July 2015 – Page 6 – Morrisburg Leader

St.Lawrence Acoustic Stage has great 2014-15 season

July 8, 2015 W. Gibb – Leader staff

Sandra Whitworth, president and artistic director of the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage, which wrapped up its 2014-15 musical season in early June, was all smiles during an interview in late June.

“We had three sold out shows this season,” Whitworth said, “The Great Lakes Swimmers, Harry Manx and Madison Violet. We saw a 15 percent increase in audience attendance as compared to last year. And we have kept our funding and even received a new grant this year.”

In June, MP Guy Lauzon presented the SLAS board of directors with $25,000 in funding over two years from the Canada Arts Presentation Fund. The municipality of South Dundas continues to support the SLAS.

“We also received a new grant this year, which is from the SOCAN Foundation. SOCAN stands for the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada. It was our first time applying and it was nice to have some success.”

“In our fiscal year, we saw moderate growth, and in terms of the actual season, a dramatic upswing in concert attendance numbers. Our numbers are good and we are not compromising our artistic vision,” Whitworth said.

There were some unexpected challenges for the Stage to deal with this year.

In early spring, the board was told by the Operating Engineers that the Morrisburg Meeting Centre, which has been home to SLAS concerts since the volunteer organization first began more than seven years ago, would no longer be available.

“It was something of a crisis losing our venue,” Whitworth said.

But the Stage found a new and welcoming home at Upper Canada Playhouse. The SLAS people sat down with artistic director Donnie Bowes and the Playhouse board of directors, and worked out a schedule which will permit the Stage to continue to present top quality musicians to the community and to visitors to South Dundas. Concerts will now take place in the outstanding facilities the Playhouse offers.

“We are, I think, with our increasing audience numbers, striking a nice balance between grants and our revenue. And we still continue to keep our concert prices very affordable and competitive,” said Whitworth.

“We are looking at the new line up for our eight concert series, and the artists’ names will be announced later this summer. The first concert at the Playhouse will be October 10. We are also hoping to start more of our school workshops programs in the community. We continue to explore a lot of possibilities.”

The St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage board is made up of volunteers who devote many hours to bringing top flight artists to South Dundas. On June 25, at the AGM, it was confirmed that the current board will continue for next year. Sandra Whitworth remains president and artistic director, Tony McCadden is vice president and secretary, Derek Hunter is treasurer and Eric Pietersma is the member at large.

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Sun Life Cyclists raise $25,000 for Canadian Diabetes Association n

July 2, 2015 Editor

The eight cyclists involved in the Sun Life Epic Ride for Diabetes, dropped by Peter McCooeye’s Sun Life office in Morrisburg, on Friday morning, to share their excitement of this year raising $25,000 for the Canadian Diabetes Association.

They were greeted at the Morrisburg office by Peter McCooeye and Angie Anderson who were joined by Jimmy Sirmas (Sun Life Associate Area Manager) and local Sun Life Advisors Patrick MacDonald and Scott Benton.

South Dundas deputy-mayor Jim Locke and McCooeye’s family were also out to offer their congratulations and encouragement to the riders, all of whom are Sun Life employees who live throughout Ontario.

Now in its fourth year, this year’s ride enjoyed terrific weather and great hospitality from the communities the riders passed through.

“We have had great support from Sun Life Global Investments,” said rider Matt Pomeroy. “Everybody here has a family member affected by diabetes. One in three Canadians are either experiencing diabetes or are pre-diabetic, so you don’t have to go too far to find someone affected”

“It is really nice of Peter [McCooey] to open the office here in Morrisburg to us. We have been greeted by Sun Life Advisors all along the way.”

“We also owe a big thank you to all the motorists along the way. We have felt welcome on every road we have travelled on.”

The eight riders were assisted during the week-long ride by a four person support crew travelling in three vehicles.

Friday’s ride began in Brockville and was to end in Ottawa by about 4 p.m.

Each day the Sun Life team road for about 6-7 hours, stopping well before twilight. They rode as a group and mostly followed the Waterfront Trail.

“Today has been fun,” said Shady Youssef. “But yesterday from Belleville to Brockville was tough. There was a lot of climbing.”

The riders started the 1,000 km ride in Windsor, on Monday, and were in London, Ontario on Monday night. The next three legs of the trip put them in Napanee, Kingston and Brockville on Thursday night.

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Morrisburg Golf

July 1, 2015 Editor

The Wednesday night, ladies action on June 24 was sponsored by Morrisburg Home Hardware, and the game was an alternate shot with select drive. Fifty-two golfers got a bit wet in a five-minute rain, but they shook it off and proceeded to complete their games.

The winning twosome was the pairing of Barb Sheridan and Charlene Baker with a 47, while the winning threesome included Lori Anne Davies, Shannon Casselman and Judy Laurin with a 47.

