Kendra Shot is the organizer of Santas for Seniors Queens County. (Rick Conrad)

UPDATED DEC. 4, 10:30 A.M.

Even though the Canada Post strike is continuing, the organizer of Santas for Seniors Queens County says seniors will still get their gifts in time for Christmas.

In previous years, organizer Kendra Shot has mailed out the cards. But this year, she says that she and some other women will hand deliver more than 300 envelopes with gift cards to seniors around Queens County.

“We’re going to make sure they get out before Christmas because I know a lot of seniors wait for this to help with their Christmas dinners,” Shot told QCCR.

On Tuesday, Shot got some great news that somebody wanted to adopt 50 seniors.

“I’m feeling very, very happy about it because last year at this time, we had to add another week to get all the seniors adopted and by the looks of it, I’m praying we’ll have everybody adopted by Friday.”

Later on Tuesday, Shot announced on the Santas for Seniors Facebook group that all 337 seniors have been adopted.

This is the fifth year for the volunteer-led program, which helps low-income people 55 and over celebrate Christmas. 

Anyone could nominate a senior, or seniors could nominate themselves. They gave Shot the person’s full name, age and mailing address. People told Shot what they’d like, whether that’s a gift card for groceries, gas or other goods.

All nominees are anonymously posted to the Santas for Seniors Queens County Facebook group. And then people adopt as many seniors as they’d like.

Donors buy a holiday greeting card and include the requested gift cards. They put a stamp on the front of the envelope and the number of the senior on the back. People can drop them off at three locations in Queens County – Exit Realty or Route 3 Cellar Taproom and Grill in Liverpool, or Stew’s Corner Convenience and Gas in Greenfield.

Over the past four years, more than 1,200 seniors in Queens County have been adopted.

Shot said despite people feeling the pinch this year, they’ve still found a way to contribute. 

“I’ve noticed even with the people adopting this year, they can’t do as much as they’ve done in previous years, but they want to help,” Shot says.

“This kind of puts a jump start in my step, because I’ve got my Christmas shopping done, my cookies done, my baking, and the presents wrapped. It puts a little fire in me to get up and get going, but now I do get to sit back and relax.”

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Listen to the audio version of this story below

The Queens County Museum in Liverpool reopens this weekend with its popular annual event Dickensville and the Festival of Trees. (Rick Conrad)

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Liverpool, with multiple events planned for the historic Astor Theatre and the rest of downtown Liverpool this weekend.

Last weekend’s popular 14th annual Liverpool Fire Department Christmas Parade kicked things into seasonal gear.

The South Queens Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the Queens Holiday Festival on Saturday. That includes a tree lighting in front of the Astor at 5 p.m. with Christmas carols, and a free multicultural holiday concert inside the Astor at 5:30. 

Earlier in the day, local businesses will be participating in the Christmas on the Mersey food crawl and holiday shopping party.

On Sunday at 7 p.m., the 93rd annual Kiwanis Community Christmas Concert gets underway at the Astor. That event is sold out.

Local businesses are also decorating Christmas trees in the park on the Liverpool waterfront and at the Queens County Museum. 

And the museum will be open extended hours on Saturday as it unveils its popular Festival of Trees and Dickensville.

Kendra Shot is the organizer of Santas for Seniors Queens County. (Rick Conrad)

The organizer of a local program that helps seniors over the holidays is hoping for a little Christmas magic this year.

Santas for Seniors Queens County connects low-income seniors with others who want to help them have a good holiday. And it relies on Canada Post to help make it happen. 

Organizer Kendra Shot says this year, she’s worried about how the postal strike may affect the festive fundraiser.

“I’m hoping by the end of the week that maybe they come to some terms and settle this strike. I will put them in the mail but there’s no way we can hand deliver because we have mailing addresses for the seniors, and not home addresses.”

This is the fifth year for Santas for Seniors Queens County. Since it began, it’s helped hundreds of Queens County seniors each year.

Anyone can nominate a senior, or seniors can nominate themselves. People tell Shot what they’d like, whether that’s a gift card for groceries, gas or other goods.

All nominees are anonymously posted to the Santas for Seniors Queens County Facebook group. If you want to add any Queens County senior to the list, contact Shot with the person’s full name, age and full mailing address.

“55 and over, low income, need a little extra help this winter. That’s what we’re here for,” Shot says.

“You adopt your senior, buy a holiday card, buy your gift card, there’s one or two usually listed per senior, you don’t have to buy both of them. Put it in your holiday card, seal it, on the back of your card write your number, on the front of the card, place a stamp.”

Completed cards can be dropped off at Exit Realty or Route 3 Cellar Taproom and Grill, both in Liverpool, or at Stew’s Corner Convenience and Gas in Greenfield. 

Shot says she’s seeing more seniors from Greenfield and Caledonia participating this year.

