Month: February 2012

A popular prayer group that began in the late winter and early spring of 2011, and coincided with Lent, is returning to Lakeshore Drive United Church beginning on Monday, February 20.

The group began meeting last year in the Church Parlour, thanks to the go-ahead form the Worship and Music Committee of the church. It emphasized meditative prayer.

At one time or another, some 17 people took part in the spiritual exercise with the usual number ranging from six or seven to 10, in attendance.

People came, not just from Lakeshore Drive United, but from surrounding United Church congregations and the Anglican Church.

All benefitted from the experience of the Seaway District of the Canadian Christian Meditation Community.

The accent at each meeting was on silent prayer, of 20-30 minutes. It was a time of sharing in silent prayer, using one or two words– “Maranatha” (the New Testament Greek word for “Come, Lord.”)

The meetings began with an introductory prayer, some singing, and the silent prayer was followed by a time for discussion, sharing, and concern for others.

Each meeting started at 4 p.m. and was limited to one hour.

Again in 2012, the Worship and Music Committee at the church has given the go ahead for the program.

It begins on Monday, February 20 at 4 p.m. and everyone in the community is welcome.

Come and find the quiet centre in the crowded life we lead,

find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed:

clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes that we may see

all the things that really matter, be at peace, and simply be.

(374, Voices United, Hymn Book of the United Church)

For more information please contact group leader Douglas MacKay at 613-543-4468.

[…]

Jim McDonell, MPP for Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry, attended the February 5th screening of Windfall, a documentary shown at DC Community Centre in Dixon’s Corners, sponsored by the South Branch Wind Opposition Group (SBWOG). 

While agreeing that division of communities is a major and negative issue facing rural Ontario landscapes targeted by the wind energy industry, McDonell’s main concern is with what the Green Energy Act is costing all Ontarians.

“We don’t believe the Green Energy Act is smart. Economically it makes no sense. We are overpaying for electricity.”

“When you look at the big picture,” he continued, the McGuinty government “went ahead without any business plan being done.”

McDonell referred repeatedly to the Auditor General’s Report which highlighted the ways in which the Green Energy Act has failed Ontario.

“It’s time to stop and look at the cost and see whether it makes sense to proceed.”

According to McDonell, he and his colleagues have been “advocating” that municipalities have their power returned to them. “Everything has been taken away,” he said, referring to the Green Energy Act which removes any power or voice municipalities once had concerning industrial wind turbines invading their rural communities.

Representatives from SBWOG will be meeting with McDonell on February 9th.

While he can’t do anything directly to help SBWOG, McDonell said that he intends to “take some of their concerns up to Toronto.” 

[…]

“I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time,” explained Henry Swank, who, with fellow enthusiasts Jeff Beaupre and Brian Erratt, is now in the process of organizing a revival of The Golden Gears, a local car club that was very popular in this area in the 1960’s. 

Beaupre has located the original Golden Gears logo and their original charter.  The three organizers have been finding more and more pictures and other memorabilia from the Golden Gears. “It seemed to us like everything for reviving a car club was all falling into place,” Swank said. “And some of the original club members are still in the community.”

The history of the Golden Gears really caught the imagination of the three organizers. “These original members were often very mechanically inclined, and they regularly worked at souping up their cars,” Swank commented. “I  think they were a little more into speed than showing cars. Our purpose will be to meet new people in South Dundas who share a real passion for cars. We want to provide them with a social network to promote antique, classic and special interest vehicles, old or new.”

Swank pointed out that car shows in South Dundas have always been very popular. “We’ve been working on the idea of a car club, and looking at plans for about six months now. We want to revive this strong enthusiasm for cars in South Dundas and to give people a venue where they can talk cars and discuss shows, cruise-ins and other car related activities at monthly meetings. You don’t even have to own a vehicle to join this club. All you have to be is 18 and enthusiastic.”

The organizers are hoping for a large turnout at their first public meeting, which will take place on February 16, at 7:30 p.m., at the Iroquois Legion. Anyone with a keen love of cars is invited to attend this start up meeting. “We’re bringing the idea of a car club to the whole community to see if the interest is out there,” Swank said. “We hope it is.”

