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Wednesday, December 1, 2004
Exeter Times -Advocate
Local personalities read 'A Christmas Carol'
By Mary Simmons
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
GRAND BEND — An
evening of music, story-
telling and Christmas
cheer is coming to Grand
Bend.
A Yuletide Evening
with readings from
Charles Dickens' `A
Christmas Carol' will be
held at the Grand Bend
United Church Dec. 5 at
7 p.m.
Local personalities
Stephanie Donaldson,
Rev. Harry Disher, David
Nairn and Steve
Stellingwerff will join
Philip Marcoux of CBC
Radio to stage the tradi-
tional reading of the
Christmas classic.
The Grand Cove Choir,
Dawn Robertson and
Gary Hackett will pro-
vide musical tributes.
"This beloved reading,
known to people of all
ages is sure to be a fabu-
lous evening," organizer
Marg Steadman said.
'A Christmas Carol' is
the touching story of how
the biggest grinch of all,
Ebenezer Scrooge, is
touched by three ghosts
and the images of the
past, present and future.
"The story clearly
reflects values that were
important years ago and
remain important
today," Steadman said.
"It is a wonderful tool to
teach the importance of
generosity and compas-
sion for the
less fortu-
nate."
The CBC
show got its
start after
radio person-
ality Judy
Maddren
read the
story to her
children in
December
1989.
"It occurred
as adults, we rarely are
read to, and that surely,
like children, grownups
would enjoy hearing 'A
Christmas Carol' too,"
says Maddren in a press
release.
"People have told
me they consider
the reading the true
beginning of the
Christmas holiday
season."
JUDY MADDREN
CBC RADIO PERSONALITY
to me that
She began
to research
the idea and
discovered
Dickens had
adapted the
story into an
80 -minute
reading for
fundraising
events.
Maddren
discussed
her idea for the
Christmas show with
her colleagues at CBC
and found several will-
ing to participate in a
reading to raise money
for causes connected to
Dickens' values: the
poor and the homeless,
education and health
care.
Since that first show in
1990 the reading has
become a national effort
as Maddren convinced
other CBC stations to get
involved.
"People have told me
they consider the read-
ing the true beginning of
the Christmas holiday
season," she says.
More than 100 read-
ings will take place
across the country this
year and Maddren says it
is still growing.
"The readings have
become important
fundraising efforts in
their communities," she
says. "Early on, I was
urged to provide differ-
ent stories, but the truth
be told, people come
back year after year to
be inspired by the tale of
Ebenezer Scrooge and
his spectacular transfor-
mation."
Tickets are $10 each
and can be purchased
at Apropos, Cranbury
Lane, Saga Bound
Books and The
Grapevine. All proceeds
will go to the Grand
Bend Community Health
Centre.
Support the MacNau,
SOUTH HURON —
Finding the gift that lasts
can become an impossi-
ble quest in this day and
age.
However, sometimes it
is right under our feet
and can go on for gener-
ations.
That is the message
the MacNaughton
Morrison Trail
Committee wants to
share at this special time
of year.
Through the generosity
of the South Huron com-
munity, the new trail
project has raised nearly
$170,000 from area
individuals and busi-
nesses.
This is in addition to
the $200,000 from the
project partners and
$55,000 from the
ton Morrison trail as a unique holiday gift
Ontario Trillium
Foundation.
The trail has been an
overwhelming success
with an estimated
50,000 to 75,000 visits
per year.
The community has
enthusiastically taken to
the year-round trail.
Construction is nearly
complete although
donations are still need-
ed to cover the costs
incurred.
Like a wonderful
antique, a donation
towards the
MacNaughton Morrison
Trail would be a special
Christmas gift that
endures for future gen-
erations.
Donors of $100 or
more will have their
names engraved on
plaques to be mounted
at the trail entrance
kiosks. These plaques
are a lasting reminder
and a way to leave a
mark in your communi-
ty.
Donations above $10
are eligible for a 2004
charitable tax receipt if
made prior to Dec. 31
and gift cards are avail-
able by calling the
Ausable Bayfield
Conservation Authority
at 235-2610.
To learn more about
the trail project or to
make a donation, contact
a committee member:
George Godbolt, Ted
Jones, Ernie Miatello,
John Stephens, Gord
Strang and Peter
Armstrong.
Classy Critters
Jack Sheets holds up a frog specimen during a science workshop at Biddulph
Central School. Grade 6 students participated in the Scientists in School
Classy Critters program instructed by Patricia MacGillivray. The half-day pre-
sentation studied the classification of single -celled microscopic organisms,
invertebrates and vertebrates. (photo/Mary Simmons)
Bird feeder program
Jim Gammon helps Curtis Hockey make a bird feeder at Stephen Central School
Nov. 25. Ross Hayter, Bill Smith, Peter Stanojevic and Gammon of the Lake Smith
Conservationists were at several area schools recently with the goal of making
450 bird feeders. The program is part of an ongoing ediucation initiative by the
organization, which included a bat box program last spring. (photo/Mary Simmons)