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©Copyright 2004Fareasterner

Volume 1 Issue 4December 2004

PublisherIan Ross

FeaturesDan Benoit

Wendy Patterson

Sales & DesignIan Ross

ContributorsChristine DavisonChristian Fletcher

Natalie ForrestDr. Elizabeth HaleStephen MacKnight

Catherine ReidApril Walsh

This Issue...

Ernie’s Workshop ........................... 5

CHILDREN’S STORY:

The Sundae Rats’ White Christmas....... 10

Reflections on Stained Glass ................25

COVER STORY

PROFILE:

Artist: Colleen Knowles ............. 5

Features

COMPUTERS: Shopping for Systems..................................7INTERIOR DECORATING ..........................................12PETS .................................................................... 13Christmas Wreaths ................................................................ 14RECIPES .................................................................. 16MUSIC: Uptown Jazz Quartet .......................................18TRAVEL: Family Vacations ........................................192004 GIFT GUIDE, Special Advertising Feature ............. 20Christmas Tree Safety .......................................................... 27December Traditions ............................................................. 28HAPPENINGS ..........................................................29ASTROLOGY.................................................................30

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From the Publisher

December has come and Christmas is almost upon us. We’ve tried to kick off

the spirit of the season with a few stories crafted in anticipation of the holidays.You’ll also notice that we’ve added a few pages this month, and a number of newvoices have joined the choir. Computers are the subject of Christian Fletcher’s first article for MiramichiMonthly. If you’re looking to purchase a system this season, he’s penned somesage advice to help prepare you. Natalie Forrest, also a new contributor, tacklesthe family vacation in our travel section and Catherine Reid, of the NewcastlePublic Library, rounds out our new trio of wise-people, by shedding some light onthe many important aspects of the season. For features, we take a look at three very different forms of art and creation.First, Dan Benoit introduces us to Colleen Knowles, an artist and painter who hasbeen busy this season with a project to help raise money for Big Brothers BigSisters. Colleen, incidentally, is our fantastic cover artist this month. WendyPatterson spent some time with Jennifer Mitchell and Daniel Richards, who workwith stained glass. And from yet another vein of creativity, this month I spoke withErnest MacLean, a lifelong carpenter from Black River. For any other woodwork-ers out there, Ernie has shared a design for a great stocking stuffer that you couldtry your hand at. We are also happy to see the return of our regular columnists. Christine Davisonkeeps watch over the heavens for us, Stephen MacKnight jazzes up our Christ-mas with a new CD by the Uptown Jazz Quartet, April Walsh answers your ques-tions about home decorating, and Dr. Elizabeth Hale returns this month to offerus some advice before you consider shopping for pets as presents this season. … And just in case you happen to get snowed in sometime this month, we’veadded some more reading material to the issue: Christmas wreaths, Christmastrees, Christmas gifts, and Christmas recipes. We even have a children’s Christ-mas story from our very own, Wendy Patterson. Merry Christmas to all of you, and thank you for taking the time to enjoy ourmagazine.

We’ll see you in January,

Looking for an extra issue ofMiramichi Monthly?

Additional copies are madeavailable at both the Newcastleand Chatham public libraries.

Please, feel free to pick one up!

To advertise, call 778-2494 oremail: sales@fareasterner.com

5

From sailing masts to newsprint,Miramichi has a long history of work-ing with wood. One of our residents,with his own long history of woodwork-ing, is Black River’s Ernest MacLean.But beyond the handsaws and hammers,Ernie’s eye for puzzles might be thesharpest tool in his shed. Pass him byon the street and he’s liable to ambushyou with his latest creation, bound toboggle your mind.

At 83 years of age, MacLean has hada long career as a carpenter and wood-worker but he’ll quickly correct you ifyou call it ‘work’. For him it’s just play.

As a boy, MacLean got his start whenhe “was not more than ten years old,”he said. He and other boys made a lotof their own toys, such as wagons.

“The first thing we’d do to make wag-ons was to get a birch log, from thewood for firewood, and get the fellowwith the mill saw to cut the ends off forwheels. Then we’d drill them and put aspike through them,” said MacLean.

At the time, chainsaws had just beeninvented but on the Miramichi, it wasmore common to get together with oth-ers in the area and set up a mill saw tocut each others firewood for the winter,the saw cutting the logs into stovelengths.

“The saw had a gasoline engine andgreat big wheels,” MacLean said.“You’d get the crew together to help sawyour wood, go in and have a lunch, andthen go to the next fellow’s house.”

When he was a little older, carpentrybecame MacLean’s profession in thespring of 1939.

“Quite a few of us took a course in thegrist mill (Fowlie’s Water Mill) in theLittle Branch. The grist mill was a bigbuilding so that’s where they had acarpenter’s course. There was a bit ofblacksmith work done too,” Macleanrecalls. Men from the course took on anumber of projects including work onthe Black River Hall.

“Then in the fall of ’39, we went downto Smith’s and took another coursedown there. We also worked some onthe (Miramichi Rural) High School.”

“That’s where I got my first bicycle,for $25.50 from the Eaton’s catalogue.It was the only one I ever had and I’vestill got it,” he laughed. “But I had noother way of getting down to work.”

The course was taught by Ollie Yeo,of Chatham Head, and a Mr. Stedman.It would be another ten years beforeelectricity was introduced to BlackRiver, so, on the course, MacLean andother students learned to saw and planeby hand.

Afterwards MacLean made his livingas a carpenter. He worked for a whilewith Edgar Fowlie at the old mill, butalso contractors like Keith Dutcher, Leo

Richard, and Byron MacDonald.His home is also a testament to his

pursuit of projects. Though he lives inthe family homestead, built in 1882,MacLean says, “you can’t find one thingoriginal unless you go down to the cel-lar.”

MacLean has also tried his hand atmusical instruments. From plans pur-chased from the United States, he built,from scratch, a harp for his granddaugh-ter, Shannon Saunders, and after that, atraditional Celtic stretched-skin drum,a bodhran, for his grandson NathanSaunders.

Throughout his home you’ll findworks of his own creation. Joking, heponders whether he works in the kitchenor eats in the workroom. Crafted fur-nishings and ornaments are set about,completed or underway. With Christ-mas approaching, he’s also fast at workon presents for others to give and onprojects for charity sales, often to the

by Ian Ross

Ernie’s Workshop

Ernie MacLean, atwork in his home

in Black River. (IanRoss, photos and

illustrations).

Bible standHandcrafted wooden box

6

A

C

D

E

B

INSTRUCTIONS: CUT OUT THE

FOLLOWING PARTS, THEN AFFIXTO STRING, AS SHOWN ABOVE:

A: STAND AND BASE,B: ABOUT 10”-12” OF STRING TOCONNECT DISKS.C:TWO, 1/2” DOWELS, WIDER THANCENTRE OPENING IN STAND.DRILL TO ALLOW STRING TO MOVESMOOTHLY THROUGH THEM.D: RING: NOT WIDE ENOUGH TO AL-LOW DISK TO PASS THROUGH HOLEIN MIDDLE BUT BIG ENOUGH TO SLIPOVER STAND.E: TWO DISKS, ALSO DRILLEDTHROUGH SIDE AND THROUGH CEN-TRE, SO AS TO ALLOW THE ENDSOF THE STRING TO ENTER TO THECENTRE, WHERE A KNOT OR BIT OFGLUE WILL HOLD IT IN PLACE.

St. Stephen’s United Church UnitedChurch Women’s group and for theMountain View United Church U.C.W.,he’s currently putting the finishingtouches on a handcrafted Bible stand.

