The first part of today’s column is directed to those folks who are NOT regulars at the annual Dunvegan Recreation Christmas fundraising concert for the Alexandria Food Bank. Perhaps you attended for a couple years, but you’ve only got so much Christmas cheer to spread around. I get it.
While I love annual holiday traditions (Terry and I watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” or “Miracle on 34th Street” every year), not everyone marches to this drum. And I’ll be the first to admit that our annual Christmas Concert offering may have gotten a bit stale. That’s one of the reasons we took a year off. To regroup.
And that’s what we’ve done. This year’s concert is completely different, thanks to the tremendous dedication and hard work of Rosemary Chatterson and her amazing cast of volunteer performers (nearly all of whom are seniors) from all across North Glengarry.
How so? Well, instead of the Yuletide readings and sing-a-long carols of previous years, our 2015 concert is a revue — a term the dictionary aptly defines as “a light theatrical entertainment consisting of a series of short sketches, songs, and dances, typically dealing satirically with topical issues.” In our case, the revue is all about Christmas.
Rosemary has over 15 years of experience mounting amateur productions such as these. And after having attended a number of rehearsals, I know you’ll be tickled pink at what she and her troupe have been able to put together. From the foot-stomping opening number to the wacky finale that brings the entire cast and crew on stage to perform for you, it is a sheer delight.
Unfortunately though, I won’t be able to make it to opening night, December 4th. Something dull and dreary has come up that I can’t put off. So I am appealing to my readers to spread the word and fill up the community hall in Dunvegan. These wonderful
volunteer thespians have been rehearsing ever since July and they deserve our support. It’s all for a worthy cause and I guarantee you’ll have a good time.
Showtime on December 4th… and December 11th… is 7:30 PM. And admission is only $10 per person (which the Alexandria Food Bank will turn into $30 for local families in need). I’ll be there in spirit. But I hope you’ll be there for real — at 19314 County Road 24, Dunvegan.
Now it’s a SKIM MILK calendar
Has anyone else out there noticed how the annual “Milk Calendar” has been shrinking in size? I don’t recall exactly when the change first took place, but it was somewhere in the decade between 2002 and 2012. All of a sudden, the calendar went from a horizontal format to a vertical one… and was downsized at the same time. A decade down the line, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if it was designed to fit handily in one’s pocket or purse.
Ever since it was first introduced by the Dairy Farmers of Canada in 1974, the Milk Calendar has been a mainstay of kitchens all across Canada. By featuring wholesome recipes real folks enjoy — and ample space to help families organize their busy schedules — the Milk Calendar won over the hearts of many rural and urban households. Ours included. In our home, the arrival of the new Milk Calendar every fall was awaited with anticipation
With too long a background in graphics and printing, I understand that it’s all about dollars and cents. The less paper one uses, the lower the cost. Even a few pennies per unit can add up to substantial savings when you’re printing 2.4 million calendars. But, it can be false economy. In my opinion, the annual Milk Calendar is the single most important promotional device dairy farmers have. I hate to see it being downsized to the point of irrelevance.
Historical Crafter’s Fair & Christmas Market
I apologize for the brevity of this week’s column, but we went to visit our daughter in Toronto this past weekend (which is usually when my virtual pen hits paper). After writing about the Alexandria to Toronto train a few weeks ago, we decided to try it out. It took a few minutes longer, but not having to drive to and from Cornwall made it all worthwhile. Unfortunately, the trip resulted in my having to write in fits and starts between family times, and without access to my research files.
However, before I sign off, I did want to mention this weekend’s Christmas Historical Crafts sale at the DRA Hall one last time. Organized by Jim and Shelley Mullin from Vankleek Hill, this is the third year the unique bazar has been held. What sets this show apart from the other Christmas sales in the area is that it focuses on old-fashioned crafts from the workshops of talented historical artisans, including: a leatherworker, a blacksmith, a cabinetmaker, a baker and a chocolatier, to name but a few.
Not only will you find a wide array of one-of-a-kind items that make thoughtful gifts for friends and family, you’ll also be supporting the Dunvegan Recreation Association. The vendors have agreed to donate a portion of every sale to the DRA. So please take a few minutes to stop by the DRA Hall, 19053 County Road 24, on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. You’ll be glad you did.
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