Articles by Editor

This is Legion Week, and it will be a quiet one at Branch #48. It has been a busy year with the celebration of our 85th anniversary and will continue into November with the honours and awards dinner and Remembrance Day.

The last two weeks have seen bingo players number in the 70s. There is good fun and good prizes.

The meat draw on September 18 was for ground beef and was won by Edith Sypes. It is still barbecue weather.
Monday, September 19, the men’s dart league will begin, and on Tuesday the 20th mixed darts will begin.

Our Ladies Auxiliary will cater the Canadian Club on Wednesday, September 21, as the Club’s fall and winter series begins. They will also cater a country supper for the Playhouse on September 23. They still find time to play euchre. Three teams will play district euchre at Branch #297 in Cornwall in October.

Business from the general meeting on September 14 saw a donation of $1,000 going to the Terry Fox Run and $1,500 going to restoration of the mural of the old train station depicted on the wall of Giant Tiger. This restoration is expected to last for 10 years and will hopefully display the Branch #48 logo. It was reported that four bursary applications have been received to date and are being considered.

Friday, September 30, is steak night, so mark your calendar for another great meal and for good music as Fergus Entertainment will play in the pub.

Senior games in Smith’s Falls in August saw several local names appear including Jim and Judy Scott in darts, Monique Patenaude, Nancy Warner, Elise Muir, Joan Findlay in golf and Dale Swerdfeger in golf. We may be seniors, but many are still active.
Last week, in mentioning September, it is Childhood Cancer Awareness month.

Until one has loved an animal, part of the soul remains unawakened.

[…]

Five South Dundas home owners will open their doors to the public this Sunday, September 25 for the Homes on the St. Lawrence House tour in support of the community’s off leash dog park.

Organized by the Park Pals committee, the House tour features five homes, four of which are directly on the St. Lawrence and the fifth with a great view of the Morrisburg dock and waterfront area.

In addition each of the homes will have their front entries or outdoor living spaces decorated by local artists and/or businesses.

Starting at the east end of the tour, the first house featured is the historic home owned by Ian and Cathy MacKay.

The home built in 1894 is located overlooking the Morrisburg dock on the curve where Ottawa Street turns into Lakeshore Drive.

Cathy MacKay says she and her husband are delighted to open their home, the former “Falcon” tourist home to the public.

“We feel the house is part of Morrisburg’s history and welcome people to come and visit it,” says Cathy.

She feels that visitors, like she and her husband, will be delighted with the impressive Victorian hardware, the intricate wooden staircase, imposing sliding doors between the principal main floor rooms and the excellent quality of the original butternut wood working.

The home was built in the late 1800’s by Mr. Gibson for his son. In the 1930’s it was run as The Falcon Tourist Home and accommodated people who came to see Dr. Locke. It was later owned by the Kincaids who operated a monument business on the property.

The MacKays have owned the home for 1.5 years.

With the longtime green shutters now being painted black, Cathy is looking forward to her front entry being decorated by Belle Flower Gifts located on Highway 31, north of Winchester.

Heading west, the next stop is at 12014 Lakeshore Drive at the  attractive, two-year-old, Guildcrest-built home of Marjorie Smith.

The home is totally custom built and features an open concept with nine foot ceilings, a 16 foot cathedral ceiling, three bedrooms and, of course, a fantastic view of the St. Lawrence.

Marjorie, a salesperson with Guildcrest Homes is originally from Winchester. She owned two previous Guildcrest Homes before designing this one for her waterfront property.

Marjorie’s back patio living space will be decorated by Cardinal Flowers and Gift Gallery which has locations in Morrisburg  and Cardinal.
Owned and operated by Michael O’Brien and Frank Fralic, the Cardinal Flower and Gift Galleries are full service retail gift shops specializing in fresh floral tributes for all occasions.

Michael O’Brien who toured the Smith home Sunday, said he several good ideas for the space.

