Almonte company puts laws of physics into question with new innovation
Regional - Jane Hobson jane@pdgmedia.ca
An Almonte company is in the works of having many laws of physics reexamined and potentially rewritten after inventing new technology that will have a dramatic impact on the future of electric vehicles (EV) and energy generation.
“Over the past 15 years our company has been developing and is now commercializing a new innovation that allows electric vehicles to recharge themselves as they drive,” said Thane Heins, the president and
CEO of Potential Difference Inc., a clean-tech research and development company that was created in Almonte in 2005.
Twelve years ago Heins set out on a quest to investigate methods to mitigate generator armature reaction by 10 per cent. Generator armature reaction is the formal engineering term known as regenerative braking in an EV.
“I wanted to eliminate the need to power vehicles using fossil fuels,” Heins said. “Once when I was pumping gas into my car all those years
ago I had a literal vision that I was pumping the blood of innocent soldiers and civilians who have been caught up in oil conflicts in the Middle East,” he said. “I couldn’t deal with that and that’s when I decided I had to at least try to do something about it.”
Along with being a skilled inventor, Heins also has a tremendous love for anything creative and original such as visual art, cooking and philosophy. He owned a restaurant in Arnprior for close to a decade and spent periods of his life selling his artwork pro-
fessionally.
In 2005 Heins made a scientific discovery now referred to as regenerative acceleration. Regenerative acceleration reverses the traditional method of charging an EV while braking, called regenerative braking. Regenerative acceleration gives the EV a third mode of recharging its batteries.
“It can still be plugged in and can still use regenerative braking, but now it can also recharge itself as it drives,” Heins explained. “Now the range of the EV can be increased significantly and the requirement to plug-in and recharge is reduced.”
After this discovery, Heins began development of the ReGenX generator coil — this is part that requires a re-examination and rewriting of many of the fundamental laws of physics.
“It took us many years to figure out what we had actually done and if the scientific breakthrough could have any commercial benefit or real world use,” Heins said.
The coil configuration in the ReGenX generator uses the magnetic field energy created in the generator to charge the vehicle’s batteries while also accelerating the vehicle at the same time, something professionals
in the field of physics and electrical engineering had thought was impossible.
“Turns out it is not impossible because we’ve proven it can be done under university supervised lab conditions,” said Heins. Rewriting the laws of physics is something easier said than done. “The scientific community has a difficult time looking back at theories like Lenz’s Law and Newton’s Third Law and saying, ‘Okay, maybe these are wrong or maybe these aren’t fully true any longer’,” Heins said.
The ReGenX innovation proves that magnetic field energy is being created, which blatantly challenges Lenz’s Law and the Law of Conservation of Energy.
“The full scope of the rewrite of the laws of physics extends beyond just the laws of electromagnetism but to the foundation of modern physics itself,” Heins said. “They are like dominoes; when one falls, they all fall.”
The ReGenX coil is currently at McMaster University undergoing rigorous testing and evaluation with the results pending this month.
After years of skepticism from academics and engineers, Potential
Difference Inc.’s ReGenX innovation is finally on the brink of a huge scientific breakthrough.
“We’re in the process of correcting mistakes made more than 100 years ago,” Heins said.
In April, Heins and Potential Difference plan to relocate the ReGenX innovation to the University Of Ontario Institute Of Technology to integrate the innovation into an EV with road testing to follow.
Heins said this new technology is important to planet Earth right now because it could eventually eliminate the pollution caused by gas powered vehicles altogether. It also reduces greenhouse gases produced by fossil fuels by up to 80 per cent and reduces global warming.
“Eighty per cent of the cost of generating energy is due to generator armature reaction, so when it’s eliminated, eight per cent of the cost of generating electricity is reduced too. That’s good news for everybody,” he said.
The next step is to have the patents for the ReGenX innovation secured at United States and Canadian patent offices. Global licensing of the technology is already underway.
There’s an exciting road ahead, pun intended.
Almonte inventor Thane Heins sits in his lab in Almonte where he experiments with the ReGenX generator. Photo Credit: Thane Heins.
Page Two
Letter from our Editor
As I sit down to write this column, I’m looking out my window watching the moon reflect off the snow. All I can think is, this is the last snow — right? It’s spring now and we’re all supposed to be thinking about our flower gardens, food gardens and lawns. Personally, I love a nicely landscaped yard. Colourful flower beds and plentiful veggie gardens make me jealous, and I want that for my own property. It’s not that I don’t have the space for it (I live on 12 acres) I just don’t have the drive to sustain any type of garden. Last year most of my veggies didn’t grow and my flower beds were full of weeds (as usual).
Reading Gemmell’s planting and sowing tips on page 11 got me excited though and I’m already thinking about how this year will be different. I will start my plants early, I will water regularly and I will weed my gardens more than once. Does this sound like you? If so, you must feel my pain.
Planting aside, I’m also super excited about the events that are happening in Smiths Falls, Perth and Carleton Place to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation. The On the Role music series has already kicked off with a couple of shows in March. More will be happening throughout the spring and summer so be sure to check out the confirmed dates on page 18. Perth, too, is hosting a number of events — not as many as it did for its 200th anniversary last year — but still a fair number. We’ve laid out all the confirmed information for you on page 7. As more events get
scheduled and held, we’ll be posting details to our website (hometownnews.ca) so be sure to check in regularly. We also post events and other happenings to our Facebook communities so you can keep up to date with your community there too!
For me, spring feels like a new beginning, a time for change — not just in weather and nature, but personally. It’s a time when I promise I will do better, be better, try harder. It’s almost as though I set New Year’s Resolutions for spring. Maybe if I keep reminding myself of these resolutions my gardens will have a fighting chance. Does anyone else do this? I’d love to hear your feedback. Reach out to me via one of our Facebook pages or email april@pdgmedia.ca
Cheers, April Scott-Clarke, Editor Hometown News
A Blast from the Past:
From
Rideau Lakes Figure Skating Club Celebrates Canada 150
A stellar performance was had by all participants in this years annual show for The Rideau Lakes Figures Skating Club. Skaters strutted thier stuff on March 21st to an all Canadian theme in celebration of Canadas 150 birthday. Photo credit: Colm McGrath
Notice to creditors and others
In the Estate of Claudia Fay Peterkin of RR# 1 Smiths Falls who died on or about March 3rd 2017, must be filed with the undersigned on or before the 17th day April 2017. After which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to the claims of which the Estate trustees then shall have notice. Dated at Smiths Falls Ontario this 13th day of March 2017. Executor for the Estate of Claudia Peterkin C.A.MacPhail PO Box 9001 Beckwith North Postal Outlet K7A 2B5
Reporters: editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Kathy Botham Jane Hobson
Chris Must
Sally Smith
Sarah Nelson
Jenny Burr Matthew Behrens
Photography: Kathy Botham advertising: advertising@pdgmedia.ca
Toby James-Regional Sales Manager toby@pdgmedia.ca
Russell Hotel - Bus Stop - Beckwith St Smiths, Phil Brennan photo collection Photo
Credit: Heritage House Museum
News
Sneddon receives Carleton Place community builder award
Carleton PlaceMatthew Behrens editorial@pdgmedia.ca
This year’s Carleton Place Community Builder Award was presented by Mayor Louis Antonakos to Doug Sneddon, who was recognized on March 28 both for his work to clean up the Mississippi River as well as lobbying for upgrades to the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital.
“His actions over the years have clearly spoken louder than any words that I can express to you this evening,” said Antonakos, who spoke of Sneddon’s “selfless generosity” as well as “extraordinary effort in making Carleton Place a healthier and safer place to live.”
Antonakos pointed to Sneddon’s singular 12year effort to remove over 60 tonnes of non-biodegradable waste from the Mississippi River, “which means we have a much cleaner and safer river system running through the heart of our community.”
Sneddon was also honoured for his participation in a five-year campaign to secure hospital upgrades, which ultimately led to the $8.7 million commitment by the provincial Ministry of Health to build a new 9,000-squarefoot emergency room.
“Carleton Place and area is blessed to have so many dedicated volunteers and organizations that work tirelessly for the
benefit of our residents,” Antonakos said, noting the award was created to “recognize an individual, group, or organization that has through outstanding voluntarism or exemplary action demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to making our community a better place. This may include lifelong service, outstanding acts of kindness, inspiring charitable work, community building, or other exemplary achievements.”
Montague Township defers vote on cost-sharing with Smiths Falls
ontague - Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Montague Township councillors have decided to defer voting on a recreation cost-sharing agreement with the Town of Smiths Falls, which would see the township pay an annual share of $50,000 to give its residents access to the town’s two arenas.
Smiths Falls Mayor Shawn Pankow and Director of Community Services Art Manhire attended a March 21 meeting of Montague Township council’s Committee of the Whole to present details of the proposed recreation facility cost-sharing agreement between the town and the surrounding townships. In addition to Montague, the agreement will include the townships of Merrickville-Wolford, Rideau Lakes, Drummond-North Elmsley, and Elizabethtown Kitley.
The previous cost-sharing agreement took effect in 2012 and expired Dec. 31, 2016. The recreation cost-sharing arrangement between Smiths Falls and its surrounding municipalities is
a long-standing practice, but the new agreement to take effect this year and run until 2021 will be calculated differently than in the past.
Rideau Lakes, Drummond-North Elmsley and Elizabethtown Kitley have all signed on to the agreement. Merrickville-Wolford is still in the process of considering the request. Rather than attempting to count the actual number of arena users from each outside municipality, Smiths Falls wants to move to an “assessment-based model.”
In their March 21 presentation, Pankow and Manhire explained that this new model calculates how many people are likely to use the arenas based on how far away from the facilities they live. This makes sense, they said, because, “Proximity to recreational facilities is a key determinant in public participation in recreation and social programming.”
In previous agreements, tracking users “proved to be problematic,” Pankow said. The assessment-based model is designed to align with the catchment areas of sports organizations. Political pol-
ling areas within the townships were given a percentage factor based on estimated usage. This model was developed for Smiths Falls by town auditor Howard Allan, who also developed similar systems for Perth and Carleton Place, said Pankow. Manhire presented the 2016 budget for the operations of the Smiths Falls Youth Centre and Memorial Community Centre arenas, showing total costs of $909,002. These costs were offset by revenues from facility rentals, ice rentals and advertising which totaled $529,658, leaving net expenses of $424,794. The expenses include wages of staff directly involved in running and maintaining the facilities as well as heating, cooling and electrical costs, but do not include any principal and interest payments related to the construction of the arenas. The Youth Centre was built 25 years ago, and the new Memorial Community Centre opened seven years ago. Based on these numbers, Smiths Falls is seeking payment of $50,852 from Montague as the township’s share under the new cost-sharing
agreement. The amount will be phased-in, requiring a payment of only 90 per cent ($45,766.80) in 2017.
Under the previous agreement, Montague paid $36,113 in 2013, and $49,273.50 in 2016.
At a meeting in February, township council asked Clerk/Deputy Administrator Jasmin Ralph to obtain up- to-date figures on how many Montague residents use the facilities in Smiths Falls.
Ralph reported that in 20162017 35 Montague residents participated in boys’ minor hockey, and 25 in girls’ minor hockey. She was unable to reach the Rideau Lakes Figure Skating Club to obtain numbers from that organization, and numbers for adult users were not included.
“Fifty thousand dollars in my opinion is just a little on the stiff side,” said Montague Councillor Jim Carroll, adding that, “This is a lot of
money for 60 kids.”
Manhire stated that the arenas are open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. 363 days a year, and provide a variety of experiences for users including an indoor walking track and the rental of halls for special functions.
