Rosebud is taking a bite out of the Big Apple for its Christmas show. The Rosebud Opera House stage will be fully decked out with the sights and sounds of old New York as it hosts the vaudeville-style musical The Gifts of the Magi, based on the classic Christmas story by O. Henry.
    It’s Christmas in old New York and a young, newly married couple Jim (Aaron Krogman) and Della Dillingham (Cassia Schramm) are out of work and broke.  In fact, they can barely afford to keep their one-room apartment. The Gifts of the Magi explores the challenges this loving couple face as they secretly secure the ideal Christmas gift for each other.
    Along the way they meet the jovial Soapy (Mike Thiessen), a homeless man who wants nothing more than the warmth and security of a jail cell for Christmas, and Willy (Natalie Gauthier), a street newspaper vendor who sees deeper than the headlines she sells. We also get to know many other New Yorkers through the numerous incarnations of City Him (Joel Stephanson) and City Her (Laura Gillespie). The Gifts of the Magi gently reminds us of the power of love and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
    Artistic Director Morris Ertman comments, “Christmas is a time for optimism. We need to believe that there is good in the world. We need to be able to believe that love can get us through the darkest of times. Out of work and penniless? Love will sustain you. That in a nutshell, is the hope in almost every classic Christmas story. O. Henry certainly brings that poignancy to this story. The New York setting is both romantic and heartless, giving this tale a breadth of expression on our rural Rosebud stage that is unusual, challenging and absolutely delightful.”
    The Gifts of the Magi is a magical musical story for the entire family that will tickle your funny bone and touch your heart as you search for your personal Christmas star. The Gifts of the Magi from the stories by O. Henry, book by Mark St. Germain, music by Randy Courts and lyrics by Randy Courts and Mark St. Germain, runs at Rosebud Theatre from November 4 through December 23, 2011. For tickets and show times call 1-800-267-7553 or visit www.rosebudtheatre.com

    The pressure is on to have the damage caused this spring by high water events in the Michichi Creek remediated.
    In April, the Michichi Creek banks swelled to some of the highest levels known. Residents saw dramatic flooding on properties east of Highway 9 at the intersection of the Verdant Valley Road. But much damage was caused to the banks as it passed by residences on 9th Street West.
    “It took out a lot of property there, it went over two property lines,” said Mayor Terry Yemen. “If we have another one like that, there is a garage and sheds that  would be undermined. The part that is critical is where residents could start losing their property.”
    The town lobbied successfully this summer for funding from the province to have the project completed. They were able to secure Ledcor to do the work and had the project engineered.
    According to Mayor Yemen, Fisheries and Oceans, because it concerns a body of water, have to sign off on the project. Last week they looked at the project and have yet to give the go ahead. Yemen is concerned that it might take a while.
    “What concerns me is we dealt with Fisheries and Oceans with the boat launch (at Newcastle Beach), and it took a year and a half,” said Yemen.
    “Ideally, right now is when we would like to do the work,” said Yemen. “We have low water and the weather is still good.”
    His concerns came across in a strongly worded letter he penned to MP Kevin Sorenson.
    “Fisheries and Oceans have only now become involved and the project is basically on hold while the bureaucrats discuss it. If this project is prevented from moving forward as planned, there will be dire consequences in spring 2012 if we have a high water spring runoff again. I would ask that you, in your capacity, make every effort to intervene and strongly encourage Fisheries and Oceans to lead, follow or get out of the way,” stated the letter.
    He received a response from Sorenson's office in a timely manner and says they have followed up with Fisheries and Oceans and are hopeful the process can be sped up.