Lanark, north leeds & grenville hometown news july 2017

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JULY 2017

New logo celebrates past, present and future of Smiths Falls

Smiths Falls Fire Chief unveils the town’s new logo at a banner drop held at the arena on June 29. Photo credit: Sally Smith.

Smiths Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pd gmedia.ca “We’re moving forward,” Shawn Pankow, mayor of Smiths Falls said at the unveiling of the new logo and website for the town on June 29.

The new logo celebrates past, present and future while still retaining historical roots.

The new stylized logo, with gradations of blue from turquoise

through ultramarine to cornflower, depicts the history of the town from 1786 to the present. The large ‘S’ refers to Thomas Smyth, a United Empire Loyalist, who was granted 400 acres of land in the late 1700s. The lines descending through the 'S' represent the flowing water and symbolize a gathering point/unified community. And the lines that form the waterfall within the 'S' “celebrate the falls

that were diverted to create the Rideau Canal and the three lock stations, which established trade routes that allowed the town to flourish,” Pankow explained.

One more aspect of the design ties it all together — the “winding and wide curves of the logo’s 'S' which represent the 202 kilometre of the Rideau Canal,” he added.

The slogan ‘Rise at the Falls’ speaks emotionally to the past

hardships of the town and the promise for the future. Councillor Lorraine Allen describes the thinking behind the slogan as looking at “a change for the better.

We’ve gone through so much…but we’re really a community that can’t be broken. We’re friendly, caring and up-and-coming.”

Rise at the Falls for Allen also says “bring your business, your ideas here. Things are just getting better. Come and be the best you can be at the Falls.”

The new branding fulfills the town’s strategic plan objective no.3 and was budgeted for in the town’s 2016 budget at a cost of around $20,000.

Residents and visitors will notice a gradual incorporation of the logo on all of the town’s assets, including trucks, entryways, and signage.

Pankow said the familiar green Smiths Falls logo was developed in 1999 under the ‘Sensational’ aegis with ‘Sense’ in sensational emphasized. All five senses were represented - taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound. He added, making the 30 or so present laugh, that Hershey’s chocolate smell has since been replaced by “another” smell.

A second tagline was added in 2005 — Heart of the Rideau Canal — and it was further updated through the years.

In 2016 the town opted for a new branding, put out an RFP, awarded it to Cinnamon Toast, a design studio in Ottawa, and their work was unveiled today.

Pankow thanked all involved during the rebranding process.

The new branding is already on the website at www.smithsfalls.ca.

Major little leaguers will playdown for provincial title in Perth in July perth - April Scott-Clarke

april@pdgmedia.ca If you’re a baseball fan, then Perth is the place to be from July 22 to July 31. The town is playing host to the 2017 Major Provincial Championship Little League tournament, an event coordinated by a small but home-run hitting volun-

teer committee.

Nine teams of 11- and 12-yearold little league players from across the province, along with their coaches and parents, will descend on Perth for the week. “There will be teams from Toronto, the Hamilton area, Windsor, the Seaway district, the Valley district and two from Ottawa,” tournament com-

mittee co-chair Pat Habel said.

This will be the third time in recent memory that Perth has been the host town for the tournament.

While experience makes the planning slightly easier, it’s still no small feat to put on a tournament of this magnitude.

The planning committee of five has been working diligently since

January to raise funds and coordinate special events. “It costs $13,000 to put on the tournament,” explains Habel, who says all the funding has come from local businesses. “We’ve had excellent support from the businesses in Perth.

About 100 businesses have either donated money or product to make this tournament a success,” she ex-

plained.

The opening ceremony is planned for 11:30 on July 22 at Conlon Farm Recreation Complex, where all the games will be held.

Players will be piped onto the field with Perth Town Crier Brent McLaren leading the way. Mayor John Fenik will throw the first pitch. continues on page 3.

Celebrate Canada 150 for events in your community see pages 8 & 9

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july 2017

2

Page Two

Letter from our Editor

While the print media business is slowing down (I refuse to say dying), local newspapers and their respective websites are still a vital part of any community — especially if you are interested in local sports, politics, personal stories or community events. Wait, did I just name everything that isn’t generally covered by large media outlets? I guess I did.

The Hometown News team strives to be on the street, on the phone, on the web — everywhere that our audience is. While national outlets and large conglomerates bring you news from around the world and neighbouring communities, the Hometown News team does its best to keep you informed on what’s new and interesting in your town.

You’ve probably seen our reporter Sally Smith

at events in Perth and Smiths Falls or volunteering on boards. I’m sure you’ve seen Chris Must on a musical stage at a pub or banquet, but you can also regularly find him taking photos at events and digging into what Smiths Falls council is doing. Reporter Jane Hobson can be found doing yoga or sipping coffee at local cafes in Carleton Place, likely with laptop open in front of her typing up the interviews she’s had with an interesting person around her town.

And if you’ve taken in any summer theatre in Perth, you’ve likely seen Matthew Behrens on stage or working behind the scenes, this is in addition to keeping us informed about Carleton Place council, and writing on a number of other topics for us.

All of our reporters and contributors are a real part of our community. They get their inspiration from the people around them.

And, they do this because they love all things local.

So I have a question for you — what inspires you to pick up the paper each month? Why do more than 20,000 of you visit our website each month? We really want to know. In fact, we want your feedback so

much that we’ve created an online reader survey that we’d like you to fill out. As a thank you, your name will go into a draw for a $25 gift card to Coffee Culture in Smiths Falls. You can find the survey here: www. hometowns.ca/readersurvey2017 If online surveys aren’t really for you — write to us, like Dorothy Letman from Perth did (see her letter below), via snail mail or email and let us know what you’re thinking when you read our paper. How can we do better?

Hours of planning go into each issue of Hometown News and we want to know if we are hitting the nail on the head or missing the mark and just smashing our thumbs repeatedly.

When our readers take the time to write to us with comments — be it positive, negative or constructive criticism, the Hometown News team really pays attention. We thrive off this feedback and use it to shape the newspaper content and the website.

I look forward to more letters (via email please to april@pdgmedia.ca) and to your survey responses.

April Scott-Clarke, Editor, Hometown News

Letter to the editor

Re: Raising wages in Ontario

Hello Mrs. Scott-Clarke, I have to disagree with your deduction that raising the minimum wage will be harmful to us all in the long run. You fail to point out that if a family or single person is managing to survive on the minimum wage it is at personal cost and a strict budget.

For example, children may be going to school with no breakfast or very little nutrition. While food banks are an answer, sometimes they don’t have what is

needed.

Another huge expense is rent (no wonder there are so many homeless people).

And another long-term effect is the burden on the health system.

I prefer to look at poverty differently with more income: 1. People will be able to buy more material goods, thus spurring the overall economy of the province.

2. They will be able to afford more nutritional food, i.e. - fruits and

A Blast from the Past:

From the Lanark County Museum Network

vegetables, cheese, which in turn would result in a healthier lifestyle and fewer doctors visits.

3. When a doctor visit becomes necessary they will be able to purchase the prescribed medicines.

I could probably go on but in closing, I’ll just say giving people a decent minimum wage will benefit all of us in Ontario.

Yours sincerely, Dorothy Letman Perth

You can now find local community events on our website at:

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This photo is a who’s who of distinguished visitors that visited the Mill of Kintail in the 1930s. Invited guests paddled the mill pond, listening to madrigal singers and the rushing waters of the mill stream. Endless paths and a charming wooden bridge still mark this conservation site. Photo credit: The Mill of Kintail.

Hometownnews PART OF THE DISCOVER COMMUNTIY NETWORK

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Reporters:

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Patricia Krotki pmkrotki@pdgmedia.ca

editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Kathy Botham

Matthew Behrens Kathy Botham Jane Hobson Chris Must Sally Smith

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EditoR April Scott-Clarke april@pdgmedia.ca

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Got a story or submission: editorial@pdgmedia.ca

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July 2017

3

News

Le Boat to bring biz opportunities and possible changes to Victoria Park

The future of Victoria Park Campground will come under council discussion in early fall. Photo credit: Sally Smith.

Smiths Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca Although it has been several years in the making, the end result will materialize quickly.

Two Le Boat vessels will arrive in Smiths Falls this fall, shrink-wrapped and headed for storage so that they will be ready for a spring reveal. Mayor Shawn Pankow says that the boats are “unique to the Rideau.”

The boats will be launched in May 2018

and the season will see 16 Le Boat vessels wending their way through the canal, and up and down the Rideau system — but not all at once. “They’ll only be there for the turnaround,” Pankow explains. That is, one rental family or group getting off and another getting on.

The boats will hit the water in “the upper basin off Victoria park at the easterly end,” says Pankow.

There will be eight docks, “some above the lock and some below” similar to the

finger docks there now.

The luxury tour company is starting with 16 boats with an expected tourist count of 2,000 per year but the mayor expects Le Boat will grow its base. If that number doubles “it’s a large number of tourists,” says Pankow. “We want to keep them here. We want to find ways and things to do that.”

It’s an opportunity for entrepreneurs. Pankow uses the example of Niknak's Paddle Shack, which opened shop in June near the iconic water tower. They could have opened next year when Le Boat is expected to bring tourists but they decided to get a head start.

Pankow says 4 Degrees Brewing has thought about delivering beer to the boats, and why not grocery delivery or a shuttle service.