Next up on the tour, is the Gord and Robin Lane home located right next door to the Smiths at 12012 Lakeshore.

The custom built three storey Lane home is seven years old. It is environmentally friendly and was designed by Gordon and Robin.

“As a result it has many personal touches,” says Gord. “It’s a cement house and has real stone on the exterior. Robin and I both went to the University of Saskatchewan and our home has the same stone as the university which came from the foothills of Alberta. It’s our piece of memorabilia.”

Other highlights of the home include the oak floors which came from the Lane’s bush lot in Quebec, the interior and front doors all glass done by a Quebec artisan and a copper ceiling.

Robin has also arranged to feature the art sculpturing of Paverpol Sculptures for the day. “They are going to put a mermaid in the pool, which will be interesting.”

The Lane’s entry will be decorated by local decorator Karen Marshall whose Something Unique: Interior Decorating and Home Staging has been working with homeowners locally for 15 years.

Marshall says she is looking forward to decorating the Lane’s entry and while she won’t give away any secrets, she will be including copper in her design.

“I’m still playing around with some ideas, so I don’t want to show my hand yet,” says Marshall. “It’s definitely going to be a fall theme and something that Gordon and Robin will enjoy.”

Next stop on the tour is the home of Mae Pederson at 5648 Birch Lane. (left turn off Lakeshore Drive, just east of Flagg Creek).

The Pederson home is one of the few farm houses along the St. Lawrence that was not lost to the Seaway.

It consists of the orginal farmhouse built in the late 1700s and an addition added in the 1800s.

Pederson purchased the home eight years ago, “when it was 35 below zero and there was four feet of snow.”

In those eight years she has “tore down all the walls inside to open it up” and the result is her open concept dream home.

Her kitchen occupies the original farmhouse and is wide open to the roofline with original restored wood plank floor.

Handling her entry design for the house tour is Elaine of Canadian Tire in Morrisburg.

Located at the west end of the tour is the home of Claude Lavoie  located at 11158 Gresdale Boulevard.

To reach the two storey, Lavoie home, visitors must travel to County Highway 2 towards Iroquois and turn left onto Saver Road. Travel south on Saver Road and turn left onto Grisdale Boulevard.

The beautiful homes is distinguished by white fencing and offers up some great views of the St. Lawrence.

The home’s entry will be decorat by Eileen Johnston in conjunction with Riley’s Valu-mart in Morrisburg.

The tour will run from 1-4 p.m. and the cost is $20 per person.Tickets can be purchased at Mustard’s Variety in Iroquois or Cardinal Flowers in Morrisburg.

Refreshment will be served at the Lane home.

The event is a fund raiser for the South Dundas Dog Park located in Morrisburg.

[…]

This year’s Apples & Art Studio Tour  run by the Cornwall Regional Art Gallery has five South Dundas artists on the route, plus the Smyth’s Apple Orchard where participants are invited to stop for an Apple treat.

This year’s tour is celebrating 20 years and boasts a total of 16 artists.

In the South Dundas area, tour participants can stop in to the As One Studio at 24 St. James Lane in Morrisburg. There artist Misun Kim-Hunter will have her “mostly acrylic works” on display.

Next stop in South Dundas is Impressionist Artist, Elsie Gallinger at 11869 Lakeshore Drive. Elsie’s preferred medium is oils and she prefers painting landscapes.

Diane Sullivan wat Arabesque Pottery will be on hand at her 4324 Country Road 31 location in Williamsburg. Diane is “inspired by ceramic history for my forms, largely Oriental, Persian and European.”

At 3797 Caughnawaga Road, Williamsburg visitors are invited to stop by the studio of artist Anne Barkley who specializes in abstract compostions.

At Hilltop Wood Design, Peter Morrison will welcome visitors to his studio located at 12660 Garlough Road in Williamsburg.

The tour includes four Long Sault stops and 10 stops in Cornwall.

