Showing the Local Love for the Holidays! - theHumm November 2020
Showing the Local Love for the Holidays! - theHumm November 2020
By Kris and Rob Riendeau
Here at theHumm we’re big on local economies. The retail and service businesses in the small towns that we cover play a huge role in the cultural life of those towns. Each store, restaurant, or small enterprise attracts and serves a particular clientele — some inside the community, some from outside. Some businesses host their own special events; others join together with local festivals to make the whole experience more vibrant. Many provide support in cash or in kind to local initiatives. All of them add their own particular flavour to the delicious mix that is small-town Ottawa Valley. A healthy local economy is an essential component to a healthy community.
It is with this in mind that we bring you theHumm’s 20th annual Gift Giving Guide, one month earlier than usual! We decided to put a special focus on our local small businesses in both November and December, because they’re going to need all the support local shoppers can give them to make it through this highly unusual winter.
Our hope is that you’ll find two kinds of inspiration in the many lists that appear throughout this month’s issue. As you peruse the “Gifts to Lift the Spirits”, “Gifts Made in the Valley” and “Gifts for Funky People”, we hope you’ll discover the perfect present for everyone on your list. But we also hope that you’ll be inspired to investigate even more of the independent, locally owned and run businesses throughout our coverage area. In doing so, you’re likely to encounter not only friends and neighbours, but also some old-fashioned small town peace and joy —not to mention amazing customer service!
The gifts we buy locally do double-duty by giving pleasure to the recipient and at the same time supporting the business of a friend or neighbour. If there are shops, services and restaurants that you particularly love, why not purchase gift certificates even if they are not fully operational during the pandemic? Your financial and emotional support can go a long way towards helping them weather the storm
We would like to thank the participating merchants for taking the time to send in their Gift Giving Guide suggestions, and to thank our readers for shopping locally and thereby supporting both the shops and our paper. We will be featuring photos of many of the items on these lists on social media and in upcoming editions of Hummail.
Wishing you all a happy, healthy holiday season!
Showing the Local Love for the Holidays! - theHumm November 2020
By Kris and Rob Riendeau
Here at theHumm we’re big on local economies. The retail and service businesses in the small towns that we cover play a huge role in the cultural life of those towns. Each store, restaurant, or small enterprise attracts and serves a particular clientele — some inside the community, some from outside. Some businesses host their own special events; others join together with local festivals to make the whole experience more vibrant. Many provide support in cash or in kind to local initiatives. ......
Thanks So Much for Your Support! And Sorry About the USD Thing… - theHumm November 2020
By — Sarah Kerr
Wow! We have been blown away by your support for theHumm and the arts & entertainment scene in the Ottawa Valley. Since our letter in the October issue that invited you to help us become reader-supported with our new patronage campaign patreon.com/theHumm , we have received so many lovely emails and notes of encouragement. This has been so uplifting, and we are truly grateful for the reminder that you like what we’re doing here at theHumm. T......
Margaret Martin – Coping with Art“The Artist’s Way - theHumm November 2020
By Sally Hansen
Art… and Soul
After many years as an elementary school teacher, Portland artist Margaret Martin is now focusing on her own artistic abilities with beautiful results.
Many of her acrylic paintings reflect her love of nature and landscape. Her paintings are deeply emotional statements about her connection to and gratitude for the natural world. Her waterscapes and landscapes testify to the restorative, healing, and inspirational powers nature bestows on us if we take the time to cont......
Leave Them With Scott!Your Leaves Can Help Farmers Regenerate Soil - theHumm November 2020
By — Scott Hortop
Would you like your fall leaves to be used to help Almonte area farmers regenerate healthy soil?
As part of my personal attempt to address the climate emergency, I have been learning from the work of a professor in New Mexico how to produce a very special type of compost from leaves. It is called fungal dominant compost and it serves as an inoculant for degraded soil to re-enliven the microbial, biological life of the soil. For more information, check out this California State University websi......
A Century ofWriters Helping Writers - theHumm November 2020
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Authors Association, the National Capital Branch invites all writers to take part in the 34th Annual National Capital Writing Contest. Award recipients will be published in the 2021 Anthology and will be part of the (virtual or live) centenary celebrations.
The Canadian Authors Association (CAA) is a not-for-profit national arts service organization with a local presence dedicated to promoting a flourishing community of wri......
Food Bank Stocking Drive COVID Won’t Stop Santa Claus — or Sandy Claus! - theHumm November 2020
By — The Lanark County Food Bank
The Lanark County Food Bank Stocking Drive has already begun. A lot has changed, but the need for the support of the community is stronger than ever during this year of COVID-19. Looking ahead, we know Christmas will also bring special challenges. And that’s why we are already turning our minds to making merry and starting to collect for the LCFB — The Hunger Stop 12th annual Christmas Stocking Drive.
Sandy Schappert is the spirit behind these Christmas Stockings filled with toiletries. Acting upon ......