“We want to make these Europeans and Americans as welcome as we can by being personal, warm, friendly and accommodating,” he says, adding if we

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can keep them here with eco-tours, fishing holidays, bike rentals, hiking along the Catarqui, then we should.

It was the summer of 2015 when the wheels started turning on the Le Boat project, the vision became viable, market research was done and an appetite for a Le Boat stronghold in Smiths Falls was whetted.

The North American headquarters of Le Boat will be in Smiths Falls and headquarters will be at the abandoned lockmaster’s house on Jasper Avenue.

Pankow explains that there could be positive spin offs for other water-based

towns, villages and cities along the canal too. For example, if visitors want a more developed, urban trip, they can head as far as Ottawa and the Parliament Buildings; if they want a more rural, rustic visit they can head the other direction via Westport, Chaffey’s Locks, and Jones Falls making their way slowly to Kingston.

The goal, of course, is for tourists to spread good word-of-mouth adventures about their time in Smiths Falls. “We want them to share what they’ve seen and done — tell others that the experience they had was different than any

other experience anywhere else.”

Currently, Pankow says there has been no impact on the lower part of Victoria Park where recreational vehicles congregate over the late spring and summer months.

He confirmed that discussion is slated for the fall “on the future of the Park.”

“We could do more with the space - for instance, put in a boardwalk, shops, eateries, make it open to the public,” he explains. “We haven’t defined the vision yet, but nothing’s off the table.”

New doctors start in August Major little leaguers will playdown for provincial title in Perth in July at Perth Medical Clinic

Dr. Scott Charenko. Photo credit: Sally Smith.

Perth - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca Just graduated, newly married, and now starting their medical practices in Perth.

Dr. Shelly Xu and Dr. Scott Charenko are the two newest faces at the Perth Medical Clinic on Isabella Street.

The two will start their medical practices in August. Registration details will be on the clinic’s Facebook page.

Both doctors know the area and are looking for a place to call home. Charenko’s family has a cottage in nearby Plevna, and Xu spent

Dr. Shelly Xu. Photo credit: Sally Smith.

most of her time growing up in Ottawa though she was born in Shanghai, China. Their intent, according to Joanne Grozelle, principal at Medical Management Strategies Inc., is to settle in, “make a life in Perth, and be part of the community.”

The romantic part here is that the two got married on June 10. They hope to enjoy a relatively peaceful summer before moving to Perth and beginning work.

Dr. Xu did her undergraduate work at the University of Toronto, received her medical degree from Queen’s University and completed her family residency training at Memorial

University in Newfoundland.

Dr. Charenko completed business administration at York University in Toronto, completed his medical degree at Queen’s University and then went on to Family Medicine at Memorial University as well.

Medical interests of Xu include chronic disease management, inpatient care, women’s health and palliative care. Charenko’s include care of the elderly, palliative care, inpatient care, chronic disease management and minor surgical procedures.

Both like to hike and both cheer for the Toronto Blue Jays. Xu is also a garlic fan so the Perth Garlic Festival will be an annual favourite activity for her.

The young doctors were recruited through physician recruitment, an integral part of Medical Management Strategies. Grozelle says, “we hope [to recruit] a couple more in another six months.”

This year's 2017 Provincial Host Team, the Perth Royals. Front row (left to right)- Jacob Czubak, Cameron Cullen, Jesse Gagnon, Brody Lesser, Nick Patterson and Isaac Wilson. Back row (left to right) Head Coach Darryl Barker, Maddox Barker, Connor Wright, Tristan Morgan, Jesse Schutten, Assistant Coach Brad Dowdall, Alex McGlade, Connor Jackson, Landon Dowdall, and Assistant Coach Graham Patterson. Photo submitted.

“There will be really good baseball happening” says Habel.

Continued from page 1.

Organizers are encouraging everyone to wear red and white to support the Canada theme that will be at play.

Those that can’t make it to the games will have the opportunity to catch some of the action via a live stream to the tournament’s

Facebook page. “We are really excited about that,” said Habel. “It’s a great opportunity for family and friends who can’t come to Perth to see it live.” In total, 10 games will be live streamed, including the semi-finals and final game.

Winners of the final game will have little time to

celebrate and soak in their win before they go to the Canadian Regional Championships held in Medicine Hat, Alberta on Aug. 3.

“There will be really good baseball happening,” says Habel.

Admission for all games is free and spectators are encouraged.

july 2017

4

community Indigenous studies pilot program a major success at PDCI perth - Matthew Behrens editorial@pdgmedia.ca It's a rare occasion when students, teachers, and principal are on the same page, but that happened this year at Perth & District Collegiate Institute (PDCI), where an Indigenous studies pilot project proved so successful that it will remain part of the curriculum.

Much credit goes to Grade 12 student Brandon Cordy, 19, who approached first year principal Ron Ferguson at the start of the 2016-17 school year and “laid out what had to be done” to raise awareness of and improve the situation for Indigenous students at PDCI. Cordy, who recalls some elementary school emphasis on Indigenous issues, didn’t hear those voices upon entering high school

and was thrilled to find a very receptive and willing ally in Ferguson.

It was a welcome change for someone who, even in his own family, found “embarrassment” about acknowledging the family’s Indigenous heritage.

Cordy says that was understandable, attributing that sense of shame to “a lot of messages from the media saying that Indigenous people aren't as important to the country as the settlers, and plus there was a lot of oppression that happened.”

Cordy says he could have counted the number of self-identified Indigenous students on one hand last fall, but after he organized an Indigenous issues assembly, those numbers ballooned to 21. “It felt really good to see that,” he says. “It’s so important that we can learn our heritage

in a welcoming environment, but it’s also important for non-Indigenous students to learn about different cultures and who was here before the settlers came.”

Part of that learning comes through PDCI signing on to an initiative that now exists in half of the board’s high schools: a focus on Indigenous literature during Grade 11 English, where students now read Indigenous writers including Eden Robinson, Ruby Slipperjack, and Thomas King.

PDCI teacher Amanda Ford says part of teaching the course requires introducing students to historical events often referenced in the works, from residential schools to the 60s Scoop, and bringing in Sharbot Lake Indigenous elder Danka Brewer.

Ford herself says her great-

The swans have arrived The two swans Smiths Falls purchased to deter the geese in the Upper Basin on the Rideau River were released there on July 4. The hope is that they will nest and their presence will discourage the geese.

Residents and visitors are asked to not feed the swans or disrupt them or their nests in anyway. However, the town is seeking the public’s input on names for these two birds. Name suggestions can be sent to sfrecreation@smithsfalls.ca. Photo credit: Michele Baitley.

great grandmother was a Lakota Sioux refugee who journeyed to Canada with Sitting Bull “to escape the slaughters in the U.S.,” and while she was interested in that heritage, her family rarely spoke of it.

“The kids are loving the course,” Ford says. “They're absolutely riveted hearing about residential schools and missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. It's novel to them and really relevant to today and something they can make a difference on.”

Cordy says a number of students were angry they’d never heard of these issues.

“I can see where the anger comes, because these are very horrible things in our history, and it would be quite a shock to only now find out that Canada was doing these things,” he says.

Meanwhile, sisters Mary

and Tasha Buckle, who are also learning about their own Indigenous ancestry, plan to stay active at the school next fall, especially with an after-school course to learn Algonquin and a new Indigenous Students Centre being put together with Ms. Ford.

“It’s awesome to see adults so passionate and help us along because we’re just students and we can do a lot, yes, but if we don't have an adult backing us up, most of our things go unnoticed,” says Mary, who recalls leaving school during grade 10 because of her frustration at not seeing her heritage represented in the curriculum.

“But having a principal and teachers help us along is so great. I wish I'd had then what we are getting now, but the younger Indigenous kids have a better chance now.”

Asked if they experience racism once some people find out about their heritage, their answer is, unfortunately, immediate: “Without a doubt. Definitely.” But both believe that education – especially as represented in the newer curriculum choices – will help overcome such prejudice.

Ferguson, meanwhile, sees this work as part of a broader national conversation. “Many people think they understand these issues, but the truth is we’re not well informed, and schools probably haven't done as good as job as we should have.”

PDCI’s principal remains inspired by and open to hearing concerns from any of his students.

“As adults, we need to be listening to their voices about how they want our school to be.”

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Get to know local community service groups Carleton Place Sarah Cavanagh editorial@pdgmedia.ca Many of the local community service groups have stood the test of time, with many being in existence for over 100 years and most having regional, national and international chapters.

Service groups generally have well established boards and bylaws to protect donations and specific mandates for how each volunteer hour and dollar is spent.

In the age of social media they may not be as visible as they once were but these groups are no less active in our community.

The Civitan Club This organization has local chapters in Carleton Place, Smiths Falls, Almonte and Perth that are

part of an international network. They participate in ongoing fundraising activities such as Bingo Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. at Carleton Place Arena and pop can recycling.

These projects help fund community projects and individual community members that need help as a result of illness or emergency. They sponsor charitable programs such as Friends in Sport Fishing and the Elizabeth Court Seniors' Residence Flower Planting in May. The Civitan Club host the Seniors' Appreciation Night in June, has volunteers at number of local community events and initiatives such as Canada Day celebrations and food basket donations.

