For close to 15 years now, the Festival of Trees has sparked off the holiday season in Central Frontenac as well as raising funds for two important organizations. Once again, hats off to the members of Villages Beautiful, their dedicated crew of community volunteers and the countless generous donors whose efforts once again magically transformed Oso hall in Sharbot Lake into a festive wonderland of holiday sights and sounds. Admission is a donation to the food bank and from Dec. 11 - 13, hundreds of visitors of all ages attended this year's festival, whose theme was the "Traditions of Christmas".

The beauty of the Festival of Trees is its ability to engage so many people from the local community -from those who either help run and organize it, to those who donate and /or perform at it, and finally to those who wouldn't miss it for the world, and who come every year to enjoy it.

The festival is the main fundraiser for Villages Beautiful, and the proceeds are used to spiffy up our villages and hamlets with fresh plants, shrubs, trees and flowers in the spring.

What is truly amazing about the festival is the great lengths that donors will go to to make their entries not only memorable but much sought after. On the day before the festival's opening, many donors cram into Oso Hall to decorate their trees, assemble their gift baskets and hang their wreaths, artworks and gingerbread creations and other theme-related offerings.

This year's entries were as usual, top notch and very creative, and the stellar line up of talented singers and musicians brought the hall to life over the duration of the festival. Congratulations to all of the winners and here are a few pictures highlighting some of the special memories from this years Festival of Trees.

The Verona Community Association’s 2nd annual “Christmas in the Village” is truly an event that has something for everyone. It is completely free and was put on at the Verona Lions hall on November 29 by members of the Verona Community Association (VCA) as a thank you to the local community.

Linda Bates, the chair of this year’s event, said that it is “the VCA's way of saying thank you to the local community for supporting us in our many events that have taken place throughout the year and is our way of welcoming local children into the beginning of this holiday season.”

Christmas in the Village included numerous indoor and outdoor activities for kids including rides on the Verona Express train, wagon rides courtesy of Wayne Garrison and his team Prince and Skittles, an outdoor marshmallow roasting pit, numerous holiday crafts, a tree lighting ceremony and judging contest, door prizes, games for adults and much more. Musical entertainment was provided by the Camp Fire Boys and a plethora of snacks including chili, burgers and hot dogs, plus numerous sweet treats including Phylis Harper's famous homemade donuts and Yvonne Guthro's holiday rice crispie squares were also in abundance and available free of charge.

Children also had a chance to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, who made a special appearance. Close to 300 people attend the event annually and families, especially those with young children, had a chance to relax and socialize thanks to the hard work of the members of the VCA.

Sharbot Lake and District Lions, l-r Ron Hollywood, Bill Zwier, Coleen Richter and Candy Claessen served up a hearty all-you-can-eat breakfast on November 22 at Oso hall to close to 100 guests. Proceeds from the event will support the Salvation Army's annual Christmas Basket drive, which will benefit and brighten the lives of many local families during this upcoming holiday season.

Upcoming for the Lions is their Country Christmas Jamboree, an afternoon of music and dancing that will take place on Sat. Dec. 13 at Land O'Lakes Public School in Mountain Grove beginning at 1pm. The event will be hosted by Fred Brown with musical entertainment featuring Lisa Hart, Mitch Barker, Jessica Wedden, the Old Habits, the Fred Brown band and with special guest Steve Piticco. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by contacting Dave Hansen at 613-375-6318 or Linda Zwier at 613-335-2053.The Lions welcome donations of empty beer and liquor bottles all year long at the Crow Lake dump site on Wemp Road in Sharbot Lake.  

by Jean Brown

Last week a large contingency of our Land O' Lakes Seniors visited two members at their home in Pine Meadow, notably Verna Cowdy and Betty Tarney, along with many other friends. Sharing laughs, telling hunting stories, and enjoying coffee made for a fun morning, in spite of the roaring snow outside. We donated funds to aid the Pine Meadow Family Council, whose mission is "to improve the quality of life for all residents by promoting an atmosphere of sensitivity, caring and support among staff, friends and family members of the residents." The Council supports the needs of staff and residents by offering fun and fundraising events that enable other events such as a steak BBQ for all residents, staff appreciation day, Christmas gifts for all residents, and much more. Pine Meadow is buzzing with excitement as Christmas approaches and as the new addition nears completion and folks move into their newly renovated rooms. Thanks one and all.

by Marilyn Bolender

On October 1, the Land O' Lakes Lions Club presented a cheque to the Land O' Lakes Community Food Bank in the amount of $2,000. On the left is Lion Pam Lemke, in the centre Lion Red Emond, and missing from the picture Lion Phil Barchard, who were instrumental in raising this money by holding the 1st Annual Fun Golf Tournament, held at Hunters Creek Golf Club. Receiving the cheque is Betty Pearce. The Lions hope to make this event an annual affair and many people are already asking for a spot for next year. The local food bank has had an abundance of calls for help this year and with more money going out than coming in, the LOL Lions helped fill the void.

by Linda Zwier

Would you like to help local kids who have vision or hearing problems? Given the opportunity, wouldn’t you support people who may be blind, deaf, on dialysis or have diabetes? Would you say no to helping raise funds for the Food Bank, the Salvation Army Christmas Hampers, the CNIB or the Summer Swim Program?

