Ask anyone on the Villages Beautiful committee and they’ll tell you that the idea is to make the entire Township of Central Frontenac more appealing.

As such, they hold a fundraiser each Christmas season, the Festival of Trees, to raise funds that are distributed to the various hamlets and settlement areas to use as they see fit.

Each year, there’s a central theme that entrants adhere to. This year, it was Down Home Country Christmas.

“One of the best things is it’s for the whole Township,” said committee member Sarah Hale. “We all support each other to make the whole area more attractive.”

Doris Campsall, a veteran of “at least 20 Festivals,” said “it was a dream of Rosemarie Bowick along with Mardie Brown from Arden. The idea of using the festival as a fundraiser actually came about because Bill and Rosemarie Bowick had experience in such things,” said Hale. “We’d tried other fundraisers which weren’t very successful.

“One year, after having the Festival the previous year, we tried a dance. There was an outcry.”

Hale said it’s important to connect the winter festival to summer projects.

“We buy barrels and benches and trees and flowers,” she said. “The various committees decide what to do with them in their communities. In Arden this year, we’ll be focusing on the footbridge.”

“In Parham, we focus on ‘the corner’ (of 38 and Wagarville Road),” said Campsall. “And on the fairgrounds. But there are also projects in Tichborne, Mountain Grove and others.”

“But it’s also to mark the Christmas season,” said Hale.

Brenda McKinstry is a relative newcomer to the Festival of Trees community, but she likes what she’s seen so far.

“I was involved a little bit last year,” she said. “I’m amazed at how much detail and effort is put in. There’s a lot of organization involved too — but it’s all good.”

2019 Winners and the lucky people who drew the winning ticket for them

Large Trees

1st — Memories of Christmas, W.A. Robinson Asset Management – Krista Raymo

2nd — Rustic Cozy Cabin, Township of Central Frontenac – Colleen Steele

3rd — A Rustic Country Christmas, Friday Night Ladies – Laura Wood and Home Made Christmas, Community Living – Ethan Godfrey

Medium Trees

1st — A Cozy Cabin Christmas, North Frontenac Telephone Company – Mike Fraser

2nd — “Country Road, Take Me Home,” Lake District Realty – Rudy Hollywood

3rd — A Sharbot Lake Down Home Country Christmas through the Years, St. Lawrence College Employment Services – R. Cook

Mini Trees

1st — “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” Pin Point Appraisers – Tim Procter

2nd — Glitter all the way, Rural Frontenac Community Services Youth Hub and Kids Club – Natalie Wotherspoon

3rd — Old Fashioned Christmas, Parham UCC Sunday School – the Herns

Anything Goes

1st — Family Gnomes Down Home Country Christmas, Opening Minds Innovation – Betty Ann Blythe

2nd — Owl Be Home for Christmas, Linda Devries – Liz Bonser

3rd — Legend of the Christmas Stocking, Treasure Trunk - Natalie Hickey, and Delicious Traditions, Community Drop-In – Madison Robideux

Baskets

1st — A Cardinal Christmas, Cardinal Café – Margo McCullough

2nd — A Homemade Down-Home Christmas, Sharbot Lake Family Health Team & Community Exercise and Lifestyle Program – Shirley Gunhouse

3rd — The Christmas Remedy, Sharbot Lake Pharmacy – Marie Vinkle

Gingerbreads

1st — A Down Gnome Country Christmas, Northern Connections Adult Learning Centre – Jenn Clark

2nd — An Udderly Amazing Down Home Country Christmas on the Farm, Whan Family – Jack Mclean

3rd — Christmas Fun in the Country, Sharbot Lake 39-ers – the Giroux’s

Wreaths

1st — A Country Christmas at the Farm, Arden Seniors – Mickie ?

2nd — Welcome Home for Christmas, North Frontenac Food Bank – John Lee

3rd — Jingle all the Way, Linda Truchan – Shirley Cuddy

Wall Hangings

1st — Christmas on the Farm, Janice Anderson – Chris Parks

2nd — We’ll All be Home for Christmas, Arden Batik – Chantelle Gilpin

3rd — Christmas, Laurie Love Godfrey Grocery – Leslie M.

