Grapevine December 15 2016 web

ARTS CULTURE COMMUNITY Dec 15, 2016 – Jan 12, 2017 Issue No. 13.22 5000 copies

THE GIFT OF SAYING ’NO’ P.7 CHRISTMAS COOKIE EXCHANGE: JENNY OSBURN’S CARAMEL NUT BARS P.10 CHRISTMAS SERVICES FROM MIDDLETON, HARMONY AND KINGSTON TO BLACK ROCK, WOLFVILLE, AND GRAND PRÉ P.16

THE FIRST ANNUAL

BEST OF THE BUNCH GRAPEVINE AWARDS: VOTE P.18

g n i v i G f o n o s ea

The S

A SELECTION OF LOCAL WAYS TO GIVE P.7

A FREE PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN THE ANNAPOLIS VALLEY Dec 15, 2016 – Jan 12, 2017 | 1

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EDITOR'S UPDATE We chose this issue of The Grapevine to celebrate ‘The Season of Giving’. We know that giving to each other, whether it be time, or funds, or goods, or support by any means, is something that the residents of the Annapolis Valley do especially well.

Our team knows this to be true. Every two weeks, along with the generous efforts of writers, photographers, a single ever-available copy editor, graphic designers who burn the midnight oil, list-makers and list-designers

(who know every little thing that happens round these parts), delivery team members far and wide who brave the maritime weather whatever it may be, the business-financial sorts of folks (those numbers-women), and a single saleswoman who fills these pages week-in week-out, we somehow manage to put this beautiful little paper together. And then the readers take over. They pick it up in coffeeshops, they grab it at the dentist’s office, they pour over it in the waiting room, and they photocopy bits of it at the library. They read our lists, they giggle at our notes, they

see the ads, and then (we hope, we wish that, and in fact, we do know) they purchase the tickets, they visit the shops, they buy the local products, and they do the very thing we’ve been working towards this whole time: they support each other.

you’re an advertiser, an event-goer, or an enjoyer of the locally-written word, thank you! We love what we do, and we can’t wait for another great Grapevine year in 2017!

Our team puts a lot into this paper and in return we get a lot back. We get to be part of this wonderful cycle of support. So with that in mind, thank you — thank you a million times over—for every part you’ve played in helping us make this newspaper. Whether

The Grapevine Team

Happy Holidays,

Emily Leeson Genevieve Allen Hearn Monica Jorgensen Jocelyn Hatt

CHRISTMAS READING Emily Leeson & Hilary Drummond Choosing the perfect tree, hanging the stockings, untangling twinkle lights, madly rushing around town in search of the perfect gift – the holidays are all about making and partaking in traditions.

Some are easier than others. In the midst of trying to make a yule-log that doesn’t collapse under its own weight, or convincing a toddler that they DO want a photograph with that strange-looking man named Santa, one of the most rewarding family traditions is sometimes overlooked: reading... together! Cuddling up with that special Christmas story, something new or something cherished year after year, is just the right way to end a day during the holiday season. In Nova Scotia, it may be more important than ever for families to make a tradition out of reading together. In 2014 the Nova Scotia’s Children & Youth Vital Signs report found that only 75% of Grade Six students met expectations for reading – the lowest recorded score in the past five years.

This time of year, any local bookshop or library will be bursting with Christmas books for any age. In fact, we are lucky enough to have our own crop of Nova Scotian Christmas titles. If you are interested in reading and sharing something local this year, here are a few suggestions: Babies & Toddlers:

Early readers:

Christmas with the Rural Mail by Lance Woolaver, paintings by Maud Lewis A gentle poem describing the journey of a rural mail-sleigh delivering packages and parcels to children, Christmas with the Rural Mail is a holiday classic. The poem is carefully crafted to fit Maud Lewis' colourful paintings, and the mailsleigh passes children skiing and tobogganing, oxen and Clydesdale horses pulling heavy loads, and the train station, among other classic rural winter scenes.

Buddy the Bluenose Reindeer by Bruce Nunn, illustrations by Brenda Jones First heard on CBC radio, Buddy the Bluenose Reindeer became an instant Maritime Christmas classic. Buddy is sad because despite his best efforts, he just can't fit in with Nick Klaus' fishing crew on Nova Scotia’s South Shore. Santa, that normally jolly proprietor of Christmas cheer, is worried because his star performer, the famous Rudolph, is sick with a bad cold! How will Santa and Buddy set everything right?

Preschoolers:

A Bluenose Twelve Days of Christmas by Bruce Nunn, illustrations by Doretta Groenendyk “On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: five highland flings! Four coal seams, three lobster traps, two fiddle tunes, and a Bluenose at the Pier Three.” The Twelve Days of Christmas gets a taste of Nova Scotian revelry in this energetic retelling by storyteller Bruce Nunn. With Doretta Groenendyk's charming and funny illustrations, readers young and old will want to read – and sing! – this version of the carol every Christmas.

Snow for Christmas! written and illustrated by Doretta Groenendyk This is the simple story of an extended family gathering on Christmas Eve. When asked what he wants for Christmas, a boy responds, "Snow."

This response sparks a flood of reminiscences from the family, each with a colourful, joyful illustration. At the conclusion, when asked why he wished for snow, the boy responds, "Because snow brings stories."

Trouble Twins Save Christmas by Tom Schwarzkopf It's December in Mahone Bay, but it sure doesn't look like it. There's no snow on the ground, no decorations downtown, and nobody seems particularly festive. And when Mr. Woodward, the editor of the newspaper, falls seriously ill, it goes from bad to worse.

Enter Angela and Emmie, the infamous Trouble Twins, who decide that they can help.

They're juggling schoolwork, newspaper work, and – perhaps scariest of all – boys. Can they handle everything they've taken on, or have they finally bitten off more than they can chew? Will they be able to save Christmas for Mahone Bay, and for themselves?

Confident readers:

The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t by Budge Wilson In Nova Scotia in 1941, Izzie Publicover, her brother, and their friends prepare for a very special Christmas. Despite wartime rationing and the infrequency of winter visits, the Publicover children's grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins are coming for Christmas. But plans go awry two days before Christmas when a huge storm hits the village.

Can Izzie figure out a way to save Christmas for everyone?

A Christmas Dollhouse by Richard Rudnicki Dot's father has work, but her mother is terribly sick and there is no money for presents this Christmas.

In town Dot sees a beautiful dollhouse that is being raffled away, but her family doesn't even have a dollar for the contest entry fee. A Christmas Dollhouse is about hope in the face of hardship and about communities taking care of each other. Set in Nova Scotia during the Great Depression, this is a story that will appeal to anyone who believes in the magic of Christmas.

Easily shared by everyone:

A Maritime Christmas Treasury: Stories, Songs, and Poems to Celebrate the Season A collection of beloved Maritime Christmas stories in one beautiful book for children. From the hilarious "Gadzooks the Christmas Goose" to the heartwarming "A Christmas Dollhouse", each carefully selected story highlights another aspect of the Christmas season. Love, family, and the natural world are all celebrated in this gorgeous treasury.

The Christmas Secret: An Atlantic Canada Christmas Reader edited by Dan Soucoup The Christmas Secret is a homemade collection featuring twenty tales of Atlantic Christmases past and present, plucked from the memories and traditions of local lore. This edition features a veritable buffet of holiday celebrations and experiences, from the heartwarming holidays inside a lighthouse on Bon Portage Island, to a struggling Cape Breton coal mining community.

Mary Morrison's Cape Breton Christmas by Bette MacDonald For years, Bette has delighted audiences with her irreverent and lovable Cape Breton character Mary Morrison. Now Mary is here to entertain readers with her stories and memories of the Christmas season. Mary Morrison’s Cape Breton Christmas is a treasury of all things holiday, including Mary’s advice for coping with family, gift-giving tips, and favourite seasonal recipes.

Acadian Christmas Traditions by George Arsenault Based on interviews with Acadians throughout the Maritimes, Acadian Christmas Traditions offers a fascinating look at the evolution of Christmas.

This very readable book shows how customs, both spiritual and secular, take hold in families, in villages, and in Acadian culture as a whole.

George Arsenault examines all the aspects of the feast of Christmas, from midnight mass to holiday foods. As he chronicles the cultural changes that have taken place over the centuries, he proves that Acadian Christmas today is the result of a wonderful blending of old, new, and borrowed traditions.

Cape Breton's Christmas: A Treasury of Stories and Memories edited by Ron Caplan From the heart of Cape Breton come stories by Beatrice MacNeil, Hugh MacLennan, Tessie Gillis, Paul MacDougall, Marie Battiste, Wanda Robson, Rita Joe, Ellison Robertson, and many more. From the Christmas tree in the coalmines to a community roasting turkeys at Bernie’s Bakery, from Christmas wrecked to Christmas saved and Christmas far from home. Cape Breton’s Christmas is for anyone who loves wit, celebration, and the generosity of Maritime life.

Dec 15, 2016 – Jan 12, 2017 | 3

INDEX

ON THE COVER: The Fezziwig Society in a community theatre group in Wolfville, Nova Scotia that produces a yearly production in time for the beginning of the Christmas season. The group always has a new slant on a traditional story. This year they take a fresh look at Robin Hood and the gang in Nottingham. You know all about those guys who steal from the rich to give to the poor. But how are they going to handle a proclamation which will affect all Christmas

presents? Come meet Robin and his Merry Men, Maid Marian (especially Maid Marian!), a trio of villains, and a Prince John who seems awfully young and a bit distracted - by a Gameboy? Wait a minute! What’s happening?

And who is that other gang in tights and carrying bows? Music, dance, and lots of laughs.

It’s time for the Fezziwig Society’s 2016 romp - a brand new script by Ross Chapman, Simon Pawlowski, and Gus Webb. Not to be missed!

Margaret Drummond's

WORD OF THE ISSUE: Parsimonious Adjective

Excessively frugal; stingy.

RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS I was flabbergasted! Frustration had been following me everywhere. Then I dropped my groceries on the store floor – two chicken suppers (on special) and an onion! I gathered it together and asked a gentleman in the checkout line if I might place my groceries on the checkout counter beside his because I was having difficulty holding them. He insisted that I check out ahead of him, and I hesitantly acquiesced. The clerk poked in my purchases, and then a large item of his, so I pointed out to her that the latter was not mine. The gentleman then told her he was paying for my purchases. I was dumbfounded and didn’t know what to say, so I asked him if he were Santa Claus – he had a neat little beard. I shook his hand.

"When fielding questions from a hostile audience, his answers were parsimonious and maddeningly vague."

Christmas Reading..................................................... .p.3 Editor's Update.......................................................... .p.3 About Us.................................................................... .p.4 Furry Feature............................................................. .p.4 Random Act of Kindness............................................. .p.4 On the Cover.............................................................. .p.4 Remembering Lovis.................................................... .p.5 Mystery Quote........................................................... .p.5 Free Classifieds/Eat to the Beat ................................. .p.5 Star Drop/ Free Will Astrology .................................. .p.6 In Review/Ways to Give ............................................ .p.7 Dome Chronicles........................................................ .p.8 Healthy & Active Living............................................... .p.8 Christmas w/ David Myles.......................................... .p.8 Inquisitive Corner ...................................................... .p.9 Locavore.................................................................... .p.10 Crowdsourcer............................................................. .p.10 Who's Who................................................................. .p.11 Seedlings/Kids........................................................... .p.11 Family Fun in the Valley............................................. .p.12 Way Back When......................................................... .p.13 What’s Happening/Tides............................................ .p.14-16 Weekly Events/@ the Library.................................... .p.17 The Grapevine's BEST OF THE BUNCH.......................... .p.18 Acadia Page............................................................... .p.19

Now I want him to know that I have given $20 to the Food Bank – passing on a random act of kindness!!

Shirley W.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY AN AMAZING TEAM OF CONTRIBUTORS:

FURRY FEATURE Jen is a domestic short-haired black and white male born approximately September 6, 2016. He is one of four kittens who were rescued from the Grand Pre Feral Colony. He has a very distinct white bib and paws and a narrow white strip between his eyes.

EMILY LEESON Editor

JOCELYN HATT Art Director, Design, Layout

ZOE D’AMATO Sales

DONNA HOLMES Copy Editor

GENEVIEVE ALLEN HEARN Operations Manager

MONICA JORGENSEN Events & Lists

ALEX HICKEY, & DAVID EDELSTEIN Design, Typesetting, Layout

EMILY KATHAN Distribution Manager

CONTRIBUTORS: Mike Butler, Genevieve Allen Hearn, Scott Campbell, Donna Holmes, Garry Leeson, Avery Peters, Laura Churchill Duke, Melanie Priesnitz, Thomas Clahane, Regan Alford, Susan Wedlock, Margaret Drummond, Lee-Ann Cudmore, Sarah Anderson, Angela Reynolds, Allan Williams (Eat to the Beat)

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AVONPORT: Cann’s Kwik-Way GRAND-PRÉ: Convenience Store, Domaine de Grand Pré, Just Us! Café GASPEREAU: Gaspereau Vineyards, Luckett Vineyards, Reid's Meats & Kwik-Way, XTR Kwik-Way

ISSUE DEADLINES:

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Wolfville Animal Hospital 12-112 Front Street Wolfville 902 542 3422

DELIVERIES: Margot Bishop, Dominic Cameron, Jaden Christopher, Lauren Galbraith, Earle & Karen Illsley, Miklos Kanyasi, Andrea Leeson, Lisa Moore, John Morrison, Julie and Mugen Page, Curran Rodgers, Susan Wedlock, Lorna Williamson, Lyal Wooster, Coleman Hooper, Lisa Moore, Riley White

Jan 12: Submissions – Dec 23 | Ads and Listings –Jan 2 ADVERTISING: zoe@grapevinepublishing.ca GENERAL INQUIRIES: info@grapevinepublishing.ca CONTENT SUBMISSIONS: editor@grapevinepublishing.ca EVENTS/CLASSIFIEDS: listings@grapevinepublishing.ca

SNAIL MAIL: Grapevine Publishing PO Box 2262 Wolfville, NS B4P 1A0

ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE: grapevinepublishing.ca and issuu.com/thevalleygrapevine

WOLFVILLE: Carl's Your Independent Grocer, Cuts Meat Market, Eos Natural Foods, Just Us! Café, T.A.N. Coffee, Library, Wolfville Farmers' Market

NEW MINAS: Boston Pizza, Captain Sub, Irving Big Stop, Jessy's Pizza, Long and McQuade, Milne Court Petro-Canada, Pita Pit, Swiss Chalet

GREENWICH: Avery’s Farm Market, Edible Art Cafe, Elderkin's Farm Market, Hennigar's Farm Market, Noggins Corner Farm Market, Stems Cafe, Stirling's

KENTVILLE: Designer Café, Jason’s Your Independent Grocer, T.A.N. Coffee, Valley Regional Hospital

PORT WILLIAMS: Fox Hill Cheese House, Planters Ridge, Sea Level Brewery, The Noodle Guy CANNING: Degraaf's Kwik-Way, ValuFoods

COLDBROOK: Access Nova Scotia, T.A.N. Coffee, Callister's Country Kitchen, Foodland, Vicki's Seafood Restaurant BERWICK: Driftwood Restaurant, Jonny's Cookhouse, Luigi's Pizza Palace, North Mountain Coffeehouse, Rising Sun Cafe,

Union Street Café, Wilsons Pharmasave AYLESFORD: Chisholm's PharmaChoice, Tina’s Cafe KINGSTON: Avery’s Farm Market , Green Elephant Cafe, Library, Pharmasave, Needs Convenience GREENWOOD: Avery’s Farm Market, Country Store, Flight Line Cafe, Valley Natural Foods MIDDLETON: Coffee Garden Cafe, Middle Town Sweets

DISCLAIMER Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season!