The Sharbot Lake & District Lions Club has been serving this area for over 63 years. We are presently seeking community-minded people who want to make a difference in their own neighborhood or even half way around the world. Our official motto is simply “We Serve”. What better way to explain our mission? You can learn more about the Lions by attending our Information night on November 18 at 7 p.m. at Oso Hall in Sharbot Lake. Check us out on Facebook or visit our websites: www.sharbotlions.com or www.lionsclubs.org .

Anyone 18 and over can become a Lion. In fact, we have several couples who enjoy Lionism as a rewarding family activity. Yes, we work hard but there is also a social aspect to membership. We enjoy many fun activities with the folks from other Lions clubs, especially those from nearby communities here in Eastern Ontario. Membership in a Lions Club provides people with the opportunity to meet and work with other individuals, striving toward the common goal of helping those in need. We enjoy the camaraderie of the group as we involve ourselves in club activities. The satisfaction gained by being a part of these efforts is one of the big rewards of being a Lion.

How do we serve? We are very proud of our “Vision Screening” program. For over 10 years we have been testing the eyesight of local kindergarten and grade one students. In October we visited the schools in Plevna and Mountain Grove, along with Granite Ridge and St. James Major schools in Sharbot Lake. We use equipment purchased with the monies we have collected through our various fundraising activities. A new piece of gear now allows us to test their hearing as well. And we continue to support a project called “No Child Without”. In this program, we work hand-in-hand with the Medic Alert Association to provide every child in our local schools with the Medic Alert bracelets they may need to keep them safe at school, at home and everywhere in between.

We also enjoy working with our senior citizens. In mid-June each year we go to a seniors’ home to barbeque hamburgers and hot dogs for the residents and their families. And each October for the past 38 years we have invited local seniors to spend a wonderful evening of entertainment, prizes and good things to eat. We even provide the buses to bring folks in from all over the district.

We are proud to support Adopt-A-Highway, our pavilion at Oso Beach, the Central Frontenac Summer Swim program and the parades at Christmas and Canada Day. Over the years we have purchased equipment for the Medical Centre, the playground at the beach and have provided financial support to the Dog Guides, the Salvation Army, the Canadian Diabetes Association, the Food Bank and many others, including people with specific needs within our own community. We could do none of this without the support of local folks like you! When a Lion asks you to buy a chocolate Easter bunny, a Christmas fruit cake or a raffle ticket on any of our great prizes, your money goes to support all of the above – and more!

How can you help? You could add your name to our list of community volunteers or you could become a full-fledged Lion. We are always seeking new members in our club. We need people who want to improve their community. You can email us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 613-539-8190 or 613-375-6318. WE SERVE!

In July of this year, the Lions Club held its 97th Annual International Convention in Toronto! The Lions Club is the biggest community service organization in the world with more than 1.6 million members and close to 20,000 of them came from around the world to attend the convention here in Canada. The eight delegates from Sharbot Lake were thrilled to watch as the Parade of Nations made its way, for over five hours, down University Avenue. That evening, delegates representing about 189 countries filled the Air Canada Centre to near capacity. Your eight local Lions came away with a renewed commitment to serve their community, their country and the world. Next year the International Convention will be held in Honolulu!

Two dances are being held to support Christmas toy drives in Frontenac County, one in Verona at the Lions Hall on November 15, and a second in Sydenham at the Sydenham Legion on December 13.

All of the proceeds from the events will benefit the Verona Christmas Committee and the Loughborough Christmas and Emergency Relief Committee.

Tom Revell, Matt Clow and James Deline of Sydenham have joined forces to put the two events together, and while they will both have the same format, the character of the two communities and different bands will make the events quite different.

On November 15, the doors open at 8 pm and there will be items on display at the back of the hall for a silent auction that will wrap up later in the evening. On stage, three bands will take turns entertaining the audience and filling the dance floor: Bauder Road, the Feral Five, and Ten Cent Hat. As well, some special friends might show up to add to the line up.

Tom Revell, who started organizing these events with his Little Betty band mate Matt Clow ten years ago, said that he was taken with the commitment made by 30 or 40 volunteers of the Verona Christmas Committee.

“They each have a number of kids to shop for and they need to find out about the kids, their ages and interests and then shop just for them. I hate shopping, so I thought I'd play some guitar instead and the dances started happening,” he said.

Last year the Verona dance raised about $3,000 and they hope to do the same again this year.

The dance starts at 8 pm and ends at 1 am. It is a licensed event and tickets are $20, available in advance at Nicole's Gifts and Toppers in Verona. For further information, call Tom at 613-888-2429.

