Lanark, North Leeds & Grenville - Hometown News May 2021

A.C. Towing 613-284-3465 24/7 Service

Owned & Operated By:

Local & Long Distance Lockouts Boosts Ogilvie's Telephone: 613-283-7444

Vol. 8

No. 5

YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER - LANARK, NORTH LEEDS & GRENVILLE

MAY 2021

From tourist campground to resident sanctuary: Last Duel Park Perth - Janelle Labelle editorial@pdgmedia.ca In 2019, Perth town council decided not to offer camping in Last Duel Park. Surveys found that residents were reluctant to make use of the Park’s excellent green space when campers were present. Indeed, many residents were unaware of the Park’s walking trails and picnic area, believing those to be reserved for campers.

Closing the campground before Covid-19 broke out was serendipitous timing. Throughout 2020 and into 2021, Last Duel Park has seen a marked increase in foot traffic and active transportation. The walking trails have become a go-to spot for Perth residents in search of some restorative exercise, said Councillor David Bird in a recent interview.

Snowbirds who usually spend the winter in warmer climates made use of the trails during our pleasantly mild winter this past year; and the town has continued to service the trails. “People enjoy being able to get out and walk and cycle without vehicles around them,” noted Bird, who regularly takes his exercise in the park. “Far more people are using the park to walk now. It’s not crowded, but just anecdotally I’ve noticed far more people.”

Councillor Bird, a member of the Last Duel Park Advisory Panel, does not envision any major structural developments in the park this year. The Advisory Pan-

el was created when the campground closed; its members are responsible for creating a plan for the future of the park. The principles guiding the Advisory Panel are: be connected; be inclusive; be environmentally responsible; be a cultural and historical landmark; support reconciliation; be a destination; and be financially sustainable. “There’s not any great risk of changing its character,” explained Bird, “We’re not looking at doing anything radical [to the space], just making it more available.”

The first Sunday in May was a busy day at Last Duel Park. Boaters were making good use of the town docks. Many families, pairs, and individuals enjoyed a stroll through the park, past old campsite markers and alongside the Tay. “It’s a little gem down there, that park,” commented Councillor Bird.

Bird noted that many respondents to the Last Duel Park survey indicated that they just wanted to be able to enjoy the green space, experience the beauty of nature and escape from stress. This is particularly important at this time.

In a post on the town’s Facebook page, Mayor Fenik encouraged “everyone to take a regular mental health break and go for a walk or just get some fresh air, to help battle the stressful atmosphere the pandemic has created.”

In order to assess the public wishes for the space, the Advisory Panel offered a survey to Perth res-

Last Duel Park’s beautiful green space is open for residents to take their exercise and enjoy nature in Perth. Photo credits: Janelle Labelle.

idents in March and April of 2021.

The results of this survey will be presented to Council in the summer of 2021, but no broad changes are expected to be made this year.

Director of Community Services Shannon Baillon confirms that Last Duel Park “will continue to be open to the public to use for walking and passive recreation, the same as last summer.”

Community driven campaign raises over $44,000 for local mother

Photo credit: A Home for Courtney & Grayson Go Fund Me page

Smiths Falls -Shannon Mclellan editorial@pdgmedia.ca Over $44,000 has been raised to date as a result of an outpouring of love from the com-

FIND US ONLINE

Groceries Produce Fresh Flowers

munity to help support Smiths Falls mother Courtney Preece in her mission to find affordable and accessible housing for herself and her six year old son Grayson. Courtney’s search for

Facebook/HometownnewsPerth

Fresh Deli Fresh Fish

Bakery Salad Bar Butcher’s Counter

a home in a time where affordable housing is already in crisis mode is uniquely challenging as Courtney requires a home that is not only affordable, but that can also accommodate her wheelchair. The 27-year-old mother is paralyzed from the waist down, requiring her to use a wheelchair as a result of Transverse Myelitis which affects the spinal cord.

She was informed by her landlord in February that he was selling the home she had been living in, and had to relocate herself and her son by the end of May. Erynn Williamson, a friend of Preece’s, started a GoFundme campaign with a goal of $30,000 after Courtney found herself on

Facebook/HometownnewsCarletonPlace

the brink of homelessness due to lack of accessible housing, coupled with living on a limited disability income through ODSP. It was only a matter of days before the GoFundme campaign began to skyrocket as people learned of Preece’s story, a true testament to the heart of the local community. According to details on the GoFundme page, Courtney was only 18 when she was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis (TM). She has spent the last 9 nine years in a wheelchair and continues to face daily challenges due to this rare inflammatory disease.

According to Preece’s interview with CTV News Ottawa,

the overwhelming generosity of the community will potentially allow for her to find a more permanent housing solution without the fear of having to relocate again in the future. Preece is set to view an accessible apartment being built nearby her current residence, planned to be completed by July.

Hometown News will be following this story as it continues to develop. Watch for further updates on hometownnews.ca.

Check out the fundraiser for Courtney & Grayson at https:// www.gofundme.com/f/a-homefor-courtney-grayson?utm_campaign=p_cp_url&utm_medium=os&utm_source=customer.

Facebook/HometownnewsSmithsFalls

www.Hometownnews.ca

2

May 2021

Page Two

Hometown News welcomes new student reporter Catherine Poag

“ i am very excited to be working for hometown news”

I am currently in my third year of a four-year undergrad degree at Saint Francis Xavier University. I am pursuing my literary passions

through editing the school newspaper and writing stories about local legends near my hometown of Smiths Falls, Ontario.

