Month: June 2015

The $4.8 million Iroquois waterfront plan was unveiled at the June 2, South Dundas council meeting.

The estimated price tag for the bulk of the plan is $3.8 million, but a proposed re-alignment of Adair Road adds a million dollars.

The presentation was delivered to council by Jim Wilson, chair of the Iroquois Waterfront Committee, and Mark Brandt and David Lashley of MTBA, project consultants.

“The concept is meant to reflect community interests and focus on enhancement rather than development, while respecting the town’s history,” said Wilson.

“Maintaining views was an important aspect of the plan,” said Lashley.

Calling it Iroquois Commons Waterfront Park, the consultants explained that this enhancement plan is intended to evoke an understanding that this special place is for all residents and visitors connecting the village’s resources – the village and the river – together in a common place that honours the past while providing for present activity.

The design team’s efforts focused on renewing and enhancing the existing waterfront, beach, campground and arrival sequences to create an attractive, refreshed place that complements and reflects Iroquois’ history.

The area of the plan called, ‘The meadows’ is intended to use plantings of seed mixes with wildflowers to delineate the former village streets. “It creates a really pleasant area, and it’s a really important element because it’s such a large area,” said Brandt.

They suggested iconic elements such as a stone wall to connect the Forward House area to the Carman House area to create an historical area.

The Iroquois Beach area, has been identified as a priority area for this design. The consultant proposed changes to the existing beach building to make it look like, “a beach pavilion rather than a beach bunker.”

With a waterside expansion to the existing building, it could be given new life, making way for a café and deck area. “With a modest café, this would be a delightful spot,” said Brandt.

They have proposed doubling the size of the beach and doubling the size of the swimming area.

Boardwalk, and finger docks reaching out into the water and kayak/canoe rentals, are all part of the proposal.

“These are all modest, gentle, evolutionary enhancements that reinforce the value that’s already there,” said Brandt.

“There are substantial costs involved with this plan, and it’s easy to see that as a roadblock,” said Wilson, but he is positive about the plan that the community now has at its disposal.

Like the Morrisburg Waterfront Plan, this plan was designed such that projects can be done, piece by piece, as funds are available. Many portions of the plan could be accomplished through community driven efforts.

“I am impressed,” commented South Dundas mayor Evonne Delegarde. “This plan reflects the wishes and desires of the people, particularly in Iroquois.”

“Our challenge now is to determine what we can put aside annually to see that these two plans are implemeted,” said South Dundas deputy mayor Jim Locke. “I don’t think these two concepts will ever be outdated, which is a good thing. It’s taken us 50 years to get these plans.”

UCV brings Middle Ages to Life

Upper Canada Village turned the clock back nearly eight centuries when it presented the Medieval Festival, June 6-8, 2015. Knights in shining armour and ladies fair, archers and soldiers, serfs and entertainers, even the King and Queen, were all on the Village grounds re-creating a long gone world. Hundreds of visitors took advantage of the opportunity to see how people in Europe once made their way in a sometimes hard world. Jousts between brave knights, sword fights, archery, demonstrations of siege equipment, music, magic and dance were all part of the three day event, and drew plenty of spectators. School children also enjoyed living history lessons, and occasionally, found themselves locked in the stocks for falling foul of the Sheriff of Nottingham. The Medieval Festival has become a popular annual event at the Village.

Great SDHS Cast stages West of the St. Lawrence

The audience who came out to enjoy the Seaway District High School dinner theatre production of West of the St. Lawrence, held at the school on Friday, June 5, was entertained by a cast of highly dedicated and talented young performers. The production, which featured its own band and adapted music, was a bit of a take-off on classic Westerns. A passing stage actor, accompanied by his long suffering wife, finds himself appointed sheriff of a wild and woolly Canadian town where three feuding ranchers do not keep the peace. And to make matters worse, someone has hired a Gunslinger, who may show up at any time. Full of puns, eccentric characters and plenty of theatrical fun, the show was directed by teachers Laura Oliver and Colleen Lesley and senior drama student, DaniShae Barkley, and sponsored by the Seaway Parents Council. The funds raised by the students’ annual theatrical event are going towards new seats for assemblies and for the cafeteria.

June 10, 2015 W. Gibb – Leader staff

SLAS receives Canada Arts Funding

MP Guy Lauzon was on hand at the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage on Saturday, June 6, to present the board of directors with $25,000 in funding over two years from the Canada Arts Presentation Fund.

“The Government of Canada is pleased to support the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage Performances,” Lauzon said, in making the presentation. “Congratulations to the Stage’s organizers and volunteers, who developed this event from a showcase for local artists to an eight-show season that highlights both emerging and professional artists.”