As of Tuesday, 328 seniors are signed up, with 158 adopted so far. Last year, a little more than 300 took part.

Seniors can be nominated until Dec. 1. Shot says all cards need to be dropped off by Dec. 15 so that she can mail them out in time for Christmas.

“Basically 90 per cent of the people that are nominated do not even know that they’re nominated. So, they’re going to get a card in the mail from a complete stranger with a little extra help. There’s no set denomination for amounts. We’re all feeling the crunch of the increased prices it’s more so the thought that counts.”

Shot and her volunteers used to collect gifts from donors and deliver gift bags to as many as 400 seniors. She said they changed it to gift cards during Covid.

They also used to work with local service organizations and other groups to identify seniors in need, but because of confidentiality rules, they had to stop doing that.

Despite that, more than 1,200 Queens County seniors have been adopted in the past five years. 

“It makes me feel good because No. 1, to give back is the best feeling at Christmas for me. Gifts aren’t Christmas, it’s how you actually make somebody feel.”

This year, Shot says she’d also like to get more businesses involved in the fundraiser. The managers at White Point Beach Resort got together and adopted 12 seniors.

If you want to be nominated or if you want to nominate somebody else, message Kendra Shot on Facebook, or call her at 902-646-0265 or email her at kendra_shot@hotmail.com.

And if you want to “adopt” a senior, check out the Santas for Seniors Queens County Facebook group.

“We’ll get them all adopted, we do every year, and put some smiles on seniors’ faces.”

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Listen to the audio version of this story below

Photo Ed Halverson

A program supporting seniors over the holidays has met its goal weeks ahead of its deadline.

Queens Santa’s for Seniors connects people with seniors to provide them with gift cards during this festive season.

Anyone can nominate a senior and seniors can nominate themselves to be put on the list. Organizer Kendra Shot then connects those on her list with people who have signed up to donate.

Shot launched this year’s program at the start of November and it didn’t take long to have 290 seniors signed up. On Nov 22 she announced every senior had been adopted.

Shot decided to set an early deadline to adopt a senior this year after getting down to the wire in 2022.

“We went to the week before Christmas,” said Shot. “It was like five days before Christmas before I got everybody adopted. So, this year we got everybody adopted fast.”

Shot is extending her deadline and is accepting more seniors through the first week of December. She says she need to cut it off then to ensure the cards can be delivered before Christmas.

Shot says seniors shouldn’t be shy about asking to be included.

“They’re more than welcome to nominate themselves as well. I don’t need a complete stranger to nominate you, if you want a little extra anything, just, please, shoot me a message,” said Shot.

People can still contact Shot through the Santa’s for Seniors Facebook page or by phone 902-646-0265. We’ve provided that information on our web page.

To hear the broadcast version of this story click play below.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com

Photo Ed Halverson

Organizers says a volunteer program to help seniors over the holidays is more important this year than ever before.

Kendra Shot has run the Queens Santa’s for Seniors program for the past four years.

When she started, donors would select an anonymous senior from a list on the Queens Santa’s for Seniors Facebook page and buy gifts for them from their wish list. A team of 30 volunteers would gather the gift parcels and distribute them to over 400 seniors across Queens County.

Last year Shot decided the work had become too much to handle between trying to receive, store and delivery the items and shifted away from gifts to gift cards. She says the move didn’t sit well with some people, but it was the right thing to do.

“I’ve had senior say, yeah you know this is a good idea because I can go get what I need because sometimes they’ll say they wanted lotion or sweatpants or something and they got the wrong sizes, or they got the wrong colour so this way they can go purchase what they need,” said Shot.

Seniors can select gift cards from any retail store in the area with most choosing stores that offer pharmacy or food options. Shot says the choices they make show seniors are being particularly hard hit by the rise of inflation.

“Their pensions aren’t going up to reflect the cost of food, the cost of heating fuel. I mean, I don’t want to get into the political matter of it all, but I have some that are like, I don’t know I’m either going to pay for my oil or this will help me get a little groceries because I have to get oil this month and I’m not going to have much left over for food,” said Shot.

Over 300 seniors received cards last year and Shot is hopeful now that everyone has adjusted to the move from gifts to gift cards even more will be handed out this year.

She only opened the 2023 edition a week ago and already 252 seniors are on her list and half of those have already been selected. Shot would like to see businesses and workplaces band together to participate, that way, the financial load is spread across a larger number of people.

To nominate or select a senior for the Santa’s for Seniors program Shot says people can visit the Facebook page or call her directly at 902 -646-0265.

To hear the complete interview with Kendra Shot click play below.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com

Region of Queens free metered parking. Photo Ed Halverson

Free Christmas parking is causing problems for visitors to the Liverpool post office.

Each year the Region of Queens makes metered parking free to bring more shoppers downtown in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Mayor Darlene Norman says that effort is being abused by a few drivers who are overstaying in the few spots outside the post office.

