Christmas Edition 2008 - Cristmas Celebrations

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Christmas Edition - December 18, 2008 Christmas 2008

Christmas Art Contest

Christmas Cake by John Diamond

Christmas Messageby Rev. Jean Brown

Christmas Celebrations: a Photo Gallery

Early Literacy:Christmas Books

Festival Of Trees

How Chanuka Saved Christmas

Interview with Mary by Pastor Jeff Nault

Legalese:Holiday Legal Quiz

Prince Charles Students Talk about Christmas

Recipes

Remounting of a Long Short Story

The Special Giftby Hope Attaway

Christmas Celebrations

Verona Tree lighting ceremony, November 29

Young Amy Walton of Louborough PS shows her entrepreneurial spirit, selling hot chocolate for ther fourth consecutive year along the Sydenham Parade route November 29.

Entries in the Northbrook Parade. Above: Winning entry "Christmas Vacation". Above right: A Native Christmas. Right: Santa himself

Sharbot Lake Karate in the Sharbot Lake Parade, December 6

Santa in Harrowsmith, December 6

Below left: The Central Frontenac District 4 Recreation Committee brought the Grinch to the Parham-Tichborne parade December 7. Below right: Denise Nedow and her daughter Jessica of Heads or Trails Riding Stable, also in the Parham parade.

Back to HomeFeature Article - December 3, 2009 'Tis the season: Christmas Parades

Christmas parades in Ompah/Plevna (above, photo: Kaitlyn Balogh), Kaladar and Sydenham took place under sunny skies las Saturday. Hopefully this saturday will be bright and storm free for the Denbigh, Northbrook, Harrowsmith and Sharbot Lake parades.Kaladar

Top Left: "Kaladar Majorettes" Top Right Northbrook Legion Left: SantaPhotos: Kaitlyn Balogh

Ompah

Photos: Kaitlyn BaloghSydenham

Sydenham parade. Photos: Wilma Kenny

Back to HomeFeature Article - December 17, 2009 Community Christmas dinners in Perth, Sharbot Lake and NorthbrookBy Jeff Green

Last years' Perth Community Dinner.

The traditional Christmas dinner is designed for a crowd. It’s hard for two or three people to polish off an 18-pound turkey in one sitting.

But for anyone who is able to get to Perth, Sharbot Lake, or Northbrook on Christmas Day, there is a community-based alternative, a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, and an extra helping of fellowship. And for people who live nearby but can’t travel to those places, delivery can often be arranged to many locations.

PERTH: The Perth Community Dinner is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. For the first 22 years, the dinner was held at Farrell Hall in Perth, and the food was cooked at people’s homes and brought to the hall, but it is now held at the banquet Hall at Code’s Mill, and JJ Stewart, the chef at Fiddleheads Restaurant, volunteers to handle all the cooking in the Fiddleheads kitchen.

“I’ve been involved for about 20 years,” said Julia Foley, who is handling the volunteer coordination for the dinner this year, a job her father has just passed on to her after doing it himself for 23 years, “and it is part of my family Christmas.”

The core committee of eight or so people are able to collect cash and food donations around the year to feed 300 people each year, including a number who have their meals delivered. The banquet hall is on the 2nd floor of the building, but there is an elevator available.

The doors open at 11AM. For further information or to volunteer to help out, call 613 – 812 – 5555

SHARBOT LAKE: The Sharbot Lake Christmas dinner is six years old, and is a mid-afternoon meal, with the doors of the Oso Hall (Soldiers Memorial Hall) being open from 2-5PM. “Last year we served 70 people, including deliveries,” said Ileene Mouck, “but most of the people come to the hall.

In addition to a turkey dinner, there are candy bags and presents for children, as well as a carol sing. People are encouraged to bring their voices and instruments as well.

“Last year, a gentleman brought a trumpet, and that really livened things up,” Ileene said.

Like all the community dinners, the Sharbot Lake dinner serves people who are new to the area and want to meet people, people who don’t want to cook, “or people who just want to have a good time.”

For further information or to volunteer, call Phyllis Badour at 613-375-6501, Wayne Shepherd at 613-375-6633 or Ileene Mouck 613-374-1843.

NORTHBROOK: In Northbrook, one person or one family has been at the centre of the Christmas Dinner.

“That’s just how it has gone,” said Marilyn Bolender, who is hosting the dinner this year, with help from a lot of volunteers.

She is not sure how long the dinner has been held in Northbrook at the Lions Hall, but it is more than 10 years.

The two local grocery stores each donate a large turkey to the dinner, and there will be ham available as well, along with squash, stuffing, salads, potatoes and pies.

For information or to volunteer contact Marilyn at 613-336-1573.

With all the volunteer efforts going on in Lanark, Frontenac, and L&A Counties, no one needs to be alone, or hungry, on Christmas Day. 

Addington Highlands Council has accepted the bid from Task Force Engineering of Belleville for the construction of a four-bay fire hall on a township-owned lot on Hwy. 41, about two kilometres south of Northbrook.