My love for writing started at a young age and grew throughout the years as I worked as a columnist for my university paper, and then moved on to be the Editor in Chief, which gave me the opportunity to freelance for the Maclean’s University Guidebook. I am in the works of publishing my first book called The Ferryman’s House which will come to shelves July 2021. This novel will be the first in a trilogy called The Ferryman’s Tales.

It has been a very exciting journey and I can’t wait to share my novel with others.

I am very involved in my community; I sat on town council as a student representative in high school. In 2017, I was a recipient of the Brooke & Brittany Henderson Award for Youth and in 2018 I received the Lieutenant Governor’s Community Volunteer Award and the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement.

I am very excited to be working for Hometown News this summer. I love to write about community events, and I am excited to expand my skills as a writer! Check out my article this month about Covid-19 friendly activities to do in the surrounding communities this summer on page 5.

Cartoon by Patrick Labelle

Introducing Hometown News’ newest columnist:

illusionist and hometown historian ted outerbridge

PART OF THE DISCOVER COMMUNTIY NETWORK

Hometownnews

Regional - Janelle Labelle editorial@pdgmedia.ca Smiths Falls is where the magic happens. Not just metaphorically, but also literally; world-famous illusionists Ted and Marion Outerbridge have made this their home.

The performers, who have delighted audiences across Canada, in Hollywood, and even as far away as China, moved to Smiths Falls two years ago and immediately began performing to sold-out crowds. Every Saturday saw them performing on the world-class stage in our own little 140-seat Station Theatre. (In spite of Covid, they still hope to put on some shows this summer. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!)

Ted Outerbridge has been published before: he used to write for Vanish, the most widely-read magazine in the magic world. Now he is writing a monthly column for Hometown News,

Smiths Falls History & Mystery, uncovering the history of the town right before our eyes.

Outerbridge’s love of history is relatively new; it began when they first walked through the door of the Keyhole House two years ago. “It was love at first sight,” he explains, “for the house and the town.” On their first day of house hunting in Smiths Falls, a teenager held open the door for them as they went into Tim Hortons.

Ted and Marion looked at each other in delight this was a good sign. And doors of history have continued to open.

When the Outerbridges were signing papers with the lawyer to buy their house, they were told that one of their home’s first owners was Agnes Lamb, niece of Alexander Wood from the Frost and Wood Company. Outerbridge explains, “this was the Tweed of 1850, they made agricultural equipment.

This was a giant facto-

ry that employed a lot of people” in Smiths Falls.

The builder of the house was Matthew Ryan, a builder who was highly in demand at the time. He had his own brick yard; “his bricks basically built Smiths Falls,” enthused Outerbridge. The architect was also popular and busy in Smiths Falls: George Martin, who designed Trinity United and its addition, among others.

“Learning all this - this was the beginning of my quest for information,” explained Outerbridge. He bought the book Smiths Falls: A Social History of the Men and Women in a Rideau Canal Community, 1794-1994 by Glenn Lockwood. As a magician, he was thrilled to read about Signor Bosco, a magician who performed at the local opera house in 1888. This begged the question - where was the opera house? This led Outerbridge to the microfilm at the Smiths Falls Library, finding advertisements

Publisher

Photography

Patricia Krotki pmkrotki@pdgmedia.ca

Kathy Botham

Editorial

advertising@pdgmedia.ca

editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Community engagement

Reporters

shannon@pdgmedia.ca johnnyfive@pdgmedia.ca

Kathy Botham Sally Smith Chris Must Janelle Labelle Brian Turner John Kessel Shannon McLellan Catherine Poag

Sales & Advertising

Submit an Event events@pdgmedia.ca

Contact 613-284-9826 hometownnews@pdgmedia.ca

from different entertainers and performers, and he learned that the opera house had once been a Methodist chapel, then the opera house, and then the post office.

“This book is full of amazing statements. Two days ago, I read there was a cheese factory on Brockville Street,” he reported. Whenever he discovers a new rabbit trail to go down, his first stop is usually the Heritage House Museum. “I proba-

bly get on their nerves,” he confessed, laughing. “Leisa is awesome. She always makes time to help me out.”

Watch for our video interview with Ted this month on hometownnews.ca; and to follow along with Ted Outerbridge as he uncovers the mysteries of Smiths Falls’ history, pick up a copy of Hometown News’ print edition each month or find our digital copy online at hometownnews.ca.

Photo credit: Ted Outbridge.

Hometown News is available at Your Independent Grocers across the region. Pick up your copy at: Andress' (Smiths Falls) • Barnabe's (Perth) Mitchell's (Carleton Place) • Patrice's (Almonte) PLEASE SUPPORT THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES.

3

May 2021

community Smiths Falls History & Mystery: The Opera House Smiths Falls - Ted Outerbridge editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Photo credit: Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin.

Photo credit: Rideau Record Newspaper 1895.

I have made my living as a magician since I was 19, and the art of magic has been part of my life ever since. Over the last 22 years, my wife Marion and I have had the privilege of touring theatres and performing arts centers in Canada and the U.S., with a few detours to such exotic places as China, Germany, and the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood. In 2018, we moved into the Keyhole House in Smiths Falls with the goal of restoring this grand Victorian structure.

One of the first things I did upon our arrival was to acquire the comprehensive history of Smiths Falls by Glenn Lockwood. Due to my background, I was immediately engrossed in the book, and began searching the index for the term “magician”.

