A pre-Finals anti-slam for fun, with a feature performance by spoken word artist Tomy “BAM BAM” Bewick, host of the Burlington SLam Project and founder of Open Minds Respect Events. Everyone is welcome to come out and try their hand in a spoken word poetry competition where breaking the rules is the whole point, and the intention is all about having fun and letting off steam. Taking place Sunday June 12, 2011 at 6:30pm at the Factory Grind in the Old Shoe Factory on Sherbrooke St. in Perth Ontario.

Admission is $5, free for performers. For more info contact Tammy at 613-326-0663

The Lanark County Live Poets Society presents the Slam Finals Spoken Word Competition on Saturday June 18, 2011.

It will be held at the Rideau Canal Museum (34 Beckwith Street South, Smiths Falls, ON) auditorium in Smiths Falls; doors open at 6:30pm and the Slam gets underway at 7pm, hosted by Rusty Priske of the Ottawa Capital City Collective and Capital Slam.

The top 12 poets from the current Slam series will compete for a place on the 2011 national team to represent Lanark County at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word. Lanark County is the only rural slam scene in Canada represented at the national level.

Admission is $10, $7 for students and seniours, $5 for children $12 and under. For more information e-mail lanarklips@hotmail.com or find us on Facebook at LiPS.

Come out to the second annual Eastern Fishing Boat & Cottage Show which will be held on February 4th, 5th and 6th, 2011. The Beckwith Recreational Complex (1319 Ninth Line Road, Beckwith Township) will again host this years event. This complex is located in Beckwith Park and houses an arena as well as a large indoor soccer field. It is the soccer field that will be used as the show venue. The complex is located just minutes from Carleton Place betwen the Village of Ashton and Blacks Corners located on Hwy#15.

The soccer field will host our many exhibitors. New to this year’s event, will be included a variety of Cottage friendly exhibits. On display will be almost every make of 2011 fishing boats and motors. The information you can get on all the products is free and they will be more than happy to help you decide what is best to meet your needs.

Thinking about spring and open warter? Well why not be ready for the upcoming fishing seasons and those open waters. They don’t only have fishing boats, check out the canoes, fishing kyacks, personal watercraft, docks, fishing tackle, landscaping and much more.

Have you got your boating licence? If you have that is great, but if you don’t remember IT IS THE LAW to have one if you are planning to operate a motorized water craft. The will have D&M Boater Course instructors available to provide you with your pleasure craft operator exams so you will be ready to hit the open water without the fear of getting caught without your license. This years’ show has added another 40 booths. They have a big surpise for your boating types!

For more information visit: www.valleysportsmanshow.com

The Mississippi Mudds Youth Theatre Production presents Into the Woods Junior opening February 25th at the Town Hall Auditorium.

Plan to attend one of the shows on February 25 (7pm) – 26 (2pm) or March 4 (7pm) – 5th (2pm). Tickets are on $15 or if you attend the opening night show they are only $10.

When a baker and his wife learn they have been cursed with childlessness by the Witch next door, they embark on a quest for the special objects required to break the spell: swindling, deceiving and stealing from Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Jack (the one who climbed the beanstalk). Full of lively music, colourful costumes and energetic action this will be treat for the whole family.

Beat the Blues Saturday January 29th at On Stage At Ernie’s for the on-tour Yuk Yuk’s Stand Up Comedy act. Trevor Thompson will host the comedy portion of the evenin, Jeff McEnery will headline and music by Still Dangerous.

If the cold chill of January has got you down, come and refresh yourself with some excellent entertainment and hysterical laughing.

Cash Bar • Appetizer Buffer • Comedy • Live Music

For tickets and information call Ernie at 613-452-0054.

To download the event flyer Click Here.

One Stage at Ernie’s is located at 17 Albert St, Carleton Place Ontario.

On February 2nd at the Town Hall in Carleton Place (175 Bridge Street), Linda Pond will be having a book launch for her new book “Top Secrets of a Girl Entrepreneur”. Plan to stop by from 6pm-9pm and pick up you copy of the signed book. There will be a cash bar, networking, keynote speech by Linda Pond and light refreshments. Bring your business cards!

Linda Pond knows exactly what it takes to move from employee to entrepreneur. In Top Secrets of a Girl Entrepreneur, Linda shares how she, against all odds, broke the glass ceiling and used her unique background of being surrounded by men to shape her future. Rather than fight the system, she used her experiences to fit her into the unique-shaped mould life had created for her.

This article and picture is taken from www.yourottawaregion.com
Click Here to read the full article.

We would like to recognize Kayla Horton, of Carleton Place, who was recognized as Rona’s new EcoLeader this past fall. She and her colleagues have a goal of eliminating waste in their workplace this year.

