Matilda Helping Hands attract a crowd with festive dinner and entertainment offerings

 Conductor Robert Jones had every reason to smile as he stood among some members of his 41 voice Seaway Valley Singers. The Singers had just finished their December 16 concert, O Come, O Come, in Iroquois United Church. The packed house gave the choir a standing ovation. 

The Singers present two concerts a year, and the Christmas celebration is eagerly anticipated in the community. 

Mixing classical and religious songs with  bouncing secular pieces, there was something to please everyone in this year’s program. The spiritual, Rise Up Shepherd And Follow, which highlighted all the choir divisions, was rich and soulful. The Minuet Noel, an unexpected mingling of Bach’s composition with the First Noel was also very pleasing. And with the full choir beautifully backing her, Margaret Whisselle (who is also the Singers’ accompanist) allowed her powerful soprano voice to fill the hall in Gesu Bambino. 

There was definitely a twinkle in conductor Jones’ eye as the Singers performed the (very) unconventional, The Twelve Days After Christmas. (How many of us, in the stress of the season, have not thought about a ‘cartridge’ and that partridge!) It was great musical fun.

The Handbell Ringers of Winchester United Church were again very welcome guests at the concert,  performing several pieces and leading the entire audience in a lively version of Jingle Bells. 

Word is that the Seaway Valley Singers are already hard at work putting together another fantastic concert scheduled for the spring. 

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“You don’t have to go far from home to hear great music,” said Bev Anderson of Brockville, just one of the fans who turned out for the 5th Annual Upper Canada  Bluegrass Festival held at Upper Canada Campground September 16-18.

Hosted by campground owners David and Ruth Wells, with the musical talent organized by Mike Anderson, over 110 campers and  a large number of day visitors came out to enjoy some of the best bluegrass music around. “We had great weather all weekend,” Wells said, “and there are a lot of die hard fans for bluegrass out there. The people who come to these events are terrific.”

Although Wells reported that numbers were somewhat down from other years, due, he thought to the economy and high gas prices, it was an exciting two day event.

“It’s been a great turn-out,” said Terry Joe Banjo, who acted as emcee for the festival, performed with a number of groups and staged workshops throughout the weekend. “We had eight good bands performing. A lot of exciting music here.”

Mike Anderson, who performed with his own band Northwind, organized the musical line-up,  and felt it had been an excellent festival. “We had a lot of support. The workshops in instruments like guitar, banjo and mandolin also drew many people. No question, top performers love to run workshops and share their skills and knowledge.

That’s what’s so great about bluegrass.”

Bands performing included Hard Ryde, Grassland, Dave Nichols & Spare Change, Jan Purcell & Pine Road, Bill White & White Pine, Concession 23, Northwind and Maple Hill.

[…]

A commercial lot, on the north side of County Road 2, in Iroquois has been approved for residential use.

Council approved a zoning change that will allow two semi-detached structures, containing four residential units, to be built on the property.

The commercial zoning has been retained but a special exception will allow for the residential development. Normally, residential uses are not allowed in commercial zones.

“I have no problem with it, as long as the option is left open for commercial use,” said South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan.

Councillor Evonne Delegarde also supported the amendment. “There is demand for more residential use in Iroquois, and there’s not a lot of demand for commercial.”

“I will support it,” said South Dundas deputy mayor Jim Locke. “It’s not ideal, but I can understand them (Swank) wanting to use the property.”

Although the majority of council approved the amendment, South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds did express his objections.

“Putting residential in a commercial district is a recipe for disaster,” he said. “This is in our commercial district. You say you want to grow Iroquois, but you just took a piece of commercial property away.”

Regardless of the mayor’s opinion, the amendment was approved.

[…]