For more information check out Cornwall Regional Art Gallery.ca.

The tour runs this Saturday and Sunday, September 24-25.

[…]

South Dundas emergency management officials along with those from  North Dundas, South Stormont, North Stormont and the United Counties will be carrying out annual emergency response training together with exercises today (Wednesday, September 21st).

While residents across the country are encouraged to be prepared for an eventual emergency, Ontario municipalities are required to conduct emergency preparedness training and exercises on an annual basis.

South Dundas along with the other three townships and the United Counties follow a five-year program of training and exercises.

The training focuses on functional responsibilities within emergency management organizations, and the exercises reinforce those responsibilities under scenarios based on the priority hazards of the area.

The Province of Ontario is encouraging all emergency response organizations to adopt a common emergency management philosophy called the Incident Management System (IMS) which would provide a standardized organizational structure, functions, processes, and terminology.

These four townships and the United Counties have been leaders in implementing IMS. This year’s training and exercise will continue to build their effectiveness in operating during a potential emergency under IMS.

The United Counties and its six townships have established a Mutual Assistance Agreement to support each other during an emergency.

Working together with training and exercises as is the case on September 21st, the five emergency management organizations will be able to foster the sense of cooperation that will be needed in an emergency incident.

The exercise is funded under the Federal Government’s Joint Emergency Preparedness Program. In Ontario, this program is administered by Emergency Measures Ontario.

This annual training and exercise is just one aspect of the work carried out each year by the five Emergency Management Program Committees.

Following a five-year training and exercise program, the committees ensure that their emergency management program highlights potentially high emergency risks on a continuing basis.

Township committees have been in existence since 1998, when the townships were created through amalgamation. The United Counties followed them a few years later.

The Township of South Dundas is committed to being a disaster-resilient community.

[…]

Backed by overwhelming community response, a committee of volunteers, loosely associated with the Dundas County Hospice, is bringing world renowned speaker on topics relating to the care of the dying, Maggie Callanan to Winchester for a one-day workshop on Saturday, September 24.

“No one likes to talk about death and dying,” says Jan Clapp of Winchester who is co-chairing the Hospice Day Committee with Linda Johnston, an Oncology Nurse at Winchester Hospital. “This workshop is to increase comfort and awareness and is geared to people (in addition to professional caregivers) who perhaps have a loved one who is dying.”

Maggie Callanan, who is located on the American east coast, became a hospice nurse in 1981. She has since studied, taught and written about death and dying. She delivers practical no-nonsense answers to difficult questions tempered by humour, wisdom and compassion.

She has authored two books: Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness Needs and Communication of the Dying and Final Journeys: A Practical Guide to Care and Comfort at the End of Life.

The campaign to bring Callanan to Winchester began after Clapp’s Book Club read Final Gifts.

“I’ve been in Palliative Care for a longtime,” says Clapp who is the facilitator for the Dundas County Hospice Course. “It’s absolutely the best book I’ve ever read.”

After reading the book Clapp noticed a contact on the back cover. She e-mailed the website not expecting anything to come of it, but less than two hours later she was contacted by Callanan by telephone.

“We are of the same vintage, and we connected well.”

When Callanan said she would be interested in coming to this area to speak, Clapp says she was excited about the possibility, but a little hesitant due to the cost of bringing her here.

The cost was too much for the Dundas Hospice to commit to and as a result a committee was formed with Clapp and Johnston as the co-chairs. Nellie Leightizer and Betty Guy came on board as representatives of Hospice, and Winchester United Church Minister Christine Lowson, Joanne Notman, Michel Renaud (an oncolocy nurse) and Bea Warren all stepped up.

“Diane Crummy and Doris Baker are our food folks,” says Clapp. “They contacted 16 area churches for help, and all but one, which had another commitment, are helping us with our lunches. That’s a wonderful statement of our community.”

“The whole thing is just meant to be. The spirit in this community is just so special. We have good people here.”

