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Amphitheatre ends season with highly positive note

Margaret Webb attended her first Brister Group amphitheatre performance on Saturday afternoon in the Waterfront Park. She went away the winner of the grand prize after a well attended per-formance by Easy Pickins’, a local folk style group noted for per-forming their own titles and select covers.

Lead guitarist (acoustic) Claude Plumondon touched the hearts of many in the audience with several of his original compositions, then tugged the heartstrings of all of the mothers inroducing a more personal story about his ailing when he penned the words to “Song For Mom”.It is indeed a beautiful musical story of a family’s love and appreciation for one another.

“In My Heart”,  a song written by band member Jeanne Ward about knowing the love of one’s life is on his way, and “Misery Express”,  another song by Plumondon with bass player Claude Clement singing…about a bus ride on which two people who have been hurt then ponder if they will try another shot at love were just a few of the many tunes this talented foursome delivered.

“We’ve had a good summer,” said amphitheatre marketing volunteer Bill Laurin. “Over the four performances we’ve managed to brighten the Saturday afternoons of about 750 people.”  Laurin said the enormous contribution of The Brister Group and the many businesses (see www.cruickshankamphitheatre.com) that came forward to take part in the promotion is what really worked for the attendance boost this year.“That and the quality of music talent available so close to home make the task relatively easy.”

“South Dundas has to be one of the most positive communities when it comes to working together to get something done!” Laurin said.

“And frankly, I believe this rarely identified, hard working group of committed South Dundas volunteers is going to make a real difference especially in the Waterfront Park area.” Continuing, he explained he was referring to the emerging Let Them Be Kids project which, on September 24th, will construct a huge play-ground here. Everyone in the community is invited to take part. He mentioned the beautiful new Park Pals Dog Park, the popular dock area, the Park Street gardens, Old home Week and the Lions many endeavors held in the park.

“We hope to make improvements in the amphitheatre produc-tion in 2012,” he said, adding “with more strategically selected dates, bands and additions to both the promotional package, the web site and our advertising campaigns.”The amphitheatre committee plans to initiate a full 2011 opera-tional report for the municipality, including a plan for 2012 calen-dar as soon as possible at their next meeting.“

”Now that we have the momentum moving it’s time to kick’er up a notch!” he said, “And we’re going to attempt to keep the web site interesting through our off time, make it a place for people to go and see what’s going on in South Dundas and the area.” At www.cruickshankamphitheatre.com.

The committee hopes to receive feedback from everyone concerning the 2011 production, the web site, the individual bands, suggestions to be presented for 2012, etc. Contact is by email, billsonja@gmail.com.

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Playhouse’s Kitchen Witches cooks up a batch of laughs

The Upper Canada Playhouse has shown it has the recipe for making people laugh, and the last show of the summer season will treat audiences to more of the same rib-tickling hilarity with The Kitchen Witches by Caroline Smith running September 8 through October 2.

The play stars two talented veterans of the Canadian stage, Linda Goranson and Jocelyne Zucco, so the Playhouse folks are getting ready to serve up a fabulous show filled with food, fun and funny, funny entertainment.

The show is directed by Canadian theatre veteran, Walter Learning, who has directed several plays for The Playhouse and most recently appeared with Goranson as Mr. & Mrs. Frencham in this season’s hit comedy, Not Now, Darling.

Rounding out the cast is Parris Greaves who also appeared in Not Now, Darling.       

For The Kitchen Witches, the Playhouse stage will be transformed into a television studio and the audience will become the studio audience of a cable TV cooking show.

It’s chef Dolly Biddle’s final episode before her show is cancelled. Her gimmick is playing an eccentric Ukrainian cook with a love of vodka that she likes to add to her recipes. When Dolly’s program is interrupted by the appearance of her long-time friend and rival, Isobel Lomax, the TV kitchen soon explodes with laughter as Isobel accuses Dolly of stealing her recipes and the cooking divas go at each other.

Recipe foul-ups and wild costumes create chaos for Dolly’s son, Stephen, the show’s producer, who tries to referee the on-camera battle as the ladies duke it out.

But viewers love the ladies’ antics, a new TV show is born and trouble really starts to brew!

As Dolly, Goranson brings a wealth of experience to the show. In addition to several shows at The Playhouse (Christmas Express, Female Odd Couple) she has appeared in over 80 productions in major theatres across the country.

