News

Something’s cooking at the Upper Canada Playhouse and artistic director Donnie Bowes and director Walter Learning are keeping a lid on the ‘brewing’ excitement.

At a press conference for the Playhouse’s upcoming production of Caroline Smith’s The Kitchen Witches, Bowes and Learning and the cast, which includes Linda Goranson, Jocelyne Zucco and Parris Greaves, were a tight-lipped about what’s on the menu for the Playhouse’s final run of the summer season.

“It’s a different show. It’s going to be fun for the audience,” said Bowes.

“It is a different show,” agreed Learning chuckling as he added,“It’s not one of your farces where doors are slamming everywhere…but there are doors that do slam.”

“It’s about two ladies and a cooking show…it’s a love story, it’s about friendships and there are a lot of laughs. There are also some very touching and insightful moments,” said Learning.

The Kitchen Witches stars two talented veterans of the Canadian stage, Linda Goranson and Jocelyne Zucco, who performed in the play twice before and once together.

Goranson is playing Dolly Biddle whose gimmick in her television show is playing an eccentric Ukranian cook with a love of vodka.

Her final show (it’s been cancelled) is interrupted by long-time friend and rival Isobel Lomax, played by Zucco. Upon her arrival, the cooking show begins to heat up as the two cooking divas go at each other.

The cooking show’s director is Dolly’s son Stephen, played by Greaves, who attempts to referee the on-camera battle.

“My character (Dolly) lives to be on a cooking show,” says Goranson. “Her whole world has been Stephen and the cooking show. Dolly loves life but her heart gets hurt by other people.”

“My character (Isobel) returns to stir things up in the stable Biddle world,” says Zucco.

Both Goranson and Zucco are delighted to be back on the Playhouse stage. They are enjoying the opportunity to perform in The Kitchen Witches again and enjoying the new discoveries they are making.

“We have a new Stephen, a new actor who is going to create different reactions, a new set and a director with new and wonderful ideas,” says Zucco. “All of that allows you to discover new things.”

“It’s like a long rehearsal period,” says Goranson. “You get to go deeper and deeper. It just gets richer and richer and richer every time you get to do a play again.”

Although not a problem, stage manager Jackie McCormick says The Kitchen Witches has been a challenge.

“This is probably the prop heaviest show I have ever done,” says McCormick of the over 24 containers of difference sizes, numerous kitchen utensils, wooden spoons and on and on. “On top of that is all the food. It’s been a challenge, but a good challenge.”

McCormick explains it is all about where everything is, in the right place at the right time.

Bowes admits to becoming somewhat of a shopping guru….He claims that when you are in a local store, filling your shopping cart with 90 containers of whip cream, 90 tart shells, 60 taco shells and more, people tend to take notice.

And how that food is used in the play remains a mystery that Upper Canada Playhouse audiences are going to enjoy.

“Tomorrow we get the actual whip cream and yogurt,” said Goranson as Thursday’s press conference wrapped up.

“And we won’t be wearing costumes the first time,” said Learning with a chuckle.

The Kitchen Witches runs September 8 through October 2 with shows on Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and matinees on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Tickets can be booked at uppercanadaplayhouse.com or by calling the box office at 613-543-3713.

[…]

Last Thursday, September 1, the 108-year-old lychgate roof was re-laid to rest, where it belongs, at the entry to Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Riverside Heights.

The historical lychgate provides entry onto the Holy Trinity church grounds where the grave site memorials to Sir James Pliny Whitney, (the sixth premier of the Province of Ontario),  the Whitney and Sarah Crysler-Pliny families and Colonel J. Munro (a famous officer of the 1st Royal Yorkers) are located.

In February 2009, its roof was removed from its two supporting pillars due to safety reasons.

The lychgate, a surrounding fence and Holy Trinity Church were relocated to their present location at the time of the Seaway project. It was one of only two area churches that were deemed historically significant enough to be spared demolition.

The current church land is very low, and water and frost upheaval over the past 52 years had damaged both the lychgate and a fence that surrounds the property.

The two columns that support the lychgate roof had shifted to the point where the roof was being damaged and had become unsafe.

Estimates for repairs to the lychgate and fence, prior to the roof’s removal were as high as $250,000, a figure that was way beyond the means of the small church congregation.

“We cannot lose such an important piece of Ontario’s history,” said MPP Jim Brownell at the time. “There aren’t too many lychgates left in Ontario, if there are any. It’s a tragedy and we have to find some way of getting it back.”