Horton will take initiatives to help the store and the community reduce pollution. There are six members in the committee along side Horton. Horton said that by 2011, (Rona has) a goal of zero waste altogether. Since the goal was set, Horton said, Rona has began with a number of changes, including recycling plastic, having a cardboard bailer, installing motion-censored lights, offering scrap wood to the community for firewood at no cost, recycling paint and more.

The store also accepts used blades, router bits, drill bits, hole saws and all alkaline batteries customers wish to dispose of at no charge. Horton is in charge of coming up with new ideas and putting them in practice with the help of the 6 member committee. During Horton’s free time, she works with children with special needs.

This year’s Carleton Place Citizen of the Year award goes to husband and wife team Wayne Drummond and Lorna Walsh Drummond! This award is given as the highest honour in Carleton Place Ontario.

The pair, who is known for running the Carleton Place Christmas Basket Fund, were pleased to take the opportunity to share about the local charity. While Carleton Place has always been a generous community that ensures people who need help don’t go without, Wayne said he hopes the people won’t stop giving when they can, as the program does not receive funding from any other sources.

The Drummonds have been married for 45 years. “We were high school sweethearts,” said Lorna.

Volunteering is a large part of the award, however attitude and being an ambassador for the town are extremely important. Once a person is named citizen of the year, they automatically join the committee, helping to recognize future recipients for their hard work in the community.

Click here to read the entire article from www.yourottawaregion.com

Thousands of spectators, over one hundred floats, and one jolly St. Nick are congregating downtown Carleton Place this holiday season for the largest Santa Claus parade in the Ottawa Valley. Amid a sparkling cascade of LED Christmas lights and under the dark winter sky, the BIA (Business Improvement Association) hosts the 8th Annual evening parade on Saturday, November 27, 2010. The train of spectacular floats – all of which will reflect this year’s theme of “A Disney Christmas” – will begin at 5:00 p.m. at Carambeck School and travel up the town’s main thoroughfare, Bridge Street.

BIA Coordinator Cathie McOrmond says she has never experienced such a joyous community occasion. “You will see the Christmas spirit is alive in Downtown Carleton Place when you see businesses, community groups, citizens of the community and visitors joining together to share their best wishes for the holidays season to everyone. ” said McOrmond.

‘Tis the season for giving, and the parade is an opportune time to get into the Christmas spirit. The Civitan Club will be collecting food for the Lanark County Food Bank and monetary donations for the Christmas Basket Fund. Meet Me “downtown” On The Mississippi to make a donation while breathing holiday cheer and reciting all the classic Christmas tunes. Parking is free in downtown Carleton Place, where visitors and residents can shop and dine amongst the 150 stores and restaurants.

Multiple plaques will be awarded to the most enthusiastic and decorative float designs that are consistent with the theme. At the end of the parade, a group of judges will select 1st, 2nd and 3rd of the Best Walking float, and the Best Use of Theme float, there will be awards for the Best Commercial float, Best Small Independent Business and the Best Overall float. After the grand finale of the parade, when Santa’s sleigh makes his crowning pass down Bridge Street, spectators are invited to the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital for free hot chocolate, caroling and the annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony.

Chris Patterson was born in Kingston, Ontario and is a singer, songwriter, musician, screenwriter, actor and human. He is one-third of The Arrogant Worms, Canada’s most successful musical comedy group. He is also a solo artist who celebrates the release of his first solo album for kids called Small Potatoes in 2009.

Chris will be performing at the Naismith Memorial Public School in Almonte on November 21st. This event starts at 2pm. You and your family won’t want to miss this entertaining venue. To learn more about Chris and why you should attend this show visit: www.chrispatterson.ca

The race for the mayor’s seat here in Carleton Place is shaping up to be a close one, and with less than two weeks to go before everyone casts their votes, things are getting more exciting as the days go by. In fact, the mayoralty race here in town is considered as one of the contests people should pay attention to in Lanark County and all of eastern Ontario.

Seeking his third straight term as head of Carleton Place is incumbent Mayor Paul Dulmage, who’s facing a tough challenger in Councillor Wendy LeBlanc, who has gained an increase in popularity over the course of the campaign period. With a community of around 10,000 people, every vote counts, and both candidates know it.

LeBlanc was the first to announce her candidacy, kicking off her campaign on the 24^th of June, giving her a good head start against Mayor Dulmage, who announced his candidacy for the post less than 24 hours before the closing of nominations on the 10^th of September.

While LeBlanc has been campaigning aggressively since June, Dulmage has kept a low profile, only turning things up during these past 2 weeks.

The race is still tight, so keep an eye on updates to know the latest developments.