So what of the puzzles? Ernie hasquite a few in his collection, each onemore diabolical and trickier than thelast. For fellow carpenters out there,who might be seeking a special home-made gift idea for Christmas, we’vebeen permitted to share the followingdesign with our readers. The object isto remove the ring from the stand, whilenavigating around the string andwooden disks that are looped throughthe centre. It’s relatively simple to craft,but fiendish to solve. We hope you en-joy it.

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Computers

by Christian Fletcher

Purchasing a computer is a very pain-ful experience. For most people it’s akinto buying a car. It’s the reason you loseyour hair, grow wrinkles, and it makesSanta lose sleep at night. You read allthe buying guides you can find, filledwith technical specifications, talk tofriends and sales people with contradict-ing information only to find that themore you try to educate yourself, themore you feel you don’t know. Fortu-nately, it may not need to be so com-plex. First, you should determine what yourneeds are. Are you going to be on theinternet? If so, then are you thinkingabout high speed or dial up? Is highspeed even available in your area? Ifyour needs are very modest then youmight consider a refurbished computer.I know that many people are dead setagainst refurbished systems for variousreasons but this may not be as risky asyou think. Most refurbished systems aremore than adequate for the average userwho only wants it for internet uses suchas chatting, emailing, browsing, andwatching online animations.This is es-pecially true for those of you who arebuying your first computer and just wantto see what all the hype is about. Afterall, when you buy your first car youdon’t go out and buy a Corvette rightaway. If your needs are more demanding thanthose of the average user or you’re readyfor something with a little more bangfor your click then maybe you’ll be

looking for a new computer. Most newcomputers will start under $1000, usu-ally with the monitor included. You maynotice from shopping around that theprice varies a lot between them. You canspend upward to $4000 on a system ifyou want to go crazy. I would recom-mend that if you’re looking for a fam-ily computer to use for homework,internet, burning CD’s, listening to mu-sic, and playing some basic games, thenyou should look at spending between$1000 - $1200. If you spend any lesson a new system, the quality of the elec-tronics tends to be sub-standard. Laptops have obvious benefits overtheir desktop counterparts. They’resmaller, transportable, and they makeyou look important when you’re seenusing one. However, they are also moreexpensive for several reasons (you’renow purchasing a battery, and an LCDscreen that you probably won’t havewith a desktop model). You will alsobe charged a premium for large harddrive capacities, and high graphics per-formance. A quality laptop comparableto the basic desktop I just mentionedabove will run you around $1300, giveor take. However, you may find thatthe specs are slightly lower on somecomponents such as the hard drive. Make sure that whatever computer youpurchase, you get a warranty that youcan live with. Often, the shine of a smallprice tag dulls with long term servicedifficulties.

ShoppingforSystems

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Miramichi artist’s project to help raise money for alocal charity has really snowballed in the past few months. Colleen Knowles of Chatham came up with the idea forOperation Snowball as a way to give something back toher community through her art. The not-quite-30-year-oldKnowles is selling holiday cards and prints to raise moneyfor the local Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. She grew up in Napan and went to James M. Hill HighSchool. After she graduated, she spent a year at SheridanCollege in Oakville, Ontario studying art fundamentals.“Just a foot wetter,” she said. “I went to school with theintention of becoming a children’s book illustrator.” She only turned her attention to painting a few years ago.“Three years ago I picked up a paint brush. I just had thisurge in me.” For what she lacks in technical training, she makes up forin enthusiasm, passion and natural talent. “I just go withhow it feels.” Though she’s worked on a lot of different painting projects,she’s turned the majority of her attention to a series of “snowpeople” illustrations she was inspired to paint after build-ing a snowman with her son Logan, one Christmas. Knowles has continued to work on her snow people illus-trations for Logan ever since. “I try to do one or two pieces each year for him.” When she began to market the snow people artwork asprints and holiday cards earlier in the year, with the goal ofselling $2,000 worth, Operation Snowball was born. Sheplans to donate 25 per cent of all the money she raises toBig Brothers Big Sisters Miramichi.

By Dan Benoit

AAAAA

One of several images from Knowles’Operation Snowball project.

9

The marketing side of her art is something new forKnowles. Selling her creations was a bit more difficult toadjust to than actually creating them. “I’ve got to getpsyched up before I walk through each and every door,”she said with a laugh. But she’s getting there. She’d never sold any paintingsbefore she started her project, but since attending severalcraft sales along the river, the paintings have really beenmoving, she said. “The response has been amazing. Itpumps me up. I want to go home and paint.” She doesn’t have a lot of money to devote to her project.“I’m putting it together with nothing. I’m not working witha lot.” But though her resources for the project have been lim-ited, a variety of local businesses have helped her achieveher goal by donating materials. In gratitude, Knowles put together a card thanking BigBrothers Big Sisters Miramichi, Mail Boxes Etc., Zellers,Dewey’s Photography, Kent Building Supplies, HomeHardware, Stedman’s, Salt Water Sounds, Dollarama,Books Inn, Rodd Miramichi and the Fabric Outlet for do-nating materials to her project. She wanted community support for her project to snow-ball and she’s gotten it. “It has indeed snowballed,” shesaid. And though money may be tight, it’s obvious as she showsyou around the tiny studio room in her home that her pas-sion for the project is boundless. “I’m giving it my heart, hoping my encouragement for itwill make up for a lack of funds,” she said. “I’m happy just to get it out there.” She said while there’s no true artistic community inMiramichi, there are a lot of artists. “There’s an abundance of closet painters. There’s a wholelot of people like me who are hanging out in their rooms.” She’s proud of her unique creations, living snow peoplewho “come to life on starry winter nights,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything like this. I’m really hoping it

catches on.” Knowles plans to publish a book based on her three snowpeople characters, which she based on her family. The bookis being finished now, with plans for a release next Octo-ber, she said. “I’m probably going to pay for the wholething myself.” People can purchase a boxed set of four of her originalprints at the Rodd Miramichi hotel, Saltwater Sounds andBooks Inn for $15.

Colleen Knowles with son, Logan, the inspirationfor much of her work. (Dan Benoit photo).

10

The Sundae Rats’

WHITE CHRISTMASBy Wendy Patterson

There are rats in the house. In the

living room, to be exact, in a big wirecage by the picture window. There arethree of them, white rats with colouredspots that look like the toppings on anice cream sundae, so everyone callsthem the Sundae Rats. The chocolate-sprinkle rat is Char-lotte, called Charli ‘cause it’s easier tosay. The butterscotch rat is Marlena,called Marlo, ‘cause it’s easier to spell. And the hot-fudge rat is Max, whoeveryone calls Max, ‘cause that’s hisname!

Max, who is the youngest, likes tolie on top of the little red barn upstairsand watch the People’s teevee. He day-dreams about race cars and airplanesand space-ships. Marlo, who is in-the-middle, wantsto be a movie star. She fixes her hairand combs her whiskers and poses infront of the mirror...all day long! Charli is the oldest, and she loves toEXPLORE! Charli is a very curious rat,you see, and is always thinking of waysto escape from her cage and discovernew things outside...especially ICECREAM!

