Feature Article December 18, 2002
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeContact Us
Festival of Trees 2002by Dale HamAgain this year Villages Beautiful, under the direction of Rosemarie Bowick, sponsored a fine festival displaying Central Frontenac's creative talent. Both monies--in excess of $360--and canned goods were collected for the local Food Bank. The festival ran from Thursday, December 12 until it closed late Saturday afternoon with the drawing of the winners of the entrees. Throughout the festival, entertainment was provided by various individuals and groups: Bill Miles, Bob Miller, the school children, the Young Choristers, Barb Agnew's students, Barb Agnew, Country Church, Blue Skies Fiddle Orchestra, Jim Duthie, Kim Harper & Kathy McKinnon, the Arden Glee Club, the Ardenaires, and, of course, Santa himself! The closing presentations were considerably subdued because many of us had moved from the memorial service for David Brison to Oso Hall, but David would want us to go on, and the real winner of the festival is The Food Bank--of special interest to David. And so we go on. The Legend of the Poinsettia (Sharbot Lake Pharmacy) 1st in its category, was won by Mary Burke; Simply Christmas (Stedman's V&S) 2nd, was won by Morley Work; A Nite at the Movies (Harvey's Valu-Mart), 3rd and the People's 1st choice was won by C. Lavergne
6-foot category, 1stSilver & Gold (Royal Bank of Canada) - Eleanor Conboy; 2nd Candy Cane Christmas (CF Township) - Claude Fox; tied with A Taste of Christmas (Rising Bun Bakery) -Judy Pollard. Ho Ho Ho Eat Drink & Be Merry (Sharbot Lake Country Inn) was the People's 2nd Choice, - C. Godfrey; How Does Your Garden Grow (Cottage Country Landscape & Design) - M. Ratsinger; The Gingerbread Tree (NF Little Theatre) - J. Granlund;
4 foot category: 1st One Horse Open Sleigh (Marg's Shoes), - Rhonda Bowick; 2nd Rebekah Joy of Song (Ivy Leaf Rebekah Lodge) - Kathy England; 3rd Let it Snow (Village Palettes) - Helen Cameron. A Child's Playful Christmas (Child Centre) - Doreen Cox; Crosses & Wreaths (Parham churches - Free Methodist, St. James Anglican and Parham United) - Dale Cooke; A Sparkle of Christmas ( Arden Seniors) - Dale Lough; Sparkle ( Tip Top Dollar) - Darlene Conboy; A New Beginning (Chris Bertrim - Weekender Fashion) - Gloria Smiley; A Christmas Message (Canada Post - Parham, Tichborne & Sharbot Lake) - Sherri Vinkle; Life's Golden Opportunities (Community Living) - Lori Laframboise; Angels (NF Telephone) Pearl Robinson; Santa's Little Helpful Students (SL High School) - Sharon Ruckstull; Community Spirit (Royal Canadian Legion Sharbot Lake) - Mary Chiarot; Santaland (SL Seniors Home ) - Dorothy Procter, People's 3rd Choice, The Construction Man (J. England Excavating) - Jan MacPherson.
Gingerbread Houses: 1st Tweet Village (North Frontenac Learning Centre) - Ada Jarvis; 2nd Celebrating 100 years with St. Andrews Anglican Church 1902 - 2002 (Wanda's Bakery), - Christine Vanalstine.
Wall Hangings & Wreaths: Christmas on the Trail (Ontario Trails Council) was 1st in this category, won by Ann Walsh; 2nd Holiday Hostess (Arden TOPS) - Duncan McGregor; 3rd Faith Hope and Love (Sharon Irvine) - R. Hollywood. Frosty the Snowman (Rockhill B&B) - R. Hollywood; Christmas Wonderland (Amy Scott) - Audrey Cook; Sparkling Flowers and Things (Cleo Price) - K. Welch; Gabriel's Favorites ( Gourmet Pet Treats) - Deb Deline.
Anything Goes: 1st Santa's Gone Healthy (Sharbot Lake TOPS) - Daisy Marie Vinkle; 2nd Winter Holiday (Lakeside B&B) - Nicki Putnam; 3rdCandied Tiles (Lorraine Pickett) - L. Smith. Looking into the Past (Train Museum) - N. Purdon; Christmas Thyme (Clip-it Hair Salon) - Lorna Duncan; A Beary Christmas (Ann Howitt) - Jim Mallette; Holiday Warmth (Goodfellow Flowers) - Shane Caird.
Raffles: Christmas Food Basket - Janice Peters; White Afghan - Ann Walsh; Reversible Afghan - John Lee.
First Recognition Award - This new award goes to Ken Young, an electrician who has been on board these last three years as a volunteer, "lighting the way" so that Oso Hall appears a winter wonderland. Rosemarie stresses that all the volunteers are exceptional and absolutely necessary in pulling off this event. Many young people from various schools entered the Children's Art category, with individual pieces being awarded first, second, or third place. The judges found their job very difficult in all categories, and are to be particularly thanked for their time and perusal of every entree. Rosemarie and Bill wish to express that thanks to Judges Margaret Smith, Jeff Green, Rev. Jean Brown, John Meisel, Eric Wagar and Peter Hallam.