Rotary Club Since its inception, the Rotary Club of Carleton

Place and Mississippi Mills has donated over $150,000 for projects and assistance within the communities of Carleton Place, Mississippi Mills, and Beckwith. Their major project to-date was the creation of the Rotary Centennial Trail – a nature trail running from the Appleton hamlet in Mississippi Mills to Carleton Places. The club raises funds through several major activities including a spring mushroom compost sale, the "Just Because…" rose sale in November and an annual casino night at the Carleton Place Canoe Club in March.

Rotary volunteers can also be found running 50/50 draws at local events such as the Lambsdown Festival in June and the Bridge Street Bazaar in

August. Proceeds from these efforts help fund local charities like Lanark Community Programs as well as community improvement projects.

United Way The United Way of Lanark County match the resources of community partners to respond to health and social service issues in the area. They help fund groups such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Lanark County, Children’s Resources on Wheels, The Carleton Place and District Youth Centre, YAK, Smiths Falls Youth Centre, Community Home Support and so many more. In Lanark County one in eight people are helped through the programs funded by the United Way. Community donations and United Way support helped:

4,672 seniors with hot meals, friendly visits, foot care, entertainment, transportation and home help; 1,851 youth with empowerment, counsel and mentoring, skills development, nutritious meals, access to sports, housing support and a safe space and 577 children with daycare, Christmas gifts, snowsuits Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE) The focus of the IODE is children. They recognize that reading builds self- esteem and have a long running Read for Life program, which aims to make Canada the most literate country in the world. The organizations holds a number of initiatives that help youth, including the following: gives financial assistance

to students at Canada’s National Ballet School, Theatre School and Youth Orchestra; offers war memorial doctoral scholarships and grant programs to organizations aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect; promotes the Snack Pack and Food for thought hampers that allow teachers to feed hungry students and they support northern communities with school supplies, sports equipment, books and clothing.

If you would like to get involved in your community, help your neighbours and contribute to the betterment of your local town then consider volunteering with one of these community service groups. You can join as a member, simply volunteer at an event, donate or just help spread the word.

July 2017

5

community

opinion: Am I the only one?

by Carrie Wynne

Why not write your own memorial?

While you decide whether it’s outlandish, morbid or self absorbed to write your own obituary, here’s mine.

Mom’s going to miss rainstorms and the smell of warm scented wax. She’ll miss fighting with Dad whether to open the windows or turn on the air conditioner.

Mom loved herself and never apologized for it. She had so many passions and interests it was hard for her to pick so she didn’t. She just did them all.

One day she drove us to school and realized we weren’t in the car.

When driving us around she would point at trees and flowering bushes or a beautiful orange sky.

When we were 2- and 3-years-old she took us to McDonalds. Amy got stuck in the tube slide at the very

top the same time Kay bolted across the busy restaurant in her blue rain boots disappearing in a mad crowd heading for the toilet. Mom heard this small angelic voice up high, “Help me mommy... help me.” She said it was a Sophia’s choice moment, whatever that means.

She took us into a petting zoo at a campground and we were chased around the parking lot by 10 goats. We were screaming, crying and laughing all at the same time.

It was very confusing.

She had lots of friends, and people loved my Mom. She was easy to get along with.

She was furious at Dad for bringing home a gigantic Christmas tree once. Said it belonged in a large foyer in an office building in Manhattan but decorated it top to bottom anyway. Shortly after, it fell to the ground and so did she, balling her eyes out.

She locked us out once because she couldn’t take it anymore. Dad pulled into the driveway and she cracked the door open and let him in.

She burst into tears eating dinner one night. We were too young to remember but I think it had something to do with the hamburger helper.

Did I mention she cried

regularly? She liked crying because it always made her feel better.

She was always there for us and Dad was always there for her. They had a great marriage and were wonderful role models.

She said we were her legacy and if she botched it up she would never forgive herself. Plus selfishly she didn’t want to have to worry about us as much when we got older.

She loved God and never felt the need to explain her faith to anyone. She said people make their own decisions.

Struggling and pain were never going to be her story for very long. She felt it, moved through it, figured it out and carried on. She said nobody has that kind of time.

She said grandchildren were the perfect circle of life and she couldn’t wait to understand why grandpa cried so hard when he saw us for the first time.

My mom loved life. She said joy was the point.

Carleton Place father & son review food trucks as summer project

Signed, Am I the Only One? Carrie's column reflects her own opinions and not necessarily those of Hometown News.

Healthy Living Festival

Wesley Parsons (left) and his son Noah, 13, are reviewing Carleton Place food trucks as a summer project.

Photo credit: from Facebook video.

The fifth annual Healthy Living Festival was held on Saturday June 17 in Smiths Falls. A portion of Beckwith Street along with some side streets were filled with events, vendors, entertainment and messages to support a healthy lifestyle. Vendors promoting healthy lifestyles, nutrition,safety and health provided information. The streets were filled throughout the entire event. Photo credit: Kathy Botham.

carleton Place - jane hobson editorial@pdgmedia.ca What does it take to be a food master? For a Carleton Place father and son, the three main ingredients are a chip truck, a camera and a couple of hearty laughs.

Wesley Parsons and his 13-year-old son Noah started reviewing local food trucks in early May as a summer project.

“We usually go to the location, order the food, turn the camera on and then it’s really just us goofing off,” said Parsons, who used to own a food delivery service in Carleton Place.

Self-declared foodies, the pair usually orders what the food truck owner recommends.

“Sometimes it’s pizza, sometimes it’s French fries, sometimes it’s burgers,” Parsons said.

Nothing brings a smile to your face like a shaky video of a father and son dropping food on their shirts and giggling at themselves. “Noah has a great sense of humour and very good timing,” Parsons said laughing.

“He’s a riot.”

Here’s a taste of what you can expect from

a Food Masters video; dripping poutine boxes, spilled root beer, no use of napkins whatsoever (the finger-licking-shirt-wiping method is preferred), witty banter, moments of laughter with absolutely no dialogue and the occasional guest blogger.

All the while informative and entertaining.

Parsons and Noah rate each food truck on a scale out of 10 after the meal – or sometimes half way through a mouthful. They comment on the quality of the fries, the f lavour and consistency of the gravy and the stringiness of the cheese curds. They discuss the crunch of the chips and the shape of the burger bun. They also take into consideration the price of the meal, the wait time after ordering and the seating area at the food truck.

Noah researched and taught himself how to use iMovie to lightly edit the videos that he then uploads to their Food Masters Facebook page (@ F o o d M a s t e r s C P ) , which has a five-star rating and more than 200 likes. The duo has posted three videos so far.

Each videao is about five

minutes long and have as many as 4,000 views.

Food Masters fans often comment on the Facebook videos and make suggestions of chip trucks they should visit, which Parsons said they love. He said some chip truck owners have even reached out to Food Masters to request a visit.

“It gives us the chance to do something fun together – and chip trucks are local and seasonal so we thought this was perfect,” Parsons said.

“Noah is homeschooled so we’re always looking for projects he wouldn’t encounter in a normal school.”

Parsons does a lot of hands-on lessons with Noah and they are always fun-infused; shooting pool, skiing, or driving a bucket of balls.

Food Masters is Noah’s tastiest project yet.

Parsons and Noah have about six more chip trucks to visit before Labour Day weekend. “We are planning a live finale at the end when we’ll return to our favourite [food truck],” said Parsons. “We’re having a lot of fun and that’s the key ingredient.”

july 2017

6

community

Canada 150 canoe brigade f l o at s i n t o S m it h s Fa l l s

Perth Inside Out:

by Terry O'Hearn

Parkinson's disease Superwalk

Regional - chris must editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Smiths Falls welcomed 14 voyageur canoes and about 130 paddlers from across Canada as the South Wind Canoe Brigade camped at the Detached Lock overnight June 27 on their way from Kingston to Ottawa. The paddlers and the 19 visitors from Ireland who are spending a week in town were treated to an evening of entertainment and a barbecue provided by the Smiths Falls Firefighters Association.

The canoe voyage up the Rideau is part of this year’s Canada 150 celebrations.

A group of visitors from Ireland who are spending a week in the Smiths Falls area had a chance to tour the swale in a voyageur canoe, with help from veteran long-distance paddler Max Finkelstein.

Photo credit: Chris Must.

Music at the June 27 canal-side cookout was provided by the History Buffs – Charles Norris, Ken Ramsden and Pam Ogelsby of Barry’s Bay. Photo credit: Chris Must.

column: Carleton Place Social Notes Well parents it’s finally here – summer vacation. If you’re like me then you’re starting to think what on earth these little people are going to do for the next two months. Whether you have the whole clan kicking around the house every day this summer or you just have a day off here and there I thought it might be fun to start a list of things to do. The moment someone utters the words “I’m bored” or you just have to get out of the house – grab the list and have the littles pick a number from one to 10 and go! Whether these are classics in your parental playbook or new twists I hope that you enjoy some of my personal favourites: 1. Road trip This is our go to summer day idea. We keep the van pre-packed in the summer with a bag of spare clothes for everyone, towels, swimsuits and a bucket of random outdoor toys. We pack a cooler with drinks and snacks and sometimes add the little propane grill and we head out and we just drive. You never know where you might end up or what cool new hang out you might discover. We sample new chip trucks, enjoy hidden beaches, fish at different lock stations, hike the many area trails and try every playground along the way.