Norman is asking drivers to go about their business then move along and let others use the spaces.

“Please keep in mind that we have many people, we have many elders that are going to the post office. It’s exceedingly busy. They’re picking up packages,” said Norman. “Even though it’s free parking, if you’re working at a business or if you’re staff in another store, please don’t park in those places.”

She says the same request goes for people spending more than a few minutes shopping.

Liverpool post office. Photo Ed Halverson

Norman says she has received several complaints from seniors having to park blocks away in a parking lot and make the trek up the hill to collect their mail.

The free parking outside the post office falls under a bylaw that permits free parking across the region for 28 days prior to December 25.

Norman says she has had requests to change the bylaw to exclude those spaces from the free parking.

The mayor acknowledges it would take about four weeks to change the by-law.

She says the parking spots could be maintained as paid parking next year but wonders how it would be enforced.

“How do you enforce 15 minutes unless there is enforcement standing right there looking at someone in the eyeball?” said Norman. “I think people just really need to be kind, considerate and respectful.”

Norman hopes by bringing the issue to people’s attention the public will use the free parking in the spirit in which it was intended.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.

Photo Ed Halverson

For the third year in a row some Queens county seniors can look forward to a surprise in their stocking.

Santa for Seniors gives people the opportunity to donate gifts anonymously to seniors living in Queens.

Organizer Kendra Shot says over that time, the program has grown from supplying 250 presents in the first year to providing over 400 seniors with gifts this Christmas.

Shot says about 60% of the people on her list are returning seniors but ensuring those numbers are accurate can be difficult.

“Make sure that everybody that’s on my list is looked after and are still in their residence. But a lot of them have passed on, a lot of them have been moved to homes. It’s challenging but I don’t want anyone to go without.”

Donors can sponsor a senior from an anonymous list posted on the Seniors for Santa Facebook page.

Traditionally, gifts would include items such as toiletries, sweets and warm clothes but this year Shot has seen a drastic increase in requests for gas and grocery gift cards.

“A lot of the seniors are choosing between heat and food so the gift cards actually, are going to help tremendously.”

Shot says the pandemic has been particularly hard on senior’s pocketbooks.

“I’ve had people ask for warming blankets, little electric blanket throws for their couch so they don’t have to turn their heat up. It breaks my heart.”

Shot says once again, the people of Queens have opened their hearts and all but 50 or so seniors have been adopted.

The last day to sponsor a senior is Friday.

Gifts can be left at Route 3 Cellar Tap Room and Grill or at the Liverpool offices of Belliveau Veinotte chartered accountants.

Shot says she and a team of volunteers will distribute the present between December 20 and 23.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.

Xaver Varnus and his newly installed pipe organ. Photo contributed by Xaver Varnus.

World-renowned organist Xaver Varnus plans to host a series of mini-concerts during the holidays at the former Pilgram Church.

Varnus bought the church earlier this year and installed a pipe organ shortly afterwards.

He’s made many friends of the neighbours who would stop in to check on his progress.

“In Toronto, in one year, I met only one of my neighbours,” said Varnus. “Since I’m here, I don’t know how big is the population of Brooklyn, perhaps one thousand, I think I already met 999.”

Initially, Varnus had hoped to mount a concert in his church to repay the warm welcome he has received.

Because of COVID-19, he needed to rework his plan. Instead of one gathering of over a hundred people, he will host five nights of organ music for up to 20 people at a time.

“I don’t want to play a very long concert. Maybe 30 minutes or 35 minutes and then after, maybe we have some chat outside the church,” said Varnus.

The program will feature selections from Bach, a personal favourite of Varnus since he was a five year-old child.

In fact, he calls Bach, “his first language.”

“It’s very easy to understand Bach for the twentieth century because, like Shakespeare, of course, one-third of his work was made for his own age but the other two-thirds is general for all over the ages and people.”

Varnus says some of the people who stop in to visit have had little experience with classical music prior to his arrival in the community.

He’s touched to see them embrace the genre so fully as evidenced by a performance by a visiting musician friend.

“This very nice lady was sitting in the first bench next to the piano and during Walter’s wonderful performance of Brahms, she was crying. I thought, this is the first touch, when classical music was touching this lady’s heart.”

Varnus is already making plans for a larger performance in the fall of 2021. Several of the top figures in classical music from around the world have committed to perform in his Brooklyn Church, now rechristened ‘Varnus Hall’ at a festival in September.

“I want to give some hope to people that after COVID we still have light, we still have sunshine, we still have Debussy and Bach and we still have big red apples, so everything, you know?”

Varnus will play his mini-concert series at 5:00pm each evening from December 26 – 30. Admission is free but a donation towards his 2021 festival and ongoing renovations is appreciated.

