Shelby Eves, who lives near Sydenham, and Hilary Voith, from Battersea, know each other from the Frontenac 4H club.

They share a passion for travel and a desire to make a difference in the world as well. When their 4H leader, Darlene Clement, started talking about Common Hope this past fall, the girls' interest was piqued.

Common Hope was founded 30 years ago by the Huebsch family from Minnesota. They began developing educational programs in Guatemala at that time, and have since established a family center, as well as education and health programs serving 11,000 children and adults in the vicinity of Antigua, Guatemala, located to the southwest of Guatemala City.

In addition to being a 4H leader, Darlene Clement is a member of the Kingston Rotary Club, and Rotary has developed a relationship with Common Hope. Part of that relationship involves trips to Common Hope programs by groups of high school students over the March school break.

Shelby and Hilary are the only two Kingston area students who are planning to go this year.

It will be Hilary's second trip to Latin America. Last May, she went to Nicaragua with her school, Lasalle Secondary, and spent a week working in a school. The trip was transformative for her.

“I found the difference between our two countries is very great. Everything they have, they value and cherish; community and family and friends are everything. I felt they were more down to earth, more connected with each other,” she said.

The participants in the Nicaragua trip had to give up their phones for a week, and when Hilary came back to Canada she found her attitude had changed.

“I didn't want my phone back. Over there, I was just teaching English, and trying to talk in Spanish, which was hard because I know so little. They got pencils from the program, and I remember one boy that was so happy to get a pencil, something we don’t even think about at all.”

Shelby is looking forward to seeing a different world, and to helping out.

“I look forward to looking at the faces of the people; to seeing how they react to things. It is a good feeling to help people out, and to learn about them and how they live; how they see the world,” she said.

“You could say - why don't you just send money, and they can buy school supplies - but it's more about breaking down these barriers between us,” added Hilary.

The girls don't know what they will be doing once they get to Guatemala. They could be working in a crew, building houses, going into homes with a worker, or teaching English.

“Whatever is asked of us, we are ready for it,” said Shelby.

The project also includes a fund-raising component. The group includes students from Cornwall and a number from Deep River, where the Rotary Club has a focus on this project.

As an entire group, they have a goal of raising $4,000 to donate. A Go Fund Me page has been set up for the team goal at gofundme.com/e3747qm8

Each individual participant needs to raise as much of the $1,600 US cost of the trip as they can through fund raising to subsidize their own costs.

Shelby and Hilary have done fund-raising in the community and at their schools; Hilary at Lasalle, and Shelby at Sydenham High School. Shelby can be contacted at 613-376-3913 and Hilary at 613-353-6388.

There will also be a fund raising Euchre party at the Storrington Fire Hall in Sunbury on Saturday, February 27 at 7:30 pm. Admission is $5 and there will be prizes, sandwiches and a draw in addition to the card game. All are welcome.

As for Hilary and Shelby, the trip is coming up in a few weeks and they are getting pretty excited about it.

“We have been planning this for four months,” said Shelby, “ever since we heard about it at 4H. There were four or five of us thinking about it at the start, but now it's just us two.”

The girls have become close friends through the planning for the trip, even though they did not know each other well beforehand.

“We know each other pretty well now, though,” said Hilary.

Over 100 diners dressed in high style filled the Oso Hall on January 23 to celebrate famed poet, folk hero, pioneer of the Romantic Movement, and inspiration to the founders of liberalism and socialism, Robbie Burns.

Burns was born on January 25, 1759 and back in 2009 he was voted as “the greatest Scot” by the Scottish public. His poems and songs were front and center at the fundraiser, which was put on jointly by, and in support of the Central Frontenac Volunteer Fire Department and the Frontenac Masonic Lodge No. 621.

The annual event, which attracted lodge members from as far away as Napanee, Harrowsmith, Kingston and Seeley's Bay, continues to highlight the close relationship between the two organizations.

