Fun for the whole family at Snowball carnival

The countdown is on! The Dorset Snowball Winter Carnival happens this weekend, starting Friday night with the traditional family skating party from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be hot chocolate, hot dogs and swishy skating music to glide around the rink by.

The famous, or should we say infamous, adult broomball tournament follows the skating party at 8 p.m. The games will be 10 to 15 minutes long and each team must have a minimum of six players, with at least two girls. If you register in advance, the cost is $10 per team. If you register on the night, the cost is $20 per team. Call the recreation centre to register at 766-9968 and please remember, helmets are required. No helmet, no play.

The fun continues on Saturday with a multitude of great family fun including a pancake breakfast, a parade, official opening ceremony with our own Snowball town crier, great food, great music, comedy and juggling, wildlife calls, snowshoe races, drumming and rhythm circle, an oxen team, horse-drawn wagon rides, snow snake games, 50/50 draw, silent auction, mini snowmobile rides, activities at the outdoor rink and more. To see a complete schedule of events, visit www.dorsetsnowball.com or call the recreation centre at 766-9968.

There are still volunteer positions open, so if you would like to be involved in the greatest carnival around, or need community hours, here’s your chance to sign up for an exciting and fun time. All are welcome! For information, contact the recreation centre.

MNR stewardship co-ordinator Mike Walsh will be hosting a Maple Syrup Operations and Opportunities workshop at the recreation centre on Monday, Feb. 18 starting at 9 a.m. The cost is $25 per person and includes a pancake and sausage lunch, speakers, handouts, a field trip to the Emes family sugar bush, coffee and snacks. To register, contact Mike Walsh, MNR Bracebridge at 705-646-5530 or Nicole Tuyten, MNR Minden at 705-286-5206.

Medical practitioners are recognizing the special relationship between pets and people as one of the most powerful weapons in fighting disease and treating chronic conditions. Dr. Marty Becker’s The Healing Power of Pets blends new scientific discoveries with deeply moving, personal stories of pets and their owners who have used the unconditional love and companionship of a loyal animal to help them triumph over chronic pain, paralyzing phobias, sedentary lifestyles and life-threatening conditions. This title is available through your branch of the Haliburton County Public Library, as well as John Grogan’s Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog, a No. 1 international bestseller with three million copies in print.

Cat lovers in particular will relate to James Herriot’s Cat Stories. So, make your life richer with a visit to your library for information on care for your pet, or a rollicking read about pets others have loved. Laughter and pets: a powerful combination @yourlibrary!

Birthday wishes for Feb. 10 to 16 go out to Esther Fortney, Kyle Jones, Sarina McKey, Jordyn Nash and Gail Hope.

To submit an item of interest or a birthday wish, e-mail melalfano@hotmail.com or call 705-766-0076.