Reader’s Digest, Veinottes Deliver

 

Cornwall and the Counties Tourism, has over 2,000 kilometers of cycling/motorcycling routes mapped and is getting reading to ‘peddle’ this region as a destination for cyclists of all kinds.

Morrisburg will serve as a hub of this activity. 

“We are in the process of creating a paper map,” said Linda Wilson, executive director of Cornwall and the Counties Tourism, who had a draft copy of the map and its routes here in Morrisburg on November 29.

The 28 routes are organized as loops, from  40 km in length to 230 km in length. The recommended routes for cyclists, are considered safe and have water/food amenities available along the way.

The loops include two Quebec entry points as well as entry points from Ottawa and Brockville.

“Our plan is to have the map ready for the end of this year,” said Wilson, who plans to take it to the Vélo show in Montreal in February among other high profile cycling shows in 2013 and to the outdoor and leisure shows in Ottawa in the coming year.

Wilson is also working with GPS technology to push the loop maps to Garmin.

The other side of making the maps work is proper roadside signing of the loops. 

That will come in partnership with the Counties of SD&G. 

In partnership, the two will apply for funding for the signs, and if successful the signs will be installed, on existing posts by the counties road crews.

“The signing will happen, at least partially, if we get the funding, early in the summer if possible,” said Wilson. 

Each loop will be marked by a different colour, making it easy for cyclists to navigate. 

As part of the loop system, Wilson has selected areas across the region as ‘hub’ sites where people can drive to, park and unload their bicycles to cycle some of the loops. 

Morrisburg is one of those hubs that are located across the region.

“Much work is being done at the county level, but there is still work to be done at the local level to support the initiative,” said South Dundas economic development officer Nicole Sullivan.

She suggests investing in some infrastructure such a bike racks and possibly working with businesses to help educate  them on becoming cycle-friendly and cycle-ready.

[…]

 

“This is going to be our greatest concert season yet,” said St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage board members, Sandra Whitworth (president and treasurer) and Derek Hunter (vice  president). “The stage is a place where the audience and the performers can strike up a real relationship. People know that in our musical line ups, there will be something in the season that will delight them.”

Fresh from setting up their new office at the OETIO (Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario), site of the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage, Whitworth and Hunter shared funding and performance news about the 2012-2013 season.

This is the St. Lawrence’s Stage’s seventh year in Morrisburg. In May of this year, MP Guy Lauzon presented the Stage with a Heritage grant. The board also learned that the Ontario Arts Council would continue to maintain the Stage’s Arts Council grant, while the Township of South Dundas will also continue its support. 

These grants are vital to the Stage’s ability to book performers early, and to establish a season.

“When we first began this venture,” Whitworth explained, “we could only plan our concerts one show at a time. Even three years ago, we were not able to set up a full fall line up in advance. This funding allows us now to create the fall and the winter concerts, and to book performers ahead. We have the security now of being able to envision different types of music and to seek out interesting performers.” 

The ongoing support of platinum sponsor Coffey’s Coffee also ensures the kind of quality concerts the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage is becoming well known for.  “We hope to increase our business support for the Stage,” Whitworth said. “This is an area we are seriously exploring.”

Whitworth reports that audience sizes have doubled in the last couple of years at the Stage, with two shows, Serena Ryder and Don Ross, actually sold out. The board hopes this trend will continue in 2012-13, as more people realize the incredible musical jewel right on their doorstep.

Joining the 2012-13 volunteer board, which also includes Bill Carriere, is Tony McCadden, a Morrisburg resident, who plays in the Ottawa-based percussion ensemble, Kunundrum.

Jeanne Ward, “the last of the original founding members of the St. Lawrence Stage,” said Derek Hunter, “and our former president, had to leave the board this year. While she has moved out of the SD&G area, she has promised to attend our shows.” To honour her dedication and hard work for over seven years, the Stage presented Ward with a special plaque and gave her a “life time” pass to all future St. Lawrence Stage concerts.

And if the concerts booked for this fall are any indication, audiences can look for premier entertainment at the Stage.

Those who attended Stuart McLean’s Vinyl Cafe at the Playhouse this winter, will be delighted to hear that Jadea Kelly (who appeared on that show) is opening for Catherine MacLellan on September 15. 

“Jadea has a pristine voice, clear as a bell,” said Whitworth. “And Catherine MacLellan (whose father Gene wrote Snow Bird) is an established, versatile performer with a dark, husky voice. The two will be a dynamic singer/songwriter combination on the stage.”

In October, the phenomenal Kevin Fox, (“our first cellist,” Whitworth laughed) will headline. He is a singer/writer/composer of note, who performs both original music and covers, using a looping pedal to create a full, rich sound. His CD, Songs for Cello and Voice, is truly “an experience.”

Opening for Fox is Dave Simard, first seen at the Stage in an emerging artists show case in 2010-2011, where he drew audience raves. Simard has since gone on to build a strong career with his unusual approach to music. He even created his own term for it, “avant-garde folk.”

Terra Hazelton and Her Easy Answers explode on stage in November when she brings her jazz/swing band (with a taste of blues added to the mix) to the St. Lawrence Stage. Jeff Healey’s vocalist of choice with his jazz band,  Hazelton and her quartet will perform a wide range of exciting music from classic to modern jazz. 

Unique in performance and unique to the St. Lawrence Stage is the second performer in November, Evalyn Parry and her show, Spin.

“I saw Evalyn Parry perform Spin, and she was simply an incredible presence on stage,” Whitworth explained. “Her show actually uses a bicycle both as a metaphor and an instrument. Her concert will involve the spoken word, wonderful music and theatre. She literally draws audiences in. What a show hers will be!”

The winter line-up at the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage is being finalized, but tickets for the outstanding fall season (as well as season passes) are available at www.st-lawrencestage.com. The Basket Case, Strung Out Guitars and Compact Music also carry tickets.

Some of the best musical entertainment in Eastern Ontario is here at the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage. 

[…]

“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.

[…]