Back in 1949, when the Oso Fire Department was formed, seven Masons were among its 16 founding members and for decades after, the two groups shared the use of the lodge’s well and parking lot while working together on a number of community projects.

The newest members of each organization were honored at the dinner: firefighter/first responders Heather Rioux and Jamie Malone, who joined the CF fire department in December 2014, and the Frontenac Masonic Lodge's newest Master Mason, Matthew Innocente.

The program included words of welcome from CF Fire Chief Bill Young and the lodge's Worshipful Master, Bill Kennedy. Kennedy, who was born in Crow Lake and now resides in Kingston, said that he became involved in the Sharbot Lake lodge because two of his uncles were members, one of them a founding member.

The Masons currently number 50 at the Sharbot Lake lodge and the oldest member is Virgil Garrett, who was in attendance at the dinner. Summing up the work of the Masons, Kennedy said the organization “teaches a system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols.” Kennedy stated, “Essentially the teachings are to make good men better by teaching life lessons and in particular, how to live your life with faith and hope and charity.” Kennedy added that long before there was welfare, there was the Masonic lodge and the churches. Charity given through the lodge was something that was just done and never advertised: “Years ago members would just show up with a cord of wood or a pair of shoes or a side of beef to help those in need. Nowadays we do things like tonight, where we hold fundraisers to support local groups and organizations.”

Currently, the lodge is also supporting renovations at the Child Development Centre at Hotel Dieu Hospital in Kingston, which serves both children and adults with developmental disabilities. Lodge members are also asked to bring a food donation to their regular meetings to support the NF food bank.

Following the opening words of welcome, Jeff Donnelly and Kathleen White piped in the haggis, which arrived fresh from a butcher in Kemptville and was addressed by lodge member Bill Robertson in a rousing toast.

The full course meal included appetizers of Scotch eggs, Cock-a-leekie soup, stuffed pork loin with all of the fixings and sticky pudding for dessert. Afterwards guests were entertained by Philippe Archambault, who gave the toast “to the lasses”, to which Frances Smith responded.

Kingston lodge member Ross Morton recited Burns' epic poem “Tam o' Shanter”, in which Burns paints a vivid and humorous picture of the drinking classes in the old Scottish town of Ayr in the late 18th Century. Local residents, Ken Fisher, Janet Gutowski and Simon Spanchak also recited selected verses written by the famed poet and Brent Cameron made a toast to “The Immortal Memory”.

Musical entertainment was provided by famed local fiddler Jessica Wedden and the evening was capped off with diners singing Burns' best-known song, “Auld Lang Syne”.

Proceeds from a raffle held at the celebration went to support Villages Beautiful and the North Frontenac Food Bank.

A group of friends, mostly from South Frontenac, began talking on the phone and getting together back in September about the possibility of sponsoring a refugee family.

Talk turned to more talk, which led to a few meetings, some research, an alliance with a church in Kingston and a similar group of friends from Wolfe Island, and even more research. Eventually that initial group has become the 30-member Frontenac Refugee Support Committee (FRSC).

Five months later, everything is in place. A family of 12 is ready to come and live in a rented house in Kingston that is being furnished and supplied with everything they will need to get started. The location that was chosen is near education and language services.

“It has been quite a learning experience for us. We talked to Lifeline Syria, which is based in Toronto, at first. They told us it was a very complicated process, and recommended one of three ways of going about it, something that is called a blended visa process,” said Nancy Bayly, who lives in the Desert Lake area and is a member of the committee.

Under the process, the FSRC became affiliated with the First Baptist Church in Kingston, which has a long history of supporting refugees, and has agreed to act as the sponsoring body. The committee needs to raise about half of the money to support the family for one year and the Government of Canada will pay the other half.

It became clear early on that it would be best to settle the family in Kingston when they first arrive, because of proximity to services. The public school near the home that has been rented for the family has an Arabic club, and LCVI, which is close by, has an ESL (English as a Second Language) program.