4 | Dec 15, 2016 – Jan 12, 2017

The opinions expressed are solely those of the authors, and the publication of these opinions does not signify the endorsement by the staff or owners of The Grapevine Newspaper.

Opinions expressed within this publication are not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional or medical advice. While we make every attempt to ensure accuracy with all published content, GV Publishing Inc. assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or truthfulness of submitted copy. In the event of an error, GV Publishing Inc. is only responsible for the price of the individual ad in which the error occurred.

4

REMEMBERING LOVIS

MYSTERY

QU OTE QUOTE

…… seven years without you …….

With each passing moment, With each breath and heartbeat, Throughout each day We miss you, And can never say how much.

You are our sunshine, Shining through each day.

A legacy so deep We will take our lifetime To live as we learnt with you.

402Main MainSt. St. Wolfville Wolfville | 902.542.0653 402 902.542.0653 thenakedcrepebistro.ca thenakedcrepebistro.ca

WIN! Complete this puzzle, then submit it to Naked Crêpe for your chance to win a dessert crêpe!

Each letter in the quote has been substituted for another letter. For eg, G might equal V. Recover the original letters to solve the puzzle. This puzzle runs from October 20 - November 3, 2016 ZPLVK SGBXJDZPJ, GK DGRNUGD... ERKJT'D SRZK QBRZ P JDRBK.

Your Mama, Papa, Solveigh and Arvid

ZPLVK SGBXJDZPJ, AKBGPAJ... ZKPTJ P FXDDFK VXD ZRBK! – DGK UBXTSG (EB. JKNJJ) Name: Contact: The last winner of Mystery Quote was Mabel!

T H E F REE C L A S SIFIEDS This section works on a first-come, first-served basis. Email your classified to: listings@grapevinepublishing.ca and, if there's room, we'll get you in.

Or, to reserve a placement, pay $5 per issue (3-issue minimum commitment).

Please keep listings to 35 words or less.

DONATE:

Donate Used Clothing: Flowercart creates work and training for people. Donate your used clothing to Flowercart and keep your donation and the resulting money local. Drop off location 9412 Commercial St., New Minas. INFO: 902-681-0120 / lisahammettvaughan@flowercart.ca Valley Hospice: Help the Hospice just by clearing out your closet! Donate your gently used items in the name of Valley Hospice at Consignors Place, New Minas. 40% selling price goes to help the Hospice. INFO: Consignorsplace.com/calendar / valleyhospice.ca

FOR HIRE/PURCHASE:

Interior/Exterior Painting: Women in Rollers does accurate quotes, shows up on time to work, and performs to perfection. We even leave your home neat and tidy! Call today for your free estimate.

INFO: Pamela, 902-697-2926 Travel Planning Professional: Denise MacMillan with The Destination Experts.

Give the gift of Travel this Christmas! Free, no obligation quotes. Friendly, professional service. Valley based. INFO: 902-692-9581 / dmacmillan@TheDestinationExperts.com / FB/Denise.TravelPlanning Kitchen Updates: Kitchen cupboards dated and dull? For about one-tenth of the cost of new cupboards, we can transform your cupboards with specialty paint and new hardware. Call us for a free estimate. Women in Rollers. 902-697-2926.

Christmas Wreaths: Can be ordered by choosing a previous years design or I can make one custom to

order. The Giving Wreath 2016 Collection – Choose one of our 4 giving wreaths either peace, joy, love or hope. – We have many different colored ribbons to choose from – Each Giving Wreath comes with a card to write a personalized message. Natural, Timeless, Beauty. INFO: Facebook: Wreaths by Rhonnie / vanhattems@yahoo.ca

GENERAL:

Financial Planning: Will your retirement savings last? If you’re concerned about ensuring your money will last as long as you need it, I can help. Contact me today. INFO: Cynthia Farris Coane, Consultant.

Investors Group Financial Services, Inc., 902-681-1061 x243 / CynthiaFarris.Coane@investorsgroup.com For Sale: 1987 Ford F-150, great condition, $3000 OBO. INFO: John, 902-698-6766 March Break & Summer Camps: It’s not too early to book your camp at Ross Creek Centre for the Arts in Canning. Lots of choices, from painting to dance, for ages 5 to teens. Makes a great Christmas present!

INFO: 902-582-3842 / artscentre.ca Ross Farm Museum: 4568 Hwy 12, New Ross • Open Wed–Sun, 9am–5pm. Closed Dec. 24–Jan. 4 for the holidays. Every visit is unique as the work changes with the seasons. TIX: $6 adult, $5 senior, $2 child (6-17), no charge age 5 & under. INFO: 902-689-2210 / rossfarm.novascotia.ca Open Mike & Donna: TAN Coffee in Wolfville will be closing an hour earlier in January and February, so Open Mike & Donna show times will be 7pm–9pm during these months. We will go back to our regular 8pm–10pm show times in March.

INFO: donnaholmes712@gmail.com

To Bethlehem with Kings Capella Regalis, Men and Boys Choir Nick Halley, director | Paul Halley, organ Tues. Dec. 20th, 2016, 7:00 PM Admission: $12 Christ Church (Anglican) 543 King St., Windsor, NS Advance Tickets available at Windsor Home Hardware or purchase at door.

THURSDAYS: 15, 22, 29

The Port Pub (Port Williams): Port Pub After Hours (16th, 23rd) 7:30pm

Edible Art Cafe (New Minas): Paul Marshall (15th, 22nd, 29th)12 pm

Joe’s Food Emporium (Wolfville): Al King Band (16th) 8pm

Troy Restaurant (Wolfville): Ron Edmunds Duo (15th, 22nd, 29th) 6pm

Spitfire Arms Alehouse (Windsor): Knee Deep (16th), Tim Vallilee (23rd) 8pm

Spitfire Arms Alehouse (Windsor): Open Jam Session (15th, 22nd, 29th) 7pm

Union Street Café (Berwick): The Stanfields, $27.50 (16th) 8pm

Oaken Barrel Pub (Greenwood): Trivia Night (15th, 22nd, 29th) 7pm

West Side Charlies (New Minas): DJ Lethal Noize (16th), DJ Billy T (23rd), DJ Lethal Noize (30th) 10pm

Kings Arms Pub by Lew Murphy’s (Kentville): The Tony & Lenny Show (15th, 22nd, 29th) 7:30pm

SATURDAYS: 17, 24

Union Street Café (Berwick): The Jill Boudreau Band Christmas Party, $12 (22nd) 8pm

Farmers Market (Wolfville): Graham Howes (17th), Whistling Winds of Wolfville (24th), Sam Wilson (31st) 9:30am

Dooly’s (New Minas): Open Mic (15th, 29th) 8:30pm

Edible Art Café (New Minas): Lee Gilbert (17th) 12pm

Paddy’s Pub (Kentville): The Hupman Brothers (15th, 22nd, 29th) 9pm

The Port Pub (Port Williams): Saturday Afternoon Music w/Ian and Ron (17th, 24th) 12pm, New Years’ Eve, $10 (31st) 10pm

Paddy’s Pub (Wolfville): Trivia Night (15th, 22nd, 29th) 9pm Anvil (Wolfville): Top 40 DJ (15th, 22nd, 29th) 9pm

FRIDAYS: 16, 23 Edible Art Cafe (New Minas): Paul Marshall (16th, 23rd) 12pm Kings Arms Pub by Lew Murphy’s (Kentville): Jon Duggan (16th), Shawn Hebb (23rd), TBA (30th) 5:30pm Farmers Market (Wolfville): Christmas Ceilidh (16th) 6pm Oaken Barrel (Greenwood): GuyPaul Thibeau (16th) 6pm, Jingle Bash (23rd) 10pm La Torta Woodfired Pizzeria (Wolfville): Steve Lee Duo (16th) 6pm Blomidon Inn (Wolfville): Jazz Mannequins (16th, 23rd) 6:30pm

5

The Noodle Guy (Port Williams): The Noodle Guy Spaghetti Jam (17th) 1:30pm Oaken Barrel Pub (Greenwood): Broke with Money (17th) 7pm Spitfire Arms Alehouse (Windsor): Swig (17th) 8pm, New Years’ Party feat. Margie Brown Duo (31st) 10pm King’s Arms Pub by Lew Murphy’s (Kentville): Skin & Jones (17th) 8:30pm Paddy’s Pub (Wolfville): Jack MacDonald (17th), Cass McRae (31st) 9pm Paddy’s Pub (Kentville): Caleb Miles (31st) 9pm Anvil (Wolfville): Top 40 DJ (17th) 9pm Library Pub (Wolfville): Bob Munroe (17th) 1pm, Ben MacNeil (17th) 9pm

Dooly’s (Greenwood): DJ Touch (17th) 10pm Westside Charlie’s (New Minas): Justin Wood (17th) 3pm, DJ Mutts (17th) 10pm, DJ Billy T (31st) 10pm Tommy Gun’s (Windsor): Video Music Screen (17th) 12am

SUNDAYS: 18, 25, 1 King’s Arms Pub by Lew Murphy’s (Kentville): New Year’s Day Levee (1st) 10am– 6pm Paddy’s Pub (Kentville): New Year’s Day Levee feat. Caleb Miles (1st) 12pm Oaken Barrel Pub (Greenwood): Adam Cameron (1st) 2pm, Broke with Money (1st) 7pm Paddy's Pub (Wolfville): Paddy’s Irish Session (18th) 8pm Westside Charlie’s (New Minas): Levee Day w/Bunker and Greg (1st) 3pm

MONDAYS: 19, 26 Edible Art Café (New Minas): Ron Edmunds Band (19th) 12pm TUESDAYS: 20, 27 Edible Art Café (New Minas): Ron Edmunds Band (20th, 27th) 12pm Paddy’s Pub (Kentville): Irish Jam Session (20th, 27th) 8pm TAN Café (Wolfville): Carol-aoke w/Mike & Charlie (20th) Open Mike & Donna (27th) 8pm

WEDNESDAYS: 21, 28 Edible Art Café (New Minas): David Filyer (21st) 12pm Farmers Market (Wolfville): John Tetrault (21st) 5pm West Side Charlie’s (New Minas): Billy T’s Karaoke (21st, 28th) 9pm

Dec 15, 2016 – Jan 12, 2017 | 5

© 2016 Rob Brezsny • freewillastrology.com • Horoscopes for the week of December 15th ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how,” said dancer Agnes De Mille. “We guess. We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark.” As true as her words might be for most of us much of the time, I suspect they don’t apply to you right now. This is one of those rare moments when feeling total certainty is justified. Your vision is extra clear and farseeing. Your good humor and expansive spirit will ensure that you stay humble. As you take leap after leap, you’ll be surrounded by light.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “We are torn between nostalgia for the familiar and an urge for the foreign and strange,” wrote author Carson McCullers. Are you ready to give that adage a twist, Taurus? In the coming weeks, I think you should search for foreign and strange qualities in your familiar world. Such a quest may initially feel odd, but will ultimately be healthy and interesting. It will also be good preparation for the next chapter of your life, when you will saunter out into unknown territory and find ways to feel at home there.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “If you don’t use your own imagination, somebody else is going to use it for you,” said writer Ronald Sukenick. That’s always true, but it will be especially important for you to keep in mind in 2017.

You Geminis will have an unparalleled power to enlarge, refine, and tap into your imagination. You’ll be blessed with the motivation and ingenuity to make it work for you in new ways, which could enable you to accomplish marvelous feats of creativity and self-transformation.

Now here’s a warning: If you DON’T use your willower to take advantage of these potentials, your imagination will be subject to atrophy and colonization.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Why are Australian sand wasps so skilled at finding their way back home after being out all day? Here’s their trick: When they first leave the nest each morning, they fly backwards, imprinting on their memory banks the sights they will look for when they return later. Furthermore, their exiting flight path is a slow and systematic zigzag pattern that orients them from multiple directions.

I recommend that you draw inspiration from the sand wasps in 2017, Cancerian. One of your important tasks will be to keep finding your way back to your spiritual home, over and over again.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Vault 21, a restaurant in Dunedin, New Zealand, serves sautéed locusts. For $5, patrons receive a plate of five. The menu refers to the dish not as “Oily Sizzling Grasshoppers,” but rather as “Sky Prawns.” Satisfied customers know exactly what they’re eating, and some say the taste does indeed resemble prawns. I bring this to your attention, Leo, because it illustrates a talent you will have in abundance during 2017: re-branding. You’ll know how to maximize the attractiveness and desirability of things by presenting them in the best possible light.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The literal translation of the German word Kummerspeck is “grief bacon.” It refers to the weight gained by people who, while wallowing in self-pity, eat an excess of comfort food.

I know more than a few Virgos who have been flirting with this development lately, although the trigger seems to be self-doubt as much as self-pity. In any case, here’s the good news: The trend is about to flip.

A flow of agreeable adventures is due to begin soon.

You’ll be prodded by fun challenges and provocative stimuli that will boost your confidence and discourage Kummerspeck.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “Since you are like no other being ever created since the beginning of time, you are incomparable,” wrote journalist Brenda Ueland.