I found one entry on page 419. As it turns out, a famous Italian magician by the name of Signor Bosco performed at the Smiths Falls Opera House in January 1888!

The discovery that a world-renowned magician had stood onstage in this town 133 years before me fueled my quest for information about Signor Eugene Bosco (1823–1891). I combed my magic library for anything related to him. His posters claimed he had performed for most of the royal-

ty in Europe. At one point in his career, one of his illusions went horribly wrong and he accidentally shot off several of his fingers. His reaction was to modify his illusions and continue to perform. After all, the show must go on!

One of his signature tricks was called the Sand Frame, an ingenious magic prop which caused small flat objects like cards and photos to disappear and reappear. This prop is still in use today by magicians all over the world and the methodology was published in More Magic by Professor Hoffman in 1889.

I am grateful to have a copy in my library.

Researching Signor Bosco was relatively easy due to my extensive collection of antique magic books.

Acquiring information about the Smiths Falls Opera House was more of a challenge, because nobody I spoke with was aware that it had ever existed. What I am about to share with you comes from a small collection of local history books I have accumulated, combined with the time I have spent in the basement of the Smiths Falls Public Library consulting old newspapers on microfilm. I am also extremely grateful for assistance from the incredible team at the Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum.

The Wesleyan Methodist chapel was built circa 183943 where the Post Office is

Photo credit: Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum.

now located on the corner of Church and Market Street.

In 1885, the rapidly growing Methodist congregation moved down the street to a brand-new Trinity Methodist Church which was built on the corner of Russell and Market Street. Ten years later, architect George Thomas Martin was contracted for a complete rebuilding with major additions to the original building. It was the first church in Smiths Falls to feature a large basement which was used for church suppers, rummage sales and Sunday School classes. It is now Trinity United Church.

Ogle Carss had a brief stint as mayor of Smiths Falls and lived in Roclyn House with his wife Isabella. He was a real estate speculator known for Carssville and Grand View Park. In 1885, he purchased the old stone Methodist chapel which had seating for 700 people and transformed it into the “Opera House”.

This venue hosted a variety of entertainment ranging from Ida Van Cortland and her grand production of Merrivale’s famous “FORGET-ME-NOT!” to the local Philharmonic society with Senator Francis T. Frost as president and, all

the way from Italy, Signor Bosco the magician. The January 5, 1888 edition of the Rideau Record newspaper ran the following article to spread the news about Signor Bosco’s upcoming performances: Signor Bosco.

This famous magician will appear at the Opera House on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, Jan. 10th, 11th and 12th. He recently appeared at Peterboro and the Daily Times of that city says: “Bosco gave the best show of the kind ever in Peterboro. It was one long laugh from beginning to end. The presents he gave away were numerous, elegant and costly and he kept faith with the public in every respect.” The Daily Review says: “Bosco is by far the cleverest magician that ever visited Peterboro. He has light hair, a luxuriant moustache, and wears a faultless evening dress and a seemingly perennial smile. His voice is so musically persuasive that it lulls the audience into a sense of comfort and good humor. His presents were very numerous and both elegant and costly.”

Admission was one envelope 25 cents; reserved seats with two envelopes 35 cents. Now on sale at the bookstore.

After two years of Opera

For Your Information with Kathy Botham

House sleuthing, a eureka moment occurred thanks to Leisa Purdon-Bell from Heritage House Museum.

Leisa discovered a misfiled photograph of Robertson's Wholesale Grocers with a note on the bottom which read "The Old Opera House".

She sent a copy along with a 1901 Insurance Map and explained, “I double checked the address on the 1901 Insurance Map and it showed this photo to be true by the dimensions and materials of the building. It was stone (shown in blue) with a red brick addition (shown in pink/red). Three stories with an elevator. The Insurance Map indicates that at some point they held “Moving Pictures” there as well.”

George Robertson & Son Ltd took over the space in 1913 under the management of W. H. Churchill. This company was a well-established firm from Kingston and had been in business for 60 years. They enlarged the space and it served as a wholesale warehouse for the next 50 years. In 1963, it was sold and demolished to make way for the new Federal Building which opened on July 25, 1964, and which now serves as the Smiths Falls Post Office.

4

May 2021

Disagree without demonizing: Can we flatten the Covid curve without flattening freedom of speech, thought & expression?

Censored?

Photo Shannon McLellan.

credit:

Regional - Shannon Mclellan editorial@pdgmedia.ca Covid-19 has quickly changed our lives over the last year, and everyone seems to have a different opinion about it. Some people think the only way to get past is to stay inside and not see anyone. Some people believe it is okay to live life normally like nothing has changed because this is like any other flu or virus. Everyone is entitled to have their own opinions and act accordingly, and that is very important to remember. If we can remove judgement against those who may have a conflicting idea about how they view and navigate their way through the pandemic, we can find that all of our opinions and views can exist while we decide to agree to disagree.

It's easy to impulsively cancel the opposing opinions of other people who

we disagree with. This type of reaction can seem harmless. However, just because people are allowed to ignore, silence or even attempt to antagonize people who disagree with them, does that mean they should? And what kind of culture does that behavior create?

Freedom of speech has been a significant topic throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in reference to the idea of “cancel culture.” Many public figures are facing backlash for their unpopular opinions and suggesting they are being denied free speech, and unjustly being censored. On the other side of the coin, freedom of speech protects people from being legally prosecuted or sanctioned for their words. It does not, however, mean that a person can say whatever they want, without any consequences.

