2023 Gift Giving Guide - theHumm November 2023

The Winter Issue - theHumm November 2023

In case you missed last month’s notice, we have decided to make a slight change to our 2024 publication schedule. Instead of trying to bring our January 2024 issue out right after New Years when many shops and tourist attractions are closed, we plan to publish a Winter Issue that will hit the streets in mid-January and take you through to the end of February. We will then return to our regular schedule of coming out at the beginning of each month.

The deadline for our Winter Issue is Monday, January 8. The deadline for our December 2023 issue is still November 20 for content and Novem......

...more

Showing the Local Love for the Holidays! - theHumm November 2023

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.......

...more

2023 Gift Giving Guide - theHumm November 2023

Gifts for $100 & Under

Alliance Coin & Banknote 1oz pure silver coin, Alliance Coin & Banknote alliancecoin.com , $39

Archival hand-signed prints, proceeds to Art for Aid, Art for Aid artforaid.ca , $65

Bundle of 8 pre-packaged and decorated Art Cards, Carleton Place Gallery cpgallery.ca , $25

......

...more

Setting the Scene for Ethan Claymore - theHumm November 2023

By Joseph Nieforth

The heartwarming story of a young recluse widower and egg farmer, Ethan Claymore by Norm Foster is Studio Theatre Perth’s perfect answer to Christmas entertainment this year.

When you think of a period piece you usually think of showy gowns and men in flashy suits, but what if the play is set in 1995 on an egg farm with flashbacks to early 1960 when the main characters were young? This is what director Marilyn Nicholas-Dahan must evoke on the Studio Theatre stage.

The s......

...more

David McAuslan — Full Cycle - theHumm November 2023

By Sally Hansen

Art… and Soul

Painting with transparent watercolours is this eclectic Carleton Place artist’s way of celebrating and sharing the people, places and things that have an emotional impact on him. From striking portraits of unheralded cycling greats to captivating portraits of local sights and sites, McAuslan uses his paintbrushes to honour the images that bring him pleasure and stoke his imagination.

For our local readers, his paintings of familiar landmarks like the Carleton Place Town Hall......

...more

Arts CP Annual Small Piece Art Show & Sale - theHumm November 2023

It’s easy to love this time of year. Autumn is always beautiful, with a palette of warm greens, peaches, crimsons and pale golds, and comforting cool breezes combined with cozy cardigans. And best of all, accompanying autumn each year in Carleton Place is the Itty Bitty Art Show – with art that is as much a feast for the senses as an autumn day.

The show takes place in the upper great hall of the Carleton Place Arena on November 18 and 19, from 10am to 4:30pm each day. Presented......

...more

Savour the Symphony of Giving
Concert Fundraiser for Lanark Community Garden - theHumm November 2023

The stage is set, and the excitement is building for an unforgettable evening of music, community togetherness, and heartfelt contributions to a worthy cause. Taking place on November 17 at 7pm, the Concert Fundraiser in support of the Lanark Community Garden, presented by the Oakfield Rugby Park, is a must-attend event of the season, featuring two exceptionally talented artists: Jillian Allinson and Ali McCormick.

Kicking off the evening, Jillian Allinson promises to sweep you off your feet with her soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics. With a captivating voice and impressive skills on ......

...more

Merrickville’s Makers Market - theHumm November 2023

Christmas in the village begins the first weekend of November in Merrickville. That’s when the Merrickville’s Makers Market hosts its next spectacular event! The Christmas edition of this popular market will return to Merrickville’s Community Centre at 106 Read Street on November 4 and 5 from 10am to 4pm each day. Admission to the event is free and there is ample parking.

The two-day format allows for lots of space for the makers, and each day will find 30 unique vendors set up to welcome everyone. Fine art or hot sauce, woodwares or exotic soaps and oils will blend with all manner of......

...more

Help for the Humane Society! - theHumm November 2023

Fundraising is an ongoing challenge for staff and volunteers at the Arnprior & District Humane Society (ADHS), so they are very excited about an opportunity to participate in the Charitable Bingo and Gaming Initiative at the Lola Street Capital Gaming Centre. The charitable gaming program is conducted and managed by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) with the goal of returning a portion of gaming revenues to the community.

ADHS’s com......