“This is not just about some kid being able to play hockey,” said Manhire. “This is about people being able to have a social, cultural and recreational experience.”
If a township chooses to opt out of the agreement, Smiths Falls may choose to charge each of its residents an individual user fee of several hundred dollars a year, or to bar its residents from using the arenas. Pankow and Manhire indicated that the no such decision has yet been made. “It’s something we’dhavetostrategizeabout,” said Manhire.
Montaguecouncillorswould also like to see the establishment of a joint oversight bodyforsharingrecreational
services, to allow the townships an opportunity to have input. “We can’t go back and changethehistory,”saidPankow, adding that the town is now trying to provide more transparency and detailed informationtothetownships thaninthepast.
AtanApril4townshipcouncil meeting meeting, Ralph presented draft terms of reference for the proposed oversight committee which she developed in consultation with Smiths Falls town staff. Councillors agreed at the April 4 meeting to wait several weeks until the other fourmunicipalcouncilshave had a chance to review the terms before voting on the cost-sharing request. Councillorsalsoexpressedadesire to pursue discussions with the town about water and sewer rates charged to Montague residents who live in theAtirontoSubdivison,and receive those services from Smiths Falls.
Mayor Louis Antonakos presents Doug Sneddon with a community builder award in recognition of his work to clean up the Mississippi River as well as lobbying for upgrades to the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital.
Photo credit: Matthew Behrens.
Indigenous rights pilgrimage comes to Lanark County in May
Regional - Matthew Behrens editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Two years after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released its landmark study documenting the devastating legacy of residential schools on Indigenous communities, a group of 30 people will walk from Kitchener to Ottawa this spring in response to one of the report’s 98 calls to action.
The Pilgrimage for Indigenous Rights, which will travel along Highway 7 in Lanark County with overnight stops May 8 in Maberly and May 9 in Perth, is a 600-km journey that answers the call for faith groups to “formally adopt and comply with the principles, norms, and standards of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as a framework for reconciliation.” Among recommended activities are public dialogue and action, as well as repudiation of “concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous lands and peoples.”
The long-distance walk will also publicize and support NDP MP Romeo Saganash’s private member’s bill, C-262, calling on Parliament to officially adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights
Cases of human trafficking in Lanark County
Smith Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca
If you think it doesn’t happen here, think again.
Human trafficking is happening in Lanark, Perth, Carleton Place and Smiths Falls. “It’s all over Canada, all over the world,” said Constable Aaron Tompkins, community services officer with the Smiths Falls Police Service. “It’s a domestic problem,” he went on, adding that recently he has seen at least two cases within the town.
Human trafficking has
become the third largest issue police deal with after guns and drugs.
This was the message to an audience of 40 plus people at the Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre March 27. The talk was jointly presented by the police, Victim Services and Crime Stoppers. After a short presentation titled, Human Trafficking - Modern Day Slavery, Ashley Struthers and Collette Johnson of Victim Services continued to describe how youth are enticed and then become enmeshed in the trade.
Pimps troll social media sites looking for vulnerable girls and boys, and trap them by offering a listening ear and lots of attention.
Susceptible kids range from ages 13 to 20 (some older); once caught, they are fed drugs, given little food, moved from town to town frequently - sometimes daily - and not allowed to sleep.
Their identification is taken and they have no money. Pimps look for vulnerabilities and, once found, ‘groom’ their catches. For the pimp, it’s
of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and ensuring Canadian laws operate in harmony with the treaty. Canada signed on to UNDRIP in May, 2016.
For 21-year-old Erin Froese, a third-year environmental studies student at Canadian Mennonite University, the pilgrimage is an opportunity to put into practice the TRC’s calls for just relationships with Indigenous peoples. “It’s a chance to ask what we will do to recognize the harm that we as churches have been engaged in, and how we can work towards reconciliation,” says Froese, one of the walk’s organizers. “This pilgrimage also allows me to connect the ways I have been learning about Indigenous-settler relations – and the many ways my thoughts have been shifting – into that physical movement of my body, creating a more embodied practice of moving and changing.”
Froese also feels a very personal link to the issue. “I grew up going to a summer camp that I felt very spiritually connected to, but then I found out that the land was also sacred to the Dakota people,” she says. “It was a big realization for me to see that my privilege of experiencing that place was pos-
a lucrative business.
One youth can bring in $360,000 a year; three could potentially bring in over $1,000,000.
As well as human trafficking for sexual purposes, there’s trafficking for labour, child trafficking, organ trafficking, and enforced marriages.
Lyle Clancy of Crime Stoppers concluded the evening urging anyone with a tip on human trafficking to go to the police or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
And be assured, he said, the calls are anonymous.
sible because other people were kicked off of that land. That’s when these injustices became more real for me.” Indigenous people have long-engaged in such lengthy journeys. In 2016, Norman Shewaybick trekked 17 days along 550 km of treacherous ice roads from Thunder Bay to his Webequie home in Nishnawbe Aski First Nation territory, hauling a full oxygen tank to highlight the Indigenous health care crisis afflicting Northern Ontario that claimed the life of his wife.
Three years earlier, a group of Cree Youth, known as the Nishiyuu Walkers, undertook a wintertime 1,500 km journey from northern Quebec to Ottawa. In 1990, supporters of the Innu people, who at that time were trying to stop military training on their traditional lands, walked both from Halifax and Windsor to Ottawa. The pilgrimage is open to all people, and will include both Indigenous and settler participants aged nine months to 87 years. The walkers, who will sleep in church basements and conduct educational sharing sessions at each stop, will arrive in Ottawa May 14. Details on joining the walk for one or more days are available at http://pfir.ca/
A pilgrimage for Indigenous rights, which travels through Lanark County on its way to Ottawa this May, is part of a long tradition of similar long-distance journeys, including the 1990 Halifax to Ottawa walk in support of the Innu people of Labrador. Photo Credit: Matthew Behrens.
The Pilgrimage for Indigenous Rights follows in the footsteps of similar social justice efforts, including the Anishinaabe Water Walk, which in August 2015 traveled a section of the proposed Energy East pipeline from Eagle Lake, Ontario to Shoal Lake, Manitoba. Photo credit: Alex Hundert.
Ashley Struthers of Victim Services answered questions after the Monday night presentation on human trafficking at the Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre on March 27. Photo credit: Sally Smith.
It seemed improbable back in the mid 1980s that the little town of Perth could raise more than $1,000,000 to fund a recreation facility. Especially given the fiscally conservative mindset of many town officials.
Recently I caught up with John Willson and Lana March, who were both on the Conlon Farm Recreation Area fundraising committee back in the planning stages. They appeared in a 1988 photo of the groundbreaking ceremony along with three others, which accompanied the January edition of this column. We were able to get three of those original five together for a similar photo at Conlon Farm. The original ceremonial shovel that normally is on display at the Perth & District Community Centre is held by Lana March in the new photo — the same shovel held by Deputy Reeve Chuck Montgomery in the 1988 inset photo.
Willson and March were just two of the key players in the fundraising activities for Conlon Farm, but fortunately each brought different strengths to a unique team. Willson had spent many years as a law-
yer, and served two terms on town council and on various boards and organizations. March had a background as a physical education teacher, and was a councillor at the time. She later became mayor in August 1993.
The Perth Courier of Oct. 8, 1986 reported from the regular town council meeting that “Councillor Bill White says one of the fundraising methods which will be used is to pitch portions of the park to local businesses, industry and anyone else interested. Phase one is expected to cost about $444,000 and a fundraising committee has been established.” The estimated total cost for phase two was $563,300. March recalled that she was a relatively new councillor for the Town of Perth in 1986. “Bill White and I were on the recreational committee for the town. We put together a fundraising team, and team leaders were assigned different components, and I was in close contact with the mayor at the time, Lowell Yorke. We soon met with the provincial minister and other officials in Collingwood. We
by Terry O'Hearn
Conlon Farm Recreation Complex & the little town that could - Part 3 Perth Inside Out:
gave a presentation, and you could tell all the locals in the room and other people from across the province were impressed. We had done our homework.”
It seems officials and citizenry back home in Perth were also impressed, as no obstacle was considered insurmountable thereafter. The delegation from Perth had earned a great deal of respect, and the level of cooperation from the town improved dramatically.
Willson also has fond memories of those heady days. “I got involved when there had to be $1,000,000 raised, and after receiving a phone call, became cochair with Lily Pigott. I had not known Lily previously, but was quite willing to help, and found that she was an energetic woman. It only took about a month before we had our funding pretty well secured. CBC heard about it, and CBC in Toronto called and we were interviewed. We had close to half a million from a Wintario grant, and the other half was committed by industry and groups and organizations who sponsored various parts of the facility.”
Perth mayor accepts plaque from settlers trek members
Phase one was to consist of an official little league baseball diamond, the building of three soccer fields, three rows of lights for the soccer fields, a maintenance chalet for the soccer fields, a park identity location, parking and extension roads, and security lighting.
Willson remembered that as the committee went about their business, there always seemed to be positive news. “Although council at the time tended to be fairly conservative, we didn’t have any major roadblocks put in our path. Every time I go over there, I feel a sense of pride at having been involved.”
According to March, the name of the facility was debated for a while, but they soon had a consensus on the name Conlon Farm Recreation Complex. She agreed that the committee found their comfort zone with Perth town council after funding was secured through the Wintario grant. March also noted that Police Chief Ace Halladay and others were big supporters of a ‘no alcohol’ policy for events. The alcohol-free policy would go a long way in giving Perth an outstanding reputation for staging events of all kinds.
Both Willson and March pay tribute to Dep-
uty Reeve Montgomery, especially with getting the re-zoning of the land approved. “It seems the right people were in the right place at the right time,” said March. “It was a good feeling to be part of a successful project of that nature. I feel we are all responsible for the success of our community.” Recreation Director Bob Sauer was also commended by both for his “incredible vision,” including insistence on the need for a toboggan run.
Stay tuned for more on the birth of Conlon Farm. Terry@pdgmedia.ca
Elizabeth and Clark Theobold, members of the Settlers
From the left, Bill White, Lana March with original ceremonial groundbreaking shovel, and John Willson. Inset, from the left: Bob Sauer, Bill White, Chuck Montgomery, Lana March, and John Willson in 1988, as shown in our February edition. Photo credit: Submitted.
Events around the region
Almonte & Mississippi Mills
April
• Mondays
Uke Klub
Naismith Pub
411 Ottawa St., Almonte
613-256-6336
April • Wednesdays
Almonte Duplicate Bridge Club
Almonte Legion 100 Bridge St., Almonte
613-256-2142
April • Wednesdays
Open Celtic Jam
Naismith Pub 411 Ottawa St., Almonte
613-256-6336
April • Thursdays
Jimmy Tri-Tone Band
The Barley Mow
79 Little Bridge Street, Almonte
613-256-5669
Barleymow.com
April 8
Dance Day 4 Kids
Almonte Community Centre
182 Bridge St., Almonte
613-253-6026
April 8
Workshop: Small Space Vegetable
Gardens
Almonte Library 155 High St., Almonte
613-256-1037
April 9
Guitar Clinic: Pentatonic Patterns
Plus The Barley Mow
79 Little Bridge Street, Almonte
613-256-5669
ricdenis3@gmail.com
Barleymow.com
April 11
Compassion Fatigue Workshop
Alzheimer Society 453 Ottawa St., Unit 4, Almonte allison@hubhospice.com
April 15
Culture 22: Adam Cicchillitti
Sivarulrasa Gallery 34 Mill St., Almonte
613-256-8033
sivarulrasa.com/culture22
April 19
Nat'l Cdn Film Day: Monsieur
Lazhar
Almonte Library 155 High St. Almonte
613-256-1037
April 21 - 23
Leading Ladies
Almonte & District High School 126 Martin St., Almonte
April 21
Astronomy Night Mill of Kintail 2854 Concession 8, Almonte
613-256-3610
Mvc.on.ca
April 22
Taekwon-Do Colour Belt Classic Almonte Community Centre 182 Bridge St., Almonte edge@edgetaekwondo.com
613-837-7656
April 22
How-To Fair
Mississippi Mills Library
April 23
Trad Song Session
The Barley Mow 79 Little Bridge Street, Almonte
613-256-5669
ricdenis3@gmail.com
Barleymow.com
April 24
Parkinson's Support Group Mills Community Support 67 Industrial Dr., Almonte chiselndraw@gmail.com
613-256-0509
April 24
Almonte Hort: Roses
Cornerstone Community Church 1728 Concession 11, Almonte
613-256-4995
April 26
Volunteer & Recreation Fair
Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St., Almonte
613-256-1077 Exploremississippimills.ca
April 27
Volunteer Appreciation Night
Almonte Civitan Hall 500 Almonte St., Almonte
613-256-1077
April 27
Vernissage: Tom Campbell Fairview Manor 75 Spring St., Almonte 613-256-3113
April 28
Almonte Lectures: Boating in NWT
Almonte United Church 106 Elgin St., Almonte almontelectures.net
April 29
Authors for Indies: Rick Revelle Mill Street Books
52 Mill St., Almonte
613-256-9090 Millstreetbooks.com
April 29
AiC: Paul Marleyn & Mauro Bertoli
Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St., Almonte Almonteinconcert.com
April 30
Almonte in Concert's Youthful Music Club
Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St., Almonte almonteinconcert.com/youthmusic-club
Carleton Place
April • First Friday of the month
Open Jam
Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St.
613-257-5755
April • Mondays
Mixed Euchre
Royal Canadian Legion Branch
192 177 George St
April • Tuesdays
Cribbage
Royal Canadian Legion Branch
192 177 George St
April • Tuesdays
Ladies Drop-In Darts
Royal Canadian Legion Branch
192 177 George St
April • Tuesdays
Civitan Bingo
Carleton Place Arena
April • Tuesdays
Dart Night
The New Queens 142 Bridge St., Carleton Place
April • Wednesdays
Open Jam Night
The Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St www.thewaterfrontgastropub.ca
April • Wednesdays
Storytime
Carleton Place Public Library
101 Beckwith St, Carleton Place
April • Thursdays
Karaoke Night
The Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St www.thewaterfrontgastropub.ca
April • Thursdays
Indoor Walking at Carambeck
Carambeck Community Centre 351 Bridge Street 613-257-1704
April • Fridays
Ballroom and Latin Dance Social
Total Rhythm Dance Studio Lansdowne Avenue
April • Fridays
DJ Whisper
The Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St
www.thewaterfrontgastropub.ca
April • Saturdays
Acoustic Saturdays
The Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St www.thewaterfrontgastropub.ca
The Thirsty Moose Pub & Eatery
20 Bridge St.
April • Sundays
Blues w/Barry Buse
Waterfront Gastropub
12 Bell St., Carleton Place
613-257-5755
Thewaterfrontgastropub.ca
April 7 - 9
Home & Fashion Show
Carleton Place Arena
75 Neelin St., Carleton Place
613-257-1690
April 8
Gardening Workshop
Carleton Place Arena
75 Neelin St., Carleton Place
613-257-1690
April 8
Celebrate Spring Dinner
Zion-Memorial United Church
37 Franklin St., Carleton Place
613-257-8547
April 9
Launch: 150 CP Labyrinth Walks
CP Community Labyrinth
CP Heritage Museum
267 Edmund St., Carleton Place
613-257-1014
Carletonplacecommunitylabyrinth.blogspot.ca
April 11
Women's Business Group
Breakfast
The Gourmet Restaurant Hwy 7 at Hwy 15, Carleton Place
April 13 & 27
Toastmasters
Riverview Seniors' Residence
204 Lake Ave., Carleton Place
613-250-9282
Mastermindtoastmasters.com
April 15
Bunny Run 2017
Carleton Place Town Hall
175 Bridge St., Carleton Place Koryearle@hotmail.com
Downtowncarletonplace.com
April 15
Jimmy Tri-Tone Band
Waterfront Gastropub
12 Bell St., Carleton Place
613-257-5755
Thewaterfrontgastropub.ca
April 20
Jazz Night w/Peter Brown Trio
Slackoni's
82 Peter St., Perth 613-257-2657 Slackonis.com
April 21 - 23
Vintage Clothing Sale
Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum
267 Edmund St., Carleton Place 613-253-7013
April 22
How-To Fair
Carleton Place Library
April 28 & 29
UCW Rummage Sale
Zion-Memorial United Church
37 Franklin St., Carleton Place
April 28 - 30
H.M.S. Pinafore
Carleton Place Town Hall 175 Bridge St, Carleton Place Mississippimudds.ca
April 28
Lanark Laughs
Waterfront Gastropub
12 Bell St., Carleton Place 613-257-5755
Thewaterfrontgastropub.ca
April 29 & 30
Community Garden Rejuvenation
St. Gregory's Next Door Community Garden 176 Townline Rd., Carleton Place
Perth
April • Tuesdays
Brock Zeman & Blair Hogan
O'Reilly's Pub
43 Gore St. E., Perth 613-267-7994
April • Wednesdays
Acoustic Stage w/Dave Balfour
April 7, 19 - 21
The Invisible Boy YAK Youth Services
1 Sherbrooke St. E., Perth www.burningpassionstheatre.com
April 7 - 9
Wrong for Each Other
Studio Theatre
63 Gore St. E., Perth 613-267-7469
April 7
Mike Brown
Golden Arrow
71 Foster St., Perth 613-267-4500
April 8
Algonquin College Open House 7 Craig St., Perth perth@algonquincollege.com 613-267-2859
April 8
Umberlune
Golden Arrow
71 Foster St., Perth 613-267-4500
April 9
Sherman Downey Full Circle Theatre
26 Craig St., Perth 613-267-6817
April 11
Low-Maintenance Perennials
St. Paul's United Church
25 Gore St. W., Perth 613-253-5690 www.stpauls-uc-perth.org
April 12 & 13
Julieta Full Circle Theatre
26 Craig St., Perth 613-267-6817
April 13
Matt Dickson
Golden Arrow
71 Foster St., Perth 613-267-4500
April 14
Tom Watson
O'Reilly's Pub
43 Gore St. E., Perth
613-267-7994
April 15
Easter Egg Hunt
Stewart Park Herriott St., Perth
613-267-1947
April 19
Nat'l Cdn Film Day: The Sweet Hereafter Full Circle Theatre
26 Craig St., Perth 613-267-6817
April 21 - 23, 27 - 29
The Tin Woman Full Circle Theatre
26 Craig St., Perth 613-267-6817
April 21
Stephen Fisher
O'Reilly's Pub
43 Gore St. E., Perth 613-267-7994
April 21
Jeff Leeson
Golden Arrow
71 Foster St., Perth 613-267-4500
April 22
Mom-to-Mom Sale
St. Paul's United Church
25 Gore St. W., Perth 613-267-2973
April 22
How-To Fair
Perth Library
April 22
P'Earth Day Parade
Perth Town Hall
80 Gore St. E., Perth 613-267-0881
April 22
Brea Lawrenson
Golden Arrow
71 Foster St., Perth 613-267-4500
April 23
Listening Room: David Olney
April 24
Parkinson's Support Group Community Home Support
40 Sunset Blvd. Perth 613-267-6400
April 26
Maudie
Full Circle Theatre
26 Craig St., Perth 613-267-6817
April 27 & 28
Rummage Sale
St. Paul's United Church
25 Gore St. W. Perth 613-267-2973
April 28
Ted Lalonde Golden Arrow 71 Foster St., Perth 613-267-4500
April 28
River City Junction
O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E., Perth 613-267-7994
April 29
Local Colours Art Show & Sale
McMartin House
125 Gore St. E., Perth
April 29
Riley White Golden Arrow 71 Foster St., Perth 613-267-4500
April 29
Empty Bowls - Riverguild Riverguild Fine Crafts 51 Gore St. E., Perth 613-267-5237
April 30
Perth Band: Music from Movies
Perth Legion
26 Beckwith St E., Perth 613-256-4221
April 30
Bluegrass Mass & Singalong St. Paul's United Church
25 Gore St. W., Perth 613-485-6434
Smiths Falls
April • Mondays
SF Duplicate Bridge Club
Smiths Falls Legion
7 Main St. E., Smiths Falls 613-283-2690
April • Tuesdays
SF Duplicate Bridge Club
Smiths Falls Legion
7 Main St. E., Smiths Falls
613-283-2690
April 7 & 8
Glad All Over
The Station Theatre
53 Victoria Ave., Smiths Falls
613-283-0300
April 19
The Sweet Hereafter
The Station Theatre
53 Victoria Ave., Smiths Falls 613-283-0300
April 21 & 22
Lion
The Station Theatre
53 Victoria Ave., Smiths Falls 613-283-0300
April 22
How-To Fair
Smiths Falls Library
April 22
RMEO Fundraising Gala Dinner/ Dance
Hanley Hall
30 McGill St. N., Smiths Falls Rmeo.org
April 22
Eddy & the Stingrays Dance Almonte Civitan Hall
500 Almonte St., Almonte 613-256-2514x2296
April 22
Folkus: Scott Merritt Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St., Almonte 613-256-9090
April 27
Maudie
April 28 & 30
The Chalk Garden
The Station Theatre
53 Victoria Ave., Smiths Falls 613-283-0300
April • Wednesday
Shawn McCullough
The Cove Country Inn
2 Bedford St., Westport 1-888-COVEINN Coveinn.com
April 7
Jeff Callery
The Cove Country Inn
2 Bedford St., Westport 1-888-COVEINN Coveinn.com
April 8
100th Anniversary of Vimy Ridge Memorial Service
Royal Canadian Legion Upper Rideau Branch #542, Westport
April 8
Henry Norwood The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St., Westport 1-888-COVEINN Coveinn.com
April 9
Bill White & White Pine Westport Legion 10099 Perth Rd., Westport 613-273-3615
April 9
Jeff Code & Silver Wings Westport Legion 10099 Perth Rd., Westport 613-273-7017
April 13
Jazz Night w/Spencer
1-888-COVEIN
April 21
BOTR: Jerome Godboo Band The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St., Westport 1-888-COVEIN
April 22
Eric Uren The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St., Westport 1-888-COVEIN
April 23
Shawn McCullough & Henry Norwood The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St., Westport 1-888-COVEIN
April 28
Logan Brown & Taylor Angus The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St., Westport 1-888-COVEIN
April 8
Maple Sugar House & Museum Gibbons Family Farm 41 Leacock Road, Frankville 613-275-2893
April 8
Tay Valley Choir Concert
Maberly Hall 172 Maberly Elphin Rd., Maberly 613-267-5353 x110
April 16
Easter Bunny Fultons Pancake House & Sugar Bush
399 Sugar Bush Rd., Pakenham 613-256-3867
April 18 - 21
Celtic Days & Pancakes Fultons Pancake House & Sugar Bush 399 Sugar Bush Rd., Pakenham 613-256-3867
April • Saturdays Music at the Moose
O'Reilly's Pub
43 Gore St. E., Perth 613-267-7994
Perth Tea Room
23 Gore St. W., Perth
613-267-3170
The Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave., Smiths Falls 613-283-0300
Would you like to see your community’s events for next month listed here? Please send details of the
or call (613) 206-0708 The events listed here are submitted to Hometown News, Events are subject to change or
to events@pdgmedia.ca. For information on our ads contact
Westport & Rideau Lakes Regional
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Perth and area gets ready to celebrate Canada’s 150th
Smith Falls - Sarah nelson editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Celebrations of Canada’s 150th anniversary have already started in Perth and area, and the opening of an exhibit of 10,000-year-old Indigenous artifacts from the area on March 25 at the Tay Valley Township municipal office is the most recent. The exhibit is ongoing until 2018.
