Annual SD&G Hwy 43 Memorial Ride coming to the Morrisburg Legion

The first round of public meetings gathering community feedback on the Upper Canada District School Board’s Building for the Future Accommodation Review Committee process, got underway last week. The first meeting took place November 10 […]

“We are thrilled to get such a popular performer, Serena Ryder, to our venue,” said Jeanne Ward, a member of board of the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage. “I think it is because of the reputation of the St. Lawrence Stage and its terrific audiences that we have been successful in getting this line up. Artists really want to play here.”

The St. Lawrence Stage is welcoming 2008 Juno Award winning Canadian singer-songwriter Serena Ryder to the Morrisburg stage on Saturday, September 24.

Ryder has taken the Canadian and international music scene by storm since her second album, If Memory Serves you Well, came out on the EMI label in November 2006. She opened for Aerosmith during their 2007 tour, jammed with Tim Hus and his Rocky Mountain Two in 2008 and recorded the duet, “You Can Always Come Home” with former American Idol contestant Jason Castro, for his first solo album, Jason Castro, in 2009.

Along the way she won the 2008 Juno for New Artist of the Year and her album Is It O.K. won the Juno for Adult Alternative Album of the Year. In 2010, Ryder won the Juno Award for Video of the Year with “Little Bit of Red.”

Ranging musically between folk, roots, country and adult contemporary music, Serena Ryder possesses a five octave vocal range and has toured in Australia and throughout North America. Reviewers have compared her voice to a “teenaged Aretha Franklin” (Elle) and noted her “impressive fearlessness” (Boston Globe).

“We are truly looking forward to her powerhouse vocals and musical energy,” Jeanne Ward said. “Fans are coming from all over, Montreal, Kingston, Ottawa to catch Serena in this intimate St. Lawrence Stage venue.”

Opening for Serena Ryder at the September 24 concert is newcomer to Canada, Matt Longo, a native of New York city, whose new album Lowlife is due to come out soon.

“Matt Longo’s music is honest and true,” said Ward. “His mix of New York folk pop is fresh and impressive. It’s no wonder Serena Ryder has chosen him to support her tour as the opening act.”

Longo told The Leader that he grew up with classic country, but there are other influences in his music as well. “I try not to think about genres,” Longo said. “I have no pre-conceived notions when I compose. However, I don’t get offended when anyone else describes my work a particular way,” he laughed. “I’m just flattered they’re listening.”

Longo finds inspiration for his music among those people who are or have been very close to him. “I’m sort of a people watcher, and people intrigue me. I write about pain or love, whatever is affecting me, and I think this focus on people resonates with audiences.

When I was younger, I went through a period of writing dark and brooding music, but who really wants to listen to that?” he laughed. “I see humour now in my songs. I find I can step back and see things differently.”

Lowlife was lovingly made in an old studio beneath the school in Harlem where Matt Longo teaches. “Every song went through revisions as my drummer and I got the sound we ultimately wanted. I’m excited about the release.”

He is also excited about sharing the acoustic stage with Serena Ryder.

“I haven’t worked with her before in actuality, but in my mind, many times. I’m a very big fan. I’m also looking forward to the St. Lawrence stage, to a concert where the audience is specifically coming to really listen and to enjoy the music. I will be performing numbers from my new album. I hope people enjoy the experience.”

While the Serena Ryder concert on September 24 is completely sold out, upcoming concerts at the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage promise to be dynamic, exciting and popular.

For information or to book future shows contact www.st-lawrencestage.com.

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B. McNairn-Leader Staff

IROQUOIS–For two weeks, Williamsburg-area native Carl Van Allen went about his daily business, unaware that he was a millionaire.

On October 9, Van Allen purchased his regular weekly 6/49 Lottery ticket at Mustard’s Variety in Iroquois. On October 23, after having driven around for two weeks with the ticket in the console of his truck, he had  the numbers checked, and that’s when he got the surprise of his life, the win in the Lotto 6/49 Guaranteed $1 Million prize draw.

Although a cruise may be in the works this winter,  neither Van Allen, 62, nor his wife Ruby have plans to retire nor to make any big purchases. Carl is a longtime employee at Craig Packaging Ltd. in Iroquois, while Ruby works in retail in Morrisburg. Married 42 years, they have two children and five grandchildren.

Jim Mustard, owner of Mustard’s Variety, says “since day one, it’s been my dream to make someone’s dream come true and now it has.” It is also a great way for Jim to complete 24 years in business and to celebrate the upcoming 25th anniversary of Mustard’s Variety on January 3, 2014.

Mustard says he was present when Carl came in to have his tickets validated. “It was the same as usual. Erica [Mustard employee Erica Scott] always says, ‘how are you doing today’ and Carl always answers ‘I’ll know as soon as you check my tickets’.”

The next thing Mustard recalls is looking up and seeing a big printout coming out of the Lottery terminal. A message to Erica indicated she was to tell the customer not to leave the store. So, while they all knew Carl had won something big, at this point they didn’t know just how much. 

“It felt like an hour, but it was probably only four or five minutes later that the phone rang and it was the Ontario Lottery Association,” says Jim.  

After Jim and Carl answered the Lottery official’s questions, the ticket was run again and the $1 million result was officially revealed. 

“I was numb,” says Carl. “Once I talked to the girl in Toronto, it kind of sunk in. That’s when I got exited.”

But not too excited as he headed home to give Ruby the news. “I bought a scratch ticket and gave that to her when I got home. After about 20 minutes, she finally sat down to the scratch ticket and won $12. When she let me know she had won the $12, I said ‘that’s great. $12 is good’. How would you like to win $1 million. She wouldn’t believe me at first.”

“I had goose bumps from it,” says Jim, with Erica adding, “ I was  very excited. It was pure joy to watch his [Carl’s] face. It was amazing.”

Carl and Ruby are well-remembered for their hard work and their commitment to the Volley for Cancer event which they and a committee of volunteers ran for over 10 years on their farm (and eventually in Morrisburg). Over the years, Volley for Cancer raised thousands of dollars for cancer in memory of Carl’s mother.

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