radio sounded better too.

We would joke that the more you had to help at the barn during the chores, the longer it took. With the chores done, the lights were shut off and with a Merry Christmas to the cows; we shut the barn door to go to the city or the house to have another huge meal consisting of leftover turkey, dressing, turnip, carrots, tomato aspic, vegetable jelly and red jelly. A platter of carved warm slices of Black Forest ham cooked Christmas afternoon disappeared by the time the platter was passed around the table.

If we had Christmas in the city, after the late supper, we packed up the car with our Christmas presents and some leftovers. I would sleep in the back seat on the way home.

Snow What!!

By Susan Fedorka

About a week ago or more, we here in Trent Hills were hearing about communities around us, mostly to the north, that had received snow.

The general response from people I spoke with was that those communities could keep it; others hoped it would pass us by while others were hoping for another week of lovely fall weather.

Well, here it is Wednesday, November 16th and we woke up to snow – enough to shovel or sweep and enough that the sander was doing our road just before six this morning.

Some of us might have had to scramble for boots, shovels and salt because we are always a little in denial, while others were prepared.

It’s funny our obsession with the inevitable. True, we have had those occasional winters where we have been “worried” about having a white Christmas, but those years are few and far between.

So what’s our issue with snow and winter? Obviously it is the cold and the potential danger that snow can present either while we are driving, shovelling or walking. The days are shorter and the darkness can feel heavy.

But today’s snowfall dressed

our world up in a lovely white coat that by the afternoon will probably be gone. It would look lovelier if the sun was shining but those days will come.

Our communities do struggle as the winter wears on with snow banks along the streets making parking impossible at times and occasionally blocking lines of sight and they get grey and covered in dirt. No matter what our concerns are, we know how to handle winter and, now that the snow has arrived, it will be with us until March. It comes, it goes. It is wise to be cautious of winter weather, just as we are in the summer. Heat on in winter, air conditioning on in summer – maybe not for a solid six or more months, but each season brings its own weather, its own joys and tribulations.

Most people want a white Christmas. It is what we know and what we have grown up with. Embrace that over which we have no control. Accept that the days will start getting “longer” on December 22nd, even if it isn’t immediately noticeable, put on your favourite sweater, your woolly socks, find a good book and enjoy this beautiful season. Happy Snowflake Days to one and all.

Living on Concession 2 - Why you should care about the “More Homes Built Faster Act” – Bill 23

By Bill Meeker

If you have been following social media in the last few weeks, you will likely have seen articles and organizations opposing “The More Homes Built Faster Act” – or Bill 23. This is an “Omnibus” bill that is 175 pages long and amends 10 acts. The deadline for comments is set at December 30, 2022, although many organizations have asked to extend the review period to at least the end of January 2023. It is my view that this bill is being pushed through for approval under the guise of providing a solution to the province’s lack of housing – however, what I suspect is really going on is the advancement of development by large corporations at the expense of sound environmental management, democratic review, and actual real programs to address the housing crisis in Ontario.

Recently thirty-eight Eastern Ontario Mayors have endorsed a letter to the province written by ten Eastern Ontario Conservation Authorities expressing their concern about Bill 23. Key concerns listed in the letter included slowing down the local development review process (not speeding it up); downloading new responsibilities to municipalities; passing costs

to taxpayers; increasing the risk of flooding; erosion and slope failure; and damage to the local environment.

Many environmental organizations are pushing for withdrawal or significant revision to the act. Organizations joining the call for action include Environmental Defence Canada, The David Suzuki Foundation, Ontario Nature, Conservation Halton, The City of Chatham-Kent, Environment Hamilton, The Ontario Headwaters Institute, and many others.

I recently read two assessments of Bill 23 – one by the President and CEO of Halton Conservation and the other by Ontario Nature. The implications were clear – greatly reduced expert review of planned developments and reduced opportunities for communities impacted by new development to provide input. In addition, huge changes to the accountabilities of the network of Conservation Authorities in Ontario, that provide critical services to ensure the protection of wetlands in Ontario, avoidance of increased risks of flooding and related environmental damage. I recently sent an email to my MPP – David Piccini, who is also the Minister of Environment, Con-

servation and Parks. My letter specifically listed these concerns about Bill 23:

1. Removes individuals’ right to appeal planning decisions and requirements for public meetings on planning matters.

2. Significantly limits the power of Conservation Authorities (CAs) to regulate or prohibit development that impacts wetlands, rivers or streams.

3. Prohibits CAs from entering into agreements with municipalities to provide expert review of planning applications.

4. Limits CAs right to appeal land use planning decisions.

5. Removes the role of seven regional municipalities in planning matters compromising coordinated efforts to protect farmland and natural areas.

6. Drastically amends the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System that limits wetlands from being deemed “provincially significant” – leaving them vulnerable to destruction.