Hypothetically, if a business states an opinion that is controversial or offensive to the views of some, people are well within their right to refuse to buy from that business, or be associated with that company. But should they then begin shaming others to follow their lead towards the same decision?

It’s no secret that as of late, there have been several small businesses, organized groups and industry professionals claiming that

they have felt that they have been silenced when it comes to their own ideas about Covid-19, specifically when they refuse to stick to following the “pandemic script.”

The danger in muzzling the voices of those with opinions that go against what’s been deemed the mainstream is that while some truths are universal, we need to accept that most issues don’t have an objectively correct opinion. In order to grow and make decisions that are informed and objective, we need to not only be open to other viewpoints, but also be exposed to them, even if they make us uncomfortable or even if we simply don’t agree. Can your opinion and mine not co-exist, and in turn create an opportunity for discussion and healthy debate versus shaming and slandering one another for a difference in opinion?

While we would typically turn to traditionally trusted sources such as the media, mistrust in the media at this time is not groundless. Major news media nowadays appear biased by political alignments. Consequently, media coverage presents traces of truth distorted by prejudice. Mass media is substantially influential, and when the media employs sensationalism and misleading headlines, they end up diverting the at-

Grades 9-12

DAY PROGRAM

Grade 9:

Small class size Academic support Meals included

2 full Scholarships left!!

$40,000 in Bursaries

Inquire today! merrickprep.com/day-program admissions@merrickprep.com 613-298-1637 118 Main St E, Merrickville, ON

Celebrating 20 years of Serving Our Community

Keep Calm and Trust Your Chiropractor

tention from factual information to blame, pre-conditioning of opinion, and unnecessary panic and fear.

This only makes it harder for average people to separate fact from fiction through a global crisis.

In trying to control the pandemic narrative, governments have turned to harsh tools, muzzling media, and bombarding social media giants with requests to take down posts and shut down accounts. This is a matter of free speech. During a pandemic, free speech and the unimpeded flow of information is essential. Do we really want that entity to have the power to determine which ideas about Covid-19 are valid and may be voiced and which ones are wrong and

must be punished?

Further to the pressing matter concerning freedom of speech, the liberal government is currently pushing Bill C10, a law that would see Canadians subjected to the most regulated internet in the free world. Bill C10 proposes to subject whole realms of the Canadian online world to content oversight from broadcast regulators, including podcasts, online videos and websites that are in the process of attempting to pass Bill C10. It’s not censorship by definition, but it’s uncomfortably close.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Heritage Committee is in the middle of a heated debate about whether to pause the bill. That pause would allow the government to

further study Bill C-10’s impact on Canadians’ charter-affirmed rights, according to the Conservatives behind the motion.

It’s imperative during these uncertain times that we remain open to opposing views and ideas, and actively take on the responsibility of properly keeping ourselves informed to create our own knowledgeable decisions while remaining a society that has the right to freely express ideas that continue to provide us the power of forward movement.

This freedom at times is abused, but it is our responsibility to exercise our rights dutifully. The failure of others to respond well to freedom should not result in the loss of others' right to speak.

On the right track Smiths Falls - Brian Preston editorial@pdgmedia.ca How many of you have a hobby to occupy some of your leisure time that makes you happy, especially during this very long pandemic?

Hobbies, sports, or other pursuits are important to maintaining a balanced life at all stages of your life: whether you are married with a family and working, or if you are retired as a couple or on your own. I have always loved active sports throughout my life. As I neared retirement I took courses over a couple of years to become a certified Sommelier so that I could better appreciate wines, beers and spirits and learn what foods pair best with them. Then I wanted to share that knowledge with others by presenting food and wine/ beer sessions to others to increase their enjoyment too.

Well, this is not my story today, but rather it is about a good friend of mine in Portland, Tom Sled. His family owned a store in Portland for years and Tom converted the old waterfront warehouse where the steamers used to dock to unload merchandise and foodstuffs for the village and surrounding area, and he made it into a home for retirement with his wife Joanne. Unfortunately, she passed away and Tom was left looking for ways to deal with his grief and move forward. He was cleaning house one day and came across an old set of HO gauge model trains and accessories that he used to enjoy many years ago

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

Photo credit: Brian Preston.

before the hustle and bustle of family life and career. His adult children said he should get back into it as a way of coping with his grief. Well, wouldn't you know it, an old hobby that brought much joy to his life 50 years ago has resurrected that happiness and provided him with the means to totally immerse himself for hours in a pursuit to create TMS Rail.

He took the entire upstairs loft which has a couple of windows overlooking beautiful Portland Bay and he is converting it into a model railway network complete with rail yard, stations, the village of Portland on the lowland side and on the highlands side, Perth Station and a rock quarry on the other side of a huge trestle bridge spanning the 'canyon'. It was like Christmas as he opened boxes of rail accessories he hadn't seen for half a century; he had forgotten the contents. One example was a big box of brush and 'trees' and all manner of foliage for him to craft and paint into scenery. He needed assistance with the electrical to hook up lights in the buildings and such, so he conscripted his friend and neighbour Dan Lesser who was also able to help with carpentry in building the platforms and base for the entire structure.

When word got out that Tom was doing this, another friend mentioned a local widow whose husband also had a lot of model railroad equipment, and when Tom approached her to buy it, she was delighted to see it go to

Photo credit: Brian Preston.

good use again! We are social animals, aren't we, and this is also about community and our interconnectedness and how sharing is also healing.