In addition to the committee volunteers, both North and South Dundas councils have committed $400 to the workshop, Annette Angus has donated accommodations at her bed and breakfast Terrace Green at Winchester and Gib Patterson at Cloverdale Links has donated air miles.

Clapp stresses the event is not a fund raiser. “Our first goal is education and awareness. It’s not set up as a fund raiser, but if there is extra money we will donate it to Dundas County Hospice.”

The workshop based on the novel, Final Gifts, will provide a wonderful opportunity to all those who provide palliative care in a professional capacity and especially to the public in general.

To be able to make a donation the committee is hoping to sell out at 200 participants at $25 per person.

The workshop will be based on Callanan’s novel Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness Needs and Communication of the Dying. It will take place at the Winchester Community Centre on Saturday, September 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Registration can be made at hospiceday@gmail.com and should be made as promptly as possible as spaces are limited.

[…]

Last Wednesday morning, some 20 plus youngsters with their moms, dads and grandpas and grandmas in tote visited Smyth’s Apple Orchards here, to pick a basket or two and, yes, to even munch on an apple or two.

Fiona Carr, the Family Resouroce Coordinator at the Ontario Early Years Centre in Iroquois, was excited about the great turnout for the annual trek to Smyth’s Orchards which included a tour of the packing facility and the opportunity for the kids to fill their own baskets.

The apple season is in full swing in South Dundas, and Sandra Beckstead says apple lovers can expect good quality and good quantity apples this year.

“The apples are on the smaller side,” she explains. “We didn’t get enough rain this summer  which results in smaller apples.”
Beckstead says that because of the lack of rain the trees are stressed and the apples are dropping. “So it is rush, rush, rush for us to get them picked. Mother Nature has a lot of control over us.”

The Macs, Honey Crisp, Lobo, Wealthy, Cortland, Royal Gala and Spartans are now available

[…]

What better way to honour the 200th anniversary of the McIntosh apple than to hold a major festival?

The Iroquois & District Celebration Festival Committee, chaired by Candace Menges, has organized a fun-filled, exciting all day Apple Festival in Iroquois in honour of the famous McIntosh apple on Saturday, September 17. Working in conjunction with Sandra Beckstead of Smyth’s  Apple Orchard, organizers have seen to it that there are events, crafts, contests, entertainment, vendors, food, tours and historical displays that will tie into the heritage of the McIntosh apple.

“The Dundela McIntosh apple is the parent to all McIntosh apple varieties throughout the entire world, and also to many other apple varieties like the Cortland, which has the McIntosh as one of its parents,” said Sandra Beckstead of Smyth’s Apple Orchard. “We are very excited that there is going to be a big celebration of the McIntosh this weekend.”

This 200th anniversary of the McIntosh has been recognized nationally.

“The Apple Commission held a celebration in honour of the McIntosh at the Harbour Castle in Toronto,” Beckstead said. “We have also received congratulations from Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty and prime minister Stephen Harper.”

Sadly, the last known first-generation tree grown from a graft of the original McIntosh apple tree died this summer and had to be cut down.

However, twigs were cut from the tree and have been grafted to root stock at Upper Canada Village. Three seedlings have survived. Sandra Beckstead remains very hopeful the original strain can be preserved.

The Iroquois Apple Festival  September 17 promises to be a great day for everyone.

“We are trying to revive summer festivals here in Iroquois,” said Candace Menges. “We wanted to bring our community back together for a new celebration.

Our committee of volunteers came up with the idea of celebrating the 200th anniversary of the McIntosh.”

Events run all day long with the farmers’ market opening at 8 a.m. on Saturday. There will be numerous vendors and sidewalk sales as well as plenty of food, entertainment and activities.

Most major events will be free.