Pause for a moment and fully take in that fact, Libra. It’s breathtaking and daunting. What a huge responsibility it is to be absolutely unique. In fact, it’s so monumental that you may still be shy about living up to it. But how about if you make 2017 the year you finally come into your own as the awesomely unprecedented creature

6 | Dec 15, 2016 – Jan 12, 2017

that you are? I dare you to more fully acknowledge and express your singular destiny. Start today!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “To dream . . . to dream has been the business of my life,” wrote author Edgar Allan Poe. I don’t expect you to match his devotion to dreams in 2017, Scorpio, but I do hope you will become more deeply engaged with your waking fantasies and the stories that unfold as you lie sleeping. Why? Because your usual approaches to gathering useful information won’t be sufficient. To be successful, both in the spiritual and worldly senses, you’ll need extra access to perspectives that come from beyond your rational mind. Here’s a good motto for you in 2017: “I am a lavish and practical dreamer.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Physicist Stephen Hawking is skeptical of the hypothesis that humans may someday be able to travel through time. To jokingly dramatize his belief, he threw a party for time travelers from the future. Sadly, not a single chrononaut showed up to enjoy the champagne and hors d’oeuvres Hawking had prepared. Despite this discouraging evidence, I guarantee that you will have the potential to meet with Future Versions of You on a regular basis during the next nine months. These encounters are likely to be metaphorical or dreamlike rather than literal, but they will provide valuable information as you make decisions that affect your destiny for years to come. The first of these heart-tohearts should come very soon.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): During these last few weeks, you may have sometimes felt like smashing holes in the wall with your head, or dragging precious keepsakes into the middle of the street and setting them on fire, or delivering boxes full of garbage to people who don’t appreciate you as much as they should. I hope you abstained from doing things like that. Now here are some prescriptions to help you graduate from unproductive impulses: Make or find a symbol of one of your mental blocks, and bash it to pieces with a hammer; clean and polish precious keepsakes, and perform rituals to reinvigorate your love for them; take as many trips to the dump as necessary to remove the congestion, dross, and rot from your environment.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Singer-songwriter Tom Waits has a distinctive voice. One fan described it this way: “Like how you’d sound if you drank a quart of bourbon, smoked a pack of cigarettes and swallowed a pack of razor blades. Late at night. After not sleeping for three days.” Luckily, Waits doesn’t have to actually do any of those self-destructive things to achieve his unique tone. In fact, he’s wealthy from selling his music, and has three kids with a woman to whom he’s been married for 36 years. I foresee a similar potential for you in the coming weeks and months. You may be able to capitalize on your harmless weirdness . . . to earn rewards by expressing your charming eccentricities . . . to be both strange and popular.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Was punk rock born on June 4, 1976? A fledgling band known as the Sex Pistols played that night for a crowd of 40 people at a small venue in Manchester, England. Among the audience members was Morrissey, who got so inspired that he started his own band, The Smiths.

Also in attendance was a rowdy guy who would soon launch the band Joy Division, despite the fact that he had never played an instrument. The men who would later form the Buzzcocks also saw the performance by Johnny Rotten and his crew. According to music critic David Nolan, these future pioneers came away from the June 4 show with the conclusion, “You don’t have to be a virtuoso or a musical genius to be in a band; anyone can do it.” I see parallels between this seminal event and your life in the coming weeks.

Homework: Talk about the pleasures you’d enjoy if you went a week without consuming any media. Write: Truthrooster@gmail.com.

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Coles Book Store in New Minas got in the spirit of the season and recently sponsored a fundraiser for the New Minas Lions Club. For all regular priced books, the bookstore donated 15% to the group.

teer-driven program that provides persons with varying disabilities a unique physical activity experience in order to improve their total development as individuals. /3

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IN REVIEW: 'TIS THE SEASON TO GIVE Emily Leeson Santa recently joined in on the fun with Lion Mary Stevens and Zone Chair Marley Vandertoorn of New Minas Lions Club.

They're selling tickets on a Christmas basket to be drawn on December 16. There is $400 worth of items in the basket. /1 On November 17, 2016 it was with extreme pleasure that the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #098 Kingston presented a cheque for $5,000 to the principal of West Kings District High School in Auburn, Nova Scotia. The funds will go toward assistance in constructing the David Morse Memorial Sports Field next to the High School. In attendance at the presentation were, from left to right, RCL Branch #098 President David Geddes, Chase the Ace Volunteer James Duguid, Chase the Ace Chairperson Comrade Ian Clow, and West Kings District High School principal Barry Squires. The RCL Branch #098 will continue to assist WKDHS in its fundraising through their Chase the Ace Program./2

December 2 was a big night in Wolfville. The Wolfville School Chicken Dinner Fundraiser was packed and a crowd of over 250 people enjoyed the meal while students from the school entertained them with musical selections. Later that evening the town celebrated the start of the holiday season with festivities and the official tree lighting on the post office lawn.

Santa Claus is a busy man this time of year, but he made a special trip to the Inquisitive Toy Company on December 3. Local tots got a little facetime with old father Christmas and the toy store collected donations for the Acadia S.M.I.L.E. program. The Acadia S.M.I.L.E. (Sensory Motor Instructional Leadership Experience) Program is an innovative student-volun-

December 3 was the Wolfville Farmers' Market annual 'Get UnScrooged' event which offered shoppers a chance to win their Christmas Wish List while supporting the Wolfville Area Food Bank. This year $1210 was raised!

Middleton sure knows how to throw a party. On December 3, the Community Christmas Party was held at the Annapolis East Elementary School. The festivities included music, cookie and treats, face painting, and of course, a visit from jolly old St. Nicholas himself.

The Town of Berwick is obviously filled with dedicated volunteers and honest warm-hearted citizens. The most recent news from their Facebook page is a call for nominations for the Volunteer of the Year

Award (Contact Carol at 902-538-8616 for nomination forms) and a notice that 'some money' was found on commercial street in Berwick on the evening of December 7 (If you lost the money, you can find out details about who to call on the Town of Berwick's Facebook page.)

The Town of Windsor is determined not to let winter get them down. The 2017 Town of Windsor Winter Recreation Brochure is now available. They've got just about everything you could imagine on offer: indoor soccer, drop-in gym time, craft sessions, Tumblebugs, ball hockey, basketball, indoor walking, Pickleball, adult badminton, Roller Derby skating, aqua fitness, and acrylic-painting, just to name a few. Check out town.windsor.ns.ca for more info. The town wants everyone to get active in the community this coming year, in fact, If you or a family member requires support to be involved in the programs do not hesitate to contact them to discuss options and support.

A SELECTION OF LOCAL WAYS TO GIVE GIVE TIME Open Arms, Kentville Open Arms is a community-supported registered charity made up of a network of about 300 volunteers from Hantsport to Bridgetown. Initially established in 2004 as a Community Chaplaincy/Advocacy for people in need, Inn From The Cold now operates from seven local churches and has provided emergency shelter for approximately 1200 individuals over the past twelve years. From the Open Arms Resource Centre (32 Cornwallis St., Kentville), Drop-in/Outreach Program in Berwick and Kingston, they manage numerous outreach programs.

Interested in volunteering or donating? Visit openarms.ca The Kings SPCA The Nova Scotia SPCA is recognized as providing expert leadership in the areas of advocacy and protection of companion animals and sets the standard of animal care for the province of Nova Scotia. They welcome and encourage volunteer involvement at all levels within all appropriate programs and activities. As a non-profit volunteer organization without government funding, their efforts rely extensively on generous support from people like you.

Interested in volunteering, adopting, or donating? Visit spcans.ca/kingscounty/ Valley Community Learning Association, Kentville The Valley Community Learning Association (VCLA) is a non-profit organization and registered charity that helps adults achieve their personal learning goals. Since 1989 the orga-

nization has provided a forum for learners, community groups, instructors, tutors, publicly funded agencies, and businesses to enhance the literacy levels of community members and new immigrants in both Kings and Annapolis Counties.

Interested in volunteering or donating? Visit vcla. ca Kingston Lions Club, Kingston Lions meet the needs of local communities and the world. The 1.35 million members of the volunteer organization in 207 countries, they share a core belief – community is what we make it. The Kingston Lions Club is extremely proud to have donated more than 2 million dollars since the club began in 1961.

Some of their active services include collecting eye glasses & hearing aids, various youth programs, and supporting Safe Grad.

Interested in joining? Visit www.e-clubhouse.org/ sites/kingstonns/ Women of Wolfville, Wolfville The Women of Wolfville is a community theatre group whose goal is to raise money for charities, challenge our audiences (and ourselves), and to have fun!

For more information, visit facebook.com/WomenOfWolfville

GIVE FOOD OR GOODS FEED NS The mission of FEED Nova Scotia is to feed Nova Scotians in need and reduce that need.

To achieve this, they distribute 2 million kilograms of donated food to a member network of 147 food banks and meal programs across

the province as well as raise awareness of the challenges hunger and poverty create each day for thousands of Nova Scotians.

Interested in volunteering, donating money or food? Visit feednovascotia.ca The Flower Cart Group The Flower Cart Group believes that everyone has the right to meaningful, challenging employment. They are a collection of social enterprises united in the goals of promoting community participation by adults with barriers through supported training and employment. By donating your used clothing to The Flower Cart Group you are providing training and work opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities. Your used clothing donations are welcome at the drop-off location at 9412 Commercial Street, New Minas.

Interested in knowing more? Visit flowercart.ca

GIVE MONEY Valley WAAG Animal Shelter, Wolfville An animal shelter within the Wolfville Animal Hospital. Valley WAAG Animal Shelter places cats and kittens for adoption into permanent forever homes and provides them with food, shelter, medical care, and love until that happens.

Interested in adopting or donating? Look up Valley WAAG Animal Shelter on Facebook or call 902-542-3422 Chrysalis House, Kentville Chrysalis House is a safe and non-judgemental environment providing shelter and outreach services for women and children.

These services include support, advocacy,

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referrals, resources, public education, and community development. They recognize that oppression exists in a multitude of forms and are proactive in empowering women to have hope and make their own choices to live free from violence and abuse.

Interested in donating? Visit: chrysalishouseassociation.org The Portal, Kentville The Portal is a safe space and drop-in centre for youth to receive support and access programs. They provide connection to a community of youth and adults to end youth homelessness. The Portal is like a resource centre that weaves actions of prevention, outreach, and partnership. Adults and youth, together, provide a compassionate response to the pain and challenges that youth in our communities face. Their priority is young people 16 to 21 years of age from all walks of life.

Interested in donating? Visit facebook.com/Portalyouthcentre Acadia S.M.I.L.E., Wolfville The Acadia S.M.I.L.E. (Sensory Motor Instructional Leadership Experience) Program is an innovative, academic-based, yet student-volunteer-driven program that provides persons with varying disabilities a unique physical activity experience in order to improve their total development as individuals. All of this is done within a safe environment of play and fun in which Acadia University student-volunteers provide one-on-one instruction to our participants, and in the process, develop their own leadership skills.

Interested in donating? Visit smile.acadiau.ca

Dec 15, 2016 – Jan 12, 2017 | 7

THE DOME CHRONICLES: CHRISTMAS IN HARMONY Garry Leeson

The Dome Chronicles project has been generously supported by Arts Nova Scotia.

I was looking forward to being there because Emily, the youngest of the family, three at the time, was just beginning to talk a lot and sing a bit, albeit with a cute little lisp. I knew that Em was kind of shy so I was prepared to help her when the singing started. It quickly became apparent that that was totally unnecessary.

“My God” I said, “Is she alright?”

“Yeah, she’s a tough old bird and once we got her put back together, she headed right for the church.”

In 1972, a boxcar from Toronto containing a menagerie of farm animals and an eager young couple pulled into the station platform in Kingston, Nova Scotia. They were bound for a deserted hundred-acre farm on the South Mountain, determined to preserve the foundations of farmsteads past while constructing a geodesic dome. They were pioneers of the future, armed with respect for tradition and an irrepressible sense of humour. They didn’t call themselves farmers. They were back-to-the-landers. Farming was industry and their calling was sustainability. Over the next forty years, through flood and fire, triumph and catastrophe, they persevered, unwittingly sowing the seeds for the modern small-farm movement.

“Yes, she’s already over in the church. You better get over there. Things have started. I hear Gram warming up her piano.” Gram Whynot, Alden’s mother, had been the piano player for the church for years.

The annual Christmas concert at the Harmony Baptist Church was off to a bad start. All the parking spots around the church and the adjoining hall were full and some people were parking in Alden Winott’s driveway directly across the road. It was on a slope and awkward at the best of times. When Andrea and the kids and I arrived in his yard, Alden was waiting on his doorstep and beckoned me over.

Stifling his laughter, he said, “You just missed quite the sight! Poor old Mabel pulled into the yard a few minutes ago and when she got out of her car, she stepped onto that patch of ice and went flying.”

When we entered the church, Donald Morse was waiting at the door and ushered us into a front pew. It had been reserved and waiting for a family of the congregation but it had become apparent that they were storm-stayed and not coming. As Andrea, Brenden, Timothy, Zoe, Emily, and I sat down, I detected a low murmur behind us. We were not members of the church and those people crowded at the back in standing room only were not happy.

The only time we pagans from further down the mountain attended church was Christmas Eve and that was because we liked to sing the carols.

“What do you mean ‘put back together’?”

“Well, when she hit the ground she kind of exploded. Her boot flew off, her purse went one way, her hat and wig the other and her dentures went skittering over the ice until they came up short on my doorstep.”

“C’mon, Alden, is she really alright?”

We opened our hymnbooks and Gram Winott kicked in with the intro to Silent Night in a key only the sopranos of the choir were comfortable with. The doors to the church were open. It was hot – too much wood in the stove – and the beginning words of the first stanza began to flow majestically off the mountain down to the Valley. “Silent night, holy night,” rang out and I was almost moved to tears. My reverie was short lived because before anybody could finish the words of the first line, an angelic little descant voice overpowered everyone else’s, repeating those few words before the line could be finished. Emily had overcome her shyness and was standing up on the pew belting out the unfinished lines back to the choir and there was no stopping her!

Carol after carol she persisted singing her untimely pitchy counterpoint repeats until, several pieces later, her audience finally collapsed in a fit of laughter. Emily, neither offended nor deterred, was prepared to continue. At that point, however, Deacon Cyril Collins took control of the proceedings and announced in a serious voice, “I would like to do something different this year. Several of you have birthdays today but there is one special birthday

we should all be celebrating. I would like us all to sing 'Happy Birthday' to Jesus.”

At that he turned to Gram and said, “Mrs. Winott, would you please play 'Happy Birthday'?”

A silence ensued. “Excuse me, Gladys, would you please play 'Happy Birthday'?” he repeated.

