Deputy mayor takes action on wind power

 

Myrna Anderson, a member of the team which organized and ran the April 6 Pulling Together fund raiser on behalf of the Froats family, was finding it hard to find the words to express her emotions.

“The whole event was just beyond real,” she said. “Isn’t it wonderful? We can safely say, at this point, that we have passed the $40,000 mark, and that we will publish our final figures in the paper within a couple of weeks. From the smallest to the biggest donations, everything counted in the end. 

Isn’t it absolutely amazing what people can do when we all ‘pull together.’”

The goal of organizers was to raise funds to help the Froats family, Mark, Lisa, Brody and Brett, who are facing some very difficult challenges in the months  which lie ahead.

The Pulling Together campaign  began before Christmas, and culminated in a gala, Saturday,  April 6, 2013, at the Matilda Hall in Dixons Corners, with hundreds of people coming out from South Dundas and surrounding communities to take part in the  many activities.

The organizing team, made up of Myna Anderson, Mike Deighton, David Lapier, David Wells, Ruth and Paul Robertson, Keith and Linda Robinson, Gayle Hart, Loretta and Mike Anderson, Jim and Vivian Martin and Tracey Veinotte, was delighted with the support shown by volunteers and  the public for the fund raiser.

The Golden Gears Car Club ran a car rally on Saturday, and a sponsorship campaign: president Henry Swank presented a cheque for $4,600 to the committee. 

The Morrisburg and District Lions, and the Lions of Winchester, Chesterville and Finch handled activities throughout the day for the crowds of visitors. The Iroquois-Matilda Lions arranged for and looked after the hall.

The roast beef dinner (which completely sold out) was catered by Hart’s Special Occasions.

There were seven local bands performing throughout the afternoon and evening, with Elvis impersonator Paul Warren and his band, Mystery Train, entertaining after dinner. 

People danced the rest of the night away to the music of Ridin’ Shotgun.

A full list of those donating their time, talents, funds and fund raising efforts for the gala will be published later.

The silent and live auctions were popular and important factors in the fund raiser. 

Melissa Fisher, a flight attendant with West Jet, brought a special donation for the auction, from the airline, of two round trip tickets to wherever West Jet flies. “West Jet’s generosity is a major calling card for our event,” Myrna Anderson said. 

West Jet has a community investment program, Fisher explained, and if an event is trying to raise funds, it can submit a proposal to the West Jet board. The company was pleased to help support the Pulling Together campaign.

South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds said that the “volunteers who put on this fund raiser should be highly commended. There was great participation from our entire community to support a family facing real difficulties. There is such a strong sense of community in this area.”

The Froats family was thrilled and truly overwhelmed to hear how much had been raised at the event, Anderson reported. 

“Everything on Saturday went like clockwork,” she said. “We had no issues. We had great volunteers, and a wonderful crowd. It was a very happy day.”

[…]

 

The veterans of Team Magee brought home their third consecutive “King of the River” title  as they took first place in the 44th Tubie Festival Race, August 3, 2014.

A return to the traditional race format, with crafts leaving from Arlor Haven Campgrounds and rowing to the Morrisburg Beach, saw Magee’s “Black Beauty” take an early lead in the field of seven tubies. “We were ahead all the way down the river,” said skipper Gary Magee. “It was a good race.”

“Black Beauty” and her crew of Gary, Jaime Notman, Stephanie Crowell, Sheri Halpenny, Mark Hayward and Mario Del Ricco pulled their Tubie on to the sand, to the cheers of a large crowd gathered at the finish line, in a time of 26.47 minutes. 

The second place team was also made up of river veterans. “Back in the Saddle With Our Paddles”, Team Barclay, came out of the water in 29.15 minutes. “I think we were the oldest people on the river today,” laughed rower Laura Barclay. “We’re exhausted.”

Taking third honours was the team skippered by Matt Laurin, who came ashore in 31.09 minutes.

To the delight of the crowd, the two craft contending for fourth and fifth spots turned the race into a real battle in the final stretch. 

Nose to nose all the way to the sand were the teams led by Josh Biemond and Corey Cassell. 

In a flurry of paddles, and the rush to get their crafts and crew completely out of the water (as per Tubie rules), the judges ultimately decreed that the Biemond Team was fourth, with a time of 34.00 minutes, and the Cassell Team fifth, with a time of 34.01 minutes. 

Coming in sixth place was the Gareth Cochrane/Jesse Swank craft and crew, with their time logged at 37.25 minutes. 

This 2014 Tubie Race definitely had its share of drama.

The Sage Barclay/Christyn Veinotte Tubie, turned turtle in the river about three quarters of the way along the race route. 

“We saw one of our tubes slipping,” said Veinotte, “then there was this big bang. The next thing we knew, our wood cracked, and we were all dumped overboard. It’s a bit of a blur after we hit the water.”

Spectators could see the South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services boat (which tracked the race from start to finish) rush to the stricken craft. However the crew of 10, all wearing life preservers, waved off the rescuers and boats offering to tow them.

Instead, the crew swam the remains of their tubie all the way to the finish line. 

When they finally hauled the  battered craft out of the water, 45 minutes after they started the race, the Veinotte/Barclay crew was met with loud cheers from the waiting crowd and congratulations from their fellow competitors. 

“I think we just wanted to finish with some pride,” a tired Veinotte said. 

First place in the 2014 race took home $400, second place, $250, third place, $150, and fourth, fifth and sixth places $50 each.  

The 2014 Tubie Festival, organized and run, for the first time, by the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce, was praised by all who attended the events as an unqualified success. 

“It was really just an amazing weekend,” said both Geraldine Fitzsimmons and Grace McDonough from the Chamber. “In the end, even the weather co-operated with us. The Tubie committee and our Board members from the Junior Bs, Lois and Kevin Casselman, really did an outstanding job. 

We had over 450 people at the outdoor dance, where One Night Standards was a big hit. We even had an unexpected but great fireworks display Saturday night, as Waddington, New York, was celebrating its Old Home Week. And our South Dundas community really came out to support the Festival.” 

The popular 44th Tubie parade took place on Saturday, August 2, at one p.m.

Despite the humidity, crowds lined the Morrisburg streets to cheer for the colourful and highly individual floats and their riders of all ages. The theme for this year’s Festival was “Splash”, in honour of the Splash Pad fund raisers hope to have started work on by fall.

Judges definitely had a hard time choosing winners among the Tubie floats, but finally made these choices.

First place, Disney on the River,  was created by the Morrell Sisters, sponsored by Classic Cuts and Lakeshore Massage Therapy. Second place was Splish Splash, the Veinotte/Barclay float. Coming in third was Matt Laurin’s Tubie Splash. Fourth was the Chamber of Commerce entry, Tiki Bar. Coming fifth was the Splash Pad Committee’s Splash Cash, while sixth place was given to the Domanko Tubie Colourful. 

[…]

Spot: Jack Russel Terrier mix, 2-3 years, not neutered. Obeys commands, good on and off leash, house trained. Great personality, happy guy, but guards his food and can not go to a home with cats.

Prestin: One year, male Shepherd mix puppy. Not neutered. Great puppy, great with kids, dogs & people, wonderful personality. House & crate trained. Has issues with cats/small animals.

 

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