“Eventually it may be they will want to relocate in the country,” said Bayly. “We have been told that the family has a background in farming, and the members of our group who are from Wolfe Island are aware of some possibilities for employment in farms on the island.”

The FSRC has also made use of the resources offered by ISKA (Immigrant Services of Kingston and Area) an affiliate of the Kingston Family Health Centres, which helps immigrant families navigate the bureaucratic systems in Canada, as well as with health and socialization.

About $24,000 has been raised, in addition to everything from bedding to winter clothing to kitchen utensils. It is anticipated that another $20,000 will need to be raised to cover all the costs.

A fundraising concert with the Shout Sister Choir is set for the First Baptist Church, 110 Sydenham Street, Kingston on February 21 at 2:30 pm. Events on Wolfe Island and in South Frontenac are being planned as well.

Bayly said that information from the government about the family and the timeframe for their arrival has been hard to come by.

“We know there are 12 in the family, and we know there are two parents and some children in their 20s as well as some younger children, and that they all have the same last name, but we have no further details. We know they have been through the approval process, and we have as well, but from what we have heard there is a bit of a bureaucratic bottleneck in Beirut, where the flights come from,” she said. “They could come at any time, and there may be little or no advance notice to us.”

She has heard from others that there have been cases where groups have not heard a thing until they got a call telling them the family is waiting at the airport, although a day or two's notice is more common.

There have been at least two families from Syria who have arrived in Kingston in recent weeks and months, in addition to the families from other parts of Africa. An Eritrean family, sponsored by parishioners from three Anglican churches, including St. Paul's in Sydenham, arrived in late October of last year and has also settled in Kingston.

For further information, contact Nancy Bayly at 613-572-1951, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or search for Frontenac Refugee Support Committee on facebook.

Over 60 people of all ages attended the dinner and Chinese auction fundraiser at the Snow Road Snowmobile Club on January 16. The event included a full course meal and as well, close to 20 items, most donated by club members, were auctioned off. By the end of the night over $500 was raised and the proceeds will go towards the cost of keeping the club operating.

Club organizers have also been busy preparing for the club’s second annual Ride For Dad fundraiser for Prostate Cancer, which will take place at the club on Saturday, February 27. Last year’s event attracted close to 100 riders and club president Ruth Wark says she hopes to see that number rise. “We're shooting for 150 riders this year and it looks as though the snow and cold will help the trails freeze down and make for a great day of riding for those who come out.” Local businesses are invited to sponsor the event.

Registration takes place the day of the ride from 8 –10 am. The $30 registration fee includes a trail lunch at the Civitan Club in Lanark, and riders who raise over $100 in pledges will get their registration fee returned, or, if they wish they can donate it to the cause. The club will be serving a full course spaghetti dinner the night of the ride for $8.

Riders will depart from Snow Road and follow the trail to Sharbot Lake, then head east to Perth and north to Lanark, where they will stop for lunch. They will then continue on to Middleville, Hopetown and meet back at the club. The 100km ride will take riders through some fabulous scenery and terrain. Participants can pre-register at www.ridefordad.ca and supporters can also make pledges on line there. For more information, contact Ruth Wark at 613-278-0477.

Stay off of thin ice for any purpose, OPP warns

Pass holders for the trail system run by the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) sat on their hands throughout the green Christmas season, but were buoyed by a heavy snowfall on December 28 and subsequent cold weather.

The trails are still not open, however, and the word from local snowmobile clubs, who each have responsibility for a different section of trail, is that it will not be until next week, at the earliest, before any of the trails in Frontenac and Lennox and Addington are officially open.

Dieter Eberhardt, the trails co-ordinator for the L&A Ridgerunners Snowmobile Club, which handles grooming on the Cataraqui and K&P Trails as well as a smaller trail that runs through Puzzle Lake Provincial Park to Arden on the north end and Yarker to the south, said that when the snow first came to the Ridgerunners trails it fell on ground that had no frost in it at all, and going over the trail with any machine only revealed mud beneath.

