Laundry leads to fire on Ridge Road

 

Keep Calm and Paddle On, Tubie Weekend is right around the corner.

Organizers for the Morrisburg Tubie Festival are hard at work planning activities for the 43rd annual event, which falls on the August Long Weekend (August 2-4).  The theme of the weekend is Keep Calm and Paddle On.

This is the seventh year the Lions Club has organized the Tubie Festival, and the fourth year since it moved the Tubie Dance from the Morrisburg Arena to the outdoor venue at the softball diamond.  

Organizers are working towards the future of this long-standing event, by creating opportunities for the younger set to get involved in the 43 year old event.

One of these is the return of the teen dance, which takes place Friday, August 2, under the big tent.

“The teen dance was very well received last year,” said Michael Domanko of the Morrisburg & District Lions Club.  “We were very pleased with the number of teens who attended the first teen dance, and we hope to see more of them this year.”

Domanko added that holding the teen dance provides younger residents an opportunity to participate in Tubie Weekend.

“Many of our participants are between 16-18,” added Domanko, who pointed out that a 16-year-old, Katherine Lee, captained the winning Tubie craft two years ago. “We encourage teens to get their friends together and participate in the weekend.  Those who get involved early have a lot of fun and come back year after year.”

An important rule change will also help bring Tubies to the next generation of paddlers.

This year, each team will be allowed to have up to two 14-year-olds participate. In previous years, the age of participation was 16 and older. 

“We had some participants last year say they wanted to get their kids involved, and perhaps even include their kids on their team,” explained Domanko.  “We feel this is a good way to encourage a new generation of Tubie participants to get started.”

The usual events of the Saturday parade and dance will take place. Organizers are looking for floats to participate in this year’s parade, those interested can contact Michael Domanko mdomanko@gmail.com.

The outdoor dance will feature some local performers; The Woodwork with Bobby Paradis, Justin Beckstead, Ron Dupuis and James Orendi, will take the stage to open the party at 8 pm.

A new headlining act will follow.  Sticks ‘n Stones, a party rock band that has entertained thousands throughout Eastern Ontario over the years, will play their first Tubie Dance.  The band has opened for a variety of high-profile musical acts, including Tom Cochran, Nazareth, Trooper, The Stampeders and Chilliwack.

[…]

Tuesday, December 10, dozens of donors, patients, staff, and visitors gathered to watch the 16th annual Christmas Wish Tree Lighting Ceremony, hosted by the Winchester District Memorial Hospital Foundation.

Prior to the Tree Lighting, children from Morrisburg Public School, escorted by Vice President Seniors’ Services, Joanne Sidorchuk, and volunteer, Elva Rutters, visited patients in the Complex Continuing Care, Medical/Surgical and Maternal Care units. 

They gave out hand-made “Empathy Cards” and sang Christmas carols together.

In addition to the traditional lighting of the Christmas Wish Tree, Foundation staff released a Chinese flying lantern, symbolic of the losses that everyone experiences.

Troy Cross, WDMH Foundation Executive Director, spoke to those in attendance, acknowledging that the individuals they chose to honour and remember played a large part in their lives. 

“Today we join together with you to pay tribute to them in a special way. Not only have they touched your lives, but through their lives, they have touched the lives of everyone who requires health care here at WDMH, since the gifts designated by family and friends in memory of your loved one will help shape the way that care is delivered in this hospital.”

More than $22,000 has been donated in memory and in honour of loved ones at this point, which includes more than $2,000, which has been given in honour of staff and cargivers at WDMH. 

 

Regional sponsors have really committed to doubling the impact of donors’ gifts this year, by providing $22,500 to match the first $22,500 given to the program. Last year, this program raised approximately $75,000 for the highest priority needs at the Hospital.

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