“We have a visitors’ centre set up in the former Little Rikki’s restaurant in the plaza,” Menges said. “Smyth’s has set up an historic display there about the McIntosh with trivia sheets. People can also catch a shuttle there to the orchard for a tour. We will be registering pies and desserts, the baby contest and offering kids games and crafts at the centre.”

Petting zoos, pony rides, Tribeck Inflatables, face painting and plenty of contests will be the order of the day.

“We have the Howard sisters singing during our opening ceremonies, and the local band Landmark performing starting at 11 a.m.

We do ask people to come with their own lawn chairs.”

Iroquois Lawn Bowling is sponsoring the lunch barbecue. Apple bingo will be held at the Iroquois Legion, followed by a steak barbecue (tickets available at the Legion) with DJ Dave Farcey providing evening entertainment.

“We hope everyone will join us at the Apple Festival in Iroquois and revive community spirit,” Menges said. “We are excited to be part of the celebration of the famous McIntosh apple.”

[…]

Jane and Robert Sachs opened their backyard to the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce, local politicians and the press on September 8th.

The Sachs hired Joey van Koppen, owner of We Can Contracting, to install a new solar unit in their backyard.

Sanyo, one option for solar panels, explains: “In Photovoltaics, the sun’s radiation energy is transformed into electric energy. This is accomplished by means of solar cells.”

“Photovoltaic systems have a power inverter or AC inverter. The inverter converts the direct current generated by the cells into alternating current, which can then be used for household purposes or to be fed into the public electricity grid.”

Robert Sachs, who has a wind turbine in the backyard as well as a solar hot water heater, explained: “we always wanted solar.”

He went on to say that the couple had been contemplating solar for quite some time, but hadn’t been enthusiastic about the roof unit options.

“What really sold me (on this Sovello unit) was that this is 60 per cent Canadian,” said Jane Sachs.

She went on to explain that solar power had been a dream of her father’s for quite some time. The Sachs’s solar unit is dedicated to Jane’s parents, Karl and Anna Gross.

The Ontario Power Authority’s (OPA) microFit Program is receiving a lot of credit for the increase in Solar PV systems.

From the OPA’s microFit Program Overview: “If you are a homeowner, farmer or small business owner, or if you manage an institution such as a school or place of worship, you have the opportunity to develop a very small or “micro” renewable electricity generation project – of 10 kilowatts or less in size – on your property.”

“You’ll be paid for all the electricity you produce through the microFit Program.”

Also, in the OPA’s overview document: “The microFit Program is a stream of OPA’s Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) Program for renewable energy in Ontario. It is intended to encourage the development of “microscale” renewable energy projects across the province.”

“Owners of these projects will be paid a fixed price for the electricity they produce.”

Sachs has a 20 year contract with OPA for the fixed amount of 64 cents per unit. The system is set up as a business, Jane’s Solar Farm, which comes with tax benefits.

Those who contracted for a system prior to July of last year receive 80 cents per unit regardless of whether they have a ground or a roof system. Today, roof units receive 80 cents per unit while ground units will receive 64 cents per unit.

The unit became operational July 27th and the Sachs received their first receipt from hydro last week for approximately $1,000.

In response to whether there is a wait before receiving the first receipt from hydro, Jane Sachs said, “It’s a matter of doing the paperwork properly.” She also credited van Koppen for his help with paperwork as well as with being an intermediary for the Sachs with hydro and the government.

According to Sachs, the payment system works one month behind – a receipt stating how much was earned will come at the end of a month and the direct deposit will come the following month.

The 10 kilowatt unit installed in the Sachs backyard, according to van Koppen,  gives “the best return on investment for the size and cost of the unit.”

A unit similar to the one the Sachs had installed will cost approximately $75,000. According to Robert Sachs, the return on investment with a solar panel far outweighs any other investment options available.

The Sachs should see a return on their investment within approximately eight years.

For those considering installing solar panels on their house or property, it was pointed out that the contract between homeowner and hydro can be transferred to new owners and that the cost of the solar panel will be factored into the price of the house.