“Now that any water in the snow or ground has turned to ice, that is no longer a problem, but what we are still dealing with is a lack of snow,” he said.

He added that the groomers are out on the trails this week and with a bit more snow cover the K&P and Cat trail portions will be open in a week or so. What he calls the backwoods trail runs over lakes and will not be open until the lakes have a solid base of at least 15 cm of ice on them, which will take longer.

“Since the Cataraqui and K&P Trails are open for other uses, snowmobilers are using them now, but we are not going to sanction their use until we have groomed them and are sure they are in good condition for snow machines,” he said.

Meanwhile further north, the Mazinaw Powerline Club has not had as much of a problem with lack of snow on their trails because the storm on December 28 delivered up to 30 cm of dense, packed snow to the north-south trail they manage between Kaladar and the top of the county.

“We need to go over the trail twice. The first time is what we call packing, and it includes removing limbs and other debris on the trail along with packing the snow. The second pass is the grooming pass. We are working on it now,” said club president Pat Reid, who was working on the trail when contacted via cellphone on a chilly Tuesday morning.

Beaver flooding on the K&P Trail north of Snow Road has been the pre-occupation of groomers working with the Snow Road Snowmobile Club. They manage the K&P Trail from St. Georges Lake in the south all the way to the border of North Frontenac and Lanark in the north, as well as some east-west trails.

“There is quite a swath that is covered in water because of beavers,” said club president Alice Gilchrist.

The club is also, like the Mazinaw Powerline, going over parts of the trail that are located on private land that they could not get to until the snow was on the ground.

“We have to wait until hunting season is over, and this year some farmers kept their cattle out late because they still had grass, so we are working hard to get everything ready,” she said.

Because of the beaver issue the Snow Road club does not know when the portion north of Road 509 will be open.

All the clubs are keeping any of their trails that cross over lakes closed until there is enough ice on the lakes to put in a safe trail.

As far as lake ice is concerned, the OPP SAVE (Snowmobile, ATV and Vessel Enforcement) unit are warning people to be stay off the ice throughout Eastern Ontario.

“It's not safe to be out on the lakes at this time,” Sgt. Byron Newell of the SAVE unit told CBC Ottawa last weekend.

"You want nice, clear, blue or black ice. If it's opaque at all, that means there's a snow freeze on the ice, which makes the ice more weak and dangerous," he added.

According to Newell, and this view was echoed by the snowmobile clubs consulted for this story, 15 cm of ice, at a minimum, is required for the ice to be deemed safe for use.

However, ice needs to be monitored for safety at all times, which snowmobile clubs do on all ice trails that are part of their networks.

"Ice is never 100 per cent safe," cautioned Newell.

Adele Colby, chair of Grandmothers-by-the-Lake, the local chapter of the Stephen Lewis Foundation's Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, recently returned from a trip to Entebbe, Uganda where she attended a conference for the Ugandan grandmothers who have been supporting and caring for the thousands of Ugandan children orphaned as a result of Africa's HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Colby said the trip has further strengthened her resolve as she and her group continue to fundraise for the cause they have been supporting for years.

Stephen Lewis began the campaign as a way for Canadians to support the thousands of African grandmothers caring for millions of orphaned African children. The gathering was sponsored by five different organizations including the Stephen Lewis Foundation along with four Ugandan organizations.

It was Colby's second trip to Africa. Her first trip was in 2010 to Swaziland for a gathering of grandmothers from all over Sub-Saharan Africa. For this second trip Colby was one of 20 Canadian grandmothers along with two others from the UK, whose roles were as observers. She said she was struck by the headway that the Ugandan grandmothers are making and how the conference, which was the first official gathering of Ugandan grandmothers since the campaign began a decade ago, was aimed at addressing the specific issues that the Ugandan grandmothers are currently facing. These issues include health care, children's education, pensions, violence and inheritances. “It's obvious just from being there and seeing the evolution that has taken place that the issues facing these women are changing. Whereas a number of the basic and major issues have been addressed since 2006, these women now are striving to gain more independence and the gathering focused on finding ways to support their constitutional rights, many of which exist in the Ugandan constitution but sadly are not being enforced.”