Sandra Whitworth of the SLAS accepted the cheque on behalf of the board. “The funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage plays a critical part in ensuring that we have the capacity to present high-calibre musicians as part of our annual music and workshop series. We are enormously grateful for the support.”

The St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage, run completely by volunteers, provides a showcase for touring professional musicians and for up and coming emerging artists. The Stage gives audiences, who might otherwise have to travel to large urban centres, the chance to enjoy live, original music right here in South Dundas. The Stage has also arranged workshops with several of these visiting professional artists for amateur area musicians.

In recent months, the SLAS has also established a program which brings performers into local schools, introducing a wide range of participatory music to children and their teachers. Educational musical outreach is an area that the Stage is hoping to develop fully in the future.

Saturday, June 6, was a memorable occasion for the SLAS in other ways as well.

Madison Violet, Lisa MacIsaac and Brenley MacEachern, with Jakub Zapotonczny, performed before a sold out house, the third sold out concert in the Stage’s 2014-15 concert series.

This was also the final concert which will be held at the Operating Engineers, the Morrisburg Meeting Centre, the Stage’s venue since it first launched several years ago. In September, as the 2015-16 concert series kicks off, the SLAS will transfer to the Upper Canada Playhouse venue.

The St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage board will formally announce the musical artists’ line up and performance dates later in the summer.

Wedding Mania in Playhouse’s new show Stag and Doe

“This show just seemed to push all the right buttons with me,” said Donnie Bowes, artistic director of Upper Canada Playhouse, “I really liked the idea of a play about interesting people, and about rural people like many of our audiences. I saw Mark Crawford’s Stag and Doe, a play about small town weddings, and the funny challenges they bring, and it appealed to me: I thought it would appeal to Playhouse audiences.”

Stag and Doe, a brand new play, opens at Upper Canada Playhouse on June 11, and runs until July 5. Featuring a cast of six, the comedy is being directed by Bowes on a spectacular set designed by former Playhouse technical director, Sean Free.

The play is built around the wonderful, and hilarious crises that erupt in a small town when a bride and groom from one side of the tracks, due to a wedding tent ‘disaster’ that features pig manure, must suddenly hold their reception at the only town hall on the same day that another engaged couple, (from a different side of the tracks) has scheduled their Stag and Doe party. The comic chaos that ensues will leave audiences in stitches.

“Mark Crawford just seems to have his finger on the pulse of small town life,” laughed Bowes. “You look for humour and conflict in a play, and this show has it all. And it asks some questions about weddings and pre-wedding events that must cross the minds of a lot of couples. Is there such a thing as a ‘perfect wedding,’ really? And is a Stag and Doe held so that friends who aren’t going to attend the actual ceremony can celebrate with the bride and groom, or is it held for the money?”

Entertainingly, two performers are getting to experience a vicarious look at this whole on stage wedding ‘scene’, just as their own special day draws near.

Parris Greaves and Jody Osmond, who play Rob and Mandy in Stag and Doe, will be married this September. For real.

“We actually met here at the Playhouse, doing a show,” Greaves said, “and we’re delighted to be back at UCP with a chance to play a couple on their wedding day. Our characters Mandy and Rob are facing some issues as their wedding gets bigger and bigger, and the whole event seems to be growing more important than what it is supposed to mean.” “That’s not Parris and me, of course,” laughed Osmond.

Cast members create characters who may be very familiar to anyone who has ever been involved in the small town wedding experience. Bonnie (Julia Lederer) and Brad (Zach Counsil), who have the Stag and Doe planned, are also in a kind of “pre-nuptial crisis.”

“Bonnie is very focussed on fixing her financial issues through the Stag and Doe,” said Lederer, “because she has overspent ‘just a little’ on this wedding.”

“Brad, the small town guy, just wanted a nice, simple, reasonable wedding,” said Counsil, “and everything is spiralling out of control. Then they have to deal with this other couple.”

Colleen Sutton is Dee, who is donning bridesmaid’s clothes “for the fifth time, and is getting pretty ‘vexed’ that she has never been the bride. And she may have a bit of history with Mandy’s man.” Jay, the caterer, played by Perry Mucci, isn’t actually marrying anyone, but he’s still got wedding issues of his own. What do you do when your entire staff gets themselves arrested on the day of the wedding, and the wedding cake itself has vanished?

This is a production that is going to demand a lot of the backstage crew as well. With particular sound and props cues scattered throughout the show, costume changes, and food that must be both realistically ‘fake’ some times and realistically edible other times, they are very, very busy in this new show. However, stage manager Liz Campbell, production assistant Tristan Goethel and apprentice stage manager Bradley Dunn will have the action well in hand according to director Bowes. The show is being lit by the theatre’s new technical director, Jenna Robinson.