This year the Town of Perth is also organizing the annual Kilt Run, with the theme being “all things maple.” Special events hosted in Perth include a series of Seniors’ Games including bridge, pickleball and swimming; the Ontario Major Little League Championships, and the Canadian Orienteering Champion-
Special Events:
ships.
The biggest Town of Perth event is called Explore our Backyard, which will run over the Canada Day weekend from June 30 until July 2. On June 30 there will be a party at Tay Basin that will include a concert held in downtown Perth complete with food and drink.
Canada Day celebrations will be held July 1 at Conlon Farm with family events, food, music, and fireworks in the evening. Shannon Baillon, Perth’s director of community services, says, “we will have lots more coming out about the Explore Our Backyard weekend for Canada Day so stay tuned!”
In addition, one of the 2017 Canada Voyageur Canoe Brigades will visit Perth
Event Description/Location
on June 26 on their way to Parliament Hill. The Canoe Brigades are made up of “a diverse group of First Nations and Métis peoples, athletes, historians, new Canadians, educators, seniors, youth, and surveyors,” according to their website. Their aims are to promote reflection on Canada’s histories, increase cultural awareness and celebrate each local community in its own way. Each Brigade will paddle a Voyageur-style canoe through several communities across Canada leading up to Canada Day on July 1, 2017.
Here are some of the special events for this year as well as regular annual festivals and events in Perth and the surrounding area:
Dates
Senior’s Games District 9 Bridge, Pickleball and Swimming May 27-28
2017 Canada Voyageur Canoe Brigade Stopover in Perth on their way to Parliament Hill for Canada Day June 26
Ontario Major Little League Championships TBA July 22-29
Canadian Orienteering Championships Perth and Foley Mountain August 3-7
Regular Annual or Biennial Events:
Event Description/Location Dates
Festival of the Maples Perth April 29
Stewart Park Festival Stewart Park, 80 Gore St. East, Perth July 14-16
Ribfest Perth Fairgrounds July 28-30
Garlic Festival Perth Fairgrounds August 12-13
Rideau Ferry Regatta 133 Yacht Club Rd., Rideau Ferry August 15-16
Perth Fair Perth Fairgrounds September 1-4
Lanark County Harvest Festival Beckwith Park, 1319 9th Line Beckwith September 10
For more information:
http://www.perth.ca/en/live-and-play/Live-and-Play.aspx http://www.tayvalleytwp.ca/en/discover-tay-valley/canada-150.asp http://lanarkcountytourism.com/lanark-county-tourism-events/
Repurposing, recycling, reusing, decluttering for 40 days
Smith FallsMatthew Behrens editorial@pdgmedia.ca
In a unique approach to Lent that is accessible to anyone regardless of their faith, Royal LePage Advantage Real Estate Brokerage in Smiths Falls launched a local 40 Bags for 40 Days initiative on March 1 that encourages community members to declutter, repurpose, share, and donate a bag of household items up until Easter.
Inspired by an annual American campaign begun in 2011 by blogger Ann Marie Heasley, who shares tips on embracing a simple life, the Smiths Falls realty firm joins some 50,000 individuals and groups across North America par-
ticipating in this year’s different approach to spring cleaning. With an underlying environmental message that unused or unwanted items do not belong in landfills, the campaign also focuses on the intentional building of community links by seeking out individuals and groups in need of what’s otherwise gathering dust at home.
Royal LePage’s Jennifer Aunger-Ritchie jokes that “as realtors, we love anything that helps declutter. It’s amazing to see what you’ve become accustomed to keeping on your nightside table that sits there for months or years and you’ve never moved it.”
Aunger-Ritchie says the initiative also encourages community connection,
given that people donating goods may meet for the first time, or friends exchanging items may get together for a coffee and catch-up chat. Lent is traditionally a time for giving up something, and while Pope Francis recently discussed ideas like releasing hate or fear from one’s life, Aunger-Ritchie adds that “maybe it is not so much about denying yourself something, but instead bettering yourself by simplifying your life and your home by giving back to the community.”
Royal LePage is not collecting bags, but it produces daily Facebook posts on cleaning and simplifying living spaces as well as where donations can be made. “Most of the realtors at our firm have taken it on and we're having so much fun with it,” Aunger-Ritchie says, adding, “This is in keeping with the spirit of our company, where you’d be hard pressed to find a realtor at our firm who does not volunteer in some sort of capacity.”
Other initiatives her firm will be supporting include the Tammy’s Nails purse auction in support of Big Brothers, Big Sisters. “Lots of women hold on to lots of purses, so this is a great chance to get them out of your home and donate them to this charitable function,” she says. Other ideas include donating linens to the Lanark Animal Welfare Society and groceries to the food bank, especially since “they don't just need food at Christmas time, but year round.”
Amalgamation and new location in 2017 plans for Lanark County Mental Health
Smith Falls - Brian Turner editorial@pdgmedia.ca
This year, 2017, holds the promise of being very busy and exciting for Lanark County Mental Health (LCMH). On the heels of marking its 35th anniversary last fall, this crucial local health care provider is now planning on relocating its main Smiths Falls offices and amalgamating with Lanark Leeds and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health (LLGAMH).
“This is a very exciting journey toward integration for both organizations,” says LCMH Executive Director Diana McDonnell. “This collaborative partnership will provide access for our area residents to receive a variety of addictions and mental health services. The timeline planning for the relocation to 2 Gould
Street Smiths Falls (site of the formal high school) is in progress. We are very excited to be embarking on this journey to better serve our community.”
The new location will be customized to suit the needs of both clients and staff to ensure the best level of mental health care and addiction treatment possible. Being in close proximity to the Smiths Falls campus of the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital and located in a newly refurbished facility that is already home to other professional health care providers will mean seamless service delivery to area residents. While confirmed timelines for both the relocation and amalgamation have yet to be announced, both LCMH and LLGAMH are committed to moving for-
ward with expediency in response to the growing needs for addiction and mental health services.
“We are very supportive of this work. It is critical for client experience that the two organizations are integrated,” added Caitlin den Boer, communications lead for the South East Local Health Integration Network. “Moreover, the co-location of addictions and mental health care with primary care, community support services and other health services will benefit the community as a whole.”
Lanark County Mental Health has provided community-based transitional youth and adult mental health services for 35 years and has been sponsored by the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital since 1997.
Amelia (left) and Grace Ritchie get into the sharing spirit with their own donations to the 40 Bags for 40 Days initiative. Photo credit: Matthew Behrens.
Am I the only one?
by Carrie Wynne
day gently. It sets the tone for the rest of your day.
Replenish with silence. Let silence marinate into your bones and soften your orientation to life. A calm mind connects to your body and feeds your soul. Silence will rebalance your energy and is absolutely essential for inspired living. Frantic inside equals frantic outside, which leads to burnout.
Carleton Place Bunny Run hops along downtown on April 15
It takes discipline and practice to create a mindset where inspiration thrives. Most of us have been hardwired for struggle. Life can be discouraging at times and we allow ourselves to get depleted by these bad mental states. We need good habits and routines that keep us on track. Here are five strategies to create an inspired life. Create a daily ritual. It seems quirky, but without my daily ritual I just react all day long and do whatever comes up. I’m like a flag in the wind. I’m never as effective as I want to be and nothing seems very meaningful. Find that sacred space and time to unwrap the
Radical self-acceptance. We need to radically accept ourselves. We’re all flawed human beings. Trying to please everyone or get them to like you is just exhausting. Don’t take things personally. It’s not about you. We are all in charge of our own happiness. Embrace change. Develop a healthy attitude toward change. Change is constantly flowing into your life and moving things around. Change is necessary especially when things aren’t working. Even minor shifts can be life altering over time. As the serenity prayer goes, accept what you cannot change, have
courage to change what you can and wisdom to know the difference. Count your blessings. Flood your mind with warm, delicious thoughts. Use gratitude as your guiding principle. Don’t take anything or anyone for granted. Recognize they are all gifts and should be treated that way. Keep a gratitude journal. When you feel good you attract more blessings into your life.
By adopting these simple strategies you will create more joy in your life. Celebrate. Don’t wait until the end of your life wishing you had of let yourself be happier. You deserve better. Surround yourself with people who like themselves and spread good energy and become that person yourself. Begin living an inspired, brilliant, creative, stirred and enthused life.
Signed, Am I the Only One? Carrie's column reflects her own opinions and not necessarily those of Hometown News. Five strategies for inspired living
Carleton Place - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca
The tenth annual, free community Bunny Run returns to Downtown Carleton Place on Saturday, April 15.
The Bunny Run has seen over 1,200 children gathering treats along Bridge St since it began in 2007. “We have an amazing thirty-one businesses and organizations participating. This is huge,” said Kory Earle, event chair and founding member.
From 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. children and their families from all across Lanark County are invited to explore the beauty of downtown Carleton Place, check out the unique local stores and keep an eye out for the Easter Bunny! Organizers encourage people to bring their cameras to take pictures throughout the day! Meet the Easter Bunny and Deputy Mayor Jerry Flynn at Town Hall at 11 a.m, rain or shine. Bring a bag to collect Easter treats and dress the weather.
Earle said, “I want to take this opportunity to thank the businesses in Carleton Place, People First
of Lanark County, [all the] volunteers, Arlene Quinn, Matt Vlasblom, [the Carleton Place] BIA, local political leaders, community members, family, friends and the media for all the support. We believe in partnerships!” New for the tenth anniversary, the event will welcome country music legend Arlene Quinn who
will perform from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and local musician Matt Vlasblom who will perform from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Bridge Street. People First of Lanark and Downtown Carleton Place BIA are hosting this year’s festivities. For more information, to donate or participate call or text Earle at 613 451-0051 or e-mail koryearle@hotmail.com.
Smiths Falls Downtown Smiths Falls
Easter Egg Hunt Easter Egg Hunt
lifestyle
Health Matters
Simple Ways to Optimize your Digestion
Optimizing digestion is easy. Sadly, we’ve become disconnected from our digestive processes, which can lead to a variety of digestive concerns. The good news is, getting back on track only takes a few simple steps.
1.Rest and digest
Before you can even start properly digesting food, your body needs to be in a relaxed state. In scientific terms, we call this the parasympathetic state. The opposite of this is your sympathetic state, which is when your body is primed for stress. From an evolutionary perspective, our sympathetic system should only be on when we’re being chased by a lion or in a similar stressful situation. Today, we are constantly stressed by work, responsibilities, aggressive drivers,
health concerns, etc. It’s this constant state of stress that is causing many people to have digestive concerns. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), for instance, can be directly linked to stress and anxiety.
When we force food into our body and it’s not ready to properly digest, we are preventing the normal digestive functions from happening: stomach acid secretion, bile secretion from the gallbladder and liver, enzyme secretion from intestinal cells, and bowel movements from the colon. If we do this over and over, the body eventually develops disease — very preventable disease. To digest properly, you need to rest. Carve out the necessary time throughout the day to digest, and your gut will be much happier
for it.
