Dec 21, 2016


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”.

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