Unfortunately, if you haven’t secured a seat, you’re out of luck. The concerts were announced Thursday and by Friday, all performances have been filled.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

Dr. Robert Strang and Premier Stephen McNeil announce new COVID restrictions for Christmas. Photo: Nova Scotia Government

Nova Scotia will have new COVID-19 restrictions beginning December 21 but family members will be allowed to visit over the holidays.

Premier Stephen McNeil says while they are relaxing some restrictions to allow relatives to travel, it’s important people still follow COVID protocols.

“You can travel from A to B. Which essentially means, if your family lives in a different community you can go visit your family at Christmas. You can have up to 10 people, total in your gathering,” said McNeil. “When you get there, stay there. We’re doing this because we know how important it is for families to be together at this time.”

Long-term care residents will have their restrictions eased to allow two designated caregivers to visit. Facilities can also allow a limited number of visitors

A number of new restrictions are coming into place.

Social or special events, festivals, arts/cultural events and sports events are all cancelled.

Faith gatherings, wedding ceremonies and funeral services up to a maximum of 150 people outdoors or 100 indoors are allowed but wedding and funeral receptions are not.

People can gather in groups of up to 10 in their homes, including the people who live there.

They can also gather with up to 10 people in a close social group.

Restaurants and licensed establishments must stop service by 10 p.m. and close by 11 p.m.

Fitness and sport and recreation facilities can open but must restrict the number and proximity of participants.

Retail and shopping mall rules currently in place for areas of HRM and Hants County will extend to the entire province, including operating at 25 per cent of their capacity.

A complete list of the new restrictions is available at this link.

The province’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang says now is not the time to undo all the good work we’ve done just so we can enjoy a holiday they way we are used to.

“We’ll get back there. I’ve said it before, I’d like to have everybody who is here today in Nova Scotia be around next year in Nova Scotia to celebrate Christmas in a different way, to celebrate our holidays in a different way. But to do that, we need to make sure that we’re all safe so we don’t lose people along the way.”

Strang and McNeil were present as the first group of Nova Scotians received the COVID-19 vaccinations in Halifax Wednesday.

Strang said the amount of collaboration that took place to enable this to happen is moving for so many.

“Three weeks ago we weren’t sure how we were going to do the vaccination. We’ve come so far in three weeks. And to see, both in the health system and across government, everybody put up their hand and say what can I do to help?”

Strang reminded people that getting vaccination to every Nova Scotian who wants it will be a long road and COVID restrictions need to be stay in place in the meantime.

He recognizes people are getting tired but he hopes they can take inspiration from the sacrifice of others.

“Think about the healthcare workers in this province who are willing to say, I’m not going to have Christmas with my family like I had planned because I need to be there helping people get immunized. They are there, sacrificing for you. What we are asking the people to follow is not too much to ask given what other people are doing to help you be safe.”

The new restrictions come into effect December 21 and will remain in place until January 10.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

Premier Stephen McNeil and Dr Robert Strang announce extended holiday. Photo: Nova Scotia Government

Christmas is coming early for Nova Scotia students.

Premier Stephen McNeil announced public schools will be closing December 18 and will remain closed until January 11, extending the festive holiday by nine days.

The premier said government is changing the holiday out of an abundance of caution.

“Christmas is coming and we are concerned that as family and friends gather, even in small groups, COVID could show up’ said McNeil. “Just look what happened in some of our western provinces after Thanksgiving weekend. They saw an uptick in cases.”

While students will enjoy an extra week off, school staff will be back January 4 to undergo five days of professional development.

The province’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang announced nine new COVID-19 cases bringing the total active number in Nova Scotia to 65.

In the past two days, four cases have been found at The Eden Valley Poultry processing plant in Berwick. Strang announced the plant will be shut for two weeks as a result.

He says the closure is a warning that Nova Scotians can’t let their guard down and relax the precautions they’re taking against spreading the coronavirus.

“Is a stark reminder that we’re not through this yet and things can change very quickly. I know that people are anxious and ready to get back to something a little more normal but moving too quickly away from these restrictions can do the opposite.,” said Strang. “It can put us right back to where we were a month ago and prolong the need for extensive restrictions around COVID.”

Strang says help is on the way in the form of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, which is expected to arrive in Nova Scotia December 15.

He says public health have been running mock drills to ensure they are prepared to meet the stringent handling requirements of the vaccine.

“It is a complicated operation especially with the Pfizer vaccine, given its unique storage and handling requirements. But I hope people can see by the work that’s gone on that we are absolutely ready to receive vaccine and start administering that,” said Strang.

The premier closed the update by saying the virus moves quickly through communities and tracking it will help chart the course for the province over the next few weeks.

“Movement matters. Where we go, what we do, who we’re with and how we behave. I know how important Christmas is to families, especially those who are spread out across our province. But it is our job to do our best to keep you safe. We will have more to say about this next week.”

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson