Lanark, north leeds & grenville hometown news april 2018

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Vol. 5

No. 4

YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER - LANARK, NORTH LEEDS & GRENVILLE

APRIL 2018

Victoria Basin construction faces slight delay

Smiths Falls - Janelle Labelle editorial@pd gmedia.ca

Construction crews have been busy repairing the Victoria Basin in Smiths Falls this spring.

Parks Canada’s contractors have been restoring the sea walls in the Victoria Basin, ahead of the construction of a new dock system along the south wall. Their work has been slowed down, “complicated by the break in a water main,” explained Art Manhire, Director of Community Services in Smiths Falls.

In order to restore the sea walls, crews have been digging behind the walls and reinforcing them, then filling them back in. The south wall was removed and will be replaced with a new wall, along with a new dock system.

Parks Canada’s construction work in the Victoria Basin has been slightly delayed by an unexpected break in one of the town’s three water mains. The break happened on March 12, and repairs are still underway.

It took two weeks to find exactly where the water main was broken, to determine what the damage was, and formulate a plan to fix it. “We are satisfied that the repair is progressing well,” noted Troy Dunlop, Director of Public Works and Utilities in Smiths Falls. The town called on Ottawa Greenbelt Construction, experts in municipal sewer and water mains, to help assess the problem. This particular pipe was laid in 1964, a metal pipe with a concrete sleeve, and needed significant work. The broken segment was removed, and a new pipe has been welded in. Public Works expects the construction phase of repairs to be completed by Wednesday, April 4.

Following the restoration of the broken water main, the pipe will be purged, disinfected, and tested. Dunlop expects the restored and treated water main to be fully functioning again by May. Parks Canada’s work in the basin is expected to take five more weeks.

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Photo courtesy of Parks Canada.

Photo courtesy of Parks Canada.

Photo credit: Janelle Labelle.

Special Olympics adaptive basketball team takes first place see page 9

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April 2018

2

Page Two

Letter from our Editor Hometown News would like to thank April ScottClarke for serving as editor for the past two years. Hers was a voice from our community, to our community, about our community. Our team will miss her efficient and encouraging leadership.

April, we all wish you the very best as you move on to the next stage of your journey.

Dear readers, we would also like to thank you for your continued interest and reception. Your news is our

news; we would like to remind you that we welcome your submissions and articles. The editorial team at Hometown News may be reached at editorial@pdgmedia.ca.

Our online content is updated regularly; follow us on social media for the latest local news. To receive Hometown News in your inbox, please subscribe to our online newsletter at ht tp://w w w.hometow nnews.ca/newsletter-subscription.

Response to Letter To the Editor

Clarifying the role of Medical Officer of Health

This column is in response to the Letter to the Editor that was printed in the March edition of Hometown News. To read "County not consulting real experts on roadside pesticide spraying" visit our website hometownnews.ca/clarifyingrole-medical-officer-health

To clarify the concerns raised in the letter by Myrna Lee in the March edition, my role as Medical Officer of Health is to provide information to the municipalities about the possible human health risk of spraying the herbicide Clearview in municipal ditches as part of their management of wild parsnip.

The municipalities make the decision about how best to meet their requirement under the Ontario Weed Act to control this noxious weed.

The information I provide is based on an expert report from Public Health Ontario where their scientists reviewed the evidence and concluded that there wasn’t

research evidence of a public health risk from the controlled spraying of Clearview in the Lanark County ditches.

The presentation I make to municipalities is available to review in the minutes of the Lanark County Public Works Committee meeting of October 25, 2017 on the Lanark County website.

I would be pleased to discuss the findings of the Public Health Ontario report and its implications for our region with anyone who would like to discuss it further.

Cartoon by Patrick Labelle.

Maple sugar time in Lanark County

Paula Stewart MD,FRCPC Medical Officer of Health Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

Correction "In the March 2018 issue of The Hometown News, a story on page 4 (Historical, contemporary characters meet in Hunting Piero) should read that …”James VI (of Scotland) who becomes James I of England when Queen Elizabeth I dies (not when Queen Victoria dies).” We regret the error.”

Maple syrup making in the early 1900’s. The sap was gathered in large milk cans, and boiled in large flat pans over a furnace built in a sheltered place in the maple bush. This picture was taken at George Mather’s Sugar Camp near Middleville, with Elva Mather, George Mather, Evan Craig and Robert Nairn. Photo courtesy Middleville Museum.

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April 2018

3

community Britchford’s brexit from Perth is amicable and anticipated

Lang Britchford, retiring Perth Treasurer, looks forward to his next adventure taking his old wooden boat through the Rideau Canal system and heading towards the Trent-Severn. Photo credit: Sally Smith

Perth - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca As the behind-the-scenes financial guy, Lang Britchford (Perth’s Treasurer) was a bit nervous answering questions at an ‘exit’ interview. He likes gathering information and handing it to front-line politicians for them to hand out, but he’s a bit wary and uncomfortable talking about himself and his work. He’s retiring midMay so still has six weeks at

the helm of Perth’s finances but he squirmed at tooting his own horn.

Britchford is sticking around Perth - he’s not leaving the small community he and his wife have made home for the past 14 years. He wants to get further involved with volunteering - but maybe not as a treasurer in an organization, he grins. His old wooden boat is waiting for attention and he has not fully-thought-out plans for

long trips up the Rideau to the Trent-Severn, up the side of Georgian Bay, and then to the North Channel.

At nine months before 62, this next part of his life he sees as a journey, an adventure. He’s looking forward to the change, and intrigued as to where it will take him; he intends to pay attention and make the experience as positive as he can. There’s an expression he quotes from his sisterin-law - “go-go 60s, slow-go

70s and no-go 80s.” So he doesn’t think he’s retiring early, just at the right time.

He wants to be physically able to do the things he still wants to do before the ‘nogo 80s’ hit.

In the nearly decade and a half Britchford has been Perth’s treasurer, he’s been integrally involved with moving it forward and making it a town where people want to live and retire. One of the more important events was the strong role he played in the business decision to outsource policing to the OPP. “It was clearly an important issue for the community.” He remembers people came out in force to the public meetings. “We had to get it right. You bet we sweated the details,” he said, emphatically. “We made sure we made the right decision.”