Still nothing, and then, before he could issue a third request, Gram issued a firm, “No” that echoed up to the rafters.

Cyril was not a singer but with a hurt and hopeless look in the direction of the piano, began the song a cappella and everybody reluctantly joined in, Emily’s voice being the only one to show any real enthusiasm.

At the end of the song, sensing that further conflict between the deacon and the piano player might erupt, Marg Morse abandoned the choir loft and started ushering the young participants of the pageant into their places.

She then grabbed her guitar and accompanied all the children who were appropriately garbed in striped bathrobes with towels on their heads, makeshift crowns, a blue dress, and drooping angel wings, in singing "Away in a Manger". Emily, catching sight of the dolly Baby Jesus in the manger became transfixed by the little Christmas scene and, for the first time, did not join in the singing.

ACTIVE AND HEALTHY LIVING: THE GIFT OF “NO” Lee-Ann Cudmore, Registered Acupuncturist Call/text: 902-300-5100, valleyacu.ca This holiday season I want to give you permission to give yourself, the gift of “No”.

Just think that one over for a few minutes.

Right now I am flying somewhere between Philadelphia and New York, for work, and writing this article. The idea has been brewing in my mind for quite a while and I am excited to start the conversation. It needs to be said out loud because people are admitting it in whispers, but the signs are there written on faces; that awful struggle to have it all, do it all, provide it all. Friends, it is OK to say no. It is time to stop wearing the idea of “busy” like it is a badge of honour. Let’s call it what it is, burn-out.

The other night I tried a new recipe, Guinness Braised Beef. Delicious. I am not a foodie or a cook. In all honesty, it is something Parker, my husband really excels at. I, on the other hand, can make a great soup, or a roasted chicken and salad, that is about the scope of my ability. So anyway, “Guinness Meat” as my

kids called it, required some new skills. First off, I had to look up “Dutch Oven”, which I was slightly scared to put into Google. It said on Wikipedia that it translated into “casserole dish”. So I placed my Paderno roasting dish on the burner, popped in several teaspoons of butter, and then the chunks of beef. At the point where it was starting to smell quite good, it all went wrong. There was a cracking sound followed quickly by flames. Now I’ve had flames before, but these were serious, catch-your-kitchen-on-fire flames. I grabbed the fire extinguisher and Parker had the dish covered and controlled just before I let the fire extinguisher rip. A second attempt with a deep frying pan, made a delicious Instagram worthy meal.

Where I’m going with this is two-fold: when life throws you a curve ball or a full throttle flaming crisis, know where your fire extinguisher is and also have an exit plan.

Metaphorically, and literally how will you get

out of the burning kitchen? Know who you will contact: a friend/partner/parent that you can count on, to throw the lid onto your dish.

It also helps if you have someone to keep you in check, someone that will let you know that you are approaching kitchen-fire status.

We, collectively as a family have been approaching burn-out over the last year. There has been too much: too much rushing, too much go-go-go. So we have adopted the word “no”. No commitments, no schedule, no nothing, especially on the weekends. It is liberating and wonderful. Work and school is busy. But life is not. We have chosen this for ourselves and our children. We have leisurely breakfasts on the weekends, coffee by the fire, picnics in the tree house, and the kids play – play uninterrupted with their toys, they have long baths, they jam in the music room, they play outdoors. “No” was the best and healthiest decision we could have made for our family.

Amid a pretty rough year, I am feeling more

settled, happy, and organized. I am saying “no”, so that I can say “yes” to my family.

Give yourself permission to say “no” when you need to. It is OK to have a week, a month, or a year to let everything else just wait, and when you are ready, say “yes” again. *This article is not a fire safety piece. For more information on Fire Safety please refer to your local fire department or a reputable website: redcross.ca/how-we-help/emergencies-and-disasters-in-canada/for-home-and-family/ make-a-plan/planning-for-house-fires*

IT’S CHRISTMAS WITH DAVID MYLES: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17 AT 7:30PM, CONVOCATION HALL Peter Smith, Coordinator, Acadia Performing Arts Series David Myles – It’s Christmas is the special bonus performance presented by the Acadia Performing Arts Series on Saturday, December 17 at 7:30pm at Convocation Hall in Wolfville.

The concert is presented by the Ritcey Team at Scotia Wealth Management.

David Myles sets the tone for the season - and plays selections from his Christmas album, It's

8 | Dec 15, 2016 – Jan 12, 2017

Christmas. In true Myles style, It's Christmas finds David traversing musical time periods and genres - swinging through the forties, fifties, and sixties. His holiday concert has something for everyone including original and classic songs in a range of styles from foot-stomping bluegrass to crooning jazz.

The show includes impeccable covers of Myl-

es's favourite Christmas standards including "Let It Snow", "White Christmas", and "Les Cloches du Hameau" along with his original holiday songs, proving his versatility as a songwriter. From poetic and heartfelt to funny and whimsical, "It's Christmas", "Santa Never Brings Me a Banjo", and "The Gift" complement the vintage feel of his seasonal album, while making it uniquely David Myles.

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Please come and enjoy the wonderful variety of seasonal music performed by David Myles.

Tickets are $32 for adults, $24 for students.

For more information or to buy tickets, visit the Acadia University Box Office in person, by phone at 902-542-5500 or 1-800-542TICK(8425), or online at boxoffice.acadiau.ca

A Walk-in Clinic for Dental Emergencies

7322 Highway 1, Coldbrook 681-9111 fundydental.com facebook.com/fundydental

Dec 15, 2016 – Jan 12, 2017 | 9

LOCAVORE This page brought to you by Wolfville Farmers' Market

SATURDAYS 8:30 AM - 1 PM

THE CROWDSOURCER

RECIPE: CARAMEL NUT BARS WITH CRANBERRIES AND CHOCOLATE

TItle: The Valley Advent Calendar in support of Chrysalis House

Jenny Osburn is the author of The Union Street Café Cookbook, available at retailers throughout the Annapolis Valley. She's currently hard at work testing recipes for "Holiday Cooking in Jenny's Nova Scotia Kitchen", due out next November. Find lots more recipes at jennyosburn.com

Watch our community change the world one dollar at a time.*

Website: calendar.ourvalley.ca Description: How it works is by having local businesses donate prizes which are revealed each day through the month, from December 1st to the 24th. People will donate through an online fund setup on GoFundMe.com and the full amount, minus the fees from GoFundMe, will go to Chrysalis House. As a thank you, for every $5 a person donates they will get a chance to win the full set of prizes which were donated. At the end one person will be drawn and they take the whole pack of prizes. Chrysalis House is a safe and non-judgemental environment providing shelter and outreach services for women and children.

These services include support, advocacy, referrals, resources, public education and community development.

Fundraising Goal: $1000 Amount raised as of December 10: $440 The Crowdsourcer column will feature one local crowdsourcing effort each Grapevine issue. To garner support for your project, contact: editor@ grapevinepublishing.ca

This year my friends and I will be resurrecting a holiday tradition we've set aside for a few years: a Cookie Exchange. It's pretty lovely to have an excuse to get together in the busy weeks of December and share family favourites with one another. There's a lot of love in those cookies, and it's much simpler than making a huge variety yourself!

I remember my grandmother, Margaret "Peg" Osburn, mailing carefully packed handmade cookies from Pennsylvania at Christmas.

The fragrant box contained at least a dozen varieties, one of which was the time-consuming but much-appreciated springerle – an anise-scented cookie that was imprinted with a special mold.

The message was clear; she loved and missed us and was demonstrating it with cookies.

I find myself doing exactly the same thing, showing my love to family and friends with my efforts in the kitchen. Unfortunately the sheer enormity of all those cookies to roll, cut, and bake (and the pile of dishes and the mess that results) can turn you into a complete Grinch.

Therefore, let’s get real. Find a few friends with good family recipes, make a simple cookie (bar cookies are the easiest) and get swapping! These scrumptious bars are a variation of the Salted Caramel Nut Bars in my cookbook, The Union Street Café Cookbook.

Shortbread Ingredients

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¾ cup Butter

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2 cups Flour

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½ cup Brown Sugar

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½ teaspoon Salt

Nut Mixture Ingredients

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½ cup Butter

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1 cup Brown Sugar

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⅓ cup Honey

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2 tablespoons Whipping Cream

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2 cups Mixed Salted Nuts

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1 cup Dried Cranberries

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1 oz. Dark Chocolate

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1 oz. White Chocolate

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut ¾ cup butter into half-inch pieces. In a food processor process all the shortbread ingredients until mixture begins to form small lumps. Sprinkle mixture into a 9×13 pan and press evenly onto bottom. Bake shortbread until golden, about 20 minutes.

In a heavy saucepan melt ½ cup butter and stir in brown sugar, honey, and cream. Simmer mixture, stirring occasionally, for one minute then stir in nuts and cranberries. Pour nut mixture over hot shortbread and spread evenly. Bake in middle of oven until bubbling, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Melt the chocolates separately and use a spoon to drizzle each over the bars. Cool completely in pan and cut into 32 bars.

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WHO'S WHO: EBENEZER SCROOGE – IN THE SPIRIT Mike Butler

T h e INQUISITIVE

CORNER Colour!

wasn’t able to see what was coming. Luckily those wonderful spirits helped me.”

‘Tis the season for two of my favourite things, Christmas and my Holiday Who’s Who! Christmas makes me quite giddy! The music, the colours, the gift giving, the time with family and friends, and the feeling of joy and happiness this season brings. I’m a very lucky man to have had a life filled with warm holiday memories, lots of love, and good health, and I’ve never taken for granted what I have. I make it a point to give as much of myself at this time of year as I can. I realize that many people are not as fortunate as I am, so that only emphasizes the spirit and act of giving that I practice. I wanted this Who’s Who to reflect that ideal, and who better to profile, than the ultimate second-chance do-gooder Ebenezer Scrooge.

He's not an easy man to get ahold of because of the time of year with his giving of presents and cooking of turkeys for needy families etc., but eventually his office manager put me through and we Skyped for a few hours. For those who don’t know about Scrooge, we shall start with a little background story. Ebenezer Scrooge originates as a character of Charles Dickens' 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol. The name “Scrooge” has even come to mean misanthropy. In fact, even his catchphrase, "Bah! Humbug!" is still used to express disgust with modern Christmas traditions. But his change to embrace the joy of the season that came by way the three Ghosts of Christmas (Past, Present, and Yet to Come) has become a signature tale of the Christmastime.

The story of Scrooge begins on Christmas Eve in the office of his business. There he subjected his poor clerk, Bob Cratchit, to long, gruelling hours with little pay. Even on the eve of the holiday, Scrooge refused to make a donation to the poor when asked. His heart was icy cold. By a miraculous series of supernatural events though, Scrooge was given a chance to change his selfish ways. That night, while getting ready for bed, Scrooge was visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley who brings with him a scary warning of the miserable afterlife in store for Scrooge unless he uses this last chance to mend his broken heart and love those around again.

Marley sets the stage for three ghosts to take Scrooge on a fantastical journey to Christmases past, present, and yet to come.

When chatting with Scrooge, he recalled those early days of being money-hungry and flaunting his power over people. He said, “I was a miserable man and was blind to my own actions. I was a product of my past and

The first to visit was from the Ghost of Christmas Past, who took Scrooge to see his youth.

Scrooge watched as an unloved child grew into a man who loses his first love, Belle, because his love of money loomed too large in his life.

Scrooge tells me, “Those memories were very painful to relive but necessary to help me see the error of my ways. I knew I couldn’t focus on Belle or the “what ifs”, I had to move forward and loving my money seemed the only way to go. I was so foolish.”

The Ghost of Christmas Present visited Scrooge next and showed him Christmas at Bob Cratchit’s house. Scrooge's was touched was touched by the sweet and loving nature of Bob’s youngest son, Tiny Tim. The boy did not look well though, and Scrooge was concerned.

The ghost who brought him these visions had even worse news to tell: unless something drastically changes, the boy will die. Scrooge was deeply concerned by this news.

Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Future showed Scrooge Christmas day one year later.

Tiny Tim has died, as Bob could not pay for proper medical care. The ghost then shows Scrooge his own gravestone. Scrooge begged for another chance to change his way. And suddenly it was Christmas morning. The ghosts were gone, the magical journey was over, and recharged by the visions of his past and warning of his furture, Scrooge vowed to be a model of generosity and kindness.

Scrooge visited his family, gave Bob Cratchit a raise, and helped Tiny Tim.

KIDS WAY BACK WHEN

Scrooge now gives freely of his time and extra All photos courtesy of Randall House MuseumAll photos courtesy of Randall House Museum earnings to those in need and Christmas DATE: CIRCA 1914 has become is favourite time of the year. He states, “One of my most cherished pastimes MATERIALS: PAPER is to watch my story come to life on film.

MARKS/LABEL: I’ve had many actors portray me including Printed on front: Wolfville Girls Hockey Team '14.

Michael Caine, Patrick Stewart, Albert Finney, Jim Carrey, and Reginald Owen, but my Kids have been playing hockey in Nova personal favourite was Alastair Sim – he was Scotia since at least around 1800. In his 1844 most believable.” book The Attaché, also known as Sam Slick in England, Judge Thomas Chandler Haliburton And there you have it, the wonderful story of wrote, “you boys let out racin’, yelpin’, hollerin’ a changed man from miserable to marvellous, and whoopin’ like mad with pleasure; and the playground, and the game at bass (base) in the from grumpy to giving, from festering to is still found. Most believe that Haliburton’s fields or hurley on the long pond on the ice, or festive. Don’t be a Scrooge… get in the spirit reference to the game of ‘hurley’ is actually campin’ out a-night at Chester lakes to fish.” of the season before the spirit gets you! referring to an early game of hockey, making Haliburton had attended Kings College School Windsor the birthplace of hockey. in Windsor, Nova Scotia where Long Pond

Julie Skaling

PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC

Proud Supporter of Local Performing Art

Kentville: 902 678 3422 | Wolfville: 902 542 7074

www.skalingphysio.com

AMUSE-BOUCHE: FRENCH FOR KIDS Sarah Anderson

CADEAU is the French word for "gift". At Christmastime we share un cadeau de Noël .

Dec 15, 2016 – Jan 12, 2017 | 11

FILL A BOX OF CHEER: A HUGE SUCCESS! Laura Churchill Duke, info@valleyfamilyfun.ca Standing back and looking at the mountain of donations that came in for the Fill a Box of Cheer program made our hearts swell. I am so proud of our community! When Candy O’Brien and I put this program together earlier in the fall, we had no idea of how well it would take off. We had no idea how many local people we would be able to help this Christmas!

