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

If you’re in the mood for a night of good music, then you might want to check out Acacia Lyra, a harp and voice duo performing in concert on the 23rd of October, Saturday, at 7:30 in the evening at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church here in Carleton Place. If you’re looking to listen to something unique and different from the tired pop hits we hear on the radio, then this show is guaranteed to pique your interest.

Although Janine Dudding and Susan Sweeney Hermon may look like your typical 40-ish housewives, they pack more punch, not to mention musical talent. It’s hard to describe Acacia Lyra, maybe because they’re so unique and new.

In any case, this excerpt from their website should be illuminating:

Acacia Lyra is not your average harp and voice duo. Janine Dudding and Susan Sweeney Hermon sing in English, French, Spanish and Gaelic, accompanying themselves on Celtic harp and guitar. Their programme is a colourful journey of traditional and contemporary tunes from the Scottish Highlands to the Peruvian altiplano.

It turns out that Janine, who now lives in Ottawa studying with accomplished harpist and performer Lucile Brais Hildesheim, spent a few years of her life working here in Carleton Place during the 80’s, so this performance should be a fitting homecoming for her.

Proceeds of the concert, sponsored by the Merrickville District Community Health and Service Centre and the Social Concerns Committee of Carleton Place area churches, will fund the dental care of low income individuals in the Grenville, Lanark, and Leeds Counties.

The Carleton Place Dragon Boat Festival is happening again this year on September 11, 2010. Get involved in the ultimate team sport, while helping local charities! Visit Riverside Park over lunch for entertainment and a variety of food and drink. There is a full view of the entire length of the race course as well as merchandise for sale.

For more information visit the Dragon Boat Festival website at: www.fall400.com.

Since the festival inception in 2002, the Festival has raised over $55,500 which has been donated to local organizations!

Carleton Place’s St. Mary Catholic School is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year, and as a way of celebrating the event, the school has organized numerous events activities not just for its students, but for their families and teachers as well. These events are scheduled to take place from the 4^th until the 6^th of June.

On June 4, St. Mary Catholic School will be hosting Comedy Night. The event kicks off at 7:30 in the evening, with a teaser in the form of live music courtesy of Gary O’Meara and The Diplomats. The comedy show takes place an hour later, with Absolute Comedy taking the stage to entertain the audience. More live bands will be rocking the stage afterwards.

But don’t rock out too much, as Kids Fun Day takes place the next day, beginning at 11 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon. As the name suggests, this day is for kids and will be chockfull of kids’ activities and games, with sizzling barbeque and a whole lot more to be served.

Finally on June 6, Sunday, the last day of the celebration, the school will be hosting an anniversary mass followed by a pancake breakfast courtesy of the Knights of Columbus.

Don’t miss out on this weekend of non-stop fun and games. Mark your calendars and join the fun!

The Carleton Place Consumer Showcase 2010 is scheduled to take place on the 15th to the 16th of May, at the Neelin Street Community Arena, and organizers are excited to see the results of the hard work they’ve put into this event.

Jackie Kavanagh, Chamber manager for Carleton Place, this year’s trade and business show is a larger version of the widely successful Business Expo, which has been a major event in the town for the 2 years.

This year’s event will feature businesses from every industry here in Carleton Place and its surrounding areas. Expect to see large displays of services and goods during this year’s trade show.

According to Kavanagh, they’ve prepared 48 booths in anticipation for the numerous businesses looking to present what they have to offer at the event. Despite having a larger floor space this year, Kavanagh expects more business to flock in a few days before the big event. 24 booths have so far been reserved.

Notable exhibitors include Almonte Home Furniture, Evolution Corporate Gear, Sun Life Financial, Arbonne Skincare, The Co-operators, and a whole lot more.

Kavanagh adds that the focus of the event is to give tourists and prospective investors a better look at the town’s business and financial opportunities.

The All Ontario Senior Girls’ AA Volleyball Championships officially kicks off tomorrow, and it looks like Lanark County will have a great run this year. The event will take place on the 8^th to the 10^th of March, in the towns of Perth and Carleton Place.