The OPP was sworn in April 6, 2013. Looking back, Britchford said it went seamlessly, and the past five years, from a financial point of view, have proven it a worthwhile decision. “It was a wonderful efficiency to our community. This year, 2018, our budget saving is $1.2 million over what we were paying for our own police force in 2013. [We were paying] about $3 million a year in Perth for our police, and this year [we’re paying] $1.8 million and change with the OPP.” Where did all that money go? “It freed up funds.

We put it back into capital, and it helps keep our infrastructure in good shape. We

don’t have to burden taxpayers for that additional money because we’re using the savings and efficiencies [from the transition to the OPP].

“So taxes did not have to go up,” he grins.

Once started, Britchford easily went on to describe an issue that “would probably only excite accountants,” he said, his eyes laughing.

“We worked through the most significant changes in accounting in municipalities in probably the last 100 years - financial reporting and monitoring.

“We now track and record our assets to understand them better, and to do life cycles and replacement strategies better. Prior to that when an asset was bought and expensed it just disappeared off the books.

Now we follow a more private-sector business-type modelling where we record assets on the balance sheet and amortize them over time. This models their useful life…

“A good example would be our basin - the water is owned by Parks Canada, the docks are owned by Parks Canada, the municipal responsibility ends at the grass. The perception was when I first came here that the municipality was responsible for docks, and Parks Canada’s [responsibility] ended at the water.”

Tracking of assets became a reality nationally and provincially in 2008. “We’re 10 years in,” Britchford said, “and we’re still not where we need to be; it’s a pretty mammoth undertaking.

Every municipality, county, and township in Ontario, if they want provincial funding - thou must!”

Some interesting and fun facts came out of the leg-work, and it really was an exercise going back to the 1800s looking through council minutes; for instance, the initial cost of Town Hall had to be determined.* (Read to the end to find out the cost.)

“Now we look at assets more in terms of what the replacement cost is and how much money do we need to replace that asset when it comes due. It’s one thing as it depreciates over time but the other is how’s funding doing to have funds ready to pay for replacement in future dollars (which will be obviously greater.)”

Britchford is content with his decision to retire. He’s left his mark, he has places to go, people to see and things to do. Thoughtfully and respectfully he talks about Perth: “I’m going to miss some of the challenges. There was never a dull day, always something coming at me that stretched my imagination, forced me to think. Not every day was riotous but at the end [I learned] this community has good spirit and good attitude. We got through our challenges, and then we got on and enjoyed the day. It’s been a privilege.”

One last note - Britchford not only likes wooden boats, he’s a great proponent of cardboard boat races. Watch for him at the next Ferry regatta. *Town Hall, $2,500

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April 2018

4

Home & Garden We’ve slowly begun peeling off the layers. Unwrapping our homes, our gardens, and ourselves from all the layers and protection we need to stay cozy in the depths of winter. Beds no longer need quite as many blankets. Mittens come home from school covered in dust and mud, not wet from snow.

Snow pants are pushed aside and rain boots are pulled from the back of the closet. Those storm windows are about ready to be tucked away for another year. My front yard beckons: will we

stick with planters this year, or take the plunge into flower beds?

Everyone has a favourite way to welcome spring. My mother swaps out flannel sheets for cotton when temperatures rise. I love to hang bedding on the clothesline, for that irresistible fresh-air smell. My neighbours pull out the pressure-washer every spring, to wash away a year's worth of dirt and start fresh. I know winter is truly on its way out every time I hear that motor whirring.

The warm winds of change just set something stirring inside. Winter’s rest is coming to an end; now is the time for spring cleaning, redecorating, seed-starting, trying new things. All around us the world begins to bloom and it's hard not to join in. Spring is the whole world’s time to make, do, and grow.

What is a sure sign of spring at your house? What do you make, grow, and do to welcome the new season?

We would love to hear from you for

our Home and Garden series. Do you have tips and tricks for making the most of your home and garden? What topics would you like to see covered in the series? We also welcome home and garden articles from citizen journalists.

Contributions may be emailed to editorial@pdgmedia.ca with “Home and Garden” in the subject line. Please note that submissions must be original content exclusive to HTN, and if selected, are subject to editing.

Perth's Tiny House & Green Home Festival Perth - Janelle Labelle editorial@pdgmedia.ca Ontario’s first Tiny House & Green Home Festival is popping up right here in our backyard. The event offers festival-goers an opportunity to tour tiny houses, explore green home technologies, and consider new strategies for social housing. There will be children’s activities, music, and food. The Century 21 Perth Tiny House & Green Home Festival runs from 9am-4pm on April 21, at the Perth campus of Algonquin College.

Why can’t we get enough of this wildly popular tiny house trend?

What is the appeal of condensing a spacious home down to 200 square feet?

Tiny homes are more than a novelty; these small but mighty architectural gems check a lot of important boxes: they are cleverly designed, environmentally friendly, and economical. They can be custom designed, built off-grid or on, they can be mobile or stationary.

Tiny houses are not just small homes: they are deliberately designed to make maximum use of the smallest space possible - both in size and in environmental impact.

They are poised to make a

huge social impact as well: tiny houses are proposed as one of a variety of solutions to homelessness, as tiny houses are less expensive to create and require smaller lots than traditional size dwellings.

Along with their architectural and social appeal, in an increasingly environmentally conscious culture, the tiny house lifestyle has a natural allure. Many eco-friendly technologies have been developed to fit the needs of tiny houses while keeping carbon footprints to a minimum.

If you’ve ever been curious about tiny house living, or wonder about making greener choices in your own living space, the Perth Tiny House and Green Home Festival is something you’ll definitely want to check out. This is Ontario’s first Tiny House festival, and will include a variety of tiny houses to tour, exhibits, and speaker sessions.

Both commercial and private tiny houses will be present, with a variety of features to view and discover. The current tiny-house line-up includes Bear the Tinker’s Caravan, Newmanville Carriageworks Tiny House, Tiny Town Association’s Logan32, Shannon Burchell’s Tiny House,

stop in to see about our spring sale!

Ben Hyward’s Tiny House, Planet Structures, and Renovated Trailer.

Speakers will cover such topics as Municipal Planning: Working with Local Council; Social Housing; and New Technologies. Among the New Technologies speakers will be Chris Magwood, who built the first offgrid, straw bale home in Ontario and is currently co-founder and director of the Endeavour Centre for Innovative Building and Living, co-editor of the Sustainable Building Essentials series and author of several books including Making Better Buildings. Other speakers will include Ross Elliott, co-owner of HomeSol Building Solutions, who will address energy conservation design, and

Photo credit: Submitted.