If you are interested in participating in the new Golden Gears, but can’t make the initial February 16 meeting, contact Jeff Beaupre at 613-652-4340.

[…]

A cheque for $25,000 was delivered by Katherine Scarlett, Personal Banking Area Manager, Seaway District Bank of Montreal and Carolyn Booth, District Vice President, Eastern Ontario District Bank of Montreal to representatives from Upper Canada Village last Tuesday, January 31st.  

This cheque represented the second installment in a two-year sponsorship by BMO Financial Group of the Moccasin miniature train at Upper Canada Village and the Hallowe’en event Fort Fright at Fort Henry in Kingston.

The sponsorship will supportthe operational costs of the train during both the regular season and the Alight at Night program during the 2012 season.   

BMO Financial Group has been a sponsor of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission since 2006.

“Thanks to the support of corporate partners such as BMO, we are able to continue to deliver quality experiences to our many visitors each year,” said Megan Knott, Sales and New Business Development Consultant, St. Lawrence Parks Commission. “The Moccasin train is really popular with families both during our regular season as well as during the Alight at Night program.  BMO has been a key partner for the St. Lawrence Parks Commission since 2006, and we appreciate their continued support.”

“BMO Financial Group is pleased to support such a great local attraction as Upper Canada Village,” said Booth. “BMO understands the importance of local community support.  The Village is a wonderful family attraction and we are pleased to be a partner on The Moccasin, a wonderful new attraction.”

Having gained world-wide acclaim as one of the finest restoration projects in North America, Upper Canada Village continues to be an important tourism attraction in both Eastern Ontario and the Province as a whole with an estimated annual economic impact of over $40 M.

[…]

The Cow Patti Theatre Company is offering up its last laughs in Eastern Ontario and after sitting down to another delicious dinner at the Ramada Inn in Cornwall last Thursday night, and then settling back into our seats for this year’s production, we can only say, “what a shame. We are sure gonna miss our annual February trip to Cornwall, the Ramada and the Cow Patti stage.”

Once again, Cow Patti and the Ramada Inn are delivering a wonderful evening of entertainment, from the delicious buffet supper, through the lip-smacking Cow Patti coffees to the delightful and hilariously funny production of Marc Camoletti’s Boeing-Boeing.

Directed by Richard Bauer, Boeing-Boeing is the farcical comedy involving Bernard, a smooth playboy, played by Garfield Andrews who has three fiancees, all flight attendants, whose schedules have always made it possible for him to “juggle the babes” so to speak.

But bad weather, faster planes and changes in flights, coinciding with a visit from long ago friend Robert, played by Jamie Williams, changes Bernard’s carefully scheduled life in a mere 24 hours.

We have seen Jamie Williams on stage a number of times, quite often as the unsuspecting character who gets caught up in the intricacies of the farce, and we have concluded that there is a reason. He is just so good at it.

Once again, Williams doesn’t disappoint as he skillfully keeps the characters, in this case the three flights attendants, separated and behind one of six doors on the Boeing-Boeing set. Robert, may be a long-ago friend, but you have to wonder at his sincerity as you laugh your way through a couple of his “kissing scenes” with not one but two of the ladies.

In contrast to Robert’s antics is the complete loyalty shown to Bernard from his faithful, albeit constantly complaining, maid Bertha played skillfully by AnnaMarie Lea. “There aren’t too many like monsieur. He’s in a class of his own,” says a sarcastic Bertha, as she tries to keep straight the menus required to feed the three financees…one an American from the deep south, another from Italy and the third a German.

“I do quite well with the three,” Bernard brags to an envious Robert. “You’ve all the pleasures of a harem right here in the middle of Paris. All you need is a time table. I don’t change women, I change diet. It’s like living in a restaurant.”

Enter the fun…Gloria the American played by Katie Lawson, Gabriella the Italian played by Susan Greenfield and Gretchen the German played by Kate Gordon.

All are hugely funny and each has her special moment in the play. 

It was the encounters between Kate Gordon’s German character and Robert that we couldn’t get enough of. Gordon’s German accent was something else, hilariously funny. We found ourselves looking forward to hearing what was going to come out of her mouth every time she stepped onto the stage.