...more

A Puppet Playfor the Holidays - theHumm November 2023

By Lucy Carleton

Whoa! Something’s gone awry at the Mississippi Mills Youth Centre (MMYC). A local Winter Pretzel Fest is in jeopardy and the villagers are calling on “El Capitaine and Mayor Leaderhosen” to solve the mystery. A quirky beaver and the plucky news reporter Rex Position are already on the case, but they need more friends to help. Who will climb the mountain and ask the giant GORP to lend a hand? Find out how you can take part in this winter adventure story, filled with music and zany puppetry, in the MM......

...more

Community Builders Craft Fair at Union Hall - theHumm November 2023

By Linda Camponi

Union Hall is pleased to be hosting its third annual Community Builders’ Craft Fair on Saturday, November 4. The hall will be joining forces with other charities and non-profits to raise awareness of their important work and to bring in much-needed cash for their operations. Get a head start on your Christmas shopping while contributing to these community builders!

The Union Hall Community Centre, a Registered Charity, was erected in 1857 and continues to be the hub of......

...more

Lanark County’s First Ukrainian Fest - theHumm November 2023

Lanark County is home to thousands of Ukrainian migrant families and Canadians of Ukrainian descent. On November 5, a celebratory festival will take place at the Carleton Place Arena from 11am to 4pm. Ukrainian Fest is designed for a wide range of visitors of all ages and origin, and features a bazaar, lunch, activities for kids and adults, performances, and honoured guests the Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada, the Member of Federal Parliament, and the Mayor of Carleton Place.

The festival had its roots at a fundraising garage sale organized by Gloria Bradley to help a Ukrainian family......

...more

Ready to Sing Again! - theHumm November 2023

The Goulbourn Male Chorus (GMC) is a community-based chorus made up of men from West Ottawa communities and surrounding areas. The Chorus had its first rehearsal on September 20, 2010 with 12 men, and has grown over the years to a typical membership of 24 or so. Since its inception the Chorus has been community-focused, taking part in a range of community events including Remembrance Day Services, community fundraising concerts and performances at local seniors’ residences. In addition t......

...more

TNIM Presents Jigsaws
Five Women; Three Generations; See How They Fit! - theHumm November 2023

By Andrea Howard

This fall, Theatre Night in Merrickville presents the Canadian premiere of Jigsaws by Jennifer Rogers, directed by Heddy Sorour. The play explores the nuanced relations between mothers, daughters and sisters, three generations of the same family, as they come to terms with changing circumstances and attitudes. It is an actor’s dream and an audience pleaser. When Jigsaws opened in Perth, Australia in 1988, the playwright explained: “I want to show women as they really are; as funny, bright, inter......

...more

Presentation on Human Trafficking - theHumm November 2023

As part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Stir It Up Collective and The Hub will be sponsoring a presentation by Jo-Joe Van Hooser on Thursday, November 30. Jo-Joe is an Equity, Diversion, Inclusion, Indigenization Worker with the Ottawa Childrens’ Aid Society.

The presentation will outline some of the things that the public needs to know about human trafficking in urban and rural communities — what people can do to protect themselves. What are the signs that ......

...more

Hope for the Spring:Maple in the County - theHumm November 2023

By Glenda Jones

You may be cozying up to the wood stove soon, but there are intrepid farmers already planning and hoping that the winter will be kind enough to produce an abundance of maple sap in the spring.

Arlene Stafford-Wilson, the authority on all things Lanark, has produced a stellar history of the maple producing dynasties of Lanark County. Her latest book, Lanark Country Kitchen, delivers not only the history of these families, but also the favourite recipes passed dow......

...more

Holiday Happenings atHeritage House Museum - theHumm November 2023

From Sunday, November 12 through to Saturday, December 16, come see the magnificent artwork featured in the Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum Annual Art Show. 

The show features a variety of media, subjects and styles from artists throughout the Ottawa Valley. Some of the pieces from the show will be for sale, at the discretion of each artist. 

The show will be available for viewing during the museum hours of operation: Wednesday to Friday from 10am to 5pm; Saturday and Sunday ......

...more

Three New Showsat Sivarulrasa Gallery - theHumm November 2023

Almonte’s Sivarulrasa Gallery will present three new exhibitions from November 10 to December 22. Dale Dunning: Divination will run in Gallery I. This solo show brings together new works in bronze, steel, and aluminum by Almonte-based sculptor Dale Dunning, as well as older works from the 1980s, showing the artist’s remarkable versatility and consistency over several decades. The title of the show, Divination, references a method of seeking knowledge of the future or the......