In illustrating the progress the women have made, Colby said, “When I was in Swaziland in 2010, it was rare to see women speaking out in the workshops whereas at this gathering, women were lining up to speak. A number of them are even running for political office, which was absolutely amazing to see.” She cited other major changes that have taken place, including community banking.

Still, she said, much work needs to be done. “These women are not asking for anything that they are not entitled to, but just want things like their basic human rights.”

The Stephen Lewis Foundation learned much from the first Swaziland gathering and Colby said that future gatherings will be held in specific single African countries in an effort to address each country's unique issues. This recent change means that each conference's agenda can be geared to address the specific action plans of the various African grandmothers. “I feel that this conference was a real turning point in Africa in that these women have an urgency now that they are getting older. They now have enough confidence to speak out and the focus that I took away is that these women want to make sure that the children are educated so they can successfully launch themselves into society”.

During the trip all the grandmothers joined forces and completed a three-kilometre walk where they passed by the Ugandan prime minister's office. Colby said their presence was well received by residents in the city. “I really had a sense during this trip that things are out in the open, and that nothing is hidden any more.”

The fact that there are still 260,000 new cases of HIV/AIDS every year across the African continent means that there is still much work to do; however Colby also believes that the role of the Canadian grandmothers is slowly changing as well. “You really get a sense that it is African women who will save Africa and our dream is that one day we will no longer be needed.”

Colby said that her group is planning a number of fundraisers for 2016. Green thumbs will be thrilled to know that gardening guru Ed Lawrence will be back by popular demand on Saturday, May 7 to speak and answer gardening questions at a venue to be announced. Tickets are $20. Also coming up is the group's annual bake and plant sale, which will take place at St. Paul's United Church in Harrowsmith on Saturday, May 28.

As well, participants taking part in the annual national grandmothers' walk will be looking for pledges. For more information about the Grandmothers-by-the-Lake group and/or to join, contact Marni Pedersen at 613-374-9929. Adele Colby is also available to speak to groups and organizations about the Grandmothers-by-the-Lake group, the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the amazing work that these African grandmothers have been doing. She can be contacted at 613-375-8845.

The 12th annual Sharbot Lake Community Christmas Dinner & Celebration was held on Christmas Day at the St. James Major Catholic Church hall, with approximately 90 people attending. The turkey and ham dinner was a sumptuous feast and almost all the guests took home extra meals for subsequent days and for other family members and friends. Dinners were also delivered to those who could not attend. The dinner happens every year thanks to amazingly generous donations from local businesses, churches, organizations and individuals, and to the hard work of the many volunteers who set up the hall, prepare and serve the meal, wash the dishes, play music, and do countless other tasks. Organizers felt especially lucky this year to be joined by new volunteers, Dean and Jennifer of Primitive Catering, who contributed their considerable culinary skills and delicious casseroles to the dinner. The MC was Trina Wilson, who led the audience in singing favorite Christmas songs, and in playing ingenious games that everyone thoroughly enjoyed. A huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, who donated and who helped in any way.

On Sat. February 27, Snow Road Snowmobile Club will again host a Telus Ride for Dad event in support of the fight against prostate cancer. This will be the second year this small club has taken on the challenge. Last year over $8,500 was raised and organizers are hoping to increase that amount this year. You do not have to be a sledder to support or assist at this event. Volunteers are needed for preparing and serving food, directing traffic on event day, registration of riders, signing the trail route, contacting donors, and picking up donations, etc. If interested, contact a club member, leave a message at the clubhouse, 613-278-2022, send a message on Facebook or go to one of the club breakfasts, which are starting again on Sat. January 9.   