Two high school teams from the area will be competing at the event after an odd turn of events. Host St. John Catholic High School will play against cross-county rival school Perth & District Collegiate.

The unusual circumstances that now pits the area schools against each other is an excellent opportunity for the community to lend their support to this prestigious event, said St. John Girl’s Volleyball Coach Shawn Retty. The games are guaranteed to be more interesting, now that the close knit communities will be attending to cheer their teams on, she added.

The championships will be open to the public on the 9^th and 10^th of March. Games will be scattered across 4 high schools in the area, namely St. John C.H.S., Carleton Place High School, Notre Dame Catholic High School in Carleton Place, and Collegiate Institute in Perth.

Don’t miss out on this display of intense volleyball action and team play. Bring your family & friends to cheer for your favorite teams.

Perth’s Orion Theatre Company with their crazy and wild ‘Into the Woods’ music will be coming to the stage this February 4, 5, 6 at 8 pm; and in February 11, 12, 13, at 2 pm. Matinees will be on the 7th and 14th. The venue will be on the old Perth Shoe Factory: The Myriad Centre. Tickets are sold at $25, and can be availed by calling 613-264-9610.

There are 3 events booked in Perth’s Studio Theatre this month. The first was last February 1: the Buddy Holly Lives. This coming 12th and 13th, the New Ottawa Repertory Company will have a presentation of Mother Butterfly by Paul Dervis. Tickets are sold at $18 through The Shadowfax and The Book Nook.

On February 26, 27, and 28, Director Cathy Clarke has assembled a live radio show similar to how it was done in the 1930’s, with advertising tunes and live bands, for the Valley Players of Almonte’s production of ‘The Almonte Radio Show!’ The audience will have the privilege to enjoy the music of the 1930’s era through recreation of famous acts by Burns and Allen and many more.

In Carleton Plane, at the Heritage Inn, the Mississippi Mudds are practicing for their presentation of ‘Death of a Doornail’ which they will present on March 19 and 20. Tickets are sold at $45 which already includes a Heritage Inn meal. For reservations, call 613-257-2525. More information is available through their website at www.mississippimudds.ca.

Surely everyone is ecstatic for this coming Sunday’s line of activities with the Olympic Torch passing being the no-brainer highlight in the morning. However, the festivities will surely not end with the torch’s passing. No sir. Not when the Carleton Place Community Christmas concert is set to kick off on the afternoon of the same day.

So what gives for this community concert? For starters, it’s FREE. Pretty sure that grabbed your attention huh? Well, come to think of it, it does sound like it should be free otherwise it would be a little hard to call it a “community” concert.

The free admission notwithstanding, everyone in Carleton Place is assured of a grand community time to get them holiday stress off the nerves. Music from folk, country, light rock, and of course Christmas carols should be expected coming from the likes of Lyle Dilabough & Friends, Jack Denovan, Darlene Thibault, Pat Willbond, Kirk Armstrong, and Katheen Stroud among others.

The venue for this year’s community concert will be on top of the Carleton Place Cinemas and its set to run from 2 in the afternoon till 4 PM.

December 1, 2009 — Carleton Place’s budget for the incoming year was presented during a meeting at the town hall. Carleton Place’s total projected expenditure for the year 2010 is estimated to be 31.7 million dollars, that is, capital and major spending included. The majority of the projected expenditure will go to environmental and transportation services.

The projected 31.7 million dollars had taxation and government grants, both provincial and federal, as major revenue sources. For the last couple of weeks, it has been known that payers here will face a 2.64 percent increase in their property taxes for the year 2010. A breakdown of all the details and other aspects about the budget was also revealed with 46.5 percent of the apportionment of the total tax dollars going towards the town.

In spite of the efforts of the Carleton Place Town Council to publicly present their financial data, and the fact that majority of the average taxpayer’s money goes to municipalities, the budget presentation didn’t elicit any significant public response; which seems a bit surprising in a town where there is so much local political discussions taking place.

Budget statements can by obtained by the public at the local Town Hall. This is the first time ever that the mayor and individual Councillors can be seen and/or heard giving comments regarding a town budget.