...more

A Mighty & Talented Crew
Spinning Yarns: The Millworkers Musical - theHumm November 2023

By Susan Macaulay

Twenty-five actors mill about, seemingly randomly in a thirty by thirty-five-foot room at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum. The excitement, energy and enthusiasm are palpable. Accompanist Colleen Skjaveland, who has been playing since she was six, strikes a few chords on the piano in the corner.

That’s the cue. The meandering ceases to be random. The actors create conjoined circles and begin to sing (to the tune of Christmas in Killarney):

“Our show is done, we’ve had some ......

...more

Tatlock Ukulele Club - theHumm November 2023

By George Turcotte

J’Ukebox George here, writing to tell you how stoked I am about a new Ukulele Club I’m drumming up, which I’ll be hosting on Tuesday nights out in Tatlock — at the Tatlock Hall, as a matter of fact! The invitation is open for anyone (largely adults/teens) wishing to join in, jam, learn and have fun on the uke. We’re launching our maiden voyage on the last Tuesday of November (being the 28th) at 7pm (’til 8:30 or 9 or so) and will continue the Tuesday after that, and after that, ......

...more

Gift of Art Show - theHumm November 2023

The artists of the Kanata Civic Art Gallery invite you to the 2023 Gift of Art Show & Sale, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, November 18 and 19, from 10am to 5pm each day.

With over 30 juried members, the Kanata Civic Art Gallery has been in the community for thirty years. As a juried gallery, the standards are high — you will see some Ottawa’s finest artists. The 2023 show will host artists of long standing and artists new to the gallery this year. This si......

...more

Enjoy the Magic of the Holiday Season in Perth - theHumm November 2023

Perth Tourism invites you to explore all that the town has to offer this holiday season. Enjoy a weekend in Perth and take some time for yourself to unwind and indulge. With over 20 events planned throughout November and December, the holiday spirit will be sure to surround you while you stroll the streets and explore the beautiful old-world charm of the town.

Bursting with carefully curated boutiques and shops, you’ll easily be able to find gifts for everyone on your ho......

...more

MERA Christmas Fair - theHumm November 2023

The annual MERA Christmas Fair returns to the MERA Schoolhouse in McDonalds Corners on Saturday, November 18 from 9am to 3pm. MERA (McDonalds Corners & Elphin Recreation & Arts) is a space in Lanark Highlands committed to connecting community members through the arts.

A nutritious lunch, refreshments and baked goods will be provided by Worthewaite Farm. There will also be a bake sale and a raffle featuring donated items from vendors.

This year’s Christmas Fair features Fine ......

...more

Folkus Turns Over a New Page - theHumm November 2023

By Sandy Irvin

As we head into our 21st year, Folkus is focusing on renewal and rejuvenation. That includes handing the keys to the car (I mean concert series) over to a new Artistic Director, Steve Wildesmith. While Steve is relatively new to Almonte, he is no stranger to the music community, having played in various musical configurations around Ottawa and area since the ’80s. Steve has called a few friends and pulled in a few favours to book the lineup for Folkus 2024. We are looking forward to seeing y......

...more

The Carleton Place Town Singers - theHumm November 2023

By Danette Hanneman

Autumn is here, but before you know it the Carleton Place Town Singers will once again be ready to entertain you with the sounds of the Christmas season!

Our fall session began on September 5, and we are practising weekly to bring you a delightful concert led by our choir director Laurel Tye. Laurel is a well-known music director who has led numerous choirs and musicals, including countless Mississippi Mudds and Junior Mudds productions. We greatly appreciate the time and effort she gives to......

...more

A New Lifestyle Planning Option - theHumm November 2023

By Karen Bradley

While retirement may mean the end of a career for some, to me this simply meant more time to devote to starting a new one focused on my passion for helping people struggling with transitions in their lives. I was young when my father passed away, and I watched my mother’s daily struggles to figure out how to manage her finances and learn the skills she needed to carry on. This impacted me so greatly that it not only fueled my desire to understand how to manage finances and work in t......

...more

Summer at Pine Lake - theHumm November 2023

By John Pigeau

For every début author there comes a special day — the day their box of books arrives by courier. There’s truly no other feeling like it, and first-time author Alyssa Delle Palme recently got to enjoy that delightful experience.

“My publisher, Evernight Teen, is an e-book publisher first. So when my book was released, I was able to see it on my Kindle first, and I thought that was the most exciting thing ever. But nothing compared to the day I received a box of paperback copies on my doors......

