Miramichi Blog

Local Car Featured in National Ads
Local hot-rod designer Gerry Goguen of Phantom Street Rods is going to have one of his cars used in an upcoming ad for American Racing Wheels, a wheel manufacturer in California.

I just happen to have a copy of the photo that will be used in the ad...pretty cool huh? And yes, Gerry made this car himself!

Visit the Festival of Trees!
The Festival of Trees is a favourite Christmas event in Miramichi, hosted each year by Miramichi Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Boys and Girls Club.

View Over 30 beautifully decorated Christmas trees donated by local businesses. Take part in the silent auction where you can bid on one of the trees or other great gift ideas, preserves and wreaths that are available

Admission: $3 Adults - $2 Kids
Now open until November 24th.
Monday to Saturday: 12 noon - 9 pm
Sundays: 12 - 5 pm

Youth Village, 115 Maher St., Miramichi East
Phone: 506-778-2444
Email: sallison@nbnet.nb.ca
website: www.youthvillage.nb.ca/programs.htm

The tree on the left is a favourite here at our office. It even inspired Grace to decorate her own Christmas tree at home in the same way. This is a Western Theme tree and was decorated by My Mothers Kitchen.

2005 – 2006 Miramichi Subway Ironmen Super Draw!!!
Approved by The Miramichi Minor Hockey Club Inc.

Buy a $20 ticket to enter the draw - get $20 worth of hockey game passes!

I have no idea when the draw is...but if you call Jean-Yves Losier he can tell you the details and can hook you up with some tickets! Tel: 506.778.8809 or 506.624.4469

Look at all the great prizes you could win!!

• $100.00 Travel Voucher donated by Thomas Cook Travel.
• $100.00 Gas Gift Certificate donated by Lloyd’s Service Station.
• $100.00 Gift Certificate donated by L.J. Patterson Sales & Service.
• $100.00 Gift Certificate donated by D&N Truck Line.
• Vachon Cooler and Hat valued at $65.00 and a $50.00 Gift Certificate donated by Atlantic SuperValu.
• Two $50.00 Gas Gift Certificates donated by Beaubear Co-op Ltd. and a Home First Aid Kit donated by Angela Thomas valued at $25.00.
• 3 pc. Luggage Set from Bentley’s valued at $125.00.
• 148 Piece Professional Tool Set from Eddy Wholesale valued at $125.00.
• Auto Start from Apple Auto Glass valued at $130.00.
• A Floral Arrangement from Lounsbury Home Furnishings valued at $150.00.
• ProStart Remote Control Car Starter valued at $150.00.
• Tupperware Gift Basket Valued at $150.00
• $150.00 Gift Certificate donated by Power Trax to be used at either the Truck Repair Shop or the Automotive Repair Shop.
• Men’s Winter Jacket and Ball Hat donated by Bremner Farms Ltd., valued at $150.00.
• $150.00 Gift Certificate donated by Atlantic SuperValu.
• An Area Rug from Carpet Man Ltd. valued at $100.00 and an Iron from Ron and Betty Silliker valued at $75.00.
•$200.00 Gift Certificate donated by K2 Services for Lawn Care or Landscaping Services.
•32” Philips Real Flat TV donated by Xplornet Broadband valued at $920.00 (HST included).
• 30” Philips Widescreen TV donated by Xplornet Broadband valued at $1035.00 (HST included).
• 250.00 Cash

BOOSTER NIGHT – AUCTION
(Proceeds to Team Diabetes)

Where: The Tide
When: Saturday, November 26th 6-9 pm
Admission: $5
What: A fun filled night with an Auction of mixed merchandise from local businesses. (Great opportunity for Christmas Gift Ideas)
-Door Prizes, 50/50 Draw and Entertainment

Entertainment: Duo of Jake and Justin 8 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Dinner Specials:
– 8 oz steak - $8.75
– Hot Turkey/Hamburger - $6.00
– Chicken Wings – 40 cents each

Partial Auction Item List:
Miramichi Golf & Country Club pkg.: 2 - 18 hole green fees w/ power car rental, one night at a Comfort Inn anywhere in Maritimes, 3- month Simply for Life weight loss package, Katherine Karnes Munn print, Cordless Phone w/ 1yr. extended warranty, Family season pass at Miramichi Cross Country Ski Club, Stability Exercise Ball + Pedometer, Golf Shirts, Ladies Vest, T Shirts, Flower Arrangements, Dairy Queen cake, Timberwolves Tickets, Steak Knives and much, much more.

Services Provided by Charlebois Auctions

Old Country Soul
It's that time of year when craft & bake sales start popping up everywhere! Last weekend I went to such a sale in Blackville at the United Church hall. This is an annual event that is well attended by crafters and shoppers alike.

This year I found a gem tucked in amoungst the home-baking and quilts.

Her name is Monika Saulnier.

Monika is 10 years old, cute as a button, and has recorded her own cd of country music. The cd's, entitled Old Country Soul were produced at home with the help of her mother and sell for $12. Songs include old country favourites like Coat of Many Colours, Tennessee Flat-top Box, and Monika's favourite, Daddy's Hand.

Monika has been singing since she can remember and dreams to one day be on Canadian Idol... and when it happens, she'll have my vote.

In addition to music, Monika loves horses & cats and after she gave me her sales pitch on purchasing a cd, she tried to get me to adopt this adorable little kitten.

Monika lives in Lockstead NB, in the Miramichi Region, where her parents operate Saddle Tramp Stables. To order a cd, contact her mother, Susan at 843-7994.

November is Family Violence Prevention Month
The Silent Witness Project is a traveling exhibit of life-size red wooden silhouettes. Each represents a New Brunswick woman who was murdered by a husband, partner or acquaintance. Each figure bears the name of a woman who once lived and worked among us. Through research and information sharing, it is hoped that eventually there will be a silhouette crafted to honour every New Brunswick woman who has died tragically as the result of domestic violence.

On Monday November 21,2005 there will be a dedication cere­mony for the Silhouette constructed for Maria Tanasichuk. This will take place from 10 am - 12 pm at the Miramichi Regional Health Authority - Highland Theatre. ALSO from 1 pm - 3 pm, there will be a presentation by Kim Cuppens addressing the link between Family Violence and Animal Abuse.

Donations will be accepted at the door with proceeds going towards the Pleasant Valley Farm for Abused Animals. Your support in attending both these events would be greatly appreciated. Brought to you by the
Miramichi Emergency Centre for Women and the Mlramichi Family Violence Partnershlp Committee Family Violence …it really hits home! FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 622.8861

Click for more information on the NB Silent Witness Project

The Salvation Army Thrift Store in Miramichi (Newcastle) is once again getting ready for their Christmas assistance programs. Thanks to donations through their Christmas Hamper program and Kettle Campaign, they are able to provide food and toys to families in need from Sunny Corner & Millerton through to Lower Newcastle

Preparing a traditional Christmas dinner with all the fixin's is often an unaffordable luxury for many families. The Christmas Hamper program supplies these families with a box of food including a turkey, potatoes, peas & carrots, a bag of fruit, cranberry sauce, dressing, bread, milk and other suggested items. A toy is also supplied for each child.

Last year, 140 families received Christmas Hampers from the Newcastle office with many more being delivered from churches from Nelson down to Chatham. Distribution of hampers is on Dec. 21 & 22.

Christmas Hampers are funded by donations received from the Christmas Kettle program, and from individuals and businesses that sponsor a family.

How you can help:
1) Sponsor a family. Contact the thrift store and indicate the size of family you want to sponsor (2 children, 4 children, etc). You'll receive a list of recommended items to purchase for the Christmas Hamper, and you purchase toys for the children, or you can donate the cash equivalent instead of buying the items yourself.

2) Volunteer to "Sit on a Kettle" anytime from Nov 28th to Dec 23rd.

To sponsor a family, volunteer your time, or make a cash or other donation contact the Salvation Army Thrift Store at (506)622-7826.

To learn more about the Salvation Army in general visit: www.salvationarmy.ca

I took a trip to Riley Brook this past weekend to visit my parents and the local wildlife was as friendly as ever. This particular deer will actually tap on the window with her nose looking for a treat.

Miramichi Crime Stoppers - A Community Leader in the Fight Against Crime, has added an informational page to the organization's website to inform the public about a new community policing Initiative being implemented in Miramichi - Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design or CPTED. The program has already been effective in the prevention of crime within the community, delivering positive results. Crime Stoppers supports the work being done by Miramichi Police Force and Partners for a Drug-free Miramichi regarding this project. Learn more by visiting the site below.

Visit Miramichi Crime Stoppers' site on CPTED:
http://www.miramichicrimestoppers.com/special/id13.html

The $4 Breakfast.

A $4.00 Breakfast is hard to come by these days. Especially a good one. But the folks at the Waterstreet Farmers Market have the market cornered!

This picture doesn't quite do it justice because it's crammed into a take-out container. But if you eat in they'll put it on a real plate that looks like it came from Grandma's kitchen cupboard.

My breakfast consisted of panfries, 1 egg over-easy, a fishcake, 3 sausages, and "brown" toast which tastes like Shredded Wheat toast, but I'll have to ask for sure, next time I'm there.

Oh, and did I mention it was only $4.00? Would have been $3.00 without the fishcake add-on.

The Water Street Farmers Market is located in the Pioneer Seniors Building at the corner of Ellis and Water Street in Miramichi East (Chatham)... in the Historic Water Street Business District. They have a few empty tables left for any interested vendors. Apparently it gets quite busy this close to Christmas so if you have home-made or home-grown crafty type goods to sell, this is the place to do it.

Open: Saturday 9:00am to 1:00pm
Seasonal: April 1 - December 30
Contact: Ken Lloyd Telephone: 506.773.7482

It's Snowing!!

Kinda had a hard time getting a good pic...but you get the idea.

St. James and St. John United Church's Annual Christmas Musical

Rehearsals are underway for St. James and St. John United Church's annual Christmas musical. The dates are set, the characters cast, and rehearsals have been underway since the first of September for the Christmas musical theatre production at the United Church Centre.

Saturday, December 3rd and Sunday, December 4th are performance dates for The Valley Haven Christmas Show, a dramatised Christmas story written by Paul McCusker. Both performances begin at 7:00 p.m.

The Valley Haven Christmas Show is a touching one-act play chronicling the dreams, loneliness, and uplifting faith of a group of elderly people who wait for visitors on Christmas Eve. This musical is a warm, realistic comedy that incorporates several poignant stories intertwined with beautiful music selections, a few featured by the Malaika Women’s Choir.

Directed by Kimberley Shaddick and produced by Cheryl Bond, The Valley Haven Christmas Show is the 21st performance from this talented troupe.

Cast members include Diane Forrest, Kimberley Shaddick, Willard MacKay, Kathy Buckley, David Watling, Diane Donovan, Nancy Donald, Joey Baisley, Rev. David Tuck, Shannon Mercier, Beth Wilson, Gwen Baisley, Ellen MacKay, Manford Wasson, and Rose Theriault. There are a host of other volunteers who work behind the scenes as the production crew managing light, sound design, set construction, costumes and props.

The price of admission is $7 and tickets are available at the church office or at Books Inn on the square in Newcastle.

Christmas Times a Comin'!!

My how time flies! Our local retailers can go from pumpkins to tinsel in 5 seconds flat!

Now that Hallowe'en is over, many stores have opened up their "Christmas Rooms". These are wonderfully festive displays that must take hours & hours to create at the hands of some pretty talented people.

These pictures were taken at Home Hardware in Miramichi West (Newcastle).

*currently they don't have a website, or I would have linked to it to show you more of their beautiful store.

These pictures were taken last week driving through the Plaster Rock Hwy.

Today it is 14 degrees outside.