Lanark, North Leeds & Grenville - Hometown News May 2019

A.C. Towing 613-284-3465 Owned & Operated By:

24/7 Service Local & Long Distance Lockouts Boosts

Ogilvie's Telephone: 613-283-7444

Vol. 6

No. 5

YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER - LANARK, NORTH LEEDS & GRENVILLE

MAY 2019

More than 20,000 people came out to the 43rd annual Festival of the Maples

Several booths had a trough of snow where they were making maple taffy on a stick. Photo credit: Sherry Crummy.

The Smiths Falls Gordon pipe band performed during opening Cold weather didn't stop more than 20,000 people coming out to the 43rd annual Festival of the Maples on Saturday, April ceremonies. photo credit: Perth & District Chanmber of Commerce 27th. Photo credit: Perth & District Chamber of Commerce.

Perth - Brian Preston editorial@pd gmedia.ca My wife and I were looking for something to do last weekend and Lake 88 radio announced the Festival of the Maples being held in Perth. It sounded like lots of fun and they said that there were many booths and displays featuring all kinds of food and clothing and crafts from local producers as well as products from around the world (Peru, Ghana, Niger and South Africa to name a few). Never having been to this event, we hopped in the car and went to Perth where it took us a while to find a residential parking spot some 3 blocks away.

There was something for young and old to enjoy and of course, the main event, with lots of maple products of all kinds to sample.

The crowd was out in force despite the cold and cloudy day with some wind gusts every once in a while. Everyone was smiling and in good spirits though enjoying all on offer in the booths that lined Gore Street for the entire length of the street. I could see the heads of the crowd that filled the street from Timmy's all the way up to North Street! I never realized that we had so many maple producers

FIND US ONLINE

Groceries Produce Fresh Flowers

in Eastern Ontario and not all of them were represented here either.

Several booths had a trough of snow where they were making maple taffy on a stick. This is where a lot of kids were to be found and big kids alike... aka adults too! It was a cold day for our first time attending, but to see Gore Street entirely closed off, booths lining both sides of the street with happy people and many different products as well as a myriad of maple producers, just warmed our hearts as we spent the entire afternoon there. We could hear music up the street too which turned out to be a large stage featuring local singers and bands. And then we heard our regional minstrel, Hugh Coulton, announcing the groups and entertaining the crowd.

The festival is an annual event that started in 1974 hosted by the Perth & District Chamber of Commerce. Lanark County is the undisputed maple syrup capital of Ontario. Lanark and District Maple Syrup Producers is a membership based organization established to provide members with a forum to promote the production of quality maple syrup products.

It includes members from Lanark,

Facebook/HometownnewsPerth

Fresh Deli Fresh Fish

Leeds & Grenville and Rideau Lakes, Frontenac and Greater Ottawa. Each year they host a maple products judging competition open to all producers. See their website for the winners!

Maple syrup is one of Canada's gifts to the world and it comes in so many forms (syrup, sugar, candies, specialty sauces, etc.), and the health benefits of using maple products as an alternative sweetener are well known. Along with honey, it should be used in your hot coffee and tea instead of refined white sugar! But let's not forget who gave us maple syrup and showed us the sugar maple trees and the way to make it: our Indigenous people of Eastern Canada and North Eastern USA. One such producer was there and we had a great chat with Richard Lalande of Lalande Managed Forest, home of Eco-Lodge Game Farm and Grampa Chief 's Maple Syrup in Tay Valley Township, Lanark County (www.lalandemanagedforest.ca). He is their Chief and on their property in 2010, a group of volunteer archaeologists unearthed an early-day evaporator and sap sled, likely dating back to the first settlers of the property.

Facebook/HometownnewsCarletonPlace

The old evaporator is anywhere from 100 to 150 years old! It was relocated to the current sugar shack operation for display. His syrup tasted exceptionally good and along with maple syrup from a few of my producer friends at the Delta Maple Syrup Festival last weekend, I thought I could pick up different flavours in the syrup! But then again, as a Sommelier, maybe that was wishful thinking!

The event focuses on all things maple, but as I mentioned, there were unique artisan crafts of all sorts including locally made leather products, sweaters made from Peruvian alpaca wool, Tshirts, skirts and knitted hats of all types, baked

goods from many of Perth's local bakeries and shops. One highlight for us was to try the maple chocolate at the Chocolate Works booth and then go to their store and try their special hot white chocolate maple drink! Heather and the team produce great chocolate to make the town proud. Oh, and did I mention all the fabulous local producers of wild game meats for tasting and purchase, and Traeger BBQ booth serving maple smoked bacon and chunks of steak? And so much more.

All in all it was a well organized, fun filled afternoon, and the only regret we had was not discovering this event years ago!

DAILY FLIGHTS TO SMITHS FALLS FROM TORONTO COMING THIS MAY. READ THE FULL STORY ON PAGE 12.

Facebook/HometownnewsSmithsFalls

www.Hometownnews.ca

Bakery Salad Bar Butcher’s Counter contactus@pdgmedia.ca

613-284-9826

May 2019

2

Letter to the editor

Page Two

Mayor Pankow and Smiths Falls town councilors I am writing this evening to express my concerns regarding the recent behavior and actions of members of Town Council. I have lived in this town for 35 years and I have never once felt compelled to write to Council on any issue until now.

In Fall 2018, members of the Smiths Falls community engaged in the democratic process of voting for mayor and council.

Some of us felt so strongly about the leadership skills and attributes of some candidates that we even put your names on our front lawns—professing for all to see that we believed in you and were voting for you.

Come January, I was shocked that the Beckwith Street re-development project was brought up again by the new council.

Like many others in town, I hadn’t even considered it as a possible topic of consideration when I cast my ballot back in October.

If I’d known, I definitely would have voted with this in mind. Beyond the issue

of parking, though, is the issue of doing the right thing; of maintaining integrity and transparency in the role of mayor and councilor. Yes, we voted you in, but we did so under the assumption that you would represent the voices of all Smiths Falls residents over the course of your four-year term.

After watching last night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, I was disheartened by the behavior of elected officials. There were insults, veiled threats and blatant lies being told, some even directed at our former mayor and a former councilwoman. Where is the respect for those who have served before you?

Where is the notion that you are, in fact, supposed to be working in service to the people of Smiths Falls?

Your By-Laws clearly state “A Code of Conduct aims to ensure public trust and confidence in the Municipality’s decision making and operations. The public should expect the highest standards of con-

duct from the members they elect to local government…In turn, adherence to these standards will protect and maintain the Municipality’s reputation and the integrity of its decision-making process”. I haven’t seen much in the way of adhering to this code in recent weeks.

In the end, the question I must ask is: “why does the Smiths Falls Town Council continue to ignore and refute the desires of its residents to maintain the historical angled parking?” As elected officials, how can you sit there week after week, insisting that you are right in this? The very people who put you in those chairs are insisting that this is wrong and yet you continue to push forward with the plan that you deem best. As a leader myself, I aspire to the Servant Leadership philosophy that leadership is about service to people—it is not self-serving and reliant on one’s ego and desire to be right.

I ask that you please take

Cartoon by Patrick Labelle

some time to reflect on the intended spirit of your role and to review this decision and recent behaviours in an effort to reconcile with the town’s constituents and work to mend some fences.

Right now there is distrust, disrespect and sincere disappointment with how Council has conducted itself. As former mayor Dennis Staples said: “it’s never too late to do the right thing.”

Sincerely, Mary-Kate Bridson

A Mother comes with all different names

Aunts

who love, worry and play

Teachers

who help you, guide you and set your aim

Sisters

who listen, cry and put your worries at bay

1928 - Bridge St central bridge in Carleton Place

Grandmas

with warm cookies, hugs and prayers so you'll never stray

Thank You to all women for being a mother to someone's child.

Happy Mother's Day Bridge St central bridge in Carleton Place under construction c. 1928 Photo credit: Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

Hometownnews PART OF THE DISCOVER COMMUNTIY NETWORK

Publisher

Reporters:

Photography:

Got aN EVENT:

Patricia Krotki pmkrotki@pdgmedia.ca

editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Kathy Botham

events@pdgmedia.ca

advertising:

pdg media:

EditoR editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Kathy Botham Sally Smith Sarah Cavanagh Janelle Labelle Brian Turner Stacey Roy Emilie Must

advertising@pdgmedia.ca

Got a story or submission: editorial@pdgmedia.ca

48 Maple Avenue N, Smiths Falls, ON K7A 2A5 Phone: (613) 206-0708 contactus@pdgmedia.ca

May 2019

3

community Perth Inside Out: Perth’s historic spring flooding comparatively mild

Jack Walker once said that if you want to avoid the risk of flooding, you should live high on a mountain somewhere. Walker was a World War II Navy veteran, and the owner and builder of the 46 foot HMCS Haida replica.

He also built St. Lawrence skiffs for a living, and he and the Haida were the subject of this column several times.

There is a grain of truth in Walker’s remark of course, as those who choose to live on or near known flood plains are always at risk, especially in recent times with the increase in severe weather events. And so, it is worthwhile to look back at a few of the flooding events in Perth over the past century and earlier, to get an idea of what the future may have in store for us.

When placed in the context of recent worldwide environmental disasters, Perth’s historical spring flooding seems rather mild in nature, the worst case seemingly an idyllic paddle along Sherbrooke Street and a few flooded basements. Of course the Stewart Park area and Last Duel Park have often turned into wading pools for a few days when a large

snow pack, warm temperatures, and substantial rainfall combine to create the “perfect storm.”