...more

Pakenham’s Holiday Hop - theHumm November 2023

Join us in Pakenham for the second annual Holiday Hop — a family-friendly day of crafts, gifts and one-of-a-kind shopping. Pakenham is a picturesque spot and a community full of amazing makers, creators and leaders. Holiday Hop is a fun way to explore the talent this hamlet holds!

On Saturday, November 25 there will be so much to see and do, including Letters to Santa with Letter Love at 3 Apples Bakery. Learn to make your own wax seal with Rhemy and Lila before officially sendi......

...more

Designing for Life
An Evening with Paddye Mann - theHumm November 2023

Popular wisdom dictates that if you want to establish an internationally recognized business you must locate yourself in a large urban centre. Paddye Mann is not one to buy into “popular wisdom”, and there were plenty of skeptics who questioned her decision to nestle her clothing design business not in the garment district of New York or Toronto, but in the rural village of Pakenham, a place that felt like home.

In her 45 years as a businesswoman, a designer and a committed community ......

...more

Nick of Time Christmas Craft Show - theHumm November 2023

By Ludwig Ratzinger

Perth’s Nick of Time Christmas Craft Show is back for 2023, and this year it’s our 30th anniversary! Come celebrate with us and find the perfect Christmas gift for all your special people on Saturday, December 2, from 10am to 3:30pm in Perth’s Crystal Palace, located downtown right beside the Tay Basin.

This year’s show features a great lineup of new artists and artisans as well as many returning favourites. Expect to find gourmet chocolate, fashion accessories, fine woodworking, uni......

...more

The Joint Holiday Party
Small Businesses, Big Celebrations - theHumm November 2023

The holiday season is fast approaching, and with it comes the task of planning and hosting the memorable company party your team deserves. If this is a task that daunts rather than excites you as a small business owner, consider participating in a joint holiday party.

Joint parties offer several advantages.

The festive atmosphere offers the perfect environment for networking. Your team will enjoy dining together at private company tables, while also having the opportunity to meet ot......

...more

It Had to Be You
Valley Players Almonte Return to the Stage in December - theHumm November 2023

By Juli Heney

They say opposites attract, but few couples are more opposite on the stage than Theda and Vito in It Had to Be You. This play is a romp, running from one seemingly unconnected event to another even more outrageously unconnected event until you realize that everything is completely and fundamentally interconnected. Wonderfully funny and relentlessly honest, this play and its two characters are utterly engaging. It runs along at breakneck speed, by turns laugh-out-loud funny and then heart-wrenching — the sto......

...more

Elevating Polymer Clay to Fine Craft
Heirloom Holiday Workshops at Stone Manor Studios - theHumm November 2023

Maria Saracino, a master of polymer clay artistry, is renowned for her ability to transform this versatile medium into exquisite, award-winning sculptures. With over 30 years of sculpting and teaching experience, Maria is an ambassador for polymer clay. She shares her craft through in-person and online workshops, making art accessible to enthusiasts worldwide.

Maria’s teaching philosophy centres on nurturing artistic abilities and breaking down complex techniques into manageable steps......

...more

Remembrance Day Ceremony in CP - theHumm November 2023

The annual November 11th Remembrance Day Ceremony has played a major role in Canada since 1931. Every year, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Canadians gather in memorial parks, churches, community halls, workplaces, schools and homes to stand in honour of all who have fallen.

Continuing with this tradition, members of the Carleton Place Legion Captain A. Roy Brown Branch #192 are planning this year’s parade and Cenotaph Ceremony.

The parade will form up on Mil......

...more

Musical Matters
Concert for the Canadian Veteran Service Dog Unit - theHumm November 2023

On November 12 at 3pm, Musical Matters will present a concert called We’ll Meet Again with proceeds going to the Canadian Veteran Service Dog Unit. The concert will be held at St. Andrews Church, located at 1 Drummond Street in Perth. Tickets are $10 at the door.

The program will include songs such as If I Didn’t Care by The Inkpots, Lili Marlene by Marlene Dietrich, Chattanooga Choo Choo by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree by The Andrew Sisters, Mairzy Doats by The Pied Pipers, I’ll Be Seeing You by Jo Stafford, We’ll Meet Again by Vera L......

...more

Sing We Now of Christmas - theHumm November 2023

By Becky Schweizer

The skies are darkening and the winds are cooling, but we have the answer to the early winter blues! Come celebrate the beginning of the holiday season on December 10 with the Valley Voices, Almonte’s community choir, at our concert “Sing We Now of Christmas”.

