Thank you everyone, for Christmas on the Mountain! It was a truly amazing fund-raising event.

Our Christmas tree-trimming competition attracted hundreds of visitors from all over Pictou County and beyond. In all, over 600 people came to Fitzpatrick Mountain to admire, touch and photograph all of beautifully trimmed trees. More importantly, and in the true Spirit of Christmas, over $4100 was raised for charities in the area, thanks to the voting dollars of individual visitors and the overwhelming support and fund-raising activities of participating businesses.

And when all the votes were in, the tree from Rita’s Cosy Corner Restaurant in New Glasgow was the most popular tree on the mountain. The staff raised over $1000 for their favourite charity and the local business received $500 from Stonehame toward their next special event, meeting or function at the lodge.

It was a great few days at Stonehame. And if the response we have received is any indication, Christmas on the Mountain just could become an annual event.

One of many entries in Christmas on the Mountain (J.Smith photo).

Another beautifully decorated tree (J.Smith photo).

The winning tree from Rita's Cozy Corner Restaurant (J.Smith photo).

Stonehame Lodge and Chalets located in Scotsburn, Pictou County, Nova Scotia has been recognized by Fodor’s Travel, the foremost name in travel publishing, as a 2010 Fodor’s Choice selection. This distinction represents a remarkable achievement and recognizes Stonehame as a leader in its field for service, quality, and value in the 2010 year.

Since 1988, Fodor’s Travel has been awarding the Fodor’s Choice distinction to only the very best hotels, restaurants and attractions around the world. Every year, Fodor’s writers experience, examine and evaluate thousands of hotels, restaurants and attractions in their travels across the globe. While every business included in a Fodor’s guide is deemed worth a traveler’s time, only fifteen percent of those selections are awarded the very highest, Fodor’s Choice designation by Fodor’s editors.

“From hidden-away restaurants to can’t-miss museums, Fodor’s Choice selections recognize the top sights, properties, and experiences our editors and updaters have found in their travels,” says Fodor’s publisher Tim Jarrell. “These places are the best of the best, providing a remarkable experience in their price range or category.”

As a 2010 Fodor’s Choice recipient Stonehame Lodge and Chalets receives special recognition in the current Fodor’s guidebook to this region and on Fodors.com.  “To be recognized by a leading travel guide like Fodor’s is truly an honor.  It is extremely rewarding for us as owners and staff to see our hard work and dedication to quality pay off,” says Jeff Gunn, co-owner of Stonehame.

Stonehame Lodge and Chalets is a year-round, 4 star (rated by Canada Select) mountain top retreat located in Scotsburn (near Pictou), in the Northumberland Shore Region of Nova Scotia.  Stonehame is family owned and operated and offers panoramic vistas; peaceful woodland trails for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, etc.; pool and outdoor hot tub; farm animals; quality accommodations (chalets and rooms); award-winning service and licensed lodge with meeting facilities for corporate retreats, weddings, family reunions and parties.  Stonehame is centrally located in the province and is only 90 minutes from Cape Breton, Halifax and the New Brunswick border and only 15 minutes from the PEI ferry.

About Fodor’s Travel:

Fodor’s Travel, a division of Random House, Inc., is one of the world’s leading providers of travel information.  Covering over 300 destinations worldwide, Fodor’s guidebooks and Web site, Fodors.com, have provided the most up-to-date, accurate information for travelers for more than seventy years.  Written by a team of over 700 writers located around the globe, Fodor’s provides travelers with engagingly written, intelligently and accurately reported, and absolutely indispensable travel guidance.

Just before Christmas, Nova Scotia singer/song writer, Dave Gunning (and backup guitarist, Jamie Robinson) sang and played to a sold out concert at Stonehame Lodge & Chalets. The concert, one of the premier events at Stonehame in 2009, featured a traditional Christmas dinner (with all the fixin’s) including turkey, stuffing and homemade dessert.

The Gunning concert was a real hit with all those who attended, many of whom had driven several hours to see Gunning perform songs from his new CD, ‘We’re All Leaving’. One of the songs, ‘Smith’s Rock’, is a tribute to the hard working farmers who originally settled the area in and around Fitzpatrick Mountain, Pictou County. The rock (with commemorative plaque) is located near the entrance to Stonehame.

Gunning’s ‘We’re All Leaving’ was recently listed among the Top 10 ‘roots’ CD’s in Canada for 2009. Well done, Dave!

Couple enjoying Christmas Dinner at the concert.

Gunning and Robinson performing.

All is ready for the event.

Our staff were busy during the concert.

]]> http://www.mountainretreat.ca/2010/01/17/dave-gunning-concert-photos/feed/ 0 http://www.mountainretreat.ca/2010/01/10/facebook-fan-page-launch/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=facebook-fan-page-launch http://www.mountainretreat.ca/2010/01/10/facebook-fan-page-launch/#comments Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:56:34 +0000 admin http://www.mountainretreat.ca/?p=113

Our Facebook Fan Page was launched today and we want your comments, photos and suggestions. We want to talk to you about Stonehame -  how we’re doing with the events and activities we schedule, the services we offer and the staff you meet. We also want to keep you informed about travel news and important events in the province, travel packages, discounts and activities at Stonehame and keep you entertained with select links, photos and video material from fans, guests and others.

We hope you like what you see and that you’ll become a ‘big’ fan and frequent contributor.

In October we held our first ever Fall Photo Contest for the best image of Fitzpatrick Mountain. The mountain has a interesting history and of course, is the location of Stonehame Lodge and Chalets at Scotsburn, Nova Scotia. There were nearly $900 in prizes to be won many of them donated by local merchants. Here are the winners of the contest (and their winning entries):

First Place Winner: Barbara Fox of Halifax, Nova Scotia

Second Place Winner: Caroline MacKinnon of Pictou County, Nova Scotia

Third Place Winner: Jeanette Gormley of Pictou County, Nova Scotia

Fourth Place Winner: Ken Kingston & Marie van Vonderen of Afton Station, Nova Scotia

Fifth Place Winner: Sonny & Amy Rose Woolley

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