2. Chew more
The next easiest change you can make is to chew more often. Not only is proper mastication (the scientific term for chewing) better for digestion, research has shown it can help with weight loss. Regarding digestion specifically, chewing helps to infuse your food with enzymes and break it down to a liquid form before passing into the stomach and beyond. This is critical because: chewing stimulates the rest of the digestive tract to prime itself for incoming food; mixing the food with the enzymes in your mouth allow for digestion to start before the food even hits the stomach; and improperly chewed food particles have been shown to cause damage to
the digestive tract. Regarding weight loss, a 2011 study from China showed that chewing more with every bite (upwards of 40 times per bite) decreased food intake by more than 10 per cent and helped regulate blood sugar. This study proves the age-old habit of taking your time when you eat and eating until you’re 80 per cent full. It’s hard to know you’re 80 per cent full when you eat your meal in less than 10 minutes!
3. Morning warm water and lemon juice
A common issue we see with patients is dehydration. Most people laugh when we mention they should be drinking the 1.5 to 3 litres of water per day. The human body is made up of 55 per cent to 65 per cent water. That’s over half!
If you don’t drink enough water every day, your body quickly starts to break down. Headaches, low energy, muscular tension, and sluggish digestive function are some potential effects of chronic dehydration.
When you sleep at night for eight hours with your mouth open, you significantly dehydrate your body. Try breathing with your mouth open for one minute and see how you feel. Throughout the day, we dehydrate approximately half a liter via breathing and have a litre via perspiring. The rest we lose via urinating and bowel movements. If you don’t replenish this with water or fruit/ vegetable consumption, you will be dehydrated. Start your day with a warm glass of water and
a squeeze of lemon juice. The water helps rehydrate the body and prevents constipation. The lemon juice stimulates the liver and gallbladder to secrete bile and prepare the digestive tract for the day’s work ahead.
Dr. Jenn Keller and Dr. Alex Keller are naturopathic doctors and the owners of Vis Tree Health in North Gower. By educating people on diet, healthy lifestyle choices and using natural therapeutics, they offer their patients a natural medical option when dealing with health concerns. They also operate Vis Tree Farm, a certified organic produce and herb farm, where they offer health workshops throughout the year.
Carleton Place Shoppers Drug Mart runs for women’s mental health
Carleton Place - jane hobson
jane@pdgmedia.ca
Shoppers Drug Mart in Carleton Place is actively trying to lessen the stigma that surrounds mental illnesses by running in the 2017 Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women on May 7.
“As a pharmacist I see a lot of stigma associated with mental health and the run helps lessen it because it creates awareness and raises money,” said the pharmacy owner, Myron Li, who has run for the cause since 2013.
There are races in 15 different cities across Canada to support various women’s mental health programs. So far five employees at Shoppers Drug Mart in Carleton Place are registered to run. The proceeds from the local run, which has five and 10 kilometre distances, will go towards women’s mental health programs at The Royal Ottawa Mental Health
Centre.
“It’s important for the community to see us dedicating time outside the store,” said Li who will run five kilometres in May. “I’m looking forward to having fun with the team, supporting the community and supporting women.”
Li said the store manager, Greg Hoare, is committed to running 10 kilometres.
Courtney Schmidt is in her fifth year working as a pharmacy assistant at Shoppers Drug Mart. She says she was diagnosed with mental health issues as a teenager.
“I have felt the stigma, especially in high school when people didn’t talk about mental health as much,” said Schmidt. “My parents encouraged me to seek help and talk to someone.” This will be Schmidt’s third year walking five kilometres with her mom by her side.
Studies indicate that
women are three times more likely to suffer from depression than men and one in four women will experience some form of depression in their lifetime. Schmidt said she is proud to work for a pharmacy that focuses specifically on women’s mental health as much as it does on physical health.
“Regardless of diagnosis, you should be able to talk to any member of the [pharmacy] team with privacy, no judgment and no fear,” Schmidt said. “Everybody has a story and no one is here to judge.”
For Cindy Shields, a merchandiser at Shoppers Drug Mart, running for the cause “shows people with mental health there is a community that cares about them and supports them.”
Shields has worked at Shoppers Drug Mart in Carleton Place for about a year and a half. She is running five
kilometres in May because she has lots of female friends who suffer from mental health, some of whom have stayed at The Royal.
“The run shows people with mental health that there is a community that cares
about them and supports them,” Shields said, adding that she thinks people put their mental health on the back-burner too often. “I’m doing it for Courtney. It’s not only important to have supportive friends and family but also a supportive work community as well.”
Men and boys are encouraged to participate in the Run for Women to support their mothers, sisters, friends and wives. Anyone can register.
Pharmacy Assistant Courtney Schmidt (left) with pharmacy owner Myron Li at the 2015 Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women. Photo credit: Courtney Schmidt.
Home and Garden
Spring is officially here. Be it sprucing up inside your house or landscaping your yard, there are lots of ideas and projects to be undertaken.
From this issue until our September publication you will be able to read tips on planting flowers, yard care, tree maintenance, home decor and more. This month, we’re featuring tips for opening up the cottage — a task that means summer is on the way!
Be sure to check out this section each month for the latest in home and garden ideas and advice.
Smiths Falls home show to celebrate 150 years of cottage life
Smiths Falls - Chris Must
editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Organizers of the 2017 Smiths Falls Home & Living Expo are inviting the public to help commemorate Canada’s 150th anniversary in a unique way.
The theme of the expo, to be held for the second year in a row at the former Target store in the County Fair Mall May 6 and 7, is “Celebrating 150 years of cottage life in the heart of the Rideau.”
Dave Pringle, who has been helping to organize the showcase for local businesses for the past six years, said the move from the Memorial Community Centre to the County Fair Mall proved popular with both exhibitors and visitors. “A lot of vendors said, ‘We’ve done twice as much business here as other places,’” said Pringle.
Co-organizer Dawn Quinn agreed that the old Target store, which is several times larger than the
space at the community centre, is “a beautiful place to put on a trade show.”
Since last year’s show, she noted, the mall’s new owners, the Saumure Group, have installed a loading door large enough to allow vehicles to drive into the store. This will make it easier for exhibitors to set up their displays, and will make it possible to display large travel trailers during the show.
“Last year was the best attendance we’ve ever had,” said Quinn, adding that more than 2,500 visitors came to the 2016 expo. She hopes as many people as possible take the time this year to come out and visit the exhibitors.
“The show is about promoting business within the area,” said Quinn. “We’re not just Smiths Falls.”
Quinn said the history of cottage life is a natural choice for a special Canada 150 exhibit at the trade show. The Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario and
Heritage House will contribute to a historic display, and organizers are hoping for participation from Parks Canada as well.
The expo will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 6 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 7. Pringle said 70 exhibitors participated last year, and about 50 are confirmed so far in 2017. Among the expected highlights this year will be a large model railroad as well as an indoor golf driving range and mini-putt.
Displays at the trade show will include home renovations and decorating, pools and hot tubs, landscaping, antiques and collectibles, cars, RVs and trailers, food, skin care, jewelry, golf, and local attractions and events.
Visitors will come through the mall’s main front entrance, then turn left to enter the former Target store area.
Admission to the expo is free.
Take the stress out of opening the cottage
Overnight temperatures are above zero, and wildlife is starting stir. That can only mean one thing: it’s time to open the cottage. Cottage opening rituals are as unique as the buildings and their owners. The traditions can be steeped sentiments like: “my dad always did this”, “ Mike Holmes says...” or “the previous owner told me...” Opening the cottage is also a task that is often accompanied by anxiety and frustration. But, no matter the shape, size, location and complexity, a building is a building and its functions and systems will be more or less the same as all buildings.
If you take the time to make a list of the tasks required and place them in order of priority you will start to see cottage opening weekend as a fun, easy and highly anticipated time for your family.
Let’s start with the structure.
Begin by checking all outdoor wood structures such as staircases, decks, screen rooms for signs of winter damage or decay. Once you are satisfied that these are safe to use, move on to the main structure. Check all doors, windows, crawlspace/
attic hatches and make sure they function as they did the previous season. Any change in these areas might indicate that the building is shifting or settling. Inspect all accessible beams, columns, rafters, trusses and other structural elements for signs of stress, movement, decay and failure. Remember that most cottages have no one in them all winter and can sustain damage from wind, water, freeze/thaw cycles, theft, rodents, small animals and heavy snow. If you discover an issue, stop and make the necessary repairs if you can or, if necessary, call in the appropriate professional.
Remember to also remove any rodent traps and poison bait for safety reasons. Also, exhaust and intake pipes for dryers, HRV’s , furnaces, and bathrooms should be checked for lint, birds, rodents and other obstructions and cleaned or repaired as required
As the dock and surrounding area are usually one of the focal points of cottage life, we’ll shift our focus there.
If your dock is fixed or has a bubbler installed, inspect the structure, decking, legs, piers and cribs for ice damage and decay. Disconnect
the bubbler if needed. Floating docks or removable leg/ wheel docks are usually a little more work and should be set up according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This may involve towing the dock back from a secluded bay, resetting dock legs, setting chains/anchors or launching the dock from its onshore storage.
This work usually involves heavy lifting and working in the cold water for sustained periods. Extra care needs to be taken to avoid injury and hypothermia. A good pair of chest waders are a must. As an alternative, there are also companies that offer dock service for those who can’t or would rather not take on this task themselves. A simple internet search or call to the local marina should help you find someone in your area who can help. Now that the main fun zone is good to go, let’s go back to our structure(s) and finish checking and connecting the remaining systems. Next issue we’ll cover how to and what to check when it comes to power and water systems.
Submitted by Mat KrotkiPolcan Design Group
More than 2,500 people visited the 2016 Smiths Falls Home & Living Expo. The expo is back at the former Target store in the County Fair Mall for the second year in row, May 6 and 7. Photo credit: Dave Pringle.
Garden Matters: Tips on growing and sowing seeds
'A Seed is a Promise' is a children’s’ book that has always remained in my thoughts over the years because growing seeds really is a promise in so many ways; a promise to the earth, a promise of food or flowers, a promise to spring. There is something about sowing seeds, watching the little sprouts push through the earth and begin to grow, that inspires true joy in gardeners both young and old.
Many seeds can be started inside in winter, or early spring, while others are planted outdoors right into the garden. Want to try starting seeds this season? Here are few of the most important tips to consider:
It’s all in the soil
A good weed free, light seed starting mix is essential. Never ever start seeds in black earth or topsoil. These types of soil are too heavy with poor drainage and easily gets compacted which suffocates small tender roots. Always choose a soil mix specifically for seeding, which should contain lots of vermiculite, peat or perlite. Wet the soil well (not soaking wet) before filling your seeds trays or pots.
Read the package
If the package says to start the seeds inside a specific amount of weeks before then be sure to follow those in-
structions. If the directions state they are best planted directly outdoors in spring then listen to them, there’s a reason they went through the trouble to write the growing instructions on the package. Gardeners often get stir crazy in winter and want to get their hands in the dirt or think that starting seeds earlier will result in bigger plants. Starting plants too early will only result in long stringy weak plants that are more susceptible to disease.
Good light is key
It is often hard to have a good bright light source indoors without grow lights. The sunniest window with the longest amount of daylight is your best choice. This can be a challenge in winter months. If your seedlings start to lean towards the window turn them every few days. Grow lights are optimal.
Watering and growing
Sow the seeds in a moistened mix as mentioned above. Cover the containers to hold in humidity while the seeds germinate with either the cover from your kit, or with a loose plastic sheet. Provide good heat during the germination process (place on a radiator or heating mat). Once sprouted, remove the cover and water them from the bottom (pour water in the tray). Never water from
the top as this can result in disease (especially a fungus disease called "damping off") and may dislodge or damage the sprouts. Always make sure that air circulates freely so humidity isn't trapped around the seedling.