“Wow!” said Max one chilly morn-ing, “Wake up everybody! Come andsee!” “It’s too early to get up,” Marloyawned, “and my tail is cold with noone to lie on it! Come back to bed,Max.” Charli, however, was curious.“What is it, Max?” she asked. “Oh, no,” moaned Marlo as Charligot up, “Now all of me is cold! I’ll neverget back to sleep!” So Marlo got uptoo. “Look out the window!” cried Max. They looked. “Everything’s white!” Marlo gasped,“It looks like it’s covered in a fur coat!” “Or vanilla ice cream!” Charli added. “It’s called snow,” Max explained,quite proud of himself. “I saw it on theteevee.” “Where did it all come from?” Marlowondered. “I think it fell out of the sky,” saidCharli. “See? There are more littlepieces of it falling right now.” “The teevee,” Max piped up, “saidit was little bits of cloud that came down

here to warm up.”Wow! thought Charli, amazed at the

idea of little bits of cloud all over theground. “I have to get out and see it!” sheexclaimed, “Max, help me get that pieceof string...” Charli tied the string to the upstairsdoor, wrapped it around the bars down-stairs, and tied the other end to the whiz-a-wheel. She spun the wheel, and thedoor popped open. “Out we go!” Charli said. As the Sundae Rats scooted acrossthe floor, they heard a great ruckus up-stairs. Little People came chargingdown, bundled up in her snowsuit andmittens. Max and Marlo hid behind the foodbag, but Charli stayed right where shewas. Little People scooped Charli up.“Hey, Charli!” she said, “Would you liketo come play in the snow with us?” Ofcourse, that was exactly what Charliwanted! Little People raced out the back doorand down the steps. She put Charli onthe top stair. “Stay here or you’ll getlost!” Little People warned. Everywhere Charli looked there wassnow! The People ran and fell androlled in it. They slid down snow-banksand threw snow-balls from snow-forts.Charli wanted to play in the snow, too,but she couldn’t get down from the step! “How will I ever get into the snow?”she wondered. She leaned over the edgeto look for a way down, but she couldn’tsee any. She leaned over farther, andfarther, and finally she fell right off! Poof! Charli landed in a tiny snow-bank, and disappeared right up to thetip of her tail!

11

That was fun! thought Charli as shetunneled out of the snow. She slid downthe hill and tumbled around in the snowat the bottom. “Weee!” she yelled. “I wonder what it tastes like,” shesaid. She picked up a big chunk andnibbled on it. “Mmm! It is sort of likeice cream! Ice cream made fromclouds!” Just then, one of the Big People spot-ted Charli. “Charli!” he scolded, “Whatare you doing out here in the cold?” Hescooped Charli up and took her backinside. Charli was sad to leave the snow,even if she had been getting somewhatchilly. Marlo and Max were waiting in thecage. “What was it like?” they demanded. “Well, it’s cold,” Charli explained,“but it’s fun! You can dig in it and eat itand make things out of it! Snow is thebest stuff ever!” “I wish we could go out and play init,” Max said wistfully. “But we can’t,” Marlo sighed, “Thepeople wired the doors shut so we can’tget out anymore.” “I’ll see about that!” Charli snorted.She pushed on the doors and pulled onthe doors and even tried to chew throughthe wires, but the doors just wouldn’tbudge. “We’ll be stuck in here forever!”she moaned, “How will I ever get backout in the snow?” A few days later, Max woke every-one up again. “Look!” he yelled,“There’s a TREE in the house!” “It is a tree!” Charli exclaimed,“They must have brought it in so itwouldn’t be cold!” “Or maybe it didn’t like the snow.”Marlo suggested. Max sighed. “I wish they’d broughtsome snow with it!” he said. Charli had seen many trees in herrambles, but never one quite like this.This tree was full of flashing fireflies,green and red and yellow, and big, brightballs grew on its branches like berries.Charli would have loved to look at it up

close, but she couldn’t get the doorsopen, even a bit. “There’s so much to see, and I can’tget out to see it!” Charli sighed mourn-fully, “I must think of a way to escape!” Charli went downstairs to the blueplastic igloo to think. She pondered andpondered and pondered, all through thenight. Finally she thought so hard forso long that she fell asleep. When Charli awoke the next morn-ing, everything seemed different some-how. She poked her head out of the ig-loo to look around, and something light,like a snowflake, landed on her nose.But it wasn’t a snowflake. It was a littlewhite crinkle of paper. There werecrinkles of paper everywhere! White crinkles and red crinkles andgreen crinkles and gold ones! Crinklesheaped on top of the igloo, and driftedagainst the whiz-a-wheel! Crinkles up-stairs and downstairs, all over the floor.Even crinkles on the roof of the barn! “Wake up, everybody!” Charli

called, “It snowed! It snowed right herein our cage!” The Sundae Rats rolled in thecrinkles, dug tunnels in the crinkles, andeven had a crinkle snow-ball fight. “It really is the best stuff ever!” Maxcheered. “And it’s not even cold!” Marloadded. Charli, naturally, was the happiestone of all...even if it didn’t taste like realsnow. The People watched them play un-der the pretty indoor tree. “MerryChristmas, Sundae Rats!” said BigPeople, “Now you can play in the snowwhenever you want, and you’ll neverhave to go out of your cage again!” “At least,” added Little People,“Not until Easter...”

Q:Q:Q:Q:Q: We recently purchased a large, Vic-torian-style home. We need to decoratethe entrance. Do you have any sugges-tions how to create a spectacular en-trance without breaking the bank?

C. Watson

AAAAA::::: Congrats on your new home. Deco-rating for the holidays is always fun.Create a new tradition with your fam-ily, bundle up and go on a day trip. Startby taking along a thermos of hot cocoaand have the family gather branches,cedar boughs, and holly from a localtrail. Go home when you have enoughitems and get creative. You can add a spectacular walkway foryour family and friends by using tinbuckets with nail punches throughoutand placing pillar candles inside. Pressthem into the snow for stability and lightthe candles prior to that special dinneryou planned. Dress up your front door with a freshwreath tied with a beautiful bow. Placean urn on both sides of the entrance andadd your branches to give visual height.Wrap a wool blanket around the insidefor colour and it will also help keep themin place. If you’re fortunate to have a lovelyporch, try setting up a vignette. Keep inmind any collectibles you might havetucked away such as sleighs, skates,snowshoes, etc. Paint blocks of wood to look like pre-sents and use them every year. Trimyour home with beautiful lights and addholiday music to help set the mood. Remember, holidays are a special timeto be with family and friends. Take thetime and be creative. Don’t forget:Christmas is the only time more is morewhen it comes to decorating!

Happy Holidays,April

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April Walsh is an interior decoratorwith Just Because… I can Shoppe inMiramichi. If you would like somedecorating advice, give her a call at622-7745 (62APRIL), email her atapril@fareasterner.com or drop by

her shop at 65 Henry St.

Q:Q:Q:Q:Q: We’re thinking of renovating ourkitchen. The space is 8’X14’. Could yousuggest ways to make the space appearlarger than it is?Sincerely,S.G.

A:A:A:A:A: Function first: A galley-style kitchenwill be your best bet. Open cabinetsmixed with glass doors keeps everythingclean and simple. Display your every-day dishes and remember to use yourwall space. There are great storage so-lutions on the market today. Keep inmind less is more and free your counterfrom clutter. Think basics only. Intro-

duce a monochromatic colour schemeto help create a light and airy feel. Usepunches of colour when displaying theessentials. Try a red blender for the holi-days and mix it up with stainless steelfor a touch of glam. You now have akitchen that is easily accessible, alongwith being stylish.