For a glimpse of the flood history, you can start with the April 14, 1896, edition of The Perth Courier, which describes damage to the dam at Port Elmsley, and subsequent flooding. “The water has been higher this spring than for several years past.

The timber slide formerly owned by the Tay Navigation Company in the dam between Messrs. Gemmell & Son’s woolen mills was taken out with the ice and floodwood and about twelve or fourteen feet of the dam with it, making a break in all of about twenty feet.”

Then in 1926, the April 23 edition of the same weekly newspaper reports on a more serious flood.

This one is well documented on Dave Bromley’s www.perthremembered.com website. Here is part of that story: “Perth was the scene of a flood last week, the most serious experienced in the town for upwards of forty years. Fortunately it only lasted for a short time and no great loss was incurred. As announced in the Courier last week the two tributaries of the Tay River here overflowed their banks on Thursday …”

Just eight years later on April 6, 1934, a newspaper story mentioned that the Tay and Little Tay rivers were on their annual “spring flood rampage” after heavy rainfall and high temperatures. “The main stream was ice-choked,

basements were flooded, and Bridge Tender Philip McParlan used dynamite to break up the ice.”

No further mention of flooding can be found in written history until April 6, 1950, when the newspaper headlines shouted: “Spring Water Floods Cellars.” The story went on to say that flood waters and sewer leaks had done considerable damage. The flooding was in spite of the fact that blasting of the ice on the Tay had taken place. Dynamite blasting was necessary “to prevent large chunks of ice from breaking out the props of the already treacherous Craig Street Bridge and to avoid heavy spring floods along the banks.”

Another flood headline appeared in the March 26, 1980, newspaper edition: “Perth suffers worst flooding in half a century,” and continues: “Sump pumps were working overtime as downtown Perth was hit with the worst flooding since the late 1920’s last weekend. Damage was minimal, although stocks in the basements of some businesses bordering on the Tay River were damaged and families were inconvenienced with flooded basements.”

Jack Walker was around for that event, and the following was reported in the newspaper after talking to Walker: “The water was only about eight inches above normal height for this year.

‘That eight inches was just enough to make the difference,’ he (Walker) stated. The

Terry O'Hearn

Top inset of photo courtesy Dave Bromley, Perth Remembered: William Arthur Relyea making his way around in a boat at the corner of North and Sherbrooke Streets in front of the Perth Shoe Factory.

One source lists him as head of Perth Shoe. Bottom, from the same viewpoint, a recent photo.

flooding was concentrated from Stewart Park to Highway 43 and Walker blames a large build-up of ice in the Tay Basin as the cause.”

So there you have some history of Perth and area previous flooding events. For current information, look no farther than the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) website. The RVCA is responsible for protect-

ing our local watershed, and valuable information and flood warnings can be found both on their website and on social media. According to them, “Vulnerable Communities include the Tay River within the Town of Perth and areas upstream to Glen Tay.” Opinions on what the future holds vary widely, from the confirmed armageddonist to the hard-nosed cli-

mate change denier. Regardless of where you stand on climate change, even if future flood patterns are similar to the past, it is probably wise to have an emergency plan in place. Regardless of whether you live in a flood-prone area or not, power outages can affect everybody.

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

Town launches senior centre survey in preparation for September opening Carleton Place - Stacey Roy editorial@pdgmedia.ca Carleton Place council has provided the physical needs for a new seniors centre, and now it’s time for local seniors to bring this facility to life by providing suggestions on what activities the new centre will offer once opened this September.

“That will be key to making this a reality,” said Robert Eves, CEO of Mississippi Mills Community Support

Corporation, who is partnering with the town to launch the seniors centre at the former train station on Coleman Street.

Diane Smithson, CAO at the Town of Carleton Place confirmed that an online survey will be made available to residents in the early part of May via the town website. Hard copies will also be available for pick up at the Town Hall and the public library. All suggestions will then be considered in

the planning process of the new Carleton Place Seniors Centre, which was approved

by Council April 2 for a oneyear pilot period beginning this fall. Mayor Doug Black said Council was united in their support and their vision for what the seniors centre will add to the community.

“An active and vibrant community centre that contributes to the quality of life of seniors in Carleton Place,” the mayor said.

This summer the seniors

Town launches senior centre survey this month in preparation for September opening.

Photo credit: Stacey Roy.

centre will launch a membership drive ($20 a year), as well as a volunteer drive where they hope to recruit at least 15-20 individuals. Like the seniors centre in Smiths Falls, the Carleton Place centre will be powered by volunteers on a day-to-day basis.

“There’s lots to do,” Smithson said.

The Town of Carleton Place is taking their planning to a level previously unseen in the region. On April 9 Council passed a motion in support of working with Lanark Transportation in creating a transportation option for area seniors wishing to access the senior programs. Marilyn Bird, executive director of Lanark Transportation said she is pleased to expand their current pilot project into Carleton Place. For the last year Lanark Transportation has been offering transportation to citizens in Lanark Highlands two Tuesdays a month, to Perth and Carleton Place for shopping and personal needs. Individuals who qualify simply call the

organization with their destination prior to the day they wish to travel and book their spot for $2 a person return.

The details of this partnership will be ironed out in the weeks to come, but Bird said at this time there will be no cost to the town. Lanark Transportation is pleased to be expanding their transportation service to Carleton Place, and hopes to do the same in Mississippi Mills in the future.

“If we could have it out every day of the week that would be wonderful,” Bird said.

The old train station has inspired more than just this community partnership with the town. On April 23, Council supported providing complimentary office space for Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital Foundation staff for a year and a half to serve as a satellite office for their upcoming $3 million capital campaign in support of emergency department redevelopment.

Mayor Black expressed his pleasure in seeing both the

foundation and the seniors centre taking up residence at the former train station this year.

“It’ll give some activity to the building,” Black said.

This partnership is good news for the foundation as well, which needed to provide office space for a parttime staff person who was hired for the capital campaign. Robyn Arseneau, executive director of the foundation said the move to open a satellite location was necessary because the hospital simply didn’t have space for the new staffer.

“At our hospital we’re bursting at the seams,” Arseneau explained.

The former train station location is ideal for its central place in the community and its parking. Arseneau confirmed that the ER campaign will be their largest campaign the foundation has undertaken in its history.

For more information on the campaign and how you can support it, please go to www.carletonplacehospital. ca/foundation.

May 2019

4

Food & Drink

A new career at 76 years old Regional - Janelle Labelle editorial@pdgmedia.ca Often, once they enter their mid-seventies, people want to take it easier. Work less. Put their feet up. But not Merrickville’s 76-year-old Maggie Runacres. In the past year she has fallen in love, bought a house, and started a new career as the host of Mrs Calabash Cooks, an online cooking show.

Mrs Calabash Cooks is simultaneously “the job I was trained to do,” she says, “and a new adventure.”

As a young girl growing up on a farm in Yorkshire, England, Runacres was accustomed to working in the kitchen. “I don’t remember ever not cooking,” she says. “Mom was a good cook, but if she went out, it was up to me to cook for the family, and I did.” Teams of workers joined the family to help with harvest, “and we fed them, the gangers they were called, three meals a day plus snacks. And there was no such thing as convenience foods.

Everything was made by hand, at home.” Most of her childhood cooking memories are pleasant ones. “Being from Yorkshire,” she explains, “seafood is my favourite. I love fish, lobster, mussels, oysters - all of it.” But she wrinkles her nose at the memory of making butter fresh on the farm. “I’ve never enjoyed the smell of it,” she shakes her head, “to this day, I don’t like home-churned butter.”

At the age of seventeen, Runacres was recommended by her school principal for an elite home economics and food sciences program at the Sheffield College of Technology. The school principal interviewed her and could tell from the start that she was a people person. “She told me ‘No, you’re not a largescale caterer - you’ll go into the demonstrating class.’” The food demonstrating class was small, with just ten students admitted, and they trained in housewifery and cooking. “It was very different from now. I entered

a two-year program with a guaranteed job at the end. We spent a year on the basics - I think our very first lesson was how to boil an egg,” she recalls. “The following year was haute cuisine, but we needed those basics first.”

“They taught us how to pluck and draw chickens,” she recalls, eyes alight with mischief, “and I slipped an egg into the chicken before the teacher got to it. She was so surprised she fainted.”

She laughs warmly, personably, and it’s easy to imagine how much fun she and her classmates must have had together.

After graduating from Sheffield, she worked as a food demonstrator. “I worked in demonstration theatre, all done up with stage makeup, demonstrating recipes but actually selling appliances,” she explains. She was also sent around to various companies, neighbourhoods and social groups, teaching cooking basics and how to stretch a grocery budget.

And now, more than

613-283-5556

Mrs Calabash cooks in the kitchen. Photo courtesy of Mrs. Calabash Cooks.

fifty years later, she’s demonstrating again.

Mrs Calabash Cooks is a live cooking show where Maggie walks viewers through recipes, shares tips and responds to questions in real time via Facebook and YouTube.

The pace is easy enough to follow along with at home, and it streams live each Friday at 2pm (for those who can’t watch just then, it is also accessible anytime you please on Facebook and YouTube).

The show is filmed in her bright kitchen, with four cameras and a crew of three. Her warm, homey kitchen is cozy and well laid out, with everything in easy reach. She seems utterly at home behind the camera, with her butcher’s block-topped island in front of her.