Reeve Henry Hogg said that construction is set to start in the spring.

The building will be a rigid frame steel structure building. Although the final costs of the contract are still being worked out, Hogg said the project will easily cost over $1 million. Once the land and pre-engineering costs are factored in the total price could approach $1.5 million.

The township has been setting aside money for the new fire hall for three years, and will continue to pay for the project into the future, well after the building is completed.

“If we tried to pay for that in one year we would have to put in a 20% tax increase,” said Hogg, “but since we have already built a contribution towards the building into our budgets it will not have a significant impact on the tax rate this year.”

The township had originally planned to build a fire hall/township office on the site, but when faced with daunting costs they decided to build a stand-alone fire hall and leave open the option to build onto the end of the building or to build a stand-alone office on the site sometime in the future.

Back to HomeFeature Article - July 16, 2009 Ten years of fireworks, & tea towels.By Jeff Green

Parky with his wife and partner, Bonnie

Parky, the irrepressible front man at the store across from the Northbrook Foodland, and his wife and partner Bonnie, had retired to Northbrook when they got a bit bored and decided to open a small store.

That was 10 years ago, and since then Parky's store has become a fixture on the local scene, saving people from the region a trip to Napanee or Belleville throughout the year and serving the seasonal and tourist populations during the busy summer season.

“If you look at it on per square foot basis, we have more product on the shelves that Walmart,” said Parky, when interviewed this week from the store.

When they started, Parky's was a one-room store carrying variety products, but over time two extra rooms have been added, and the product line has exploded.

“When people ask us for something and we don't have it, we keep that in mind. If two or three people ask us, then we try and get it into the store,” Parky said.

This has led the store to stock items as diverse as knitting needles and inflatable summer toys, along with a large selection of fireworks, cards, and gift items.

About 60% of the store’s sales takes place in the busy summer season, and 40% during the off season.

“We get people coming in from around here, and from Ardoch and Plevna all year round,” said Parky, “the summer is good but this has turned into a year-round, full-time business. So much for retirement.”

To celebrate their 10th anniversary, Parky's will be holding special draws later in July, along with other events. Just ask Parky or Bonnie about them. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - July 16, 2009 Medical team honoured for 25 years of serviceBy Julie Druker

Mayor of North Frontenac Ron Maguire and Warden of Lennox and Addington County Gord Schermerhorn present Dr. Tobia with a painting of the Northbrook Medical Centre by local artist Carla Miedema.

On Sunday July 12, close to 300 people gathered in Flinton at the Township Recreational Centre to pay their respects and render thanks to the staff at the Northbrook Medical Centre and to Dr.Tobia and his associates for 25 years of service to the community.

Emceed by Ken Hook, the event felt like a large family affair, filled with food, wine, jokes, and laughter.

Dr. Tobia first introduced his associates and staff, and his dry wit and humour had the audience in stitches from the onset.

He thanked his wife and nurse at the centre, Sue Tobia, Dr. Teresa Brereton, Dr. Peter Tam, Dr. Alan Elliot, Sharon Baker, Vivian Lessand, Inta Newman, Beth Hilts, Ruth Distefano, Brenda Madigan, Amanda Thibault, and Wilda Lemke, plus many others he has worked with over the years.

Sue Tobia paid tribute to all of the friends and folks who have worked and continue to work so hard behind the scenes to keep the centre operational for a quarter of a century.

The Northbrook Medical Centre has applied to become a Family Health Team, and Dr. Tobia said, “The big issue is if we will be successful. If we are, that will be a cause for a real celebration.”

The centre’s application will be submitted on July 19 and Dr. Tobia said he hopes to hear back by October.

Dr. Tobia added, “Becoming a member of the Family Health Team will secure and enhance services for the entire area. The Family Health Team sustains itself and it is not dependent on just one person.”

North Frontenac Mayor Ron Maguire, and Addington Highlands Reeve Henry Hogg also thanked the Centre and its staff and acknowledged their support in the application process.

Well-wishers lined up to congratulate the Tobias on their efforts and service over the years and many are hoping that come October a second celebration will be on the agenda.

Back to HomeFeature Article - July 9, 2009 Northbrook Medical Centre 25th Anniversaryby Jeff Green

Back in the 1970s medical services in Northbrook were provided by a nursing staff as well as doctors who flew in from Kingston three days a week. The services, funded by the Physicians and Services Incorporated Foundation for a three year period, were delivered at a clinic that had been set up in the former Northbrook Public School (now the Lions’ hall).

Later the province provided doctors who came in for a few months at a time, but there was no permanent doctor to serve Northbrook and the surrounding region.

A recruitment team was established and visited Ontario medical schools to try to attract a permanent doctor. Doctor Tobia, who had graduated medical school in Ireland and was practising in Newfoundland, contacted the recruitment team and expressed an interest in a rural practice in eastern Ontario. He subsequently relocated to Northbrook with his wife and family.