Decking the Halls... and Kitchens

13

Pets

All too often, when little hands takeup their pens to write to Santa, one ofthe items on the list will be a puppy ora kitten. And, all too often, the imageof someone’s eyes lighting up whenthey see that furry “package” under thetree is just too tempting. After all, howmany times have we seen such a sighton Christmas cards and advertisements? Well, I’m going to ask you now to re-

sist that temptation. Or, at least, to re-member that getting a pet goes beyonda picture postcard memory. No, I’m nottrying to be a Grinch. I just want thosewho are considering giving a loved onea pet for Christmas, to think about a fewthings first. A pet is a long term commitment. Theaverage lifespan of a dog or cat is 15years and this is increasing with im-proved nutrition and veterinary care.Rabbits live at least 8 years. Even“pocket pets” like hamsters and micelive several years. An animal is a re-sponsibility, and the recipient of such agift must (a) be expecting this respon-sibility and (b) be capable of its care. As a vet, I have had to euthanise a

number of animals over the years be-cause they were unexpected, and

unwanted, “gifts”. As a longtime SPCA member and

supporter, I can tellyou that

by Dr. Elizabeth Hale DVM80% of dogs and cats given as presentsend up in animal shelters. This is whyshelters rarely permit adoptions nearChristmas, and certainly never adoptout animals to be given away aspresents. Consider these actual com-ments: “Dad gave the cat to my kidson Christmas Eve... we couldn’t refusein front of them”; “We got a pup forChristmas, but it’s too big now...”;“The hamster’s cage is never cleanedregularly; I can’t stand the smellanymore (imagine what the hamsterwas going through!)”. No real thoughtwas put into these living presents, andthe animals were the real losers. But, suppose you have thought care-fully about getting a pet. You know thatit requires food, care, shelter and love.Then I ask this: please don’t introducean animal to your home on ChristmasDay. Think about how busy this timewill be (the presents, a big dinner tocook, family visiting...). Think abouthow excited the children will be. En-tering a new environment is stressfulenough for an animal without the bus-tle of Christmas. Let the new pet join your family acouple of weeks before or after Christ-mas Day, when everyone is more re-laxed. After all, the pleasure the petwill bring to your home will not be foronly one day. And, Christmas itself ismore than a day – it is a season. Ex-tend its spirit of giving to our animalfriends: give them homes, love andconsideration. Don’t sacrifice them asimpulsive gifts for one day.

Pets Are Not For Christmas...Pets Are For Life.

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Although the Christmas tree has be-come the centerpiece of manyMiramichi homes during the holidayseason, the wreath is another ancientsymbol that can give your home that fin-ishing yuletide touch. Symbolizing life overcoming theforces of winter, the hanging of wreathscan be dated back to ancient Rome,where people used decorative wreathsas a sign of victory. The modern incarnation of the holidaywreath originated with the pre-ChristianGermanic people, who gathered ever-green wreaths and lighted fires in thedead of winter as symbols of hope forthe coming spring. Christians kept these traditions alive,

and by the 1500s, Christians through-out Germany used Advent wreaths tocelebrate the birth of Christ, where thepractice spread to other parts of theworld. Traditionally, the Advent wreath wasmade of four candles in a circle of ever-green boughs with a fifth candle in themiddle. Each day at home, the candleswere lit, one candle the first week, andthen another each succeeding week un-til December 25. The last candle, themiddle one, was lit on Christmas Eve,representing the birth of Jesus Christ. This ancient tradition is still goingstrong in the 21st century, especially inNew Brunswick, where the productionof wreaths is a huge business for manyin the province, generating about $38million in revenue per year, mostly in

export to the United States. Take Northeast Christmas Trees andWreath Producers Inc. in Tabusintac forexample. Employing close to 80 sea-sonal employees, the company has beenoperating for 38 years. The company’s owner, Guy Kelly, saidhe made his first Christmas wreath 50years ago when he was 12-years-old.Wreath production is now his yearlysideline business when he’s not produc-ing pallets for peat moss the rest of theyear. The season for Christmas wreathsstarts on October 15 and ends Decem-ber 10 and it’s busy. “Wreaths is threetimes the business as Christmas trees.It’s a big business,” Kelly said. Christmas trees are still a big part ofhis business, but wreath sales are defi-nitely number one right now. “Therewas one time we used to ship around 58loads (1,000 trees per load) and now weship about three.” On the other hand, he ships about 17

by Dan Benoit

Wreathmakers: Take a Bough!

15

loads of 1,000 dozen wreaths to mar-kets in the states. “Demand is gettingbigger.” But big business or not, the high Ca-nadian dollar is going to affect profitsacross the border. “This year is goingto be a bad year because of the ex-change.” Over 4.5 million Christmas wreathsand other types of greenery were manu-factured in N.B. during 2003, makingNew Brunswick the largest greenery-ex-porting province in Canada. The green-ery industry generates approximately4,500 full-time seasonal jobs in NewBrunswick. Though steeped in tradition, modernwreaths are used mostly for decorationto give your home that finishing look,much the same way as Christmas lightsare used today. But once upon a time, they weremore than just decorations. They weresymbols of hope, a fitting tribute tothe season.

16

Christmas Cranberry BarsLynn Usher, Miramichi, NB

½ cup butter1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs1 can (300ml) sweetened condensed milk2 cups chopped white chocolate1 ½ cups dried cranberries1 cup coconut1 cup pecan halves

MethodPreheat oven to 350°. Blend butter with graham crumbsuntil combined.Press into a 9 in. (or 8 in.) square baking dish.Combine sweetened milk, white chocolate, cranberries,coconut and pecans in a bowl. Stir until evenly mixed.Spread over crumb base pressing down to lightly compact.Bake for 25 min., or until lightly browned.Cool in pan or rack.When cooked, slice into bars whatever size you like. (I getabout 36 from this recipe.)

Brandy SauceJeanne Stephens

¼ cup butter1 cup powdered sugar2 tablespoons brandy Yolks of 2 eggsWhites of 2 eggs ½ cup of cream or milk

Cream the butter. Add sugar gradually, then brandy veryslowly. Then add well beaten egg yolks, then milk orcream. Cook over hot water until it thickens. Pour ontobeaten whites. A great topping over your Christmaspudding.

EggnogAnn Knowles, Miramichi, N.B.

4 eggs3 Tbsp. sugar1/8 tsp. salt4 cups cold milk½ tsp. nutmeg

Separate the whites from the yolks.Beat whites until almost stiffBeat yolks until thickenedAdd sugar and salt to egg yolks.Add milk and vanillaBeat together.Fold in egg whites.Pour mixture into glassesSprinkle with nutmeg.Note: Brandy, rum, rye or Scotch whisky may be used forflavoring, to your own taste.

Christmas SquaresDoris Bremner, Napan, N.B.

30 Graham wafers (crushed)30 marshmallows (cut up)4 oz. Red cherries4 oz. Green cherries½ cup walnuts1 14 0z. can crushed pineapple (drained)1 can Eagle Brand milk

Mix all together.Spread in greased pan and sprinkle with coconut.Refrigerate and cut into squares.

Please send submissions toeditor@fareasterner.com or mail to: Fareasterner,

1773 Water St., Miramichi, NB, E1N 1B2.

This Month:

Christmas Goodies!

Christmas is a time to pause and celebrate on thebirth of Christ into this world— a birth which has changedand given hope to all generations.

It is also a time for family and friends to get togetherto appreciate each other through sharing memories ofChristmas past, exchanging gifts and appreciating the im-portance of others in our lives.

On behalf of my wife, Blyn, and myself, we would liketo wish each of you a blessed and happy Christmas. Maythis season be one of Peace and Happiness and may thenew year ahead be a safe and healthy one for all.

Let us work toward making this Christmas one ofhappy memories and lasting joy.

Merry Christmas to you all…

Respectfully,Doug Jardine, President,Adams Funeral Home Ltd.

