By Vicki Hogarth

St. Andrews kicks off the holidays season with a tradition in the name of a good cause

Hundreds gathered in Market Square on Friday night for a festive tradition in St. Andrews—the lighting of the iconic lobster trap Christmas tree. The event marked the official start of the holiday season, coinciding with "Sparkle by-the-Sea," the beloved shop-local event that attracts visitors from across the province and beyond.

This year, Kevin Simmonds and Allisan Spear, who first brought the lobster trap tree to life in 2017, had the honour of lighting the tree, a role bestowed by Mayor Brad Henderson. But this tree is more than a dazzling holiday display—it’s a beacon of community spirit. The buoys adorning it are sold for $35, with proceeds going to the local food bank.

NBCC students help seniors celebrate the holidays

Meanwhile, another act of kindness lit up the town. Students and staff from the NBCC St. Andrews Electrical Department partnered with the Charlotte County Seniors Resource Centre to spread holiday cheer by installing free Christmas lights for local seniors.

"We've had some very good feedback," said NBCC St. Andrews instructor Aaron Collier. "Some of the people have asked if they could take photos of the students doing it so they could share with their friends and family, and it's been a very positive feedback all over."

On Friday morning, just after the season’s first snowfall, the team installed lights at nine homes throughout the community. A few hours of their time will brighten the holidays for these residents. For those without lights of their own, the students provided them, and they’ll return in January to take everything down.

"A lot of the students aren't from the Charlotte county area, so they, they go back to their hometowns and it kind of gives them a little bit of enthusiasm to get involved with more projects as well," said Collier.

It’s a simple gesture with a powerful impact, reminding us all of the true spirit of the season.

St. Stephen lights up for the holidays

The Municipal District of St. Stephen has unveiled its Walk of Lights along the waterfront to kick off the holiday season, and this year's edition is the one of the biggest and brightest installations yet. With many selfie stations and colourful Christmas characters lining the walking path along the St. Croix River, it's worth a trip after dark to take in all the holiday magic. 

Charlotte County community unites to help the less fortunate

The 54th annual Santa’s Helpers telethon aired Sunday on CHCO-TV, raising nearly $44,000 to support families in need across Charlotte County. The five-hour broadcast featured heartwarming performances from kindergarten to grade 5 school choirs, while viewers from near and far called in pledges to help spread holiday cheer.

This year, with the rising cost of living, the need has been greater than ever. But despite the challenges, local residents, businesses, and organizations stepped up with remarkable generosity. Every dollar raised goes directly toward providing holiday gifts for hundreds of children and Christmas meals for their families.

They say it takes a village—but sometimes, it takes a county. Thank you to everyone who donated money and time to this incredible community effort, showing once again why Charlotte County is such a special place to call home.