Five Alarm Chili, Anyone

Marilyn Boissonneault says she wanted to make a gingerbread house this year, she just didn’t know who to make it for.

Last Christmas, Boissonneault lovingly created a gingerbread house for her dear friend Carol Froats, who passed away this past June.

“Carol loved Christmas,” explained Boissonneault last Wednesday as she and husband Jim prepared this year’s house for transport. “Carol loved the holiday so much that it took her an entire week to decorate her house. Even last year, when she was so sick, she did the best that she could.”

“Last year, I decided to make her a gingerbread house. She had never had one before. When we dismantled it together, Carol removed the little plastic burro and dog and handed them back to me for ‘next year’s house’.”

“I wanted to do another one so much this year. I just didn’t know who to do it for. So I talked to Carol Richer at the Christmas Exchange, and she came up with the perfect idea.”

“Carol told me about this young lad at CHEO. When I asked her what the family’s name was and she said ‘Froats’, I thought I had been given a push.”

With loving care and in memory of her dear friend Carol, Marilyn went to work on this year’s creation for Brody Froats and all the children at CHEO this holiday season.

Marilyn explained to Brody’s grandparents, Carl and Gail Robinson, and little brother Brett, who arrived for pickup on Wednesday, December 19, that her gingerbread houses aren’t the frilly traditional style.

“My gingerbread houses are styled after the southwestern style Adobe Casita. It is furnished and you can take its roof off and look inside,” Marilyn told Brett.

Caramel candies, icing, gingerbread…the Adobe Casita destined for Brody at CHEO is entirely edible, except of course for the tiny burro and dog that graced Carol’s Casita last Christmas and were now at home in Brody’s gingerbread Casita.

[…]

One of the summer’s biggest events along the Seaway is set to take place on Sunday, August 24, as the Golden Gears Car Club hosts its third annual Car Show and Concert at the Iroquois Locks.  

This Show can attract up to 300 vehicles of all types from eastern Ontario  as well as northern New York. When you add the sounds of good-time rock and roll featuring the popular group, Eddy & the Stingrays, you have the makings of a memorable summer afternoon. 

This is an opportunity for everyone to take in both an exciting car show and some outstanding music. 

Admission to the event is free for all spectators. Visitors to the Locks will be encouraged to make a donation to help defray costs, if they wish. 

The Car Show runs from 9 a.m.  until 3 p.m. Eddy & the Stingrays will swing into musical action on the Locks stage from noon until 2:30 p.m. 

For those who arrive early, the Iroquois members of the South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services will be presenting a vehicle rescue demonstration at 10:30 a.m., using the Jaws of Life. This promises to be a fascinating exhibition for the youngsters.

This year, the date of the annual Car Show and Concert has been moved from September to late August.

The day’s many activities have also been moved ahead to take advantage of a bit more daylight, and to allow drivers to get home before dusk.  

Car owners coming out for this Show will be eligible for a variety of prizes and trophies in various categories of vehicles. As well,  everyone can take part in the  50-50 draw. 

Again this year there will be vendors on site offering vehicle accessories and all things automotive to visitors. And there’s no need to pack a lunch. The food concession will be operated by Terry Palmer of the South Mountain area.  His crew can handle a crowd with speed and precision, offering delicious beef, or pork on a bun, sausages and much more wonderful food.  

In the event of rain, the Golden Gears have arranged for large tents to be put in place: the band will be playing on the covered stage. 

There’s no need for a little damp weather to spoil any of the concert fun. Just  remember to bring your lawn chair.

The Golden Gears Car Club, revived in early 2012, now boasts over 80 members made up of classic car owners and car enthusiasts. Its mission is twofold: the preservation and restoration of classic cars, and the desire to help our community.  

The Gears operated the annual car show at the Canada Day celebration at the Iroquois Locks on behalf of the local Lions Club. The club also held a food drive in Morrisburg in early August with proceeds going to the Dundas County Food Bank, and was instrumental in a car show and food drive held in Cardinal on August 10th.

Don’t miss the Golden Gears Car Show and Concert, featuring  Eddie & the Stingrays, Sunday, August 24, at the Locks. What a great way to wind up the summer.

[…]

South Nation Conservation is working with the Port of Johnstown to complete a fish habitat creation project along the St. Lawrence River. Work is underway to expand a wetland in Johnstown Bay into a larger, more beneficial area for fish.

“The Port is drawing on our expertise from similar fish habitat projects to ensure the project is successful and cost effective,” says Michelle Cavanagh, SNC Fish and Wildlife Resource Technician.

The 1 acre wetland will include a variety of shoreline structures to create diverse habitat. Two deep pools will support large, game fish species and shallow, weedy areas are suited for small fish.

“After months of planning, we’re excited to begin construction” says Cavanagh, adding SNC will monitor the wetland while work is being carried out and every spring and fall for the next three years to see which fish species are using the new habitat.

This spring, SNC is creating a buffer of trees, shrubs, and wildflowers around the wetland that extends along the warf. This will improve water quality and prevent erosion and surface runoff. Adding aquatic plants in the wetlands, including water lilies, pickerel weed, and wild rice, will oxygenate the water which improves habitat.

Installation of root wads and log clusters will also provide additional areas of cover and spawning habitat. These woody structures will help keep the vegetation from clogging up the wetland.

SNC, in partnership with the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, developed a Fish Habitat Compensation Plan to satisfy the federal Fisheries Act requirements for the construction of the Port’s new wharf. This is the first of two compensation projects that SNC will complete under the Plan.

Excavation will begin this month with the entire project wrapping up in May.

[…]