Pumpkinferno a must see

Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak announced his upcoming Million Jobs Act, to be tabled at Queen’s Park when the Legislature reconvenes in February.

“The Million Jobs Act is an important first step in returning Ontario to growth” – said Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry MPP Jim McDonell. “We offered the Wynne Liberal Government to clear the legislative calendar in order to focus on a true jobs plan for the Province. We have seen no willingness by the current Government to change course from their failed policies, so we are tabling our own jobs plan that will secure a better future for us and our children. It is time to act to create jobs and attract businesses to Ontario – our Leader, Tim Hudak, will introduce this Bill as soon as we return to Queen’s Park in February”.

The Million Jobs Act builds on the foundation laid by the Ontario PC Caucus White Papers published over the course of the past two years. It will include provisions to end costly subsidies in the energy sector to bring down the cost of power, immediate trade and apprenticeship reform to create 200,000 jobs in the skilled trades, bold steps to tackle the Province’s debt and a clear path to reducing the $11 billion annual cost of red tape by at least a third. 

“Only by attracting job-creators and preserving Ontario’s financial health can we build a prosperous Province” – MPP McDonell concluded. “My constituents’ concerns have been heard loud and clear – we need affordable energy, a vibrant enterprise environment and a leaner, more efficient public sector. The Million Jobs Act, when passed into law, will kick-start the recovery that will return our Province to its rightful place as Confederation’s leader in innovation, manufacturing and growth”.

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Why it’s positively criminal how funny the upcoming Iroquois-Matilda Lions pro-duction of Monday Always Leads to Murder is!

Some of the characters die laughing.

Following in a tradition that dates back nearly 30 years, the Iroquois Lions (and friends) are taking to the stage at Upper Canada Playhouse this month with their latest theatrical offering, Pat Cook’s Monday Always Leads to Murder. 

These highly anticipated plays, which are presented every two years, are one of the major fund raisers for the Iroquois-Matilda Lions. 

Lions clubs have long been noted for their support of charitable organizations and works in South Dundas. The community often turns to area Lions for financial and volunteer support. 

Funds raised  by the productions at the Playhouse are invested right back into the South Dundas community. 

Ticket holders for the 2012 production can look forward to an evening of laugh-out-loud comedy and to ensuring that the Iroquois-Matilda Lions can continue to be a strong presence in the South Dundas community. 

The show’s volunteer cast has been in rehearsals since early February. As opening night gets closer, the production is transferring April 4 to the Playhouse.  Rehearsals  have been held at St. John’s Anglican Church, Iroquois, and the Iroquois United Church. 

The cast is having a lot of fun with the play, which is set in the seedy New York office of one Harry Monday, private eye. The year is 1939: Prohibition has lately been repealed, Humphrey Bogart is big at the box office, Al Capone is big in Chicago and women (at least where Harry is concerned) are still “stacked.”

Harry will certainly have his hands full coping with dames, would-be actors, cops, burglars, mysterious Egyptian professors and bodies that just keep popping up at the most inconvenient times when he takes on the sinister Barnstable case. 

The fantastic set for the show has been designed by John Thompson of the Playhouse and constructed by a crew under the leadership of Lion Jim Locke.  Sean Free, technical director of the Playhouse, is operating sound and lights for the show. Wendy Gibb is directing.

Tickets are $20 each for the evening shows, April 26-28, and for the Saturday matinee: they are going very quickly. Contact any Iroquois Matilda Lion, Mustard’s Variety or Upper Canada Playhouse for tickets to Monday Always Leads to Murder.  

[…]

Sari Liem of Dillon Consulting in Ottawa presented the interim report for the South Dundas Community Strategic Plan at the May 15th council meeting.

She reminded council that the process “is very much shaped by the community.”

Liem also pointed out that ideas need to be “achievable, practical and economically achievable” and should “support continuous improvement.”

According to Liem’s report, “we received over 200 community wishes (specific aspirations for the betterment of the community) across the various consultation activities.”

“The community wishes have been grouped into seven topic areas:

• Culture, heritage, tourism and waterfront development;

• Beautification;

• Economic growth, job creation and business support;

• Social supports, community resources and affordable housing;

• Planning and infrastructure;

• Recreation programs and facilities; and,

• Agriculture.”

In addition to breaking community wishes into topic areas, the Dillon consultants were able to summarize community wishes and ideas into common themes, which include:

• Create a municipal identity that will celebrate South Dundas’ rich history and culture;

• Create recreational programs, opportunities and facilities that will attract and retain families, children and youth;

• Strengthen South Dundas’ agricultural sector through partnerships with tourism industry;

• Support business expansion and job creation;

• Sustain South Dundas’ small town lifestyle through appropriate development;

• Implement beautification projects to strengthen our sense of pride and community.”

Liem told council the action plan meetings will be held on May 30th at Matilda Hall in Dixon’s Corners between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Anyone in South Dundas wishing to have input in making actual plans for moving forward in South Dundas should register and attend.

Participants will be divided into two groups: group A and group B. Each group will tackle three different themes, spending 90 minutes on each planning session.

Following Liem’s presentation, mayor Steven Byvelds said, “I think what you’ve heard is what South Dundas is all about.”

“Hopefully, with appropriate action plans, we’ll get there.”

Following the action plan meetings, Dillon Consulting will create a recommended vision statement and an implementation strategy complete with timeline. 

The final plan, when ready, will be presented to council for approval and then be released to the public.

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