Tom painted the entire ceiling light sky blue of course and to take the tour and see all the locomotives, rail cars, buildings and scenery was simply overwhelming. I know I haven't seen it all with only one visit! On the lowland side there are several hand built buildings of ones in town as well as the Portland Emmanuel Church which is now the Heritage Centre housing Portland on the Rideau Historical Society. There is Sled's Self Serve store. Tom found the large trestle bridge at Lark Spur Line Ltd., a train hobby shop in Merrickville where he met owner Jeff Trew, and he also bought another locomotive and set.

Tom started this in January 2021 and it is still a work in progress. He did a great job creating a blue acrylic river, installing a panoramic ribbon of prairie-like scenery on the wall on the lowland side that is taken from photos and scaled to the rail set! When you lean over and look through the rail yard, you swear you are looking at ' big sky country' stretching back for miles! And when you look at the trestle bridge and through the window behind it at Portland Bay, you can imagine the bridge spanning water.

I am happy to report that my friend is re-engaging with friends and the community as he moves through this next phase of his life. We all need family and friends to keep us on the right track!

5

May 2021

lifestyle

Covid friendly activities to do near your Hometown this summer Regional - Catherine Poag editorial@pdgmedia.ca

With the hopeful end of lockdown coming soon, I reached out to some of the surrounding towns to find out what kind of Covid-19 friendly events are being planned this summer.

There is an abundance of things for all ages to do in small town Smiths Falls, Ontario! The first covid friendly activity is Picnic Smiths Falls, starting on Friday, May 21st.

This program helps businesses to sell picnic boxes full of their food and then customers are encouraged to take their picnic to one of the many parks in Smiths Falls.

The parks are full of fun activities to do after your picnic: play in the splash pad, play

some basketball, or tennis, workout with the outdoor equipment in Lower Reach, or play some bocce ball! Next up on the list is the places to visit in Smiths Falls this summer. Hit the beach at Murphy Park; it has a water trampoline, and as soon as you are finished swimming and have worked up an appetite, head over to Sweet Scoops in the Basin for some ice cream.

Another fun thing to do in Smiths Falls is to check out the two museums in town, The Heritage House Museum and The Railway Museum.

Both museums are full to the brim with history, and this summer The Railway Museum is launching a monthly Supper Club in their dining car. At the Railway Museum you can also stay overnight

in one of their cabooses; fun for all ages. Outerbridge Magic is back at the Station Theatre, just stay tuned for capacity and safety protocols.

Looking for a fun day activity with the family? Check out the Cataraqui Trail, Ottawa Valley Rail Trail, or the Rideau Trail, which are all perfect for hiking. Wanting to get out and travel? Rent a Le boat, with which you can explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Rideau Canal, a 200-year-old engineering marvel. Want something that will make you feel somewhat normal again? Check out Music by the Basin. This occurs every Friday night during the summer months under the water tower. Listen to great live music and do some ‘chair dancing.’ In

the same park on Saturday mornings at 10am, check out the free yoga in the park.

In the town of Perth, Ontario, there are more offers of movie-like scenery and great picturesque spots! Start with a self-guided walking tour which takes you all around heritage Perth. Pick up your map at the Perth Visitor Information Centre or print off your own on the Town of Perth’s website. Hike through Tay River Trail which is a historic pathway that dates back to a military settlement in 1816. The well-known Perth Maple Festival will be operating a bit differently this year with online events but is still sure to be a blast. The Rotary Club has started its planning of a drive-thru rib fest in August. The Perth Fair

Parks Canada has declined to offer the campground space for lease to the town of Smiths Falls, so it will not be functioning as a campground this year. The campground typically welcomes 10,000 visitors annually.

While the campground will remain vacant, the Chamber of Commerce will be running the Visitor Centre at Victoria Park, providing pumpouts and taking mooring fees for boaters. They also hope to expand tourism services at the Visitor Centre, offering bike rentals, hosting markets, and live music.

The play structure that’s nestled in between the Visitor Centre and the yellow airplane statue - affectionately nicknamed the Airplane Park - is in a state of

disrepair. The spiral slide and tunnel are both boarded up, unsafe to use.

Director of Community Services Art Manhire says Smiths Falls is currently in the middle of creating a Parks and Recreation Master Plan.The town sent out surveys to all residents in order to obtain broad feedback about townspeople’s values regarding parks and leisure. Smiths Falls has also hired a consultant to inspect and report back on the state of the play structures.

Manhire noted that due to strict public health regulations regarding water sanitization, the wading pool will likely never be a wading pool again, however, it could be reimagined as a water play station. Manhire shared that

one suggestion for the space was an interactive display that kids could play with, modeling the Rideau Canal. “A water-in, water-out scenario” would pass public health requirements where a wading pool would not.

If individual pieces of play structures are replaceable, we can do that (if the pieces are still available), Manhire explained. He added that the pieces that are currently unsafe and boarded up at the Airplane Park are no longer being manufactured, and are unavailable to order.

If multiple structures need replacing we will need to prioritize, Manhire said.

This year’s budget allows for $100,000 in replacing equipment.

In the April 26 Committee

Limited options for Victoria Park in 2021 Smiths Falls - Janelle Labelle editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Smiths Falls’ Victoria Park is typically a busy hub in the summertime. A jam-packed campground, a busy Visitor’s Centre, and a popular play structure right along the water make it an appealing space for tourists and residents alike.

