Month: August 2012

 It was a nail biter ending to the 2012 Tubie race.

Held on Sunday, August 5, from the Morrisburg dock, the race for gold ultimately came down to two crafts, Gary Magee’s and Jon Domanko’s, both battling waves and a strong wind at the finish. 

At the Morrisburg beach, with both sets of paddlers pumping furiously, the winning decision was made in three seconds. 

Gary Magee’s team pulled up on the sand first, to be crowned the new Kings of the River in a time of 6:12, while Team Domanko took silver with a time of 6:15. 

Seizing bronze in a time of 6:44 was Jeff Barclay’s team while Curtis Fowler and the South Nation Conservation Authority came fourth (7:17) and the Waddell/Millard team took fifth (7:42).

A big upset in the race came earlier in the afternoon when the Katherine Lee team, the defending 2011 Tubie champions, got caught in the wind, during their qualifier, and turned turtle in the river. Team members, all wearing life jackets, were dumped into the St. Lawrence. No one was injured in any way, but the rowers and their craft had to be ferried to shore and were out of contention.

The crowd waiting for the final race outcome at the Morrisburg beach, felt they had certainly gotten their ‘money’s worth’ with the 2012 competition. 

“This was the best race ever,” said Wayne Domanko, who served as official timer for the races. “What an incredible finish.”

Gary Magee shared some thoughts with Morrisburg & District Lion, Mike Domanko, one of the prime organizers of the annual Tubie weekend.

“Jon Domanko and I worked together for years,” Magee said, “but we have different ideas about how to win the contest, so we split up and made it a rivalry between us. 

This year my team went with a new rudder design and we were able to steer despite strong winds. Even thought the Tubies is over 40 years old, there’s still room for creativity.”

Mike Domanko said that some special creative awards were  acknowledged this year. The Emergency Preparedness nod went to Jeff Barclay, whose Tube-in-a-Tube design kept his team in the race, when their outer tube blew. Magee received kudos for Innovation of the Year for his foot operated rudder controls.

The Magee Tubie  (Gary Magee, Irene Shaver, Adrienne Leroy, Jay Griffiths, Susie Wye and Dan Shaver) took home $400 in prize money, with the Domanko team winning $250 for second place. The Barclay team won $150 for third. The South Nation group received $50.

Taking part in all the Tubie fun, although they did not qualify for the final race, were crafts  skippered by Tommy Keyes and Canadian Tire. 

The weather for the 2012 Tubie weekend co-operated for the most part, although Sunday did start off a little threatening. Saturday was hot, but that did not deter the annual parade of Tubie floats. The  Friday night Teen Dance, a new addition to the weekend, proved to be a success as did the Tubie Dance on Saturday night. 

The theme of this year’s Tubies  was ‘Dock of Ages’, and there were some highly creative floats in the noon parade.

The Barclay/Laurin float, which celebrated the Muppets, was awarded first prize by float judges and a cheque for $400 on Saturday. Alice in Wonderland (Waddell/Millard) came second, and won $250. It’s Good Tubie Under the Dock, the Magee/Domanko float was third, tied with the Lions Mini Pops float, each winning $150.

 The Katherine Lee float, Dock of Ages, came 4th, the Red Neck Tubies 5th and Canadian Tire 6th. The last three each received $50.

[…]

 

Every one of the 1,000 duck tickets for the great 2012 Duck Race, held on Sunday morning, August 5, by the Morrisburg & District Lions Club, was sold out ahead of time. 

“We are so very pleased with the response of the community to the event,” said Lion Judy Charette, as she joined fellow Lions, volunteer helpers, dogs, handlers and the crowd at the Morrisburg beach, to enjoy the fun-filled ‘race.’ “This community has once again united to support us. The funds we raised with the Duck Race will all go back into Lions’ events and causes right here in South Dundas. All I can say, is get your tickets early next year.” 

Five very keen dogs, Gemma, Willow, Heidi, Cocoa and Dublin, did the ‘duck hunting’ honours, to the applause and encouragement of folks on the shore, plunging into the waves to haul out the numbered prize winning yellow birds. 

The strong wind and choppy waters Sunday morning obviously did not deter the dogs. However, the rubber ducks (on loan from the US) appeared at one point, after the prize retrievals, to be making a run for Cornwall. Organizers had to scramble to retrieve them all at the end.

The dogs were all volunteers for the Duck Race and appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the ‘retrievals.’ Gemma was handled by Jonah and Lucas Bennis, Heidi by John Gilmer, Cocoa by Juli Strader and Dublin by Mike Radoman.

Willow, wearing a lovely bikini, and handled by Priscilla Hubbard, pulled out the first prize duck. Ticket holders Linda and Jim Hollister, were actually on hand to see the race and were thrilled to accept the $500 cheque from the Lions. 

Susan Bird took home 2nd place in the Race and $200; Carol Thompson received $100 for third place; Cam Shaver received a $50 gift card from Canadian Tire in fourth; and Dawn Dumoulin claimed the final prize, a $50 gift card from Riley’s Valu-mart.  

[…]

“I have everything I want. I’m a happy man with a happy family.”

Famous last words indeed, as Upper Canada  Playhouse welcomes its newest comedy, Wife Begins At Forty, to the stage. Speaker George Harper is convinced that his 17 year old, politely stable marriage, is rock solid.

Too bad that rock is eroding.

Blessed with a strong cast of humans (and one four-footed actor) the Arne Sultan, Earl Barrett and Ray Cooney farce, set in the 1980’s, takes an irreverent look at the ups and downs, the pitfalls and yes, the joys of marriage. Judging from audience reactions, there were many in the capacity crowd who related to the Harpers.

Linda Harper, played by Alison Lawrence, brings a nice level of frustration to her role. “Living with you is like living with a machine. George, you aren’t alive. You aren’t growing. We don’t do things together.”

The thought of her approaching birthday has left her examining her staid life, and finding it wanting. “I just feel if I don’t do something now, I’ll be 40!”

Unfortunately, and hilariously, her efforts to “share” her feelings with George only lead to more frustration. He just can’t find the time for passion, and all that bother, what with memos, and bills and employees and the “busy season for artificial flowers.”

He is, consequently,  thun-derstruck at the news that Linda wants “a change.” 

Brian Young is delightful as the blinkered George Harper. He has failed to notice that his cozy little world is crumbling. Everyone around him, including his father, Bernard, and his son, Leonard,  know and accept that Linda is moving on…without George.

Even George’s efforts to explain the separation rationally and calmly to son Leonard (a typical, semi cynical teen, well played by Kyle Orzech) fall flat.

“If you and mom aren’t getting along, you should split. Move on,” Leonard comments casually, more interested in TV and soccer than marital woes.

“You callous young swine!” is George’s frustrated reaction.

Ironically, George’s final downfall takes place at the surprize party his neighbours, the Dixons, have thrown to celebrate the Harper’s anniversary. George exceeds his customary limit of two drinks (“Why that won’t even put a smile on your face,” Roger Dixon tells him.), and ends the night holding forth from the top of a grand piano, sharing tales of fighting fish, flamenco dancers, botched honeymoons and a very private operation he’s just had, with most of the neighbourhood. 

His departure from the family home is abrupt.

Roger and Betty Dixon provide a kind of comic foil to the Harper’s marriage.

Roger, played by Richard Bauer (who doubled as director of the show) is a man about town,  and unrepentant about his views of marriage. He has lots of advice for a ‘single” George, most of which horrifies him.

“Betty and I have a terrific marriage.” – Roger.

“But you’re deceiving her!” – George.

“That’s what makes it terrific!” – Roger.

Of course, Betty (the exuberant Melanie Janzen) is far from the damsel in the dark that her husband imagines. She knows of Roger’s affair with a local bar maid, “Around the golf club she’s known as the British Open…Roger’s her handicap.”  

Betty loves philanderer Roger. She accepts him. And she knows that underneath the playboy facade, he adores her.

“Marriages are made in heaven,” she tells Linda with a certain world-weary air, but they must be “lived” in the real world.

Grandpa Bernard, portrayed  with lovable confusion by Walter Learning, usually in the company of family dog, Chopper, (acted with tail-wagging enthusiasm by Chopper Thom, local boy) lends his view of life and marriage to the laughter on stage. “We got married during an air raid,” he tells his son of his 39 years with his late wife. “Our entire marriage was a kind of air raid. Compared to my wife, Hitler was a pussy cat.” But Bernard loves his family unreservedly and they know it.

The dialogue  is sharp and quick. And the characters are well drawn in Wife Begins At Forty, which is a little unusual for  traditional farce. The Harpers and Dixons are very likeable (even bon vivant Roger).

And, although I cannot describe how the plot comes out, I have to say that in Act II, Alison Lawrence and Brian Young (a real life husband and wife) have a spectacular, hilarious scene that is truly a “tour de farce”! 

This is a witty play: it understands the ups and downs of marriage, and relishes them.

Wife Begins At Forty runs until August 26 at Upper Canada Playhouse. Contact 613-543-3713 for tickets.

[…]

 

The US destroyer Edson is pictured as it enters the locks at Iroquois on Thursday, August 2 at about 9:40 a.m. Heading for Bay City, Michigan, the Edson was decommissioned in 1988, and the following year became a museum ship at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York. She was returned to Navy lay-up in 2004, and this past spring it was decided she would again become a museum ship, this time at Bay City. Named for Major General Merritt “Red Mike” Edson (1897-1955), the Edson was built in 1958. She initially served in the West Pacific/Far East particularly off the coast of Vietnam. She served as a plane guard for aircraft carriers and participated in Sea Dragon operations, patrolled on search and rescue duties and carried out Naval Gunfire support missions during the Vietnam War. The Edson participated in the evacuation of Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Saigon, Vietnam in 1975. Cleared to begin her journey to Michigan in mid-July, she entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence on July 25. She passed Morrisburg at about 7 a.m. last Thursday and was expected to reach her final destination on the weekend. She was towed by the Tug Colonel and the Ecosse was on the stern.

[…]

 

While the season has been inconvenient for boaters using the Morrisburg Public Dock, for those boaters who are returning to Canada after having landed in the United States, it is about to become even more so…and it is all because the phone used to report has been removed.

Although there is no longer a phone located at the Morrisburg Dock, boaters returning to Canada from the United States are still expected to report in says the Canada Border Service Agency.

However, CBSA Communications Officer, Caroline Desjarlais has indicated in an e-mail that “until the situation at the Morrisburg Town Dock is resolved, boaters may continue to report to the CBSA from this location, by contacting the Telephone Reporting Centre (TRC) at 1-888-226-7277 using their cellular phones.”

On July 29, The Leader was contacted by a local resident inquiring if “the Morrisburg Town dock was no longer a port of entry for Canadians returning by boat from the United States.”

After determining that the telephone located on the exterior wall of the dock area rest rooms and used to call in, was indeed gone, The Leader made calls to South Dundas municipal clerk Brenda Brunt and the Canada Border Service Agency.

According to Brunt, the removal of the phone did not involve the municipality. It was her understanding that Bell Canada had removed it, as it was not being used, and that it had been gone for quite some time…certainly weeks if not months.

When contacted Officer Desjarlais  was unable to provide an immediate answer, but she did agree to look into the matter.

In a CBSA e-mail dated Wednesday, August 1, Desjarlais writes, “The CBSA has been advised that there is no longer a telephone available at the Morrisburg Town Dock marine telephone reporting site. The CBSA is investigating this matter; however, as an interim measure, this site is available for reporting to the CBSA by way of a cell phone.”

While the interim reporting measure is in place however, boaters without cell phones who are returning to Canada after having landed on U.S. soil will have to report from other nearby designated marine telephone reporting sites using the phones provided there. Locally the closest CBSA Reporting Sites are at Crysler Park Marina and Iroquois Marine Services.

Tim Robins at the Crysler Park Marina explains that the marina has a courtesy dock which enables boaters to tie up and report in at the CBSA Telephone Reporting location. Boaters are asked to advise the marina of the purpose of their visit.