G GR IF E T A ID T EA !

Fill a Box of Cheer was a program that was started by Candy O’Brien of the Canadian Mental Health Association (Kings County Branch) and me, Laura Churchill Duke from Valley Family Fun. The idea was to reach a segment of the population that tend to fall between the cracks at Christmas time. We do a great job of helping our families in the area through Christmas Angels, Miracles, church hampers, and the Salvation Army. However, there are also lots of people not within a family unit, living by themselves, and often living

with mental illness. This is a way to reach people who may not be getting anything else for Christmas.

We asked people to fill a shoe box with a variety of items like toiletries, small gifts, food items, socks, hats, and mitts. The response from the community was unbelievable. We received more items than we had ever dreamed of. We had hoped to fill about 50 boxes, but by the first day of sorting boxes, we filled over 200!

Boxes will be delivered to the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Youth Portal, Chrysalis House, the Opportunity Centre, and the Evangeline Club. A huge thank you to the community for supporting this project and helping so many people locally this Christmas! valleyfamilyfun.ca

TOOTHTASTIC

TIPS

Don’t use your A LEX CO LV I LLE New Prints Now Available Call or visit for details

TEETH to OPEN GIFTS

this holiday season…

You may end up with permanent cracks to fill in the New Year!

CUSTO M P ICT URE FRA MI NG Serving the Valley for 27 years

11 MAIN ST., WOLFVILLE (902) 542-9250 www.PerfectCornerFraming.com 12 | Dec 15, 2016 – Jan 12, 2017

577 Main Street, Wolfville 902-352-3131 SutherlandFamilyDental.com

OPEN FOR DINNER Thursday, Friday, Saturday Last Brunch of the season: December 18, 11–2 STOP BY TO COMPLETE YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING! Wine shop open Wednesday thru Sunday, 11–5

WAY BACK WHEN

All photos courtesy of Randall House Museum 259 Main Street, Wolfville, NS 902-542-9775, wolfvillehs.ednet.ns.ca Now closed for the 2016 season, but please check the website for Winter and Spring Programming!

DATE: 1964 MATERIALS: PAPER MEASUREMENTS: 10 CM; 17 CM NARRATIVE: The Acadia Stores was the first of the chain stores in the Annapolis Valley. By 1964 this building was occupied by R.C. Van Wart's Hardware Store. Later, the building was home to MacDonald Chisholm until July 2007, then Hatt en Kul women's clothing. The building in the back was then occupied by the Weave Shop and Juandaro's Futbol (soccer store). Currently the building houses TAN Coffee (where a certain copy-editor's weekly open mic happens to take place). This picture was taken before Tim Horton's was built. Jim Tillotson recalls that this is a picture of Waldo Lang of Sunken Lake with a team and sled.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STUDENTS FACILITATE COMMUNITY EVENTS Anne Steiger Students, studying Community Development at Acadia University, facilitated three wonderful community events this past month on Social Entrepreneurship, Reconciliation, and Rural Economic Development.

On November 14, they facilitated a Pro Action CafĂŠ on Social Entrepreneurship. This social entrepreneurship incubator event was organized in collaboration with Common Good Solutions, a consulting company for social enterprises. Under the theme "A Night of Peer Support", it gave participants a chance to host small table conversations about their social change projects and get feedback and support from other event attendees.Projects supported here included The Spot Community Food Centre Kentville and a truly sustainable soap project initiated by Enactus students.

On November 16, another group of students facilitated an event on Reconciliation in collaboration with Horizons Community Development Inc. An introduction by Ray Ivany and Glooscap First Nation Chief Sid Peters was followed by small table conversations on the role of non-aboriginal people in reconciliation. Guests included community members; students; members of local First Nations; leaders from business, churches, politics; and many more. They explored what reconciliation means to them personally, what a successful reconciled future would look like, and which steps we can each take to make that future a reality. Chief Morley Googoo kindly shared insights on reconciliation efforts taken across Canada. All participants planted a seed and attached a note with a personal action step they will take - we hope these are flourishing

on window sills now.

On November 22, a third group of students facilitated a conversation on Rural Economic Development with leaders from the business community. Ryan MacNeil, Professor in the School of Business, provided an insightful introduction to the topic and set us off on a great discussion of the current state of Rural Economic Development in the area, a vision for a strong future, and action steps to take towards it.

The students are taking "Introduction to Facilitation", currently taught by Anne Stieger, a local professional facilitator. The course started in September and in only two months students acquired the necessary skills to plan the event, design the process, and facilitate a group of 40 guests. The Department of Community Development deeply values including community engagement in students' learning, and this course was no exception.

All three events were very well received and were a big success - a tremendous achievement for the students involved.

A special thank you goes to the Department of Community Development for sponsoring these events, Cari Patterson and Jean Robinson-Dexter from Horizons, and Lisa Lowthers and Andy Horsnell from Common Good Solutions!

For more information on these events or on future learning opportunities, contact Anne at astieger@acadiau.ca

KIDS ART SPOT 'Mother Ginger and her children from Cadance's The Nutcracker'

by Beatrix Gadon, age 5.

If you'd like to see your art here, contact editor@grapevinepublishing.ca Dec 15, 2016 – Jan 12, 2017 | 13

WHAT'S HAPPENING FROM DECEMBER 15, 2016 – JANUARY 12, 2017 SEND YOUR EVENTS TO LISTINGS@GRAPEVINEPUBLISHING.CA Please note: Events are subject to change.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15

Heather Pyrcz, “The Caves of Castleguard” — The Box of Delights Bookshop, Wolfville 7–8pm • Join us for the launch of Heather Pyrcz’s new book, “The Caves of Castleguard,” the first in a trilogy of fantasy novels collectively called The Tales of the Shining Mountains. TIX: no charge INFO: boxofdelightsbooks@gmail.com General Meeting — Royal Canadian Legion, Windsor 7:30pm • Meeting of Royal Canadian Legion Windsor Branch 009. New members welcome. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-798-2031 / WindsorLegion@bellaliant.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16

Gwen Davies, “Facing the Other Way” — The Box of Delights Bookshop, Wolfville 7–8pm •

Author Gwen Davies joins us for a reading from Facing the Other Way. Books available for sale and signing. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-542-9511 / boxofdelightsbooks@gmail.com

Open Mic with Caleb Miles — Royal Canadian Legion, Berwick 7:30pm • The Lounge down stairs, use the back door. Open to the public, everyone welcome. We’ll pass the hat for the host.

Cash bar. TIX: donation INFO: 902-538-7397 / mom8sk@hotmail.com Dance — Royal Canadian Legion, Windsor 8pm–12am • Featuring Silver Flame, 19+ TIX: $5 per person INFO: 902-798-2031 / WindsorLegion@bellaliant.com

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17

Breakfast Fundraiser — Lions Club, Wolfville 7am • Full breakfast of eggs, pancakes, sausage, bacon, beans, hash browns, coffee, tea, juice and lots more.

Proceeds for community projects. TIX: $7 adults, $4 under 10 years INFO: 902-542-4508 Community Breakfast — Royal Canadian Legion, Windsor 7:30–10am • Full Breakfast: bacon, sausage, ham, eggs, pancakes, hash browns, toast, and baked beans, juice, coffee and tea. TIX: $6 adult, $4 children (6–12 years), no charge under 6 INFO: 902-798-2031 / WindsorLegion@bellaliant.com Breakfast — Curling Club, Middleton 8–10:30am • Hot breakfast of bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, pancakes, baked beans, toast, juice, coffee, tea Free will offering. All welcome. TIX: donation INFO: 902-825-2695 / bemorine@hotmail.com Parish Breakfast — St. James Anglican Church, Kentville 8–10am • Eggs, bacon, toast, muffins, fruit salad, yogurt, baked beans, fish cakes, juice, coffee, tea. TIX: $7 minimum per person.

INFO: 902-678-3123 / stjames@ns.sympatico.ca

Breakfast with Santa — Recreation & Culture Centre, Black Rock 9–11pm • Come have breakfast with Santa. TIX: donation INFO: dmilne56@yahoo.ca Business Fair — Windermere Community Hall, Berwick 9am–2pm • Browse the many tables offering product, for sale, by independent, local businesses. Product Raffle Basket. Proceeds to assist

14 | Dec 15, 2016 – Jan 12, 2017

the hall following a break-in. TIX: $2 per person INFO: 902-375-2399 / brucebeattie155@gmail.com

Kentville Christmas Lights Walk — former Train Station, 66 Cornwallis St., Kentville 9:30am (10am start) • Join the Valley Trekkers Volksport Club for the Kentville Christmas Lights Walk. This is a 5/10 km, 2B walk. INFO: 902-678-5609 Pool Tournament — Royal Canadian Legion, Kentville 12pm • Scotch Doubles Pool Tournament. Draw for partner. TIX: $5 a player INFO: 902-678-8935

Crib Tournament — Royal Canadian Legion, Kentville 12:30pm • Registration 12.30pm, play 1pm. Lunch served compliments of the ladies.

TIX: $20 a team INFO: 902-678-8935 Christmas Movie Matinée — Community Hall, Millville 2–4pm • Christmas Movie Matinée with activities and treats. Come as a family or drop the kiddos off and get some shopping done.

TIX: donation INFO: Candice, 902-847-0116 / cdavis224@yahoo.ca Gentlemen’s Chorus Carol Sing — Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville 3–5pm • TIX: $5 plus items for the Food Bank INFO: 902-542-2723 / miamezzo@hotmail.com Christmas Drama: The Greatest Christmas Gift — Cambridge United Baptist Church, Cambridge 7pm • Come enjoy an evening of relaxation as we look at the greatest gift. TIX: free will offering INFO: dpministry2000@gmail.com It’s Christmas with David Myles — Convocation Hall, Wolfville 7:30pm • Acadia Performing Arts Series. It’s Christmas finds David traversing musical time periods and genres - swinging between the forties, fifties and sixties. His holiday concert has something for everyone: original and classic songs in a range of styles, from foot-stomping bluegrass to crooning jazz. TIX: $32, $24 for students @ Acadia Box Office INFO: 800-542-8425 / pas@acadiau.ca

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18

Breakfast with Santa — Forties Community Centre, New Ross, 8–11am • Eggs, bacon, pancakes, hash browns, toast, juice, tea & coffee.

Santa will be here to meet with the children! TIX: $7 adult, $4 age 5–12, no charge for preschoolers.

INFO: fortiescc@gmail.com Kid’s Christmas Musical — Kings Presbyterian Church, 5563 Prospect Rd., 10am • Beneath A Shining Star - A Children’s Christmas Musical under the direction of Paul Hutten. Come and join in on your favourite carols! TIX: no charge INFO: kingschurch@ns.aliantzinc.ca Christmas Sunday Music Service — Kingston United Baptist Church, Kingston 11am • Musical Presentation by both the Senior Choir and by the Junior Church. TIX: free will offering INFO: bddixon@bellaliant.net

Nutcracker on Ice — Gardens Arena, Greenwood 1:30–2:30pm • Local skating talent brings to life a

Christmas classic. TIX: donation INFO: 902-765-1494 / greenwoodskatingclub@gmail.com

Musical Gift for the Upper Room Food Bank — Lions Club, Kingston 2–4pm • Featuring Chris Palmer, Sonlight, Gina Potvin, Hughie

McDonnell and Kevin Davison! Silent Auction, 50/50 ticket sales and canteen on site. Great entertainment for the entire family! All proceeds to the Upper Room Food Bank in Kingston. TIX: donation INFO: 902-765-2128

Scott Brison’s Christmas Open House — Farmers Market, Wolfville 2:30–4:30pm • I would like to extend Season’s Greetings to everyone and invite your family to join mine at my annual Christmas Open House. There will be hot apple cider and snacks. All welcome. TIX: no charge INFO: 888-585-0550 / kings.hants@ns.sympatico.ca

A Community Christmas Celebration — Emmanuel United Church, Kingsport 7–8:30pm • An evening of music and carols with local talented musicians and singers to celebrate the Christmas Season. TIX: donation INFO: 902-582-7848 / wanda.george@xcountry.tv A Christmas Celebration of Music & Song — Avon United Church, Hantsport 7pm • Christmas celebration featuring the vocal and handbell choirs of Avon United Church. TIX: donation INFO: jaswinamer@gmail.com Christmas Concert — United Baptist Church, Wolfville Ridge 7–9pm • Christmas Concert called “The Infant King”. A time for refreshment and fellowship to follow. TIX: donation INFO: 902-542-3419 Singing for our Supper — Wolfville Baptist Church, Wolfville 7–9pm • Join us as we sing

(and spout and play) to raise funds for the Wolfville Community Christmas Dinner. Seasonal songs and stories featuring Donna Holmes, Alan Slipp, Andy Flinn, Kimberly Matheson, Melissa Vidito, the Chimney Swifts, and more! TIX: donation (Food donations for the Food Bank also accepted.)

INFO: donnaholmes712@gmail.com

Sing Noel Carol Sing — United Baptist Church, Port Williams 7pm • Festive Hymn “Sing Noel” to

help repair and restore the steeple on Port Williams United Baptist Church. It is a beacon for the Village and is badly in need of rebuilding. Great evening of Carols hosted by Darrin Harvey with many special guests. TIX: donation INFO: 902-542-3681 / pburden@ns.sympatico.ca

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19

Holiday Food Bank Collection — Mommy & Me 3D/4D/HD Ultrasounds, Kentville 8am–8pm

• Until Dec. 19th we are collecting donations of nonperishable food items. We will accept them at your session and donate them to our local food bank on December 21. TIX: donation INFO: 902-692-1813 / mommymeultrasounds@gmail.com

Screening of “The Princess Bride” — The Box of Delights Bookshop, Wolfville 7pm • The Not Dead Yet Collective presents a screening of “The Princess Bride.” Free! Bring your own snacks and drinks! TIX: no charge INFO: 902-542-9511 / boxofdelightsbooks@gmail.com

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20

Committee of the Whole — County of Kings Municipal Complex, Kentville 9am • TIX: no charge INFO: 888-337-2999

Blue Christmas — Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Middleton 2–3pm • “What Can I Give Him?” Christmas when it doesn’t feel like Christmas. For anyone who may have a difficult time celebrating Christmas. Everyone is welcome. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-825-2326 Scott Leslie, “Untamed Atlantic Canada” — The Box of Delights Bookshop, Wolfville 6pm • Book launch of award-winning nature photographer Scott Leslie’s new book, Untamed Atlantic Canada. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-542-9511 / boxofdelightsbooks@gmail.com Caregivers of those with an Eating Disorder Support Group — Louis Millet Community Complex, New Minas 7–9pm • A meeting for caregivers of those with an eating disorder (ED). All our members have lived experience of supporting someone with an ED. We know how challenging it can be. No one judges. Everyone understands. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-840-1495 / AV.FC4SWEDs@outlook.com

TIDE PREDICTIONS

at Cape Blomidon

Source: Canadian Fisheries & Oceans. www.waterlevels.gc.ca DEC

High

Low

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

*1:19pm 2:09pm 2:59pm 3:51pm 4:44pm 5:38pm 6:34pm 7:31pm 7:59am **8:53am 9:43am 10:29am 11:12am 11:52am 12:32pm 1:12pm 1:53pm

7:32pm 7:53am 8:43am 9:34am 10:26am 11:21am 12:17pm 1:14pm 2:11pm 3:06pm 3:56pm 4:41pm 5:24pm 6:04pm 6:43pm 7:22pm 7:38am

JAN

High

Low

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12

2:36pm 3:22pm 4:11pm 5:04pm 6:00pm 6:59pm 7:30am 8:30am 9:29am 10:26am 11:20am 12:12pm

8:21am 9:06am 9:55am 10:47am 11:42am 12:42pm 1:43pm 2:44pm 3:44pm 4:41pm 5:35pm 6:26pm

There are normally two high and two low tides each day.