2. Eat your heart out Summer in Lanark County is a mind field of Farm-

er’s Markets, pick-your-own farms and country farm stores. Head out and pick up lunch on the way. A great way for the family to explore where their food comes from and help out local food producers at the same time.

3. Backyard camp out Not a camper? Not to worry – have all the fun of novice camping with a backyard camp out. Put the tent up next to the sandbox or kiddie pool for the true campsite feel. Most towns allow small enclosed fire pits so you can even have a proper campfire.

Let’s not forget smores! Add some dollar store glow sticks and keep the party going after lights out.

4. Fair days ahead It’s the season of the county fair. Pair that with countless area Canada 150 celebrations and annual festivals, car shows and concerts and it’s hard to have a boring weekend. Pull out the Hometown News event calendar for the month and pin it to the fridge for ideas.

5. Paperback writer Nurture your inner Shakespeare by helping your budding novelist write their first book, short story or poem.

Too young? Create a summer reading list theme or record your little one’s masterpiece as they dictate. Get to know your local library! They have free activities throughout the summer so check out their websites to find out about storytimes, dress up days,

Lego drop ins and more.

6. Budding entrepreneurs Do something nice for others and have the kids raise a little money for a local charity through hosting a lemonade stand, yard sale, bake sale or art show. Not only is it fun, it is a great way for kids to amp up their math and counting skills, customer service know-how, and of course, learn to be charitable.

If your children are older, why not start a summer business? Mowing lawns, weeding gardens or helping clean out a shed or two.

7. Walk down memory lane History comes alive in the small communities dotting Lanark County. You may think “my kid isn’t going to be interested” but often you’d be surprised. Learning about the heritage buildings, doing the Carleton Place Mural Tour or visiting small local museums (like Heritage House in Smiths Falls or The Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum) are a great way to spend a few hours. There are no better stories than the real ones and our communities are full of tales of intrigue and mystery. They can even learn about their own ancestors along the way. If you’re looking to explore some larger museums, visit your local library to check out the free family passes for many of the popular sites in the National Capital region.

8. Lights, Camera, Action!

Make it a movie night by

Pat Evans is quick to encourage anyone who has Parkinson’s Disease to go public about it. It helps raise awareness about the prevalence of the nasty affliction, and she points out that the Parkinson’s problem is only going to get worse as our population ages.

Evans would also like you to come to the Lanark-North Leeds Parkinson SuperWalk on Saturday, Sept. 9, at Conlon Farm Recreation Complex in Perth. Registration is at 9:30 a.m. and the walk will start 10 a.m. The contact for more information is Alan Muir at 800-5653000 Ext. 3427, or email alan.muir@parkinson.ca.

The walk is approved and supported by Lanark-North Leeds Parkinson’s, and while this is the inaugural walk for Perth, there are 68 other walks across the country.

Evans is chair of the organizing committee for the local SuperWalk, and

by Sarah Cavanagh visiting the Port Elmsely Drive In. Complete with onsite food, this is an affordable way to spend a warm summer evening. Fun tip: bring a quick pop up tent or screen to ward off any bugs and a few chairs and enjoy the movie outside the car.

Also, most of our area communities have Movies in the Park throughout the summer. Movies under the Stars starts on June 29 in Smiths Falls and includes snacks and special themed activities.

9. Art in the park Summer is my favourite time of year for arts and crafts, mostly because the mess can stay outside but also because there is a wealth of new material to create with.

Art journaling is great and your kids can start a scrapbook of summer adventures.

Have them dedicate a page to each day out and fill it with drawings, memories and bits collected on the way.

10. Hunt on Summer is the season of auction sales, flea markets and garage sales. Why not spend a Saturday on a special kind of treasure hunt. Have everyone in your house take $5 to $10 and see what they can find for their budget. Follow it up with a little Show and Tell at the end of the day.

Sarah’s column reflects her own opinions and not necessarily those of Hometown News

her friend Gayle Truman is co-chair. Although the ladies are described as volunteers, it becomes obvious they are working pretty much full time with local support groups and organizing the walk.

The hope is that by building awareness, increased services will be brought to people who live in Lanark-North Leeds.

The local support groups in Almonte and Perth are promoted by Community Home Support Services of Parkinson’s Canada.

Parkinson’s affects mainly the elderly population, and it has proved to be more prevalent in the rural population, perhaps in part because of pesticides. There is a need to create more support groups and more exercise programs, with better access to movement disorder specialists.

Both Evans and Truman were diagnosed with Parkinson’s years ago, but have done remarkably well of staving off progression of the disease. Their enthusiasm for both the upcoming walk, and year round commitment to volunteer work, becomes infectious. It is safe to say that their work and that of fellow volunteers will be a factor in the taming of Parkinson’s.

The SuperWalk will allow people to walk for pledges or form a team, or just pledge. There are loops around the perimeter of Conlon Farm of shorter and longer distances, and those who have never been to the

recreation complex will be treated to a view of one of Perth’s gems. Entertainment will be taking place, and the popular CTV news anchor Patricia Boal is the emcee.

Among local celebrities taking part will be the affable Lieutenant General (Ret’d) Donald McNaughton, CMM, CD, and his equally personable wife Fran, as members of “Don’s Dream Team”, which includes family and friends. Don makes no bones about having Parkinson’s, and he manages it very well through exercise and other forms of therapy. Don and Fran feel they can help fund research by taking part, and “the more publicity for Parkinson’s the better.”

The urgency of curtailing the effects of Parkinson’s and its cousin Alzheimer's is apparent when looking at the numbers of people being diagnosed each day. Those numbers are expected to double in about 14 years, and Evans says support, medical services, advocacy and research need to be funded now. That is why she chose to organize a local SuperWalk, and stresses that a donation of any amount will make a difference.

It would be worthwhile to join with other SuperWalkers on Saturday, Sept.

9. Even if you are not familiar with the disease now, the odds are very high that Parkinson’s will affect you or your family at some point in your lifespan. Hope to see you there.

Pat Evans (right) and Gayle Truman, display the Parkinson SuperWalk sign beside part of the walking route. The walkers will walk a choice of loops around and through Perth’s beautiful Conlon Farm Recreation Complex.

Photo credit: Terry O’Hearn.

July 2017

7

community

Smiths Falls man wins gold medal at Ultramarathon in Calgary Alberta

Former Smiths Falls Councillor Mike Cliffen, aged 63, recently won a gold medal with his stellar performance in the 50-km Calgary Ultramarathon.

Photo credit: Submitted.

Smiths Falls Matthew Behrens editorial@pdgmedia.ca Smiths Falls lawyer Mike Cliffen has never been one to run from a challenge, and so it made perfect sense that the 63-year-old would find himself participating in the 50 kilometre Calgary Ultramarathon on May 28. He crossed the finish line at a remarkable 5 hours and 12 minutes and took home the gold medal in his masters men age class.

In addition to the daunting length of his run, Cliffen tells Hometown News that Calgary posed a challenge because of altitude.

“It easily cuts five percent of aerobic capacity. The course organization was good, but 50 kilometres is a long way, and the body runs out of its stored energy at 38 kilometers. So that last 12 kilometers gets a bit ticklish. It's not painful, but your legs turn into rocks.”

A former town councillor from 1988-2000, Cliffen says he won't do another

such run. But he has no plans to hang up his sneakers, given a 43-year obsession that began during the early 1970s running boom. Inspired by gold medal marathoner Frank Shorter’s performances in the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games, Cliffen joined millions who caught the long distance running bug.

“It seemed like everyone was doing it so there must be something to it, and if you didn't run too fast, it wasn’t too difficult,” he recalls. “I was never terribly athletic in the hands-eye coordination department, so I found this idea of putting one foot in front of the other a fairly easy thing to do. No assembly or instructions or equipment or membership fees required.”

His first major event was the 1978 National Capital Marathon, a 42-km race that began a string of similar runs over the next decade. “Getting under three hours in a marathon is a head turner,” Cliffen explains, adding that “al-

though you're not winning, you're in the top ten percent in the field.” During those years, he remembers five runs that he clocked in under two hours and 40 minutes.

“Those were big races with as many as five thousand people and I was coming in around 33rd or 34th, but those days are gone,” Cliffen says. “You can only run one or two quality marathons a year because it takes so much out of you.”

After a stint away from marathon running while he was raising his young family, Cliffen laced up again for longer distances beginning in 2000.

Cliffen continues to run extensively throughout the Smiths Falls area, especially enjoying the quiet and solitude of a three or four hour run that begins with daybreak. Coming across all manner of wildlife – turtles, rabbits, foxes – makes him feel very connected to the local environment.

He’s also done some research into the history of humans’ capacity for the marathon, which many view as an extraordinary commitment only a few can make. Cliffen disagrees, and says that running is innate to the species, going back to the days of hunter-gatherers.

“Humans can outrun any animal, not in speed, but in distance, which is how we domesticated so many animals,” he says. “And look at children. When they first get on their feet, they tend to run before they can walk. Running is a natural form of movement.”

Cliffen believes the key to running is finding a proper pace, building up one’s core strength, and finding an enjoyable route.

“Most of my running I’m in the same oxygen bounds as if I’m walking,” he says.