Kris Bailey of Dwellings, a company that designs and builds houses using new eco-friendly technologies.

This one-of-a-kind event was the brainchild of Mary Stewart, from The 2 Marys Inc. The 2 Marys are Perth-based events planners with a focus on bringing a wide array of fun and appealing community events to Lanark County. Tickets to the April 21 event may be purchased at: http://www. ticketsplease.ca/Marys. html. Anyone within driving distance of Perth, Ontario, who would like to bring a tiny house to this event or be a speaker, exhibitor or volunteer should please contact The 2 Marys Inc. at 613-2642934 or email info@the2marys-events.com.

Photo credit: Submitted.

Photo credit: Submitted.

April 2018

5

Life on the farm

home & garden Celebrating all the new & exciting things happening in the Heart of the Rideau

Family, Farming & Food

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Bees A-Buzzing Meet the Millers, Shannon and Robert, who own and operate Miller's Bay Farm in Lombardy, Ontario. Robert represents the fourth generation of Millers working the family farm. It’s located on the Rideau Ferry Road – just between Lombardy and the picturesque hamlet of Rideau Ferry. Growing crops on 400 acres keeps the family and their seasonal staff busy enough from about April 1st until freeze up in the fall.

There is plenty to accomplish in the colder months as well. The days are nearly all filled with appointments, seminars, family commitments and of course - strategizing, planning and placing orders for seeds, supplies and equipment to be used in the upcoming growing season.

Both Shannon and Robert have farming in the blood and grew up on farms in the area. For Robert, it was on the very farm where he and Shannon are raising their family now.

Shannon’s love of farming began just south of Smiths Falls on the Hunter fam-

ily farm (Maple-Ain), a dairy farm which is now owned and operated by her brother Hugh and his family.

Like most family farms, Miller’s Bay Farm has taken its own unique path to arrive here in 2018. Just 20 short years ago their 40cow dairy herd provided the farm’s main income, with a few other entities ‘on the side’. There was a beef herd, a maple syrup operation and a small vegetable garden. The gardening aspect served to carry on the decades-old tradition of the Miller family offering selected vegetables (mainly sweet corn) to the many summer residents of the Rideau Ferry, long before the area was the year-round community that it is now.

Fast forward to today.

All of the livestock is gone.

The maple trees are no longer tapped. The vegetables (and berries) have taken centre stage. The Miller family grows strawberries, beans, sweet corn, pumpkins, and nearly everything else from asparagus to zucchini on the farm. The land not need-

ed for produce is used to grow commodity crops like soybeans, wheat and grain corn. Robert and Shannon are passionate about making a worthwhile contribution to the communities surrounding their farm. Providing high quality produce is just one way to accomplish that goal. The fruits of their labour can be found in many locations, including their long-established roadside stand, local farmers’ markets, festivals, and restaurants, along with select grocery and specialty stores in the area.

Though it seems nearly impossible, 2018 marks already the fourth season that Miller’s Bay Farm has been a regular contributor to Hometown News.

Keep an eye out over the coming months for stories of life on the farm; an inside look at how things grow; hints and tips for selecting, storing and preparing Ontario’s bounty – whether it be out of your own garden, or someone else’s – and of course, tried and true favourite family recipes.

I look out the window at Mississippi Lake and think that spring is officially here. It’s snowing out and the lake is frozen solid, but yes, spring is almost here.

The silver maple buds are almost in bloom and back on February 28 there were two, count them, two snowdrops in bloom.

These ephemeral bulbs are the first to flower.

That’s why when thinking every fall about which bulbs to buy, you will find that the small minor bulbs are the best value for your dollar. They may be small but make a nice show after a long hard winter like this one; and there is such a good selection to choose from at local garden centres.

Some examples of small bulbs to plant every fall are Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis), Netted Iris (Iris reticulata), which come mostly in shades of blue, and Dwarf Iris (Iris danfordiae) which are mostly yellow. And there is Squill (Silla siberica), which naturalizes itself freely; there is a lawn in Appleton that’s completely blue with Squill every spring. Don’t forget

Photo credit: Submitted.

Crocuses as they come in quite an array of colour, including one of my very favourites, Snakes Head Fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) which is a mottled mauve colour.

Although there are many more, I must mention the Russian Snowdrop (Puschkinia libanotica), white with blue striping. They all do well in flower beds but do even better when planted in the lawn in large groups.

This is a beautiful time

of year and I’ve been anticipating it since the fall.

So far I haven’t had any bees a-buzzing; if they were out today they would need their snow shovels to get at my snowdrops. But I have no worries, as these spring flowering bulbs will be there for the bees when the time is right.

Paul Pietsch is president of the Carleton Place Horticultural Society and active member of the Lanark County Master Gardeners.

April 2018

6

community

Perth Inside Out:

Pat Evans, Parkinson’s volunteer and co-chair of the local SuperWalk, reminds us that the month of April is Parkinson’s awareness month. “There is a new sense of hope in Lanark and North Leeds for people with Parkinson’s Disease and April, Parkinson’s Awareness Month, is a good time to understand why,” Evans says.

“Last September, the success of the first local SuperWalk, Parkinson Canada’s largest national fundraiser, highlighted the need for increased services in this area. In January, a new support group in Smiths Falls

joined one in Perth to give people with Parkinson’s an opportunity to share their experiences as well as information and support.”

A key feature of Parkinson’s Awareness Month will be the sale of potted tulips at Your Independent Grocer stores in Perth and Smiths Falls on Friday, April 20. This year’s SuperWalk kickoff will also take place in April, and the website will be open for walkers to register starting April 7. The walk will take place on Saturday, September 8.

The new Smiths Falls support group is a welcome and successful addition to local services – Evans mentioned that a recent session had 30 people crowded into a small classroom. She went on to explain that support groups provide an opportunity for people with Parkinson’s and their partners to meet others, share informa-

by Terry O'Hearn

Good news for those with Parkinson’s

tion and experiences about living with the disease, find out about new advocacy initiatives and services, and receive peer support. Meetings take place on the last Monday of each month in Perth, and with the Almonte and Smiths Falls groups, there is now a choice of three locations nearby.

The Smiths Falls group meets on the last Thursday of the month, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Rideau Community Health Services.

For further information about the events taking place in April or the ongoing Support Groups, readers can contact Margaux Wolfe, Community Development Coordinator at Parkinson Canada at margaux.wolfe@parkinson.ca or 1-800-5653000 ext.3425.

Evans also reports a new Managing Director for Ontario, who is described as being sensitive to rural issues. Olivier Bonnet’s LinkedIn pro-

file in part describes him as: “Non-profit and public sector executive, polyglot, having cumulated 20 years of professional experience in the fields of humanitarian aid and public health, community development and wildlife conservation in Canada and abroad.”

If that isn’t enough good news about ongoing and new support, Parkinson Canada and local volunteers have organized an educational event on April 26 at the Smiths Falls Hospital.

The goal is to increase the knowledge base of health professionals in the community.

Dr. Michael Schlossmacher, a clinical scientist, will be the keynote speaker at the event, which will be linked to approximately ten other locations through the Ontario Telemedicine Network in Eastern Ontario.

According to Parkinson Canada, the disease is the second most common neurological disease, with over 100,000 Canadians living with the disease. “By 2031, it is predicted that 1 out of every 250 people will have Parkinson’s. While there is no cure for this chronic and progressive neurological disorder, early identification and diagnosis of the disease is important so that people can educate themselves about what they can do to help delay the onset.”

Exercise is now viewed as one of the most important aspects for slowing the progress of the disease, and studies have shown important benefits have been derived from regular workouts.

To illustrate the value of exercise, Evans says, “A number of programs will welcome people to observe ongoing classes

or special demonstrations. As well, a new Community & Primary Health Care funded Parkinson’s-specific exercise group is scheduled to begin in mid-April. Dan Linton, a Smiths Falls resident who began to experience symptoms when he was only 35, is encouraged to see new programs in the community, particularly those focused on exercise. ‘It was only when I first started exercising,’ Linton stated, ‘that I began to have a sense that I could have a good quality of life with this disease. It is really why I am doing as well as I am.’

Help and support for Parkinson’s is now there for the asking. You just have to reach out and grab it.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please email me at: terry@pdgmedia.ca

opinion: Am I the only one?

by Carrie Wynne

Values Must Be Taught

Parents need to step up to the plate and get in the game and stop being spectators in the lives of the children they brought into the world. Values must be taught. You don’t get to just have kids and hope for the best.

“Treat others the way you wish to be treated.”

This golden rule is important to every relationship they will ever have, and it’s taught in the home. As the old saying goes, “The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.”

Some parents don’t even try to teach manners or respect or good hygiene.

That’s your job.

Kids seem to able to manipulate and lay around a lot more than we could. A wise man once said to me, “kids that get on the couch stay on the couch.” Kids without discipline and direction don’t go anywhere.

Initiate a new rule in your house, no loitering, and

put a sign above your couch. “KID FREE Zone”.

You might even see some initiative, another important life skill taught in the home.

Boundaries make us feel safe and secure. Over stimulation from technology causes a lot of anxiety and is self-destructive.

Most parents should be horrified by what their kids are seeing online. The dopamine surge this causes is unhealthy and addictive. If it’s a free for all in your house, that’s on you.

We had to go outside whether we wanted to or not. We had to clean our rooms and make our bed whether we wanted to or not. We had to work whether we wanted to or not. Parents understand better than anyone that there are a lot of things we don’t want to do but we must do. The word for that is grown-up.

Happy, healthy, productive, disciplined, responsible children don’t just happen. We teach them. Values are a necessary part of growing up.

Parents must model good behavior. If you forgot to tell your kids that they must create their own happiness, you failed to teach them that the world doesn’t fall at their feet. As we all know, nothing gets handed to you on a silver

platter. Give them tools to thrive, not just survive.

If this was a baseball game your kids are up to bat. The pitcher is life and you are the base coach helping them get to home plate. The balls come at you fast and often you strike out. You must learn how to swing, how to strike out and how walk back to the dugout, get back in line and try again.

Neither the kids nor the parents should be in the bleachers. You are not spectators. Climb down and get in the game.

Perth Town Crier Brent McLaren and his wife Shelley lead off the Lanark North Leeds Parkinson SuperWalk in September, 2017. Photo Credit: Terry O’Hearn

April 2018

Let's Eat

7

lifestyle Food &Drink

O’Reilly’s Ale House, Perth; A traditional public house thrives and defines community

By Brian Turner

When current owners Dan and Mary Catherine Allatt purchased a popular dining facility on Perth’s main street back in 2012 they had a clear vision of what they wanted to create. They wanted O’Reilly’s Ale House to be infused with the atmosphere of a traditional public house where people gathered for company and personal reconnections as much as

they came for great food and libations. As Perth has always maintained its small town charm throughout the years and is inhabited by some of the friendliest beings in the land, this vision is a perfect fit.

First, O’Reilly’s benefits from being located on the corner of Gore and Herriott streets. They are smack dab in the middle of Perth’s extremely pic-

turesque shopping district in a century stone building with plenty of large windows to warm you in natural light.

They have a well-designed outdoor patio facing Herriott Street that buzzes with customers as soon as the sap starts to run until long after fall colours are done.

Inside you’ll find a bar that will challenge the best in the UK for

its ability to call any and all travelers to come, sit, and reward themselves with any number of craft beers, ales, or refreshing beverages. If the seating arrangements seem, well, intimate, it was by Dan’s design. He wanted a place for great food and conversation that provided a space to meet and make new friends.

I’d like to be able to refer to the menu as standard pub fare, but there’s nothing standard about it. Yes you can find house-made burgers, fries, and fish and chips, but you can also select from gnocchi poutine (served with shredded duck, and crispy fried onions), halloumi crostini, shanghai noodle salad, and their famous house made focaccia pizzas (just to name a few). All dishes are hand-crafted using the best of locally sourced ingredients.

My business partner

Regional - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca

simple, it only takes an hour of the businesses’ time, and it doesn’t cost anything.

Hull is an educator. She has both a nursing and nutrition background, she’s been in health care for 20 years and is very aware that to this day there is still so much unknown about Alzheimer’s and dementia. She does know, though, that “the person with dementia has their own unique history, and you can reach their core even when verbal communication fails. There’s an emotional connection that can still be made.”

Hull has made it her job in the last year-and-a-half to teach businesses in the area how to do that. So far, in Smiths Falls, she has been to Rideau Search and Rescue, Smiths Shoes, CIBC and Two Guys for Lunch. Search and Rescue was a great experience, she says, because the group followed up with a simulation in the Gallipeau Centre (where they’re located) looking for a person pretending to have Alzheimer’s using the tips she handed out during the course. This month she’ll train the town of Smiths Falls’ front line staff.

In Perth she has already been to Commonwell Mutual Insurance, Maximilian’s

Restaurant, Robillard Hearing Centre, Martin’s Bus Line, Perth Chiropractic and Longevity Centre, CIBC and Perth Veterinary Clinic.

To make training even more accessible to businesses, Hull will go at any time - before work, after work, lunch hour, or even split the training into two sessions. “I will accommodate them.”

The Living Well with Dementia Blue Umbrella program is in use across Ontario. Not only does it make businesses more aware of how to deal with customers with the disease by looking for visible signs, it also encourages businesses to make their physical space more dementia friendly. For example, Hull explains that people with dementia often “look straight ahead, instead of up or down or around.”

Because of this, they miss signs like washroom signs. If signs are placed on the wall or door at eye level, people with Alzheimer’s can “see” them more easily and don’t need to ask or be guided.

She adds that it is often the case “when someone gets a diagnosis of dementia, or even before, he or she feels they don’t want to be an active member of the community anymore. They’re afraid they may show signs

of a struggle, like not keeping up with a conversation or not finishing a task that needs to be done.”

When this happens, “a person is more apt to isolate themselves at home.

We don’t want to see this,” says Hull. “We want to show them we still want them to be members of the community.”

And this is where The Blue Umbrella program can make a difference. Hull adds that as well as putting signs at eye level, like the outline of a toilet on a washroom door, restaurants can use “picture” menus, that is, using a picture of some of the most popular items along with the written description.

Dementia is not going away: 564,000 Canadians are currently living with the disease, 16,000 Canadians under the age of 65 live with dementia, 937,000 Canadians will be living with the disease in 15 years, and 3900 people live with dementia in Lanark, Leeds and Grenville.

But, as well as socialization, there are ways to delay the onset: eat well and healthily, exercise your body and brain, reduce weight, reduce stress, be diligent about keeping up with your doctor’s appointments, and

previous visits I can attest to their well-stocked bar with good selections from the lager, amber ale, wheat, IPA, porter, and stout varieties and menu tips on each for food pairing.

Prices for apps range from $7-$14 and plates run from $10-$21. Bring your appetite for no one leaves hungry. You can check out their offerings and schedules for live Friday night entertainment at oreillyspubperth.com or call them at 613 267 7994. But your best bet is to head over to 43 Gore St East in Perth to join the community that O’Reilly’s is proud to foster and support.

They are open Tuesdays through Saturdays and on Sundays during the summer.

Hours range from about 11:00 am to 11:00 pm and slightly longer on the weekends. There is one short step to the front door.

and I dropped in recently on a Thursday afternoon and were glad we made reservations because the place was packed at 1:00 pm! I chose the fish and chip plate while my partner had the pesto chicken club served on sourdough bread. Both came with a choice of handcut fries or salad and the relatively rare option to split those sides to include both. My beer-battered cod was light and tasty with just the right amount of crust crunch and the fries would stand up to comparison with the best chip-truck offerings. The pesto club chicken was also done to perfection, being well cooked but still moist; and its double-smoked bacon topping along with a house-made pesto mayo added just the right complement of flavouring and texture.

As this was a business lunch we passed on alcoholic beverages, but from

Robin Hull holds up the Blue Umbrella decal which designates a business as dementia-friendly. Photo Credit: Sally Smith

Become dementia friendly with Blue Umbrella program It’s hard to tell if someone has dementia, or Alzheimer’s, by looking at them; they look just like you and me. But there are signs, says Robin Hull of the Alzheimer’s Society of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville.

Sometimes there is difficulty paying for a purchase; the person with dementia might hand the cashier both a credit card and cash. Or they might ask for something but not really know what they want. Or they might be looking for a loved one who isn’t there.

Signs of dementia are sometimes subtle and business owners, who deal with the public on a daily, even hourly basis, need to be on the lookout for them. That’s where Hull comes in.

Hull has been with the Alzheimer’s Society for eight years. She’s the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville force behind the Blue Umbrella program. She has a counterpart in Brockville, Mary Campbell, who does the same thing there.

The Blue Umbrella program works with businesses to help them in spotting and assisting clients with dementia. The program is

try as much as you can to keep blood pressure and cholesterol in a normal range.

Put all this together, says Hull, and it “could delay the onset by two years and slow the progression.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are, you can make healthy changes. What’s healthy for your heart, is healthy for your brain,” she grins.

After training, a business gets a Blue Umbrella decal to stick in their front window to indicate to families and friends that when they enter these doors there is a

safe, friendly environment inside. Hull’s overall goal is to get enough businesses in a town participating to receive the designation of a “dementia-friendly town.”

Interested? To book a one hour Blue Umbrella training session, call 613-345-7392 or toll free 1-866-576-8556.

For more information about Alzheimer’s go to www.alzheimer.ca/llg. If you want to volunteer in any way (Hull will be looking for volunteers to present The Blue Umbrella program in the near future), call the above number and let them know.

April 2018

8

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Health Matters

By Natatia Gemmell

Is the food you're putting in your body hitting all the brain receptors leaving them ecstatic, but leaving you feeling bloated, lethargic and just overall terrible?

This is what poor nutrition does. It makes your brain think very happy thoughts, but leaves your body with inflammation, constipation and headaches.

Although we are just getting over National nutrition month, this does not mean that we should stop being aware of our nutrition intake. If you didn’t pay much attention to nutrition awareness this past March, now would be a great time to learn about how to properly fuel your body.

It's important to put the food in your body that provides the nutrients it needs to grow and develop properly as well as keep your energy up and reduce the risk of devel-

apps available that are easily downloaded to assist you.

Now, you may know that you are ready to get your nutrition in order but may feel overwhelmed by the task. At Functional Performance Fitness we offer nutrition programs, where you will

How does your nutrition taste? oping chronic diseases.

The guidelines to follow are to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seafood, legumes and nuts. Per the Dietitians of Canada, you'll want to include good sources of specific nutrients as well, particularly for females – calcium, iron, folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin D. Start now. Include a protein, fruit and a vegetable in every meal.

Snack on nuts and legumes. There are so many delicious recipes easily accessible online (and HERE!) to get you started. Your brain will respond just as ecstatically to a well-planned and cooked nutritious meal, as it will to that slice of pizza. And, your body will thank you for it by feeling satiated, full of energy and disease free.

Here are a few tips to make sure you are following a nutritious diet:

Plan & Shop Smart start a meal planner and plan ahead BEFORE you go to the grocery store.

Cook Healthy - learn about and experiment with different flavor combinations - your taste buds will thank you!

Track Food Intake there are a number of

learn what to eat, when to eat, and how much to eat. We will take a look at your current nutritional choices and learn how to turn those choices into healthy and nutritious choices. Find out more about our Nutrition Program and be sure to ask us any questions!

Chiropractic Massage Therapy Dry Needling (IMS) Active Release Techniques (ART) Orthotics Spinal Traction Concussion Management

Monday - Friday Appointments available.

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30+ minutes of dedicated time with a Physiotherapist

Acupuncture, dry needling, taping, cupping, ultrasound

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Coverage Available through extended health benefits

50% off initial session booked during April and May Art&SciencePhysio.com 10 Main St. East, Smiths Falls 613-284-1818

April 2018

9

health & wellness SERVING THE TOWN OF PERTH AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY WITHIN A 25KM RADIUS

Stay@Home Senior Services Non-Medical Senior Services

stayathomeservices@hotmail.com

SERVICES INCLUDE Fees for services based on an hourly rate

Companionship Shopping, errands and delivery Light housekeeping, laundry

613-812-4486

Transportation to local appointments Sorting, packing and downsizing Gardening, spring & fall cleanup

Contact Karen for more information or to arrange a free consultation visit

Your local pathway to better health, better food and better choices For all your baking needs visit Modern Thymes in Smiths Falls

Special Olympics adaptive basketball takes first place Perth - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca The Perth Hoops Special Olympics Adaptive Basketball team made a big splash at the Arnprior Special Olympics Basketball Tournament February 24 winning a first-place finish.

In the Special Olympics Adaptive Division, the game is modified

to suit the abilities of the athletes. The Perth Hoops Adaptive Basketball Team competes against other adaptive teams from Special Olympic Divisions in their area. Basketball tournaments are held yearly in Kingston, Arnprior and Perth.

Volunteer coaches work with the athletes to bring out their skills to

play against other teams.

After many years the determined team won its first game in January of this year at the Kingston Tournament. The win gave the team increased confidence and motivation which they then took to the Arnprior tournament where they won first place playing a close game against a team composed of play-

ers from Ottawa/Kanata and Arnprior. This was a crowning achievement for this dedicated team of Special Olympic athletes.

The team was ecstatic.

In the Adaptive Division the game is not all about winning but rather about fair play, an opportunity to participate and showcase your abilities.

In one tournament last year, a member of the

Perth team was given the ball to take down the court. With the skill she possessed and working her way down the court occasionally dribbling the ball, the opposing team allowed her to get in front of the basket and take her shot. They recovered the rebound but rather than head down the court the ball was handed back to our

player for a second shot.

The second shot became a third until she finally scored a basket on her seventh try. That basket meant everything to her.

The players teach the coaches that winning isn’t everything; what matters is how you play the game and taking pride that you were brave in the attempt.

months and already has 15 clients. The Balderson-based woman sees clients weekly, bi-weekly, on a monthly basis, “or when someone calls and needs something.”

From the time she was 13 and worked, on occasion, with her grandmother at the Rideau Regional Centre in Smiths Falls, she’s worked with people who need help.

The compassion she learned there, and at the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Centre in Ottawa, stands her in good stead now at the age of 53, as she’s embarking on her new business.

Readers might recognize her from the Metro in Perth - she managed the bakery there, but in the back of her mind was

always the desire to start her own business. She knows she’s a good manager and enjoyed being a boss, she likes to organize and schedule and run things, she’s proud of her accomplishments, and she lays the responsibility for all these attributes directly on her father’s shoulders. “He instilled pride in us,” she remembers.

So when the stars aligned for her (leaving her job, starting a course at the Small Business Advisory Centre in Smiths Falls, winning a grant in a Dragon’s Den-like competition) she grabbed her chance and started a business. The grant helped with advertising, equipment, and uniforms, and allowed her

an appearance of professionalism she might not have otherwise had. It is also helping to further her learning about seniors in an online course which will eventually make her a certified professional consultant on aging. Her biggest asset, she says, is knowledge, and she’s out to get it.

Presently Sergeant offers transportation to local appointments and accompaniment, if requested; shopping, outings or going for a drive; errands done and groceries delivered; light housekeeping and laundry; paperwork, phone calls, internet searches;

gardening and fall cleanup; companionship and respite care, and other non-medical assistance, if requested.

She is available and will work 24/7 but so far has not been asked to stay overnight, “just days and evenings.” Her travel radius is 25 km around Perth (a 15 to 20 minute drive); that takes in McDonald’s Corners, Hopetown, Carleton Place, Smiths Falls, and Rideau Ferry.

She charges $25 per hour (which includes mileage), but if it’s for three consecutive hours the price drops to $20 per hour. She doesn’t give

baths or medicine as she’s not trained as a Personal Support Worker. She has current CPR and AED training as well as a liability insurance policy.

Her clients range in age from 65 to over 80 but she will care for younger people as well - “anyone who needs it.”

“I’m totally above board. I look after [my clients] as if they were my family, no different than my mother.”

Reach her at 613-8124486. Her email is stayathomeservices@hotmail.com; her website is presently under construction.

New business helps seniors stay independent Perth - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca It’s the big heart behind the small business that’s making Stay@ Home Senior Services a success. Karen Sergeant puts heart and soul into her business every day - whether it’s grocery shopping, going to appointments or light house cleaning - she listens to her clients and acts on their wishes.

Above all, she doesn’t judge, criticize or make anyone feel ashamed of what’s happening to them. “We’ll all be in the same boat someday,” she says, explaining it becomes a dignity and independence issue as you grow older.

Sergeant has been in business for just over four

Karen Sergeant offers services and companionship to seniors within 25 km of Perth. Photo credit: Sally Smith

April 2018

10

culture Smiths Falls to continue successful On the Roll music series

Photo credit: Submitted.

smiths falls - Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca Looking for a reason to celebrate? One thing worth celebrating is the thriving music scene to be found in Smiths Falls and Lanark County.