Planting out
Always watch the weather as each spring is different. Many a carefully nurtured tomato seedling has been killed by a May frost or their growing slowed down by cold soil. Protect all your hard work by always planting later rather than earlier. Be sure to introduce your plants to the outdoors gradually, a process called 'hardening off'. Start for a few hours one spring day, and then a few more hours the next. Give your plants a taste of the outdoors but bring them in at night. After a week or so, they will have acclimated to the outdoors and will be ready to transplant.
The satisfaction in starting seeds after the weather past March is a testimony to gardeners determination and true love of gardening. If you find you still have questions or would like additional assistance, be sure to head to your local garden centre where the experts are always on hand to help.
Submitted by Gemmell’s Garden Centre in Smiths Falls.
Life on the Farm By Millers Bay Farm
“In winter I plot and plan. In spring, I move.”It’s a simple enough quote, spoken by Henry Rollins, but it perfectly sums up the point things are at on the farm these days.
The winter has been great. We’ve had our rest; done our planning; made some family memories; spent time reconnecting; and we’re excited to get moving! You see, this is the luxury we have by op-
erating a more seasonal farming business. Oh, we know about the other side too. Until 2006, we lived the 24/7 – 365 days-a-year reality of the dairy farming world. (We loved it also, but that’s a story for another day.)
So here we are, looking out the window at a muddy, but no longer snow-covered garden. Our minds are positively racing with ideas and uncertainties. When
will it be warm enough, and dry enough to start planting? Which frost will truly be the last one? What will the weather do this summer? Which items will be ‘bumper-crops,’ and which ones may struggle? Those are just the practical aspects.
Then there is the whole personal side. Community partners, customers, colleagues in the agri industry, and of course — our
team on the farm, without whom we would be completely sunk. Which relationships will we build on? Which ones will we begin brand new?
Perhaps by this point, you are getting the feeling that the business of farming is not well-suited to folks who prefer certainty and predictability. You would be right. The answers to most of our questions will take months to unfold. As
Robert has been known to reply often, “I’ll tell you better in November.”
In the meantime, with the majority of the plotting and planning behind us, we move. The secret –which really isn’t a secret at all – is taking it all one day at a time. Yes, that sage advice shared with so many of us by Mom and Dad all those years ago continues to hold true.
While uncertainties
abound, there are a few things we are sure of. This summer, there will be growth (of our cros, and ourselves). There will be surprises and disappointments. We will be thankful for the opportunity to make our living, and our life, growing food in and for this community.
“What kind of a year will 2017 be?” you ask. “We’ll tell you better in November.”
Black Tartan Kitchen officially opens in Carleton Place
Carleton Place - Jane Hobson
jane@pdgmedia.ca
Black Tartan Kitchen is officially open at 132 Bridge Street in Carleton
“This could not have happened without your tremendous support. I could not ask for a better family.”
Carswell’s wife Tessa and their two children Faye, 3, and Alistair, 1, were at the opening. Also in attendance were Carleton Place Mayor Louis Antonakos, Deputy Mayor Jerry Flynn and Councillor Sean Redmond. BIA Chair Mark Lovell and Chamber of Commerce Administrator Ashleigh Brydges were also present, along with many others.
Black Tartan Kitchen offers a casual fine-dining dining experience in an intimate setting. The menu boasts seasonal dishes using ingredients from the Ottawa Valley area.
“The dishes have classic French roots with a modern touch. We call it Canadian contemporary,” Carswell said.
The restaurant is elegant with a black, white and grey colour scheme. There is ample seating in two dining rooms and a bar.
was a chef at the National Gallery of Canada, worked abroad on a vineyard in France for five months and worked at a restaurant in Helsinki, Finland.
Place. While the restaurant had a soft opening in November 2016, owner Ian Carswell welcomed the town to the restaurant on Friday, March 24 to cele-
brate its opening. “I want to say thank you to my wife, Tessa, my parents and parents-in-law, and of course my wonderful staff,” said Carswell.
“Black Tartan Kitchen truly adds to our culinary scene in downtown Carleton Place,” said Antonakos. “I had the best French onion soup and smoked meat sandwich I’ve ever had here,” he told the crowd.
Heritage photos of Carleton Place look fresh on the white walls. Carswell’s wife Tessa is the architect behind the design.
“I really like the idea of a small town and of adding something different to Carleton Place,” said Carswell, who is from Petawawa. He
“This has been a rollercoaster of emotions but the whole experience has been really exciting,” Carswell said, talking about the creation of Black Tartan Kitchen. “Everyone is their own biggest critic but if it’s something you really want, you’ll stay dedicated, you’ll work hard for it — and you’ll still find time to enjoy your personal life.”
The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner Tuesday to Saturday. Brunch is served Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Black Tartan Kitchen is closed on Mondays.
From left to right, Carleton Mayor Louis Antonakos stands with Black Tartan Kitchen Owner Ian Carswell, daughter Faye, wife Tessa Kampman Carswell and son Alistair at the official grand opening of Black Tartan Kitchen on Mar. 24, 2017. Photo credit: Jane Hobson.
Senior Health
Cancer treatments for seniors
The treatment plan for cancer in the elderly depends mainly on the type of cancer the person has and the stage of the disease. Doctors also consider the patient's age and general health when formulating a treatment plan. Often, the goal of treatment is to cure the cancer, but in other cases, the goal is to control the disease or to minimize symptoms for as long as possible. Caregivers can work closely with their loved ones' doctor to ensure they are getting the proper treatment.
Cancer treatment plans may change over time. Most plans include surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Some involve hormone therapy or biological therapy. In addition, stem cell transplantation may be used so that a patient can receive very high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Some cancers respond best to a single type of treatment, while others may respond best to a combination of different approaches. Treatments may be focused on a specific area (local therapy) or throughout the body (systemic therapy).
Local therapy removes or destroys cancer in just one part of the body. Sur-
gery to remove a tumor and radiation to shrink or destroy a tumor are examples of local therapy.
Systemic therapy sends drugs or substances through the bloodstream to destroy cancer cells all over the body. It kills or slows the growth of cancer cells that may have spread beyond the original tumor. Chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biological therapy are usually systemic in nature.
Because cancer treatments often damage healthy cells and tissues in the process, side effects are common. Side effects depend mainly on the type and extent of the treatment. They may not be the same for each person, and they may change from one treatment session to the next. Before treatment begins, the health care team will explain possible side effects and suggest ways to help manage them. This team may include an oncologist, nurses, a dietitian, a physical therapist, and others.
Questions to ask the doctor
You may want to ask the doctor these questions before treatment begins: Has the cancer spread? If so, where? What is the
stage of the disease?
What is the goal of treatment? What are the treatment choices?
Which do you recommend? Why?
What are the expected benefits of each kind of treatment?
What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment?
How can side effects be managed?
What can I, as a caregiver, do to prepare my loved one for treatment?
How often will they receive treatments? How long will treatment last?
What is the treatment likely to cost? Will my loved one's insurance cover the costs?
What new treatments are under study? Would a clinical trial be appropriate for my loved one?
Treatments for Cancer by MARLO SOLLITTO was contributed by AgingCare.com. AgingCare.com connects family caregivers, shares informative articles, provides answers and support through an interactive Caregiver Forum, and offers search capabilities for senior living options for elderly loved ones.
Food & Drink
Deep River duo sets up Rocky River Café in Perth
Perth - Matthew Behrens editorial@pdgmedia.ca
The long-vacant eatery at 8 Wilson Street East in Perth recently saw its grill fired up by a pair of restaurateurs who relocated here after a successful five-year stint in Deep River.
For owners Keith Saba and Brian Karl, the Rocky River Café is an opportunity to share a dining experience they describe as “gourmet comfort food in a relaxed atmosphere, made from scratch by down to earth guys.”
“We always have fresh mussels and salmon, but we’ll turn around and do a fried bologna or grilled cheese sandwich too,” says Saba.
When Rocky River opened a week before Christmas, word-of-mouth immediately filled the 30seat restaurant for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch through the holiday season, even though their outdoor signage didn't go up for another month. Since opening, Saba and Karl say they've been run off their feet, and Hometown News was only able to arrange a brief interview between
packed lunch and dinner settings.
“The response has been just amazing,” says Saba, expressing relief at the location’s proximity to Ottawa and Kingston. “When we were in Deep River, every Monday we were making the long trip to Ottawa to get fresh supplies, and it was hard. Although we were always busy it was still relatively isolated.”
Karl agrees, noting a point of pride with Rocky River is their refusal to freeze anything. With a focus on fresh food, herbs and flexibility (offering
gluten-free and vegetarian options), a typical day of specials includes fresh mussels sautéed in white wine with tomato, garlic, and spinach on a bed of linguini, Moroccan spice chickpea soup, a classic Cuban sandwich, roast pork, pressed fresh salmon, and a vegetarian tofu curry with naan bread. One carry-over from Deep River is their legendary coconut cream pie, a treat that draws many a visitor with an eye on ordering dessert.
“People like to eat out in Perth, and it’s great to see them sampling the differ-
ent restaurants in town,” Saba says, praising a collegial atmosphere among his fellow restaurant owners. “We get visitors from everywhere,” he says, pointing to one customer from Point-Claire, Quebec, who “at age 94 insists that whenever he visits his kids in Ottawa, they must bring him out here because we make Dutch croquettes, which are very rare in Canada.”
This summer, 60 more
seats will open on the café’s shade-tree protected outdoor patio to welcome the annual influx of cottagers and seasonal tourists. In addition to opening up wall space to feature the work of local artists – including art by renowned Eastern Ontario watercolourist Adrianna Saba (Brian’s mother) – an expanding menu is expected by then to include charcuterie (a combination of cheese and cured meats) and more fresh seafood,
including steam pots with crab, shrimp and clams.
The Rocky River Café’s owners are grateful to indulge their lifelong food passion, a commitment they finally made after Saba left behind 25 years in the construction business.
“It's a lot more work than construction ever was, but it’s rewarding,” Saba says. “It’s wonderful to be in a business where every day you get to see people enjoying your work.”
Beer Wine and Spirits
Mark's guide
For more of Mark's suggestions, visit his blog at www.markuncorked.com or follow him on Twitter @markuncorked or on Instagrammarkuncorked66.
When people talk about wines from the United States, California usually comes first to mind.
A big bold Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, a smooth buttery Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley or a dark jam flavoured Zinfandel from Paso Robles or Dry Creek Valley are certainly signature wines from these regions.
Other appellations like Sonoma, North Coast, Central Coast and Santa Barbara also produce a lot of high quality wines from some very notable vineyards.
On the eastern side of the United States the Finger Lakes area in upper New York State produces some good Rieslings and crisp Chardonnays.
Back on the west coast, Washington and Oregon are also producing some very good wines that are actively competing for market share with California.
Williamette Valley, Walla Walla Valley and Columbia Valley are some of the more well known appellations in Washington state producing wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay with some areas also bottling wines like Pinot Gris and Riesling, which grow very well in Washington’s colder climate.
There’s no question that California still dominates the market when it comes to sheer volume and size of wine being produced.
Washington’s 14 AVAs containing 900 plus vine-
yards yield somewhere around 270,000 tons of grapes each year, while California’s 4600 plus wineries produce over 3,700,000 tons of grapes each year. Those figures certainly give California a weighty advantage over their competitors but Washington state has been able to gain respect in the wine world. Winemakers have been going toe to toe with California style wines by producing award winning wines and getting accolades from wine reviewers all over the world. I don’t normally review two wines from the same vineyard but I thought these wines best exemplified the style of Washington wines being delivered to wine lovers.