Two years later the call was answered, not by the province or any of its ministries, but by local resident, Les Cruickshank.

“I was starting to worry it wasn’t going to happen,” said Isobel Tuttle who is the People’s Warden at Holy Trinity. “A big thank you goes to Les (Cruickshank) for taking this on all by himself. It looks wonderful having it back up.”

“When I got the news from Les that he thought the lychgate needed to be put back in place, it was one of those things that truly is a gift from God,” said Rev. Sue McCullough. “It was cost prohibitive for the congregation, but it was part of the church that needed to be put back. Les recognized that.”

“Thanks just don’t cover what we feel about what he has done.”

“Basically, what we did was put reinforcement between the two posts,” said Cruickshank of the work carried out by his company’s (Cruickshank Construction)employees. “We poured concrete with a rebar, so the two posts are now like one. When you come back here in 50 years, they’ll still be up.”

“We excavated down to the footings and hydraulically jacked everything back into place,” explained Cruickshank employee Ron Dingwall when interviewed during the work that took place in July. “We poured concrete to stabilize them, and Polywrap(ed) and insulated both columns coming up from the footings.”

Dingwall said the east pillar footing was originally poured in two parts and that had shifted apart.  “The pillar had shifted to the north and was leaning about six inches towards the church. It had also moved in a counter clockwise direction and was off the footings by three inches. The west pillar had a 10 inch shift from top to bottom and it was leaning to the south.”

“We dug between and around the two pillars, laid insulation and then poured a reinforced concrete pad below the surface to tie the two columns together.”

“There is lots of water in the ground here. It is possible this area is below the water level of the St. Lawrence. Hopefully, what we have done will last another 100 years. We don’t want to come back in 10 years times and see the roof leaning again.”

Once the pillars were levelled, the completion of the project awaited the availability of Cruickshank manpower and heavy equipment needed to lift the estimated 3,500 pound lychgate roof back onto the support pillars.

That all came about last week under the direction of Stan Keyes and two very skilled Cruickshank heavy equipment operators.

A support base was built from steel beams salvaged from the 401 overpass rebuild at Iroquois (a job currently being done by Cruickshank Construction). The lychgate roof was lifted by crane onto the base and moved to the lychgate area early last week. Then Thursday, two front end loaders worked in unison to lift, position and lower it onto the awaiting pillars.

The positioning took a lot of jockeying, an inch at a time, until the roof was perfectly lined up and dropped into place.

To complete the project, the Lychgate roof is now in need of some repair and paint, to restore it to its former beauty.

But that is not the last of it says Cruickshank who is now prepared to lobby the provincial government for money to repair the fence, landscape the Whitney Memorial area, and provide long-term maintenance to the area.

“A premier is buried here, the province should be doing something,” says Cruickshank. “We should make this an election issue, get something done here.”

From a tourism point of view Cruickshank suggests signage on the 401, signage at strategic locations on Cty. Rd. #2 and signage at the site.

“If we could get a one shot deal (to repair the fence and landscape the memorial areas) and some annual maintenance money that would be good.”

Sir James Pliny Whitney was the Premier of Ontario from 1905 to 1914, a remarkable era in Ontario politics, which saw significant legislation  in regards to workmen’s compensations, temperance, hydroelectric development and urban transit.

It was under the Whitney government in 1906, that legislation was passed to create the permanent Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario that would later, during the St. Lawrence Seaway/Power Project, expropriate the land where Sir Whitney was buried.

At the time of the Seaway, Holy Trinity was dismantled stone by stone and moved to Riverside Heights. At the same time, the memorials were deemed an integral part of the original memorial and moved to their location behind the church. Sir Whitney’s remains were not moved.
 

[…]

Upper Canada Village is opening its doors to Siloam Entertainment from September 10th to the 14th.

Brian Lutes, writer, director and actor, needs 150 to 200 extras for  his movie, Percy Harris.

According to Lutes, the movie, a period western, “is a film about a confederate soldier apprehended while returning home from the war and is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit. He’s sentenced to hang.”

“With several twists and turns (sort of a combination of Wizard of Oz meets Rambo), we follow Percy on his quest for freedom, struggling against bounty hunters, brutal terrain and a legion of inner demons.”

To view some of the scene captures, Lutes suggests going to the Facebook page for “Percy Harris the movie.”

So, what about those extras?

