If you have some fabulous photos of the area; a favourite local recipe; knowledge about local history; a favourite place you love to visit; tips about fiddlehead picking, fly fishing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing or any Miramichi related activity; then the annual Miramichi River Guide wants to hear from you.

Written submissions should be no more than 250 words. Or send up to six high-resolution photographs.

The deadline for submissions is February 20th.

Email stacy@mightymiramichi.com with River Guide Submission as your subject line. To view the 2011 Miramichi River Guide visit the website www.riverguide.ca.

Annette Savoie, Holistic therapist, Life Coach and Motivational Speaker.

Annette Savoie, owner of Annette`s Alternative Healing in Miramichi, started her business out of her own quest to create the life she always wanted. She is passionate about helping people be the best they can be!

Annette uses a holistic approach to revamping people`s lives by helping people heal from past traumas, identifying the emotional and energetic blockages in their body, helping them gain confidence and then motivating people to reach their highest potential.

“Find your passion and go for it!” she says. “Fear will get in your way at first but once you identify it and realize that fear is an illusion stopping you from getting what you want, you can go forward with it.”

Whether you see her in private coaching or as a motivational speaker you will quickly pick up on her energy. Annette uses her energy to get people to step out of their comfort zone and reach for the sky. Having triumphed over many challenges herself she is a prime example that when you own your power you can do anything no matter what your challenges are in life.

“You have the power within yourself to have the life you always dreamt about. Many people think that this unrealistic thinking because most have been told settle for less,” she says. “Did you know that at least 70% of people are unhappy in their workplace?”

With statistics like this Annette is determined to help employers realize that it is in their benefit for their business growth to have their employees happy and motivated.

“If you look at the most succesful companies in the world you will notice that they make it their duty to have employees who are recognized for their work, happy, and motivated which greatly increases productivity, creativity, profit and people want to come to work,” Annette says. “As a leader you have a responsibility to them! Survey after survey shows that employees dont need more pay, they need a positive atmosphere that will help them grow as individuals and also help them create a balance in their life.”

Annette can help with her energy by giving a motivational speaking that is bound to motivate your employees to give their best and to learn to deal with stress.

“Stress is a daily part of life but it doesn’t have to affect people negatively. There are techniques to deal with it effectively and that is what I do in my individual sessions or in conference,” she says. “I help take away your stress.”

Annette offers a variety of conferences that will touch leadership, energy, motivation, wellness, women and adolescents. If you have any questions please email her at annette@annetteshealing.com or phone 506-625-2240.

“The journey of life is sometimes challenging but I will teach you to take the challenges you have and make a difference in this world. That`s what we’re all here to do:  is be the best we can be!”

For more information visit Annette’s Alternative Healing website.

Just in time for Valentine's Day! "A Taste of Chocolate" happens Saturday February 11th in Miramichi.

Hospice Miramichi Presents: “A Taste of Chocolate”
By Cindy Rule

If you love chocolate, laughing, music and helping out in your community, then there’s a good chance that you’ll be heading to the Rodd Miramichi River on Saturday February 11th, 2012 at 7pm.

“A Taste of Chocolate” is returning to the Rodd as a fundraiser for Hospice Miramichi. Below is some information about Hospice Miramichi from their website:

“Hospice Miramichi is a non-profit volunteer organization and was established in March 2011. The focus of hospice care is on comfort not cure, and on life not death. Hospice Miramichi is seeking to raise awareness of the unique needs of those who are living with life threatening illnesses where cure is not an option and medications are no longer controlling the illness. Hospice Miramichi will work within the community by providing services and support for clients and families within their homes. Our volunteers will be trained to provide practical and emotional support during the end stages of life and through the grieving process.

Our plan is to bring hospice to Miramichi in three (3) stages. First, the establishment of a Hospice Outreach Program, where in- home support services will be offered to assist palliative patients and their families live the remainder of their lives to the fullest extent possible. The second stage of our plan will be the addition of a Hospice Day Program. The third stage of our plan is to establish a Residential Hospice (RH) in Miramichi within the next 3-4 years.”