Stag and Doe, a comic and wonderful look at a slice of small town life, runs at UCP until July 5. For tickets and information contact 613-543-3713 or 1-877-550-3650.

Ronnie Dickson

On Monday, May 25th, 2015, Ronnie Dickson, in his 46th year, died suddenly at his home in Brockville.

Ronnie, a former resident of Iroquois, was an avid fisherman who spent many days aboard his boat in the St. Lawrence.

He also loved spending his summers with his grandparents in Nova Scotia. He worked at Caldwell for several years.

Ronnie is survived by his beloved mother Judy Dickson (nee Mason) of Iroquois, brother Gus (Joan) of Morrisburg, nephew Chauncey (Nicole), niece Hailey and great nephew Aaron. He is predeceased by his father Gerry Dickson.

There was no visitation or funeral service. Donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be gratefully acknowledged by the family.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg. Online condolences may be made at marsdenmclaughlin.com

Iva Rutherford

A lifetime resident of the area, Iva Rutherford (nee Baker) of Mariatown, passed away at Winchester District Memorial Hospital on Thursday, May 21, 2015. She was 83.

Iva was born in Williamsburg Township, on July 5, 1931, to her parents Aiden and Alberta Baker (nee Gallinger). On September 8th, 1956, she married Theodore Rutherford and together they raised two children.

Iva worked for the paper mill in the old town of Morrisburg, and after having her own children she took jobs baby-sitting and cleaning homes. She later worked along with her husband at the egg grading station in Glen Becker until its closure. Her last job was at Odonto in Morrisburg, as a shift supervisor until her retirement.

Iva loved gardening, camping and listening to old time country music on records. She was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother who found joy sharing stories with her grandchildren about the old days and how she grew up without all of the luxuries of today.

Iva was a lifelong member at Saint James Anglican Church in Morrisburg.

The beloved wife of the late Theodore Rutherford, Iva is survived by her children Steven Rutherford of Cornwall and Laurie Chater (Gerry) of Morrisburg and her grandchildren DeeJay Keeler, Kaitlyn Keeler, Amber Rutherford and Michelle Chater. She was dear sister-in-law of Zeta Baker of Mariatown. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Iva was predeceased by her husband Theodore, her sisters Eva Ladue and Vera Rutherford and her brothers Allen, Roy and John Baker.

A Memorial Service was held at St. James Anglican Church, Morrisburg, on Tuesday, May 26th at 11 a.m. with Rev. Craig Bowers officiating. Interment followed at St. James Cemetery, Morrisburg.

Pallbearers were her grandchildren DeeJay, Kaitlyn, Amber and Michelle.

Donations to St. James Anglican Church would be gratefully acknowledged by the family.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg. Online condolences and memories may be forwarded through marsdenmclaughlin.com.

Perspectives by Rev. Janet Evans

Bless the Children

Not long ago, my daughter asked me if my husband and I could look after our grand-daughter for a day and a night. Astrid actually stayed for 48 hours, and we were happy because we love spending time with her.

I have to say…caring for a four month old baby is a lot of work. Feeding her, changing her, dressing her, bathing her, walking with her in the stroller, reading Sophie the Giraffe books to her, playing on the floor with her…it all takes a lot of time and a lot of energy.

Looking at Astrid when she smiles, observing her as she puts her stuffed elephant in her mouth, hearing her giggle, makes all our efforts worthwhile. We are blessed to have our little grand-daughter in our lives. She truly is a gift from God.

We can give thanks for God’s gift of children among us. They bring us joy, laughter, enthusiasm and hope for today and for the future. There is a wonderful saying which I like a great deal. “We do not inherit the world from our parents, we borrow it from our children.” Young ones are precious in God’s sight – and they will sometimes guide and inspire us as we live out our calling to love God and love our neighbours.

School will soon be out for the summer and we will encounter children at the playground, the soccer field, the beach, the splash pad, the ice cream stand. Let’s praise God for the boys and girls in our midst. Let us care about their safety and pray they will come to know that they are ever secure in the compassionate embrace of Jesus the Christ. May our children and all God’s children have the assurance that the Lord loves them and always will.

“When a child gives you a gift, even if it is a rock, just picked up, exude gratitude. It might be the only thing the child has to give, and he has chosen to give it to you.”

Thank you, God, for our children, grand-children, nieces, nephews, relatives and young friends. They enrich our lives and surround us with their love.

Amen.

Swerdfeger, Sideratos to compete at OFSAA

BROCKVILLE– “I think nerves got the best of some of our young team members, but they will learn from this experience and it will only make them stronger and hungrier for next year,” said Seaway High Track and Field coach Mark Lewis, following the East Regional Track and Field Championship hosted by Thousand Islands Secondary in Brockville last, Thursday and Friday, May 28-29.