It’s a Chocolate Party in CP! - theHumm November 2020
The Granary’s Annual Chocolate Party is still happening in downtown Carleton Place this year, with COVID safety measures in place. Bring your mask, wash your hands and join in the fun — from 2 metres away!
From December 2–6 the Granary will be offering daily gift bags, prizes, samples and great deals on all things chocolate. This year they are focusing on local chocolate including Camino, Hummingbird, Chocosol and Ludwig.
On Saturday, December 5, the Town Singers will be serenading f......
What the Hygge?Finding Cozy Winter Rituals in Westport - theHumm November 2020
By Sarah Kerr
On a beautiful day in October, I spent the day exploring the picturesque village of Westport with my two kids, aged 6 and 2, and hiking Foley Mountain. I wanted to write about finding your hygge (pronounced “hoo-ga”) — the Scandinavian ritual of seeking coziness and comfort in simple experiences — in Westport. I mean, Westport is the most incredibly cozy village in the hills, perched below Foley Mountain and overlooking Upper Rideau Lake. Just driving into town from Perth will take your breath away. ......
Aid-Brigade at MMYCMusic Program in Honour of Aiden Fotherby-Verk - theHumm November 2020
By — Sarah Bingham
Some people don’t need a whole lot of time here on earth to make their mark, to change their community for the better and leave a lasting impact. Aiden Fotherby-Verk was one of those special souls who made so much of the short amount of time he had. As a part of his lasting legacy, his family has generously donated to the Mississippi Mills Youth Centre to create the “Aid-Brigade Music Program” in Aiden’s honour. Aiden’s music program will be a permanent offering at the youth centre and provi......
Guatemala Stove Project FundraiserVirtual Auction Supports Families in Guatemala - theHumm November 2020
From November 6–16, you can help support the work of the Guatemala Stove Project by participating in an online auction of amazing items. Choose from Guatemalan handicrafts, pottery, gift baskets, paintings and jewellery, restaurant and business vouchers, and much more by visiting 32auctions.com/GSP2020 . Proceeds will support the building of chimney-vented cooking stoves for Maya families. These stoves not only reduce the amount of w......
Unusual, Unconfined… Art Abounds in our Area! - theHumm November 2020
By Miss Cellaneous
Sivarulrasa’s 6th Anniversary Show
The 6th Anniversary Show is the Sivarulrasa Gallery’s biggest exhibition of the year, celebrating their sixth year of operations in Almonte! Running from November 25 to December 30, it covers all three exhibition spaces in the gallery. Owner Sanjeev Sivarulrasa is “delighted to showcase sculpture, paintings, drawings and photographic works from our 27 represented artists from Almonte, Ontario, and across C......
Shedding Some Light on Men’s Sheds - theHumm November 2020
John Peters is an active member of both the Hackberry Men’s Shed (an organization that serves Carleton Place) and the Naismith Men’s Shed (which serves Almonte and area). We asked him how area sheds are trying to keep men engaged, connected and supported.
theHumm: According to menssheds.ca , Doug Mackie founded the first Canadian shed after recognizing that many men in his community had both time on their hands and a tendency to......
The Experimental Yard - theHumm November 2020
By David Hinks
I first met Joanne and Rick at a workshop that I was leading on garden pests at the Carp Library three years ago — they were very interested and enthusiastic participants. At the time they were in the process of moving from their home in Orleans to a new home in Carleton Place. I met them again at the Carleton Place Community Garden where they have become volunteers and leaders in this very successful community initiative. In a conversation about gardening, I was invited to tour their home ......
Danah-Lee Set to Release New and Inspiring Music - theHumm November 2020
Ottawa Valley singer-songwriter Danah-Lee is set to release a new and inspiring EP on November 20 titled These Are a Few of My Favourite Hymns. The first EP single, Fall on Me, is coming to all streaming platforms on November 6. Singles will be released each Friday in November. The album is quite remarkable, as all parts have been recorded, mixed and mastered remotely due to the global pandemic.
Danah-Lee has co-produced every arrangement alongside 18-year-old André Mergulhão (a young musi......
The Importance of Indie Bookshops - theHumm November 2020
By — John Pigeau
A friend of mine once told me that in her favourite, most enchanting dream, she’s trapped in a small charming bookstore overnight. So what does she do? After she screams into her hands with sheer joy, she kicks off her shoes and excitedly pokes about, gathering an armload of wonderful books. Then she parks it in a big comfy chair, drapes the owner’s left-behind cardigan over her shoulders, smiles to herself at her absolutely brilliant fortune, and then finally, blissfully, opens the first......