This area has always been home to many talented musicians, from the old time fiddlers of the 1940s and 50s, to the country singers whose original songs made the Canadian charts in the 1960s and 70s. Today Lanark County is still home to some award-winning folk and roots artists, and maintains a strong base of blues and country fans.

To help mark the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, Smiths Falls took advantage of the availability of some special federal funding to help host an ambitious series of musical performances throughout the year.

Given the success of On the Roll in enhancing the entertainment value of events organized by community partners, and in helping to attract visitors to town, the Smiths Falls Economic Development

and Tourism department plans to continue the series in 2018.

“Building on the success of the On the Roll Music Series last year, the town and our community partners are looking forward to bringing live music to the stage at a variety of venues in 2018,” said Ingrid Bron, Economic Development and Tourism Coordinator.

“We’re looking forward to working with our community partners again to enhance their events with live music.”

The town has also issued a call for musicians wishing to be added to a roster of acts for upcoming events.

Anyone interested is asked to email information to ibron@smithsfalls.ca.

The town has set aside some funding to help with both musical entertainment and promotion for certain key events in 2018. Heritage House Museum will be hosting a number of events, including the popular St. Patrick’s Day Irish Kitchen Party, featuring Celtic music by Seventh Town.

The town also has ambitious plans in 2018 for Canada Day, which will be

marked by a full four days of music. Centennial Park will be the setting for this year’s Canada Day festivities. Arrangements have also been confirmed for a special performance at the Station Theatre June 29 by blues and soul artist Angelique Francis. Other events the town looks forward to supporting include Rideau Paddlefest June 2, the sixth annual Healthy Living Festival June 6, the Spirit of the Drum Powwow June 9 and 10, the Rideau Rendezvous Motorcycle Rally July 7, and the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario’s Trainfest, coming up Aug. 25-26. A new event in 2018 is an Art Fair, to be held at the Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre Aug. 18.

Music in the Courtyard, an afternoon of entertainment at Davidson’s Courtyard, will be returning in 2018 as part of Doors Open activities in Smiths Falls, Sept. 15.

The On the Roll Music Series in 2017 featured more than 35 separate events, beginning in February and culminating with a final Year-End Jamboree Dec. 29 headlined by Juno

Award-winning performers Jenny Whiteley and Joey Wright.

More than 160 individual musicians participated in about 55 separate performances throughout the year. A number of performances featured Irish and Celtic music in a tribute to Smiths Falls’ history as a community settled and

built by immigrants from Ireland. The series also showcased the talents of classical, blues, folk and rock musicians, both local and from outside the area.

Along with the involvement of some well-established local favourites like Eddy and the Stingrays, Poetic Justice and the Doherty Brothers, the series also drew on the talents of some musicians from other parts of Canada, including award-winning Maritime songwriter Jared Lutes.

Trenton-based duo Moon Sugar, who perform a mixture of original songs and well-known covers, lent their talents to a summertime musical afternoon at Davidson’s Courtyard.

Smiths Falls’ Irish heritage was celebrated at a number of events, including the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario’s Emerald Gala and two events hosted by Heritage House Museum. A delegation of visitors from Ireland came to Smiths Falls in June, and were treated to a special dinner in their honour at the Smiths Falls Golf &

Country Club, with Ireland’s ambassador to Canada in attendance.

Canada Day 2017, with the support of the On the Roll Series, saw a solid six hours of entertainment featuring veteran blues-rock trio River City Junction, the Steel City Rovers, Ottawa’s “Blues Lady” Maria Hawkins, Aboriginal artist Andy Mason, and the local Canada 150 Youth Choir.

Another highlight of the year, and one of the best-attended Smiths Falls events of 2017 was the Spirit of the Drum Powwow, which is returning in 2018.

Canada 150 celebrations in Smiths Falls finished on a high note at the Year-End Jamboree hosted by Royal Canadian Legion Branch 95 on Dec. 29. In addition to music by headliners Jenny Whiteley and Joey Wright, the audience was treated to a dazzling array of talent including up and coming local country singer Amanda Jordan, and music by Bruce Enloe, Tom Watson, and Andy Mason.

Are we alone? - Astronomy talk at the Carleton Place Public Library

Photo credit: Submitted.

Carleton Place - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca It is arguably one of the most profound questions one can ponder: in this vast universe of one hundred billion galaxies, each composed of hundreds of billions of stars and planets, is Earth the sole refuge for living things?

It may well be that the cosmos is teeming, humming with life. As yet, however, we have no conclusive evidence that even the simplest of organisms exist anywhere out there in the cold blackness of space. Yet to quote the late Carl Sagan, “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” Perhaps we need to broaden

our search, to be more creative in our methodologies.

Humanity now possesses technologies capable of determining whether there exist other worlds where the inanimate has, through as yet unknown processes, become animate. Interplanetary spacecraft bristling with life-detecting instruments investigate other planets in our own solar system as well as the moons that orbit them. Space and ground-based optical telescopes search for signatures of life on planets orbiting other stars. Giant radio telescopes scan the skies hoping to eavesdrop on radio signals from other far-flung advanced civilizations. We may at any moment have

at hand the answer to that age-old question: ARE WE ALONE? The discovery of extant life elsewhere in the universe would mark one of the most significant events in the history of humanity.

Gazing out at a dark starfilled night sky would surely never be the same again.

On Thursday April 26th beginning at 6:30 p.m. the Carleton Place Public Library will host an evening with amateur astronomer Frank Hitchens who will give a presentation entitled “Are We Alone? The Search for Life off the Earth.” The Library is located at 101 Beckwith Street and admission is free.

April 2018

11

culture

Butterflies are Free opens at Station Theatre late April Smiths Falls - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Mothers should see this play.

It’s about letting go of your children, and propping them up along the way.

It’s witty and wise; you’ll weep and wonder if that’s you up there on stage.

Butterflies are Free is a two-act play written by Leonard Gershe and originally produced in 1969 in New York City. The title is inspired by a passage in Charles Dickens’ Bleak House: “I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free.

Mankind will surely not deny to Harold Skimpole what it concedes to the butterflies.”

Don Baker is 20-something and blind; since birth, his Mom has looked out for

him - dressed him, cooked for him, housed him, watched over him … typical mothering.

As chance has it, a girl comes into his life and introduces him to a few things - sex and independence being the big two. Mom’s not impressed, but with much sighing and murmuring just loudly enough for others to hear “I could absolutely cry!” she agrees he should venture out on his own, find an apartment, and live in New York. A two month trial period has been set between the two of them with no visitation rights by her.

But she can’t stay away.

After shopping at Saks, she arrives with bags of shirts and socks only to get there just after another girl has had her way with her son.

Here the witticisms start.

Mom probes; 19-year-old Jill Tanner hands it back.

But the two deliver messages (you’ll have to come to the play to find out what they are). In the end, because Mrs. Baker loves her son, and Jill is falling in love, each listens to the other.

It’s a short play, but 1960’s costumes, a simple set with barely a bed and a bathtub, plus good lighting and witty dialogue, make it a big-time play in a small, intimate venue. Don is played by Garrett Pipher who first became known to Smiths Falls theatre-goers as Gabriel Grub, a Dickens character; he’s come a long way since then and has honed his craft to the point where he convincingly plays a blind man, in this play.

Nicki Hayes plays the flirty, flighty, messy, disorganized girl-next-door, Jill.

Hayes is fairly new to The Station Theatre, recently seen as Vivian in Who Dunit?; she has studied in London, England, ever continuing to put an edge on her talent.

Donna Howard, wellknown in theatre circles in Smiths Falls, brings her energy to the role of prim and proper but achingly human Mrs. Baker, Don’s overprotective Mom. Lucas Tennant, aka Wishee Washee in the Theatre’s most recent pantomime, plays Ralph Austin, the loud-mouthed, boorish director of Jill’s play.

The play runs April 27 to May 6 at the Station Theatre in Smiths Falls.

Photo credit: Submitted.

business directory ACCOUNTANT

Art addiction fills up every waking second

Although not her favourite colour, Sarah Moffat likes red, particularly the Canadian Flag red.

Photo credit: Sally Smith.

Carleton place - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca Sarah Moffat is convinced the gene for fearlessness has come down directly from her grandfather through her father to her. Her grandfather flew planes from Newfoundland across the Atlantic without radar (in leather flying gear because it was freezing cold); her father sailed from Lake Ontario to the Bahamas with his wife and three young children; and Moffat’s vision was to gut the old Lanark Mental Health building in Carleton Place to build a studio for her large, one-of-a-kind pieces of art.

“I don’t feel fear. There’s no fear involved,” she says, grinning, gesturing at the 3,400 sq. ft completed space.

It’s a difficult job being a full-time artist in Canada today. It doesn’t come with a lot of perks, no huge CEO salary, not a great deal of recognition. But Moffat knew from the time she held her first paintbrush at the age of three that this was going to be the life for her. In her studio today there are no paintbrushes, she laughs, but there’s lots of space for her large, dramatic pieces.

She works with plastics and holographic metallic foil, a unique medium, one she’s perfected over the years. “I’ve put in my 10,000

hours,” and today she’s exactly where she wants to be.

The recognition is coming; she’s been part of The Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre auction for seven years and had fun in 2017 with her large Canadian flag. The huge flag, in reds and foil, with Moffat’s traditional tree work in the background, was auctioned by Lawrence Greenspon in the For the Kids charitable auction and brought in $8,000 for the Centre. The flag was bought by the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group and hangs at Lansdowne Park.

What she’d rather do, though, which is totally impractical, is give art away rather than sell it. “That would be the best thing.” Or, “sell 80 percent and donate 20 percent, or vice versa.”

Twenty percent is plenty to live on and the 80 percent “gets you out there and people see your work.

“Making art is not all about me. I love engaging with people and seeing them connected to me [through my art]. I like getting people excited about art in their lives.”

Often she tongue-incheek asks for (and has never been denied) “visiting rights” when her art goes to other countries. At the moment, she has paintings around the world, in Kuala

Lumpur, Jamaica, Dubai, Costa Rica and here, in Ottawa.

Part of what Moffat likes about working with plastics is the reaction when mixed.

It’s in limbo until that time; add colour like dark blue, light blue, creamy blues and whites for skies, put them together and they blend into a beautiful, fuzzy, natural edge that looks like cloud or water or earth.

Once it’s on, Moffat waits.

“After I pour the colours out, I stand there and watch it change.” In a couple of hours “when it’s bubbly and gurgly,” she begins to get a picture of what this particular piece will be - water, or an ocean spray, the feathery edge of a flower, or even a jellyfish.

It’s only been recently that artists have taken an interest in the capabilities of plastics.

“It has a million different applications.” Moffat pours it together, stirs until it’s well mixed, pours (again…) onto a surface (it’s self-levelling) and then sands it (with big tools like a belt sander or a wheel-disc sander) or adds moulds to it that she’s made in her woodworking room with power saws or skill saws. She wears a mask, particularly when sanding, and gloves to protect her hands.

Epoxy is used for bar tops, table tops, boats, canoes, and her art pieces can get

very heavy. The largest, so far is 5 x 10 feet.

This large, bright studio is where she is today, but it wasn’t always like that. Early on she put in hard physical work, owned a small company called Faux Unlimited and had seven employees.

Reflecting back, she says “the whole time I was collecting knowledge for something bigger,” that being her studio in Carleton Place.

She brought up three kids with her partner but today is in her own space, on her own, in an environment that works for her. “I want to enjoy what I’m doing. I don’t like stress. I want to wake up every day excited about my work.” If she had her ‘druthers’, though, she’d probably be a hermit, but she knows the importance of staying connected. She does this partly through Open Houses at the gallery once a month; the next one is slated for Saturday, April 21 from 10 to 5, “with all new flowers [art pieces],” she adds, and, of course, she is calling it Flower Power.

Her gallery is a living space where people can come and see art in progress, how it’s made, how it’s progressing.

There are life drawing classes every Wednesday, other artists give workshops there, and she opens the space for parties, fundraisers, even weddings.

Moffat is addicted to art; she admits it. It colours her world, makes every breath exciting. She’s fulfilling her vision of big art, she’s built, uses and runs a gallery, she works every day at a chosen and loved profession, and, if she wants, she can just sit quietly back and take a deep breath.

Find Sarah Moffat on facebook (Sarah Moffat Art), on instagram (sarahmoffatart) or twitter (@sarahmoffatart). For more information, visit her website at www.sarahmoffat.com, or email her at art@sarahmoffat.com

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