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Music

By Stephen MacKnight

There are some things that demandchange; art has an obligation to stretchboundaries and take chances. Musicneeds to embrace those with an origi-nal sound and style. There is one ex-ception to that rule however; Christmasmusic still feels right when it is as tra-ditional as possible. The Uptown Jazz Quartet understandsthe comfort and pleasure that familiartunes from the holidays can bring. It isoften a time of returning, back to yourfamily, back to your homestead, backto your roots, and a soundtrack to suchoccasions needs to suit the mood. Themood is both joyful and relaxed on“Christmas... at the Rodd’s”, the secondRodd’s title from this band. Mixing instrumental and vocalfavourites, they set the tone for any holi-day gathering. Garry Hansen on guitar,Don LeBlanc on bass, Jean Marc Legeron drums, and Ron Doiron on keyboardsare ably assisted by vocalists ShyanneMcWilliams from Fredericton and YroisRobichaud from Richibucto. Shyannetackles cheeky tunes like “Santa Baby”and “Let it Snow” with restraint andclass while Yrois lends some swing to“White Christmas”. The best cuts on the album are theinstrumentals, done with just the rightamount of easy listening swing. “WhatChild Is This?”, a variation on“Greensleeves”, is a particular success

as are the Charlie Brown favourites“Christmas Time Is Here” and “OChristmas Tree”. Jean Marc says theVince Guaraldi Trio and Karen Carpen-ter were definite influences for their takeon holiday recordings. This band has been a going concernsince 1998 and has been associated withthe Rodd since they played the Pump-kin Festival in 1999. “Live at theRodd’s” was released in February 2003and garnered the Quartet an ECMAnomination. They have played conven-tions, the Rotary Club’s Chinese NewYear, and the Harvest Jazz and BluesFestival. They have been championedby the CBC and are actively looking forways to get their sound out there. Their crowning achievement thus farhas been this holiday celebration. It wasself-financed and put together right hereon the river. The recordings were doneat The Packin’ Shed and the album pack-aging was done by Eclipse Design.These guys proved you could put to-gether a professional CD, by yourself,right here in Miramichi. One great supporter has been JimGertridge at the Rodd, where the band’salbums are included in the VIP guestgifts. For us non-VIP’s we can purchaseboth albums at Books Inn, SaltwaterSounds, Centennial Foods, R.O.W. inthe mall, and through the musicians. Sohave yourself a merry little Christmaswith the Uptown Jazz Quartet.

A Touch Of Class

The Uptown Jazz Quartet

Christmas... at the Rodd’sThe Uptown Jazz Quartet

by Natalie Forrest

So, the thoughts of spending anotherwinter vacation huddled around thespace heater, playing Scrabble whileUncle Chester regales you with talesfrom his misspent youth, has convincedyou that getting away with the familythis year isn’t such a bad idea; nowwhat? The choices for someone planning afamily vacation in the sun these daysare as numerous and varied as one couldimagine. Should you head for Floridaand do the “Disney” thing, with a littlegolf on the side? The low US dollarmakes this destination very attractivethis season. And what about those all-inclusive vacations to Cuba or the Do-minican Republic? If you are considering a vacation tripto Disney World, you can either chooseto stay in accommodations on the Dis-ney properties or opt to book a hotel “offsite”. There are advantages for bothoptions. If you stay in a Disney resort,generally children ages 2 to 17 stay freeand you need to only purchase parkpasses. The Ultimate Hopper Passesare recommended since they are goodfor all the Disney theme parks, they areusable for the duration of your stay andthey give you access to their transpor-tation system. For a first time familyvisit to Disney World, it’s hard to beatstaying right on the Disney resorts as itgives the family exposure to the realDisney experience. If you chose to stay off site, there arealso advantages. You can exploreOrlando and the surrounding commu-nities. There are many reasonably

priced hotels/motels in the area and sav-ings can be considerable when com-pared to staying on the Disney proper-ties. While you are in the Orlando area,you can also visit Universal Studios, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens--all wonder-ful attractions in their own right. Dis-ney hopper passes can be purchased offsite and can be used similar to those thatcome with your Disney Resorts. If a vacation in the sun and surf soundslike a good way for the family to relaxaway those winter blahs, an all-inclu-sive family package is hard to beat.With this, you get air fare, hotel stayand all meals and drinks are included.The only extras would be for excursionsoff the resort property, but most fami-lies are content to just stay and enjoyall the features and activities the resortshave to offer. These are only a couple of the manyvacation possibilities available to you.Once you have made up your mind totake that well-deserved vacation awayfrom Uncle Chester, go visit your localtravel consultant and start planning tochange that idea into reality.

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Travel

The Family Vacation

20

Edgewater Gifts & Gallery(1737 Water St., Miramichi, 773-3366) Visit Historic Water Street and step into Edgewater for gifts that are thought-ful, unique and affordable. Edgewater specializes in handcrafted products fromAtlantic Canada, including pottery, glasswares, jewellery, pewter, and more.Also they are exclusive dealers of Fruits & Passion personal products, andlocal purveyors of rich and delicious Saxon Chocolates. Christmas shoppersmight also enjoy viewing the many local artists on display in the gallery, in-cluding Billy Gauthier, Jason Saunders, Susan Moar, Linda Gallant, TheresaMacKnight, Heather Thomas, Don Rigley, Mike Chandler, and others. ... the art of giving begins at Edgewater.

Captain John’s(71 Jane St., Miramichi, 622-7914)Open year-round, come visit Captain John to find great Maritime gifts for

friends at home and away. Captain John’s carries all sorts of products fromkey chains to T-shirts but is also the home of Lobster Creations, 12-inch seasculptures made from real lobster parts by Miramichi crafter John Bethell.Choose from characters such as Elvis, Bride and Groom figures, huntersand fishermen, and even Santa himself… or the ultimate Maritime Christ-mas decoration: the Lobster tree!

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P.J. Billington’s(1 Jane St., Miramichi, 622-0302) Treat your family and friends to some fine food with a P.J. Billington’s giftcertificate in their stocking this Christmas. With dishes from around the globe,P.J. Billington’s offers a great variety of food to please everyone on your giftlist. Stop by today and take the stress out of your holiday shopping.

Kindertots(122 Hutchinson Dr., Miramichi, 778-3936) Christmas is especially a joyous time for children but please keep afew safety tips in mind when doing your shopping for the little ones onyour list.- Be sure to read and follow the age ranges listed on toy packages.Toys which are too advanced may be a danger to younger children. Besure to read the instructions carefully and instruct the child how to useit properly.- Beware of wrapping or small parts that

could pose a choking hazard. Removestrings and ribbons from toys before giving them to small children.Also beware of toys that have pull strings longer than 12 inches asthese may be a strangulation hazard.

- Make sure your Christmas tree is in a secure stand if you have atoddler or baby, or consider a table top tree. Avoid glass ornamentsor place them higher on the tree, and be sure that light bulbs areworking and secured tightly.

- Don’t use tinsel if you have young children. Not only can it beswallowed but it may wrap around a child’s fingers, cutting off cir-culation.

Make sure children are not left unsupervised around the tree or anypotentially dangerous ornaments and decorations.

Saltwater Sounds(1738 Water St., Miramichi, 773-8010) Indulge the music fans on your Christmas list with gift certificates from Salt-water Sounds. All the best in East Coast music awaits just inside the door.Saltwater Sounds carries new releases by established East Coast bands as wellas the latest from up and coming artists and groups. From folk and fiddle torock and alternative, Maritime Music fans can find what they seek, right here.

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Wood Doctor(Dealer: John Moore, 624-3935) Looking for a gift for the wholehousehold? Invest in a WoodDoctor outdoor wood furnace thisChristmas. The Wood DoctorConverter is the perfect model forcities. It is 98% smoke free andas with any outdoor furnace,you’ll not have to worry aboutsmoke, fire or wood, in the houseagain. And why not extend thesame gift to others? A singleWood Doctor furnace can be usedto heat multiple dwellings. Useit to heat a garage, green house,or even the homes of nearby fam-ily members, up to 300 feet away!

Town & Country Furniture(999 Rte. 425, Whitney, 622-1939) Just outside city limits, inWhitney on route 425, lies yourbest source for Christmas Furnish-ings. Town & Country FurnitureLtd. offers great selection andprices on individual pieces, diningroom, bedroom, or living roomsets. Looking for something spe-cific? Call ahead and the staff willbe happy to help. Town & Coun-try offers free delivery, on the spotfinancing and no payments/no in-terest for 12 months. Best of all,there’s no H.S.T. on cash pur-chases.