This time last year, Runacres had no idea she would be the star of a cooking show. Recently widowed, she was working in Carleton Place, teaching a cooking class at Independent. Then, as fate and a hopeful heart would have it, she joined Match.com and met Der-

ek Smith, a tv producer from Ottawa. They were a match well made indeed; it was love at first sight. Neither of them had mentioned anything in their profiles about their connection with food, but Smith had spent many years in the world of food demonstration, as a producer of cooking shows. Shared interests and compatible hearts clicked, and the two became a couple.

They bought a house in beautiful Merrickville, when a friend asked them why not try to combine their skills and launch a cooking show from their home. “You can plan things and nothing works, but sometimes, something just jumps out at you,” Runacres smiles.

Together with their friends and tech wizards Francois Desorneaux and Terry Derriger, Smith and Runacres launched Mrs Calabash Cooks from their Merrickville home on April 5th.

Smith has nothing but praise for Desorneaux and Derriger. “Terry is the best cameraman

I’ve ever met in my life,” he says, shrugging his shoulders. “And Francois runs cameras, audio, live feeds - he juggles them all. They’re remarkable at what they do.”

As well as local talent, Mrs Calabash Cooks features local ingredients and produce. “We really want to stick to Ontario products, as locally as we can. We’ve been lucky,” Runacres enthuses, “Stoney Ridge Winery gave us a lot of support. We’ve just started working with Perth Brewery. We received spicy peanuts and sauces to try from Chilly Chiles in Bayshore -” here she pauses, and confesses with a grin, “I’m a big hot sauce fan.”

Mrs Calabash’s philosophy is the same one Runacres learned in Home Economics so long ago: once you know the basics, you can cook anything, and you can have a lot of fun along the way too.

Mrs Calabash Cooks videos and recipes are all available at facebook. com/mrscalabashcooks.

OPENING SOON

FRIES

P

Re-opens in April for the season

FRESH CUT FRIES HOME MADE BURGERS Made with local beef.

ENJOY THE DRIVE LOVE THE FOOD

GREAT FOOD GREAT TIMES

7 Church Street, Westport 613-273-7733 www.tangledgardencafe.com

7 Church Street, Westport 613-273-9900 www.lostpennypub.ca

275 Brockville St.

613-283-6767

POUTINE

ONION RINGS

POGOS

HOT DOGS

FRIES

SANDWICHES

44 CHAMBERS ST. 613-486-2260

LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD. PROUDLY SERVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. LOCALLY SUPPLIED QUALITY AND FRESHNESS

May 2019

5

food & drink

Let's Eat Café Postino; The secret is in the story If you’ve ever wondered why Café Postino in Almonte has the reputation it does for satisfying a wide variety of tastes and being known as the brightest hidden dining jewel in the region, just spend a few minutes chatting with either of the owners Steve or Claire Falsetto. You’re bound to meet them as they always seem to be there every hour of every day chatting with customers like they were old friends or family. Steve’s history in the restaurant business spans more decades than his youthful demeanor suggests and covers more geography than your grade-school text book. If the culinary masterpieces he creates have anything to do with his amazing energy, he should write a book.

He has captained successful Italian dining rooms in Miami and Ottawa, in a ca-

Photo credit: Brian Turner

Business Hours

Buffet Hours

Tues.-Sun. 11:30am-8:45pm

Lunch 11:30am-2:45pm

Monday Closed

Dinner 4:30am-8:45pm

100% Vegetable Oil

reer that’s spanned over five mouth-watering decades.

His family is still dominating Florida with traditional recipes along with more contemporary delights.

My wife and I visited on a recent Sunday (it wasn’t our first time as Café Postino has been open since 2011). They’re located in the old post office building on Almonte’s movie-star main street and yes, evidence of a recent film production was still visible on the store fronts. Claire’s talent for interior decorating has turned this historic building into a welcoming refuge while still respecting unique architectural details (the old post office safe now protects the wine). A few minutes with Claire is all it took to create enough trust to let her suggest a lunch from their specials menu.

We started with a generous serving of house-made (we won’t need to use that term again because everything except the wine is

Dine-in | Take-out

613.283.5798

15 Greig St, Smiths Falls

Photo credit: Brian Turner

crafted on site) fennel and rice soup served with a lightly spiced oiled bread.

Our mains were identical; a thin crust style pizza with a mixed greens salad. Steve’s crew has perfected the art of crafting their thin crust pizzas with a soft chewy crust. They hand rub the dough with their own mix of sun-dried tomato treatment before topping it with fresh tomatoes, sauce, and just the right amount of cheese and herbs and topping combinations that will soon become your favourites.

The mixed greens were spot on with just-picked freshness and dressed the Italian way with a light oil drizzle.

Café Postino’s menu has everything you’d expect from a fine Italian restaurant and more than its share of pleasant surprises. From old-world pasta plates to lamb burgers to grilled salads, there truly is a dish to match every taste and ap-

By Brian Turner petite and more than a few reasons to try Claire’s recommendations. While we didn’t have dessert during our recent outing, I have succumbed to temptation during previous visits. And yes their version of Tiramisu, like their pizzas, put the rest to shame.

Café Postino is open Wednesday through Saturdays from noon to 9:00 pm and on Sundays from noon to 8:00 pm. They’re fully licensed and Steve hand picks the wines, so you know you’ll get the best pairing for your meal choices. They have a small outdoor patio to let you check out the latest movie shooting and have a few steps up to their dining room. You can reach them at 613 256 6098 or check out their menus and events at café-postino.com.

Reservations are recommended. Take a moment to chat with Steve or Claire and you’ll find their history is the secret to your best dining experience ever.

May 2019

6

food & drink

Brian Preston

The Travelling Sommelier brianpreston@hotmail.com

Beer, Wine & Spirits

A trip to Shanghai I just returned from a 28 day cruise beginning in Shanghai going to ports in Southern China and Japan including Okinawa, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and around the Pacific coast of Japan to Tokyo. We climbed the Great Wall of China and walked Tiananmen Square, we toured the island of Corregidor at the mouth of Manila Bay, witnessing the caves and gun emplacements of General MacArthur's last hold-out before the Japanese took over in 1942 and the Bataan Death March took place for those who could not evacuate before the Japanese invasion. In Tokyo I commenced another 15 day guided land tour of Tohoku - the region northeast of Tokyo and the north island of Hokkaido. I toured several breweries and a distillery, and participated in a number of meals with wines, beers and special drinks. In this column, I will relate my adventures in Shanghai, China's most populous city with over 26 million people and the amazing Shanghai Eats excursion in partnership with Food & Wine Magazine where we travelled less trodden streets taking a bite out of several authentic Shanghai restaurants.

Our first stop was at Wujiang Road -- a popular snacking street and home to Nanxiang Mantou Dian, which first opened its doors 100 years ago. This tiny hole-in-the-wall spot on the second floor is famed for its xiao long bao (Shanghai soup dumplings). The waiter showed us how to eat them -- you

bite a tiny hole in the skin at the top of the dumpling held in the ceramic spoon, sip out the soup, then drop it in the soup and devour the whole dumpling with rice vinegar and ginger slivers. We had five varieties of dumplings including crab, shrimp and pork, and we drank Chinese genmaicha, "brown rice tea", consisting of green tea mixed with roasted popped brown rice. (This tea is available here in Eastern Ontario too and has a sweet nutty flavour combining the fresh grassy flavor of green tea with the aroma of the roasted rice).

Each table included a bottle of warm local rice wine, called Yellow wine which is popular in winter.

The growth of the booze market in China is apparently slowing down. The demand for beer is even in decline.

However, there’s one bright spot in the industry: traditional Chinese Yellow Rice wine, known in China as ‘Huang Jiu’. Together with beer and red wine, it is considered as 1 of the 3 biggest traditional liquors by the Chinese. Huang Jiu is seeing a strong growth. Chinese people have enjoyed strong economic growth in the past decade and as a result are consuming more imported Western goods. However, many Chinese are also rediscovering their own background and rediscovering traditional Chinese food and beverages.

Yellow rice wine is brewed directly from rice. Sometimes millet or wheat could also be used as an alternative to rice. It’s not distilled and contains not

Photo credit: Brian Preston

more than 20% alcohol by volume.

Yellow wine is pasteurised, aged, and filtered before it is finally bottled and sold. Depending on the variation in production, the final color could range from beige to reddish brown. Yellow wine is mainly classified by production regions, each with their own variation of production methods. The one we had in Shanghai with dumplings was 上海老酒 – shànghǎi lǎojiǔ and it was a light golden colour and tasted like a light sherry showing that it had been aged for a while, which, in yellow wine is a good thing as some are purposely aged for many years!

Next, we headed for the city's former French Concession, an elegant tree lined neighborhood where we explored a local flower, bird and fish market along streets where tourists usually don't venture. It was truly a chance to capture a snapshot of Shanghai life. I'm talking live birds, frogs, crickets, grasshoppers and all manner of wee creatures that the Chinese cherish!

At Taoyuan Village we sampled xian dou jiang - a typical local breakfast item. This savory soybean curd was served with slices of deep-fried dough, chili oil, dried seaweed and a sprinkling of spring onions. As it was morning, we had a fresh brewed coffee. The first Tim Hortons opened a few days ago just down the street and evidently they were lined up for 3 blocks to get in! I remember Tim Horton handing me a donut in Toronto as a kid when

While Hometown News always wants to focus on local people, businesses and stories, we thought you might enjoy this travelogue with a link to their local beverages. If you like this idea, please let me know at brianpreston@hotmail. com. There are several other stories of this trip which focus more on the beer, wines and spirits aspects central to this column, but only with your input will I continue the voyage!

vISIT US ON FACEBOoK OR www.cafewhim.ca

GASTROPUB 2 Russell Street East, Smiths Falls Axe & Arrow Gastropub

613-284-9899

Monday-Saturday 11am-11pm+ Late Night Libations $5 Draft Beer & Wine 9pm-close

20

OFF

%

Main course with the purchase of a beverage.