The Evergreen walkway, lined with well-shaded benches on the land side, and beautiful Le Boat boats on the water side, is a lovely spot to get some air and exercise year round. The former wading pool has been sitting empty for some time, and even this has been useful as a safe place for little ones to learn to bike and roller blade. But this summer, the busy hub of Victoria Park will look very different.

s ' r e n r e v o G t n Leautana r Award Winne

is hoping to run in August as well, stay tuned on their website for updates. Want to learn about some of Perth’s history? Check out the Perth Museum, just keep an eye on their reopening dates. Check out the Perth Farmer’s Market this summer and pick up some local goods starting on May 8th. Last, but certainly not least, check out Perth’s brewery and their distillery and pick up some beverages for your back deck visits.

Just a small jump over to Carleton Place, where, although they are not scheduling events until they know when the lock down is over, there are still many fun things to do outside! Take a walk through town and enjoy beautiful waterfront views as you check out the

Mississippi River. The town is also full of scenic trails; take the self-guided walking tour, do the Mississippi River Walk, which is perfect for people who are interested in the town’s history, or check out the Riverside Trail and learn all about the downtown core. Carleton Place is filled to the brim with restaurants and shops.

Take a walk downtown, pick up some takeout, and explore the shops.

There are so many Covid-friendly activities to do in the surrounding areas this summer with your family and friends. Be sure to get out this summer and attend some of these events or support some of your awesome local businesses!

Both the tunnel and spiral slide are boarded up at the popular Victoria Park play structure. Photo credit: Janelle Labelle.

of the Whole meeting, Councillor Dwyer asked Director Manhire, “if the report shows our playgrounds are unsafe, what are we going to do?”

“We will repair what can be repaired; if things need to be replaced we will have to make that decision. There will be a public consultation for this, but the inspection report will inform that process.”

But, as Councillor Dwyer

pointed out, we are running out of time for public consultation. It is already May, and we are still waiting on reports and surveys. For their own safety, children are restricted from team sports and gyms and group activities. The province has allowed parks to be open for health and exercise; if our parks are closed due to their state of disrepair, what options remain?

PICNIC Smiths Falls

LAUNCHING FOR 2021

FRIDAY MAY 21

ST

EACH BOX CONTAINS: 2 Main Dishes 2 Side Dishes 2 Desserts 2 Drinks Tourism Information Map of ideal picnic locations Collectible gift from the Town of Smiths Falls

Participating Restaurants:

WWW.SMITHSFALLS.CA/EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCESMITHSFALLS TOWNOFSMITHSFALLS

Support Local!

May 2021

6

Food & Drink

Beer, Wine and Spirits Let's Eat Of All the Gin Joints in Canada!

Photo credit: topshelfdistillers.com

With apologies to Humphrey Bogart in 'Casablanca', this month is about Canadian crafted Gins. It is a perennial summer refreshing thirst quencher accompanied by tonic with a twist of lemon or lime. Gin may consist of any number of botanicals in the distillation mix, and some have upwards of 20 different botanicals.

We’re in the middle of a gin renaissance with gin sales of this juniper and coriander-flavoured spirit rocketing globally. The UK, for example, saw a 12% increase in volumes sold in the year up to June 2017, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association.

It also reported a 32% increase in British gin exports

in the past five years.

Gin is produced by using juniper berries and other botanical ingredients to flavour an already-distilled neutral alcohol made from a variety of grains which can be bought by a distillery or made on their own premises. Apart from water and ethanol, the only other raw materials used for distilled gin-making are natural flavourings referred to as botanicals. Going from one gin to the next, you’re going to get those hints of juniper slightly differently depending on what other botanicals they’re mixed with. One of the big producers you will recognize for the pale blue bottle is Bombay Sapphire, which produces 40 million bottles a year using a wheatbased neutral grain spirit from continental Europe.

Canada has a history of gin production too and, like the growth in the number of craft breweries, you know the craft spirits industry is following suit when you see the large variety of products on the shelves. Locally in Ontario we have Dillons Dry Gin in Beamsville using 100% local Ontario rye which is vapour distilled and infused with seven unique botanicals to create a London dry style gin.

Expect moderately intense aromas and flavours of juniper, balsam, crisp pear and star anise on a dry, cleansing palate that finishes balanced and smooth. King's Lock Conestoga Organic Gin from Johnstown, Ontario, has fragrances of grapefruit peel, citrus fruit, juniper,

Brian Preston

The Travelling Sommelier brianpreston@hotmail.com

herbs, and a slight grassy undertone. The palate is viscous with a fresh herbal element leading to a dry, balanced finish. This is not my favourite but it represents a style others will like. There are some 57 Ontario LCBO listings. Top Shelf Gin is distilled in Perth, Ontario, done in a classic London dry style with balanced aromatics and flavours of juniper, citrus peel and delicate anise followed by a dry finish; this is my favourite of the bunch.

The Canadian Artisan Spirits Competition, the only national judging of Canada’s artisanal spirits producers, is judged by experts from coast to coast, and has grown steadily since its inception three years ago. Here are 5 Gold Medal winning gins from the 2021 awards: Gin Royal,Compass Distillery (Gold Medal and tied for Best in Class in Contemporary Gin category), Halifax, Nova Scotia, 45% abv, $43.48 at the distillery; Gin Thuya, Distillerie Fils du Roi (Gold Medal in Classic Gin Category), Petit-Paquetville, NB, 45% abv, $30.79; Navy Strength Gin, Patent 5 (Gold Medal and Best in Class in Classic Gin Category), Winnipeg, Manitoba, 57.1% abv, $64.95 at distillery; with two others from British Columbia with only local distribution. All this to point out that Ontario craft distillers are still 'finding their feet' in this relatively new distillers' game across Canada.