Doctor Tobia has now been practicing in Northbrook for 25 years. A few years into his practice he built a new medical centre, and the practice has expanded over the years. The medical centre includes a dispensary and dental office, as well as space for the four doctors, full and part time, who practice in Northbrook.

Over the past couple of years the local townships have established doctor recruitment and medical services committees to work with the Northbrook Medical Centre on future projects.

The centre recently joined the Rural Kingston Family Health Network and is in the midst of an application to become a Family Health Team.

There is a satellite office in Denbigh and a satellite in Plevna is being contemplated.

The 25th Anniversary of the Northbrook Medical Centre will be marked by a celebration on Sunday, July 12 in Flinton at the Township Recreation Centre between 2 and 4 pm.

The efforts of all of the people who work or have worked at the medical centre over the past 25 years will be acknowledged. 

Special guests at NAEC’s Remembrance Day assembly was a visiting group of paratroopers from Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, based at CFB Petawawa. The assembly featured several students. Breanna Tryon and Cassandra Parks-Delyea were the emcees. Ms. Buck’s Grade 5/6 class recited “In Flanders Field”, and Sierra Baldacchin, Camille Cote and Madi Lessard recited it in French. Mrs. Fuller’s Grade 1 class sang “It’s a Small World”, and Mrs. Snider’s Kindergarten class recited a poem called “Poppy, poppy”.

Sgt. Cornish introduced the paratroopers to the assembly, and a short video outlined the history of the Canadian Armed Forces. As in previous years, the visiting paratroopers ate lunch with the secondary and elementary students, played with them, and visited classes to talk to them about life in the Armed Forces. Students had a variety of questions prepared for the visitors, ranging from personal interests to skills needed in the Armed Forces. As well as chatting with students about life in the forces, the visitors also watched Ms. Buck and Ms. Cuthill's classes performing a "cup song", which involved a coordinated, rhythmic performance in which students clapped and banged cups on the floor.

Back to HomeFeature Article - May 7, 2009 Pine Meadow receives Legion funding

Ernie Ballar, legion member; Bonnie George, administrator of Pine Meadow Nursing Home; Shirley Shouldice, padre of the Northbrook Legion Branch; Cecil Hawley, president of the Northbrook Legion Branch; Sonja Alcock, chair of the Board of Directors of Land O’ Lakes Community Services; Harry Andringa, legion member; Cathy Ballar, legion member and Board member of Land O’ Lakes Community Services.

We have all heard the statement, “You do not receive what you do not ask for” or “Ask and you will receive”. Well, Pine Meadow Nursing Home asked and we were rewarded for our efforts.

Last year Pine Meadow was approached by a Board member of the Land O’ Lakes Community Services which oversees the home, and a member of the local Northbrook Branch of the Legion with an application for funds to help us purchase much needed items for our home. So we applied. We went out on a limb and asked what we wished for and on April 7 we were rewarded for our efforts and were presented with a cheque for the amount of $6079.49 to pay for three new beds and an oximeter (a medical instrument that is placed on a patient’s finger that measures their oxygen level).

Pine Meadow is very grateful to the Legion for granting our wish and we have been encouraged to apply for more funding in the future. It is a pleasure to know that our home is able to take care of the needs of our residents by our local veterans, of which once jokingly noted, “We are just making the place better for when we come to live here.”

Back to HomeFeature Article - February 5, 2009 Grandmother’s Table:new support group for the Northbrook areaBy Jule Koch Brison

Last year, when Northbrook realtor Chris Winney read in the Frontenac News about the financial and emotional difficulties that grandparents caring for their grandchildren were enduring, she determined to form a support group in her area.

As a grandmother and a former high school teacher, Chris could empathize with those difficulties. She contacted a friend & fellow grandmother, Eleanor Belfry-Lyttle, with her idea and received an enthusiastic response.

At first, one of the ideas that Chris envisioned for the group was a cook-in. “You know how grandmothers always feel they need to be productive. I thought they could make a meal to take home to their families – so they wouldn’t feel guilty taking time to attend the meeting,” she said humorously. “But it didn’t turn out that way.”

The group had its first meeting in January and no one felt the need to cook – or felt guilty at all about having a good time networking with other grandmothers. “We’re just going to let the group lead the way and we’ll try to meet the needs that are expressed,” says Chris. “So many of us are grandmothers now and we have a whole lot of energy – we have a lot more clout than we think. As a group, we can make things happen!”

Although it was the impetus behind the original idea, the group is not only for grandmothers who are raising their grandchildren themselves. ALL grandmothers are invited to be part of this new support group “to share their grand-parenting experiences and stories; to laugh, cry & learn together and help each other to better understand and care for their grandchildren”. 

Please join the group at GRANDMOTHER'S TABLE on the second Tuesday of each month from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. at the Community Access Building, Lower Level, 1234 Hwy 41, Northbrook (next to the LCBO). The next meeting will be on February 10. Contact Eleanor (613-336-1506) or Chris (613-336-1737) for more information.