She has been nominated for an ACTRA Best Supporting Actress Award and even appeared on Coronation Street.

Zucco, who plays Isobel, has also had extensive experience at such theatres as Blythe Festival, Theatre Lac Brome, Drayton Festival to name just a few.

She also appeared for two seasons on the TV series Urban Angel and recently shot an episode of the hit CBC series InSecurity.

The Kitchen Witches wraps up a crowd-pleasing summer of comedy at The Playhouse.

Audiences will have plenty more entertainment coming their way October 12-16 when Marshall Button’s Lucien’s Labour Lost hits the stage.

Following that, from November 24-December 18, The Playhouse will stage Norm Foster’s Dear Santa.

The Kitchen Witches runs September 8 – October 2 with shows Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and matinees Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m..

Call 613-543-3713 or uppercanadaplayhouse.com

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Playhouse assists local charities

Upper Canada Playhouse continued its decade-long tradition of assisting local charitable organizations with their valuable community work by do-nating an entire performance of one of their shows.

On Saturday, August 27th, some 18 organizations were giv-en tickets to the matinee perfor-mance of Not Now, Darling. The organizations included: Prescott Anglican Church of Canada, Galop Canal Revitaliza-tion Project, South Dundas Park Pals, South Dundas Chamber of Commerce, Friendly Circle Seniors Club, St. Mary’s/St. Ce-cilia’s CWL, Dalhousie Mills United Church, First Student Canada, SDG Cornwall Shriners Club, Community Living Dundas County, Avonmore Fair, Lake-shore Dr. United Church, Morrisburg Lutheran Church, Happy Face  Nursery School, La Leche League Canada, Dundas County Food Bank, Centretown United Church and MS Society.

Over the past 10 years The Playhouse has been pleased to contribute over $60,000 in tickets in support of the many different charitable organizations who in turn offer a wide variety of ser-vices to the local community.

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School supplies are still needed

Back to school time is here once again and with it the long list of supplies most students need.

The Crayons for Kids program, run by the South Dundas Food Bank, distributes school supplies to families in need.

According to Food Bank Administrator Donna Quesnel, there is still a need for binders, markers, scissors, and calculators.

Donations can be made by contacting the Food Bank at 613-543-0065 or at 613-774-0188.

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Daily shuttle service to Ottawa

Wubs Transit, located on Dawley Drive in Winchester, is considering the development of a Daily Line Route (shuttle bus) from Morrisburg to Ottawa.

Presently the company has a route, which includes multiple stops in both Chesterville, Winchester and, of course, Ottawa. This route will not change.

Due to previous inquiries, Wubs Transit has decided to “see what kind of interest is out there” for a shuttle from Morrisburg to Ottawa, reported Nanda Wubs.

She went on to say that the company would like to “develop a route that works for the largest amount of people.”

Wubs Transit offers monthly passes, single trip tickets, passes for one-way trips, and a book of 10 one-way tickets.

Aside from being the best rate, a monthly pass also includes access to OC Transpo. In fact, the pass itself is an OC Transpo pass that includes the Daily Line Run.

The monthly passes for Chesterville and Winchester are $258 per month and $230 per month, respectively.

The rate for Morrisburg would be comparable, the final number depending on the stops involved.

In order to develop the best route possible, Wubs Transit is looking for feedback from those interested in the shuttle.

What central location would work for pick-ups in Morrisburg?

Are there any pick-up points outside the village of Morrisburg that need to be considered?

What locations in Ottawa are needed?

For those interested in having a shuttle bus from Morrisburg to Ottawa, please phone the Wubs Transit office at 613-774-6618. Or, visit their website at www.wubs.ca and click on “commuter shuttles.” There will be a link on this page for inquiries and/or suggestions for a Morrisburg shuttle bus service.

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DC Community Center celebrates a birthday

The DC Community Center celebrated its first birthday on Saturday the 27th with an open house.

Fun, food, games, and information were readily available to all.

The center has recently partnered with the Optimist Club, an organization that focuses on helping youth.

The center offers many activities. Some have already started while others will begin soon.

Different nights equal different activities with different leaders.  These programs include activities for youth of all ages up to 18 years.

Some of the activities already underway include game night, sports, and general fun.

Activities to come soon include movie night, paint ball, hobby club, and more sports.

In addition to the youth programs, the center also rents out its facilities.

To join in the fun as a participant or as a volunteer, telephone 613-652-4025.