One per person.

vISIT US ON FACEBoOK

he opened his second restaurant!

We then went to Fuzhou Road, Shanghai's 'book street' where some places sell books by weight. Then we snaked our way through the neighborhood to a back alley where, at a street stall, lamb kebab on a stick is grilled over charcoal. The Chinese owners are from the Near East and speak Arabic as well as Chinese! We saw the largest bookstore in China as well as centuries old grocery shops. Then we went to The Press, located in the historic Shun Pao building. Built in 1872, this building is the former home of China's longest-running daily newspaper, Shen Bao, which played an influential role in local journalism. Although it has been renovated and is now the setting for this modern café, the building retains some elements of the past, including the 100-year-old neo-Classical embossed dome and a mosaic floor. On offer was coffee or iced tea and dessert as we took in the mix of modern and nostalgic Shanghai.

7 Russell Street West, Smiths Falls cAFE wHIM

613-283-3008

Monday-Saturday Breakfast 9am-11am Lunch 11am-5pm

Presents:

Award winning comedian Rachelle Elie & hilarious headliner Derek Seguin Regional - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Award winning comedian Rachelle Elie and hilarious headliner Derek Seguin are performing May 16 at the Carleton Place Arena, May 17 at the Gallipeau Centre Ballroom in Smith Falls, and May 18 at the Almonte Old Town Hall.

Rachelle Elie recently moved to the Almonte area with her teenage boys and OBGYN husband. Their move was inspired by the entire family’s strong desire to be closer to nature. Elie has been producing shows in Toronto since 1996 and is thrilled to bring her comedy show to Smith Falls for the first time after several sell outs in Almonte

and shows in Carleton Place, Carp, Ottawa and Orleans.

Last year Elie performed at the First Air Arctic Comedy Festival in Iqaluit with Mary Walsh and was nominated for Best Break Out Artist at the Canadian Comedy Awards. This year she performed at the 2019 HubCap Comedy Festival in Moncton and opened for legendary Tommy Chong.

May 16, 17 & 18 Rachelle presents hilarious headliner Derek Seguin, one of the hottest comics in Canada! Derek won Sirius XM Top Comic and can be seen on Just For Laughs, Global TV, CBC’s The Debaters, The Halifax Comedy Festival & HBO. This show is LIVE & UNCENSORED so leave the kids at home.

Comedy show starts at 8:00

pm. Cash Bar opens at 7:00 pm with Mike MacDonald's brother & Fabulous Crooner Johnny Vegas. Come for pre-show cocktails and enjoy Johnny's wide range of material from Rat Pack standards, old time Rock and Roll, Pop or even Disco. Win a door prize from 8008 Lingerie. A portion of proceeds will support the Lanark County Interval House & the Canadian Association of Stand Up Comedians.

Tickets are $30 on EVENTBRITE or at Apple Cheeks in Carleton Place, Special Greetings in Smiths Falls & Mill Street Books in Almonte. Snoozers pay $40 at the door.

For more info check out crowningmonkey.com

RMEDY

THE

C

O

ASH

H S A B

AS SEEN ON

2015 WINNER OF

AS SEEN ON

SUPERSTAR HEADLINER

DEREK SEGUIN

WITH AWARD WINNING COMEDIAN

RACHELLE ELIE

LIVE & UNCENSORED! TICKETS $30

MAY 16–18 CASH BAR 7pm ON EVENTBRITE

CP • SMITHS FALLS • ALMONTE w/ JOHNNY VEGAS MORE INFO: CROWNINGMONKEY.COM & RASHCOMEDYBASH on FACEBOOK

Events around the region CARLETON PLACE Tuesdays CP Bridge 1:00pm - 4:00pm Carleton Place Legion 177 George St tdimnik@yahoo.com 613-492-1099 Olde Time Bingo 7:00pm - 9:15pm Carleton Place Arena 75 Neelin St. 613-257-1690 Carletonplacecivitan.com

Wednesdays Open Jam 9:00pm - 1:00am Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 facebook.com/TheWaterfrontGastropub

Sundays Blues w/Redneck Limousine 3:00pm - 6:00pm Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 Thewaterfrontgastropub.ca

May 3 Mississippi Blues Society Open Jam 8:30pm - 11:00pm Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 Thewaterfrontgastropub.ca

May 4 Arts CP Art Show & Sale 10:00am - 4:30pm CP Canoe Club 179 John St. 613-253-1838 Cpcanoeclub.com Super Hero Sat/Free Comic Book Day 10:00am - 2:00pm Downtown Bridge Street info@downtowncarletonplace.com Downtowncarletonplace.com World Labyrinth Day Walk 1:00pm Carleton Place Community Labyrinth CP & Beckwith Heritage Museum 267 Edmund St. 613-859-2136 Carletonplacecommunitylabyrinth.blogspot.com Bob Pepin 9:00pm Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 facebook.com/TheWaterfrontGastropub

May 5 Lanark Offbeats & West Ott Ladies Chorus 3:00pm St. James Anglican Church 225 Edmund St. 613-257-3178

May 8 Cookbook Book Club 8:00pm Carleton Place Library 101 Beckwith St. 613-257-2702

May 10 Fiddling Around w/Scott Woods Band 7:00pm

Carleton Place Arena 75 Neelin St. 613-256-9010 Scottwoods.ca

May 11 CP Farmers' Market Opens 8:30am - 12:30pm Market Square Beckwith St/Lake Ave Cpfarmersmarket.wordpress.com

May 14 Local Roots Genealogy Workshop 2:30pm Carleton Place Library 101 Beckwith St. 613-257-2702 carletonplace.ca/library-c234.php

May 16 The Rash Comedy Bash 8:00pm Carleton Place Arena 75 Neelin St. 613-257-1690 Crowningmonkey.com

May 26 Food Bank Community BOGO Dinner 5:00pm Carleton Place Arena 75 Neelin St. 613-257-1690 Lanarkcountyfoodbank.ca

May 26 & 28 The Town Singers 7:00pm All Nations Church 39 Bridge St.

May 27 DIY Craft Club 6:30pm Carleton Place Library 101 Beckwith St. 613-257-2702

May 29 Spring Detoxification w/ Alkalinity 6:00pm Carleton Place Library 101 Beckwith St. 613-257-2702 carletonplace.ca/library-c234.php

May 31 Lanark Laughs 8:30pm - 10:00pm Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 thewaterfrontgastropub.ca

MISSISSIPPI MILLS Mondays Cancer Support Group 10:00am - 11:00am Almonte Library 155 High St. 613-726-8040

Wednesdays Duplicate Bridge Club 7:00pm Almonte Legion 100 Bridge St. 613-256-4747 Open Celtic Jam 7:30pm - 10:00pm Naismith Pub 411 Ottawa St. 613-831-6208

Thursdays Naismith Men's Shed 1st & 3rd Thurs each

month at Mamma's 2nd & 4th Thurs at the Mill of Kintail's gatehouse boardroom almontecarver@gmail.com Menssheds.ca 613-461-0013

May 2 - 5 Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time May 2 - 4 at 7:30pm May 5 at 2:00pm Almonte & District High School 126 Martin St 613-256-1470 onstagedirect.com/ADHS

May 3 Coffee House Open Mic 6:00pm - 8:30pm Equator 451 Ottawa St. 613-256-7529 Mmmusicworks.com Reconciliation Movie Night: Reel Injun 7:00pm St. Paul's Anglican Church 70 Clyde St. Stpaulsalmonte.ca

May 4 Connection: Relationships & the Enneagram 9:00am - 5:00pm Big Stone House 218 Strathburn angie@bigstonehouse.ca Bigstonehouse.ca Sharpen Pruners & Garden Tools 11:00am - 12:00pm Almonte Library 155 High St. 613-256-1037 Big Stone House Drop-in 5:00pm - 6:30pm Big Stone House 218 Strathburn angie@bigstonehouse.ca Bigstonehouse.ca

May 5 Songwriters Circle 1:00pm Mississippi Mills Musicworks 453 Ottawa St. kathryn@mississippimillsmusicworks.com 613-256-7464 Mmmusicworks.ca Hike For Hub Hospice 1:30pm - 3:30pm Mill of Kintail 2854 Concession 8 613-256-3610 Hubhospice.com The Brindled Cats 7:00pm - 9:00pm Almonte Lobby Bar in Alm Riverside Inn 81 Queen St. facebook.com/almontelobbybar

May 7 Music Trivia 8:00pm Almonte Lobby Bar in Alm Riverside Inn 81 Queen St. facebook.com/almontelobbybar

May 9 A Visit from the Dewey Divas 1:30pm - 3:00pm Almonte Library 155 High St. 613-256-1037

May 10

May 25

May 2 - 5

Trees Without Borders 6:30pm - 8:30pm Almonte United Church 106 Elgin St. lblackstock@rogers.com 613-256-0394

MVTM AGM 2:00pm Mississippi Valley Textile Museum 3 Rosamond St. E info@mvtm.ca 613-256-3754 Mvtm.ca

Generals Die in Bed May 2 - 4 at 8:00pm May 5 at 2:00pm Full Circle Theatre 26 Craig St. 613-267-1884 Barndoorproductions.ca