The Sydenham event is still a month off but mark December 13 on your calendars now. The bands that are already booked for that event are Dark Horse, Bauder Road and Still Standing.  

by Julie Druker and Jeff Green

It was an emotional afternoon at the new Land O'Lakes Emmanuel United Church in Northbrook, where a full house gathered to say farewell to Reverend Judith Evenden. Evenden became the minister at the pastoral charge eight years ago, which at that time included the United churches of Cloyne, Flinton and Harlowe. In what she described as “eight wonderful years of transformational ministry”, she helped the three congregations through a challenging time of change that saw them come together in a difficult decision to sell off the three church properties in order to build a new, more functional place of worship.

With the new church near Northbrook nearly complete and with the congregation now worshiping there, it seems ironic that Evenden, who was at the helm during the historic changes, is now taking leave of her flock after having brought them together under one roof. Evenden gave her notice back in July informing her congregation that she would be moving back to Kingston and would be holding her final service at Land O' Lakes Emmanuel United on October 26. With that date in mind the congregation planned a special celebration and invited Evenden and her partner Eleanor Belfry-Lyttle to the new church on October 25 for a farewell that included an entertaining and heartfelt recounting of her history and accomplishments there.

Speakers included mission chair Jean Sedore, Lois Wise, Janet Wilson, Bev Scott and Louise Hogg and the presentations were filled with laughter, joy and tears. Evenden was presented with a number of gifts and keepsakes and she spoke to me of the final sermon that she would be giving the following day. She spoke of the coincidental timing of her departure. “When I gave my notice in July, I used the end of the Exodus story. Because we at the United church work on a certain cycle of readings that is used internationally, what I did not know is that the reading tomorrow will be that Exodus story.” Evenden said that she will be giving the congregation cuttings from a Moses in the Bulrushes plant, which she was gifted and has cared for for decades. She will also be giving the congregation a Bible as a parting gift. In the interim until a new minister is appointed, members will be carrying on regular worship services at the new church, and former minister, Reverend Wayne Hilliker, will be leading services there along with others.

Evenden said she will be returning to the church for its special dedication service, which will be taking place in the near future.

Photo-2006 Reverend Judith Evenden and her partner Eleanor Belfry-Lyttle were honored at a special service at Land O'Lakes Emmanuel United church in Northbrook on October 25

by Angela Bright

The Denbigh Griffith Lions Club, formed in 1998, is part of Lions Clubs International, which is the world's largest service club organization. The Lions' motto is "We Serve" and our local Lions are part of a global service network, doing whatever is necessary to help our local communities. The club, at a current count of 24 members, donates about $20,000 each year to a variety of projects and causes. One of the current major initiatives is to donate $25,000 over five years ($5000 per year) to the Lakelands Family Health Team (LFHT) in Denbigh. On Wednesday, October 22, at a club meeting, the official cheque presentation and most recent installment was presented to, and gratefully accepted by, Janice Powell of LFHT. Powell shared that while she was not intending to stay on for more than a few years, it has become her passion and she is now in year four with LFHT. Working to gain the services currently in place and others that may be realized down the road, has, and is her objective. This money is a part of how that happens and thus, patients have the opportunity to have more tests completed locally. The Denbigh Clinic serves the greater communities of Denbigh, Griffith, Matawatchan and the surrounding area, and has increased access to primary health care for residents of this remote and isolated area. Patients now have more access to a physician and nurses, as well as access to a nurse practitioner, a dietitian, a mental health counselor, and an advanced foot care specialist, in their home community. LFHT offers several programs (hypertension, diabetic, smoking cessation, Healthy You: Weight Management), and preventative care. Emergency care is also provided at the Denbigh site.

As far as the fund raising end of things go, Lion Bill Shipley summed it up; “If it's not fun, it's no fun at all and not worth doing.” With the amount of money that has been raised for projects like the LFHT, the Lions are definitely having fun doing it.

Sharbot Lake and District Lions president Bill Zwier welcomed the over 100 seniors who gathered at the Land O' Lakes Public School in Mountain Grove on October 22 for the 38th rendition of their annual Seniors Night. The event, which is sponsored by W. A. Robinson Asset Management Ltd. of Sharbot Lake, buses in seniors from the townships of Central and North Frontenac who wish to attend the event. Guests enjoyed an evening of first-rate entertainment courtesy of local Elvis tribute artist and Johnny Cash impersonator Dan Stoness, young fiddler Jessica Wedden and local musician Tommy Asselstine. Guests had a chance to win numerous door prizes that were handed out throughout the evening. Members of the club also had a chance to show off their star power in a number of comical skits. Elvis put on a very memorable and interactive show and offered a special birthday tribute to two lucky ladies in the audience, Shirley Jones and Lois Webster, who were both celebrating their birthdays the night of the event.

The evening concluded with a generous spread of refreshments and once again the Lions proved that they indeed know how to put together a show and entertain guests.

Hats off to all the Lions, including chair of the Seniors Night committee Linda Zwier who unfortunately, due to a fall, was unable to attend. It was the second year that the Lions held the annual event at Land O' Lakes P.S. Previously it had been held at the former Sharbot Lake High School.