He also suggests that, “they call ahead using VHF channel 68. That way we can direct them where to park, and we will know the nature of their visit before they arrive to save time.”

The CBSA advises that, “Until the situation at the Morrisburg Town Dock is resolved, boaters may continue to report to CBSA from this location using their cellular phones.”

According to the CBSA website under Reporting Requirements for Private Boaters: All private boaters who intend to land on Canadian soil, or who have departed Canadian waters and landed on United States soil, are required to report to a CBSA designated marine reporting site.

 Upon arrival at a CBSA designated marine reporting site, boaters are to call the telephone Reporting Centre at 1-888-226-7277 from the phone provided to obtain clearance. 

For boaters who do not land their vessel in the United States, but who did leave Canadian waters, the call-in may be made from cellular telephones upon arrival back in Canadian waters.

If a phone is not returned to the Morrisburg Dock and the facility loses its “marine reporting site status”, the result will be a major inconvenience for boaters, both visiting boaters and local boaters who have landed in the United States as they will have to travel to Crysler Marina or Iroquois Marine Services to access a designated marine reporting site.

[…]

 

Organizers are busy planning another fun-filled event to mark their seventh year hosting the Scott Van’t Foort Memorial Golf Tournament and dinner.  

Scott was a popular and kind-hearted individual who was an inspiration to others. 

“In September 2010, in connection with Free The Children, a primary school was built in Kenya with the help of our generous community members,” says Amanda Ball, a member of the organizing committee.  “This year, we continue to support the Scott Van’t Foort Memorial School through maintenance funds (school supplies, teacher salary, etc.,) and will also provide our regular donation to Scott’s former high school, Seaway D.H.S., for their graduation.” 

New this year will be a special donation to a project being completed with The Stephen Lewis Foundation.

“We will contribute funds for the completion of a Maternity Ward in Uganda,” says Ball.  

This project is being spearheaded by Morrisburg native Christopher Marshall who was one of Scott’s best friends.  Marshall was recently in Uganda where he volunteered at St. Francis Health Care Services, a locally run HIV clinic where the Maternity Ward is being built.  

“As you can see, we use all funds raised to make as much of a difference as possible – both locally and as global citizens,” says Ball. “We hope that you will mark August 25th 2012, in your calendar.”  

“This is the day that our friends and supporters will take to the links at Nationview Golf Course for the 7th Annual Scott Van’t Foort Memorial Golf Tournament.”  

The Golf Tournament will kick off at noon with a four-person scramble followed by a chicken dinner.  

The event is promising to be much more than just golf: lots of fun games, a Big Ball Drop sponsored by Lloyd McMillan Equipment, a Dunk Tank and a Live Auction!

In a show of support the community is invited to:

•Participate in the tournament and/or dinner

•Donate a prize for the prize table/live auction.  

•Sponsor a hole.  

•Make a cash contribution.

For more information, to register, make a donation, or buy raffle tickets please contact: Samantha Ball Co-organizer at 613-806-6520.

[…]

 

Members of The Morrisburg & District Lions Club recently presented the Dundas County Food Bank a donation of $1,000. On hand to make the donation on behalf of the Lions club were Lions Earl Wood and Fred Langlotz. Pictured at the Morrisburg location of the Dundas County Food Bank following the presentation, l-r are Lion Earl Wood, food bank board members Jim Wilson (with his six-year-old daughter Katie),  Alvin Runnalls (board chair) and Brenda Millard (past chair), Lion Fred Langlotz and Dave King (food bank treasurer). Historically, the summer months are the time when the food bank sees its donations decrease mainly because people are busy and often away from the community for holidays. With visits to the food bank up about 10 per cent over last year and donations down, the Lions Club’s generosity was greatly appreciated. The food bank can always use cash donations for the purchase of the necessary perishable foodstuffs. The Food Bank is also currently in need of juices, cereals, canned meats and fish, canned fruits and vegetables, soups, dry pasta, canned pasta and pasta sauce, children’s snack items and personal toiletries. With the school year just around the corner, school supplies would also be welcomed.                      Photo contributed

[…]