Headlines
Over the past few years, we have been grateful to have wonderful local news outlets publish stories about us. Here are the new and old. Thank you to these wonderful news outlets!
Christmas displays light up Northumberland (2015)
Karen Longwell-Port Hope youth Andreas Pedias, 12, is following in the Sheppard’s footsteps with a growing collection of inflatable Christmas decorations. A few years ago the St. Anthony Elementary School student asked his father if he could get one of the inflatable decorations he saw in a store. At first his father said no but later came home with two decorations. This year with nearly a full lawn, Andreas decided to organize a food drive for the Fare Share Food Bank. There is a food bin in front of the home on Princess Street, just north of Dorset Street in Port Hope. The food drive bin will remain out every day until January.
Port Hope Youth's Collection for the food bank (2015)
Todd Mc Ewen- PORT HOPE- youth Andreas Pedias, 12, collected 164 items of food for Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank. The St.Anthony Elementary School student was eager to decorate his family's front lawn with inflatable decorations and added a food bin at the foot of his family's lawn as a finishing touch. The food bin will remain outside the Princess Street home until January
Northumberland 89.7 FM
Port Hope teens Halloween display raises donations for Fare Share Food Bank
Karen Longwell-
PORT HOPE -- A spooky display in Port Hope aims to raise food donations.
Andreas Pedias, 13, created a Halloween display and Fare Share Food Bank drive at 77 Princess St. in Port Hope. He is taking donations on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. He will once again do a Christmas food drive and display starting later in November.
Christmas food drive and display returns to Port Hope
Organizers hope to collect more than 500 items for Northumberland Fare Share Food Banks
PORT HOPE — Andreas Pedias is hoping for two things this holiday season — some snow and for people to donate to the Northumberland Fare Share Food Banks.
The 13-year-old St. Anthony Elementary School student has organized another food drive just in time for Christmas, to be held on Dec. 18 at his home on Princess Street, just north of Dorset Street, but it will be hard to miss since there are more than 30 inflatable Christmas displays in the front yard.
“We were at the store and I saw some of the (displays) that I liked,” he said looking back on how he got the idea to host a food drive. “I asked my father if I could have one and he said no, but came home the next day with two.”
In addition to collecting food donations for Northumberland Fare Share Food Banks, the ‘PH Family Holiday Display’ will offer visitors hot chocolate and candy canes.
A free photo booth is also set up this year, and anyone who makes a donation gets to write their name on an ornament and hang it on a donation tree.
“Last Christmas we started collecting for the food bank and we did it at Halloween too,” Andreas said, adding he hopes to collect more than 500 items for the food bank this month. “People don’t have a lot of things and it’s good to give back.”
Asked about the displays, Andreas said it took him three to four days to set them all up.
“I am hoping for some snow,” he said. “So far we’ve gotten a few donations but on Dec. 18 the food drive will be a big day.”
Holiday Food Drive 2016
On Dec. 18th, 77 Princess Street in Port Hope was the location of a Holiday Food Drive. Those who came to donate food or cash were provided with hot chocolate and candy canes. There was also a donation tree where donors hung an ornament with their name on it. All of the donations went to the Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank in Port Hope. The collection box and decorations will be up until Jan 7th, so you still have time to add your donation. Thanks to everyone who participated.
Photos by Ken Solilo
Parent Source Displays in Durham and beyond
PH Family Holiday Display
The largest inflatable display in Northumberland County!
Holiday Food Drive. Come out to 77 Princess Street, PORT HOPE from November 27 - January 7 and donate cash or food donations. Our goal is 500 donations. All donations go to Northumberland Fare Share Food Banks Port Hope.
Please use caution in bad weather and watch for snow plows. Help feed our neighbours. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Check out their YouTube video here.
Snapd Easter 2017
On March 26th, 77 Princess St. was the site of the Easter display and drop off box, for food for the Port Hope Food Bank. Other locations for the donation boxes were Lighthouse Dental, Suntree, Furby House Books and Tropical Delites. For future donations, please send an email to Andreas at: phfamilyholidaydisplay@gmail.com - for information about the hours of operation at these drop off locations. This is the second year Andres has been collecting donations for the Port Hope Food Bank. Well done Andreas! Thanks for taking this initiative.
