Events on Salt Spring, in mid-December....

December 11, 2009.

Calvin's Bistro is offering a terrific 3 course Christmas Dinner as their holiday special...three choices of starters, two entree choices (yes, turkey is one of them!), and two choices of seasonal desserts. They also offer Christmas parties, up to 65 people. Enjoy!

December 19th, at Moby's, Zav RT and Daniel Huscroft will showcase their prodigious talents, starting at 8 p.m.

Grace Point Square merchants invite everyone to browse their fine seasonal offerings...something for every budget and every taste, here! Frankly Scarlett gifts and gems, Persnickety children's wear, Upstairs Bears unique Teddy Bear Boutique, J. Mitchell Gallery's eclectic offerings of sculpture, painting, jewellery, objets to please, Ganges Garment Company with gifts of clothing and accessories, Starfish Gallery & Studio, emphasizing photography and writings, poems and prose...wander these innovative locations...tired? pop into the Skin Sensations Day Spa...

At Salt Spring Vineyards, on the 12th and 13th, plus the 16th to the 23rd, and the 27th to 29th, enjoy tastings and consider their gift baskets as suggestions for Santa to consider...open noon to 4 p.m.

Salt Spring Artists Gallery of Fine Art, on McPhillips, showcases Big Small Show...lots of ideas, here, for all budgets. If you haven't discovered this latest addition to the cooperative gallery scene, in "downtown Ganges", then you have a treat before you.

Don't forget the Salt Spring Concert Band's performance, tomorrow night, at ArtSpring: Celestial Music. Show begins, one night only, at 8 p.m.

Sunday, at 2:30 p.m., also at ArtSpring, is the very talented Sharon Minemoto Trio -- if you're a jazz fan, be there!

Music at Treehouse (yes, in the comfort of their new enclosed space) -- tonight, it's Vaughn Fulford and tomorrow night it's Donn Tarris & Tess Fama. Live music, in this location, every Friday and Saturday, now, from 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy!

Wintercraft continues at Mahon Hall...lots of great gift ideas, here, and for all budgets. Catch Marnie Burton's jewellery, here. Wintercraft runs through to Dec. 20th, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily.

Seasonal music and themes at All Saints by the Sea: Carols for Christmastide on Dec. 16th, at 2 p.m., and then the more traditional Anglican presentation of Nine Lessons and Carols. Sunday, Dec. 20th, at 4 p.m.

Don't forget to tune into the local community radio station...some great shows on, and you can view the roster of options at the website ( www.cfsi-fm.com) -- it's the voice of the Islands!

I find it very interesting that the decision to rebuild the new library, in its current McPhillips Avenue location, passed by 78% in favour of same location. Salt Spring appears to be a very thoughtful space...interesting points of view, in the letters to the editor, for several weeks, in the local weekly newspaper (Driftwood), and in the end, the "Island spoke". We are lucky we live where we do.

Don't forget that tomorrow is Santa's arrival by ship! He arrives on the Lions Santa Ship, with fireworks display in the Harbour, at 7 p.m. Then off to the Salt Spring Elementary School, to deliver gifts, plus a segue to Greenwoods and Lady Minto Hospital. If you've never seen this particular Santa arrival, don't miss it!

This is a difficult time, economically, as we enter year two of the meltdown moment of late 2008. The local Food Bank projects that it will be $20,000 "short", due to increased need. It's so important to remember to gift, even though the gift may be small, these kinds of options...this is the season of giving and of sharing, and good to take a larger point of view, beyond our immediate circle of family and friends, and to remember the community at large....

Some other giving options? Copper Kettle, SPCA, Island Wildlife rescue & rehabilitation facility, Salvation Army, B.C. Children's Hospital....the need is great.