Only daylight tide times are listed. * Highest High: 45.6 feet ** Lowest High: 36.4 feet

TICKET GIVEAWAY– CHANCE TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO: TRIPALADY FAREWELL DANCE. Old Orchard Inn Heritage Barn, Wolfville. Saturday, December 31, 9pm Draw date: Monday, December 26. Enter all draws: valleyevents.ca/win

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21 Food Drive — Annapolis Animal Hospital, New Minas 8am–5pm • Food Bank Drive Dec 1-Dec 21st. All food and cash donations will be matched

by Annapolis Animal Hospital TIX: donation INFO: 902-681-8387 / aah@aahvets.ca

Soren Bondrup-Nielsen, “Pukaskwa” — Farmers Market, Wolfville 4–7pm • Join Soren at the Wolfville Farmer’s Market to chat about his new book, “Pukaskwa.” Books will be available for purchase and signing. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-542-9511 / boxofdelightsbooks@gmail.com Jam Session — Lions Club, Kentville 7–9:30pm • Come play, sing or just sit back and listen. All styles and abilities welcome. (if you can bring a snack to share it would be appreciated). TIX: $2 per person INFO: 902-679-2367 / vintagemusic1@hotmail.com Live Music: Crissi Cochrane & Soul Brother Mike — Bishop Hall, 10032 Highway #1, Greenwich 7–10pm • Celebrate the holiday season with a special homecoming concert featuring singer-songwriters Crissi Cochrane and Soul Brother Mike, performing their original soul/pop music and their favourite holiday classics. TIX: $10 at the door INFO: 519-981-0189 / info@crissicochrane.com / crissicochrane.com Christmas in the Valley Concert — Bishop Hall, Greenwich 7:30–10pm • A special homecoming concert featuring singer-songwriters Crissi Cochrane and Soul Brother Mike, performing their original soul/pop music and their favourite holiday classics.

TIX: $10 at the door. INFO: info@crissicochrane.com Ardyth & Jen – Longest Night — St. James Anglican Church, Kentville 7:30–9pm •

Longest Night Concert TIX: $10 at the door. INFO: 902-678-3123 / stjames@ns.sympatico.ca

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22

The Jill Boudreau Band Christmas Party — Union Street Cafe, Berwick 8–11:30pm • The Jill

Boudreau Band will be joining us for a very special pre-Christmas dance party. TIX: $12 (plus tax/fee) @ unionstreetcafe.ca or by calling INFO: 902-538-7787 / contactunionstreet@gmail.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23

Seniors Group — Christian Fellowship Centre, Wilmot 12–2pm • Seniors group, luncheon, games, crafts, sing song, exercises, or sit and chat with neighbours and a coffee/tea TIX: no charge INFO: 902-765-2386

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24

Christmas Breakfast — Lions Club, Kingston 6–10am • Enjoy a complete breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, ham, hash browns, pancakes, toast, juice, coffee and tea. Visit with Santa! Help us break last year’s record attendance of 1,000 breakfasts served! TIX: donation INFO: 902-765-2128

Xmas Eve Open Mic — Just Us Cafe, Wolfville 1–3pm • Annual Xmas Eve Open Mic hosted

by Donna Holmes. Do YOU have any Christmas poems or songs you’d like to share? Now’s your chance! Or just come to relax and listen.

INFO: donnaholmes712@gmail.com

Christmas Eve By the Bay — North Mountain United Tapestry, Harbourville 6pm • We welcome everyone to our little church on the bluff to celebrate the Christmas season. TIX: donation INFO: unitedtapestry@gmail.com Christmas Eve Carols — Covenanter Church, Grand Pré 11pm • Carols and lessons, featuring

soloist Stephen McClare and choirs. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-542-3314

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25

Community Christmas Dinner — Lions Club, Wolfville 2pm • Traditional turkey dinner (gluten and dairy free) with a vegan option, dessert, coffee, tea, apple cider. TIX: donation INFO: 902-542-5511 / wcchristmasdinner@gmail.com Christmas Day Dinner — Recreation Centre, Kentville 2–3:30pm • Community Soup Kitchen

(formerly Treasure House) hosts this terrific annual Christmas Day Dinner – All are invited! TIX: no charge INFO: lisabezanson74@hotmail.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30

5K Holiday Walk/Run/Snowshoe — Farmers Market, Wolfville 2:45–6pm • A 5km walk,

run, or snowshoe adventure through Wolfville’s beautiful trails followed by a cozy gathering with a hot meal provided by East Coast Farms and live music with The Chimney Swifts! TIX: $40 per person, $100 for a family of 3 INFO: 902-679-7874 / info@annapolisvalleyadventures.com

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31

New Years Eve Community Celebration — Credit Union Centre, Kingston 6–9:30pm • Skating, Face Painting, Balloon Creation, Hot Chili, Jimmy Dogs, Live entertainment & more. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-765-2800 / recreation@kingstonnovascotia.ca Skating Party & Fireworks — Kings Mutual Century Centre, Berwick 6–9pm • Free skating from 6–9pm, Small fireworks at 8pm, jimmy dog bbq. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-538-8616 / cboylan@berwick.ca

New Years Eve Dance — Lions Club, Auburn 7:30pm–1am • A celebration to bring in the New Year 2017!! TIX: $20 INFO: delsey3000@hotmail.com

Buffet and Dance — Royal Canadian Legion, Windsor 7:30pm–1am • 7:30pm buffet, 9pm–1am dance featuring Lady Rogue. 19+ TIX: $30 per person available at the Legion bar.

INFO: 902-306-4444 / harry_h_jackson@yahoo.com Kitchen Party: Ruth Manning and The Prospectors — Royal Canadian Legion, Berwick 8pm–1am • Berwick Legion fundraiser kitchen party featuring Ruth Manning and The Prospectors.

A night of entertainment, music and dance.

Finger food all evening. TIX: $20 each. Please call.

INFO: 902-538-9340 New Year’s Eve Gala — Old Orchard Inn, Wolfville 9pm–1am • Celebrate with the Mark Riley Project in the main ballroom at the Old Orchard Inn. TIX: Check website for price packages. INFO: 800-561-8090 / reservations@oldorchardinn.ns.ca

TripALady Farewell Dance — Old Orchard Heritage Barn, Wolfville 9pm–1am • Twin-fiddled

3-part-harmonied Eighties-obsessed acoustic dance rock fiends TripALady will play their FINAL ENGAGEMENT this New Year’s Eve. Help us make it a blast! TIX: $20 advance, $25 at the door @ Aspinall Pottery Booth, Wolfville Farmer’s Market or Box of Delights Book Shop (Wolfville) INFO: 902-697-2271 / bishopmountain@eastlink.ca

New Year’s Eve Party — Community Hall, Cambridge Station 9pm–1am • An intimate New Year’s Celebration at the Cambridge Community Centre! TIX: $10, please call INFO: 902-538-8145 / mooretl4@hotmail.com Hupman Brothers New Year’s Eve Dance — Community Centre, Gaspereau 9pm–1am • The Hupman Brothers will be hosting a New Year’s Eve dance at The Gaspereau Hall (across from Gaspereau Valley Elementary). TIX: $20 per person @ The Rolled Oat Cafe (Wolfville) until Dec. 23. INFO: 902-542-9884 / hupmanbrothers@hotmail.com

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1

Crib Tournament — Forties Community Centre, New Ross 1pm (12:30pm registration) • Canteen available. TIX: $20 per team INFO: 902-689-2147 New Years Levée — Wayfarers’ Ale Brewery, Port Williams 12:30–4:30pm • Come to the

brewery and bring your friends for the New Year celebration. Plenty of beer and wine, along with some complimentary snacks. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-542-7462 / info@wayfarersale.ca

Levée — Evergreen Theatre, Margaretsville 2–4pm • Join us for our annual OPEN HOUSE on New Year’s Day. Sweets, refreshments, and members of the Margaretsville and Evergreen communities to socialise with. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-825-6834 / evergreentheatre@gmail.com

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3

Kings County Wildlife Association — NSCC Kingstec Campus, Kentville, Rm 109, 7–9pm • The speaker for this meeting will be Bernard Forsythe, talking about his banning of owls. Bernard has received awards for his work with owls and other birds. TIX: no charge INFO: Facebook: Kings County Wildlife Association

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5

Between the Covers Bookclub — Rosa M. Harvey Middleton & Area Library, Middleton 6:30– 8:30pm • This month’s selection is “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer. Bring a favourite mug and join us for coffee or tea and conversation. Please register. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-825-4835

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6

No Man’s Land — Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville 7–9pm • Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart in Harold Pinter’s modern classic. TIX: $20 at the door INFO: kathy@justuscoffee.com

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7

Traditional Breakfast — United Baptist Church, Canning 7:30–10:30am • Pancakes, sausage,

bacon, hash browns, beans, scrambled eggs and toast. Gluten free pancakes and toast. TIX: donation INFO: 902-582-3827 / tapgap@xcountry.tv

Leadership Symposium — Hantsport Memorial Community Centre, Hantsport 8:30am–4pm • A one day symposium. Key note speaker (Don Bureaux – NSCC President), two seminars, breakfast and lunch, networking all in an 1860’s house - Churchill House - Hantsport’s Community Centre. All proceeds for Hantsport’s ABF Leadership Candidate Fund. TIX: $99 per person OR, $149 for two people INFO: 902-684-4325 / nsteaconsultant@gmail.com

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8

Variety Show — Forties Community Centre, 1787 Forties Rd., New Ross 1:30-4pm • LeAnn & friends,

One on One, Country Rebels, Country Jam, Sound by Dave Guptill. Canteen TIX: $5 INFO: 902-689-2612

Fundy Cinema screens LAST CAB TO DARWIN — Al Whittle Theatre, 4 & 7pm • Diagnosed with terminal cancer, a 70-year-old taxi driver—and loner—hears about attempts to have a voluntary euthanasia program legalized for trials and sets out on a 3,000-kilometer journey across the Australian outback in a bid to die on his own terms, discovering along the way that before you end your life you have got to live and share it. TIX: $9 INFO: 902-542-1050

MONDAY, JANUARY 9

Valley Gardeners Club Meeting — NSCC Kingstec Campus, Kentville 7:30pm • Tim and

Melanie Amos will be speaking on “Mind, Body and Soil”. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-678-4378 / wtravers@eastlink.ca

LIVE THEATRE

Fezziwig’s Robin Hood: The Forest Awakens — Festival Theatre, Wolfville Dec. 16, 17, 7–9:30pm, Dec. 17, 2pm • The Fezziwig Society takes a fresh

look at Robin Hood and the gang in Nottingham. TIX: $15 adults; $10 students $40 family rate (2 adults, 2 children) Purchase Tickets at; Box of Delights Bookshop, Wolfville INFO: pat@daysend.ca

The Celtic Christmas Show — Mermaid Imperial Performing Arts Centre, Windsor Dec. 17, 7–9:30pm • A theatrical production featuring

some of the top Celtic artists in the Maritimes!

TIX: $35 adult, $25 age 12-and-under including fees @ ticketpro.ca INFO: 902-880-0392 / diagairishdance@hotmail.com

A Child’s Christmas in Wales — United Church, Windsor Dec. 19, 7pm • Caravan Theatre brings

alive the magic of Christmas with this dramatic retelling of Dylan Thomas’ timeless classic. TIX: free will offering INFO: facebook.com/caravantheatre

No Man’s Land — Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville Jan. 6, 7–9pm • Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart in Harold Pinter’s modern classic. TIX: $20 at the door INFO: kathy@justuscoffee.com

What’s Happening continued on page 16.

Dec 15, 2016 – Jan 12, 2017 | 15

WHAT’S HAPPENING DECEMBER 15, 2016 – JANUARY 12, 2017 (CONT'D) EXHIBITS Valley Child: A Retrospective — Thorsten Gallery, Windsor. Until Dec. 16 • Reminisce about growing up in the Annapolis Valley, with folk artist Jockie Loomer-Kruger.

INFO: 69cedarcentre.ca/thorsten_gallery.htm Apple Bin Art Gallery — Valley Regional Hospital, Kentville • Affordable, original art created by Valley artists. Part proceeds go towards hospital equipment and Annapolis Valley health care programs.

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS Voice & Piano Lessons — Private music instruction. • All ages, levels. Learn to read music: Group sight-singing classes on demand. INFO: 902-300-1001 / Susan_dworkin@hotmail.com Music Lessons — Banjo, ukulele, guitar lessons with Kim Barlow. • All ages, all levels, in Wolfville and Canning. Great Christmas gift!

INFO: 902-698-9611 / kimbarlow77@gmail.com / kimbarlow.ca Gaspereau Yoga w/Sophie Berube — Monday Sessions (Jan 9–April 3): Level 1: 3:15–4:45pm.

Level 2: 5:15–6:45pm. Thursday Session (Jan 12–April 6): Level 1–2: 5:15–6:45pm. Please register. FEE: Monday 1 Class: $90, Thursday 1 class: $90, Two classes: $156 INFO/Reg: gaspereauyoga@hotmail.ca / 902-542-7892 Lahara Yoga — We have several amazing events coming up in the New Year – join us for a Raw Food class & cleanse, Baby Massage workshop, Mystical Sound Bath and Partner Yin Yoga event.