7. Replaces the Provincial Policy Statement with a

new policy instrument that would remove or streamline existing policies in order to encourage development.

8. Creates a natural heritage offsetting policy that could lead to widespread and extremely risky tradeoffs on the premise that natural areas can be developed and then recreated elsewhere with equal benefit (proven to not work in the United States). The worst aspect of this change is the creation of a natural heritage compensation fund that would allow developers to essentially destroy wetlands for a fee!

Mr. Picinni’s response did not address any of the points in my email – it simply said that Bill 23 was the way to address Ontario’s need for housing and will cut needless red tape that gets in the way of development. His letter goes on to suggest that the Government is expanding the Greenbelt – no mention that existing Greenbelt land will be opened for development. It is frankly astonishing that the Minister responsible for the environment could support the changes proposed in this omnibus bill. His suggestion that the role that

Conservation Authorities play in this province, that is to protect the environment, is simply “red tape” and should be cut to pave the way for developers to build homes wherever they want, is beyond belief. At a time when our province, our country and the entire world face a severe loss of biodiversity and increased challenges from climate change, this proposal fails badly.

Together we can apply pressure to get the government to back down on this outrageous legislation. I would urge you to read the information available on what Bill 23 is actually about and then consider adding your voice by talking with your neighbours, calling your MPP, or joining a letter writing campaign. Here are a few links:

Ontario Nature ontarionature.org/bill-23what-you-need-to-knowblog/

Environmental Defence Canada https://tinyurl.com/2s3keudp

David Suzuki Foundation https://davidsuzuki.org/action/urge-ontario-government-to-amend-homes-act/

Coal in your Stocking?

By Carol Shaw

Whether children hang their stockings “with care” on Christmas Eve, or place their Dutch clogs by the fire earlier in December, the anticipation is that small presents and treats will be left there by Santa Claus or, in Holland, by St. Nicholas – depending, of course, if the children have been good all year. If not, there has been the threat of a lump or two of coal being left instead of goodies!

Italian children expected, on Epiphany Eve, January 6, to have a visit from La Befa-

na. This witch-like old woman was said to be excessively clean about her home, always sweeping. The story goes that Befana saw the Three Wise men on their way to find and give gifts to the baby Jesus. She wanted to go with them but had to find a gift to take and to finish her sweeping first. By the time she was ready to leave, the Wise Men were long gone. To this day, Befana rides her broom looking for Jesus, and on her way she drops off candy to those who have been good,

and coal to the naughty ones. Children in poor parts of Europe would have welcomed a gift of coal to help keep them warm over winter. For over 2,000 years, coal had been their primary source of heat.

But times change. Befana no longer leaves real coal, but as a joke, may leave a candy called Carbone dolce, candy made to resemble lumps of coal. British children need not fear receiving coal much longer, since, as of 2023, coal will not be allowed to be used to heat their homes, so none will be handy for stocking stuffers. This lack of coal in domestic use is a significant change because the 17th century industrial revolution in England was spurred by James Watts’ development of the steam engine – powered by coal.

Coal mining was and is a dangerous business. Miners have been sent down as far as 14,000 feet below ground – more than four kilometers. The only light was produced from lights worn on the miner’s helmets, (although electric lighting is used now) and coal mines are susceptible to fires, explosions and cave-ins. Miners develop severe lung disorders from constantly breathing coal dust. Not a pleasant place to work.

Canada’s record of coal mine disasters is bleak. The Spring Hill mine in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia produced coal for nearly a century – until October 23, 1958, when a “bump” or earthquake occurred causing a catastrophic cave in, killing 75 men. Some were saved, the last twelve being found alive seven days after the disaster. The mine was never reopened. A song, inspired by the Spring Hill loss was recorded by the late Rita MacNeil and a chorus of miners and retired miners known as Men of the Deeps. The chorus sums up how miners feel:

It’s a working man I am And I’ve been working underground

And I swear to God if I ever see the sun or for any length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again will go down underground. When I was a little girl, our home in Toronto was heated by coal. In our basement was a large furnace into which my Dad shovelled coal. I’m not sure how often, but a man with a face so blackened that you could only see his eyes and his smile would come up our driveway with bags of coal over his shoulder. These he would

pour through a window directly into our “coal room”. Needless to say, his clothes were filthy too, covered as he was in coal dust from his deliveries. It is hard to imagine his work clothes ever being clean, and he, himself, must have needed quite a scrubbing every day. Coal mining is still done in various areas of the world –among others, the Appalachian Mountains in the US, as well as in China and in Turkey where, in both countries, the world has heard of catastrophic mining disasters this year.

Environmentalists have made us aware that burning coal has been the biggest source of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the world. Closing coal mines is good for all of us.