A full-bodied blend of 99 per cent Chardonnay and one per cent Riesling. Grapes were sourced from Yakima Valley, Horse Heaven Hills and Wahluke Slope and barrel fermented for nine months. Twenty-two per cent of the wine was fermented in stainless steel to enhance the fruit flavours. It has all of the signature aromas of a California Chardonnay like apples, butterscotch and some tropical fruit.
(LCBO $17.95)
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley Washington State, USA
A blend of 80 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, 18 per cent Merlot and 2 per cent Cabernet Franc. The blend goes through malolactic fermentation to soften it and aged in American and French oak which gives you a really smooth Cabernet Sauvignon with flavours of dark fruit like prunes and currant with some pepper at the end.
(LCBO $17.95)
2014 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay, Columbia Valley Washington State, USA
2015
Keith Saba (left) and Brian Karl take a quick breather in between serving the lunch and dinner crowds outside their new Rocky River Café at 8 Wilson Street East in Perth. Photo credit: Matthew Behrens.
culture
Teenaged theatre troupe tours youth homelessness play
Regional - Matthew Behrens editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Youth homelessness is not as obvious in rural areas as it is in Ottawa or Toronto, but a new touring play seeks to remind local audiences of the extent of this pressing social problem facing too many small-town teenagers.
The Invisible Boy, touring Lanark County and Smiths Falls high schools and community centres throughout April, was conceived and written by veteran playwright and director Laurel Smith alongside a teenaged troupe who contributed ideas and dialogue to the script.
Produced by Burning Passions Theatre, it’s the third year of the company’s “Listen Up!” project, which stages plays documenting unique challenges faced by rural youth tackling everything
from depression and suicide to poverty and gender identity.
“This project is always a refreshing take on teenaged lives because troupe members are searingly honest in sharing their experiences, which creates a very intimate connection with audiences,” says Smith. “Talkback sessions after each show are a revelation promoting inter-generational dialogue. They also challenge adults to ask what we can do to make our communities more accessible for young people, especially in towns that are underserved for everything from youth counselling to meaningful recreational activities.”
Rural youth homelessness is increasingly a focus of national research, especially given significant numbers of those winding up on the
streets of major urban centres originate in small towns. Indeed, a 2013 survey of Perth high school students conducted by local charity Cornerstone Landing found 25 per cent of those questioned had experienced at least one night of homelessness; eight per cent reported five to seven incidents of homelessness. Sleeping rough in the bush, couch-surfing, and staying at all-night coffee shops are among the few options available to those without a permanent roof over their heads.
Members of the troupe producing The Invisible Boy see homelessness as part of a larger web of social challenges. “People don't talk about it because they don't see it, but it’s more common than it should be,” says 15-year-old Felix Evangelho. “Sometimes kids get kicked out because their parents don’t accept
that they’re trans or gay or lesbian. Sometimes there’s abuse, or drug problems, or just really low income. It’s also hard to talk about because nobody wants to be seen as a charity case.”
Troupe members compare the extensive efforts required to find temporary shelter to networking for a job, having to identify resources, allies, and services. “But there’s no resources on how to deal with the resources that actually are there,” says Ruby Davidson, also 15. “It’s complicated for people, and there’s no way to get there because there’s no transit.”
Evangelho agrees, adding, “Welfare may give you money for an apartment, but how do you do that if you’re 16 and you’ve never done it before? Will there be any money left over for food? How do I buy a bed? How do I get it
back to my place? We haven’t been taught those life skills.”
Youth troupe members feel their work has the capacity to inspire dialogue and promote change. “We’re not only connecting to other youth, but also to parents and adults, spreading the word between people who need help and people who can help,” says 17-year-old performer Ryan Kreissler. Tour dates for The Invisible Boy are available at www. burningpassionstheatre.com
New book celebrates work of poets, storytellers and songwriters
Smiths Falls - Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca
It took nearly a decade to complete, but members of a Smiths Falls group of poets, composers and storytellers
can take pride in a new book that will share their work with a wider audience. Vine Rhymes, a group founded in 2005 by Helen Latimer-Hanah and Beth
Bernhardt, offers writing enthusiasts of all ages an opportunity to gather monthly and share their common interests. Although it exists mainly to offer support and encouragement, the members of the group have frequently accepted opportunities to present their songs, stories and poems at fundraisers, coffee shops, churches, festivals and other local events.
Members agreed early in 2008 that it would be a good idea to produce a compilation of their work. Latimer-Hanah said most of the material was inputted into her computer and nearing completion by the following year. But, “for a number of unforeseeable reasons, the work was put on hold until a
few months after I retired in June of 2015,” she added. Work stopped completely for two months last summer when Latimer-Hanah went on what she described as a long dreamed-of trek to Dawson City.
Although various obstacles presented themselves along the way, “Through the Ages” has been completed, and 200 copies were printed early this year at Impression Printing in Smiths Falls.
“Of the 200 copies we had printed, well over 100 were spoken for before the ink was dry,” said Latimer-Hanah.
One copy of the 200-page book was presented to the Smiths Falls Public Library on Tuesday, March 14.
The book features the
Local band tours Beatles tribute show
Carleton Place - Jenny Burr editorial@pdgmedia.ca
The year was 1964 and the date was Feb. 9 when The Beatles made their first appearance in the United States on the Ed Sullivan Show. The Beatles had already topped No.1 on the American music charts. The audience seating for 700 had sold out. By the time 8 p.m. arrived people were glued to their T. V. sets across North America and The Beatles did not disappoint.
That was the same year that Michel (aka Mitch) Gallant learned how to play the guitar. Recently, Gallant has been interested in filling two aspects of his bucket list, which happen to be related to The Beatles. Making a home recording tribute of some of The Beatles songs is the first item and the second is this — “I’ve been playing The Beatles music for 50 years,”
says Gallant, “and doing a live Beatles tribute has been on my bucket list for quite a while.”
A few years ago, Gallant reconnected with a former co-worker and fellow musician Ian Jones. In 2013 the pair decided to do a duet called Straight Up for about three years. During this time Gallant and Jones began exploring the idea of making a home recording of some of The Beatles songs.
“We played a fair number of The Beatles songs so we began working on The Beatles tribute recordings in December 2014,” says Gallant. They began by recording 15 songs with Jones as the lead vocalist. “Then we decided to record 50 songs. With me celebrating my 64th birthday, we thought why not record 64 songs. We finally settled on recording 108 songs which is a little more than half of The Beatles standard
songbook of 211 recordings.”
As they worked on the recordings, Gallant began working on the next part of his Beatles bucket list, to form a Beatles tribute live band. He would need to locate a drummer and a bass guitarist. The new members had certain requirements to fulfill. Each needed to be interested in learning The Beatles music and they had to have the time and discipline to commit to learning 30 to 35 songs required for a live gig.
“I met Evan Sauve about a year ago last Christmas and thought that he was a really good drummer. So I talked with Evan and asked if he would be interested in playing with a band and he said, ‘absolutely,’ and he just clicked with us. He’s our youngest member and is very talented and disciplined.”
Then, six months ago, Gallant heard Chris Must
playing the guitar in a band at the Waterfront Festival, but Must was already a member of another band. Must says, “I was ready for a challenge and had recently switched to playing bass guitar. As a full-time musician I knew that I had the time to learn more songs.” His approach to music is similar to Gallant’s. Both like to learn to play their parts exactly as they should be played.
“It’s a real honour to tackle the music. Learning The Beatles songs is a good education because Paul McCartney certainly influenced the way the electric bass guitar is played in the 20th Century. McCartney really expanded the role in music for the bass guitar,” says Must. Must and Sauve were given an opportunity to participate in the final aspects of the soundtrack recording. Both were asked which songs they’d like to record. The
work of 31 contributors from Smiths Falls and area, as well as a few from as far away as Fort McMurray, Alta. and Victoria, BC. Material includes some stories and song lyrics as well as poems. Among the stories is one by Bill MacPherson, also known as a local school board trustee.
“I think it’s particularly exciting for the poets to have it published,” said Anne Tener, current chair of Vine Rhymes.
“This is your opportunity to be introduced to some folks right here in our community – and a few from beyond – who take the time to scribble down their thoughts,” said Latimer-Hanah. “Words can take you to places you have never
been, amuse, or bring you to tears.”
In a message at the beginning of the book, Tener wrote that Vine Rhymes strives to be inclusive and accepting of all members, and that the group “has flourished with many different types of people, each one exploring and enjoying the creative process.”
During a typical Vine Rhymes meeting, members discuss a variety of common concerns such as working through mental blocks, writing styles, copyrighting, publishing, and numerous challenges faced by writers. Over the years the members have attended and hosted numerous writers’ workshops.
Beatles Recording Tribute
FAB 50% is the title of their disc and the three year project was completed in March 2017. Choosing the songs for their live performances was also a group decision. Each wrote up a list of their favourite Beatles songs. The final decision however rested with Jones, their lead vocal.
Their first scheduled Beatles Tribute appearance is May 25, 2017 at the Brigadoon Restaurant in Oxford Mills. Their next appearance will be on June 28 at the Smiths Falls Golf and Country Club. You can find more informaiton on gigs on the band website: http://www. jensign.com/straightup
Far left to right: Mitch Gallant, Ian Jones, Chris Must, Back Centre: Evan Sauve Group. Photo credit: Carol Connolly.
Members of the Smiths Falls-based Vine Rhymes writers’ group visited the Smiths Falls Public Library on March 14 to present a copy of their new book, Through the Ages. From left are Vine Rhymes chair Anne Tener, founder Helen Latimer-Hanah, Head Librarian Karen Schecter, and Vine Rhymes co-founder Beth Bernhardt. Photo Credit Chris Must
Members of the Listen Up! youth troupe, touring a play about rural youth homelessness, include (sitting, left to right) Felix Evangelho, Ruby Davidson, Ryan Kreissler and (standing) James Kreissler and Connor Williamson. Photo credit: Matthew Behrens.
County resolution a small but positive step toward Indigenous reconciliation
In late February, Lanark County Council adopted a set of recommendations calling for increased outreach to, and education about, local Indigenous communities on the part of County staff. The stated goals of this motion are to increase Indigenous participation in municipal governance, and to educate staff about Indigenous communities in the area in
light of the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
While this is a good first step, councilor Keith Kerr, also Reeve of Tay Valley Township, says that it is a very small one. “We’ve taken some small steps, but we still have a long way to go,” he said of the recommendations.
This motion follows a year of outreach from various community groups,
including the Lanark County Planning Council for Children, Youth and Families and the Lanark County Neighbours for Truth and Reconciliation, who have made several presentations to council asking them to commit to action on reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Lanark County.
But in reality, Kerr said, nothing in the recommendations goes beyond what council is already doing.
The recommendations themselves are based on what councillors agreed they could support, so they do not push anyone outside of their comfort zone.
For example, the initial text jointly recommended by the Lanark County Neighbours and the Lanark County Planning Council asked for this acknowledgement to be read at the beginning of each council meeting:
“We hereby acknowledge that Lanark County is situated on unceded traditional Algonquin territory and with this acknowledgement comes respect for the land, the Indigenous peoples, our shared history and future relations.”
The motion that council ended up adopting does not include an acknowledgement of traditional territory and reads instead:
“The Council of Lanark County urges all residents to contribute to the reconciliation process as we build a community in which everyone can live with dignity and respect.”
The adopted motion closely follows one that
was passed in the town of Smiths Falls. In contrast, municipalities including Kingston and Renfrew County have adopted more concrete acknowledgements of the traditional territory of the Indigenous peoples of their respective areas.
Indigenous communities across Canada say that acknowledging Indigenous territory should be only the beginning; a way of opening the door to new relationships among Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. These communities have voiced concern that land acknowledgement is being treated as a final solution rather than as a first step.