Halloween Display and Food Drive in full swing Princess St. Port Hope
PORT HOPE — A large Halloween display in Port Hope marks the location of an annual food drive organized by Andreas Pedias.
The local teen created the spooky display at 77 Princess St. to support the Fare Share Food Bank, with food donations being taken on Oct. 31 from 4 to 8:30 p.m.
He will once again do a Christmas food drive and display starting later in November.
Northumberland aglow with Christmas lights
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NORTHUMBERLAND — Growing up in Cobourg, Diana Henry recalls Christmas drives to see houses lit up for the holidays.
It was a Christmas tradition Henry loved. Now a grandmother, Diana and her husband Steve Henry make sure their home is decked out for the holidays. The couple adds a few more decorations every year to their home of 30 years at 339 University Ave. E., Cobourg. The couple’s many grandchildren love to see the home. Many passersby stop to have a look at the home.
“That makes me feel good,” said Diana.
Also in Cobourg, Bob and Emily Brown’s home on Glen Watford Road boasts a train packed with toys. Bob said the couple enjoys creating a different display each year.
“I am just a big kid at heart,” said Bob.
Perhaps one of the most well known decorated homes in the area is a farm house on County Road 2 between Cobourg and Port Hope affectionately known as “the Gingerbread House”. The new owners of the home, Nathan Smith and Tiffany Henriksen, decided to continue a 28-year tradition lighting the home. The family, with their two children Alexia, 4, and Payton, 1, added their own spin by holding a special light-up event as a fundraiser for Fare Share Food Bank on Nov. 18. Despite a rainy evening, around 190 people came out for the event.
Smith and Henriksen grew up in the area and were aware of the Gingerbread House popularity at Christmas. Smith, an electrician, set to work on a more efficient system with LED lights saving on electricity costs, he said.
They plan to continue with the annual light-up event.
In Port Hope Andreas Pedias, 14, started decorating his family’s home at 77 Princess St. in 2012 as a fundraiser for the Fare Share Food Bank. He continues the tradition this year with a donation box out front of his home. He also decorates at Halloween and Easter.
In the north part of Northumberland, Patti and Bill Branning at 5444 Front St. in Harwood, also love decorating for the holidays. They have about six free-standing decorations with unique pieces such as a snowman decked out in hunting gear and a raccoon popping out of a garbage can. The couple said they don’t spend much money on each other for the holidays and just want to share their festive spirit with the community.
PH Family Holiday Light Display for the Food Bank
On June 27th, snapd dropped by the Pedias residence, where Andreas held his 2nd Annual Light Display, to receive donations of non perishable food items for the Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank. Weather conditions did not permit pictures to do justice to Andreas' efforts but you can, by taking your non perishable food item, to 77 Princess St, Port Hope. Andreas' collection for the food bank will be done for 5 days and we encourage you to stop by after sunset, to witness this light display and add to his collection for the food bank. Happy Canada Day! Happy Anniversary PH Family Holiday Light Display!
Snapd Halloween Food Drive 2018
Andreas Pedias held his 3rd annual Halloween Food Drive at his home in Port Hope for the Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank, boys and girls came out for Trick or Treating and brought a food donation. The Halloween Display had a grand opening around Thanksgiving weekend and it was a chance to see his amazing inflatable display!!
The donation box was out October 10- 31.
The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) also donated a voucher for four valued at $78.00.
Thank you for the ongoing support!! This Halloween display would not be happening without the help of Craig Smith, Punk Rock Produce Community Gardens, and the amazing donors!! Happy Halloween!!
Look out for Andreas Christmas Food Drive.
Fundraising For Fare Share With Santa In Port Hope
The fourth annual Seasonal Annual Drop-Off Location at 77 Princess Street had a special visitor on Saturday.
Santa Claus dropped by for photos while the front yard was filled with inflatable Christmas decorations as part of the PH Family Holiday Display.
Andreas Pedias has been putting the event on annual and was accepting donations for the Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank.