September 2012 – Page 5 – Morrisburg Leader

Jr. B Lions kick off home season, Sunday

September 12, 2012 Editor

Another Junior B season is set to open in Morrisburg this Sunday, September 16 when coach Dan Frawley and his Lions entertain the Winchester Hawks in a 2:30 p.m. match.

The Lions open the 2012-13 season on the road Friday night, September 14 when they visit the Alexandria Glens at the Glengarry Sports Palace. Then on Sunday, local fans will get their first look at this year’s Lions.

Coach Frawley says the Lions are coming off a good camp, and he is looking forward to a good season. Returning to the bench with Frawley are last year’s coach Thom Racine and assistant coach Herbie Sequin, both as assistant coaches.

Also returning to the Lions lineup are goaltenders Mikel Dion and Ryan Cooper.

“Mikel gives us solid experience as a veteran and Cooper is young and is developing,” says Frawley.

Dion is also one of the four 21 year old players signed to Lions cards. The others are Curtis Pilon who played last year for the Westport Rideaus and returning Lions Chris Rutley and Sylvester Bzdyl. Also returning is veteran Clark Veenstra.

Frawley is counting on Pilon to provide some experience on the blue line and as Lions’ fans know, Rutley and Bzdyl have been the team’s key scorers. “We are expecting leadership and production from them.”

According to Frawley, approximately 40 hopefuls were out to the Lions pre-season camp, most of which consisted of exhibition games.

The Lions opened with a 5-0 loss to Alexandria on Saturday, September 1 then backed that with a pair of wins 6-4 over South Grenville and 10-9 over Char-Lan. They lost to Casselman 6-4 and then collected an 8-1 victory in a rematch with the Rebels.

Frawley points out you can’t take much from the exhibition game results as, “Our philosophy was to give everyone a chance to play.”

As well their opponents were looking over their prospects.

Frawley says he is happy to have a good crop of local talent on board. Returning are Sam and Ty Hodgson of Morrisburg. In addition he has added Brian Van Moorsel who played much of his minor hockey with the Kings organization and last year played midget for South Dundas.

Dillon Lapier and Dylan DeJong, both products of the South Dundas system, are also on board along with Dylan Casselman of Williamsburg, who took a break after finishing minor hockey with the Kings and now, as a 20 year old, brings maturity to the squad.

Casselman and Eric Evans of Long Sault were two pleasant surprises at the camp. “They weren’t expected and really weren’t on our radar. Both are bigger boys and both skate well. They should provide us with some good solid depth.”

Also catching the coach’s eye and signed to a 16 year old card is Grant Cooper, who Frawley says has good size and really impressed us.

“We have a fair number of returnees and our main thought was to get more size,” says Frawley. “I think we have a good mix of veterans. “We’ve signed quite a few and all indications are that they are excited at the new approach for the year. We also have a fair number of kids still in camp.”

Frawley says “we’ve gotten bigger on defence. We should be fast and physical.”

As the newcomer to the bench, Frawley says he is going to rely on his assistant coaches Sequin and Racine for help.

“I’ve told the boys it’s a clean slate. I’m new to the league and I’m going to count on their help.”

Game time Sunday is 2:30 p.m.

[…]

Break and enters likely linked: Police

September 12, 2012 Editor

Monday morning a number of Main Street Morrisburg Plaza business owners were greeted with broken glass when they arrived at work.

Overnight, windows were broken and small amounts of change were taken from each of the three businesses located in close proximity to one and other.

The incidents at Krista’s Hair Salon, Dutch Touch Hairstyling and the New Centennial Restaurant were all reported to police first thing Monday morning.

“We believe that all three incidences are linked,” OPP media relations officer Peter Robertson told The Leader.

Few details were release as the investigations are ongoing.

Luckily, these businesses did not keep any large amounts of cash on site after hours.

“That’s precisely why we (the police) recommend that businesses don’t leave funds in their stores overnight,” said Robertson.

[…]

Jitske

September 12, 2012 Editor

A resident of Iroquois for the past 37 years, Jean Douma passed away at the Ottawa General Hospital on Saturday, September 1, 2012. She was 83.

Jean was born in Eestrum, The Netherlands, on July 18, 1929, to her parents Wopke and Janke Oldenburger (nee Westerhof).

On May 31, 1951, she married Wytze Douma and they immigrated to Canada. On July 21, 1951, they arrived in Maxville, Ontario. They raised 10 children on the farm in the Crysler/Chesterville area before moving to Church Street in Iroquois in 1975 with six of their children.

Jean could be found gardening or early in the morning going for her daily walk. Other hobbies were cross stitching, reading or playing cards.

After her husband’s passing in 2001, Jean’s great joy in life was visiting with her children, grandchildren and her great-grandchildren; the last of which was born on her birthday, July 18, 2012.

She gave selflessly throughout her life to her family, her church and her school community. As a Christian wife and mother, her faith was very evident in her life. This continued until her final day.

Jean is survived by her children Jeannie (John) Luimes of Oshawa, Harold (Mary) of Ingleside, Dorothy (Bob) Wierdsma of Peterborough, Oscar (Karen) of Pittsburgh, Abe (Janet) of Chesterville, Joanna (Sim) Wierdsma of Peterborough, Rick (Ellen) of Iroquois, George (Darlene) of Whitby and Wes (Wanda) of Iroquois and by her daughter-in-law Alice Douma (friend Dean Howland) of Ingleside.

She is also suvived by her siblings Baukje (Bram) VanderVeen of Morewood, Halbe (Joanne) Oldenburger of Wellesley and Wobbina (Gerrit) Sluiskes of Iroquois.

Beppe will be fondly remembered by 30 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband Wytze Douma, her son John Douma and her daughter-in-law Karen Douma.

Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg, on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service was held at the Williamsburg Christian Reformed Church on Wednesday, September 5th at 11 a.m., with Rev. John Noordhof officiating. Interment followed at New Union Cemetery, Williamsburg.

Pallbearers were her sons Harold, Oscar, Abe, Rick, George and Wes. Honorary pallbearers were her daughters Jeannie Luimes, Dorothy Wierdsma and Joanna Wierdsma.

Donations to Timothy Christian School would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences may be made at marsdenmclaughlin.com

[…]

Margo vander Poel

September 12, 2012 Editor

r the past 42 years, Margo vander Poel passed away at Winchester District Memorial Hospital on Thursday, August 30, 2012. She was 79.

Margo was born in Wormerveer, in the Netherlands to her parents Dora and Kees Hoek. After enduring the hardships of World War II, her family immigrated to Canada in the spring of 1949, their ship landing in Montreal.

They lived for a short time in Magog, Quebec before moving to Macdonald College in St. Anne de Bellevue. While there, Margo trained as a Registered Nursing Assistant at the Royal Victoria Hospital. For a brief period she worked at the Veteran’s Hospital in Montreal. She spent many years working at Lakeshore General Hospital.

While living at Macdonald College, she met Job and following a short courtship, they married on July 3, 1954. Their first child, Jackie, arrived in 1955, with Kathy, Peter and Brenda following over the next nine years.

In the winter of 1970, Margo and Job decided to move their family to a farm in Ontario. From field work to the birthing of a calf, Margo supported Job in all aspects of the farm. Through their hard work and dedication, they made the farm flourish.

Upon retirement, Margo and Job spent many winters in Florida, ever widening their group of friends and enjoying the Florida sunshine, a real break from our Canadian winters.

Her dedication to family made her an exemplary role model. The quality of character and the trueness of the hearts of her children, Jackie, Kathy, Peter and Brenda are proof of that. She was dedicated to them.

Margo was blessed with 11 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and one on the way. She loved them all dearly and was proud of each one of them.

Margo and Job had a wide circle of friends. Over the years, they’ve managed to keep in contact with many fellow immigrants and have met others since moving to this area.

Enjoying an active social life, Margo and Job have spent countless hours with their bowling group and card playing friends. Margo was also part of a ladies club called the “Stitch and Bitch”. She enjoyed these ladies’ fellowship and creativity for more than 30 years.

Coming from an artistic family, Margo was a true artisan herself. Margo did quilting, rug hooking, crocheting, knitting, needlepoint, cross stitch, and bobbin lace. In the last few years she spent much of her time creating beautiful pieces and leaving the family with wonderful mementos they will continue to cherish.

Margo’s efforts were not only to be enjoyed by her family. She has made baby quilts that have been sent to Kenya. She has knitted countless toques for premature babies. She has crocheted plastic sleep mats from milk bags for the needy in other countries. She has knitted bed jackets and lap blankets for seniors in our area.

She had a wide variety of interests. She loved nature, the garden, and the beach. She enjoyed all classical music. She was an avid bird watcher. Her home was never without a pet to spoil. She liked various types of puzzles. She enjoyed watching golf and curling on TV.

Margo and Job were also well travelled. They have been to the east and west coast of Canada, Florida, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Hawaii.

Margo frequently marvelled at all the opportunity this country had given her and was so grateful for it. She was very proud to be a Canadian.

Margo is survived by her husband of 58 years, Job, her children Jackie (Glenn) Merkley of Cardinal, Kathy (Dean) Parlee of Kanata, Peter (Karen) vander Poel of Iroquois and Brenda (Bob) Seely of Kemptville.

She was much loved Oma to David Merkley (Terra), Robyn Delaney (Ian), Erin Merkley (Tory), Thomas and Laura Parlee, Benjamin, Colin, Evan and Jill vander Poel, Matthew and Lindsey Seely and her darling great-grandson Nicholas Merkley.

She is survived by her sisters Dora Zwart and Corie Robinson and sister-in-law Monica Hoek. and will be fondly remembered by many sisters and brothers-in-law in Holland and by many nieces and nephews

She was predeceased by her parents and her brother, Wybrand Hoek.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Cecilia’s Roman Catholic Church in Iroquois, on Monday, September 3rd at 11 a.m. with Father Chisholm officiating. Internment followed at Iroquois Point Cemetery.

Pallbearers were grandsons David Merkley, Colin vander Poel, Matthew Seely and Thomas Parlee.

Donations to Winchester Hospital or the Cancer Society would be gratefully acknowledged by the family. Online condolences may be made at marsdenmclaughlin.ca.

[…]

Perspectives by Rev. Manasseh Maniragaba

September 12, 2012 Editor

The mission and your role

In my last reflection on the church ministry, I shared my religious experience on the physical nature of the Church, and our concerns toward it.

God has entrusted the Church to us, and one of the primal metrics that really matter about the life and ministry of the Church, is the individuals and families the church has been able to help, to become better people.

I’d like to shortly reflect on the mission and ethos of this very aging Church of Christ, and the role each one of my readers can play in it.

It is evident that the Christian church is going through various upheavals that affect not only its future, but also its present authenticity in the actual society.

The church’s mission is to make of all nations disciples of Jesus the Christ, through sacraments, teaching and preaching the Good News that transforms peoples’ lives into the likeness of Christ, and all this done in the power of the Holy Spirit.

How do you see this mission successful? What was, or is your investment in it? Truth is: the church mission reveals that to be a Christian is conditional. To choose not to be Christian is relative.

After all, all of us are the children of God: therefore, whatever claims to be of God is ultimately our responsibility not our right! To make a concrete point: the majority of our church members are boomers. The seniors are the wise and the cornerstone, even the pillars and, or the potters of our pride or irritability today.

While churches and communities strive to offer them the care worth their sweat, here is some food for thought as noted by Gary Nicolosi, about few crisis facing our elders: There is the crisis of purpose…Physical breakdowns, loss of parents, the surrender of youthful dreams and forced retirements are making Boomers ask, “What else is there?”

There is the crisis of disillusionment…The ideals of the 1960s seem to be unrealized as the world goes from crisis to crisis. Boomers are asking, “Is changing the world even possible or has cynicism won the day?”

There is the crisis of priorities…Consumer culture claims you can have it all, but there are too many choices, too much debt and too little time. “Can anyone really have it all?”

There is the crisis of relationships…“Should anyone say forever?” For Boomers and their children, the answer seems to be no.

There is the crisis of loneliness…Boomers value their freedom and autonomy, but they still seek connection, conversation and community. “Where do you find meaningful relationships in a superficial world?”

There is the crisis of security…Economic uncertainty has led to spiritual anxiety.

There is the crisis of spirituality … Organized religion has given way to a nebulous spirituality. Where do you find something rock solid for your life in a world that is falling apart…is the church a refuge place?”

The quest for satisfaction is immensely exacerbated by the desire of the resurrection. By resurrection I mean, a revisit of our former truisms, or the good memoirs of the past: I want those glorious moments to happen again.

The good news is: our souls never age: the spirit of God in us is ever fresh, the heart of love is Christ-centered and ever loving, despite the dusting body which returns to ashes as naturally ordered.

However, when life becomes the party we did not wish for, while we are still here, the church and community are invited to offer the dance.

To conclude: what is so exciting about serving in these conditions? What is compelling to believe in a church whose future is dependable on freewill donations?

While the church cannot answer why bad things happen to good people, the church can offer comfort and guidance to God’s children to deal with some heavy dilemmas, in the name of Jesus the Christ, the head of the church.

All for Jesus, and Jesus for all.

Rev. Manassé Maniragaba,

Associate Priest for the

Morrisburg Anglican Parish

The dying Jesus is the evidence of God’s anger toward sin; but the living Jesus is the proof of God’s love and forgiveness. ~Lorenz Eifert

[…]

Arena back in operation

September 12, 2012 Editor

Build it and they will come.

Over the past couple of weeks, South Dundas manager of parks and recreation, Donnie Lewis and his crew have been busy building ice at the Morrisburg Arena.

Monday night, (September 10) members of the Morrisburg and District Figure Skating Club were the first to give it a whirl, followed by players of the South Dundas Minor Hockey Association.

“We started the plant on Monday, August 27th, and I was making ice by the weekend (September long weekend),” Lewis told The Leader, Friday morning.

By Tuesday, August 28 the valve involved with the elimination of air in the lines was wide open, which began the process of cooling the floor. By Wednesday, the 29th, the “floor was at 18º F”.

“Thursday, we started flooding with half inch garden hose,” and from then on it was full steam (ice) ahead. Over the long weekend, Lewis flooded three times per day.

On Tuesday, September 4, the hockey lines were put down, and then it was back to the garden hose for flooding.

The Zamboni saw its first action on Wednesday and “by Thursday, (September 6) we had one inch of ice.”

Over this past weekend, Lewis planned to continue to flood with the Zamboni with the intent to have 1.25 inches of ice for Monday night’s official startup.

Throughout the season, he says the optimum ice thickness is 1.50 inches. “We monitor it weekly by drill tests, drilling 23 holes at various locations.”

Lewis says he likes to keep the ice at one and one half inches, “because that gives you fast ice. Anything past that and the ice gets too slow.”

According to Lewis, thanks to new technology and the changes made to the arena roof and insulation several years ago, the process of putting the ice in, in the fall, does not take nearly as long. “With everything being new it doesn’t take very long.”

With the better insulation and technology the process is no longer at the mercy of the weather as it was years ago.

“We are actually ahead of schedule this year,” said a pleased Lewis.

The figure skaters and minor hockey used the ice Monday night and the Junior B Lions were to have their first practice Tuesday night (September 11).

“The Juniors are scheduled to open their home schedule on Sunday, September 16 against the Winchester Hawks.”

“Everything ran smooth this year, just like peanut butter,” said Lewis. “We had no problems even though it was very hot. Years ago we’d have never made ice with that weather. We were flooding every 30 to 45 minutes initially and the floor never got over 24ºF. That’s good.”

[…]

Support for Flowers of Courage

September 12, 2012 Editor

Although Prime Minister Stephen Harper was unable to attend the official launch of the Flowers of Courage project at Winchester Public School this past May, he made up for his absence when he placed 11 sunflower seeds in their specially designed packet under the watchful eyes of five Winchester Public School students at his Ottawa office on Wednesday, August 15.

The Flowers of Courage project was created by Jeff Arsenault of Morrisburg, “in honour of the children of 9/11 to remind the families that caring never stops,” Arsenault told The Leader in May. And as Arsenault so often does in his projects, children all over North America were included.

The artwork that adorns the sunflower seed packets was provided by six children in Canada and six children in the United States, all of whom are members of families who lost loved ones in the 9/11 tragedy. The message the packets bear was written by the children says Arsenault, an Education Assistant at Winchester Public School.

Some 10,000 packets were originally sent out to schools across North America for packaging, and invitations were extended to Prime Minister Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama to fill a packet.

The McKenzie Seed Co. of Brandon, Manitoba donated the California-grown seeds and provided the services of the printer/graphic designer who fitted the children’s pictures to the small packets.

When Prime Minister Harper was unable to attend the May launch at Winchester Public School, Arsenault figured he had heard the last of it, but not so.

In August, he received an invitation from the Prime Minister’s office, and on August 15, Arsenault, Winchester Public School Principal Jill Pensa and five students found themselves in the Prime Minister’s office.

“The Prime Minister loved the idea of the program,” says Arsenault. “He was very good with the kids. He introduced himself and asked them to explain why they were placing 11 seeds in the packets. We got to spend 20 minutes with him. It was great.”

“The kids were gluing the seed packets right there on the prime minister’s desk and Gavin (Copeland) was getting glue on his desk. But he just shrugged it off, and said ‘that’s fine’.”

“He was amazing. It was such an honour. He treated the kids with such respect and the program with such respect. He is busy and to take the time to sit down with kids, that is a genuine asset Canadians need to see.”

Students representing Winchester Public School were Shannon and Erin Arbuckle, Ryan and Liam Antille and Gavin Copeland. In addition to Principal Pensa, UCDSB director David Thomas had planned to attend but was disappointedly unable to make it.

Arsenault says Flowers of Courage has been a most touching and inspirational project. The 12 children provided not just the name, but all of the artwork on the seed packets, the dedication and the growing directions.

“All of the 12 kids are represented on the packets and schools across Canada and the United States participated in placing 11 seeds in each of them.”

The Flowers of Courage seed packets were made available through various agencies associated with 9/11 to be distributed at this year’s memorials: 4,000 in New York, 3,000 at the U.S. Pentagon and 3,000 to the Flight 93 Memorial.

“Of all of the programs I’ve done, this is the most sentimental. I met with some of the 12 kids during March break and they shared with me some of their stories.”

[…]

Fall festival, 1860s style, at Upper Canada Village

September 12, 2012 Editor

From 50-cent treats, old-fashioned kids’ games and family entertainment, to heritage horse and cattle shows, there will be something for everyone to enjoy at Upper Canada Village at the much anticipated 1860s fall fair coming up at Upper Canada Village September 15-16.

Visitors are invited to admire the top-prized heritage products, crops and vegetable classes.

“From one end of the Village to the other there’ll be no shortage of things to see and do,” says Gabriele Thomas, UCV Site Supervisor. “The Fall Fair provides a perfect opportunity for enjoying a beautiful natural setting while getting immersed in living history. What’s more, it includes the Discovery Centre, boisterous period entertainment, children’s games, and tasty treats.”

All the best things made and grown at Upper Canada Village will be exhibited under the big tent in the fairgrounds.

Beautiful Victorian needlework and embroidery, delicious preserves, pickles and baked goods, heritage vegetables, watercolours and oil paintings, honey, cheese as well as articles showcasing early industry will be on display.

The public is invited to enter their vegetables, flowers, food items and other products to see how they measure up against Village staff. All entries must comply with 1860s guidelines which can be found and downloaded at www.uppercanadavillage.com under Activities, Special Events, Fall Fair and all must be registered by noon on Friday, September 14.

What fair would be complete without fun and laughter?

Village performers are tuning up their instruments and voices to entertain the crowd with a lively program of singing and instrumental music. The Upper Canada Village Brass Band is slated to perform at Cook’s Tavern from 1:30-3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, September 16.

The wonder-filled world of the Mental Floss Sideshow, a new act at this year’s fair, will present two shows daily – noon to 12:30 p.m. and 3-3:30 p.m. Meet Professor Archibald Floss, carnival impresario and human oddity and his partner Dr. Charlotte Tann, snake oil peddler of some renown.

Visitors are invited to witness feats of derring-do and exhibits garnered from the five corners of the globe.

Other performances and displays running both Saturday and Sunday are: Village musicians and entertainment 11:15-11:45 a.m.; Opening Ceremonies in the fairgrounds including poetry reading, music and dancing by the Young Interpreters 1-1:30 p.m.; Horse & Cattle Show 2-3 p.m.; Children’s Games & Races 2:30-3:15 p.m.

On Saturday only, from 4-4:30 p.m. there will be music at Cook’s Tavern.

One of the highlights of the event is the more-than-“fair” prices for treats. Apples, UCV-baked bread, UCV cheese, cider, lemonade and fudge will all be available at only 50 cents per serving.

Children can burn off steam by participating in several 19th century games taking place throughout the weekend.

Ring toss, three-legged races, sack races, wheelbarrow races, and tug-of-war are being organized to provide young visitors with a taste of some good old-fashioned fun and tasty prizes.

Admission includes the Discovery Centre: Adult (13-64 yrs) $17; Senior (65 yrs+) $14; Youth (6-12 yrs) $14; children 5 yrs and under are free.

Upper Canada Village is open from 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Coming up next a Upper Canada Village is A World of Glass beinging featured the weekend of September 22 and 23

From the pop bottle to the chandelier, glass is imminently practical as well as exquisitely extravagant.

Discover the magic of glass blowing, painted and stained glass, mirrors, kaleidoscopes as well as industrial applications.

Special feature of the weekend will be the remarkable stained glass windows painted in the 1880s by Harry Horwood for the Prescott home of distillery owner J.P. Wiser.

[…]

Council now riding horse in same direction

September 12, 2012 Editor

A dramatic last minute change of heart saved the former Morrisburg Collegiate Institute restoration project from being scrapped and the historic building from being slated for demolition.

After deferring the decision from the August council meeting, the final decision took place at the September 4 South Dundas council meeting.

By the slimmest of margins South Dundas council voted to pursue the renovation of the old high school in Morrisburg.

At the meeting when the mayor first returned discussions to the table after the deferral, the majority opted to start over with a new plan.

When the mayor asked each council member to state their position for discussion before the final vote, deputy mayor Jim Locke and councillors Evonne Delegarde and Archie Mellan were in favour of scrapping the renovation project, tearing down the historic building, and starting the process from scratch with a view to constructing a new, smaller building.

Locke said, “I’ve done a lot of thinking on it, and I’ve come to the firm conclusion that it would be in the best interest of our taxpayers to invest in replacing the three storey portion of that building.”

He suggested tearing down the old high school and building a much smaller new building to accommodate the municipality’s needs, excluding the library.

The relocation of the Morrisburg library branch to part of the vacated Morrisburg clinic space was one of the planned spin-off projects of the renovation.

Councillor Graham, who was firmly in favour of the restoration of the former Morrisburg Collegiate Institute at the August meeting, did not change his position.

He explained that, although it is a big project with a lot of money involved, in the worst cased scenario, the municipality will be looking to finance about $2 million, once the income from the agreement with the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic doctors and other internal funding allocations are taken into account.

“If we are lucky enough to be successful in our grant application, then we will only be looking for $1 million in our budget,” said Graham. “I don’t think we can afford to build new.”

In his estimation, with a new build they would be looking for much more from the municipality’s budget. “Our budget couldn’t sustain $7 million. Restoring that building is the best thing, and the right thing to do for this community.”

The August 14 report to council showed that a new build of a 25,000 square foot building would likely cost between $6 and $7.5 million.

Councillor Delegarde continued to support a new build.

“The gap between rehabilitating the old building and building a new building is down to about half a million dollars to me,” she said explaining that she would like to see a 15,000 square foot one storey building like that of South Stormont.

“She’s a grand old, well built building, but I think it’s time we say goodbye to the old girl and build new,” said councillor Archie Mellan, who was struggling with this difficult decision.

With three council members sharing the same opinion, South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds said that although it appeared he was not going to get the opportunity to break a tie vote, he still wanted to make his opinion known.

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“I have faith in the work that has been done, in the skills of the firm, in the engineering that has been done and in the building,” said Mayor Byvelds.

He added that resetting the project for a different one and delaying it for at least another year was a major challenge for him, and one that he took seriously into account through his decision making process.

“I am disappointed to see council going in the direction they are going,” said councillor Graham. “If you do this, we’ve lost all the money we’ve put into the studies and plans, and are adding demolition costs. And, now what do we do for the doctors? If we do this, we could be looking at delaying having something for them two to three more years down the road. With this decision, we would be throwing a lot of money out the window.”

Councillor Archie Mellan then spoke up.

“I’ve changed my mind on this six times today and I’m going to change my mind again,” he said. “I’d hate to see us lose that old building. I want to see the old high school kept. I’m not going to let her go. I say rehabilitate it. Let’s keep the old high school. I’m not going to change my mind again.”

After a recorded vote, requested by Delegarde, Mayor Byvelds said, “I know this was a challenging decision, but now we have voted as a council to move forward with this project.”

“I will support council’s decision 100 percent through this project,” added deputy mayor Locke. “We all ride the horse in the same direction, that’s the only way this works.”

Council passed a motion to allow staff to negotiate with Robert J. Bourgeon & Associates Ltd., the contractor that submitted the lowest bid of $3,857,000 to get the renovation project started.

[…]

Comic Relations Enliven Playhouse’s A Nice Family Gathering

September 12, 2012 Editor

The Lundeens are a dysfunctional family. No doubt about it.

Brother Michael, the ‘successful’ doctor, is repressed and desperate.

Brother Carl, the truck-driving ‘journalist,’ is resentful and sarcastic.

Sister Stacey flutters waif-like around the edges of the family, mostly overlooked.

Michael’s wife Jill teeters on the brink of hormonal hysteria.

Mom Helen appears to be losing all sense of reality.

And Dad? Well, he’s actually dead. Sort of.

The appeal of Phil Olson’s A Nice Family Gathering, the last show of the Upper Canada Playhouse 2012 summer season, is this. In even the most dysfunctional of families, there remains a deep running thread of loyalty and love which simply can’t be broken.

In the course of a Thanksgiving dinner, audiences will get to know the Lundeens, laugh with the Lundeens (often and very loudly) and yes, even shed a tear with them.

A Nice Family Gathering is a great show.

Lovingly directed by Donnie Bowes, it features the “blue chip” cast Bowes said (in an earlier press conference) he needed to bring Olson’s play to the stage.

Don Ciaschini is Jerry, the neighbour. It’s a smaller role, but Ciaschini brings real personality to it. He was Carl Sr.’s oldest friend: he remains Helen’s friend. And he is a kind of catalyst in the play, setting off unexpected events. As he observes, ultimately fleeing from the ‘friendly’ dinner he thought he was attending, “Any family with more than three people is dysfunctional.”

Richard Bauer creates a truly sympathetic character in his Carl Lundeen. Scruffy, resentful of what he believes is the family preference for brother Michael, the doctor, he clings to the hope of becoming a journalist. Unfortunately, his sole output, a weekly column, Observations, runs only in a tiny local paper. Stories focussed, for example, on the time he swerved to miss a gopher and spilled coffee in his crotch, have never gained him much respect at home.

But Bauer’s Carl is also very witty, very funny. He alone is able to see the ‘spirit’ of his late father, who has returned to the family on a mission. And he is the one, to his horror, Dad wants to use to “channel” those efforts.

Jamie Williams, Dr. Michael, is one half of “the perfect couple.” He’s got a beautiful wife, a beautiful house, a beautiful car and he’s absolutely miserable. His wife, Jill, (Kate Gordon in a role that could have become a caricature, but is instead sympathetic and loving) is “just a little emotional.” She and Michael have been unsuccessfully trying to have children, and the effort has become a burden. And Michael’s finances have taken a bad turn.

Stacey, played with a certain wonderful ditziness by Liz Gilroy, is the too often overlooked child.

“I don’t think Stacey will ever get married,” Helen proclaims. “She’s just not popular with boys.”

“Mom, I’m right here,” Stacey wails.

“Well, I didn’t think you’d mind my saying it. You like being alone, don’t you?”

However, it is Stacey, delivering two bombshells after dinner, who flings the Lundeen family into comic chaos.

The heart and soul (literally, in Dad’s case) of the Lundeen family are the parents.

Doug Tangney, even as a ghost, is charming, unexpected and incredibly funny. His running commentaries on events, his head to head duels with Carl, the absolute certainty with which he finally admits his family is “a Marx Brothers movie,” endear him to the audience. Yes, he made mistakes as a father, but he utterly adores the wife and the children he had to leave behind.

That wife is played by Linda Goranson with both pathos and great humour. Her family fears that she is slipping away from reality: turkey dogs for Thanksgiving dinner, boiling water that she never remembers to add coffee to, and confusing comments like ‘Spam makes me laugh’ and ‘I love jumbo shrimp’ suggest there may some truth to their fears.

They all adore her. So does the audience.

When she and Carl Sr, using son Carl as the intermediary, finally reveal the true, forever depth of their love, we cared.

It was a wonderful moment.

And this is a wonderful piece of theatre. The play is hilarious, unexpected, touching and, above all, really entertaining.

Plan to spend some time with the Lundeens at A Nice Family Gathering. You won’t regret it.

Call Upper Canada Playhouse at 1-613-543-3713 for tickets and information or contact www.uppercanadaplayhouse.com

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