May 26

New To You Sale 2:00pm - 7:00pm Good Shepherd Hall, St. James Anglican Church 54 Beckwith St. E. godwinjanice20@gmail. com 613-267-3734 Loaded SixString 8:00pm

May 10 - 12 Art in the Attic May 10 at 7:00pm 9:00pm, May 11 10:00am - 7:00pm, May 12 10:00am - 4:00pm Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St. Almonteartintheattic. wordpress.com

May 11 Almonte Hort Plant Sale 9:00am - 12:00pm Almonte Library 155 High St. 613-256-1071 gardenontario.org/site.php/ almonte

May 12 Mother's Day Brunch 10:30am and 2:00pm The Herb Garden 3840 Old Almonte Rd. herbs@herbgarden.on.ca 613-256-0228 herbgarden.ca

May 15 Knitting/Weaving Yarn Sale 9:00am - 2:00pm Tranquil Weaver 119 Peacock Cr. penny@tranquilweaver.ca 613-858-2647 Tranquilweaver.ca

May 17 Vernissage: Potters Guild 6:00pm Almonte Potters Guild 95 Bridge St. manager@almontepottersguild.com 613-256-5556 Almontepottersguild.com

May 18 Almonte Farmers' Market Opens 8:30am - 12:30pm Almonte Library 155 High St. Almontefarmersmarket.com The Rash Comedy Bash 8:00pm Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St. Crowningmonkey.com Mill of Kintail Museum Opens All Day Mill of Kintail 2854 Concession 8 skolsters@mvc.on.ca 613-256-3610x2 Mvc.on.ca

Trad Song Pub Session 2:00pm - 4:00pm The Barley Mow 79 Little Bridge Street dave@barleymow.com 613-256-5669 Barleymow.com Workshop: Building a Herbal Medicine Chest 2:00pm The Herb Garden 3840 Old Almonte Rd. herbs@herbgarden.on.ca 613-256-0228 Herbgarden.on.ca

May 27 Almonte Hort: Wildflowers & Flower Show 7:30pm Cornerstone Community Church 1728 Concession 11 cornerstone@cornerstone-almonte.ca 613-256-4995

May 29 Living Safely in the Community 1:00pm - 2:30pm Orchard View 219 Patterson St. ovmarketing@ovlc.com 613-963-5000

May 30 Cannabis Info Session 6:30pm - 8:00pm Almonte Library 155 High St. 613-256-1037 Union Hall AGM 7:00pm Union Hall 1984 Wolf Grove Rd. at Tatlock Rd. camponi@storm.ca 613-256-2277

PERTH Tuesdays Brock Zeman 8:30pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com

Wednesdays Karaoke 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

May 23

Thursdays

Cannabis Info Session 1:00pm - 2:30pm Almonte Library 155 High St. 613-256-1037

Open Mic w/Kevin Choffe 8:00pm Fiddleheads Bar & Grill Code's Mill, 53 Herriott St. Fiddleheadsbarandgrill.com

Piper & Carson 8:00pm The Barley Mow 79 Little Bridge Street dave@barleymow.com 613-256-5669 Barleymow.com

Shawn McCullough 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

Fridays

May 3

Fiddleheads Bar & Grill Code's Mill 53 Herriott St. 613-267-1304 Fiddleheadsbarandgrill.com David McGrath 8:30pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 oreillyspubperth.com

May 4 Mother of a Dinner at Good Shepherd Hall 6:00pm Good Shepherd Hall, St. James Anglican Church 54 Beckwith St. E. Guatemalastoveproject.org Ted Lalonde 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

May 5 Perth Citizens' Band 2:00pm Perth Legion 26 Beckwith St E. rcl244@ymail.com 613-267-4400 Perthband.ca

May 7 Mother’s Day Dinner/ Fashion Show 5:00pm Michael's Table 110 Gore St. 613-267-0008 Auditions: Salt Water Moon 7:00pm Studio Theatre 63 Gore St. E. 613-267-7469 Studiotheatreperth.com

May 8 Meditation & Associated Processes 1:30pm - 3:00pm Perth Library 30 Herriott St. 613-225-4675 Mademoiselle de Joncquières 2:00pm & 7:00pm Full Circle Theatre 26 Craig St. filmnightperth@gmail.com Filmnightinternational. blogspot.com

May 8 & 9 Auditions: Salt Water Moon 7:00pm Studio Theatre 63 Gore St. E. 613-267-7469 Studiotheatreperth.com

May 9

May 22

SMITHS FALLS

Jazz at the Manor: Jillian McKenna Project 7:30pm Perth Manor 23 Drummond St. W. 613-264-0050 perthmanor.com/en-us

Two Is a Family 2:00pm & 7:00pm Full Circle Theatre 26 Craig St. filmnightperth@gmail.com Filmnightinternational. blogspot.com

Mondays

May 10

May 24

Morgan Rider 8:00pm Fiddleheads Bar & Grill Code's Mill 53 Herriott St. 613-267-1304 Fiddleheadsbarandgrill.com

Lanark LiPS Poetry Slam 6:30pm - 8:30pm YAK Youth Services 1 Sherbrooke St. E.

Matt Dickson 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

May 11 Perth Farmers' Market Opens 8:00am - 1:00pm Crystal Palace 63 Gore St. E. perthfarmersmarket.ca Danielle Hewitt 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

May 14 Perth Hort: Growing Fruit the Earth-Friendly Way 7:00pm - 9:00pm St. Paul's United Church 25 Gore St. W. 613-253-5690 Perthhortsociety.com Mamma Mia! 7:30pm - 5:00pm Studio Theatre 63 Gore St. E. 613-267-7469 Studiotheatreperth.com

May 16 An Evening in Paris for GWMHF 6:00pm - 9:00pm Lions Hall Perth Fairgrounds Arthur St. 613-264-2604

Juliet, Naked 7:30pm Studio Theatre 63 Gore St. E. 613-267-7469 Studiotheatreperth.com Tom Watson 8:00pm Fiddleheads Bar & Grill Code's Mill 53 Herriott St. 613-267-1304 Fiddleheadsbarandgrill.com Derick Martin 8:30pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com Logan Brown 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

May 25 Ontario Moonshine Festival 12:00pm - 8:00pm Top Shelf Distillers 14 Warren Cr. Topshelfdistillers.com Group Encore: Cello & Piano 7:30pm St. Paul's United Church 25 Gore St. W. 613-485-6434 Joseph McDonald 8:45pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com

May 17

May 28

Logan Brown 8:00pm Fiddleheads Bar & Grill Code's Mill 53 Herriott St. 613-267-1304 Fiddleheadsbarandgrill.com

Black Suite Devil 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

Stephen Mark Fisher 8:45pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com

The Ladies' Foursome 7:30pm Studio Theatre 63 Gore St. E. 613-267-7469 Studiotheatreperth.com

Jenna Wright 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

May 18 Matt Dickson 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

May 18 - 19 Horizons Art Show: Landscapes 9:00am - 4:00pm Bridget O'Flaherty Fibre Arts Studio 867 Brooke Valley Rd. Threadpaintedart.com

May 30 & 31

May 31 Shawn McCullough 8:00pm Fiddleheads Bar & Grill Code's Mill 53 Herriott St. 613-267-1304 Fiddleheadsbarandgrill.com

Smiths Falls Duplicate Bridge Club 7:00pm Smiths Falls Legion 7 Main St. E. office95@cogeco.ca 613-256-4747

Tuesdays Smiths Falls Duplicate Bridge Club 1:00pm Smiths Falls Legion 7 Main St. E. office95@cogeco.ca 613-256-4747

May 2 - 5 The Faery's Kiss May 2 - 4 at 7:30pm May 5 at 2:00pm Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave 613-283-0300 Smithsfallstheatre.com

May 4 & 5 Home & Living Expo 10:00am - 4:00pm Settlers Ridge Centre 275 Brockville St./Hwy 29 S Smithsfallshomelivingexpo. com

May 9 Mademoiselle de Joncquières 2:00pm Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave. filmnightperth@gmail.com Filmnightinternational. blogspot.com

May 17 The Rash Comedy Bash 8:00pm Gallipeau Centre 361 Queen St. 613-284-9916 Gallipeaucentre.com

May 22 Two Is a Family 2:00pm & 7:00pm Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave. filmnightperth@gmail.com Filmnightinternational. blogspot.com

May 24 & 25 Vice 7:00pm Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave. 613-283-0300 Smithsfallstheatre.com

May 28 How Love Continues: Recognizing the Afterlife 6:30pm - 8:00pm Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre 71 Cornelia St. W. 613-283-4124

WESTPORT & RIDEAU LAKES WESTPORT

Wednesday

Ken Workman & Blair Hogan 8:45pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com

Open Mic w/Shawn McCullough 6:30pm - 9:30pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

Ted Lalonde 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

Tom Watson 6:00pm - 9:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com

May 3

info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

May 4 John Wilberforce 6:00pm - 9:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

May 10 BOTR: Murray Kinsley & Wicked Grin 7:00pm - 11:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

May 11 Riley & Riley 6:00pm - 9:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

May 13 Cathy Hutch 6:00pm - 9:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

May 14 Morgan Davis' 'History of the Blues' 6:00pm - 8:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

May 17 David James Allen 6:00pm - 9:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

May 18 Logan Brown & Taylor Angus 6:00pm - 9:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

May 19 Head over Heels (Patio) 12:30pm - 3:30pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN Ghetto Xpress 7:00pm - 10:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

May 23 Jazz w/Spencer Evans solo 7:00pm - 10:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