Lutes predicts that the biggest number of extras will be needed on Sunday the 11th and Monday the 12th. Shooting happens between 8:00 and 5:30.

“Unfortunately, wardrobe is in limited supply with that many extras… So, we’re asking people to go through their closets and bring the most “period” friendly clothing they have.”

“They could dress as a farmer, cowboy, or townspeople.”

If you are interested in being an extra, email Brian Lutes at blutes@storm.ca or Anik Rompre at nykkytta@gmail.com.

[…]

Children at Morrisburg Public School (MPS) will be seeing a new face in the hallways and around the schoolyard this year.

Beverley Bethune, MPS’s new principal, is making the 75km commute from South Lancaster, a town east of Cornwall.

The new principal at MPS brings a strong background in special education as well as in steering a school in a positive direction.

In 1975, Bethune received a Bachelor of Physical Education as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, both from McMaster.

Bethune received her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Ottawa in 1992, qualifying her to teach intermediate and secondary in the areas of physical education and geography.

Bethune added computers and special education to her teaching credentials in the 1990’s. Qualifications for junior division were added in 2005.

Also in 2005 Bethune also began  working to complete the requirements to become an Ontario school principal. This she achieved in 2006.

The position with MPS is Bethune’s first time serving as principal. To back her in her new position she brings extensive  experience as a vice-principal.

Bethune comes directly to MPS from her position as Vice-Principal of T. R. Leger’s Eastern Region where she worked with at risk students.

Prior to that Bethune served as Vice-Principal at Rothwell Osnabruck K-13 School in Ingleside.

Her first stint as a vice-principal lasted for five years at Cornwall’s General Vanier Intermediate School.

Before becoming a vice-principal, Bethune taught at General Vanier when it was a secondary school and continued to teach there when it became an Intermediate School in 2002.

Principal Bethune believes that  students are “all teachable” and she wants to see “that each individual student reach their own potential.”

In terms of plans for the school, Principal Bethune said that her “focus is [on] student learning.”

She went on to say that her “passion in education is the at risk student.”

When asked what she’d like to say to readers of the Leader, Bethune said that she is a “strong believer in community partnerships and community focus on schools.”

She ended the interview with an invitation to the community: “I welcome anyone who wants to volunteer.”

[…]

Justin Reist, a Toronto area native entering his third year at Carleton University, is hoping to become Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry’s next MPP.

Reist is joining the race as a member of the Green Party and has chosen this riding because of its close proximity to the Ottawa campus as well as its need for a Green Party candidate.

While Reist will be busy with school, he maintains that he will still be available to the people of his riding via e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter.

Reist is currently pursuing an Honours degree in Political Science with a minor in Communications.

In a recent e-mail interview, Reist was questioned about his priorities and how they will affect the small towns and communities of SD&SG.

In reply, Reist revealed: “I think my priorities and those of the Green Party of Ontario are ones shared by most Ontarians.”

“I am deeply committed to improving standards of living for all residents in Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry in a way that is economically and environmentally sound. I should clarify what I mean when I say the environment is a priority for me.”

“In developing our environmental policies, the Green Party doesn’t just look at traditional environmentalism. We look further than the simple or immediate solution, and work to lessen our environmental impact in a way that boosts the economy and improves residents’ standards of living.”

“By investing in green technology and shifting to a less carbon-intensive economy, we create jobs not just for the next three years, but jobs that will be around for the next 15 or 30 years and contribute to healthy communities.”

Reist had the following to say about SD&SG’s voter priorities: “I believe residents of Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry are focused on job creation, improving our health care system, and keeping their communities healthy and vibrant for years to come.”

“I am very much committed to addressing the needs of residents of my riding, and I’m looking forward to speaking with them and finding other areas where I can represent their needs.”

Reinforcing his commitment, he said, “I can really be the voice for the people in my riding. Above all, that is any MPP’s job, and one that I aspire to.”

Finally, Reist, who is 19 years old, addressed the issue of whether voters might think he was too young to be an MPP: “To those voters that may say I’m too young, and I’m sure there are many who think that, I would say that being young is one of the greatest assets I bring to the table.”

“My age gives me a different approach to politics – one that is based on sound policy rather than entrenched ideological views. It gives me the flexibility to learn and grow in this position, and makes me more open to other voices.”

“Even more importantly, being this young means I have much more invested in the future than those older than me. Every issue this province is facing right now is one I will be facing for twice as long.”