“I just lope along, I drink from my water bottle, I can take different routes through the town or countryside, and it’s the best

NINE&

DINE For more informaaon visit www.lombardglen.com or call the Club House at 613-283-5318 551 Highway 15, RR#1 Lombardy

Local real estate agent connecting the community one bike at a time

Real estate agent Lynn Vardy (left) and FCSLLG volunteer coordinator Steve Orr are working on the 2017 bike campaign. Photo credit: Jane Hobson.

Carleton Place - Jane Hobson editorial@pdgmedia.ca “Every kid should have a bike. We want to give them that opportunity,” says Lynn Vardy, a real estate agent with Royal LePage Team Realty in Carleton Place.

For every home Vardy sells, she donates one new bicycle to a child in need, in her client’s name. The bike campaign started in 2016.

Last year, Vardy sold 40 homes and is currently in the process of donating 40 bikes through Family and Children’s Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville (FCSLLG).

FCSLLG is commonly referred to as a child welfare services agency or a children’s aid society. It serves hundreds of children and families throughout the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville region. FCSLLG ensures children are growing up safe from abuse, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse as well as neglect.

Volunteer coordinator at FCSLLG Steve Orr says the bike campaign provides an avenue for people to help. “It lets people know there is a

way they can help their fellow community members in need,” says Orr. “I think we all have a responsibility to reach out to the community and acknowledge the struggles that families go through.”

It’s common for a family to feel isolated and vulnerable if they do not have access to things they need, whether it’s food in the fridge or a downtime activity to do together.

The bike campaign creates a connection between the family and the community. The family feels less isolated because they know there are people who care, says Orr, who has two children of his own. “It’s all about balance between helping families and addressing the large structural issues in our society that affect a family’s ability to flourish – and that struggle is an experience we’ve all felt in some way or another.”

Vardy agrees.

“I wanted a way to give back in a way that makes sense instead of a closing gift,” Vardy says. Generally, real estate agents give their clients closing gifts when they buy a home to wel-

come them to their new space. Vardy said she always struggled with buying closing gifts. Now her buyers get information about the bike campaign instead.

The goal for 2017 is another 40 bikes. “We have a goal to work towards with clients and staff instead of just selling houses,” Vardy says. Some buyers have even asked to donate another bike themselves, which Vardy openly welcomes. Orr and Vardy are also looking for sponsors to donate helmets and locks for the bikes being donated now.

Whether it’s riding to a job or to the park to hang out with friends, a bicycle connects people with the community around them.

“Connecting with people should be celebrated but too often the accumulation of wealth is considered more successful instead,” said Orr. “The best thing is that as we grow out of bikes, we pass them on to the next person who needs it.”

For those wanting to donate a new bike, get more info at http://lynnvardy. com/bike-campaign.

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The Conways and Stanzels enjoyed a wet but fun Canada Day in Smiths Falls.

Photo credit: Kathy Botham

for Coffee Culture

Happy

150th

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Larry and Linda Doyle got married 50 years with Canada Day in Smiths Falls. Photo cred

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Will from Napanee digs into a double scoop chocolate peanut butter ice cream cone at Peter’s - now open for the season. Photo credit: Sally Smith

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Booking

Weddings

& Parties for 2017-18

Bob Taunton DJ/MC

613-330-8743

bob@octaveentertainment.ca www.octaveentertainment.ca

Debbie Wilson from Lanark Lodge was in the Canada Day spirit with glittery red eyelashes. Photo credit: Sally Smith

Happy 150th Canada!

The Smiths Falls Canada Youth Choir. Photo

Local & Long Distance

Boosting · Lockouts

Canada Day in Smiths Falls.

Photo Credit: Kathy Botham

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Celebrations Celebrate Canada's 150th in your community!

Canada Day in Smiths Falls.

Photo Credit: Kathy Botham

Community groups, town staffs, heritage committees and many others have been working to make the most of Canada’s 150th anniversary. There are loads of events across the region celebrating our nation’s big day, with many celebrating the big year. If you’re feeling patriotic, there is lots to do beyond the traditional July 1 festivities. Take some time to check out these local celebrations.

June 6 to September 16 Canada 150 - Two Exhibits Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, Almonte 613.256.3754 www. mvtm.ca

ago today. They celebrated along dit: Kathy Botham.

Rock the Dock at Rideau Ferry drew people by car and by boat. Totally Hip played all Tragically Hip music. Photo credit: Sally Smith

Sundays July & August Mica Festival Celebrate in Tay Valley www.tayvalleytwp.ca

July 14 to 16 Almonte Fair celebrate Canada’s 150th with a maple theme Almonte Fairgrounds almontefair.ca

July 15 MERA Schoolhouse Canada 150th Celebration MERA Schoolhouse, McDonald’s Corners www.meraschoolhouse.org

Canada Day in Smiths Falls.

Photo Credit: Kathy Botham

July 15 Canada 150 Duck Race Lanark Branch 395 and Lanark and District Fish and Game Conservation Club. $10.00 per duck. Only 450 tickets will be sold.

First Prize $500, second $250 and third $150.00.

This is a joint fundraiser. Winners will be announced at the Legion.

Entertainment and lunch available at this event.

Cain Scheuneman couldn’t get enough of the Smiths Falls Canada Day inflatables.

Photo credit: Kathy Botham

AUGUST 3 TO 4 Canadian Orienteering Competition www.perth.ca

AUGUST 5 credit: Kathy Botham.

Community Barbecue, Dance and Parade of Lights at MERA in McDonalds Corners.

974 Concession 9A. McDonalds Corners Farmer's Market takes

place as usual on the Schoolhouse grounds from 9 AM-1 PM. meraschoolhouse@bell.net www.meraschoolhouse.org

AUGUST 12 Race the Runway Russ Beach Airport Montague racetherunway.com

AUGUST 19 TO 20 Rideau Ferry Regatta Rideau Ferry Public Docks, Rideau Ferry 613.267.6500 www.rideauferryregatta.ca

August 26 Barns, Farms & Wicked Chefs Celebrate in Tay Valley www.tayvalleytwp.ca

August 26 Maberly Fair Celebrate in Tay Valley www.tayvalleytwp.ca

SEPTEMBER 10 Lanark County Harvest Festival featuring Montague Township Beckwith Park www.harvestfestival.ca

September 1 to 16 Ongoing Exhibits Canada 150 A textile art exhibit Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, Almonte | 613.256.3754 www.mvtm.ca

September 2 to 4 Lanark & District Museum celebrates our Scottish Heritage

September 2 to 4 Sundance Artisan Tour Celebrate in Tay Valley www.tayvalleytwp.ca

september 16 166th Middleville Fair celebrating Canada 150 Visit the 166th Middleville Fair celebrating Canada 150.

For information, contact Sylvia Whyte at 613-2560646 or email at heritagehaven101@gmail.com

september 23 164th Annual Fall Fair "My Canada 150 Years" The McDonald's Corners Agricultural Society present the 164th Annual Fall Fair "My Canada 150 Years". For information . contact, Sally at 613-259-3480 or email sassiboers@outlook.com.

September Old Times, Now Times Dance www.tayvalleytwp.ca

October 7 to 9 Autumn Studio Tour www.tayvalleytwp.ca

November 4 Annual Hunters Bash.

Lanark Ontario Join us for an afternoon of music followed by a dinner and dance at the Royal Canadian Legion Lanark Branch 395

December 9 Lanark Village Santa Claus Parade sponsored by the Lanark Civitan Club with the Canada 150 theme.

December 9 Tay Valley Choir Concert www.tayvalleytwp.ca

December 31 New Year's Eve Fireworks Beckwith Park Expires July 31 2017

5.00 OFF any Sandwich Platter The family (in no special order) - Taylor, Matthew, Cohen, Skye, Easton, Tracy, Phil, Janet, Chad and Jen - getting ‘fueled’ for afternoon and evening activities. Photo credit: Sally Smith

Valid at Smiths Falls locations only.

48 Beckwith St. N.

107 Lombard Street

HAPPY 150TH

CANADA

july 2017

10

lifestyle Health Matters

Healing at the speed of light

Picture this: you are a hockey player and you have 1.5 weeks to be ready to play in a tournament.

You are practicing hard and pull a groin muscle.

Will you recover in time to play? Or, are you struggling with chronic pain in your wrists and hands that is hampering your everyday life and enjoyment of hobbies? Maybe you have tried specific exercises, medications or various therapies to find some healing for a painful condition without much success. Maybe you have never heard of Low Level Laser Therapy (or LLLT also known as Cold Laser or Phototherapy) as an option for healing.

Let me share a personal testimony of the positive effects of LLLT that still has me amazed.

About six months ago I was shifting and loading moving boxes in my car.

I stepped off a curb and rolled my ankle. I felt the crunch and succumbed to the pain relief provided by my body’s shock response.

I denied that I had done any damage as it didn’t hurt and because I needed to get the job done rather than taking a rest and putting ice on my injury.

At 4:00 a.m. the next day I awoke in tears with the pain and swelling of my ankle and discovered I could hardly put weight on it. How was I going to lead

the moving crew that day?

Being a LLLT practitioner, I decided to go laser my ankle early in the morning. Within two hours I was bearing weight well.