CBDC Northumberland Inc.(158 Wellington St., Miramichi,778-2121) When you’re looking for the per-fect gift, dressing up your housein the perfect way, or planning theperfect reception for visitors, re-member that you have a strongcommunity of businesses aroundyou who are eager to provide justthe right product or service tobrighten your season. When youshop locally, you are rewardingour own entrepreneurs and help-ing to keep our downtowns andcommercial districts viable andsuccessful. When out shoppingfor the holidays, be sure to enjoywhat the Miramichi offers andhave a Merry Christmas.

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NorthumberlandDriving Institute(11387 Hwy. 11, Miramichi,778-9461) If you have a new or inexperi-enced driver on your gift list,consider sponsoring them to takeDriver Education courses. Helpthem to develop defensive driv-ing skills with a professionaldriver in the comfort of a dual-equipped vehicle. Beyond safe-ty’s sake alone, students can ex-pect a shorter waiting time forlicenses (4 months vs. 1 year)and lower insurance rates.Northumberland Driving Insti-tute offers four-day, two-week-end, or eight-week (1 night/week) course options. Instruc-tor Eric Keirstead has taughtDriver’s Education in schoolsystems with many years of ex-perience to make him a leader intechnique and patience. Classesconsist of 25 hours classroomtime, 10 hours driving time, and5 to 10 hours observation time.Help your loved ones take to theroads safely.

Island View Auto Tune Up(117 Roger St., Miramichi, 622-4611) Keep your loved ones’ safety in mind during the holidays. For driv-ers, you might consider giving one or more gifts from a practical sur-vival kit to keep in their car trunk. Items such as blankets or sleeping bags, a flashlight with batteries, afirst-aid kit and a knife are all practical gifts and can be lifesavers in astorm— as can a shovel, a windshield scraper and brush, a basic toolkit, a tow rope, booster cables, and many other items.

Maritime Fuels(143 Bridge Rd., Miramichi,622-3555) Christmas is a time to reflecton fortune and happiness, fam-ily and faith. Your communitycan truly be enriched by taking thetime to remember the less fortunate. Many charities and communityorganizations would benefit from even a little volunteered help or do-nations. Please remember to support these groups as they do their bestto extend the Christmas spirit to those who need it the most.

K.R.T. & Associates(60 Pleasant St., Miramichi,622-5400) The holiday season is forfamily and friends. Please re-member that one of the mostimportant gifts is time. Besure to pay a visit with thosepeople who are a part of yourlife to remind them of howimportant they are to you, and to celebrate the wonder of the sea-son with togetherness and fellowship.

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Profile:Yvon’s Health & Fitness

For Yvon Cormier and his partner JenniferCrook, the owners of Yvon’s Health and Fitness,Yvon’s For Her and Westside Fitness, fitness ismore than just a word. It’s a lifestyle and one thatthey’ve made available to Miramichiers with threetop-quality gyms in two convenient locations onboth sides of the river. Yvon has been involved in fitness training for 20 years. “I found a love for the sport and found what it can do forpeople. It’s just such a positive thing,” he said. “I think the most important thing is feeling better about your-self.” He opened his first gym, Yvon’s Health and Fitness, sixyears ago when he noticed the need for a quality workout fa-cility in the city. He purchased the Chatham Recreation Cen-tre for his gym because of its close proximity to the down-town, James M. Hill High School and NBCC Miramichi. “I think the location was important. It has a lot of advantagesto it.” Over the years, Yvon’s Health and Fitness has grown and isnow the largest privately owned gym in New Brunswick.“We’re pretty proud to have it here.” Yvon’s Health and Fitness has also been voted the numberone gym in the region every year since it opened, he said.“We’re pretty excited about that.”Yvon’s For Her, a women’s only gym, is under the same

roof. “We found the need was there for a women’s gymon the Chatham side.”

Westside Fitness, Yvon’s newest gym,opened earlier in the year in the former IGAbuilding in Newcastle.

“That gym is a beautiful gym,” he said. “It’s here to stay.” One Yvon’s membership lets you have access to all threegyms, which are open 365 days a year to better serve theirmembers. For the serious fitness enthusiast, all three gyms providestate-of-the-art training equipment and a Proshop withsports supplements. For the beginner, free personal training is available. “Inother areas, they charge people for training,” he said. But that doesn’t happen at Yvon’s gyms. “If you’re a mem-ber, my job is to keep you as a member. Our job is to do itfor free.” The positive social environment of the three gyms is agreat way to meet new friends and on-site tanning is avail-able for those looking to catch a few rays. They’re also offering a special Twelve Days of Christ-mas promotion where members can receive a present dur-ing the 12 days leading up to Christmas. Yvon and Jennifer would like to welcome anyone inter-ested in better fitness to come work out at any or all oftheir three gyms. Memberships start as low as $35.

Visa and MasterCard are accepted and gift certificatesare available.

At Yvon’s you’re not just a member. You’re afriend.

“With our friendly training staff, you’ll al-ways get a hello and a goodbye,” Yvon said.

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Jennifer Mitchell is dedicated to inter-esting people in stained glass. Mitchell,whose studio is located oppositeMiramichi Volkswagon on the KingGeorge Highway, creates custom stainedglass for homes and businesses through-out the city. She offers lessons for peoplewho would like to learn to make their ownstained glass in their spare time. Mitchell, who also enjoys quilting andcrafts, started doing stained glass severalyears ago in Fredericton. After hearingmany people express an interest in takingstained glass classes, she began offeringthem at her studio. Mitchell offers both aone-day introduction to stained glass, anda four-week advanced course. The one-day class, she explains, wasintroduced so that people could try work-ing with stained glass without having tomake a commitment of several weeks. Beginner students have a chance towork with all the tools, materials andchemicals used in stained glass, and tomake a simple sun catcher. Those whofind they enjoy it can continue with thefour-week course. Mitchell specializes in copper foilstained glass, rather than the more tradi-tional lead came method. While not of-ten used for larger projects such as churchwindows, copper foil is easier to workwith when creating small items. Designs are traced onto coloured glass,following the original shape of the glassas much as possible so as not to wasteany. Leftover glass is often used for otherprojects, and even the tiniest pieces canbecome part of a complex mosaic panelor vase. Conserving glass is important, since rawglass can be quite costly. The most valu-able glass comes from Europe, while the

least expensive is made in China. Chi-nese glass is used to make most of thestained glass lamps and panels carried bydepartment stores. Once the desired shape is traced ontothe glass, the artist uses a hand-held glasscutter to remove it. The cutter does notactually cut the glass – rather, it uses atiny diamond-edged wheel (somethinglike a very sharp miniature pizza cutter)to scratch the surface. The glass is thenbroken along the scratch. After any rough spots have been sandedaway, the edges of the cut piece arewrapped in thin copper foil. The foiledpieces are then soldered together. Everybit of the copper foil must be soldered tocreate a smooth rounded edge around eachpiece of glass. Thick rubber gloves are anecessity at this stage, to protect the art-ist from hot solder, slivers of glass, andpotentially corrosive chemicals. The soldered foil is usually silver incolour, but a chemical called a patina can

be applied to the metal to give it a blackor coppery finish. The foil itself alsocomes in different colours and materials. Once finished, a project is cleaned andpolished to remove any traces of patternlines or chemicals, and to give it an at-tractive shine. Mitchell’s studio is open to studentswho want to work on their own projectsbut do not have the space or the resourcesat home. The studio also carries a full

by Wendy Patterson

Robert Trotter crafting a stained glasspanel in Jennifer Mitchell’s studio.