This past weekend, Oso Hall was decorated in the Christmas spirit for the 16th Festival of Trees, Villages Beautiful’s annual fundraiser (which actually began in 2000 but one year was missed in favour of a dance).

Not much has changed since the first one (except the number of entries). People donate decorated trees of all sizes, wreaths, wall hangings, Christmas baskets, gingerbread creations and other things (ie “anything goes”) and then visitors buy tickets which are deposited in boxes next to the tree they want to win. Then on Saturday, draws are made.

Since it’s been going on for 16 years, the committee pretty much has it figured out by now, and they have fun with it, said Sally Angle.

“It’s a typical female committee,” she said, jokingly. “We don’t have a boss.

“We get along as only women do.”

“Everybody knows their job,” said Linda West, who this year helped organize the judging committee. “We wear different hats each year.”

For West, the creativity on display has grown each year.

“It’s incredible,” she said. “People from businesses, individuals, groups . . . people get together on their lunch hours and put their heart and soul into it.

“Seems like every year there’s more and more creativity.”

This year, there was a ceremony for the lighting of the tree outside Oso Hall. The mayor was a little late getting there but otherwise it went off without a hitch.

Entertainment is also a big part of the festival this year featured performances from David Yerxa, Fiddlers & Friends, the Land O’Lakes County Cloggers, Barbara Agnew-Miller and students Mabel Saunders, Paige Kring and Tyler Kring, Dave and Margaret Taylor, The Merrigan Family and Adam Lake, Young Choristers, Frontenac Skies Bucket Drummers, the Blue Skies Fiddle Orchestra and the Tay Valley Choir.

The theme this year was A Canadian Christmas and the winners were:

Large trees: 1st — Canada Eh, by the Friday Night Ladies; 2nd — True North, by Township of Central Frontenac; 3rd — Made in Canada, W.A. Robinson Asset Management

Small trees: 1st — All Things Canadian, by North Frontenac Telephone Company; 2nd — Canadian Pacific Holiday Train, by CF Railway Heritage Society; 3rd — Frolicking in a Winter Wonderland, by Medical Centre Fitness Class

Mini trees (one entry) 1st — Let it Snow, by Parham United Church Sunday School

Anything Goes: 1st — Coast to Coast on the CPR, by George Allen; 2nd — Canada Reads . . . In a One-Horse Open Sleigh, by Lakeside Readers; 3rd — Branching out to Welcome You, by Linda Devries

Baskets: 1st — A Cozy Canadian Christmas, by Friends of Arden; 2nd — The Great Canadian Cookie Exchange by Frontenac Catalyst Leo Club; 3rd — Canadian Gourmet Christmas by Sharbot Lake 39’ers

Gingerbread: 1st — Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Canada, RFCS Youth Program/Day Care; 2nd — Wishing You a Merry Christmoose, by Northern Connections

Wreaths: 1st — A Wilderness Christmas by Arden Seniors; 2nd — Sleigh Ride Reflections, by Lake District Realty; 3rd — Country Christmas Symbols of Canada, by Community Living

Wall Hangings: 1st — Christmas Eve Aurora, by Arden Batik; 2nd — Christmas in the County, by Ron Veh; 3rd — Frosty Window, by Janet’s Clip-It.

Christmas Is . . . was the theme for this year’s Festival of Trees.  All entries showed creativity and great talent.  Winners were two-fold: those who entered an item, and those who took it home!

Large Trees: North Frontenac Little Theatre won 1st prize for their tree “Beautiful Music” and the lucky winner was Sherry Wilson. The 2nd prize went to the Friday Night Ladies for their creation “Stockings hung by the chimney with care”, taken home by Kelly Greenstreet. The 3rd prize was Mike Dean’s Super Foods Store “Home Made” which was won by Katie Gable. “For Family” decorated by W.A. Robinson Asset Mgt. Ltd. went to Brian Gilpin. Township of Central Frontenac’s tree “All About the Children” was won by Jane Neadow and “The Joyful Sounds of Music” by St. Lawrence Employment Services went to Candy Thompson.

