Due to a hectic workload I had to skip a week or two but, starting today, I will be back with my weekly look at our local art and craft scene. Needless to say that with Hanukkah and Christmas coming up in only a few weeks, the “Christmas Craftshow Frenzy” is in full swing. ...

[ ](http://ottawajazzfestival.com/artists/charlie-brown-christmas/) His tunes have been a part of Christmas tradition for the past ** 50 years ** , close as an old friend, comfortable as an old blanket. As one third of the legendary San Francisco-based ** Vince Guaraldi Trio ** , ** Jerry Granelli ** recorded what is considered by many to be the greatest Christmas album of all time— the 1965 soundtrack to the animated classic ** _ A Charlie Brown Christmas _ ** . ...

Almost 200,000 Canadian homes have dangerous levels of radon November is Lung Month and also Radon Action Month, and health officials are urging Canadians to test their homes for radon. It is estimated that 3,000 Canadians die each year from lung cancer caused by exposure to radon. ...

The City of Ottawa provides a number of tips and services to help residents with the clearing of snow from their walkways and driveways.  The Snow Go Program helps seniors and persons with disabilities find reliable contractors and/or individuals to clear snow from their private driveways and/or walkways. ...

The Ottawa Police Service would like to announce a change of service hours over the holidays – from December 24, 2015 to January 1, 2016 – with Front Desk Services at the police stations located at 3343 St-Joseph Boulevard (Orleans), 245 Greenbank Road (Nepean), 211 Huntmar Drive (Kanata) and 4561 Bank Street (Gloucester). ...

[caption id=“attachment_19313” align=“aligncenter” width=“400”] Mr. Loaf by Andrew King[/caption]

On Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22, O-Train service on the Trillium Line will be temporarily replaced by Route 107 bus service to facilitate planned maintenance work before the winter months. The work includes the replacement of cabling and the refurbishment of a rail switch where the O-Train enters and exits the Trillium Line from Walkley Yard. ...

For the first time ever Big Rig Brewery will have their beer in The Beer Store . The craft brewery based in Ottawa just released their Gold Lagered Ale and Release the Hounds Black IPA —a Gold Medal winner at both the Ontario and Canadian Brewing Awards—into The Beer Store earlier this week. ...

Rideau Street from Sussex Drive to Dalhousie Street will be closed to all traffic from Friday November 20 at 6:30 p.m. to Monday November 23 at 5 a.m., to relocate a watermain as part of O-Train Confederation Line Rideau Station construction. ...

The Gatineau-bound lane of the Alexandra Bridge will be closed on Saturday. November 21 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. This lane closure is necessary to carry out asphalt repairs on St-Patrick Street.  The Ottawa-bound lane will remain open. Pedestrians and cyclists will not be affected by the lane closure. ...