May 24 Jeff Callery 6:00pm - 9:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

May 25 Sam Wilson 6:00pm - 9:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

May 26 Head over Heels (Patio) 12:30pm - 3:30pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

May 31 FOTA Fundraiser w/80s Enuff 6:00pm - 11:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

RIDEAU FERRY

May 25 Tom Watson 5:00pm - 8:00pm CC's on the Rideau 1030 Rideau Ferry Rd. 613-267-6060 ccsontherideau.com

REGIONAL APPLETON

Tuesdays A Peek Behind the Curtain: Museum Touch Tours 1:00pm - 3:00pm North Lanark Regional Museum 647 River Road, Appleton 613-257-8503 appletonmuseum@hotmail.com Museum Touch Tours 1:00pm - 3:00pm North Lanark Regional Museum 647 River Rd. appletonmuseum@hotmail.com 613-257-8503

May 11 Celebrating Mothers Tea 2:00pm - 4:00pm North Lanark Regional Museum 647 River Road, Appleton 613-257-8503 appletonmuseum@hotmail.com

BECKWITH

May 4 Lanark Co. Genealogical Mtg 1:30pm Brunton Community Hall 1702 9th Line lcgsinfo34@gmail.com

May 11 Jock River Paddle 10:00am 9th Line, Beckwith bectp@twp.beckwith.on.ca 613-257-1539

BOLINGBROKE

Thursdays Musicians Circle 7:00pm Althorpe Bolingbroke Community (ABC) Hall 3166 County Rd. 36 mattchurchill@hotmail.com 613-273-9005

May 11 ABCtoZ Yard Sale & Artisan Showcase 9:00am - 4:00pm Althorpe Bolingbroke

Community (ABC) Hall 3166 County Rd. 36 events@abchall.ca 613-273-8834 abchall.ca

LANARK

May 4

Spring Sale: Living Stones 10:00am - 4:00pm John Schweighardt Studio 1787 3rd Conc. Dalhousie Livingstonesscuptures.ca

May 5 Blueberry Mtn Nature Walk 10:00am - 2:00am Blueberry Mountain Clifford Property 502 Hills of Peace Rd. 613-253-2722 mmlt.ca/events

MABERLY

May 4

Blue Skies Fiddle Orchestra Jam-a-thon 12:00pm - 5:00pm Maberly Hall 172 Maberly Elphin Rd. cindy.fiddlemusic.mccall@ gmail.com 613-278-2448

MCDONALDS CORNERS

May 14

Mother's Day Community Potluck 5:00pm - 7:00pm MERA Schoolhouse 974 9th Concession A McDonalds Corners meraschoolhouse@bell.net 613-278-0388 Meraschoolhouse.org

May 18 McD Corners Farmers' Market Opens 9:00am - 1:00pm MERA Schoolhouse 974 9th Concession A mcdonaldscornersfarmersmarket@hotmail.com 613-278-2739

PAKENHAM

May 4

Pakenham Youth Group 10:00am - 2:00pm Pakenham Library 128 MacFarlane St. 613-257-9772 The Life of Pearls 7:00pm - 9:00pm St. Andrew's United Church 2585 County Rd 29 shannbailey@rogers.com 613-796-8989 Soundofthemuse.com

May 11 Bridges Blues Series 6:00pm - 10:00pm Bridges Bar & Grill 2496 County Rd. 29 613-624-5939

May 15 Pakenham Gardeners: Vermiculture & Flower Show 7:00pm St. Andrew's United Church 2585 County Rd 29 613-256-2014

May 18 Pakenham Gardeners Plant Sale 8:00am - 12:00pm Five Span Feed & Seed

May 19 Pakenham Youth Group 10:00am - 2:00pm Pakenham Library 128 MacFarlane St. 613-257-9772

Happy Mother’s Day Andress’ Garden Centre

May 2019

11

Home & Garden

take the stress out OF OPENING THE COTTAGE Advertorial - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Cottage opening rituals are as unique as the buildings and their owners.

Maybe you open your cottage on the same weekend every year, or always bring hot cocoa and sticky buns to eat while you work. You might start with yard work first, or down by the water, or inside the cottage itself.

These traditions can be steeped in sentiments like: “my dad always did this,” “ Mike Holmes says...” or “the previous owner told me...” Anxiety and frustration can also accompany the task of opening the cottage. But, no matter the shape, size, location and complexity, a building is a building and its functions and systems will be more or less the same as all buildings, so a standard checklist can serve your needs no matter what your cottage is like.

Let’s start with the structure. As most cottages have no one in them all winter, they can sustain damage from wind, water, freeze/thaw cycles, theft, rodents, small animals and heavy snow.

Begin by checking all outdoor wood structures for signs of damage or decay.

These can include stairs, decks, and screen rooms.

Once you are satisfied that these are safe to use, move on to the main structure.

Inspect all stationary parts: accessible beams, columns, rafters, trusses and other structural elements for signs of stress, movement, decay and failure. Next, check all moving parts: doors, windows, hatches into crawlspaces and attic, and make sure they function as they did the previous season.

Any change in these areas might indicate that the building is shifting or settling. If you discover an issue, stop and make the necessary repairs that you can or, if necessary, call in a professional.

Remember to remove any rodent traps and poison bait for safety reasons.

Also, check exhaust and intake pipes for dryers, HRV’s, furnaces, and bathrooms for lint, birds, rodents and other obstructions, and clean or repair them as required.

If your cottage is on the water, you will want to ensure your dock is in good repair before first use.

Floating docks should be set up according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This may involve towing the dock back from a secluded bay, resetting dock legs, setting chains/ anchors or launching the

dock from its onshore storage. If your dock is fixed or has a bubbler installed, inspect the structure, decking, legs, piers and cribs for ice damage and decay. Disconnect the bubbler if needed.

Dock assessment and setup usually involves heavy lifting and working in the cold water for sustained periods of time. Recruit a strong team of helpers and take extra care to avoid injury and hypothermia; good chest waders are a must.

As an alternative, there are also companies that offer dock service for those who can’t or would rather not take on this task themselves. A simple internet search or call to the local marina should help you find someone in your area who can help.

If you take the time to make a list of the tasks required and place them in order of priority you will start to see cottage opening weekend as a fun, easy, and highly anticipated time for your family.

Submitted by PDG. PDG is a full service general contracting company specializing in decks, docks and cottage building and renovations. Please contact us at 613-284-9826 to discuss your project.

Want to eat MORE vegetables?

HERE’S AN EASY SOLUTION...

Our Bountiful Basket program provides a weekly supply of fresh produce from June through October.

Call us at 613-283-0205 or visit our website for ALL of the juicy details! www.millersbayfarm.com Don’t miss out! Sign up ends May 31st.

FEELING PRESSURE ABOUT STARTING A SPRING PROJECT? NO WORRIES. WE HAVE PRESSURE TREATED WOOD.

May 2019

12

home & garden

Garden Matters: Growing Tips My seed orders have arrived and some seeds are already growing, but as I wait impatiently for the real spring to arrive I have browsed once more through seed catalogues and realized just how much information is in them. Not

only do seed companies offer dozens more varieties than local stores can carry, the catalogues contain germination guides, excellent photos, culture tips, diseases and pests to watch for, and nifty gadgets and tools to make your gardening

easier. I pass along some of the good growing tips that I have gleaned from Johnny’s Selected seeds, Vesey’s, and Wm. Dam Seed.

Go ahead and gamble.

Early beans are worth the risk. It’s true that beans hate frost. But a “cheater”

Lanark County Master Gardeners row of beans planted two weeks before the last frost date is worth the risk. If they aren’t nipped by frost, you have moved ahead your bean harvest. If they do get hit with frost, you have lost nothing more than a few seeds and can replant.

Use care when harvesting asparagus to avoid damage to spears that have yet to emerge. Remove dead ferns in fall to help prevent asparagus beetle infestation.

Early maturing cabbage varieties may split or burst at maturity from rapid new growth if heavy rain follows a dry spell. Splitting may be partly avoided by slowing growth. To accomplish this, cultivate close to plants to sever some of the root system, or by slightly twisting the plant.

When planting in dry or windy weather, sow the seed in moist soil, then cover with a wide board to retain the moisture until the seeds germinate. Then remove it. This works very well with succession plant-

ings of salad crops.

Hot peppers are becoming popular in home gardens and they come in many shapes, sizes flavours and heat. Measured in Scovilles, peppers range from mild to blistering hot.

Jalapenos are in the 25005000 range while Habanero peppers can range up to 500,000 (not for the faint of heart).

To prevent and control tomato diseases use varieties that are noted as disease resistant, do not grow tomatoes where there have been tomatoes, peppers, potatoes or eggplant for at least three years, do not overcrowd, water in the morning or use drip irrigation, and mulch to retain soil moisture.

Monarch caterpillars eat only milkweed during their life, but the adult butterflies have a more varied diet that includes aster, buddleja, echinacea, verbena and zinnia. Butterflies like flowers that give them a platform to hold on to while they

sip nectar, such as achillea, rudbeckia, tithonia, and zinnias. Bees love broccoli. Leave some of your cole crops to bolt to provide a month of food for bees.

If deer are hungry, they will eat almost anything, but here is a list of plants they will avoid until that point: ageratum, aster, borage, cleome, foxglove, marigolds, poppies, rosemary, salvia, thyme, verbena and zinnia.

In a year of extreme heat and drought, gardeners often look to grow plants that can survive arid conditions.