So, children, rejoice! Coal is very unlikely to be found in your Christmas stockings, and hopefully, with fewer and fewer people worldwide going underground to mine coal, we will all have the gift of a cleaner, lovelier environment. Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays!

Comfort and Joy

By Susan Fedorka

A familiar phrase for many of us at this time of the year since it is part of a popular holiday song.

But what does it mean to you? What brings you comfort, not only during the holiday season, but all year long? Are you comforted when your family arrives to celebrate the holidays with you? Are you comforted by your bathrobe that you reach for every morning to wrap yourself in or are you comforted to hear that a friend is recovering well?

Do we ever stop to ask ourselves what brings us comfort? Is it a great cup of coffee, curling up with a good book or time spent with friends? Do we ever stop to say “I feel comforted by that”? We know what is comfortable, but that isn’t quite the same. And joy – what brings us joy? You might find this comparison of joy and happiness interesting - Joy is an inner feeling. Happiness is an outward expression. Joy endures hardship and trials and connects with meaning and purpose. A person pursues happiness but chooses joy.

The part about happiness is something most people can relate to. People want to be happy and they believe that doing a particular thing or buying a specific item, will make them happy but joy is that spontaneous, from out of nowhere feeling.

Whether it is comfort or joy, we have much to be grateful for in our lives and as we move into a new year, I hope you can find and share more comfort in your life and let’s be open to the spontaneity of joy.

Wishing all of you a very joyous holiday season, filled with love, laughter and magical moments and may 2023 be a year of great new traditions that will bring you and your family comfort in the years ahead.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow…

By Leisa Peacock

Oh the weather outside is frightful….as a matter of fact as I write this article it is a little frightful as we just had our first big snowfall of the season and it was a doozy. Thankfully I have nowhere to be that’s particularly urgent because I’m homebound until the busy plowman can make his way to my place to dig me out. A wise quote I keep seeing on Facebook, “If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life but still the same amount of snow” has prompted me to brainstorm on many ways to enjoy the snow, so here are some things to consider if you choose to find the joy. All of these activities can be done with kids or with those who are still ‘a kid at heart’. Ways to enjoy the snow include walking, hiking, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, cross country and downhill skiing. Making snow people, making ice sculpture sun catchers that hang on trees and double as food for birds. Creating natural Christmas trees outside on your own trees, using elements that the birds can enjoy such as pinecones covered in peanut butter. Don’t forget birdwatching itself!! I became a ‘birder’ during the winter season a few years ago. There’s nothing quite as striking as when you walk by your window and out of the corner of your eye a flash of brilliant red up against a background of stark white snow catches your eye. It can take your breath away. I particularly like it when the little nuthatches and chickadees are at the feeder when it is snowing and blowing like crazy, it doesn’t seem to bother them whatsoever. Other fun things you can do outside to enjoy the season are skating at outdoor rinks, tobogganing, snowball fights or making a snow maze or fort. I remember as a kid, around here we had the biggest snowbanks ever and they were so great to play on for hours at a time.

You can also try making snow angels, spray painting on snow with food colouring and water mixed up in a spray bottle. Playing a giant game of tic tac toe using sticks and things from nature as your x’s and o’s, or play a game of bowling using snowballs, and then warm up around a winter campfire. You can also make snow ice cream!! That’s right! All you need is a fresh snow fall and a quick google search to bring up a few different recipes. And if you’re able, help out a neighbour by shoveling their driveway or walkway if they have trouble doing it themselves. Whatever you end up doing outside this holiday season remember it’s important to be kind to your body and stretch first, in between (ideally), and after your activities, especially if you are doing something really physical or strenuous like snow shoveling. Don’t forget there will be horse drawn wagon rides during the Magic Under the Stars festival every Friday night in December in Warkworth. I hope you are able to create some Holiday Magic while enjoying the snow and the great outdoors this holiday season!

Leisa Peacock is a RMT, Holistic Therapist and BodyMind Coach who enjoys winter activities as much as she can. www.leisapeacock.com

Community Care Northumberland’s Sixth Annual Adopt a Grandparent Program

By Trish Baird

For the sixth consecutive year, Community Care Northumberland will support seniors throughout the county this holiday season through the organization’s Adopt a Grandparent program. This program spreads joy by surprising seniors who may be experiencing isolation or loneliness with meaningful gifts during the holiday season.

Trish Baird, Chief Executive Officer for Community Care Northumberland comments, “Adopt a Grandparent has shown us what coming together as a community can be all about and how nice it is to give back: in true holiday spirit, our community unites each year, giving to those that need it most. We hope that the 6th year of the program is even more successful than ever!”

This year, members of the community who are interested in adopting a grandparent can do so by calling CCN at 1-866-514-5774 or by emailing wellness@commcare.ca to be matched with

a senior. Purchased gifts, may be dropped off at a local office to be delivered to our “Grandparents” by our volunteers the week before Christmas. Community Care Northumberland asks that all unwrapped gifts (gift bags or baskets are ok) be dropped off to a local office on or before December 9th. Individuals may also “Adopt a Grandparent” by donating to this program and allowing Community Care Northumberland staff to complete the shopping.