Lanark County council, however, has not even taken this first step.
What will happen next?
According to Kerr, the whole issue of truth and reconciliation could be put aside by council unless Lanark County residents keep up pressure on councillors and keep these issues in the public eye. This year, marking the 150th anniversary of the confederation of Canada holds
a lot of potential to raise awareness about truth and reconciliation and new relationships among Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Lanark County. Indigenous communities in Lanark County have suffered over the years of settlement but have still managed to maintain and renew ties to the land, language, and cultural practices. Indigenous artifacts dating back at least 10,000 years are currently on display in the Tay Valley Township office and many events celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary in Lanark County will incorporate Indigenous histories and presence in this area.
As Kerr put it, there have always been divisions rooted in identity in Lanark County, whether between Scotch and Irish, Catholic and Protestant, or settler and Indigenous. At this point, Kerr notes, “the biggest thing is education.” In moving towards truth and reconciliation in Lanark County, there will be many opportunities over the coming year for us to educate ourselves.
On the Roll Canada 150 music series has something for everyone
Smiths Falls - Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Smiths Falls will celebrate Canada Day 2017 in style, with six hours of live music at Lower Reach Park, followed by a spectacular fireworks display.
But music lovers will also find entertainment at many other local events during the year, thanks to the Town of Smiths Falls with support from a federal Canada 150 grant.
The first events in the music series, known as the Smiths Falls On the Roll series, were performances by Celtic musicians Seventh Town at Heritage House March 12 and local band Poetic Justice at the Green Mile run on March 17. Several Canada 150 events will feature Irish music, in celebration of the Irish heritage of most of Smiths Falls’ original settlers.
The series continues Saturday, June 17 with a show on the evening of the Healthy Festival by the British Invasion at Lower Reach Park. The British Invasion recreates the music of many iconic British invasion acts including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Herman’s Hermits and Gerry and the Pacemakers, and also later British performers such as Eric Clapton and Deep Purple.
Organizers of Rideau Paddlefest, taking place at Lower Reach Park on Sunday, June 18, have also arranged some musical
entertainment. Playing for the paddlers and spectators will be Bytown Bluegrass and Peter Dawson, an accomplished fiddler and member of the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame. Formed in 1974, Bytown Bluegrass, fronted by Ray and Glen Adams, have appeared on festival stages throughout Ontario.
On June 27 Smiths Falls will host some special visitors, as the “South Wind Brigade” of voyageur canoe paddlers stops by en route up the Rideau Canal from Kingston to Ottawa. Entertainment for the occasion, taking place at Centennial Park, will be provided by the History Buffs, a trio of musicians who dress in authentic 19th century garb.
A group of visitors from Ireland will be spending a week in Smiths Falls at the end of June as well.
One of the highlights of their trip will be the Irish Homestead Dinner, being held the Smiths Falls Golf & Country Club in conjunction with the annual Smiths Falls & District Chamber of Commerce golf tournament. Guests will be entertained by A Beatles Tribute. The Beatles tribute band is led by Mitch Gallant and Ian Jones, who spent two years recording 100 of their own versions of Beatles songs. Before the show, the audience will hear a special three-song performance by Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame mem-
ber Freddy Dixon, performing original songs dedicated to the Irish settlers of Ontario.
The line-up of bands for Canada Day in Smiths Falls offers a wide variety of music. Kicking off an afternoon and evening of free entertainment on the outdoor stage at Lower Reach Park will be Freddy Dixon and the Ottawa Valley Opry, featuring guest artist Arlene Quinn. The all-star band includes a number of country music hall of fame members, and will play from 2 to 5 p.m. July 1.
Next up on Canada Day is Ottawa’s blues lady Maria Hawkins. Highlights of Maria Hawkins’ 30-year professional career include opening for Colin James, performing with Amanda Marshall, and bringing blues music education to area schools. Trained in the Royal Conservatory of Music method from the age of five, Hawkins is known for community service as well as musical ability. She has received a number of awards, including the Woman of Distinction award from Ottawa’s YMCA-YWCA, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal. Hawkins and her back-up band will play from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Also featured on Canada Day, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., will be Andy Mason. Mason is an award-winning First Nations (Upper Cayuga/Mohawk) singer/songwriter/actor and multi-instrumentalist, with over 20
years on stage as a musician and actor. He shared a win with Star Nayea at the Native-E Music Awards in Albequerque, New Mexico in 2008, in the Mainstream Song of the Year category, for his song "The Battle Raging."
Canada organizers plan to open up the stage to guest performers in an open mike format for the final hour from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
More entertainment will be booked for the final six months of 2017.
Regional - Sarah Nelson editorial@pdgmedia.ca
The Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame’s 2000 Entertainer of the Year Freddy Dixon and his Ottawa Valley Opry show will highlight Canada Day celebrations in Smiths Falls this year. Photo credit: Chris Must.
Mireille LaPointe of Ardoch Algonquin and Larry McDermott of Shabot Obadjiwan First Nations outside of Lanark County Council. Photo credit: Sarah Nelson.
Maria Hawkins will inject some blues and funk into Smiths Falls’ 2017 Canada Day festivities at Lower Reach Park. Photo credit: Submitted.
With the decline in interest rates over the past 20 years, conservative retirees have become more and more open-minded to looking beyond traditional guaranteed investment certificates (GIC) investments.
GICs have long been a preferred investment for risk-averse investors who want to earn as much interest as possible, without taking any risk with to the money they invest.
However as interest rates have declined, the biggest risk these investors face is the erosion of their life savings as their income needs force them to withdraw both the capital they have invested plus the interest earned just to meet their rising expenses.
The annual interest on $200,000 in GICs a decade ago would have been approximately $12,000, assuming the 6
per cent rates available at that time. However, even investors willing to lock into a five year GIC today at a top rate of 2.25 per cent will only earn $4,500 interest on that same $200,000.
Assuming even a modest marginal tax rate of 20 per cent and that investor is left with just $3,600 annually to help meet his or her growing income needs, which are far greater today than they were 10 years ago when you consider the impact of inflation.
So what is today’s mature investor to do?
Income annuities provide a guaranteed income for life in exchange for an investor willing to part with the money invested. This can be a good strategy for a conservative investor who’s primary concern is ensuring they will never outlive their income and assets. However, as people mature, they may be
very reluctant to turn over their life savings to an insurance company in exchange for that guaranteed income for life. Although they can build in guarantees that could ensure some of the money they invest could be left to their heirs after they die, the more guarantees they build into the contract, the lower the income they receive.
Some investors may be willing to consider an investment into the financial markets where rates of return have traditionally been much higher than the interest paid on GICs. However, making a leap into the stock markets can be very concerning to someone who has been a very conservative investor all their life; especially as they get older.
As a result of these factors, some insurance companies have recently designed new products tailored prima-
rily for these types of investors, especially for those that have reached age 80.
Some have launched a new series of segregated funds designed for elderly clients who are focused on estate planning.
These estate protection funds, which are available to clients between the ages of 80 and 90, feature a 100 per cent death benefit guarantee. The product caters to clients who are focused on protecting their legacy while also providing a flexible investment that can cater to their changing income needs.
With almost $800 billion expected to be transferred between generations by 2024, the generation holding the wealth today generally needs to ensure the money is available if they need it, but also consider themselves custodians of wealth they wish to preserve for their children and grandchildren.
Segregated funds are a popular option within older demographics given the estate planning
benefits of the products, such as the ability for beneficiaries to receive their inheritance quickly and confidentially, while avoiding probate.
Segregated funds, which are investment funds managed by life insurance companies, have long been a preferred investment for many mature Canadians. One of the key features that appeals to our aging population is the ability to name beneficiaries, ensuring the assets go directly to whom the owner wants, without cost or delay, after they die. In contrast, most other investments, including GICs, do not have this feature and will be tied up in an estate while an executor navigates through Ontario’s probate process. This will result in additional expenses, including the estate administration tax, being paid by the estate and will result in delays before assets can eventually be transferred to heirs.
With insurance companies experiencing significant demand for segregated funds from
people over the age of 80 and with almost half of retirees expected to live well into their 80s, some of the benefits and features of segregated funds are more attractive for elderly clients, whether that's the guarantee, or whether it's the estate features.
While many younger retirees have used segregated funds for their features, the 100 per cent death benefit guarantee for people aged 80 to 90 makes the new estate protection funds more appealing for that age group. If you or someone you know could benefit from segregated funds, speak with an investment advisor who is licensed to provide advice on these types of investments. The rates of return are not guaranteed and investors should read each funds information folder to learn more. Segregated funds have fees that can be explained by an advisor.
Shawn Pankow is a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Health Specialist with Pankow Financial Solutions in Smiths Falls.
business directory
Tickets Please: a community alternative to corporate chains
Smiths Falls -Matthew Behrens editorial@pdgmedia.ca
When Ann Hawthorne recently moved Tickets Please into the Perth Visitor Information Centre, it was a logical step that marked the seventh anniversary of a unique, locally-based business that has supplied box office management for over 200 events and 60,000 people.
At a time when ordering concert and theatre tickets through corporate chains can be expensive and impersonal – not to mention freighted with the stress of long telephone holds punctuated by interminable muzak – Tickets Please offers a human voice, intimate knowledge of regional entertainment options, affordable fees, and walk-in service six days a week.
Hawthorne’s personalized service, marked by her encyclopedic memory about thousands of patron prefer-
ences, has helped audiences access and enjoy such major acts as Tommy Hunter, Matt Anderson, Rita McNeil, David Francey, Liona Boyd, Red Green, Blue Rodeo, and the late Stuart McLean. In addition to working with a range of community arts organizations, she also provides box office for the professional Classic Theatre Festival, which draws visitors from across Ontario and the United States.
“Tickets Please helps people learn about the shows they want to see, parking, restaurants, accommodations, and other events, especially if they’re coming from out of town,” Hawthorne says. “If you want to stage an event, Tickets Please can manage a box office, take orders online, print the tickets, handle at-door sales, and present you with a cheque for the total sales. We collect patron contact information for follow-up or
issuing tax receipts. People searching our webpage for one event might find yours as well.”
Hawthorne launched Tickets Please because she saw many different groups selling event tickets at a variety of locations. “I thought one main place would be less confusing for people,” she says. She also wanted to make it easier for out-oftown patrons, while lifting a burden from the shoulders of volunteer-run groups. “The costs of website setup and payment systems may be unaffordable for one group, but together, sharing my services makes it affordable to everyone. I structure my services solely on the sales of each ticket, so there’s no flat fees to pay if things weren't successful; we shared the risk and return together.”
While based in Perth, Tickets Please can also provide box office services to
events in Smiths Falls, Carleton Place, and throughout Lanark, Leeds and Grenville counties.
Hawthorne moved from Ottawa to just outside of Perth in 1993, and joined the Perth Community Choir.
“It’s a great way to meet people,” she says. “I still recommend it to newcomers. My great grandmother, a
pianist and church organist, always said: ‘If you have musical friends, you’ll always have good friends and good times.’ Two decades later, most of my friends are people I met through the amateur theatre and choirs in town.”
Hawthorne’s community of friends and acquaintances continues to grow each time
she picks up the phone at her 11 Gore Street East location. “It’s great to be in touch with the community, hearing what’s going on in people’s lives, and getting feedback on the shows they see. In a digital age, human connection is still such an important thing.” For further information, visit ticketsplease.ca or call (613) 485-6434.
Ann Hawthorne of Tickets Please gives a bloc of Classic Theatre Festival benefit tickets to Choulgere Guruprasad, who plans to sell them to fundraise for the Lanark Lodge Council of Family and Friends. Photo credit: Matthew Behrens.