Turning this much needed organization into reality requires community help and “A Taste of Chocolate” is just one of the fundraisers that Hospice Miramichi will be presenting this year. They are hoping the turnout at these events will reflect the huge amount of support the Miramichi community and beyond has already shown Hospice Miramichi.

Along with mountains of delicious chocolate desserts (and non-chocolate treats if chocolate isn’t your thing), you will be treated to an original one act play written by yours truly, Cindy Rule, called “Defining Love.” Lisa Savage, Jason Blanchard and I will entertain you as we take you through the different stages of love; from childhood crushes to finding that special someone, we believe the play is filled with moments everyone can relate to.

The evening will also include music by Connie and Paul as well as an Arm’s Length Auction, Cake Auction and a 50/50 draw.

So, once again, the event details are …

Hospice Miramichi Presents
A Taste of Chocolate
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 7pm at the Rodd Miramichi River.
Featuring the Crule Players in the original one act play
“Defining Love.”
And the music of Connie and Paul
Tickets are $25 and are available at Saltwater Sounds, Bill’s Quik Way and The Books Inn.

For more information about this event please call (506)625-2153. Or email info@HospiceMiramichi.com. For more information about Hospice Miramichi please go to www.hospicemiramichi.com

Thank-you for your support and we hope to see you there!

This is an initiative founded by Danny and Paula Matchett, owners of Danny’s Improvements. After working in the roofing business for many years, Danny became sensitized to the bare necessity of a good roof. He also became increasingly aware of the many families without a good solid roof over their head. Too often, the basic shelter and security that a roof provides is taken for granted. No one thinks about repairing a roof when the sun is shining, or maybe the thought does cross the mind, but the resources are not there to do anything about it. The roof gets put off for another year, and another, hoping things will get better, luck will improve and then when it rains it pours and the roof leaks, making a bad situation much worse and causing immeasurable heartache and stress on a family.

The ROOF project began from knowing these stories and a deep desire to give back to the Miramichi. Having a good solid roof gives comfort to the remainder of the house and lightens the everyday stress of the family within.

All materials and labour will be courtesy of Danny’s Improvements and MacCallum Building Supplies.

Please visit our website at www.theroofproject.com for more information, nominations will be accepted through May 31, 2011.

If you have any questions, or concerns please feel free to contact The Roof Project at (506)836-9946 or email info@theroofproject.com.

The Sky’s the Limit if you have a roof over your head.

With frost moving in, soon signs of the holiday season will be all around.

Crisp days and frosty nights remind us that winter is coming.  Soon the signs of the Christmas season will be all around to brighten the long dark nights.

Unfortunately Christmas can be a stressful time for some families who struggle to meet their daily needs.

If you have felt the wish to reach out to others during the Christmas season but didn’t know quite how to go about it, we could help. The Northumberland County Early Intervention Program works with families with children from birth to five years old.  Each year business and individuals adopt-a-family through our program.

This is how the adopt-a-family program works:

• Families enrolled in the Early Intervention Program who need assistance for Christmas fill out questionnaire outlining the children’s sizes, requests for Santa etc.

• When you decide to adopt a family, you can either choose to do the shopping yourself using the questionnaire or;

• Make a cash donation to the Early Intervention Program and we’ll do the shopping and you’ll receive a tax receipt because we are a registered charity.

If you are interested in adopting a family, please call (506)778-6532.  We will accept calls to adopt a family until December 4th , 2009.  Our goal is to have all gifts ready for delivery by December 16^th , 2009.  Our business hours are Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For more information contact:

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY
Early Intervention Program
1202 Water Street
Miramichi, NB
E1N 1A2
email:  eic@nb.aibn.com
(506) 778-6532
(506) 778-6519 (fax)