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Buses back on the road

It is time for students to head back to school and for motorists to be on the lookout for school buses and students.

The OPP in East Region would like to remind everyone that some school buses will be back in service early next week, while others will be back on Tuesday, September 6, 2011.

The public is reminded that every driver while on a highway while meeting a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal-lights flashing shall stop before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing. (Section 175(11) of the Highway Traffic Act).

“Many of our children walk to school and motorist should also be aware of the increased pedestrian traffic around our local schools, as children make their way for their first exciting day.  Reduce your speed in school zone and be extra cautious. Let’s make it safe for our children!” says Sgt.Kristine Rae.

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Tail waggin’ time at Dog Park opening

Sunday’s rain held off just long enough for the Park Pals and their four-legged friends to carry out the official leash cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the South Dundas ‘off leash’ dog park located in the Earl Baker Park in Morrisburg.

The Dog Park “is another enhancement in South Dundas we can certainly be proud up,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds as he prepared to cut the celebratory leash.

Byvelds recalled how he told the Park Pals committee, after council viewed the design concept prepared by landscape architect Wendy Graham, that “I am looking forward to seeing the best dog park in Ontario.”

“I think this committee has certainly done that job. It looks beautiful,” he said Sunday.

“When the project started, it was something that was novel, something new. We allowed the idea to keep on going, and I think it kept on going because a group of people worked hard to keep it going. I know there were a lot of issues on the location, but in the end we are here, and I haven’t heard anyone say this wasn’t the best thing to do.”

Joining Byvelds to bring congratulations from the municipality were councillors Evonne Delegarde and Jim Graham. Former councillor Delbert Jones, who provided valuable help to the Park Pals Committee to get their project off the ground, also joined the ceremony.

Park Pals chair Tracey Veinotte thanked former Mayor Rowdy Gillard for his support and mentioned the support initially given by the late Mayor Charles Barkley.

“A key in getting the Dog Park we have today was the support of our councils,” said Veinotte. “We thank both the past and present councils for being the visionaries they are. It took a lot of backbone to make the decisions. We respect that and thank you.”
“It is due to a bunch of tenacious ladies that we are finally here today,” said Veinotte.

“Janeen (Wagemans) was proably the first phone call I got, and she’s been a real trooper throughout.”

Other Park Pal committee members are Willie Harper, Eileen Johnston, Ree Graham, Sandra Van Allen, Barb O’Neil, Cole Veinotte and Christyn Veinotte.

Major sponsors thanked for their contributions to the park were Michel Proulx (Canadian Tire), Riley Hatherall (Valu-mart) and Kim Butler (Morrisburg Scotiabank).

“I also want to thank Wendy Graham, our landscape designer, who made a huge contribution. Wendy donated her time and effort and she’s created this park in a way that it integrates with the rest of the park.”

The Dog Park (two areas, one for small dogs and the other for large dogs) has been a popular and very busy spot for dogs and their owners since the gates opened earlier this summer.

It is enhanced by a beautiful flower garden in a central stoned greeting area with benches, a dog drinking fountain and a memorial-brick pathway.

Making Graham’s design a reality were Scott Hall (SBD Construction), Buster and Eric Sneath (Buster’s Backhoe), Danny McMahon (D&H Fencing) and Gerben Schaillee (landscape consultation).

Although the rain caused an early shutdown of Sunday’s planned activities, the event was attended by several special interest groups including the Cornwall SPCA and  Canadian Guide Dogs.

Dog handler Barry Keicks was on hand with his dog Gage, but rain cancelled their demonstration.

Rev. Noreen Gullons (South Dundas Lutheran Parish)  conducted a ‘Blessing of the Park’ and offered ‘Pet Blessings’ after the ceremony.

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Canadian Tire ‘restores’ its Cruise-in Car Show

Fifty three cars ‘cruised in’ to the Canadian Tire, Morrisburg parking lot Friday night to participate in the ‘restored’ annual Car Show.

It was four years ago that we held our last Cruise-In said organizer Bob Cousineau, CT Automotive Service Manager.

According to Cousineau, Canadian Tire owner Michel Proulx was extremely pleased with the response, and “we are now planning to do it every year.”

Some $1,000 in prizes and were distributed in four categories to the owners of the cars that featured a large number of makes and models and a wide range of years.

Cousineau says that with the first success now under his seat belt, he hopes to grow the event.

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