In terms of taxation, South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds confirmed that the property’s present designation will stay the same. For example, if it’s residential, it will stay residential.

Also of note, the cost of insurance for the unit “isn’t much” says Jane.

As for how the unit works, van Koppen informed visitors that “it tracks the sun.” The system has “sensors that tell it exactly where to be” and there are “two DC motors (that) power it.” The amount of power used is reported to be minute.

There are two hydro lines connected to the unit: one draws power and the other delivers power.
The Solar PV system at the Sachs house is made with German parts from Sovello, which were assembled in Toronto, Ontario.

Van Koppen uses Sovello because of its reputation for making quality products. He is working on his fifth installation and has four more customers in line. His focus for these systems is to “do more quality than quantity.”

Guests to the presentation included Jim Brownell as well as members of the South Dundas council.

Brownell who is no longer the “official” MPP for the area now that the writ has dropped and the election campaigns have begun, stated that he is “still very interested and very involved” in the happenings of the area. He insists that he won’t actually be retired until the appointment of a new MPP on October 6th.

In his speech he thanked the Sachs for the invitation, claiming that this was his “first time to get up close and personal to a solar panel.” He went on to comment about solar energy and expanding opportunities.

South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds expressed his gratitude at being invited to the event saying, “I’m here to learn along with everyone else.”

In addition to van Koppen, Atel Air of Williamsburg also installs Solar PV systems.

According to Jimmy Thom, Atel Air uses Sanyo panels. The company has installed approximately four units so far, one ground and three roof units.

The price of installations at Atel Air are comparable to that of We Can Contracting.

Thom admits that there is a “lot of bureaucracy to get a solar system up and running,” but Atel Air workers are there to do the “leg work” for customers.

In terms of popularity, Thom reveals that there seems to be a lot of hesitation on the part of consumers because of the government control involved.

However, for those willing to make the investment and accept whatever risk may be involved, there is the opportunity for great return on investment.

Both companies provide on-site consultations and recommendations. Atel Air offers financing options.

In terms of product? Sanyo offers 10 year warranty on materials and labour and a 20 year warranty on “constant productivity for the system.” Sovello offers a 5 year warranty on materials and labour and a 10 year warranty on the system’s productivity output.

As for Solar PV systems in South Dundas and Glengarry, Mayor Byvelds remarked that “it’s good to see new technology in the area.”

[…]

A terrifying slide off the runway at Ottawa International Airport during torrential rainfall was not the ending that the reverend Janet Evans, her husband Michael McQuaid and their daughter, Hilary, expected to their family vacation in Disney World.

The family was on board United Airlines Flight 3363, carrying 44 passengers and three crew.

“We’d had a great time on holiday, and for two hours the flight from Chicago to Ottawa was totally uneventful,” Evans told the Leader. “But as we came in to Ottawa around 3:40 p.m. (on September 4), we could see out the window that it was getting much, much darker. It was also raining heavily at the airport.

I now think there must have been a torrential burst just as the pilot touched down.”

The United Airlines Flight skidded off the Ottawa runway, overshooting the tarmac and spinning 180 degrees. It hit the grass, and then banged up on its side. The plane sustained some damage to the undercarriage and one wing, and fire crews, emergency vehicles and hazardous materials teams surrounded it within minutes.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada, which is investigating the crash, has possession of the plane’s flight recorder.

The accident was the third at the Ottawa Airport involving an Embraer 145 plane. The first occurred in 2004, and in 2010, another United Express flight also overshot the runway.

Evans and McQuaid were seated together in row 16, over the wing of the plane, with their daughter Hilary across the aisle from them.
“When you land,” Evans remembered, “normally there is that jerk from the reverse thrust that tells you the plane’s brakes have engaged. Not this time. Mike and I both knew the plane was going way too fast: there was no sense of braking at all.