Small Trees - First prize entry by CF Railway Heritage Society “A Ride on the Polar Bear Express” was won by Logan Chiasson; 2nd prize by Medical Centre Fitness Class, “Fun in the Snow” went home with Ashley Desrosiers; and 3rd prize winner, “Love” by Subway went to Alice Knox. “Family Love” by RBC to  Elizabeth & Maddy Whan-Corkum; “Family Traditions” by Sharbot Lake Pharmasave to Elinor Bailey; “Family” by NFCS to Kathy Scott; “Love” by George Allen to Brandon Hawley; and “Sharing Traditions” by NFCS Youth Program to Liz Bonser.

Mini Trees:  The Parham United Church Sunday School won 1st prize for their entry of “The Day of Love” which was won by Toots Harvey.  “A Christmas Vacation” took 2nd prize by Community Living NF went to Sophie Shelley.

Gingerbread Creations: First prize went to “Steaming into Town” by Anne Howes & Heather Card and was won by Martha MacLeod. Second prize, “Is for Believing” by Steve Duggan’s Law Office went home with Fern Marwood.

Wall Hangings: Martha MacLeod was the lucky winner of the 1st prize “The Gift of Love” by Arden Batik; 2nd prize “Being with Friends” by Ann Howitt went to Lori; and Janice Anderson 3rd prize winner “Christmas Holly” to Joan Hollywood. The winner of “Christmas Cardinals” by Carol Raymo was Margo McCullough; “Snowfall Magic” by Helene Riddell went to Sukhi Kaillon.

Wreaths: “Peace on Earth” by Arden Seniors received 1st place and was won by Judy McClure. The 2nd place wreath, “For Kids”, entered by the Sharbot Lake Dental Office, went home with Wendy Crain; and 3rd place, “Sweet” by Sharbot Lake Karate to Ryan Conboy.

Anything Goes: “Greeting Friends” created by Nancy Harding and Stephane Cliche received 1st prize in this category and was won by Susan Willby. “Family Traditions” by Seeds & Company took 2nd prize and was won by Joyce Lemke. The 3rd prize, “Frosty Feeding Feathered Friends” by Sharbot Lake 39’ers went to Courtney Meeks.  “An Adventure on the Track” by the Treasure Trunk was won by Angie Mallette.  “Christmas Kicks” by Community Drop was won by Doug Steele and “Welcoming you Home” by Linda DeVries was brought home by N. Bellamy.  “Decorating your Home by Ram’s Esso went to Tammy Parks; Goodfellow’s Flowers “A Beautiful Thing” to Cheryl Ellerbeck and Linda Moland’s “Christmas Dinner is the Centrepiece of the Day” will be decorating Dawn Hansen’s table.

Baskets – “Partying With Friends” by Friends of Arden took 1st prize and was won by Frances Smith; “Time to give a Latte Thanks” by the Cardinal Cafe won 2nd prize and went home with  Julia Muth; 3rd prize, “Time at the Rink” by the St. Lawrence Employment Services to Joyce Burke. “Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store.  Maybe Christmas, perhaps, is a little bit more.” by the North Frontenac Telephone Company won by Rosemarie Bowick; “Reading a Good Book” by Lakeside Readers to Carrie Laporte; “About Spending Time with Family” by Maples to Rob Richardson; “Sharing a Meal” by Sharbot Lake and District Lions to Theresa Lowey; “Coming” by Masonic Lodge to Homer Card; “Cosy” by Lake District Realty to  Judy McClure; “Warmth and Comfort” by the Black Kettle Popcorn Company to Theresa; “Chilling at Home” by Canadian Legion went to Kathy Byrnes; and “Full of Shine” by Sharbot Lake Country Inn to Sue Wing.

Gift Certificates – The Gibson’s Garage gift certificate for an Oil Change was won by Ashley Klatt, and the Amazing Dollar Store certificate went to Lillian Barker. The food hamper, put together by Villages Beautiful, was won by Linda Cook.  Children from various schools visited the Festival on Friday and were asked to guess the correct amount of chocolate balls in a jar. There was a tie; the winners were:  Alexis from St. James Major and Elizabeth from Claredon.  Each won a jar of 350 chocolate balls.