INFO: laharayoga.ca/workshops-.html

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Open Arms Resource Centre — A place designed to build healthy relationships and find support for people who are often vulnerable in our community. We assist our guests and clients in finding resources available through local churches, government, and other agencies. More than 50 volunteers build relationships with guests and assist them to move towards greater physical and spiritual health and independence.

INFO: John Andrews, 902-365-3665 / open.arms@live.com The Fundy Interchurch Food Bank — Seeking volunteers for one or more of the following; to stock shelves at the Food Bank (Kentville) Wednesday mornings 8:30–10:30am, to pick up and sort food at various times during the week, and to paint, clean, and maintain the Food Bank building. INFO: Chair, Lamont Larkin, 902-680-5798 / lamontlarkin@gmail.com S.O.A.R. (Survivors of Abuse Recovering) — A community-based organization that provides peer counseling/support to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. They are looking for peer counselors, board members, and committee members. Volunteers must have a criminal record check and vulnerable

16 | Dec 15, 2016 – Jan 12, 2017

sector check. INFO: Karen, 902-679-7337 / coordinator@survivorsofabuserecovering.ca

scriptures, songs and local stories of light and hope.

INFO: 902-681-1333 / kingschurch@ns.aliantzinc.ca

Kings Point to Point Transit — Looking for a Volunteer Driver! KPPT provides affordable and accessible door-to-door transportation to all residents in Kings County east of Alyesford.

Volunteers must have a clean driving record, enjoy working with the public, own 4-passenger vehicle, well maintained, less than 10 years old, criminal record check, child abuse registry check, and willingness to complete First Aid/CPR Course or current First Aid. INFO: Fay, 902-681-2846 / manager@kppt.ca / Drop in @ 14 Aberdeen St. Kentville

Christmas Eve Service — Falmouth Baptist Church, 404 Town Road, Falmouth 6:30pm •

Apple Blossom Festival — May 24–29 2017.

The Festival is seeking volunteers to help make our upcoming 85th anniversary year special and unique, with both traditionally loved events and the addition of new and different activities. We welcome volunteers with lots or little time, extensive skills or those looking to make connections or learn and add to their resume. All ages welcome to volunteer.

Application form can be found on our website.

INFO: appleblossom.com​

CHRISTMAS SERVICES Friday, December 23

Christmas Eve Services — New Hope Wesleyan Church, 7054 Hwy #2, Kentville 7pm • Celebrating the Gifts of Christmas! INFO: 902-678-2222 x11 / nhwchurch.ca Christmas Lamplight Service — Bishopville Baptist Church, Bishopville Rd. 7pm • Traditional Christmas service of yesteryear in the little country church. TIX: free will offering INFO: revmarkhunter@hotmail.com

Saturday, December 24 — Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve Service — Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 45 Main Street, Middleton 10am • INFO: administrator@parishofwilmot.ca Christmas Eve Services — New Hope Wesleyan Church, 7054 Hwy #2, Kentville 3pm & 6pm. Also Dec. 23, 7pm • Celebrating the Gifts of Christmas!

INFO: 902-678-2222 x11 / nhwchurch.ca Family Friendly Christmas Eve Service — Port Williams United Baptist Church, 1031 Main St., Port Williams 4pm • Family friendly Christmas Eve service. INFO: office@pwubc.org Christmas Eve Service — All Saints Anglican Church, 521 Pleasant Street, Kingston 4pm & 9pm • Intergenerational service, for children, families, people of all ages.

INFO: administrator@parishofwilmot.ca

Carols Around the Crèche — St. John’s Anglican Church, 164 Main St., Wolfville 6:15pm • A family

service where we hear the Christmas story as the children place figures in the crèche, light candles, pray, and sing some of our favourite Christmas carols. INFO: 902-542-2464 / 902-542-2487 / stjohnsanglicanchurchwolfville.com

A Family Christmas Eve Service — Kings Presbyterian Church, 5563 Prospect Road 6:30pm • Stories of Light—Come be inspired by

Family friendly service celebrating the birth of Jesus.

INFO: 902-798-5439 / falmouthbaptistchurch.com

Christmas Eve Service — Black Rock Baptist Church, 1248 Russia Rd., Black Rock 6:30pm • A family service in celebration of Christ’s birth.

INFO: 902-538-1359 Christmas Eve Service — Hall’s Harbour Baptist Church, 885 West Hall’s Harbour Rd. 6:30pm •

Christmas carols, readings, candle lighting. TIX: no charge INFO: rmichaelshreve@hotmail.com

Christmas Eve Service — Cambridge United Baptist Church, 5981 Hwy 1 Cambridge 6:30pm • INFO: dpministry2000@gmail.com Christmas Eve Service — Newport Baptist Church, 929 Highway 236, Scotch Village 7pm •

Celebration of the Coming of Jesus after a long time of waiting. The service will include advent candle lighting, scripture and poetry readings, guest solos, instrumental musical performances, a children’s choir, carol singing, concluding with the candlelight singing of Silent Night. TIX: free will offering INFO: richardmanuel@eastlink.ca

Christmas Eve Carols and Candlelight — Wolfville Baptist Church, Wolfville 7pm • INFO: main.office@wolfvillebaptist.ca Family Candlelight Service — West Brooklyn Baptist Church, 4 West Brooklyn Rd. 7pm • INFO: bcochran@eastlink.ca Christmas Eve Service — Wolfville Ridge Baptist Church, Wolfville Ridge 7pm • Candle lighting, Scripture reading, Christmas music.

INFO: 902-542-3419

Christmas Eve Service — Hantsport Baptist Church, 1 Main St. 7pm • Carol singing, candle light and the Christmas story retold with a treat for the kids at the end. TIX: free will offering INFO: jaypo50@hotmail.com

Candlelight Christmas Eve Service — Port Williams United Baptist Church, 1031 Main St., Port Williams 7pm • Candlelight Christmas Eve Service. INFO: office@pwubc.org

Christmas Eve Service — Kingston United Baptist Church, 695 Main St. (Hwy 1), Kingston 7pm • Family friendly Christmas Eve Service ­— “T’Was The Night Before Christmas” INFO: bddixon@bellaliant.net Christmas Eve Service — All Saints’ Anglican Church, 521 Pleasant Street, Kingston 9pm • INFO: administrator@parishofwilmot.ca Carols and Communion — St. John’s Anglican Church, Wolfville 9pm • A more traditional service where we share holy communion, pray, sing some of our favourite Christmas carols (led by the choir) and light candles. INFO: 902-542-2464 / 902-542-2487 / stjohnsanglicanchurchwolfville.com Christmas Eve Service — The Historic Covenanter Church, Grand Pré 11pm • Scripture readings,

poetry, carols, and prayers for Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, and Christ will be led by Rev. Judy and Ivan Norton. No sermon. Free will offering. Special music by Canadian Tenor Stephen McClare, the Gaelic Choir, and the choir and friends of Orchard

Valley United Church, directed by Ken Hassell.

INFO: mkeppie@hotmail.com

Sunday, December 25 — Christmas Day

Christmas Day Worship Service — Black Rock Baptist Church, 1248 Russia Rd., Black Rock 9:30am • A casual service of scriptures, carols and of sharing of special memories and of what God has done and is doing in our lives. INFO: 902-538-1359 Christmas Day Service — Cambridge United Baptist Church, 5981 Hwy 1 Cambridge 9:45am • INFO: dpministry2000@gmail.com Quiet Communion — St. John’s Anglican Church, 164 Main St., Wolfville 10am • A traditional

service where we hear the story of Christ’s birth, share communion, and sing a few favourite carols. INFO: 902-542-2464 / 902-542-2487 / stjohnsanglicanchurchwolfville.com

Christmas Celebration Service — West Brooklyn Baptist Church, 4 West Brooklyn Rd. 10am •

INFO: bcochran@eastlink.ca

Christmas Day Service — Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 45 Main Street, Middleton 10am • Book of Common Prayer Eucharist.

INFO: administrator@parishofwilmot.ca Christmas Eve Service — Harmony Baptist Church, 992 Harmony Rd. 10am •

Come enjoy a short Christmas Day service!

INFO: jaypo50@hotmail.com

Christmas Day Service — Kingston United Baptist Church, 695 Main St. (Hwy 1), Kingston 11am • TIX: free will offering INFO: bddixon@bellaliant.net Christmas Day Service — Hantsport Baptist Church, 1 Main St. 11am • A laid back celebration of the birth of Jesus. TIX: free will offering INFO: jaypo50@hotmail.com

Sunday, January 1 — New Year’s Day

Holy Communion — St. John’s Anglican Church, 164 Main St., Wolfville 8am • A traditional service. INFO: 902-542-2464 / 902-542-2487 / stjohnsanglicanchurchwolfville.com New Year’s Day Worship Service — Black Rock Baptist Church, 1248 Russia Rd., Black Rock 9:30am • New Year’s Day Worship service led by the Deacons of the Black Rock Church.

INFO: 902-538-1359 Lessons and Carols — All Saints’ Anglican Church, 521 Pleasant Street, Kingston 9:30am • INFO: administrator@parishofwilmot.ca Sunday Service — Harmony Baptist Church, 992 Harmony Rd. 10am • What a wonderful way to begin the New Year! INFO: jaypo50@hotmail.com Welcoming the New Year — St. John’s Anglican Church, 164 Main St., Wolfville 10am • A Celtic communion service where we pray for God’s guidance and blessing for the year ahead. INFO: 902-542-2464 / 902-542-2487 / stjohnsanglicanchurchwolfville.com Lessons and Carols — Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 45 Main Street, Middleton 11:15am • INFO: administrator@parishofwilmot.ca

WEEKLY EVENTS PLEASE NOTE: Event information may change without notice.

THURSDAYS

Gab and Grub Social — CMHA Kings County

Branch, Kentville 1–3pm. Social time for adults who independently live with mental illness, including anxiety and depression. FEE: no charge INFO: 902-670-4103 / club@cmhakings.ns.ca The Hantsport Seniors & Elders Club “Drop-in” — St. Andrews Church Hall, Hantsport 1–4pm. Play an assortment of games with a tea-break at 3pm. All ages! INFO: 902-352-2085 / davidold@eastlink.ca In the Round Knitting Group — Gaspereau Valley Fibres 1–4:30pm. Also Tuesdays 6–9pm. Bring your knitting, rug hooking, spinning, or felting.

INFO: 902-542-2656 / gaspereauvalleyfibres.ca Taekwondo — Baptist Church, North Alton 6:30–7:30pm (kids), 7:30–8:30pm (adult). Also Tuesdays • Exercise, self defense, respect, listening skills, focus, self discipline and confidence.

TIX: no charge to try a class INFO: 902-670-8714 / devin@ennissecurity.ca NonDuality Meetup — Manning Memorial Chapel, Wolfville 7pm–9pm. Every other Thursday (Next: Dec. 22, Jan. 5). Non-denominational discussion of life and our place in the scheme of things.

19+ FEE: no charge INFO: 902-365-5235 / johnotvos@hotmail.com Tremont Board Game Café — Tremont Hall, 738 Tremont Mountain Rd., 7–9:30pm, every 1st and 3rd Thursday (Next: Dec.15, Jan. 5). The newest, coolest games in a friendly, relaxed environment. FEE: no charge INFO: 902-765-4326 Jam Session — Community Centre, Wilmot 7–10pm TIX: $2 INFO: 902-825-3125 Music Jam — Community Hall, Cambridge Station 7–10pm TIX: donation INFO: 902-538-9957 / gands@xcountry.tv

FRIDAYS

Art for Wellness — Canadian Mental Health Association, New Minas 1–4pm. Arts and crafts program for adults who live independently with mental illness, including depression and anxiety. Materials provided. TIX: no charge, but please pre-register. INFO: 902-670-4103 / club@cmhakings.ns.ca Chase The Ace — Royal Canadian Legion, Berwick 5–7pm • Downstairs; use back door. Dec. 16: Open mic. in the lounge hosted by Caleb Miles. Cash bar.

19+ TIX: Tickets 3 for $5. Supper $8. Dessert $2.

INFO: 902-538-5815 Chase the Ace — Curling Club, Middleton 6:30–8pm • Draw at 8pm. Enjoy playing cribbage, Crokinole, Yahtzee in the dining hall. TIX: 3 tickets for $5.

INFO: 902-825-2695 / bemorine@hotmail.com Boardgame Night — C@P Lab, Wolfville Public Library, 7pm. Bring your games! Ages 12+ FEE: no charge INFO: 902-790-4536 / turpin56@gmail.com Avon Spirit Coffeehouse — Avon River Heritage Museum, Newport Landing 7pm • Open Mic, followed by jam. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-757-1718 / infoavonriver@gmail.com Friday Night Jam — Royal Canadian Legion, Wolfville, 7–10pm. INFO: 902-542-5869 / wolfvillelegion@gmail.com

SATURDAYS

Wolfville Farmers’ Market — DeWolfe Building, Elm Ave., Wolfville 8:30am–1pm December 17 Music: Graham Howes December 24 Music: Whistling Winds of Wolfville Theme: Christmas Eve at the Market INFO: wolfvillefarmersmarket.ca Drop in and Drum! — Baptist Church, Wolfville 1–2:30pm. W/Bruno Allard. Learn to play

the djembe with rhythms & songs from West Africa. Drums provided. FEE: $5–$10 INFO: brunoallard7@gmail.com / facebook: Djembes and Duns Wolfville Chase the Ace — Legion, Kingston 1–3pm. Tickets are 3 for $5. Draw 3:30pm. 19+ to play. Dec. 17, and then starting again Jan. 7. INFO: 902-765-4428 / legion98sect@eastlink.ca Valley Game Night — Gametronics, New Minas 6pm.

Board game/card game group. Yu Gi Oh – Thursdays, 6pm. Magic: The Gathering – Fridays, 6pm FEE: no charge INFO: facebook.com/GameTronics

MONDAYS

The Alton Funtimers 50+ Group — North Alton

Baptist Church-ARC, 1:30pm. Meets first Monday of each month. Games, refreshments and fun.

Free will donation for coffee/tea. Bring a friend.

INFO: grmisner@bellaliant.net Windsor Game Night — Library, Windsor 6pm.

Board game group. New players welcome!