There was no warning that anything was wrong from the cockpit: there really wasn’t time.

But the passengers knew.

We were definitely hydro-planing. We were tipping from side to side, back and forth, and then the entire plane spun around. It was pretty terrifying. People were screaming and yelling. Mike and I were, I think, fairly calm, but Hilary was stricken. At the last moment I reached out and held her hand as everything was happening. If the plane had buckled or flipped, well, we wouldn’t be here to tell this story.”

Evans does not fault the pilot.

“I’ve been reading some blogs and comments about the pilot, and most are very negative,” she said, “one even calling him an idiot. Well, as far as I can tell those remarks are all being made by people who weren’t on the plane, weren’t even at the airport.

That pilot had to have tower clearance to land the plane, and he couldn’t have anticipated a burst of torrential rain. He compensated on the spot for the hydro-planing and kept us alive.”

The passengers sat on the plane in “a sudden silence” after the landing, while the flight attendant urged everyone to stay calm. The wait seemed long to Evans, especially as there was a strong smell of fuel throughout the plane. (The plane was covered with foam after the passengers disembarked).

When they finally got out (“on regular stairs, no chutes; kind of anti-climatic,” Evans smiled), the passengers stood on the rain soaked tarmac for a further 10 or more minutes waiting for transport. Fire and medical personnel were on hand and Evans has high praise for their efficiency and care.

Finally, “of all things, an OC Transpo bus came up to collect us. There didn’t appear to be any airport transport. The bus was too small for all 44 of us to sit, so many had to stand to the terminal. There it was the same problem. We were separated from other passengers as we had to leave all our luggage, including passports on the plane, and we were put in a small room for several hours. Again, there was not enough seating for everyone. The Ottawa airport just didn’t seem to be prepared to deal with an emergency like this.”

Still, there were moments of laughter that Evans said definitely helped diffuse anxieties.

“On the bus, the driver said, ‘Everyone needs a stiff drink, I bet.’ A voice at the back shouted out, ‘Stiff drink! I need the whole bottle!’
And then this little girl, no more than seven, who had smiled throughout the whole ordeal, piped up, ‘Mommy, what’s a stiff drink?’

“Later, one man said to me, ‘I guess we’ll all have lots of stories to tell.’ I said, ‘I’m a minister. Just wait until next Sunday’s sermon!’”

“It was a frightening experience,” Janet Evans said. “You only realize in retrospect how terrifying it truly was. I think we can thank the good Lord that we came out of it well and alive. Mike and I will fly again for sure. Hilary is still a little ambivalent. But I do feel that this entire incident will have to be very thoroughly investigated by the authorities.

None of the passengers or crew on Flight 3363 was injured. We were lucky.”

[…]

The general meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 14, at 7:30 p.m. in Fraser Hall.

There are many business items up for discussion, so please be there if you want to be heard. There will be a report on the executive meeting next week.

The meat draw on the 11th was won by Charles Bailey. Again? The draw was for boneless pork chops. Great weather for a barbecue.

Saturday’s appreciation barbecue was well attended. It was a sunny day, and the music of John Mason created a good time. Thanks to Donna Dillabough for organizing the event and Mo Praine for his help. Last steak night thank yous failed to mention all our salad providers. Without salads, the meal would certainly be lacking.

On September 16, our Ladies will cater a Playhouse dinner, and the Real Deal will entertain in the pub.

September 18 is the Terry Fox Run and once again Scott Robertson and Audrey Henophy are at the helm. Registration will take place at 8 a.m.

September is also Child Awareness Month and many events are taking place across all of Canada. Please help if you are able.

Membership cards are now at the bar in the pub. Be an early bird and possibly you will win one of the prizes.

Ontario Command volunteers annually accumulate over 458,000 hours. With the Poppy Campaign coming up shortly, we will be adding to Branch #48 volunteer hours.

Let us all believe, as Helen Keller did, that we can do something.
 

[…]