Nobleton Notes
Nobleton Lions will host Santa Claus at their annual skating party
By Angie Maccarone (905) 859-5174
Nobleton Lions Children's

Christmas Party

The Nobleton Lions Club would once again like to invite the neighbourhood families to their annual free skating party at the Nobleton Community Arena this Saturday (Dec. 15) from 6:30 until 8 p.m. For the children, the Lions will provide free hot dogs and drinks. The younger children will be able to have a visit with Santa Claus and receive a free treat bag.

The Nobleton Lions wish all a Merry Christmas and hope to see everyone there.

Annual Christmas Luncheon and Business

Achievement Awards

King Township Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its annual Christmas Luncheon and Business Achievement Awards tomorrow (Thursday) at 11:30 a.m. at Cardinal Golf Club. Everyone is welcome, so please join us at this festive event. We will be serving a hot buffet lunch with roasted turkey, traditional stuffing and all the trimmings. Carved strip loin of beef, fresh pasta, salmon, salad, soup, vegetables along with a tantalizing sweet table, coffee and tea. Wine will be included, together with a cash bar, all for $40 per person. Include your staff members as well, and help us bring in the joys of the holiday season. RSVP to Maria Ferrante at (905) 841- 7447 or admin@ktcc.ca

Christmas Caroling with

St. Paul's

Are you in high school? Our Youth Group meets tonight at 6 p.m. and you are invited to join us.

The Prayer Group will meet tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Mark your calendars for our Christmas Caroling event, which will take place Dec. 21, starting at 7 p.m. We will meet at the church and head out from there. Apple cider, hot chocolate and goodies will await all participants at the church following the event.

Please Note! Our Christmas Eve Family Candlelight Service will begin at 6:30 p.m. We will be having a Christmas Day Service at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited to attend to help us celebrate Jesus' birth.

This Sunday is the third Sunday of Advent. Advent means "coming." Jesus is coming!

Gregory Dickson is returning to lead us in worship this Sunday (Dec. 16) at 9:45 a.m. Nursery care (for children up to five years of age) is provided during the service and Sunday school for all ages follows at 11 a.m.

For more information about our activities or events, please contact the church office at (905) 859- 0843.

Horticulture

"All the leaves are down and the sky is grey. I've been Christmas shopping on a winter's day . . ."

And everywhere I saw poinsettias, the floral emblem of Christmas. From early November, these tropical plants flood florist shops, garden centres, supermarkets and shopping malls in colours of rose, pink, white and, of course, traditional red. There are even cultivars that are bicoloured while newer varieties have semi or fully double blooms.

Today, it is impossible in North America to separate poinsettias and Christmas, yet in the long history of this Christian celebration these plants have been associated with it for less than 150 years.

Poinsettias are native to Mexico and Central America and, while in the wild they are usually red, there is a wild yellow variety in Guatemala.

Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779-1851) an American politician and amateur botanist who, while serving as ambassador to Mexico, became acquainted with this plant whose common name now honours him as he introduced it to the U.S.A. From there, its popularity spread to Canada.

The poinsettia, whose botanical name is euphorbia pulcherrima (pulcher is Latin for beautiful), is a distant relative of the common euphorbias or spurges that we in this area grow in our gardens. Euphorbus was a physician in ancient Greece who is thought to have recognized the purgative (laxative) properties of certain spurges.

In their native habitat and other warm areas where they were introduced, poinsettias can grow to five metres (16 feet) tall as they do in my sister's garden in northern Queensland Australia, but here where they are grown in pots, they seldom get more than one metre (three feet) high. As with most euphorbias the actual flower is very small. It is the bracts (leaflike growth) around this insignificant flower that supply the colour. In the poinsettia, the little yellow balllike growths are the true flowers while the red, white, pink etc. petals around them are actually modified leaves called bracts.

These coloured bracts last longer if the soil is kept on the moist side (not soggy) and the plant is kept in a place that is free from draughts and gets plenty of light. Direct sunlight, especially through glass, can burn both the leaves and the coloured bracts.

Many members and their guests braved the elements to attend the Nobleton - King City Horticultural Society's final event for 2007, the annual pot luck supper held Nov. 26 at the Nobleton Community Hall.

Outgoing president Kate Agosta and her husband Terry Biddleman welcomed everyone. Dinner began with the singing of O Canada, the Blessing and the toast to the Queen.

Sharing the head table with the society president was past-president Blair Day and his wife Elizabeth Becker, First Vice-President Barbara Downey and her husband Robert, John Arnott, Mary Anne Merrit (representing the Nobleton Women's Institute), Lisa Wolfgram (past president of the Ontario Horticultural Association), Mary Sasiela (assistant director for York West - part of District 15 - representing director Brenda Heenan), Bert Card (a former president of the OHA) and his wife Joan.