Late afternoon I lasered again. That evening I was wondering if I had even sprained my ankle the day before. There was minimal swelling and I didn’t feel pain unless I pushed my range of motion to its limits. It seemed almost miraculous.

Laser therapy Lasers specifically for healing of the body have been under development since about 1968 when Endre Mester determined through a study that low level laser irradiation did not cause cancer in mice and that the hair on the mice that were treated with laser grew back 50 per cent faster than the mice who were not treated.

Let’s explore how and why this light works beneficially in the body.

Wavelength: This is probably the most important factor in a therapeutic laser. Out of the entire spectrum of light, there is a fairly narrow window of light that has therapeutic effect on the cells of the body. 650nm (which is in the visible red spectrum), through to 905 nm (which is in the near infrared range) have proven to be most effective with 905nm achieving the deepest penetration into the tissue.

Source: Comparing an incandescent light with a laser would be like comparing a crowd of people all wearing different outfits walking about in a city square versus a welltrained army marching in uniformed formation in a parade. Lasers are specifically designed to be a monochromatic and coherent light source. This means that the light they emit is all one colour and all travelling in exactly the same direction in a

very organized way. These specific properties of laser light allow for the depth of penetration as well as the specificity of wavelength for effective therapy which would not be able to be achieved with other light sources.

Power: Therapeutic lasers used in LLLT, are in the classification of IIIB. This means they are stronger than laser pointers and checkout scanners but less powerful than the highly restricted surgical or industrial lasers for cutting and cauterizing. There is little to no thermal effect when used properly.

With the combination of 660nm/905nm wavelength and the superpulsed laser technology it is possible to provide healing support to tissues up to four inches deep in the body.

How LLLT works LLLT provides patients with effective, safe, and painless therapy that uses the body’s own natural healing systems to heal tissue, resolve inflammation and relieve pain. The treatment provides easily absorbable energy at a cellular level that each cell can convert into chemical energy to use as needed.

Our bodies are wired with the blueprint and ability to heal. Often times, an area of injury or chronic pain just isn’t healing because it is missing a necessary component to do so and is severely depleted energetically from trying to heal.

LLLT provides an infusion of usable energy which the body can direct in any way it is needed.

In the case of the hockey player who is generally in good shape and healthy and has this acute injury, when LLLT is applied the healing usually takes place really quickly, often within four to six treatments.

Chronic pain and older issues of inflammation and discomfort often take significantly longer to heal yet the body is capable of much more than we realize when the right building blocks and support is provided.

Mary Garvin: After pursuing biology and outdoor education in university, Mary followed her passion for natural healing methods. She trained and practiced as a licensed massage therapist for seven years abroad and brings her years of massage knowledge to direct her in the effective application of LLLT at Smiths Falls Family Chiropractic.

Smiths Falls host to oldest triathlon in Canada

Canada's oldest triathlon was held on June 24, 2017 in Smiths Falls. The swimmers began at EconoLodge, swam the required distance (500 metres) and got on their bike at Lower Reach Park. They continued with a 20 kilometre ride then finished with a 5 kilometre run.

Photo credit: Kathy Botham.

SAM LIMA DENTURE CLINIC SERVING PERTH & AREA

Walk Ins Welcome

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613-267-5462

July 2017

11

Home and Garden

Garden Matters:

Create a welcome place for bees and butterflies The trend towards “kind gardening” continues to grow in popularity. More and more gardeners are planting perennials and shrubs that not only look beautiful in their garden but also to provide a food source for bees, butterflies and birds. Often what seems like a small contribution even just a tiny flower pot on your patio or a small garden patch can provide valuable pollinator habitat.

According to David Suzuki, “bees, one of our most important pollinators, love to live in urban settings where there are short flight paths, and a variety of different plants and flowers to sample. In fact, bees are more likely to thrive in your backyard, community or patio garden, and on mixed farms than on acres devoted to single crops”

If you'd love to see more wildlife in your garden, clever choices for your borders and pots can really give nature a helping hand. Although the list is wide and varied, here are a few of my favourites.

Butterfly Weed Asclepsias tuberosa This classic pollinator plant is gorgeous in the mid-summer garden. Easy to grow, it loves full sun is drought tolerant and does well in poor, dry soils. Vibrant clusters of orange blossoms atop 2 to 3-foot plants. Attractive to all butterflies, hummingbirds, bees and other beneficial insects. Look for the yellow variety (Hello Yellow), which brighten up any garden.

Cinderella Swamp Milkweed Asclepsias incarnata These vanilla scented flowers are

Design and build custom furniture and beautiful boxes.

Repair and restoration of furniture Repair and Restoration of vintage car wood interior. www.nickmoore.ca

613-259-2177 info@nickmoore.ca

A residential designer can help bring peace of mind to any renovation project

When it comes to renovating or adding on to your home, there is a lot of planning to be done. This can be a daunting task, and one that could benefit from the advice of a residential designer. I often recommend that my clients look through magazines and the internet (Pinterest) to get ideas. It is also handy to keep a design file that you can refer to during the planning phase of your project.

You may be looking to renew your kitchen, renovate a bedroom or add a small addition, whatever your project, once you are ready to proceed it is the time to involve a residential designer.

Hiring a professional can help you to sort out all of the details of your

project to help make sure the planning phase of your project runs smoothly. A residential designer is a qualified professional that specializes in residential design and is often more affordable than a licensed architect.

Once you hire a professional, it is time to discuss what you have in mind for your project and to prepare a list of the things you would like to accomplish.

It is very important to share your dreams and desires with your designer so that they know all the little details and can help you to achieve your vision.

Designers are problem solvers and their job is to help you solve your “design problems.” Ensuring the best design for you involves coming up with solutions

for circulation problems, privacy issues, safety matters, and of course the aesthetics of the space.

The design process of any project is one of the most important stages and the role of the designer is to help keep the project in focus and to maintain the integrity of the client’s vision.

With a clear vision and a well thought-out plan, your designer will help you stay on track.

With the help of a design professional, a wellplanned project can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience that you will be proud to show off to everyone you know.

Patricia Krotki is a Design Consultant with Polcan Design Group. www.polcandesigngroup.ca

a treat for the senses. Deep pink petals with white centers bloom in 2-inch wide clusters. Compact in form, Cinderella will make an excellent choice for a small sunny garden, and performs well in low spots or moist areas. Support the Monarchs by planting this milkweed by providing a valuable food source and shelter. Grows 3x3-feet in full sun.

Butterfly Bush Buddlei davidii All butterfly bushes are carefree deciduous shrubs that are fragrant and easy to grow. Butterflies and hummingbirds swarm to their blooms all summer long. 'Lochinch' has extremely fragrant lilac-blue flowers with orange eyes. Its arching, mounded habit typically reaches 3- to 5-feet in one season, the 8-inch long flower spikes begin in

late summer and bloom until frost.

Grow in full sun, our local winters usually result in having to cut the plants back to almost the ground every season from which they grow back up to full size each season.

There are many more wonderful plant choices that will transform your garden into a natural habitat.

Even the smallest gesture can make a big difference. If you don’t have any space to add more plants then consider adding a beneficial bug house. These wildly popular funky abodes will house a multitude of beneficial bugs like lady bugs, butterflies and stingless mason/solitary bees.

A garden that gives back is the best kind of garden there is.

Kelly Heath Gemmell’s Garden Centre

july 2017

12

lifestyle 33 RAILWAY STREET LANSDOWNE, ONTARIO

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Automotive

Credit issues shouldn’t be a barrier to buying a car

Town and Country Chrysler Advertorial

Buying a new or new-toyou car is a big decision, but too many times people turn to private sales because they think they can’t afford a new car or are intimidated by dealerships. The whole used car salesman cliche is one that gets stuck in people’s heads. However, where you buy your car is just as important as the type of car you get.

Matt Derbyshire, sales manager at Town and Country Chrysler in Smiths Falls, says that the person or place you purchase your car from plays a big role in what car you ultimately end up with — or if you end up with one at all, especially for those who have had credit issues.

“If you’ve claimed bankruptcy, it doesn’t mean you can’t get a loan. You likely will just have a higher rate than prime,” he says. He explains that sometimes it

takes some work and some time to make a financing deal come through for someone who’s had credit problems but it’s legwork Derbyshire and the team are willing to do to ensure clients get into a vehicle.

“We have 15 banks on board and I have all my reps on speed dial. So with us, it’s one dealership, one deal and one hit to your credit,” he says. “And often times, an issue with financing isn’t the person, it’s the car. So, we’ll work with people to get them

into something for now and then trade them out once their credit improves in a year or 18 months.

We’ve bought vehicles for people to help them out and establish a relationship with the bank.”

Town and Country Chrysler tries to keep a stock of good, quality, used cars that keep their value, such as a 2013 Dodge Charger or a 2012 Chrysler 300 S. When someone who is considered high risk applies for a loan on a quality car, banks are more apt

to approve because they know, should the person fault their payments, the bank will still get their money back.

Derbyshire has seen clients come in who haven’t been able to get financing at other places leave the Town and Country Chrysler lot in newer car than they expected — and at lower payments than what the competition could offer.

Derbyshire admits that high-risk deals are not as profitable, but the rela-

tionship is more valuable.

“It’s not about this one deal. Anyone can sell a customer once, it’s about building relationships.

Helping clients to re-establish their credit and making sure our customers are always looked after. We want our customers for life.”

Derbyshire speaks for the whole team when he says, “At Town and Country Chrysler, you’re not just a number on our sales board, you become part of the family.”

We want to learn more about you.

Take our Reader Survey and we'll enter you into a draw for a

$25 gift card for Coffee Culture www.hometownews.ca/readersurvey2017

613-256-8282

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july 2017

14

lifestyle

Let's Eat

Shannon Miller

Life on the Farm Millers Bay Farm Cabano Kitchen: Bringing fine Strawberry season is short and casual dining to Carleton Place sweet – don’t miss it!

By Brian Turner

Photo credit: Brian Turner.

On June 7 a very unique culinary gem opened its doors in Carleton Place and within a few days it was already bringing back return visitors who couldn't stop raving about a place that focuses on fresh and delicious food above all else.

Cabano Kitchen is the result of a collaborative and masterful effort on the part of Chef Anne-Marie Clermont and owner Andy Carlson. They took the gamble on a small tired building and food trailer located on Highway 7 in Carleton Place (north side just east of the Highway 15 intersection) and with more than a lot of elbow grease and imagination have transformed it into a diner to remember.

Clermont brought her credentials as a graduate of Algonquin College’s hotel and hospitality management program, followed by years of experience and Carlson threw his food-service business savvy into the recipe.

The result is a place to go when you don't necessarily want to get dressed to the nines but still want to enjoy great food prepared to order.

Carlson has a long history

of success in the restaurant business and area residents will thank him for his scouting abilities that brought him to Carleton Place where he discovered an appetite that needed filling.

With a decidedly Mexicano flair, Clermont is delivering a made-from-scratch menu full of traditional favourites like pollo (chimichurri chicken), carnitas (pulled-pork), and asada (marinated beef steak) tacos, but with her own twist. For those that prefer a touch of the sea in their soft-shelled tacos, no worries, a beer-battered cod version is one of the hits on this taste-topping chart.

I visited on day four of this new venture and while some might wish to wait and let the crew work out the kinks in a brand-new diner, I wasn't disappointed by the quick and efficient counter-order service and absolutely outstanding fresh creations.

Any fan of Mexican food knows the sauces and marinates are key and Clermont leaves nothing to chance making them all herself from her own recipes. The results are dishes that let you taste every fresh veggie

and succulent piece of meat with just the right hint of spice that truly compliments without overpowering the ingredients.

For those with a larger appetite, the burritos certainly fill the bill without emptying the wallet. Tender spiced rice, and perfectly seasoned corn and black bean salsa are just the right partners for your choice of chicken, pork, or beef in these tortilla wraps from heaven.

Vegetarians and streetfood lovers will also be pleased to find items like the ensalada (Clermont's take on a Mexican fresh-green salad) and hand-cut fries, although she couldn't resist crafting her own version of a Mexican poutine loaded with queso con chilli, cabano spice, and braised pulledpork dripping with red-chili sauce.

Everyone will quickly find a new favourite at Cabano Kitchen. Bring your friends, your family, and your appetite, but not a stuffed wallet as, (with only the exception of a generously served fish and chip dish priced at $12.50), there's nothing on the menu over $8.00.

Cabano Kitchen is open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (with tentative plans to close at 7 p.m. on Sundays). There's plenty of free parking and lots of indoor and outdoor seating.

They take cash, Interac, Visa, and Mastercard (the latter group being a pleasant surprise for a new eatery). You can check out their menu and reviews on Facebook under Cabano Kitchen.

Beer Wine and Spirits

This month I am featuring a local winery located just west of Ottawa: Jabulani Vineyard and Winery. It’s owned and operated by a very hospitable couple, Tom and Janet Moul. The winery is located at 8005 Jock Trail, which is west of Richmond and east of Dwyer Hill Road.

Recently they hosted their first in a series of summer wine and food events in their new tasting barn and reception hall that is fit for weddings and large crowds.

It includes a tasting bar where you can also purchase any of their numerous products ranging from white, red and dessert wines, and even a hard apple cider and a strawberry wine named Tipsy Turkey. This sweet wine is named after the wild turkeys at the back of the vineyard that started eating the dumped skins that began fermenting!

The climate and soils of Eastern Ontario call for winter hardy grapes. They grow a number of these that were created years ago largely at the University of Minnesota. They are commonly called 'Minnesota clones' and they are French and American hybrids: Frontenac Gris, Vidal, and Marquette. They also have Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot, which they use alone to make wines or, as I preferred, in blends with the hybrids. Check out their

website at www.jabulani.ca to see their product list and prices.

Now let's talk about the wine supper. Everyone was seated al fresca on seats by barrels that served as tables outside the hall. The evening was lovely as rain had threatened but the wine gods were good to us, allowing to meet and mingle outside, enjoying a glass of Tipsy Turkey with a splash of Sprite in a flute including a strawberry in each glass.

This was accompanied by Canadian canapes and hors d'ouevres like Green Gables oysters on the shell and smoked salmon drizzled in sweet maple syrup.

We moved into the hall where a live band provided dinner music and had a five course meal with a glass of wine per serving. All this for $80 — included tip and taxes.

The chefs were Algonquin College graduates who work in local restaurants but here

I don’t know about your household, but in ours the month of June is a total whirlwind. Between yard work, end of school field trips, sporting events, and class parties, every spare minute seems to be filled up!

If it wasn’t a part of our business, there’s a good chance that strawberry season would pass us by as well!

It’s just such a short one.

In this part of Ontario, the strawberry crop is most plentiful from mid-June through early July. That’s for the traditional “June bearing” varieties. To extend the season, there are several growers who have plantings of day neutral cultivars (also known as ever bearing), which will produce throughout the summer and into the fall. Although these are becoming more common, they are still the exception rather than the norm, and pickyour-own is seldom – if ever – offered in those patches.

That means then, that if you are hoping to enjoy a visit to a berry patch, you’ll want to plan it within the last 10 days of June or the first 10

days of July. Of course, it’s always advisable to check the conditions at your chosen patch before heading out, but that’s a general timeline.

If you’ve been meaning to get the family out to the strawberry fields for a while now, THIS is the year. That cool, wet spring that seemed like it would never end? It was setting us up for a very plentiful crop…and it’s always more fun when the picking is easy!

Once you’ve got your berries – whether you picked them yourself or let us pick them for you – what do you do with them?

There are many traditional strawberry recipes, often handed down through the generations. Think jams, pies, compotes, shortcake, muffins, and more.

But don’t stop at those.

There is a place for strawberries at every meal. · Tossed in a bowl of cereal, oatmeal or yogurt for breakfast. · At lunchtime, on a spinach salad with toasted, slivered almonds and balsamic dressing.

· For the younger crowd: rolled inside a wrap with peanut butter. · As a main dish: on a pita pizza with spinach and feta. · As a side: mixed into a fresh salsa or chutney. · A quick and easy dessert...over ice cream or frozen yogurt, of course!

We never let a strawberry season pass us by without getting some tucked away in the freezer for a taste of summer – all winter long.

Freezing your strawberries is ridiculously simple.

All you need to do after they are hulled and rinsed, is lay them out on a cookie sheet (left whole, or sliced – your choice), set them in the freezer until frozen, and then transfer to freezer bags or containers. That’s it! Then you’ll have a ready supply for smoothies, parfaits, pies, jams, muffins, and anything else you can think of that could use a taste of summer added in.

For recipes, berry information and to find a farm near you, visit www.ontarioberries.com.

Brian Preston - The Travelling Sommelier brianpreston@hotmail.com they have a chance to show their stuff, and so they did!

East coast lobster bisque with maple straws to celebrate Canada's East coast with a creamy bisque and soft maple to compliment the rich buttery flavour of the wine, Barrel Fermented Chardonnay.

Slow roasted maple-soy Arctic char with lentil and micro green salad, and a citrus vinaigrette accompanied by Frontenac Blanc where the citrus notes of the wine and vinaigrette actually did complement each other. The light tropical fruit sensations combined nicely with the combination of sweet and savoury flavours of this delicate and delicious Canadian fish.

Moving on to Quebec, the French Canadian tourtiere with black currant marmalade served in a homemade light puff pastry shell matched perfectly with the Marquette Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Select. The

deep, dark and delicious meat sauce and meat flavours went very well with the almost opaque, medium bodied wine — aromas and flavours of dark cherry and espresso that replayed the nose and taste of the wine perfectly.

Central and Western Canada was represented

by Broadhead Darkhouse Stout braised bison and poutine with St. Albert's cheese curds. The 2013 Marquettage was a great match with its big, bold and spice flavours. This blend consists of Marquette (60 per cent), Merlot (16 per cent), Frontenac Noir (10 per cent) Syrah (10 per cent) and Cabernet Sauvignon (4 per cent).

The bison in a reduced, rich stout and poutine gravy needed this big and bold red blend wine so that each could be fully enjoyed together. The wine's rounded tannins and balanced fruit acidity cleansed the palate so that you could enjoy all

the flavours each time you took a bite. How many perfect plates and matches can they produce?

For dessert it was local strawberry rhubarb crumble with wildflower honey syrup and chocolate maple toffee crunch ice cream; what a creation! The combo of sweet strawberry, tart rhubarb, topped off by sweet honey and maple flavours was the perfect accompaniment to Tom's own South African heritage creation, Jeripigo - almond raisin flavours of this South African port style wine.