Lewis, who co-coaches the Seaway team with Lindsay Waddell, credited the young Seaway athletes and is delighted that two will be getting a taste at the tough All-Ontario meet later this week.

“Remembering that they are very young, all midgets and juniors, this is a great building block for the program and hopefully will prepare them for bigger things to come. Lindsay and I are really pleased with the results this year, and look forward to one more big week at OFSAA to see how David and Sid do.”

Qualifying for the All-Ontario championships were two Seaway athletes, David Swerdfeger in two events, midget triple jump and 300 hurdles and Sid Sideratos in midget shot put.

“David did qualify for triple jump and 300 hurdles,” said Lewis. “I think he was disappointed by the results, but he is young and it was the first time he had come up against that level of competition. It is eye opening when you have always been the best, and then there are people as good or better. It was good to happen at this meet as it will prepare him better for this week.”

To qualify in the triple jump, Swerdfeger registered an 11.73m jump for a fourth place finish. This was well down from his winning 12.05m jumped at EOSSA. It was also well back of the winning 12.39 winning jump on Friday.

His second qualification was in the 300m hurdles in which he slightly lowered his winning EOSSA time of 43.78 seconds, with a fourth place 43.44 time.

Sid Sideratos qualified in the midget boys shot put with a second place throw of 12.09m. He threw 12.61m for his second place EOSSA finish. The East Region win was collected on a 12.91m throw.

“Sid did very well, albeit certainly not his best throw,” said Lewis. “One has to bear in mind that East Region is a qualifying meet, and they both qualified which is what we were trying to do here.”

One of the biggest disappointments for the Seaway team and for the individual athlete going into the East Regional competition was the absence of Maggie Wells who had qualified in junior girls discus and shot put. Due to an injury, Wells was forced to scratch.

“Maggie was really disappointing as looking at the results, she would have easily qualified in both events. But accidents and injuries happen and there is nothing we can do about them,” said Lewis.

Jumper Kaitlyn Stewart had solid results at the Regional, but came up just short of qualifying in either of her events. Although disappointed with her 10.91m triple jump which landed her in sixth place, she was happy with her sixth place finish in long jump. Stewart registered four personal best jumps in long jump, and finished sixth with a 4.84m PB. This was a big increase from her 4.55m fifth place jump at EOSSA.

Also having a good day was Jaycie Maville, who produced a 9.79m throw for a sixth place finish in midget shot put. This was up from her 9.69m sixth place throw at EOSSA.

“Jaycie threw really well and finished great,” said Lewis. “We are very pleased with her efforts this season.”

On the track, distance runner Grant Wells, failed to qualify but ran personal bests in each of his events, the 1500m and the 3000m. Wells placed eighth in both, running the 1500m in 4:33.79 (4:36.68 at EOSSA) and the 3000m in 9:57.23 (EOSSA fourth at 10:00.39).

“Grant trained very hard and was rewarded for his hard work. He placed better than he expected, and I couldn’t be more pleased with him.”

The remaining two Seaway athletes at the Regional, Juleana Barnhartd and Cassie Hummel, had disappointing finishes to their season when they scratched in their respective events, Barnhartd in midget triple jump, and Hummel in junior javelin. Never-the-less both had a good seasons as they worked their way to the tough Regional meet.

Milling operation grows Homestead Organics food processing business

“The organic food sector is booming,” says Tom Manley of Homestead Organics after celebrating the official opening of a flour mill at Homestead’s Morrisburg location, May 27th.

As a result of this boom, the Manleys of Homestead have been able to make a recent purchase to grow and diversify the Homestead Organics business.

They purchased the milling equipment of Mountain Path from its owner Robert Hogg of Mountain as he approaches retirement.

Manley explained that Homestead purchased the (processing) milling portion of the business, and that Hogg’s equipment is now operational in Morrisburg. That equipment includes the original 30 inch stone mill which began grinding organic flour in 1983.

“With this, we have been able to maintain an important element in the local organic food chain,” said Manley.

The mill has a capacity of a quarter tonne per hour, and Homestead is milling bread and pastry flours, rye, oats, barley, kamut, spelt, rice, chick peas, corn, buckwheat and quinoa.

Homestead is a food processor, not distributor.

The distribution aspect of the Mountain Path organics business was bought by Signature Foods’ Paul Gorman.

Homestead as miller, under a private label, will sell the product exclusively to Signature.

With this latest expansion, Homestead now has four employees based at its Morrisburg site, with the remainder of the operation located in Berwick.

The Morrisburg property will see continuing growth as various processes are shifted to the site.

Homestead plans to open a factory outlet at the Morrisburg site this fall.