Thanks to the many members of Villages Beautiful, an army of volunteers, and not least, those who donated unique creations and/or their musical talents to this year's festival, the much-anticipated annual event once again made for a joyful start to the Christmas season. From December 10 – 12, the Oso Hall in Sharbot lake was again transformed into a warm, twinkling and colorful Christmas wonderland, where numerous local talents took to the stage to entertain, while guests had the happy task of choosing which of the beautiful trees, wreaths, gift baskets, wall hangings, anything goes or gingerbread creations they wanted to try to win. The entries were donated by individuals, organizations and businesses from in and around the local community. The theme of this year's festival, Christmas, Past, Present and Future, made for some very intriguing displays.

Hats off to the organizers and volunteers who worked so hard to bring the spirit of the holidays to downtown Sharbot Lake, and do not forget that the beauty of this event comes not just once a year. Proceeds from the festival support Villages Beautiful, who come spring will be busy helping our hamlets to come alive with flowers and shrubs in the upcoming spring and summer seasons.

2015 Festival of Trees Winners

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow was the theme for this year’s festival of trees, and those traditions were shown in many fine and creative entries. Winners were two-fold: those who entered an item, and those who took it home!

Large Trees: W. A. Robinson Asset Management Ltd. won 1st prize for their tree “Time Frame” and the lucky winner was Mackenzie Whan. The 2nd prize went to the Township of Central Frontenac for their decoration “Remember When”, taken home by Mike McGovern. The 3rd prize was Mike Dean’s Super Foods Store “Olde” which was won by Muriel Wager. “Brunfelsia” decorated by the Treasure Trunk went to Mary Raymond. St. Lawrence Employment Services “Out of this World Christmas” to Lorette Gray, and the Friday Night Ladies' “Santa Goes Back to the Future” to Shiobhan Weatherby.

Small Trees - First prize entry by North Frontenac Community Services “A Tree of Peace and Giving” was won by Steve Duggan; 2nd prize by North Frontenac Telephone Company, “Visions of Sugar Plums” went home with Cheryl Allan; and 3rd prize winner, “The Gift” by Subway went to Ainsley Thompson. “12 Days of Christmas” by RBC to Rob Harrison; “May the Light of Christmas Shine Through the Years” by the Sharbot Lake Pharmasave to Helen Hoogsteen; “Greetings Across Time” by Lake District Realty to Crystal Nedow; “Feeding Feathered Friends” by North Frontenac Little Theatre to H Ridell; and “Small Beginnings, Bountiful Future” by Flight Centre Associates to Alicia Cota.

Mini Trees: This new category was a great addition to the Festival. The CF Railway Heritage Society won 1st prize for their entry of “Getting Home for Christmas” which was won by John Lee. “Rewind, Play, Fast Forward” by Drapeau Automatic Sprinkler Corp. took 2nd prize and went to Deb Deline; and 3rd prize by Steve Duggan’s Law Office “Peace Tree” taken home by Ruth.Frontenac Plumbing’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” to Anne Howes.

Gingerbread Creations: First prize went to “Santa’s First Christmas” by the Whan/Melkman Family and was won by Bryson Gibson. Second prize, “Santa Got Run Over by a UFO” by Northern Connections Adult Learning Centre went home with Ben J.; and third prize “Traditions Through Time” by Linda DeVries to John Lee.

Wall Hangings: Carol Raymo’s 1st prize “Another Moonlit Christmas Eve on the Farm” to Brian West; Arden Batik’s 2nd prize “Christmas in the Spiral Galaxy” to James Duthie; and Ann Howitt’s 3rd prize winner “Forever Snoopy” to Glenys Bender. The winner of “Christmas in the Woods” by Helene Riddell was J. Copes; “Christmas is by Glades Taber” by Clip It went to Shiobhan Weatherby; and Gordon Wright’s “Old Tyme Country Christmas” to Barb Neil.

