Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44FOCUS - JANUARY 2017 25 Free In-Home Consultation Blinds - Draperies - Shutters - Shades Great Selection - Stylish Colours Superior Service - Satisfaction Guaranteed! Joe Gibson, Blackstock 905-213-2583 www.budgetblinds.com/portperry Blinds - Draperies - Shutters - Shades A style for every point of view. ENHANCE EVERY ROOM IN YOUR HOME WITH STYLISH CURTAINS AND DRAPES Scouts traditionally do good deeds, but the Port Perry troupes are really stepping up their game for 2017. The goal is to do 150 Good Deeds for Canada’s 150th, and they are looking for inspiration. Beaver leader Ellen Greenough invites local residents to share ideas. “A true good deed is something that’s going to really help someone,” she pointed out. Examples of good deeds include dog walking, shovel- ling snow, lawn mowing and raking leaves. If you need a helping hand, Ellen welcomes calls at 905-985-8047 or email her at portperryscoutgroup @hotmail.com “150 Good Deeds for Canada’s 150th is still in the planning stage,” says Ellen. “Contact us with sug- gestions.” Locally, there are 127 individu- als, including 27 leaders, involved in scouting. It’s co-ed now too. “It’s going strong in Port Perry,” Ellen commented. There are Beavers (age 5-7) Cubs (age 8-10) Scouts (age 11-13) Venturers (age 14-16) and Rovers (16-adult.) Everyone is participating in the ambi- tious 150 Good Deeds for Canada’s 150th project. “Each section will do extra good deeds for Canada’s 150th,” said Ellen. Photographs of all of the activities will be exhibited at a special open house at the Scout Hall on September 23, 2017, to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. Ellen has served as a Beaver leader for an amazing 30 years, ever since her son joined the colony. Her grandson has also been part of her Beaver group. The Beaver Promise is: “I promise to love God and to help take care of the world.” Ellen shares stories about the Beavers’ past charitable acts. The Beavers collect donations for the food bank and plant trees in the spring. In 2017, they plan to plant 150 com- memorative trees. Another tradition is making colourful Christmas napkin rings for hospital patients, to brighten their dinner trays. For 15 years, the Scouts, Venturers and leaders have helped the Rotary Club serve Christmas dinner to the seniors in Port Perry. In honour of Remembrance Day 2016, the Beavers made a decorative bouquet of poppies in a wicker vase, plus beautiful centerpieces for local retirement homes. They received a heartwarming letter of appreciation from veterans at Port Perry Villa. The Scouts always assist the veter- ans at the park on November 11. They also pitched in to help with the clean- up for the 2016 Rotary Club Ribfest. The Venturers have built bridges anddonerepairworkattheNonquon. Leaders pick up scrap metal and appliances for people who are unable to do so themselves. Money has been raised for many good causes: buying goats, chickens and sporting equipment for third world countries, and donating funds towards building a soccer field in Uganda, a joint project with the Church of the Ascension. They have built bat boxes. And the list of good deeds goes on…. “The scouting program is still the best program to put children in today,” Ellen feels. Generations of local fami- lies participate. She has seen Beavers grow up through scouting to be lead- ers. One of her helpers at Beavers, Jack Blaney, is a Venturer now. “I knew Jack when he was a Beaver,” Ellen noted. “When you see kids come back, you know you must be doing something right.” Youth learn, from a young age, the value of volunteering and helping others in their community, in keep- ing with the motto: Sharing, sharing, sharing. By Lynn Campbell, Focus on Scugog EE TO CELEBRATE CANADA’S 150TH