The cast was great and this is a must-see show if you get the chance. Not only is it the final Cow Patti production in Cornwall, we feel it is one of the funniest in the 11 years they have been here. Our hat is off to director Richard Bauer and the cast who kept us laughing throughout the play.

Boeing-Boeing opened at the Ramada Inn in Cornwall last Thursday, February 2, and runs through Sunday, February 19. There are afternoon and evening cabaret shows, as well as dinner and brunch theatres.

For information or to book tickets, please call the Ramada at 1-877-552-9166.

[…]

The St. Lawrence Parks Commission (SLPC) has announced its plans to move forward with changes to improve its offerings to visitors and at the same time its fiscal sustainability.  

Among the changes for 2012, is free access to drive along the necklace of 11 islands connected by the 11 kilometer Long Sault Parkway between Ingleside and Long Sault. 

The Parkway is home to the McLaren, Woodlands and Mille Roches campgrounds and two beach day-use area (Woodlands and Mille Roches).

For a number of years, a day-use entry fee was charged at the entrances to the Parkway in Long Sault and Ingleside even for drive-through customers during the operating season.

This change is hoped to increase traffic along the Parkway by giving more visitors and local residents the opportunity to enjoy the scenic drive’s natural beauty.

The day-use fee will only be charged for visitors stopping to use the picnic and beach facilities at Woodlands and Mille Roches Beaches of Lock 21.

“The SLPC is working diligently in Ontario’s eastern region to revitalize our unique tourism products and experiences and now, with a strong value proposition to support increased visitor engagement,” said Darren Dalgleish, General Manager/CEO, St. Lawrence Parks Commission

Other changes have been announced for the check-in procedures at the entrances to the campgrounds themselves. 

Camper registration will now take place right at the campground entrances to McLaren, Woodlands or Mille Roches Campgrounds in new storefront facilities that offer shopping for all camping essentials. 

This move will improve check-in times, reduce line-ups on busy weekends and get campers to their campsites faster.

Other infrastructure investments at the campgrounds, currently underway, include two new cabins for McLaren Campground named the ‘Santa Cruz’ and the ‘Maple Grove’ after two of the hamlets of the Lost Villages, 113 RV site upgrades also at McLaren Campground and improvements to drainage and beach facilities at each park.

At check-in, campers will be treated to two free passes that can be used for admission to either Upper Canada Village or Fort Henry during the regular season including visits to the new Discovery Centres at both sites as part of a new Reciprocal Program.  

The offer is intended to encourage visitation to the SLPC’s other attractions in the region, improving visitor experience and encouraging a longer length of stay in the campgrounds.

“The Board of Directors and I are excited and encouraged by the direction Darren and his team is taking SLPC,” said Ron Eamer, Acting Chair, St. Lawrence Parks Commission. “We have a clear and aggressive focus that aims to serve the community in a thoughtful and entrepreneurial manner.”

SLPC operates an array of attractions and recreational experiences located in The Great Waterway region in Eastern Ontario along the St. Lawrence River.

The St. Lawrence Parks Commission’s campgrounds open for 2012 camping reservations both online (www.StLawrenceParks.com) and via telephone (1-800-437-2233 or locally 613-543-4328) on February 27: Monday, February 27 – Long Sault Parkway only; Tuesday, February 28 – Long Sault Parkway and Ivy Lea Campground only; Wednesday, February 29 – all parks.

The SLPC is in the process of conducting an analysis of the adventure/geo tourism opportunities to generate new revenues through its own business initiatives and through partnerships with the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.  

Results from this study are anticipated by late spring. 

The SLPC generates approximately $100 million in economic impacts annually through its tourism operations.

Approximately 300,000 people in Ontario are directly or indirectly employed by the tourism industry. 

[…]

In accordance with the operating regulations of the International St. Lawrence River Board of Control, Ontario Power Generation’s Ottawa/St. Lawrence Plant Group advises users of the St. Lawrence River, including recreational boaters and anglers, that gates at the Iroquois Control Dam are being lowered for an as-yet undetermined period.  

This is to assist with the management of water levels on Lake St. Lawrence.

Ontario Power Generation would like to remind all users of the river to take every precaution around its dams and generating stations across Ontario and to practice safety on Ontario’s waterways.

[…]