McDonell is hard at work

Funds from the John Stewart Estate Memorial Trust were delivered to Dundas County recipients Friday at the Dundas County Food Bank’s Winchester location.

The Dundas County Food Bank received $1,200. Meals on Wheels, which serves Morrisburg and Iroquois, and the J.W. MacIntosh Seniors Support Centre in Williamsburg each received $490 from the estate.

All were very grateful to receive the contributions in support of each of their programs.

“The board looks most at need,” said Estella Rose, advisory board member. Contributions are made to other groups throughout the United Counties and the City of Cornwall. In total, $8,505.91 worth of grants were made through the program to 13 organizations. The grants ranged in size from $490 to $1,200.

The money for the annual grants is investment income derived from the sale in 1991 of the John Stewart Home, once located in Cornwall. The home was opened in 1930 as a modest facility to provide housing for poor and indigent persons. 

To date, over $192,000 in income has been distributed to appropriate agencies. This is the 110th anniversary of John Stewart’s death.

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The general meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Fraser Hall. Please put this on your to-do list for this week. There are some very important decisions to be made. 

Keith Johnston will entertain in the pub on Friday, October 14, making a good ending to T.G.I.F. day. 

Sunday euchre will begin on October 16 at 1 p.m. Bingo on October 6 saw our regulars once again with players in the 70s. 

Our meat draw on the 9th was for a fresh turkey and was won by our own Lee Kelley. 

Memberships for 2012 are available at the bar. The early-bird draw will take place up to November 30, with prizes of $35, $20 and $15, possibly the price of your membership.

On October 3, D. Dillabough, M. Praine and G. Houze attended a seminar at the Rideau-Perley Veterans’ Home in Ottawa. Branch #48 has supported them with donations for several years. We were presented with a wish list for the veterans who reside there, and we are considering several items. This will come before the general meeting on Wednesday night. 

Six bursaries have been awarded this year, each for $500, to students furthering their education. The Poppy Campaign will be starting shortly and as usual, at this busy time, help is always needed. Please leave your name at the bar if you can spare a few hours. 

Many thank yous were read, among them ones from the SD&G Highlanders, the Children’s Treatment Centre, Scott Robertson for the Terry Fox committee, the Old Home Week committee and the Cornwall Hospice. Yes, this is where the money goes, as well as for repairs to this great building that we are so fortunate to have.  Others before us worked hard to accomplish this and we have to work hard to keep it in good repair. 

On the fun side, a pub crawl is being planned for October 22 and there will be a sign up sheet in the pub. 

Our next steak night is on the 28th with John Mason providing the entertainment, so yes, we do have fun too. 

Live well, love much, laugh often.

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 At their final meeting on June 6th at Matilda Hall, the Helping Hands of Matilda group enjoyed concert entertainment from several local musicians.

Group president and long-time resident of the area, Lorne Strader organized the event, lining up 90 minutes worth of musical entertainment. Songs were from the country and gospel variety.

First on the docket were Madalyne Gates of Iroquois along with  Gerry Morrell and Bernie Coville, both of Johnstown. While Gates sang and played the keyboard synthesizer, Morrell played the guitar and Coville played the mandolin. Morrell’s parents were in the audience and as a gift to them, the trio ended the set with the couple’s favourite song, I’ll Fly Away.

Next up were husband and wife singing duo, Charlene and Jack McCargar from South Mountain. While Charlene played the mandolin, Jack played the guitar and both sang to the enjoyment of the toe-tapping crowd. Capping off their stint on stage, the couple ended with Because He Lives.

Third on the docket were local guitar players Mary Perry and Ralph Jollota, both of whom could sing up a storm. 

While Ralph shared a well-received song written by his brother, Mary made a point of singing those songs the crowd could join in on. The talented pair reminded the crowd to Keep on the Sunny Side.

Last, but not least, were Bill Horner and Lloyd Hall playing guitar and singing in harmony. The friendly duo got things underway with a well-known gospel tune, Kneel at the Cross.

Between sets, Strader kept the crowd laughing with some very funny jokes. According to Strader there were 56 members in attendance, a record number due to the advertised entertainment.

Helping Hands is a group of seniors who meet the first Wednesday of each month from September through June. Those in attendance enjoy a hearty lunch, a little entertainment and some socializing. In addition, they make greeting cards for those seniors who are unable to attend the monthly event, reminding them that there are those who care.

During July and August, the group enjoys day trips to different events within Eastern Ontario. According to secretary Jean Van Gilst of Chesterville, “we’ve been to so many places.”

Van Gilst’s term as secretary ended with the close of the June meeting. Strader presented her with a service plaque, thanking her for her many years of service. Van Gilst became secretary of the group in September 2009.

Helping Hands of Matilda has 62 paid members. Membership costs just $5 per year. Membership, however, is not a prerequisite for attending meetings. Anyone over the age of 50 is welcome to attend.

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