Wreaths: “Christmas in the Country ca. 1900” by Arden Seniors received 1st place and was won by Joanne Delyea. The 2nd place wreath, “Indulgence”, created by the Community Living North Frontenac, went home with J.C.; and 3rd place, “Honour. Live. Dream.” by Black Kettle Catering to Rob Moore. “Christmas Bells” by Seeds, to Doug Steele. The wreath titled “Where the Future Meets the Past” by CREC Student Council went to Ryan Michie.

Anything Goes: “A Natural Merry Christmas” created by the Sharbot Lake 39ers received 1st prize in this category and was won by Dawn Ray. “Wishing you Happiness in the Future” by Linda DeVries took 2nd prize and was won by Ardith Arney. The 3rd prize, “Life” by George Allen went to Helene Riddell. “Inspiration for a Christmas Tomorrow” by Larocque Masonry & Donna Larocque’s Sign Shoppe was won by Sue Kerteston.

Baskets – Friday Night Ladies’ “Always Time for Tea” took 1st prize and was won by Pam Giroux; “Christmas Nostalgia” by Friends of Arden won 2nd prize and went home with Heather Eagen; 3rd prize, “T’was the Night Before Christmas” by the St. Lawrence Employment Services to Diane Morrow. “Reading Through Time” by Lakeside Readers – T. Cox; “A Hair Raising Holiday” by Dynamic Hair Design – Brenda Whan; “Christmas Gone By, Happening & Yet to Come” by Sharbot Lake and District Lions – John Sparks; “A Taste of Summer Past ” by Sharbot Lake Farmers Market – Paula Rupert; “A Taste of the Season” by Cottage Country Outdoor Supplies – Heather Card; “I Think I’ll Go Back to Using Reindeer” by Desrosiers Small Engine Repair – Diane Morrow; and “Relaxing was, is and will always be the best time” by Sharbot Lake Country Inn – Linda Cooke.

Table Decorations – “Timeless Beauty” by Ram’s Esso received 1st prize in this category. The three parts of it were won by Ruth Pearce (chocolate basket), F. Harvey (Nutcracker), and Glenys Bender (floral arrangement). “Luck in the Future” by Norma’s Barbershop & Hair Styling and was won by M. Gilchrist.

Gift Certificates – The Gibson’s Garage gift certificate for an Oil Change was won by Chris Johnson, and the Amazing Dollar Store certificate went to Tina McConnell. The food hamper, put together by Villages Beautiful, was won by Chris Bertrim and Villages Beautiful “Snowman Evolution” went to Penny McGonagel.

The People’s Choice Award went to “Inspiration for a Christmas Tomorrow” (Larocque Masonry & Donna Larocque’s Sign Shoppe). The Children’s Choice Award was “Visions of Sugar Plums” (North Frontenac Telephone Company).

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 the Township of Central Frontenac. .

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 Medical Centre; Sharbot Lake Dental Office; Sharbot Lake Lawn Service; Robinson’s Excavating & Trucking; Donna’s Sign Shoppe; Rebekahs Society; Home Hardware; Gray’s Grocery; RTR Tree Service; Angelo DiCintio; Mike Dean’s Super Foods; Tarasick Carpentry, Sydenham Veterinary Services; Leonard Fuels; Goodfellows Funeral Home; and Ken Young.

Thank you to all the volunteers who made this year another success.

Addington Highlands Township hosted their annual Christmas party in Flinton on November 28, and Reeve Henry Hogg presented two awards. The “Outstanding Volunteer” award was given to Ernie and Cathy Ballar. Ernie and his daughter, June Thompson, accepted the award on behalf of Cathy, who sadly passed away on September 19, 2015. The Outstanding Volunteer award is presented to individuals who make a significant voluntary contribution to benefit the community in the areas of social or economic growth. The “Outstanding Business” award was presented to Hook’s Building Centre. The Outstanding Business is presented to acknowledge businesses that achieve excellence while meeting the needs of residents and visitors.