Brian Turner

Foodie Lu in Carleton Place: food-truck fare goes uptown

When I first heard that Luis Yabar was bringing his unique flare for Italian street food to Carleton Place, I did a little digging and was blown away at the number of positive raves from anyone and everyone who tried out his dishes when he was running his food truck in Ottawa. When you take a look at Luis’ background, these accolades aren’t much of a surprise.

Luis literally grew up in the food trade as his parents were restaurant owners and he has handled every job from back to front and earned his stripes the old-fashioned way: hard work combined with some real ingenuity when it comes to putting his stamp on his food. Carleton Place’s unprecedented growth in recent times made this town his target and you can expect some crowds at his newest location between Rental Village and Bean Chevrolet on Hooper Street. He opened at the end of April and based on the samples I’ve tried, he’s in for a busy time.

First, his pasta is all fresh made from scratch using his family recipes which go back generations. His meatball recipe is over 100 years old! Second, there is only one way for Luis when it comes to creating mouth-watering dishes; the right way, done with care and imagination.

And sometimes that takes a bit of time. Consider his signature pulled pork mac and cheese that I had a chance to preview recently. It takes 30 hours of slow smoking

Photo credit: Brian Turner

of a hand-rubbed lean cut of pork before assembling this delight. And the effort is worth it! The pork isn’t overpowering, but instead brings slightly sweet and spicy hints to the smoked flavour.

The pasta shells are superior to any elbow macaroni you’ll find, in even the best supermarkets and Luis has perfected the cooking time to ensure the pasta you’re served is on the right side of al-dente with no flour aftertaste. He uses three different cheeses to provide a heavenly taste and just the right amount of gooeyness.

Being a small mobile food truck brings its challenges, but as Luis puts it, the menu will be small but mighty and will include Italian sandwiches, meatballs with pasta and on fresh Italian bread, salads, and some vegetarian options. His access to a bricks and mortar commercial kitchen means he can offer catering for hungry crowds of any size. Think of how popular you’ll be when

the Foodie Lu trailer pulls up to your next event.

And if you prefer taking your dishes home to enjoy, Luis has frozen as well as reheatable versions of many of his favourites that take little time and effort to prepare.

Initially, Foodie Lu will be open Friday and Saturday from 11 am – 7 pm and till 6 pm on Sundays. You can reach Luis at 613 291 0301 and check out his menu (and its evolution) at foodielu.com or follow him on Facebook.

Final words go to Luis.

“I've had a passion for food as early as I can remember.

I grew up in the footsteps of both parents who opened a unique and one of a kind Italian restaurant on Bank St in Ottawa, Canada. My creativity in the kitchen stemmed from there at a very young age and here we are today, over 30 years later and I am staying true to my family recipes and continuing to dedicate myself to this amazing industry.

You can’t pasta this up!”

Struggling restaurants grateful for customer loyalty Regional - Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca An association representing Canadian restaurants is sounding the alarm over the future of its pandemic-battered industry. But local dining establishments say their customers’ continuing loyalty gives them reason for optimism.

According to Restaurants Canada, a recent survey of its members showed restaurants “saw their sales plummet over the course of mid-February to the end of March.” Ninety-six per cent of respondents reported their sales volume was lower during the last two weeks of March than it was during the same period in 2019.

The survey also found that if current conditions persisted over the next 30 days, 18

per cent said their business “would close down permanently in less than a month.”

The most recent lockdown in Ontario, the third since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, has been extended until at least May 20.

Restaurants are allowed to offer takeout service only.

The CBC recently reported that with cases of Covid rising in Ottawa, a number of bars and restaurants have made the difficult decision to shut down operations completely on a temporary basis to ensure the safety of staff.

“We’re trying, but it’s very difficult,” said Cheryl Mackie, owner of the Brigadoon Restaurant in Oxford Mills since 1990. “People are giving up.”

Mackie said the number of takeout orders received by the Brigadoon this spring is

“way down” compared to the first lockdown a year ago.

Mark Vanrijswijk, owner of the Waterfront Gastropub in Carleton Place, told Ottawa media in March that recently-imposed restrictions had cut his business in half, because only members of the same household were allowed to sit together in restaurants. Now, as in all establishments in Ontario, indoor dining at the Waterfront is banned.

“It’s definitely a lot quieter than last year,” said Kevin Van Dusen, one of three co-owners of Maximilian Restaurant in Perth. “It’s down drastically.”

Van Dusen added that the owners are grateful for the ongoing support of their regular customers, some of whom continue to order takeout weekly. Some, he

said, are “grabbing takeout twice a week.”

Restaurants Canada is advocating for current rent and wage programs to aid laid-off restaurant employees, as well as “new sector-specific initiatives to help with recovery.”

Van Dusen said his own staff are “fed up and tired.”

He added that “We tend to be waiting quite a lot longer for the grants to roll out.”

On a positive note, Van Dusen said the business community in Perth continues to be tight-knit, with restaurants working together to support each other.