The high score winners were Alice McNairn, Lydia Eamon, Linda Henderson and Helen Youmelle with a 63.

This week, the ladies are taking a break from their weekly play because of the Canada Day holiday. They will be back on July 8 when the evening will be sponsored by Brister Group Insurance.

In men’s night action on Thursday, June 25, Kirk Barkley led the field with a 35 for the low gross win in A flight. Doug McNairn shot a 40 for the B flight win, and Mitch Cassell won C flight with a 44. Net winners were Bob Mann in A flight, Bo Gale in B and Danny Youmelle in C.

Rob Darling won for closest to the hole on the par three second hole, and Danny Youmelle dropped the closest shot on the par three 8th.

Coming up this weekend is the annual Giant Tiger Mixed two-ball competition on Saturday, July 4.

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Among the Cedars

July 1, 2015 Editor

It was a big night on the course for Bruce Kerr. Men’s night last Thursday, June 25, was highlighted by Kerr’s eagle two on the 340 yard par four second hole, a score that had little trouble holding up in the skins game.

Once again it was Kurtis Barkley leading the men’s night field, this week with a two under par, 32. Second spot in A flight field went to Brandon Cousineau with a 37, while James Morrell and Kevin Whitteker got the nods for the low net wins.

Bill Collins shot a 39 for the B flight win, while Bruce Kerr was right on his heels with a 40 in second place. Net winners in B flight were Francis Barkley and Garry Whitteker.

In C flight, it Peter Elliot stepping into the winners circle with a 44, while Steve Summers was next with a 46. The D flight win went to Winston Muir with a 49. The C flight net winner was John Wrinn.

Bill Dejong struck the long drive of the evening, and Francis Barkley and Brandon Cousineau produced the closest to the hole shots on the par three, sixth and ninth holes respectively.

In ladies night action on Wednesday, June 24, Muriel Whitteker led the field with a 43. Mary Whittaker won B flight with a 49, Great McGann C flight with a 54 and Sue Alexander D flight with a 70.

Net winners were Sheila Bush in A flight, Joan Findlay in B and Cyndie Summers in C. Closest to the hole winners were Pat Reaney on six and Sheila Bush on the ninth hole.

James Morrell and Bill Dejong kicked off the week’s action at the Tuesday night Scramble with the low net win. Two teams, Christena Yelle and Kurtis Barkley and Brandon Cousineau and Bryden Van Kessell, finished tied for the low gross win with 33s.

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Seaway Intermediate School Graduation

July 1, 2015 Editor

Sixty three Seaway Intermediate School grade eight students received congratulations and diplomas at the graduation ceremony held in the school gymnasium, June 23, 2015.

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Splash pad almost ready

July 1, 2015 Editor

Weather and delayed components are hampering efforts to get the new splash pad in Morrisburg’s Earl Baker Park up and running in time for Canada Day.

As of Monday morning (June 29), the plan was to pour concrete Monday and put in topsoil and sod Tuesday.

If these two things, weather permitting, could happen, the splash pad could have been partially open for Canada Day on Wednesday.

However, rain leading up to July 1 pushed the concrete pour date back to Thursday, and then an extremely wet Canada Day has meant the date has been put off for a second time.

The committee leading the project has long had Canada Day as a target date to have the water flowing at this highly anticipated attraction for South Dundas’ youngest residents.

Even if the weather had co-operated, in the best-cased scenario, the splash pad can only be partially opened because there has been a delay in obtaining some of the components that are required to provide electricity to the control panel, according to Michael Domanko of the community playground committee that has led the splash pad project.

Construction of the $200,000 splash pad, paid for through community fundraising efforts, started early last week.

Generally, installation takes about one week.

Although this project, which will bring South Dundas its first splash pad, was close to being on schedule, wet weather has impeded progress.

Once completed, the splash pad will have two play areas, one designed with younger children in mind. The play area for the younger children has three components, with one of those featuring four separate ground level jets.

The play area for older children features eight water elements.

“We can certainly see how excited the kids are as the construction progresses, but I think the committee members are equally excited,” said Domanko.

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Building demolished

July 1, 2015 Editor

By early Monday morning the former Dundela schoolhouse building, that has long served as a recreation building for the Dundela outdoor rink, was a pile of rubble.

The decision to demolish this building was first discussed by South Dundas council in February 2014, and officially finalized last July, as reported in the July 23 issue of The Leader. The mural on the building was relocated months ago and is now freestanding in Dundela’s McIntosh park.

The municipality plans to replace the building with a new structure to accommodate skaters at the popular outdoor rink.

When the excavator arrived on scene to demolish the building, a group of area residents expressed their opposition to the demolition, however upon closer inspection agreed that saving the building was not feasible.

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