Zoom with Tim Cook! - theHumm November 2020
Renowned historian and author Tim Cook stopped by Mill Street Books to sign copies of The Fight for History: 75 Years of Forgetting, Remembering, and Remaking Canada’s Second World War. His latest book looks at how Canadians have reframed the war experience over time. He states: “If we do not embrace our history, no one else will.” Tim has kindly agreed to participate in a Zoom presentation on Sunday, November 15 at 2pm. Purchase a signed copy and you will be provided a link for th......
MVTM Announces Winners of New Awards - theHumm November 2020
The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum (MVTM) is proud to announce the KDS Fibre and Textile Art Award winners, recognizing excellence in fibre and textile art. The award has been created as a showcase of the most current and versatile approaches to fibre as a medium. In order to profile the breadth of the craft, three award categories are in place to celebrate the work of emerging, mid-career and established women artists aged 50 and over.
The contest was open to all Canadian female artists ove......
The Art of Raking in the Rain - theHumm November 2020
By Glenda Jones
Raking is a fall rite of passage, the gateway to winter, and a good reason to be outside. Sunny days would be lovely, but not so this year — no surprise, eh? Eschew the metal rake, the fancy leaf collector, and for goodness sakes, a power leaf blower if you live in the ’burbs. We’re going old-fashioned!
Get yourself a good plastic or bamboo rake, not too heavy, not too wide. Before you’re done, you’ll appreciate a smaller rake. Get some decent garden gloves, not the old ones you wore out in the sum......
Learning to Love the Carbon Tax - theHumm November 2020
By — Chandler Swain
So we come toward the end of a doozy of a year. We have all faced up to some intense challenges and proved that, when we really need to change our way of doings things to prevent bad stuff from getting worse, we can do it. Along with issues related to the virus, the most profound problem we all face is the Climate Crisis. However, there is a silver lining to our pulling together for this one: we get a prosperous livable world for our kids and grandkids!
One thing that we and the planet can benefit ......
What’s New for November at Your Library - theHumm November 2020
By Erika Heesen
November can often be a dreary month, as the fall colours fade into gray and drizzle, and eventually into snow. The turning of the seasons is a time for change, and never more so than in this year of upheaval and adjustment. I’m sure that I’m not alone in searching for some type of light and connection to be made to get through these times. With that in mind, I decided to celebrate changes that are happening at our libraries. We’re seeing changes to our hours and spaces, and we’re also joining you virtually with programs via our Facebook pages and “Take and Make” kits.
“Take Me to the Movies” Adult Learning & Training Centre Fundraiser - theHumm November 2020
The Adult Learning & Training Centre is a local non-profit that provides free, personalized training to adult learners in Lanark County and Smiths Falls to upgrade their math, reading and computer skills in order to help them gain independence or obtain employment.
They are holding a Zoom fundraiser on November 13 from 7–9pm called “Take me to the Movies”. They will ask movie related questions, the answers are point-based, and at the end the totals are tallied and the people with the most points win great prizes donated from local businesses.
Required is a minimum $10 donation......
Remembrance Day in Carleton Place - theHumm November 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has directly affected the execution of this year’s annual November 11th Remembrance Day Parade and Ceremony in Carleton Place and other communities across Canada. However, the good news is that in order to have the residents of Carleton Place remember and pay our respects to our fallen, a much smaller scaled-down ceremony is still being planned, which can be viewed on Facebook Live.
During these unprecedented times, local Legion Branch 192 feels that it is incumbent upon th......
Smiths Falls Makes the Season Merry & Bright - theHumm November 2020
Riding high on the success of their summer/fall PICNIC program, the Town of Smiths Falls will be continuing to focus on local businesses with their upcoming Merry and Bright Christmas Box initiative. By partnering with local retailers, they will be helping them offer fantastic packages of gifts and goodies that will appeal to anyone who “loves local”. Businesses will select their own items to put in the custom-stamped boxes, and then the Town will supplement each box with a complimentary collectable gift, a Smiths Falls Christmas postcard, a Visitor Guide, a Walking Tour Guide, and a Chri......
Aug 31 Amanda Keeley Quartet
Aug 31 Merrickville Antique Artisans Show
Aug 31 - Sep 2 Sundance Artisan Show
Sep 7 - 8 Fibrefest
Sep 7 - 8 Natives & Clay
Sep 8 Music at Mera: Nathan Sloniowski
Sep 11 Community Open House
Sep 12 Opening Celebration of the new Art Hub
Sep 13 Jason Kent
Sep 14 Art in the Yard
- Wendo Van Essen — Nothing Felt Better
- Be a Wild Child — Roar Against Climate Change!
- MUSICwestport Festival A Fun, Free Event in Beautiful Downtown Westport!
- Misi Zibi Mamidosewin (The Gathering Place)
- 40 ArtistsAlong a Riverbank Outdoor Show on Labour Day Weekend
- Paint the Summer Returns to Westport
- Stone Fence’s Miss Pringle’s Mini-Skirt
- Blueberry Teaat Union Hall
- Come to the North Lanark Highland Games!
- Almonte Potters Guild Open House