In conclusion, “I feel a great sense of duty in making sure that Ontario and Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry have a sound economic and environmental future for myself and the generations after me.”

Will readers vote Green Party on October 6th? We will have to wait and see.

[…]

Darcy Neal Donnelly of Fournier, Ontario has added his name to the ballot to become Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry’s next MPP.

Donnelly, a member of the Libertarian Party, believes that voters are not being given enough freedom in terms of money, taxes, and politics.

On the topic of money, Donnelly had this to say: “please note that within our MONETARY POLICY, We would grant individuals and corporations the freedom to issue their own currencies. Your money would compete (in a free market) with Canadian Tire money or with Bitcoin or with Canadian government loonies.”

He continued by asking, “Now how would that affect our average voters, non-voters and small towns within our community?”

Donnelly then answered his own question: “They will experience greater economic freedom and have the ability to reduce poverty. Since I have been voting; We get the same policies. We get more and more government regulations, rules and taxes.”

“Businesses are forced to be TAX Collectors. Business is leaving for less fascist government controls. Jobs are disappearing. Poverty is increasing.”

“People who want to reduce poverty believe that government controls are the solutions. Take a look at the government results. Fascist regulations. Endless deficits and growing debts. Countries going bankrupt. Poverty rising everywhere. People revolting. We want another option.”

This is where the Libertarian Party enters the picture. Donnelly claims, “We are offering [voters] another choice. We are the Party of Choice. Our vision is communities  of freedom, harmony and abundance.”

[…]

It’s hard to drive down County Road #2 through Riverside Heights and not see the grand artwork that is the Church Mural.

The mural is just one of 17 erected between 2001 and 2005. The murals were created “to illustrate South Dundas’s rich heritage and culture.”

The Church Mural, originally created by Mike Kelly in 2003, is a compilation of local churches, past and present.

In 2009, the South Dundas Mural Committee came together in response to the dismantling of the Iroquois Point Mural. The committee’s purpose is to restore murals if necessary and if possible.

According to Jane Cox, spokesperson for South Dundas Murals, “Last year we did lose one mural but by using reserved mural funds, five murals were restored leaving us with 12 that needed some help.”

She went on to say that, “The amount of money needed for immediate art restoration of some of the pieces exceeded the amount budgeted by our local municipality. A community group came  forward in hopes of maintaining these works of art, thus champions of a mural was born.”

Champions are people or groups who are willing to financially back the restoration. This includes artist fees and supplies.

The  South Williamsburg Township Recreation Association (SWTRA) is the original champion of the Church Mural, lobbying for its initial construction. This group is once again lobbying for the mural, but this time for its survival.

Keith and Linda Robinson, members of the SWTRA, reported that it has taken three years of fundraising to secure the funds required for the restoration. Keith estimates that the restoration of the mural will be about $4,500. The final tally will come when the project is complete.

While the Robinson’s and the SWTRA are providing the funds for the restoration project, the South Dundas Mural Committee has been responsible for finding an artist willing to do the restoration.

Here enters John Ellenberger to lend his talent. Ellenberger was the original artist for two of the South Dundas murals. The Memorial Mural for the Iroquois Legion and the History of Agriculture Mural for the Williamsburg IOOF Hall were both completed by Ellenberger in 2003.

When asked why he decided to restore the Church Mural, Ellenberger replied with a smile, “someone’s gotta do it.”

While discussing the work to be done Ellenberger gave credit to Kelly’s use of automotive paints when doing the original. He believes that this is why the mural has “held up pretty good” since its creation.

Ellenberger will be using water-based paints to restore the painting, but promises the changes will flow seamlessly with the original.

While Ellenberger will need to do work on the mural at its location on County Road #2, he has taken down two pieces from the lower  right side of the mural.

He is working diligently on redoing these two sections completely as they were the most affected by water damage. Ellenberger is working out of the Robinson’s garage at their home in Riverside Heights.

When asked how they plan to protect the mural going forward, the Robinson’s reported that they will be building a roof over the mural that covers the front and back. The SWTRA is also providing the funds for this part of the project.

As for Ellenberger, he estimates that the work left to do will take just over a week to complete. He will then be driving back to his home in Alberta where he has additional jobs to complete.

In addition to murals, Ellenberger also uses his talent for motorcycles, trucks, cars, helmets, and portraits.