Pratheep Bala moved to Smiths Falls last year from Toronto to take over operation of Chuckles Jack, the restaurant founded a decade ago by his cousin, Ram Mogandas. “Chuckles Jack was built by Smiths Falls,” he said.

Repeated lockdowns due to COVID-19 have had a drastic impact on local restaurants, but owners remain grateful for the loyalty of regular customers as well as the support of the small communities they serve. Photo credit: Restaurants Canada.

Bala said people in small communities like Smiths Falls are supporting each other as much as they can. Valley Eats, a Pembroke-based food delivery service, has been helping by

delivering takeout orders to Chuckles Jack customers.

“Even if it’s not busy, we do get some very good support from the locals,” said Bala.

“We do have our loyal customers calling in.”

7

May 2021

culture Celebrating non-traditional mothers

Photo credit: Submitted by Dawn Flinn-Traynor

Regional - Shannon McLellan editorial@pdgmedia.ca We were all born to someone traditionally called “mom,” however not all moms are what we typically think of as traditional. The love of a mother can come in many differ-

ent forms. Some as a stepmom, an aunt, a grandmother, a single mom, a working mom, a single dad who plays both roles, a foster mom or an adopted mom. The one universal trait that all of these styles of mothers have in common is the love for

their child. These are the ones who made sure that their children knew they were loved no matter their past. Your children may not even call you mom, they may call you by your first name but that’s never bothered you because the love is there regardless of the name.

Mother’s Day is typically exciting for moms and kids. Little ones make gifts and love notes for the woman who has been with them from their first breath, or for the mom that has stepped in later on in their life. Moms look forward to being appreciated, or even catered to, by partners and their precious offspring. However, Mother’s Day can be difficult for women who have experienced the loss of a mother or child, or those who have had trouble conceiving.

In an interview with Dawn Flinn-Traynor, a local mother who experi-

We will match our competitors' tire prices by 5% on the purchase of four eligible passenger or light truck tires (call for details) UP TO $70.00 TIRE REBATE WHEN YOU PURCHASE 4 TIRES

enced the heartache and challenges that came with infertility, Dawn told us that the choice of adoption was the result of a series of choices that were before her and her husband when they discovered that natural conception was not an option for them.

She stated, “we still wanted to grow our family, and our choice was to go with adoption.” Dawn described the adoption process from beginning to end as an emotional roller coaster full of highs and lows of overwhelm, to excitement and blissful joy.

Dawn described to us the moment she became a mother as feeling powerful and full of joyful tears. As a result of adoption, Dawn became a mother to two beautiful children, twin siblings Scarlett & Sawyer.

Dawn told us that when she realized for the first time that she knew they were her kids, following 5 years of infertility and 2 years of an adoption process full of frustration, tears and arguments, it all washed away and in that moment all that was left was love. To hear more of Dawn Flinn-Traynor’s experience with infertility and becoming a mom, watch our interview on hometownnews.ca to be aired on Mother’s Day. “Mothers are full of love and laughter, filling our hearts forever after. Mothers are always loving and dreaming, putting up with us and all of our scheming.

Mothers are sweet smiles and happy faces, forgiving us of our troublesome disgraces. Mothers deserve this day of their own, to be queen of our heart and queen of her home. Happy Mother's Day!”

opinion:

Carrie Wynne

Am I the only one? before you click

What choice do companies have but to use Amazon?

Afterall, it's where the world is going.

Everybody’s doing it. The stock has increased by 80%. Sales have gone up 40% and Jeff Bezos personal wealth has clocked a staggering growth of $58 Billion last year and so far, the money ‘ain’t trickling down.’ Amazon takes large cuts of up to 30% to sell on their platform. We haven’t seen those margins in tech since the nineties.

Did you know that Amazon avoids paying their share of property and payroll tax? Through aggressive bargaining tactics, they erode the local tax base in communities where extra resources are necessary to support a large warehouse fulfillment centre such as wear and tear on the roads, emergency assistance, police, fire, EMS, and schools.

Before you click you may want to think about what life is going to look like for the working class in years to come if the vast majority are forced into

Amazon warehouses in non-union environments.

These are physically strenuous and high demanding jobs and we all know what happens when power and control are left unchecked.

Unions built the middle class. They’ve put food on our table for 4 generations. If you’re against unions you’re against the middle class. My vote would be for the workers and their families. Am I the only one?

How big is too big before the government steps in? Up until this point Amazon has been able to dodge anti-competitive and anti-trust laws. In Alec MacGillis new book Fulfillment, Winning and losing in one-click America he says that the biggest threat to Amazon won’t be whether consumers choose to use its platform, but whether the government can crack down on their monopoly. It should come as no surprise that the second headquarters of Amazon so happens to be in Washington DC, where 25,000 high paying jobs are. Apparently, it is good to hobnob with celebrities and the power elite when you’re trying to take over the world.

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.

the marketplace directory GOLF COURSE

EMPLOYMENT RESOURCE SERVICE

REALTY

Why pay 5% real estate fees!

GENERAL CONTRACTOR

Our fee is 3.5%

ADVERTISING / GRAPHIC DESIGN

NEED HELP WITH A HOME PROJECT? Permit Acquisition Assistance • Architectural Design & Build Services • Drawings for Construction & Permit • Site Plans & Property Layout • Interior Design & Consulting

613-284-9826

POLCANDESIGNGROUP.CA

Good design is good business PDG Media Solutions

613.284.9826

contactus@pdgmedia.ca

Get what you need to make this Mother’s Day a special one for all those special women in your life.