Valley Voices are a new choir with a long history. After our fall auditions we have been working hard with our new accompanist to put together a great Christmas concert and are very proud of ourselves. It promises to be an evening full of music, laughs and merriment.

“Sing We Now of Christmas” takes place on Sunday, December......

...more

The “Circle Tor” - theHumm November 2023

By Glenda Jones

Aunt Eva was a lively little woman, raised on the cactus flats around Medicine Hat, Alberta. No one enjoyed a day-trip more that she did, and she was adamant you should make it a full round-trip. She gave us a guided tour, pointing out the old homestead, the house where she worked as a maid when she was too young to be doing that, the bungalow where she raised her family. It was a history lesson in a capsule. We drove for hours, all the time thinking we’d be turning around soon, but suddenly we were back in front of her retirement home, not having backtracked anywhere.

...more

“clò mòr” Exhibit at MVTM - theHumm November 2023

Carl Stewart’s poignant piece, “clò mòr”, will be exhibited at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum until December 23, 2023. Stewart will be hosting a talk at the Museum on Saturday, November 4 from 2–4pm.

In early 2015, images circulated around the world showing Islamic State militants in northern Iraq executing men accused of committing homosexual acts. The bound and blindfolded men were taunted, beaten, taken to the top of a 100-foot building and pushed to their deaths. These brutal e......

...more

PCC Presents Matilda - theHumm November 2023

By Jacqueline Ramsey

After a rigorous audition weekend where participants were asked to act, sing and dance, Matilda was cast this past June. If any play will show the mettle of our young Perth Community Choir cast, Matilda is it, and it is shaping up to be quite the spectacle.

Matilda is the title character of a book written by Roald Dahl, author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, the BFG, and so many more. His children’s fiction usually has a theme of children living in poor circums......

...more

Rick and Suzie, Together Again - theHumm November 2023

By Seamus Cowan

The seasoned and dynamic duo of Rick Fines and Suzie Vinnick will appear at the Blues at The Cove Series coveinn.com on Friday, November 17, where they will no doubt be at the height of their artistic prowess. I recently sat down (well, via email) with these long-time musical companions to see if they could give us some insight into their partnership and what makes them tick.

Seamus Cowan: You two have been playing music together in d......

...more

ABBA Revisited - theHumm November 2023

ABBA Revisited is North America’s #1 tribute to the iconic band, and its members have been dazzling audiences across the globe since the year 2001. ABBA Revisited recreates the magic of the band with authentic costumes, spectacular harmonies and note-perfect musicianship, taking their audience on a musical journey back in time.

Come out to Perth’s Farrell Hall on Saturday, December 2 at 8pm, when Dream Rock Entertainment presents a very special ABBA Christmas show by this fabulous tribute b......

...more

Why Cycle Trails Matter
Building Capacity for Cycle Tourism in the ValleyCarebridge’s New Community Coordinator - theHumm November 2023

By — Jeff Mills is involved with Mississippi Mills Bicycle Month and the Ottawa Valley Cycling and Active Transportation Alliance.

Cycle tourism advocates from across the region (Frontenac, Lanark, Renfrew and Ottawa) came together on September 13 for a one-day “Cashing in on Cycle Tourism” Summit in Arnprior. Presenters from the cycle tourism sector came from Toronto, North Bay, Peterborough and the Ottawa Valley. Participants represented different sectors — business, municipal and county governments staff and council members, non-profits, and cycle tourists of all ages.

There was a healthy vibe......

...more

To Everything There is a Season - theHumm November 2023

By David Hinks

Like it or not, we are moving into six months of boots and coats. What is a gardener to do? Take on a new hobby? Start a whole lot of greens indoors under lights? Build that greenhouse you have always dreamed of? Move to Florida for six months? Embrace winter activities such as curling?

What would you do if you were able to garden outdoors twelve months of the year? I once had neighbours who hailed from a spot in Australia where they could garden all year lon......

...more

Consider Cohousing
An Approach that Addresses Healthy Community and the Environment - theHumm November 2023

By Chandler Swain

One of the issues currently facing many Canadians is the lack of affordable housing. The reasons are many; but add in the climate crisis and we are forced to rethink how and where we build, which energy sources we use for our houses, and how we create our communities.

Closely connected to the housing crisis in many ways, there is also a crisis of people feeling depressed, isolated and desolate. Our elders are sequestered away from the rest of society as we rush about with no time for the......

...more