These include agastache, celosia, cosmos, dusty miller, gomphrena, lavender, marigold, portulaca sage, sedum and vinca.

Written by Helen Halpenny who is a member of the Lanark County Master Gardeners. Want to know more about the Master Gardeners group or ask a gardening question? Visit our website at www.lanarkmg. blogspot.com or contact us at lanarkmg@gmail.com

lifestyle 6132673443 | 17100 HWY #7, PERTH | PERTHPOWERSPORTS.COM

opinion: Am I the only one?

Carrie Wynne

The town that says Yes

It’s been an absolute pleasure living in Smiths Falls. The location is perfect. It’s a fabulous place to raise kids and enjoy a high-quality life.

I lived in London Ontario all my life until 2013 when we moved to Smiths Falls. Peter was raised here but for me and our girls, it was an exciting new adventure.

People were less than positive when I first arrived. Sometimes in life we take things for granted and need reminders.

The physiotherapist said Yes when our son flew in for the weekend with a bum shoulder from skiing and needed to be seen.

The Rotary club said Yes and gave our daughter a life-changing experience.

The high school said Yes and took our daughter’s rugby team to a tournament in California for a week.

Hometown News said Yes when I asked if I could write a column in their newspaper.

Nobody says Yes in the city.

When a newcomer moves to Smiths Falls, they will ask: What will my spouse do? What will my kids do? What will my employees do? We have a good story that we need to be willing to promote.

Athletics are a huge part of our story, wouldn’t you agree? I spent 4 years at the rink watching my daughter play the very best hockey she could play. It was pure joy. We have a world class golfer and a world class swimmer. How many small towns can say that?

My husband and I recognize that our girls had opportunities here that would not have been available to them in the city. Smiths Falls’ teachers and coaches go above and beyond for students to play any sport they want.

They arrange for students to train and participate in local triathlons and marathons. In the city teachers don’t do weekends or trips and if you can’t afford it, your kid’s not playing.

There’s something for everyone and active people thrive here.

It’s heartwarming to see families enjoying all the well-maintained parks and my favourite thing to

do is walk along the waterfront. The street cleaner makes my day. In the city, you’re tracking gravel in your house until June and the green space is up to your knees before they cut it. It’s a relief to have everything 4 minutes away.

It’s been fun exploring the nearby towns. Ottawa is a nice easy 45-minute drive, making the location ideal for people to live out of the rat race.

I hope to convince some of you to change your narrative. Every person is a representative who speaks and acts as an agent for the town.

It’s the people you meet along the way that give you the fondest memories and it’s been a privilege to be part of: The Smiths Falls Toastmasters Club, Hometown News, Smiths Falls Cubs Hockey, The Breakfast Club at Chimo, Economic Development Committee and the Calvary Bible Church.

I give two thumbs up to this beautiful waterfront town of Smiths Falls: the town that says “Yes.” The opinions stated in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hometown News’ management, staff or writers.

May 2019

13

lifestyle

Charter flights from Toronto to Smiths Falls coming this summer

One of the charter airplanes on the landing strip at Billy Bishop airport in Toronto. Photo courtesy of FlyGTA.com.

Smiths Falls - Emilie Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca Ever dream of flying directly from Toronto to Smiths Falls for that special weekend getaway? That dream will soon be a reality.

CEO Chris Nowrouzi of FlyGTA Airlines announced to the Hometown News that daily charter flights will be available beginning in mid-May. The opening date for the flights will coincide with the grand opening of Rolling Greens. Nowrouzi and Rolling Greens owner Gordon Weiske are old friends.

It was Weiske who came up with the idea to bring

charter flights to the Russ Beach-Montague airport.

“I book charter flights all the time through him for business days,” Weiske said. “We chartered a flight to Smiths Falls and the first time I flew into Russ Beach-Montague airport I saw it and was just like this is perfect! We could start daily flights here when things really pick up.”

Nowrouzi is only 29 and has been a pilot for 15 years.

“I got my pilot license before my driver’s license,” Nowrouzi said.

He started FlyGTA offering short scenic flights overlooking the city of Toronto and within a year turned it into a fully-fledged airline offering charter flights across Ontario. Today they have eight charter aircrafts with daily flights to Niagara, Muskoka, Waterloo and soon Smiths Falls.

“We always have a lot of aircrafts and pilots on stand-by essentially so you should be able to call same day and say I’m looking to go to Smiths Falls,” Nowrouzi said. “It’s a fairly quick flight over to Smiths Falls. Generally to start it will be on demand and we’ll be focusing on packaging everything for Golf foursomes for example. I hope in the future we’ll work with the city and the township and actually bring scheduled service between the two airports.”

FlyGTA teamed up with Visit Canada, an inbound tour operator focusing

mostly on the international market to offer tourism packages.

“We recently acquired that, so we’re basically doing a rebrand and a re-launch of everything, but they’ve been in business for about 25 years and have now joined our team,” Nowrouzi said. “We’re bringing a lot more resources to the table and we’re expecting to grow Canadian tourism overall and internationally.”

Rolling Greens plans to use the charter flight service to bring musical talent from Toronto to the golf course and hopes to encourage interest from other businesses.

“If we start doing daily or every other day flights you’d have, on the business side, people who are having meetings at Tweed can fly in and out as well so it won’t be just tourism,” Weiske said.

Nowrouzi immediately saw an opportunity when Weiske first approached him with the concept. He also wants to create educational tours, as cannabis is still a taboo in other countries.

“We look forward to increasing tourism overall whether cannabis or otherwise and Smiths Falls with companies like Le Boat going in there, Canopy’s headquarters being in there,” Nowrouzi said. “I think there’s going to be an influx of demand that we’re ready to service.”

flooded because of the rising Mississippi Lake.

So, it was with great amusement and respect that an email from Law & Orders' very own Jamie Law added to what was happening down at the 9th line. It seems that a local Mother and son spent all day going though the deep water looking for a license plate that Dad had lost

driving through the deep water. In the end they came up empty ... except for 25 license plates belonging to other owners.

The 9th line bridge is now home to a sort of lost and found looking for the former folks who owned these license plates. So if you lost a plate in that area, maybe you should drive down and have a look.

Looking for lost license plates? Found in Beckwith

(613)283-0808 1B Main St E

w ! o N en Op

Smiths Falls

Around the corner from Pizza Pizza

Photo credit: Jason Winters

Carleton Place Linda Seccaspina editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Pet Food & Specialty Items

McGibbons Creek on the 9th line of Beckwith is well known in the area for its signs alerting drivers about crossing turtles.

I don’t think I have ever heard of it being famous for anything else except this year the area was

May 2019

14

YOUR TRUSTED

Neighbourhood Professionals Good Design is good business.

Graphic Design, Branding, Web Design, Logos, Marketing

BRIAN RABY & ASSOCIATES INC LICENSED INSOLVENCY TRUSTEE

Free Consultation • Personalized Service Flexible Appointments

613-283-6308 91 Cornelia St. W. Smiths Falls, ON

613.205.0463

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

10 Beckwith St N. Smiths Falls

PERSONAL TAX RETURNS

As a rural homeowner and manager of a business, I understand the needs of the residential seller and commercial entrepreneur. With the power of the C21 brand, my team and I work to get you get the fastest sale possible - at the best price.

CORPORATE TAX RETURNS

Your answer to small business accounting

SAGE BUSINESS ONLINE

Honoured with the C21 Award of outstanding achievements and excellence, I am dedicated to providing you the highest of quality service in research, staging, photography, promotion and marketing to sell your property.

From the City of Ottawa through the Ottawa Valley to Lanark Highlands, my personal knowledge of city and country Real Estate brings you results.

613.206.0708

contactus@pdgmedia.ca

BUSINESS SETUP ASSISTANCE QUICK BOOKS ONLINE

PDG Media

Celebrating 20 years of Serving Our Community

Keep Calm and Trust Your Chiropractor

On Site Digital X-ray Registered Massage Therapy Advanced Health Analysis Surface Electromyography Thermography Heart Rate Variability Analysis THERALASE Low Level Laser for Muscle, Tendon and Joint Healing

NEED A HEARING TEST? HEARING AIDS

HEARING TEST

Call 613.718.0708 to schedule your appointment!

REPAIRS

HEARING AID CLINIC 1A Main St. E, Smiths Falls | Locally Owned and Operated

Take an Online hearing screening on our website at greatwaterwayhearing.com

Debbie Boehm H.I.S.

May 2019

15

culture Perth’s Hall of Remembrance unveils unique display Perth - Terry O'Hearn editorial@pdgmedia.ca

The Hall of Remembrance military museum at Perth’s Legion has unveiled a unique display for its season opening on Friday, May 3. The exhibit features soldier William Del Donegan, who was one of 2,100 Canadian men killed during the 10-day “Battle of Hill 70” in World War I. Donegan, who died on Aug. 16, 1917, had a connection to Perth. He was a nephew of Peter J. Cavanagh and Euphemia “Effie” (Donegan), shipbuilders who lived where the Crystal Palace in Perth now stands. Cavanagh was also owner of the steamer “St. Louis”, which plied the waters of the Rideau system.

Donegan’s death came the day before his battalion was relieved by other Canadian troops. By the end of the battle, Canadians had won 6 Victoria Crosses, suffered 9,200 casualties, and 2,100 were killed.

Interest was focused on William Del Donegan after human skeletal remains were found in September, 2010, during a munitions clearing process near rue Léon Droux, Vendin-le-Vieil, France. Clues to the identity of the remains included the finding of buttons from the 16th Canadian Infantry Battalion, and the insignia of the 179th Battalion. A ring, wrist watch, and other artifacts were also found at the scene.

The Perth connection can be verified starting with The Courier newspaper edition of March 16, 1900, which published an

obituary for Patrick Donegan. “His funeral was a large one, and took place from the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. Peter Cavanagh, the funeral cortege first proceeding to St. John’s church where High Mass was performed …”

The obituary indicated that Patrick Donegan “was born in Danville, Quebec, and came to Perth on the opening of the old Brockville and Ottawa railway, in the position of engine-driver on the branch from Smith’s Falls [sic] to Perth … The funeral took place from the residence of his son-in-law Peter Cavanagh.”

On Friday, June 21, 1912, the following was published in the newspaper: “Last Wednesday evening the steamer ‘St. Louis,” owned by Peter Cavanagh of Perth, a former Brockvillian steamed into Mathen’s wharf and this morning at 9:30 made her first trip on the Butternut Bay7 route …

She is 67 feet long, 14 foot beam, and 4 foot draught.”

The Department of National Defence web pages carry much information about the soldier William Del Donegan: “Donegan was born March 27, 1897 in Ottawa, Ontario, son of William Donegan and Elizabeth Donegan (née Shields). At some point during William’s youth, the Donegan family moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

“Donegan enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) at age 18 on 21 February 1916 with the 179th Battalion (The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada), CEF. Prior to enlistment, Donegan spent four years

Stacey Niceliu at William Del Donegan display, Hall of Remembrance military museum. Photo credit: Terry O'Hearn.

in the Highland Cadets with the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada and later worked as a railway clerk in Winnipeg.”

“Through historical, genealogical, anthropological, archaeological, and DNA analysis, with the assistance of the Canadian Forces Forensic Odontology Response Team, and the Canadian Museum of History, the Casualty Identification Review Board was able to confirm the identity of the remains as those of Private William Del Donegan in October 2017.

“Following the war, Private Donegan’s name was engraved on the Canadian

National Vimy Memorial commemorating Canadian soldiers who died during the First World War and have no known grave.

“Private Donegan was buried on 25 August 2018 in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Loos British Cemetery in Loos-en-Gohelle, France by members of The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) from Victoria, British Columbia. Attending the burial were cousins and other family members, as well as representatives of the Government of Canada, the local French government and the Canadian Armed Forces.”

The service included honouring three other Canadians who were killed in the same battle as Donegan.

A CTV News narrative of the ceremony stated: “The remains were found between 2010 and 2016 and identified publicly in May as belonging to Pte. William Del Donegan, Pte. Henry Priddle, Pte. John (Jack) Henry Thomas and Sgt. Archibald Wilson. Relatives of all four soldiers were in attendance. Through the CWGC (Canadian War Graves Commission), they had been able to choose phrases and religious symbols to be inscribed on the soldiers’ headstones.”

Donegan’s family received his British War Medal, Victory Medal, Memorial Cross, Remembrance Plaque and Service Scroll.

Although the capture of Hill 70 achieved the desired results, it was at an appalling cost of human life. Six of the 72 Victoria Crosses awarded to Canadian soldiers during World War I were won at Hill 70. The remains of more than 1,300 Canadians killed during the battle have never been found. May their blessed souls rest in peace forever in the sacred earth surrounding Hill 70.

Stewart Park Festival launches Coffeehouse Competition for Young Musicians Perth - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Young musicians from across the region are invited to play in the Stewart Park Festival Youth Coffeehouse where they can compete for a chance to perform at the award-winning festival this summer.

The Coffeehouse is an invitation to all youth musicians living within Lanark County and Rideau Lakes.

The coffeehouse concert gives youth ages 14-21 the chance to perform in front of a live audience while auditioning for a spot at the Festival’s Youth Showcase on Friday, July 19, 2019.

The Coffeehouse will allow each performer to perform two songs in a set and the winning performance will earn $300 as well as a set on the Stewart Park Festival stage this summer with a paid honorarium.

The coffeehouse is a new

approach from the original youth coffeehouse design which welcomed school-designated musicians from across the region to compete, and representing their school.

The shift this year for the coffeehouse is an attempt to bring more musicians to the stage.

“We love the style and versatile musical offerings our local youth have brought to the stage in the past, and we wanted to open it up to the greater public to give more youth more opportunities to perform,” says SPF Chair John McKenty.

Past performers have included solo acts to fivepiece bands.

“We’re really interested to see a variety of musical acts from across the region,” says SPF Musical Director James Keelaghan. “We can’t wait to see what our entrants bring to the stage

and show how much musical talent comes to the stage from our youth.”

Once the coffeehouse performers are finished, a group of judges will name the winner, who will receive the monetary prize and a chance to perform at the Stewart Park Festival.

The event will take place at the Perth Tea Room on Gore Street on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at 7 p.m. The public is welcome to attend and admission is free.

To register and learn more about the coffeehouse, visit stewartparkfestival.com. The first 10 musicians to register will get on the line-up for the coffeehouse.

The Stewart Park Festival Coffeehouse will take place on Thursday, May 18 at 7 p.m. and the public is welcome to attend and admission is free. For more information, please visit stewartparkfestival.com.

May 2019

16

culture

Holocaust survivor Dr. Eva Olsson, 94, spreads message of hope Smiths Falls - Emilie Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca Dr. Eva Olsson has accomplished a lot in her 94 years. She has an honorary doctorate from Nippissing University, wrote an autobiography called “Unlocking the Doors” and is a Holocaust survivor.

For the last 15 years she has travelled across the nation speaking at more than 1300 schools to 1.5 million students. 10 years ago Eva spoke at TR Leger in Smiths Falls and on Wednesday, April 17 she returned to spread a message of hope.

She began with a comment about hate.

“Hate is a killer, it turns into rage and rage turned into genocide,” Olsson said.

“No amount of hate will ever bring my family back.

Hate is a sickness. I don’t want to be sick. I don’t hate.

I pity them for what they did.”

Olsson was born in Romanian-occupied Eastern Hungary to a Romanian father and a Hungarian mother. She was 15 when World War II started in 1939 and thought the war would end quickly.

“March 19, 1944 the Nazi regime occupied Hungary.

I was 19,” Olsson said. “We lived in two rooms with no electricity or indoor plumbing. 19 of us in two rooms.

Some of us had to sleep

on the floor, we didn’t have enough beds but it was ok.

It was ok because I had a mother and I had a father, I had brothers and sisters, there were 6 in my family. It didn’t last very long.”

On May 15, 1944 all of the Hungarian-Jews were picked up and sent on boxcars to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Many of them died on the four-day trek where it was standing room only.

The rest met their fate by going either to the left or the right. To the left was automatic death and the right was the work camp. A prisoner came up to Olsson and told her not to let go of her young niece’s hand. Olsson was then sent to the right.

“Had I not let go of Judy’s hand I wouldn’t be sitting here today,” Olsson said.

“Josef Mengele was the one who decided who would live and who would die.”

There were “six million Jews murdered. Catholic priests were hung because they were hiding Jewish children. 1.5 million children under age 15 died,” Olsson said. “Five of those children were my nieces: a 3 and a half year old, a 2 year old, a 1 year old, a 6 month and a 2 month old. I speak for all children whose voices were silenced by hate.”

Her father died in Buchenwald in December of 1944 after only six months.

Her mother was sent to the

Dr. Eva Olsson, 94, addresses the crowd at TR Leger school in Smiths Falls on Wednesday, April 17. Photo credit: Emilie Must.

left that day they arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau along with her siblings.

After living off of daily rations of sawdust bread, dirty potato peels and soup Olsson managed to survive despite the rampant disease.

“The legacy my mother passed down to me I used to survive,” Olsson said.

“Courage, bravery and hope.”

Her final concentration

camp was the same one that Anne Frank died in, Bergen-Belsen in 1945.

In 1945 just six days before the Allied forces liberated the camp, the Gestapo gave orders for zero supplies, or rations given to the prisoners. “They wanted to speed up our death because the allies were nearby,” Olsson said. “They didn’t want anyone alive.”

On April 15 at 3 p.m. all prisoners were to be shot.

Luckily, the camp was liberated at 11 a.m. The Red Cross arrived from Sweden and treated Eva for typhoid fever where she lost 37 per cent of her hearing.

Olsson decided to go to Sweden and in October met a young man who became her husband of 19 years until he died at 38 from injuries after getting hit by a drunk driver.

“The Swedish people weren’t concerned with the

the marketplace directory

religion or culture, they treated us like brothers and sisters of the same family,” Olsson said. “The human family. One race, the human race.”

Olsson’s closing message is to not ever take your family for granted.

“No amount of money can ever buy a family,” Olsson said. “It’s not the challenges that hurt us but the choices we make to deal with them.”

CERAMICS

Advertise Here - $45 per issue. For more information call 613-206-0708 or email us at advertising@pdgmedia.ca ACCOUNTANT

PRINTING

Quick & Friendly Great Quality

PERTH SMITHS FALLS 40 Sunset Blvd 51 Abbott St. N 613-267-1080 613-283-2444 info@impressionprinting.ca

GENERAL CONTRACTOR

DENTURE CLINIC Locations

Affordable Pricing Excellent Customer Service And we are local ~ just like you!

PAINT N PAPER

Quality // Workmanship // Pride Cabinets refinished Staircases refinished Unpasted wallpapers Traditional painting

carseythepainter.com FOOT CARE

WELCOME WAGON

VINYL

613-453-5253