For this year’s program, we kindly ask participants to refrain from including homemade baked goods. We ask that you include washing instructions for any handmade items, such as scarves or mittens. Other gift suggestions include gift cards for local stores or gift certificates for Community Care Northumberland programs, such as Meals on Wheels or Transportation.

How to play:

Peer Leadership Awards encourage and recognize our youth’s outstanding leadership qualities. The Campbellford/Seymour Community Foundation has been presenting Leadership Certificates to Trent Hills students from Grade 1 to Grade 11 since 2008. We are extremely pleased each year to see how many students are recognized by their fellow

VETERANS REFLECTION BENCH RIBBON CUTTING AT CAMPBELLFORD CENOTAPH

IODE Bemersyde Chapter partnered with their National Chapter to apply for a grant from the Community Foundation for a veteran’s reflection bench. The bench was purchased from the Municipality of Trent Hills as part of their Bench and Tree Donation program. The bench invites everyone to sit, reflect and honour our veterans in quiet remembrance, enriching the significance of the site.

IODE Canada is a national women’s charitable organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals through educational support, community service and citizenship programs. Over the past 103 years, the IODE has completed many community projects: the Campbellford Cenotaph in 1926; initiated construction of memorials to local veterans in 2009; spear-headed renovations of the Vimy Lounge at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 103, Campbellford and they also support the Born To Read program at local libraries.

St. Mary

More Grant Initiatives Funded by The CSCF in 2022

STEM LEARNING PROGRAM OFFERED

BY SCIENTISTS IN SCHOOL

explained “After returning to school we found that students struggled at times making connections with peers that they had long been separated from during the COVID-19 shut-down. In conjunction with staff, we sought out materials to create opportunities for students to come together in active sport and exploration.” The sports equipment included scooter boards, which were new to many of the students. “It was heartening to see students engage with their peers in these ways that were once familiar but limited by the protocols of a pandemic.” The purchase of “Easy Hold Discovery Sets” allowed for each student in a class to engage in their own independent discoveries and share them with their peers. These sets engage students in a multitude of science and sensory activities, from creating their own “rainbows” to magnifying the tiniest leaves and bugs. “On behalf of the students and staff, we would like to thank the CSCF for their continued support of our children’s interests. It is through these grants that we are able to encourage our learners to be engaged in the world around them and never stop asking questions about the whys and how’s of the community.”

The

Scientists in School have been delivering high-quality STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) enrichment workshops for over 32 years, and applied for grant funding from the Community Foundation for workshops in our community. Two virtual workshops were held at the Campbellford branch of the Trent Hills Public Library, and nine workshops were held for St. Mary Catholic Elementary School students. The two virtual workshops delivered through the Trent Hills Public Library were “Ewww…that Science is Gross!” and “Science Meets Art!”. Children were engaged and intrigued as they learned about the science behind ‘gross’ bodily functions or the discoveries you can make when you use shadows, colour, motion and light to create art from science. By offering hands-on, entertaining, educational enrichment experiences, children received STEM learning, allowing for as much impact in the region as possible. The Children’s Librarian at the Trent Hills Public Library, Brianne Parr, commented that “All participants had a blast! These workshops are truly the perfect combination of handson fun, wonder, and education for a variety of ages. We are truly grateful to have had this funded opportunity for so many children in our community!”. This grant funding resulted in 250+ local children and youth, and 9 teachers, receiving engaging and impactful STEM workshops to help bridge educational gaps stemming from the pandemic.

the CSCF’s endowments that the most prudent action is to suspend the grant program for 2023, until such time as our investment recovers.

and to

We are proud that the CSCF has invested over $4.1

N., Campbellford, ON K0L 1L0

million in grants in our community since 2003 and are deeply sorry for the news that we are unable to provide grant funding in 2023. We will continue to share grant opportunities from other funders.

Catholic Elementary School partnered with their school board to apply for grant funding from the Community Foundation to purchase science materials to support exploration and hands-on learning, as well as athletic equipment to encourage social interaction. Principal Mellissa Jolicoeur

Congratulations to this year’s Peer Leadership Students (left to right) Grace Ward-Levesque, Kylie Williams, Emily Ingram, Jack Rogers, Braiden Cousineau (missing is student Gregory Terry)

Board of Directors of the Campbellford/Seymour Community Foundation would like to inform the organizations that apply for grants that due to the unprecedented downturn in the global economy

protect

The ribbon cutting ceremony on November 12th (left to right) IODE Ontario PresidentHelen Danby, IODE Bemersyde Chapter President - Betsy Thompson and Mayor Bob Crate.