Note: Nobleton - King City is one of five societies in York West and one of 17 societies that make up District 15 of the OHA.

Bert Card paid tribute to Gladys McGlatchy, a longtime member of the Richmond Hill Horticultural Society and a former OHA president who, for a good number of years (including 2006) graced the head table at our annual meetings. Sadly, Grace passed away in January, a few weeks before her 100th birthday.

During the break between the main course and dessert, Mary Sasiela conducted the election of officers for 2008, our 50th year. The new president is Barbara Downey (Castlederg), who also served as president once before, being elected to that office Nov. 26, 1978, exactly 29 years ago. No one volunteered for the office of first vice-president. Lynda Rogers (Nobleton) was reelected as second vice-president. Directors elected for one year are John Arnott (Tecumseth Pines Tottenham), Blair Day, Jill Gelately (both King City) and Jean Keane (Laskay). Directors elected for 2 years are Kathy Ball, Susan Beharriell (both Nobleton), Rosalind (Roz) Elson, Tina Stone and Maria Pedersen (all King City). Once again, Jules Maule-ffinch (Bolton) agreed by phone hookup to take on the job as treasurer. No one volunteered for secretary. Joan Jackaman (Nobleton) and Nola Stacey (King City) will continue to serve as auditors.

Following dessert, the awards for 2007 were presented by Barbara Downey, assisted by long-time member Mary Watson (Pottageville). Highest points winner in the open section was Nancy Hopkinson (Nobleton) with 295. Nancy received the Women's Institute Cup last year, so according to custom, she cannot win it again for five years. Points runner-up Barbara Downey, therefore, won the coveted WI Cup, which was presented by Mary Anne Merrit. Carol Hall (King City) won the prestigious Olive Nelson Cup and accompanying piece of crystal for earning highest points in the novice section. Kate Agosta won the award for most points in the flowering bulb category and Barbara Downey won the award for most points in the rose category.

Past president Blair Day presented the Ontario Horticultural Association's Service Award to Maria Pedersen for her outstanding service to our society, particularly in organizing our annual garden tours. Maria also does all the table decorations for the Award's Dinner. Blair also presented the seldom given President's Award to Kathy Ball for her many and varied contributions to the Nobleton - King City Horticultural Society. Congratulations to all the winners and participants in the society's 2007 activities.

Many thanks also to Jean Keane and her social committee of Tina Stone, Virginia Turman (King City) and Maria Pedersen, who organized and set up the pot luck dinner. Jean once again cooked a delicious turkey. Thank you as well to the Path Finder girls and their leaders who did all the cleaning off of tables and the washing up.

The evening ended with incoming president Barbara Downey reading a delightful e-mail from Hans Nielsen, former society president and King City resident, now of Parry Sound, where he takes an active part in that community's society.

St. Mary and St. Patrick

Christmas Mass schedule

Dec. 24, Mass will be held at 5 p.m. at St. Patrick School in Schomberg; 7 p.m. in the gymnasium at St. Mary School in Nobleton; and 10 p.m. St. Patrick Church. Christmas day Masses will be at 8:30 a.m. at St. Mary Mission Church; 9:45 a.m. at St. Mary's gymnasium and 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Church. New Year's Eve will include Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 4 p.m. at St. Patrick Church, just before the 5 p.m. Mass. Jan. 1, mass will be at 8:30 a.m. St. Mary Mission Church; 9:45 a.m. at St. Mary's gymnasium; 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Church; and 4:30 p.m. St. Patrick's Church.

Sears annual

colouring contest

It's time for the Sears annual colouring contest. All children from Nobleton, King City and Schomberg, between the ages of five and 12, are welcome to enter. Prizes are awarded in individual age groups, along with one grand prize.

This year, children are being asked to draw their favourite winter scenes, using paints, crayons, or colouring pencils.

This could also be done as a school art project, as was the case at St. Mary Catholic School last year.

Entries will be accepted from Dec. 3 until Dec. 21 at the Sears Catalogue Store at 5870 King Rd.

For more information, call Frances at (905) 859- 6654.

Nobleton

United Church

Sunday service will be at 11:15 a.m. this week (Dec. 16), the third Sunday in Advent.

Help us celebrate as we sing O Come, All Ye Faithful, Hope is a Star, Prepare the Way, and listen to a meditation on Making Preparations - something we are all doing at this time of year.

Dec. 24, the Christmas Eve family service will be at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

For more information on any of our upcoming events, please call (905) 859-3976.