FEE: no charge INFO: meetup.com/valleygames / turpin56@gmail.com The Berwick Makery — Berwick District School “Hive” (former Family Studies Room) 6–8pm. Hang out, work on projects, learn new skills, and teach each other! December 19: Handmade gifts TIX: $2 INFO: 902-538-4019/theberwickmakery.wordpress.com/classes Toastmasters — 2nd Floor, K.C. Irving Centre, Acadia 6:30–8:30pm. Communication and leadership skill-building for students and community members.

INFO: wolfvilletoastmasters.com Kings Community Concert Band — Bishop’s Hall, Greenwich 7:15pm. Music with a little challenge.

New members welcome. Some instruments available for use. INFO: Andrea Lynn, 902-542-4158 / eyelyn@eastlink.ca

TUESDAYS

Friends in Bereavement — Support, information, friendship, and confidentiality while grieving the death of a loved one. 1st & 3rd Tues. each month (Next: Dec. 20, Jan. 3, ), in Kentville and Berwick. BERWICK: Western Kings Mem. Health Centre,10am–12pm.

KENTVILLE: United Baptist Church, Kentville 2–4pm.

Sponsored by Careforce. INFO: 902-681-8239 / friendsinbereavement@gmail.com Gaeilge sa Ghleann – Irish in the Valley — Greenwood, 1pm. Learn to speak Gaeilge!

INFO: HighburyPaul@gmail.com / Facebook: Gaeilge sa Ghleann Rug Hooking in Kentville — Kentville Lower Recreation Centre (354 Main Street), 1–3pm (no rug hooking Dec. 27). If you are a rug hooker or want to learn, join us for social hooking! Tea/coffee available, $5 drop in fee. INFO: Mona, monapearl@ns.sympatico.ca Rug Hooking — 57 Eden Row, Greenwich 1–3:30pm.

Drop-in rug hooking. FEE: donation INFO: Kay, 902-697-2850 Toastmasters Club — Birchall Training Centre, Greenwood 6:30pm. Develop leadership skills using a variety of tools including speaking off the cuff and speaking in public. TIX: no charge INFO: Christine, 902-825-1061 / CFernie.CA@gmail.com Jijuktukwejk (ji-ji-WUK-tuk) Watershed Alliance — Berwick Lions Club, 7pm. 3rd Tues. each month (Next: Dec. 20). Learn about the river, paddling and hiking along the banks, and help to make it cleaner. INFO: Jennifer, 902-538-0520 / cornwallisriver@gmail.com Valley Voices — Kentville Baptist Church CE Centre, 7–9:30pm. A vibrant, female a cappella show chorus. Women of any age are welcome.

INFO: valleyvoices.org / 902-448-2414 / valleyvoices@harmonyarea1.ca Board Game Night — Paddy’s Pub, Wolfville 8pm–12am TIX: no charge INFO: 902-542-0059 / judy@paddys.ca

Cardio Kickboxing — Baptist Church, North Alton 8:30–9:30pm. Adult class to improve coordination, strength building, cardiovascular improvements, self defence, stress reduction, and weight reduction.

TIX: no charge for 1st week of classes INFO: 902-365-5660 / devin@ennissecurity.ca

WEDNESDAYS

What’s Brewin, Coffee Time — Community Hall, Greenwich 9:30–11am • Join us for coffee/tea and a muffin. Chat with friends, new and old!

TIX: donation INFO: Darlene, 902-542-3498 / darlene.hennigar@gmail.com / Bev, 902-542-7412 Kentville Farmers’ Market — Rec. Centre, Kentville 10am–2pm. Open year-round.

INFO: marketmanager@kentville.ca / kentvillefarmersmarket.ca Valley Youth Project — Louis Millett Community Complex, Rm 128, New Minas, 6:30–8:30pm.

First and third Wed. of each month, Sept–June

(Next: Dec. 21, Jan. 4). Social drop-in for LGBTQ+ youth and allies, 25 years & under. FEE: no charge INFO: valleyyouthproject.wordpress.com Wolfville Farmers’ Market — DeWolfe Building, Elm Ave., Wolfville 4–7pm December 21 Music: John Tetrault Theme: Solstice Market December 28 Music: Graham Howes INFO: wolfvillefarmersmarket.ca Chase The Ace — Lions Club, Wolfville 5–8:15pm.

INFO: 902-542-4508 / j-fisher@eastlink.ca Wolfville Community Choir — St. Francis of Assisi Parish Centre, 118 Main St., Wolfville. 6–7:30pm.

W/Susan Dworkin, Director. New members welcome!

INFO: 902-300-1001 / susan_dworkin@hotmail.com New Horizons Band — Festival Theatre, Wolfville 7pm. Sept. to May. Fun, informal community band under the direction of Brian Johnston. New members welcome! FEE: small fee per term to cover expenses INFO: 902-542-7557 / nhbwolfville@gmail.com

@ THE LI B RA RY For complete list of library events: valleylibrary.ca. All events are no charge/ no registration unless otherwise stated.

NOTE: When AVRSB schools are closed due to inclement winter weather, all children’s library programs for that day in that area will be cancelled.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15

Ugly Christmas Sweater Coffee Party — Rosa M. Harvey Middleton & Area Library, Middleton 10am–12pm • Pull out your most tacky sweater and wear it with pride as we celebrate this wonderful time of year! Join us for cookies and conversation. Call to register. INFO: 902-825-4835 Christmas Fun & Fables — Library, Windsor 10:30–11:30am • Christmas stories, songs, rhymes and craft time for preschoolers (ages 2–5) and their caregivers. Registration is required. INFO: 902-798-5424 Third Thursday Social — Library, Windsor 2–4pm • Easy listening entertainment provided by local musicians while you read, browse, do the puzzle, or just relax. Coffee/tea light refreshments.

INFO: 902-798-5424

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16

Fibre Ops — Library, Windsor 10am–12pm. Also Dec. 23, 30, & Jan. 6 • For knitters, crocheters, hookers, spinners, and weavers. Bring your own project. INFO: 902-798-5424 Coffee & Conversation — Library, Berwick 10– 11:30am • Conversation starter: Jason Schofield, GekkoTech in Berwick. Also, Christmas cookies! as part of the 12 days of Christmas. Coffee, tea and conversation. INFO: 902-538-4030 Girl Power: Holly Jolly Party! — Rosa M. Harvey Middleton & Area Library, Middleton 6:30–8:30pm • ‘Tis the season to spend time with our friends!

This program is designed for lots of interaction so no electronics, please! For girls ages 10–14. Please register. INFO: 902-825-4835

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17

Book Sale — Library, Berwick 10am–1pm • Raising funds for the new Berwick & Area Library.

INFO: 902-538-4030

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20

Book in the Nook — Memorial Library, Wolfville 10–10:30am • Suggested age: 3–5 with caregiver

accompaniment. INFO: 902-542-5760

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21

Talk Sing Read! Storytime — Library, Berwick 9:45–10:15am. Also Dec. 28, Jan. 4 & 11 • Enjoy

rhymes, songs, and books with other children age 0–5 and their caretakers. INFO: 902-538-4030 Storytime — Library, Kentville 11–11:30am. Also Dec. 28 • Enjoy rhymes, songs, and books! Ages 2–5, with caregiver accompaniment. INFO: 902-679-2544 Fibre Craft — Isabel & Roy Jodrey Memorial Library, Hantsport 1–3pm. Also Dec. 28 • For knitters, hookers, crocheters, weavers and spinners. Bring your own project. INFO: 902-684-0103

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22

Light Up The Night: A Solstice Celebration — Rosa M. Harvey Middleton & Area Library, Middleton 6–7:30pm • Celebrate the beginning of winter! We’ll be making an ornament, reading stories and sharing cocoa and cookies. For Families of all ages. Please register each person individually. INFO: 902-825-4835

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27

Storytime — Memorial Library, Wolfville 10–11am • Ages 3–5, with parent/caregiver accompaniment.

INFO: 902-542-5760

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30

Ringing in the New Year — Rosa M. Harvey Middleton & Area Library, Middleton 2:30–3:30pm • Make New Year’s Eve crafts and have a delicious snack. Please register. INFO: 902-825-4835

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5

Quigong & Tai Chi — Isabel & Roy Jodrey Memorial Library, Hantsport 6–6:30pm • A course offered

by Kenton Sefcik, Registered Acupuncturist, for all ages/skill levels. Thursdays, Jan. 5–Feb. 16 (no class Jan. 26). INFO: 902-684-0103

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6

BusyBabies — Isabel & Roy Jodrey Memorial Library, Hantsport 11:30am–12pm • For ages 0–2 and caregivers. INFO: 902-684-0103

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10

Casual French Conversations — Isabel & Roy Jodrey Memorial Library, Hantsport 1–2pm • A fun and interactive informal French class w/Susan Oickle-Shano, for all ages/skill level. Tuesdays, Jan 10–Feb 28. Please register. INFO: 902-684-0103

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12

Preschool Storytime & Craft: Brrr! Baby, it’s cold out there! — Rosa M. Harvey Middleton & Area Library, Middleton 10:30–11:30am • Create a craft with your child, and enjoy stories, songs and a snack.

For ages 0–5 and their parents/caregivers. Please register. INFO: 902-825-4835

Dec 15, 2016 – Jan 12, 2017 | 17

FOOD & DRINK

LOCAL BUSINESS

BEST RESTAURANT (FINE DINING):

BEST PLACE TO SHOP FOR GIFTS:

BEST RESTAURANT (CASUAL):

BEST BOOKSHOP:

BEST VENUE FOR DRINKS:

BEST MUSIC STORE:

BEST CRAFT BEER:

BEST MARKET VENDOR:

BEST LOCAL WINE:

BEST CLOTHING STORE:

BEST CAFÉ:

BEST SPORTING GOODS STORE:

BEST BREAKFAST:

BEST TATTOO PARLOUR:

BEST DESSERTS:

BEST YOGA STUDIO:

BEST COFFEE:

BEST U-PICK:

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PUBLIC SPACE & EXPERIENCE

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

BEST PLACE TO WALK THE DOG:

BEST MUSIC VENUE:

BEST PLACE TO GO ON A DATE:

BEST LOCAL MUSICIAN:

BEST PLACE TO TAKE THE KIDS:

BEST LOCAL BAND:

BEST PLACE FOR A BIKE RIDE:

BEST LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER:

BEST TOURIST DESTINATION:

BEST LOCAL ARTIST/ARTISAN:

BEST PLACE TO GO SWIMMING:

GV Publishing Inc. PO Box 2262 Wolfville, NS B4P 1A0

BEST LOCAL AUTHOR:

BEST PLACE TO GO SNOW SHOEING:

Deadline to Submit: December 30, 2016

BEST GALLERY:

BEST FESTIVAL/EVENT:

BEST ART/CRAFT MARKET:

BEST PLACE TO VOLUNTEER:

NAME:

BEST DANCE STUDIO:

BEST PLACE TO MEET PEOPLE:

ADDRESS:

BEST VENUE TO DANCE:

BEST PUBLIC SPACE:

PHONE:

BEST VENUE FOR LIVE THEATRE:

BEST PLACE TO READ A BOOK:

BEST LOCAL THEATRE GROUP/COMPANY:

BEST PLACE TO GET CRAFTY:

BEST MEDIA OUTLET:

BEST PLACE TO GET SOME WORK DONE:

INTRODUCING THE FIRST ANNUAL BEST OF THE BUNCH GRAPEVINE AWARDS!

W

e all know that this valley is filled with fantastic restaurants, great shops, beautiful places to visit, and friendly folks.

Now we want you to spin through that rolodex in your mind of great experiences, pick your favourites, and have your say in who we shower with love, attention, and the glory of being: The Best of the Bunch!

One lucky winner will receive a special Annapolis Valley Gift Basket Extraordinaire.

Send your completed survey to:

Survey also available at facebook.com/valleygrapevine

EMAIL

18 | Dec 15, 2016 – Jan 12, 2017

At Acadia

Acadia University | 15 University Ave, Wolfville.

902-542-2201 | Staffed Switchboard. 8:30am-4:30pm. agi@acadiau.ca – General Inquiries

WHAT’S GROWING AT THE HARRIET IRVING BOTANICAL GARDENS:

MISTLETOE RELATIONSHIPS Melanie Priesnitz Conservation Horticulturist

The season of giving is every season in the Forest. Natural ecosystems are highly skilled at the art of reciprocity. There are many relationships in nature that involve giving and taking for mutual benefit and for the betterment of the ecosystem as a whole. One such example is that of hemiparasitic mistletoe plants. Hemiparasitic plants get a portion of their nutrients from a host plant and a portion through their own photosynthesis.

At first glance, mistletoe plants may appear to be harmful to an ecosystem. They are certainly harmful to the life of their host trees. The mistletoe that grows in the Acadian Forest is a tiny shrub called Dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium pusillum). This small partially parasitic plant is often found growing on spruce trees.

They steal amino acids and sugars from their host and eventually kill the tree. Upon closer investigation ecologists have discovered that the presence of mistletoe is actually positive for an ecosystem as it increases biodiversity of both flora and fauna.

Mistletoe plants rely on birds as they eat the plants' fruit and spread their seeds throughout the forest – specifically they excrete the seeds conveniently on tree branches where mistletoe plants like to grow. This, in fact, is where the common name mistletoe comes from. In Old English it was known as ‘misteltan’ – 'mistel' meaning dung and 'tan' meaning twig. So yes, literally the common name means poo stick! But I digress; we’re talking about relationships and giving!

Another unique aspect of the parasitic association between mistletoe and its host

is that it upsets the tree’s hormone balance, which causes a deformity often referred to as witches’ broom (brooms can also be caused by fungi). Witches brooms are excellent nesting sites for birds. Mistletoe plants don’t stop at providing nesting sites and berries for birds to enjoy, they also provide juicy insects for them to eat. The presence of the parasitic mistletoe encourages the buds on the host spruce trees to open earlier than usual in spring. These buds are filled with sugars, which insects happily dine on. Once the insects plump up they in turn become food for birds.

When host trees eventually succumb to the strain of the mistletoe and die, they give back to the forest again by creating habitat in their deadwood for creatures such as salamanders and decomposers such as sowbugs and beetles. The rotting wood also gives nutrients back to the soil, which helps support growth of forest flora.

As you kiss under the mistletoe this Christmas think about the art of giving and the importance of reciprocity. Mistletoe is a great reminder that we should respect all members of our community, even the parasites, as everyone plays an important, and sometimes overlooked, role. The poo stick commonly used for decorating our houses this time of the year is the European mistletoe (Viscum album). Happy Holidays from the staff and volunteers of the KC Irving Environmental Science Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens.

Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens Acadia University botanicalgardens.acadiau.ca

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