Reflectionson StainedGlass

Stained glass window, St. Michael theArchangel Basilica, Miramichi.

26

For most people, the thought of stainedglass will always be associated with im-ages of the towering, brilliantly colouredillustrations which filter tinted sunlightonto the floors of churches, cathedrals,and castles. Daniel Richards, owner of SchofieldStained Glass & Woodworks, designs,builds and repairs these massive and in-tricately detailed windows at his work-shop in Renous. Large stained glass windows and pan-els are traditionally created using leadcame. The designs are held together bylead rods, which are grooved along thesides so that pieces of glass can be fittedinto them and cemented. The glass itself is bought in large sheets,2 ½ by 3 feet and comes in literally thou-sands of different colours, shades, texturesand patterns. Richards uses small samplepieces to choose exactly the right shadeof glass for each project. Finding a per-fect match is particularly important in re-pairing windows, so that the replacedpieces will not stand out from the origi-nal work. The selected glass is cut according to a

paper diagram of the window. The rawglass is placed over the pattern on a lightedtracing table, and the desired shape istraced onto the glass using a marker.Richards draws most of his own patterns,and creates custom designs to match thecolour, style and theme of a particularbuilding. Once the glass is cut and the edgessanded, some pieces are ready to be setinto the lead came. Others, however, stillmust be painted, etched or silk-screenedwith an image or pattern. The paint used on stained glass windowsis actually powdered glass. It can be mixedinto a variety of colours, but most churchwindows use only black paint. Paintedpieces are the hardest to repair. Faces, inparticular, must be meticulously copiedin line and colour to restore the originaleffect of the window. Church windows aredamaged by vandals every year, regard-less of the amount of time and effort thatgoes into creating them. Glass paint does not “dry” until it isfired, so pieces must be heated in a kilnfor about eight hours after painting. At1200 degrees Fahrenheit, the grains ofglass in the paint are melted, fusing per-manently to the stained glass. Somepieces must be painted and fired multipletimes to achieve the right results. Etching is done using a sand blaster anda “resist,” which acts like a stencil to en-sure that only a certain area is etched. Theend product on clear glass is a designwhich appears opaque or foggy. How-ever, etching can be used with “flashglass” to obtain a different effect. Flashglass, a very expensive variety manufac-tured in France, is tinted on one side and

clear on the other. Sandblasting flashglass creates a transparent design in acoloured background, or vice-versa. When a single image appears multipletimes in a project, it may be silk-screenedonto the glass. Silk-screening allows theartist to ink several exact copies of animage onto the glass surface, saving himthe time of drawing each one by hand.Once the ink dries, the images can bepainted and fired. The church windowsfor the Eel Ground First Nations commu-nity, which feature many tiny, repeatinganimal symbols, were decorated using thismethod. Once each piece of the window is pre-pared, the glass is cemented into the leadcame, and the lead pieces are solderedtogether and attached to the frame. Largerwindows require the added support ofstrong metal bars, which are solderedacross the outside to help keep the glassand lead intact. Churches and homes throughout theMiramichi area hold stained glass de-signed or restored by Dan Richards. Herecently repaired a broken window for St.Michael’s in Chatham, and is presently atwork designing a new window for StPeter’s Church in Millerton. He has sev-eral other windows to repair, as well, in-cluding one from St. Samuel’s inDouglastown. Among many other custom projects,Richards also builds and repairs stainedglass panels, cabinet doors and lamps. Inthe spring he will be offering a six-weekcourse in traditional stained glass at hisstudio, which is located on Schofield Lanein Renous.

array of supplies and materials, includ-ing pattern books, sheets of raw glass, in-numerable shapes and sizes of glassbeads, pre-made prismatic bevels, andtools. Robert Trotter, one of Mitchell’s ad-vanced students, enjoys spending eve-nings at the studio, working on projectshe designs himself. “The time flies by when you’re makingsomething,” Trotter says, indicating thebeveled red and amber panel he is pres-ently completing. Besides panels and sun catchers,Mitchell and her students also create avariety of different projects, from orna-ments to jewelry boxes, and from weathervanes to candle holders. These piecesmake truly unique and personal gifts forthe family and friends of the stained glassartists, particularly at Christmas time. The studio will be offering introductoryclasses on Dec 20th and 27th, and more ad-vanced training in the new year.

Daniel Richards, ownerof Schofield Stained

Glass & Woodworks,examines a piece ofstained glass work.

(Wendy Pattersonphotos.)

decorating the tree. Light cords and con-nections should be in good working con-dition. Lights should always be turnedoff at bedtime or when leaving for anextended period of time. Never use live candles on Christmastrees.

27

Before you decorate the tree you justdragged home, here are a few tips tomake sure this year’s Christmas treeexperience is a good and safe one. Measure the height and width of thespace available in the room where thetree will be placed to make sure youhave plenty of room. Take a tape meas-ure with you to measure your chosentree and bring a rope to tie your tree toyour vehicle. Choose a fresh tree that has a healthygreen appearance. Needles should beflexible and not fall off if you run abranch through your hand. Raise the treea few inches off the ground and drop iton the butt end. Very few green needlesshould drop off a fresh tree. When you bring the tree indoors, cutone inch off the bottom and place thetree in a sturdy stand that holds at leastfour litres of water. Be sure to keep thewater level above the base of the tree.If the base dries out resin will form overthe cut end and the tree won’t absorb

• Get a tree that is freshly cut. It will stay green longer and be less ofa fire hazard.

• Always test for freshness before buying. A tree with high moisturecontent is safer. Very few needles should fall when the butt of thetree is tapped on the ground; needles should bend, not break; andthe stump should be sticky with resin.

• Before setting up the tree, saw two inches (5 cm) diagonally offthe butt.

• Use a tree stand that has widespread legs for better balance and alarge water reservoir in which to immerse the tree butt. If neces-sary, use guy wires to steady the tree. Maintain the water supply inthe reservoir.

• Do not set your tree up near a heat source such as a radiator,television, fireplace, heating duct or sunny window. It should notblock doors or windows.

• After the holidays, remove the tree to the outdoors as soon aspossible.

• Use Canadian Standards Association (CSA) certified light strings/sets.

• Use the proper light string/set for the environment. Indoor lightstrings/sets should not be used outdoors because they lack weath-erproof connections. Some outdoor light strings/sets burn too hotindoors.

• Inspect light strings/set before use. Check for cracked bulbs andfor frayed, broken or exposed wires, and discard if faulty.

water and will dry out quickly. As well, keep the tree away from heatsources such as hot air ducts, woodstoves and fireplaces. This will help topreserve the trees freshness and lessenfire danger. Check all Christmas tree lights before

Home fire safety for the holidays from theCanada Safety Council

by Dan Benoit

Tree Safety

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by Catherine Reid, BA, MLIS

Librarian

For thousands of years, people haveheld celebrations during the wintertime.Perhaps it was the long winter nightsthat induced people to gather with fam-ily and friends. Perhaps it was becausethe crops were harvested and the landwas in a state of hibernation, that therewas more time available to hold celebra-tions. Regardless of the reason for thetradition, almost all cultures have ma-jor celebrations in December. Christmas Day is celebrated in coun-tries around the world on December 25th.In France, children welcome a visit fromPère Noël. Rather than hanging stock-ings, as we do in Canada, children leavetheir empty shoes by the fireplace to befilled with gifts. In Scandinavian coun-tries, gifts are brought by a jolly old elfnamed Jultomten in Sweden andJulenissen in Norway and Denmark. InGermany, Christmas festivities begin forchildren on December 6th. Childrenleave their Christmas wish lists for St.Nicholas and receive gifts in return.British children look forward to a visitfrom Father Christmas. In Mexico, chil-dren enjoy Christmas parties, whch in-clude gifts from a piñata. (The NewBook of Knowledge) Hanukkah, an eight-day Jewish reli-gious celebration, recalling a revolt ledby Judah Maccabee, twenty-two centu-ries ago to reclaim the Jerusalem Tem-ple in Judea, is usually celebrated inDecember. (Wozniak, Steve A.) Kwanza is a secular celebration ofAfrican-American history and culture.