The People’s Choice Award went to “Partying with Friends” by Friends of Arden.  The Children’s Choice Award went to “All about the Children” by the Township of Central Frontenac.

Each year Villages Beautiful recognizes a person or persons who have contributed their time and effort to the festival over the years. This year that recognition went to Barbara England.

Many others must be recognized too: there are those who, instead of making an entry, contribute “in kind”, either financially or through services needed by the festival. Villages Beautiful thanks the following: Woodwark Legal Services; Sharbot Lake Marina; Sharbot Lake Dental Office; Robinson’s Excavating & Trucking; Donna’s Sign Shoppe; Home Hardware; Gray’s Grocery; RTR Tree Service; Angelo Dicienti; Mike Dean’s Super Foods; Tarasick Carpentry, Sydenham Veterinary Services; Leonard Fuels; Goodfellows Funeral Home; and Ken Young. 

Thank you to all the volunteers that made this year another success.  The theme for next year is: “A Canadian Christmas”.

At the Festival of Trees that’s held each year in early December, there is a lot of money collected, so where does it go? Who get’s it. What do they do with it? Who are they? And well you may ask.

The “they" are volunteers and the "Festival" is the event held each year to earn money to give back again to the community. What’s this? Yes the money goes back to the various villages in the area to buy flowers to make the villages beautiful each year, and the name of the group of volunteers who arrange all this is "Villages Beautifull". The group keeps only enough money over from year to year to fund the next Festival. All of the rest of the money is given out to the volunteers of the villages each year to buy flowers and containers and sometimes trees. The Festival is coming soon.

The only sound better than that of one fine flute player is the sound of more than one fine flute player playing together.

Anne Archer, Melanie Fyfe and Debbie Twiddy are three very fine flutists and recently I had a chance to hear a selection of pieces they have been practicing, songs that included "Swan Lake" and an old Hungarian folk tune known as a Czardas, as well as the Pastoral Symphony from Handel's Messiah. The three are hoping to attract other like-minded musicians in the area with the hopes of forming a local chamber ensemble. “There is so much talent in the area and we thought, why not try to get group of players together to form an ensemble? ”Anne said when I met the three musicians at Anne's home near Sharbot Lake on November 1.

The three are hoping to attract other experienced musicians including string, woodwind, brass, keyboard players and percussionists. “The shape of the ensemble will largely depend on who turns up, instrumentation and what kind of music we can scare up, and also on the players' personal musical interests. We hope to play everything from baroque to jazz," Debbie said.

The ultimate goal of the group is to perform at local concerts, public events and private functions that could include weddings, wakes, anniversaries, reunions, fundraisers and other social events.

The three women play exceptionally well together and it is no wonder, since all three at various times studied under Donelda Gartshore, principal flute player with the Kingston Symphony Orchestra and music professor at Queen's University.

Together they form the group Toute Ensemble, which was originally started by Anne and Debbie six years ago and Melanie has now joined them. Each also plays independently in various musical groups in and around the area. Melanie plays in the Mississippi Windsong. Anne and Debbie share the position of second flute at Orchestra Kingston, and they also play - Debbie formerly and Anne currently - in the Kingston Ceili Band. Anne also plays in the flute/guitar duo known as CACCIA. Anne and Melanie have performed together over the years, in the North Frontenac Little Theatre's production of "Annie" in 2012 and at the Festival of Trees in 2011. However, it wasn't until just six weeks ago that the three decided to join forces and are now rehearsing in the hopes of attracting other players to join them. They hope to rehearse regularly with the new ensemble in the Sharbot Lake area at a suitable venue. Interested musicians (including other flute players) can contact Melanie Fyfe at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

As a footnote, the group Toute Ensemble are professional musicians who cover a wide-ranging repertoire, and they are always for more performance opportunities. For more information about Toute Ensemble or to inquire about a booking contact Anne Archer at 613-279-3692.

Those who have ever had the chance to hear a polished and experienced live musical performance at a wedding, party, fundraiser or other social event, understand how beautiful live music can add a magical quality and an extra special touch of class that often makes the occasion one to remember.