Our palates travelled Canada to celebrate our 150th birthday. Be sure to visit them to try their many other wines and find the ones you like and to sign up for their upcoming wine suppers over the summer!

If there is a wine, beer or spirit you want to know more about, just let me know; I would be happy to hear from you.

July 2017

15

Tastes

of the

eat, drink, write...

One of the beverages that people all over the world like is coffee, and there has been a resurgence in the market for coffee — particularly in North America.

We here in Canada are famous for our Tim Horton's coffee. I remember as a young lad in Toronto going to Tim Horton's second store that he was opening. This big guy with a brush cut and big paws gave dad a coffee and he handed me a donut saying something like, "Here ya go kid, enjoy!" Wow! I actually met Tim Horton himself.

Coffee is an exotic drink that was discovered in South East Asia and Ethiopia and Yemen. By the 16th century the drink had spread to coffeehouses across the Arab world.

Within another 150 years, it took Europe by storm. It was then that the common man could afford coffee in coffeehouses, just as the resurgence in a modern way has taken hold again where they have become a spot not just to enjoy a cup

Region

but to exchange ideas.

Just ask the Hometown News editorial team where each month's editions are planned at Coffee Culture in Smiths Falls!

Coffee comes in all types and tastes, just like wines. In fact the sommelier of the coffee world is a barista, someone skilled in making fancy coffees in all the new coffeehouses that have sprung up.

You have your Starbucks house coffee, which began as a full city roast. It is dark brown with few traces of oil on the surface of the bean. The flavour can be caramel to chocolate like with some hints of smokiness, or French roast.

This is a very dark brown with large amounts of oil on the bean’s surface. It is bittersweet, smoky, and pungent. But now Starbucks has a blonde roast and medium roast, which is milder to meet the wide spectrum of people's preferences in their coffee.

Have you noticed how many places like Tim Hortons and McDonalds have come out with different

lifestyle

By Brian Preston styles of premium coffee to capture that wider market? It ain't just your diner cup of Joe anymore, and the prices reflect it too.

You can now order coffee from around the world with distributors that import and sell online: Terra Cafe in Montreal, Cafes Volcanik that specialize in Blue Mountain Jamaican and Hawaiian Kona coffee, to name just a couple.

As well there are several coffee roasting and retail establishments in Eastern Ontario: Equator Coffee in Almonte started in 1998 as one of the earliest, and more recently Fluid Solar Roasted Coffee has opened in Clayton, using solar power to roast their fair trade coffees. There are others out there too that you can find on the internet and make a day trip to get out in our region and discover good eateries and places to taste and buy coffee.

I plan to visit Fluid Solar soon. If anyone knows of any other great little coffee roaster places please let me know.

culture Carleton Place Band going on tour Carleton Place - Jane Hobson editorial@pdgmedia.ca Young. Passionate. Energetic. Loud. They call themselves Elementals.

After a few months of remodeling, the hiatus is over. The four-piece alternative rock band that started in Almonte is touring Southern Ontario and Quebec this summer.

The tour is made up of six shows, starting with two gigs in mid-June at Lobsterfest in Stirling, Ont. The band will head to Montreal to perform at Brasserie Beaubien on July 7 followed by a show at Minotaure in Gatineau on July 23. House of TARG in Ottawa will host Elementals on July 26 before the band heads to Toronto for the last gig of the tour at The Cameron House on July 28.

“These upcoming shows are the first ones we've done since March,” said Almonte native and Elementals front-man Cody Smith. After a previous band member split from the group earlier in the year, he said the band is eager to start touring with its new members. “We’re all pretty excited to get going again and start playing. We miss it a lot.”

Smith is the band’s guitarist and vocalist. Drummer Jamie Speck is also from Almonte.

“Jamie and I have been

ON

R ll

July 8

PIGSTOCK

A Fundraising Event for Two Rivers Food Hub Featuring:

August 11

• Steve Stacey

Annual BBQ at Victoria Park

Music in the Park

• Marleen Fawcett

Campground. Hosted by the

• Bruce Enloe

Chamber of Commerce.

• Moore & McGregor

Featuring Fiddle Earth.

• Ali McCormick

Gallipeau Centre

361 Queen St., Smiths Falls Tickets available at:

www.eventbrite.ca/e/pigstock tworiversfoodhubb/ upcoming-events

July 14-16

Rideau Rendezvous Motorcycle rally featuring

Poetic Justice, camping, biker rodeo, stunt riders, vendors, and other activities.

71 Cornelia St., Smiths Falls Rideau-Rendezvous

/671702389656912

Canadian Bass Anglers Federation Cup

playing in this band together for three years [and] we've known each other since high school,” said Smith, 21. Duncan Reitböck and Sheehan Jordan, both from Winchester, joined the band in June.

“They are good friends of ours. We are lucky to have them playing with us.”

Jordan takes care of guitar, vocals and auxiliary.

Reitböck plays bass.

“We all have confidence in this [group] and in our songs,” said Smith. “All we can do is give [these shows] our all and see where we get. Our inspiration is writing honest music and remaining true to ourselves and what we believe in — hopefully that will guide us to where we want to be.”

And the road to success certainly looks promising.

Now based in Ottawa, the band is currently awaiting

the final mixes for its new record which the musicians hope to release on vinyl later this year. “Other than that we are just focusing on playing lots of shows, hitting the road more and writing more music,” Smith said. “The goal is to hopefully one day get signed and be able to live comfortable playing music - but if our music reaches out to people and affects them in anyway at all, then that is fine with me too.”

Smith said Elementals feels like a family. “The band — for me — is all I’ve really got. I think that the boys feel that way too,” said Smith. “I think we feel it’s what we were meant to do.”

Elementals’ first album ‘I’m not here, I’m not real’ from 2015 can be streamed on Spotify and is available for purchase on BandCamp.

Featuring the Beatles Tribute

band. Hosted by the Town of

Smiths Falls, at the County Fair Mall.

5:00pm – 7:30pm

August 12

Frontyard Shindig at Tweed Featuring:

• Mother Mother • Classified 3:00pm

1 Hershey Drive

www.frontyardshindig.com

August 26-27 Trainfest Featuring:

• Jared Lutes, and

July 29-30 Alternative rock band Elementals are going on tour this summer.

(From left to right: Jamie Speck, Sheehan Jordan, Duncan Reitböck and Cody Smith.) Photo credit: Submitted.

THE

• Jimmy Tri-Tones Band

Railway Museum of Eastern

Ontario, at the Parks Canada Visitor’s Centre Theatre Smiths Falls

613.283.5696

www.rmeo.org

www.smithsfalls.ca Canada150SmithsFalls

july 2017

16

business spotlight on business Smith Falls gym new one-stop-spot for all things fitness Smiths Falls - Jane Hobson editorial@pdgmedia.ca

A new gym opened in Smith Falls in mid-June.

Located at 42 Union Street, Iron Body Fitness is a gym that offers heavy weight lifting, cardio, seniors’ classes, yoga classes and more.

“There was a need for a modern, fully-equipped gym in Smith Falls so that’s what we created,” said Iron Body Fitness owner Mike Gallagher.

And fully equipped it is. Let’s start from the top, literally.

Yoga classes are hosted in the loft of the gym where natural lighting floods through large windows. The white ceiling and dark brown beam work continues from the loft down to the next story where cardio machines are found.

“We have everything anyone would need for cardio — from treadmill

to elliptical to bike,” Gallagher said.

Large televisions hang near the window, giving members the option to gaze outside or catch up on shows while burning some calories.

On the main floor of the gym is a large machine room with a rubberized floor that boasts a six-stack cable crossover machine, dumbbells up to 150 pounds and a lat-pullover bench.

There’s also a heavy weight lifting section where the entire floor is rubberized and sound proofed.

“The rubberized and sound proofed floor is really awesome because it means you can drop those super heavy weights and it won’t disrupt anyone else in the gym,” said Gallagher. This feature is rarely found in other gyms, he added.

Along with machines, Iron Body Fitness also supplies other workout equipment like foam rollers, rubber bands for stretching and more.

There are two large, very private individual change rooms, each with a shower convenient for on-the-go members who want to squeeze in a sweat-sesh during their lunch break or before a meeting. A smaller, showerless change room is also up for grabs.

Not only does the multiple story building make the gym unique, but so do the amenities it offers.

Iron Body Fitness invites members to lounge in the seating area where they can relax and enjoy some coffee, juice or a protein shake, which are all for sale. The gym sells merchandise too. It has both brand name workout clothes and gear with the Iron Body Fitness

logo. Allmax supplements are also for sale.

“We want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable here,” said Charlotte Hunter, the manager at Iron Body Fitness.

“That’s really important to us because gyms can feel intimidating — but

not this one.”

The gym is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Personal trainers are available and Gallagher said they are looking to hire more certified personal trainers. The membership fee is $30 per month or $38

per month for access to all the classes. Dropins are welcome at Iron Body Fitness for a price of $10 a day.

“We want to give people a unique, upscale gym that they’ll love to come back to again and again,” said Gallagher.

Iron Body Fitness owner Mike Gallagher (left) and manager Charlotte Hunter inside the new Smith Falls gym. Photo credit: Jane Hobson.

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