It was established in 1966 and is cel-ebrated for a period of seven days be-ginning on December 26th and runningthrough January 1st. Each day ofKwanza focuses on one of seven prin-ciples: unity, self-determination, collec-tive work and responsibility, coopera-tive economics, purpose, creativity, andfaith. (Wozniak, Steve A.) Ta Chiu, also is celebrated in Decem-ber, is the Taoist Festival of Peace. (TheBook of Holidays Around the World) Yule, or the Winter Solstice “…whenthe dark half of the year relinquishes tothe light half” is marked on December21st or 22nd. It is the longest night of theyear and there was great celebration inancient days, “when our ancestorsawaited the rebirth of the Oak King, theSun King, the Giver of Life that warmedthe frozen Earth and made her to bearforth from seeds protected through thefall and winter in her womb. Bonfireswere lit in the fields, and crops and treeswere wassailed with toasts of spicedcider.” (Yule Lore) Hogmanay is the old Scottish name forthe last day of the year, on which chil-dren went out singing and visiting. Fortheir efforts, the children were rewardedwith bread or cakes. In contemporarysociety, Hogmanay stands for the cel-ebration on New Year’s Eve and forpresents and cakes given, and entertain-ment provided on this night. (Christmasin Scotland) For more facts about December cel-ebrations around the world visit theNewcastle Public Library. Have a greatholiday season.

December Traditions

From the Newcastle

Public Library

Newcastle Public LibraryDecember Schedule, Hours of Operation:Sunday & Monday-- ClosedTuesday & Wednesday -- 1:00pm – 8:00pmThursday, Friday & Saturday -- 10:00am – 5:00pmPre-School Story Time: Thursdays at 10:30am for ages 3 – 5yearsCraft and Bake Sale / Family Day, December 11th: ChristmasCrafts and Tree Decorating for children, cookie decorating, dolldisplay, door prizes and much more. Bring the family andsupport your library.Hackmatack Book ClubDecember 18th at 2:30pm. Theme of the day: “Treasures inUnexpected Places”.

Holiday ClosingThe Library will be closed on the following dates:December 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, January 1st, and 3rd.Tel. 622-2450

Healthy Active LivingHealthy Active Living sponsors a free program to assist olderpersons in keeping a balanced, healthy and productive lifestyleas they grow older.For more information on how you or your group may join,contact Mary Jane Hickey at 778-8202.

If you are a non-profit or charitable organization,Miramichi Monthly can help publicize your event.

Space is limited so please fax or email your info early.Email: editor@fareasterner.com

Fax: (506) 778-2491

HAPPENINGS

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A Family PlaceA Family Place offers programs for parents and children 0 to 6years of age.Monday morning 10:00-12:00 in Newcastle, at the NewcastleUnited Baptist Church, 582 King George Highway (basement)Wednesday morning 10:00-12:00 in Chatham at the St. An-drews United Baptist Church (basement) 188 Wellington St.We have bilingual programs throughout the county of North-umberland.For more information you can call 662-5103You can visit our web site at www.frc-crf.comJeanne d’Arc Doucet, administrator

Chatham Public LibraryWednesday, December 8, 2:00 - 3:00Songs, Stories and Sweets - Join us for music from the RetiredFive, readings by Doug Underhill, and yummy sweets!Saturday mornings, December 4, 11, 18, 11:00-12:00Children’s Christmas Stories and Crafts - Please call the libraryto register.Friday mornings at 10:15 - Preschool StorytimeTel. 773-6274

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By Christine Davison

Season’s Greetings!Saturn in Retrograde Alert! Saturn, “TheTeacher of Hard Lessons” will appear in theskies to be travelling backwards for the nextfew months. This brings a potential end toobstacles, conflict, strife, ill-fortune and badkarma. If there has been something thatyou’ve always wanted to accomplish butthings kept getting in your way, the time todo it is now. This retrograde path happensto be transiting through Cancer, whichmeans stronger and more secure relation-ships for this upcoming quarter annum—how perfect for the approaching holidaysand what a truly wonderful way to start offthe New Year.

Aries (21st March – 20th April) Your crea-tive energy and enthusiasm are withoutbounds this month. Try to channel them intoromantic areas and you won’t be sorry. Goand find some mistletoe!Taurus (21st April – 21st May) The monthahead is a very good time to help out friendsand neighbours. If you’ve ever thought oftaking up volunteering or spiritual work, nowis a perfect time to do it. Your many talentswill be put to good use, and others will holdyou in high acclaim because of it.Gemini (22nd May – 21st June) Ignore thoseboring routines and go out and have somefun. Make sure to involve as many people asyou can, and you’ll all be thankful for it.You’re positively the picture of wit and sa-gacity this month, you’re sure to charm eve-ryone you meet.Cancer (22nd June – 22nd July) Cancerianswill experience an unusually deep need fortouch and intimacy this upcoming month. Trynot to overeat, but do allow for any other sen-sual needs. Pay close attention to yourdreams, for they tell you what you truly de-sire.Leo (23rd July – 23rd August) You’ll shine

this month, Leo. It’s a perfect time to traveland expand your regal realm. Journeys of aspiritual or philosophical type are just as ben-eficial as a vacation. There will be a momentthis holiday season where everything finallycomes into focus for you.Virgo (24th August – 22nd September) Busytimes ahead, with a possible career change

in the near future, though not to worry asSaturn’s position would predict it to be a gen-erally positive event. Make sure to have somefun amidst that chaotic whirlwind of activitythat surrounds you. A good time to take abreak and get away from it all; if anyone de-serves it, you certainly do!Libra (23rd September – 23rd October)You’ll find yourself surrounded by influen-tial people who realize your vast potential.Try to wield that amazing creative genius ofyours towards humanitarian causes. Yourgenerous nature will be recognized and willearn you many rewards.Scorpio (24th October – 22nd November)Spirituality and a higher love permeate allthat you experience this month, Scorpio. Thisall springs from that very deep well inside ofyou. Try not to allow what may be a “higher”form of love or appreciation to degrade intoa disillusioned “fling”. Others will find them-selves inescapably drawn towards you.Sagittarius (23rd November – 21st Decem-ber) You’ll be viewed as an intense and mys-terious figure, and many will be strongly at-tracted to you for it. There may be a Christ-mas bonus, or a potential pay-raise in the nearfuture. Enjoy your rewards, you’ve certainlyearned them.Capricorn (22nd December – 20th January)Pay close attention to your home and sur-roundings, it’s a perfect time to redecorate,and a perfect time to invest in real estate.Extend invitations to friends and family tovisit your beautiful home over the holidays.Money will come to you from an unexpectedsource.Aquarius (21st January – 18th February)Your intuition is right on the money thismonth. Trust those clever instincts of yours.This is also an especially good time to reu-nite with siblings you haven’t seen for awhile.Make sure to let others in on those wonder-ful inventive ideas you have. They appreci-ate and make use of them, more than you re-alize.Pisces (19th February – 20th March) Spir-itual matters weigh heavily in your heart andmind. Realize that these thoughts andyearnings are actually freeing in many waysand quite possibly pathways to a new “higherstate of consciousness”. It’s an excellent timefor meditation or for delving into previouslyunknown religious philosophies ormysticisms.

Lucky numbers for December are: 8, 17,19, 25, 27 and 36.

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