The Church Mural is not the only one with a champion. The New Canadians Mural is being championed by the Kolff Family. The Health Spa Mural is being championed by Mary Steele. The Caldwell Mural is being championed by Magnus Restoration of Iroquois. The WWII Homecoming Mural may have a new champion as well!

According to Cox, the “McIntosh Country Inn & Conference Centre will champion the McIntosh Apple [mural] and, with weather permitting, restoration may start next week.”

Unfortunately, not all the murals can be saved. The Aerial View of Morrisburg Mural is one of those “being allowed to age gracefully” and eventually taken down.

Cox reports that “hard decisions remain for our two remaining murals ‘North Side-Main Street’ on the west side of Giant Tiger and ‘South Side-Main Street’ on Upper Canada Playhouse.”

When asked if there were plans to create new murals, Cox said “There are not any plans for this group to initiate new murals but with the completed restoration and maintenance it does give our community an additional five year window to enjoy this collection.”

“We recognize these murals are not going to be with us forever but until something else comes forward let’s use these pieces of art to showcase our area.”

[…]

Members of the recently created Canada Day Committee met at the George Jowett Hall in Riverside Heights on August 30th.

Up for discussion was budget, evaluation of this year’s Canada Day celebration, and planning for next year’s celebration, including fundraising ventures.

This year’s Canada Day celebrations almost didn’t happen. Luckily for the community, this group decided to come together to save the day.

With a $200 starter donation from the Morrisburg and District Lions Club, the group began fundraising for the event with only a month and a half to the July 1st deadline.

With hard work and help from the community, including shop owners, the group was able to create a great day for everyone.

In order to move forward with next year’s plans, the group decided to sift through the events of 2011’s Canada Day festivities: what worked, what didn’t work, and what could be done differently for 2012.

Keith Robinson estimated that there were 3,500 to 4,000 people at this year’s Canada Day fireworks display. The turnout for all the events was phenomenal.

The agility games for dogs, the Bingo, the music, the barbecue – all the activities were reported to be successful and popular with the crowd.

What could have been done differently?

One member of the group reported hearing complaints of there not being rides for older children.

Linda Robinson addressed this concern pointing out that due to the late notice they were unable to secure the larger rides for 2011.  The supplier had already committed the rides for another location on that day.

She went on to report that the 2012 Canada Day festivities will include rides for everyone.

Kim Casselman pointed out that many in the community felt the fireworks display to have been too short; they were good, but short.

This observation seemed unanimous and it was determined that the  display should be at least 20 minutes long, which will of course increase the cost substantially.

Here enters the money talk. While the Canada Day event of this year did raise some money for next year, there is not enough to cover the costs for 2012’s proposed activities.

After a very fruitful discussion, it was decided that fundraising would begin this fall.

Working together as a community will, no doubt, guarantee the success of next year’s Canada Day celebrations.

[…]

Mosquitoes in our area have tested positive for the West Nile virus.  Although there have been no human cases in our region, there have been some reported cases in the province.

“The Eastern Ontario Health Unit has been actively monitoring mosquitoes for West Nile virus” says Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health. “This finding shows that West Nile virus remains a concern in our area, even as the summer comes to an end.”

The Health Unit would like to remind residents to take precautions against the virus and therefore against mosquitoes by taking the following steps:

Use federally registered personal insect repellents, such as those containing DEET. Use a light coating on exposed skin. Follow label instructions for proper application.

Wear light-coloured clothing, long sleeves, pants and socks when outside.

Avoid being outside at dusk and dawn, as mosquitoes are the most active at that time.

Ensure that all containers in or around the yard like tires, pool covers, saucers for flowerpots, wading pools and children’s toys are regularly emptied of standing water.

Ensure that screens, windows and doors are fully sealed to prevent mosquitoes from entering the house.  

For more information, please contact the Eastern Ontario Health Unit at 613-933-1375 or at 1 800 267-7120. Ask for Health Line.

[…]

SD&G OPP are looking for the public’s help in solving a mischief that occurred sometime during the night of September 3, 2011 on County Road #1in Iroquois.

The investigation has revealed that a vehicle attended the parking lot and lawn area near the locks where extensive damage was done by someone doing power turns on the property.

The description of the vehicle involved is: black Dodge Dakota pick-up truck (crew cab) with a loud exhaust system.

This type of action is not only dangerous to anyone using our roadways but also wastes resources that have to be used to repair the damage.

Anyone having information on the above crime or any crime is asked to call SD&G OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

[…]